Traveling Together

Hello? Anyone Here?

2011-01-15T13:43:00.000-08:00

I was prompted to visit my blog today when a friend asked me to pray for her son who is serving in Afghanistan for the next year. If you've never noticed, there is a column on the right hand side of this page and I have a small section dedicated to those in the military that I remember in prayer. Please join me in praying for these individuals who are serving so that we can enjoy our freedom here in the U.S. Thank you.

Now that I've been a part of the Facebook world for three + years, I realize how immensely that has changed my blogging habits. It's so easy to go to Facebook and catch little glimpses into what my friends and family are doing. But I guess that's about it - little glimpses. As I look back over my blog post from the last four years, I notice that when I did share what was going on, it was a little more in depth than what I ever post on FB. I still try to keep up with a couple of blogs that are favorites of mine, and it's true that it takes more time to read what they post, but I also feel a better sense of connection with them because they've usually shared more in depth about a situation.

It seems like the more technology we have at our disposal, the more surface relationships have become. I can have access to almost 500 people's FB profiles, but do I respond to even half of their status updates/posts/pictures? No. Do we interact? No. There's simply no way I can comment on each post of each "friend," so although I might know what they are doing by their last post, I have no personal connection to what else happened in their day or how they are feeling.

I don't know if there is anyone who ever checks in here at my blog anymore, so perhaps if I take to posting now and again, no one will even know. Therefore, is it a good use of my time/focus/energy? I'm not sure. One thing I do know.......it gives me a much better journal of my life for me to look back on. I mean really........why would I ever want to look back at a facebook post that simply says, "It's been a good day; night all!" Down the road, I'll have no idea what I did that day or what the state of my family was or what I was thinking. And with all the things I DON'T remember these days, I need as much detail as possible if I'm to remember anything!

So, although I can't promise, I hope to post on here now and again. Do email me or let me know if you check in here; it's always good to know who's stopped by.

For now, I'll leave you (or simply myself) with this thought that is a good one for me:

Thoughts become things.......choose the good ones!

I Can't Be Frustrated After Reading This Email!

2010-10-06T21:10:00.000-07:00

I know that I am not posting AT ALL on this blog anymore. That doesn't mean that I don't have things that I want to share; it simply means that there is no time for me to sit down and produce half-way thoughtful posts. Facebook allows for quick updates, so that's where I find myself most of the time.

However, I received an email today that I thought I'd share. The back story? I ordered Dave a Road ID bracelet for his birthday. A Road ID bracelet lists his name and other important info (emergency phone numbers, etc) so that if he were to get hit by a car or pass out (God forbid) while biking or running, the emergency personnel would know who he is. Most runners don't carry their wallets with them (for obvious reasons), so if they are incapacitated in any way, emergency crews would have to list them as a "John Doe."

Anyway, long story not-s0-short, we gave Dave one for his birthday. I ordered it online, and the projected ship date was 10/6/10. Well, today I received the following email from the company. It made me laugh so much that I couldn't be frustrated with the fact that Dave's gift won't be shipped until 10/20/10 - a full two weeks later than the projected. :)

Here's the email -

Hello Gena:

Sometimes...we're not as smart as we think we are. Now, is one of those times. Allow me to explain:

When you placed your order on 09/21/2010, we told you that your items would ship on 10/6/10. Unfortunately, we are going miss this deadline. The delay is directly related to an inventory shortage. I know what you're thinking, "Don't you guys have systems and people in place to make sure this type of thing doesn't happen?" The answer to that question is "yes." But, we screwed up anyway.

Please trust that we are working hard, and doing everything we can, to get your order out the door as soon as possible. We now expect to ship your order on (hopefully before) 10/20 (2 weeks from today).

I know this is a significantly larger delay than you bargained for. I can't apologize enough.

Again, we are now quoting a 10/20 ship date...but we hope to be able to ship your order before then.

We pride ourselves on exceeding our customers' expectations. I know that we have failed in this instance. With egg on my face, I humbly apologize for the delay and hope that you can forgive us.

On a lighter note, we haven't fired our inventory manager. His job is secure and so is he. By secure, we mean that he's tied up in a broom closet, drinking leaky ceiling water.

Be safe out there; and let me know if you have any questions.

Cheers,

Edward Wimmer
Co-Owner
Road ID
800-345-6336
www.RoadID.com

www.MyRoadID.com

Entitlement VS Exposure

2010-09-09T08:59:00.000-07:00

Wow! It's been a while, hasn't it? I guess I post most of the day to day Larson happenings on Face Book now, but I've been re-thinking that lately. I don't think I have the courage to totally drop FB yet, but I'm working on it. Too much to keep up with, if you ask me (which you didn't; just thought I'd put in my two cents worth!).

I came across the following article today, and I just thought that is was really solid and sound information, and Oh. So. True. If you are married and have the time, please check it out. I really believe that every person considering marriage should be required to read this.

This comes from a blog called "Simple Marriage," and you might want to subscribe. Not every article relates to where I am specifically, but I haven't found any advice that I don't agree with at the site. So, please give yourself a couple of minutes to pop over to the Simple Marriage site, but if you don't have time, I've included the article below.

Entitlement Vs Exposure (Click link to go to this article on the Simple Marriage website.)

The Difference: Entitlement vs. Exposure

Written by Corey - 5 Comments

If you’ve read Simple Marriage for a while, you know that I believe marriage is design togrow us up.

Our growth is the result of the pressure this relationship puts on us. Pressure to both chart our own course in life and be our own person while at the same time pressure to connect with our partner and enjoy the benefits relationships offer.

Many people fall victim to believing marriage is about happiness.

That you will meet your soul mate, fall madly in love, have a romantic wedding then be swept off into a rose petal covered existence together for the rest of your life.

This Hollywood version of marriage is everywhere … in the movies.

Real life … a different story.

Marriage is not about happiness (although there are times of happiness within the relationship), it’s about growing up. And this all starts at the beginning of the relationship and the beliefs you bring into it.

There are two basic attitudes you could have going into a relationship:

An attitude of entitlement, or
An attitude of exposure.

Here’s the difference between the two.

An attitude of entitlement believes, “I choose you because you complete me, make me feel secure and good about myself and you make life better for me. I can expect you to meet my needs, take care of me, and make me feel better about myself than I do now. Being in relationship with you is the best thing for me because of what you provide for my life.”

An attitude of entitlement leads to an expectation of reciprocity, “I gave to you so now you owe me something in return.” Or, “I’ll tell you about me, but only if you tell me about you. If you don’t, I won’t either. But I want to, so you have to. I’ll go first and then you are obligated to disclose too: it is only fair. If I go first, you have to make me feel secure because I need to be able to trust you.”

There are many marriages that fall into this category. In these relationships, this attitude is actually a source of frustration, but they don’t realize that it’s this attitude that is causing the frustration. Instead, the spouse is blamed and seen as the cause of the marital issues.

An attitude of exposure says, “I choose you because my relationship with you is one that will expose my personality quirks, character defects and my immature ways of relating to others. This exposure is not the result of anything malicious by you, instead it’s the natural result of our committed relationship. And in this relationship I will have the opportunity to see myself in a light that I seldom do and/or have spent most of my life running from. But if I am willing to look at and address what our relationship exposes about me, I can grow up and mature into more love and passion than ever before.”

An attitude of exposure is not a natural response or view of relationships – BUT IT’S THE BEST WAY TO GROW UP!

Instead of seeing marriage as a place where you are completed, a person who is growing sees marriage as the one place that your incompletion is exposed.

The only other relationship that will expose your incompleteness to this degree is the one with your children.

So, what do you do with these two different attitudes?

First, you must own up to which attitude is yours. This takes some guts and some courage, but it’s worth it. Then second, you then confront life and marriage’s conflict in drastically different ways, depending on which attitude you choose.

If you’re driven by an attitude of entitlement, your main approach to conflict in marriage is: What is wrong with my spouse? And, What is it about my spouse that needs to change so I can experience relief and comfort? You can easily see how Nice Guys and Pleasers fall into this category.

On the other hand, if you go into a relationship with an attitude of exposure, you’ll approach issues and problems by asking: What is this situation exposing about me? And, In what ways do I need to change and grow in order to be able to more effectively love both my spouse AND myself?

Moving from one attitude to the other is a marker of growth. It is also the best way to begin to blow the roof off your marriage’s potential.

A Very Generous Father's Day Gift

2010-06-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

My husband received one of the most generous father's day gifts this year. It is a one-of-a-kind gift that took much love and sacrifice on the part of my daughter who gave it to him. Unless you know the background, you really can't appreciate what a gift this really is. Here's a picture of it:

And here's what it says:

"To David,

I am your loving daughter Kari. I have decided that the best thing I could give to you for Father's Day was a coupon. Now, you are probably wondering what the coupon is for. So, continue reading.

I hereby give David E. Larson permission to dance to the song Alejandro by Lady Gaga in front of me in public or in private 25 times. Each time you do it, I have to mark a number.

Signed,

Kari E. Larson 6/20/10

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25"

Don't kids come up with the best things ever?! This will make me smile for years to come, as will Dave's dancing. ;)

For the Love of All Things Beautiful

2010-06-14T12:04:00.001-07:00

Yes, I'm willing to use my blog to have another chance to win a giveaway taking place over at Remodelaholic! I love Lisa Leonard's designs and have entered giveaways before; maybe one of these days I'll just buy me something instead of waiting to win a contest! :) Lisa has a blog you might want to check out, also.

I'll let you know if I win! :)

End of the School Year Update!

2010-06-08T10:17:00.000-07:00

Well, it's officially summertime here at the Larson home. Yay! Can't tell you how good that feels! There were so many events and parties at the end of the school year, so the easiest way to catch up is to show you photos of the events. If you happen to be my friend on facebook, you've already seen these.

First of all, at Kari's 6th grade promotion, she was awarded the "Hope of America" award from the Kiwanas Club of Turlock. It is an award given to one sixth grade student who demonstrates leadership skills, academic accomplishment, good character, and civic responsibility. In this picture, her principal (far right) is announcing why Kari was chosen for this award.

Good sixth grade friends who will be headed to junior high together.

Only the best sixth grade teacher EVER!

And then of course, there was Peter's 8th grade promotion ceremony. It happened to be raining that day, but thankfully, the rain stopped right as the ceremony began and started again as soon as it was over. Couldn't have been timed better! Here he is walking in to the ceremony.

Pete and Grandma Larson

Proud Mama!

Proud Papa with the graduate.

Good buds!

And of course, the BIG graduation in our family was Eric's from high school. Here he is after he received his diploma (along with congratulatory hugs from our neighbor/board member and various faculty). Oh, yeah.

So proud of this child of mine! Love, love, LOVE him!

Eric with the Larson grandparents who both graduated from Turlock High. Yep, there's been three generations of Larsons who have graduated from THS. Grandma Larson even sang the alma mater along with the students and Grandpa Larson made sure to wear THS blue. :)

Grandpa Ed and Grandma Lynda were able to use two of the nine tickets Eric received to attend the graduation with us.

Couldn't have imagine 17 years ago that we'd be standing at a graduation ceremony with such a tall, handsome young man - so very proud of him. Looking forward to seeing him fulfill the Lord's purposes for his life as he continues to grow in Him.

Eric, you are a wonderful son and we couldn't be happier or more proud to call you our own! We pray that as you begin this next chapter of your life that you will seek the Lord with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and that you would follow Him and His ways. Listen to His voice directing you in the path He has for you. YOU are a gift to this world, and your adventure has only just begun.

We love you with everything we are, Dad and Mom

Whew!

2010-05-23T21:54:00.000-07:00

Let's see, events last week included: Senior Grad night for our son at The Refinery Youth Group, a job on Tuesday for me out of town, our youngest daughter's band performance, our oldest daughter's choral performance, providing part of a meal that our small group served to the homeless, a trip to the divisional finals in Sacramento for our son, a bridal shower for my cousin, a graduation party for our son at our home, baptism Sunday with approximately 35 people being baptized, and attending a grad party for the son of some friends. And this coming last week of school promises more of the same. Oh, it's all good stuff, but there's just SO MUCH good stuff!

Yeah, I'm tired.

And you know what happens when I get tired, really tired? I start to see things through melancholy eyes. I find it harder to handle things, and I'm a little harder on myself than I probably should be. I begin to feel that I am sliding down into depression.

I begin to look at so much of my life and think that I just can't keep up. I can't keep up with all the people that I should keep up with (family, friends, neighbors, church members). I can't keep on top of my kid's schedules. I can't keep up with my household and family responsibilities. I can't keep on top of my job. I often can't even keep up with my thoughts that are going in a hundred different directions.

Yes, it's that haunting "all or nothing" mentality that I struggle with. If I can't keep up with everything at the level with which I think I should, then I just begin to shut down. And right now? I'm in shutdown mode.

Why do I tell you that? I'm not really sure. Maybe it's because I often have people tell me that they don't know how I do it all. Maybe it's because I'm trying to justify why I'm not keeping up with stuff. Maybe it's for sympathy. Maybe it's because I want those who struggle with the same things to know that they are not alone. Whatever the reason, it feels risky sharing with the world that I'm struggling, even though I've vowed to try to live my life authentically with my Lord and with others.

So, tonight, I need to get to bed. I need some sleep, and then I need to spend some time in the peaceful and renewing presence of the Lord. I know that those two things will help me to regain my proper perspective and will revive me. He has promised that His strength is sufficient for me, so tonight I am grateful for that promise. HE will carry me, and that's exactly what I need.

Locks of Love

2010-05-17T13:38:00.001-07:00

I realize that I don't post much here anymore. Mainly, it's because more people see what I post on Facebook than ever stop by my good ol' blog. However, I know there are a few of you who aren't on Facebook (gasp!), so I'm posting some pictures of Kari and her donation to Locks of Love.

Before:

No turning back now!

J. did a great job with Kari's hair. She's my sons' favorite hairdresser, and now I think Kari's pretty happy with her, too!

Kari loves to climb on top of Grandpa's work truck. On this day, she decided she should make a bed for herself up there.

I love this short-haired girl!

You Matter!

2010-03-28T21:52:00.000-07:00

Do you know that you matter at New Life Christian Center?

That thought came to me today while I was thanking God for the good gift of His people that He's placed here at New Life - this family who seeks to glorify Him in all that we do. As we are gearing up for Servolution, I see so many of you stepping out to serve in radical ways. Today, as more and more people signed up, I just looked in wonder and thankfulness at the blessing of being a part of this family.

We all long to matter, to make a difference, to belong to something bigger than ourselves. Many of you who call New Life Christian Center your church home have come to an understanding of who Jesus Christ is for the first time after hearing of His love for you and discovering your need for Him as your savior. You chose to place Him on His rightful throne in your life. You chose to become a part of His family and this church because you realized that this was a place where you mattered and could make a difference. And some of you came to New Life because you moved into the area or had been previously disenchanted with what you saw in organized religion. You ventured in to this new family to see if maybe there really was "new life" to be had; if there really was a reason for you to be placed on this earth; if there really was a place where people not only said they believed in Jesus Christ, but they lived it out in radical ways.

You matter at New Life Christian Center because there is a mission that we are to fulfill here in this valley. If you have been called to be a part of this family at New Life, then you have a part in it. Thank you for choosing to live out your faith with us. Truly, I can't imagine being a part of a better group of Christ followers than those of you who call New Life Christian Center your home and your family. Dave and I are so blessed.

To all of you who serve in hundreds (wait, make that thousands) of ways here at New Life,

"THANK YOU!" Because of your love for Him and your willingness to live out your faith in the nitty-gritty of life, He is at work in mighty ways here and in this valley!

Why Truth is Beautiful - by Mary DeMuth

2010-03-15T11:33:00.000-07:00

Mary DeMuth is an author and her Inside Renewal monthly ezine contained this article that echoes what those of us at retreat caught a glimpse of. Number eleven specifically talks about taking off masks (the theme of this year's retreat). Even if you didn't attend the retreat, I think you'll benefit from what Mary shares. I agree whole-heartedly.

