From Canada to the Ghetto....

     A few years back, my mom and dad came to visit me (in Metro Detroit). They left to get on the road and head back home for the 4-5 hour drive. My mom had my dad take the wheel, just until the turnpike. She fell asleep within about 10 minutes of the trip, waking up quite awhile later, AT THE CANADIAN BORDER! She called, frazzled at about 11 p.m. and I could not comprehend WHY it took so long to get to Canada seeing how it's only 15 minutes from our house (heading west). Then my husband pointed out she had headed the wrong way and went EAST and drove about 2 hrs (or more) to the border. So she and my dad turned around, and she took the wheel this time. You would have THOUGHT their luck had turned some, but it didn't, it only got worse!
     At about 2 a.m. we get a phone call, they are lost IN DETROIT driving CITY streets. If you are not from here, that may mean nothing, but living here, I don't even drive city streets of Detroit at night. And whats worse, they weren't just ANY city streets, they were so deep in the 'hood that it was an area even the police do not go in after dark! They found a gas station, pulled in, had some barefoot guy bumming off them. The place had big bars across the front and a thick bullet proof piece of glass over the window. They were attempting to get directions. It wasn't going so well.
     Finally they somehow managed to get back on the road (can't recall who gave them the directions, if it was the gas station or Stephen and I in a panic on the phone).... but they finally made it out of Detroit. Needless to say, the following Mother's Day my brother got my mom a GPS!
     I think I will never forget this story. I won't forget the fear I felt within me of how they were in eminent danger! Stephen and I began to pray for them that God would protect them. Detroit (at night) where they were was not a very 'friendly' area but rather driving a nice SUV they were prime target for a car jacking or even worse. They were lost. They didn't know which way to go. They needed help.
     Is that you today? Are you on a path and you really are not sure where to? I ask you today, do you know where YOU will be for all eternity? A thought to ponder. A thought to take a moment and chew on. It's not about how good you are. You can be the greatest thing around, but if you don't have Jesus, that doesn't mean anything. God sent his only Son Jesus to die for us, to save us. I could not comprehend the pain and the gravity of this until I became a mother. I cannot fathom giving up my child. The child that is part of me. My heart bleeds at that thought. The pain He must have felt. But he had to. The Bible says that "for ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Thats why He had to. We are a fallen people, we have sinned, we can only do whats right in this world, we will never be able to be perfect. It's not about how good you are. It's not about giving the church lots of money. It's not even about religion! *GASP* It's about having a RELATIONSHIP! That's all it hinges on!
     Where is your GPS leading you today? Where is your RELATIONSHIP leading you today? Are you on the path to be with Christ through all eternity? It's really simple, nothing great and extravagant has to be done on your part. God already took care of that. Just say a simple prayer such as "God, thank you for sending your son Jesus to die for me, I believe in Him. Please forgive me of my sins. I want a new life in you, a changed life. Thank you for hearing me and for saving me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen"
   

Giving with no strings attached...

Today after getting some girl time with my girls this morning (albeit at a doctors appointment) Austanne decided to be extra nice to her brothers and sister and leave little gifts around the house. She went into each room, found something she thought one of them would like and left a little note attached. She hid each individual gift and waited until just the right time to reveal it!

Upon finishing up our school lessons, she became very excited! The boys finished first! She asked politely, "Boys, are you done with your lessons?" to which they replied "yes!"..... excitedly she asked me "Mommy! Can I go give them their surprises?" Of course, I said yes.

Excitedly she told the boys to close their eyes and follow her. They listened. They tripped a little, almost fell at times, nearly running into the wall, she held their hand leading them along to their bedroom to the "great surprise!" Excitedly the boys opened their eyes when she gave the words to do so! They "opened" their surprise! James received a necklace with two pennies, and David a shirt and his little gold star that pins on it that states "Sheriff David". Excited, David stripped off his shirt and put on the "new" shirt (which he has owned for the last 6-8 months but seemingly has forgotten that) Proud as could be Austanne stood watch as her brothers basked in the glory of their gifts!

Tabitha finished her lessons, and Austanne took her to their bedroom, and she also provided Tabitha with a gift. Tabitha, excitedly opened up her present and thanked Austanne! Again, Austanne was so proud! Austanne then led me to my room, where she had a piece of material with 6 tacks in it and a necklace chain also for me. Excitedly I said "WOW! Thank you SO much! I LOVE it!" She was so sweet!

