A Night Out

Where can you see Michael W. Smith, visit with a favorite relative, meet Frank Peretti, catch up with a pastor friend and your worship minister, and find a new home group all at once? Apparently at a Michael W. Smith concert.

On Monday, Bill and I had the privelege of going to the Michael W. Smith Holiday Concert in Spokane. Some of you may remember that Bill's nephew married Christa Black, who is a part of Michael's crew. She plays the violin and guitar, but for this tour is mainly a backup singer.

We got to spend a few precious minutes with Christa before the concert and give her a little care package. The time was way too short. She seemed so tired. I just wanted to take her home and make her soup and put her to bed.

The concert was wonderful. Melinda Doolittle was there, too. I didn't know who she was until Monday (not an American Idol fan), but I will remember her now! Smitty mentioned releasing his first Christmas album 20 years ago! Could we really be that old? Sigh.

When the concert was over, Bill helped a clueless teenager change his tire. He didn't know where to put the jack, and didn't have any gloves. Did I mention it was a cool 7 degrees? When he finished with that, there was another vehicle in the parking lot whose Diesel had frozen (congealed?). So we gave two couples a ride to Hauser Lake.

We were starving! We had grabbed Starbucks and a snack before the concert and told ourselves we would eat after. But with all the running around, we ended up at good old 24 hour Denney's about 11:00 to eat.

It was fun, though, and we are enjoying filling our home with the sounds of "A New Hallelujah!"

Of Floods And....

You guessed it - Poop!

After a week of stomache flu and on the verge of the busiest weekend of the year, we thought it might be fun to flood the basement - so we did!

Just kidding. Well, it did flood, but not because we planned it. This home we rent is on a very old cesspool system that needs to be replaced. The joy of cesspools is that they drain right out into the ground. So when the ground is saturated, there is nowhere for the black or grey water to go. So you guessed it! It just backs up into the house.

This afternoon I was busy finishing work on my computer, when water begin quickly flooding the basement from the laundry room. We were able to stop the surge by turning off the washer. But were faced with lots of water, wet walls, wet carpet, you get the picture. Thankfully, this was mostly soapy water that had tried to drain from the washer. Several hours later, the cesspool is pumped with temporary relief until the whole system is replaced. You can guess what that involved - yeah, lots of poop! I shouldn't really complain. I'm in here blogging about it, while Bill is out in the freezing rain, helping cut through concrete. So we are on water restriction. We can only use enough water to fill the remainder of the tank and it will back up again.

If that isn't motivation to clean the basement, I don't know what is. Course that was NOT on the agenda for the night. The agenda for tonight? Plan A: Clayton's school musical play Plan B: (due to Clayton having the stomache flu), Bill taking Riley and Ian to their award's night at church for their discipleship program (that Bill also helps lead) Plan C: Mop up water, set up fans, pump out poop, serve hot chocolate to workers, occupy kids with movies, and add 6 more loads of laundry (ie. wet towels, blankets, gloves, clothes, and shoes) to the list. But oh, well!

Last night I was doing my 10 minute routine...ten minutes to make cookie dough (and let others make the oookies), 10 minutes for dishes, 10 minutes to decorate the tree, 10 minutes to clean out a file....How do you decorate a tree in 10 minutes? Well, you should see the tree. Hayden got to pick it out this year. It has about 10 branches!

I usually do an annual purging of the file cabinet in January. This year, as piles of paper begin to overflow on every available surface, I decided it was time to do it early. I also decided that there wasn't much use for all but the top drawer. I've had a file cabinet since I was 18. Yeah, what does an OCD 18 year old do with their graduation money? Go on a trip? Upgrade their car? No! Invest in a file cabinet to keep organized? For years, I clipped articles and saved sermon notes, and all manner of things that were full of good information and would be useful for years to come.

I realized yesterday.........I NEVER look for anything in my file cabinet! I have a new form of information searching now, it is called GOOGLE! I can find anything I want in seconds. Why store an entire tree in my corner!?

So, I began viscously weeding 1/2 a drawer in 10 minutes. I found a very interesting file. It was labeled "Passions". I expected to find it full of articles on Passions, but it was not as I thought. I don't even remember starting this file. I don't remember putting any of the contents in it. It must have been started during darker days of motherhood, based on its contents. It contained an article about a crisis nursery, the first children's story I ever wrote, and a pamphlet for Wycliffe. I found it very interesting that somehow, sometime, I had started filing away my dreams. It was a file of the things I would do, if I could do anything: write, minister to moms in crisis, and Scripture translation. Very interesting.

So, you guessed it! I left that file alone.

