Like a brother? Uh-Oh

Have you ever wondered WHY you were born into your family?

Do you ever look around at a family reunion and pray that you were adopted?  "Please Lord, don't let me come from them!"

Are we placed in a family?  Is it on purpose that our brothers are our brothers and our sisters, our sisters?  

It stands to reason that a God, who developed and formed you on purpose, who took time creating you, with all of your quirks, habits, and preferences, would drop you in the best possible family to develop and hone those personality traits and individual gifts.

At least, that's His intention.

Proverbs 17:17 says that a "friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."  I always thought that this was speaking of friends who loved us, despite ourselves, unlike our siblings, who were there to fight with.

But today it dawned on me (at 34 I can be kinda slow).  A sibling isn't there to be ADVERSE with!  On the contrary!  A sibling is the one who should stick by you through the tough times!  A friend will love you, but a brother will never leave, or rather CAN never leave.

Well, a brother should never leave you, that's the plan.

I have 4 little boys.  They are like a tornado at times, revolving around Josh and me.  They feed off each other, whipping around the house, going from room to room, leaving a disaster in their wake.

But they do it (mostly) together.

One of my greatest desires for my boys is that they would be best friends as adults.

As they grow, I want them to keep their brothers involved in their lives.

I pray that they will always enjoy being around one another, that they would continue to confide in each other, that they will get along as well as they do now.

I hope they maintain the closeness they are developing now, that they would learn conflict resolution skills that will benefit them long into adulthood.

I want them to learn how to fight effectively, protect fiercely, and love loyally.  And I want them to learn it from each other.

This would be our greatest success, that these 4 fun boys would become 4 great men, a whirlwind force, constantly spurring each other on in their successes and comforting one another in their failures.

  

His greatest work is YOU.

Was it only a few weeks ago that I was in Breckenridge, CO, surrounded by majestic mountains?  May as well have been a year ago, for now I am on the other side of my world, taking in the sight of an endless sea.

I look out now, rather than up, and am witness to a beautiful blue expanse.

There I felt the green of the world, here I feel the blue.

Both priceless priveledges, enough to leave me breathless.

I am brought to thoughts of the Creator.  Creation reflects HIS majesty, HIS endless presence, they reflect HIM.

In our world, the Creator is often forgotten, and the creation glorified.

I forget.  I see a glorious sunset, complete with magenta sky and golden clouds, and just witness.  I don't say, "Wow, Lord, you must be some kind of gorgeous to be able to come up with a sky like that."

Creations are a dingy reflection of their creator.  We make what we know, what we have seen.  We make what we are made of.

And if our God can make the mountains stretching high, He must be big.

If He can make the oceans so wide, He must be vast.

If He can make the sky so complex in its beauty, clouds constantly changing shape and the atmosphere it's colors:  gray, blue, pink, then he must be able to fit in every hidden crevice of our hearts.

He is Giant, this God of ours, He made all we see, whether it be directly or through the wisdom He gave to man, and His greatest work, the crowning glory of His efforts is YOU.

He knows you, how you tick, what you desire, and even more hopeful, He knows how to satisfy those things that burn within your heart.

Today, let's let Him in.

Verses that fill my mind today:  Romans 1:21,25 ; Ps 139:14 ; Ps 37:4

DEATH.

The other day I was thinking about dying.  More specifically, I was thinking of that moment when we will all slip from this life and into the unknown.

Even more specifically, I was thinking of that split second release, that last breathe, that falling from our bodies into vast eternity.  What will it be like to let go of all that is tangible in this world, and jump into the everlasting?

I was thinking it will be scary.

My grandma died a little over 1 year ago.  She had been battling that evil enemy, cancer, for many years.

She was tired of fighting, had a glimpse of what lay ahead, and she decided to cease chemo.

After she died, the hospice nurse commented on how she looked.  She said, "Most people fight it until the end and have a look of struggle on their face.  She looked relaxed and at peace."

wow.

I'm just not sure that I would look peaceful, I would be one of the ones who fight it until the end, face tense, struggling against the unknown, trying to hold onto every breathe.  She was ready.

Maybe she saw a pool of love, of loved ones, and decided to just JUMP IN!

This morning I read Isaiah 9:2.  The New King James Version...Isaiah was talking about Jesus coming into the world and he said, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined."

Ahhh, this image is beautiful to me.  Souls, lost to death, as we all will be, wandering around in the darkness of impending doom, have a beacon of light, hope, and life.

