A hearty breakfast to begin our day.
I personally believe this is much better than Ben & Jerry's ice cream. :-)
I have over 60 books sitting on top of my bookshelf since last year screaming my name to be read. So I took the easiest 3, which were these last night and read them. Those 2 books at the end were done in the 1950's or 1960's. :-)
Saturday tidings to you all! My Saturday is going well and I hope yours is too.
I actually got a good night's sleep for which I am thankful for.
After breakfast and doing dishes one of Robert's friends from his old unit was kind enough to take us to the store so we can get a few groceries. She didn't mind at all and we were greatful for her kindness.
I was amazed at how bare how commissary has become. Empty shelves, empty freezers....and they had no baking soda! I need baking soda!!!! Ugh... Oh well. I guess I will have to work around that.
I still have laundry to do, floors to sweep, things to pick up and dishes to do before I grab another book from the bookshelf.
Oh!!!!!!! We closed on our house yesterday!!! Wooohooo! We got the paperwork signed and notorized and wired the money to the title company and so now you can call us homeowners!
Too bad we aren't in Texas to celebrate! Oh well, we will be there soon enough. Ya'll keeping count with me with the countdown on the side of my blog? :-)
I love to penpal. Been doing it since I was 13 years old! Over the past year and a half I stopped though as I just haven't felt up to it. But, for all my penpals that read this blog, I will start up again when I get to Texas. I still have all your letters neatly in a pile screaming at me to answer them :)
Anyway, there is this one woman I began penpalling with in 2003 I believe. We will call her "L".
I loved getting letters and cards from her because they were always so bright and colorful and she liked to ask lots of questions and had a great heart for God.
We had a good friendship until a few months later when she found out I didn't wear pants, or makeup or jewelry and didn't cut my hair.
Then she began sending me articles about legalism and bondage and her letters started portraying nastiness because of my outward appearance.
I still tried to remain friendly with her regardless of her ignorance but she kept going on and on and then eventually her she told me I was a bad penpal and ended the letter writing.
Okay...whatever.
Enter into 2007 where she got my e-mail address from someone and we began talking again. Things were going alright and I was cordual.
Then she found out I went to cape dresses and headcoverings and she about blew her top! Back came her nastiness, her rude remarks, etc.
I explained myself to her why I do the things I do, but she over looked that and kept screaming the 'legalism' and 'bondage' yappings.
Her nastiness got worse and I ended the friendship again (note: she has done this to several of my other penpals. It may not have been about outward appearance, but something else going on in their lives and my penpals have dropped her as a friend as well because of it).
This morning I went to my Facebook and there was a message from her (how does she keep finding me...lol). Here is what "L" said to me:
Subject:
you may as well pierce your nose!
you may as well pierce your nose!
Between You and L
You draw unnecessary attention to yourself with those clothes. By definition, that isn't modest at all. God doesn't love you anymore or any less for your clothing. You just make it hard to relate to others. Then how do you expect people to be converted? They won't listen to you, because you dress so unusual. I tell you, because God wants you to live in freedom. It seems like you are in bondage.
Dawn said:
Please do not talk to me if you have nothing nice to say to me. You don't know me at all and all you care about is my outside appearance. Get over it. This is what the Lord will have me do in this season of my life. You have no idea how many people I have witnessed too and all because I live a simple and humble life. Again, please do not contact me unless you can overlook my appearance.
God be with you.
So that was my response to her, not that it will mean anything. What she wrote is actually nice compared to some of the stuff she said to me. And this is coming from a 'Godly' woman of the Lord.
You know what friends, just because I cover my head and wear dresses doesn't mean I am some freak of nature.
I do my best to be kind to everyone, saved or unsaved, wiccan or athiest, male or female.
If you are sad, I am sad with you. If you rejoice over a victory won, I am rejoicing with you!
I am a normal young lady and doing the best I can to heed the calling God has placed on my life.
I don't snub my nose or look down upon anybody just because they are different than me. I look at them with love and compassion.
I love getting to know people. People, no matter who they are fun!
