Have you ever heard someone say that "family is number one to me?"
I often laugh at this, because people's ideas of "family" are so all over the place these days. Are they talking about their wife and kids? Their parents and siblings? Their grandparents? In-laws? Friends? Neighbors? Pets?
I like to think that my family is very important to me, too.
And, to answer your question, I consider my "family" as my husband, brother, parents, in-laws, grandparents, aunts, cousins, and beyond.
That's a lot of people to keep track of!
Last weekend I took my sister-in-law to my parents house out-of-state, and during the visit we did our normal visit things, like family dinner with my parents and grandparents, and games after dinner. When we got back home from our trip, my sister-in-law made a comment to my husband on how much she "loves my family." That really touched my heart, because she was referring to my family, as hers. She went on to say how inviting my parents and grandparents are to her and how she loved having family dinners together and playing "chicken foot" after dinner and having fun together. She even said, "That's how a family should be."
She and my husband did not grow up like I did, and hearing her say that, and knowing that I grew up like that and she and my husband didn't made me appreciate my "family" even more.
But, "family" would not be possible to me without my parents. They are the ones who brought me into this crazy family to begin with.
I am one of the lucky ones who actually really truly loves her parents. I always have. I may not have always liked them from time to time, but I have always truly loved them.
I really miss having my parents live in the same town as me. And I have found it hard since they moved to keep feeling close to them via email and text and occasional visits.
This is just a wrap around way of saying that I really love you, mom and dad.
I know I have put you through lots of troubles and I have caused a lot of hurt growing up, but I didn't mean it. You two loving me the way you do is something I will always cherish and try my best to show to my future children.
Others may think they have the title, but mom and dad, you really are the world's best parents!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
He loves me, He loves me not
I am often in awe over how much I love Christ Jesus. He is the reason why I am married. He is the reason why I serve him in his church. He is the reason I wake up each day.
And how lucky I am that he loves me even more.
The past seven weeks my boss and I have been teaching 12 pre-teens about the church and God and the Bible through a United Methodist confirmation class. After the seven weeks, the youth will be confirmed into the church and also become members.
Teaching pre-teens, which I usually don't do, because I teach teenagers and beyond, is a real test of faith for me.
Pre-teens are just a little too young for my teaching style. They are up and out of their seats. They don't listen. They whine. They are always hungry and thirsty. And they always say, "this is boring."
I just want to shake them because to me, this isn't boring! Learning about your faith is the most important thing that you can devote your time too.
But, teaching this confirmation class has reminded me of a lot. It reminds me that God wants us to have childlike faith (Mark 10:13). And you can't get more in practice with that scripture than by teaching faith in a child(like) setting.
I guess religion and doctrine and old time scrolls are not too childlike anyway.
Jesus' love is the most authentic, the most childlike understanding of our faith. Nothing is more simple than love. Children, babies in fact, understand the concept of love. Whereas they don't necessarily understand the concept of religious prophecy and ancient texts.
We need to let love shine. And we need to keep that love authentic and sincere (Romans 12:9). No matter the age.
And how lucky I am that he loves me even more.
The past seven weeks my boss and I have been teaching 12 pre-teens about the church and God and the Bible through a United Methodist confirmation class. After the seven weeks, the youth will be confirmed into the church and also become members.
Teaching pre-teens, which I usually don't do, because I teach teenagers and beyond, is a real test of faith for me.
Pre-teens are just a little too young for my teaching style. They are up and out of their seats. They don't listen. They whine. They are always hungry and thirsty. And they always say, "this is boring."
I just want to shake them because to me, this isn't boring! Learning about your faith is the most important thing that you can devote your time too.
But, teaching this confirmation class has reminded me of a lot. It reminds me that God wants us to have childlike faith (Mark 10:13). And you can't get more in practice with that scripture than by teaching faith in a child(like) setting.
I guess religion and doctrine and old time scrolls are not too childlike anyway.
Jesus' love is the most authentic, the most childlike understanding of our faith. Nothing is more simple than love. Children, babies in fact, understand the concept of love. Whereas they don't necessarily understand the concept of religious prophecy and ancient texts.
We need to let love shine. And we need to keep that love authentic and sincere (Romans 12:9). No matter the age.