One of the most beautiful pictures of Jesus was painted for me by my pastor, Pastor George.  He was talking about the time when Jesus went to Lazarus' tomb.  (John 11)

Remember that story?

Lazarus had been, quite literally, rotting in the grave.  He had been swallowed by death, physically and spiritually and then Jesus calls him out of the tomb, "Lazarus, come forth!"

But what Pastor George talked about was HOW Jesus faced it, HOW he commanded Lazarus to come forth.  He said that, in better translations, Jesus is described as a warrior, come to battle his greatest enemy, death.

John 11:38 says Jesus "groaned in himself."  Many of us would think, "Aww, Jesus sighed because he was sad."

But Jesus wasn't a passive man who would groan out of despair.  If you really read the New Testament you can see that Jesus came as an aggressor against an enemy.

So, my Pastor said it wasn't a groan like we think of it.  Other translations describe it as a snort.  But not just any kind of snort, no, this one was like one from a Stallion that is facing down an enemy.

A snort of derision, of repulsion, of disgust.

It was a declaration of, "I'm sick of you, Death, and all the fear you wield around these people I love, and I'm gonna show everyone who's boss RIGHT NOW!!"

And then he does!  He  SHOUTS,  "LAZARUS, COME FORTH!!!!!!!!"

And here comes Zombie man, wrapped up from the burial procedures, stinky, but alive and ready to face the day!

Today we must remember that Jesus didn't just come to Earth to make peace, or people happy, or show them how to get along.  That really wasn't his goal at all.  His laser like focus was to defeat an oppressive enemy.

And he did.

Let's follow him into eternity, with a peaceful countenance.

If you don't know Jesus, you can, "Lord Jesus, You are everything, I am not.  Please be my Savior, forgive me, help me.  Show me Your ways that lead to life, true life, everlasting life."

A house full of intention.

One morning, in the not so distant past, Josh and I were sitting, having coffee, when we saw a white flash go by in our hallway.

It was our oldest son, Noah, age 8, dressed in a short sleeve white oxford shirt, white sweatpants, and black running shoes.

Why would our son be dressed all in white?  A boy dressed in white is just inviting disaster.

Josh called him out,  "What are you wearing?  You look like a tobacco farmer from Cuba!"

Noah, understandably, was embarassed by this attention.

He didn't respond so gregarious Ben came to his rescue and explained.   Ben just loves to explain and explain and explain.

"Well, Dad, we were actually going to make you food from our restaurant today."

"Ahhhh!" I exclaimed, "So, Noah, you're the waiter!"

Noah looked even more embarrassed.

"Actually, (Ben loves that word) I was going to be the waiter."

Revelation dawned on me, "Oh, Noah's the chef!"

Yes.  All was clear.  Minutes later a menu was brought out...curiously enough by the chef...and we were presented our dinning options, complete with prices, for the day.

Those seem to be pretty good prices.  Gatorade's a little high, considering the cost of the entree, but all in all, a pretty cheap meal!  

Amazingly enough, we never did order, pay, or eat any of the menu options.  I think the fun was in the planning.  When it came to the follow through, the excitement had worn off.

They sure are cute though.

Oh say, can you see?

FREEDOM.  What does it mean?  Is it worth our very lives?  The lives of those serving in the Armed Forces?

What about the lives that were given over 200 years ago?  Did they think the very freedom they were fighting for was worth their futures?

"yes" is my whispered, reverent answer.

They believed in freedom.  They recognized freedom as the answer.


Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

I hear that Francis Scott Key wrote those lyrics while imprisoned in a ships belly, probably thinking that his life was nearing it's end.

They don't sound like the words of a man who believed his fight in vain.

Freedom is the answer for poverty, homelessness, social issues, religious oppression, for all our needs as a nation. Those early freedom fighters recognized the Creator and the freedom He desired for us, "It was for freedom that He set us free." Gal 5:1

Those men saw their Savior, the one who died for their freedom, and they followed his very example.

I love this nation, it IS the best one on the planet.

America represents freedom, opportunity still lies here, waiting, waiting, waiting for us to rise up and take it.

Businesses are waiting to be founded, careers launched, technology developed, books written, it is all ours for the taking, as long as freedom prevails.

We can become all we are intended to be in America, if we only utilize the freedom that has been so preciously purchased for us.

