Friday, January 29, 2010

7 Quick Takes (Volume 67)



1) Warning: I'm very uninspired today. You may want to save yourself a few minutes and stop right here.

2) I think it's time for a disclaimer. Some of you comment about how fun it would be to live in my house or how lucky I am to have the marriage I do. I am the first person to praise God for my family and husband, but you must know there is a lot of ugly that goes on inside our house too. My kids bicker with each other like all kids do. I get angry and irritated and slam cabinet doors like the rest of you. My husband and I are very boring in the evenings, spending most of our time on computers. Many days I can't wait for all the loud in my house to go to bed.

There is nothing to envy in my family. We have plenty of garbage. I don't tell my tales to put my family on a pedestal, but hoping you will look for the same silliness, tenderness and joy in your own worlds. It's there. I've seen it. There are plenty of things which make life sweet for you. You have access to the same inane commercials I do. Your kids say hilarious things. I see the private jokes you laugh about during church, the comfort with each other which is visible, yet unspoken.

I challenge you to look for the goofy and the beautiful in your own world. I guarantee it's there.

3) Ladies Man, Miss Innocent One and I took a trip to the grocery store. Traipsing down the coffee/tea aisle, Miss Innocent noticed the strawberry drink mix.

Miss Innocent One: Hey, Mom, remember when I was little, you'd let me get a bottle of strawberry milk to drink while we shopped.

Me: Yep. It was supposed to keep you busy.

Ladies Man: Hey, can we go get some now?

They were getting restless, playing games with the cart, driving their mother slightly cuckoo. I figured running to the other end of the store might be good for them. . .and me.

Me: Sure.

Retrieving their prize and checking out, Ladies Man popped his milk open the minute he sat down. He took a big swig and made an announcement.

Ladies Man: I just tasted my childhood.

Why does this kid talk like he's thirty-five years old? Sheesh.

4) Apparently Drummer Boy is learning how to put the smack down (I like to think I taught him well). In his role as drum line instructor he's getting bolder in eliminating distractions (a.k.a. other kids meandering through rehearsal). He's feeling more grown up and stopped by to pick up a tie to wear to their first evaluation show. I think he's even standing a little taller!

I guess responsibility suits him well.

5) Growing weary of the bad language and inappropriate behavior in the halls at school, Ladies Man and a friend decided to make a statement. In a bold move, they attached Sin-O-Meters to the outside of their lockers to make others think about their actions.


The idea is when someone lets a cuss word slip or makes fun of a classmate or is generally a jerk, the pointer moves out of the green into another area. I made sure Ladies Man planned on including himself in the measuring and he assured me he was the first person he'd nail. The Sin-O-Meters have been up all week. When I asked Ladies Man how they were going, he said, "I think it's helping. People are more careful around our lockers. Of course, there's a lot of people who make fun of them, but I don't care what anyone thinks. It's a good reminder for all of us."

I need one of those gadgets for my refrigerator, my van, my computer, my laundry room. . .

6) The kids beat us to the van and locked the doors. When my husband reached for the door handle, he somehow set off the theft alarm. The horn resounded in the middle of a busy parking lot at a high traffic time of day, "Honk. Honk. Honk. Honk. Honk. . ." The kids laughed hysterically, while their father had a meltdown from the humiliation and I frantically flipped through the owner's manual trying to figure out how to disarm the stupid thing. We were a sight, I tell you. I wasn't sure if I should laugh along with the kids or slip my husband some valium!

We got the horn to stop, but never did figure out how we did it. The next time you hear someone's horn droning on incessantly, look for our motley crew. I can hear those banjos again.

7) We're eating dinner and a rumble comes from Miss Innocent One's direction, specifically, from her backside. She and Ladies Man giggle.

Kevin: That doesn't sound like it's good for you.

Miss Innocent One: Ladies Man says it's a sign of health.

Me: What does he know about it?

Miss Innocent One: He knows a lot about it. He farts all the time!

On that sour note, I'm calling this done. Check out more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary. Have a great weekend, friends.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

I Am From. . .

I am from purple shag carpet, from Tide, malted milk balls and candy orange slices.

