What I Learned in July (and a Few Days in August)

1.  Slowing Down is a Really Nice Thing to Do

I bought Hubby rocking chairs for the back porch for his birthday.  Does this mean we're old?  He mentioned he wanted some more patio furniture and I noticed he had been sitting in the porch swing with some regularity so I suggested it and we shopped together for something we both liked.  We've enjoyed them some together in the evenings, but I've really used the rocker in the mornings!  We were home quite a bit in July and we had some beautiful weather - especially mornings.  We even had rain to watch and enjoy.  A normal time on the porch went like this:  Sit and watch the going-ons around me, just be, and ponder; let the dog back in and then let her back out less than a minute later to sit on the porch near me or lay in a flower bed; check the weather for the day; read something in Proverbs, Psalms, and the New Testament - pray while I'm reading it; pray for pressing situations; check Facebook and make a response or two; pray for friends on FB; sit and be a few minutes more and then go inside to face the day.

This morning I was thinking about this slowing down thing.  I watched bees for a while.  Many of them flew around the crepe myrtle and then the huge-est one I've ever seen flew around the grass and then the porch.  I was really thankful that I wasn't a flower!  Today was my last day of slowing down - Monday I "report for duty".  Once we I was telling Hubby how much I've been enjoying the porch I asked him how I could keep doing it once school started.  He suggested getting up earlier.  Eeeewwwww.


2.  I can snorkel!!

I cannot swim.  Well for any substantial length of time and I absolutely do not like getting my face wet!  I'm not sure exactly what I was thinking (except I knew he'd enjoy it), but I booked a kayak, snorkel, beach time excursion for Hubby and I when we went on our just the two of us cruise.

I made it completely clear to guide that I was a non-swimmer (maybe I was thinking he'd let me out of this part).  The guide said that wasn't a problem - he brought a ring and I held on the whole time!!  I only had a little bit of panic when I saw how far away from shore we were getting and my life vest wasn't blown up.  Hubby quickly fixed that.  As soon as learned how to blow the salt water out of my mouth through the snorkel life was good.  I saw all kinds of fish and they swam right under me!  We saw a conch, some stick looking crab, coral and the opening of caves.  My favorite part was watching Hubby dive down to take a closer look!  I'm so thankful I didn't let fear get in the way - of this or the kayaking.  We also enjoyed some time on the beach and eating the best mango ever!

Cozumel

3.  No two summers look the same.

I guess I'm feeling this summer ended more quickly than I remember last doing.  And I didn't complete as many items on the summer bucket list (though Aunt told me I should include the do kind of items like cleaning out the closet).

But here goes, this is what I DID complete:  read Captivating, complete extra work (two projects), tour the new apartments in town, run again (just a bit), pick blueberries, Parade of Homes (just two houses), clean out the game closet, and read 10 books.  I did drive some with M. and give the dog more attention (we took her to the dog wash each time we picked her up at the kennel too), but not nearly enough to count.

If you'd like to see the actual list, click here.  Mentioned in that post were a mission trip and football conditioning and Hubby's new position.  Trip went great and L. made it to conditioning (except when he was gone or I forgot and slept in).  Actual practice starts Monday.  Hubby has made the transition - his work replacement is here now with his family and settling in the job.  Hubby has participated in some recruitment and conferences for his new job and is gearing up for the fall semester.  It's been a welcome transition for me to - to have him around the house some in the mornings!

We got to see my niece and nephew a couple of times (quickly) in Texas.

The boys saw their Albuquerque grandparents and went to Durango.

This Could Really Be Three Different Posts

If you have come to my blog looking for our Christmas letter, please click on the picture in the sidebar just to the left!

We have had a crazy three weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas...

L got sick within an hour of returning from Albuquerque (think 10 hour car trip).  I am so thankful it wasn't in the car this time! M was only sick once in the wee hours of Monday morning and managed to drag him himself to school for 3rd-7th hours. The rest of the week was somewhat normal.

