Carla's Journal

What the Bible Says About Drinking Alcohol

2009-04-21T11:13:00.001-07:00

Recently, the youth Sunday school talked about whether the Bible says you shouldn't drink. Unfortunately, many people don't seem to know what the Bible says! They believe things that aren't even in the Bible just because someone told them so or because they have always believed that way. My challenge to everyone is to look it up for yourself! See what God has to say to us in His Word about everything you have believed in. Don't take my word for it, read it yourself!

Here are a few verses I have found about why Christians shouldn't drink:

Prov 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a riotous brawler; and whoever errs or reels because of it is not wise.

Prov 31:4-5 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink,
5Lest they drink and forget the law and what it decrees, and pervert the justice due any of the afflicted.

Prov 23:29-35 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness and dimness of eyes?
30Those who tarry long at the wine, those who go to seek and try mixed wine.
31Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the wineglass, when it goes down smoothly.
32At the last it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.
33[Under the influence of wine] your eyes will behold strange things [and loose women] and your mind will utter things turned the wrong way [untrue, incorrect, and petulant].
34Yes, you will be [as unsteady] as he who lies down in the midst of the sea, and [as open to disaster] as he who lies upon the top of a mast.
35You will say, They struck me, but I was not hurt! They beat me [as with a hammer], but I did not feel it! When shall I awake? I will crave and seek more wine again [and escape reality].

Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit.

Galatians 5: 19-21 Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency,
20Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies),
21Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

I Corinthians 6:9-10 Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality,
10Nor cheats (swindlers and thieves), nor greedy graspers, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers and slanderers, nor extortioners and robbers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God.

Habakkuk 2:5 Moreover, wine and [a]wealth are treacherous; the proud man [the Chaldean invader] is restless and cannot stay at home. His appetite is large like that of Sheol and [his greed] is like death and cannot be satisfied; he gathers to himself all nations and collects all people as if he owned them.

Isaiah 5:11 Woe unto those who rise early in the morning, that they may pursue strong drink, who tarry late into the night till wine inflames them!

Isaiah 5:22 Woe to those who are mighty heroes at drinking wine and men of strength in mixing alcoholic drinks!

25 Random Things About Me:

2009-01-30T09:58:00.000-08:00

1. I'm completely and totally sold out to my Savior, Jesus Christ, and have been for 35 years now! (Man, I'm old!) I was always teased for being the 'goody, goody, Jesus-freak' in high school - which wasn't a cool name until dc Talk came along!

2. I LOVED Amy Grant and Margaret Becker and would take my walkman with me to the bath so I could sing every word at the top of my lungs - even when I lived in the dorms at the University of New Mexico.

3. I had to learn every instrument in college for my music degree. I was so embarrassed at my violin playing, I refused to practice in my practice room where my music-friends could hear. Instead, I practiced in my dorm room until a neighbor knocked on my door and asked me to please stop that awful noise!

4. When I first met Mark, I thought he was a dork. Then, I thought he was so sweet... he gave me his last piece of gum, "Oh, I can't take your last piece!" to which he responded, "Oh, I don't even like gum, I just buy it to meet girls."...................

. He was back to being a dork!!

5. After a choir concert, Mark and I stayed up talking about God and deep spiritual things until 3 in the morning. I knew he was the man for me! We started dating and were engaged 6 months later, for FOUR AND A HALF YEARS!!! (waiting to finish school and waiting on God)

6. We've been married 19 years this May!

7. I love being efficient! I loved the book "Cheaper By the Dozen" because the dad made his living as an efficiency expert!!! I finally understood my little oddities :)

8. I LOVE books, even though I'm a slow reader. And I don't like fiction at all!! What a waste of time!

9. I still cry during 'Little House on the Prairie'.

10. My favorite TV shows as a teenager were 'Love Boat' and 'Fantasy Island'. I don't watch TV at all now.

11. I have 20 completed 12x12 scrapbooks.

12. Now, I home school my two favorite girls in the whole world.

13. I LOVE LOVE LOVE lattes! Anytime of day, but especially after dinner :)

14. I always wanted to be a mommy and a church pianist - now I'm both :)

15. I love pretty things!! flowers, doilies, pictures, music, magazines like Southern Living, stores like Tuesday Morning, baskets, dishes, linens, fancy desserts, crafty stuff...

16. My maiden name is Hogg (like a pig, oink, oink) and my grandmother's maiden name is Slaughter! She shoulda hyphenated!!!

17. I have NEVER spent a Christmas without my entire family (parents, siblings & their families) until my sister died in 2006. I LOVE my family!!!

18. I am SO affected by movies, I think they are memories of my own life. So, no scary shows for me - Mark is my movie screener! The best part is, after about 3 years, I forget the ending and can watch them again!!

19. Mark lost his job in 2003 and went 22 months without a steady paycheck. It was the best thing that ever happened to us! God brought us to missions!!! In fact, Mark and I got MARRIED TO MISSIONS - we all wear fish rings as a symbol of that marriage. Even our girls wear them - since they told us they are married to missions too :)

20. Our family has been on 11 mission trips since then including Mexico, China, and Mongolia. I've been on 13 and Mark's been on 17. If you count prison, then I've been on 18!

21. I hate getting my hands wet, so Mark usually does the dishes for me - I put up the clean ones!

22. My purse got stolen last year and my palm pilot and cell phone were in it. Now, I have a TREO which I LOVE and I am secretly happy I had to buy it!!

23. I love my QuickVerse application on my Treo and especially the New Living Translation of the Bible which I enjoy reading in bed with all the lights out!