Legacy

See this place?  Soon I will be there, sitting in a beach chair, with 8 kids under 8, 10 teenagers, 14 adults, and 1 pre-teen.

It will be fabulous and I can't wait.

I anticipate:

Sand castles
Boogie boarding
Tanning
Reading
Lots of food
Sequence (a game)
Tee-shirts
Outdoor showers
Strong coffee
Porch sunrise
Sandy shorts
and
Reminiscing about Grandma, Aunt Eileen, and Jon Jon

How blessed am I to witness a legacy?

I am a partaker in it, an observer of it, and so thankful to be honored to be in a family where:  family is everything under God.

Ditching cable.

I had been considering ditching cable for a long time.

I just didn't know if I had the courage to do it!  Cable T.V. was my friend!  What would I do without HGTV, the Food Network, and TNT, but I was most worried about losing my bestie, the DVR.

But the friend was costing us too much.  $170.00 a month!  Maybe $170.00 is a decent price for high speed digital cable, fast internet, and a landline that we never used, but it seemed like a lot when all we were using it for was to record and re-watch episodes of The Big Bang Theory.

So I researched what it would be like to live in a world without Cox Communication streaming constant distraction into my home.

It seemed...ok...livable even.

And that's when I happened upon the Roku.

A friend from work has it and she highly recommended it.    I bought one through Amazon.com and haven't looked back since.  I traded my cable 'bundle' for internet access and called it good.  It has saved me over $120.00 a month.

You really need an internet subscription to pair with the Roku.  It is basically a WIFI receiver for your T.V.  A Netflix subscription, Hulu, or, my choice, Amazon Prime Membership makes this device worth it.

With Amazon Prime you have access to tons of shows, movies, games, etc...for a $79.00 a year fee.  They have Prime shows and movies, which are free, but if there's something else you want to watch you can rent it, or just buy it.

I have purchased Cars and Wreck it Ralph for the boys.  They were instantly available and anywhere I have internet access, I have those shows.  I also downloaded them to my Kindle Fire and can watch them whenever I want.  Including on a plane.

With Prime Membership I also get free 2 day shipping on eligible purchases, which is pretty much anything I am wanting to buy.  I love it.

Back to the Roku:

I am so not a techie, but I could hook it up.  It just needs to be plugged into the wall, then into the T.V.  Then you'll be prompted to sign into your WIFI and then your internet provided subscription.

My kids can operate it and *most of the time* it works like a dream.  Sometimes it gets hung up with connection issues, but those are few and far between, about as much as when I had digital cable.

Along with my Roku I purchased the most handy dandy antenna.  It's ultra thin, like a piece of paper, and black and behind my television on the wall.  Now we get all local channels and can watch the Superbowl!

So that's my experience with ditching cable.

It's been totally worth it and was easy to do.

And the best part is: when I watch Chopped, or Seinfeld, or Lost, there are no commercials!  We love it and highly recommend it.

Alone in Breckenridge

What's it like to walk down the streets of Breckenridge Colorado all by yourself when you are a 33 (almost 34) year old wife and mother to 4 sons?

It's like being 19 again, with no one relying on you for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

It's no laundry to clean and fold, no meat to defrost for dinner.

It's breathing deep, as deep as you can, because there are no petty fights to break up between little boys.

It's walking slow, even slower than you want, just because you have no place to be.

It's no one waiting on you, no one expecting from you, just your own leisurely pace to be accountable to.

It's fully admiring the breath taking view for as long or as short as you want because there's no one complaining that they're hungry or they have to pee.

It is wonderful and it's terrible all at the same time, and for the same reason.

Because there is no one.

Name that tune

We figured it out!  I had a song in my thoughts...well, some lyrics in my head...and I couldn't remember what it was.  I gave Josh these clues:

70's rock
guitar sound
"It's a break up song, not a happy one either."
A man is singing
"You keep tellin me you're a genius, but I haven't seen what you mean" or something like that

He said,  "Coming from you, those lyrics are probably totally wrong.  Is it Sting?"

I said, "If it was Sting, don't you think you would know it?" (Sting's one of his most favorites)

"Yeah, you're probably right.  I remember the music.  How did the tune go?"  like he was talking to a small child who had never heard the concept of a song before.

He encouraged me to SING it!!  Not the best idea.  I don't hear the tune, I hear the words.  He's opposite.  I thought and thought and thought, but couldn't think of one note.  All that kept coming up was a girl thought she was smart.  The guy believed it until...

