The Winds of Change are Blowing

Those of you who know me well are holding your breath right now after reading that title. Rest assured, I am still breathing, still sleeping, still a fairly normal functioning adult, but if you catch me being a titch emotional or snippy, this may be why.

The pot is stirring.

Miss Innocent One starts middle school next week. She's nervous about it which brings out the Mama Bear in me (Ladies Man would be so proud I said that), wishing I could be there to ease her into it. It's the first time in fifteen years we won't be visiting the elementary school. That makes me feel old. And sad. And old. Plus I'm going to miss chit-chatting with the teachers there.

Ladies Man starts high school which means he begins the process of never being home anymore, of stretching his wings and becoming more independent. And I'm afraid the flirt in him will really emerge. Lord, help us. And now, more than ever, the homework nazi in me will have to come out again. Ugh. Can you say STRESS?! This boy does NOT get along well with Homework Nazi who is a fun sucker extraordinaire, but a mama's gotta do what it takes to get the kid through school, right? Poo. And yuck. And bleh.

Drama Queen starts her senior year, her LAST year. This one brings out the melancholy in me more than any of the others. I get misty every time I think about it. When she was barely two years old, she often made her opinion known telling me, "You hurt my fleelings" and now my fiesty little "you hurt my fleelings" girl is all grown up. In one year we'll be packing her off for college. Watching her anxiety over her friends leaving this fall, I decided Drama Queen has a harder time with change than I do. Imagine! Lord, have mercy and make us all ready.

And if all this isn't enough, Drummer Boy moved into his first apartment. Does this mean he'll never live at home again? These days I'm the annoying mother who takes him shopping for cleaning supplies and constantly asks him if he's eating. It was so awesome having him home this summer and now I'll be out of the loop again to his day to day happenings. I know it's normal and right and healthy and I'll honor all that, but it does bring a tear to my eye.

Change is good. (Who said that anyway?) I used to worry about what I'd write about once my kids were grown and out of the house, but it occurred to me the other day I may have grandkids by that time. Talk about feeling old. Yikes! Since the only constant in life is change, I may as well get used to it. I won't look back, only forward as we approach the next steps in life and find the advantages in new stages. I'll anticipate the sweet changes in life as God's natural order and gift.

And I'll be glad my stint as Homework Nazi will some day be over.

How Should I Unite With Christians I Disagree With?

"The Gospel alone is sufficient to rule the lives of Christians everywhere. . . any additional rules made to govern men’s conduct added nothing to the perfection already found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence
John Wycliffe

We Christians find lots of things to argue about. Should you use wine or grape juice for communion? Is it appropriate to have drums in church? Should a woman of God show any skin? Is it offensive to God to wear jeans to worship?

Or how about we put the screws on a little bit? Does a serious Christian use birth control or support feminists? Does your political affiliation matter? What about your views on abortion and gay rights?

Anne Rice, a novelist known for her vampire bestsellers WAY before the Twilight craze, shocked the nation a few years ago when she came out saying she was returning to her Catholic faith. She started writing books about God and publicly aligned herself with Christianity.

But recently she wrote a scathing comment on Facebook, distancing herself from Christians because of the condemnation she sees for differing views. In her words:

"For those who care, and I understand if you don't: Today I quit being a Christian. I'm out. I remain committed to Christ as always but not to being "Christian" or to being part of Christianity. It's simply impossible for me to "belong" to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous group. For ten ...years, I've tried. I've failed. I'm an outsider. My conscience will allow nothing else."

And a little later she added,

"As I said below, I quit being a Christian. I'm out. In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control. I refuse to be anti-Democrat. I refuse to be anti-secular humanism. I refuse to be anti-science. I refuse to be anti-life. In the name of ...Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen."

There's a very interesting clip on Ms. Rice's website from a CNN interview with Joy Behar. I certainly don't agree with everything she says here, but it makes me wonder how I should relate with people who don't believe as I do. There's something very sad about Ms. Rice feeling like she cannot identify herself with other Christians. What happened to being known as Christians by our love? How do we maintain unity in the Body if we don't agree on big issues? If the gospel is sufficient (and it absolutely is), how do I navigate the choppy waters of actual living with others?