I am from the white house nestled among the trees, cattle lot in the backyard, close enough to town to ride my bike there, yet far enough for stars brilliance to take my breath away.


I am from corn stalks so tall the dog got lost, mulberry trees full of fruit, juicy and plump, staining our hands, our faces, even our feet.

I am from selling sweet corn at Grandma's with my cousins, from ample food and far too much eating, from Shari and Gerald, the hearty, ever present Kubiks and the complicated Kahlers.

I am from humor, pitch and pizza, from deep thoughts rarely expressed.

From "You can do anything you set your mind to" and
"Where there's a will there's a way."

I am from kids sent to Sunday school, faith being private, morals and common sense.

I'm from Lincoln, Nebraska, Germans and Czechs, beef and kolaches.

From parents who met on a blind date set up for Mom's roommate, a grandfather whose demons bruised and tortured his family, an incredible mother who stopped the abusive cycle all by herself.

I am from Hickman, Nebraska, a town as small as it sounds, of "pottery" made from clay dug up in the neighbor's pasture, of big family gatherings with lots of cousins, many of whom I saw at school every day, of collages made with noodles, rice and beans, of relatives a few miles away in any direction.


The I AM FROM poetry contest is sponsored by e-Mom at Chrysalis. To join in the fun, click here.


Tuesday, January 26, 2010

A Sword for Evil, Not Each Other


Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.
I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Matthew 10:34


Sigh.

These words of Jesus are hard to swallow. Following Christ will cause conflict with others who don't believe. I may not like it, but it's true. I've experienced it enough to know I should expect it and not take it too personally. People thought me a wacko for calling a reading curriculum "evil." Peers in high school called me "religious" and "square." My own brothers respect me, but think me a bit radical. It's okay. Jesus reminds me no one is attacking me. They're reacting to my God.

I can take some fall out from those who may not understand my faith. But what really hurts my heart is when those who DO BELIEVE are at war. We nitpick over gray areas in scripture, making judgment calls on the spiritual health of our brothers and sisters without considering what God has called them to do. We hold others to the standards God has impressed on us, thinking less of them of they don't follow. Is it too far fetched to think God has differing relationships with His children? Isn't it possible He requires different things of different people?

The fire rises in my belly when I hear believers criticizing Christians they don't agree with. Who are we to know what God has placed in another person's heart? Quick to criticize each other's thinking and behavior, we reveal Pharisee attitudes which slow God's work.

And I must admit I am guilty. Sigh. Lord Jesus, clean my yucky heart.

Our fight is not with flesh and blood . . .

Jesus didn't bring a sword for us to fight with other believers. He brought weapons for us to fend off the enemy, the devil who seeks to destroy us, the forces of evil vying for our very souls. When we turn on each other, it only brings destruction and hampers the Body's display of a gracious, merciful God.

Join more In "Other" Words participants at Esthermay's blog, The Heart of a Pastor's Wife.


Sunday, January 24, 2010

He is Mine


The prayer begins
and he reaches under the table for my hand.
As my fingers lace with his, I graze his wedding band,
the sign proclaiming he belongs to me.
And I smile.
My beloved is mine, and I am his. . .

Song of Solomon 2:16



Photo Credit: P-J-TRASH

Saturday, January 23, 2010

I Cannot Do This Alone

I ran across this poem by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. May it stir in you as it did me.

I CANNOT DO THIS ALONE

O God, early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray
And to concentrate my thoughts on you;
I cannot do this alone.

In me there is darkness,
But with you there is light;
I am lonely, but you do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help;
I am restless, but with you there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience;
I do not understand your ways,
But you know the way for me. . . .

Restore me to liberty,
and enable me to live now
That I may answer before you and before men.
Lord, whatever this day may bring,
Your name be praised.
Amen.

--Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Friday, January 22, 2010

7 Quick Takes (Volume 66)



1) Because their parents are musicians (their dad one of the rare breed who gets paid for it), our kids find many who expect them to be good at music too (which they are, but of course I'm biased). Ladies Man encountered it this week at school.

