DREAMS = I will miss the Garman's

Unlike my husband who could write novels from his dreams, my dreams are usually tid bits of info etc. that make no sense. Much like last nights dream that made no sense, but at the same time it did. I have been corresponding with Annie Garman this week in regards to their move and meeting them for dinner etc. In my mind I had not been dwelling on my correspondence with Annie, but my dream proved otherwise. I will not try to explain the dream in too much depth, because it won't make sense. However, it basically gave me a glimpse of how long I have known Colby and Annie taking me back to a dorm type setting at LU. In this dorm setting there were lots of other people ( I did not know who they were) but Colby and Annie were there along with the girls. For whatever reason one of the rooms in the dorm was housing the old school band "Journey". Upon realizing this (the band) in my dream the dorm setting started to look more and more like the house Colby and Annie lived in while in Iceland the first time. Yes, I guess we could get interpretive and say the Garman's are embarking on a "journey" to Iceland or it could have been a lot of bad "80's" music references this week from Jonathan. However, next in the dream it took me to Annie and Colby's house in Stafford where I was helping them move, but at the same time the "new tenants" were moving in. I was being stressed out in the dream because I was uncontrollably crying and was upset that I was messing up their carpet. Go figure a stress about cleaning!

Ok yes, that is a whole lot of rambling to basically say the Garman family will be missed horribly. I awoke to immediately start praying for them, I am not sure what our dreams mean, but whenever I dream about anyone I use it as a reminder to pray for them. So I say all that and it boils down to I have crazy dreams. However, if they remind me of people I can pray for and remind me of what dear relationships God has blessed me with I am ok with the craziness!

Fall in love??

I don't really know where this post is going to go other than I am thankful for the things that occur in my life to remind me of LOVE.  Mostly things that remind me of God's love for me, but also things that remind me of how much I am loved by my family, friends and husband.  As I go through my journey with my health issues I am reminded by people daily of God's love.  I am reminded by the daily notes I get that someone is praying for me and that God is sufficient to meet all my needs.  I am reminded of God's love by the generosity that is shown by co-workers, doctors, church members to help me or pray for me in a very tough time.  I am reminded of God's love and that my family loves me when they weekly sacrifice to help me clean my house so I won't get stressed or overwhelmed.  I am not saying these things to boast or brag, only to say that God is good.  At a time when I felt helpless, God provided everything I could have needed and more..  

You may wonder, how is the title related to this blog.  Well I think it is because in our culture you often hear: "I fell in love, that is not who I fell in love with, I am falling in love etc".  You get my point.  I immediately think of Josh of course and his continuous understanding, grace and love that he shows toward me.  God knew what I needed when He gave me Josh.  Now don't get me wrong Josh is no saint, neither am I.  However, he is my daily dose of reality, calming, love and rationale.  There are times when I definitely don't feel "in love" with Josh, but then I ask myself what is that...  I Corinthians then pops into my head: " Love is patient, kind, does not envy, does not boast, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things."

Again not sure where I am going with this other than to say I don't think you fall in and out of love.  Sometimes you may not "feel" like you are in love, but ultimately love is something that you do.  It is who you are and how you treat others.   I am thankful that God always loves me and does not give up on me.  I am thankful that God gives me people in my life sometimes difficult ones to show me his love.  Lastly, I am thankful God gave me Josh to give me little glimpses of His love for me..  I pray this made sense and wasn't just ramble...  

Happy Birthday and Unique Experiences

This weekend July 13 to be exact was Josh's birthday.  Every year I struggle about what to get Josh, he is so hard to buy for.  However, this year I went against my grain.  I did not start planning for his birthday until last Thursday...  I usually start like a month ahead.  I realized there are definite perks to starting that far ahead, but all was not lost this year.  In only starting one week ahead all the gifts that I wanted to get for Josh were SOLD OUT!  However, I kept my cool and the gifts I ended up getting him he really liked.  However, the show stopper this year was a surprise trip to Marrakesh.  He had been talking about going to this place for a month or so.  I just kept saying, "we really don't have the money to do that".  So late last Thursday the thought popped into my head and I started contacting people from his work who he said he wanted to go with and the surprise planning began.  It all came together splendidly. He had no clue.  As we drove up to the valet parking in front of the restaurant he finally realized what was going on.  Marrakesh is a Moroccan restaurant in DC and it was wonderful.  Josh had such a good time and the experience was definitely unique and fun.  Many times during the night it was commented that it felt like, "we were in another country"  It felt when you walked through the front door you entered a time portal and were sent to an Indiana Jones movie..  I recommend it highly for anyone that likes trying different food and experiencing different cultures.  Josh said he will blog about it from his perspective as well!

