She Makes Me Laugh

Me: Was your whole class at school today?

Elizabeth: No, Tori wasn't there. She has the swine flu.

Me: I'm so sorry.

Elizabeth: Now she's allergic to swines. What are swines anyway?

Entertaining Strangers

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2

I feel like I'm always telling you what I'm not good at ---I won't disappoint you today. Hospitality, it's not my gift. I love people, but showing traditional hospitality stresses me out.

Anyway, it's been a rough week. Nothing life shattering and compared to the big problems in the world, nothing that won't just leave a small mark on my memory. Last week, Elizabeth's teacher told us that she thought that Elizabeth had some kind of auditory processing disorder. We've kind of suspected this for some time, but we were trying to eliminate some other possibilities first (we had her hearing thoroughly tested, four hours of reading tutoring a week this summer and speech therapy for the past four months). The teacher specifically told Derek that she didn't know if Elizabeth would be able to keep up and survive the first grade. (If you don't know, we are at an academically advanced school. I'm not sure I would survive any grade here!) Anyway, we met with her teacher and put a plan in place. Her teacher was more than willing to work with Elizabeth and us. We felt good about things. We told her that Elizabeth's grades didn't matter. We just want her to learn.

So Monday, I talked to her speech therapist who is also a reading specialist. She ran a quick exercise with Elizabeth and said that she definitely thinks there's something going on. We are just on the front end of this, so I really don't understand it all. I was a little saddened by the news, just wondering what all is ahead for Elizabeth. Then I read a note in Elizabeth's folder telling us that her 1st grade teacher is resigning effective next Friday. I immediately was in tears. We adore this teacher! This is the teacher that Matthew had last year. She is a wonderful grandmotherly teacher that loves my kids like no other teacher we've ever had. I'm sad for me. I'm sad for Elizabeth...just sad all around.

Derek met us for dinner and I showed him the note. On top of all of that, Matthew and I had been battling over homework while Elizabeth was in speech therapy. Why does a 2nd grader think that they know everything? Anyway, I was just tired. We're in the restaurant and Matthew's fussing and I'm on the verge of tears and this sweet woman walks up to me and says, "Your children are just beautiful."

I said, "Thank you. I have one that is melting down right now (he's sitting all by himself in a booth pouting), but thanks."

She says, "They're still such a joy. They really are beautiful."

I walked away humbled and feeling a bit chastised. God sent an angel to remind me just how precious my children truly are. Thanks for the reminder God because I'm feeling tired and worn out right now.

Matthew ordered a salad and midway through dinner needed more dressing. I go back to the counter and ask for an extra packet of dressing and the guy tells me it's 25 cents. "I'll go get my wallet" I say and this same lady stands up (I guess she was waiting on a to go order) and says, "I'll pay for it" and she did.

I sent Matthew over to thank her. God sent an angel to show us hospitality just by offering a word of encouragement and paying 25 cents for an extra package of 1000 island dressing. It's a lesson I'll never forget.

Don't miss those opportunities God gives you. The small things do matter!

That Girl

I just love her. She makes me laugh. She makes me smile. She loves to hug, she loves to kiss and this is why she won't be dating until she's 21. She loves to leave you notes telling you that she loves you and that she loves Jesus. She's simply precious and a gift straight from the hand of God!

When she got off of Big Thunder Mountain (roller coaster) at Disney, she said, "There's a party in my tummy". That pretty much sums up the thrill of roller coasters.


Then Sunday night Derek and I were talking about Africa. We've told the kids several times that I'm going to Africa in December, but Elizabeth says loudly and with attitude, "You're going to Africa!! Why does nobody tell me these things??"

Hmmm...the thinking face.

The silly face....

The pirate face ( you have to have this at Disney)....

I'll love this face forever!

Plant and Water

That's the call. Go and make disciples. What's the best way to do that? Do you go plant churches across the world? Do you disciple the nationals in their countries one on one? Do you work to change the destructive behaviors so that those behaviors don't get passed from one generation to another? Do you meet the physical needs and provide them food, clothing, shelter and the possibility of an education? What's necessary and what's the best path? Honestly, I don't know. I have seen first hand that if people are hungry and unhealthy physically, it's more difficult to talk to them about spiritual things. You have to meet them where they are. Check out Matthew 25. We need to offer food, drink, clothing, help to the sick and visit those needing a visit. Sometimes they may need to hear the gospel during that visit, sometimes they might just need encouragement. It really doesn't matter except that we go and we visit and meet needs both physical and spiritual in the name of Christ.

The task is daunting sometimes. I'm overwhelmed sometimes just by people in my small circle that are in need, let alone all around the world those who are hurting and in need. One verse that always brings me comfort is 1 Corinthians 3:6 which says that "I (Paul) planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth". That's our job--to plant, to water and then watch God cause the growth. Even if we don't see the fruit, we've been obedient and God will reward. Sometimes I get to reap the rewards of someone else's planting and watering and sometimes someone else will reap where I planted and watered. In all honesty, we deserve no credit. God caused the growth. God doesn't need us. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He could meet every single need across the world with a blink of the eye or a snap of the finger. He spoke the world into being. He could do a better job without us. BUT He chooses to involve us. We need to take every opportunity and plant and water and then watch God do amazing things, because after all we serve an amazing God!

Are you planting and are you watering somehow and somewhere? If not, pray and I know God will give you the opportunity.

You can check out this blog if you want to read about opportunities around the world. Amanda is the director of Visiting Orphans. We are travelling with this organization to Uganda and Ethiopia in December.





