Our White Vancouver Christmas

As some of you know, the past week here in Vancouver has been wonderfully snowy and icy. I have LOVED it. And not JUST for the extra time at home, although that has been a true blessing to my heart. I needed some major time at home-time with the family- and time to catch up on stuff. And I got it! God knows our needs, amen?? But even beyond all this time at home, it is so special to be having a WHITE Christmas. For Mark and me, it's been 9 years since we've been in snow like this (since our last Christmas in Anchorage). It's been fun to watch it fall, crunch around in it, drive in it (just a teeny bit), and-for the kids-to sled and play in it. I will miss it when it melts.

I took some pictures of our school this past Saturday, and put them into a very short slideshow (posted below). They were taken before the major snow accumulation even happened. I have some photos/video of the kids to post, but I have no time right now to post them--but soon! For now, here are some photos of our school, covered under a light blanket of fluffy, soft snow.

I hope to write again soon. I have had an unusual amount of coursework to do (Educational/Child Psychology). I actually enjoy the learning, but it's been interesting trying to finish all my assignments by this Friday, with everything that's around to take me away from it. I've actually been getting up before 7 AM some mornings. ON MY VACATION! Unheard of! But it's all coming together.

Merry Christmas, my friends! Our God is with us.
And if God is with us, who can stand against us?

It's a Wonderful Life

Below is a short video of still pictures of our wedding day, set to music. We celebrated our 12th anniversary last month. A few days after our anniversary, Mark got the scanner working (the scanner I got for free from Freecycle). So these are the first pictures I decided to scan.

Every day I thank God for the life He's given Mark and I together, even though it is different from the life we imagined for ourselves on the day we were married. I may be a complete cornball here, but I was thinking tonight about the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" and all the truth in its message. It is one of my MOST FAVORITE movies. And my favorite part is the end when George starts freaking out. He starts to lose it because of the pressures of his daily responsibilities. He is so focused on all the dreams that weren't achieved, all the adventures he didn't go on. He's "stuck" in the cold old rickety house with four noisy kids and no money. He feels like he hasn't given Mary all that she "deserves" as his wife. He feels like his life hasn't amounted to enough. I think everyone faces similar feelings at some point. I certainly have, and so has Mark. It's so beautiful at the end of the movie when George Bailey realizes that the adventure he's been on is the life he's led! The good he's done for others is far more valuable than his own fantastic (and unrealistic) aspirations for himself. The sacrifices he's made for his family will reap permanent, real rewards.

The people we impact the most are our families. And for those of us who are married, the person we can minister to (or hurt) the most is our spouse. I could blog on this for much longer, but it's way too late and so I'll save my thoughts for another night. Maybe I'll post a part two in a few days...

The words to the song on the video ("Butterflyz" by Alicia Keys) tell exactly how I was feeling on my wedding day. How I was feeling about Mark. And how I still feel.

Ephesians 5 forever!!

Noel-Noel-Sing We All Noel

I've been away from my blog for awhile---again. I've been missing it, though. Today I felt like writing a post, so here I am. I have been in a bit of a sentimental mood the past few days. Actually, that's a big understatement. I've been turned into pure sap! It's because of this season we're entering. I have to say that Thanksgiving and Christmas put me on a level of happiness right up there with Barney the Dinosaur. My usual state of mind around this time of the year is giddy and content. I love so many things about Christmas! I love the memories I have of our Christmas times growing up. I love making memories now for our own kids. I love the music of Christmas, and all the lights. I love the wonderful smells and all the candy and good things to eat. I love the eggnog and the peppermint. In spite of all the ridiculous materialism our country has embraced, to the point of embarassment and even disgust, it's still my favorite holiday. It's romantic and cozy and warm. It's kind. And it gives people a reason to think about others. I love all of the good that gets accomplished in the world, "in the spirit of Christmas". People who don't normally get along might treat each other a little nicer at Christmas. People who don't normally give to the poor are more inclined to do so at Christmas. As much as the world has tried to secularize it, it's still a time of giving and family and joy--and whether the world wants to recognize it or not, it's all because of Christ. I love that His name is spoken more at Christmas time. More people go to church together. More people honor God with their lips and with their hearts. There is a general respect for Mary and the baby Jesus. Crosses are lit on the tops of houses. The Gospel of Peace is spread and people are receptive to hear it. Yes, this is a very special time! Every time.

Immanuel- our God is with us. God who became flesh and dwelt among us. Our Wonderful Counselor. Our mighty God. Our Holy One. Our PRINCE OF PEACE. He is all the reason we need to celebrate!

The "AntiPsalm" 23

I read this the other day on a blog that I enjoy reading (Hope Road), and it struck a chord of realization in me. It was titled the "antipsalm". It is the reversal of a psalm---basically what a psalm would sound like if it were written from the completely opposite perspective. What would David have sounded like without the Lord in his life? How different his songs would have sounded!! I have always found tremendous comfort in the Psalms, and after reading this, it was even more clear to me why that is. My cry as a child of God, saved by His loving grace, is far different from that of so many hopeless, hurting people in our world...because I have a hope that is real.

Psalm 23 "AntiPsalm":

I’m on my own.
No one looks out for me or protects me.
I experience a continual sense of need. Nothing’s quite right.
I’m always restless. I’m easily frustrated and often disappointed.
It’s a jungle — I feel overwhelmed. It’s a desert — I’m thirsty.
My soul feels broken, twisted, and stuck. I can’t fix myself.
I stumble down some dark paths.
Still, I insist: I want to do what I want, when I want, how I want.
But life’s confusing. Why don’t things ever really work out?
I’m haunted by emptiness and futility — shadows of death.
I fear the big hurt and final loss.
Death is waiting for me at the end of every road,
but I’d rather not think about that.
I spend my life protecting myself. Bad things can happen.
I find no lasting comfort.
I’m alone … facing everything that could hurt me.
Are my friends really friends?
Other people use me for their own ends.
I can’t really trust anyone. No one has my back.
No one is really for me — except me.
And I’m so much all about ME, sometimes it’s sickening.
I belong to no one except myself.
My cup is never quite full enough. I’m left empty.
Disappointment follows me all the days of my life.
Will I just be obliterated into nothingness?
Will I be alone forever, homeless, free-falling into void?
Sartre said, “Hell is other people.”
I have to add, “Hell is also myself.”
It’s a living death,
and then I die.

What a difference from the Holy-Spirit-inspired Psalm 23:

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me.
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil.
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Reclaiming Psalm 23 (and not the antipsalm) whenever I need to gives me a profound strength--an inward strength that is ONLY from God! Reading these words of the hopeless, empty "antipsalmist" gave me a renewed zeal to reach out to the depressed, the bitter, the hurting, the spiritually disheveled souls all around me.

Midnight Musings

So it's actually quite a bit after midnight and, as usual, my mind is filled with a great variety of thoughts. And my thoughts are good thoughts---content and pleasant thoughts---except for the one about the dirty dishes in the kitchen sink. (That one keeps popping up, but I just keep ignoring it. There's simply too much other good stuff to think about.)

I just spent quite awhile looking at photos and reading over profiles of friends on Facebook (thanks, Sho, for coaxing me into that one! I'm really enjoying myself there.) And as I sat here at my computer, I was thanking God for the people I've been blessed to know in my life. People who have touched me spiritually over the years. People who have helped my family, especially my Mom- and my Dad before he died. I am so grateful for my friendships and for the encouragement that I have received from people who give their time and energy to edify those around them. I yearn for the time when we can all have fellowship one with another, in the absence of sin and its curses. What that will feel like, AMEN?!?! I read Revelation 21 over and over and don't get tired of imagining it. I want Jesus to come so badly!!

