I am on my soapbox.....

Soapbox #1--I was making supper a few weeks ago and Landon was watching "A.N.T. Farm".  I was not really paying attention to what was going on in the episode, it was just "background noise".  But, a line from the show broke my concentration and made me MAD!!  The episode was centering on the plot that the school intended to do a production of "Grease" but were unable to get the rights.  So they had to come up with an alternate play.  They tossed a few ideas around, including approaching the teacher. He said "If I could write a play, do you think I would be a teacher?"  Ok, I getcha,  a little self-deprecating humor.  Then later on in the episode, the students needed a word spelled (or something trivial) and the teacher said "If I could spell words, do you think I would be a teacher?"  Ask my kids, I was ticked!!  What in the world kind of agenda do we have going on here?  Don't we want to encourage our kids to respect their teachers?  I could see (I guess) if this show was written by CHILDREN, but it's not!  And the fact that I have 2 daughters in college, both getting degrees in education, only adds to my anger.  I want my children to be respected by the people they have prepared themselves to teach!!!

Soapbox #2--"GCB"...Good Christian Bitches or Good Christian Belles...I think we all know which one will get the most publicity.  Last night, we watched a simulcast of a video called "Love Costs Everything" and the statistics prove that Christians are the most persecuted group on the planet.  People in places like Iraq, Colombia and India are giving their lives for Christ and for His cause.  I read an article about "GCB" and it said it's just some good-natured, self-deprecating humor by Christians themselves.  I've heard Kristen Chenowith is a Christian (I like her so nothing against her).  But the ones involved in this really should be ashamed of themselves for making fun of Christians or Christianity. Yes, of course, we're known in America as being pious and loving our potlucks...but do we have to capitalize on that?  Is that the best way to get attention as a follower of Christ?  It makes me ashamed that many Christians are terrified in their homes and towns because of the stand they are making on Christ's behalf; while all we seem to want as Americans is to get a good "yoink yoink" at our own expense. :(  

Ok, I'm done now.  I think I need a nap.

I'll Miss You Next Year....

Our kids write a letter to Santa every year to leave with the milk and cookies.  Sometimes they write a corporate letter-some years they write individual little notes. Santa always writes back, thanking them for the treats and for being SOOOO good this year.  :)  (Santa is never very good at disguising his handwriting, so they usually know it was Daddy!)

Another tradition our family does on Christmas is the kids always sleep together on Christmas Eve.  My brothers and I used to do this, and we've continued the tradition in our own family.  They  decide whose room they will sleep in, then proceed to bring every pillow, blanket and stuffed animal they own into that room.  We sometimes track Santa and we always read a book called "Alabaster's Song" (a cute  book about a little boy who can't sleep so he talks to the angel on top of the tree. )  Once the kids have written their note to Santa, put out milk and cookies and read the book, they settle in to sleep.  That's when Santa's job begins....

Mike and I, before we "play Santa" usually end up dozing off, only to wake up panicked at around 2 am.  So then Mike has to choke down the cookies and milk (although I admit there's been times he's just poured it down the sink...even Santa has his limits.)  We get all the presents organized and then we read the letter and get ready to respond.  This year, the kids wrote individual notes.  Landon asked about the reindeer, thanked Santa for the presents and wished him a nice trip.  Jenna wished Santa a safe trip and said hello to Mrs. Claus, along with saying Thank You.  Kayla said "Merry Christmas Santa, I'll miss you next year.  Love you."
That's when Santa's jolly laughter turned to sobs.

Kayla's getting married this year.  This was our "last" Christmas, just the 5 of us.  Don't get us wrong, we are so excited for her and we couldn't be prouder to have Miles as a son-in-law.  Mike and I look back on our first Christmas as a married couple and how special that was; and we wish that and more for them.  But thinking of this being our "last" Christmas really got to both of us. This has been our normal for 22 years.  All of our children together, snuggled in, waiting for Santa.  So although it was late (early?) we snuck into the kids room and just watched them sleep.  We savored it for one last time. We'll miss you next year, too....

