Ties That Bind

I stood at the sliding glass door holding my breath, willing myself to stay, when all I wanted to do was stand behind little Bradley as he climbed the ladder to the slide on his swing set.

I cried myself silly dropping him off at mother's day out for the first time.

I watched him play inline hockey, football, and rugby. I watched him get injured. All the while I was purposefully standing back.

I've always felt like I had to pry my own fingers off of my first born son's life one at a time. It was so hard.

But when he married Stefanie, my hands were totally open. All the letting go had been done. Brad is his own man. He is the Lord's. He is wise and mature and ready for life.

How wonderful to be able to rejoice at his wedding!!

Technical Difficulties

This delay in blogging was due to an unforeseen stomach bug. You may return to your regularly scheduled reading.

Brad and Stefanie's Wedding!

But I Don't Want to Brush My Teeth

Ten year old Chase was so tired last night that when I told him to brush his teeth he said, "I don't want to." Like he had a choice.

There may be numerous reasons why he doesn't want to brush, and we've tried to address them all, but this is a very common scenario in our home. We tell him to get ready for bed, and he stalls. He has perfected the stall beyond what all three of the other kids have done. When I tell him to brush his teeth now, but he finds many reasons to delay said brushing, he is being disobedient.

I didn't want to write this post, because I think I've said it before, which just goes to show how little I've progressed in this area. However, last night I had to show Chase much mercy in his disobedience, because God had been showing me much mercy in my disobedience. All day He had been telling me to do certain things, one of which was to finish my Bible Study, and I had been whining and stalling.

Of course the lesson in the Bible study was about when God tells us to do something, we must respond immediately. Ouch.

I have some potentially challenging things coming up. It's so important that I take care of the "little things". That's always been the hardest for me. I've begged Him to help me, and I really see how He has been trying to teach me. He has been so patient.

What is God waiting to do through me that I'm prohibiting by my stalling?

Tonight, I made Chase brush his teeth immediately.

(After giving the rabbit water)

A Rose by Any Other Name

When my mind wanders about the future, I picture Dan and I travelling in a R.V. to visit our children one by one. Hopefully, they'll all live so close to one another this will never have to happen. I would hope however that our visits would be a blessing.

To my horror, a beautiful R.V. parked in our neighborhood...

Is named... THE INTRUDER. What?!!

I'm sure it is an awesome R.V. The people who own it, I'm sure, are just lovely. But who was the advertising genius that came up with this name?

If we were to visit our children in the future R.V., I would like it to be called something hopefully more fitting. Like...

The Blessing

or Welcome Guest

or even We Promise Not to Stay More than Four Days!

But THE INTRUDER? No way.

Swooshing Angel Wings

I'm reading the book "90 Minutes in Heaven", and Don Piper tells of hearing the swooshing of Angel wings. That reminded me of the coolest experience I had last week.

I had just fallen asleep, when I heard a swooshing noise, and I awoke with a start thinking, "Jesus is coming!" I was so excited and filled with Joy! Then nothing happened.

Several thoughts all at once...

Did He take everyone but me? But no, I wasn't worried about that.

Nothing, no trumpet or other noise and Dan wasn't stirring, so I knew He wasn't really coming. Imminently , I mean.

And just pure joy.

And how great is that? I'm glad to know that Jesus' return will fill me with such gladness, and not fear or worry.

Even now when I think about it, I can still feel that joy. Neat.

Home Alone

Well, not quite alone. Chase and I are without Dan (off to teach teenagers about the constitution, etc. at Freedom Generation Camp) and Rachel (off to New Orleans on a mission trip).

This after a week of Grandma Dodie visiting. Brad here with one of his groomsmen the week before. Four groomsmen one night. A set of grandparents another night. A cousin/nephew another. What a crazy, fun, busy time.

But, we've recovered from the wedding, and we're alone. Today we saw everyone off (including Brad & Stefanie back from their honeymoon), went to church, grocery shopping and home. We finished 10,000 B.C., ate lunch and swam away the whole afternoon.

Tomorrow we have a lunch invitation, then Chase has a friend over all afternoon till evening. Good thing, too. I'm teaching two Frugal Living classes Tuesday night, and I'm not ready. So Chase and his buddy will have fun, and I'll have the freedom to finish prepping.

Still, it feels a little lonely. It won't be long until Rachel is gone off to college, so I guess we better start getting used to it.

Back to Blogging

Some very cool things have happened, are happening, will happen. So much to blog about that I haven't known where to start. Hopefully these things will spill out in the days and weeks to come.

In doing a Bible study, I'm reminded that I'm supposed to be God-centered, not self-centered. Duh. Why do I keep forgetting that?

In asking God how I can remember to keep Him and His provisions and abilities and desires first, He reminded me of the times where I spent my day asking God, "What next?"

I can do that. So, I asked God, "What do you want me to do now?"

He told me to write in my blog. Isn't God fun? He has so totally blessed my socks off, and this blog is one of the ways I've wanted to share the cool things He does in my life. Yet, I've left it stagnant. Time for fresh water.