He began trying to sing the song himself.

"Does it sound like this?"  And he rattles of some bouncy tune.

"NO!"

We went down the list...

Bruce Springsteen?
No!
Billy Joel?
No!
Sting?
No!
Foreigner?
I don't know!
Styx?
Who??

Then he started singing the words, "you say that you're a genuis" to imaginary tunes and, by golly, would you believe that he figured it out!!

"You've been sayin you're a genius since you were 17!"

"YES!!!"

"That's NOT a break up song!  That's Steely Dan!"

"Who??"

And it was.  Steely Dan, Reelin in the Years.

I heard it a few days ago and laughed at this girl convincing this guy that she was a genius.  I imagined that he just believed her until he began thinking for himself...years later.

Sounds about right.

Guess not a lot else stuck.

Josh calls this band a "Musician's Band." Something about complicated time signatures and blah blah blah.

Whatever.

I just call them, "Old 70's group in velvet purple pants."

Nicknames

Sam came up to me and sincerely asked, "Mommy, what is your nickname?"

"Mommy."

He thought HARD, "Mommy Severtson?"

I laughed, "Yes."

Another long, thoughtful pause,  "But Mommy is your real name!"

Mr. No
Head of Ben
Jakey Bacon
Ham Sandwich

Why do parents do this to their children?

I just love how this picture shows their different personalties! 

the GROTTO redeaux

We moved into our house about 2 years ago.  

When we bought it we knew it needed a little work...namely:  Two Updated Bathrooms.

The main bathroom area was about 22 x 12 feet.  This area was split exactly in half (11 x 12) and housed 2 very outdated bathrooms.  The hall/kids bath was the same size as the master, but the 'master bath' also included an 8x6 closet, making the master bath 'L' shaped around the closet.  

This is what we did to the hall/kids bath.

BEFORE:

Nice jacuzzi tub

Nice big shower

The glass, heavy duty.  The faucet, deluxe. (note the rain shower head)

                                       

The sink?  Ehhh, small.

The potty, typical.

The rock walls projected out about 6 inches.  That's a lot of square footage taken up by outdated dark rock!  Besides, it was difficult to clean and just...cave-like.

We basically 'cut' the bathroom [almost] in half, giving 4 1/2 feet of it to the master bath.  The master is located on the other side of the potty/shower wall.

AFTER:

A new fresh vibe!

Love the double sinks, perfect for 4 boys.

Lights from The Home Depot...or was it Lowe's?

Vanity purchased from HomeDepot.com

Shipping was free, it came right to our doorstep totally unscathed.

View from opposite side of sink.

I wanted the sinks to be separated from shower/toilet area.  This way multiple kids can utilize the bathroom in harmony!

Hooks seemed like a good idea for towels.

Instead of wood molding, I requested the tile.  It seemed better for boys who will, inevitably, splash water around.

The Shower room.

Floor to ceiling tile.

More hooks for towels.

Believe it or not, all the tile was purchased online.  The glass accent tile from Amazon.com and the gray 12x24 tile from Builddirect.com

Shelf for shampoo/soap/misc...  It's about 8 inches deep.

Can you love a toilet?  I love this one.  It's Kohler from Lowe's.  We spent a little extra, but it has been totally worth it.

This is the best t.p. holder for kids...and adults!

[that's my DIY cleaning wipes in the corner, they work great]

There's one switch to operate all lights in this little room.  I just didn't trust that the boys would always turn on the fan when showering, so one switch made sense.  Initially we purchased the regular shower/light fan kit, the loud one. But, when I would take baths, it was just so noisy!  Eventually I spent a little extra on the Ultra Silent fan on Amazon.  Absolutely worth it!

So, that's our first major bathroom remodel in this house!  It has been such a great, functional bathroom.  All 6 of us use it (the master bath is under construction) and there's never a problem...so far.

Hope you like it!!

Dads

It started as a funny tribute to dads by a church that believes and teaches that men should be men, and Christian men should be the manliest of them all.

I am proud to say that this classic video was made by the church I call home.

It's about time that good dads are glorified as heros in today's society.

A good dad is hard to find...that being said,  my boys have found the best there is!


Happy (belated) fathers day!

Imaginary friends

I often have conversations with 'people' while I'm alone in my car.

Used to be, I would converse with others while cleaning my room or putting on my make-up...generally any place that I was alone.  I would argue with them, or declare my love for them, or justify myself to them, or graciously accept my Oscar from them, etc... Mainly I would just argue.  That's the kind of imaginary friends I had, contentious ones.

