Ten Things I’m Thankful For

1. My husband and children – they’re all so CUTE!
2. My extended family – mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, nieces and nephews
3. My home – particularly my fireplace and big kitchen!
4. My weight loss (50 pounds! woo-hoo)
5. Cool friends near and far
6. The call of God upon me and my family
7. The freedom I have to post this because I live in the US
8. The endless journey I am on in my quest for understanding God
9. God’s answers to my prayers – although not always what I asked for, always the right answer
10. The enduring love of my Savior and King, Jesus Christ

 

Spinning Plates

Ever been to one of those stage shows where there is someone trying to get as many plates spinning at one time as possible? Usually those plates are on top of gravity-defying poles, or stacked taller than a human. Watching those shows leaves you breathless and wondering how they do it? How do they keep up? How do they get them all balanced correctly? How often do they drop a plate?

I have to admit – I’m a plate spinner. No – not an actual plate spinner. If I tried it for real my husband would be miffed at the number of plates we were replacing. But I am a spinner of plates metaphorically. Most days leave me breathless, wondering how to do it? How to keep up, stay balanced, and hoping not to drop anything. Can I get a witness??

Mark 6:30-32 (NIV) says,

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.

Being a plate-spinning woman can be a real challenge. When my job requires a lot of attention (most days) I have to have my cup of coffee to keep up (at least that’s my excuse). Even more, when my kids want my attention, they don’t want me to be spinning 2 other plates while talking to them. They want undivided attention. Whatever the case, there never seems to be enough hours in a day to get everything on the “to do” list accomplished, nor enough hours at night to get sufficient rest.

In Mark we read that the apostles were busy, busy, busy, too. So busy, in fact, that they hadn’t even taken the time to get a meal (boy, do I know about that one!!). In response, Jesus encouraged them to get away. To take some time to rest and rejuvinate. That same invitation is extended to you and me.

God wants us to pause our plate-spinning and be his captive audience for a minute. He wants you to dwell in His presence (Ps. 84:4), be still in his presence (Ps. 46:10), to worship Him in Spirit and in truth (Jn. 4:24), to be found by His grace (1 Cor. 15:10) - to find rest (Mt. 11:28). He wants your full attention. Just as my kids don’t want me to spin several plates at the same time that I’m spending with them, neither does our Heavenly father.

My prayer today is that God would be your peacegiver, your place of rest, and your sustainer. Take some time to read Psalm 103 and be blessed!

 

the “Undone” Syndrome

It’s back…

Have your kids ever suffered from it? The Undone Syndrome? It’s hit my house again. We seem to experience it in cycles. Sometimes we’re able to go for quite awhile between attacks. And then it comes raging in like a storm. And it never just takes out one child. Not surprisingly, it’s a 3-fer deal. And, well, it’s hit like a storm.

 

Whale of a day…

We broke down and paid for a consumate New England experience ~ whale watching off the coast of Boston. I have to admit I was a little skeptical of the whole thing. Afterall, even if they have all those radars and sonars that say where a whale is located, how could they guarantee that we’d see anything identifiable in the water? And aren’t whales too big, really, for us to actually be able to see and understand just how immense they are? Well…I was wrong. It was incredible!

 

Feeling lonely

So I’m finally moved. I’ve met so many wonderful people. I’ve been surprised, really, how kind everyone has been (particularly because this is the Northeast, afterall!). But, nevertheless, I find myself feeling down. Once again ministry has placed upon us the decision to uproot and move to a “foreign land.” This is the 7th new town I’ve lived in since my husband and I entered the ministry years ago.

 

It’s Good to Be the Boss

So, my children think I am amazing. In their eyes every bowl of mac and cheese is worthy of a 5 star rating and even in my non-matching pajamas they claim I am “bee-yootiful.” This is one of the many perks of being a mom. If there is ever a dinnertime conversation in which my husband and I have different opinions, the kids always take my side. Always. My husband is often baffled by the lack of allegiance on his side, but my daughter just rolls her eyes at him and says, “Mommy is the boss.” Sigh. I love being the boss. My husband doesn’t take my promotion very seriously, but then again, I do wear non-matching pajamas. In my defense, it’s a tough job being the boss, so I like to be comfortable.

 

Choice & Action

So, I have this thing I tell myself a lot: Choice and action…choice and action; that’s all it takes to get things accomplished. I really want to teach my kids that they have the power to choose and that God asks (even expects) them to make good choices.

 

Facing the Sometimes Difficult Realities of Life (Part 2)

As I shared in my previous post, life isn’t always kind. Things don’t always work out like we expect. And the reality is usually more difficult to accept, and consequently, grow from, because it’s not the dream we were hoping for. When we are trying to heal from life’s painful blows, the beginning step is to revise our expectations to better fit the reality of our current situation. 

 

Facing the Sometimes Difficult Realities of Life (Part 1)

They say that “you get what you expect.” But what do they know anyway??

 

Debbie, Rachel, Miriam, Angela, and Becky expected to live happily ever after…’til death do us part. But they didn’t.

 

Jennifer and Kendra expected to give birth to bouncy beautiful babies. But they couldn’t.

 

Michelle planned to live a long and happy life with her wonderful husband Steve, and their two babies. She died unexpectedly of a brain aneurysm just before Christmas this year.

 

Pam expected her two sons to go to college, start careers, and live fulfilled lives. Instead neither went to college, and both are struggling to sort out the world they live in.

 

Both Amy and Abbie felt like their lives fell apart when their father walked out on their mother.

 

There is a recurring theme among the women in my daily existence, and the ones I meet during my travels: life is not what I expected it to be!

 

Helping your kids in hard times

As most of you know, we’re in the process of relocating. Zion Bible College, where my husband and I are in ministry, has been blessed by the gift of a new campus. Consequently, as a family, the 5 of us – and the Zion family, we’re in transition.

My oldest daughter, Anna, is the only one of our kids who is old enough to understand the ramifications of what is commencing. And, understandably, she’s having a bit of a tough time.