During the month of November, I tried to post something every day that I was thankful for. I received a lot of really nice comments about how those posts were neat to read. So I decided that for the year 2011 I am going to make a conscious effort to be more thankful all year, not just during the Thanksgiving season. I realized that if I just came up with 10 things every week that I'm thankful for I would have over 500 "thanks" by the end of the year (Yeah, my math skills are THAT good!).
So, I will take an early jump and start the thanks.
1. Beautiful snow on the ground every day for the month of December.
2. A good friend who never gives up on me.
3. Clementines. Can I just say how much I love them?!
4. New books for Christmas from my husband.
5. Noel asking really good questions about God.
6. Hearing Elise's new words every day.
7. Insurance
8. God hears my prayers, even when I don't know what to say.
9. Bedtime for the kids, especially when I'm home alone with them for the week.
10. Free coffee samples in the mail.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
It's not the holidays without traditions
I'd like to share some of the holiday traditions we have started over the past few years. Feel free to steal at random:
*We always buy a real Christmas tree, even having to chop it down. (See previous post)
*Every year since we have been married, we have bought a Christmas tree ornament that is a picture frame. We make sure to write the year on the back. And then every year when we get out the decorations we get to walk through the years by looking at the pictures (insert, "Awww. . .")
*If we are in Kokomo on Christmas Eve, we always visit We Care Park, which is a crazy, redneck lit up wonderland that you can ride through and even get out and walk around.
*Baking. My three specialties are chocolate fudge, caramel corn, and chex mix. These are also the three reasons I run on a regular basis but do not lose weight!
*Lots and lots of Christmas music. If you haven't tried it, I highly suggest typing in "Barenaked Ladies (Holiday Mix)" on Pandora. You can thank me later.
*This year we are starting 2 new traditions: eating cake for breakfast (birthday cake for Baby Jesus) and spending a little time volunteering at Kokomo Urban Outreach. Very excited for both of those.
*Instead of making New Year's Resolutions, we make New Year's Predictions. We write down our guesses about sports, celebrities, politics, people we know, and just about anything else we can think of. I'd love to share them with you, but, like a birthday wish, if you say it out loud, it won't come true :)
*Reading the Christmas Story from the Bible on Christmas morning. What an amazing gift we have been given! May you find your own traditions as you celebrate the season.
*We always buy a real Christmas tree, even having to chop it down. (See previous post)
*Every year since we have been married, we have bought a Christmas tree ornament that is a picture frame. We make sure to write the year on the back. And then every year when we get out the decorations we get to walk through the years by looking at the pictures (insert, "Awww. . .")
*If we are in Kokomo on Christmas Eve, we always visit We Care Park, which is a crazy, redneck lit up wonderland that you can ride through and even get out and walk around.
*Baking. My three specialties are chocolate fudge, caramel corn, and chex mix. These are also the three reasons I run on a regular basis but do not lose weight!
*Lots and lots of Christmas music. If you haven't tried it, I highly suggest typing in "Barenaked Ladies (Holiday Mix)" on Pandora. You can thank me later.
*This year we are starting 2 new traditions: eating cake for breakfast (birthday cake for Baby Jesus) and spending a little time volunteering at Kokomo Urban Outreach. Very excited for both of those.
*Instead of making New Year's Resolutions, we make New Year's Predictions. We write down our guesses about sports, celebrities, politics, people we know, and just about anything else we can think of. I'd love to share them with you, but, like a birthday wish, if you say it out loud, it won't come true :)
*Reading the Christmas Story from the Bible on Christmas morning. What an amazing gift we have been given! May you find your own traditions as you celebrate the season.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
You want a what??!
My husband is a wonderful man. He works hard at his job and at home. He rarely complains about anything. He is thoughtful and considerate. He even makes my coffee up for me the night before so that it is ready to go in the morning.
But sometimes the listening skills are a little off.
The other day I told him about how I had just tried the Dunkin' Donuts Dunkiccino and how much I loved it. It's just like gas station cappuccino, almost syruppy with a hint of coffee. Not something for every day, but a nice treat.
Anyway, when we were headed to the airport for our big trip to Florida, I thought it called for said dunkiccino. So the next few minutes while we are driving there, David is making comments about what a funny name it is, why they would call it that, whatever. He drives up and orders a small "Donkey--chino". And just like that drives up to the window.
This is when it hit me that this whole time he thought the drink was called a donkeychino. (insert light bulb)
Needless to say, we were laughing so hard we were crying by the time the server brought the donkeychino to our window. Also needless to say, a)there were puns and jokes about that word for the next several miles of our trip (example: "You wouldn't believe it, I had him by the donkeychinos. . ." ) b)that drink will forever be referred to in our house as a donkeychino.
I love him.
My husband.
Well, and the donkeychino.
But sometimes the listening skills are a little off.
The other day I told him about how I had just tried the Dunkin' Donuts Dunkiccino and how much I loved it. It's just like gas station cappuccino, almost syruppy with a hint of coffee. Not something for every day, but a nice treat.
Anyway, when we were headed to the airport for our big trip to Florida, I thought it called for said dunkiccino. So the next few minutes while we are driving there, David is making comments about what a funny name it is, why they would call it that, whatever. He drives up and orders a small "Donkey--chino". And just like that drives up to the window.
This is when it hit me that this whole time he thought the drink was called a donkeychino. (insert light bulb)
Needless to say, we were laughing so hard we were crying by the time the server brought the donkeychino to our window. Also needless to say, a)there were puns and jokes about that word for the next several miles of our trip (example: "You wouldn't believe it, I had him by the donkeychinos. . ." ) b)that drink will forever be referred to in our house as a donkeychino.
I love him.
My husband.
Well, and the donkeychino.
Monday, December 13, 2010
December Fun
Here are some things we've either already enjoyed or are looking forward to this month. Happy December!
*Christmas concerts. Although they are a little exhausting with little ones on my lap, I really enjoy going to see my neice and nephew in Christmas programs. I like to see kids shine, proud of what they have worked so hard to do. I like to see parents supporting their kids. I like to be reminiscent of when I was a student and sang in Christmas programs. Good times.
*Snow. We have had snow on the ground every day so far this month, and it's been beautiful! I kind of wish it was just a little bit warmer so we can actually go outside and play in it. But I'd much rather see snow than rain in December.
*Baking. I love to cook and bake and make treats, and December is a wonderful time for that. My fudge hasn't turned out quite as well as I'd hoped, but the caramel corn, chex mix, and lemon poppy seed bread have been really good. It's a good thing I'm giving some of it away!
*Jingle Bell Run. Speaking of eating too much, it's a good thing David and I have been running. We ran in a 5K in downtown Indy with my friend, Laura on Saturday, and I had my personal best time. It feels good to work towards a goal and achieve it. Now if I could just stop eating the leftover fudge I might get rid of this 2 year-old baby weight. Ha!
Other highlights include building fires in the fireplace, watching Christmas shows on tv, attending the Christmas Eve service at church, and getting Christmas cards in the mail.
In the midst of this busy time of year, remember to take time and enjoy every minute of it!
*Christmas concerts. Although they are a little exhausting with little ones on my lap, I really enjoy going to see my neice and nephew in Christmas programs. I like to see kids shine, proud of what they have worked so hard to do. I like to see parents supporting their kids. I like to be reminiscent of when I was a student and sang in Christmas programs. Good times.
*Snow. We have had snow on the ground every day so far this month, and it's been beautiful! I kind of wish it was just a little bit warmer so we can actually go outside and play in it. But I'd much rather see snow than rain in December.
*Baking. I love to cook and bake and make treats, and December is a wonderful time for that. My fudge hasn't turned out quite as well as I'd hoped, but the caramel corn, chex mix, and lemon poppy seed bread have been really good. It's a good thing I'm giving some of it away!
*Jingle Bell Run. Speaking of eating too much, it's a good thing David and I have been running. We ran in a 5K in downtown Indy with my friend, Laura on Saturday, and I had my personal best time. It feels good to work towards a goal and achieve it. Now if I could just stop eating the leftover fudge I might get rid of this 2 year-old baby weight. Ha!
Other highlights include building fires in the fireplace, watching Christmas shows on tv, attending the Christmas Eve service at church, and getting Christmas cards in the mail.
In the midst of this busy time of year, remember to take time and enjoy every minute of it!
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Don't Forget the Lyrics
Every year for about a month we all listen to Christmas music. And with a few exceptions, it's usually the same songs we hear every year.
But do I really pay attention to the lyrics?
Yesterday, as I was on the elliptical machine, my kids were jumping on the bed next to me dancing to Christmas music. And then "O Holy Night" came on. Since I was trying really hard to forget about how un-fun my elliptical machine experience is, I tried to focus on the music.
And that's when I heard it.
"A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices"
And I think it hit me for the very first time how weary this world is without Jesus. Can you imagine all of those generations waiting for a savior? They were living in a very corrupt time, longing for the One they had heard about for so long. They were weary, to say the least.
And then a star appears. And not only do they rejoice, but they fall on their needs in worship to the new King.
So, what does this mean for me? How is my Christmas season an act of worship to the King of Kings? Or am I too busy shopping, decorating, going to activities, and eating?
I've been very convicted this year to make Christmas about Christ. I know that sounds corny, but I'm serious. I don't want my kids to think of presents when they think of Christmas. I don't even want them to think about family and fun. I want them to think of how awesome it is that Jesus came to earth for us. And not only did He come to earth, but He came as a baby, wrinkly, soft, vulnerable, and beautifully perfect. I want this season to honor Him.
Here are some ideas that I've found to help with that:
*Jesse Tree Reading for the month of December
*Giving to those in need
*Celebrating Jesus' birth on Christmas morning instead of Santa's arrival
What are you doing to remember the birth of the Savior?
But do I really pay attention to the lyrics?
Yesterday, as I was on the elliptical machine, my kids were jumping on the bed next to me dancing to Christmas music. And then "O Holy Night" came on. Since I was trying really hard to forget about how un-fun my elliptical machine experience is, I tried to focus on the music.
And that's when I heard it.
"A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices"
And I think it hit me for the very first time how weary this world is without Jesus. Can you imagine all of those generations waiting for a savior? They were living in a very corrupt time, longing for the One they had heard about for so long. They were weary, to say the least.
And then a star appears. And not only do they rejoice, but they fall on their needs in worship to the new King.