For better or worse, marriage and children have changed that for me and now my solo conversations are limited to my commute.

The other day a funny thing happened. I had an internal convo with a non-descript person, no name, face, or real identity, about my freckles.  I don't see freckles when I look at myself, but other people mention them, and I was wondering if they were really that noticeable.  My imaginary companion said something (possibly snide?) about them and I replied (in my head), "Well, actually I never really notice my freckles, I think my eyes take top billing!"

Sassy response, I know.

But the REALLY funny thing happened later.  I actually had that [almost] exact exchange with a man I work with!

He came to work with a buzz cut and I mentioned something about him having an extra white scalp.  Then he said, "Like that's an insult from you, with all your freckles, little miss 'fair'."

I then had the opportunity I had been dreaming of!  I brought my imaginary world to life!

Unfortunately it came out as, "Well, I think my eyes are the main billing."

Errr, not exactly as I had planned it.  Did that even make sense???

But that's the beauty of it!  I didn't plan anything!  I only imagined it to life.

Next time I'll be much more prepared to follow my script.

Baby Face

I love exfoliating.

It's the ultimate facial cleansing for me.  In the past my facial exfoliant of choice was from Clinique.  I loved the gritty grit that smelled so minty and fresh.  Mmmm...yep, nice.

But it's not the cheapest.  And so I try to prolong my exfoliant pleasures by rarely using it.  Then it gets all weird and dry and forgotten about.

So I started thinking, how can I avoid spending close to $20 a tube on face exfoliant?

It was either a stroke of genius or too much pinterest, but I decided to make my own.

Coincidence or not, I began to wash my face with baby wash about 8 years ago.  It's gentle, doesn't dry my skin out, and I just like it.  If it was good enough for a newborn, why shouldn't it be good for my face?

So I got the big idea to mix baking soda in with my baby wash/face soap and see how it worked as an exfoliator.

I bought a giant bag of baking soda from Sams.  It was under $7.00 for 13 lbs.  That's a lot of baking soda!!!

I poured some into a small plastic rubbermaid container and began to pour baby wash into it, slooowly stirring at the same time, until it formed a dense, paste like substance.

Then I washed my face.  It was AMAZING!  Smooth, soft, perfect, and not harsh!

Plus it was cheap!  ***BONUS!!***

The second time I used my KitchenAid mixer.  It worked well.  It does aerate the soap, giving the final product a foam-like quality, but it 'falls' over time to create the same dense paste I got the first go around.  Plus, it only takes a few minutes to concoct.  I start the setting on 'stir', then, as the ingredients mix, raise it to '4'.

I gave some to my sister, she loves it and says she uses it everyday.  She has stopped having breakouts and her face looks as healthy as ever!

Here's how I did it:

Of course you can just get a box of baking soda for under $1.  I always go big!  Consequence of having a large family.

Can you see the ratio of baking soda to soap.  About 3/4 baking soda to 1/4 soap.

Fluffy mixture

As the bubbles dissipate it becomes a dense paste.

This batch made 8 little jars full.  Perfect to give as little gifts.

I got the jars at Hobby Lobby.  

Another thing I tried was using the fragrant, sleepy time baby wash and adding a little bit of moisturizer.  I use it as a body scrub.  The scent isn't heavy, and it is a great scrub for my legs, feet, arms, etc.

I hope you try this!  Easy, quick, and a great scrub!

A week in the life...

6/6/13   This morning I sat alone, outside, contemplating.

I asked God,  "What do you have for me?"

He responded.

These words were telegraphed across my insides:

"I have a husband who will adore you.  I have children who will rise up and call you blessed.  I have adventure and opportunity for you.  And it's all yours for the taking."

I asked,  "How do I get that?"

He said,  "By making time every day to spend with me."

6/7/13

Today I asked God the same thing.

He said, "Same as yesterday."

He is the simple and wonderful Creator.

He has the same wonderful plan today as He did yesterday, regardless of what happened overnight.

6/8/13

Today my two oldest boys come home from camp.

Today is Saturday and they have been gone since Monday.  Monday night my younger boys cried real tears because they missed their brothers so much.  They haven't cried since and have, actually, been getting along nearly perfectly!

