There is just something about life-long friendships.

I hung out at my best friend’s house tonight.

Let’s see.

Her middle child was running a fever, which her youngest caught before the night was over.

She’s reading Generous Justice by Timothy Keller and we had a profound beginning discussion of what she’s learning.

We ran to the store and discussed sales, prices & what she buys where to save.

We discussed what it looks like to shepherd your children after a certain age.

We briefly hit on marriage and parenting with our spouses (her hubs was reading Bringing Up Girls during most of this…it was sweet…plus, he’s learned over the years to tune us out)

And she fed me candy and Pepsi. She loves me.

I hope you have people in your life who know you inside and out. Who have been there through everything. I’m grateful tonight for one of mine.

Hometown

There is something so…idyllic…about watching your children at the playground on which you grew up.

We’re hanging out at my parents’ house this weekend. I’m breaking my rule and posting a couple pictures that my photographer father took. I’ll take them down in a couple of days. But the weather was perfect, it was prom Saturday yesterday, and I can’t resist!

Caden wanted to walk by the princesses

We almost fell off the see-saw

We’re having a good time. Fortunately, Gramma & Grandpa have Legos. They know how to make Mac & Cheese (from scratch!). Believe it or not, they get PBS on their TV too. They know how – and are willing – to change stinky diapers. ‘Tis good times all around.

My New Verse

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have,” {why?} “because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'”

I find it fascinating that this amazing, courage-inspiring promise God gave Joshua is what He inspired the writer of Hebrews to quote in the context of contentment. The reason we don’t need to love money or stress about provision is because He’ll never leave us. Of course, there are things we need to do to cooperate with Him, such as seeking His Kingdom and His righteousness first (Matt 6:33), humbling ourselves (IPet5:6), and choosing to be faithful with others’ and a little (Luke 16:10-12) if we ever expect to be put in charge of our own and much.

But even if {when?} we fail these things, He doesn’t leave us. His Spirit can be quenched and grieved, but He’s still our Father. He may discipline us as children He loves (Heb12:6), but He won’t forsake us. That’s definitely a reason not to love money for the seeming-power or deceitful-security it may bring (Luke 12:13-21).

I hope it goes without saying that these things I write are for myself as much as (or more than) for anyone who may read it. It helps me to investigate and seek out things in the Word, and write it out. Never wonder if I’m directing something at you (whoever you are reading this) in some sort of passive-aggressive way. Nope. It’s almost always for myself, and if it speaks to someone else, awesome.

Have a good day!

Look at those cute pots!

Cala lillies and another new planter

Our Red Bud Tree

The Lilac bush and two new plants!

What a great weekend! Saturday was the women’s retreat and it was wonderful. I got to know some more ladies and the uninterrupted, 3-hour time with God was just what I needed. In our car on the drive down, we talked about how David says in Psalm 63 that his soul will “be satisfied as with the richest of foods” with his God (vs 5). Saturday felt like a banquet of rich, satisfying food to my soul after quite a while of snacks and even some junk food. He allowed me to have some Power Bars here and there, but I haven’t had much that was a banquet for some time. I’m so glad his love is experiential toward us. I sat at the top of a hill at the Tallgrass Prairie reserve, bare feet, with the wind sweeping over me and was perfectly content in Him. The phrase “wide expanse of my soul” kept running through my head as I took in nature. What a great day.

Yesterday we planted all you see above and Dan started tilling the garden. We have contemplated just plowing that thing and seeing what springs up. We use it as a compost heap when it’s warm, so you never know what seeds will take root. But we do want some tomatoes and our friends gave us a jalapeno plant. We’ll see. We’re not going to be quite as diligent as last year.

Then. We went to town on the boys’ room. The dresser had broken and with both boys (mostly) sleeping in there together, we were needing more space. We got a closet organizer so we could get rid of said broken dresser and I feel like I can breathe now in their room. Clutter free = happy mama. (Plus I read – or more accurately scanned – the book Organizing for Your Brain Type – and true to my type’s form got in a feverish, organzing frenzy!)

Okay, lots to do today. I love spring.

Galations 5: 13-18; 22 & 23 (The Message)

It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?

My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?

But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely

Gratitude

I seriously need someone to tutor me on how to run blogger. I can’t line up my images.

Anywho.

These are two things I’m loving right now – my pretty tulips and my orchid. They each sit on one side of the TV. Happiness. And since I’m so reluctant to post pictures on the world wide web of my children/family (I’m not sure…just feels unprotective) I decided to share these beauties today.

And more happiness…in no particular order:

1. The way Caden greets his classmates at Mom’s Day Out and without hesitation shares his Batman guy with Joey.

2. How, no matter what he’s doing in the car, Caleb is always enthralled with his big brother when I sneak a peek in the rear-view mirror.

