7 Quick Takes (Volume 82)

1)
Greetings from snowy Estes Park, Colorado! It feels more like February than May with temperatures in the thirties and snow falling off and on since we arrived Wednesday evening. I admit I panicked when I read the weather reports early in the week, putting Estes Park in a Winter Weather Warning expecting 12-24 inches of snow by Wednesday night. I rattled the prediction to everyone I saw, entreating their prayers, but God showed me yet again how worry is a complete waste of time. The roads were great and the drive breathtaking.


If you were one who prayed for travel mercies, THANK YOU! Your prayers were answered.

2) I'm in Estes for a writer's conference. Each day is PACKED with workshops, panel discussions, continuing sessions, and speakers. So much information dished out to my tired, soggy brain is wearing me out, but I'm soaking up as much as I can and praying for my next step (Remember what happened the last time I prayed for that?). So far all I'm hearing is "keep doing what you're doing."

I'm reminded of 2 Samuel 22:26, "To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless."

I guess that's all I need to know, huh?

3) I e-mailed my snowy pictures pictures back to my kids and had to laugh when Miss Innocent One replied, "Wow! That's awesome! But if you don't like it we feel your pain back in Beatrice. It hasn't changed AT ALL since you left. I hope you're having fun though. I'm sorry if you haven't gotten to wear your cute heels yet! Love ya!"

Should I be worried my 11-year-old is more concerned about my fashion woes than my personal safety?

4) Hallelujah, glory be and praise the Lord! Every time I've talked with other conference participants and they ask how old my kids are, they've responded with, "You look too young to have kids that old." One should keep in mind, however, that all of us are running on little sleep and probably aren't focusing too well. One should also consider the glazed eyes from information overload. Yeah, now it makes sense. No one is seeing straight. But, hey, I'll take whatever I can get!

5) All winter I've been trying to show you this freaky phenomenon that happens to my fingers whenever my hands get cold. I've tried to take pictures myself, but I can hardly take a decent picture with two hands, let alone one. The cold weather in Colorado produced the effect again and Kevin was there to document it. When my hands get cold, some of my fingers will go numb and look dead. Can you tell which of my fingers are numb in these pictures?



Now do you see why I latch onto any suggestion I'm not old?

6) I've met some delightful people here and enjoyed hearing their stories of how God has led them on their writing journeys. One woman carried a dream of writing for 46 years, and now at 62 is seeing it come to fruition with God's blessing. Another lives with a difficult illness, losing her job, her home and even friends, but found God's good in it by publishing books which help others deal with the same illness. I love the reminders of God's creativity and perfect timing.

7) I'm sorry this week's Quick Takes seems a little lackluster. Is it because I wasn't home enough to regale you with stories of my goofy kids? What will I ever find to write about once they move on? Let's attribute it to my mushy brain, okay? I don't want to think about the other.

Have a great weekend, friends. Check out some other Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.

No Pretensions Releases My Best

“A sentence from Psalm 101 has been both challenging and convicting for me: 'I will walk in my house with blameless heart' (Psalm 101-2, NIV). When God speaks to me about being more loving, this verse reminds me to make application in my family first—and then to others. It forces me to ask, 'Am I more spiritual, more loving, or more fun somewhere else? Who gets my best—my family or others?”

by Jean Fleming
A Mother’s Heart: A Look at Values, Vision, and Character for the Christian Mother

Who gets my best--my family or others?

Hmmm. . .tough call. I blow up more at my family. I throw hissy fits and cry in my bathroom. I expect, nag and criticize more freely. I don't hide scowls or growls. My temper rears its ugly head.

But, I give my family more than I give others too. Apologies leave my lips. Only my family robs my sleep. I let my guard down. I perform disgusting tasks for their benefit. They see my silly. I spend way more time with them and sacrifice to a greater extent.

I may be more pleasant somewhere else at times. I may use spiritual language to a greater degree in my conversations with adults. I may have a longer fuse and better attention span outside my house. But if I am REAL no matter where I am, if my personality does not change when I leave my home, I can walk with a blameless heart. I make it my mission to be myself in any situation. (Of course, this means you may get to see my ugly from time to time too. Lucky you!) If I set up no pretensions, either inside or outside my home, if I stay consistently connected to Almighty God, I am giving my best to everyone I encounter.

Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart

Psalm 15:1-2

Join our host, Loni, at Writing Canvas for more thoughts on today's quote.



Photo Credit: PKMousie

Five Questions

My dear sister-in-law tagged me in a fun, little meme last week. Since I kinda like her (and I needed an easy post for a Monday morning) I decided to play along.

I'm supposed to give five answers for five questions. Here goes nothing!