Ladies Man: So the teacher asks the class, "Who is the leader in this group?"

We all look around and say, "I don't know. I don't know. Who is the leader?"

"It's Ladies Man," she booms, "He hits all the right notes and is the loudest. Besides, he can't help it. It's in his blood."

I wanted to tell her, "Hey, it's not like music is a superpower."

Kevin, listening intently, hiding a smirk: It kind of is.

2) We sent Drama Queen down to the kitchen to fetch something before we went to bed.

Drama Queen: Can anyone tell me why there are heartburn pills on the counter downstairs?

Me: They're supposed to help with warts.

Drama Queen: What?! What do heartburn pills have to do with warts?

Me: Apparently warts thrive on acid, so if you reduce the amount of acid in your body it can help clear them up.

Drama Queen: But it's heartburn medicine.

Kevin: You do realize heartburn is a stomach acid problem, not a heart problem, right?

Drama Queen: Why doesn't anyone tell me these things?! You're supposed to educate me on this stuff!

Poor girl.

3) We were watching our staple of Judge Judy when a commercial for toilet paper came on. I thought it stupid to start with as they compared regular coffee and espresso with regular toilet paper and the ultra version (something to the effect of "a little does the job as well as a lot"). "You can use seven squares as opposed to 28 squares of bargain tissue." Yeah, yeah, whatever. I'm not in the habit of counting my squares. Are you? But the last caption grabbed my attention.

"Enjoy the go."

Enjoy the go?! Do you catch what they're saying here? A toilet paper company saying, "enjoy the go." They may as well say, "Have a good pee."

This is the same company who had a commercial bragging about how their toilet tissue doesn't leave anything behind. Now who wants to think about that? They try to make it all cutesy with their animated bears, but come on, really, EW.

4) I think Ladies Man watched too much t.v. during his snow days.

Ladies Man: Dad, If I was ever in jail, would you come bail me out?

Kevin: I suppose it depends on the situation.

Ladies Man: Well, what if I didn't do it?

Me: Then you wouldn't be in jail.

Ladies Man: What if they thought I murdered someone but I really didn't?

Drama Queen: That would never happen.

Ladies Man: It does all the time on Matlock. Someone walks in on a dead body and everyone assumes they're the killer.

Kevin: You have a greater chance of getting hit by lightening than walking in on a dead body.

Drama Queen: Not me!

I bust a gut. This is totally LOL hysterical if you remember where Drama Queen works.

5) Ladies Man is either on crack cocaine or having some sort of hormonal rush (let's hope for the latter). The boy is hyperactive, I tell you, constantly talking, talking, talking, at a volume not fit for his mother's I-can't-take-all-this-noise ears. Finding everything hysterical and necessary for the rest of us to know, he always has a story to tell. A woman can only take so much and after patiently enduring yet another adolescent tale (I can't really say I was listening), I gave him a half-hearted chuckle.

He looked at me dead serious and said, "Thanks for taking away my shine, Mom."

Oh brother.

6) I wish I could blame the insanity in the house on my kids, but alas, we're all guilty. As my husband came out of the bathroom he announced, "Well, I enjoyed the go, I didn't leave any pieces behind, I didn't use 28 squares and it wasn't even Charmin Ultra. Ha. So there."

7) So, I'm sitting here laughing out loud as I read over the last quick take and my husband wonders why.

Me: I don't even know why it's so funny. It just makes me laugh.

Kevin: It's probably just us.

So humor us folks, let us know if we're completely off the deep end or if you share our strange sense of humor. Regardless, I gotta say I love being able to find joy in the little things, even toilet paper.

I hope you all have a terrific weekend. We're looking forward to our nephew's wedding on Saturday. There will be dancing! Woot woot! Check out more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

For My Bible Study Friends

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while,

"He who is coming will come and will not delay.
But my righteous one will live by faith.
And if he shrinks back,
I will not be pleased with him."

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

Hebrews 10:23-25, 35-39


Lean on each other and press on, my friends.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Can You Hear Him?


Every happening, great or small, is a parable whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the message.