If you are interested in her blog, you can click HERE, and if you're interested in her website, you can click HERE. You might remember my blog posts about her book, Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture, (Post 1, Post 2, Post 3, Post 4)but she has also written many fiction books. You can check all that out at her blog.

Why Truth is Beautiful.

I've had a flood of reader mail, which has really blessed me. It occurred to me that honest, authentic writing changes folks. Truth, raw and redemptive, sets people free. Culled from my inbox, here are twenty reasons why Truth is beautiful:

When we tell the truth about our stories, others don't feel alone anymore.
When we share our foibles in light of God's truth, we realize we are small but God is big.
The beauty of redemption shines all the brighter on a dark canvas. (So saying it like it is doesn't negate God's intersection, it highlights it.)
Telling or writing the truth frees us and others from the people-pleasing trap.
When we share our stories, we give others the chance to grieve their own in an open way. Truth opens up emotions we once thought buried.
The truth, when written humbly, shines the light on people's sins in an invitational, grace-oriented way.
Truth helps us be accountable to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Truth obliterates the power of sin in my life when I share it.
Being an authentic communicator invites others into shared community.
Writing or telling the truth makes us real and it strips us of a performance-based Christianity.
Truth rips down masks (in the best possible way).
When we point to truth, we remember that Truth personified is Jesus.
When we speak the truth in love, we show a friend that we genuinely care. We're willing to risk a temporary lapse in relationship for the sake of our friend's better good and holiness.
Telling the truth is spiritual warfare. Since Satan is the father of lies and speaks lies as his native language, truth-telling renders him speechless.
Truth is refreshing.
Truth is contagious. When you share it, you invite others to follow you. You can start a revolution of disclosure.
People trust a truth teller.
If you're passionate about something, being truthful endears you to your audience. They trust what you're saying and are more apt to join you in your passion.
Telling the truth is safe. You don't have to worry about contradicting yourself or trying to remember who you told what to.
Being a truth teller helps you look yourself in the mirror and not be ashamed.

What about you? Why, in your opinion, is truth beautiful? (And why are lies destructive?)

My Other Blog

2010-03-13T15:34:00.000-08:00

Some of you might not know that I occasionally post on my other blog, Express Yourself with Uppercase Living. So, although it seems that I don't post often (well, that's actually true), I do post on both blogs. I just thought you might want to check it out. Also, you can become a FAN on my Uppercase Living Products and Projects page. I'd love to see you there!

I Wish........

2010-03-07T19:26:00.000-08:00

I found the following courtesy of "The Organizer Lady." I wish................my family had this memorized and lived this out! :) If you are blessed enough to have young children, start training them NOW! I know it seems hard, but believe me, it doesn't get easier when they are older!

In Our Family

In our family, we make our beds before we leave our room in the morning.
In our family, we put dishes into the dishwasher, not the sink.
In our family, we put what we need the next day by the front door the night before.
In our family, we don't drop our things when we come in the door. We take them and put them where they belong.
In our family, we put dirty clothes into the hamper as soon as we take them off.
In our family, we take responsibility for completing the chores assigned to us.
In our family, we don't complain about our responsibilities.
In our family, we always flush the toilet immediately.
In our family, we put up toys, games, tools, and stuff we are using immediately.
In our family, we don't leave things out just because we plan to get back to the project later.
In our family, we wash, dry, fold, and put up our clothes as one continuous job.
In our family, we make sure all trash goes into the trash basket.
In our family, we keep our closets and drawers neat.
In our family, we use the team concept. Each person does his part to support all.
In our family, we are willing to help others where necessary because we are a team.
In our family, we talk kindly to each other.
In our family, we think ahead to solve problems before they happen.
In our family, we pay attention to maintaining beauty.
In our family, we push our chairs up to the table when we leave.
In our family, we strive to complete projects and clean up expeditiously.
In our family, the person who uses the last sheet of toilet paper puts new roll on the roller.
In our family, we value each other and the contribution each makes.

Sometimes

2010-02-12T23:05:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, our world is rocked in a moment. Sometimes the wind is sucked right out of us. BUT.....I know that I know that I know......that God is with us even in these moments.

Being a pastor's wife, I get more than my fair share of times when I hear of an individual or family that has just experienced something earth-shattering. Life will be forever different from that moment on. I pray earnestly. My thoughts are focused on that person or family no matter what else I may be doing at that time. I start thinking of ways that I might be able to help; a meal, childcare, a hug, a prayer. Tonight, I find myself in one of those times. I must hold on to the promise that God has said He will never leave us or forsake us.

As I find myself in one of those "sometimes" moments tonight, I stumbled upon a blog that literally made me cry. Perhaps I am more prone to tears because this is a "sometimes" moment, but if you have a few minutes, I think you would appreciate this mother's raw and honest description of the birth of her precious daughter.

You can go HERE to read "Enjoying the Small Things" blog post.

**God, you who knows the beginning to the end, I thank you that you are in control, even when everything around us can seem so out of control. Amen.

Servolution 2010

2010-02-04T23:17:00.000-08:00

Wow! I can't believe that we are gearing up for our third annual Servolution which will take place on May 1, 2010! In case you missed the summary of last year's event, here's the video and some stats. You know you want to lead a team this year that makes a difference in our community for His Kingdom, so contact me to sign up as a team leader. You won't regret it; I promise.

Here are some results from Servolution 2009 in Turlock, CA.

1300+ volunteers
120+ projects
500 grocery baskets given away
117 people given health screening
300 people visited our resource fair
73 haircuts given
1800 hot dogs consumed
70 people gave blood in our blood drive, and
Approximately 15,000 man hours of work donated.

THAT is love in action!

You Can Still Wear Cute Shoes!

2010-01-19T21:41:00.000-08:00

I am looking forward to going through this new book (You Can Still Wear Cute Shoes and other Great Advice from an Unlikely Preacher's Wife) with our staff wives. It is written by Lisa McKay of "A Preacher's Wife" blog fame.

I am always quick to share what a blessing it is to be called together with my husband to serve as pastors, but there are some unique things about being pastors that one just can't understand unless you've been called to walk that road. That's why it's always good when the staff wives get together; we can be a safe place for one another and we can celebrate and commiserate together. I know this book will spur some great conversations among us!

If you are interested in giving this book to a pastor's wife that you know, you can go the LifeWay Website or Amazon.com to purchase it. You can also enter a pastor's wife you know to win a giveaway by visiting HERE.

Oh, and now that we staff wives have been given permission to wear cute shoes, we are open to shopping with you fashionistas out there who have undoubtedly seen the state of our foot apparel. :-)

Winter Formal

2010-01-17T22:01:00.000-08:00

THS Winter Formal

January 2010

Just thought I'd share a few photos from a fun night with a great group of kids.

First, Eric is ready and waiting, and therefore, subject to his Dad making him pose for a picture.

Sweet kids - Eric and Kerstyn

Putting on a wrist corsage is a rather easy thing to do.

Pinning on a boutonniere is not so easy. So, I pinned it on Eric's shirt..........

and then we just had Kerstyn pretend that she was pinning it on Eric's shirt. :)

That situation cracked them up!

Already having a fun (or should we say a "funny") time.

Great friends.

The whole gang!

After dinner out on the town, the group decided that they didn't want to arrive at the winter formal right on time, so it was our house for a little Apples to Apples - along with cookies and milk. Dessert is always necessary, right?

Good kids + some fancy clothes + dinner out + games + a fun formal = a great time.

Looking Back

2010-01-06T23:20:00.000-08:00

Can I just tell you how thankful I am for photographs? Really. I just downloaded a boatload of photos from my camera, and believe it or not, I had forgotten some of the events already! So, I thought I'd add a few pictures as a way of catching up here at the ol' blog. (Facebook has changed my blogging habits as I'm sure you've noticed. I just don't have time for EVERYTHING!)

Anyway, I'll start with some of those strange, random photos that showed up on my camera. I can usually figure out who took the picture based on what it is. Let's see how you do at guessing who was behind the lens.

Picture 1

Yes, I think Pete must have taken this shot. To be honest, there were about 90 photos of stop-motion photography. When I scan through the iPhotos quickly, I can see the action take place! It was pretty cool, but photo by photo, it's not so interesting and it sure takes up a lot of room in iPhoto!

Picture 2 - Can you guess who took this one?

Yes, I'm sure the girliness of this picture helped you figure out that it was taken by Kari. She had created this masterpiece after doing the dishes one evening. She's a little artist, anyway, so I guess it was just natural for her to find something to create out of the dishtowels. It was fun to find this on the camera. I love the suckers for the mouth, the bubble gum for the nose, and tootsie rolls for the eyes. :)

There were many other photos, too, but I'll spare you the randomness of them all. I then found photos of the Cousin Christmas Sleepover. The Tuesday before Christmas, we had all the cousins spend the night (well, one had to leave early because of her job; that's what happens when the kids start getting older), and we had a great time. Between myself and my two sisters, we have ten kiddos, and I happen to have the oldest two kids and the youngest two kids. My sisters were busy during those four years between Eric and Peter! :) They had six kids in four years! I guess that must seem ridiculous until you learn that my youngest sister had triplets. We are all so blessed! Anyway, I digress. Here's some photos of those crazy cousins.

The white elephant gift exchange was quite fun. The kids had to bring something that they already had around their house that they weren't using. Kari shows off her sunglasses.

I'm not sure which gift the kids are laughing about here.

My nephew received a lovely dishtowel that had a painted girl on it with a crocheted dress sewn on. This happened to be something we had (I can't imagine why I didn't use it!), and it was from Brazil. You know how crazy those Brazilians are! The funny thing is, when you lift up the crocheted dress, they had painted panties on the girl! Quite interesting (and funny if you are a teenage boy)!

And then, my niece received a grass skirt and maracas; you can never have too many maracas, you know!

The cousins had fun playing Apples to Apples.

Sssshhhhh.....don't tell anyone that two high school boys had fun coloring some fuzzy posters from the white elephant exchange.

The living room becomes one big bed with wall to wall cousins. My older two are getting more finicky though; they decided to sleep in their own beds. :)

Yes, it's hard to wake up the kids after they've been up having fun most of the night!

Yes, cousin sleepover provides fun times and great memories. I feel so blessed that our kids get to grow up together. I realize that not everyone has that luxury, and I don't take it for granted. I'll never regret the effort and HUGE amount of food it takes to have everyone over.

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

2009-12-25T22:42:00.000-08:00

Yes, I'm quoting from Clement Clarke Moore's The Night Before Christmas, but it seems to be about as much as I can muster after a wonderful Christmas filled with much family, love, and laughter.

I pray that each of you was able to experience His good gifts of love, peace, and new life this Christmas. Yes, every good and perfect gift is from above (James 1:17), and God gave us the perfect gift in His son, Jesus. His sole purpose in giving us this gift? That we might be redeemed and reconciled to Him, able to live with Him for eternity. That, my friends, is the extent of his love for us. May we each be able to grasp that truth of His love more fully in the coming year as we grow in our knowledge of God, and may our hearts be more completely His.

Much love and wishes for a Merry Christmas to you all!

Hmmmmm.......

2009-12-14T13:14:00.000-08:00

In this world where we are always wired, we're never where we are.

Just my thought this morning.

Thanksgiving Prayer

2009-11-26T13:17:00.000-08:00

I pray that each and every one of you has a thanksgiving filled with true knowledge of your blessings. We take so much for granted, don't we? Anyway, this prayer is from Donna Partow and I thought it so appropriate for me. Perhaps it is for you, too. Happy Thanksgiving from my heart to yours.

"Dear God,

I want to thank you for what you have already done. I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards. I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better. I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears. I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me behind my back. I am not going to wait until my financial situation or the economy improves. I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet. I am not going to wait until a different season in my life unfolds. I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief. I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed. I am thanking you right now.

I am thanking you because I am alive. I am thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties. I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles. I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better. I'm thanking you, Heavenly Father, because you haven't given up on me. You are good and you are good all the time.

Thank you for all the good you've done for me. Amen

Simple Moms

2009-11-19T23:21:00.000-08:00

One of the many websites that I love to check in with is Simple Moms. Today, they are having a great giveaway, so I thought I'd direct your attention that way.

I don't know if you've ever seen Lisa Leonard's jewelry, but........Oh. My. Lands! I've admired Lisa's work for a couple of years now, and entered other giveaways hoping to win one of her gorgeous personalized necklaces or bracelets. Trust me; once you see her things, you'll be hooked.

Anyway, I get an extra entry today for posting about this giveaway on my blog, so there you go! That's why I'm willing to share the giveaway with you all. Of course, the more people who enter, the lesser my odds of winning, but you'll love looking through her online store. Perhaps you can even do some Christmas shopping while you are there.

Have fun checking it out!

Consider This

2009-11-04T10:38:00.000-08:00

I don't have a lot to share today, but I heard a quote from a fellow in our small group last night that will simply not leave my brain. I think it's profound and we all decided that there is enough in this one statement that it could be a sermon. Our small group discussion time was awesome last night; I appreciate the honest sharing from each person.

Consider this:

"Forgiveness is giving up all hope of having had a different past."

Some of my thoughts about this quote:

I don't know that I would say "giving up all hope," but to me it means accepting that we cannot change the past or a decision no matter how much we would like to.
The "different past" could be my own decisions and sin, but it could also be the actions, words, and sin of another who hurt me. No matter how much I wish that person wouldn't have said this, done that, or hurt me in whatever way, it is what it is. I am doing myself no favor by holding on to unforgiveness - hoping for a different situation to have occurred.
As has been said, "Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person will die." It doesn't work that way, when we don't forgive, we are the one that whithers and dies.
Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is ourselves. I know there are things in my past that I would love to go back and do over (responded differently, chosen better, not done, etc...), but I need to give up all hope of having done something differently and choose to forgive myself. If I say I accept God's forgiveness after confessing and repenting of my sin, I am, in a sense, turning my back on His gift if I don't forgive myself.
I can't move forward in life unless I deal with areas of unforgiveness towards myself.
And concerning unforgiveness towards others: even if a person(s) doesn't ask for forgiveness or acknowledge how they have hurt or damaged me or a relationship, I can make a choice to release them from my desire for justice. It does me no good to spend my time and life hoping that they will own up to their part in a hurtful situation. If I choose to forgive, I give myself permission to move forward. I will allow God to deal with that individual or persons, and even if I don't see any movement on their part towards accepting their part in a situation, I can be free from obsessing on the fact that I was wronged/hurt/etc...
Forgiveness can sometimes be a process. We must make A CONSCIOUS CHOICE to forgive, and then when our emotions bring that situation back to mind with all those same, old feelings, we can CHOOSE AGAIN to forgive. We may have to do that many times at first, but as God allows us to experience His forgiveness immediately each and every time we need it, we can learn and move towards those times being farther and farther apart when those feeling rear their ugly heads.

Okay, forgiveness is a big, ol' subject, and I didn't start this post to address every issue regarding the topic, but I did want you to ponder my friend's statement:

"Forgiveness is giving up all hope of having had a different past."

Liberated from Fear

2009-10-30T23:36:00.000-07:00

As I was cleaning up my computer files the other day, I ran across my favorite quotes folder. Anytime I see or hear a quote that means something to me, I open my "Favorite Quotes" file and add that quote to the others. I've got an assortment of quotes saved - some are funny; some are thought-provoking; some are from famous people; some are from cartoon characters; some are worth sharing; some are not worth sharing. I ran across the following quote, and it spoke to me just as much as it did the first time I read it. Take some time to ponder this today.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

~ From A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson

Project Day

2009-10-30T22:11:00.000-07:00

Many of you know that I became a demonstrator with Uppercase Living almost two years ago. Never in a million years did I think that I'd be part of a direct-selling company, but I just loved all the possibilities that Uppercase Living makes possible. And I have an easy outlet for my creativity. Anyway, if you are interested in participating in my next Project Day, go to my Uppercase Living blog (glexpressions.blogspot.com) to see the projects available for this time. Contact me ASAP if you'd like to sign up!