Then, as if it was not surprising enough that Austanne blessed US all with a gift, Tabitha walked into her room, excitedly and prepared a gift for Austanne last second! Austanne was shocked as she did all this without expecting anything in return. Of course, she loved Tabitha's gift for her!

How much is this like our Heavenly Father? He blesses us with so many gifts as His children! He leads us by the hand, and as we feel out way around, and feel like we may be in the "dark" aimlessly trying to get to that location, we know that our Father only means good for us and blesses us so richly! Whether He gives us something so simple like the clothes on our back, or money in the bank, He loves us! How much does it bless His heart to see His children give back to Him? How much can we bless His heart by showing Him a token of our appreciation by saying THANK YOU GOD for EVERYTHING You have blessed us with?

So simple.... yet will you take a moment today to say THANK YOU LORD?

Broken....

      This morning David and James decided to take apart one of their toy cars... well actually a Hummer. They were so excited to see the insides. I on the other hand was displeased but the vehicle was beyond repair at this point so there was no point in stepping in. They had the top torn off, the sides, and all the wires hanging out. This thing was in pieces. Simply put, it was broken.
      Broken. Wow. What a word. When I think of broken I think of something you either fix or discard. This toy was seriously broken. After awhile of them playing with it, and then when little pieces began to scatter all throughout the kitchen it was time to make a decision to either fix or discard it. I told the boys it was time to throw it away. Sad, they asked me to put it back together, but it was beyond repair. A little while later, it was thrown away.

     Broken. Today I had a time of brokenness. I had a time of realizing just how truly broken I am on the inside. I have been battling food allergies for months on end (which feels like an eternity). They keep getting worse but I have had no answers. With an appointment coming tomorrow I looked forward to getting answers and actually eating again. Then came word, that was not going to happen. BROKEN. Yes, it all came out. I cried, and cried and cried. I think my dogs thought I was dying or something as I buried my head  and wailed out tears of brokenness to my God. Asking God to please heal me! Asking God please take this away. Thanking God for what I KNEW He was going to do. Broken. Then God placed on my heart in my time of distress a song that reached within the pit of brokenness, and spoke life into me. The song is entitled "Hungry."

The song is simple, and yet the words are so profound. Take a moment and listen to them: 

Hungry, I come to You

For I know You satisfy

I am empty but I know

Your love does not run dry 

Chorus:

So I wait for You

So I wait for You

I'm falling on my knees

Offering all of me

Jesus, You're all this heart 

Is living for

Broken, I run to You 

For Your arms are open wide

I am weary but I know

Your touch restores my life

Chorus

I'm falling on my knees

Offering all of me

Jesus, You're all this heart 

Is living for

Hungry, I come to You

For I know You satisfy

I am empty but I know

Your love does not run dry 

     Today in my brokenness I ran to Christ. I asked friends to pray for me. I called my husband and said I needed his prayers in this situation. The ONLY one who could handle this was God. My husband knew how much this has been weighing on my heart and has been an issue, but I honestly do not believe he knew the depth to which it has broken me down inside. I did not realize it until today. 

     I am thankful though, that I serve a God who can heal the broken! I may look like that toy car. I may have that rough exterior like the Hummer toy. I may seem to "have it all together" at different times. But as this whole battle over the last 9 months or so has worn me down, I have become broken. My insides began to slowly come through, I became exposed. With every part of my mental and emotional being borne to my God, the wires of my nerves and fears and doubts hanging and pulled out.... all like that toy.... I was broken. But I have a God-confidence, that my God is my HEALER, my SUPPLIER, my FATHER! He is not going to leave me hanging. He is not going to pick me up, look at me and say, "She is beyond repair" and throw me away. No, my God has picked me up, and He will continue to pick me up, and hold me in His arms and comfort me, He will love me, and He will carry me through this. 

     I am so thankful for God to put this all in perspective today, that in my deepest point of need, at one of my lowest lows, He was there. Thank you Jesus. 

All tangled up!

The kids were outside playing and having a grand time! They discovered how to spin in circles on the tire swing! SO much fun they thought! The girls took turns as the boys pushed and then the boys took turns as the girls pushed. They all laughed in grand excitement as they experienced the thrills of going so fast! Then I heard it.... after about 20 minutes of spinning. Tabitha came rushing over to me as I was talking to Stephen. "MOM! MOM! Austanne has an emergency! She needs your help fast!" So I went over knowing it couldn't be that bad because I did not hear any shrills cries for help. 