On Tuesday of the next week, Hubby decided he would have his wisdom teeth taken out the next day (the next opportunity would be while family was visiting and it really needed to be done since they were starting to cause some problems.)  Tomorrow?  Well, we're normally not that spontaneous, but ok.  Thursday, M had a doctor's appt. and Aunt came to the rescue because Hubby was still quite dizzy from anesthesia so she drove.  Before the three of them returned it started icing so what would have normally taken them 20 minutes to get home turned into two hours.  And we were out of school Friday. And Monday. And Tuesday.

Hubby's parents arrived Wednesday (did I mention Hubby went on a business trip Tuesday - Thursday of this week?) and his brother and fam arrived Thursday.  Brother graduated Saturday morning and we had Christmas Saturday night.

From Hubby's Trip

Brother with mortarboard, Hubby in other regalia - he sat with faculty

Everybody was gone by Monday and Tuesday Hubby started saying he didn't feel so well. (Thank goodness I had already planned to have a sub for Wednesday morning for M's other dr's appt.).  Back up just a sec - in the midst of these three weeks I had my second official observation at school and evaluation.  I also had terrible shipping woes (a friend said I should blog it) - I ordered my grandmother's present and right when I hit "submit" I realized that I hadn't put her address in.  I called right away (and waited a long time to actually talk to someone) and got that fixed.  Phew!! While all our family was visiting I got a box delivered.  I guess I didn't make that same discovery when ordering my sister-in-law's present!!  And I had been so excited to get free shipping!!!  Too bad it was free shipping to me and we still had to get it to Colorado!!!!!!!

The nice people who have our last name and live around the corner with the same house number and street number (I kid you not - everything is the same except we live on "Place" and they live on "Avenue".  Well, our first names are different, but I guess Fed Ex doesn't take that into account) called us to let us know they had our box from Omaha Steaks.  I'm sure they were returning the favor for me delivering their box of fruit to them two years ago.

Hubby's brother (not the one who was just here, but the one CO) called to say his box from his Mom had arrived and all our presents were in it.  "Our" box with his family's presents in it is scheduled to arrive today.  See I'm not the only one in the family who does this kind of thing.

Back to Hubby not feeling well.  Wednesday afternoon, he tested positive for flu.  He did not go out of the house from then until this morning for church.  Even then, we quickly made our way to the balcony so not to expose people to any lurking flu germs.  M was in the Christmas choir so I'm glad he felt like being there.

The whole reason I actually started a new blog post was this picture.

I took it before I talked to the good friend who suggested I write about the shipping hilarity.  We had a bit of an ice storm this weekend.  Just bit - no power outages (for us) and no slick roads - just beautiful crystals on elevated surfaces.  I was amazed when I saw that the ice formed on these leaves blown to the side instead of dripping down.

Amazing.  We got a Christmas letter from a friend who said their year had been one of contentment.  My heart was so warmed to hear that because this friend has been through some difficult years.  The craziness of my three weeks pales in comparison to her (and many of your) difficulties.  My heart was also "checked" - this craziness was definitely only ordinary life.  Am I content in the craziness of ordinary life?

Amazing? Content?  I think I'm on to something for a Word for 2013.  And this verse....normally I see people quote it during difficult times, but I think it is applicable always. Even in the ordinary.  I think our Amazing God does this and as it is happening, we can have great contentment.

Zephaniah 3:17

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁷ The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”

7 Things I Learned in June

Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.   

Anthony J. D'Angelo 

Emily, at Chatting at the Sky, has invited us to share what we have learned during the month of June.  So here goes (I just love random ramblings!!)

7 Things I Learned In June

1.  I love summer!  I rarely say this.  I've never been that fond of summer - I'm more of a fan of fall.  This summer though, it hasn't really been that hot (yet).  We've gone places, but we've been home a lot too and I've enjoyed the ordinariness of doing things around the house.  I've enjoyed doing a lot of nothing and only what I want.  I've also enjoyed cooking (some).  PT (Prior to Teaching) I spent a lot of time menu planning, preparing and cooking.  During the school year, that just doesn't fly!