And I guess I'm sentimental tonight, maybe overly so. I am missing my nieces and nephews in Texas something fierce! I am so proud of each one of them, and of their Mamas and Papas. And I'm thinking about my Mom in the hospital and wishing I could visit her. She has endured the worst pain of her life this week and she will be having another procedure tomorrow, on her right kidney. This will be the 5th procedure in a 3 week period. She's been in the hospital several days--she is in God's hands and continues to surprise me with her strength. I can say the same for my mother-in-law as she has continued her chemotherapy and has had to adjust her whole lifestyle around her cancer. And she's done so with a sweet smile on her beautiful face.

I am also thinking about the classroom that awaits me tomorrow as I will spend the day hanging up pictures and creating an ambiance for my students to enjoy their first few days of school. I want to have a "pretty" classroom, but above all, I desire to reach my students spiritually and form meaningful bonds with them. They are my ministry and I love them.

And I'm thinking about my own kids, starting school in six days...getting so big and capable of so much. Hannah is a 4th grader now and it's a precious time. Her emotions are more complex and deeper than they ever have been. She is so mature and so less like a "little girl" every day. Matthew is anxious for 2nd grade and has recently taken up an interest in cooking. Yes, cooking. And all four of his appendages are scraped up from riding his bike every day. It's toughening him up!

And I'm thinking about how blessed I am to be Mark's wife and to be completely loved just the way I am. He accepts me with all of my imperfections. He has stepped up to the challenge of being Mr. Mom this entire week, in spite of his pain. He's been through the muck and mire this summer--and we've all gotten a little muddy hanging onto him. But it's made us stronger in some ways. Sometimes I feel like our love will get us through anything.

And lastly, I am blown away tonight with thoughts of my Lord. I am continuously impressed with His goodness toward me. I have so much to praise Him about! His glory is shining. He is ministering to me daily and I know He is with me. I know I will rise up one day with wings like an eagle, to meet Him in the air. I don't think I could have survived the past few years without Him in my life. He truly has kept me going in the dark times.

Now it's time for me to sleep and put my thoughts to rest---at least until the morning comes. Good night and like it says in the last verse of the Bible: The GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!

Cheap Thrills

To those of you who read my entries, I want to say thank you. Thank you for your comments! I've made a decision that I am no longer going to state on my blog any intentions of blogging more! Because it seems that every time I do that, I blog less instead of more. My intentions of blogging more are overrun with the activities of each day. And then I feel guilty like, “I said I’d blog more…gotta blog....gotta blog more...aaaaaaah!!” I wonder how many times I’ve typed about how much I want to blog, and then don’t post anything for weeks. That must be really frustrating to those of you who faithfully check and read my entries! So...nuff said...I shall "write" on Paint the Truth when I can, instead of when I want to (which is way more often than I can). And when so much time passes with no new postings, it's usually because there’s too much “other stuff” going on, or I’m just not mentally or emotionally at a place where I feel “up to it”…hope that makes sense. I’ve had a challenging last few weeks! (Nothing horrible---just challenging.) A few times I sat down to blog and just couldn’t keep my mind on it. When my mind is severely distracted, I can’t write a paragraph to save my life!

OK, so now---about the cheap thrills. I will tell you about two items of fun that we have recently been enjoying. One is a $7.00 electric fly swatter.

I know that $7.00 may seem like a ridiculous amount to spend on a contraption invented to end the already-short lifespan of an insect, but this contraption is really not just a fly swatter. It’s an hour of free entertainment on a Friday night! It even provides some traces of physical exercise (trying to chase the bug), which is always a good thing. This bug-zapper actually electrocutes the bugs when you touch them with it. We have had the windows and screen door open this summer, so we get our share of flies and little pests coming in the apartment. It used to be annoying, but now it’s like FUN when they come in—because we get to ZAP them. It’s kind of mean, but hey-God gave us dominion, right!?? A-HA! When those little critters meander into our living room, they don’t know what they’re in for! ZAP-o!

When I was in 3rd grade, we lived on a ranch in Tecate, CA and it was across the street from a chicken farm. We had so many flies, it was really disgusting. I remember it so clearly. Dad used to pay us a nickel for each fly we could kill, and we took that income offer very seriously. But we did it the old-fashioned way! If only we could have had the bug-zapper back then! Dad would not have been able to supply us with enough nickels! We would have been raking it in!

The other fun item I want to recommend-especially to those of you who have feline friends-is a laser light which I found at Wal-Mart for about $2.50. It's a small little laser-beam-on-a-keychain, battery operated. This is hands-down THE BEST CAT TOY we've ever owned! Our kitties go CRAZY chasing the red dot down the hallway and all around the living room, even part-way up the wall. They cannot resist the red dot, and they are soooo cute chasing it everywhere. They get all tired out and then they’re really cuddly afterwards, which is always nice.

Sometimes the best fun comes from unexpected sources. ;-)

My First "Star Party"

Isn’t it great when you come across something fun unexpectedly? That happened to me yesterday. I was in Wal-Mart returning an item, and while standing in line at the Customer Service Desk, a small flyer caught my eye. It was a promotional flyer for the Vancouver Sidewalk Astronomers, a group of people who have made astronomy either a career or a hobby. They all own telescopes and they bring their telescopes to certain locations to give people a peek at the planets, the moon, star nebulae, etc. Matthew has recently had a big interest in outer space, especially the moon and MARS. He learned a lot about the solar system this year in school. And I want to encourage this interest.

So I realized that this group of freelance astronomers would be hosting one of their “star parties” right there at Wal-Mart, from 9-11 PM. So I took the kids to it. We had such a great time! It was the first time for the 3 of us to see anything in space with a BIG telescope. One of the men had made his own telescope, and it was impressive. He told us all about how he made it and how long it took, etc. etc. It was quite educational for Hannah and Matthew (and me!). We saw Jupiter and the orange bands around it, and 4 of its moons. We saw Saturn with its rings and moons, VERY clearly. We saw the moon up-close and personal---I could not believe the detail I could see, and how CLOSE it was!

On the way home, we called my Mom in Texas and she asked Matthew if he saw the man in the moon. His reply was, “Well, no---we could only see HALF of the moon, so we didn’t get to see everything on it.”

I think our little space tour spurred a desire to SEE MORE and do more things like that…planetarium, here we come!?! ;-)

I love Psalm 19 and especially the first few verses. Psalm 19:1 was written on the front of our science building at BJU. I always would read and appreciate it while walking through those double doors into the building. And I walked into that building A LOT. Here's the verse: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork.” How true it is.

Bargain Hunting

I recently joined “Freecycle”— the local community’s network of giving and taking things that people don’t want anymore. Like an online garage sale where everything’s free. People send messages about the items they are giving away, and you e-mail back to “claim” the items you want. I was hoping to find FREE BIKES for me and the kids—and maybe some camping gear. Unfortunately, I haven’t had much luck with the bikes OR the camping gear, but I’ve seen lots of other interesting stuff. I may be getting myself a free scanner today---been wanting one of those for a long time!

So anyway, it’s been downright entertaining to read the Freecycle e-mails and see all the STUFF people are giving away! I’ve seen a WIDE RANGE of stuff—from freshly-plucked chicken feathers to a tadpole/frog habitat (which I actually could have used a few weeks ago!) to an iPod. You know what they say---“One man’s junk—another man’s treasure!” I have noticed the “good stuff” gets claimed insanely fast. I’ve also been seriously thinking of using this as a means to make a little “supplemental income”. I want to claim some of these items and then try selling them on eBay or Craig’s List! Cha-CHING!!??! What a way to make extra money!