Where were you five years ago today?
1. In the same town, same house, same church, same family I am today.
2. In our first year of having a child in every level of our local public school--one in high school, one in middle school and two in elementary.
3. Wondering what this new stage in life (having all my kids in school) required of me.
4. Just beginning a tough journey with my dad's health problems.
5. Living in lala land with no inkling of what a "blog" was.

Where would you like to be five years from now?
1. In the same town, same house, same church, same family I am today.
2. Getting used to the idea that all but one of my kids has moved out of the house.
3. Further down the path God has placed me on, with better understanding.
4. Able to easily write 2000-3000 words every day.
5. In a CLEAN house with beautifully organized closets and storage spaces.

What is on your to do list today?
1. Attend a funeral.
2. Get groceries.
3. Make food for a potluck dinner tonight.
4. Laundry, laundry, all kinds of laundry.
5. Collect writing samples to take to a conference.

What five snacks do you enjoy?
1. nuts, nuts and more nuts
2. popcorn
3. dried berries and raisins
4. prunes
5. granola

What would you do if you were a billionaire?
1. Buy my husband a grand piano and a new vehicle.
2. Build a new garage.
3. Pay off the church building debt.
4. Buy a new laptop for me (yea!!).
5. Take my family on an exotic vacation.

Feel free to play along if you're so inclined and let me know if you did so I can get the juice on you! Have a great day, friends!

7 Quick Takes (Volume 81)

1) We've just about survived the marathon of concerts and school activities. In the last week and a half we have attended Field Day, a middle school vocal concert, a kids program at church, a high school band concert and another band concert for grades 5-8. Today I go to a 5th grade picnic. Tonight is a high school vocal concert, Monday night is a band banquet and Tuesday brings the final concert for the high school show choir (which I can't attend due to another activity--yikes!). Then, I think we're out of the woods. Whew!

You think I'm getting ready for summer?!

2) So I burned another plastic handle on my stove top this week (see #4 here). As my husband witnessed me discovering my blunder, he had to stifle his laughter.

"You have to admit it's kind of funny," he said, wrapping me in his arms.

For some reason he finds this flaw endearing.

"Yeah, here's what will become of us," he said, "I'll die young. . ."

I finished his sentence for him.

"And I'll burn the house down when I'm 90!"

3) And now a public service announcement to you parents of teens.

Having trouble keeping up with the latest slang your kids use? A word I'm hearing quite frequently around my house is "legit. Suddenly anything of value is "legit" as in "That car is legit" or "These waffles are legit, Mom" or "We totally nailed that song. It was legit." The word seems to be interchangeable with "sweet" or "awesome."

If you haven't heard your teens use this word yet, why not beat them to the punch and use it with them?

Maybe then they'd think YOU were legit (but don't count on it).

4) Miss Innocent One: Last night I dreamed I had a cell phone.

Me: Yeah, keep dreaming, babe.

5) Ladies Man got some good news yesterday. He won a logo contest for our local Homestead Days celebration! His design will appear on t-shirts and posters all over town. He was pretty pumped. Here's the winning logo.


6) And now more adventures in slang.

Drama Queen: Oh, hey, b, t, dub. . .

Kevin: b, t, dub?

Drama Queen: Come on, Dad, don't tell me you don't know what that means.

Kevin: I know what it means, but why would you use it?

Drama Queen: Why wouldn't I use it?

Kevin: Think about it. B, t, dub, has the same amount of syllables as by the way. You're not saving any time saying b, t, dub. I s'pose you think it sounds cool, but why not just say what you mean?

Drama Queen: You just don't understand, old man.

7) Drummer Boy turned twenty this week. TWENTY! How can I be the mother of a twenty-year-old?! Yes, I'm plenty old enough and I caught my sister looking at my head and smirking yesterday due to the, shall we say, high number of pigment free hairs she saw there, but inside I'm barely twenty myself. But what can you do? I'll roll with it and try to take good care of myself.

Speaking of which, I've made it my personal mission in life to do everything I can to keep myself healthy so I won't have to ride around in one of those Little Rascal contraptions at Walmart someday. I know some things are beyond my control, but the thought of needing to be reliant on one of those things makes me grit my teeth.

Now watch. I'll break an ankle next week and be forced to do it.

That's a wrap for this Friday, folks. Be sure to hug your mommies this Sunday and if you have a chance, check out some other Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.