I've come to that place where I have to accept I am once again in survival mode. No longer am I nursing a baby, with three other little ones hanging on my legs. Now, I'm managing three kid's homework assignments, soccer club, basketball games, doctor's appointments, Christmas programs, special choir, drama rehearsal, and discipleship groups. I'm trying to keep the house at a point where the clutter isn't a safety hazard and the dirt isn't a health hazard. I'm trying to get at least six hours of sleep a night, and I'm working full time. This will be the year that I buy the pre-packaged cookie dough with candy canes stamped on it.

A friend and I were reflecting tonight (over a salted caramel hot chocolate at Starbucks) about some of the things God has taken me through this year. He has been refining and refining and refining. He has removed me from position and leadership and sent me to another desert place. He has caused me to prove that the truth I've known in my heart and written out on paper is really liveable. That God really is the initiator of our relationship with Him - that the relationship really is more important than spiritual activity - that a mom really can thrive in her relationship with God when everyone else is speaking for her time.

Life now happens in 10 minute increments: 10 minutes in the Word, 10 minute lunch breaks, 10 minute exercise sessions, 10 minutes to drill spelling words, 10 minutes to throw dinner in the crockpot. I'm learning that if something is going to take more than 10 minutes, I better not even try to take it on.

Which brings me to my new exercise routine. Bill has started P90X. Yes, he plans to be buff. He wanted me to do it with him, but I just couldn't imagine where I'd find an hour a day to do ANYTHING else! Instead of going on without me, though, he surprised me with the 10 Minute Trainer!! It is just my kind of thing! So now, I will work out 20 minutes a day - yes, 10 minutes at a time! It is only 20 minutes, but 20 minutes I wasn't doing before.

I can't tell you how much more energized I feel with just a little exercise. I sleep better, don't wake up hurting everyday (which was getting really annoying), and am overall more motivated to make healthy choices just because I know I'm working at something. So last night Bill and I did our before photos. No, I won't be posting them. Talk about embarrassing. I am currently at the heaviest I have ever been (not pregnant). Something about new medication combined with sitting 40 hours a week while my boys are in school as opposed to constantly having someone to chase, has been a bad combination for this girl. What is even worse is when you measure as big or bigger than your big strong man at almost every measurement point. Yikes!

So, yeah, I'm ready to start some better habits. I've been much more consciensious about my eating and the meals I'm preparing. I guess it is a good year to not have time for Christmas baking!

In other news, I took the boys to a Living Nativity last Sunday night while Bill was working. It was so cool! The boys got to have a real experience of walking through Bethlehem, petting goats, seeing the market, etc. Riley about got kissed by a camel. It was a great way to start the season with the kids.

Riley and Ian have both done their Christmas performance at school. It was SO good. I wish I knew how to post video to You tube, because Riley was quite the little dancer. :D Clayton's drama/choir program is Friday, and Hayden's program is next Tuesday. We have three free nights before Christmas!

I was looking over some verses in my 3x5 spiral last night while waiting for an appointment and ran across this one: "I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me." Psalm 57:2 This verse has become a favorite. When I'm tempted to be frustrated over a book with no more publishing proposals ready or a half started web-site with no time to work on, I keep reminding myself Who is responsible to fulfill the purposes God laid out for me. "God, it is Your book." "God it is Your Glory. It is Your Kingdom. It is Your purpose."

The other interesting part of that verse is the meaing of "fulfills." The Hebrew word there means: to bring to an end, fail, fulfill. It is interesting that there is quite a bit of negative conotation to those words: fail, bring to an end. So often God has to bring us to our end, to allow us to fail, to end what we know in order to bring His purposes to fulfillment. It has given me a bit to chew on today.

New things

So I've had a few new experiences lately:

* I tried to do my job one day with a laptop, and wanted to cut my own finger off to punish it for doing such a horrible job as a mouse. I may be the only laptop owner that will travel around with a mouse (if I ever get a laptop).
* I had my teeth cleaned my a male hygenist.
* I went to a baby dedication service where a single mom dedicated her child. You may think it is wierd that I mention it, but think about it....have you ever seen that? The fact that I noticed that I'd never seen that, made me sit and stew about why. Is is that the church is generally so condemning on why they have a child? Or are they just generally feel ashamed? In this case, it was an adoption - so no shame...but what about all the others? Shouldn't they be supported in their parenting role 3x as much as a married couple? Interesting.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! We are enjoying some time in Oregon with my parents. All of my brothers will be here. We are surprising dad with a 60th birthday celebration while we are here. My boys have dress clothes and Beetles wigs all set for the lip sync performance of "She Loves You! (yeah, yeah, yeah)" Should be very cute.