3. The butternut squash with cinnamon I just ate – thank you, Caleb, for sharing

4. And the Cinnamon Swirl french toast with strawberries from last night

5. That we’ll be gardening soon

6. The women’s retreat on Saturday (wanna come?)

7. The fact that the three houses in a row on our side of the street trust each other with our kids and let them roam a safe distance together. I especially appreciate that because I’ve watched how they protect Caden when riding his bike out into the street to go to a different house. (See? I’m slowly learning to let go.)

8. A hubby who helps out a LOT around here.

9. That Caleb just got some 6 month pictures. And I wasn’t talked into more than the one-pose special! (You moms know what I’m talking about. I thought I would have to bring an accountability partner with me.) I’ll need to bend my rule and post the picture on here. Except I didn’t buy the CD and we don’t have a scanner. Oh well. Picture him looking off to the side, about to bite into a baseball, with a new spring hat on and you’ll get the gist of the winning pose.

I never want to worship the blessings over the Blesser. But thankfulness is a good thing. If you’re wondering why I would ever struggle with that distinction, just thank Jesus right now that you have an even-keel temperament. I learned a good prayer at our church’s personality seminar:

That “we want to be neither men (or women) whose own strength is their God (Hab.1:11) or one who laments, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ (Rom 9:20)”

I have had a new appreciation for the whole body of Christ lately.

{Please don’t ask me why my paragraphs are centered. I don’t know}

Have a good, sunny day!

I’ve been thinking this week about something our pastor said on Sunday:

“We would rather hear a comfortable lie than an uncomfortable truth.”

That’s true. I like to think I’m very objective in my ability to embrace the uncomfortable truth. But I’m not. I’m vulnerable to the comfortable lie. Ew.

It reminded me of that verse in Isaiah 30:11: “Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!”

Makes me shudder. I don’t ever want that to be my mindset. I want to be open to what the Holy One has for me. I am currently praying for the “godly sorrow [that] brings repentance” (2Cor7:10) about some sins in my life. I don’t just want to regret some things. I want true, heart-felt, godly sorrow and complete repentance. It’s the only way to be free in Him.

Okay. I think older son has woken younger son. On purpose. Must go mediate.

Oh my graciousness. I love this weather.

I don’t think I saw my son all afternoon. Actually I did see him. He was amidst lots of other children. Enjoying the beauty of the day. He’s currently showering off that beauty now.

Today made me want to plant something. Azaelas. Or those Gerbera Daisy plants. It’s in the works. My man bought me some bright-colored pots and we’ll be working on that this weekend.

I really want to buy a fun, spring Easter dress. Have you seen any cute ones? The Target ad this week had a fun blue one. Spring makes me happy.

I still need to get Caleb’s 6 month pictures. He turned 7 months this week. He was magic-markered on by his brother on Sunday and he still has red on his little head. Poor baby. Napping in the same room so far isn’t our strong suit.

We met Caden’s PreK teacher today. She is wonderful. I think she has high standards for her students. She mentioned respect a couple of times.

I’m having fun making crazy concoctions for Caleb’s baby food. Today was pumpkin, applesauce, and mashed potatoes…with pumpkin pie spice. I wasn’t a fan, but Caleb ate most of the bowl.

That must be it. Hope you’re having a good week!

What do you do with strong emotions? Do you bottle them up? Take them out on the right person? Take them out on the wrong person? Deny them?

A paragraph from Beth Moore’s Praying God’s Word book, in the chapter “Overcoming Unforgiveness” has helped me tremendously in the best way to deal with strong emotions. I realize, ideally, emotions would be under control. But when hurt, fear and anger are present…what are our options?

See what you think of this:

“Our wise God, Creator of the human heart, purposely picked out the heart of David as an example to us. Not coincidentally, David was the one God inspired to pen the liberating words of Psalm 62:8, which says, Trust in him at all times, O people;/ pour out your hearts to him, / for God is our refuge.’

…And we, too, are invited to bring our complaints to God when we are overwhelmed. In Psalm 64:1, David said, ‘Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint’. In Psalm 142:1-2, David wrote, ‘I cry aloud to the LORD; / I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy./ I pour out my complaint before him; / before him I tell my trouble.’ See what I mean? David practiced what he preached in Psalm 62:8…

…Intimacy with God means sharing the depths of our hearts with Him. If what is in the depths is great joy and celebration, then share it with Him. And if what is in the depths is anger, hurt, and all sorts of injury, tell Him that too! Oh, what healing we would find if we only understood that God is about real living. We leave Him out of feelings, emotions, temptations, and situations He made Himself totally available to treat!

…When I pour out my heart to God over an injury I feel I’ve received from someone, first of all, I almost always feel better. As I talk it out with God, I am often able to separate truth from fiction and the difference between my perceptions and reality. Other times, the exact opposite occurs. The more I talk about it with God, the more aware I become of how truly upset I am. The good news is, I’m already a step ahead in restoration because I’m dealing with it exactly where I should be.” (pages 233-236)

So if you ever have bitterness toward someone, where do you spew? I recommend David’s way. This God of ours is the great Psyche-ologist!