Dad, here.
I've got such a great family. I've been way swamped these last two weeks and they've been fantastic with it all. Just now, two of my sons ran up to my office at church with fresh, warm home-made (!) cinnamon doughnuts. WOW. And a hand written note with a heart that says: "We love you so much." (Actually, I think it says so "mush" but I know what they mean. :-) Thanks fam. I love you.
(And WOW!!! Those doughnuts are AMAZING! I'm not kidding, not exaggerating, when I say they are THE best doughnuts I've EVER eaten. whoa.)
2.06.2010
2.04.2010
The School Project from HELL
There are times you just want to wring a teacher's neck and wonder WHAT they were thinking....like the teachers who give homework on Fridays. Hello?! What child can THINK on Friday afternoon and which parents can remember to remind a 1st grader on a Saturday?This week, N had his first school project from hell of the year. Family and Consumer Science class assigned sewing boxer shorts. To 7th grade boys. Uh-huh.
Remember when N and our crew had the stomach flu and then N had the seizure? All told, he missed a bunch of school and fell behind on the boxers. Last week he made plans to meet the teacher before school to sew on the machine there under her supervision. We had snow and school was delayed two hours. The teacher CALLED ME this week to say that N did not arrive that morning. I politely reminded her that school was delayed. This teacher was not deterred. "Well, I came to sew. He should have, too." This woman is hard core! "N is a wonderful boy, but most 7th grade boys will do anything to get out of sewing." I replied, "He gets that from me." I'm not sure she was amused.
Yesterday, he remained after school along with many others to reluctantly sew their shorts of fame. He didn't finish so she sent them HOME for some hand sewn touches. Are you kidding me?! She actually said to N, "Perhaps your father can help you."
Normally, I support education. But I grumbled this time. Big time. What kind of life skill is this? Cooking I can see. But sewing? I'm an adult who can't sew and believe it or not, I function just fine.
My husband decided to pipe up from the other room, "I think this is an important thing to learn. If the economy crumbles, he'll need to know how to sew." If the economy crumbles I think we have bigger problems than Panda bear boxers. After all, these three remain: velcro, tape, and staplers.
It's a New Day!
The sun is shining in our cold corner of the world. The Lord has reminded us of mercies that are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness!
Thank you to everyone who has prayed for my friend Denise's family. I know they appreciate it!
Thank you to everyone who has prayed for my friend Denise's family. I know they appreciate it!
2.03.2010
Speechless
This morning, my life was changed.
In so many ways.
Most people who read this blog know that I have a serious heart condition. I don't blog about it because it's not nearly as fun to talk about as the ridiculous adventures of our crazy crew. There are hours I feel good and hours when I really don't.
Trials teach you things. What you really believe is tested. Who you really are is revealed.
This past spring, I was in the ER three times in a month as doctors grappled to find out the cause of all my pain. It was then that I met Denise.
Denise and her husband began worshipping at our church last year, but we attended different services and hadn't talked together much. Then Denise was diagnosed with cancer. Bad cancer. At a stage no one wants.
She began chemo and I began MRI's. We shared our hospital adventures when we saw each other (rarely). We prayed for each other daily. When I felt my worst, I remembered there were others like Denise facing harder things than I. I was reminded to be grateful as I prayed for her healing.
Things looked promising for Denise for awhile and my heart symptoms became more predictable. She and her husband moved to the shore away from our area. Still, notes would pop up in my mailbox. Cards of encouragement. Mentions of her prayers for me.
The cancer returned. With a vengeance. On Friday they came back to our area and she was admitted to the hospital. She was told she had only weeks to live.
Randall visited each day and came home to say, "In all that pain, she made sure to say that she was praying for you still."
Today I went with my husband to visit with her. I wasn't prepared for what I saw. I hadn't known Denise long, but I didn't recognize her. She was a shell of her former self. Family was gathered around. Death was coming sooner than even the weeks they had been promised.
I listened as R read from the Bible to her. When he came to the words of Jesus saying, "Do you believe?" She nodded her head. Even with heavy morphine, she nodded. I smiled and I prayed silently that God would be merciful and bring her home swiftly.
I left the room so the family could be alone with her. Eventually I left the hospital and cried all the way home.
Death is ugly.
Death is brutal.
Death is unforgiving.
But there is hope in Jesus. Denise will soon be in the arms of someone who loves her even more than her family here. And she will be whole. And for those of us still here, we can be reminded of what truly matters.
Our hardships can grow us if we let the Holy Spirit work in us. Our relationships can be more meaningful if we are vulnerable enough to admit our needs. Our faith can be refined by the testing and perfected into something beautiful.