Bill is still laid off. He is being scheduled to work at the course about one day a week, collecting unemployment, and finding a few odd jobs here and there to do for people.

I am now working completely from our house. We moved all the office equipment to the basement to set up a real office area. We connected the second computer to internet, so now Bill and I can spend our evenings surfing the net together. He can play Facebook Poker, while I play with web design, etc. That has been fun.

Clayton just finished his first set of finals, and did very well. He is growing steadily, plans on trying out for JV Basketball in January, still loves to read, and making some new friends at school. He has recently begin writing poetry as a hobby...chip off the ol' block. :D

Riley is trying his hand at basketball. He somehow got put on a 4th grade team, but is hanging in there. He also was asked to join the special chorus for 4th and 5th grade at his school (though he is in 3rd grade). He is loving that! His choir just took 1st place at district competition this week. He is also in the top reading group in his class and in Advanced Math. We are continually amazed at how much he is thriving in a school that understands creative, active kids. His Advanced Math teacher taught his small group at church this week and came in to our parent/teacher conference just to try to tell us how amazed he was at how well Riley was doing - but he was really pretty speechless. He just couldn't get it out - and we understood. Last month he participated with a special group of kids at school in performing at a Boys and Girls Club fundraiser, since he had passed the "globe test" at school.

Ian is the responsible student. He helps remind his class members of how they are to organize their desks. His is super-conscienscious of making sure his assignments are done and his work is in the right side of the folder. He is also in the top reading group. He brings home his green card every week for good conduct and we put it on the fridge. One week, he came home bursting into tears, because he had turned a yellow card. It hasn't happened again. He has also passed the globe test at school. Globe walking, by the way, is the ability to balance and walk around on a hard plastic ball (about 3 ft. in diameter). To pass the test, you must be able to go front, back, side to side, and stay on it for a certain amount of time. Now Ian is working on juggling while globe walking. He can do two balls.

Hayden likes to put on a show every night at dinner of what song he sang at school that day. He is EXTREMELY shy around those he doesn't know well. It is amazing how far he can bury his head into my leg. He does love to sing. He grows an extra freckle every day. This morning, he was singing "Where is Thumbkin" with himself, with full hand motions, while sitting on the toilet. Hayden just had his Grandparent Thanksgiving Feast at school, and took Lawanda and Wally (Michelle's parents) as adopted grandparents, since his others couldn't come. He really likes his school, where they have an awesome playground, a class-pet tarantula, and daily art projects. However, he would be more than happy to stay home with mom any day.

Warning! The following, may be offensive to those who don't understand boys
Recent conversations around our house:

On the way to a basketball game, with Riley changing in the van....
Clayton: Riley! Your feet smell like puke!
Riley: Well, maybe they will stink so bad, we'll pass the other team out and we'll win.
Clayton: You're going to pass your own team out first!

Ian: Riley, you stink! Your breath smells like a fart!

Clayton: Mom! I found fresh bear poop on the mountain!

Riley: Buddy has been stinkin' really bad lately.
Clayton: Yeah, he keeps finding deer guts to eat that the hunter's leave.
Bill: Yeah, I hate it when the guts just sit up there, they turn all white and cottage cheesey.

Lord, have mercy!

Election Response

Can I just say I was so sick to my stomache that night. I know the truth. God is still in control. He can use anyone, right? But, there is a grieving process with every loss.

I do have to say, that for the historical aspect of this election, I also cheer! I think it is awesome to have a black president (just didn't want it to be that particular man). There are a lot of wounds in our nation that need healed. I know God can really use this to help those in the prejudice dominated areas of our country realize that they cannot dominate forever - that they don't speak for the whole nation. I also pray it will dissolve the myth among our minorities that the whole nation is against them. There is much spiritual application to what has happened in our election - that the oppressed people, once held in bondage, now sit at the highest position in the land. Don't you rejoice in a God that can do that kind of thing?! I do.

Do I still get sick to my stomache when I have flashbacks of images from the news of churches full of believers weeping tears of joy that they finally have someone in office that stands against so many sacred principles of God's Word? YES!

The other aspect of this election is that I am convicted more and more of my own lack of involvement. I think it is easy to sit and rest when we feel that the one in office is safe. But now, there is much motivation to stand up, get involved, be active in change. I encourage Christians everywhere to not sit down whining about our doom, but rise up and get involved. Because....

The truth is: Change doesn't come with politics. Politics are a reflection of change. Obama isn't the one who is going to change everything. Obama was elected because the nation has changed. Change happens in hearts and hearts will elect leaders that reflect their hearts. So, there are those who will rest in the government and still expect them to not only change their world and improve their conditions - but expect them to be their giver of hope. Then there is me, and those like me, who know that no government can bear that responsibility or fulfill it for any culture. That is the job of the creator of the universe.