So, what does this mean for me? How is my Christmas season an act of worship to the King of Kings? Or am I too busy shopping, decorating, going to activities, and eating?
I've been very convicted this year to make Christmas about Christ. I know that sounds corny, but I'm serious. I don't want my kids to think of presents when they think of Christmas. I don't even want them to think about family and fun. I want them to think of how awesome it is that Jesus came to earth for us. And not only did He come to earth, but He came as a baby, wrinkly, soft, vulnerable, and beautifully perfect. I want this season to honor Him.
Here are some ideas that I've found to help with that:
*Jesse Tree Reading for the month of December
*Giving to those in need
*Celebrating Jesus' birth on Christmas morning instead of Santa's arrival
What are you doing to remember the birth of the Savior?
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Favorite moments from Thanksgiving Vacation
So we went to Captiva Island for Thanksgiving last week.
Now before you get mad at me, this was a very rare occurance for us. We usually head to sunny Belding, Michigan for events such as Thanksgiving, so when David's family invited us to spend the week with them in Florida, we decided to make that our family vacation for the year.
And it was wonderful.
There were definitely some stressful points, since, you know, we had a 4 year-old and an 18 month-old (who, by the way, has learned the word "no" with flair and gusto. So much so that she has to say it at least 7,000 times a day). But overall, we had such a good time. Here are some highlights.*
1. Seeing Noel ride a plane. He LOVED it. It was so much fun to watch him look out the window and see us take off. I love seeing the world through a new set of eyes.
2. The pool. We had a pool at the house we stayed in, and it was so nice. Noel absolutely loved swimming. At one point, he laid back on a floatie and said, "Ahhh, I could do this all day."
3. The Island Cow. The night before we left, David and I got to go on a date out to eat. The restaurant (The Island Cow) was a fun little fish-fry-style restaurant, where we ate way too much, but had such a sweet time just talking and being together.
4. The beach. Of course, we loved spending time on the beach. The weather was beautiful, and I've never seen so many shells. One day the waves were especially high and we all (except the little ones) went way out and played in the water. Such fun!
5. Exploring. We rented bikes for the week and rode around every day. We would always find a way to make a pit stop for some sort of treat for the kids (usually something in the ice cream family), so they enjoyed it to.
6. Being with family. There were 14 of us in the house. We don't really get together too often, so it was such a joy to see my kids fall in love with their family. To see Elise blow kisses to Jacob and get her toes painted by Becca. To watch Noel dance for Abby and play ball with Grandpa Ed. I will cherish these memories for years to come.
*I wish I had pictures to go with all of these, but we either forgot to take a camera anywhere we went, or didn't want to take the camera for fear of sand getting into it
Now before you get mad at me, this was a very rare occurance for us. We usually head to sunny Belding, Michigan for events such as Thanksgiving, so when David's family invited us to spend the week with them in Florida, we decided to make that our family vacation for the year.
And it was wonderful.
There were definitely some stressful points, since, you know, we had a 4 year-old and an 18 month-old (who, by the way, has learned the word "no" with flair and gusto. So much so that she has to say it at least 7,000 times a day). But overall, we had such a good time. Here are some highlights.*
1. Seeing Noel ride a plane. He LOVED it. It was so much fun to watch him look out the window and see us take off. I love seeing the world through a new set of eyes.
2. The pool. We had a pool at the house we stayed in, and it was so nice. Noel absolutely loved swimming. At one point, he laid back on a floatie and said, "Ahhh, I could do this all day."
3. The Island Cow. The night before we left, David and I got to go on a date out to eat. The restaurant (The Island Cow) was a fun little fish-fry-style restaurant, where we ate way too much, but had such a sweet time just talking and being together.
4. The beach. Of course, we loved spending time on the beach. The weather was beautiful, and I've never seen so many shells. One day the waves were especially high and we all (except the little ones) went way out and played in the water. Such fun!
5. Exploring. We rented bikes for the week and rode around every day. We would always find a way to make a pit stop for some sort of treat for the kids (usually something in the ice cream family), so they enjoyed it to.
6. Being with family. There were 14 of us in the house. We don't really get together too often, so it was such a joy to see my kids fall in love with their family. To see Elise blow kisses to Jacob and get her toes painted by Becca. To watch Noel dance for Abby and play ball with Grandpa Ed. I will cherish these memories for years to come.
*I wish I had pictures to go with all of these, but we either forgot to take a camera anywhere we went, or didn't want to take the camera for fear of sand getting into it
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
The Waiting Game
I'm getting so antsy to decorate for Christmas. Everyone I talk to has their tree up, the lights strung, and all of the festive decor up. But we have to wait.
Why?
Because we are old school and get a real Christmas tree.
Now, I'm not complaining, because getting a real Christmas tree is one of my favorite thing to do in December. We drive out in the country to this patch of woods where a guy sits in a little shed (no phone, no hours of operation posted, just him and his fireplace). We pay him $30 and he gives us a saw. We stomp out through the trees to find the one that will stand in our living room. Then David hacks her down and we drag her home.
It's so much fun, and it really is so beautiful.
But we can't do it yet, or come December 25 the tree will have approximately 9 needles left on the tree.
(Oh, and I need to mention that David, being the engineer he is, has created a self-watering system for the tree. I can't even explain it except to say that it is worth coming to our house to see, and should be on an episode of "Modern Marvels".)
And so I wait.
But in the meantime, enjoy your imposter of a tree! (Just kidding. . .)
Why?
Because we are old school and get a real Christmas tree.
Now, I'm not complaining, because getting a real Christmas tree is one of my favorite thing to do in December. We drive out in the country to this patch of woods where a guy sits in a little shed (no phone, no hours of operation posted, just him and his fireplace). We pay him $30 and he gives us a saw. We stomp out through the trees to find the one that will stand in our living room. Then David hacks her down and we drag her home.
It's so much fun, and it really is so beautiful.
But we can't do it yet, or come December 25 the tree will have approximately 9 needles left on the tree.
(Oh, and I need to mention that David, being the engineer he is, has created a self-watering system for the tree. I can't even explain it except to say that it is worth coming to our house to see, and should be on an episode of "Modern Marvels".)
And so I wait.
But in the meantime, enjoy your imposter of a tree! (Just kidding. . .)
Monday, November 29, 2010
Torn
We had a wonderful vacation (which I will post about soon, I promise), but in the midst of the fun, I got an email that left me feeling, well, torn.
Bob Pemberton, a missionary in Zimbabwe who was only 52, died of a heart attack. I have known Bob since I was little. He is one of the first missionaries I ever knew. I have memories of him eating dinner at our house and telling stories, teaching us songs and dances, and telling us about the amazing ways God works through us if we just let him.
I had several opportunities to spend time with Bob and his amazing wife Nancy. And every time it was so good to catch up with them. It was so inspiring to see that there is so much more God has planned than this "American Dream" we all try to chase after.
So, on the one hand my heart is a litle broken. I think about how Nancy, and their children, and their grandchildren. I think about how much the church in Cheredzi will miss Bob. I think about how 52 is way too young to die. And then I think about where Bob is now. He is celebrating in Heaven. He is walking with God. And I can't be sad about that, can I?
If you're reading this today, please take time to realize how short life is, how wonderful God is, and how others need to know that too.
Bob Pemberton, a missionary in Zimbabwe who was only 52, died of a heart attack. I have known Bob since I was little. He is one of the first missionaries I ever knew. I have memories of him eating dinner at our house and telling stories, teaching us songs and dances, and telling us about the amazing ways God works through us if we just let him.
I had several opportunities to spend time with Bob and his amazing wife Nancy. And every time it was so good to catch up with them. It was so inspiring to see that there is so much more God has planned than this "American Dream" we all try to chase after.
So, on the one hand my heart is a litle broken. I think about how Nancy, and their children, and their grandchildren. I think about how much the church in Cheredzi will miss Bob. I think about how 52 is way too young to die. And then I think about where Bob is now. He is celebrating in Heaven. He is walking with God. And I can't be sad about that, can I?
If you're reading this today, please take time to realize how short life is, how wonderful God is, and how others need to know that too.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
And we're off. . .hopefully
On Saturday we will embark on our first Wittenbach family of four vacation via an airplane. We're headed to Sanibel Island to be with some of David's family for the week of Thanksgiving.
These are the things I'm excited about:
*warm weather
*flip flops
*getting away from household duties (aka cleaning)
*spending time with family
*the beach
*relaxing
*good food
These are the things I'm nervous about:
*both of my kids are congested and coughing. I really don't want sick kids on vacation!
*sleeping arrangements
*flying with 2 little ones on an airplane
*spending time with family
*what to pack/how to pack
I'm trying not to let the "nervous" list get the best of me and just enjoy this trip. I get so worked up about little stuff, especially when it comes to my kids. It's so strange because when it was just me I hardly ever let the small stuff get to me. I guess that's what happens when you're in charge of more than just yourself. Another thing I never realized before becoming a parent.
Bon Voyage!
These are the things I'm excited about:
*warm weather
*flip flops
*getting away from household duties (aka cleaning)
*spending time with family
*the beach
*relaxing
*good food
These are the things I'm nervous about:
*both of my kids are congested and coughing. I really don't want sick kids on vacation!
*sleeping arrangements
*flying with 2 little ones on an airplane
*spending time with family
*what to pack/how to pack
I'm trying not to let the "nervous" list get the best of me and just enjoy this trip. I get so worked up about little stuff, especially when it comes to my kids. It's so strange because when it was just me I hardly ever let the small stuff get to me. I guess that's what happens when you're in charge of more than just yourself. Another thing I never realized before becoming a parent.
Bon Voyage!
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
If you're reading this. . .
If you're reading this,
*Thank you for not giving up on my blog even thought I've been very negligent.
*Please know that I have all kinds of intentions to blog regularly again soon.
*Life has been crazy the past couple of days.
*Noel has been sick with 3 different illnesses in 3 weeks, and 3 trips to different doctors.
*I've been sick, run my first 5-mile race, played single mom for three days, and worked on an upcoming retreat for high school students.
Please forgive and don't forget me. I'll be back as soon as I get caught up with all kinds of thoughts that you could probably live without. Ha!
*Thank you for not giving up on my blog even thought I've been very negligent.
*Please know that I have all kinds of intentions to blog regularly again soon.
*Life has been crazy the past couple of days.
