Through the eyes of a child........

We were sitting in the airport in Indianpolis recently waiting for our flight to California, when Caleb and I had an interesting conversation - it went something like this:

Caleb: Hey Mom - there's our plane! (He was actually looking at the wrong gate.)

Me: No, Caleb our plane is that one. (And I pointed towards our gate which was behind me but I didn't bother to turn around and actually look at the plane.)

Caleb: Wow, we get a new plane.

Me: What???

Caleb: Well, it's just coming out of the box.

At this point, I turned around to look at the plane and took a picture of what he saw. The picture isn't very good because I didn't get the light settings correct and the glare on the window was bad, but what he saw was the plane pulled up to the 'gangway' and it really did look like it was 'backing out of the box.'

A picture is worth a thousand words........

There are few moments that have as much affect on a parent as the birth of their children. I've posted some 'birth' pictures below that record some very profound moments in my life - the birth(s) of my boys. Obviously, I had a part in the physical birth but I must thank God for the many people who've influenced their lives to the point of their spiritual birth. And I pray for God's hand to continue to be evident in their lives as they seek His will in their lives.

Thank you God for allowing me to be a part of their lives.

Earnestly, Tenderly - Jesus is Calling

(This is rather long - so bear with me.) Lately, I've been feeling a strong call to prayer and I know it's the voice of God calling to me. On a couple of different occasions, Satan has thwarted our attempts to gather and pray. You've probably read the scripture in Matthew 26:41 - Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak' and most of us can relate to that at one time or another.

Often times we receive an email that says bad things will happen to us for the next 'x' number of years if we don't stop, drop, and pray (and/or forward) immediately. And I don't know about you, but I rarely finish reading them before I've pressed the delete key knowing full well that bad things may in fact happen not because I've failed to mass-email a message, but rather because I'm not spending the time that I should in prayer.

I received the daily devotion from P31 yesterday in which Lysa TerKeurst, at one point in the devo, encouraged us to 'thank God - right now - at this moment'. And so I stopped and considered the few lines that I had just read and prayed the following prayer (that I'm feeling compelled to share) in which Lysa's comments are in bold and my prayer follows:

Breathe in every moment of your day today. Thank you God for the very breath that I have and when I breathe deep, I breathe YOUR breath!

Recognize what a gift today is. Thank you for the gift of life – today and everyday.

Grab someone you love and let your embrace linger just a moment longer. Thank you God that I have someone to grab (as soon as I get home tonight) and hug them with all that I have – and thanks especially for the hugs that I'll receive!! Sweet!

Take mental pictures of the toothless grin of your baby, the tousled hair of your toddler, the crooked smile of your teenager. Thank you God for the crooked-toothed smile of the 9-year old boy who jumps out from around the corner to scare the wits out of me. Thanks for the bungling actions of the 20-something young man who lives at our house and eats our food and is trying to make sense of things. Thanks for the 20-something young man who calls his Dad from Michigan to tell him how his business is going and to share the events of his life. Thank you for the lovely young lady in NYC who has ventured to the big city to make her way in life. God - please protect their steps and guard their ways every moment of their days. And thank you for the peace that YOU give!

Hold your husband's hand. Thank you God for the husband that uses his hands to do many things for me to make life easier.

Look past the dirty dishes in the sink, the laundry piled high, the stuff the kids left out and see the beauty entangled in all this evidence of life. Thank you God that because of my husband, there ARE NO dirty dishes in my kitchen sink. Because of my husband and kids, there IS laundry piling up in (and running over) the hamper. But thank you for the eyes that I have that can look past all of THAT – the good, the bad, and the dirty!….. and see the family that you have blessed me with.

And thank God for it all. Right now, in this second, see the blessing. Thank you God – for my family, and would you please remind me not to take them for granted. Help me to remember that my words and actions (especially those that are hurtful) – could be the last that my loved ones hear or see from me. I praise you mightily for the family that I have and pray that you will hold them in your hands and keep them safe. I thank you for the trials and struggles that we have – those things that build character in us, and help us to keep our focus on you – Jehovah Jireh (our provider); Jehovah Shalom (God of Peace.)

Lysa's devo went on to tell about a young family who, in the blink of an eye, lost their husband and father in a freak and devastating accident. And when I realized how fortunate I was to have the family that God gave to me - safe, sound, healthy - I felt compelled to pray - at this moment - right now - and praise God for all that I have because of his mercy and grace.

I'm reading a book right now called 'Discover the Power in the Prayers of Paul' and it says that prayer was woven into the very fabric of Paul's life. I Thess 5:16-18 says 'Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Jesus Christ.'

Paul was so accustomed to praying for the churches to whom he was writing that the prayers were woven into the dialogue of his letter. He prayed ALL the time. It (the book) asks the question - How would our world change if we offered up a 'breath' prayer everytime a prayer concern crossed our mind? We're not able to pray long prayers everytime a concern is on our hearts/minds, but rather if we just offer up a quick prayer to God, he'll hear us - and he'll know our concern. And then, how will our world be changed? How will our missions be changed? How will it change our lives? I challenge you to offer up a quick, one-line prayer today EVERY TIME a concern crosses your mind. And then praise God for how your life is changed!!!