Mish Mash Monday

2009-10-12T13:52:00.000-07:00

This quilt pattern is called, "Mish Mash," and I'm sure you can see why. It is a pieced work of various colors, prints, and sizes. Much like this quilt, today I'll share a mish mash of events and thoughts.

Yes, life still swirls all around us, but we've been blessed to be involved in some great stuff lately. First of all, our small group is AWESOME! It's a comfortable, talkative group, and guess what, we aren't the leaders and we get to just be Dave and Gena. Can't tell you how great that is!

Last Thursday night, I was able to spend the night at my mom and stepdad's home. I had a great time; it was just like staying at a bed and breakfast! I was spoiled.

Eric is in his final cross country season as a senior this year. This Wednesday is the THS/Pitman cross country meet at Donnelly Park. Cross Country has to be one of the easiest sports to watch. All of the parents and spectators set up their chairs around the finish line at Donnelly under the wonderful pine trees. We hear the gun go off by all of the runners lined up at the lakeside. We cheer as all the runners come through the finish corridor for mile one. We then visit amongst ourselves for another couple of minutes until the runners come through for mile two. We cheer again and watch them take off for the final mile. As they come in from mile three, we cheer them on one final time. I'm always amazed that these kids have so much left in them to sprint the last little bit of the course. Then we parents say our congratulations, pack up our chairs, and head home. A good half hour, and then we get on with our day. Yeah, easy.

I find that the most spiritually mature people I know are the ones who simply live out their faith without trying to judge others and without being spiritual snobs. We're all just sinners in need of His grace and love; no one has a corner on how a relationship with God has to look.

Kari is playing soccer again this year and Dave is the assistant coach, so we're having lots of fun with that. She's got a big, ole bruise on her knee today as a result of a kick during Saturday's game.

October is a busy month. Let's see.....Outdoor Ed for one child, Youth camping trip for two children, RIOT Jr. High night for another child, conference for Dave, Men's retreat, a very quick road trip to Portland, OR to meet our new niece and nephew, the Harvest Festival, six Uppercase Living open houses, soccer, small group, AWANA.......oh, and laundry. :-)

Blogging is good for some purposes, and not so good for other purposes. Today, I read these verses and think they apply to blogging, too: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths (blogs), but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (read). And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children, and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Eph 4:29-5:2

Yesterday, my mom and stepdad had all of their children and grandchildren to their place for lunch. Four were missing, but the other nineteen of us were there together. Yes, that's right; when we are all there, we number 23. My mom, single-handedly, prepared a wonderful lunch for all of us. She rocks. Really.

I love this fall weather, and it's supposed to rain tomorrow! I'll be a happy camper. :-)

Right now, I'm putting off cleaning my bedroom to write this post. Not a good choice, so I'll be going. What random, mish mash thoughts run through your mind this Monday? I'd love to hear. You can comment or email me to let me know.

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thes. 5:23

You Might Say, "Ouch!"

2009-10-05T09:17:00.000-07:00

I was directed to this video through an email that I received. Since you find yourself here at my blog (regardless of what brought you here - internet search, link from another blog, or simply checking in), you might want to watch this. You can check out Josh's blog HERE, if you haven't been convicted not to after seeing this video clip.

Late to Church

2009-10-04T09:53:00.000-07:00

Our family usually gets to church in three different vehicles at three different times on Sunday. Since I want my children to actually love the Lord and not hate church, I only make them attend two services most of the time. I usually have the three younger kids with me on Sunday mornings, and on the way to church, we listen worship CDs to prepare our hearts for worship. We often pray for the services and for our hearts to be open to what the Lord wants to speak to each one of us. Do you believe this? If so, please stop reading right now because you are about to be disillusioned! We're just like your family; sometimes by the time we get to church, we've had it with each other!

We are usually at church in time for service. I may not walk into service until after worship has started, but that's just because I love visiting and connecting with others so much that it's hard for me to get away to be in auditorium by the time the worship team starts playing. But then there are other times. Well, let's just say that we're a typical family, and people (read that - children) don't always cooperate like we think they should. This morning was one of those mornings.

Dave had taken my youngest with him, and Hannah was going by herself because she had to leave for Sacramento immediately after second service. So that left me with the two boys. I let them sleep until about 45 minutes before it was time to leave for church. After getting them up, amazingly, they were both "ready" in about 20 minutes. Since I was still putting myself together, they went to sit in the car. I am not kidding; they sat in the car, in the garage, with the garage door closed, for 20 minutes waiting for me. Once I had everything together, I headed out to the car, pleased that my boys were ready and waiting so patiently for me.

By this time, it was about 20 minutes before service was to start - plenty of time for us to get there. I put the car in reverse to back out of the garage, and as I did so, I looked over at my son and could tell he hadn't even washed his face. My mistake was assuming that "ready" meant the same thing to both of us. You'd think I'd have learned my lesson on this by now. So, I asked my son if he had washed his face, and he said, "Yes."

Now what was I supposed to do with that because it was clear to me that he hadn't? So, I said, "Are you telling me the truth?" to which he replied, "No." I think I was supposed to feel better about it because at least he owned up to it right away. So I told him I would not leave the house until his face was washed, and of course, he was angry with me because, as we all know, it was MY fault. Then, I looked back at my other son, and I could tell he hadn't even "done" his hair (whatever that really means for boys). Last night, I had told him he needed to take a shower before church since he wasn't taking one that night. Again, I assumed that he would obediently do that since I had specifically told him to do so JUST LAST NIGHT! He was also wearing a wrinkled t-shirt that was actually clean, but it had been wadded up when he put his clean clothes away in his drawer.

So, I put the car into park and told the boys that I wouldn't leave until they had both done everything it takes to be fully "ready" for church. I also did the typical mother thing and said, "At your ages, I should NOT have to ask you every stinkin' morning if you've washed your face (or brushed your teeth, or made your bed, or put on clean clothes - insert what you want here). So, now I have two boys who are angry with me because I am asking them to do what I consider to be NORMAL, EVERYDAY, GET-READY STUFF!

Both boys got out of the car (can't you just hear the car doors slamming?) and headed back into the house. They proceeded to tell me to go to church by myself and they would just stay home. Well, in my opinion, that would have been letting them off way too easily, so I told them that they WOULD go to church and that we'd leave whenever they were ready.

At this point, I was their favorite person in the whole, wide world! NOT! Anyway, we didn't even leave our house until 7 minutes after service had started, and it was a silent ride for the most part. Finally, we arrived at church and both boys exited the car, put their hands in their pockets, and walked off towards the youth room, with nary a "Goodbye," or even a shrug to me. Ah, the joys of parenting.

I gathered my Bible and purse and headed towards the auditorium not looking forward to having to walk in late. I realized, however, that there was an up side to arriving after the service had started; I got into auditorium much more quickly because there was no one to stop and have conversations with on the way in. :-)

Food for Thought

2009-10-01T15:14:00.000-07:00

Love is what we are born with. Fear is what we learn.

The spiritual journey is the unlearning of fear and prejudices

and the acceptance of love back in our hearts.

Love is the essential reality and our purpose on earth.

To be consciously aware of it,

to experience love in ourselves and others,

is the meaning of life. Meaning does not lie in things.

Meaning lies in us.

Marianne Williamson

Most Requested Recipe - Chicken Strips Marinade

2009-09-15T09:31:00.000-07:00

I am not one of the best cooks out there, but I do have a few dishes that always earn requests for my recipe. I just thought I 'd share one of those today.

A little background: I used to be in a food group that met once a month and did once-a- month cooking. It was GREAT! We did this for quite a few years, but somehow it fell by the wayside a couple of years ago, and I just haven't created a new group. There were usually five or six of us in the group (some months just didn't work out for everyone for one reason or another) and we would meet together with some tried and true recipes and create our menu for the month.

We would then divide the recipes between us so that we each had four main dishes that we would make. We each would go home, buy the ingredients for each main dish (times 5 or 6 depending on the number of members that month), and create 5 or 6 of each of the main dishes. So, if there were six of us in the group, I would go home and make four different main dishes, but I would make six of each one. Get it?

Anyway, after we had all created our four main dishes times 6, we would meet together and swap meals. This meant that we came home with 24 different main dishes! That would last us more than a month usually, and when we were running low, we'd get together to plan our menu again. We learned some tricks along the way; we deleted some recipes that just didn't work out; we came up with some new recipes that were great; and most importantly, we had fun doing it and helping one another out.

So................all that to say that this recipe comes from that group. It was one that we did EVERY month because EVERYONE liked it! (Now that was rare in a group that included six families representing thirty people!)

Be warned! This recipe makes enough for two families. You can cut this in half, or do what I do: use half for that evening's meal and then freeze chicken or turkey strips in the other half so that you have another meal ready to go down the road!

Chicken Strips Marinade (also works well for turkey and beef)

1 pint canola oil

1 C. lemon juice

1 pint soy sauce

3 Tbsp. sherry

3 cloves garlic

1/2 C. dried onions

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. ginger

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Pour over chicken or turkey strips and freeze in a ziploc. Defrost and grill.

Marinade can be cooked separately to serve over the grilled chicken. Serve with rice and vegetables.

Well, there you have it! My most requested recipe. Let me know what you think of it if you try it out.

Mish Mash Mondays

2009-09-14T08:51:00.000-07:00

Hello, again, Hello. (Isn't that a Barry Manilow song?)

My summer hiatus was just what I needed. To be honest, I still didn't connect with my kids as much as I would have liked, but we did have some fun time together on vacations and such. Even just days around home are good for us all now and again. Summers are always busier than I think they will/should be, however, and this summer was no different. Weddings, conferences, birthdays, vacations, sleepovers, work, appointment, movies nights..........yeah, the days just seem to slip away faster than I'd like them to.

Anywhoooo..........it's been a while since I've posted, but I only have one thought for Mish Mash Monday this week.

I wanted to share a new internet site that I've found. (In)courage.me launched a new site this summer, and I think we all can use a little more encouragement in our lives. I check in often to get a little encouragement boost. In fact, I added it to my RSS feed so that I always see new posts.

What encourages you? I think it's important to know the answer to that because then you can actively work at having those things in your life. And goodness knows, we all need encouragement, don't we?

What encourages me? Well, seeing my children love one another and do well in relationships with other people encourages me that perhaps, just perhaps, in spite of all my imperfect parenting, my kids are doing okay after all. I am also encouraged when I can fix something or organize something. (I'm weird, I know.) Notes and prayers from friends also encourage me greatly and mean so much to me. And......staying in God's Word and in prayer encourages me and give me the courage to be who He made me to be and to fulfill His purposes for me.

Just a thought this morning. Hope this finds you well.

Revelation Song by Kari Jobe

2009-07-24T00:50:00.001-07:00

The following video was shot at a concert for Gateway Worship with worship leader Kari Jobe, and I think if you take the time to listen, you can't help but have an encounter with the Holy Spirit. Sometimes you just need to hear a great worship song to get yourself back in the right frame of mind. :-) Enjoy!

Holy, Holy is He!

Summer Hiatus

2009-06-19T23:23:00.000-07:00

My Beautiful Children

In an attempt to actually interact with my children, I will be taking a break from posting for the summer. Unless something truly interesting happens (which, face it, 99.95% of my blog posts have not been about anything interesting), I won't be posting. I also will not be checking my email regularly; I plan to pick one day a week to check my emails (by then I'll have hundreds, but oh well). So.......if you would like to contact me, you'll have the old-fashioned choices of either picking up the phone to call me or (horror of horrors) writing me a letter and sending it snail mail.

As I step away, I will be in prayer regarding whether this blog is something that will continue. I was only doing this blog as a step of obedience to what I felt the Lord was calling me to do two years ago, but I know for certain that His plan for me was NOT to abandon my children as I became more and more addicted to checking my email and keeping up with blogs (both mine and others). As my children grow and go forth into their lives, they won't remember if I answered every last email or text, or if I kept up with posting or reading the many blogs I've come to enjoy, or if I always had some witty, little saying for my facebook status, or if I cared about twittering, blackberries, instant messaging, or online devotionals. But my children will remember if I took the time to play that game of Sorry, or to walk to the library, or to read out loud to them, or to visit family, or to swim, or to roast marshmallows, or to just sit down face to face with them and really, I mean REALLY, listen to them.

I am ashamed to say how long it's been since I've given myself to my kids. I meet needs (sometimes); I wash clothes and buy groceries; and I'm in the same house with them, but I am not WITH them. There is great value in being fully present in the here and now, and I'll be really honest and just tell you that that is a struggle for me and how my brain is wired. I don't care where I am or who I'm with, my brain is going a hundred miles an hour, thinking of anything and everything except just enjoying the current moment. Lack of engagement (disconnect) is also a part of my battle with depression. I am praying that the Lord will help me to be able to change and overcome this. I would covet your prayers regarding this issue.

I am the only mother that will be standing before God accounting for the training, parenting, and loving of the four precious children He has given me. I don't think I will hear "Well done," if I have neglected my husband and children because of my over-involvement with keeping up with emails and blogs. I am choosing to step out of the technology fast lane (well, with me and technology, it's more like stepping out of the right hand, slow lane on the freeway, but you get the point).

I am feeling such a sense of empowerment by making this choice, but I also wonder about those who may email me and not get a response right away. I do not have an "auto respond" with my email address, so I don't know how to let people know I'm not being rude, but that I'm only checking my emails once a week. I know that others have become accustomed to me checking my emails multiple times a day, but I just don't want to do that anymore. I think I have "Disconnect Anxiety," which is an actual disorder now, I guess. Click the link for a very interesting article that I just found when writing this post. I guess the pain of continuing to be chained to my email and computer is more than my worry and anxiety about hurting someone's feelings or missing something important.

So, my friend, I bid you goodbye for the summer. If you have children, please join me in evaluating the amount of time you spend being with your kids, but not WITH your kids.

Thanks for joining me in the journey for these last two years. I consider it an honor that you have given some of the measured moments of your life to traveling this path with me. I most earnestly pray blessings, peace, and health for you all.

In His name and for His glory,

Gena

Oh, and in case you think I'm overstating the case that my family needs me to be more attentive and involved with them, just take a look at this.

Yeah, I thought that would help you understand. :-)

Health Handbook - Good Thoughts

2009-06-19T20:06:00.000-07:00

Today I am posting something that I copied from a site on the internet a while ago. I had pasted it into a Word document, but for the life of me, I can't figure out the original source for it, so if someone knows, I'd be more than happy to give credit where credit is due. I googled several of the phrases, but never found the original site. Take a few minutes and read through the following list. What would our lives be like if we truly lived by these suggestions?

Health Handbook

HEALTH

1. Drink plenty of water.

2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a beggar.

3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food manufactured in plants.

4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

5. Make time to pray.

6. Play more games.

7. Read more books than you did in 2008.

8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

9. Sleep for 7-8 hours.

10. Take a 10-30 minutes’ walk every day. And while you walk, smile.

PERSONALITY

11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

13. Don't overdo. Keep your limits.

14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.

16. Dream more while you are awake.

17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.

20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you earn will last a life time.

23. Smile and laugh more.

24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

SOCIETY

25. Call your family often.

26. Each day give something good to others.

27. Forgive everyone for everything.

28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.

29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

30. What other people think of you is none of your business.

31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

LIFE

32. Do the right thing!

33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

34. GOD heals everything.

35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

37. The best is yet to come.

38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.