Let us not forget who sets up and tears down kingdoms and rulers. Let us not forget as 1 Peter 2 states that the our rulers are put in office to do justice to those who do evil, and to do good to those who are righteous. Let us pray that he doesn't overstep his role, but let us also keep our hope in the God of the universe.

Our job is to make disciples as we go, and if we were all doing that - we would never fear another election.

My Country 'Tis of Me!

So today is the day! - the day Americans decide what they think is important. I remember having the same thoughts go through my mind four years ago, as I do now. Do we decide to do what is morally right - to choose freedom, independence, and captialism - or to choose what we think will put more money in our pocket books?

Now, I could get on a whole soap box on that issue alone - on whether or not one candidate will yield more money in someone's pockets. But I will forego that for tonight.

It is true. The economy isn't great right now. If anyone understands that, we do. Bill is laid off for the third time in our marriage. We have consistently lived on less than ideal - and lack of education has not been to blame.

However, we live in a land where we are all guaranteed the ability and right to pursue happiness. There is nothing in our constitution that gives our government the responsibility to guarantee me a job or a certain income, or even an education. We are guaranteed the right to pursue.

My new job allows me to daily interact with countless moms who have found an inventive way to earn money from home. They have risen above the challenges of economy and started companies and invented products. They are remarkable, and they are what America is about. America is not about expecting someone else to always float our boat.

It would be nice to have free medical care. Who wouldn't love that? We've rarely had any health insurance during our marriage, and it is true - lots of things get let go. But it isn't my government's job to make sure I have it.

Bill and I have never owned a home. We chose not to get ourselves in over our head when the housing market was high and lenders were offering us no money down. We chose to wait until we could do it on reasonable terms. Now our taxes will go to bail out our fellow citizens who didn't choose so wisely. Because after all, shouldn't the government choose that we all get to bail out anyone who is having trouble?

The T-shirt pictured here is a real-live shirt I saw at Wal-mart this summer, during the seasonal 4th of July sales. It is a shameful, disgrace to the heart of America. It says what far too many Americans really do believe in their hearts, "It's all about me!"

Our nation is in dire trouble when we choose to make everything about us. I want healthcare! I want lower taxes! I want you to promise me a job! I want you to bail out my mortgage! I want you to be responsible for my investments and my retirement! I want you to pay for my education. I want. I want! I WANT! Do what you have to. I don't care who pays for it. I don't care if you kill unborn children, if you open our nation to attack from terrorists, if you allow gay marriage, if you indoctrinate our children into all believing that they came from nothing and therefore life has little value. I just want the promise of more dollars in my pocket.

To me this election is the time when Christians make a choice. They make a choice to vote for their own way, or for God's way. You may think I'm over-simplifying things. But sometimes that is just the way it has to be. Why? Because God is pretty simple sometimes. He says, "Honor me, and I will honor you." He promises blessings and prosperity and healing on the nation that honors Him and chooses to do things His way. You cannot improve your personal situation by choosing to be bigger than God and test what He says is proven.

So...get past the hype. Get past the media, the hub-bub, and the message of your peers. Get on your knees and ask God what the right choice really is.

Don't vote for yourself. Vote for the freedom, prosperity, and blessing of your nation!

...and right here at the end, I'm tempted to apologize for my soapbox and promise not to do it often. But you know what? It's my blog! Tonight, I'm going to say what I think, and if it makes you mad, you can take it up with me later. I'll be happy to have the discussion.

So to lighten the mood, I'll end with a joke...well, I'm not sure it is a joke. But it is funny.

On CNBC today, a Democratic operative pointed out that when

Obama holds a rally 25-30,000 people show up; whereas when

McCain holds one he only draws 10-15,000.

The Republican spokesman replied, without skipping a beat

'That's because McCain's supporters are at work.'

At that point, the interview promptly ended!

...and I really wish I could have posted this sooner, but I've been busy working because that is what Americans do when hard times hit - they work harder. They don't sit around finding new people to blame or beg to make up the difference for them.

Contest Announcement!

We started a new contest at our house this morning! It is the weekly bathroom cleaning contest. The winner will be picked each Saturday and will have the privilege of cleaning the whole bathroom by themself. Competitors earn points all week by leaving their items out on the bathroom floor, counter, etc. Points are marked randomly as judges (mom and dad) feel the spontaneous need to inspect the bathroom. One point will be awarded for each sock, pair of underware, toothbrush, toy, etc. left out in the bathroom. The contestant with the most points on Saturday morning wins the privilege of adding the bathroom cleaning to their bedroom cleaning.

Good luck, and God bless!