Sinus Congestion

I heard of a new remedy..... read it on a blog somewhere...... if you put just a few sprinkles of pepper in your hand, hold your hand just under your nose, and snort really hard it clears out your sinuses. I'm not exactly sure how it works, but I've heard it works really well.

I'd like for all of my blogging buddies to try this new remedy and let me know how it works!!!

We're leaving - on a jet plane........ (Again!)

Seems the only time that I update my blog these days is when I'm getting ready to leave. This time though, my wonderful husband is going along - as opposed to my Hawaii trip in December!

We're off to Indy tonight to leave VERY early in the morning for Puerto Vallarta for a few days of sun and sand. Caleb, our youngest is very accustomed to going with us wherever we go, however he is NOT going on this particular trip. (We're celebrating our 15th anniversary a little early!) Nathan was different - he couldn't wait for us to leave whether it was just for a date-night, or for a few days, he was always ready for us to go away (this should have been an indication of the future). At any rate, the other night when Caleb was saying his prayers, he said - "God, I thank you for this opportunity that Mom and Dad have to go to Mexico and I'm glad they can go and have a good time. God, it's always been a dream of mine to go to Mexico but I know I can't go this time!" Now, I don't mean to blasphemous (spelling?) or anything like that, but I nearly laughed out loud when he prayed that because he's been giving us all kinds of grief for leaving him.

In fact, one other time when we left him and Nate (we were actually celebrating our 10th anniversary that time) with Sandra and Larry, Caleb (who was 4) wouldn't talk to us on the telephone for the entire time that we were gone which was 4 or 5 days. Nathan would try and try to get him to come to the phone, but we could hear him in the background saying 'No - I don't want to talk to them.' It nearly killed me.

Caleb is staying with Sandra and Larry again; we won't have much phone access (it costs a lot!) so talking to him on the phone won't be an issue, and we're dashing the life-time dreams of our 9-year old son. Ahhhhhhh - bring on the margaritas!!!

The Simple and The Unbelievable

I was reading Luke's account of Jesus birth this morning and began to consider some things that previously, I've never really given much attention.

I thought about how the shepherds were lowly people. The shepherds spent most of their time away from people, and they were probably dirty, smelly, disheveled, and not really 'presentable' to anyone - let alone Jesus. But isn't it just like God to allow us to present ourselves to Him even when we're dirty, smelly, disheveled, and not really presentable to anyone - especially Jesus!!

I thought about the shepherds and how they were terrified of the angelic appearance. Their reaction to the angels was pure fear, which is very much the way that we react when God speaks to us or nudges us into an area in which we're unsure. We react with fear - possibly because we're dirty, smelly, disheveled and unpresentable - unworthy! We tend to rationalize what we've heard and attempt to put some type of human perspective on the situation. How sweet it is though, to know that when we obey He will help us to face the unknown. It's precisely what the shepherds did - 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. Luke 2:15' Rather than run from their fear or disregard the message, they decided to go into the unknown and find out what it is that God was telling them to do. And then they praised God and gave him the glory for all that they had heard and seen! It's so simple.

I thought about the Star of Bethlehem. We all know the story of how Mary and Joseph were denied a comfy hotel room upon their arrival in Bethlehem because the place was completely filled. It's hard to believe that the inn keeper could turn away a very young, very pregnant woman rather than help her find a room. Instead, she gave birth to her baby with the cattle - the lowly, dirty, smelly, disheveled animals.

The Star led not only the shepherds to the stable, but others from far away regions. I think about how bright and bold the light must have been to allow them to find a simple stable in a very crowded city. And then I have to wonder - did others see the light? It's hard to believe that anyone could have missed something so bright. Did they seek it out? If they found the 'light' and understood, did they bother to tell anyone else or try to explain it? Or did they ignore the 'light' and go about their busy lives - too busy to notice a very young, very pregnant woman about to give birth to the 'Light of the World'?

Dear God - Thank you for sending Jesus to everyone - including common people just like me! The angel said - 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy - Luke 2:10!' Today 'I will fear no evil, for you are with me.... Psalms 23:4' Thank you for welcoming us into your presence despite our appearance. Thank you for making it so simple. God, help me to slow down, and take time to shine your light on others so that they may know the same Peace that you've given to me! Amen.

Merry Christmas.

What's Up...........??? Surf's Up!!!

I've been told that I need to update my blog, and since it's been SO long since I've updated it there probably won't be anyone check it to see if anything's different. At any rate, I'm just here to let you know that I won't be updating it until I return from vacation.


Where am I going, you ask?



I'll be doing the Hula next week.......... I'll be sure to update it when I return!! Have a great week - see ya soon!