Alabama Tracks

Isn’t it pretty? I was the only one in the class with chocolate buttercream. My cake is relatively plain compared to those who decided to do clowns and then those that had to fill their entire top with dots and roses. I’m pleased with my cake though. Grant it Saturday when I made the cake, it was a not so good baking day and I learned quite a bit about baking a good decorating cake just by working on this single layer one that she requested. I signed up for Cake 2 and this time we’ll learn more flowers and basket weaving. We’ll make a two layered oval cake with a basket weave side and a bunch of different flowers on top. It should prove to be challenging. But I can say that I am well on my way. I was the first one finished in class today -partly because I only used one color whereas the others used multiple colors. It ended up being a good thing because we were so tight on time today with Joel having media duty at church tonight. I think I may have found my area of art. I’m very pleased with myself and very glad that I have taken the class. I also have received my certificate. I’m official.

This weekend Erin and I became curling fans. It was a random trip through the dial on a lazy Saturday afternoon that put us there. It was the US women’s team vs Italy and it was surprisingly interesting. Unlike most other Olympic games, curling seems to be about 80% strategy and 20% execution. It’s not high stakes like skiing and the announcer seldom gets excited unlike, say, skating. It’s more or less chess on ice. It’s the slow pace combined with the uncertainty of what will happen (you never really know what those 44lb stones will do) that keeps it interesting enough. And we’re not alone

So if you’re intrigued enough to watch, the men’s curling comes to an end Friday. The US team is already in the semifinals.

I was challenged yesterday by Jay’s sermon and was immediately able to apply it to many areas of my life.  I hope by sharing my thoughts, you too will be challenged.

The basic premise of his sermon was “Traveling with Joy” and “pressing on.”  His passage was Phillipians 3:8 - 14.  Expecting this to be another one of the same sermons I’ve heard for many years, I listened half heartedly.  That was until he mentioned a verse in Psalms.  Psalms 78:4-8.  “We do not keep them from our children; we recite them to the next generation, The praiseworthy and mighty deeds of the LORD, the wonders that he performed.  God set up a decree in Jacob, established a law in Israel: What he commanded our ancestors, they were to teach their children; That the next generation might come to know, children yet to be born. In turn they were to recite them to their children, that they too might put their trust in God, And not forget the works of God, keeping his commandments. They were not to be like their ancestors, a rebellious and defiant generation, A generation whose heart was not constant, whose spirit was not faithful to God,”  Wow!  I didn’t know these verses existed.  This whole passage talks about the older generation sharing with the younger where they’ve been, how they got through, what God did through them and for them, and where they are now.  My heart was pricked almost instantaneously.  Jay went on to say that it isn’t good enough to rest on the accomplishments of the past and that we need to continiuously experience God. 

My thoughts went as such and please forgive me if I ramble or repeat the same thought.  How many times have I relied on the personal spiritual victories of my past thinking that I would automatically get through the stuff in the future because I’ve had those experiences?  How many times have I decided not to share part of my past for fear that I would be judged or not taken seriously?  My mind went toward one of my favorite quotes which has become so true for me - “Those who forget the past will be condemned to repeat it.”  Lately I’ve been able to apply this to the family history which is so important to me now.  As a result I’ve been able to see the blessings of my raising.  I have learned that the “sins of the forefathers” have been broken and my heart has been challenged just knowing some basic information of how they lived such as the generations of laborers, seamstresses, etc.  It has become increasingly more important to me to learn sewing so I can share it with my children so the ability doesn’t die with my generation.  How much more would I be challenged if the elders of my past were to share their life experiences more willingly, both physical and spiritual?  How much more of a heritage would we have and know about?  My heart took yet another turn.

How can I share my experiences and past, as an elder to the children, if I myself am not continually challenged both spritiually and physically.  You see, this has immediate application to both my physical life as well as my spiritual life.  We ought to be noting our spiritual valleys and mountain tops and sharing them.  It is just the same with some experiences in life.  How else can we and our younger generation learn from the past?  I feel it is important to be transparent with our family members so that we have a godly heritage to pass down.  What an encouragement for others when they see that the people in their life have “been there, done that.”  It has a way of humanizing them a little bit more.  So often it is easy to see the older people in our life and not realize that they were our age at one time too.  I don’t want my sister’s kids or my future ones to experience life without knowing their heritage.  After all, it was so important that God set a decree.  This was important stuff!

I can’t say that I have completely wrapped my head around all that is going on in my heart. I know it will be a while but I’m challenged to know scripture and to speak scripture to my children.  I’m challenged to track the blessings of God in my life and in the life of my marriage. I’m challenged to ask more questions and to share more openly.  I’m challenged.  Am I up for the challenge?  Paul was.  He pressed on toward the goal of the high calling.  Will we?

As valentines day approaches, I found this to be appropriate.  A poem by my ancestor (by marriage) - Robert Burns.

How blest has my time been, what joys have I known,

Since wedlock’s soft bondage made Jessie my own!

So joyful my heart is, so easy my chain,

That freedom is tasteless, and roving a pain.

Through walks grown with woodbines, as often we stray,

Around us our boys and girls frolic and play:

How pleasing their sport is the wanton ones see,

And borrow their looks from my Jessie and me.

To try her sweet temper, oft-times am I seen,

In revels all day with the nymphs on the green;

Though painful my absence, my doubts she beguiles,

And meets me at night with complaisance and smiles.

What though on her cheeks the rose loses its hue,

Her wit and her humour bloom all the year through:

Time still, as he flies, adds increase to her truth,

And gives to her mind what he steals from her youth.

Ye shepherds so gay, who make lover to ensnare,

And cheat with false vows the too credulous fair,

In search of true pleasure how vainly you roam;

To hold it for life, you must find it at home.

It’s finally cold here.  I’ve wanted it to feel like winter all season and I’ve finally got it.  This weekend there is a high of 45 and the next day is a high of 46.  Unfortunately, I now am experiencing a different kind of cold.  It was wierd.  Never before have I been able to feel myself coming down with something.  I litterally watched American Idol last night and felt my throat becoming increasingly more irritated.  By 10:30 I was ready to go to bed w/ the humidifier and hopefully not have to go to work the next day.  This morning though, I didn’t feel well but not too bad to not go to work.  I can only hope that I start to feel better so I can really enjoy the cold outside.

Tonight I will have my IAAP meeting and hopefully a really good meal.  I think we are all hoping for a piece of chocolate peanut butter cake.  I’m going to have to learn how to perfect a cake like this as this seems to be everyone’s favorite around here.  I know Joel will for sure. 

Cake decorating classes started up on Sunday.  This week I bring a tub of frosting and we’ll start to learn how to make roses, trims, and clowns among a few other things.  I really think I’m going to enjoy it, especially if my skill takes off.  My final for the four weeks will be a cake that has to have at least 3 techniques we learned on it.  I feel very fortunate to have some knowledge already in my background.  Some of those that are in the class are completely clueless, including a dumb blonde.  But nontheless, I’m enjoying it and am looking forward to the next class.

Things are heating up here at work.  All of a sudden I’m needed.