39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

40. Don’t just read this; apply it to your life!

Words of Life & Mish Mash Monday

2009-06-15T07:37:00.000-07:00

If you have the time, Beth Moore wrote devotional for Life Today, and it would be well worth your read. You can check it out HERE.
It was so exciting to hear about Jimmy Webb's cross country trek to raise money and awareness for Teen Challenge. You can check out his progress on his blog HERE. I love that he and Cindy have a quote of the day at the top of the posts.
Dave would love for me to use iCal (a computer calendar system that lets us sync our individual calendars), but it just means extra work for me. I take my regular calendar with me everywhere to be able to make appointments and so forth, and then he wants me to come home, get on the computer, open the program, and put all those events on iCal. And.....I usually have many more events on my calendar because I am coordinating my schedule along with all the kids events. I've tried, really, I have, but it's a constant struggle for me and I really don't like having my calendar only on my computer. I'm old fashioned, I know, but I like a hard copy that's easy to take with me. Coordinating our schedules and keeping one another informed of our various activities, meetings, and events has been a pretty constant struggle for us throughout our marriage. How are you all handling that?
Loving this weather! I guess the warm weather is on the way, though.
Missing my Hannie.
Praying that I can get my life more in alignment with Philippians 2:3-8. Dave spoke on these verses on Sunday. My "attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." Ouch. Wish I could say that was true of me all the time, but I'm asking God to help me grow in that area. How about you?
Happy Monday to you all.

Mish Mash Mondays

2009-06-01T15:19:00.000-07:00

Thoughts on this beautiful Monday:

My boys LOVE being out of school! Eric slept on the trampoline last night and Peter has a friend over; oh yeah, it's Summatime!
Dave and my older two are headed out to do some painting for a woman who needs some help; a sort of still-Servolution project.
Dave's message yesterday was totally what the title of my blog is all about. He even titled his message something similar, "Loud Together." He should have just called it, "Traveling Together." ;-) It would have been a great plug for my blog; not that anyone would know that though..........except for you who are reading this......but then you already know I have a blog; oh my, circular thinking at its best! :-)
Some thoughts from that message:

I am broken and flawed, and I need a Savior. Boy, how well I know this.
When we are grace receivers, we become grace givers. This is proven in relationships, and when we give grace, it leads to peace.
"Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God." Phil 1:3 - Totally how I feel about my New Life family!
God gives us confident hope. Thank you, Jesus!
God's given us the church (the body of believers) so that His love can overflow into our lives. His people are the distributers of His love in our lives to keep the fire going.
An ember pulled out of the fire, dies. An ember in the midst of the fire, revives. This is why we need one another.
We can only learn to dispense grace if it is actually needed in a relationship. If there is never a situation that requires grace from us, how on earth would we ever learn it? I don't think Dave said this, but it was something I wrote down on my note-taking sheet. You do that, you know, when you sit through multiple services. You begin to add your own notes as you build on what you've heard already once or twice that morning.
God has things to teach us that we can only learn through "the church," meaning other believers. (Wow! I had more notes written on my note-taking sheet than I thought! :-) It was good stuff, though, so I thought I'd share my take-aways.)

Servolution post event meeting is tonight. It's where we give and get the lowdown on how everything went. There's always tons that went right to celebrate and tons that didn't go quite-so-right to be re-evaluated.

That's it for this installment; until next time......

Post Servolution Videos

2009-05-26T16:27:00.000-07:00

In case you weren't able to be in church last Sunday, here are the post Servolution 2009 videos. If you weren't able to be a part of Servolution this year, be sure to join us next year as we again go out into our community to serve and to love. And.....you don't have to wait until next year to serve as a part of Servolution. Our prayer is that Servolution will become a way of life for us all. You also have the opportunity to serve the second Saturday of each month (sort of a mini-servolution) with people from the church; watch the bulletin for more information.

Some stats from this year:
1300+ volunteers
120+ projects
500 Food Baskets given away
300 people were given community resources
117 people went through our health screening
73 haircuts given
1800 hot dogs eaten
70 people gave blood at the blood drive and.....
Approximately 15,000 man hours of work was donated by those who joined the Servolution!

Now THAT is love in action!

Eric's Sectional Meet Photos

2009-05-24T23:49:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd post some pics of my son at the Sac/Joaquin Division 1 Sectional Meet. Eric has had a great season and did well at the sectional meet, but, alas, he didn't make it through to State Finals. The sectional meet was a great way to end the season, though, and he has a lot to look forward to next year as a senior. It should be fun.

Death is not Dying

2009-05-19T22:58:00.000-07:00

Today, on the Desiring God blog, I was directed to THIS AUDIO and THIS VIDEO by Rachel. I tried watching the video, but it wouldn't run smoothly, so I decided to listen to the audio. The audio is approximately 55 minutes long, but I'll tell you what, Rachel presents the gospel in the face of death in a way that is both beautiful and powerful.

After four and a half years of vigilantly fighting breast cancer, Rachel Barkey, a 37 year old wife and mother of two, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. But for Rachel, the essence of life is found in her relationship with God through Jesus. And that's why Rachel is convinced that death is not dying.

You will not be sorry for giving an hour of your time to listen to her speech. It reminds me in some ways of The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch because Rachel hopes that someday her children will watch the video to know what she believed in and lived for. She gave this talk at a women's event for her church, and I am sure each one left the evening with a changed perspective.

Please remember to pray for Rachel, as well as the many other people that I am sure, like me, you know who have cancer.

Mish Mash Mondays

2009-05-18T06:47:00.000-07:00

Time for another exciting edition of Mish Mash Mondays! (Humor me here, okay?) Lots of thoughts today:

I love me some baptisms! Seriously, I cry every time we have baptisms and yesterday was no different. Seeing the life change that God has begun in so many people encourages me to continue in my pursuit of Him. I love hearing the stories of those who come to be baptized; they get me every time!
I am hearing more and more about events that took place on Servolution. Yesterday at church, several people stopped me to say, "Did you hear.....?" and proceeded to fill me in on some great things that God did through Servolution.
After church, we were able to spend some time with Dave's family, including his aunt and uncle from Clovis, and his cousins who are here from back east. We had a lovely lunch and a relaxing time visiting.
It's HOT! It was so good to be able to jump in the pool last night to cool off.
Today's To Do's? Going to the bank, grocery shopping, laundry, writing a few notecards to people, and work for a job I am doing. It's gonna be a great day!

Birthday Brunch

2009-05-15T23:23:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, it was "Birthday Brunch" time with my mom and sisters. Twice a year we get together at Mimi's to celebrate two of our birthdays. In April, it was my two sister's birthdays, in case the presents in front of them didn't give that away! Aren't they beautiful? I am so proud of the two of them. They are great women, fantastic moms, and the best, most fun and loving sisters I could ask for.

At the restaurant, we almost always sit at the same table and can easily spend a couple of hours catching up with one another and sharing the latest news in each of our families. Between us there are ten children, so there's never a shortage of news to share. As you can see in the picture of me and my mom, there usually aren't too many people in the room where we sit, and that's probably a good thing because we girls can laugh rather loudly. (I'm sure you find that hard to believe!)

The birthday brunch tradition is one that I look forward to because it's just the four of us. We see each other at other times, of course, but usually it's with our husbands and children in tow, and although it's tons of fun, we don't often get time to visit with one another. Carving out some time alone with just the four of us is just what we need once in a while! These times take me back to when it was just the four of us in our home, and I find a great strength in the reconnection that takes place when we are together. Yes, I am blessed.

A Long Time Coming

2009-05-11T10:33:00.000-07:00

This post has needed to be written for a long time now. I’ve started it a couple of times, only to erase it all because I just couldn’t find the words to finish it. I’ve gone over and over what to say and how to say it, and I haven’t sensed any divine revelation, so I’m just going to wing it here.

You see, God has begun a mighty change in me and I find that for every step forward in faith, I take two steps back with fear and insecurity. I am embarrassed to write this post, to some degree, because I have to share a message that God has been trying to smack into me for quite some time. Okay, just being honest here, it’s been years that He’s been trying to break through to me in this area.

A couple of months ago, unbeknownst to me, a friend and fellow staff wife got a little bug up her sleeve to have a surprise for me at our Women’s Retreat. Many of you wrote wonderful and beautiful cards to me and, embarrassingly, gave of your hard earned money towards a gift for me – me of all people!

The last day of the retreat, my friend, Tricia, called me up to the front. I had no idea as to why she was calling me up there, and she proceeded to say some things that I can’t quite remember. (When I am standing in front of a group of grown ups, I usually have a sort of “out of body” experience because I am so embarrassed and insecure to be there).

The gift of the cards was such a sweet and unexpected surprise, and I was touched that so many women would make the time to write me a card. I was full to over-flowing with the love that I felt in the gift of those cards.

But then……Tricia proceeded to say something that my simple mind didn’t have a category for, and I didn’t even understand what she was saying at first. She told me that the women, along with their cards, had given money, towards a gift for me.

I simply cannot find the words to say how totally embarrassed I was that anyone would give in these difficult financial times towards a gift for me. I certainly haven’t “earned” it, I certainly don’t “deserve” it, and I certainly can’t believe it. I must have looked so silly in that moment because I truly did not understand what Tricia was trying to tell me.

Long story not so short, Tricia told me that there had been enough money to buy the club chairs that we had picked out when we had bought our sofa two years ago! I KNOW! What is up with that?

Well, after mumbling something (probably not at all intelligible), I headed back to my seat with the treasured box of cards in my hands. As I sat down, I was engulfed in the hugs of the two women sitting on either side of me, and in that moment…….something broke. I felt a love wash over me like a tidal wave and I “heard” the voice of the Lord speaking straight to the depths of my soul.

Now, there have been two times in my life that I clearly sensed God speaking straight to my heart in a way that was all but audible. In both of those times, I can tell you word-for-word what God spoke to my spirit because it was so vivid, real, and true. This time was no different; I remember word-for-word (it’s all but etched in my heart) what God said to me.

I’m a little hesitant to share what I heard because, well, I’m sure God speaks to you all in grand and eloquent ways, and me? Not so much.

Anyway, as I sat enveloped in the hugs of those two women and overwhelmed with the love that those cards represented, as clearly as anything, I heard these words, “Gena, it’s time to put your big girl panties on and step over all those danged insecurities you have hidden behind for so long.”

Yep. That’s it. That’s what I heard. To be fair, I also heard, “You can do all I’ve called you to do, and you can trust in this love.”

God gave me no grand discourse on His immutability, or why He sent his son, Jesus Christ, as propitiation for my sin, or His transcendent nature. Nope. None of that; just “Put your big girl panties on.”

I don’t mean to be flippant at all about the reality of the Lord speaking to me. I really don’t, but I simply can’t rephrase what I heard because that’s what I heard.

And you know how God has to say some things over and over for us to get it? Well, believe it or not, I recently attended a one-day conference with two speakers, and both, BOTH, women used that exact same phrase at one point during the day in their talks. I mean, what are the odds of that?

Well, those words have come back to me over and over again since the retreat and I continue to pray that I can truly accept what He told me. I desire to stay on the other side of my “danged” insecurities that I all to often willingly and fearfully hide behind. I want to trust in the love of those God has so graciously and wonderfully placed in my life. And, I want to feel free to release the deep, honest-to-goodness love that I have for others in our church.

Anyway, as I came home from the retreat to read all of those sweet and heartfelt cards, I was again amazed at the gifts God has given me in the women of our church. I will always keep that box of cards, and I will reread them every so often (especially on days when I wonder if I can do anything right!). I don’t deserve the love that was expressed in those cards, but you all gave it anyway. Do you even know how humbling that is?

And on top of that most precious gift, you all gave me some chairs. CHAIRS! I couldn’t believe it, and guess what? They are here! You all need to come over to see them and rest your little hienies in them! I like them just as much as I did two years ago; they match our sofa so well! And when I sit in them, I am amazed at the gift of love that they represent to me.

Yes, it took me until the chairs got here to post this because I’ve been embarrassed at your overly gracious and generous gift. I mean, how do you accept something like that? And yet, I am afraid that my inability to say thank you earlier might have been seen as being ungrateful. That wasn’t it at all! In fact, it was just the opposite; I was so grateful for the undeserved gift that I found it hard to accept. Why you all would bless me that way, I don’t know, but I want to let you know how very much I appreciate the gift and the love in which it was given.

So there you have it, a long overdue and heartfelt THANK YOU to you all who have dared to love me and bless me. I can only pray that I will be faithful with those gifts and that I will turn around and pour those gifts out to others. I love you and thank you with all that I am.

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T23:10:00.000-07:00

My youngest daughter made this for me for Mother's Day, and this morning I was treated to breakfast prepared by my two youngest ones. Yeah, I'm blessed.

On Mother's Day, my heart is also with those women who are trying so hard to have a baby or who are unable to have a baby. I know that many of them stay home from church on Mother's Day, and I don't blame them because it can be so painful. There are also those who have lost their moms or grandmothers, and this day brings grief and heartache. Although most of us think of Mother's day as a positive thing, please remember and be sensitive to those who have a hard time with this day. They don't wish to have us not celebrate, but it means so much when their feelings are considered and validated.

Next posts? "A Long Time Coming" and "Servolution Snapshots."

Are You Ready for a Servolution?

2009-05-07T23:29:00.001-07:00

Yes, I'm ready for Servolution, and can't wait to see you all there on Saturday, May 9! I am blown away by the hearts of the people at New Life, and I continue to pray that God will be glorified through our efforts and love for those in our communities. It's gonna be good, ya'll! :-)

Also, just wanted to make you aware of the FREE E-waste and appliance disposal available on Saturday. You can simply drive to Auto Plaza Drive (off of Fulkerth, west of highway 99), and drop off your appliance.

There is so much going on that I couldn't even begin to list it all, but we'll look back and say, "Wow!" I'm sure.

Why don't you join us?

Women's Conference

2009-04-23T07:42:00.001-07:00

I went to a conference yesterday with a friend of mine. It was the "Gifted to Lead" conference and the two speakers, Nancy Beach and Nancy Ortberg, are women I highly respect and love listening to. When I saw that they were the speakers, I signed up right away!

One great surprise was seeing our retreat speaker, Kathi Lipp, there. We had a great little visit, and I thought I'd share with you her thoughts about the conference (since it makes this blog easier for me! :-)

Quoted from her one of Kathi's emails:

The 8 Best Things I Heard at the Women in Leadership Conference

Posted: 22 Apr 2009 11:17 PM PDT

Today I spent a very long, but good day listening to Nancy Beach and Nancy Ortberg discussing the topic of women in leadership in the church. (And I know that many of you were there as well, as we had deep, deep discussions re: Steam Punk.)

I loved the day – not just because the two Nancys are so right on, but I got to spend some quality time with Jane Liddle (the Worship leader for one of Menlo Park Prez’s campus churches, and the leader of Tapestry – the rockin’ chick band) and Debbie McDonald, a cool chick pastor from Westgate church in San Jose.

Oh, women in leadership… I so wish that you all could have been there not only to listen to these two ladies who have been-there-done-that in the church, but to be in a room with maybe 300 women who love God and love to lead.

For those of you who were not able to be there – here is a list of the eight best things I heard at the conference.

Help! I am a leader trapped in a woman’s body.
Nobody ever calls little boys bossy.
We need to learn to wait well. (Note from Gena: Nancy O. quoted from one of my all time favorite authors, Sue Monk Kidd, and her book, When the Heart Waits. See, I knew I loved Nancy Ortberg!)
John Ortberg Re: Women serving in the church: “It is not an option for 50% of God’s kingdom to be sitting on the sidelines.”
Leaders need to be the most self-aware people in the room.
We want to keep making mistakes, just different ones.
Almost every issue is a team issue.
You don’t get the right answers unless you ask the right questions.

24 Years & Mish Mash Monday on Tuesday

2009-04-21T23:11:00.000-07:00

Well, 24 years ago today, I found myself in the middle of a beautiful meadow in Yosemite with Dave kneeling before me asking me to marry him! I'm sure you can figure out that I said, "Yes!" (I don't regret it, either!)