Let Me Rediscover You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O0BfTOkGK8&feature=related

I have played this song so many times over the last few days.  It just really struck a chord with me. I feel like I know God, but then I realize what I know is so small.    I love the scenes in the background of the girl who gives her heart to God, leaves Him for a while, then returns to Him.  Beautiful message of a forgiving God who wants us back, no matter what. 

We are blessed....right?

Mike and his 11 "brothers" just returned from a mission trip to Haiti.  I was excited, nervous, worried for them.  And a little jealous.  It was an amazing opportunity and I thought I would feel "left out" and struggle to "get it" when they shared all they saw, heard and felt during the week.  I have to say, for me, that hasn't been the case.  The excitement, love and respect they felt for the Haitian people has been contagious. The men shared pictures, videos and stories from their trip and it's starting to look familiar. I picked up a passport application last night at a concert, and I'm hoping to get it so I'll be ready to go if God would give me the opportunity.

The resounding theme as the men shared was "as Americans, we have been blessed."  I totally agree, the freedoms we have in our country are second to none.  I am thankful that I was born in America. But, as I got a glimpse of the Haitian Christians and their worship, my heart was overwhelmed.  They worship with abandon, no inhibitions, fully relying on God. They have nothing and yet they are thankful.  They rely on God for everything! I'd like to think that I do, too; but surrounded with my stuff like I am, I don't know that I've ever had to FULLY rely on God.  It's almost like, in the back of my mind, I'm thinking "If God doesn't come through on this, I'll take care of it myself." 

So my thought is... are we blessed?  Do we measure our blessings by what we have? Or should we measure  them by how much we rely on God?  Because I was born in America, surrounded by all the material goods I could ever really need, am I more blessed than my Haitian brothers and sisters?  Or do they understand a characteristic about God that I may only ever read about? Jehovah-Jireh--God who provides.

Don't get me wrong--I am thankful for my "stuff".  It is not wrong to be wealthy (which I would not consider myself by American standards, but by Haitian standards..)  I believe I can STILL worship God and be thankful to Him for everything I have.  But I'm saying I think it's harder to see that it's God who provides my every need when I'm pretty darn good at taking care of myself .

One of my LEAST favorite lines from any song is "Tonight, thank God it's them, instead of you". ("Do They Know It's Christmas?" Band-Aid)  I wish, for just one day,I could trade places with my Haitian Christian sisters and brothers .That  I could give up my things and see God through the eyes of  Christians  around the world who have not been born with my blessings. To completely trust God for everything. To worship Him with no inhibitions. To be able to raise my hands to Him, not worrying or caring what others think about me; only seeking to honor Him.

Disclaimer: I am only talking about "material" possessions.  The Haitian people face danger every day.  From the impurity of their water to violence in the streets.  I would not want to trade a day of that, as unfair and double-standard as that may seem.  But I am committed to praying for  them, I hope you will, too

Mike's Trip to Haiti--September 2011

Carried Away

I have started a tradition. When we have an important trip or event, I buy a new scent.  Usually from Bath and Body Works.  I can't smell "Moonlight Path" without immediately remembering our trip to Panama City Beach for our 20th anniversary.  "Sun-Riped Raspberry" reminds me of church camp.  One whiff of "Lavender Vanilla" takes me back to the special days before and after Landon's birth.  My scent for our recent trip to Florida was "Carried Away", a "whimsical blend of lush raspberries, white jasmine and whipped vanilla inspired by the way love sweeps you off your feet." Smells beachy and soft.  Turns out the name was an omen for our trip...