Our pastor preached on non-negotiables this summer, those things we absolute should not compromise on. He's identified two:

Jesus Christ is the Son of God, sent by the Father to be the once and for all atoning sacrifice for our sins, enabling us to be righteous before God and live for eternity with Him in heaven.

The Bible is the Holy Word of God, perfect and without error.

But when the rubber meets the road, when I find myself in opposition with another Christian, how should I conduct myself? I must go to God's Word.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3:12-14

Or in the words of Jesus Himself:

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Matthew 22:37-39

The answer is love, loving God, loving others. May God give us wisdom to know the best way to love.

See how others interpret this quote by visiting Esthermay at The Heart of a Pastor's Wife.

Twenty-Four Years

Twenty-four years ago today, I married this man. How do you thank a person for providing you a happy and meaningful lifetime, for pushing you out of your comfort zone and making you better, for years of listening and empathizing and providing and loving? What words can possibly thank him for making me feel valuable?

Is it enough to tell others I love my husband, to call him my miracle, to speak well of him in front of our kids? Can I honor him by always being on his team and believing in him when he doesn't believe in himself? Will he get the idea if I consistently pick him first and make him meatloaf and bring him root beer freezes and let him watch t.v. even when it annoys me? Can gratitude be expressed in clean underwear and squelching the nagging, in walks for ice cream and not waking him up in the morning?

I hope so, because this is how I've tried to say thank you to a man who has been wonderful to me.

I don't know why God chose to bless us, honey, but I am so thankful. Happy anniversary. I love you more now than ever.

7 Quick Takes (Volume 93)

1) I'm not sure, but I think my deaf friend who works at the Y told me I should leave my husband this week.

He approached me like usual, asking me if I was okay, then put his thumb to his ear and pinkie to his mouth in the "call me" position. He pointed at me, then himself, pretended he was driving a car and then did a little jump in the air, flinging his hands upward then clutching them to his chest. Noticing my confused face, he pointed again to me, then his ring finger, then put his fists up to his eyes as if he was crying.

I wasn't taking any chances and wanted to make myself perfectly clear, so I pointed to myself, crossed my arms over my heart, then pointed at my ring finger trying to say, "I love my husband."

I think he got the hint because he nodded and crossed his fingers in front of him like a stake used to ward off vampires.

This guy keeps me on my toes.

2) Drama Queen and Ladies Man made it home from Missions Trip in one piece, although Ladies Man was sick for three days afterward. I have a feeling there wasn't much sleeping happening, but these pictures confirm it was worth it.

Kids used to tell these two in elementary school if they shaved off their hair they'd pass as twins. I never saw it, but they do look alike in this picture, huh? Going to a poor area of Mississippi, they got first hand experience with what it means to be a minority. Apparently segregation is alive and well. The only swimming pool in this community is for whites only.


Isn't this sweet?! The names of the Mississippi kids are MUCH different than what they're used to in Nebraska. Ladies Man wouldn't even attempt to pronounce the name of one of his boys.

Missions trip is a highlight of the summer for our kids, giving them a front row seat to God working and binding them with their classmates. How about a big shout out to our youth group sponsors? You do GREAT work, Sam and Becca! THANK YOU!

3) Drummer Boy, Drama Queen and Ladies Man spent this week at Band Camp. Poor kids marched from 8:AM to 3:PM in 100 degree weather. They came home looking so hot and sunburned every day, but didn't complain at all. Apparently band camp is a good time. The band director had a sprinkler rigged up to spray on them while they practiced drill on the field. Nice job, Febes! Thanks!

We'll attend their exhibition tonight, showing what they learned. It will be the first time Ladies Man has been in the group and seeing Drama Queen's intensity is always a treat. It will be fun to watch.

4) Big news in our house this week--guess who got glasses, just in time to start middle school?


Aren't they cute? And get a load of the stylish stems.


Can you believe the tan line on that girl?

5) School starts in eleven days. Wow. Enough said.

