Lost In the Prairies.....Found by God

This week I was tagged by my funny and crazy bloggy friend Kela at Pursuing What is Excellent.  The idea is to write 7 random things that no one knows about you and write them out.  I'm also going to use this chance to answer some the random questions that people asked in the Being Honest  blog.  What a better place to do all this but in Caffeinated Randomness.

1.  I've always dreamed of going abroad.  I' have really always wanted to see the art and architecture that I have only been able to see in books or movies.  I was going to major in Art History, but I took a legal secretarial course instead.  If I win the lottery, I'm going to tour all the major museums of Europe.  Unfortunately, I don't think my family would enjoy it as much as me.  I once was privileged to see the Night Watch by Rembrandt and had to be dragged away after 30 minutes of viewing it from every angle I could.  It was amazing.

2.  Someone asked what I struggle most with as a parent?   What's my greatest strength?   I struggle with the not knowing.  We are currently on a waiting list to have our middle man developmentally assessed.  There may be some hope in the future as our local Autism Services have advised us that they can do a preliminary diagnosis on him as to whether he is or isn't autistic.  The not knowing, how to help him, where to find help, what to do, what's he saying, why won't he potty train, is exhausting and there are many days I want to give up and bang my head on a wall.  There's also the not knowing if I'm raising my daughter the way I should or have I spent enough "quality" time with the baby.  Parenting, not matter what the situation is, is a series of unknowns and a lot of hopes.  I guess that's where my greatest strength would lie in parenting - the knowing where my hope comes from and relying on that hope.

3.  If I was having coffee at Starbucks (Where else would I go?) with my spiritual hero, who would that be and what would we chat about.   Of course it would Liz Curtis Higgs and we would probably be chatting about a whole range of things, from our testimonies, God's grace, which of Jacob's wives we prefer (my vote is for Leah) and all things Scottish. 

4.  For a person raised on the West Coast of Canada, which is Salmon capital, I hate salmon.  I know one shouldn't say they hate it., but really I do.  I can't stand it.  I've had people try to foist it on me from casseroles to sushi and really people I can tell.  I would just prefer eating a shriveled hot dog on the barbecue than eat any salmon (this is actually what I ate while my family dined on fresh barbecued salmon.)

7.  There is one fear that no matter what, I can't get rid of - my fear of heights.  I hate them.  When we go into the mountains, I have to advert my eyes away from the side of the road so that I don't realize how high we are.  I do not get out of the car in those photo op sites to see the view, as a chain link fence is not enough to keep me safe.  I went to Disneyland 7 years ago with my hubby wanting to go on the roller coaster in California Disney.  I had a mantra - Disney does not want to kill me.  I took one look at the ride and told my husband to go in the line up for single riders.  I couldn't do it.  When we went with our family, my daughter (who was 4 at the time) had to hold my hand in Splash Mountain and tell me it was ok.  I am that afraid.  

Now the nice thing about this 7 Things is that I get to tagg 7 people to particpate. 

@Andrea - Under Grace Over Coffee

@Jen - Finding Heaven

@Natalie - Mommy on Fire

@Linda - Joy in the Journey

@Erin - It's Grace

@Bobbi - Blogging Along

@Kendal - A Spacious Place (I also want to know how she puts this in prose)

I'm sitting here on Thursday afternoon waiting for my daughter to get home from school, so she can tidy the room I organized (goal #3).  I've just finished working out on the treadmill (Goal #2) and after writing this I'm planning on doing my daily reading for the Bible in 90 Days Challenge (Goal #1).  I started the 3 in 30 to work on things that I been wanting to do, but not making them resolutions and thus dragging me down when I don't do them.  I wanted these things to become habits.  They say if you do something for 12 days it becomes a habit.  I don't think I've ever done anything that I planned to do (ok, laundry doesn't count) for more than 12 days.  

Since purchasing the treadmill a year ago, it has mostly sat in my laundry room all alone and unused.  Oh, it was used as a clothes dryer or laundry sorter, but it wasn't used as it was supposed to be used.  Participating in the 3 in 30 has forced me to find a time to work out daily.  Something I have always wanted to do.  I found that walking the treadmill once the little guy goes for a nap, worked great.  I've mostly kept it up.  There were a few times where I didn't do it as we were out, however, I then decided to work out on a Saturday morning as Saturday's around here are pretty lazy.   Just last week I heard that adults are supposed to work out for 30 minutes a day/5 days a week.  That was my original goal and I've done it.  As well, I have a habit.  It has cut down on my phone time, but I've caught up on my reading (ok, audiobook listening).  I've also found that I've managed to lose some weight and have, for the most part, kept it off (don't ask about the cookie dough day).  

I've kept up with my daily reading for the Bible in 90 Days.  I'm still struggling to find a time to fit it in, but I have been keeping up.  I did fall behind last weekend, but caught up quickly.  I now have a Bible on both floors of the house available so that when I catch some time I do some reading.  This has helped.  As well, on a typical Thursday morning the middleman is in preschool, I've been doing catch up or reading ahead (except for today, thanks to a field trip).  I've come to enjoy these quiet Thursday mornings with my Bible. 

As I wrote last week, Nicole's room was organized and I'm still struggling to have her keep it clean.  I'm annoyed by the constant badgering, but from talking to my friends they have the same battle.  

I'm enjoying doing the 3in30.  After thinking about them, I think my goals for February will be:

North Korean border guards kill five defectors  (Source: Seoul USA)

Five North Koreans were shot dead and two others wounded by North Korean border guards on the Chinese side of the border when they tried to flee North Korea, a source said January 9. The high-level source in Changbai in the Chinese province of Jilin said the seven individuals left Hyesan, Yanggang Province, and walked across the frozen Apnok (or Yalu) River and reached the Chinese side on December 14. Five of them died instantly under intense gunfire by North Korean border guards who ran after them. The two others were wounded and taken to the North.

North Korean border guards have never before shot at defectors once they reached the Chinese side. Observers say guards must have new instructions for dealing with defectors. Leader Kim Jong Il's son and heir, Kim Jong Un, has apparently ordered border guards to shoot anyone who crosses the border rivers without permission. He also reportedly said he would not tolerate defectors crossing the border. Reportedly, North Korean border guards are now armed with an AK-47 rifles with 40 reserve shells and hand grenades.

While there is no reason to suspect that those who were killed were Christian, certainly everyone who crosses the border illegally will be impacted by this shocking change in security measures. In the upcoming February 2011 VOM newsletter, you will meet Sister Yang, a North Korean defector, and hear of her life of hardship and her encounter with Jesus Christ.

Please pray that believers in North Korea who follow Jesus at great risk and living in hopelessness in this restrictive nation will find hope in Christ.

Pray for all those in authority in this nation; ask the Lord to open their eyes to the wisdom, compassion and the light of the gospel.

Pray Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un will repent of their evil deeds and turn to Jesus for forgiveness.