New mission bring new troubles
Over the past year I have been involved in starting a new mission at my church that feeds the hungry for free in our community once-a-week.
This mission is finally underway and tomorrow will be the fourth time we have offered a free meal.
I think the mission is already proving fruitful as we have seen numbers over 50 coming and eating and fellowshipping together.
One thing I have learned over the years of being on staff at a church is that people are strange. People act in all different ways. The church is more about relationships sometimes, than God. And that makes me sad.
What I believe the purpose of this new mission is, is to bring food to the hungry, and open our church doors to people who otherwise would not step foot in a church.
The very first night that we were opened for business, we had 11 guests. Not the number we were expecting, much lower actually, but still, we had 11. And from that 11 came some very inspirational stories. One mom who has two very small children, was walking by our church on her way to the market which is four blocks down from us, and she came in. We learned that she only has $40 to spend on food every other week, and with no car, she and her children walk to the market every other week with that $40 to purchase food. She and her children have come back to the dinners each Friday there after.
This mother and her story is what I think of when I think of this mission. People who are needing comfort and shelter and nourishment.
But today my eyes were opened to that what I believe to be in the forefront is not, and instead people are getting in the way of this mission's success. Leaders are back stabbing each other.
It's not about egos. Or who is the "main" leader. Or who should take the credit for the success of this new mission.
It's about God.
God made this mission possible. God made our lives possible. And it was our choice to follow Jesus, nameless in the eyes of our neighbors, because we wish to put Jesus' name above our own.
This mission is finally underway and tomorrow will be the fourth time we have offered a free meal.
I think the mission is already proving fruitful as we have seen numbers over 50 coming and eating and fellowshipping together.
One thing I have learned over the years of being on staff at a church is that people are strange. People act in all different ways. The church is more about relationships sometimes, than God. And that makes me sad.
What I believe the purpose of this new mission is, is to bring food to the hungry, and open our church doors to people who otherwise would not step foot in a church.
The very first night that we were opened for business, we had 11 guests. Not the number we were expecting, much lower actually, but still, we had 11. And from that 11 came some very inspirational stories. One mom who has two very small children, was walking by our church on her way to the market which is four blocks down from us, and she came in. We learned that she only has $40 to spend on food every other week, and with no car, she and her children walk to the market every other week with that $40 to purchase food. She and her children have come back to the dinners each Friday there after.
This mother and her story is what I think of when I think of this mission. People who are needing comfort and shelter and nourishment.
But today my eyes were opened to that what I believe to be in the forefront is not, and instead people are getting in the way of this mission's success. Leaders are back stabbing each other.
It's not about egos. Or who is the "main" leader. Or who should take the credit for the success of this new mission.
It's about God.
God made this mission possible. God made our lives possible. And it was our choice to follow Jesus, nameless in the eyes of our neighbors, because we wish to put Jesus' name above our own.
Times Flies
Wow, poor little blog, been neglected for almost three months!
It's amazing how time flies when you are having fun, or not having fun. Haha
You know, I wanted to get a certificate last year for a side job I was considering and I wanted to get it done in three months. Well, I looked today at the last time I logged into the system for that, and it was November 1, 2010. Almost a year ago! How sad is that? I have been looking at the material in my hall closet for almost a year, and have not touched it.
It is crazy to me how the days go by so slow, but the years go by so fast.
When I was younger I never understood how I would ever love being in heaven for "eternity." That's too long.
But, now I can see that eternity is just not long enough.
It's amazing how time flies when you are having fun, or not having fun. Haha
You know, I wanted to get a certificate last year for a side job I was considering and I wanted to get it done in three months. Well, I looked today at the last time I logged into the system for that, and it was November 1, 2010. Almost a year ago! How sad is that? I have been looking at the material in my hall closet for almost a year, and have not touched it.
It is crazy to me how the days go by so slow, but the years go by so fast.
When I was younger I never understood how I would ever love being in heaven for "eternity." That's too long.
But, now I can see that eternity is just not long enough.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
It's so hot and muggy my glasses fogged up
Well my dear friends it has been well over a month since my last post.
I know that you probably have been waiting, and waiting, and waiting for this new post - so I won't delay it any longer...