Malcolm Muggeridge
When my kids were little I was easily frustrated. Sticky smudges on the furniture, toys strewn all over the place, constant needs and questions and crying and poop. . .it all contributed to a grouchy mama who wasn't always careful with her tongue.

God nailed me when I watched a video by Christian speaker Florence Littauer. She described a special package she prepared for her mother, specifically wrapping it in shiny silver paper. The point of the gift was to show her mother her value. She went on to say we should think of our words as silver boxes, used to build up other's self-esteem. I remember being impressed by her insight, but also discouraged by how I talked to my children. God spoke clearly through the words of another.

But He wasn't done with me yet.

Later that week I sat in church, exasperated by the interruptions of my kids, dreaming of the day I could actually catch the entire sermon. At one point my daughter poked me and whispered, "Here, Mommy, I have a present for you," and handed me a little scrap of paper. I was ready to give my standard, "Thank you, honey" and add it to the vast collection of such papers in my purse until I looked at it.

It was literally a picture of a present, colored with a silver crayon. You think God wanted my attention?!

I gotta say God has flair, doesn't He? But He doesn't need it to speak to us. He gets His Word out in so many ways. He's spoken to me in a sunset, in worship, in surprise gifts left on my porch, in His word, through a baby's laugh, in the shower, in unexpected comments from others, in the midst of a snowstorm, even in a movie theater.

Knowing God is poised to speak at any time puts a little skip in my beat, how about you?

I'm glad for the reminder to look for His messages. When I think about the possibility of finding God in my every day, life doesn't seem so mundane any more. Knowing He may speak to me while I'm waiting in a doctor's office or helping my kids with homework makes it all seem less routine, more exciting. The fact that He might show up on a plain old Tuesday makes life more enjoyable to me somehow, less ho-hum. At any time the ordinary could become extraordinary. Now there's something to get up for in the morning! When we keep our noses in the Word, and our eyes and ears open for His message, who knows what a day will bring.

What d'ya say? Are you in?

Join our hostess of In "Other" Words today, Kathryn, at Expectant Hearts.

Monday, January 18, 2010

A Look of Value

My husband comes home late, after midnight.

Drama Queen and I sit at the dining room table giving Drummer Boy a bad time on Facebook and though it's been a long day for all of us, Kevin pauses to ask our daughter about her night at work.

She spent the last seven hours at an assisted living facility and regales us with stories--funny things the residents say, goofy happenings, adventures in showering (She's learning more than she ever wanted to about the effects of aging on the human body--Ha!). She talks and talks, our chuckles spurring her on.

And when I look at my husband, his eyes twinkle. He's loving every second of her discourse, hearing every word and thoroughly enjoying her. He looks at her with pleasure and I recognize his expression. It's the way he looks at me when we laugh, when his body language says, "Girl, I love you." Twenty-five years go that look caused me to think "this guy may be different from the rest."

Appreciation can't be manufactured and his is obviously genuine. My daughter's smiling face at 12:30 a.m. at the end of a very long week, reveals he's communicated her value well. As I watch him love her with laughter and sparkling eyes, I adore my husband even more. He's instilling in our teen aged daughter a feeling of importance and worth, giving her the positive validation she needs to keep her out of the arms of other men. With one look he tells her she is loved, not because of physical attributes (although she is beautiful and he tells her so), but simply because he enjoys her.

That, my friends, is a terrific father. Well done, honey.

Friday, January 15, 2010

7 Quick Takes (Volume 65)


1) There's nothing like a few snow days to get kids out of their regular routine. When Ladies Man knew school was cancelled, his personal hygiene lost its importance. The whole family. . .shall we say, sniffed his negligence and highly encouraged him to take a shower.

Miss Innocent One to Ladies Man: You really do stink.

Ladies Man: Thanks a lot. Now I feel like crap.

Dad: You smell like it too.

2) The adventures never rest at our house. One night this week, Drama Queen and Ladies Man entered our dark bedroom.

Ladies Man: Did you hear the back door open?

My heart beats a little harder.

Drama Queen: There was this weird noise outside.

Me (feeling slightly panicked, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes and glancing at the clock which reads 12:13): Now. . .what?

