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!?)