     There sat Austanne on the tire swing with her siblings gathered around with mouths down to the ground. They all knew it was not good. Austanne had managed to spin so fast her hair got caught in the bar swing next to it and spun along with them. She looked discouraged and saddened. 

     Assessing the situation I immediately thought we may need to chop her hair. Visions of a partially bald child on the one side of her heard filled my head. After about 10 minutes of working her hair like a puzzle, the hair was out of the swing and a sigh of relief was released by all the children, especially Austanne.                                                                              

 Have a crazy situation come up in your life? Suddenly you feel like you are stuck in some maze or some puzzle and you are overwhelmed with how to get out? I know Austanne was. I think back of David in the Bible. There were plenty of times where he was overwhelmed as he wrote the book of Psalms. But instead of getting discouraged he stood back and prayed, called out to God... and let God undo the mess! I encourage you to stand back and let God take control! 

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I Corinthians 10:13

“Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people.  But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm: at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.”

Don't look Mommy... you don't want to know!

"Mommy... can I have this sucker?".... "no Austanne, you need to eat breakfast." (2 minutes later) "Austanne, what are you doing?".... Austanne: :"Mommy, you don't want to know what I am doing."  as she picks at the picture that holds the sucker!
     Are we like that with our relationship with God? I know I have been in the past. He is like "No.... I don't want you to do that...." and we are thinking we know whats best for us. God must just be a party pooper.... what harm could it do to dabble in a little of this and a little of that, right? But yet He stands there and says, "Hey... what do you think you are doing?" (as if he doesn't already know!) and we know we are guilty so we just say "God... you don't want to know what I am doing!"
     Reminds me of Adam and Eve in the garden. Eve took of the fruit of the tree - she shouldn't have. Adam joined in and ate too. They knew better and when God was like "Ummm... where are you?" they kept hiding! Seriously... hiding from God? He can see you and knows exactly where you are and what you are up to! Funny they thought they could hide from him when just before they communicated with Him and He was there with them all along. Reminds me of a toddler who tries to hide when they know they are in trouble.... or the ostrich that sticks its head in the sand saying "I can't see you, so you can't see me!"
     God knows what the deal is, He knows if your dabbling in temptation. Step back, don't cave in.....
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"And remember, when someone wants to do wrong it is never God who is tempting him, for God never wants to do wrong and never tempts anyone else to do it. Temptation is the pull of man's own evil thoughts and wishes." JAMES 1 VERSES 13 & 14

Dropping drawers...

      This morning James got dressed himself, getting his own underwear on and rest of his attire. He informed me his underwear were a tad loose, but I dismissed the thought. A couple hours later we were packed and ready to go for an afternoon of fun at Cabella's about an hour from our house. As we walked through the store I observed James with his hands in his pockets all scrunched to the front of himself as if he was trying to hold his shorts on. After about a half an hour Stephen was holding James in his arms horizontally tickling his belly and his thigh and butt cheeks emerged. I asked Stephen if James maybe misplaced his underwear? He said he did not think so. So I did the usual "check" a mom would do for a diaper check, but this time for underwear! "Ahhh! No underwear!" I said in shock! Then.... I looked further... "AHHHHH -- his underwear ARE on... they are just down to his knees!" LOL
     James continued to walk around for about 20 minutes afterwards since I pulled up his underwear and all seemed well. As we were exploring a tent with the whole family and many others in the store (it was packed) a lady entered the tent and looked at the kids doing the typical head count and giving the look of "Holy crap... how many do these people have?" .... then she started to laugh and I looked over to see what was so funny. James decided he needed to get his underwear back in order and pulled down his pants in the tent to pull up his underwear! LOL
     A hasty retreat was made to the ladies room where I told him we would change his underwear into a pair that would fit better (I had spare ones in my bag in case of emergency). He enters the stall and pulls down his shorts to pee and excitedly he announces "WOW! My underwear!" as he discovered them below his knees again!
     No true lesson came from this other than a good laugh! He had put on Aaron's underwear (Aaron is 12, James is two!) At least I was prepared for the situation and he was able to get some clothes on that fit!
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What does it take to be a Father?