Ladies Man: We looked out the door and two cats were on the back porch.

Whew. Just cats.

Drama Queen: One made this weird howling noise while the other just stared at it.

Ladies Man: We tried to shoo them off, but they wouldn't move.

Drama Queen: I even hissed at it and it just looked at me.

Ladies Man: So we had to break out the tactical forces.

Meaning, he got out his air soft gun. Let me put this all in perspective for you. My children are shooting at cats through our back door. At midnight. Can you hear "Deliverance" playing in the background?

Drama Queen: He got them off the porch, but the one cat just went behind the house and kept making that weird sound.

Ladies Man: So she got her coat and shoes on and chased it off.

Giggle, giggle.

Drama Queen: You didn't hear anything?

Me: No.

Ladies Man: We were in and out of the door about five times. We didn't want you to be worried someone was in the house.

Do they not remember our bedroom is the furthest possible point from the back door?

More giggle, giggle and they go back to bed with a new family story we're sure to hear about for years to come. And I slept right through it.

3) Because Ladies Man is an eighth grade boy, he often has an ache and pain from the manly man games he and his friends play. When he came home with a sore shoulder, he decided it was time to tell his friends to back off.

Me: Just tell them your mom doesn't want anyone touching you.

Ladies Man: No offense, Mom, but I don't want to sound like a Mama's boy. I'll tell them my chiropractor said no one should put their hands on me.

Does anyone understand why that's better?

4) I spent the day shopping with a friend yesterday. Now, if you've read this blog for any length of time you know shopping is not my thing. I've had too many traumatic scenes play out in dressing room mirrors. But yesterday my friend had the perfect mix of "Do you like this?" and "You're trying this on" and "Stop it. I don't know what you're talking about. You need to get this." It was WAY fun and once my bank account recovers from this go around she's talked me into a trip to Victoria's Secret (or wait, is that too much information?). Anyway, thank you precious friend, I had a blast with you.

5) Ladies Man is simply beside himself this week after he purchased an electric guitar. Now he's got all the goods--cute hair, cool skateboard shoes and a sweet guitar.


Life is good in his fourteen-year-old world.

6) Miss Innocent One is developing a fun sense of humor. This week one of her friends thought it would be cute to call himself Juan. She decided to have a little fun with him.

Friend: From now on call me Juan.

Miss Innocent One: What's that you say, John?

Friend: No, Juan.

Miss Innocent One: Why do you want us to call you John?

Friend: No, JUAN!

Miss Innocent One: Okay, whatever you say, John.

Can tell she's had older siblings giving her the business her entire life?

7) Funny things happen when you live in an old house. Last night the phone rings in our bedroom and it's Drama Queen who is just down the hall calling on her cell.

Drama Queen: I'm freaking stuck in the bathroom!

Oops! I didn't see her earlier to tell her the busted doorknob sat in my bedroom. I went to down the hall to find the bathroom door tightly shut with no knob on either side of the door.

Me: I'm not sure how we'll get you out.

Drama Queen: What?! You can't get me out?! I'm stuck in the bathroom?

Dad: We'll get you out.

And of course we did. While Kevin fetched a screwdriver, I jammed a scissor in the opening and got the door open. Drama Queen sat on the bathroom floor playing with the gerbils Miss Innocent One placed in there earlier because they made too much noise in her bedroom. Something about seeing my teenager playing with gerbils on the bathroom floor after I've rescued her from a doorknob-less prison bathroom with a pair of scissors brought that "Deliverance" song right back into my brain.

I feel a "Yee Haw!" comin' on.

That's the goony happenings in the Boesiger house this week, friends. Enjoy your weekend and check out more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

A Little Housekeeping for my Facebook Friends

I've just realized when I import blog posts which contain videos into Facebook, the clips are somehow lost in cyberspace and don't appear on my Notes page.

What this means is those of you who follow me over there are spared miss out on stupid things like having too many snow days.

To remedy this act of mercy profound shame, whenever I post a video, I'll include a special suggestion to my Facebook friends to click the phrase on the bottom of the note which reads "View Original Post." This click will take you to the actual blog where you can view the video. Go ahead. Try it now. I'll repost the stupid snow day video just for you.


