Out of the Mouths of Babes

Rebecca and I have had a hard time seeing eye to eye lately.  She has been more  independent than usual, and I’ve missed her keen and witty insights.  That made tonight’s interaction a treat.

Setting:  Rebecca’s bookcase.  Mom is running her fingers over some new titles that have shown up there:  Blade Runner, The Terminal Man, Encounters with UFO’s, and A Painted House.

Mom:  “Hmmm.  Where did you get these books, Rebecca?”

Rebecca:  “Ashley’s old room.”

Mom:  “Hmmmm.”

Rebecca:  “I wanted to fill my bookcase up so people think I’m intelligent, and that my mom lets me read PG-13 books.  You know, Mom, the words in PG-13 movies can go over your head, but you can see all those words in books.  They can’t go over your head.”

Mom:  “Wow, Rebecca, you are exactly right.  I had never thought about that before.”

I prayed for my precious medium-sized girl after this, squeezed her tight, and gave her a big smack.

Matt and Ashley, Part 1

Once upon a time there was a boy named Matt.  Matt Brittingham.  He was from L.A.  He had long, red curly hair. He loved God and his fellow man.

He noticed a girl named Ashley at RUF events.  She had recently come to his apartment to watch a zombie movie with all his friends, and they watched it in a Mickey Mouse blanket tent.

Eventually he talked to Steve, his Advisor In All Things.  “Should I ask her out?” Matt questioned.

“Hmmmm,” said Steve.  “Be careful.  But go ahead.”

So Matt did.  Ashley told him she would get back to him.

He waited.

And waited.

Ashley finally asked him if he wanted to get a cup of coffee.  He did.

Ashley told Mom.  Mom told Dad.  Mom warned Dad that a couple things about Matt’s appearance might bother him.  “Does he have a piercing?” Dad asked through clenched teeth.

“Yes,” Mom replied with a gentle smile.

“One ear?” Dad probed.

“Both,” Mom countered.

“More?” Dad continued, grimacing.

“Lip,” responded Mom, breathing a sigh of relief.  “And,” Mom added, “he seems to be a man who loves God and his fellow man.”

Interruption:  When Matt got his ears pierced, his mom told him he needed to call his grandma and tell her before he came to visit.  So he did:

“Grandma, I got my ears pierced, ” Matt admitted.

Silence.

“Are you gay?” Grandma inquired.

“No, Grandma.  I loveeeeeee women.”

Later, Mom and Dad went to Indigo Bridge Books to hear Pastor T talk about something Mom can’t remember.  Ashley found out Matt would be there, and warned Mom.

Mom recognized Matt, and went and introduced herself.  Dad seemed content where he was at.  Mom grabbed Dad’s arm and brought him to Matt and introduced them.  Dad shook his hand, and went and sat down away from Matt.  Mom saw Steve, Matt’s Advisor In All Things, at the Talk She Doesn’t Remember.  Mom asked Steve what the skinny was on this boy, Matt.  Steve said Matt was a good kid.  Mom was relieved.

After a few cups of coffee with Ashley, Matt needed to talk to Ashley’s father.  When he came to his house, Dad was doing a desk installation in the family room, and didn’t get up to greet him.  From all appearances, Dad seemed to be avoiding Matt.  Ashley’s three younger sisters did not avoid Matt.  Rebecca, Ashley’s youngest sister, brought Matt her favorite book about sharks.  She loved it because it showed how different blood-thirsty sea creatures attacked humans.  Blood flowed freely.  Matt liked it and read it with Rebecca for quite some time.  Mom smiled.

Matt continued his friendly manner, and eventually asked Dad if he could speak to him privately.

Matt asked if he could date Ashley.  Dad said he wasn’t interested in his daughter casually dating, and Matt only need to apply if he was interested in dating Ashley to determine if she might be the woman he may want to marry someday.

Matt agreed to the terms.

Ashley, Katherine, and Mom jumped up and down on the front porch, screeching like lunatics.  Mom’s jumping and screeching was more dignified than the younger two.  However, Mom had to participate, because Ashley’s enthusiasm is contagious.

To be continued…

Routine

In times like this, it reminds me how good the routine, seemingly mundane things of life are.

I have a friend who is encountering huge struggles with her adoption of a precious little girl.

Every time I hear about the catastrophe in Haiti, I close my eyes and let my mind wander so I can pray, and somehow grasp this horrible situation.

I remember C.S. Lewis talking about why wars are fought.  The basic premise was that a man fought so he could be left alone to sit by the fire, with a smoke and a drink, and a friend, perhaps.  Simple things.

As I read Little Britches by Ralph Moody to Rebecca yesterday, I marveled at the amount of work it took to just enjoy a few simple things on a Colorado ranch at the turn of the 20th century.  I tried to imagine an 8-year old boy trying to herd cattle on an old horse that had no giddy up left.  For 25 cents a day, he was supposed to keep the cows out of the neighbor’s oat and alfalfa fields on either side of the pasture.   By the way, you should read this book to your kids, or just for your own enjoyment.  I think there are 7 in the series.   Fantastic.

Thank you for the routine, Lord.  Help me be grateful, and never ask, “Is this all there is?”

“This” is a lot, and is what many fight and strive for.

Just too darn easy.

This is my old crock pot.  I lost the lid about 5 years ago, but keep it around just in case.

My newer and bigger crockpot has been in Ashley’s trunk since I made BBQ meatballs for the RUF party.  We both can’t seem to remember to get that thing out of there.  I hope someone washed it.  It has been pretty cold since the party, but what would be going on in that crockpot by now would be pretty funky.