A friend recently told me that she knew someone who went around to goodwill stores once a week, purchased items she knew she could sell for profit on eBay/Craig’s List, and she did just that. I gotta finish de-junking my own place before I THINK of selling anyone ELSE’S “junk”! But between that and the Freecycle thing---this just may work! I’ll let ya know if it pans out. ;-)

So last night I was looking on Craig’s List for a bike, and I came across one posting that made me laugh a little. It was a Unicycle for sale. Here is the picture and the description:

“This unicycle is like new. It was purchased from River City Bicycles and has only been ridden a couple times.”

Imagine that---someone bought a unicycle but only rode it a few times!? Mark and I were giggling about that---like what if we went to the home to look at it, and the man answered the door with a cast on his arm, a head dressing and crutches?

Just kind of a funny mental picture.

Testifying with Tracts

Tract evangelism is not as commonly practiced as it used to be. Have you noticed this? It seems that the use of tracts by Christians as a means of sharing Christ is a habit that is rapidly dying out. I went into a Christian bookstore the other day to look for a certain tract (the one pictured above), and not only did they not carry it----they hardly had ANY to choose from! I was kind of surprised--and disappointed-- at how few there were to choose from, and the ones they did have were less than appealing to the eye. And they were dusty!

I remember when churches had “tract walls” where you could pick through and take some tracts to give to people you met. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen such a wall in a church (especially a “new” church, less than 20 years old). And I’ve visited LOTS of churches. Don’t get me wrong---I am NOT condemning churches with no tract rack!! (Our church doesn’t have one either!) No prejudice intended—just an observation.

I do strongly feel that part of our responsibility as the church body is to train believers in HOW to share their faith, and to lead by example, especially new believers. It’s so easy to “complicate” witnessing with lots of books and training seminars. And while I’m all in favor of books and training seminars, I think that a well-written, simple tract is a really great, perfectly sufficient witnessing tool that ANYONE can use, whether they’ve known the Lord for a few weeks or a few decades. It is an EASY way to strike up the conversation and to quickly but effectively explain God’s plan of salvation to anybody.

We all continually hear about how it is every Christian’s responsibility to represent Jesus in their daily activities. And we know we’re supposed to share Christ with those around us. To actively SOW SEEDS by planting the truth in people’s hearts and minds, maybe even for the first time. You really cannot tell where a person is spiritually just looking at them. Even the roughest looking person might be on the verge of accepting Christ, but he needs a little friendly “nudge”. Likewise, the “nicest”-looking person may have a horribly corrupt heart and will have nothing to do with the Word of God. But most people out there are searching for TRUTH. Searching for answers to the big questions. “Why am I here? What’s the point of all this? What’s going to happen when I die?”

If we are REAL with people and communicate a true love for them in what we say and how we say it---if they sense in us a genuine care for their eternal well-being---I have found they respond very positively. They appreciate it. They may not jump at it right away. They may give you no indication that they are going to accept Christ any time soon. But they’ll remember their encounter with you if it was authentic and honest. And it may lead to further conversation—either with you or with someone else in the body of Christ---that WILL lead them to salvation.

A tract is small and easy for a person to keep and refer to later on. It’s not as “intimidating” as being handed a big heavy Bible. You can tweak a tract to make it more personal, with a hand-written verse or note of care that the person can re-read when they’re alone and searching. You can write info about your church on the back or inside the cover, so they aren’t left hanging. The Holy Spirit will work in hearts. But we gotta sow seeds!

It can be hard to talk about Christ and eternity with someone you don’t know well---like the person who waits on you at the restaurant. Or the cashier you always seem to see in line at the grocery store. Or your neighbors. People you work with. But the more you do it, the easier it becomes. And a tract makes it SO MUCH EASIER to witness to someone you don't know. Because it’s something you can SHOW the person as you’re talking to him. He can hold it in his hand and take it home with him. He can SEE a representation of what you're telling him.

There are lots of great tracts out there, but my favorite one and the one I want to recommend to you is called “Bridge to Life”. It is a little booklet with illustrations and a very SIMPLE outline of the Gospel. It is excellent. It's more than a sheet of paper, which I think makes it less likely to get tossed in a wastebasket. If you’d like to order some Bridge to Life tracts, go to www.navpress.com And if you don't like this one, I encourage you to find one that you do like, and GIVE IT AWAY!!


Mark 16:15 & 16—“ Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

Lazy Days of Summer

I'm LOVIN’ this summer vacation! So far it has been so wonderful. Not having a schedule and not having to get up at 5:30 ANY morning! Not having to GRADE papers or write lesson plans. I have been keeping very busy not being busy. Doing FUN things like swimming with the kids. And having energy to do things I normally don’t during the school year, like cook real meals. It’s been GREAT to spend time with Mark and the kids with little to “distract” me mentally the way school does during the year.

Each day goes by fast, but it's restful. I don’t take this time for granted.

I’ve also been organizing stuff in our apartment, trying to de-clutter and get rid of things we don’t need. I have several little piles and bags of things to give away or sell. It’s coming along, slowly. I made $140 last weekend just selling 8 items on eBay. It’s time-consuming but sooo worth it. I’ve also been able to get some things I’ve needed for a long time, like new glasses and a good pair of running shoes (not actually for running, but they’re the best for my foot problem). Anyway, it’s been great to get caught up on stuff and just get things in better order. We are probably going to move to a different apartment in a few weeks---more on that later---and moving is just all the more reason to get rid of STUFF we don't need.

We had a fun 4th of July yesterday. I wanted to go to the rodeo but didn’t get to. {Maybe next year?!?!} The kids and I went to the big 4th of July event here in Vancouver. We rode a city bus from the mall to the event, rode carnival rides and ate some fair food, heard some live music, then perched on the grass and watched the fireworks before boarding the bus to go back home. It was fun. We decided to do that instead of buying our own fireworks this year, but then tonight I remembered we had some little fireworks left over from last year. So now we’re off to light some sparklers and flowers and lightning flashes (hopefully they’ll work!!). I will blog again tomorrow. Until then, take it easy and enjoy these summer days!

Par for the Course

Several weeks ago, Mark came across a children’s golf course in Portland that just looked too cool. It’s a full course with driving range, designed with kids in mind--ages 7-17. Matthew and Hannah both love the game of golf, what they’ve come to know of it. But up until now it’s been mostly video-game golfing, glow golf, and putt-putt for us. But Hannah and Matthew do have a good “base knowledge” of the actual game (Hannah especially) and so it seems they are ready to go play FOR REAL.

So Mark found out that the Children’s Course has summertime programs where the kids get weekly instruction (like golf lessons) and get to play with other kids, etc. We asked the kids what they thought, and they got soooo excited. So we signed them up (this was over a month ago). But we didn’t have the money at the time to pay for the program. We kept waiting…you know how that goes…and as time passed and no money was dropping from the sky, we finally had to tell the kids we weren’t sure it was going to happen.

Our “spots” were reserved but I was on the verge of cancelling, and then I remembered seeing something about “scholarships”. So for a few days I have been trying to get in touch with the manager woman who grants these “scholarships”. I thought it would be just a partial discount. Oh me of little faith!! I am happy to report that BOTH Hannah and Matthew are going to go all summer, every Tuesday afternoon, FREE OF CHARGE. Full “scholarships” for both of them! They start tomorrow!! And we didn't have to "DO" anything. No application, no signatures, no going down there, nothing. It was literally a 2-minute phone call conversation.

I am SO happy tonight because I know that this was a very obvious working of God to give our kids the desires of their hearts. They understand about God’s provisions. The provisions have been amazing this entire year. But this golf thing is something even above and beyond food and clothes. This is something EXTRA, something FUN, and something JUST FOR THEM. I am in awe of God’s goodness.