24. I LOVE lists!!!

25. I made a list of my 25 random things on stickies before I finally wrote them on facebook :)

Prison - Day Two

2008-11-16T17:35:00.000-08:00

The final day of my prison weekend was awesome! I got to visit the so-called "God Pod". The jail is divided into pods, or dorms. The pod has about 25 bunk beds around the outside of the room and there are school-style cafeteria tables bolted to the floor in the center of the room. Along one wall are 6 toilets and 1 shower. There is a small bathroom divider between the toilets and the room, but not between the toliets themselves. A guard sits in between a couple of different pods in a little room keeping watch at all times and electronically opening the door when we need in or out. The lights are always on, even at night. There are no windows. This particular jail has no yard, so these girls never see the light of day, unless they get to work on the bottom floor in the garage area.

The God Pod is one of three faith-based pods on the 10th floor, where I was assigned. Many of the inmates in there are working on their GED. The girls have their own government, including a governor, a mayor, a principal, tutors, and devotional leaders. They follow their own schedule including tutoring and three Bible studies daily. They are following the Hope Literacy program (http://hopelit.com/) and it is working!! This was an incredible thing to see in prison! One of our teammates who visited with them on Friday told me that she got to be there for their daily devotion which ended in an incredible time of worship. She said she is going back to her church and writing "Ichabod" across it because they are dead compared to these ladies who worshiped the One True God like they meant it!! She said we aren't even worthy to touch the hem of their garments! I sure was curious to see what that was all about.

I spent the first part of my morning encouraging some ladies and reminding them that they can continue what we started, sharing the gospel with others. They told their stories and what they are learning, including how they are thankful to God for putting them there and rescuing them from themselves! They told me they are using the time to study the Bible, memorize His Word, and learn to rely on God as their Father, provider, teacher.

Then, I asked them what questions they have right now. What is God teaching them that they have questions about? They all said 'generational sin.' They have been studying that with their pastor and one girl said she doesn't know if she believes it or not. Once again, I was able to refer to the 10 commandments. The second command is about idols and how God punishes the children for the sin of the fathers... that is generational sin. It is very common for children to fall into the same sin that their parents did... generational sin. I got to tell them many personal stories of things I have dealt with, including having a short temper with my girls. They were very interested in hearing how I am just as much of a sinner as they are, and how I have dealt with it using God's Word as my guide. One example of this is how God has reminded me on many occasions that my anger does not bring about the righteous life that He desires (James 1:20). Another is when I am wanting repentance from my children, He shows me that I won't get it with my anger, but with my kindness (Romans 2:4).

I never really know what I am going to talk about when I give my time to a mission trip, or to mentoring, or to a prison weekend. I am constantly in prayer while I am sitting there listening to them. "God, what do you want me to say?" Sometimes, He reminds me of specific Bible verses that I've memorized. Sometimes, He reminds me of my successes. Many times, He wants me to tell of my failures. Although this is not my favorite thing to talk about, it is usually the thing that seems to have the best impact. I think they see me as just another sinner - instead of just another 'do-gooder' who has it all together and looks down on them.

You'd think that talking about my failures might make me feel down, but actually, the opposite is true. I walked out of that prison on the greatest high, singing His praises with incredible joy!! It is an indescribable feeling to know that you have obeyed God and been used by Him as His mouthpiece. I will GLADLY be a fool for Him - even if it means exposing my weaknesses to show His power and love to rescue the perishing.

I hope you will join me sometime so you can experience it too!

Prison - Day One

2008-11-14T19:32:00.000-08:00

Weekend of Champion Friends
What an incredible day! First, I got to reunite with an old 'WOC friend'. Donna was on her fifth weekend when I was on my first one to Austin in January 2005. She and I were instant friends - actually, we were more like instant sisters. During our long van rides to the prison, she listened and then counseled me about a very deep wound. We continued our friendship over the next year through email and three more prison weekends. Unfortunately, I haven't been on a prison weekend since December 2005, and so I have missed seeing Donna and other friends. Today, I was able to tell Donna face to face what her friendship has meant to me ever since our first meeting and how that deep wound has now healed so beautifully in a way only God could work.

Another WOC friend is Lori. Lori's first weekend was also my first. We were freshman together. Like most freshman, we were both scared. I was afraid of entering a prison as a first -timer, but she was afraid of entering it as an ex-con. I got the joy of hearing her story - how drugs caused her to risk not only her life, but the life of her young son. And how her mother never stopped praying for her - even praying her into the prison which saved her life. She had so much to overcome, but through Christ, all things are not only possible, but are VISIBLE in the life of my friend, Lori. Tonight, I got to see Lori and her mom again!

Awards
Tonight, Mark and I, along with many others, got special awards at the banquet! After five weekends, Bill Glass presents you with a cross made from real prison bars. The inscription on it reads, "I was in prison and you visited me." After ten weekends, you get a 10 pin. What an honor to be thanked for obeying God. Other awards given were for 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 weekends!! Wow!

Why I Will Keep Going to Prison!!!
I got to talk to several ladies at the Dawson State Jail today. They were extremely interested in what we had to say, and so as soon as my group of five teammates entered the pod, we split up and several inmates came to talk to us. One really cool part of my day was when a young lady came to ask me a question about the Sabbath. My family just happens to be memorizing the 10 Commandments right now, so I was already prepared by my Heavenly Father to answer her. I showed her where the commandments are located (Exodus 20) and zipped through the first three to get to the fourth, which is about the Sabbath. After that, she asked me to please read the rest! Then, she asked me if it was easy for me to become a Christian. I said, "Actually, for me it really was, and I will show you why! That is here in commandment number two, about idolatry." I proceeded to read to her: 'You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.'

She was crying when I looked up at her. I explained that it was easy for me to become a Christian, because my family has been blessed for a thousand generations because I have a heritage of loving God and keeping His commandments. I told her that as we were memorizing this, my girls said, "Mommy, it is not fair that God is punishing the children for the father's sin. They are innocent."