*Noel has been sick with 3 different illnesses in 3 weeks, and 3 trips to different doctors.
*I've been sick, run my first 5-mile race, played single mom for three days, and worked on an upcoming retreat for high school students.
Please forgive and don't forget me. I'll be back as soon as I get caught up with all kinds of thoughts that you could probably live without. Ha!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Eternity
If you didn't read my last post, I'm sharing the devotions I'm working on for our upcoming fall retreat for high school students. I'm hoping you can get something out of them as well as let me know what can be changed to improve it.
In our last “God Time” we focused on the fact that Jesus is our one, true hope. Without Him we have nothing. But with Him we have an eternity in Heaven. And that’s what we are going to look at today: Heaven.
When you think of Heaven, what are some thoughts, words, or pictures that come to your mind?
Instead of coming up with our own ideas of Heaven, let’s see what the Bible says about it.
Read Hebrews 11:11-16.
Think about all of the amazing creation God has made here on earth. What is the most beautiful place in nature you have ever been to? Describe it.
Think about this: If God made something here on earth that beautiful, can you imagine how awesome the city is that God is preparing in Heaven for us?
Read Philippians 3:12-4:1.
Who will be in heaven with us?
What will our bodies look like?
Read 2 Corinthians 5:1-10. In this passage Paul is comparing his body to that of a tent.
Do you like camping? Why or why not?
Most of us like camping for a short time, but we wouldn’t want to live in a tent for a long period of time. Why?
Think about how our bodies are like tents. They sustain us through this life, but they don’t last forever. They are fragile. They get torn and damaged. And that’s just another reason why we long for heaven. This tent of a body will be replaced with one that will never be destroyed!
The book of Revelation is full of descriptions of Heaven.
Read Revelation 21:1-4 and 21:22-27. What are some things about Heaven in these verses that make you excited?
Revelation 20:10 gives us one of the best parts of Heaven.
“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
We will never have to deal with Satan, his lies, his schemes, the pain he causes, any of it!
So, Heaven is going to be amazing. Awesome. Beyond our wildest dreams. And the best part is that we get to spend eternity praising Jesus, who is the reason we get to be there at all.
But what does this mean for me right now?
Read Revelation 22:12-13 and 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.
Don’t give up! Life is hard. It is full of struggles, temptations, frustrations, and disappointments. But we must live with eternity in mind! This life is not the end, it’s just the beginning.
Think about all of the day-to-day problems that you encounter. Do they matter, in light of the fact that we have eternity with God waiting for us?
Think about the hard situations you are going through right now. Please be comforted in knowing that it is not going to last forever! Think eternally!
In our last “God Time” we focused on the fact that Jesus is our one, true hope. Without Him we have nothing. But with Him we have an eternity in Heaven. And that’s what we are going to look at today: Heaven.
When you think of Heaven, what are some thoughts, words, or pictures that come to your mind?
Instead of coming up with our own ideas of Heaven, let’s see what the Bible says about it.
Read Hebrews 11:11-16.
Think about all of the amazing creation God has made here on earth. What is the most beautiful place in nature you have ever been to? Describe it.
Think about this: If God made something here on earth that beautiful, can you imagine how awesome the city is that God is preparing in Heaven for us?
Read Philippians 3:12-4:1.
Who will be in heaven with us?
What will our bodies look like?
Read 2 Corinthians 5:1-10. In this passage Paul is comparing his body to that of a tent.
Do you like camping? Why or why not?
Most of us like camping for a short time, but we wouldn’t want to live in a tent for a long period of time. Why?
Think about how our bodies are like tents. They sustain us through this life, but they don’t last forever. They are fragile. They get torn and damaged. And that’s just another reason why we long for heaven. This tent of a body will be replaced with one that will never be destroyed!
The book of Revelation is full of descriptions of Heaven.
Read Revelation 21:1-4 and 21:22-27. What are some things about Heaven in these verses that make you excited?
Revelation 20:10 gives us one of the best parts of Heaven.
“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
We will never have to deal with Satan, his lies, his schemes, the pain he causes, any of it!
So, Heaven is going to be amazing. Awesome. Beyond our wildest dreams. And the best part is that we get to spend eternity praising Jesus, who is the reason we get to be there at all.
But what does this mean for me right now?
Read Revelation 22:12-13 and 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.
Don’t give up! Life is hard. It is full of struggles, temptations, frustrations, and disappointments. But we must live with eternity in mind! This life is not the end, it’s just the beginning.
Think about all of the day-to-day problems that you encounter. Do they matter, in light of the fact that we have eternity with God waiting for us?
Think about the hard situations you are going through right now. Please be comforted in knowing that it is not going to last forever! Think eternally!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
You're the Inspiration
I've been a little overloaded in the writing area as of late, so I've lost some of my creative "juices" (if you will). Right now I'm working on some devotions about hope for an upcoming high school retreat. Instead of writing twice, I'd like to share my first devotion. Let me know what you think, cause I still have a few weeks before it will be given to the students.
What kinds of things do you hope for?
What is the difference between hoping and wishing?
The only reason why we have any hope at all in this life is because of Jesus.
Who is Jesus?
Who is He to you?
How is Jesus our hope? Read the following verses and come up with a 3-4 word summary of each verse/passage.
Romans 4:25 ________________________________________________________________________
Romans 5:7-8 _______________________________________________________________________
Romans 6:23 ________________________________________________________________________
Romans 8:1 _________________________________________________________________________
Acts 2:21 ___________________________________________________________________________
Acts 4:12 ___________________________________________________________________________
Ephesians 2:13-18 ____________________________________________________________________
Colossians 1:12-13 ____________________________________________________________________
Look back at all of the things you just read. That is how Jesus is our hope!
Think about all of the things that you hope for. What if they were gone? Think for a moment.
What if the car you hoped for was gone?
What if the spouse you are hoping for doesn’t happen?
What is the career you are hoping to have doesn’t work out?
What if your future plans change and aren’t what you were hoping for?
We might be discouraged, upset, or frustrated if these things we hope for are gone, but stop for another moment and think about this:
Where would you be if all of those hopes came true, but you didn’t have Jesus?
You see, nothing in this world matters if we don’t have the one, true hope of Jesus. Take a few minutes and write a thank you prayer to Jesus for being our Hope.
What kinds of things do you hope for?
What is the difference between hoping and wishing?
The only reason why we have any hope at all in this life is because of Jesus.
Who is Jesus?
Who is He to you?
How is Jesus our hope? Read the following verses and come up with a 3-4 word summary of each verse/passage.
Romans 4:25 ________________________________________________________________________
Romans 5:7-8 _______________________________________________________________________
Romans 6:23 ________________________________________________________________________
Romans 8:1 _________________________________________________________________________
Acts 2:21 ___________________________________________________________________________
Acts 4:12 ___________________________________________________________________________
Ephesians 2:13-18 ____________________________________________________________________
Colossians 1:12-13 ____________________________________________________________________
Look back at all of the things you just read. That is how Jesus is our hope!
Think about all of the things that you hope for. What if they were gone? Think for a moment.
What if the car you hoped for was gone?
What if the spouse you are hoping for doesn’t happen?
What is the career you are hoping to have doesn’t work out?
What if your future plans change and aren’t what you were hoping for?
We might be discouraged, upset, or frustrated if these things we hope for are gone, but stop for another moment and think about this:
Where would you be if all of those hopes came true, but you didn’t have Jesus?
You see, nothing in this world matters if we don’t have the one, true hope of Jesus. Take a few minutes and write a thank you prayer to Jesus for being our Hope.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Our Father, who art in Heaven
Those are the first words of the Lord's prayer. Words Jesus used to teach us how to pray. Yesterday, my small group of girls talked about prayer: struggles with prayer, why we pray, what to pray about, etc. And I think I learned more than the girls did.
I learned that while some parents are great, some parents are very immature and make their children have to grow up way too soon.
I learned that in a room of just 10 girls, one of them might have cancer, one hears voices telling her to hurt herself, and one has fallen away from God and desparately wants to come back.
I hurt for these girls. I wish I could make their problems go away. But more than that, I give these girls to God in prayer. If I truly believe that God answers prayer, then now is the time to show it.
Everyone is going through something, but we just don't take the time to sit and talk to them about it. We pass through so many days with shallow conversation and miss out on opportunities around us. While our Father in Heaven is whispering to us, "Talk to them, ask them how they really are. They need you."
I pray that I make time to have more of those conversations. That I don't get so caught up in what I'm doing that I miss those around me who are hurting, who need my prayers, who need to know there is more out there than what we see in front of us.
I learned that while some parents are great, some parents are very immature and make their children have to grow up way too soon.
I learned that in a room of just 10 girls, one of them might have cancer, one hears voices telling her to hurt herself, and one has fallen away from God and desparately wants to come back.
I hurt for these girls. I wish I could make their problems go away. But more than that, I give these girls to God in prayer. If I truly believe that God answers prayer, then now is the time to show it.
Everyone is going through something, but we just don't take the time to sit and talk to them about it. We pass through so many days with shallow conversation and miss out on opportunities around us. While our Father in Heaven is whispering to us, "Talk to them, ask them how they really are. They need you."
I pray that I make time to have more of those conversations. That I don't get so caught up in what I'm doing that I miss those around me who are hurting, who need my prayers, who need to know there is more out there than what we see in front of us.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
It's kind of like a hat. . .
Okay, sorry for all of the focus on Noel, but he really does some funny stuff. Plus, I spend almost every waking hour of my life with him. Think of all the stories I could be telling. Ha!
So, tonight we had coupons for free Frostys and the kids had eaten a good dinner, so we headed out to Wendy's. As you can imagine, Wendy's in Kokomo on a weeknight at around 7:30 was hopping. Besides our family there was one employee eating a meal and an elderly lady dining alone.
For some reason, we have this tradition that when we are at Wendy's we play "I Spy". And we had played for about 10 minutes, when Noel comes up with "I spy something white." David and I are looking all over and guessing, and Noel keeps saying no. Then we see him looking at the lady out of the corner of his eye. We both start realizing that it's probably her he's "spying" (how many things can you point out in an empty Wendy's? Plus, who am I kidding? He is my boy, of course he is a people watcher!)
Then Noel says, "I'll give you a hint: it's on your head. . ."
(At this point we are both trying not to laugh)
" . . .and it's kind of like a hat."