So, today Dave brought me flowers and a card. (Aaaawwwww.......) So sweet. I also did something for him today in the way of thanking him for taking such a big risk in asking me to be his wife 24 years ago! The poor man had no idea what he was getting into! :-) They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, so I baked a berry pie and bought vanilla ice cream to go with it. Notice I said, "baked," not "made!" The pie was actually made by the fabulous women of Mitchell Community Church who sell them to raise money for their missionaries. I buy the pies by the dozen when they sell them; I kid you not! They've got some great cooks out there at Mitchell, and a friend of mine who attends there always lets me know when the pie sale is coming up so that I can place my order. Is that cheating? Don't answer that; I don't want to know. Our little system is working for me, and I don't want to mess that up!

I didn't get a chance to write Mish Mash Monday's post because I was too busy hanging out at Me N' Ed's Pizza last night for the big Servolution fund raiser they were doing for us. I can't believe how busy it was! You New Lifers really like your pizza! Actually, you New Lifers really love to step in and help, and I had no doubt that we would pack the place out and we did. In light of all Me N' Ed's is doing to help with Servolution, please make sure to stop by and support them and let them know how much we appreciate their help and generosity.

We weren't at church on Sunday because we headed over to The Red House. We were able to relax for a couple of days, but on Sunday, Dave would keep us updated on what was happening at New Life. At 8:45, he told us, "They're in the middle of worship right now." At 10:00 AM, he said, "Second service is just starting." At 12:45, he reminded us that, "They should be wrapping up right about now." Even when we're away to catch our breath and relax a little bit, his heart is right there with you all. We always miss being at church, and it will be good to get back next week.

Mish Mash Mondays

2009-04-13T21:24:00.000-07:00

Let's see:

All four Easter services I attended were great! Love, love, LOVE the song, "Oh, Happy Day," and by attending the four services in the sanctuary, I got to sing it eight times - at the beginning and end of each service!
Do you know how absolutely amazing our Children's Ministries Director (Miss Kourtney) and our Nursery Coordinator (Miss Janelle) are? You cannot believe the number of kids they provided loving care for, not to mention the great Bible lesson and sweet take-away crafts. Kourtney and Janelle, you guys (gals!) are the BEST!
I read an article for pastors today asking if we had "Easter hangover," meaning the crash that comes after such a big Sunday. I think any pastor would have to say a big, "YES!" to that one.
Yesterday, at my sister's house, we had to hide 250 eggs! After a while, there were absolutely no more hiding places, so we just tossed the eggs around on the lawn and placed them on the sidewalks. Quite a challenge for the kids! :-) Each of the ten kids were able to pick up 25 eggs filled with all assortment of candy and coins. And then, the bartering began! "I'll trade you one Sour Patch Kids for a Skittles." "I'll give you a KitKat for a gummy LifeSavor." I could definitely tell the kids are getting older; this is the first year I witnessed so much trading and bargaining over the candy.
I was able to have coffee with one group of friends and then brunch with another friend today. I am blessed.
Dave and I went to Costco together to purchase the supplies for our Staff Appreciation BBQ tomorrow. Each year, on the Tuesday after Easter, we plan something to let the staff and their families know how much we appreciate the extra hours and work that they put in for Easter services. We'll have a great time together!
Met an old college friend this evening for a walk at the university campus. We were able to catch up on quite a bit; I don't even want to tell you how many years ago it was that I was in college! Ouch.

Well, that's it for this Monday evening. I hope your Easter weekend was as wonderful as mine was.

Resurrection Day!

2009-04-12T01:14:00.000-07:00

I have a hard time comprehending the sacrifice Jesus made for my sin, and there are no words to describe my gratefulness for it. To think that the power that raised him from the dead is available to me today is amazing. Happy, glorious Easter to all of us who long to follow after the risen Christ with our whole hearts.

We will be spending Easter at my sister's house after the three morning services. Dave will be wiped out, but the kids will have so much fun with all of their cousins. I thought I had been given the easiest of items to bring to her house for our meal, but the dessert that I was to make really threw me for a loop. This dessert has an initial layer that needs to be baked for exactly (as the recipe stipulates) 8 minutes at 400 degrees. Easy, right? Well, I put the dish in the oven, and then proceeded to set the timer for 20 minutes. Why? I guess it's because the one recipe that I make all the time, my grandma's Texas cake, needs to bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, so when I saw that recipe said 400 degrees, I went on auto-pilot and set the timer for 20 minutes, and as a result, the crust was charred!

No biggie, though; I would just make another one. That would have worked well, but I was being so efficient, that after I put the second batch in the oven (and setting the timer for eight minutes), I looked at the next recipe I needed to start on and realized that I needed something from the store so I thought I'd just run to get the last few items I needed. I didn't even think about the dessert crust I had just put in the oven! So, I ran off to the store, picked up my few items, and then came back home to the smell of another burnt crust! I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT! That's what I get for trying to do a couple of things at the same time and not paying attention!

My kids got their Easter baskets on Saturday morning. It's a tradition we started long ago for our family. "Why on earth would you give your kids their Easter baskets the day before Easter?" you might wonder. Well, on Easter mornings, Dave is up and out of the house even earlier than usual (Easter being a big day in his line of work and all), so we aren't able to be together when the kids get up. Long ago, we decided that the Easter bunny (oh, lighten up!) would come to our house on the Saturday before Easter so that we could have a fun morning together as a family. It works great for us!

I appreciate all the extra work everyone (and I mean everyone!) put in to help make our Easter services flow so well and our campus look so great! The fact that so many people love Jesus and are willing to do whatever it takes to point others to Him is a HUGE blessing! I LOVE MY NEW LIFE FAMILY! You guys are the best!

Mish Mash Mondays

2009-04-06T23:21:00.000-07:00

The weeks just fly by, don't they?

I love Monday mornings because I always get together with some friends for coffee after we drop our kids off at school and talk about all sorts of things. It's a great way to start the week, and it's great to have those few minutes to connect, because, Lord knows, our week will only get crazier from there! Our youngest children were all off-track last month so we didn't meet, but I was blessed enough to meet with four other gals at my house. Good times.

Tonight was our staff wives' get-together; always a good time! We met at Mundo's and enjoyed a lovely dinner out on the patio; the weather was gorgeous! We then came back to my house to continue our visit and shared some great laughs. I love those women!

Yesterday, Dave spoke about two processions of people ("Walking Towards Life" from Luke, chapter 7) - one group was a funeral procession with a dead body, grief, and hopelessness, and another group heading towards them with eager anticipation of what would happen next because Jesus was leading the way. Jesus brought the boy back to life! Dave then said something I had never considered before; Jesus never conducted a funeral (that we have record of in scripture); he just eliminated the need for one. Good insight for me to consider. Point being, Jesus is calling us to come to life! He is walking towards us, ready to bring us to life if we will get close to him, listen to him, and believe in him. You can listen to Dave's message HERE.

The band played the "Dirty" Servolution theme song; great job! Servolution is just 32 days away! Have you signed up yet? Also, if you know of a project to recommend, you can fill out a "Job Request Form" to let us know. Remember, we want to do projects that actually meet a real need for someone in our community. Get your neighbors, friends, and family involved. This event is being organized by New Life, but everyone, everywhere is encouraged to sign up whether they attend here or not. Many people are just looking for an opportunity to make a difference, and we are providing an easy avenue for them to step out to serve. There are so many great needs in Turlock and the surrounding communities that all are needed and welcome to participate.

Okay, I think that's it for this Mish Mash Monday. It's just a little sampling of some of the things rumbling about in this head of mine! :-) Have a great week!

Mish Mash Mondays

2009-03-30T15:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I was able to be at all three church services, and it was a great day. I always come home from church with notes written all over my bulletin. Now, you might think all the notes are inspiration I receive from the messages that Dave shares (and many of them are), but so many of the notes are about people that I met, people that I want to write a note to, people and things that I want to pray for, people I see serving so willingly and cheerfully, or questions that people have asked me that I need to find answers to. In fact, I usually come home with such extensive lists that there is no way I could realistically contact and take care of all the things I write down. So, I thought I might start the week with a mish mash of notes and ideas from my Sunday bulletin notes, hence the name, Mish Mash Mondays.

At all three services yesterday, my friend, Robin, shared about her new non-profit ministry called The Power of Seven. If you missed it, please click on the link to learn more. Their mission is to assist those who are homeless or at risk of being homeless with essential needs: housing (rental) costs, transportation expenses, and daily necessities (food, clothing, and the like) so that these individuals may get on their feet as they move toward independence. What a great idea and organization! Please consider signing up to be a monthly donor. Come on; you have $7.00 dollars a month to help out, don't you?

I LOVE the new set design and thank God for Pastor Jon's artistic talents that he so willingly shares with us all. Aren't we blessed?

I just love Frank and Chris who are leading the FPU (Financial Peace University) class from 3:00 - 5:00 in the afternoon. They are absolutely so excited to see what is happening in people's finances as they learn to operate in accordance to God's principles.

I appreciated Dave's strong words to students and parents. Yes, we all need to "wake up!" God is already at work and longing to work in even greater ways through us when we are willing to rouse ourselves from our slumber. You can go HERE to listen to the message.

No, the cut on Dave's head is NOT from me! :-) That happened in a much more mundane manner than being hit by a hockey puck; he had been outside, bending over to pick up bush trimmings, and he came up under the end of a railing and scratched out a big hunk of skin from his head. "That's the reason you should wear a hat," I told him. Am I the sympathetic wife or what? :-)

Okay, that's it for the first ever Mish Mash Mondays, but I'll probably be sharing more on consequent Mondays, so come on back to see my take on Sundays.

2009-03-26T21:17:00.000-07:00

Hey, you all need to go to the Servolution website and sign up to work alongside of us on May 9, 2009. Seriously, it's not just hype; you won't be sorry you signed up. God is on the move and you don't want to miss it, do you?

Now, on to the reason for this post. I joined Kimba at A Soft Place to Land and will be "unplugged" tomorrow. That doesn't seem like such a big deal, does it? Believe it or not, however, my anxiety level is starting to rise in anticipation of not being able to be on the computer tomorrow. Isn't that the biggest sign that I need to take a break?

I find myself hurrying tonight to take care of some of my business items, to respond to my emails, and to respond to those who've posted on my Facebook profile. I mean, what if someone emails me and doesn't get an immediate reply? What if someone asks to be my "friend" on facebook and I don't "accept" them? Will they think I don't want to accept them? And what if I there is a problem with a business order and I'm not online to get the message?

I think I need to realize that the world will go on just fine if I am not checking on it through the portal of my computer screen. The order that I wanted to get finished before unplugging will have to wait until Saturday to be completed. The emails will wait until I log on this weekend. Facebook DOES NOT need me! The one bright side is that I post so infrequently on this blog that there will be no problem not getting on here tomorrow.

You know what's funny? There are many days that I just don't get to the computer until late in the day if at all, and yet I don't feel the same anxiety that I find myself feeling this evening. I think just knowing that I CAN'T get on the computer is causing my anxious feelings.

This is ridiculous! I am taking a stand! So, goodbye until next time, whenever that may be.

I Really Need to Do This!

2009-03-20T00:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm keeping it real here. I've got a problem; I really do. I am on the computer - A LOT! I don't even consider myself a tech person, but with two side businesses and emails (business and personal), I am on the computer more often than I'd like. And don't even mention the wonderful(?) world of Facebook! Sometimes I start getting anxious as I'm on the computer because I know it's time to get off, but there's always one more person to respond to, one more order to enter, one more client to contact, one more person to reach out to through an email. And I thought technology was supposed to make our lives easier and more relaxing! Well, if that's the case, then I've missed the boat!

So, when I read Kimba's challenge, I decided I should jump on board. It seems that I'm not the only person with this problem, and I think Kimba's idea is a great start for putting all things technology in their proper place. I should control the technology in my life, not having technology take control of me. Right? Right!

So, you can see the challenge for yourself by clicking the button below. Let me know if you would like to join us. Perhaps I need to declare a one day sabbath from technology each week. Lord knows that would give me some rest! :-)

Bloggie Awards

2009-03-17T09:14:00.001-07:00

I knew I was in on something. Really. I've been reading The Pioneer Woman's blog, Confessions of a Pioneer Woman, for a couple of years now, and it seems that this particular blog has been a favorite of many others, as well. In fact, this blog just won the coveted WEBLOG OF THE YEAR award, and she was in a category with of some of the biggest names in the bloggy world! Good for her!

But, Ree Drummond didn't just win the granddaddy of all the Bloggie awards, she also won the award for best photography with her Pioneer Woman Photography blog. If you are in to taking pictures, you need to check her blog out because it's so informative and educational.

And, on top of all that, The Pioneer Woman won the award for best design! All in all, I'd say she had a very successful night, but she took it all in true pioneer spirit with humor and humility (well, the pioneers probably didn't find their life too amusing for the most part so perhaps the humor thing doesn't quite fit, but I digress).

One of my favorite parts of the Pioneer Woman's web page is The Pioneer Woman Cooks! She shares great recipes and step by step pictures and instructions, so you should check it out during all the free time that you have. (I know; I know; I don't have much free time either, but Ree's blog is one that I make time for; in fact, it is sent to my inbox everyday so that I am sure never to miss an entry.)

I just wanted to share my happiness in Ree's success. :-) But if you'd like a list of all blogs nominated, go HERE. Some of them are really great, so you might want to check them out. (Amazingly, my blog didn't make it on to any list! How can that be?)

For an article on all last night's winners, including some information on Ree, go HERE.

Happy Blog-Hunting!

Sometimes You've Just Got to Laugh!

2009-03-16T16:16:00.000-07:00

I have permission from Dave's sister and brother-in-law to share this hilarious video of my nephew, Hugo, observing his mom's great juggling skills. Enjoy!

What Are Your Kids Up To?

2009-03-10T18:29:00.000-07:00

I'd like to say that I'm always aware of what my kids are doing, seeing, and hearing, but truth be told, that's an impossibility in this day and age. With the continual advancement in technology, it is getting harder and harder for parents to oversee who their children are talking, texting, emailing, facebooking, myspacing, and instant messaging to. As if parenting weren't already the most difficult job, we parents now have to find time to check our child's My Space, their phones, their ipods, their email, their web history, and so on. I'm sure I'm missing things even in that list, but what is a parent to do? There simply are not enough hours in the day for us to keep on top of all those avenues.

I have read Vicki Courtney's Logged on and Tuned Out book, and it was a wonderful resource that I highly recommend, but even if I could keep up with all of these technologies and what my child is doing with them, I cannot patrol each of their friends phones and computers. What is downloaded onto ipods and shown during break and lunch at junior highs and high schools would appall most people if they knew about it. What once could only be obtained through sneaky store expeditions and dark alleys is now being poured right into our home and lives.

Even if I keep an eye on where my children are physically (which I do), they are at risk of being in danger because of the technology today that is present even in my own home. I can install filters, I can monitor computer use, I can check phone records and texts, and I can log onto their myspace page using their passwords, and I could still miss what's really going on. Face it, our kids can hide just about anything from us if they want to and they are intelligent enough to just create other profiles, email accounts, etc.... if they want to keep things from us. I know that, but I still ask and check.

I find this extremely disturbing, and I am genuinely concerned for my children. In truth, I wonder how any child today can remain pure in thought and deed. Most of our children will know more about pornography, sexual acts and fantasies, illicit drug use, and gambling by the time they graduate from school than most of us probably know right now.

I don't intend to be all doom and gloom, but my heart is aching over what is infiltrating our children's minds, hearts, and lives. The video below is worth taking the time to watch if you have children, and it is probably something you should have your older children watch with you. Children and teenagers often don't have the mental reasoning skills to understand how some of the choices they make today may have long lasting impacts on their lives. The photos they posted on their myspace could keep them from getting a job someday. That provocative photo sent to a friend as a joke could be sent to every student's phone by lunch break.

A huge problem right now is cyber-bullying. This was a heartbreaking issue for some friends of ours, and we saw first hand the damage it can do. If you thought kids could be ruthless with their words in person, you should read what they are able to come up with and perpetuate via technology. Absolute lies are spread around (and you can bet they are not little, nice white lies either), and photos that may not even by your child can be photo-shopped to look like your child engaged in various positions and acts. How very sad is that? This is a very real problem, and if you don't think so, just start asking some students about it.