OH Happy Day

And now time for a thought from Josh Burke:
That time of the year has come again. August 5th is the first Practice for the Rappahannock Rugby Football Club. I can't wait. I have actually been going to the Gym and trying to get into shape. I will more than likely start this season so if you have a Saturday open and you would like to see a wonderful sport let me know. I will arrange you being there. Also Ben Cartwright and Zac Castle will also be giving this whole Rugby thing a try. I've roped two more in. They will not be disappointed.

Honey DO.... I thought that was a melon

And now time for a thought form Josh Burke:
This is going to be the most controversial blog in "The Memoirs of Burke Manor" to date. The topic, every married man's nemesis..... the "Honey Do List". For those of you that don't know a "Honey Do List" is a list of chores that a wife spells out for her husband that she would like to see done. Jadey and I have been married for three years and to her defense she dose not abuse the honey do list idea. However, nothing steams my vegetables more than to be home from work sick, have a holiday off, or wake up Saturday to find, next to where I make my morning coffee no doubt, a list of expectations for the day. Just to let you know I will not enjoy that cup of joe with the chores looming over my head. The audacity. The wife assumes that the husband doesn't have plans for the day and takes the liberty to make those plans. I mean really how would the wife feel if she had a day to herself and the husband had a list for.
1. Clean the clothes
2. Clean the house (that also means the basement)
3. Have dinner on the table when I get home

You get the idea. That would go over as well as a fart in a space suit. The wife would be outraged. To which the husband replies "I didn't know you had any plans". Ya didn't ask. How dose my wife come up with these chores on such short notice is beyond me. Chores that I didn't realize were chores. Water the plants, feed the dogs, eat lunch. These are all things that i would do regardless of the list. All this to say, The "Honey Do List" is demeaning to the male gender. Also let me state that I love Jadey and wouldn't trade her and her list for the world.

Thankful.....

Many know that Josh and I have a small group Bible study that we do on Monday nights. It started about 4 years ago and God continues to bless. Last night we obviously had Bible study and our topic was the "Atonement". We have been working on this topic for about 3 weeks now. However, I guess last night was my eureka moment. Through the verbal pictures that were painted an idea became suddenly more real to me. The idea of Jesus facing everything that he went through on the cross: the physical pain, emotional pain, the bearing of our sin, God turning His back on him and God's wrath on his own. The idea of Jesus bearing all of that in his "human" sense. The thought then popped into my head, "I can't even bare a bad day on my own". This was very humbling and was another reminder of how awesome Jesus and the sacrifice on the cross really is.. We were reminded not to take for granted what the cross stands for and to reflect on it more often. In reflecting on it more, we may in turn show more humility and graciousness toward others. This blog does not do the lesson justice, just my thoughts.

Also Josh and I both are so thankful for the participation that continues to abound in this Bible study. We are thankful because the people who come have a special place in our lives. We have made some of the best friendships and we truly see Jesus in each and everyone that comes. We know as time passes, people come and go but God always knows what we need. He has blessed us immensely by each individual that comes whether it is through a conversation, action or just being there. For those of you out there that come and read this, thank you for what you mean to our lives. JKB

Zeitgiest.....Whatever Bro

And Now time for a thought from Josh Burke:
For those of you that don't know there is a movie that you can watch via the internet called Zietgiest. I must warn all that attempt to watch it must do so with a discerning eye. This is my commentary on the film. First I would like to say philosophy hasn't changed much since the time of Plato and Aristotle. This film is in some ways the repackaging of ancient ideas which are Man is the center of everything there is no God and the powers that be know this and created religion, war, and finance to stay in power. It is hard to see this theme at first glance but I am sure that if you listen hard and fast you will see several contradictions in this film. There are actually too many that if I listed some in this Blog it would not do my charge justice. All this to say these are hard times and our adversary is on the prowl and the twisting of truth to do harm. There is a God and he is there. If the church does not wake up. If we fail to meet the culture on these matters. If we stay satisfied with keeping to ourselves movies such as this one will continue to influence the people and make not only Christianity but the thought of religion in general a thing of the past. Put your thinking caps on and fight this battle for it may be the last battle we have to fight. Don't be afraid to ask the tough questions. All the time being as wise a serpents but as gentle as doves. There is a dying and lost world that is asking for the answers we have. Study up to give them that answer.