He was, of course, innocently spying her white hair.
Just when Noel takes me to the brink of frustration, he reminds me that you can't buy 4-year-old entertainment like that. Thanks, Noel Man.
So, tonight we had coupons for free Frostys and the kids had eaten a good dinner, so we headed out to Wendy's. As you can imagine, Wendy's in Kokomo on a weeknight at around 7:30 was hopping. Besides our family there was one employee eating a meal and an elderly lady dining alone.
For some reason, we have this tradition that when we are at Wendy's we play "I Spy". And we had played for about 10 minutes, when Noel comes up with "I spy something white." David and I are looking all over and guessing, and Noel keeps saying no. Then we see him looking at the lady out of the corner of his eye. We both start realizing that it's probably her he's "spying" (how many things can you point out in an empty Wendy's? Plus, who am I kidding? He is my boy, of course he is a people watcher!)
Then Noel says, "I'll give you a hint: it's on your head. . ."
(At this point we are both trying not to laugh)
" . . .and it's kind of like a hat."
He was, of course, innocently spying her white hair.
Just when Noel takes me to the brink of frustration, he reminds me that you can't buy 4-year-old entertainment like that. Thanks, Noel Man.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The CD dilemna
I've really been convicted about having too much "stuff" over the last year. And we have done a pretty successful job of keeping our things to a reasonable amount. If we buy something new, something old has to go. We consider purchases instead of making kneejerk decisions. David just recently cleaned out Noel's closet and got rid of some old/broken toys. And although we still have much more than we really need, I am feeling better all of the time about the materials we have.
But I have an dilemna.
And I'm reminded of it every time I sit down to the computer. Right to the left of the computer desk is a cd tower with probably 150 CDs. CDs we never listen to. Most of these CDs have been burned onto the computer. Almost all of them are old. Let me give you a few examples (not joking):
Audio Adrenaline "Don't Censor Me"
Dixie Chicks "Fly"
Steven Curtis Chapman "For the Sake of the Call"
Dave Matthews Band "Under the Table and Dreaming"
Mr. Holland's Opus Soundtrack
I cannot tell you the last time I've listened to any of these, let alone the rest of them, minus the 6 Christmas CDs we bust out in December.
So what do I do with them?
Try to sell them? Who wants to buy our terrible CD collection (no offense, Mr. Holland, you had your time in the sun, trust me).
Give them away? Who wants this collection, even if it were free???
I'm at a crossroads, and don't know what to do. Any suggestions?
But I have an dilemna.
And I'm reminded of it every time I sit down to the computer. Right to the left of the computer desk is a cd tower with probably 150 CDs. CDs we never listen to. Most of these CDs have been burned onto the computer. Almost all of them are old. Let me give you a few examples (not joking):
Audio Adrenaline "Don't Censor Me"
Dixie Chicks "Fly"
Steven Curtis Chapman "For the Sake of the Call"
Dave Matthews Band "Under the Table and Dreaming"
Mr. Holland's Opus Soundtrack
I cannot tell you the last time I've listened to any of these, let alone the rest of them, minus the 6 Christmas CDs we bust out in December.
So what do I do with them?
Try to sell them? Who wants to buy our terrible CD collection (no offense, Mr. Holland, you had your time in the sun, trust me).
Give them away? Who wants this collection, even if it were free???
I'm at a crossroads, and don't know what to do. Any suggestions?
Saturday, October 09, 2010
Listen up, sonny
I teach Sunday School (we call it Insight) on Sunday mornings to high school students. I really enjoy it. The kids make me laugh. They make me think. But most importantly, it encourages me to look at the Bible in different ways to keep things interesting and relevant for teens who are diligent enough to show up at 9 am on a Sunday morning to learn about God.
So the past few weeks we've been looking at the 10 Commandments, and I am always so surprised (why am I still surprised) that God shows me something new every time I let Him lead my lesson planning. This week we're looking at the 5th command: Honor your father and mother.
Here are just a few things that I've come to realize through the course of this study:
*although I am still someone's child (and should still honor them) I am now on the other side of this command. Am I being a parent who is teaching my child to follow God?
*The command doesn't say to "obey" your parents, but to honor them, which encompasses a lot more than just obedience. To honor someone is to prize them highly, to respect them, to care for them, and (yes) to obey them. Once again, God's plan is so much more than just rules.
*This command was sooooo important back then because the only way a child really learned about God's law was from his parents. And even though we have Bibles and internet and programming and more resources than I can name, we are all just one generation away from being a people who do not call on God. Read the book of Judges. Even the godliest of leaders had kids who turned away, and the Israelites were back at Rock Bottom before they knew it.
So, if your parents are with you, please tell them how much you appreciate and respect them. Don't take for granted all they have done (and continue to do) because you are their gift from God.
So the past few weeks we've been looking at the 10 Commandments, and I am always so surprised (why am I still surprised) that God shows me something new every time I let Him lead my lesson planning. This week we're looking at the 5th command: Honor your father and mother.
Here are just a few things that I've come to realize through the course of this study:
*although I am still someone's child (and should still honor them) I am now on the other side of this command. Am I being a parent who is teaching my child to follow God?
*The command doesn't say to "obey" your parents, but to honor them, which encompasses a lot more than just obedience. To honor someone is to prize them highly, to respect them, to care for them, and (yes) to obey them. Once again, God's plan is so much more than just rules.
*This command was sooooo important back then because the only way a child really learned about God's law was from his parents. And even though we have Bibles and internet and programming and more resources than I can name, we are all just one generation away from being a people who do not call on God. Read the book of Judges. Even the godliest of leaders had kids who turned away, and the Israelites were back at Rock Bottom before they knew it.
So, if your parents are with you, please tell them how much you appreciate and respect them. Don't take for granted all they have done (and continue to do) because you are their gift from God.
Thursday, October 07, 2010
My Cup Runneth Over
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| Noel went and got a step so Elise can see outside with him. Here he is explaining the porch lights. |
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| Playing house with a dishwasher box. |
And then I take a breath and look at these two amazing people. And my heart is overwhelmed. With love. With responsibility. With thankfulness.
Please take time to look around and let your heart be overflowed today.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Farmer Up
Okay, so I have had all kinds of intentions of writing more on my blog this week. But the combo of writing small group questions and Sunday School questions for our high school students at church has kind of zapped all of my creative writing energy.
Excuses, excuses, right?
Anyway, not to make every post about Noel, but we did celebrate his birthday this weekend. I now have a four-year-old. Wow. We had a little get together with a few of Noel's friends on Friday night. A month or so ago we read a book from the library (it was a Franklin book, in case you're interested) that told the story of a birthday party that had games in the back yard. Ever since then, Noel has wanted that for his birthday. So we had cornhole, parachute games, a sandbox, a hammock, and the highlight: a fishing pond. We filled the kiddie pool with water and about 50 goldfish. The kids used nets (and eventually their hands) to catch as many goldfish as they could. They loved it! It was so much fun to see them play and scream and run and enjoy being together. There was also a Cookie Monster pinata, which was obliterated by the end of the night. Noel ended up sleeping with Cookie's head that night. I hope he doesn't need counseling later for that.
His actual birthday was Monday, and for his big day David took him out to a friend's farm to ride in a combine.
Do you know how exciting that is for my son?? He has not stopped talking about it since.
Not only did he ride in the combine, but he got to ride in "Mr. Anthony's" semi, help move the corn to the silo, and sweep the leftover corn into the grate.
He's still smiling 24 hours later.
I asked him if he thinks he'll be a farmer when he grows up, and he says, "yeah, or a semi driver." And then he thinks for a while and says, "or maybe I'll just be Mr. Anthony's helper and ride in the semi with him." Not sure if that's a career option, but we'll leave it on the table for now.
Farm on, big man, farm on.
Excuses, excuses, right?
Anyway, not to make every post about Noel, but we did celebrate his birthday this weekend. I now have a four-year-old. Wow. We had a little get together with a few of Noel's friends on Friday night. A month or so ago we read a book from the library (it was a Franklin book, in case you're interested) that told the story of a birthday party that had games in the back yard. Ever since then, Noel has wanted that for his birthday. So we had cornhole, parachute games, a sandbox, a hammock, and the highlight: a fishing pond. We filled the kiddie pool with water and about 50 goldfish. The kids used nets (and eventually their hands) to catch as many goldfish as they could. They loved it! It was so much fun to see them play and scream and run and enjoy being together. There was also a Cookie Monster pinata, which was obliterated by the end of the night. Noel ended up sleeping with Cookie's head that night. I hope he doesn't need counseling later for that.
His actual birthday was Monday, and for his big day David took him out to a friend's farm to ride in a combine.
Do you know how exciting that is for my son?? He has not stopped talking about it since.
Not only did he ride in the combine, but he got to ride in "Mr. Anthony's" semi, help move the corn to the silo, and sweep the leftover corn into the grate.
He's still smiling 24 hours later.
I asked him if he thinks he'll be a farmer when he grows up, and he says, "yeah, or a semi driver." And then he thinks for a while and says, "or maybe I'll just be Mr. Anthony's helper and ride in the semi with him." Not sure if that's a career option, but we'll leave it on the table for now.
Farm on, big man, farm on.
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| A beautiful view of the combine right before sunset |
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| sweeping up the corn |
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| John Deere boy |
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| so excited to be in the semi |
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| watching the corn drain out |
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Flashback Tuesday!
When Noel was really little, probably 2 or 3 months old, he cried. A lot. I'm sure all babies do, but he was my first one, and I had no idea what I was doing, much less understood that sometimes babies just cry. He wouldn't sleep. He wouldn't take a pacifier. He just cried. And cried. And cried.
One afternoon, I was at the end of my rope. I needed a break from the crying, so I put him in his little baby swing and ran out to get the mail, slamming the front door behind me. As soon as I slammed the door shut, I realized I had locked myself out of the house. Which wouldn't have been such a huge deal, because we keep a spare key hidden (of course I won't tell you where. . .duh!).
Except that just a few days earlier I had locked myself out then, used the spare key to get in, and proceeded to leave the spare key on the kitchen table.
Huge deal.
So the scenario so far is: screaming baby inside, crying mom outside. What to do?
I take the walk of shame.