By now, tears were streaming down her face. I told her it isn't fair that her children are being punished for her sin. They are innocent too. She agreed. I told her that is just how sin is. It's terrible. BUT... the good news is right there!! It can stop with her generation! Her children can be blessed by God starting with her right now!!! And not just her children, but her children's children, and their children, and theirs for a thousand generations!!!!!!!!

This is why I must keep going to prison. Not for an award and not to see old friends, but because there are hurting people out there who need the truth. And they not only need it, they are ASKING for it. Jesus said it Himself in Luke 10:2-3, 'He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves."'

II Timothy 1:7 was prayed over me this morning, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." Not only did God give me the words to say today, He also took away that spirit of timidity that I was feeling last night! I guess I was a lamb among the wolves - but I was never in fear, because I was always in the hands of the Lamb who is worthy to receive honor and glory and power.

Prison Weekend

2008-11-13T20:56:00.000-08:00

So, I am going to prison again... tomorrow morning. This will be my fifth time to go on a Bill Glass Weekend of Champions (WOC) with the prison ministry. You would think that after four times, I would be at ease. Yeah, I thought that too. I was wrong. My mind is racing tonight and my stomach is practicing for the somersault championship! Once again, I am telling them both that I have no reason to be afraid. I always have a great time and it is such an incredible experience, not to mention the new friends I make. They are not listening.

So, it all started four years ago. Mark went on a WOC and came back telling me how great it was and saying I should go. "That is fine for you, but it is not for me. Trust me, God is not calling me to do that!"

Five months later, he went again, coming home with the same awesome stories. This time, he got down on one knee and asked if I would do something for him.

Oh, he is so sweet!!! "Anything for you, Baby," I replied.

"Go with me on the next Weekend of Champions!" he pleaded.

"SHUT UP! And don't ever ask me that again!" Where that anger came from, I didn't know, but I made it clear to him that I was not interested.

After his third time three months later, I instructed him NOT to ask me to go and he obliged. He only told me all the great stories, like how he got to lead several people to a faith in Jesus Christ, how it was so easy, how the platform speakers had such incredible testimonies that prepared the inmates' hearts and how all he had to do was to read the tract to them.

By now, God was snickering at me. He loves to see me squirm!! "Mark, I am going to tell you something, and I don't want you to say a word. I think that maybe, possibly, God might be telling me to go sometime."

Within minutes, Mark was on the computer, and I was signed up to go the next month. That was January of 2005. Since then, I have experienced the awesomeness of the event for myself!

That first day, I learned the best lesson ever, which I restudy before every mission trip! I came back to the hotel room and debriefed with Mark - telling him all about Pinky, the lady I met who was the closest to me in age and color and education... but that's where our similarities ended.

I spent a long time in prayer that night. I was at my wit's end! "I have nothing in common with any of these people," I told God. "I have nothing to offer them."

"Ahhh," said God. "Now you are getting it! You are right. You have nothing to offer them. Now, I can use you. Now go there tomorrow and offer them ME! I have what they need. Not you."

SPIRITUAL CALLER ID

2008-02-07T20:30:00.000-08:00

The phone rings and you check the Caller ID before answering. You certainly don't want to listen to any sales calls, or that person who is calling to yell at you, or whine to you, or ask you for something you don't have to give. The Bible tells us to test every thought to see if it is OK for us to think about.

2 Corinthians 10:5 says this: We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

I picture myself grabbing the thought on its way into my mind, like a bouncer at a bar. Then I frisk it like a policeman might search for a gun or other weapon. I ask it if is worthy to come in. Just like Philippians 4:8 says: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things.

If the thought is not true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy, then send it back to hell where it came from! DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE!

TEST IT!

So how do you know when God is talking to your heart? Do you hear an audible voice? Do you feel something strange inside? It is too important of a thing to be vague about! Here are five ways to test what you think you are hearing God say to you. Your answers may be ‘YES' or ‘NOT SURE', but if you answer ‘NO' to any of these questions, it is safe to say that it is not God's voice you are hearing!

Every time you see the word ‘it', replace it with what you think God is telling you to do.

1. Does it exalt Christ?
John 16:14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.

2. Is it Scriptural?
Proverbs 30:5-6 "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

3. Do other Christians confirm it?
Proverbs 15:22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

4. Does it produce good fruit?
John 15:1-16 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

5. Does God bring it to pass?
Isaiah 55:10-11 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Should Christians Judge Others' Sin?

2008-02-01T10:13:00.000-08:00

I Corinthians 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons.

Last week, my Sunday School class brought up an interesting topic. Should a church allow a new Christian to teach a 2-year-old Sunday School class while still living with her boyfriend?

I have to admit, I have argued both sides of this coin before!! Now, after many years of receiving God's grace and mercy, I, a wretched sinner, am not so quick to cast the first stone on any sinner. Although I do agree that church leaders must make judgments about who can serve in their churches.

The real question here is not about who should be allowed to teach Sunday school or work in the nursery or anything else. Our real hangup here is about sin and more specifically, what does this say about MY sin?!! And aren't we judging others by talking about their sin?

This points out two lies that the enemy is propagating - and it infuriates me that he continues to use Christians and churches of God to spread his lies!!!

Lie #1 - All sin is the same.
Truth - ALL SIN IS NOT THE SAME. We like to tell people that ANY sin earns them a ticket to hell, whether it's a small lie or a murder! While this is true (Romans 6:23 says "For the wages of sin is death..."), the Bible is still clear that all sin is NOT the same. (I Corinthians 6:18 says "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.") This verse clearly points out that sexual sin is worse than non-sexual sin. This is just one example.

Lie #2 - Christians shouldn't judge others.
Truth - CHRISTIANS SHOULD JUDGE OTHERS! We all quote the passage from Matthew 7:1, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." But do we look at it in context? What about I Corinthians 5 which clearly says we Christians ARE to judge those within the church. In fact, it says in verse 13 that we are to EXPEL the wicked man from the church!!! (go read the whole chapter!!)