Below is a video worth taking the time to watch. Something that seemed so little, so inconsequential, and so private ended up becoming very public and costing a beautiful young girl her life. I am heartbroken, and I hope you will continually lift our young people up before the Lord in prayer. If possible, befriend our youth and take an interest in them. Recognize their value and speak that to them. Provide a safe place for them to turn to in time of crisis or fear. Our young people need us to stand in the gap for them, to protect them, and to fight for their right to be raised without fear and filth.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Time Out

2009-03-07T11:51:00.001-08:00

I don't usually talk much about Dave's sermons because that seems a little self-indulgent and prideful, but I have to recommend that you listen to THIS MESSAGE. One of the things about having a pastor as a husband is that I often think that my husband takes everything he'd like to say to me and turns it into a sermon, just for me! See, on Sundays, Dave isn't speaking with you in mind, you just get to benefit from what I need to be learning in life! ;-) This isn't true, of course, but God does speak to me through what Dave teaches, and I need that.

Anyway, I was gone last weekend at the women's retreat (which was fabulous - thank you retreat team!), so I missed his sermon, but I knew it was one that I HAD to listen to. I think it is sad that so many of us women missed this particular message because it's a good one! Please take a few minutes to listen to THIS (titled "Time Out"), and take Dave's challenge to try this concept out for the next four weeks to see what happens.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Speechless

2009-03-04T14:17:00.000-08:00

I still have no words after our women's retreat. God spoke so greatly to my heart (in ways that I didn't even expect) and although it's been two days since we arrived home, I still haven't totally processed all that happened in and through all of us who were there. All I know is that God is on the move, and we've only just begun to see the freedom and victory that is in store as we step out from fear to faith!

And the unexpected and absolutely overwhelming gift and cards from all of the women there and in our church also leaves me speechless. I was so confused and then so utterly swallowed in your love that I will never forget that moment. As I went back to my seat to sit down, I was enveloped in the hugs of the two women sitting on either side of me, and all I can say is that, "Something broke" in me and God said some very specific words to my heart. I don't feel free to share those thoughts on this blog yet, but let's just say, a message from God broke through all of my barriers in that moment! There were tears. The good kind.

Upon arriving home, I spent hours reading the cards and then had to take some time to journal the feelings and thoughts swirling in my head and heart. I am still feeling the love, ladies! :-) I have always said how blessed we are to be called to serve at New Life. Yep! I still feel that way.

YOU are all blessings to me and I can only pray that I will be a blessing to you, also. That's what Traveling Together is all about.

A Servolution is Coming!

2009-02-25T11:07:00.000-08:00

Here's another video to convince you to sign up to serve with us in this Servolution on May 9, 2009. We are still in need of Coordinators to oversee five Team Leaders, and Team Leaders to oversee a project team. If you are interested, please let me know. You won't be sorry for giving of your time for this event. It will be even bigger and better than last year, so be sure to join us!

Last Roll of Photos

2009-02-23T10:42:00.000-08:00

I just downloaded the last roll of photos from our camera and found some fun photos. I forgot some of the events that were on that roll, so I'm grateful I had pictures of them. Just thought I'd share some of our life.

First off, in January my youngest was given an Award of Excellence for the district PTA Reflections award for her photo called, "Bella." We had been on a field trip that day to Monterey and then we had to travel from there to Stockton to make the award ceremony. A long day, indeed, but the two of us had lots of fun.

Also in January, my son and his friend went to winter formal with a big group of friends. Too bad they were slumming it to dinner and the dance.

Later in January, it was the Father/Daughter Dance, so my youngest and her Daddy stepped out to boogie the night away.

Of course, no Father/Daughter Dance would be complete without the traditional stop at Latif's afterwards.

Last week, my two youngest went with Dave to the AMGEN tour where Dave was a marshall for the race. Although it doesn't look too bad in this photo, it was a rainy, cold day, and the kids were glad to get in the car to head home afterwards.

And then, of course, there are the random photos that show up on the camera. Someday I will miss finding these eclectic photos mixed in with all the others. Here's some of what I found this time, and it will give you a glimpse into the world my children find interesting.

23 Years and Counting

2009-02-22T20:50:00.000-08:00

Today marks the 23rd anniversary of the day that Dave and I pledged our love to one another in front of our family and friends. Amazing!

I remember it was a gorgeous day, and I would dare say it was the result of my grandma praying that it wouldn't rain on our wedding day. I also remember that I was so nervous standing in front of everyone that I got the giggles and although I tried to hide it, my shoulders shook off and on throughout the first moments of our wedding. I remember the moment Dave and I saw each other in our wedding finery before the wedding. We had decided to take our pictures before the ceremony so that we could more quickly join our friends and family at the reception. We wanted a special moment alone to see each other for the first time, so Dave waited for me in the sanctuary and I found my way there. I'll never forget walking in to see him; he was looking so handsome in his tuxedo, and I remember being thankful that he had actually showed up. :-) I am so glad we had that moment of calm and wonder together before we joined the rest of our family and friends for the pictures. I carried that moment with me the rest of the day.

We've learned a lot in these past 23 years, and much of it was learned the hard way (just like everyone else learns in their marriages). But I will tell you this, I wouldn't trade any of it for the world. In fact, I believe our love is stronger and more real because we've walked through the hard times and come out the other side choosing to love anyway. I am a better woman because of the man the Lord allowed me to marry, and today I celebrate our 23 years together.

Babe, I'm so very thankful for you, and I count it a blessing to be married to you. I'm looking forward to the next 23 years. Thanks for showing Christ's love to me, for being patient with me, and for believing in me. God has blessed me beyond what I could ever have hoped for. I love you with everything I am!

Below is a picture of a very special anniversary present Dave and I received today from our daughter. She used CD cases (how green, right?) to create a wall hanging for us. I KNOW! So very sweet, don't you think?

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T11:35:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

I don't have much more to say today, but I would like to direct you over to Beth Moore's Blog because there is so much truth in what she shares today about making marriage work. Check it out; I'm sure you'll agree.

Celebration Weekend!

2009-02-13T23:05:00.000-08:00

The title of this post is somewhat of a misnomer because my anniversary is next weekend, and we will be celebrating 23 years of marriage, so that will REALLY be a "celebration weekend," but this weekend also has lots of celebrating in it.

First of all, it's Valentine's Day this weekend. Now, Dave and I don't do much at all for Valentine's day because we'd rather save our money for our anniversary, but I do love celebrating the day of love with my kiddos. Simple, homemade, heartfelt cards are the absolute best! And then, tonight we celebrated the 15th and 13th birthdays of my two beautiful nieces. Tomorrow, my daughter will attend two birthday parties (for three different children), and we will attend the wedding of my cousin's daughter. Whew; what a weekend!

Today, the fam went to the movies (a fun thing to do when all the kids are off school, right?). Four of us saw the 3D movie, Coraline, and the other two went to see Paul Blart, Mall Cop. We had free passes to the cinema in Riverbank, so we loaded up the van and headed off. We don't go to the movies often, but every once in a while, it's a fun treat, and we all happened to be free this morning to go together. How often does that happen?!

I was blessed to receive a handmade Valentine's card from a friend of mine, so I officially release you all to go and bless someone with a Valentine's day surprise.

We LOVE because GOD LOVED us FIRST. 1 John 4:19

A Favorite Blog

2009-02-13T01:28:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite blogs, Inspiring Ideas, is have a great give away for her one year blogging anniversary! Be sure to go over and check it out. I've posted about this site before, but it makes me wish I had more free time to be able to do some of the projects she shares. You can catch Jeanne's stuff at Hallmark, but you can also go to her Esty site for prints and cards. I admire people with so much heart and talent.

"How do you do it?" cont.

2009-02-05T22:14:00.000-08:00

I wanted to continue my thoughts in relation to the question asked of me a few months ago that I previously posted about.

My life may look perfect from a distance, and indeed, I am truly blessed. My prayer is that everyone that sees my life recognizes that any good in my life or in me comes from God, and I pray that they see Him and that HE is glorified.

While still in college, after I truly committed my life to the Lord at age 20, I began making decision after decision that brought me and my life into greater alignment with His Word (truly seeking to be faithful in the little things), and God has blessed my feeble attempts to live for Him. However, as a young believer, I went back and forth between the faith I wanted so desperately to have and the life I had been living for myself with all its chaos, destruction, and hopelessness. Heck, this is still a struggle for all of us sometimes, isn't it?

Anyway, what I am going to share next is not a cry for validation, sympathy, or help. God has redeemed every area that I am about to share with you. Through Christ, I have been forgiven of every sin and set free from everything that wanted to enslave me. And that is the reason I don't like it when someone thinks that I've lived or have a perfect life. I don't deserve to be on any pedestal, believe me, and just so you know, I've never climbed up on a pedestal because that's not where I want or deserve to be. :-)

As a child, I grew up in an alcoholic home, and I know the chaos, confusion, and pain that it causes. I am a child of divorce and understand being raised by a single mother (who did the best job EVER as a parent). She worked hard and sacrificed MUCH to keep us in our home and raise us alone. I was molested for years, and I didn't feel like I could set boundaries with others later in life because I was too scared to say "No." I actually didn’t even know I could say, “No.” I understand and know the devastation and power of secrets. I began drinking in high school and would drink because I didn't know what to do with my feelings and pain. I know what it's like to live life one way during the day, and another way at night. I understand depression and extreme self-condemnation. I have lived through betrayal and the pain and damage of emotional/verbal abuse from a man I thought I loved. I thank God for saving me from a life that would have caused me to be a divorced, single mom by now. I understand trying to sabotage a good and healthy relationship because I knew I didn't deserve it. I broke up with Dave while we were dating because I knew he deserved someone far better and holier than me. We struggled with infertility (I know with having four kids that no one probably believes that), and we lost our first baby through a miscarriage. I've made (and continue to make) mistakes as a wife and mother that have caused pain or hurt to my husband and children.

You may look at my life as you see it now and not know all the events that molded and created me to be the person I am today. Because of God's Word, His grace, hard work, counseling, prayer, and sometimes just the act of taking another step, these situations no longer have power over me, and the shame I carried for so long is gone. I have received grace and healing. I still struggle with some issues, especially when I haven't had enough sleep or I allow myself to get overly stressed, but I don't live with secrets anymore.

So you see, I sit in the front row on Sunday mornings with Dave simply as a woman who loves God and wants to live for Him. I don't do that perfectly, but I want to do it honestly. I'm sorry if there is something that I do that makes it seem like I'm not real, and regrettably I can't know everyone personally who calls New Life home, but that doesn't mean I don't want to know you. I would love for everyone to know the real me, and to also know and experience the hope and forgiveness that I have found in Jesus.

I am reminded of this verse from 1 Thes. 2:8 "We felt so strongly about you that we were determined to share with you not only the Good News of God but also our lives. That’s how dear you were to us!"

You are dear to me, even if I don’t know you well, so I will continue to endeavor to share my life with you, as I continue to hold out the hope of the Good News of Jesus Christ. No, I can't get up on Sunday morning each week to state who I am just so people won't have a wrong impression of me, but it's not about me anyway. I just want everyone to know that I am approachable and understanding. Don't shy away from me because you think I can't understand where you might be coming from, and especially don't judge yourself against who you think me to be. I am on this journey with you.

So this, then, is how I do "it." I keep going, trying to learn to relax more and more into His love, and to live authentically before God and man.

I thank you for being a part of my journey and ask you to continue traveling together with me.

"How do you do it?"

2009-01-31T19:17:00.000-08:00

This question stopped me in my tracks as I was leaving the women's lobby area in the restroom at church. I was already at the door, pulling it open, when the quiet voice behind me wearily whispered these words, "How do you do it?"

At first, I wasn't sure the woman was speaking to me, but as I turned around, I realized there was no one else in the room.

"Excuse me?" I said.

And she repeated, "How do you do it?"

"How do I do what?" I asked, genuinely not knowing what she was referring to.

"How you do it all? How do you get up and get here every Sunday, looking all put together, with good kids and a good marriage? How do you get it all done and do it so well?" she asked.

If she hadn't been so sincere (with a sigh of hopelessness in her voice), I would probably have laughed out loud and said, "Are you talking about ME?" because I couldn't for the life of me figure out how she thought that I had it all together. Although I knew this woman as an acquaintance, we had never had a true conversation. She looked at me and compared herself and her struggles to who she thought me to be.

"You don't know me very well," I said, "because if you did, you'd know that some days are a struggle. I don't do "it" very well much of the time."

We women have a tendency to compare ourselves to others. This woman mistakenly believed that because she sees me sitting in the front row of church with Dave that she knows what my life is (and has been) like. She did what so many of us do; we assume everyone else has it more together than we do. We think we just don't measure up.

In case you were wondering, just because I'm married to a pastor doesn't mean that I have it all together, and I'm usually the first to try to dispel that notion. Sitting in the front row on Sunday mornings with my husband doesn't give anyone a true picture of who I am and what my life is like, just as seeing others at church doesn't give me a true glimpse into who they are. Seeing me at church for one hour on Sundays might make it easy to believe that my life is perfect and that I can't understand where others might be coming from.

Pastor's wives can find it difficult for people know who they really are because they can't always personally know everyone who goes to their churches.

I can't get up and spill each and every detail of my life every Sunday just so people won't make assumptions about me.

This topic came up a couple of days ago when I was at lunch with a friend of mine. We don't know each other all that well, and something came up that she didn't realize was an issue I have had to deal with. I shared that I don't keep those things secret, but I wonder, how do I let people know that I understand pain and struggle without wearing a sign that tells everyone up front what issues I have faced or am facing?

Don't get me wrong; I am a living testament to the goodness, power, and love of God and the life-change that He makes possible, and I thank Him for the many, many blessings He has poured out on me, my marriage, and my family in spite of me. But...... my life isn't (and hasn't been) perfect. I am definitely not complaining, but I regret that people may look at me and think that I don't understand how hard life can be, that I can't sympathize with where they are, and that I have it all together.

My dear friend, I am just a fellow traveler on this journey. No one has "arrived" and we are ALL becoming.

How do I do it? Well, I'll share some things in next couple of posts, but for now, this was the suggestion of my friend....

You should just show up at church with your hair all ratty and uneven. :-)

Is that all it would take? If so, perhaps I should try it sometime.

Servolution 2009!

2009-01-27T23:12:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendars now; you know you don't want to miss it! May 9, 2009 - Servolution-Love in Action!

I know I've posted this video before, but it's worth seeing again. This year, Servolution will serve even more people in our community with even more volunteers. YOU can make a difference! Visit the SERVOLUTION website!

Inauguration Day

2009-01-20T07:42:00.000-08:00

PRAY FOR RULERS and FOR ALL WHO HAVE AUTHORITY so that we can

HAVE QUIET and PEACEFUL LIVES FULL OF WORSHIP and RESPECT FOR GOD.

(1 Timothy 2:2)

I Love These Gals! (Now that we're grownups, I guess I should say, "women," but that doesn't sound nearly as fun!)

2009-01-19T08:22:00.000-08:00

I truly believe that we can learn something from everyone we encounter in life, not just what we shouldn't do and be, but also what we can do and be. We often don't look closely enough at people in our lives to put ourselves in a position of learning, but if we will stop and think, really think, there are lessons God will use to transform us more into his likeness.

Once a month, we staff wives get together for a time a sharing and fun. It occurred to me when we were together last time sitting around a table at Starbucks that I have learned so much from each of them; each one is a beautiful woman, filled with the spirit, who brings joy and a smile to my heart when I see her or think of her. They live out Christ's love, day in and day out, serving in ways no one else (but God) will ever see. I sit with these beautiful women, and I think, "They are such gifts in my life!"