Now the walk of shame might mean something different to you, but for me that day, it meant going to my neighbors' house and asking to use their phone BECAUSE I HAD LOCKED MY BABY IN OUR HOUSE AND ME OUT OF IT. Which in itself might not be too embarassing, except that I had probably given these neighbors some of the most condescending looks ever. I won't go into details, but let's just say there were lots of various people living there, coming and going quite frequently, and the police drove by at least twice a week. I once watched an entire squad team surround the house and arrest a guy. We never saw him again. Suffice it to say we were not what you would call great friends.
So as I knocked on the door, I realized that nobody has there stuff together. We've all got issues, and I have no right to judge.
In the end, I used their phone to call a friend who had an extra key, and she saved the day. Noel was still fine in the swing. I can't even remember if he was still crying. For some reason (!) it didn't seem to matter much anymore. And months later when one of those neighbors came to our door asking to use the phone, I was a lot more understanding than I would have been. God definitely has a sense of humor!
Happenings Around Here
Happy Fall, Everyone!!
Lots of fun, exciting things going on around here. We're putting some stuff together to celebrate Noel's 4th birthday this weekend. Hard to believe. I know lots of people say, "Where did the time go?" But I have really enjoyed watching him grow up. Being here with him and seeing him change from a baby to a toddler to a kid has been such a neat experience. Yesterday we went to the park, and I was checking to make sure Elise could get up the stairs at the playground. Noel says, "You don't have to come up here, Mom." It immediately took me back to when he was 2 and wouldn't go on the playground without me.
How things change.
Other upcoming fall activities I'm looking forward to:
high school fall retreat
football games
trip to Florida in November
running a 5K in the near future (I'm halfway through the Couch to 5K program)
teaching Sunday School for the high schoolers
What are your fall plans?
Lots of fun, exciting things going on around here. We're putting some stuff together to celebrate Noel's 4th birthday this weekend. Hard to believe. I know lots of people say, "Where did the time go?" But I have really enjoyed watching him grow up. Being here with him and seeing him change from a baby to a toddler to a kid has been such a neat experience. Yesterday we went to the park, and I was checking to make sure Elise could get up the stairs at the playground. Noel says, "You don't have to come up here, Mom." It immediately took me back to when he was 2 and wouldn't go on the playground without me.
How things change.
Other upcoming fall activities I'm looking forward to:
high school fall retreat
football games
trip to Florida in November
running a 5K in the near future (I'm halfway through the Couch to 5K program)
teaching Sunday School for the high schoolers
What are your fall plans?
Friday, September 24, 2010
Crock Pot Applesauce
Just wanted to share an easy recipe for making applesauce
1 bag (2-3 lb.) apples, peeled and coarsely chopped (can be cut into large pieces)
4-6 T. brown sugar (to your taste)
1 t. vanilla
1 t. cinnamon
Put everything in the crock pot and cook on low for 4 hours. Mash with potato masher. Add more brown sugar if the sauce is too thin.
The original recipe I used called for 1/3 c. apple juice, but I didn't use any (didn't have any on hand) and it was fine without it.
Enjoy!!
1 bag (2-3 lb.) apples, peeled and coarsely chopped (can be cut into large pieces)
4-6 T. brown sugar (to your taste)
1 t. vanilla
1 t. cinnamon
Put everything in the crock pot and cook on low for 4 hours. Mash with potato masher. Add more brown sugar if the sauce is too thin.
The original recipe I used called for 1/3 c. apple juice, but I didn't use any (didn't have any on hand) and it was fine without it.
Enjoy!!
Do you KNOW who my grandpa is?
Continuing in our onslaught of fun activities for Noel over the past few days, on Tuesday, Noel's preschool took a field trip to . . .
(wait for it)
Farlow's Orchard!
If you aren't from Kokomo, or maybe even if you are from Kokomo but don't travel to Russiaville much, you don't know about Farlow's Orchard. According to Mr. Taylor, the tour guide, Farlow's Orchard is the oldest orchard in Indiana that has been run by the same family. It's a cute, 15-acre orchard a few miles west of town. Students and any interested parents (and siblings) met up at the orchard to see how the bees make honey, how a cider press works, how they sort the apples for selling or cider-making, and the highlight: going on a wagon ride where the kids got to pick an apple and take it home.
A fun time was had by all.
Of course, the trip was a little underwhelming for a little boy whose grandpa was apple person of the year, and whose uncle runs a 300+ acre orchard in Michigan. Noel immediately walks up to the tractor and wants a ride. He has a hard time understanding that he doesn't get to ride on the actual tractor, just the wagon. Then he is upset when Mr. Taylor tells us not to eat the apples we picked because they haven't been washed.
To which Noel replies, "We can just wipe them off with our shirts!"
Then he was disappointed when they didn't have any Paula Reds.
Who is this kid?
The highlight for me was just getting to see Noel in action in preschool and to see who his classmates are. He can't remember anyone's names, and I don't get much info about how school went beyond the snack of the day, so it was an interesting peek into a part of his life that I'm not a part of.
And so it begins.
(wait for it)
Farlow's Orchard!
If you aren't from Kokomo, or maybe even if you are from Kokomo but don't travel to Russiaville much, you don't know about Farlow's Orchard. According to Mr. Taylor, the tour guide, Farlow's Orchard is the oldest orchard in Indiana that has been run by the same family. It's a cute, 15-acre orchard a few miles west of town. Students and any interested parents (and siblings) met up at the orchard to see how the bees make honey, how a cider press works, how they sort the apples for selling or cider-making, and the highlight: going on a wagon ride where the kids got to pick an apple and take it home.
A fun time was had by all.
Of course, the trip was a little underwhelming for a little boy whose grandpa was apple person of the year, and whose uncle runs a 300+ acre orchard in Michigan. Noel immediately walks up to the tractor and wants a ride. He has a hard time understanding that he doesn't get to ride on the actual tractor, just the wagon. Then he is upset when Mr. Taylor tells us not to eat the apples we picked because they haven't been washed.
To which Noel replies, "We can just wipe them off with our shirts!"
Then he was disappointed when they didn't have any Paula Reds.
Who is this kid?
The highlight for me was just getting to see Noel in action in preschool and to see who his classmates are. He can't remember anyone's names, and I don't get much info about how school went beyond the snack of the day, so it was an interesting peek into a part of his life that I'm not a part of.
And so it begins.
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All of the preschoolers who went to the orchard. Notice their little apple name tags. Adorable.  |
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Put Me In the Zoo
To continue the fun times, we took a family trip to the Fort Wayne Zoo. It was a wonderful time. The weather was perfect, the new African exhibit was amazing, and the company was, of course, my favorite! This was the first time that Elise really enjoyed seeing the animals. It was so fun to see her discover some of God's creation that she had never seen before.
By the way, if you have never studied the giraffe, you should. Once you learn about how God created the giraffe so uniquely, you'll never question creation again.
By the way, if you have never studied the giraffe, you should. Once you learn about how God created the giraffe so uniquely, you'll never question creation again.
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| Elise taking charge. Her expressions are priceless! |
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| The merry-go-round with Grant |
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| Noel and I rode on the chair lift over the African Exhibit |
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| We could reach out and touch the giraffes--so cool! |
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Up and Away
We have had some really action-packed days, especially considering that we are usually pretty low key in the Wittenbach house.
On Saturday, David took Noel to the local airport for Family Fun Days, where he got to see different kinds of airplanes and play on bouncy fun-ness. The highlight of the trip was that he and David got to ride in a 4-seater airplane over Kokomo. They had just the best time. It was all of Noel's favorite things in one place:
bouncy things
airplanes
mac 'n cheese
popcorn
lemonade
being with David
Russ Taff playing on the radio (Okay, Noel doesn't even know Russ Taff, and if you don't, then consider it a blessing--ha!)
On Saturday, David took Noel to the local airport for Family Fun Days, where he got to see different kinds of airplanes and play on bouncy fun-ness. The highlight of the trip was that he and David got to ride in a 4-seater airplane over Kokomo. They had just the best time. It was all of Noel's favorite things in one place:
bouncy things
airplanes
mac 'n cheese
popcorn
lemonade
being with David
Russ Taff playing on the radio (Okay, Noel doesn't even know Russ Taff, and if you don't, then consider it a blessing--ha!)
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| Posing by the worm he crawled through over and over and over and. . .you get the idea. |
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| Bouncy goodness. This shot is great because Noel is in mid-air. Neither of his feet is touching. |
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| Looking out the window during the plane ride. Love the look on his face! |
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| Standing on the wing of the plane he got to ride in |
Friday, September 17, 2010
Back to Work
For the past three years I have been a mentor/tutor at elementary schools here in Kokomo for children who need a little extra one-on-one time. It's been a great experience, and I have really enjoyed getting to work with students in younger grades, which is something I've never done before.
But it's time for me to get back in the saddle.
This year I'm back with middle schoolers. I am volunteering on Thursdays to help at an after school program for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders called Bridges. Yesterday was my first day.
About 45 students came. We meet in the cafeteria for snacks, life lessons, homework time, games, and free-time.
It's chaotic, it's loud, it's a room full of strong personalities and stubborness and poverty and possibility.
I loved it.
Did everything go smoothly? Of course not. Kenesha walked out before the end. Shyann said she was never coming back. Not much homework was done.
But there's hope.
The hope of building relationships. Of kids seeing their potential. Of a parent getting a little bit of help raising a child alone.
I'm so honored I get to be a part of someone's hope.
There are programs like this all over. If you have the opportunity, please do something to support your local public schools.
But it's time for me to get back in the saddle.
This year I'm back with middle schoolers. I am volunteering on Thursdays to help at an after school program for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders called Bridges. Yesterday was my first day.
About 45 students came. We meet in the cafeteria for snacks, life lessons, homework time, games, and free-time.
It's chaotic, it's loud, it's a room full of strong personalities and stubborness and poverty and possibility.
I loved it.
Did everything go smoothly? Of course not. Kenesha walked out before the end. Shyann said she was never coming back. Not much homework was done.
But there's hope.
The hope of building relationships. Of kids seeing their potential. Of a parent getting a little bit of help raising a child alone.
I'm so honored I get to be a part of someone's hope.
There are programs like this all over. If you have the opportunity, please do something to support your local public schools.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Questions I have
These are some questions I have rolling around in my head. Some serious, some not-so-serious. Does anyone have any answers?
*What is the deal with Naomi and Wynona Judd? Seriously. Someone explain it to me.