Yes, we are a church full of sinners. And yes, we want other sinners to come and join us. But we need to tell them the TRUTH!! Daniel 4:27 tells us to "Renounce our sins by doing what is right." We need to teach this!! Yes, "Come just as you are...", but STOP sinning!!

Active sin is a symptom of a heart not having been changed by the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us this is how we know who the true children of God are!!! This requires judging others for ourselves!! I John 3:6-10 says "No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother."

I Peter 3:15-16 says "...Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." So I appreciate having to look this up for myself this week!!

My Man

2007-08-11T07:55:00.000-07:00

My man is a visionary
I thought he was just a dreamer
My man is not afraid
I thought he was just a risk-taker
My man is strong
I thought he was just forceful
My man is compassionate
I thought he was just a pushover
My man is a peacemaker
I thought he was just an appeaser
My man is patient
I thought he was just silent
My man is a heart-healer
I thought he was just a busybody
My man has integrity
I thought he was just self-righteous
My man is funny
I thought he was just a clown
My man is ambitious
I thought he was just power-loving
My man is honest
I thought he was just naive
My man is industrious
I thought he was just a workaholic
My man is generous
I thought he was just a sucker
My man is a friend to all
I thought he was just talkative
My man is calm amidst a storm
I thought he was just crazy
My man is a God-Pleaser
I thought he was just a religion-lover
My man is mine
It’s just the way you look at things
I love my man!

Carla Lindberg
11 August 2007

CD's for Mongolia

2007-04-12T12:28:00.000-07:00

Our family is trying to raise over $13,000 to go to Mongolia this summer. Recently, I made a Bible Drill CD for my brother's church to help the kids there learn their Bible verses through songs. Mark worked his magic on the disc and what came out of our printer was a very professional looking CD with awesome songs to boot! People who have been using the CD keep saying it is so good that we should sell it! Well, I never intended to make money from it. But then I realized this could be an awesome opportunity to help our family go to Mongolia!

I quickly began putting together all of the songs I have written over the years. I was able to put together two more CD's and even include a song written by our girls for my oldest sister when she went to Heaven last August. It is so precious! After only a couple of weeks selling these CD's, we have raised over $700! I find it incredibly humbling that God would use me and my songs (which are like pages from my diary - how humbling is that) to get us to Mongolia! I know I'm supposed to say something like, 'we are going to be able to bless the Mongolian people because people here have supported us so amazingly.' But the truth is, the Mongolian people are going to bless us! I know - I've been there before!! Last summer I was able to go and I cannot wait to get back and share my family with them, and especially to get to share my children with their children!!!

Just two weeks ago, God gave us an incredible confirmation to even bring our girls. One couple was giving a large amount to our church on our behalf. They told me that God began impressing on them that they needed to double the amount they were giving because they believe it is so important that our children go with us. They said that our girls will have a greater impact on the Mongolian children than we adults could. And furthermore, when we return, our girls will have a greater influence on American children regarding missions than any adult ever could! It was like God Himself was telling us, "Yes, I want you to take your children with you halfway around the world!" WOW!

OK, here's another WOW! My sister is using that Bible Drill CD with the children in her home church. Here is an amazing story she sent me about how God is using those little songs in a mighty way:
I want to tell you a story about using the bible verse songs you shared with me. I focused the kids on learning Genesis 1:31 starting 3 weeks ago. Two weeks ago, I let the kids volunteer to stand up individually to quote the verse. After a couple of kids volunteered, I noticed a girl in the back timidly raise her hand. (I hadn’t met her yet.) I instantly called on her and saw a visible reaction from the teacher she was sitting next to as well as the other children. (This was during our combined time with about 50 kids.) She very timidly got up and recited the verse perfectly. However, it was immediately apparent why everyone winced when I called upon her. She has a speech impediment and is developmentally disabled. One of the teachers came to me after with tears in her eyes and told me that this little girl had never said a word in the 2 years she had been attending the class. Last week when I asked for volunteers, her hand was the first to go up. I asked her to come to the front and stand by me to help remind the kids of the words. She walked up by me with as much confidence as you could have. When she was done, she beamed and jumped up and down and clapped for herself. I thought you would want to know how your gift is helping others in unintended ways. After church Sunday, her bible study teacher said she actually participated during her class. She attributed her change to her ability to focus and learn the bible verse with enough confidence to recite it in front of everyone. Thank you for sharing your gift with me and all of us at our church.

Isn't God amazing? He takes our feeble offerings and makes them into something beautiful. And it's always more than we could ever have imagined!

The Way Out of the Pit Isn't Up

2007-02-12T19:28:00.000-08:00

you won't believe this, but God just revealed the most amazing thing to me as I was just praying for someone else. I am still in awe as I realize how I almost missed the opportunity!!! (the call to be depressed again has been very great. I would have missed this if I had let it overtake my day.)

yesterday, I was almost back to the old despair again. this morning, I was summoning up all the power within me to try to overcome again. I knew that satan had succeeded in making me feel bad about my diet and exercise because my diet has been terrible since saturday and my exercise has been nonexistant practically since I first began my new walking routine in january! so this morning, I got up ready to go walk and realized mark was leaving for a meeting - I couldn't go! I can't leave the girls - even if they are asleep. well, the enemy wasn't going to steal a victory that easily - no matter how much I hate mornings, and no matter how much I hate exercising. fortunately, the Holy Spirit reminded about my step videos. I haven't done them since I was pregnant!!!! I used to LOVE them and did them almost faithfully for years. ok - anyway, I did it. and I felt physically and emotionally great afterwards. wow - a small victory, but one definately worth the drudgery of waking up and the pain of exercising.

think about it, I beg God all day, every day, to help me feel better. and really, all it takes is getting my fat butt out of bed and exercising! ok - there has got to be some motivation there for me somewhere. I probably won't find it, though. I'll probably face the same hesitance tomorrow, but I still REFUSE to let the enemy win simply by my FORFEITING the game.

ok, so on to what just happened... I was praying for my friend and not having a clue where each word was heading, and God took me to the greatest revelation not only for her, but for ME TOO, as I find myself in a pit so often these days!!! ok, enough blabber, here's the prayer I prayed. may it be a revelation to you too.

