A Sad Day at the Masterino Aquarium

The Masterino household has just exercised its right to enact capital punishment. To quote Bob, "the fish swims with the fishes."

For the last two months we had only one fish. We started with three. Two mollies and one beast. PetSmart was not smart. Mollies are nice fishes and leporinus fasciatus are, well - cannibals. Our fish went from a colorful inch long bullet to a three inch barbarian killing and eating the other two. Uck.

Tonight when I picked up filters, I thought I would give our little aquarium another occupant that fell into the "semi-aggressive" category - a pretty golden gourami that equals or exceeds "Barrabus" in size.

Poppy-kosh. Semi-aggressive my behind. The new fish was in the tank for 10 minutes when it was clear there would be no peace in our time. Barrabus was still a beast in stripes and this other fish was going to be eaten alive.

Bob was the first to suggest euthanasia. I was not enthused. So we let them swim for another few hours. Things did not improve. At all. My stress level was on the rise.

I got mad. It was going to be over before tomorrow if we didn't do something about it.

So. 20 minutes later with water and plastic plants in aquatic chaos, Barrabus met the net and then the throne of death. At first I was hesitant - then I was angry and just made a mess. Bob did the deed and I started clean up.

So now, Barrabus sleeps with the fishes and the doo-doo and will meet the professionals of the MTSA - McCandless Township Sewage Authority. And JF - Jesus Fish - is swimming peacefully in replanted plastic plants and clouds of raked up poo.

Ain't nature grand.

Grandma's Hands

This picture above came from a beautiful email that Marianne sent to me a few days ago. It was entitled Grandma's Hands. It told of a woman whose hands tolf of a lifetime of helps and hurts. And that as she grew old, she pondered that these were the same hands that her Savior would lift her up with. I think the picture just tells a million stories. After some thought, I have included the email below.

Grandma's Hands

I was privileged to take a photo of 'Five Generations of Women'shortly before my 93 year-old Grandmother passed away last year. The photo, shown below, features the hands of my Grandmother, Mom, Sister, Niece and Great-Niece. While I can't take credit for the idea, I was so happy to have had the suggestion & capture this moment. It inspired a friend of mine to do something similar which turned out so beautiful and a special keepsake prior to her father's passing.

Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands. When I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if she was OK. Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and looked at me and smiled. 'Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking,' she said in a clear voice strong.

'I didn't mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK,' I explained to her.

'Have you ever looked at your hands,' she asked. 'I mean really looked at your hands?' I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down.

No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making. Grandma smiled and related this story:

'Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life.

'They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor. They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child, my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war.

'They have been dirty, scraped and raw , swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special. They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse.

'They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand. They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer.

'These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of life. But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ.

'I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God reached out and took my grandma's hands and led her home. When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and husband I think of grandma. I know she has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God. I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face.'

The Tabernacle completed

Yesterday was our final session in our study of the Tabernacle. I have learned so much about how intricately God has planned every detail. From His heavenly home and the images there He has provided the Garden of Eden, the tabernacle, the temples, and the fullness of Christ so we may know what awaits us when we are home and eventually in eternity. Much like our study of Daniel with Beth Moore, this study was less about us and more about our God and the care He took in each and every detail. WHAT COMFORT!!!

Not too long ago someone (I can't recall who) mentioned that the Word of God is a complete history of thousands of years from Creation to Revelation in such a relatively small book. Our God is a Trinity of relatively few words. This means that every last detail of the Bible has a specific purpose in it's inclusion. To think we only have one short lifetime to understand the layers of meaning to this is an honor with such a current of excitement!

This study helped reinforce that "A Woman's Heart" truly is "God's dwelling place." And as painful as it is to admit, I've not been kind of late to my spiritual heart because my body is out of balance and this was a personal point of wow for me. God gave us fewer rules in the Church Age but gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us through the Christian life. He meant for that guidance to be in all things - not just compartmentalized. That was an honor and a responsibility that was not available to the Old Testament believers in the land of Israel. And in understanding that, I have a responsibility to live it.

God is truly amazing and I am so thankful for the learning and the growing I did through his Word. But in addition, I had the pleasure of growing with a group of women that broadened my perspective and encouraged in prayer beyond my wildest expectations.

June starts a brand new study - When Godly People Do Ungodly Things. Can't wait.

Biggest Loser!

Well, I think God brought the answer. We are doing a weight loss competition/ support thing at work starting Monday. I want to do some praying about this but I am excited to start. I think the accountability and the competition will be a really good support to get me back into exercise and watching food and portions. Mom and Dad started Atkins and I'm going to go with that as the basic structure since it has worked for me in the past. It's been a long time coming and it's time. I know I can't do it alone so my mentor will be Jesus. I'm going to start the weekend by doing a little cleansing and then I'll be ready Monday. No obsession just self-control and a set of priorities that include God at the very top of my food pyramid. Here goes.....

