Silly Saturday- Never Bet on Guacamole

Lessons I have learned in the last 24 hours:

1.  Never make a bet that you don't intend to keep.

2.  As you sit at a Chipotle restaurant enjoying guacamole and chips (which you love), don't throw down the gauntlet to every other member of your anti-guacamole family and offer $5 to the first one who will eat and swallow a chip with guacamole on it. (What was I thinking?)

3.  Never count on the pickiest eater to stay picky when $5 is on the line.

Yep, the "silly" in today's Silly Saturday is me.  I'm $5 poorer, and Micah has now tried and swallowed guacamole.

Live and learn, Mommy....

Never bet on guacamole.

Or picky eaters...

1,003 Words- March 29

(Since a picture is worth 1,000 words, I'll only add 3 of my own...)

Daughter

needs

puppy!

To Know...

I saw this quote today.  It rang true with such a depth and sweetness.  Oh, that I may know Him...

"God is not a belief to which you give your assent.  God becomes a reality whom you know intimately, meet everyday, one whose strength becomes your strength, whose love, your love.  Live this life of the presence of God long enough and when someone asks you, 'Do you believe there is a God?' you may find yourself answering, 'No, I do not believe there is a God.  I know there is a God.' "-- Ernest Boyer, Jr.

Restless

Restless.
Rest-less.

"Be still and know that I am God."
"Be still before the Lord, wait patiently for Him."

Rest.

1,003 Words- March 20

(Since a picture is worth 1,000 words, I'll only add 3 of my own...)

Spring

has

arrived!!!

Silly Saturday- The Dragon Hat

Before Christmas, Isaac saw a hat that he loved at Kohl's, but we never realized how much he loved it.  If we had even had an inkling of how much he wanted it, we would have made sure it was part of his Christmas.  Alas, he didn't get the hat.

After Christmas, we were shopping with the kids at Kohl's and told them they could each pick one thing that night.  Isaac didn't even hesitate.  He marched right over to the part of the boys' section where they keep things like hats and picked out that hat- a green (and very cool, I might add) dragon hat.  He thinks it looks especially cool with his green striped jammies!

It has been on his head almost constantly since that day. At night he sleeps with it under his pillow, and he puts it right back on the next morning.  I was actually in Kohl's recently and those little hats are now on clearance.  He doesn't know it, but I got a spare-- just in case we suffered the heartbreaking loss of his beloved dragon hat at some point!

I wonder what he's going to do now that the weather is warming up?

What I Know- March 12

On this rainy Monday, this is what I know:

1.  I know that spring is right around the corner, because the little yellow crocuses in my front yard told me so just this morning.
2.  I know that I have a deep, abiding appreciation for paper plates.
3.  I know who opened the bag of chocolate chips.
4.  I know that God is providing for us daily and building my faith minute by minute.
5.  I know that I was greatly encouraged by this Word from the Lord this morning as I stood at the beginning of a week full of unknowns and uncertainties:

"The Lord your God, who goes before you, will Himself fight for you." Deut. 1: 30a

I may know only a few things, but God knows everything, and I know Him through Jesus Christ.

What do you know?

Silly Saturday- The Event

So much silliness happens in our house on a regular basis that it begs to be shared sometimes.  In the busyness of life, I just don't stop to laugh enough-- a definite problem, in my opinion.

Soooooo....In the hopes of laughing more and laughing often, I now bring you the first installment of "Silly Saturday"-- where I hope to recount some of this silliness from recent days.

The Event
One of my favorite things in all the world is a delightful little dessert known as a Little Debbie Swiss Cake Roll.

Behold, the hallowed box of wonderfulness...

I never thought to mention this longstanding, deep love until recently, and much to my surprise, my husband brought home a box last week.  (He's so good to me!)  It probably would have been better if I had never introduced my twinnies to this dessert, because now I have to share.

Anyway, I proceeded to tell my kids all about how I used to eat them when I was a little girl.  We would peel off the top layer of chocolate on the first one, unroll it and eat it slowly, and then we would use the little white cardboard square to cut the other one into tiny slices.  I ended my demonstration by saying, "Eating a Swiss Cake Roll is not just dessert.  It's an EVENT!"

The next day, Micah came into the kitchen as I was enjoying another Swiss Cake Roll.  With a grin on his face, he said, "Mommy, are you having an event?"