I was praying Luke 24.45 (Then he [Jesus] opened their minds so they [the disciples] could understand the Scriptures.) for her:

"Dear God, please open her mind to Your truth. Help her today as she studies Your Word to understand your plan for her life. Bring other scipture to her mind today and reveal to her the opening is not at the top of the pit -- but at the bottom."

Wow! we've been looking the wrong direction for the way out! it is not to get out of the fire, but to walk THROUGH it with Him! just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did in Daniel chapter 3.

How United 93 and Beth Moore Changed My Life

2007-01-15T19:18:00.000-08:00

Well, it really began just after Carol died, terrible depression. It was everything you don’t want to talk about. It’s worse than cancer. It’s embarrassing. It’s guilty. It’s shameful. It’s hopeless. It’s heavy, smothering. Sad. So sad. Sometimes for no reason. It’s helpless. No one can help. Nothing can be done. Nothing will ever change. I will never feel any differently.

This went on for a couple of months. Daily, I went to the Lord. Just take me home. I’m no use here anymore. I’m just making others upset too. Daily, He gave me strength, no, a command - “Keep going.”

I clung to anything He sent me. My husband and best friend who said, “No one is leaving. We are a family and we are staying with you on this.” II Corinthians1.3 that says that He is the God of all comfort and that He wants to comfort me and that I am to take that comfort and comfort others. He knew this would be hard for me and yet He let me go through it. He is just waiting to comfort me from His storehouse of comfort.

“But this is too hard! I QUIT!!!!” The feelings are overwhelming. Way too much for me to deal with. I was tired of trying so hard not to feel so bad. I was running to the cross every day screaming, “Why am I running here? I’ve already been saved!” I didn’t know where else to go. The pain was unbearable. My emotions were on overload. It was like a stereo turned up past the feedback level for days, months. No escape.

God chastened me and said I can’t quit. The job (life) I have was given me by Him and only He can say, “Well done, you’re done!” My employee manual lays out specifically my job description in II Corinthians 5 - Christ gave me the ministry of reconciliation. OK, I can do that on a mission trip, but what about everyday life?! Who am I ministering to then? And of course, the answer came - my family. But they are already saved! So how do I minister to them? By serving and encouraging. Yes, pick up after them. Yes, even though you just did it this morning. And encourage them to learn what they are to learn. Encourage.

OK, a couple of months now of serving and encouraging have gone by. My actions have changed. My attitudes mostly have. My feelings partly have. And then we saw “United 93”. If you haven’t seen it, please do. The parable was perfect timing for me. And it is true for every Christian.

The enemy has come to hijack your life. He will lie to you and make you think you will live, but you will die - it is inevitable. If you know the truth, like those on United 93 came to know, then the lie has no hold on you. Actually, death has no hold on you anymore either. You come to realize that maybe you are living for such a time as this. You can sit in a back seat crying because of the horrific thing the enemy is doing to you, or you can get out of your chair and fight back and do a heroic thing to those around you (and yourself while you’re at it).

I just happened to have seen Beth Moore’s introduction video to the Daniel study the day before (God’s perfect planning). When Daniel was taken to Babylon, he chose not to let Babylon infect him. By standing up for His God, he actually infected Babylon. And so, Beth had me ask the question, “As I live in this world, will it indoctrinate me or will I indoctrincate it?”

God echoed that question after the movie, “Will you stay curled up, crying because of the way the world has affected you or will you stand up and affect the world? ‘Cuz either way, you’re going to die - when I say so!”

My Greatest Memory From Mongolia

2006-06-12T19:32:00.000-07:00

It began in Sant, a very poor village about 100 kilometers away from Darkhan. I had never seen poverty like this. Not even on TV. It's different when you are actually there. Gary, Janna, and I delivered food to five families. Each of them had very different but very emotional responses. Two of them cried the whole time we were there. Two of them smiled and told us they would never forget this day. One was bedridden but insisted on sitting up when we offered to pray for him. They all thanked us over and over for bringing this food.

I cannot accept this thanks, I thought. It's not my food to give. I didn't pay for it. It cost me nothing to bring it. I was overcome with unworthiness. I can't accept it. Yet I couldn't tell them that - even with a translator - so I said, "You're welcome."

But I couldn't get over my feelings. All night long, it bothered me that I accepted their thanks. All night long I wondered how long that bag of soup would last. How many muffins would their mix make? And how many servings of beans were in that can? Did they even own a can-opener? Would someone else come and give them more food before it ran out? Would they be worthy to receive thanks?

It was then, in my most broken-hearted state, that God was able to teach me. "It is OK to feel like this. Actually this is exactly how you should feel everyday that you carry My Name around. You are completely unworthy. It cost you nothing to become my child. Yet it cost Me everything."

Unworthy - that is me. Unworthy to receive thanks. Unworthy to be called a Christian. Unworthy to have been born into a two-parent family. Unworthy to have all of my needs met every day of my life. Unworthy to have been born in America. Unworthy.

Before Mongolia, I was proud. Now, I realize I was never worthy to begin with. Now I am just grateful. Overwhelmingly grateful. And I cannot forget how I learned this. And I cannot forget the people of Mongolia. I cannot forget that they still don't have all of their needs met - and that God can use me, unworthy as I am, to make a difference in their lives.

Be Bold... because God said so!

2005-09-04T22:17:00.000-07:00

"Carla, I think they need a piano player. Go tell them you'll play!"

...but I'm just a participant here.
...I don't even know them.
...I don't want them to think I'm a show-off.
...they didn't ask me.