One of my family's favorites is this sausage and broccoli bake.  It's a Weight Watcher recipe, but I un-WW it because I don't use turkey sausage.  I think when I figured out the points it wasn't that different and I really can't stand food that tries to act like other food (i.e turkey acting like sausage or worse, beef!)

2.  My kids really are too old for some things.  I've seen this coming for a while now.  It became more apparent when I took my oldest, M (age 14) and a friend to a creek with friends to swim, jump off the falls and picnic.  The falls weren't as high as fourteen year old boys (at least mine) would like.  I had a lot of fun anyway! And no, I never jumped. Said boys did accompany me to the Dayspring Outlet in Siloam Springs right after the creek time.  So THAT is impressive!

3.  There is something (good) to be said of children getting older.  I learned that dead animals of any kind make me squeal (I already knew I would jump on the couch for live mice, etc.).  When the dog brought a bunny in (I'm sure she found the bunny unresponsive and after unsuccessfully attempting mouth to mouth was bringing it to see if we could help.) it was really nice insisting my fourteen year old son handle it (his Dad was gone at Scout camp) since it was after all, his duty.

4.  I learned that I stay up waaaay too late when Hubby is gone.  I already knew I slept with the bathroom light on if he's not home, but 2 am is way too late for me to stay up (I'm one who requires sufficient beauty rest!) reading.  Once I do turn the light off I sleep horribly too.

5.  June was conference time!  I went to a four day one and an afternoon one so I learned many new classroom ideas - way too many to write about.  I'll just mention a couple - I learned that Dr. Seuss books contain a high amount of Dolch words.  So having a student read a book to you is way more exciting than reading a list of words!!  I also learned to take existing games (Twister, Jenga, Candyland) and make them in to sight word (or letters for early years) practice games.

I can't wait to figure out which grade I'm teaching so I can start working on some games!!

6.  I finally found a study at church that works for me to attend!  I've been going to Beth Moore's lecture series "The Law of Love".  It's so beautiful to see the fulfillment of the law in Christ (I love to see the fulfillment of Jewish customs in Christ too).  Our Promised Land is Christ Himself.  Every part of my listening guide is covered in my writing and each time I reread it to try to write something down I've learned, I just get overwhelmed that I couldn't possibly write everything down!!

7.  I also learned every time L. and I get a chance to go eat together we usually choose barbecue!  He doesn't like Chic-fil-a and I don't like sushi, so that's what we agree on.  Also, M. doesn't usually choose it because he doesn't like to SMELL like barbecue when we leave!  L. and I were in "the city" doing errands a couple of weeks ago and we ended up at an old favorite and last night when it was just the two of us for dinner, a different BBQ place was our choice.

Thanks, Emily, for the encouragement to write.

I'm looking ahead to July - Beach vacation and to August - I will kick getting ready for school into high gear!

Summer

We celebrated the end of school last night on the porch with homemade ice cream sandwiches - choc. chip cookies the boys made with choc. chip cookie dough ice cream between.  L. later made shaved ice for he and a friend - I think high doses of sugar was on their celebration agenda!

This morning I woke up at 6am to go running! (My running partner is crazy!)  I assure you this is the first time in my history of "1st day of summer vacation"s to ever get up at 6am!  We are on day two of week five of a couch to 5k program.  I'm amazed at my progress (even though this my 12th week and I'm on week 5) and I really want to make it to running a race.  Being in Joplin at a race with my family was really neat and I want to participate next time!

Both boys wanted to sign up for the summer reading program so we did that today too.  They wanted to!  I had mentally decided they were "too old" and wasn't going to say anything, but they both asked on separate occasions!  This is the best part:  if you sign up for the summer reading program, the library forgives your fines!!!!  Ah, glorious summer!