Visiting Orphans....just one way that we can be the hands and feet of Jesus.

The Challenge

Our missions coordinator told us that we would be taking a 30 lb. carry on suitcase and two 50 lb. checked suitcases to Africa. All of our personal belongings need to go in our carry-on. The checked bags will be used for missions supplies. Do you think that I can fit 10 days worth of clothes into one small checked carry on? It's going to be the challenge of a lifetime!

See Exhibit A....this is the luggage for a 7 day vacation with the family.


Exhibit B
No picture...just the fact that I love shoes and between the 5 of us, we had over 20 pairs of shoes in our hotel room.
Alicia -- 6
Derek -- 4
Stephen -- 4
Matthew -- 5
Elizabeth -- 4

Granted some of them were flip flops for the pool and we each needed a pair of church shoes, but still 23 pairs is probably a bit much for a 7 day vacation.

Anyway, I'm going to be shopping for the lightest suitcase I can find so that I can maximize my space. It should be fun!

Pig Latin Anyone?

Matthew decides to tell his teacher last night at church that he's allergic to milk after he's had two pieces of pizza. I think it about sent the teacher and some other students into a panic. For the record, he's not allergic to milk--just a little lactose intolerant. We tried to explain the big difference to him last night, but not sure he completely comprehended. He's all about getting some attention.

He told his Sunday School teachers that he speaks Latin. "Speak" might be a strong word. He does know some Latin--way more than I do for the record. They learn Latin at school. Anyway, his teacher asked him if he knew pig latin and Matthew told them, "No way, that's a college course". Did anyone take that in college?

His 2nd grade teacher told me on Wednesday that we needed to work on measuring with a ruler and drawing a straight line. Start at the dot, draw a line that's 6 inches, etc. Derek said, "He knows how to do that". Well obviously he didn't in class, because his teacher said something to me about it. After Derek talked to Matthew about it and Matthew successfully did it several times, Matthew said, "I was just messing with her". I'm going to mess with him if you know what I mean.

Nobody makes me laugh more than Matthew. His smile just melts my heart. His tenacity and perseverance exhausts me most days, but he'll make a great salesman or preacher some day. He's not lacking in self-confidence and always wants to be the center of attention. I praise the Lord because Matthew is fearfully and wonderfully made. Pray that Derek and I will have some patience "refining these gifts" in Matthew's life. I trust that God has big things in store for him.

Compassion and Enough

Compassion

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French, from Late Latin compassion-, compassio, from compati to sympathize, from Latin com- + pati to bear, suffer ---more at patient

Date: 14th century

:sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it

Do you see the word patient used in the etymology? If you know me well, you probably know that I don't have a lot of patience and probably not a lot of compassion either. I always score very low on the spiritual gift tests/surveys in the area of mercy. It's not my gift, but that doesn't excuse me from the responsibility. We are called to have mercy and to show compassion.

It doesn't always come easy for me. Just ask my kids. When one of them says, "That's not fair.", I usually tell them, "You're right. It's not fair. But life isn't fair. You might as well learn that early." I also tell them, "Life is hard, but God is good." Honesty, that's my policy. Life really is hard, but even in the midst of hardship and/or heartache, God is still good. He doesn't change.

Since we've had children, you'll be happy to know that my mercy meter has increased some. I do score somewhat better in the area of mercy than I did pre-children. However, I'm not ranking high in the mercy area. That is why it is all the more shocking to me that my heart breaks for the orphans of the world. The lack of the basic necessities of life just rips at my heart. No shoes, no food, no clean water, no mom and dad to kiss them good night. Just thinking about it now puts a pit in my stomach. I'll be honest though, I struggle with what to do with all of this. Derek reminds me that even if we sold everything and gave it all away, it wouldn't even put a dent in things. "The poor will always be with you". There's the logical side speaking.

However we can't just walk away and do nothing either. We might not make a dent in poverty, but how we could change a child's life and a family's life and even the course of a generation if we decided to get radical and start saying no to things that we want and yes to helping those less fortunate. I love Brighton jewelry, I love Vera Bradley, I love shoes and Yellow Box flip flops, I love Gymboree. But honestly when I think about paying $90 for a new Brighton watch or a new Vera bag, I don't think I can justify my love. I don't need anything of those things. I have enough. I'm buying to satisfy something that really can't be satisfied. I'll just want more. Bigger and better...that's the American way.

The opposite of poverty is not wealth. The opposite of povery is enough. I have enough. Do you have enough? If you have more than enough like me, then I think it's our responsibility to help those who don't have enough. They don't have shoes, they don't have clean water, they don't have sometimes even one meal a day, they don't have a mommy or a daddy or a warm blanket on a cold night.

This is just another reason that I'm going to Africa. I have enough. I need to pour out of my abundance, both spiritually and materially. I can leave my shoes and clothes in Africa because I have enough here that will be waiting in my closet for when I return. I can go without the luxury of three meals a day while I'm in Africa, because I have enough here.

I hope you'll pray and see if you have more than enough. I know you'll see that you do. What is God calling you to do? Maybe sponsor a child through Compassion. Maybe give to your local food pantry or volunteer at the Rescue Mission. Maybe you need to go on a mission trip and share from your abundance. Maybe you just need to start serving in your church on a regular basis.

I'm hear to testify that if you're not fulfilled spiritually, you're not pouring out. Give out of your abundance. I promise you won't be disappointed.


Psalm 103
Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget none of His benefits...who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion...The LORD is compassionate and gracious....Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.