I have a million reasons to say 'no' to my husband. There's just one problem. That's the very thing God has been teaching me this year - to follow my husband. He has given Mark the vision for our family, not me. I am to listen to him and follow him as if he were my lord. (Ephesians 5.22) But that's another blog for another day.

So, I say 'yes' and I am the one to receive the incredible blessing of getting to praise my Lord on the keyboard and with my voice at our 2005 AIM Staff Conference. Then, to my surprise, I hear comments from my new AIM family saying that I blessed them. Incredible. How can God orchestrate something just for me and just for someone else at the same time? He is simply amazing. I love how intricately He has woven our lives together and how, at the same time, our lives may have nothing to do with one another.... It's really quite perplexing how it's all about me even though it's really all about Him.

Well, that's when the best part came. George, the worship leader that night, gave me the most brilliant insight. He gave me the freedom to become bold. No, the command to be bold. Here is what he told me:

When God annoints me to do something, He gives me the authority to do it. But I must do it with confidence. Take, for example, the worst sinner in the world. If he does the worst sins in the world, but he does them with confidence, people will follow him. So if God has annointed me and given me the authority in a situation, I must do it with confidence!

When looking for confirmation, I found the phrase, "Be strong and courageous" eleven times in the Bible. Wow!! How did I miss a thing so important that God said it not once, not twice, but eleven times?!

Now I know how to respond to God's daily guidance - with strength and confidence! (Unlike Moses' first example in Exodus 4.10-13.) I can already hear you asking, "Yea, but how do you know if it's God's guidance and not your own idea, or worse yet, the enemy's idea?" Well, that's where the ATL (Ask The Lord) and asking for confirmation comes in. But that blog will have to wait until tomorrow!

The Story of Tori

2004-02-26T19:48:00.000-08:00

All day Tuesday, Tori had a low-grade fever and a sore on her gum. The bump grew larger and more painful and her face began to swell. By Wednesday morning, I knew something was wrong since the entire left side of her face was swollen and her temperature was finally over 100. Not knowing whether to go to the dentist or pediatrician, I called the nurse who said to come on now. We got in at our doctor at 1030 and by 1130, we were headed to the hospital (talk about shock!... you mean I'm going to the hospital? now?). My doctor said that infections can be life-threatening, so this was nothing to mess with. He told me he believed it was an abcess and that it would have to be drained (surgically) and that we would be at the hospital for a few days.

Mark met us as we were filling out papers at admissions. Good timing as Tori was starting to get REALLY scared. She had heard the words 'surgery' and 'drain the abcess' and was starting to really freak out. Daddys make great comforters!

At 1230 she got her IV. This was very scary for both of us. It was pretty hard - but she got through it and they even said she was very tough. She thought she was pretty wimpy, but they assured her that sometimes even grown men cry and that most boys/men are overall more wimpy than girls. (sorry guys...)

Next came a visit from friends and then a flower/stuffed animal delivery which both made Tori's day!!! I promise to go visit any of you if you end up in a hospital room! It makes all the difference in the world!! Thanks to all of you who did this for us :)

After that Mark left to get things ready to spend a few days and Tori and I began waiting for the CAT scan. After several books and a movie, they came for her at 330. I called Mark to let him know we were going in and he told Tori this would be a piece of cake. It was - and even Fuzzy got to do it with her!

After a few more books (530), the doctor came in to say that the films looked normal, so there was no abcess and there would be no surgery, but we would be staying for several more days, maybe til Monday for IV antibiotics. We rejoiced over the no surgery part and started calling people.

Then, at 630, the 2 ENT specialists came in and told us that it IS an abcess and she DOES need surgery, so it was scheduled for 715. (they said it was just small on the films... kinda fuzzie)

Well, later, after eating ice cream, Tori's bump started to bleed a little. I noticed that it wasn't just blood and her face lit up at the realization that it was draining itself! She immediately said she was praying it would drain completely by 715am so they could just cancel the surgery. But I told her that wasn't likely. And we all went to bed. (my brother took Kaylie home so Mark got to stay too - yippee!)

At 7am this morning, they wheeled Tori to the holding room with all the other 'bodies' - it was a strange experience. Just before Tori woke up, I had been trying to think of something profound to say to her before she would go in the OR - like on Madeline when Ms. Clavell said, 'you can do anything.' Now, we were wheeling her down the hall and I had forgotten about being profound - I was only thinking that my baby girl might be afraid. Then Mark said, "You know what to do" and Tori said "Yep". Clueless me said, "What?" and Tori answered, "Cast your cares upon Him for He cares for you." I Peter 5:7. Thank you God for caring for my baby. and for me. and for Mark. and for Kaylie. Thank you that we have a place to throw down these heavy weights.

After meeting the anesthesiologist and nurses and doing prep stuff, the doctor came in and we all said our good mornings. He asked how Tori was and she told him it had been draining. He suddenly got excited and took a quick look and said "Then let's cancel this! We don't need to spend this money."

All I'm thinking is - No Way!!!! That was just a childish idea, nothing but a hope, a prayer.... But you know what? It was an ANSWERED CHILDISH PRAYER!!

The doctor wrote in her chart as we all stood amazed - then he even wrote discharge orders. Mark bent over Tori and we all thanked God together. We were back in the room by 730 - who can we call this early???!! We were excited! Of course we didn't really get to leave until 10 - but what did we care - NO SURGERY!!!!

After Mark went to work, we just had to wait to actually be discharged. At one point, Tori and I were just sitting together on the bed and Tori broke out into song - 'Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice'. And then, in a little while, 'God is So Good', being sure to sing the 'He answers prayer' verse, and 'I love Him so'. What a precious time.

After visiting the room where Tori was born, we headed home for a short while. She had a dentist appointment at 130. My dentist doesn't let mommies go back, so this was very hard for the two of us who had spent the last 24 hours together - through theinitial shock, the IV, the CAT scan, down the long hallway to surgery - and now I have to wait with the other mothers... the one's whose kids are just getting their teeth cleaned.