Thank You Mom - For The One Thousand Moms Project

Last summer I read through the book One Thousand Gifts with a group of ladies at church.  I'm on my second thousand this year and today when I was reading Ann's blog, I read about the One Thousand Moms project and was hooked!

So, I am going to use this blog post to publicly thank my Mom.  I could relate to some of what Ann wrote in this post in relation to her Mom.  I too have walked the halls of locked psychiatric wards visiting Mom - I have as a preteen, and at sixteen and again as an adult in the month before Mom died.  "And the demons that seemed to descend took beautiful my Mama away from me, from us — to hospitals and psychiatric wards throughout my childhood".  My Mom didn't lose an eighteen month old like Ann's did, but Mom had her share of losses and was lied to by an institution she should have been able to trust.  That tormented her and I can only guess at her other sources of mental anguish.

I know however, that Mom was 100% committed to me.  In the late evenings when I am at "home" (meaning where I grew up) mowing, I am not overwhelmed with pain, I am thankful.  Oddly, I relish the peace there.  I say oddly because I know Mom didn't experience much peace.

So I join in here to say thank you to my Mom (Oh how I wish I could share it with her!).  I am thankful for all the tests she helped me study for, all the snacks she made, all the times she waited in snow or cold for the bus so I wouldn't have to, for singing with me on the way to school, and for loving me unconditionally.

Mom would have been delighted to know she's caring for other moms through One Thousand Moms.  My Mom was a giver.

Absolutely NO comments about my highwater pants allowed!  I framed this picture for Mom's
last Mother's Day (it's on my desk now.)

Spring

The first front flower bed bloom of Spring.

I've always been a "Fall" girl, it's still one of my favorites (the crispness, the tastes, sometimes the dampness, always the sweatshirts, decorations, and the beauty of the fall foliage).  I've loved the beauty of the past few springs though and am considering being a "Spring" AND a "Fall" girl.  (Note:  although somewhat manageable for now, I still suffer terribly from spring allergies.  Come to think of it, I do in the fall also.  I guess all the wonderful things of both seasons outweigh the yuck.)

Spring has come quite early this year.  I talked to my 80 year old uncle this morning and he said "Everything is a month early."  My 85 year old great uncle said he didn't ever remember it being this early.  Even now as I write, I can hear the distant hum of mowers all around the neighborhood.

When I went to Dad's to mow this morning I expected to see the redbud tree in bloom.  It wasn't.  I was so disappointed and even thought it was dead.  As I got closer, I noticed it wasn't dead, but had tiny green leaves everywhere.  I had just missed the blooms.  The lilacs there are blooming and even some of the irises.

What about you this spring?  Is there something "dead" in your life that you need to get closer to to notice that you've just been too busy or not close enough to notice buds, blooms, and new growth?

Have you taken the time lately to talk to an older person?  In addition to talking to these uncles today, yesterday I visited with some older ladies from church.  One is a caregiver and she was so pleased that "young people" (I didn't tell here that I'm approaching mid-life and don't exactly consider myself "young") were working in the church. The other one is 90, in a nursing home and told M & L that she hoped they lived to be 90.  I'm so glad I took the time to talk to these people.

I think most older people appreciate each bloom of Spring.

Heart Work and No Bake Cookies

Ever since Hubby and I took a get-away trip together in mid-January and I went to a Mom Heart conference in mid-February, things at our home have gone much more smoothly.  I also started reading a book that I bought at the conference, Parenting is Heart Work (Dr. Scot Turansky and Joanne Miller).  I'm only part way through it, but it has made me think...
About what's going on in my sons' hearts.  When they have outbursts, is it really deliberate? Do they have an unmet need?  Are they having trouble expressing what it is they are really feeling?  I'm still quick to put a stop to when outbursts are disrespectful, but I'm learning to talk through that instead of yelling.  Yelling NEVER works anyway.

What their love language is.  It was harder to tell when they were younger, but now I know that I have one who speaks "doing things together" and one who speaks "doing things for - aka gifts".  I even talked to M. about love languages.  I love including that in the training process.