We serve a great God. His love endures forever.

II Samuel 22—WOW what a great chapter!! I LOVE it. I took some of these verses to heart tonight as I was thinking about how much God loves Hannah and Matthew.

verses 20, 23, and 31:
“The Lord has brought {them} out into a broad place. He delivered {them} because He delighted in them. As for His statutes, {I pray} they will not depart from them! As for God, His way is perfect. The Word of the Lord is proven!!”

My Mom used to tell me how much she loved me, and then she would often add on, “but God loves you even more, Davida.” And my Mother’s love was REAL to me as a kid. I saw it all the time demonstrated in her words, her actions, her words. I KNEW she loved me. And to think that God loved me more?!? That did help me understand the magnitude of His love even when I was young. God is now teaching MY kids the same thing, and drawing them to Himself. I hope they remember for a long time how He made a way for them to go to golf club. I know I will.

Babybels for my Baby Boy

A few weeks ago, Matthew came home from school telling us about the newest rage among the 1st grade boys in his class: WAX. As in balls of wax. A rather unusual interest for a boy of his age, but he was getting downright giddy telling us about it. The excitement radiated from him as he told us about this great new fun.

It sounded to us like his friends at school were bringing WAX to school just to play with it, using it like modeling clay. We wondered: “Where does the wax come from?” --“Is it clean when you get it?”-- “Does the teacher know about this wax?” We could not figure out what exactly it was or why it was so much fun.

So a little while after, Matthew asked me if he could get some wax of his own to take to school. I proceeded to pull out some candle-making stuff I have, or suggest we melt down a candle and make a wax ball that way, but he said, “No, it’s not that kind of wax, Mom. I know they sell it at Safeway. That’s where my friends got it.” I’m thinking, “WAX?? At Safeway? HUH?!?”

After a series of more questions and much brain-racking on my part, I figured out that the boys were bringing Babybel wax-dipped cheeses to school for snack time, eating the cheese and then keeping the wax balls to play with. One of the boys started it and it became so popular that it just became a major source of safe entertainment for them. They like to see who's bringing what color, etc. etc. and they share the wax. A few times, Matthew's friends had given him some wax so he was part of the gang.

Cute, right?!?

So I took Matthew to the grocery store about a week before school got out, and let him pick out a couple different colors of the wax cheeses to take to school. A rather extravagant thing to do considering our present financial challenges, but it was well worth the expense. You’d have thought I bought Matthew a new bike or a puppy or something. I mean, he was soooooo happy. He must have hugged me and said thank you like 20 times between the deli and the check-out lane! When we got home, he got them out and was sooooo excited thinking about taking them to school the next day. It was precious.

It reminded me of Amy March with the limes in Little Women. But instead of little girls peer-pressuring each other to bring limes to school, it’s little boys collecting wax. And instead of getting punished for having them, they’re actually permitted around the schoolyard. The teachers must think it's a hoot.

So tonight we were in Wal-Mart and passed the deli. I saw Matthew looking at the Babybels with longing eyes. They had YELLOW ones (a new color we’d not gotten before). Matthew gave me the same look as Puss-in-Boots in Shrek 2…you know, with the big huge eyes and that irresistible face that just says “please” in the cutest way. He offered me what was in his piggy bank, which is LOTS of pennies. I decided we’d get them and they’d be on the house. ;-) When we got home, he found them in the grocery bag (probably making sure they really made it home) and he told me in the cutest little excited voice, “Mom, I’m gonna save the wax cheeses for tomorrow.” I said, “Good idea” and winked at him. I think he’s dreaming of them as I type this post.

So kid. So priceless and adorable.

STUPINITY!!

Several weeks ago, Matthew began taking a little too much delight in the word "stupid". I'm NOT a fan of the word. AND it's always been tagged as a "bad" word in our home (when the kids were toddlers, they knew that was a word NOT worth saying). But for some reason, Matthew began feeling that it should step down from its bad-word status and be used to describe certain events, duties (like homework), and on one occasion, his sister...which I DON'T think he will do again...at least not anytime soon.

Well, so awhile back, we were doing something in the apartment--I cannot remember now WHAT it was--and Matthew was under STRICT warning to NOT say the word. Something occurred that caused him to WANT to use the word, but instead he uttered, "STUPINITY!". And I think he meant "stupidity" but it came out as "STUPINITY". Mark and I both just started laughing because Matthew's often coming up with great new words, and this one was just too much. And even though it was close to the actual word, the way he said it and just the sheer creativity of it was enough to get us all laughing and saying it in kind of a British accent, you know. (Like "quintet!") ;-)

So Matthew has kicked the habit of saying the word "stupid". But "stupinity" is a new word that our whole family uses now, on rare occasion, for things that are--well--you know. And for extra-ridiculous things like certain TV commercials and not-so-intelligent things we hear of people doing or saying, we have coined the phrase: "To stupinity...and beyond!" said in Buzz LightYear voice and with that same intonation. It just kind of "goes".

On Messages and Messengers

I believe wholeheartedly that if a person is truly open to the voice of God, truly desiring the Lord to direct him, He WILL hear from God at some point, in a clear and obvious way. Probably not audibly as a voice from heaven like with Saul on the Damascus road, or Samuel in his bed as a young boy in Eli’s tabernacle. But His "VOICE" is heard through the speaking of His Word, or when it's sung in song, or read in written text. Or it may be heard by being demonstrated through actions of others that somehow take hold of us. I thank God for men and women who write, speak, sing, and work the message that God has laid on their hearts! These people who relay God’s message don’t always know exactly who is receiving it or how the Spirit will use it to fight the evil one. But they give the message anyway, in FAITH believing that it WILL be received, and that the kingdom of Christ will be strengthened because of it.

But how often do I thank the messenger? This question came to my mind last weekend as I realized that so often in my life, I’ve received a crucial message that has gripped me in my spirit, convicted me or compelled me to an action---but I have failed to let the messenger know what an impact he/she had on my heart.

I want to start referring to Christian pastors and leaders more often as “messengers”. Because that’s truly what they are. They are messengers of the Lord. Like the prophets in the Old Testament, called out to speak the Words of God to the people—US!! And I want to THANK THEM more often when I get their messages, lest they begin thinking they are going unheard and unheeded!

So often these “messages” from God grip us when we don’t expect it. Something that comes through in the speaking or the writing or the singing---and it sparks an attitude, a belief, a desire, a goal in us that has a mighty influence for a long time to come. And that influence either grows greater as we let it spread quickly in us OR it is stomped out by other people, by distractions, by temptations laid before us by the devil himself, or by the hardships of life that work to extinguish it.

I’m getting to a point here (trying to!)…

Back in September 2005, I read a Family News letter written by James Dobson that absolutely captivated my heart and mind. I mean, it spoke to me in a profound way. I kept it and have read it many times over. It was a message I received but did nothing with, beyond prayer. I just tucked it in my heart and let it stay an itty-bitty flame with barely enough air to stay lit. Well, a few weeks ago, our pastor, John Bishop, walking in the light and bearing the fruits of the Spirit, brought a message that completely rekindled the “fire” that James Dobson started in that letter. To the point where it would be SINFUL to do nothing in response.

The letter was addressing the sexual immorality of our country, in particular the desensitizing of our children to sexual sin. Especially through the internet, the media, and pornography in any form--no matter how "soft" or "hard" core. I am growing increasingly intolerant to it all around me, to the point where I'm angry about it! I am disgusted by it. I get physically sick to my stomach over it. I understand why Jeremiah lamented and rent his clothing in despair over the sin of his people. We live in a sex-crazed world that thrives on perversion and it's getting worse and worse. It's not a matter of IF my kids will be introduced to pornography---it's a matter of WHEN. They are already so much more "aware" of things than I was at their age--despite what we have tried to keep from them in our home. When we watch TV as a family, we have to select a back-up station for the commercials, and usually we also choose a back-up for the back-up! It's out of control in so many ways. BUT I believe there's SO MUCH MORE we Christians can do to promote a passion for purity in our culture.

