neither absent nor silent

But God is there - in the middle of our lives - and He is neither absent nor silent. When we are silent long enough, God speaks. It is then we discover that He was there all along. 

- Calvin Miller

There are numerous things about God that I can't understand, but today I'm particularly astounded by His immutability. God's love for me doesn't change. Even when I fail. That's someone I can surrender to - someone who's love is constant amidst my imperfections.

St. Patrick's Day

I realize Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland is only a myth, but this just made me laugh regardless.

I don't drink beer (I'm gluten-free and don't even like the smell of it), leprechauns creep me out, I don't like corned beef and cabbage, and I don't believe in luck. I do like the color green though! One out of five isn't too bad, right?!

Saint Patrick is one of the most commonly recognized saints of Ireland. In the early seventeenth century, Saint Patrick's Day was declared to be an official Christian festival. Celebrations on this day celebrate the spread of Christianity, Ireland, and the Irish culture in general.

Patrick was born in Britain into a wealthy Roman British family. His father and grandfather were religious leaders in the Christian church. As a teenager, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland as a slave. According to his Confession, in a dream God told him to flee from his captivity and go to the coast, where he was to board a boat and go back to Britain. He made it back home and joined the Chruch in Auxerre in Gaula, where he studied to be a priest. 

Once Patrick was trained as a priest, he was called back to Ireland.  According to legend, Patrick used the 3-leaved shamrock to explain the doctrine of Trinity to the Irish pagans. After nearly thirty years of evangelism to the Irish people, He died on March 17th of 461 A.D. Although there were other successful missionaries in Ireland, Patrick is the most esteemed in the Irish church.

overboard purple lettuce and cascading straws

My life is full of funny happenings right now, as it usually is.

I've been working a lot of 8 hour shifts at work, which means I get a 30 minute lunch break! I could stay and eat in the backroom, but I'd rather be completely away from it for my few moments alone. So my car has become my little sanctuary of choice.

Salad is my favorite lunch food right now. Earlier this week, I discovered my dislike for purple lettuce mixed in with my spinach and romaine lettuce. I tried eating around it, but it's hard to eat around specific things in a salad. The window of my car was rolled down, so I causally dropped all of it overboard.

Tonight I brought T and V home from soccer practice. There was a bag of straws in the backseat that I strategically moved to the front. I didn't want the back of my car covered in straws, as I knew it would be if they were within V's reach. I got the girls home and ready for bed and it was time for me to leave. D helped move the car seats out of my car and I was making sure there were no stray toys or blankets in the front seat. I opened the front door and the straws cascaded out of the bag and into the curb. I instantly started giggling. D and I laughed a lot as I attempted to pick them all up.

First off, who keeps a bag of straws in their car? And second, who manages to let them spill out of their car and onto the street? Laughing just seems like the best option right now.

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. 

Proverbs 17:22