6) My husband came home from the Y this week saying, "I'm getting my abs back" and I wanted to slap him. He's gone to the Y maybe half a dozen times this summer and he's getting his abs back?! I don't know why I find that so irritating. I benefit more than anybody from the returned abs, right? I suppose it's because it's taken me YEARS to get to where I am today and I still have areas that need work. It's just not fair a guy can put in a couple of weeks and see results, is it? Back me up here, ladies! Arg!

7) Wonder what I've been doing while my kids have been gone to Mississippi and playing in the sprinkler at band camp? For the last two weeks I've spent my mornings taping drywall in an attic room we're making for Drama Queen. This window looks out the front of the house. GREAT view!


This cutout will house a bookshelf near the window, making a perfect little nook for a cute chair and reading.


This cutout will be built in drawers. We're thinking of putting a desk on the adjacent wall where the fan and light sit.


Here's where the bed will probably sit.


Cool, huh? I'm jealous. I'd love it for an office, but I'm taking her old room instead. This girl's had the smallest bedroom in the house for too long. She needs a sweet room, especially since she'll be moving out in a year. We need incentive for her to come home.

Since we don't want to install the air conditioner until all the sanding is done, I only work up here until noon. My afternoons have been spent here:


I'm working in my dining room on the script for our church's Christmas musical. It's pretty tough to think Christmas when it's 100 degrees outside, but I've got to get this puppy finished in a few weeks. YIKES!

Guess how my next two weeks will be spent?

And that's a wrap this first Friday in August. I hope you do something fun this weekend. Have a few laughs by reading other Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.

Time to Eat?

Sheesh. We've been a little heavy and introspective here the last few days, don't you think? Time to lighten up. How about some adventures in food?

I was eating a snack when my husband walked in and took a double take.


Kevin: WHAT are you eating?

Me: It's just granola and almonds.

Kevin: It looks like gerbil food.

He scowled at me like I was an alien creature and left the room. I recovered his respect last night though when I accidentally dropped a piece of lettuce on my chest.

It came to rest in the only crevice on a woman's chest. My husband took another double take, but this time no disapproving look accompanied it.

Kevin: Salad hasn't looked so good in a long time.

Maybe I need to get creative in my food service, huh? Try not to think about it too much. I don't want anyone losing their lunch. Have a great day, friends!

Photo Credits: norwichnuts and Trinity

Looking for Validation

Deep inside every woman is a little girl who's not sure she measures up.

Is she pretty enough, smart enough, entertaining enough, skinny enough? Will men find her attractive? Will women want to call her friend?

Like little girls, we look to others to verify our worth. We're confused by varying opinions, frustrated by differing standards. Our human nature starts comparing and before long we're defeated.

Yesterday I was reminded to stop looking at myself and start looking at Jesus. It's the only way to gain freedom from myself. But as a little girl wishes for her daddy to call her beautiful, I desire His favor. How do I know if God likes what He sees? How do I know if I please Him? With so many imperfections, how do we ever make a perfect God smile?

I have no answers and perhaps there aren't any. Maybe the only thing we can do is sit in God's presence, soak in His Word and trust Him to make something beautiful of us.

What do you think?



Photo Credit: chicks57

The Only Way to Be Free From My Flaws

I have a problem.

It crops up in little ways, in taking the comment of another too close to heart, in admiring the beautiful qualities of women around me, in wanting to be something I'm not. I work on improving myself yet am never satisfied knowing another area of weakness is always ready to be addressed. I don't enjoy small victories. My mind rests on me too much and I berate myself for being so self-centered.

I confuse wanting to be my best for God with wanting to be the best, and am left feeling defeated.

“Instead of trying to fix yourself, fix your gaze on Me, the lover of your soul. Rather than using your energy to judge yourself, redirect it to praising Me. Remember that I see you clothed in my righteousness, radiant in My perfect love.”

Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence
by Sarah Young

I want to be perfect. And I'm not. I never will be, this side of heaven. I'm staring at me and all my flaws instead of gazing at Jesus and resting in His presence. How can I be free from myself and my obsessed thinking? As Paul said in Romans 7:24, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"

Only One.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
Look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
in the light of His glory and grace.
Make it so, Lord.

Read what others have to say about this quote by visiting our host Debbie at Heart Choices.