I won't go in detail now because this post is long enough, but I'll be writing more on this subject, with Scripture to back it up. I don’t know exactly in what capacity I am going to be more involved in fighting this infection in our culture, but I have made a decision that I will fight it in a more active way. God used these two men (James Dobson 3 years ago and John Bishop 2 weeks ago) to begin something REALLY big in me that I refuse to let shrink this time. I got the message!! Now it’s my turn to pass the message along.

In closing, the two purposes of this post are:

1) To encourage those of you reading to THANK THE MESSENGERS that convey God's Word to you. Those men and women need to know what an impact they are having in your walk with God.
2) To let you know that there will probably be some upcoming posts about this new passion for purity that I am so excited about. I don't think it's a "phase"!! And I don't tell you about it to sound spiritual or preachy. I tell you about it to RALLY you as TROOPS in a war against the devil. It's an ugly war that's only going to get more intense until he is bound and Christ reigns on the earth. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!!

12 "Unusual" Experiences

I was thinking the other day about some of the unusual things I have done in my lifetime, particularly in my youth. Most of my life has been VERY conservative, very careful, and rather uneventful. But there have been times when I did things that the average person doesn't get to do. I thought it would be fun to list a few of them out. These are twelve that came to mind today, that I'm not too embarrassed to share. If anyone cares to compile a similar list, I would enjoy reading it! We all have unusual experiences---but none of us would have the same list. I think it would be fun to read YOUR list. Here's mine...

1) Age 11: I rode up a small mountain in Mexico on the back of a donkey, on the way to Cola de Caballo waterfall near Monterrey.

2) Age 15: I went traipsing through a cemetery in Mexico in the rain at night. (This was with my very brave and daring friend Melanie, whose parents were missionaries in Mexico and they lived up the road from a cemetery.) We decided to give ourselves a little spook, and we definitely did. It was really scary and really fun.

3) Age 15: I got bitten by a tick (also in Mexico) and got sick with typhus (typhoid fever). It was the sickest I've ever been and I was delirious for 2 days. I missed 2 weeks of 10th grade.

4) Age 17: I memorized Frederic Chopin’s Polonaise in A flat major. This was my biggest achievement in music.

5) Age 19: I extracted pure caffeine from tea leaves. Part of Organic Chemistry Lab in college. This is something I sometimes consider repeating at home…

6) Age 18: I bred hundreds of fruit flies- several generations- as part of Biology Lab in college. This is something I would never consider repeating at home…

7) Age 20: I came within 10 feet of moose, several times, while riding on the bike trails in Anchorage, AK.

8) Age 20: I entered a home of someone I did not know—when they were not home---to use the phone. Mark was my accomplice. We did not break and enter—we only entered (the back door was unlocked). We were “stranded” at Big Lake, Alaska when our Sea-Doo watercraft capsized and wouldn’t start. I remember praying that they did not have a dog. God answered my prayer.

9) Age 20: I walked on a glacier.

10) Age 21: I drove around on a frozen lake in winter (Lake Wasilla where Mark spent his teenage years). He taught me how to pull the emergency brake to make the vehicle spin around really suddenly on the ice. Driving on ice is a blast.

11) Age 22: I dressed up as Mrs. Clause and rode around in a horse-drawn sleigh with Mark, as part of a charity event at the airport in Anchorage. Of course, Mark was Santa. We had been married only a month, so it was really romantic and fun.

12) Age 24: Mark and I spotted a few bald eagles on the side of the road on a trip from Fairbanks to Anchorage. We pulled over to get a closer look, only to discover that there were MANY, MANY eagles nesting close together. We didn’t count them, but there were probably 75 or more eagles just perching in the trees and flying around. It was one of the most serene moments of watching wildlife in Alaska.

The End...

O Capitana, Mi Capitana!

I was hankering to see the movie Dead Poets Society ever since the other night when I was thinking about it. I hadn't seen that movie in like 13 years. And I needed some new inspiration this past week!! So last night I watched it and enjoyed it just as much as I used to, but even in a new light. Since becoming a teacher, and realizing that teaching is what God has called me to- at least for now- I desire GREATLY to impact my students in a big way. I know I won't do that for every student, but I WANT to, some days desperately. I am consumed sometimes with the desire to go beyond just teaching them the "material". I want to light a fire in them that won't go out.

I greatly admire Mr. Keating, the English teacher in the movie (played amazingly well by Robin Williams), for the effect he had on his students. I think that every {good} teacher fantasizes about having that kind of effect on a class of students. Inspiring them to "suck the marrow out of life". Encouraging them to live life to the fullest and to pursue their true dreams, despite what others tell them they "ought" to do.

I went into this school year hoping to do that in some way with my kids. And I don't feel like I succeeded, but I definitely scratched the surface with a few of them. And each year I will hopefully get better at knowing WHAT to say WHEN to say it, to hit right to the heart of the kids in my classroom. And to change them in some way and help them see their gifts and their abilities, and how to live for Christ. The Holy Spirit will bring the opportunities my way, but I have to know what to do when those opportunities come.

My favorite teacher was my 9th and 10th grade English teacher at Med High. Ironically enough, he was an atheist. He continually tried to make me see how blindly foolish my faith in God was. But in so doing, my faith was actually strenghtened, and I came out of my shell in a lot of ways because he encouraged me to express my beliefs and even to defend them. I think he "picked on" me on purpose to allow me to really thrive, not just with reading and writing, but as an individual. I still think about him a lot, and I'm grateful for all he taught me.

Mr. Keating was misunderstood and misjudged--his administrators did not see the value of his teaching. They did not appreciate his objective. But the kids did. Because he changed the way they looked at life, the way they looked at themselves, and the way they faced their obstacles. It wasn't about having fun and goofing around. It was about self-revelation. Knowing who they were as individuals and embracing that.

So last night at the very end of the movie (when the boys are standing on their desks), Mark said to me---"That'll be you NEXT year!" In my tearful state, I LAUGHED out loud at the thought of that, and replied, "YA--but they'll be saying, O Capitana, mi Capitana" and we started laughing pretty good over that. A girl can dream.

Here's the clip of the end scene---don't watch it if you haven't seen the movie, though! (It'll spoil it...)

The Final Countdown

Today I was walking around school with the old Europe song playing in my head. THE FINAL COUNTDOWN. I could hear that synthesizer riff that I used to think was soooo awesome and heavy. (Key words in that sentence: "used to".) But I still like that song. It reminds me of roller skating. And then, ironically, we took the kids roller skating for about 2 hours this afternoon, and I was so tempted to ask the DJ if he could play that song! tee hee

Anyway, that’s the mode I’ve been in (final countdown mode) since Monday morning because it’s the last week of school and I feel like I’m winding up and winding down at the same time. Picture me grading literally PILES of papers, somewhat hurriedly, and writing final exams, wiping my tired damp brow, and drinking coffee to stay awake as that Europe song plays in the background. (I think that’s a funny picture. And sadly not far from the truth!)

It’s been a GREAT week so far, very FULL, but in a good way. This week has brought some nice fellowship, some hard work, some fun, and some answered prayer. I have lots to do and lots to think about. And our apartment is rather a disaster. (Housework seems to be taking the WAY back burner this week!) My brain isn’t on overload yet, but sometimes dangerously close!? And I feel happy, blessed, and content. It’s all good.

