Monthly Archives: July 2009
The Prepared Bride Revisited
This weekend we attended a wedding. It was gorgeous, joyful and fun. We had a wonderful time!
Two years ago, Ellie was honored to be the flowergirl in another wedding. The bride then is the sister of the bride now. I wrote one of my favorite posts then. Here’s a link: The Prepared Bride. It’s dated closer to Christmas than to the wedding, but … well, you’ll see when you read it.
And what is a post about weddings without a few pictures? Visit this post for pictures of us two years ago. And here we are now.
Zach was in a boy mood, refusing to smile. I had to tickle him, thus my slumped posture and his goofy look while trying to elbow me in the stomach. Still, I think we make a pretty good-looking crew.
A special note to my facebook friends: See? Sexy, conservative … I didn’t have to buy any special undergarments to keep me in or up or looking right. I could even bend over and tend to the kids without wardrobe malfunctions! Cool – right? And it was on sale! I think I hit the jackpot this time.
I found it!!
Praise God!!! My passport must have slipped off my nighstand, because I found it under my bed kissing a few dust bunnies. THANK YOU to everyone who emailed and commented with suggestions of where to look. You guys are the best. 
As for what to do … well, I’ve started a list. It’s extensive. Since I’ll be in England a whole week, hopefully I can do much of it and maybe even find a lovely little park to write. I’m open to more suggestions, so keep sending them!
Where would you hide?
A while back I mentioned my Martha-Stewart-wannabe- plans. Well, they never panned out. Once again my intentions went unfulfilled. However, even without making a detailed calendar of what I wanted to do, our summer is going great. Possibly the best EVER. I’m so excited! Since Ellie got out of school, we have done a lot:
- We had an awesome week of VBS (even if it did start with my bra in the toilet).
- God allowed me to teach a formal Bible class — to adults! (VERY exciting, considering my usual students turn every lesson toward pirates and nudity.)
- I’ve done a lot of writing.
- The kids and I have gone to the beach …
- … a number of super-cool zoos …
- … the pool …
- … and several new parks!
- We’ve hosted brunches …
- … and playdates …
- … and one very formal tea party.
- Zach learned to play baseball.
- Ellie learned to ride a scooter.
- Both kids have started reading!!! (I am CRAZY excited about this one! Hooked on Phonics worked for us. )
All this and the summer is only half over. I’m loving it! Next month we have Zach’s birthday and our annual family vacation to Cape Cod with cousins and Grandma and Grandpa and everybody. It’s the best.
But there’s more. (Can you hear my blaring giddiness?)
Rick has to go to London for business. For a whole week. AND I GET TO GO WITH HIM!!!
There’s only one problem — and this is where I need your help: I can’t find my passport. It’s not in the firebox where it should be. It’s not in any of my sixteen handbags or five carry-ons. (Yes, I know have a fetish and keep meaning to get help, but … well, I like my fetish.) I can’t imagine where it would be. I used it just eighteen months ago when we traveled to St. Lucia. I know it has since expired, but it would be so much easier to get it renewed than to get a new one, so here’s my question for you:
If you were an expired passport, where would you hide?
Bonus question: If you had to wander England while your husband sat through boring business meetings, where would you go? What would you do?
Help me.
Do you ever elevate one ministry over another? Think one more important than others?
When I teach Bible studies, I easily grasp the gravity of the situation. I, a relatively young woman, stand in front of a group of people and attempt to relate God’s Word in a clear and applicable fashion. It’s a weighty responsibility, one I never take lightly. I spend months researching and writing the studies, the entire time begging God for help. I know fully that my knowledge and abilities are vastly insufficient for the task. I mean, this is the Word of God!
When it’s time to teach, all my prayers become one: “God, help me.“
I realized this week, two weeks after finishing my last study, that I haven’t said that prayer in a while. I’m not teaching now; I’m back to just being a mom. I’m just a wife, just a stay-at-home-mother, just a friend, just a daughter. I’m just … wrong. Somehow my pride and experience have convinced me that I’m okay raising these two kids. I desperately need God’s help to teach adults, but when it comes to my kids? I’ve got this. I can handle it. But I can’t.
Oh, God, help me!
Help me remember who You are and who I am and how much I need You! I mean, these are two souls who long to know You. And You’ve made me their guide. Help me to fully grasp the gravity of this task and to honor You wholly through my obedience in fulfilling it. I am not worthy. No matter what my strengths are, they still fall short. I can do no good without You. Only You are perfect; only You can make me successful. I need You. Please, please help me.
Weekend Recap
Mama loves fireworks.
Call me an un-American, terrible parent, but this weekend was the first time our kids ever saw fireworks. Well, sort of. In years past, I’ve let them watch the Independence Day recap on The Today Show the next morning. They thought it was cool and so did I since we didn’t have to fight crowds or noise or traffic or bedtimes. Still, it’s not the same. This year I decide it was time to initiate them.