I have learned (and continue to learn) so much from each one of the staff wives, or more aptly, my friends. From Tricia, I have learned the value and joy of the spontaneous, heartfelt "I love you." From Sherri, I have learned greater compassion and empathy. And Jennah? Well, from Jennah, I have learned how to be real and accept others as they are. A deep, quiet understanding of grace has been Cheri's lesson to me. And from Cindi, I has seen encouragement in action and learned the value of random acts of kindness and a smile.

I pray for each of these women, their husbands, and their families, and I invite you all to pray for them also.

Pray that the Lord will continue to bless them and meet their every need. Ask God to pour His grace, peace, and love over them and their families. Pray that their marriages would be protected from the schemes of the evil one who seeks to divide and destroy. Pray safety for their families. Pray that they will continue to seek the Lord, first and foremost, to meet their deepest needs and to become the women He has created them to be. And pray that they would be blessed as greatly as they have blessed others.

Well, today is off to a great start! Dave and I are home alone (how often does that happen?), and we've had time to have our devotions, read the paper, drink some coffee, and relax without any interruptions. (That's the reason I am able to get a post written today, and also the reason why I don't get posts written more often.)

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! This day is subtitled, "A Day of Service," so how can we serve someone else today? I think pondering that question is a great way to start the day.

Please Continue to Pray for the Gonzales Family

2009-01-06T20:11:00.000-08:00

As many of you read in the paper, saw on the news, or heard from Dave on Sunday, Army Spc. Tony J. “T.J.” Gonzales from Newman was killed by a roadside bomb while serving in Iraq. I do not know the Gonzales family personally, although they have been attending our church, but I have been praying for them almost continually since hearing about the death of their son.

They need to know that we are thinking of them and praying for them. You can go HERE, HERE or HERE to leave your condolences and prayers for the family of Tony J. (T.J.) Gonzales. And please, don't forget to continue to pray for them. Write their names (parents, Tony and Marlynn and sisters, Tammy, Megan, and Shaula) in your prayer journal or Bible so that you are reminded to pray often. There is not enough that we can do to honor the Gonzales family and their son for his sacrifice.

God, continue to hold this precious family close and comfort them in this time of great sorrow. Give them the strength they need to go on, and let them know that they are not alone. Amen

If you have a loved one serving in the military, please email me with their name so that I can add them to the list in my side bar on this blog.

Tears of the Saints - by Leeland

2009-01-04T07:27:00.000-08:00

My friend's son posted this video, and I just thought I'd pass it along. I haven't done a video Sunday in a long while, so here you go:

Interesting Article

2009-01-03T23:03:00.000-08:00

I just found this article, As an Athiest, I Truly Believe Africa Needs God, and I find it fascinating. If you have a few moments for an informative read, check it out.

Happy New Year

2009-01-02T15:56:00.000-08:00

Hello, dear friends and Happy New Year to you all!

I am sitting near my window, watching the rain fall outside and it is so peaceful (even with six children in the house). What a great way to start a new year; I love it!

My prayer is that 2009 holds greater revelations of who Christ is and deeper understanding of the love He has for us. May we experience and acknowledge His grace towards us and may we extend that grace to others. May we hold on to the good and release anything that would cause bitterness or ill-feelings towards others. May we choose the higher road in all relationships, releasing others from our judgment. May we rest in the peace that He gives, and may we grow in His love.

Today, I am directing you to one of my all-time favorite blogs, Holy Experience, to read the wisdom posted there. As I begin a new year, I find myself thinking along these very same lines. Perhaps Ann's words will resonate with you, also.

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!

2008-12-24T22:55:00.000-08:00

Nothing about this Christmas season has gone at all like I had it pictured. Some years are just like that, I guess. At least that's what I'm telling myself. I didn't make any toffee or molasses crinkles for my neighbors; I didn't get any Christmas cards out; we didn't go to look at lights; we didn't read a different Christmas picture book each night; we haven't taken a Christmas picture (yet). I simply don't know where the time went, but well......here it is Christmas Eve already, so I don't know that there is much I can do about those things (except maybe the picture of the fam in front of our Christmas tree).

So, all I can simply do at this point in the season is to wish those who stop by here a Merry Christmas and a new year filled with His peace and joy.

Blessings to you all,
Gena

A Grief Revisited

2008-12-19T22:44:00.001-08:00

I am always quick to share what a blessing, privilege, responsibility, and joy it is to be called to serve as pastors. And I am so grateful for the grace-giving churches in which the Lord has allowed us to serve. God is so good.

However, sometimes in ministry, there are roads that we are asked to walk alone. (Loneliness is the number one issue pastor's and their wives say they struggle with.) There are hard paths upon which the Lord allows us to walk so that we can truly experience the truth that HE is enough and HE understands, even though someone else may not. There are lessons to be learned, fears to be faced, character flaws to be recognized and acknowledged, growth to be experienced, and truth, forgiveness, and grace to be learned in the process.

I am not saying that all the paths we find ourselves on are God's will because we are sinful people living in a sinful world, and we simply cannot control what other people choose. Sometimes in ministry, we simply find ourselves on a path that we do not want to be on. However, I believe that God can redeem absolutely everything in our lives, and sometimes (probably most often) that redemption is a process that takes place over time, not in the blink of a tear-filled eye.

Today, circumstances allowed me to come face to face with a grief that I am unable to share. It is a grief that I have experienced over a period of years, and although I have seen the Lord work greatly in me through this grief, it is still there. Today's situation allowed the depth of that grief to again bubble up. I don't think that's a bad thing, but it is a hard thing. In fact, I would go so far as to say the circumstance today was a gift in an odd sort of way. It was a gift to again acknowledge how much this "thing" meant to me. I think grief is the truest expression of how much we have loved and maybe today, I just needed to be reminded of that love.

Inspiring Ideas

2008-12-18T13:08:00.000-08:00

In the midst of the busy holiday season, I am always grateful for ideas to keep focused on the true meaning of the season. It's the simple things - reading a Christmas story with the kids, stringing popcorn, sipping hot cocoa, looking at the lights - that are most remembered by us and our kids, and those are the things we'll want our children to do with their children some day.

Today, I ran across a great idea in one of the blogs I visit (I don't take the time to actually go to all these blogs, I subscribe to them in an RSS feed), and I thought I'd give you the blog address so that you can be blessed also.

Inspiring Ideas is a great little blog and I think you'll enjoy it. Jeanne Winters (blog author) has a new line at Hallmark, and since I'm a Hallmark junkie, I've already seen her stuff - simple and sweet. Be sure to visit her blog, wouldja?

Telegraph Fire Update

2008-12-17T12:38:00.000-08:00

Last post, I shared that my youngest kiddo likes to take pictures, and truthfully, it's a good thing. I often forget to photograph things or events because, well, I'm just like that - forgetful! Anyway, as I shared here and here this summer, the Telegraph Fire was burning furiously through the area of my family's property. The CDF saved our structures and the hilltop where our trailers are located, so when we were there on Thanksgiving, it was hard to believe that there was ever a fire. However, just about everywhere else was massive evidence of the destructive fire that came through. And........our young family photographer snapped some pictures of the aftermath including the areas where the CDF just plowed over everything to make fire breaks. I thought I'd share some of those with you today.

The one thing that she didn't get a picture of was the manzanita bushes at the top of the hill that are blackened and stripped bare by the fire. They are beautiful in an eery sort of way. Their black, bare, up-reaching arms were silhouetted against the gorgeous blue sky.

One upside of the fire? We are able to see Half Dome from the top of our property. Beautiful!

I pray that in the midst of this holy season you are able to take a few quiet moments to focus on the wonder of the season - God of the universe coming to us in flesh and blood - to be with us. God with us. GOD WITH US. I thought about that phrase over and over this morning as I sat looking at our Christmas tree during my quiet time. God with us! Wow, if that doesn't cause us to stop, ponder, and be thankful, not much will.

Blessings.

Random Pictures

2008-12-17T10:57:00.000-08:00

My husband continually assures me that digital photos are great, and I'm sure he's right. I'm just an old fashioned kind of girl in this respect and I love having actual photos to put my hands on. It makes me less afraid that I'm going to lose (or more realistically forget) what pictures we have. But there are a couple of things I enjoy about digital photos - the ability to delete photos that don't turn out rather than paying to have them developed and seeing the unexpected random pictures that someone (most often my youngest daughter who wants to be a photographer when she grows up) has snapped.

I just downloaded some photos from Thanksgiving weekend, and here a few of the unexpected photos I discovered:

A picture of the centerpiece, which was a great idea!

A artistic level view of the centerpiece and table.

A great close-up if you ask me!

And we mustn't forget about the salt and pepper!

The little details, such as a golden ribbon around the sparkling cider, make for a beautiful fall table.

By the way, one of the blogs that I enjoy reading is "The Reluctant Entertainer." Sandy (the author of the RE blog which is celebrating its 300th post) photographs some of her dinner parties, so perhaps my youngest daughter is taking after her. I read Reluctant Entertainer because one of my yearly resolutions is to have more people over to our home, and Sandy helps to remind me that it's not about having the perfectly clean house and table settings, but about opening your heart to others and loving them where they are. A great goal for all of us, don't you think?

Coffee Moms

2008-12-12T01:16:00.001-08:00

I had the best time tonight with some of my friends. When our kids are on track, we meet for coffee on Monday mornings, and truthfully, it's always a day brightener to spend some time with them all. Anyway, tonight was our Christmas get-together and we laughed, we ate, we shared, and we laughed some more. One mom bought us all Starbucks ornaments that we all then signed to take home. A truly great time.

It's getting crazy again around here! I'm off to UCSF tomorrow with Dave's sister and will be gone all day. Saturday holds a basketball game, making our gifts for the staff, and celebrating Christmas with Dave's family because his sister, brother-in-law, and nephew are here from Portland. (By the way, our nephew, Hugo, is the cutest little guy, and we sure wish we could see him more often!) And on Sunday, I'll be at church for first service, at a meeting during second service, and then our staff Christmas dinner and dessert which will be at our home. (Of course, the staff Christmas party ends with the infamous white elephant gift exchange!) It's all good even though it's so busy. I somehow need to find time to finish the gifts we're making, write out cards for all of the staff, grocery shop and cook my items for the family Christmas, wrap Christmas gifts needed for Saturday, clean the house, and get the desserts ready for the staff party. No problem-O, right?

By the way, come back soon to see one of the Larson family's holiday traditions.

Blessings!

Behold the Lamb of God/Servolution 2009

2008-12-08T23:33:00.000-08:00

Today, I'm posting some links for you to visit. The first is for the beautiful, poignant, and memorable event that our church is providing for our community. It is called, "Behold the Lamb of God - The True Tall Tale of the Coming of Christ." Click on the link (the title) and you'll be directed to the website that gives more information, including video clips from last year's production. The thing I heard over and over from those who attended last year is that 1) if they had known how beautiful and terrific the production was, they would have invited everyone they knew to attend, and 2) "Wow! I don't know what to say." That's how good it was - really. You can see my post from last year with my comments HERE. In fact, here's an anonymous comment from someone who read that post: "Anonymous said...`What an amazing evening....such talent! I brought a friend along, and she was moved to tears more than once. On the way home she asked if she could come to church with me sometime! I think I'll be back Sunday evening.....maybe bring another friend!" That's the best kind of endorsement - non-solicited and genuine. Invite everyone you know to come with you to the Turlock Community Auditorium to experience this event on December 20 and 21. You'll be glad you did, and I'm not just saying that!

Another link for you to visit is the Servolution website. Now, not all the information is up yet for this year's event, but believe me, you'll want to mark your calendar for May 9, 2009! I also posted about last year's first ever Servolution and you can check it out HERE. A commenter on that post said, "That was the most amazing day....this is the most amazing picture.....And we have the most amazing God......He is so working in this most amazing church family....

What amazing hearts there are to serve the Lord.....I feel as though the church is going to bust at the seams to make more room to grow!!!!!! You can absolutely feel the Love!!!!"

Want to see what it's all about? Watch this:

Wow! Don't you want to be a part of that? Last year was just the beginning; we will step out to serve our community in even bigger ways this year! I'm so excited, and you'll love hearing all that we'll be doing. I will be posting more about this event in the future, but for now......just mark your calendars so that you will be free to serve along with us on May 9th!

So, get ready! There's lots of good stuff coming up and you don't want to miss it!

God, you are REALLY something! Thank you for the many ways in which you are working, and thank you for opening up our eyes to see all that you are doing. We stand in awe.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T13:51:00.000-08:00

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good..."

Psalm 100:4, 5a

For the Lord is good.....

He gives me life and each breath I take; I will be thankful.
He has provided the one and only way for me to be forgiven and saved; I will give him praise.
He has given me a loving and self-sacrificing husband; I give God thanks for this undeserved gift.
The Lord has blessed me with four wonderful, miraculous children; I praise Him and ask for His wisdom in raising them to know Him.
He has surrounded me with loving family and friends; I am thankful beyond measure.

For this and so much more (so very much more), I enter His presence with thanksgiving and praise. I am thankful unto Him, and I bless His name. Yes, the LORD, the LORD, is good.

The Red House - Finale!

2008-11-20T23:58:00.000-08:00

Today is our last visit to the Red House. (Scroll down for previous posts.) Not only did we cuddle up in the house with it's cozy corners and fluffy warm down comforters, but there was plenty of beauty and fun things to do outside.

First of all, doesn't this picture just make you want to take a deep breath? I can imagine many a summer evening out in those lovely white chairs.

This lovely, little place is called, "The Mouse House" not because it houses mice, but because it is small. It is basically a studio apartment on the property. Another couple in ministry (from Mariposa) was staying here. The overhang is covered with climbing roses and I'm sure it is absolutely beautiful at the right time of year.
Now, this may look like an old, forlorn barn, but there is a sliding door on the left hand side that is barely noticeable, and when it is opened up, it reveals a thoroughly modern entertainment area (concrete floors, kitchen, bathrooms, skylights, artwork, plenty of seating, etc...). The family hosts big events for youth with YWAM and their church, so they created this great space.
One of the fun activities for the kids was riding this zip line.

There was also a tennis court with a cabinet that housed tennis rackets, an assortment of sports balls, and lots of roller blades in just about every size. There was even plenty of safety equipment for the kiddos to wear.
And of course, the trampoline was a big hit. :-)

I hope you enjoyed visiting this special place with me. Our visit there was a great time and we're thankful for this wonderful family's love and generosity. It was just what we needed!

The Red House - Part 4

2008-11-19T23:04:00.000-08:00

(If you want to see the previous three entries, just scroll down the page)

Today, we'll look at some unusual aspects of this lovely and cozy home. Art and scripture are important to this family, and you'll discover that in these next few pictures.

The artwork below was painted by a family member. If you look closely, you'll see the scripture verse written in a curving line around the fruit. Beautiful!

Below is a picture of a carved scripture mounted in the mud room as you enter the house. It is definitely hand done, but since it is not signed, I don't know if a family member made it.

The following picture was actually inside a closet/passageway between two of the bedrooms. It is a charming and sweet surprise to come upon.

In the laundry room, there is this hand-painted artwork and scripture which serves as a good reminder.

And truthfully, this was one of my favorites. It is a picture drawn by one of the owners' grandsons. I'm not sure if the picture is of the owner or his son (Mattias's father), but it melts my heart and makes me smile. Isn't it priceless?

Tomorrow will be my last post on The Red House. Be sure to stop by to see what we found outside! You'll love it!

The Red House - Part Three

2008-11-18T00:20:00.000-08:00

Today we continue with our little tour. (Part 1 HERE, Part 2 HERE) Even with no electronic devices (computers, TV's, iPods, etc...), this place was filled with fun things to do. It seems that the family that owns this old farmhouse/guesthouse values one of the things that we do: reading! They have built in a little reading nook above the upstairs to the second story, and Kari (after her Daddy climbed on it to assure her that it was safe), climbed up to this cozy corner to read.