No worries, mates!

HOW CUTE THE NEWT

OK--so I'm writing one long heavy post tonight and one short light one.

Last night Hannah finished a science project which I was helping her with. Part of this project involved looking up newts and printing out a few photos of them. I had to share because ACHAVALACHA!! They are soooo CUTE!! I want one!! (or some??) These are amphibians. I'd say they are frogs kicked up a couple notches on the cuteness scale. I mean, I do think most frogs are cute, but these are waaayy cuter. Kendra---any comments on these friggies? Call me strange, but I cannot look at these pictures and not smile!! This is supreme ciat.

Blessings and Cursings

Today I am writing about those moments we all have when another human being offends or dispirits us. To the point where we immediately react with urges of retaliation, either internal (in the mind) or external (with the mouth and body). It may be someone close to us or a perfect stranger who violates our code of conduct. But people do violate it, almost daily, and it doesn’t seem fair to just ignore it. It happened to me in the post office, so unexpectedly, yesterday afternoon as I was nonchalantly mailing a package. The man behind the counter belittled me--made me feel stupid—and then I remembered that this same guy did that to me a few months ago! A trend of jerky behavior!?! Intolerable! When someone offends me in some way, I too often respond as the natural man would. (It goes like this: “How DARE HE? HE’S GONNA BE SORRY!!”) And then I proceed to imagine what type of justification might be entitled to me. How I might “get back” at that person to somehow be recompensed for their wrongful action toward me. In the case of the post office employee, I began planning a phone call to whoever his supervisor is, to recount both of my negative experiences with this person, in hope of some kind of corrective action coming his way. But immediately I was convicted and reminded of my higher calling.

Christ did not tell us to ignore these times when sinners scorn and we are despitefully used. He didn’t tell us to be doormats. But He didn’t tell us it gives us a license to sin either. He told us that these times are the opportunities to set ourselves apart from those who do not bear His name. I’ve been thinking heavily about this in the past few days.

Luke 6:27-36 is pretty straightforward about this. These are some of the most simply written verses and some of the hardest ones to put into action:
“Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Jesus showed us the ULTIMATE example of this when He uttered, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”, all bloody and hurting beyond belief and facing certain death. How could He pray that? I've always marvelled at that.

So how does our response set us apart from those who don't know Him? He told us how:
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that! And if you lend to those from who you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners’, expecting to be repaid in full.But LOVE your enemies. Do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Being kind and loving to people who are kind and loving to me is no big deal. But praying blessings on someone who just hurt my feelings in a big way?!? That’s much more of a spiritual victory, and much more of a testimony to His perfect name.

This week I learned to think in a new way about what it means to bless others, and particularly what it means to “bless those who curse you”. I learned a little bit this week about cursings and blessings. A new friend shared with me about how she has made a conscious effort to pray for those and actually BLESS those who wound her spirit in some way. It has freed her from bitterness in her heart. It has helped her to not harbor hate. This is something that does NOT come natural to us as long as we’re in our earthly, sin nature bodies. It has to be done on purpose. But it can be done and Jesus proved it.

One thing we can pray for those who "hurt" us is that they will come to Christ. That's the ultimate blessing anyway--eternity with Him!! If nothing else, we can pray that blessing for those who don't have it. And for their families! Besides blessings of good health and financial prosperity, protection, etc.

I believe that curses are real and blessings are real. God’s promise to Abraham was real:
“I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you. I will make your name great. I will bless those who bless you. And whoever curses you I will curse. And all people on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:2-3

I also believe that there is immense power in the tongue and in what you say about a person, whether it’s to his face or behind his back. In the spiritual realm, there is power to be claimed to bring cursing or blessing upon someone’s life. The source of the power is up to the individual. It’s very interesting to learn about generational curses and how nations and family members can actually experience strife, hardship, financial distress, physical deformities, early death, the list goes on--because of a curse brought upon them by their ancestors. And at the same time, groups of people and families and individuals can reap blessings over generations because of a prayer of a righteous man, or because of God’s decision to bless the generations that come from them.

When we are able to pray blessings over those who have caused us pain or embarrassment, like the guy in the post office, or someone we’ve poured our hearts into only to get a broken heart in return, or someone we've tried to help but they keep letting us down, or someone persecuting us directly or indirectly for a belief, etc. etc…. when we can pray blessings on that person and truly mean our prayer, we are just that much more like Jesus. And I believe He sees it and smiles on it. Because He knows how hard it is to do.

Memories of a Monumental Mess

One of my big "projects" for this summer is to get all of our home videos put on DVD's and make a few fun movies in the process. I am really anxious to start this, and I have finished step #1 of cataloging our tapes so I know what's on each of them. It's been quite a process but REALLY fun.

Here is one particularly cute memory that I recorded on tape. A memorable mess the kids made in the bathroom. I wasn't mad because it was so adorable. Who could be mad at this? Man, I forget how cute they were. We're so blessed to have video to remind us of those times. Even the messy times. (Especially the messy times!?)

Pick Me A Letter

There are many dorky things about me, and one is that I really enjoy watching Wheel of Fortune. I know it’s not exactly “popular” for my generation, but I don’t care! It’s too much fun seeing how quickly I can solve the puzzles. It relaxes me. And I feel so accomplished when I figure out the puzzles before any of the contestants do. Or when I pick the right letters and they don’t. Especially in the bonus round! I have "won" quite a few cars, SUV's, and tons of cash over the years. Every time I watch and do well, I tell myself (and my poor family), “I gotta get on this show!!” I have tried in the past, but now it’s seriously time to try again.

When we lived in San Diego, I tried to get an audition. The big Wheel of Fortune bus was parked at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and they had a little set assembled outdoors with a little wheel and letter board and everything. I was there in the crowd, took my number, held my little pink application paper, hoping to get picked out of the hundreds of people there- just for a chance to try out for the show. It was amazing how many people were there just trying to get picked for an audition. It was a fun experience, but I didn’t get picked.

So tonight I was watching the show and saw a young girl (fresh out of high school) win a trip to Spain. NO FAIR! And then the Wheel Watchers Club SPIN ID number came up and I thought to myself, “WHY am I not in this club?” So I went and signed up. And I applied online to be a contestant. I just gotta take a more active approach to this thing and make it happen!

I’ll be keeping my eyes open for whenever the Wheel Mobile heads to Portland or Seattle, and when it does, I AM SO THERE! It’s either that or walk around in New York City hoping to get into Ben Bailey’s cab. My chances are definitely better with Pat and Vanna...wouldn't you agree?

This Time Last Year

I have been ill for the entire past week with a dreadful sinus infection and the beginnings of bronchitis. I can’t stand being sick! It puts a halt on everything, including the blog, I’m afraid. I’ve been in major survival mode, so all of the “extras” went on back burner. There are no shortage of blog entries in my head, only a shortage of time and energy to type them out. But with 12 days of school left, I am nearing a season of rest and relaxation (and blogging!?) and I'm really looking forward to that. There's sooooo much I want to do this summer!

I was thinking a lot today about this time last year. So many things are different for me now. And some things are the same. Isn’t it amazing how much can change in a year? And how much can stay the same despite our efforts to change them? For example...

This time last year, I was finishing up a really wonderful year teaching some VERY sweet 1st graders (pictured above—aren’t they cute??). Now, I am finishing a great challenging year teaching some pretty awesome middle and high schoolers. (Also cute in their own way!)

This time last year, I was exhausted physically from school. It was a GOOD tired. Same is true now.

This time last year, I was exhausted mentally from being away from Mark for too long. I’m so much healthier mentally with him around.