Okay, are we all on the same page now?

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

The Blessing of Loneliness



God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways.

2 Corinthians 9:9 (MSG)

I am surrounded by amazing women. Smart, funny, beautiful, deep-thinking, willing to feel, to love, to give whatever God asks, women who seek God's voice, who believe life without Him unthinkable, who trust Him even when His instructions make no sense.

It's easy to be intimidated.

And honestly, often I am.

Yet God, in His impeccable, unpredictable style, uses these women to encourage me, to strengthen me, to make me better. They touch me, teach me, love me and give me a good kick in the pants when necessary. I am blessed beyond measure in my relationships.

But years ago I lamented to God about feeling alone. He didn't answer my prayers in what I considered a timely manner. No phone calls, no invitations to lunch came flooding in. Nothing changed. Outside of the actual service, I dreaded my time at church, feeling awkward, standing around, talking with no one. I was glad to have small children to occupy my time to make my aloneness less obvious.

What made the difference between then and now?

God showed me people needed a reason to care. If I revealed nothing about myself, if I stayed safe in my interactions, limiting conversations to chit-chat, there was nothing to connect me. God began to answer my prayer in MY humility, in my venturing out of my comfort zone. When I admitted to my weakness or uttered the questions swimming around in my head, others related. We found a common tie beyond having kids the same ages or having grown up in the same area. When I ignored my pounding heart to approach someone and ask a personal question, I saw they appreciated the attention and sought me out another time.

God didn't send friends to me. He sent me to be a friend. He taught me to be a person who trusts others with her real thoughts and feelings, giving others a reason to care. He showed me it was okay to need and rely on others, for in doing so, relationships grow.

I imagine people who meet me for the first time now would be surprised to know I'm really an introvert who felt very alone her first few years in this community. But God gave my loneliness as a blessing, teaching me how to cultivate real relationships.

To see how others' interpreted this quote, visit Deborah at Chocolate & Coffee.

Saturday, January 09, 2010

Do you think we've had too many snow days?

I'm starting to question my kids' sanity. This is a game Ladies Man and Miss Innocent One play called Pterodactyl. It's kind of like a staring game, standing off against each other to see who can last the longest, except in Pterodactyl the loser is the first one to show their teeth.

This is the dumbest thing I've ever seen, yet it makes me laugh every time.


Maybe it's time to get out of the house.

Friday, January 08, 2010

7 Quick Takes (Volume 64)


1) I've had a melancholy week, evaluating what I need to do better for 2010, how I've failed in 2009, and I realized I have lost my joy. Life has a way of stealing our joy, doesn't it? To get my head screwed on straight, I looked up tons of verses on joy. Here's one of my favorites:

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:2-3
There was no joy in the moment for Jesus as He endured the cross, but He did it for the joy set before him, for LATER. I am too short-sighted. I need to endure now for the joy later, not expect joy to follow me every moment of every day. Time to buck up and get to work.

2) Drama Queen attended Snowball last Sunday. Snowball is bigger in our town than Prom. She looked so grown up and pretty and happy. We took a picture together and for the first time ever, I saw she had a little resemblance to me. What do you think?


She even looks like she kind of likes me in this picture. I love it.

3) Kevin and I had a lovely evening out ourselves last weekend. We enjoyed a good dinner with great conversation, a movie and hanging out at Barnes & Noble. It was really cold, forcing us to huddle together to stay warm--such a hardship. Snow lightly falling added to the ambiance of the evening. It felt like a movie moment kind of date until we turned the corner to our house and found no where to park. There were 10-12 cars outside and probably 20 kids inside. Drummer Boy invited a "few" friends over. Kids sprawled out in the living room and ran up and down the stairs to the attic. They are good kids I don't mind having around who cleaned up after themselves, so I can't complain, but it was a strange way to end a romantic evening.