Why, yes, sweet boy.  Yes, I am!!

And now, what do you think I have been hearing over the last few days?

"Mommy, may I please have an event?"

I think we're going to need a trip to the store.  We're almost out of events.

Decisions, Decisions

"Hmmmm...," I thought to myself as I looked out at the sunshine. "Decisions, decisions:  Grammar or bike ride in the sunshine.  Grammar or bike ride in the sunshine."

I know....

"Let's go for a bike ride in the sunshine!"

Let's (contraction, short for "let us"), us (prounoun), go (action verb), on (preposition), a (article), bike (adjective), ride (noun, object of a preposition), in (preposition), the (article), sunshine (noun, object of a preposition).  Exclamatory sentence.

Grammar?  Check!

Kids, go get your shoes!!!!

New Month, New Look

I was reading an article the other day, and the author said she would swear that for teachers and parents, February is the longest month of the year-- despite the fact that it is the shortest one in the calendar.  I think I can really relate this year.

Ah, but there is hope yet!  March has arrived, raging in with all of its bluster and blow, and carrying with it the promise of spring that is just around the corner.  I have begun to see a few sprouts in my yard peeking their little green heads out to see if we are ready for them to make their grand entrance.  I always feel like doing cartwheels in the dead grass when those first few shoots come popping up through the earth!

In honor of spring coming and the hopefulness that I feel with things getting more settled,  I decided to get rid of the dark background on this blog and pay my respects to spring!  We have come through a dark time by God's grace, we've seen God provide in amazing ways, and I guess everything in my life feels ready for things to be lighter and brighter-- including this blog.

New month, new look, but same Jesus-- yesterday, today and forever!

Oh, To Be Gifted

I was gifted today.

No, not gifted in the sense that I can calculate huge strings of numbers instantly or play Mendelssohn without practicing.  I'm definitely not gifted that way.

But I was gifted.  Blessed. Humbled.  Touched.  Given something amazing by someone who is definitely gifted.

Did that last sentence confuse you?

She is definitely gifted-- at giving.  I think it's one of her gifts-- her spiritual gifts, I mean.  She's given me meals.  She's given me phone calls to check up on how I'm doing.  She's given me huge bottles of my favorite detergent.  For many years she's given me her friendship, and most importantly, she gives me Scripture when I need to hear it.

And the way she gifted me today?

Today, she gave me the gift of a lovely new haircut and highlights.  

Did she know that I had secretly talked to the Lord about needing a haircut?  Is her gift in perceiving the needs people have, or is it just simply in listening when the Lord prompts her to do something?  Oh, that the Lord would open my eyes wider to perceive when there are ways that I can use my gifts.  Oh, that the Lord would build up in me the gift of giving.

I don't get to spend time with this gifted friend very often, but she I know she is there, using her gifts, loving the Lord, and inspiring me to give too.

So I sit here tonight praying that the Lord would give her His many good gifts in return.

Monday Morning

For all those who care for homes, husbands, and families on this Monday morning:

Monday morning, coffee brewing,

House is quiet, mind is stewing.

Lord, I have so much to do,

I knew I had to come to You.

My week is full, the tension high,

All that can wait-- it seems that I

Have come to know, have come to see

This time with You- necessity.

The tasks bear down, the piles call,

Temporary, transient, earthly--all.

Time spent with You to know Your heart

Turns piles into works of art.

As You teach me, this earthly home

Becomes a place to do Your will.

The highest calling, the noblest task,

With lives to love and hearts to fill.

Your sweetness, Lord. Your mercy, Lord.

Your goodness, Lord.  Your grace--

Please fill me up on this full day.

With grateful heart, I seek Your face.

If George Muller Had a Credit Card

I have been spending a lot of time lately thinking about the way that God provides for His children and the way we often try to meet our own needs before we pray about them.

Through the fall, Paul's health difficulties took a huge toll on his law practice, and then he was unable to work for about six weeks because of the surgery.  We have been forced to cry out to the Lord for His provision for our family.  We couldn't even wrangle things around.  The money to pay bills simply wasn't there unless the Lord provided it miraculously.