This time last year, I was rip-roaring READY to get up to Washington.
Right now I’m just rip-roaring to get out and SEE Washington.

This time last year I was spending time on South Padre Island with my beloved family. We were all missing Dad but enjoying being together. This time of year does NOT feel right without a trip to Padre. Not being there makes a void in my heart. And I still miss Dad.

This time last year, my foot pain had not started yet. I was actually able to walk a long way and exercise on a treadmill. This summer, thanks to another cortisone shot in the heel and my mother-in-law’s foot massage machine, I may actually get to be active like that again. That’s the plan, anyway. My feet seem to be healing (heeling?? ha ha)…ever so slowly.

This time last year, God was showing Himself faithful to me, in spite of financial burdens and not knowing where I would be working after the summer. Those "burdens" are still there, but God is still faithful as ever. And I have no doubts He will take care of us far beyond our expectations.

So I wonder what I’ll be doing this time next year...

Normal Wear and Tear

Pictured here is my precious son Matthew Manuel and three pairs of his blue jeans, which he got NEW for Christmas. Take special notice to the knees (click on the picture for a close-up). Is this not a great visual representation of an ACTIVE 7-year old boy? Matthew has two other pair of jeans that look the same way. AND a pair of corduroys AND 2 pairs of sweats with the SAME holes in the knees. Notice how they're not just small holes. They're like shredded.

It's kind of funny and cute-but also kind of frustrating-how quickly he will wear out the knees in his pants. He LOVES to slide on floors and he's always crawling around doing something on the floor or ground. He still loves setting up his dominoes and he plays with Koopa a lot on the floor. Also, he's recently discovered the fun of skateboarding, and enjoys "riding" the skateboard on his knees, pushing himself forward with his hands. (You can imagine the look of his hands after that, too!) The knee pads I have for him are a little big for him, and thus kind of uncomfortable, and I haven't insisted he wear them. But I think I'm going to have to now, not only to protect his knees but to save me in clothing replacement costs! I have patched some of the pants that were patchable, but a few of them have been reincarnated into SHORTS for summer.

I was just thinking about how few of Matthew's clothes get passed down to cousins, compared to Hannah's clothes. Matthew's stuff just gets too worn out to be worn anymore. Boys will be boys! ;-) I am thankful that Matthew is healthy enough to run around like he does. Those dirty handprints on the doors and worn-out knees are sweet in their own way, you know?? I really don't mind it.

Missions or Bust

I am fascinated by CULTURE and always will be. It's incredible to me how differently people live around the world. I am so intrigued by other countries and the people that live in them. I'm also intrigued by missionaries who go to remote places and really dig in and get things done for God. Sometimes it's all I think about. Don't get me wrong---I love the USA and I am very PROUD to be an American (most of the time). But I am always imagining myself in SOME OTHER COUNTRY. Partly due to a desire to actually BE THERE, and partly just thinking about what it would be like to be there (the great mysterious unknown adventures to be had). I'm not sure why I'm so taken with BEING SOMEWHERE ELSE. It used to be discontentment, but I no longer feel it's that. I'm not sure what it is. Maybe a burden God's given me for a reason?!? It's been ever since I was a little girl. I mean, I can remember being 5 years old and playing "missionary nurse in Africa". This has been a lifelong thing for me.

So I've been thinking about this in a new light. At first, it started out as a completely unrealistic thought process. Basically, I thought that if I ever came into a whole lot of money and didn't have to work for awhile, I would plan out an entire YEAR of travelling to all of the places I dream of visiting. Except instead of doing the tourist thing and spending ridiculous amounts of money on frivolousness, I'd visit missionaries in those places. I'd stay with them for 2-4 weeks and get to see first-hand what they do. I'd take each of them a big package of things from America that they miss having. I'd try to encourage the missionaries I visit and somehow help them out. And I'd spend a little time learning enough of the language to roughly communicate with the people there.

This would just be amazing for me. BUT, there's little to no chance that I'll ever have the funds for such an excursion. A whole year travelling around doing nothing else!?! Highly unlikely!!

BUT what if I just went one place every year? That HAS to be doable! Especially with teaching and having summers off, I could take the time to do such a thing, even for us to go as a family or for me to go with the kids. The more I think about this, the more I want to MAKE IT HAPPEN. I'm serious. Instead of pouring money into big vacations, I want to do a "family missions trip" once a year for the next however-many years. I love to imagine all that Hannah and Matthew would learn, too, and how it would open their eyes to the world and to missions. I think it would fill this constant "void" in me of wanting so badly to be directly involved more in foreign missionary work. I don't know, maybe it would make it worse, but it would give me something to work toward every year, and save for, etc. etc. etc.

When I was at college, I saw a missionary documentary called "Ee-Tauo" about an evangelistic outreach in Papua New Guinea. It affected me for a long time because it was so inspiring. And just tonight, I found a part of it on YouTube. WOW. Watching it again made me so excited again for those missionaries that were there, and what the tribal people experienced. This is about 10 minutes long, but if you have the time, please watch it! It's awesome to see the Holy Spirit working in hearts-and to see people come to understand for the first time- what Jesus did for them. It overwhelms me with excitement. And I think I will begin planning the first Blanton mission trip very VERY soon! Somewhere close like in Canada?!?!? ;-)

Mama

Last Sunday was Mother's Day and it was extra special to me because of the health problems that Mark's Mom has experienced in the past few weeks. We found out last Friday that she does have cancer. Her prognosis is better than it COULD be (1-3 years) because of the type of cancer cells they have found in her body (small cell vs. large cell). Her neurosurgery went smoothly and the surgeon was able to remove all of the cyst and MOST of the tumor growing on her brain. She is recovering very well and has an amazingly happy attitude. She is very strong and very much herself.

I've also been missing my own Mom like crazy. I've been a little "homesick" for my family lately, and am SERIOUSLY considering taking an Amtrak trip down to Texas with the kids this summer. I am so proud of my mother--of how strong she has been since Dad died. And how she gives and gives. And she's always there when I need a soft shoulder to cry on.

This week, Mark discovered a beautiful song called "Mama", sung by the vocal tenor group IL DIVO. If you haven't heard of them, they have some BEAUTIFUL Spanish songs and some really nice love songs. I plan to make a video to "Mama" as a gift for Connie early this summer. I am posting the video below so you can listen to it. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

I feel blessed continually to have TWO Moms that are loving and giving. BOTH of them have taught me by example about the Mom I need to be. The things our Moms do for us teach us subtly how to GIVE and give selflessly to our own kids, and it will make them good Moms and Dads, too. And their kids will be good Moms and Dads. Good parenting IS hereditary!! We learn by example and we teach what we know.

PROVERBS 31:25-28
"Strength and honor are her clothing. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. HER CHILDREN RISE UP AND CALL HER BLESSED."

Whose Lifeline Am I?

Everybody has times when they feel like giving up. Giving up on a task, on a job, on a person. Giving up on a dream or a goal or even life itself. I am deeply saddened when I see or hear of a person reaching that point. Because it means that person has been overtaken with hopelessness that consumed him, and he had no hope of deliverance, no light at all in that dark, scary place. I'm alarmed by how many people even just around me, even people that I love, struggle with depression and mental anguish that makes them live in daily defeat. (I'm going somewhere with this and I promise I will end this on a positive note!)

I think those of us who are NOT struggling with depression at the present time should realize that we are the lifeline to those who are! Literally we are holding the life preserver (but too often we forget we're holding it). People all around us are facing severe hardships in their hearts. We must be sensitive to their needs and MINISTER, MINISTER, MINISTER as we are led by the Spirit. And we must never think that we are "immune" as Christians, or as "strong" people, because later on in life, we might need someone ELSE to be a lifeline for us! I think of depression like quicksand. You can't get out of it by yourself. The more you struggle alone, the more it covers you. It takes someone else or something else to hold onto--to PULL YOU OUT.