If you don't want to get to know me, because of my appearance than that is your loss, not mine.
I pray for people like "L". I know she has a heart for God, she just can't get past that not all Christians look like the rest of the world. Many of us are different. But we are still human!
Oh!!! I want you all who are searching for more plain and simple things to check out this site called the Amish & Mennonite Trading Post! Here is the link and it's open to International folks as well! It was started by a young man on one of the Yahoo groups I am on as he sees the need for something like this as more and more people are being called to live a simple and humble life for our Lord.
Some of the categories are:
- Barter or Trade Only
- Items being offered for bartering or trade only, new or used.
- Ebay Items Amish or Mennonite Items being sold on Ebay - direct links
- Headcoverings New, never used headcoverings for women
- Make an offer
- Items (new or used) being sold with no set price.
- New Books
- Books/literature that has never been used.
- New Clothing
- Newly made or never used clothing
- New Curriculum
- Never used homeschool curriculum
- New Household Items
- Household items that are new or never used.
- Online Stores
- Other online stores selling Amish or Mennonite items
- Prayers
- Just Prayer Requests - Never a charge - Never purchased or sold.
- Sales
- Amish or Mennonite online stores limited time sales
- Services / For Hire Services for hire, like sewing, crafts or trades.
- Used Books
- Gently used books/literature
- Used Clothing
- Gently used or out-grown clothing
- Used Curriculum Used but not written in or answered homeschool curriculum
- Used Household Items
- Household items that have been used but are in good condition and have all original parts included.
- Wanted Items
- Items that are being requested to purchase or trade.
Alrighty, well, my chores are calling me, so I best be scootin'.
I do hope everyone is having a good weekend!
God Bless You all!
Dawn
15 comments:
Thank you for stopping by my blog. I love hearing from my readers and enjoy hearing what they have to say.
I am enjoying your blog immensely. I will definitely have to bookmark you.
Happy Saturday!
Dawn, you have such a dear heart! Hopefully, L will not contact you again. I wear pants, jewelry, and not only do I wear makeup, I sell it!:) I'm sure those facts do not matter to you, nor does it matter to me that you wear dresses and do not cut your hair. I could tell you were a Christian woman with a heart of gold the first time I visited your blog. How sad that someone wants to make you feel bad about yourself in order to feel superior themselves. Like my mama says,"If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all!" Your breakfast looks yummy! Dove chocolate is my absolute FAVORITE! I keep a bag hidden in my room!:)
"You draw unnecessary attention to yourself with those clothes."
Yes, you DO draw attention by your clothing ~ but that's only because people are naturally curious about anything/anyone that is "different." This isn't evil! This is human nature! Yeah, some of those people laugh and snicker and say rude things... but this stems from insecurity. Who knows how many people have their minds opened to God just from catching a glimpse of someone that they can readily identify as "Christian."
Also, the bible tells us over and over and over again that we Christians are to be set *apart* from the World. Not as stuck up holier-then-thou snobs but as blatantly obvious Christians! If we blend in with popular culture, and all of its ungodly trends and fads, how are we setting ourselves apart from the world??
I don't think that jeans, makup or jewelry are inherently evil/sinful and I know that you don't feel that way either. What's not ok is when those items are used to make you *sexy* and a lusty sexual object for men to leer at. That's when clothing becomes a moral issue. As we all know, any man that looks at a woman with lust in his heart commits adultry ~ and any woman that helps a man to do this is guilty as well!
It's sad that so many people are so immature and/or insecure that they have to become bitterly defensive against anyone who is different. I wonder what kind of abuse this "L" hurls at Muslim women who wear their version of modest clothing and head coverings?? What about Jewish women?? Or is she one of those that thinks, "It's ok for Muslims and Jews ~ but not for Christians."
This whole "you attract attention to yourself" line is getting old. It's cheap and has no basis in reality ~ it's just another way for insecure people to flap their jaws and sound "enlightened" and "open minded" while supposedly putting the dumb, legalistic Christian in their place...
Huh. Whatever.