I was worried as ever now. What were they doing to her? Were they pulling the tooth? Were they being careful around her sore? Was she OK? Did she need me? Was she in pain? I was about to go nuts and for some strange reason (this never happens), I didn't have a book. I eventually succumbed to reading an article about the superbowl halftime show. I almost puked - even though the article was agreeing that it was planned and wrong.

I couldn't take it anymore and asked the next hygenist I saw if she would check on Tori. A few minutes later, now 230, they called me back. When Tori saw me, she came running to me crying. I couldn't help it, I started crying too. She said, "He pulled my tooth and it wasn't even numb!!" At that moment, I remembered the ENT's telling me that the pus inside an abcess is so acidic that it somehow keeps the nerves from accepting a local anesthetic. OH MY -- SHE TRULY FELT THE WHOLE THING!!!!!!! We were both crumpled heaps crying in the middle of the dentist's work area. I was a little embarrassed that I'm the mother, supposed to be helping my child and here I am crying with her. I explained to the hygenists and the dentist that we had had a hard day! We got out of there as fast as possible and headed home. We planned our rehabilitation: an Oreo Shake from Jack-in-the-Box and a trip to her cousin Kimberly's house to play and then take Kaylie home!

But before we could start rehab, we were still falling apart inside, both just needing to cry. As we were gathering things to take on the trip, I realized this and called Tori over to my lap and we just rocked and prayed. We reminded ourselves and God that although we felt terrible and weak, we had NOT forgotten what He had done for us that morning. We STILL rejoice!! We STILL sing God is So Good. And we STILL know where our help comes from - even when we just want to cry.

And then we were off - at 345 - we left our heavy weights and began our rehab. And it was perfect. And I watched my baby play and smile and run around with her cousins. And now we're home. And all is well.

I told my sister-in-law that I feel like a new mommy with a new baby... kinda hard to let her out of my sight. I want to know she's ok. no fever. no pain. no swelling. Guess I've got some more weights to lay down....

Thank You God for holding us in Your hands. Thank You for friends that lift us up in prayer and make such a hard thing not as unbearable as we think. Thank You God for caring for Tori.

The Lindberg Saga

2003-09-29T19:50:00.000-07:00

It all started early last year, January 2002. Mark began telling me about his desire to get back into teaching. I hoped this would pass. But he couldn’t shake the feeling that God had something different for him, so he began praying for that. I didn’t really hear more about it until June of 2003, when Mark told me he had been begging God to steer us. God said it’s hard to steer if the car is in park. That day, Mark came home saying it’s time to put it in gear and let God direct our paths (Proverb 3:5-6). He felt the first step God was leading us to take was to put our house on the market. He also told me that he believed that God had told him that his future was not at DART. We began to get excited, dreaming about the new house God was planning for us. Would it be big? have a pool? have room for a horse? be in the country? be in Texas? What about a new job? would it just fall in our laps as DART had? We were dreaming big!

Next, we met with our realator to take the first step. The first step, it appears, is getting the house ready to be put on the market. That means cleaning it up. “But it’s as clean as it’s going to get!!” I said, “there’s no where to put all of this stuff - hence the need for a bigger house.” His advice was to begin packing, since we’re moving anyway. So, the packing began...

Then, the overwhelming waves began crashing all around. I’m no good at cleaning, at organizing a home, at teaching my children to clean and organize. I’ll be the only one cleaning, organizing, sorting, packing, moving... This will NEVER get done!! We’ll NEVER get it clean. We’ll NEVER put it on the market. We’ll NEVER sell it. We’ll NEVER move. We’ll have to live here FOREVER and DIE in this little house!! Then, God spoke to me so clearly - “I didn’t call you to the future, but only to the present. And all I’ve asked you to do today is clean it up and pack it up.” Oh.... ok. (Obedience is better than sacrifice.)

Of course, around the same time (July 2003), God was calling me to a closer walk with him. It all started with Beth Moore talking about her passionate love for Jesus. I was intrigued with her words. I had known Jesus for 30 years and didn’t talk about him the way she did. I asked our Bible study group if any of them felt the way she did. Only one said yes. Later, she shared with me that her relationship with God changed dramatically when she separated her Bible study from her quiet time. The thought had never really occurred to me. Every Bible study I did was another notch in my belt. Bible study is a real passion of mine. I love getting lost in His Word and finding little jewels and treasures hidden in the text for any who would pursue them. (I’m just realizing that I talked about Bible study the way Beth Moore talked about Jesus.) So, no changes in my ‘quiet time’ - yet.

By early-August, I was fed up with life. What’s the point? I secretly wondered. We get up, do the same things every day, nothing ever changes, and it needs to!! Life of earth is ‘crap’. Sin abounds, even in our churches, even in our own ‘holy’ lives. I had all I wanted of this world. Then Mark and I went to a marriage retreat on August 9 and 10 where I confessed this to him and found that he, too, was struggling with what we both decided was depression. We came to the conclusion that this was because we had reached all of our goals. We had achieved everything we had ever striven for. We were married, built a house, bought 2 cars, a computer, a grand piano, had 2 successful teaching careers (Mark’s dream job), and now an even better job (Mark’s fantasy job), had 2 beautiful daughters, who were turning out perfectly.... So now what? I wondered to Mark. He said, we set new goals - but not the kind that man can say we’ve reached. He wants the goals that only God can say, well done. Enter into my rest you good and faithful servant.

So we began brainstorming. We listed every goal we could think of. Every goal we could ever aspire to. Things like - knowing and being exactly where God wants us to be at all times and being a missionary family (not missionaries, but a family whose goal is to share Jesus with everyone we encounter). At the end of our brainstorming, our list was quite big - too overwhelming for me to keep them all, so we narrowed them down into two pots, just as Jesus boiled down the 10 commandments into 2 main ones. And ironically, ours sound very much like Jesus’. Family goal #1 - Serve God and family goal #2 - Serve others.