How important emotional health is.  In addition to not falling in the trap of disciplining when I'm angry, I understand that I don't have to fix everything.  Instead of fixing a problem, what my son may really need is my care and comfort.

I've already written about having Family Nights and turning off electronics on Saturday nights, but that continues to be a "win" for our family.  I know "Family Nights" whether Family Movie Night or Family Game Night or something else isn't anything new.  Although we've had them before and actually do spend quite a bit of family time together, I love making this deliberate and at home relaxed time.  Do we miss?  Of course, we were out of town one week and this coming Friday we will be at my son's school. 

Each family night we have is my favorite.  This past Friday we made No Bake Cookies (we being just M and I) and watched The Woodcarver (reviewed earlier in my blog).  Afterwards we all (including the dog) piled into L's full-size bed and discussed the movie which led into a discussion about something going on in our neighborhood.

It wasn't just the cookies or the movie, we connected on an emotional level; we enjoyed being together; we worked out some issues; we thought/talked about what happens when you let other things take over God's place in your life.

Another outcome of the book and spending time together was how I handled a discipline issue that arouse this week. (I totally give God and Parenting is Heart Work credit for it.)  I got an email from a teacher, then I talked at length with the teacher on the phone and set a conference.  My normal response would be to let my son know what happened, that it will never happen again, what will happen if it should and here's your consequence for all this.

This time, I let him know what happened, he had outbursts, I listened and empathized.  I gave some guidance.  He had more outbursts and processed.  At the end of the evening he wrote an apology note.  Not my suggestion or dictation.  Did he need a consequence from me?  Nope, he got one at school.  Was this better than my usual approach?  Absolutely!

No Bake Cookies (In no way do I condone these as healthy.  They are a family favorite though.)
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1 stick margarine

Bring to a boil and let cook 5-7 minutes, then cool slightly.  (Slightly to me is 3-5 minutes.  This is the critical part to the cookies setting right.  If it's too hot everything is too runny.  I almost let it cool too long this time and the peanut butter didn't melt right.)

Add:
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 cup oatmeal (most recipes say the minute kind, but I use the Old-fashion kind because the oats are bigger and more tasty)
2 teaspoon vanilla.

Mix thoroughly.  Drop by spoonful on waxed paper. (Do this quickly before the mixture starts hardening in the pot.) Let cool.

Eat with a glass of milk, but don't eat too many! http://www.thebettermom.com/2012/03/pursuit-of-proverbs-31-and-better-mom-mondays-link-up/

Time Well Spent

Concussions are yucky. We did the whole thing (twice) with M. last fall. When L. got hit in a soccer scrimmage we were more aware of what was going on. One of the yucky things is that symptoms can come and go. For example, L. was doing great yesterday morning and I really thought it was going to be his first headache free day. By the evening he said his head hurt worse than it had all week. I tried for about an hour to comfort him and finally ended up laying down beside him so he’d fall asleep.

This morning when I woke L. up for school he was crying. I tried to give him medicine for his headache, but he said that his Dad had before he left. I let him sleep for another hour telling him I’d take him to school before I went to work. When I woke him up the second time, same thing, but this time I told him that he’d be fine, he had to go. When he actually got out of bed he said that he was dizzy. So this time, I called in for a sub. I am actually the sub so I feel terrible for doing this.

However, my friend at Our Breathtaking Life, has been encouraging me to treasure time with my children. I wish this were time another way, but I am happy to give L. more rest and to love on him. All to soon “time with my children” is going to be “time with my teens”.

On another “time” note, while Hubby and I were in Florida, we talked about getting back to something we used to do. On Saturday evenings, we turn off media around 6 o’clock to prepare our hearts for Sunday worship. We’ve done that for three weeks now and I’ve also seen other fruit come from it – great conversation about sharing your faith at school, finishing a puzzle, making brownies, the boys getting interested in putting models together. Who could have imagined what tuning out could accomplish? I think no video games is easier on the boys (they already have limits) – Sat. evening is about the time I would like to be blogging! But, yes, time actually spent with them is way better than time writing about them!

