Sissoo Tree

Due to the windy monsoon storms and probably a lack of deep roots from a poor watering scheme on my part, our sissoo tree in the backyard nearly fell over.  I went to Katie's Ace Hardware for some rope, conduit straps, and tubing to craft a makeshift support.  Later on we might put in some tree stakes, but the block wall being so close makes that tricky.

Friday Swim

MM took her Pop-Pop swimming Friday when he and Nana T arrived from California.

Afterward, MM picked one of the giant cucumbers from our garden.

Si Si and Me

MM and her friend Sienna matched at play date on Wednesday.

"Uh, how do I get out of here"

Hi !

"I'm still here, in case you were wondering.  I'm becoming a Christian Saturday.  Pray for me!"

Corny

MM's Papa brought some fresh corn back from Mr. Shilling's garden.  MM and all of us lapped it right up.  It was delish.

Anne Rice

My cousin alerted me to the fact that Anne Rice (the author) had renounced her Christianity on her facebook page.  She actually quit Christianity the movement but considers herself a follower of Christ the figure.  Her re-conversion ten years ago, which seemed genuine and was apparently to the Roman Catholicism of her youth, caused quite a stir, followed by her Jesus fiction.  So what to make of her "de-conversion"?

First, she laments that being a Christian was too hard.  Well, it's not supposed to be easy.  From the very get-go Christians were murdered for the faith, and still are in some parts of the world.  It wouldn't be worth it if it was easy.  This is where fellow Christians come in, and maybe they let Rice down.  But to complain that it's too hard sounds like you're not trying hard enough yourself.

Second, the two examples she cites for finally pushing her to quit Christianity are pretty extreme:  a rock band and the Westboro Baptist Church, both of whom really do hate gays.  But are they representative?  Of course not.  Then why cite them?  Rice knows better than that, just as she knows that Usama bin Laden doesn't represent Islam.  I smell a cop-out.

It is a tough thing, and I don't want to indict the poor lady for struggling.  You pray for her, as all good Christians do.  Hopefully in her own prayer she will discern the Lord's will regarding His church on earth.

Rest of Weekend

MM got plenty of playing in with Nana T.

and her Pop-pop

My mom accidentally put her diaper on backwards

We had given my Mom and Steve my old computer in April.  I helped them set it up on a huge, sweet desk in their bedroom.

We also cleaned out the spare bedroom, where the computer used to be.  On the left is the stuff we got rid of, on the right the room a bit more opened up.

We had a delicious breakfast Sunday morning before leaving.  I was able to get in a row with a teenage girl on the plane ride home, and no one took the middle seat, so the flight was easy.  MM was thrilled to see her mom and sleep in her own crib again.  We had a great trip together.