Prayer When Words Won't Come

O my Father, I have moments of deep unrest--moments when I know not what to ask by reason of the very excess of my wants. I have in these hours no words for Thee, no conscious prayers for Thee. My cry seems purely worldly; I want only the wings of a dove that I may flee away. Yet all the time Thou hast accepted my unrest as a prayer. Thou hast interpreted its cry for a dove's wings as a cry for Thee. Thou hast received the nameless longings of my heart as the intercessions of Thy Spirit. They are not yet the intercessions of my spirit; I know not what to ask. But Thou knowest what I ask, O my God. Thou knowest the name of that need which lies beneath my speechless groan. . . . Thou knowest that because I am made in Thine image I can find rest only in what gives rest to Thee; therefore Thou hast counted my unrest unto me for righteousness, and has called my groaning Thy Spirit's prayer.

George Matheson
taken from the Mosaic Bible, p. 179



Photo Credit: Chase Cash

A Lesson from the Puritans

In the dead of night, I'll wake abruptly, my thoughts whirring rapidly. In my weary state, worry overtakes reason and my faith seems little comfort.

I know God CAN do anything, but WILL He?

Some situations I've prayed over for years and He seems silent. Where is He? Why won't He answer? Why is He so mysterious?

Yet what do I have to lose, bringing it before Him another time? Nothing. But if I don't BELIEVE He will make it right, I rob peace from myself. If I don't BELIEVE He's in control, fear shadows me. If I don't BELIEVE His plan is best, doubts shake me.

I don't have to FEEL the Truth. I only have to BELIEVE it. If I base my faith on how I FEEL, I have no faith at all. I'm trusting human emotion (which is pretty fickle) rather than Almighty God.

Prayers arising from my needs are preparations for further mercies; Help me to honour thee by believing before I feel, for great is the sin if I make feeling a cause of faith.

Valley of Vision
A collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions

The Puritans understood you can't trust feelings. They realized only God never changes. They knew the value of bringing their requests before God, entreating His mercy. Disbelief steals the good God has for us. Faith must be MORE than feelings. It must be based on Truth.

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

Isaiah 26:3

Join this week's host, Karen, at her blog In Love W.I.T.H. Jesus for more thoughts on this quote.





Photo Credit: David Clow - Maryland

Talking Turkey When You’re Feeling Like a Chicken

My heart beat fast. I didn't really want to talk about it, but knew I needed to. How could things ever get better if I didn't say anything? How could I know what he was thinking if I didn't ask? Was my timidity causing me to keep something from him? Wouldn't that eventually hurt our relationship? Yet this was so personal. It made me so vulnerable. Did I really want to know his honest opinion? Could I handle the truth?

I approached the subject after we'd gone to bed. In the dark. Where I didn't have to face him or see his reaction. But bringing up a tender subject when he was ready to call it a day annoyed him. We can talk about anything else. For hours. Even late at night, after we're already in bed. But this topic. . .wow, we've struggled with this. He gets defensive. My feelings get hurt. And we end up back to back, me wanting to kick him out of bed as he falls asleep too easily, while I lay awake stewing.

Why is it so hard to talk about sex?

It exposes more of us than we like, doesn't it? But if nothing is said, the problem doesn't go away. It grows. And if it's not addressed, soon it creeps into other areas of our marriage, building up walls as we learn to hide our true thoughts from each other. It's important to spill our guts, friends, especially about sex.

But how?!

In my own experience, it's never easy, but if I remember a few communication principles, it can be bearable and lead to good resolution.

I need to swallow my pride. I want my marriage to be the best it can be. If I am not willing to risk some brief embarrassment to make it so, I am selfishly hampering our relationship. I love him more than my ego. My actions should prove it.

I need to consider him in my approach. I need to think of him in my timing, not saving my bombshell until bedtime. This never turns out well. So now I say to him, "I want to talk about _______. When would be a good time to do this?" He doesn't feel attacked and has a chance to consider how he feels about it before I expect answers. My old ineffective way of bringing up sexual matters was pretty unfair. I had all the advantages. He was left feeling blindsided with no time to form an opinion.

Don't do all the talking. LISTEN too. This is pretty self-explanatory. If you've swallowed your pride enough to bring up a problem, be sure to hear what he says about it! Ask questions if you don't understand what he's saying. And above all, don't take what he says personally (I've learned this the hard way, people-trust me in this.). Hear him out before you react.

The more we talk about it, the easier it gets. Just like the hardest part of peeling an orange is getting it started, once ground has been broken, once you've uttered those difficult words, the next time isn't as painful and awkward. The only way to improve your communication is to keep working at it.

Here's the bottom line. It's TOUGH to talk about sex (BELIEVE me, I know!), but if I truly love my husband and value our relationship, I am willing to risk the conflict and momentary discomfort to make things better. After all, when things improve for me in the bedroom, they get better for him too, don't they?

Take a deep breath and venture forth, my friends. You can do it! Your marriage will thank you (and probably your husband too!).

Visit other Marriage Monday contributors by clicking over to Chrysalis.