Right away, I set out to run for the prize. I was going to serve God. And that meant making Him the very ‘air I breathe’. What does that mean? I wondered. And that was the day I made the commitment to spend time on my knees every morning in a quiet time - separate from my Bible study time. I told God that if He wasn’t going to be the air I breathe, then I don’t want air.

The Day

2001-03-22T19:53:00.000-08:00

It's now Thursday morning, the day after "The Day." You won't believe what I am about to write, so let me begin by stealing Dave Barry's line, "and I am not making this up!" Honest!

So, yesterday, we went to the zoo with our friends. On our way home, we saw a wreck literally right in front of us. I watched in horror as a truck went from the far left lane across my lane and then across the other 4 lanes of traffic, attempting not to miss his exit, I suppose. I pointed him out to the girls, who, by the way were being perfect, thank goodness - so I was really concentrating on my driving - , "Look at that guy, he's going to get somebody in a wreck." And sure enough he did.

On his last lane, he bumped a little white car which then started careening left across all 6 lanes of the freeway. By now, I had slowed down, watching it all and remembering how my daddy taught me to drive defensively (which basically to me means, "See that car, what would you do if he was going to run into you?") So now, this little car is crossing in front of me and hits the car in the lane to the left of me. This is a red jeep or something. Those 2 cars are sliding down the freeway against the rail right next to me. Of course I am really going slow now, and then the jeep starts going "up and down and up and down" in Kaylie's words. It rolled at least 2 and 1/2 times and landed in my lane on the roof. And while it's rolling, I am watching stuffed animals and a stroller come pouring out of the windows.

When I was sure all traffic was stopped, I told the girls to pray and not to be scared, we were perfectly safe, but I had to go see if I could help the baby in that car. I watched the mom crawl out of the passenger window and run around the car (to get her child) and I also saw 5 men running to her car to help and at least 2 people standing out of their cars on their cell phones. I picked up the stuffed animals and the stroller and started towards the car. One of the men came towards me to get the stroller. "Is the baby okay?" I asked. "Yes, he's fine."

Now, I'm almost bawling, but I continue on and give the boy his animals. He's standing with a chicken nugget in his hand by his mother who's on the phone. He was crying and I was trying hard not to. They were fine and suddenly I noticed my van sitting in the middle of a freeway that was now moving. And my girls are in there!!!

Deciding that they had plenty of help, I went back to move my van. I never found out how anyone else was.

We were really shaken, but grateful that the mother and baby were not hurt, and also grateful that we were not involved - as we certainly could have been! The girls wanted to call their daddy and tell him all about it. After he heard the story, he said when he got home, he would take us out to dinner and I didn't have to worry about getting anything ready. So, when he came home, we headed to Chik-fil-a. After eating, the girls were playing outside on their playground. When Mark and I came out to see them, I saw them and said, "Run to your daddy," which they did. Unfortunately, a boy was running the opposite direction and ran right into Kaylie, knocking her down into the window ledge - which has a very sharp metal edge. As I was holding her, I noticed the blood on her head and then saw the cut. It was about 1 inch long and was opened pretty bad (we thought).

So, we called our doctor's office (this was about 7 at night) and he sent us to the emergency room. On our way there, (and let me remind you I am NOT making this up), we got a flat tire. We could see the hospital and Mark thought we would just drive on it until I assured him that a few minutes wouldn't matter that much. I was keeping ice on it and she was crying, but not because it hurt. She was crying because she did not want to go to the hospital. At one point, she even tried to convince me, "my boo-boo is all better, Mommy."

Eventually we made it to the hospital. We were seen immediately and told that she would definately need staples (that's easier for wiggley kids, he said.) Then we waited a long time for them to take us back. They numbed the wound and the surrounding area with a blue liquid and wrapped up her head like a little indian girl. Then, we had to wait 30 minutes for it to get very numb.

While we were waiting, Tori and Kaylie played doctor/patient. Each taking turns at each role. It was fun watching Kaylie lying on the bed (which she didn't even do for the doctor) and Tori asking her what was wrong. Kaylie would tell the same story we did just minutes before and Tori would tell her the same diagnosis we had just heard. It was funny! Then, when it was Tori's turn to be the patient, Kaylie would ask her what's wrong and Tori would say, "I have pink eye." (She really does - she got it in California - that and an ear infection. She's all better, but still has to take her antibiotic, which she loves because it is bubblegum flavor.) So anyway, they would go through the same dialogue and we were amazed to see the accuracy of their diagnoses and treatments!

Finally, the doctor came in (actually a nurse practitioner, but we didn't care, he was great with Kaylie) and won her over. Then he told us we would have to hold her down and she would probably scream and kick, because all kids did, even the calm ones. He asked if she was a calm one. We laughed.

So, I sat on the bed and held her in my lap. Mark held her hand and I wrapped my arms around her and watched. (Why did I do that?) He had to push down on her head with the stapler and that is the part that scared her and hurt her a little. The wound was numb, so she wasn't feeling that, but the pressure and her nervousness made her cry. She did not scream or kick, or even move for that matter. She just whimpered. We were so proud of her for being so brave! When I told her how brave she was, she said "No I wasn't, I cried." I tried to convince her that even brave girls cry a little and she certainly was brave!

We got home at 9:30 and The Day was finally over. I had to wake her at 3am, per doctor's instructions. That was a hard task. I finally sat her up and she said, "I want to go to sleep." So I asked her her name and she replied "Kaylie." Then I asked her my name and as sarcastically as she could, she said "Carla." So I tucked her in and went to bed in peace!

Now, she is tap-dancing in the front hall with Tori and asking me to play the piano for them, so I must go......