*Who is Oprah's fashion consustant, and who is going to fire them?
(Can you tell from these first two questions that I just turned the tv on?)
*Why are there shows called Hoarders, where the people need intervention, and American Pickers, where their houses are gold mines? Aren't these the same kinds of people?
*Does anyone else spend as much time as I do watching their neighbors through their front window?
*Why is our country obsessed with shopping? Can't we find something better to do with our time and money?
*Why does every person from the age of 13-30 say there is nothing to do in their town?
*Who thinks Jay Leno is funny? I don't get it. At all.
*Why am I always dead tired until it's time for bed, and then I'm wide awake?
*Why is it so hard to lose one pound, and so easy to gain one?
*Why are fart jokes ALWAYS funny?
*Is there an easier way to put a crib sheet on my daughter's bed? I cannot do it without sweating and coming darn near close to cursing.
*Why didn't Dairy Queen come up with the mini-sized blizzard years ago? Genius!!
*How many of those mini-sized blizzards does it take to gain a pound?
I think I'll find that one out myself. :)
*What is the deal with Naomi and Wynona Judd? Seriously. Someone explain it to me.
*Who is Oprah's fashion consustant, and who is going to fire them?
(Can you tell from these first two questions that I just turned the tv on?)
*Why are there shows called Hoarders, where the people need intervention, and American Pickers, where their houses are gold mines? Aren't these the same kinds of people?
*Does anyone else spend as much time as I do watching their neighbors through their front window?
*Why is our country obsessed with shopping? Can't we find something better to do with our time and money?
*Why does every person from the age of 13-30 say there is nothing to do in their town?
*Who thinks Jay Leno is funny? I don't get it. At all.
*Why am I always dead tired until it's time for bed, and then I'm wide awake?
*Why is it so hard to lose one pound, and so easy to gain one?
*Why are fart jokes ALWAYS funny?
*Is there an easier way to put a crib sheet on my daughter's bed? I cannot do it without sweating and coming darn near close to cursing.
*Why didn't Dairy Queen come up with the mini-sized blizzard years ago? Genius!!
*How many of those mini-sized blizzards does it take to gain a pound?
I think I'll find that one out myself. :)
Dear Blog,
Dear Blog,
I'm sorry I haven't taken very good care of you over the past few weeks. My kiddos have been taking turns being sick. I promise when they are both better I will pay better attention to you.
Sincerely,
Me
I'm sorry I haven't taken very good care of you over the past few weeks. My kiddos have been taking turns being sick. I promise when they are both better I will pay better attention to you.
Sincerely,
Me
Friday, September 10, 2010
Things that make me smile
. . .in no particular order
*the moments right after both children go to bed and right before they wake up. The house is so quiet. I love them and enjoy my time with them, but I love time to myself, and it is rare.
*fall weather, unless I remind myself that winter is coming.
*celebrity Jeopardy. I can answer almost every question, and that's not saying much
*on Saturday morning, David and I have a tradition of guessing all of the local football scores. It's a running competition all season.
*Rebo coffee (straight from Haiti)
*free stuff. Have you seen this website? Full of fun free stuff
*the fresh salsa David has been making all summer from our garden. It was so hot this week we were sweating.
*anything in the mail that is personally addressed to me. Makes me feel special.
*being barefoot
*knowing that a new season of shows is about to start, including my faves: The Mentalist, Parks & Recreation, Castle, The Big Bang Theory, and The Office
*knowing that there is so much more to this life than all of these little things, and yet God lets me enjoy these little things makes me smile, too!
Have a blessed weekend!
*the moments right after both children go to bed and right before they wake up. The house is so quiet. I love them and enjoy my time with them, but I love time to myself, and it is rare.
*fall weather, unless I remind myself that winter is coming.
*celebrity Jeopardy. I can answer almost every question, and that's not saying much
*on Saturday morning, David and I have a tradition of guessing all of the local football scores. It's a running competition all season.
*Rebo coffee (straight from Haiti)
*free stuff. Have you seen this website? Full of fun free stuff
*the fresh salsa David has been making all summer from our garden. It was so hot this week we were sweating.
*anything in the mail that is personally addressed to me. Makes me feel special.
*being barefoot
*knowing that a new season of shows is about to start, including my faves: The Mentalist, Parks & Recreation, Castle, The Big Bang Theory, and The Office
*knowing that there is so much more to this life than all of these little things, and yet God lets me enjoy these little things makes me smile, too!
Have a blessed weekend!
Thursday, September 09, 2010
She says it better than I ever could
I'm going to do a little cheating today. I've been reading some blogs from a group of people who are in Guatamala on a trip with Compassion, International. If you don't know about Compassion, you definitely need to check them out. They serve thousands and thousands of children all over the world by connecting them with people who support them financially, spiritually, and educationally.
Anyway, this blog post made me cry. It's about how our riches make us callous to the needs around us. Instead of reading a blog post from me today, read it. Please.
Anyway, this blog post made me cry. It's about how our riches make us callous to the needs around us. Instead of reading a blog post from me today, read it. Please.
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Keep it movin'
So, I read on a blog yesterday (can't remember which one) some tips about how to keep your marriage "alive". They were good tips, but there was one statement that really stuck with me. She said that the marriage relationship is in a constant state of movement. Your marriage never stays the same; you're either getting closer together or getting further apart.
And then I got to thinking.
The same is true with all of our relationships. Nothing stays the same, as much as we want it to (or maybe not). Our friendships. Our family. Our relationship with God.
Either we're getting closer or moving further apart.
And I'm guessing that if I don't know which way I'm moving, it's probably not closer.
I need to make a conscious effort to develop the relationships I have with those around me. My family. My Savior.
Time. Communication. Trust. Sharing. Giving. Secrets. Tears. Laughter.
All of these need to be given, and received, to build relationships.
God never meant for us to do this life alone. Look around you and see how you can build the relationships you have today.
And then I got to thinking.
The same is true with all of our relationships. Nothing stays the same, as much as we want it to (or maybe not). Our friendships. Our family. Our relationship with God.
Either we're getting closer or moving further apart.
And I'm guessing that if I don't know which way I'm moving, it's probably not closer.
I need to make a conscious effort to develop the relationships I have with those around me. My family. My Savior.
Time. Communication. Trust. Sharing. Giving. Secrets. Tears. Laughter.
All of these need to be given, and received, to build relationships.
God never meant for us to do this life alone. Look around you and see how you can build the relationships you have today.
Monday, September 06, 2010
Since When?
It's been quite the weekend. If I wanted excitement on my birthday weekend, I sure got it. Friday I got to go out with my hubby and eat at Martino's, which is an old, locally owned restaurant in Kokomo. It's nothing fancy, but it was fun just to be together and not have to wipe anyone's mouth but my own. Then I got to get a new phone, which was free, thanks to David's work. You have to wait for a long time in the Verizon store, but it was like free entertainment, watching all of the people come in with their phone problems. Love. it.
Then Saturday was excitement of a whole different nature. Noel got sick. He had some sort of fever, sore throat, throw up bug that was pretty gross. It was a long, hard day, and I was reminded of two things:
1. I am so thankful for my children's health
2. I hate--absolutely hate--seeing my children in pain
On a lighter note, I did slip away with Elise for a little while and enjoy dinner with my side of the family.
Sunday we stayed home from church just in case anyone was contagious. And then we went on a 5 mile bike ride on the Nickel Plate Trail, which is a few miles north of Kokomo. It's a paved bike trail that takes you through the country. Call me Lesley Knopp from Parks and Recreation, (best show on tv, by the way), but I loved it! I think more people should definitely take advantage of it.
And today we relaxed. We got our annual family picture taken, ate at Wendy's, and played outside for hours. Not sure exactly why we have Labor Day, but I was very thankful for another day with David home after all of our "excitement" this weekend.
But I do have an important question that I've been throwing around in my mind for the last three days?
What is the etiquette for taking your pet around if it is a snake?
On Friday, I took the kids to a local park to play. As they are playing, another 2 couples (with one child for the four of them) came to the park. As they start to get closer, I realize the man has something around his neck.
Surely that's not what I think it is.
It is.
Oh my goodness.
A snake. Wrapped around his neck.
I tried to not freak out, but I'm sure my body language gave me away, not to mention my high-pitched question, "IS THAT A SNAKE??"
The guy's girlfriend/wife/baby mama/lady friend said, "Get that out of here." So what does he do? He carries it over to the yard next to the playground, just lays it in the grass, and comes back over towards his friends.
And this is where I officially freak out. "Did you just leave that snake alone AND LOOSE in the grass over there?" So the guy went and got the snake, put it back around his neck, and stayed far enough from the playground (and me and my kids) so I could breathe normally.
But all of this leads me to think--did this man ever think that carrying an animal that most people find creepy, if not downright scary might not be the best idea?
Since when is this okay?????
Is this a Kokomo thing, or am I behind?
Someone help me!! And please, if you come to help me, let the only thing around your neck be one of those cute really long scarves!
Then Saturday was excitement of a whole different nature. Noel got sick. He had some sort of fever, sore throat, throw up bug that was pretty gross. It was a long, hard day, and I was reminded of two things:
1. I am so thankful for my children's health
2. I hate--absolutely hate--seeing my children in pain
On a lighter note, I did slip away with Elise for a little while and enjoy dinner with my side of the family.
Sunday we stayed home from church just in case anyone was contagious. And then we went on a 5 mile bike ride on the Nickel Plate Trail, which is a few miles north of Kokomo. It's a paved bike trail that takes you through the country. Call me Lesley Knopp from Parks and Recreation, (best show on tv, by the way), but I loved it! I think more people should definitely take advantage of it.
And today we relaxed. We got our annual family picture taken, ate at Wendy's, and played outside for hours. Not sure exactly why we have Labor Day, but I was very thankful for another day with David home after all of our "excitement" this weekend.
But I do have an important question that I've been throwing around in my mind for the last three days?
What is the etiquette for taking your pet around if it is a snake?
On Friday, I took the kids to a local park to play. As they are playing, another 2 couples (with one child for the four of them) came to the park. As they start to get closer, I realize the man has something around his neck.
Surely that's not what I think it is.
It is.
Oh my goodness.
A snake. Wrapped around his neck.
I tried to not freak out, but I'm sure my body language gave me away, not to mention my high-pitched question, "IS THAT A SNAKE??"