We dressed, packed and drove, then spent twenty minutes (literally) trying to find a parking space. Once we did, we had to walk at least ten blocks to get to the field. There we sat on our little blanket (just inches from the families around us) and waited with hundreds and hundreds of other people. We waited over an hour. The kids were great! They begged for light-up necklaces and other such silly tokens while we watched the line to the funnel cake truck perpetually be 40-people long. Bonus: I learned was a zeppole is. Well, kind of. The truck advertized it and Rick looked it up on his iphone, then we decided whatever it is, it’s not worth $12 for three pieces. I mean, it’s just fried dough – right?
Anyway, after getting the kids properly prepared for the noise …
(Yes, those are hooded sweatshirts tied around their heads. Next year we’ll bring real earplugs.)
… the show began. It was great!
That is, until ash started falling from the sky, coating all of us. We all smelled like sulfur by the time we got home.
Even with the crowds and the messes and the noise and the ash, I loved it. Every minute of it.
Mama loves Zach’s stories.
As we walked the ten blocks back to our van, I asked Zach if he liked the fireworks. He said that, no, he didn’t because they were way too loud and hurt his ears. He also thought they were a little scary. Then he said that he did like the one part “when the stuff on the bottom and the stuff on the top crossed over like an ‘X’ because they looked like pirate swords. I think they were fighting and I like fighting.” I have no idea what he was talking about, but he repeated the story at least four times over the weekend.
Mama loves finding these.
Can you see them? Two little tiny green tomatoes! I’m so excited. Yes, I realize that sometime between now and when these beauties are ready to harvest, some creature (probably the wretched Peter Rabbits or the behemoth groundhog) will eat them up, but right now my heart is filled with hope that one day before the summer is done I’ll be able to taste the fruits of my labor. Wouldn’t that be lovely?
Your turn! What are you lovin’ these days?
And the winner is …
I know I said I would announce a winner last night, but … well, I was resting and simply forgot. We signed up for Netflix a couple months ago. Did you know members can download streaming video to an xbox? Well, we can. It’s so cool. We’ve been watching a ton of old shows (like Magnum, P.I. and Maverick) and getting hopelessly addicted to relatively new ones (like Heroes). It’s been fun! But it means my brain turns to giddy tv date night mush as soon as the kids go to bed at eight o’clock.
Without further ado, the winner is … comment #8: Life in the Crazy Lane!
Seems kind of appropriate, right? I mean, anyone with a blog name like that could probably use some rest. So, chickie, email me your snail mail address and I’ll get the book headed your way.
Everyone else, follow this link to purchase the book at a discounted cover price.
Recipe Swap Sun- er, Saturday: Easy Pinwheels
Happy Independence Day!! I’m not sure what we’re doing tomorrow, so I thought I’d post today. Besides, after all our talk about biblical rest and practicing Sabbath, I feel a little guilty writing a real post on Sunday. (Yes, I realize the Sabbath was traditionally practiced on Saturdays, but we live in a “blue law” county, which means just about everything is closed on Sundays. Saturday is our only day to get most stuff done: the lawn, shopping, errands, work around the house, etc.) Anywho, now that I’ve concluded that tremendous tangent …
On holidays like today our family typically skips the big meals and snacks all day. We might grill burgers or something like that, but the rest is a free-for-all with various appetizers, salads and treats. This recipe is one of my favorites because (1) it’s delicious and (2) it’s quick and easy to make.
You should be able to find flatbread in the bakery of your local grocery store. Sometimes it’s called “cracker bread.” Have you ever eaten a gordita from Taco Bell? That’s the type of bread you’re looking for. If you can’t find it, you can substitute tortillas of any flavor. I particularly like the sun-dried tomato or whole wheat tortillas with this recipe.
Easy Pinwheels
- 1 pkg flat bread or tortillas
- 8 oz whipped cream cheese
- 1 T Creamy Italian salad dressing
- 1 t dried parsley
- ½ t garlic powder
- 8 oz thinly sliced ham or turkey
- 6 oz thinly sliced Swiss cheese
- 1 large tomato, thinly sliced
- A handful of baby spinach leaves
In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, dressing and spices. Mix well. Spread cream cheese mixture in an even layer over flat bread. Layer lunchmeat, cheese, tomato and spinach on one end. Starting there, roll toward the opposite side. Cut into ½” to 1” slices. Enjoy!
Serves 6 as an appetizer.
Let me give you Rest!