Soon Denise won't have to pray anymore. She will talk to Jesus face to face. And that thought leaves me speechless.
In so many ways.
Most people who read this blog know that I have a serious heart condition. I don't blog about it because it's not nearly as fun to talk about as the ridiculous adventures of our crazy crew. There are hours I feel good and hours when I really don't.
Trials teach you things. What you really believe is tested. Who you really are is revealed.
This past spring, I was in the ER three times in a month as doctors grappled to find out the cause of all my pain. It was then that I met Denise.
Denise and her husband began worshipping at our church last year, but we attended different services and hadn't talked together much. Then Denise was diagnosed with cancer. Bad cancer. At a stage no one wants.
She began chemo and I began MRI's. We shared our hospital adventures when we saw each other (rarely). We prayed for each other daily. When I felt my worst, I remembered there were others like Denise facing harder things than I. I was reminded to be grateful as I prayed for her healing.
Things looked promising for Denise for awhile and my heart symptoms became more predictable. She and her husband moved to the shore away from our area. Still, notes would pop up in my mailbox. Cards of encouragement. Mentions of her prayers for me.
The cancer returned. With a vengeance. On Friday they came back to our area and she was admitted to the hospital. She was told she had only weeks to live.
Randall visited each day and came home to say, "In all that pain, she made sure to say that she was praying for you still."
Today I went with my husband to visit with her. I wasn't prepared for what I saw. I hadn't known Denise long, but I didn't recognize her. She was a shell of her former self. Family was gathered around. Death was coming sooner than even the weeks they had been promised.
I listened as R read from the Bible to her. When he came to the words of Jesus saying, "Do you believe?" She nodded her head. Even with heavy morphine, she nodded. I smiled and I prayed silently that God would be merciful and bring her home swiftly.
I left the room so the family could be alone with her. Eventually I left the hospital and cried all the way home.
Death is ugly.
Death is brutal.
Death is unforgiving.
But there is hope in Jesus. Denise will soon be in the arms of someone who loves her even more than her family here. And she will be whole. And for those of us still here, we can be reminded of what truly matters.
Our hardships can grow us if we let the Holy Spirit work in us. Our relationships can be more meaningful if we are vulnerable enough to admit our needs. Our faith can be refined by the testing and perfected into something beautiful.
Soon Denise won't have to pray anymore. She will talk to Jesus face to face. And that thought leaves me speechless.
2.02.2010
To Be Content In All Circumstances
Today I was driving home from a neighboring town where I went in search of groceries on sale. My uppity town charges twice as much for canned goods and such. Ridiculous.
Our town used to be a farming community years ago. There are still blueberry farms and strawberry fields and a few acres of corn, but most of it has been replaced by Starbucks and Old Navy. Now, I can't live without a decaf, non-fat, espresso truffle with whip like most people, but it's sad to see how much has been developed in favor of "progress."
I came back into my town's limits through the older side, where street after street is lined with 1950's ranch homes. I'm so used to driving past them that I hardly notice them. Today, I was struck by the reality that for MANY people these tiny homes were a luxury in 1950.
Then I remembered our first home...I called it "the Chipper" as its vinyl siding bore the greatest resemblance to mint chocolate chip ice cream green. It was hideous. I hated it from day one. But it was literally THE only option in our price range. It was 990 square feet and I think that was generous. That house taught me a lot.
Like the day when we moved in and the women who had come to help us clean said, "We raised five kids in a house just like this."
We raised two and when our third son came along, I looked my husband in the eye and said I would rather live in our one and only car than spend another day in that house.
I had the American Consumerism Blues. Big time.
How is it that an entire generation of people felt that a home that size was more than adequate? It was something to be CELEBRATED. It was home to so many of their graduation cookouts and card parties and coffee talks.
Then in our infinite American wisdom, we needed more. Not just wanted. Needed. Bigger houses! Bigger cars! Bigger everything!
Now I drive into my town where the half million dollar homes are necessary for survival. After all, who could live in a small ranch?
I’ve got a good friend who is being called with her husband to adopt a little sweetpea from China. Yeah! The world would say that they’re crazy. After all, they live in a smaller ranch with three kids already. Don’t they know they won’t have everything if they decide to spend their lives and income to love on a little one who may never know security without them?
It took a long time for me to recognize the greed in my own heart. And to be completely honest, it still rears its ugly head from time to time.
We’ve made some decisions that mean we’re not ever going to live in the fanciest homes in town – like me staying home with the kids and M’s adoption – and I’m thrilled with those choices. Yet, I know that my heart is still tempted to want what the world sells…more and more of everything!
Today my prayer is for contentment. That whether “well fed or hungry, whether rich or poor” I would know joy in all circumstances.
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