First and foremost my husband HAS A JOB! Thank you Lord Jesus! Almost six months of being unemployed and he finally found a job, and one that is right here in our hometown. Whew! And the icing on this cake is that this job is actually a pay raise from the last, AND he is guaranteed at least 10 hours of overtime each week, which will just bring in even more cash. (Which we really need, seeing that we were living on only 1 paycheck for so long...)
I hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July holiday. We were able to sneak away from this awful desert heat for a week and retreated to a not so hot location up north. The mini-vacation was wonderful, but now we are back in the hot, hot, hot sun and back to work (not complaining on that front though!). Actually the Fourth of July marked my husband's and my second wedding anniversary. Praise God! We made it to two!
Also exciting news is that my husband was granted his US citizenship and his swearing in ceremony will be July 18th. How very cool! He will be the very first person in his entire family to become a US citizen.
Stay cool everyone!
I know that you probably have been waiting, and waiting, and waiting for this new post - so I won't delay it any longer...
First and foremost my husband HAS A JOB! Thank you Lord Jesus! Almost six months of being unemployed and he finally found a job, and one that is right here in our hometown. Whew! And the icing on this cake is that this job is actually a pay raise from the last, AND he is guaranteed at least 10 hours of overtime each week, which will just bring in even more cash. (Which we really need, seeing that we were living on only 1 paycheck for so long...)
I hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July holiday. We were able to sneak away from this awful desert heat for a week and retreated to a not so hot location up north. The mini-vacation was wonderful, but now we are back in the hot, hot, hot sun and back to work (not complaining on that front though!). Actually the Fourth of July marked my husband's and my second wedding anniversary. Praise God! We made it to two!
Also exciting news is that my husband was granted his US citizenship and his swearing in ceremony will be July 18th. How very cool! He will be the very first person in his entire family to become a US citizen.
Stay cool everyone!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Profile Pictures
How do you decide what picture to place on your media accounts? Are they all the same photo - or maybe you have different photos for different media networks (like one for Facebook and one for your blog).
When I was hiring employees a few years ago, I would go and check out their media accounts. And, sure, some had on their security settings to not allow me, an outsider, access into their full profile, but I still could see the main profile picture.
Result? Well, regrettably, most profile photos were not job applicant appropriate.
These photos were taken at really fun times - complete with the drunken smiles, the lip locking of the applicant with who knows who, and the classic, smooshed rock star face with a admirable middle finger showing.
Thankfully I am no longer in the hiring business, but I still look at people's profile pictures.
The most recent was when I decided to look up a new family into our church on Facebook.
That was a mistake.
All of the classic "applicant" poses that I mentioned above were present on both of these sweet good Christian profiles.
Good friends, your media accounts, whether you think so or not, reflect you as an individual, at this current stage of your life.
Sure, you may have taken those drunken one night stand pictures five years ago, but they are still active memories on your account. And furthermore, you may know that those were taken five years ago during the "good old days" but when I look at them, I assume those were taken last weekend.
WWJT?
Not, WWJD (what would Jesus do) but instead, what would Jesus think?
What would Jesus think if he looked at your media accounts right now?
Is all the information present, all things that you are willing to take to the grave and explain at the pearly gates?
Could you imagine that? You get up to Saint Peter and after you sign in and do the intake interview, pages of your online media accounts are laid before you to explain to the panel.
Ha.
How you reflect your character online is a statement of your actual character. Like or not.
So, please, for all of us, go and look at your media accounts, specifically your photos and ask yourself, WWJT?
When I was hiring employees a few years ago, I would go and check out their media accounts. And, sure, some had on their security settings to not allow me, an outsider, access into their full profile, but I still could see the main profile picture.
Result? Well, regrettably, most profile photos were not job applicant appropriate.
These photos were taken at really fun times - complete with the drunken smiles, the lip locking of the applicant with who knows who, and the classic, smooshed rock star face with a admirable middle finger showing.
Thankfully I am no longer in the hiring business, but I still look at people's profile pictures.
The most recent was when I decided to look up a new family into our church on Facebook.
That was a mistake.
All of the classic "applicant" poses that I mentioned above were present on both of these sweet good Christian profiles.
Good friends, your media accounts, whether you think so or not, reflect you as an individual, at this current stage of your life.