The first full day at the beach is always so exciting.  We packed all our stuff and trekked down to the beach.   We had two chairs as part of our rental, so that was home for us for the week.  We played and built sandcastles.  We relished the way the waves hit you and then the sand shifts beneath your feet.  Although I'm not a big fan of getting in the ocean, I usually do to be with the others.  We went out several times and rode the waves back in on boogie boards.  It was wonderful!!!  After lunch, Landon and I went out a very short distance and just enjoyed the waves.  It was so fun to have him to myself and hear his thoughts on all he was experiencing.  After about 10 minutes, I noticed the current had taken us farther out, not too far but farther than I intended to go.  I tried to put my feet down and realized I couldn't touch, especially with the almost constant waves lifting me.  I admit, I PANICKED!!!  I tried and tried to remember all I'd JUST read about how to get out of a strong undertow...the only thing I could remember was DON'T PANIC...I was getting tired so I tried floating on my back, but the waves kept coming.  I looked out and saw the girls were on their way out to us, and said "Girls!  Get Dad!" Jenna took Landon and was able to get back.  Mike came out and got me and Kayla.  It probably wasn't as bad as it felt, but being CARRIED AWAY is not nearly as relaxing as it sounds.

Landon was more than a little upset about "The Incident" as we took to calling it, so he was  content to play in the waves very close to shore.  He talked to me quite a bit about it, and most times would tear up again.  We had a great time in spite of the dramatic rescue of the first day.  But I, being the "deep thinker" that I am (:)), have thought about this nearly tragic event alot.  When Jenna got to the shore with Landon, she was met with two different responses.  One lady asked her "Do I need to call for help? The undercurrent is strong and this happened earlier."  The other response was laughter.  A group laughing at our struggles.  I was mad!!  But then, later, I asked Mike "Is that us?  Is that how we react to those around us who are struggling?"  It's EASIER not to get involved, it's EASIER to say it's someone else's problem.  As Christians, (and I am speaking for myself as much or more than others) we are called to help RESCUE people. To lead them to safety.  But I find myself ridiculing people for their struggles, judging them, making up a million excuses of why it's Their Own Fault.   My experience was My Own Fault.  I didn't pay attention to my surroundings, I didn't take the advice of others, I trusted my own judgement.  That didn't change the fact that I needed to be Rescued.   As much as I HATE that this happened and put a cloud over our otherwise perfect vacation, I am sure God intends to use it in my life for the rest of my life.  I pray that I, when I see someone unaware that they've drifted too far, will say  "Can I help you?  You've wondered off course."  Or if I see someone flailing and shouting and screaming for help, I won't turn and say, "Is anybody going to get her?  Not my problem."  I pray that I have the courage to stand with someone for strength and drag them back in, if necessary.  2 Peter 3:17-18  tells us "Dear friends, be on your guard so that you may not be CARRIED AWAY by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."

The Writing's on The Wall

My husband, Mike, is quite the handyman.  I did not know this when I married him; it's just one more thing he does and does very well.  We bought our house in 1993 and it was a DUMP!!  We have completely remodeled it.  Everything we changed, with the exception of finishing the dry wall and laying carpet,  Mike did himself.  Our house is really nice (if I do say so myself) and everywhere I look, there is evidence of what a great handyman/carpenter/all-around-do-it-yourself guy I married.  But, as much as I love finishing a project, the project itself is not my favorite part.  My favorite part is what happens after the project is completed.  Mike takes his paint brush and writes me love notes--on the wall leading to the basement and on the garage wall.  He doesn't have to--I know he loves me.  But he does and it's so sweet.  It's a great reminder when I'm going downstairs to do laundry or jumping in the van to run an errand--my husband loves me.  He took extra time to make sure I know.

God is quite the handyman as well.  He gives us air to breathe, food to eat and clothes to wear. 
That would be quite enough.    But not for God.  He goes the extra mile and writes his love everywhere we can see it. "The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands.  Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge."
Everything is so beautiful and new this time of year; I have really appreciated the beautiful colors this spring more than any other.  God could have made everything gray; we wouldn't have known the difference.  But He made all the colors of the world so vibrant and pleasing.  He did it because He loves us.  In case we forget, all we have to do is look around.  What a great reminder when we are heading to work, to run errands or to just sit and relax--God loves us.  He has written a reminder of His love everywhere!  But my favorite thing that God has ever written was not a reminder for us, but a reminder to Himself---"I will not forget you!  See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands!"