7 Quick Takes (Volume 114)

1) I have a feeling Ladies Man may be soaring to new heights in his social life since he got a cell phone for Christmas. The very first day he got frustrated trying to text people because he kept getting interrupted by new texts. I hope he'll be able to concentrate on school with that thing in his pocket. I guess one really good aspect is we have more leverage in our parenting bag o' tricks. The threat of confiscating his phone will surely wield great power.

2) We had a fantastic Christmas, spending lots of time at home (glory be!). I think my favorite moment came on Christmas morning when we decided to pray together as a family before we opened gifts. I don't remember ever doing that before, but it's a good tradition I hope we hang on to. Anyway, my heart was touched when we got to Drummer Boy and he thanked God for being able to be home for the week. "I've really, really missed these guys," he said. So special. We've really, really missed you too, Drummer Boy. Come home any time!

3) The little no man's land time between Christmas and New Year's is always very welcome at our house. The church office is closed so Kevin is home more. We tend to spend more time with relatives (We have two Christmases tomorrow!). I'd hoped to get some closets and/or drawers and cabinets cleaned out, but we've had too much fun seeing people and taking our sweet time to do normal every day tasks. Don't worry, though. Kevin seems to have developed an affinity for Hoarders, so I'm getting reminders often about getting my house in order. I think it may actually happen this year folks!

4) Trying to be a good mother and build up my son, I told Ladies Man at dinner one night how one of my friends commented on how cute he was getting.

Ladies Man: No offense, Mom, but thirty and forty year old women are not really my target. I'm going for teenage girls.

Kevin: Yeah. You've got the Boesiger curse. (Is it any wonder our kids can be so dramatic?) You attract women older than you.

Ladies Man: What?

Kevin: For my whole life, I've never drawn women my age, only older ones. It doesn't matter how old I get, the women who think I'm all that are always older.

(Should I be offended? Technically I am older than Kevin, but I think we're still in the same age group, right?)

Drummer Boy: It's true. It happens to me too.

Oh no. One more thing for Ladies Man to worry about.

5) This week has been low-key and therefore great, but not without its challenges. Drama Queen had the stomach flu for two days and Miss Innocent One was diagnosed with pneumonia. With lots of time to hang at home, they are doing much better. Ladies Man was able to ditch his crutches a few days before Christmas and is getting along well, so that was progress, but I've had all three of them in to see the doctor this week. Good thing Drummer Boy's in San Diego or who knows what may have happened to him!

6) Drummer Boy got to attend the Holiday Bowl with the Husker band. There was even a good shot of him on T.V. which both Drama Queen and Ladies Man promptly sent to us on their cell phones. Ladies Man's message? "Drummer Boy's on the freaking t.v.!" I'm sure it was a loud moment at the bowl party they attended with the Beatrice Drum Line that Drummer Boy directs.

No surprise, but his parents haven't heard a word from him. I'm choosing not to take it personally and let him live his life without checking in with his mommy. I assume he's having a great time. He looked good on t.v. anyway, so he must be eating (HA!). He'll be back this afternoon.

We're planning our Movie Marathon to bring in the New Year. We haven't done it for a few years because the kids have started getting better offers, but Kevin and I decided we'll honor the tradition with whoever feels inclined to be here. Movies, junk food and lots of laying around. If the kids are here, great. If not, we know how to have a good time without them. Enough said.

7) Hard to believe 2010 is nearly history. I'd have to say it was a good year at the Boesiger house. I started the year being frightened when God told me my word for the year should be TRUST, but it's actually been a blessing learning to let things go and trust God to handle it. It will be a life long lesson, but the payoff is huge. So far no new word has come, so I may stick with this one, especially since 2011 will bring the launching of another chick (sigh). God is good and He will help us navigate the changes as always.

I pray your new year brings you a greater awareness of His presence, of His incomprehensible love for you, and His desire to bring meaning to your life. To that end, I leave 2010 with these powerful words.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:16-19

Happy New Year, my friends. Thanks for accompanying me in life's journey. You bring me joy.

As always, you can catch other Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.