The point of this post is to share the incredibly easy and delicious meal that was percolating inside my crock pot with the aluminum foil – plate lid:

4 frozen chicken breasts

1 can black beans

2 cups frozen corn (I’m sure you could use canned)

1 jar salsa

I cooked this lovely concoction on low all afternoon.  For supper, I took out the chicken, chopped it up, reunited it with the other ingredients, and served it on tortillas with cheddar cheese and sour cream.

I was gone all afternoon, and actually fed my family slow-cooked food, instead of fast food.  Botta bing.

Brrrr.

When the weather was upgraded from “Frostbite in Five Minutes” to “Heavy Down Parka with a side of Long Johns,” I grabbed my camera to check out the amazing trees.

Mmmmm.  Simply lovely.  The trees and the hint of warmth.  Although “warmth” is stretching it.

P.P.S.  Still need to figure out picture format.

Claire.

I have always been a Lover of Little Girls.  Now that my girls have passed the little stage, I must spread my love around a bit.

Claire makes it easy.  How can I resist this?

P.S.  My new blog format allows for HUGE picture sizes.  I will adjust next time.

My life is like water.

You got your GCF (greatest common factor), your LCM (lowest common multiple), and your PLR.  Nope.  It isn’t a camera, it’s the path of least resistance.

The path of least resistance describes the physical or metaphorical pathway that provides the least resistance to forward motion by a given object or entity, among a set of alternative paths. The concept is often used to describe why an object or entity takes a given path.

In physics, the path of least resistance is always taken by objects moving through a system. For example, water flowing downhill follows the path of least resistance as it is pulled downward by gravity.

-Wikipedia

GCF’s and LCM’s have been confusing for my math students, but at this point I have them memorized.  And I know the PLR  really, really well.

Water runs over land, settling into the lowest spots.

My life does the same.  I live my life, inadvertently searching for the path of least resistance.  I maintain what I have with the least amount of effort.  I may call this efficiency.  But looking over the past year, I’d call it something else.

I have lots of BIG IDEAS about the things I’d like to do for the kingdom.  Urban ministry, but on a grander scale.  A friend of mine sent me graduate courses I could take online for a degree in urban ministry.  Great idea!

Adopted for Life has inspired me to not only support adoption in the church, but actually ponder if God would actually want ME to adopt someday.  Or maybe be a foster parent!  Another great idea!

The other day I was talking to another home school mom, and I asked her if she was changing anything this semester.  She mirrored my own convictions of not just “doing” school, but doing it well.  How can she engage her kids better?  How will they remember the material?  How can their family spend time together and actually read God’s word collectively?  For the first time, she thought they may all sit down and have breakfast together, to this end.  I sat there nodding silently, knowing that all these same themes had bounced around my head, but never saw the light of day.

There is nothing wrong with being inspired about different things, and wondering what God wants you to do.  However, I’ve noticed I have plenty on my plate, and maybe I should just focus on doing these things well, and not just doing them.

• I want my kids to love learning the rest of their lives.  I want them to be able to defend their beliefs.  I want them to know history.  I want them to be good communicators.  I want to help develop the gifts God has given them.  I could do a lot more in this area, if I just spent the time.

• The ministries I’m involved with are great.  But the next step in these ministries are relationships, which takes more of my precious time.  I also know how involved and messy relationships are.  However, I could definitely spend the time pursuing the people God has placed around me, instead of just finding another group of people to minister to.

• We used to always have family devotions at lunch, because we were all home.  When Kat started going to Norris, we never found a good time to do devotions again.  I would really need to die to my lovely morning schedule to prepare some food for breakfast and require everyone to come sit at the table at the same time. This would take much effort on my part.  But what is best?  (I know, I know.)

• My PLR philosophy has not benefited my youngest child.  It is difficult to deal with her, because I am at such different levels with her sisters.  However, she gets away with stuff her sisters never would have.  I can make the excuse that I’m not as legalistic now, I’m more laid back, or I’m trying a different approach.  But that is mostly BS.  I’m tired.  And I’m lazy.  God has given me stewardship over this child, and I need to take the time to figure out how to best reach her heart.  I can make as many excuses as I want.  But they don’t hold water.

I’m not one for resolutions for the new year.  But talking to others has given me insight into what is important, and how I can faithfully live out God’s call in my life.  And do it well.

Poison.

Me:  (happily stirring Pasta Fazool) “Hi, Maddie.”

Maddie:  (analyzing tin on the counter) “Mom, what are these?”

Me:  (knowing what she is talking about without turning around) “Anchovies.”

Maddie:  “What are anchovies?”

Me:  “Little fish.”

Maddie:  “Aack!  You’re trying to poison us! “

Me:  “Yes, I am.  I thought about giving you a poison apple, but thought you’d be onto me.”

Later at the supper table…

Maddie:  “This soup has little dead fish in it.”

Rebecca:  (turns bowl over)

Me:  (sigh).

In my defense, the anchovy fillets were minced to a paste.  And the Pasta Fazool (Italian Pasta and Bean Soup) was delicious.

Psalm 19.

I helped Rebecca memorize Psalm 19 the past couple months, and the words in it seemed to resonate especially loudly this last week.  Ever notice when you are teaching someone else, you may learn the most?

“The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Day to day pours out speech,

and night to night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there words,

whose voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out through all the earth,

and their words to the end of the world.”  Psalm 19:1-4

May you hear Him, through His mighty works, His Word, and His people, especially loudly this year, my friends.

DPP 29: Losing steam.

Runnin’ out of ideas over here.