They have little conversations at dinner, they hang out on the trampoline, talking, they build bridges and train tracks in harmony.  It has been so lovely and fun to witness.  They are 4 & 5 and I can see how I hope they are at 14 & 15, 24 & 25, 34 & 35...

I have loved it.


6/9/13

Yesterday we picked up the boys from summer camp.  I dropped Noah off with a pair of socks and a pair of shoes on his feet.

I picked him up with 2 socks on his feet and 1 shoe in his hand.

How did this child clean his bunk then walk all over camp, to breakfast, to who knows where, then get on a bus, and come home with no shoes on?  His socks were so dirty they looked like little brown shoes.

Maybe that's how.

I am sure those socks had been worn multiple times.

I checked the "lost and found" bag from their bunk and was almost knocked over by the smell.

How is it that young boys smell so bad?

But I'm glad they're home.

Despite the sudden fighting over the Wii.  :/

6/10/13

Today was a rough one at work.  Then to come home to four sweaty boys and no a/c!?

Ahhh, the joys of home ownership.

I'm not worried though. We're gonna be just fine.

6/11/13

I love the quiet mornings when the boys are all still asleep and it's just me.  They are my favorites!  I was asked by a good friend to think of some inspiring words for a memorial service.

What an honor.  I am blessed by this.

Now to begin thinking...

6/12/13

It's hot.  And there's a "boil order" from the city of Broken Arrow regarding any and all water to be consumed.  It's a run-thru-the-sprinkler kinda day for my kids...AND for me, but there's a water ban!  I guess our sweat will have to keep us cool.

My sister just invited me to spend a few days in Breckenridge with her at the end of this month!!!  Joyous vacation!  Not that I need it...but it sure sounds nice!

Is it just me, or am I particularly blessed with wonderful women around me?

6/13/13

Today was excruciating. Hot hot hot.  Thank God the A/C will be new tonight.

Do you think Corrie ten Boom was right when she wrote,

"This is what the past is for! Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see."  


I often wonder how my past is preparing my future.

Wonderful Friday!  It's always my work Monday though.

I found something TULSA related at Disneyland!!    Don't you just love that TulsaTea is gasoline in CARS land?  They serve it in the "diner".  so cute!!

Writing Sense.

This quote makes sense to me!

So, if I tweet, will I know more about little thinks I think?

We'll see!

@tarahsevertson

We are the lucky ones.

In my family camping out means renting a cabin at a park, bringing a kitchen full of food, including filters and coffee for a plug-in coffee pot, and "roughing it" in an environment a tad less comfy than a Howard Johnson.

On one such adventure I was pregnant.  It was hot. And there were around 15 of us crammed in a cabin meant to sleep 8.  It was definitely rough.

It was August and August in Oklahoma, especially August in Oklahoma next to a creek, is MUGGY.

I was due in 3 months, constantly slick with sweat and just plain miserable.

And that meant everyone around me was miserable too.

Did I mention it was hot?

We were staying there one night.  Thank God it was only one night, I don't think I could have handled a second one.

On that one night my most wonderful husband sat around a campfire with my 2 nephews, my 1 niece, and our own 2 boys.  They were all under 5.  This may qualify him for sainthood, sitting around a hot campfire on an excruciatingly hot night with 4 little hot boys and one darling girl.

They looked into the fire and began to discuss hell.  A natural turn for any conversation taking place in such heat with a fire nearby.

But Josh led the conversation, turning it from the fires of hell to the wonders of heaven.

They all, well those of them that could talk, began to paint their imaginations of heaven.  Brian said he thought it was yellow, full of sunshine all the time.  Jonathan, a lover of all things food, said he thought it was full of candy, that the walls were made of candy and you could just eat them!

Noah, as he was 2, had very little to add, he was just looking for the fun company.  Ben, who was 1, was there, I'm sure, because I had kicked him from the air-conditioned cabin, into the arms of his daddy.

I sure am glad that Josh stayed with me during those years!

It was a fun trip, despite the strange man who sat with his feet in the icy creek water for so long that they became immobile and the paramedics had to be called.  Apparently his daughter had died one year previous, and he had come to the campsite to drink his sorrows away.

The next day, after a big breakfast of bacon and eggs and many attempts at fishing with the boys, we began to pack up.

Jonathan, who was 4, began to bounce on the back of my sisters car.

"Stop that!" I yelled.

 He then wandered over to me, asking if he could eat the banana I had just peeled open for myself.

"No."  I snapped.

But I gave him a piece of it anyway.