4) Big news on the gecko front. I actually saw Elmo's eye this week! I was right. It really is still in there. Of course the words, "You were right, Mom," did not escape Ladies Man's mouth, but I know. Now I have leverage for the next time he doesn't believe me. "Remember when you thought Elmo's eye was gone. . . " Yep, it'll be good mother fodder for a long time. But there's more good news. The little guy's been eating worms on his own again. No more tedious feedings through an eye dropper.

So it's official. I really did save his life getting that hunk of gunk out of his eye. Some of you ask how big this critter is, so I think it's time for a peek of him. Isn't he cute?




5) What a winter we're having! This week marked our third winter storm since the middle of December. Honestly, I don't mind the snow, even when I've got to be out in it. In fact, I wished I had my camera with me the other night when I came out to my vehicle to lay eyes on the most fluffy, sparkly, beautiful snowflakes I have ever seen. You could actually make out the patterns on them. Absolutely gorgeous. I just wanted to fling them in the air and let them fall all over me, but it was something like 5 degrees so I refrained, plus I didn't want to alarm the other women leaving the parking lot.

So I like the winter weather, but my kids are getting all out of whack. I can't ever remember a year we've had this many snow days. Since their Christmas break they were in school for a day, got out early the next, and haven't gone back since. Ladies Man remarked, "It feels like we're still on Christmas vacation." They think since there's no school they should stay up til whenever and sleep the day away. How will we ever get back into a normal schedule? I've got to put some blame on myself though. On these cold, snowy mornings I let them sleep because I enjoy sitting at my dining room table, drinking tea and staring out the window at the piles of white outside. I can't bear to interrupt my solitude by waking them up.

See why I question my parenting skills?

6) There's a little game going around Facebook where women are posting the color of their bra in their status. You ladies are making me feel quite boring with your answers. I've seen more variety in bra colors than I knew existed, even polka dot and leopard prints. I only own white and black. Have I been missing out on some guilty pleasure my whole life? To think I've been feeling racy when wearing a black bra. I'm such an intimate apparel novice.

7) It's CHILLLLLLY in Nebraska today, folks. Here's where my family will be congregating.


Stay warm and cozy, friends. Catch ya next week.


To read more Quick Takes visit Conversion Diary.

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

What God Sees as Great


I've talked before on this blog about wanting to do big things for God. I want to be like Moses or Abraham or Mary. I want to achieve something truly miraculous that points tons of people to Him.

And for some reason I've assumed I haven't or don't or my efforts aren't big enough, aren't worthy of the "great" title.

But today a precious friend said something I won't soon forget.

"Whatever God asks of you, doing it and obeying Him is what makes it great."

A great work for God is anything we do in obedience to Him. We show God His importance in our life by doing what He asks, no matter how ordinary or mundane or unimportant we view it. Obeying His call makes our work spectacular in His eyes.

Heeding God's nudging to help someone carry packages becomes a great work of God. Making the phone call we dread simply because God said to, gains His nod of approval. Leading a Bible study or writing a book which seem beyond us, but doing it anyway because He's asked us, is worship of a Holy God who deserves it.

Being great is only a matter of obeying, of doing what He asks.

So today I expose myself in a blog post trusting it is a big work for God. I pray I've made Him smile.
If you love me, you will obey what I command.

John 14:15

How will you be great today?



Image Credit: Rosencruz Sumera

Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Feelings and Faith



“How we respond to difficulties will determine whether we are a winner or a whiner. One of Satan’s first temptations when our life appears to be on hold like Joseph is to tempt us to live by feelings instead of faith.”

by ~ Michael Yousse

My feelings say I don't matter.

Faith says, "You are fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalm 139:14)

My feelings say God doesn't care.

Faith says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with lovingkindness." (Jeremiah 31:3)

My feelings say I can't do it.

Faith says, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible," (Matthew 19:26) and "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)

My feelings say I don't measure up.

Faith says, "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

My feelings say I'm nothing special. God doesn't need me.

Faith says, "I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and not rejected you." (Isaiah 41:9)

My feelings say this doesn't make sense.

Faith says, "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." (1 Corinthians 1:27)

My feelings say God's forgotten about me.

