Minivan Moments

There's a lot going on in our world today. There are a lot of reasons not to turn on the news. Because, quite simply, there are things you just cannot unsee. And we are heartbroken for the many experiencing Genocide. No question. But i'm beginning to wonder... I've been in the trenches with Jesus. Nothing like Genocide, you understand, but in the muck that the evils of life enjoy dishing out. And i've learned something really important: i'd rather be in the trenches with Jesus than in a beautiful resort with the devil. Or even all alone. You see, unless you have experienced the soul-connecting, Spirit-filled encounter with Christ that comes in the midst of trials, you will always think, "i could never...." And, absolutely, you are right. You could never. But God . God is with those who suffer for Him. God is with those who suffer for their faith. God is with those who are persecuted because of Him. And while there is undeniably an astounding s...

This week, we had our first week of school after taking the summer off. Since i fired the teacher this summer and rehired myself as the mom, it was a nail-biting weekend of preparations, wondering if the Little Darlings would revolt against "the institution" and refuse to get out of bed or cling lovingly to the schedule of normalcy and productivity. ( Yeah, right! ) Well, i am happy to report that on Day 1, they had a successful day of positive attitudes, brain-stretching lessons, and completed assignments. Wahoo! They even asked if we could do that every . day . Um, say wha..? Yeah, so, i didn't hold my breath, but i squinted my face a little in fear as i tackled Tuesday... then Wednesday... and by Thursday, i thought, "we're in the home stretch! Will it really be this easy?" And Friday was no different. Lessons learned, books utilized, brains engaged, attitudes improved. Golly, i love homeschooling! So, i am here to tell you that it really is okay ...

This month, i did something drastic: i fired myself as my children's Teacher and re-hired myself as their mother. Let me explain.... Instead of seeing them as my offspring in whom i delight, i was seeing them as workbook pages to be completed. Instead of seeing them as my heart walking around outside my own body, i was seeing them as lessons they would fight me on. Instead of finding opportunities to connect with them in their personal time, i was seeing them as simply leaving me alone to do "more important work" while i wasn't teaching. So, this month, i fired that Teacher! She is NOT who my children need, and frankly, i don't particularly like her. Since i have fired the Teacher, i have enjoyed outings, walks, documentaries, laughter, and most importantly, real conversation and connection with each of these beautiful blessings God somehow believes i am worthy of raising for Him. It is a good reminder of my first calling, and i am grateful the Holy Sp...

We are in the process of selling our home. We have lived here longer than i have ever lived anywhere, and it took weeks to prepare a "ready" home for market (for our standards, anyway). Now that we are ready, and our home is finally listed, we are living in a sort of transitional home. We can't quite live freely in this space, but we can't move into our new home and live freely there either. We are stuck in this model home that other people can come see at any time... and i find it is exhausting in a way for which i was not prepared. It is exhausting to be afraid to cook a meal the family loves because it will stink up the house for the whole day. It is exhausting to be afraid to have friends over to play with my children because they might make a mess that is a lot of work to clean up. It is exhausting to remind my children to wipe down the entire bathroom - every time they use it. It is exhausting to stay hyper-connected to my cell phone just in case the Realtor h...

I thought this book sounded really deep. As I'm dealing with aging parents in my own life, watching my aging parents care for their aging parents, the reality of aging is never far from my thoughts. Rich in Years: Finding Peace and Purpose in a Long Life , by Johann Christoph Arnold, was a window into the aging adult beyond what I had already deduced for myself or learned about in my Sociology of Aging course in college. Can the aging adult really be at peace with approaching old age? Can there still be purpose in those later years? Arnold answers those questions, and others, in Rich in Years , and I found myself captivated by the words on every page. Just as I would proclaim a particular concept "the most powerful statement" and want to share it with all of my family members and friends, I would continue on in my reading and be gripped by yet another "most powerful statement." Just as I would thrill to the subject of one chapter (i.e., Combatting Lonelines...

This country today seems more and more abusive to me. Maybe that is how all generations feel when they approach mid-life. I can't be sure. But it feels true to me. Growing up, i experienced emotional abuse and sexual abuse. I have experienced near-physical abuse (which is basically physical abuse that doesn't threaten your life and/or isn't "that bad") in many relationships. So i know a thing or two about abuse. Some things i know about abuse: ~ it doesn't have to leave a physical mark to damage a person forever . ~ it doesn't have to be daily to have a terrible impact on the victim's ability to function normally. ~ it goes undetected nearly as often (if not more often) as it gets reported or discovered. I know one more thing about abuse... sometimes, we abuse ourselves. Sometimes, the biggest enemy in our life is inside our own head. The voice of shame. The cry of condemnation. The whisper of regret. The shout of insignificance. The clamor ...

So, it has certainly been awhile since i've dropped in to say "hello!" My life has been quite full, and blogging just didn't make the cut. Yet i've found myself longing for the creative outlet. So, here i am. :) As 2013 wound down, i began the journey of re-focusing. I believe this is a journey because it often comes with twists and turns as we adjust to life's ever-changing landscape. For now, i am focusing on Family and Home and Health. Last year, i developed side effects in my condition (Hashimoto's Thyroiditis) that complicated my lifestyle and challenged my illusion of my personal health. I had to determine that giving up eating wheat gluten was less of a struggle than the physical effects of continuing to ignore that advice. So, as i write this entry, i am one year gluten-free. It has been quite a journey in itself - gluten is a complicated matter in this country with all of its processed foods and unknown chemical ingredients. I am certainly mor...