A Different Christmas

Two Christmases ago was different, we celebrated early with Oklahoma family and went to Albuquerque.  It was the first time all four cousins were together on Christmas.  Last Christmas was different, we celebrated early again and this time took Aunt with us to Albuquerque.

This year is really different.  It is the first year that both Mom and Dad aren't with us.  I don't remember the grief being this heavy the Christmas after Mom died.  But for the past two weeks, I haven't wanted to do anything Christmasy - or anything for that matter.  Do you know the feeling when just putting a load of clothes in the washer takes all the energy you've got?  Last Sunday at church God overwhelmed me with the sermon and reminded me that Christmas was all about Him coming to be with me. 

Emmanuel - God is with me and my spirit lifted some and some joy returned.  This week I've gotten emails from family that have reminded me..Emmanuel - God is with me and my spirit lifted some and some joy returned.  On Wednesday, I took a walk in the park letting the cold air numb my cheeks.  I have missed the walks that I don't take when I sub regularly.  My walks are where my heart prays and my soul breathes.  I came home just as the sky was starting to turn purple with the sun setting and I was reminded that Emmanuel - God is with me and my spirit lifted some and some joy returned.

Another day this week, I read this in a post at inCourage "Every year Emmanuel means something different. Life peels back more layers and we’re left standing raw until they heal. But God coming down to this gritty, dusty, land of the dying makes every difference in our hope for living. He is with us. He is in us. He is here."  The full post was called "When Everything is Different" and was very fitting to me.  I linked it for you to read if this Christmas is different for you.

Each year God speaks to me a new word (one of His names) that He is going to be for me in the coming year. (I know He is always all of His names, this is just a particularly meaningful one for the year).  2011 was Grace.  Normally, I know the name part way through January.  Could it be that this is the name already for 2012?  Emmanuel.  I think so - God is Emmanuel not only during the Christmas season, but always.

So, I think I'm ready now.  Yes, it will still be different, but I'm ready now to celebrate and enjoy and watch my children enjoy. 

A New Year

Well it's not a new calendar year, but it's a new school year. Last year I had the opportunity to teach second grade at a local elementary school. It was a gift. This year the school's numbers were down and other positions didn't work out, so I am not teaching full time.

I have chosen to see this as a gift also. God has already revealed so much to me! I am subbing (and would like to be subbing more) and I made these cards...



Of course the real cards have my name, phone and email on them!! The printing looks much better on cardstock than a blog post too.

That was just a little update on me and an opportunity to show off something I created.

On the Home Front...Coming Soon

I did it! I created something for my blog that I want to use. Now, that may not sound so wonderful to you creative bloggers, but it's an accomplishment for me! I don't have a lot of fancy software or time to create, but, Tamara at All of a Kind Family pointed me in the right direction for some clip art. I had some time after I got the boys off to school so I made something to try-out this weekend. It's not perfect, but it will work!

I have participated in Simple Woman's Daybook for almost a year and half now, but I have been wanting to do my own - no linking up, just a weekly journal for my family. So.....this weekend I will unveil "On the Home Front". The under-a-dozen friends and family can check back and always see what's going on with us!

JamWithMe Thursday - Keep Faith Fresh

What is one area you’d like a refill of encouragement? (e.g. work, parenting, marriage, friendship, ministry, faith, health, finances, or ___? )

I regularly read Dayspring’s blog (in)courage and sometimes check out the writer’s sites. I really like Faith Barista. On Thursdays she hosts “JamWithMe Thursdays” where she serves up the topic of faith and we write the post. This week I’m wanting to write a post each day (M-F) so I thought, why not? I’m discovering her prompts make you be transparent.

The area I would like a refill of encouragement is friendship. My husband is my best friend. My sister is my best girlfriend and I’m thankful to be in the same town. I have my FB and bloggy friends. I have friends at church and I’m thankful for the time we share. I get to see friends in Texas soon. What I want is a like-minded friend locally who I can connect with on a weekly basis.