In 2005 Keri Wyatt Kent released a book entitled Breathe: Creating Space for God in a Hectic Life. The subtitle is important there, because her emphasis is not on finding space for God, but creating it. The difference is intention. Spending time with God is not an accident; it’s not just a happening. If we want it to happen, we need to make it a priority. We must be purposeful.
Kent’s newest book Rest follows this same line of thinking, but takes it a step further. She encourages readers not only to create a space for God, but to rest in that space. She calls it Sabbath Simplicity. By setting sanely paced, God-centerd rhythms of work and rest we can renew our energy, boost our joy and heighten our impact on the people around us.
Sounds great – right? We’re all tired all the time. We all have too much to do and not enough hours in the day. How can we alleviate the hectic schedules of our lives? How can we find true rest, the kind that rejuvinates and actually makes us more effective?
This book expounds upon six aspects of Sabbath — WAIT! I know some of you are freaking out just a bit at the word “Sabbath.” We’re NOT talking about lists of activities we can and cannot do on a specific day of the week. We’re not even talking about which day of the week. That’s not the intention of this book. Rather, it’s about recognizing Jesus’ teachings of rest, understanding the examples He set for rest and Sabbath, and then seeing how we can emulate those practices in our lives. What benefits can we find from regularly practicing biblical rest patterns?
Now, this book expounds upon six aspects of Sabbath as a spiritual practice:
- Resting
- Reconnecting
- Revising
- Pausing
- Playing
- Praying
Reading through this book I was reminded that Sabbath is not about what you do or don’t do, but relationships. It’s an appointment to stop and know God, to remember who I am in light of who He is and all that He has given me. My identity is not found in what I do or what I wear or where I go. And while I spend all week working to keep a clean house, meet deadlines with writing or my kids or ministries at church, these are not what is most important to me. When I stop, when I rest, I discover what is most important to me.
Only when I remember these things can I truly evaluate how I’m doing. Yes, my kids are memorizing their verses, but are they capturing the meaning behind the rote words? Yes, I’m praying, but am I really communing with God? Yes, I’m busy, but am I effective? Am I fruitful? Yes, my life is abundant, but am I experiencing the joy and peace Christ intended for His disciples?
This book doesn’t set forth a lot of rules. To the contrary, it invites readers to freedom! To the joy of experiencing rest. Throughout the book you’ll find stories of different families and the various ways they celebrate Sabbath. These real-life examples challenge and encourage. It’s a great introspective book, one that I want you to read.
Let me give you Rest! I have a copy of the book I would like to give to you for FREE. You don’t even have to pay shipping. In the comments section below, simply tell me how you practice and teach rest OR why you need more rest. I’ll randomly select a winner on Sunday night (9PM EST), so be sure to enter before then.
A few of you frequently complain that you never win anything. If you’re one of those, just go to Amazon and buy the book via THIS LINK. It’s currently selling for $10.19 — 32% off the cover price! (This book is also available in Kindle format for recent converts.)
Learn more about the author at her site: www.KeriWyattKent.com.
Read author interviews and more reader thoughts when you visit other stops on the blog tour.
Experiencing Rest
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” — Matthew 11:29 (NASB)
Do you feel rested? I don’t know about your experiences, but being a Christian hasn’t given me less to do. To the contrary, I have just as much to do as my unbelieving neighbors and then some, thanks to church and ministries and personal Bible study and prayer times. I am not complaining! But I am seeking the rest Jesus promised. Have you found it? It seems everyone has too much to do, too little time and never enough rest.
The past Sunday was amazing. After a very busy VBS week, we just chilled. I didn’t do any laundry or housework. Rick and I both intentionally stayed off our computers. We played baseball in the driveway, read books, ordered take-out from Legal, built another cool GeoTrax city … it was an awesome day. A relaxing day. A restful day.
We don’t have days like that often enough. I’d wager you don’t either.
So here’s the question: how can we foster times like this in our lives?
Sunday felt to me like a mini vacation. When we think of vacation, we usually think of location. We get away from work and family and friends. We go to a beach or the mountains or some distant city. But this weekend we found all the peace of vacation right here at home. How? And how can I recreate that peace more often?
I don’t think it was related to what we were or were not doing. I mean, we play baseball with the kids all the time. We build a new train track every day. We read every day. Rather, I believe it was our focus, our intentionality of it. We purposefully did not think about our to-do lists. We chose rather to focus on our family and our God. We went to church and prayed together. We rested together, treasuring all the blessings God has given us right here.
Tomorrow I’m hosting a giveaway that deals with this very thing. How do we rejuvinate ourselves and our families on a regular basis? How can we tap into a sanely paced, God-focused life?
So what are your tips? How do you create peace at home?
(almost) Wordless Wednesday: Tree Climbing
Notice his feet about about 2 inches off the ground. He was SO proud!!
For more Wordless Wednesday, visit 5 Minutes for Mom.