Who's on fist, What's on second

And Now Time for a Thought from Josh Burke:
I would first like to take the time to apologize to anyone that i may have offended today in Sunday School. I was having a real hard time for some reason with the wording being used. This is an often occurrence. I hear something and i get a total brain block until the issue is resolved. I realized the root of my hermeneutics wondering once I talk to jadey about it for about an hour after church. I often listen to Christians and wonder what an unbeliever would think if they heard the same statement. This is an exercise to get me out of the habit of speaking Christianeze to unbelievers. Anyway thank you all for your patience and again sorry if i offended any of you. It was not my intention. If you are wondering about my conclusion feel free to ask.

Good Friends are Hard to Come By

And now time for a thought from Josh Burke:

Nothing could be more true than the title of this blog.  I have had a blessed life with several friends, some closer than others but all good.  Towards the top of my list is the illustrious Mila Thomas.  Mila is one of those people that you can just pick up were you left off the last time you met.  We have shared many interesting conversations over the years and I can always be myself with what I think in these conversations.  I would encourage all of you out there in blogville to seek this kind of relationship.  So on this day July 5th 2008 a blog goes out in honor of Mila Thomas a.k.a. Mila-Moo.

Proclaiming the tradition!

Fourth of July at Burke Manor has officially become a tradition.  Last year it was a much bigger to do, but this year with little planning involved it came together once again.  The day started out with tubing/kayaking down the Rappahannock river.  I have learned after two years of doing this now, that I must use a "kids" tube.  I am too short to use the small adult size tube, therefore my arms can barely reach the water and I am always at the end.  However, I wasn't alone this year.  Beth Jordan also fell into this same category, however she had Elliot to help propel her along!  So the first run down the river was a little uneventful and boring, but the second run after acquiring the kids tube was much better.  I am definitely feeling it today though!  

After the tubing we joined back at Burke Manor for a rather large cookout and had more than enough food.  We got inside in record time before the storm ruined our BBQ!  It was a very fun time with the rest of the night consisting of fireworks at the YMCA and then a nice relaxing chat time on our back deck around the fire pit...  We will definitely keep up the tradition!

This was short lived

And Now Time for a Thought from Josh Burke:
First I would like to address the comments about the band name. I have been trying to post the comments but for whatever reason I can't see them. John Gauger and Jason Pelt both had the same Google search posted with the answer as to what McCaig's Folly is, but neither of them took a stab as to why I would name a band that. Soooo half way there gents, put your thinking caps on and keep guessing. Now onto the social experiment. The stipulation was as follows, I would blog every day for a month if and only if Jason and Bobby-O commented daily on the blog. Bobby-O has posted comments for every blog but two of those blogs were posted today. So there was a day missed. I think that this gets me off the hook for having to buy five people Starbucks. However, if I continue to blog Jason Pelt still owes me a drink of my choice, not to mention the social experiment must go on.

Day 2!

And Now Time for a Thought From Josh Burke:
Today was a stressful day at work. I had to move offices and conduct business at the same time. But now I am my brothers house ready for band practice/recording. The name of our band is McCraig's Folly. A Gold star will go to the person who can guess why I chose that name.

Clarification

Since our blog is entitled "Memoirs of Burke Manor" and Josh and I both reside at "Burke Manor", Josh and I will be sharing this blog. He will be blogging on this the entire month of July and I will continue to blog my usual. We have agreed to list our initials or mention in the blog who is blogging so readers are not confused. I am excited to see what the end result of his "social experiment" will be. I have a little social experiment of my own going on wit this whole "blog-off"... JKB

Let the experiment begin!!!!!!!

And Now Time for a Thought from Josh Burke:
There is nothing like a social experiment that gets my blood pumping. People in general fascinate me. What makes them tick, what they are thinking, why they use the words they use. What can I say I love to observe people and come up with my own conclusions to my own questions about them. Which leads us to the current phenomenon of blogging. This is the latest of things that I have been so, I don't know, annoyed about. The thought that I have something sooo important to say that literally the world needs access to it. I once vowed NEVER TO BLOG. Last Wednesday as I was talking to Jason Pelt, I realized that this is an opportunity to run a social experiment. I vowed to blog every day in the month of July. If I do so I am not really sure what the benefit is, but if I don't I have a few people to buy Starbucks for. The outcome of this social experiment I will post on the last day of July.