Sometimes it’s hard to make those connections when a friend’s kids are different ages than yours or they have girls and you have boys or your schedules are different. Sometimes people are friendly, but they have that “one” friend and don’t need a deeper friendship than being friendly. I don’t want to make excuses and I’m open to an unlikely friend.

Lord, please stretch my faith and open my heart to encouragement in friendship.

A Bittersweet Summer Project

The first week that school was out, my sister (known here as Aunt) and I came together to clean out Dad’s house. We worked all day on Monday and the dumpster came on Tuesday. Wed. Hubby came and took apart the sheds and barn and helped us tremendously.


Aunt was the official photographer – it was our solution to not hanging on to everything. Looking back at the pictures I realized how terribly dirty everything was and I wish we had done it sooner. However, at the time keeping up with Dad was all we could manage. I’m very grateful to have the pictures. Really, what does one do with the Christmas tree they made over 25 years ago?

The temperature was already in the 90s for this project and we did it without air conditioning so beware, some of these pictures of us are just awful! Some highlights were finding my Bible from 1981, trying on Mom’s clothes from the 60s and 70s, having family stop by and hang out, looking at pictures and greeting cards together, finding family history, seeing all the evidences of a proud Grandpa, going to lunch in town with Hubby and Aunt and then another day with Aunt, and seeing things from childhood.

This is "awful" - putting on a long sleeve dress in a house that's over 90 degrees. Did save the dress though. I have a few outfits for a vintage party.

While these cards were mine, we also took pictures of cards that belonged to Mom and Dad. We found cards in every room of the house (except the bathroom!).
There was not a shortage of pictures of M & L in the house!

These curlers belonged to Aunt and the books were mine.

I thought that I’d write a really great blog post on doing this, but honestly after going back and looking at the pictures, it’s still kind of emotional and I’m not quite there. When everything was in the dumpster it was all still our stuff (most things weren’t in any kind of condition to keep). It was on Friday when I got to Dad’s house that was hard – the dumpster was gone. I am very happy to have this done though. There are some odds n ends left in the house, but it’s mainly cleaned out (but not clean!).

A Mark

Last night one of my son’s said, “Mom, take a picture of my bald spot. I want to see it.”

You see when he was not yet a year old he had a playing “incident”. It was my normal routine to gate his room and let him play there safely while I got ready in front of the mirror that was about five steps from his doorway (small house). One Sunday morning while Hubby was already at church my son would not stop standing in his doorway crying. I lifted him above the gate, held and comforted him and safely deposited him back in his room so I could finish getting ready for church. As soon as I made it back in front of the mirror I saw blood on my shoulder. Of course I panicked and ran to my son’s room where I could see him crawling under his crib. I quickly figured out he had scraped his head on the metal spring of his crib. He and I went to Urgent Care instead of church that day and now 11 years later he bears a scar or “mark” on the back of his head (no stitches needed just an over-reacting new mom). There’s no hair growing in that scar so if my son’s hair is short you can see the white smooth reminder of the spring scrape.

It got me thinking…do I have the marking of a new creation? When someone looks at me can they see more of my old self (which looks a lot like today’s culture) or can they see a new self (looks like truth)?

Culture: indulge in impurity, greed, falsehood, stealing, unwholesome talk, grieving the Holy Spirit, bitterness, rage, slander, malice (Doesn’t sound familiar? Glance at the headlines at the checkout stand or turn on reality TV. Ummm, no, thank you.)

The new self (the one we have to PUT ON – meaning take action): in your anger, do not sin; truthfulness; talk that builds others up; work and sharing with those in need; kindness; compassion; forgiveness.

See Ephesians 4 (which happens to be what my pastor preached on Sunday).

It is Christ who creates righteousness and holiness in us, but if I keep on the old self (engaging in all the things that culture does – or be entertained by them) will anyone see those things I profess to be?