It has been amazing to watch.  The situation seemed impossible, but nothing is impossible with God.  We have had checks come out of the blue, grocery gift cards left at the church office for us, and a number of other gifts-- from meals to shoes to clothes to a fuel card.  I find myself absolutely amazed and humbled at the way God continues to meet us in our time of need.  We have been brought to tears numerous times at the love poured out on us by God through His children.  I confess that I cry a lot these days, but they are mostly tears of joy at the way God has shown Himself to be so near and active in our lives-- both by healing Paul and providing for us while he has been out of commission.  I am truly in awe.  Each provision- no matter how big or small- increases my faith.

I think it is commonplace in our culture to just go and plunk down a credit card for the things we need.  I recently needed a pair of shoes, and I could have easily purchased them that way.  In fact, I'm so ashamed to think of all the times that I have done exactly that instead of praying for the thing I needed-- as if the God of all creation couldn't supply a pair of shoes or groceries or money for bills.  I prayed specifically for the shoes, and the Lord gave me money through a friend who said, "I know you are the kind of mom that takes care of everyone else first, but please take this money and get something YOU need."

My kids have a book called The Bandit of Ashley Downs that was written by Dave and Neta Jackson.  It tells the story of the great hero of the faith, George Muller.  The introduction says the following:

"George Muller founded an orphanage in Bristol, England, that at first cared for thirty children.  By faith, and without going into debt or revealing his financial needs to anyone but God, the orphanage grew until Muller had cared for more than ten thousand children during his lifetime."

Here is my question:  If George Muller had owned a credit card, would he be known for his great faith?

I'm going to be pondering this one for a long time...

Sunshine

I absolutely LOVE sunshine.

One of the things I have always missed about Colorado is the way the sun shines all the time, even in winter.  Normally it is cold, gray, and dreary here this time of year, but we've had an unusual (and I mean unusual!) amount of sunshine this winter.  Last spring I realized that I have a definite physical issue that arises from too little sun, so I knew that I was going to have to be proactive about getting even small bits of sun when I could through the winter.  I was dreading the long gray winter, but God has given more sunshine than I could have imagined possible.  What a gift of grace to my weary heart during a really difficult time!

The last few days I've had a cold, so I stayed home from church on Sunday.  I was sitting on a stool in our sunny little alcove with my long sleeves pulled up and my face turned toward the sun when Paul and the kids got home after church.  Sarah walked in and said, "Mommy, are you sun-basking?"

Yes, sweet girl.  I was basking.  I admit it.  I do love this sunny winter.

As thankful as I have been for the sunshine, I know that the gray days will surely come too.  On those days, I need to remember to bask in another Light-- with my face turned toward the Son.

Getting Back to Normal

Paul saw the surgeon yesterday and doesn't have to go back again!  The surgeon was pleased with his progress and said that Paul's prognosis was good to have a complete recovery.  Paul will still have appointments with the infectious disease specialist for the recent infection, but as for the initial surgery, Paul is recovering well.  We are extremely grateful for this blessing from the Lord.

Paul has started back to work and has even been to court a couple of times this week.  The other day I was unloading the dishwasher when he returned from court and walked into the house in his suit and overcoat.  The kids ran to him in their usual exuberance-- "Daddy!!!"

I thought to myself, "This feels so normal."

It felt so good for something to be "normal".  Nothing exciting, out of the ordinary, unusual, or surprising.  Just normal!

Just normal.  I wonder how often I have complained at the normal and ordinary?

Today I am praising God for the process of getting back to a regular, normal pattern of living, all the while praying that we would glorify and cling to God in the normal and the ordinary moments just as we must during the exciting, stressful, and eventful ones.  He is the God who carries us through both.  I continue to pray for a complete recovery for Paul and the Lord's direction with Paul's practice, but I am also very thankful for the process of "getting back to normal".

Amazing Provision

A story of our good God who provides in ways that shouldn't surprise us, but they always do:

Paul was sent home from the hospital with a 2-week prescription for his antibiotic, but most pharmacies don't even carry it.  We had been told that he would get liquid because the pills are extremely expensive.

When I called our local pharmacy on Sunday afternoon, the pharmacist said they couldn't even get the liquid, but she also looked up our insurance and said that if we got the pills, we were only covered for 20 (out of the 56 he would need).  The words "maximum allowable amount" were uttered at some point in the conversation.  The nurse at the hospital gave us enough doses of liquid on Sunday to get through the night, and then we had to go back to the hospital yesterday to have the prescription filled there instead.

