Goat Joy

Won't be jabbering much here - this morning I got a lesson in unadulterated havin' fun from the goatzees - took almost 100 pictures just to get a few good ones of the romp. It was wild and crazy fun on Buhlaland today - hope you have a little wild and crazy wherever you are today.

Malachi 4:2 (NIV)
2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.

Sick of political race? you are not alone!

This rarely political blogger gave us a great heads up about a funny blog entry written by a staff member of Anderson Cooper's 360 . I am giving her credit for finding it and wanted to share with any of you who are also past the point of nausea with political races in general. Seems there has been a run for the 2008 elections since 2004! Millions and millions of dollars (which could certainly be used in more constructive ways) being spent to campaign - and tell us things we know either are blatantly untrue, ridiculously improbable or plain don't want to hear. I love the commercial on TV about firemen taking over congress -seems like such a good idea - stop all the bluster and posing - we want secure borders, good roads, clean water and less interference in our every day lives. Such radical notions might seen innovative except they were introduced in "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America".
Unless something just outrageously funny or truly world changing happens I promise this is my last politico blog post - somehow I think the new tub, recipes, goat and flower pictures and possible changes in my closets might be of greater interest and usefulness to you dear readers. Here on Buhlaland - it is hard sometimes to forget all those years of college I wasted -perhaps I meant invested in a political science degree --- ahhh the olden days. Trusting in the only capital T truth I know -"Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." The Linda Sue translation says "y'all can fool some of the world maybe even a majority - but the Lord God has the final say - no hanging chads or recounts on judgment day". Enough - end of rant - off to exercise and then into town to find the Holy Grail - or more realistically - tile for the bathroom. It is good on Buhlaland and if I rant to you - DH gets to have a quieter morning!

Pragmatic Preparation 101

Over at Pam's Place a good thing is started. She pointed out September is apparently emergency preparedness month. I'll be linking to her posts about practical steps we can take to more effectively deal with emergencies. Of course I might throw in my spiritual and or comedic bits of advice also. Obviously we are putting on the full armor of God. For now - be thinking and posting about what we can do to prepare for the emergencies we know will come sooner or later. You can add tips at Pam's site or here - or we can link to one another with ideas. I'm doing better each day - some events are tougher than others but we'll get through this relying on God's strength 'cause I'm tuckered out here in Buhlaland.

New decade - what next?!

I'd been pretty glum for about 48 hours . Anticipation of this day for months - the reality of turning 60 just blew me out of the water. 50 - that was a breeze - I was excited and happy and just had so much fun. But 60 - SIX OH - bleah! I am no longer middle aged - unless I'm planning on 120 -considering my current rate of decline - naw. Turned down offers of b'day party from DH and generally have obsessed over how little good I've actually accomplished and overall I've fallen way short of my goals.
BUT - our dog was barking this morning as soon as it started getting light and out we ventured - look what somebody did for me! That is our front gate - somebody decorated it with balloons and streamers and a sign - how cool is that?
See it isn't the great big gestures in life making a difference(although anyone thinking of giving me a week at a spa shouldn't be discouraged from generosity!)-it is taking your time,resources and spending them on someone else. Making a difference -- I have been caught up with the Compassion Bloggers' stories of Uganda and being convicted I'm not doing enough to help --my 60th birthday makes me focus on the clock -it is ticking. My clock needs rewinding occasionally (I'm definitely not digital) and this gesture of love from someone for my birthday - well I'm ready to go for the next 10 years - Lord willing - and maybe I can make someone else grin as much as I did this morning.
Thank you world - and thank you Lord - Buhlaland is a birthday extravaganza today! It is good.

WWJD?

Elius then and now

















Bipul first picture and now - our boys are growing so fast!














"What Would Jesus Do" a slogan on bumper stickers, jewelry, shirts, coffee mugs and banners, WWJD in a multitude of places . I know a definite answer to that question - Jesus would be smack dab, totally in the middle of the poorest of the poor children. Compassion International is working as Jesus with skin on in the world. Pictured are our children through Compassion. Elius and Bipul live in Bangladesh. The serious young man in blue long pants has been ours for a year longer than Bipul. Elius has a hardworking mother, his father died over a year ago. Bipul's parents placed him with someone so he could go to the Christian center in their town and they traveled as itinerant workers. For less than the cost of going out for pizza and a movie ($32/month each) God has changed their lives, they are getting an education, medical care and learning about Christ. We get letters regularly - usually with drawings of animals or plants and lots of questions about how we live. They pray for us , you can't imagine the persistence with which we pray for them. The world in which they live is as different from the United States as earth is from Mars. Bangladesh is a primarily Muslim country, one of the poorest countries of the world and afflicted with frequent severe flooding. But they have hope - realistic hope through a simple arrangement done very well.
Compassion International is sponsoring a blogging trip this week to Uganda - I've included links to all the blogs and a link to Compassion so you can sign up RIGHT NOW and change your world. It is absolutely the best thing you can do to make a difference. I'm adding this on Friday the 15th - I forgot to mention when we contacted Compassion to sponsor - we simply asked for the child who had been waiting longest - no stipulation on age, location or anything. God engineered it both times that it would be a young boy in Bangladesh.


Bloggers for Uganda Trip - absolutely worth reading - share these with everyone you know and ask your readers and friends to become Compassion sponsors:
Anne Jackson
BooMama
Chris Elrod
David Kuo
Doug Van Pelt
Heather Whittaker
Keely Scott
Phil Ware
Ragamuffin Soul
Randy Elrod
Rocks In My Dryer
Shaun Groves
Spence Smith
Tom Emmons





I would like to encourage you to prayerfully consider sponsoring a child today! In fact - I strongly recommend it - it'll rock your world. Knowing that on the other side of the world, two boys pray for us makes life even sweeter here on Buhlaland. Thank you Lord.