Finally we were packed up and on our way.  Josh and I sped home, eager to get back to our home and to clean up.  The rest of my family went canoeing.

Later that evening we went swimming at my sisters house.  She had dropped the boys off with their father earlier in the day and we were enjoying the quiet evening at the pool.  I was just hoping to float my full body in a cooler body of water.

Then she got a call.

Well, not the call exactly, more like the messages left from earlier calls.  The boys grandmother was frantic, apologizing profusely to Alisha, desperate.

Our lives changed forever that day.

There had been an accident.  The boys were swimming and the pool had collapsed next to an electrical line.

Jonathan had been killed.

He was now experiencing the candy walls that he had been dreaming of not 24 hours before.

And the last thing I had said to him was not kind.  Maybe my sharing of that banana was a sort of peace offering to him, a last goodbye of generosity.

I began to realize how precious life is.  How uncertain.  How petty our complaints about it.

And now I think that we are the lucky ones, those of us who have loved and lost before the time.  We recognize the wonderful gift that is the everyday.

I was 8 when my 7 year old best friend died.  Her fight against leukemia came to a glorious end.

She was my sister.

I was 26 when I lost my aunt, her long battle with cancer finally put to rest.

I was 27 when my nephew was tragically killed.  His short life cut short.

I was 32 when my grandmother surrendered in her fight against cancer.  She transitioned early one morning, her face reflecting the peace she had.

They went on.  We stay behind.  And with us stays the assurance that death is not the final goodbye, but rather the most wonderful beginning.  That soon, and very soon, we will see them again.  And they will be overjoyed at our arrival.  And it will be the beginning again.

Do you have that faith?  That when all seems lost, it isn't?  Jesus has given it to us, we just have to believe.

1 Corinthians 15:55

New International Version (NIV)

⁵⁵ “Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?”^[a]

Don't change you

The devil is the ultimate 'bad guy' in our house.

One morning Sam and I were in a public restroom.  It was modestly dirty, not too bad, but someplace I would never want to eat in.  I said something along the lines of, "Make sure you pee in the toilet."

To which he responded,  "Yeah.  Bad guys pee on the seat, right mommy?"

"Yes, they don't obey and go in the water.  Why do they do that?"  I asked.

"The devil."  was his earnest response.

Another time we were waiting to eat outside of a restaurant.  The boys were 'racing' up and down the deserted sidewalk.

Sam wore his little self out!

He said, "My legs runned out."

I asked, "How did that happen?"

"The devil. They need to get fill-ded back up."

"Well, who is going to fill them back up?"

"God."

So simple.  God=good, Devil=bad

While listening to the Old Testament I was surprised to realize that Satan is hardly mentioned!  He gets very little publicity.

I was listening to Joyce Meyer.  She was talking about living a righteous life.

One thing that she said really stood out to me.  She said (and I'm paraphrasing) to NOT try and change yourself.  Instead, get to know Jesus, spend time with him, and he will just gradually change you.


Why does she make it sound so easy and I try to make it so hard?

Accentuate the Positive!  Genius!!  It eliminates the negative!!!

Just do it!

I first heard Christine Caine speak at a Joyce Meyer Convention in St. Louis last year.

She is amazing.

She is encouraging, she is energetic, she is a mother, a wife, and the leader of an organization that is actively working towards abolishing modern day slavery.

http://www.thea21campaign.org/index.php#.Ua

Her organization is not just a Christian ministry, it is a legal force in Europe, active in convicting sex traffickers.

We are so comfy here in America.  We sleep in big comfy beds, eat big comfy meals, enjoy big comfy armchairs while we feast on a cornucopia of media delights.  We are blessed.

But there is a war going on, right under our noses, and all over the world.  It involves seduction, slavery, and sex, and it's not just women who are affected.  It's children, boys and girls, and the families left behind.  There are people on the front lines fighting in this world.  And Christine Caine is one of them.

Sometimes I feel impotent, here in the center of America, in the center of my house, like all I can do is hope good things for these victims and pray. 

But there is action available for me to take.

Today I wrote a letter.  It was simple and encouraging.  And then I lifted myself out of my big comfy desk chair and walked it to the mailbox.  I prayed that it would speak life to the receiver and be a blessing to them.

And that's something I did.

http://www.thea21campaign.org/content/write-a-letter/gjj5ex

A little wisdom from Grandma Hazel

All last week we were in California!  It was a wonderful Disneyland/driving adventure.