The guy's girlfriend/wife/baby mama/lady friend said, "Get that out of here." So what does he do? He carries it over to the yard next to the playground, just lays it in the grass, and comes back over towards his friends.
And this is where I officially freak out. "Did you just leave that snake alone AND LOOSE in the grass over there?" So the guy went and got the snake, put it back around his neck, and stayed far enough from the playground (and me and my kids) so I could breathe normally.
But all of this leads me to think--did this man ever think that carrying an animal that most people find creepy, if not downright scary might not be the best idea?
Since when is this okay?????
Is this a Kokomo thing, or am I behind?
Someone help me!! And please, if you come to help me, let the only thing around your neck be one of those cute really long scarves!
Friday, September 03, 2010
35
35 doesn't sound like a lot in some contexts:
"I only have 35 cents."
"This drive is about 35 minutes."
"Can you eat 35 Hershey kisses?"
But being 35 years old feels, well, like a lot. I'm not even in my early thirties anymore. I'm halfway to 70. Yikes!
I don't want to be afraid to get old. I want to embrace every year, cherish the things that happen. I want to make a difference, and to do that, time has to march on. So if I'm getting older, let it ride! But I want to make every day count. I don't want to look back when I'm 40 and think, "Where did the time go?" Instead, I want to look back and have a mountain of memories. Of ways that I showed God's love to others, helped them to see how special they are.
Welcome, 35! Have a nice year!
"I only have 35 cents."
"This drive is about 35 minutes."
"Can you eat 35 Hershey kisses?"
But being 35 years old feels, well, like a lot. I'm not even in my early thirties anymore. I'm halfway to 70. Yikes!
I don't want to be afraid to get old. I want to embrace every year, cherish the things that happen. I want to make a difference, and to do that, time has to march on. So if I'm getting older, let it ride! But I want to make every day count. I don't want to look back when I'm 40 and think, "Where did the time go?" Instead, I want to look back and have a mountain of memories. Of ways that I showed God's love to others, helped them to see how special they are.
Welcome, 35! Have a nice year!
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Give it a Rest (Thoughts on the Sabbath)
Why is it that most of us think some of the 10 commandments are more important than others? Stealing? Don’t do it. Murder? Of course not! Adultery? No way.
What about honoring the Sabbath?
Hmmmm. . .
Over the course of the past few years I have really been convicted about this commandment. It seems like our society places so much importance on what we can accomplish, that this commandment has been all but forgotten. Now I’m not saying we turn into legalists and demand that nothing of any nature occurs during Sunday, I am saying that we need to be much more aware of how God made us and what is best for us.
Sabbath was originated by God to remind us to rest. I don’t think it necessarily has to be a specific day, but I try and choose one day (usually either Saturday or Sunday) and make it a point to spend time resting. I don’t mean sleeping all day. I mean not doing a million things.
This might look different for different people, but for us it means we don’t do household chores on that day. We don’t spend the whole day running around and trying to get as many errands run as possible. We try and spend extra time together as a family just being together. The other stuff can wait.
If you’re reading this, I’d like to encourage you to start recognizing the Sabbath in some way or another. God commanded it. He wants us to rest in Him and not run ourselves ragged. Don’t believe the lie our society tells us that we have to do, do, do all day. Just be. God will take care of the rest.
What about honoring the Sabbath?
Hmmmm. . .
Over the course of the past few years I have really been convicted about this commandment. It seems like our society places so much importance on what we can accomplish, that this commandment has been all but forgotten. Now I’m not saying we turn into legalists and demand that nothing of any nature occurs during Sunday, I am saying that we need to be much more aware of how God made us and what is best for us.
Sabbath was originated by God to remind us to rest. I don’t think it necessarily has to be a specific day, but I try and choose one day (usually either Saturday or Sunday) and make it a point to spend time resting. I don’t mean sleeping all day. I mean not doing a million things.
This might look different for different people, but for us it means we don’t do household chores on that day. We don’t spend the whole day running around and trying to get as many errands run as possible. We try and spend extra time together as a family just being together. The other stuff can wait.
If you’re reading this, I’d like to encourage you to start recognizing the Sabbath in some way or another. God commanded it. He wants us to rest in Him and not run ourselves ragged. Don’t believe the lie our society tells us that we have to do, do, do all day. Just be. God will take care of the rest.
Monday, August 30, 2010
All Mine
My daughter is my mini-me. I just can't say this enough. I look at her and see so much of myself that it's frightening.
Case(s) in point:
*She can make you laugh one minute, and then turn around and throw a temper tantrum in the next.
*She loves to watch people, and is not ashamed to open-mouth stare if necessary.
*She knows exactly how to push Noel's buttons. It's frustrating and hilarious at the same time.
*If nobody is listening to her, she just talks louder!
*She is messy. Whenever Noel and I play house and use pretend names, we always call her "Sloppy Jo" because she usually has a stain of some sort going on, just like her mom.
*She is stubborn and independent. She will only do things if she can do them herself. All summer she has tolerated going to pools, but not loved it. But when we were camping and we went to the beach, she had a ball because she could walk out as far as she wanted without any help from anyone.
*She loves to eat.
I think if you put Noel in a line-up with other kids, you might not guess he was even mine, but there's no denying my girl, Sloppy Jo.
For the record, she loved camping. Loved the outdoors, the dirt, the beach, riding in a backpack, eating marshmallows, everything!
Case(s) in point:
*She can make you laugh one minute, and then turn around and throw a temper tantrum in the next.
*She loves to watch people, and is not ashamed to open-mouth stare if necessary.
*She knows exactly how to push Noel's buttons. It's frustrating and hilarious at the same time.
*If nobody is listening to her, she just talks louder!
*She is messy. Whenever Noel and I play house and use pretend names, we always call her "Sloppy Jo" because she usually has a stain of some sort going on, just like her mom.
*She is stubborn and independent. She will only do things if she can do them herself. All summer she has tolerated going to pools, but not loved it. But when we were camping and we went to the beach, she had a ball because she could walk out as far as she wanted without any help from anyone.
*She loves to eat.
I think if you put Noel in a line-up with other kids, you might not guess he was even mine, but there's no denying my girl, Sloppy Jo.
For the record, she loved camping. Loved the outdoors, the dirt, the beach, riding in a backpack, eating marshmallows, everything!
I have a lot to learn about kids. I don't think I'll ever figure mine out. But every day I find out something new about who they are and what makes them tick. One of the reasons I loved our camping trip was because it made me slow down and see some of the great traits my kids have.
Take our trip to the lighthouse for example. The first full day we were there we loaded up the kids in the Burley (bike carrier) and rode about 2 miles to a beautiful lighthouse right on Lake Michigan. It was about 120 feet tall, and for $2 you could walk up to the lookout at the top. Noel said he wanted to do it. I was a little hesitant to let him, thinking he would want to quit halfway up, but since it was so cheap we went for it. We couldn't take Elise (you have to be 36 in.tall--Noel is 38), so David stayed at the bottom with her while we went.
And he loved it. Every bit of it.
He looked out every window we passed. He thought the super-steep curling stairway was fun (while I was a nervous wreck for him), and he was really proud of himself when he got to the top.
And when we got to the bottom, do you know what he said?
"Now I want to do it with Daddy."
And that's exactly what he did.
The next day we went for a walk past a river and a dam. We wanted Noel to try out hiking to see if he liked it. Along the way there was a huge staircase that led to the top of some sand dunes overlooking the lake. Without a thought about it, Noel started trekking up those stairs, and I think there were about 1,000 of them. He loved it. We had the best time.
The third day, we thought we'd take him for another hike. All of a sudden, he didn't want to do it. He complained the whole way, said he was tired and wanted to be carried. He ended up riding part of the way on David's shoulders. Why the change in attitude? He knew when we were done we were going to the beach, and that's what he really wanted to do that day.
So through all of this, I learned about my son:
*If he really wants to do something, nothing is going to deter him.
*Almost 4-year-olds have very little fear about things like tall buildings and how much work something is going to take.
*If there is something he is not excited about, there isn't any talking him into it. Something has to be his idea, or he's not gung ho about it. He has his mother's stubborn streak :)
Parenthood is challenging and rewarding, frustrating and hilarious, but most of all, it is as much of a learning expererience for the parents as it is for the child.
What can you learn today?
Lessons from Camping, part I
I have a lot to learn about kids. I don't think I'll ever figure mine out. But every day I find out something new about who they are and what makes them tick. One of the reasons I loved our camping trip was because it made me slow down and see some of the great traits my kids have.
Take our trip to the lighthouse for example. The first full day we were there we loaded up the kids in the Burley (bike carrier) and rode about 2 miles to a beautiful lighthouse right on Lake Michigan. It was about 120 feet tall, and for $2 you could walk up to the lookout at the top. Noel said he wanted to do it. I was a little hesitant to let him, thinking he would want to quit halfway up, but since it was so cheap we went for it. We couldn't take Elise (you have to be 36 in.tall--Noel is 38), so David stayed at the bottom with her while we went.
And he loved it. Every bit of it.
He looked out every window we passed. He thought the super-steep curling stairway was fun (while I was a nervous wreck for him), and he was really proud of himself when he got to the top.
And when we got to the bottom, do you know what he said?
"Now I want to do it with Daddy."
And that's exactly what he did.
The next day we went for a walk past a river and a dam. We wanted Noel to try out hiking to see if he liked it. Along the way there was a huge staircase that led to the top of some sand dunes overlooking the lake. Without a thought about it, Noel started trekking up those stairs, and I think there were about 1,000 of them. He loved it. We had the best time.
The third day, we thought we'd take him for another hike. All of a sudden, he didn't want to do it. He complained the whole way, said he was tired and wanted to be carried. He ended up riding part of the way on David's shoulders. Why the change in attitude? He knew when we were done we were going to the beach, and that's what he really wanted to do that day.
So through all of this, I learned about my son:
*If he really wants to do something, nothing is going to deter him.
*Almost 4-year-olds have very little fear about things like tall buildings and how much work something is going to take.
*If there is something he is not excited about, there isn't any talking him into it. Something has to be his idea, or he's not gung ho about it. He has his mother's stubborn streak :)
Parenthood is challenging and rewarding, frustrating and hilarious, but most of all, it is as much of a learning expererience for the parents as it is for the child.
What can you learn today?
