Sunday, August 30, 2009

Progress Report

So how are those New Year's Resolutions working out for you?

Oh yeah, those...

I must admit I can't recite mine off the top of my head but I think they were to not eat sugar, to try more things, and I'm sure to read my Bible more.

I'm still sugar free and along with the rest of my group plan to finish out strong. Trying new things-well, I am making baby steps. Uhh, Bible...well, my book mark is in May in my One Year Bible. I'm chugging along but obviously not hitting it every day.

This post isn't a guilt trip, don't worry. I have just realized that when Fall comes, there's a new wave of freshness in the air, don't you think? If you have school aged kids, you are probably starting them out with fresh clothes & crayons, a new school year, and new goals. I know with
home school moms, this is far reaching as we also feel the need to get our houses in order.

So, what are you thinking for Fall?

I've been working on the doula gig this summer and am now in more of a waiting mode-waiting for clients and waiting for the workshop to come together. So, doula-ing is a sort of fresh start, teaching the girls again this school year, starting a little PreK with Jaika, starting a new Beth Moore Bible study, and as silly as it sounds, I feel I have a little of a fresh start with my new-to-me laptop. It's ALL MINE so I can install anything I want and have only my stuff bookmarked. Sorry, I got a little carried away thinking of a possession I get all to myself. You know, like the washing machine.

Any new goals in your life? Any old goals that need revamping? Do share, I love goals almost as much as I love my children!

Friday, August 28, 2009

Never Give Up

Okay, Summer is over, time to get back to work here. I'm talking to me and to you people who haven't been commenting (but I know you're reading 'cause you tell me...). My friend always knew her mom was about to go into a hormonal tirade when she said you people. If it gets you to comment, you can think I'm the same way...you people.

My message today is never give up on anyone. Never burn bridges. Never write someone off.

Case in point: A new couple friend of ours (You know what a couple friend is, right? A couple who we are both friends with, got it?) has a story to tell. Boy. Let's see. Both the husband and wife came from dysfunctional broken homes full of family addictions. They still live near their families who are still dysfunctional and addicted. However, the couple is newly saved and vibrantly living for the Lord while allowing Him to strip their past habits away. They've both done jail time and have been addicted to drugs. In their new life, they're new homeschoolers (started this week with Sonlight!) to little boys and are witnesses to their lost friends and family. They get called hypocrites--to their faces--more often in a week than I've been in my entire life. Because of their backgrounds, they have a large mission field among the people they see daily.

I wonder how many police officers or former Sonic customers might have written off my friends, back in the day. Who would have ever thought this couple would have ever darkened the door of a church much less worshiped there with passion?

You know what? People do change. Don't write anyone off. Don't despair. Keep praying. Keep praying. I have another story of change if I can get the nerve up to post it.

Until then, don't give up!

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Vacation Mission Trips

Does the zoo ever get boring? Do you ever just wish you could take a zoo-like trip where you sat back and watched native people in their own land? Then you could go home and share the slide show on your blog and get called a missionary! Okay, so maybe you did some work on the trip, but you had to or it'd look like you just wanted to enjoy a free trip.

Well, a national Christian radio station was giving a way spots on a mission trip to the 9th caller.

Doesn't that seem odd to you?

There are a lot of things about missions that can get messed up, but I think it's a big red flag mess up if you go on a mission trip like you go on a cruise.

We have a large amount of missionary friends and all of them raise funds with blood, sweat and tears (okay, maybe not the blood part, lol). They sell their possessions and cook loads of spaghetti in November for a trip planned for the next June. They travel the circuit of churches speaking to congregations big and small getting the word out about missions and their trip. They have a deep calling inside that tunes out the warnings of danger from well meaning friends. It's a big deal, not a vacation.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Babywise

The most beautiful, graceful piece on Gary Ezzo and Babywise I've ever seen. It helps me understand so much more than I ever have on the subject. A must read for anyone on either side of this issue.

And I'm still developing my post on mission trips...(but if you're a friend who's into missions, this is not about you, it's about a radio station give-away, 'kay?)

Monday, August 3, 2009

Quite a random weekend...

Okay, I know this is probably just a normal weekend in parenthood, but I still just gotta share these unrelated random happenings.

*I learned you can buy a casket at Costco. Hmmm. Where do you store it until you need it?

*We went thrift store shopping for doula/pregnancy books & work jeans for Shane. In front of us in line was a rather tattered looking older man who was buying heels, a wig, and some women's clothes...Shane noticed his manicure.

*At Costco, I locked both sets of keys in the car. Jaika saved the day and crawled through the back window of the van where the hinge in broken (so glad it's broken!). Very proud moment for her (she needed the ego boost after she got taken to the car for a huge tantrum she threw in Half Price Books, one in which her mom wanted to melt into the carpet).

*While standing there, a family drives by looking for a parking spot and apparently starts counting kids. In amazement, the dad holds up six fingers. I was a little distracted by the key situation and nodded...somehow in sign language we get it settled that we have 5 kids...he drove off with a huge grin. I noticed four children in his car...

*Costco sells a box of 6 Acuvue contacts for $13. I love Costco. Where else can you buy huge jars of whole dill pickles, contacts...and a casket?

*On that How Well Do You Know So-and-So quiz on Facebook, a friend (incorrectly) picked the answer that I met Shane while he was a carhop at Sonic. I just can't picture Shane in that job, but when I almost get my imagination to that high level, it makes me laugh really hard.

*And for the clincher-Miss Perfect Child Audrey was--are you sitting down? Finally fussy. She's been fussy & feverish for five days. Was determined to figure it out with a doctor's appt. today but she woke up feeling fine. She almost lost her crown, but now that she's feeling better, she's our Favorite Child once again.

PS-I got to know Shane when I dated his best friend, who was later the best man in the wedding. We were at his first wedding and the birth of his son...good times.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Doula Website

I've been working on my new site, why don't you check it out and let me know what you think.

Boy it's hard to know how to please everyone when setting up a site. I have a video that plays automatically but Shane said to set it so it doesn't start because there are still dial-up folks on the planet. But when I saw this video on other doula sites, I didn't press play-but it's a great video so I want everyone who comes to my site to see it.

It's also a challenge to me to see how God has given me such favor in the doula gig that has in turned open so many potential doors, and I don't want to miss how I'm supposed to honor him through it. My heart has finally settled on the truth that I am just who I am (and I am His!), which will be quietly evident as I work with each family. Thanks Summer for helping me iron that out.

Have a splendid weekend, friends. I have a post brewing about missions and one of the big new things related to missions that irks me like nails on a chalkboard. I'll be back soon with that!