As Paul picked it up yesterday, he was very surprised that they had given him the pills instead of the liquid.  He asked the pharmacist about it and found out that they had called the insurance to override the limit.  He paid the $12 co-pay and left the pharmacy, still wondering at the change.  As we stood in the lobby of the hospital looking at the label,  we realized that it showed our co-pay and also showed the complete cost of the medication. We were absolutely stunned.

Total cost of 56 pills: $3,703.06
Cost to us: $12

Unbelievable, unbelievable, unbelievable.

The words all string together in my mind-- "Consider the lilies of the fields... are you not of much more value than the sparrows... take no thought for tomorrow... Your Heavenly Father knows that you have need of these things..."

...even antibiotics.

Home (Again)

Just a brief update to let everyone know that Paul was discharged this afternoon.  He will continue the antibiotic at home and follow up with his doctors in the next few weeks.

The Lord has been so gracious to us.  Yesterday while I was at the hospital, four ladies came and cleaned my house.  They left the house cleaner than it has been in weeks!  What a blessing to come home from the hospital to a clean house.  We were also given two meals in the last two days, and we have been given several grocery gift cards. I am overwhelmed at the way the Lord is providing.

Many thanks to everyone for all of the prayers and love extended.  We are continuing to pray that God would completely heal Paul from this infection, and today we are very thankful that the Lord has brought him back home...again!

C. Diff...icult to Get Rid Of

After a day of consults and cultures, we have a diagnosis.  The C. diff. is back.  Paul finished a two-week regimen of the other antibiotic, but that has obviously not done the job.  He is now being given the big gun- vancomycin.

We saw a host of doctors today-- from MD's to Surgeons to Infectious Disease Specialists.  Even before the culture came back positive, they were all saying the same thing.

The good news is that Paul's symptoms have an explanation, a treatment, a possible end.  That is something we don't take for granted.  The other good news is that they can mix the vancomycin liquid with orange juice to make it more palatable.  Paul is extremely thankful for that.

If he does not develop a fever again and if his symptoms seem to be improving, they could possibly send him home tomorrow.  We won't know anything until the doctors come around again.  I guess we will see in the morning.

I am home with the kids tonight, but I spoke to Paul a little bit ago and he at least sounded a little brighter.  That was a good sound after some long days.  We so appreciate all of the prayers being offered up on our behalf.

So on we plod, into another day of waiting and praying...

...being held by the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in whose book were written all the days of our lives when as yet there were none of them.

Back to the Hospital- January 26

Paul is in the hospital again tonight.  He has been suffering with a bad cold, but he began to have more abdominal pain and some other digestive symptoms.  I called the surgeon's office this morning and talked with the dear nurse that has been such a tremendous blessing to us (May God richly bless Kathy).  They planned to have us come in this afternoon, but later decided to have Paul go to the hospital for a CT scan first.  I was driving Paul to the hospital when he suddenly got light-headed and passed out.

By God's grace, I was less than a minute from the hospital, so I pulled into the ER drive, ran in, and got some help.  By the time they came out with the gurney, Paul was beginning to come to consciousness again.  A few minutes later he was fully responsive.

We spent the afternoon at the ER.  They did tests and a CT scan and discovered that the side of his colon opposite the surgery site is inflamed.  They have no idea why this has happened.  He will be evaluated tomorrow by the surgeon, a GI doctor, and possibly an infectious disease doctor.  We have no idea if he will come home tomorrow or if he will stay longer.

It is a tremendous blow to hear this news.  We have been so hopeful that Paul's surgery would solve the problems that he has had for so long, but it seems as though there might be some other underlying problem.

Please pray for Paul.  His body is still so weak, he is stressed and anxious about needing to work, and he is now discouraged at the possibility that the surgery may not be the end of the problems.  We are thankful that the Lord is near to us, even in these difficult days.

"Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

God knows our frame and remembers that we are dust.  Our flesh and our hearts may fail, but God is the strength of our hearts and our portion forever. That is my assurance tonight.

Still Needing Prayer

Paul is still really needing prayer.  He came down with some type of respiratory infection or cold over the weekend and has a terrible cough.  He has been unable to sleep, so he is exhausted.  He is also feeling the pressure of needing to start working again, as it has been almost 4 weeks since his surgery.

Will you please pray that God would heal him completely from this terrible cough and restore his strength? Will you also pray that the Lord will provide for our family while Paul is recovering?  As February looms ahead, I know that nothing is impossible with God.

"Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid..." John 14:27