We drove to DFW to catch a flight, then spent 2 days at Disney, then drove to San Diego to visit Josh's most amazing 98 year old Grandma Hazel, then back to Disney for another 2 days, then a congested drive up to the San Fernando Valley for some quality family time, then another drive down to the airport!  Whew...there's no place like home.

Actually, there's just no bed like your own.

While we were visiting Grandma Hazel she complimented our children, saying, "They are so well disciplined!"

Is there anything better for a mother of 4 boys to hear?  What a nice thing for her to say.

It was interesting, though, to hear them called, "well disciplined" and not "well behaved".   As if the responsibility for their behavior rested on our (the parents) shoulders!

Why do I sometimes forget my responsibility as a parent to shape our children?  Sometimes it's easier to let them do what they do and just hope they turn out okay in the end.

But loving your children is more than just hoping for the best for them!  It's a conscious decision to correct their mistakes, it requires effort and it is mostly unpleasant.

It's that unpleasant discomfort that will prod them to the right choices though.

According to Merriam-Webster.com, discipline is described as:  : training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character

a : control gained by enforcing obedience or order

I am so grateful to Grandma Hazel.  She gave me a subtle reminder of how important it is to be a parent; to shape my children into the adults they are intended to be.

The HAPPIEST place on earth!

We went to Disneyland!!


It's been a dream of mine since I've had kids...

We were very excited.

Some more than others...

We waited for trains

We watched some wacky things

We met some furry friends

But most of all we had fun with family...

And that's what makes it the "Happiest place on earth".

Jake and R

This is Jake.  

He's 5 and insatiably curious.

He taught himself to ride a 2 wheeled bike.

He's our biggest helper, we don't even have to ask, he's already doing what we want.

He's is trying to read, and succeeding!

But he still has one tiny issue he hasn't overcome:

We still love him though!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Sometimes the biggest miracle appears as an ordinary day



Yesterday I had such a lovely time.  I worked in the morning for my dear friend, Margie.  I convinced another friend to finish my shift and left early to meet my sister, she was in from out of town, for a quaint little lunch at Queenie's in Utica Square.

It was a wonderful afternoon.  We sat and ate on the tree-lined sidewalk.  We watched the old man next to us feed the squirrels.  As rodent-like as squirrels are, it was a tiny bit cute to watch it nibble on a potato chip.

We talked and talked and talked.

We talked about raising children with the woman who bussed our table.  She made a strong point, as she cleaned, that HER 4 boys would Never have been able to behave like the toddler who had preceded us at this table.  (He had left a rather whirlwind-like mess on the table and sidewalk, alike.)

We talked about boyfriends and husbands and the when's, why's, and how's of saying, "the Lord told me...".

We talked about mortgages and about the meaning of true repentance.

We talked about rewards for doing right, and about how that sometimes appears in the form of the "status quo".

We talked about how the fruit of our righteousness sometimes looks like nothing at all!  It just may be that we simply KEEP the dear things we already have.  And I thought of my boys.  How NOT losing them would be reward enough for my efforts towards clean living.

And we ate, boy, did we eat.

We each had a sandwich/soup combo and then, at the end, we splurged.  She on a decadent chocolate chip cookie, and I on a sour cream lime tart.  Delicious afternoon, I tell you!

We laughed and laughed and even cried, because that's just what sisters do.

And then we window shopped for a little while, and soon it was time to go.  Hugs, I Love You's and when will you be back in town? and the afternoon was gone.

We left Utica Square at around 3:50.

Today I reflect on that.  On the miracle that it was.

My sister is from Norman, right next door to Moore, OK.  She was with me, but in being there she was playing hooky from a dental appointment.  Her dentist is located in Moore.  Her appointment time was 3p.m.  The tornado came through at 3:16.

She felt guilty for not notifying them of her cancellation.

I talked to her again today.  She saw a glimpse of what used to be Moore.  She reported that there's trash everywhere, the traffic is unbelievable, and that the mud, ugh, the mud.

We talked a little about her being in Tulsa when she should have been in the path of the worst tornado in US history.  She said, "I just feel so cared for."

This is not a referendum on the devastated people in Moore.  It most certainly is not intended to imply that they did something wrong to invoke this horrific tragedy.  Because tragedy doesn't care who or why or how you are, it just comes to destroy, and we have experienced that too.

This is just a simple acknowledgment of God's protection on my sister's life.  And my gratefulness for it.