Peter also found a place to plant himself with his book:

And there was no shortage of reading material available. Just take a look at the bookcases in this one guesthouse:

Number 1

Number 2 and 2 1/2

Number 3

Number 4

Number 5

And finally, Number 6 (not to mention to books contained in the bookcase portion of the secretary in the living room).

There were so many great books to choose from that it was difficult to narrow it down to which ones we wanted read or at least look through. I started one bood that really captured my interest, but there was no way I could finish it in the amount of time that we were there. I'll have to see if I can find it somewhere else so that I can truly read it.

What will we find in The Red House tour tomorrow?

The Red House - Part Two

2008-11-16T22:22:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I began our little tour of the Red House. This house was built in the late 1800's and has had a very few updates since then. Most of the modern conveniences were there (stove, refrigerator, microwave, indoor toilet, running water, washer/dryer, a wood stove, and electricity). Missing was a phone, a TV, a computer, or a radio. Bliss, I tell you! Oh, and there wasn't a dishwasher which made my youngest very happy because she loved washing the dishes by hand. Too bad that doesn't carry over to home! And talk about clean; I couldn't find one spot of dust in the entire place! They continue to take such good care of the house. Today's tour will show you some of the inside of the house.

So, here's part of the kitchen:

The living room:

One of the kid's rooms upstairs (all beds had down comforters in fresh duvet covers, along with flannel sheets- oh so comfy in a house heated only with a wood stove!):

And finally, two pictures of the stained glass windows in the house:

As previously mentioned, Dave wasn't able to run the half-marathon, but my two youngest were able to run their 3K fun run with Just Run! I couldn't leave this post without showing your their perfect strides as they crossed the finish line:

and with their medals:

The Red House

2008-11-12T23:18:00.001-08:00

We were blessed to be able to get away for a couple of days last week (for the half-marathon that Dave didn't run), and we stayed at the greatest place. It is an old farmhouse that is available for people in full-time ministry at a very (VERY) reasonable rate. The family that owns the land lives in a house next door to the house we stayed in. They feel that providing this peaceful place for people in full-time ministry is a ministry of theirs. How cool is that? The first evening we were there, the man who owns the farm came over to make sure we were okay and then he asked if he could pray over us. Oh my goodness! What a blessing that was! This couple have raised all of their children on this rural farmland. They have a son serving in full-time ministry as a missionary pilot in Brazil, so I'm sure they understand the blessing that they are able to be to those who serve.

Anyway, I took a lot of pictures, but none of them capture the coziness and peace that we experienced being there. Stop back by here because I will share some more photos over the next few days.

The house we stayed in is called, "The Red House." Aptly named, don't you agree?

We'll start with the fresh flowers that were placed throughout the home. This first picture is what was directly in front of us when we walked through the door.
As if that weren't enough of a beautiful and thoughtful surprise, look at all the other surprises we found. See if you don't end up taking a deep cleansing breath looking at these photos.

And I forgot to take a picture of the flowers in the center of the farmhouse dining table that had a package of cookies and a welcome card beside it. So, so thoughtful. We knew we were in for a special couple of days. Next up? You'll have to come back to find out.

Honestly, We're Not Trying to Steal Your Stuff!

2008-11-12T22:55:00.000-08:00

Okay, I was doing laundry again today (well, what's new about that?), and I ran across a shirt that I have never seen before. I know it isn't a shirt that I bought for my son, and I know no one gave it to him, but here it was coming out of my dryer. I asked my son about it and he said he had worn it (I am most observant, obviously) and put it in the dirty clothes basket. I asked him where he got it and he told me, "I don't know, my drawer?"

I'm sure it was simple to my son - "I need a shirt. Shirts are in my drawer. All shirts in my drawer are mine. This shirt, although I've never seen it before, is in my drawer. Therefore, it must be mine. I will wear it."

And so, here I am folding a shirt that I've never seen before to put back in my son's drawer. I asked him if it belonged to any of the numerous kids who come over to play, but he said no. So, I'll put it back in his drawer and he'll wear it again. However, I have this fear that another mom (either at church or in the neighborhood) will see my son in this shirt and think that we just took something of theirs. So, I give you all permission to let me know if you ever see any of my children wearing anything that belongs to you child. It wasn't deliberate, honestly!

At my house, this same phenomenon is especially true during the swimming season with beach towels. I have beach towels that I know are not ours, but there is no name on them and no way to know who they belong to. So, same goes for beach towels; if you see one of yours when you're here, just let me know and you can have it back. And....I'll do the same if I see one of my beach towels at your house, okay?

And...you can thank me that I won't even go into the little kids' underwear that shows up from time to time! :-)

Emergency Phone Calls

2008-11-11T00:29:00.000-08:00

As many of you already know, Dave had surgery a week and a half ago to remove his appendix. He had been very ill on Tuesday but felt better on Wednesday so he went in to work. Later on Wednesday, when I arrived home in the afternoon, he said he felt better, but his side was hurting. After a visit to urgent care, we ended up at the ER and before long Dave was having blood tests and scans done as they were trying to figure out what the problem was. You can see how ill he was in the following picture:

Yes, that's right; he's in the emergency room with an appendix the doctors are hoping will not burst before they can do surgery, and he's talking on the phone! Oh, but I'm sure it is a serious conversation regarding his durable power of attorney should something unforeseen happen during surgery, but take a look at this:

It doesn't look like he's too concerned in this photo, does it? He actually had time to visit with a few people and even receive visitors before his surgery was scheduled, so I guess he figured he could multi-task while he was in the ER. Truly though, if a person is going to have surgery, this was the best possible way to have it - a leisurely wait for results and scheduling, a great surgeon, a friend who "happened" to be the OR nurse on duty, and a cell phone.

I Voted as Though I've Not Voted

2008-11-02T09:07:00.000-08:00

I found a short video clip from John Piper in which he discusses three important things for the Christian to keep in mind leading up to Tuesday's election. I think it is worth a few minutes of your time and perhaps your blood pressure will lower a few points.

From John Piper's perspective, the three points to keep in mind as you enter the polling place (or mark your absentee ballot) are:
A prophetic perspective
The sovereignty of God
The gospel

Whether you're a die hard McCain or Obama supporter, or your vote shall be cast for another candidate, I encourage you to listen to his thoughts, for I consider them especially helpful for those who are of a kingdom that will never be shaken. This was originally posted on this blog.

When the Heart Waits

2008-11-01T16:49:00.001-07:00

The movie, "The Secret Lives of Bees" just came out, but I haven't seen it yet. I am re-reading the book (written by Sue Monk Kidd) once more before I go to see it. I have an extraordinary gift for forgetting the stories in movies I see and books I read. :-) Honestly, I can be a third of the way through a movie before I remember that I've seen it before. I can pick up a book a couple of years after originally reading it and not remember most of the story line. I think I'm fully engaged in the story when I'm reading a book or watching a movie, but after it's over, I simply close that door in my mind and move on to the next thing. I am always asking Dave, "Have I seen that?" when someone mentions a movie. Oh my, what will the future look like if I'm this forgetful now?

Anyway, I have read all of Sue Monk Kidd's books. She has written God's Joyful Surprise: Finding Yourself Loved, When the Heart Waits - Spiritual Direction for Life's Sacred Questions, The Dance of the Dissident Daughter, The Secret Lives of Bees, and The Mermaid Chair. The books were written in that order, and I am not endorsing all of her works.

I just finished reading When the Heart Waits - Spiritual Direction for Life's Sacred Questions. I had checked it out from the library, but it is one that I will be buying because I found so much that I needed to underline when I was reading it. (Note: it is not a good idea to underline in a library book! :-) There is just so much in this book that resonated with me that I don't know where to start. I thought I'd share one passage from the book in the chapter entitled, "Incubating the Darkness" to give you a taste of the richness enveloped in the pages of this book. This passage is from her journal.

August 12. Today is my birthday. It makes me think of the new life I'm incubating and the Birth-day (my note: when she emerges from the darkness) still to come. Sometimes it seems that life is a grace too severe, too vast, and too beautiful to receive. But I open my hands anyway. Today I'll talk to myself. I'll say, Accept life - the places it bleeds and the places it smiles. That's your most holy and human task. Gather up the pain and the questions and hold them like a child upon your lap. Have faith in God, in the movement of your soul. Accept what is. Accept the dark. It's okay. Just be true. I'll say to myself, You are loved. Your pain is God's pain. Go ahead and embrace the struggle and the chaos of it all, the splendor, the messiness, the wonder, the agony, the joy, the conflict. Love all of it. I'll say to myself, Remember that little flame on the.....candle. Cup your heart around it. Your darkness will become light." (page171)

This is a deep book and not to be read for sheer leisure. It required concentrated focus on my part to grasp and internalize the metaphors Sue Monk Kidd so masterfully paints, but it is a beautiful and powerful book - very much worth my time and attention. It's one that I know I will read again because, as I previously stated, I have a special gift for forgetting what I've read. Smile.

Soup-er Saturday

2008-11-01T15:47:00.000-07:00

I love blustery, rainy days, so today has been a great day for me. Dave's on the mend (he had an emergency appendectomy on Wed. night), and my youngest is snuggled in my bed with a fever and the stomach flu, so we're taking it easy around here.

Today was the perfect day to make a big pot of soup. In 15 minutes, I whipped up one of our favorites. I thought you might want the recipe; it's fast, simple, and tasty. I always double the recipe and serve it with warm sourdough bread - Yum!

Just a side note, my oldest daughter just came out of her room and asked what smelled so good. I told her I had made Sausage Bean Soup (as we call it), and she said, "You are most wonderful, mother. I'm so happy!" Really. She said that; I'm not making it up! :-) See, I told you it's one of our family's favorites.

Quick and Tasty Bean Soup

In a large saucepan or dutch oven:
3/4 lb. bulk sausage
1/2 C. chopped onion 2 cloves garlic - minced
1 Tbsp. fresh basil (1 tsp. dried)
Brown and drain the above.

Add:
1 14 oz can petite diced tomatoes, undrained
1 14.5 oz can beef broth (low sodium)
1 15 oz can black beans, drained
1 15 oz can pinto, butter, or small white beans, drained

Stir. Cover. Cook over medium heat for 10-15 minutes.

Serve and top with fresly grated parmesan cheese.

If you decide to try this recipe, be sure to let me know what you thought of it. Stay warm and dry.

Letting Go

2008-10-15T22:29:00.000-07:00

In my last, "get-back-into-blogging" post, I stated the lines from Brad Paisley's song, "When I Get Where I'm Going," which say, "I will leave my heart wide open; I will love and have no fear." I was truthful when I said those lines are a prayerful desire for me.

Well, the following "poem," which is posted in my closet on our bulletin board, ends with an almost identical line. I never put the two together, but as I read this poem again today (which I do most days), it just stood out. Do you ever have that happen? You have an awareness of something, maybe you sense God telling you something, and then you see, experience, or hear the same message all over the place. It's almost as if God wants to make sure I get the message He's trying to speak to me and He knows I'm pretty dense so He goes overboard. Well, this morning, this poem was His voice, again reminding me that I am to love and have no fear.

Do you all seriously get how hard that is? I mean, think about it. Is there any relationship which you full-on love and have NO fear in? If we were all to be honest (which rarely ever happens), we'd all have to say, "No," to that question. Even if I love a person with everything I am (like my husband and kids), I still have a fear that I will lose them, or that they will stop loving me. And with God, I can love him with my whole heart, and yet still fear disappointing him by not fulfilling His purposes for me. I can love a friend, but I may fear saying the wrong thing in front of them or having them find out what my weaknesses are.

Anyway, notice the last line of this poem and may it strike a chord with you as it did with me. I invite you to join me on this journey of loving more and fearing less.

LETTING GO

To let go does not mean to stop caring, it means I can't do it for someone else.

To let go is not to cut myself off, it's the realization I can't control another.

To let go is not to enable, but allow learning from natural consequences.

To let go is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands.

To let go is not to try to change or blame another, it's to make the most of myself.

To let go is not to care for, but to care about.

To let go is not to fix, but to be supportive.

To let go is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.

To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to affect their destinies.

To let go is not to be protective, it's to permit another to face reality.

To let go is not to deny, but to accept.

To let go is not to nag, scold or argue, but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.

To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.

To let go is not to criticize or regulate anybody, but to try to become what I dream I can be.

To let go is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future.

To let go is to fear less and love more.

------ author unknown

Good stuff, huh? You may want to print this poem out and post it somewhere so that you can re-read it often. I think this poem embodies the notion of grace and truth working together.

As long I'm on this side of heaven, I can always grow in learning to love more and fear less.

My Heart Trusts in Him

2008-10-11T16:43:00.000-07:00

There come those times in all of our lives when we need to step away from things for whatever reason. This past two months has been one of those times for me, and I have truly felt no prompting to write anything on my blog. In fact, deciding not to blog, although difficult at first, has become increasingly easier. And yet, I do not feel free to close this blog down. The problem becomes, "After so long of not blogging, how do I step back in? Are explanations needed? Do I try to catch everyone up on what's happened the last two months? Is there anyone still checking in? Lord, am I released from posting on this blog yet? Where do I start?"

Questions, questions, questions! And I am quite sure that I don't have the answers for all of them, which is not unusual for me. I find that as I grow in the Lord, however, I am increasingly more comfortable with questions; everything does not have to be tied up in neat little bows. And that brings me to the last two months. There is no way to summarize and share what these last two months were about in uniform little boxes with bows. It's not that tidy. And you know what? That's okay.

There's a comment I get every now and again that I'd like to address. Sometimes, someone will tell me that they have been reading my blog, and then they add something like, "I would never want to have everybody knowing what I am doing," or "I just can't be that public about my life." I can understand where these individuals are coming from; I have had those same thoughts myself, and I feel that way many, many times. I started blogging for some very specific reasons (you can read that post HERE), and then I stopped posting on my blog for some very specific reasons.

I want to state for the record that on my blog I only share what I feel is safe for me to share in such a public forum. Yes, I share from my personal life, but not if I feel it is something that will violate myself or my husband or my children. I think about everything I post, and there is PLENTY (in fact, LOTS) that I don't (and won't) post about my life. There are precious and sacred moments that would lose their meaning if they were shared with whoever decides to stop on over at this blog. There are conversations and situations with friends and people in the church that are confidential. There are treasured memories and special times that I would not want some people reading about. I mean think about it, old high school friends, former co-workers, college acquaintances, previous boyfriends, people who have left the church, people who don't like me, my family (wink), and any ol' body in the world could stop by here anytime, so I don't post anything that I wouldn't want any of them to know. So....if it's posted here, I have made a conscious and prayerful decision that it was okay to share what is posted. And....although it is easy to live a closed life, I feel God is calling us to a harder (and much more rewarding) path of living open and authentic lives. I know I've shared this before, but some lines from a country song have become a prayerful desire - "I will leave my heart wide open; I will love and have no fear."

With that being said, I am choosing to share that the past two months have been a struggle for me for various reasons. As I've pondered how to step back into posting on this blog, I feel I am able to share that I have been struggling with depression. (That's not unusual for a melancholy person like myself.) I don't feel compelled to share more specifics about that, but I know that many, many women have struggled with exactly the same thing, and yet we will all keep doing what we do and we feel like we're the only one slogging through foggy days of disengagement, sadness, feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. Much of my struggle had to do with the expectations I had placed upon myself, and I felt the Lord speak to my heart that it was okay to step back and be quiet for a little while.

And so, here I find myself two months later, gingerly stepping out, trying to live with my heart wide open. I am tempted to pull it all back in and take the easy way out (I'd feel much less vulnerable that way - smiley face), but as I said, God is calling me to the much harder path of living with an open heart. My heart is again open to posting on this blog until such time as the Lord makes it clear that I am to give it up. I will not be pressured by my own expectations of perpetual posting of perfectly polished pieces (alliteration gone wild!). I will simply continue to be myself, and if anyone reads or not, I will obey what I feel the Lord is calling me to.

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. Psalms 28:7 (NIV)

I am so grateful today.