GOD BLESS!
P.S. the link to the Amish store doesn't work...
If the link doesn't work for the Amish/Mennonite trading post it may be that it's being updated or the Internet is having problems with getting the site up. I tried it a few hours ago and it worked fine so maybe give it a few hours and try it again.
God Bless and thanks Coffee Catholic for letting me know. :)
Oh thank you for that link sweet Dawn! I love you for who you are and that alone. I am now dresses only too and am wearing a headcovering plus I haven't cut my hair in almost a year. But I am okay with people who do cut their hair and wear slacks or make up or jewelery. We each have to do what we feel God says is right for us. Huggles sister and eat some of that dove for me!
Mrs. Dawn, I am sorry for the negativity. I get it some to from people at our church. I am mostly dresses or skirts, homeschool, worship together as a family, and trying to learn some of the "lost" arts.
I just talked to my 11 year old daughter the other day about how the modern church has lost sight of the fact that we are to look different and be different.
Jesus said we would be persecuted for our beleifs. I have to come to rejoice in the snide remarks and negativity. It means that I am under attack for serving my Lord.
Hang in there dear one! You have plenty of people in blog land who think you are doing a great work.
1. your response to that old pal was a good one
2. I can vouch for you, that you are not judgemental or hindered by how you dress. you are friends with people from all walks of life, and are kind to them...
3. congrats on your house~~~!!!!!
I've read several blogs tonight from ladies who love the LORD and live all over the world -- and it seems like there's a common theme.
"We need to stop judging each other. We all have our callings from the LORD. They're all valid. Each part of the Body of Christ MUST do its own job, just as each part of the human body must do ITS own job."
Good to read your posts. It sounds a lot like the one I wrote today on worship. God bless you.
Dawn,
Congrats on being a homeowner!! That is wonderful! ;)
When someone criticizes me and says something like "Why don't you cut your hair" I simply respond "Why DO you cut yours?" I tell them I don't want to cut off my glory. Also with the dresses.....I tell them I like not being mistaken for a man! You know me hehe. =0
Bev
Happy dance for the new homeowners! Can't wait to see it sometime soon. :)
After I started covering full-time and especially when I wear "plain" styles, I have perfect strangers want to chat and even give me hugs before walking away. My husband and I have had double to opportunities to talk about our faith in a genuine manner because of my HC and dress.
You handled the interactions well. May 'L' come closer to Jesus because of it.
~Anna
Amen! that was a completely appropriate response to L. Sad that some people immediately tie legalism to the way we live without understanding WHY.
I wear dresses all the time, a headcovering most of the time, I don't often wear jewelry but do on occasion. All in all, I simply evaluate whether how I am is pleasing to the Lord. If I can answer that honestly with a yes, then that's all that matters.
As some of the other commenters have mentioned, you sure do get a lot of opportunities to talk about God when you have a 2 square foot piece of cloth on your head. I was asked about it just yesterday by a total stranger. Whenever someone says, "Can I ask you a personal question?" I pretty much know what that question will be. I think it's a great witnessing opportunity.
We all draw the line somewhere- it's different places for different people. We're not to look like the world. Kudos to you... I think you're doing a great job of living out your faith.
Hello! Thank you for stopping by my blog and your sweet comments! You have a wonderful blog, and I look forward to sharing your journey to your new home in Texas!
And for the record....short hair or long hair you sound like a great lady!!!! lol! I look forward to learning many things from you!!
Smiles & Blessings~
Kelly
You may not agree with him or her, but L has expressed his or her opinion politely. The negative connotation is in the eyes of those here who choose to see it. I'm surprised at the response here; it isn't very Christian, but perhaps I have the wrong idea about Christians. The points made by L are worthy of intelligent consideration and discussion, and it is a pity that this really didn't happen. Even Coffee Catholic, who started so well, couldn't resist indulging in personal attack towards L towards the end of her piece. For all your Christian zeal and modest dress, all of you are really just like the rest of us: given to bitchy and uncharitable outbursts from time to time.
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