Into the Wild
In case you've been wondering what happened to me, I just got back from our family vacation. We loaded up the kids, as much stuff you can fit into a van, and headed to Michigan. Along the way we borrowed a camper, accumulated more stuff, and then headed to Ludington State Park to camp for 4 days.
For some of you that sounds like torture. It wasn't.
It was the best vacation the four of us have had. We had such a good time being together. Sure, there was crying and some bumps and bruises. I think I gained about 4 pounds from s'mores alone. And we were beyond exhausted when we got home last night. But it was great. This week I will share some of my funny pictures and lessons I learned while camping. (If you call staying in a 30 ft. fully loade camper really camping. Ha!)
So stay posted!
For some of you that sounds like torture. It wasn't.
It was the best vacation the four of us have had. We had such a good time being together. Sure, there was crying and some bumps and bruises. I think I gained about 4 pounds from s'mores alone. And we were beyond exhausted when we got home last night. But it was great. This week I will share some of my funny pictures and lessons I learned while camping. (If you call staying in a 30 ft. fully loade camper really camping. Ha!)
So stay posted!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Community
Oddly enough, the last challenge from David Platt's book "Radical" just might be the one I struggle with the most. His challenge is: Commit your life to a multiplying community.
In other words: join a church that believes in this radical movement and serve with them.
I love my church. I really do. I've known some of the people there since I was a kid. There are many people there who walk with God, who serve, and who share His love.
I just have a hard time finding where I fit in.
I'm kind of an odd person, not really fitting a specific mold, so I've always had a hard time finding a "group" of people with whom I identify. I'm not a "soccer mom", I'm not a "working woman", and I'm definitely not hip, cool, or trendy by any stretch of the imagination (case in point: I just used the words hip, cool, and trendy).
But I think sometimes I make that into an excuse. I know in my heart that there are tons of like-minded people at church whom I can serve with, grow with, learn with, love with, but I'm too comfortable in my circle to break out. So this challenge is going to be a tough one for me.
We were never meant to be alone. Even in Genesis, God created woman because man wasn't meant to be alone. Not just for procreating and marriage, but for relationships and service. We cannot make a radical move for God if we "rogue it", as my friend Ginny would say. We need community. You need community. I need community.
May you search for it and find it today.
In other words: join a church that believes in this radical movement and serve with them.
I love my church. I really do. I've known some of the people there since I was a kid. There are many people there who walk with God, who serve, and who share His love.
I just have a hard time finding where I fit in.
I'm kind of an odd person, not really fitting a specific mold, so I've always had a hard time finding a "group" of people with whom I identify. I'm not a "soccer mom", I'm not a "working woman", and I'm definitely not hip, cool, or trendy by any stretch of the imagination (case in point: I just used the words hip, cool, and trendy).
But I think sometimes I make that into an excuse. I know in my heart that there are tons of like-minded people at church whom I can serve with, grow with, learn with, love with, but I'm too comfortable in my circle to break out. So this challenge is going to be a tough one for me.
We were never meant to be alone. Even in Genesis, God created woman because man wasn't meant to be alone. Not just for procreating and marriage, but for relationships and service. We cannot make a radical move for God if we "rogue it", as my friend Ginny would say. We need community. You need community. I need community.
May you search for it and find it today.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Get out of here!
The fourth challenge (don't worry, there's only one more to go) from David Platt in his book Radical is to take some time this year and live it out of context. What does that mean? It means, get out of this town. This state. Hopefully this country.
Platt encourages everyone to take 2% of the next year (approx. 1 week) and spend it "out of context", specifically out of the country, serving. I know it's easy to come up with a million arguments why this isn't feasible for lots of people (and it genuinely is not possible for a few), most of us don't even give it consideration.
What if?
What if I spent my vacation time serving somewhere? What if I took my family with me on a mission trip? What if instead of waiting for someone else to line up a service trip overseas, I planned one and invited people along?
These are questions I am asking myself and hope anyone who reads this will ask. Platt argues that spending 2% of your year doing this will greatly affect the other 98% of your year, and I'm living proof of that.
A mission trip will change your life, your heart, and your view of the world.
A lot of people argue, "Why not just take the money you'd use to go and send it to the people?" And that is a legitimate concern. But no amount of money can buy a conversation with someone across the ocean about how they aren't alone and that they are special in God's eyes. Giving money is great, and we should all be doing that, too, but it's not the same as giving of ourselves.
If you've gone on a mission trip before and are reading this, please share your experiences in a comment. If you've never gone, please consider planning one. It's not as hard as you might think.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
What does it mean to sacrifice?
The third challenge that David Platt gives in his book "Radical" (see previous two posts if you're confused) is to sacrifice your money for a specific purpose.
Platt challenges the readers to take aside one year and sacrifice something, either something they were planning on buying or something they already have and getting rid of it, and using that money to give to a specific need.
What does it mean to sacrifice?
Have I ever truly sacrificed something?
Sacrifice is much deeper than giving. We give in a number of different ways all of the time, but sacrifice implies giving something up that you are going to miss. An act that might be painful to do.
Consider this fact: if your family makes $50,000 a year, you are wealthier than 99 percent of the world.
I think we have a long way to go before sacrifice becomes a part of our everyday lives. We have so much to give, and we fret over every little thing.
So, let me pass on the challenge to you: what can you give up in your life for a year, or even a month, and give that same amount to a worthy cause, one that you believe in, one that would benefit from your sacrifice?
Platt challenges the readers to take aside one year and sacrifice something, either something they were planning on buying or something they already have and getting rid of it, and using that money to give to a specific need.
What does it mean to sacrifice?
Have I ever truly sacrificed something?
Sacrifice is much deeper than giving. We give in a number of different ways all of the time, but sacrifice implies giving something up that you are going to miss. An act that might be painful to do.
Consider this fact: if your family makes $50,000 a year, you are wealthier than 99 percent of the world.
I think we have a long way to go before sacrifice becomes a part of our everyday lives. We have so much to give, and we fret over every little thing.
So, let me pass on the challenge to you: what can you give up in your life for a year, or even a month, and give that same amount to a worthy cause, one that you believe in, one that would benefit from your sacrifice?
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Read through the Word
Yesterday I shared a challenge that I am committing to, which involves 5 steps. The first is to pray for the entire world, one country at a time for a year. The second is to read the Bible cover to cover. In a year.
At first it sounds like these things are just Sunday school answers. Read the Bible and pray.
But consider what an amazing gift we have--the Bible--a love letter from God--sitting in our houses, most of us have several of them. And how well do we know it? And think how much of an impact not only reading through the Bible, but praying for specific countries while reading from Genesis to Revelation.
Stealing Platt's words,
"If we want to know the glory of God, if we want to experience the beauty of God, and if we want to be used by the hand of God, then we must live in the Word of God."
I'd like to extend Platt's challenge to anyone reading this as well. Pick up the Bible and read it! Soak it in! Find the excitement, the humor, the pain, the mystery, the frustration, and the incredible redemption stories that fill the pages.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Pray Around the World
So, I'm finally on the last chapter of Radical, the book by David Platt. To be honest, I'm going as slowly as I can, so that I can think through every point he is making. The first eight chapters were full of great insight and convicting material. Now the ninth and final chapter is a challenge to commit to make some changes for one year. This week I'm going to outline the challenge, so that even if you don't ever read Platt's book, you might want to do these.
The first challenge is to pray for the entire world. At first, this sounds overwhelming, but when you consider how God moves, our first action should always be prayer. We need to be praying for the millions of people who are starving, physically and spiritually, all over the world. There is this amazing website www.operationworld.org which gives you a different country every day to pray for.
If I can spend time on the internet, watching tv, eating snacks, and reading books, I have a few minutes to spend praying for people all over the world. And I hope you'll join me.
By the way, today's country is Nicaragua.
Friday, August 13, 2010
What's on my bookshelf
I've been reading a lot lately. Just wanted to share some of the books I've been reading over the summer, in case you're looking for a good read.
Brother I'm Dying, by Edwidge Danticat. Danticat is a native of Haiti, who now lives in the United States. I've also read Breathe, Eyes, Memory by her. This latest one I'm reading is a biography about her father and uncle and their lives. It's fascinating to me, especially just coming off of a trip to Haiti.
Gossamer by Lois Lowry. In keeping with Lowry's genre of books like The Giver and Messenger, this is kind of a sci-fi look at the world. It is about these little creatures that give people dreams at night. They also fight off the enemy creatures to give people nightmares. It's actually a really neat idea, but for me it was really undeveloped. Might be a good read aloud for a classroom.
Everyone is Beautiful by Kate Center. Just happened to pick this one up at the library the other day. It's what I call "fluff" reading. There isn't much substance to it, but I can't put it down. The main character is a stay-at-home mom with three kids dealing with living in a new city, unhappiness with her life, and her parents moving away. It's funny and easy to identify with the narrator. I might try out her other book when I'm done with this one (I really like reading several books by the same author in a row.).
Still working on Radical by David Platt. It's stretching me and challenging me every day. I'm on the last chapter. Hope that I can actually make some life changes to follow my convictions.
Hope everyone has enjoyed some good reading this summer. There is nothing like a good book.
Brother I'm Dying, by Edwidge Danticat. Danticat is a native of Haiti, who now lives in the United States. I've also read Breathe, Eyes, Memory by her. This latest one I'm reading is a biography about her father and uncle and their lives. It's fascinating to me, especially just coming off of a trip to Haiti.
Gossamer by Lois Lowry. In keeping with Lowry's genre of books like The Giver and Messenger, this is kind of a sci-fi look at the world. It is about these little creatures that give people dreams at night. They also fight off the enemy creatures to give people nightmares. It's actually a really neat idea, but for me it was really undeveloped. Might be a good read aloud for a classroom.
Everyone is Beautiful by Kate Center. Just happened to pick this one up at the library the other day. It's what I call "fluff" reading. There isn't much substance to it, but I can't put it down. The main character is a stay-at-home mom with three kids dealing with living in a new city, unhappiness with her life, and her parents moving away. It's funny and easy to identify with the narrator. I might try out her other book when I'm done with this one (I really like reading several books by the same author in a row.).
Still working on Radical by David Platt. It's stretching me and challenging me every day. I'm on the last chapter. Hope that I can actually make some life changes to follow my convictions.
Hope everyone has enjoyed some good reading this summer. There is nothing like a good book.
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