Faith says, "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Satan works hard to devour us, to make us ineffective, to rob us of the joy and privilege in being who God's created us to be. We must resist him, friends. We must have faith.

We must believe the Truth.
But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

Hebrews 10:38-39

Join Karen at In Love W.I.T.H. Jesus for more ideas on this quote.

Sunday, January 03, 2010

Two As One


The candle flickers.

Soft music fills the room.

We lay silent, satisfied, sanctified as husband and wife.

I revel in the warmth, the security,
the sanctuary of marriage.

This is good.

The candle flickers.

Two hearts, two bodies bound together, rest as one without shame.

God's blessing.




Photo Credit: 710928003

Friday, January 01, 2010

7 Quick Takes (Volume 63)--Happy New Year



1) We had a Christmas miracle last week. Our pet gecko, our lizard whom we've been feeding with a syringe for at least six months, ate a worm on his own! He's also had some trouble with shed lodging in his right eye. It's next to impossible to help him out with it. Ladies Man worries I might poke his eye out, but it looked drier than usual Christmas night, so I got out my handy dandy tweezers and dislodged a hunk of stuff half the size of my pinky fingernail! We actually saw his eyeball! Now, it's oozing over some again, but I'm thinking there's still hope, the kind I have with my plants (wait, maybe we should be worried). He's eaten worms on his own all week. I'm thinking he can finally see straight to catch them!

Poor Elmo. He gets all nervous whenever I pick him up. Doesn't he know I'm saving his life?!

2) We're having TWO rescheduled Christmas celebrations today, thanks to the Christmas Blizzard, but I'm not complaining. The snow gave us two whole days to hang out at home watching movies and such. We even played games with each other. And you'll be happy to know something about the weather put my kids in a low-key mood. I didn't wish for ear plugs once!

3) The worst bummer concerning the blizzard was Drummer Boy's trip to the Holiday Bowl being canceled. We spent all afternoon on Saturday getting dug out and preparing to get him to Lincoln in time to catch the bus, only to find out at the last minute the trip was canned. I feel bad for the kids AND the directors who had to make the call. I'm sure it wasn't easy.

4) For the last few years, instead of making new year's resolutions, I've chosen to concentrate on one word. I've been praying all week about what my word for the year should be. Last year I chose FOCUS which God managed to hone in me until about November when life got hectic. Sigh. Was there progress? I think so. I know I did a better job of scheduling my time when possible, but sometimes it made me feel like a bad friend.

The only word that's come to mind so far for 2010 is scaring the snot out of me--TRUST. What must a person go through to learn to trust God better? Start praying now, people.

5) Drama Queen started a new job at an old folks' home this week. After only two days of working she's regaled us with all kinds of good stories. It's going to be good fodder, I tell you. From one night we've heard about the guy who has a parakeet he named after himself, the escape attempt, the woman who will never forget Drama Queen's real name because she only has to add one letter to her own and, shall we say, adventures in showering? She's going to learn a lot about compassion and serving.

Drama Queen also made an important discovery this week.

Drama Queen: Did you know if you drink a cup of milk in the middle of the night, you wake up with the worst breath ever?

I am actually familiar with the phenomenon, so I knew exactly what she was talking about.

Drama Queen: I did it last night and when I woke up this morning I was like, "Ew, what is that smell?" and then I realized it was me!

So be careful with your milk consumption, people, or be prepared for noxious gases.

6) Oh. My. Goodness. We had a WONDERFUL evening with friends last night to bring in the new year. Good food. Good laughs. Good talks. Good times. It couldn't have been better. Thanks, guys, for a perfectly lovely evening. It's too bad my old body can't handle little sleep the way my younger body did. I'm a tired puppy this morning. But it was totally worth it. Love you!

7) 2010.

Hard to believe the 80's were thirty years ago now! We were discussing last night how the whole Y2K scare was ten years ago now. And think about how far technology has progressed in the last ten years. Holy moley, I'm sounding like an old fart!

But I'm a happy old fart who loves her life and wishes to leave you all with a word that matters today.

Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

2 Corinthians 13:11,14


Happy New Year!

If you've got some time on your hands, read some other Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.