Thoughts on the Day

- It was a joy to celebrate with Bob as he "went public" with his faith in Jesus Christ.
- Having family there was just awesome. Everyone shared in the wonder at how all of it happened.
- There were smiles all around and tears of joy too. His mom and sister, my mom and sister, me. All crying as we sang "My chains are gone, I've been set free...." He's a different guy than a year ago.
- Having 35 people at my house to eat was not as bad as I thought. Then again, the weather cleared up in time for everyone to be able to sit outside comfortably. Later, the kids and the band even played ball in the yard for awhile.
- It was awesome that our two families came together through a love of Bob and through God to heal some of the wounds that seemed permanent just a few years ago.
- Marianne was amazing as always. She spoke with my family about Nana and her own loss of her mom less than a year ago. Then later sat with Bob's mom. She should have been a counselor. :) I can attest to it myself and now she's moving on to our families......... And there is comfort that it all comes from her being centered in God.
- People really seemed to enjoy themselves. Everyone stayed for at least a little while and relaxed and talked and ate.
- The food held up pretty well. We have A LOT leftover of some things but that's okay.
- Everyone had gone by 2 and I had cleaned up the most of it by 3:30. Life returns to normal. But not really.......

Things will be different for our eternity now. Not perfect, not without trial, not without pain. But better - full of hope and growing closer to our Savior while growing closer to each other. I still don't know what to say about that. I've been waiting all my life for that and it's like starting brand new after 10 years. Who would have thought that the next big milestone after our marriage problems was BAPTISM!!! Not me. I can't wait to see what He has in store for us next!!

Perfect, Bob is not but so much. The man I can love and respect that with the help of his Heavenly Father can stand before all those folks and declare before them that Jesus Christ has hold of his life..... That was as much love I could hold in my heart at that moment - and what I could not hold in my heart spilled out in tears..... I love you, Bob because God first loved us......

More pictures and video

Bob and the band do a little I am Free.

Pastor Tommy's intro to the ceremony....

And the one we've all been waiting for.....

Baptism closing from Pastor Jeff

And the winner is... Jesus Christ!!

Despite all predictions, God prevailed over the weather and all else today!!! I can't even begin to explain how awesome today was. Friends, family all sharing a love of God and a love for Bob. I was so filled with joy that words escape me.... Yes, you read correctly. Let the pictures and the video speak for God's amazing grace today!

Check out Pastor Jeff Mousa's post for today for some additional pictures and comments.
http://mousa.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/baptism-pictures/
http://mousa.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/sunday-icc-3/

By the way....

The forecast for tomorrow appears to be forcing us indoors - low 60s with a 70-80% chance of rain. I ran into Dolly Duke, Iron City Church's own version of Mother Church, while I was out shopping. She pointed out that Satan tends not to like these types of celebrations and so we'd just have to manage. Earlier in the week, I decided to let God handle it. He was either going to make the weather right or fix His child's heart so that I wasn't caring. He did the latter. Thanks to an cleaning machine of a husband, we got everything arranged downstairs to accomodate an indoor party! He is good - all the time!

All Ready!

Well, the food is purchased and prepared. The house is clean and reorganized. And Bob is all astir with the excitement of tomorrow.... It's the big day of his baptism and so many will be there to share that. My fridges both look like they should ALL the time :) Check out our progress.....

I won't show you the closets, garage or spare room where things are not so arranged..... :) And the beer is not baptism fare.... :)

He walked into the room at one point today and said he had no idea how Tommy was going to dunk him. He's not the only one wondering I bet :) Then again, this whole thing has been quite a wonder and a testimony to the tremendous power of the Lord.

He's so excited to have Molly and Sarah see him play tomorrow. He's said that several times (I plan on telling them that tomorrow.) There are so many parts to look forward to. Mom and Dad and the Kimptons coming to worship with us. The Baptism. The coming together of two families once torn apart by trial. All amazing.

I can't wait. And for those of you unable to make it - I will be posting pictures and video tomorrow so you can share in the joy.

5.2-Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Midwest!

Okay it was centered about 260 miles South and slightly west of my beloved sister and her family but we Midwestern folk don't often experience anything like that!!! I mean - hey - it's not California!!!

And it was at 4:37 in the morning - so it might have gone unnoticed. So I emailed Carrie this morning to see whether they felt it and here was her response:

"Very freaky. I did wake up. I turned on my light first to yell at Dagny to stop scratching and shaking the dresser. Then I thought it was Emma or Hope having to go potty and banging on the pocket door. I got out of bed to see if I could locate the hiding child. Then as I looked and looked, I noticed that the neighbor was leaving for work, so I guess I thought that the bass on his truck was so loud that it was shaking the house, but I didn't actually hear it. I was a bit fuzzy since it was 4:30 in the morning.

I went back to bed thinking I was having one of my dream-reality episodes-a la bugs on my blanky-mice in my bed-falcon on the ceiling fan."

That's okay - I once had a witch on my bedside table that Bob tells me I yelled at.......:)

Anyway, that's something you don't expect in Indiana or PA but I know they've happened here too. Part of history - part of my new blogging life :)