You Gotta' Make It Hurt

I held a book club with the women I work with. These dear women are so fun. The book was Tuck Everlasting. It's about a family that accidentally drinks from a spring that gives everlasting life. You may think this is a blessing, especially if you are 17 year old Jesse. However, is it a blessing for Mae and Tuck? Read the book and find out : ) Anyway, our talk of 17 year old Jesse led to a discussion about my son. We talked about 17 year old boys being impulsive and living in the moment, anything beyond 30 seconds in the future is out of their grasp. "Ma, can I ski off the roof with my snow board?", he'd ask. Imagine if he could live forever what he would do! Is it any wonder my hair is grey?! My son bought a car, a red mustang, V8, 5 speed, and has been working on it for 5 months. He's been itching to drive it on his own. He got his license on a Thursday. On Friday, less than 24 hours later, my husband and I took his license away. Yes, we are the meanest parents alive. I told the women, "You gotta' make it hurt. They don't learn otherwise." They agreed. So, when I suspended his cell phone service today, I told the customer service operator, "You gotta' make it hurt." He agreed. Like Mae Tuck, I could live forever happily, but parenting forever . . . now that would hurt.

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Washington "Tebowing"

Look Up

So, I have sat back and heard the news stories about Tim Tebow. I have heard some pretty sweet things about the guy and his faith. I have also heard some pretty harsh things about weather or not God cares about a football game. Even some Christians are saying that God does not care about football. But, why wouldn't God care? If we, mere humans, care enough to cheer our children on at competitive events (music, sports, debates, etc.), why wouldn't God, who is the ultimate Father, care about a football game. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?" Matthew 7:9 If Tim Tebow asked for a completed pass, why would God give him a stone instead? A request was made by a child of God (Tebow) who has been obedient to his Father (God) and His Father granted that request. If a quarterback who has been disobedient to God, asked for a completed pass, God may not be as likely to grant that request. Does God care about football? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:7 If God cares for the sparrows, will He not care for humans even more? I think so. How does God show Himself to us? Through the answering of our prayers, through signs and wonders and miracles. Was Tebow's win a miracle? Not really, but it sure makes us look up, doesn't it?

One Step Forward, Two Steps Backward, Three Steps Sideways

As most of you know, I have worked for my husband for 23 years at our home office, 10 of those years I also homeschooled the kids. Then business got slow and the kids grew up (in spite of my constant protest), so I got a part-time job. One step forward. It was the perfect job. I used all my organization skills and parenting skills to minister to 12 dear women who are searching for Christ in an effort to be healed from addiction. I fell in love with each and every women. I felt honored to be there. What I did not know (as I was not told) was that the job required me to counsel the women, teach the classes, attend and record the staff meetings, attend the clinicals, work on holidays, write daily, weekly and monthly reports and evaluations, and supply all my own materials for part-time wages. Because of my love for the women, I did all that was expected of me at work (and very well I may add), plus cooked dinner, helped out in our home office, taxied the boy to and fro, cared for the puppy and then proceeded to get very sick. Two steps backward. So, I quit the job and took on more hours at our home office. I now volunteer my time with the women (the perfect solution), am working on a writing project and took on some hours at the local health food store. Three steps sideways. Where I'll end up, nobody knows!

A Boy And His Wisdom

The boy was in pain. It's not unusual for something on his body to be hurting since he does everything hard. But this was not an ordinary pain. The whole side of his face hurt. I took him to the dentist and an x-ray revealed an extra tooth growing way back in his jaw behind his wisdom tooth. Off to the oral surgeon this morning we went. Upon further x-rays (and more money) it was determined we had some options. He could remove the upper wisdom tooth to let the little tooth grow, but that would mean removing the lower wisdom tooth so that his bite would not be compromised. This option would only require a few well placed shots of novocain. The other option, surgically remove the extra tooth. This requires general anesthesia, drilling the bone, more risks and of course, more money. The doctor asked what I thought. "Well," I said, "he doesn't actually chew his food anyway, I mean, it's more like gulp and swallow. But on the other hand, removing wisdom from a boy who lacks is never wise (heehee)." Totally not amused by my humor, I asked what he, the surgeon, the one who went to medical school, thought. I might have guessed he chose the option that separated me from the most money. While the boy was coming out of anesthesia I asked, "What is your phone password and do you really like this new girl?" He laughed and asked, "Ma, how much drugs do you think they gave me?" "I see," I said, "they kept your wisdom intact."

Happy New Year!!

Sunday morning, January 1st, my family sat down to eat breakfast. I took out my pen and pad and began to write out New Year's Resolution guidelines. They are as follows:
1. No resolution shall be based on vanity.
2. Honor God with your new commitments.
3. Does your resolution please God or man?
4. Will your resolution move your relationship with God to a higher level?
5. Must be an alliteration (optional).

Our resolutions:

Mom's:
Peace, Patience and Performance (as in spiritual discipline tasks)
Dad's:
Perseverance, Patience and Philanthropy (as in generosity of gestures as well as resources)
Daughter number 1:
Finish Strong, Faith Soars
Daughter number 2:
Memorization, Meditation, Ministering and Mobilization
AND Ring by Spring (as in haha)
Son's:
Pick-up Puppy Poop
AND Muscles by March (as in honoring God with his body in baseball)
The puppy's:
Chill with the Chewing (as in stop chewing up mom's stuff!)

Finally, family resolutions:
Kick the kisses (as in chocolate)
Trash the Technology (as in cell phone/computer/TV/head-phones while together)
Family, Faith, Fun and Fellowship (as in Happy New Year folks)!