Sabbath rest

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Today was a lovely day. It rained, sprinkled, misted, and rained some more. I’m not sure I’ll still be saying this after several months in Washington, but I love this weather!

We stayed home today and relaxed, watching over Bruno to make sure he’s ok after his surgery yesterday. One of the beautiful side effects of his pain medication is sleepiness. His sleepiness allowed us to sleep more than normal, since he wasn’t trying to get us up at 4AM. I think I slept almost 11 hours straight last night and needed every minute of it.

I continued on the Bible in 90 Days reading plan. Today I read a large chunk of Ezekiel. I have some thoughts on this session but I’m not sure I’m ready to write a post about it. It’s a lot of reading every day and I am looking forward to finishing. Then I can spend more time studying something in the Bible rather than racing through it.

And, this may be crazy, but I am contemplating participating in National Novel Writing Month. I haven’t decided yet. It’s next month and I won’t be done with the Bible in 90 Days reading until right before Thanksgiving. I’m not sure if I should add writing a novel in 30 days to my plate but I am tempted. Still pondering that one…

Well, I’m off to give Bruno his pain meds and then to read for a bit before bed. I hope you all have a great weekend!

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First spelunking trip – in photos!

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Starting up the trail

We’re hiking up there?

Almost to the cave!

Climbing down through the cave entrance

Hubby looking amazing

Tiny tunnel I was crazy enough to crawl through

What’s on the ceiling?

Cool formations!

Massive stalagmite

It’s taller than I am!

Most of the spelunking group

Light at the end of the tunnel

Colorful bug

Hubby and I at the top of the trail

View from the top

Hiking back down

Souvenirs!

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First Preparation Day of the new year

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Today is the first Friday of 2011, thus the first Preparation Day of the year. I really enjoyed beginning 2011 with the Sabbath last week. It was a great start to a new year, a chance to spend the day with God.

I like to peacefully enter the Sabbath rather than breathlessly sliding into it. Most weeks, I am not prepared for the Sabbath in advance and spend the last half hour before sundown rushing around. That is something I am trying very hard to change.

This morning, I woke up at 6:30 and had Bible study. Then I got to work. Before breakfast, I had already scrubbed down the bathroom, cleaned the kitchen, and vacuumed the apartment. Then I exercised, ate breakfast, and wondered what to do with the rest of my day! I spent a lot of time studying Japanese, working on a menu for next week, and a few other things.

But now sundown is in 40 minutes, dinner is in progress, and the house is clean! It’s a great feeling to realize that I don’t have to rush to be ready for the Sabbath. Having an entire day to rest and spend with God is such a blessing! I know I’ve said it before, but it’s true. If anyone reading this is interested, try setting aside the entire day to go to church, rest, and spend with God. He will bless you for the time you spend with Him!

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Sabbath is almost here!

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I am so happy that today is Friday and that it is almost sundown. Aaaah, an entire day of rest. No worries, no work, no pressure. Just an entire day to spend in close relationship with God and with my husband.

Friday is rightly called Preparation Day. Luke 23:54 says that “it was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.” Amen and amen! Today was all about preparing for the Sabbath and I am very blessed with how much I was able to accomplish.

I followed my normal morning routine of Bible reading, exercise, and breakfast. Then it was time for work! I surface cleaned the kitchen, emptied the dishwasher in prep for tomorrow’s dishes, vacuumed, cleaned the cat boxes, scrubbed down the bathroom, wrote out next week’s menu and shopping list, wrapped the birthday present for tomorrow night’s party (my niece turned eight this year!), washed/dried/folded/ironed three loads of laundry, and picked up around the living room. Somehow, I also managed to squeeze in an entire hour of Japanese study!

The only thing I was unable to accomplish was preparing tomorrow’s lunch meal. It wasn’t a lack of time or energy but a lack of planning ahead and having nothing on hand to make in advance. It looks like we’ll be eating ramen after church.

Just for fun, here is Luke 23:54 in Japanese. I don’t yet understand all of this sentence (maybe 25%), but I’ll get there!

この日は準備の日であって、安息日が始まりかけていた。

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Where did it go?

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The day escaped me! I was very busy with both work and housework. But it’s Sabbath now! Blessed, blessed Sabbath. The day of rest.

Tomorrow we’re visiting a church that we’ve been to before but can’t seem to visit when the pastor is speaking. Maybe we’ll be lucky tomorrow!

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Time with God

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I’m so glad the weekend is here, especially the Sabbath. I love taking 24 hours off to rest with God.

I’ll be back next week with more uplifting posts. This time with God tonight and tomorrow will be uplifting and faith building. I can tell it’s going to be a great day. 🙂

But he led His own people like a flock of sheep,
guiding them safely through the wilderness
(Psalm 78:52, NLT).

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