Recently a friend at school lost a good friend, a Christian man in his church, to suicide. This friend of his took his own life, leaving behind a wife and several other children, mostly because of financial problems. And my friend felt so badly that he had not picked up on the "signs"---that he could not realize the pain his friend was enduring. It was such a shock. And just last week, another man at school lost a soon-to-be son-in-law, also due to suicide, also a Christian, and also a shock. When I hear of these things, I do not judge those people for what they did. I understand their hopelessness. I also understand that someone may have been able to help them out of that quicksand, if they knew they were in it. Someone who is hurting really badly will not always let anyone KNOW that they're in pain. But the Holy Spirit can clue us in! Even the little things we do for others can "rescue" them from darkness.

I remember our friend Manny's testimony--a Puerto Rican guy we know who was in a gang in Philadelphia when he was young. Regularly up to no good and on the fast track to destruction. He hated the life he was in but didn't know how to get out of it. He wanted to kill himself, but there was a girl who would walk by his "hangout" corner and just SMILE the most kind smile, the most sincere smile. He saw her almost every day, and it kept him from killing himself. And finally after awhile, he had the courage to ask her, "Why are you smiling like that every time I see you?". And she shared Jesus with him right then and there. And he went to church with her and he got saved and his whole life was changed. A simple SMILE led to that. You just NEVER know what people are dealing with. We gotta love them even when they're acting like jerks! God, help us see people through YOUR eyes.

I long for heaven. I believe most believers do. Some days I want Jesus to come back so badly I can't stand it! It's hard to wait for it. I want to share with you something that I read that I really like, about how when we get fed up with this life, what we are REALLY longing for deep down is heaven. We long for the life God intended us to have on earth. For EDEN. Lost people and saved people long for this, but we don't always realize that's what we're longing for.

"We are homesick for Eden. We long for what the first man and woman once enjoyed- a perfect and beautiful earth with free and untainted relationships with God, each other, animals, and our environment. Every attempt at human progress has been an attempt to overcome what was lost in the Fall. We live our lives on a sin-corrupted earth, between Eden and the New Earth, but we must never forget that this is not our natural state. Sin and death and suffering and war and poverty are not natural-they are the devastating results of our rebellion against God. We long to return to Paradise- a perfect world, without the corruption of sin, where God walks with us and talks with us in the cool of the day. Because we're human beings, we desire something tangible and physical, something that will not fade away. And that is exactly what God promises us- a home that will not be destroyed, a kingdom that will not fade, a city with unshakable foundations, an incorruptible inheritance."

We will reach heaven soon enough---but while we're here in the sin-infested world, we can BUILD the kingdom of heaven by SPREADING HIS LOVE to EVERYBODY we meet. EVERYBODY we come across, even strangers. They are loved by God and we must love them. We could be loving them right to Jesus' feet. If you know someone having a hard time, TALK to them. Tell them they are loved. Tell them WHY THEY ARE HERE and WHY LIFE IS WORTH LIVING. Because it could make a bigger difference than you know.

I am posting a Josh Groban video here that I can't seem to watch enough. I first heard this song a few months ago and it speaks volumes to my heart. Apply the words as though God is singing them straight to you. And as you should sing them to the people who hurt. I love this song and the video. It inspires me to love others more and NOT to GIVE UP on this life.

JUDE 14-25 encapsulate everything I'm trying to say in this entry. These verses tell us exactly how we are supposed to live. They tell us we ARE the lifeline to those lost and drowning in the quicksand, heading for the fire instead of the new Eden. We're here now to do ALL WE CAN for them. IT IS OUR PURPOSE.

Basil Perfection

I am supposed to be grading right now (ssshhh! don't tell anyone). I am procrastinating BIG TIME. (I'm a professional procrastinator.) So this will be a SHORT post.

I've been wanting to post something about BASIL. Yes, as in the herb. It is my recent obsession in the kitchen. I LOVE LOVE LOVE BASIL. Love the smell of it, the taste--fresh, dried, powdered, it is soooo yummy. The seasoning of seasonings. I've been adding it to just about everything in the past few months and find that it's GREAT on everything so...there you go. It's especially de-lish when combined with tomato or sun-dried tomato. It's been hard to pass up Basil & Sun-Dried Tomato items in the supermarket---like those wheat thins and chips and feta cheese, etc. etc. I've been making pesto with it which is ridiculously addicting. And for an easy treat, I cut up some potatoes and drizzle olive oil on them, then sprinkle them generously with basil and a little sun-dried tomato, and bake them 'til sizzly. Then I add a little grated parmesan or asiago--AWESOME flavor. Mark and I have decided to grow our own herbs and tomatoes this summer on our tiny balcony. Yeah! I want to grow heirloom tomatoes--they are the weirdest looking but in my opinion the most delicious.

And in addition to the basil, I have been rather taken lately with pomegranate. Especially pomegranate JUICE mixed with other juices. I've been mixing it with Crystal Light and Fresca and well, even just a little bit added in my water-- and just like the basil, it's all good!!

Try making the potato thing with a nice salad with olives and a big glass of pomegranate juice in Fresca. You're in for a treat, I tell ya. OK, this post is making me hungry.

I want to write more, but alas---my big bag of papers to grade is SCREAMING my name and the morning comes soon enough as it is. It is beyond necessary that I answer the call. So ADIOS for now, amigos.

Hannah the Drama Queen

Mark and I tease Hannah sometimes about being a Drama Queen. She's not THAT bad, but we like to tease her, and we call her "DQ" whenever she overacts or gets overly excited or upset about something. It's kind of a funny thing (she enjoys playing it up), and since she loves Dairy Queen so much, it kind of "goes".

Well, when I was in San Francisco, I saw this T-shirt in a shop and totally wanted to buy it for Hannah, but was too low on dough. I ended up carrying it half-way to the cash register, then realizing I couldn't possibly justify the purchase, and so I put it back on the rack. The woman I was with in the store (our school's choir director) surprised me 2 days later by giving it to me as a "thank you" gift for playing the piano for the choirs. Yet another one of those "little" things that God saw fit to provide for me. And it made my MONTH because I got to give the shirt to Hannah when I returned home, and now she can wear it with pride and embrace her DQ-ness. :-)

On a somewhat unrelated note:

Around Christmas time, Hannah started talking about getting her hair cut short again. She has enjoyed having long hair, but you know---change is good. Well, she just couldn't make up her mind about it and so I told her, "When you're ready to get it cut, we'll cut it!"

Well, you know how sometimes things happen that just make a decision painfully easy to make? Yyyya.

A few days ago, Hannah was getting ready for school as she always does, except on this particular day, she tried "curling" her hair with my round brush. Maybe every girl must learn the hard way about the dangers of round brushes. I know I did. About 10 minutes before we were supposed to leave for school, she comes and tells me, "We've got a problem, Mom" as I look to see the round brush completely STUCK against her forehead, so closely stuck that it WOULD NOT BUDGE, with LOTS of hair wrapped around it. I was determined to free her hair without having to cut it--I really tried. But I ended up having to cut some of the hair free of the brush, which gave her rather uneven-looking temporary"bangs". Surprisingly, all of this happened with very little drama on her end. She just sat still and let me do my thing. But she had tears at one point, because it did hurt. Poor thing. And so that was the event that decided it was time for a haircut.

She looks so cute and it reminds me of when she was little. And this week I'm making a video of her, which I'll post once it's all complete. She's growing so fast.