Sure, you may have taken those drunken one night stand pictures five years ago, but they are still active memories on your account. And furthermore, you may know that those were taken five years ago during the "good old days" but when I look at them, I assume those were taken last weekend.
WWJT?
Not, WWJD (what would Jesus do) but instead, what would Jesus think?
What would Jesus think if he looked at your media accounts right now?
Is all the information present, all things that you are willing to take to the grave and explain at the pearly gates?
Could you imagine that? You get up to Saint Peter and after you sign in and do the intake interview, pages of your online media accounts are laid before you to explain to the panel.
Ha.
How you reflect your character online is a statement of your actual character. Like or not.
So, please, for all of us, go and look at your media accounts, specifically your photos and ask yourself, WWJT?
Monday, May 23, 2011
Whoa - That is a Big Word
When I was a child, I did not look forward to spelling tests. I struggled with spelling, all of my other friends were so good at spelling, and I felt left in the dust.
So, when I reached 6th grade, I was excited to learn that I would never, ever, have to take another spelling test in my educational career.
Nope. Not a one.
What I didn't know, was that instead of spelling tests, the new test was vocabulary.
And not only did you have to spell the word correctly, you had to know what it meant!
Whew! Overload!
I spent the remainder of my primary education learning really big words. Big words that meant exactly the same as smaller, more common words, but these bigger words were suppose to make me sounds more impressive, smarter, like I knew what I was talking about.
Move forward to college, and in the College of Education - big, beautiful words were frowned upon.
Why?
Because as a teacher you are to instruct your students and also efficiently communicate with their parents, which more than likely are at the same reading levels as their children.
I remember one horror story that said that a teacher was written up and almost terminated for using a "big" word to a caregiver.
The word you ask?
Adamant.
To use it in the sentence used by the teacher, "I am sorry, you are not authorized to pick up this child from school, his mother was adamant."
Result?
The caregiver reported the teacher for cussing at her. Teacher called wolf. However, it was their own words against each others, and ultimately the teacher was punished.
Lesson?
Big words don't make you sound smarter, or more qualified to speak on a certain topic.
And in some cases, it may get you canned.
A large vocabulary is admirable. Good for you!
But it should be used carefully.
Often times than none when large vocabulary is used, it is used to make the opponent sound inferior, or less qualified to make their statements of belief.
That's just not cool.
If you are so smart and can prove your point against another, then you do not even need to pull out the big guns in your speech. Large vocabulary words shouldn't even be needed.
The key to communication is to communicate. (Duh!)
And sometimes when you use large vocabulary words in your speech, you are accomplishing the opposite.
So, when I reached 6th grade, I was excited to learn that I would never, ever, have to take another spelling test in my educational career.
Nope. Not a one.
What I didn't know, was that instead of spelling tests, the new test was vocabulary.
And not only did you have to spell the word correctly, you had to know what it meant!
Whew! Overload!
I spent the remainder of my primary education learning really big words. Big words that meant exactly the same as smaller, more common words, but these bigger words were suppose to make me sounds more impressive, smarter, like I knew what I was talking about.
Move forward to college, and in the College of Education - big, beautiful words were frowned upon.
Why?
Because as a teacher you are to instruct your students and also efficiently communicate with their parents, which more than likely are at the same reading levels as their children.
I remember one horror story that said that a teacher was written up and almost terminated for using a "big" word to a caregiver.
The word you ask?
Adamant.
To use it in the sentence used by the teacher, "I am sorry, you are not authorized to pick up this child from school, his mother was adamant."
Result?
The caregiver reported the teacher for cussing at her. Teacher called wolf. However, it was their own words against each others, and ultimately the teacher was punished.
Lesson?
Big words don't make you sound smarter, or more qualified to speak on a certain topic.
And in some cases, it may get you canned.
A large vocabulary is admirable. Good for you!
But it should be used carefully.
Often times than none when large vocabulary is used, it is used to make the opponent sound inferior, or less qualified to make their statements of belief.
That's just not cool.
If you are so smart and can prove your point against another, then you do not even need to pull out the big guns in your speech. Large vocabulary words shouldn't even be needed.
The key to communication is to communicate. (Duh!)
And sometimes when you use large vocabulary words in your speech, you are accomplishing the opposite.
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