     What does it take to be a Father? Sadly in today's day and age, it just takes a one night stand. But being a TRUE father means WAY more! Being a Father, a Daddy, means stepping up the plate and loving the beautiful blessings that God has given you!
     I am so blessed to have an amazing husband for the father of my children! He is an amazing example of what it means to be self-less, to care for others, to be giving, to forgive. Our girls truly get a good example of what a husband should be for them when they grow up. Our boys get a good example of what they should be when they grow up and develop into young men.
     I had an amazing dad growing up too! He would wheel and deal and do whatever he could to help bring money in. He always had us laughing, and no matter how much stress was in a situation he somehow would make us laugh! Whether it was him totalling having a brain fart, him going into the mall with my sisters, mom and I to have 'quality time' as he purposely modeled the lingerie section.... or telling complete strangers he was Ron by day and Rhonda after 6p.m. He was a great dad and a good example of a man who can make light and fun in many situations. No awkward moments befell that man. He was one of the most interactive patients on his heart floor in the hospital every time he had a heart attack! I think every nurse on the floor knew him .... ironically especially those who were not his nurse! After his passing I picked pictures up of him at a Walgreen's the next town over and the cashier said to check them. I did, and she said "Oh, I know that man!".... yes, there was no strangers to him!
     My dad taught me that relationships are more valuable than the dollar. That family is something money cannot buy. He loved all seven of his children even when at various points in our life we were surly unlovable! He taught us appearance is not the most important thing! I remember him having my sister push his truck out of the high school parking lot because it would not start on its own. It was a stick shift so it had to be pushed to start. In front of all of her friends she had to push this hideous truck. And by hideous I truly mean U-G-L-Y! It actually won "The Ugliest Truck Contest" first place! Yes... it was ugly! You never knew driving down the road if you may lose a door, tailgate or some other random part of the vehicle! Or the flinstone mobile we had. I recall lifting the carpet mat under my feet to discover I could see the ground very easily through the gaping hole in the floor! But it was in those moments that I learned a lesson that many children don't learn... I learned you don't have to have the most beautiful car.... the newest thing in fashion. I learned it's about what you have in a family that matters the most! My dad built some great memories with that truck (great as in hilarious!) and with the car we went places and did things to bond as a family. It's those moments I would never trade!
     What a great example in my father and also in my husband of what a man should truly be! I look at my husband this last week taking on so much stress and yet giving grace out wherever he could. his employees totaled his work truck and instead of yelling at them he just said "it's okay... it's just a truck, you guys are okay, that's all I care about."...... or his employees transmission is going on his truck. Stephen got his truck back he bought for a friend who was supposed to pay for it (who never did but agreed to give it back after he fixed it, which he never did) but he got the truck back, is fixing it for his employee to use as a vehicle. He has extended grace as far as he can wherever he can... but you see, that's just who he is. Stephen is a kind man, with an extra kind heart. He would help anyone and everyone out who is need.
     Reminds me of the example he lived out about a month ago. We sat on the couch after a somewhat long day and decided at 9:30 at night we would snuggle up and watch a movie. We noticed headlights out front and peered out the playroom window. Upon further investigation we seen there was a man outside whose van had not only one but two flat tires. Stephen went out there and not only jacked the man's vehicle up, he changed his tire to his spare and went into our backyard and grabbed a tire he had on a rim and gave it to the man so he could make it home. We did not know this guy.... but for almost 45 minutes my husband worked on his truck and asked nothing in return. The man said he would return the tire a couple weeks later but never did. But that's okay.... Stephen did it with a heart of not expecting anything back in return.
     These are the lessons that a man not only talks of, but he lives and teaches his kids. To be a great father you don't just talk the talk... you must walk the walk! Father is more than just six letter word! A father is a leader, a protector, a shelter, a caregiver, an example, one who loves you even in your darkest moments, a man who can stand by your side even when your wrong - letting you know your wrong but loving you through it, someone who would give their life for you.
     Think of our Heavenly Father.... He did not just talk the talk... rather He sent His only Son Jesus to die for us! He could have said "Boy, those people sure messed it up! I told them enough times... now... it's just an 'I told you so' situation. People.... get your crap together!".... but no. He sent Jesus to die for us, so that HE could get our crap together for us! That is the example of true love! Happy Father's Day!
 

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"I guide you
in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
When you walk,
your steps will not be hampered;
when you run,
you will not stumble.
Hold on to instruction,
do not let it go;
guard it well,
for it is your life."
(Proverbs 4:11-13, NIV)