Inside

Two friends from Madison, WI came yesterday to visit.

Two people who knew my life back in Madison very well, came to look inside my new life here in Sycamore.

I really wasn’t sure how I was going to feel. I tried not to over clean, over plan, over smile, or over worry. But I admit, I did each of those more than I wanted to.

For some reason, I thought I might feel small and insignificant showing them all the things that make me happy here… my house in the corn field, my new budget friendly curtains made with lots of love and no money, our candy store, our library in the funky building, the kid’s school, my sewing corner, the barn cat, the gi-normous closets in the kid’s rooms, the super duper high base boards that I can’t live without, the 100 year old doorbell, the coffee house I frequent, the students I get to spend time with..

Guess what? I felt proud and very content. I love what God has provided here. I could live here a long time.

I miss Madison very, very much – more than that actually.

And I love what life looks like here too.

That’s OK, right?

 

 

When I get the chance…

These are posts I need to write…  (Maybe next week? Maybe?)

1. The challenges of being a Christian in America

Why it’s hard to live in relative ease and comfort… What we miss out on by not “needing” God in the same ways our brothers and sisters around the world do… What our rugged individualism does to community and fellowship (or lack there of)… What we do as a society with our secret guilt and restlessness…

2.  New YAF (young adult fiction) writers I am enjoying

Shannon Hale and her series that begins with Goose Girl has been such a treat.

Bodil Bredsdorff and her series The Children of Crow Cove is also amazing. These stories  are translated from Danish and I don’t think I have read more beautiful prose in a very long time – breathtaking!

3. These are the best years of my entire life – and I mean it!

Past the blur of diapers and no sleep and fears that I’ll always have to buckle 3 other people in before I can get going. Living with the sweet reality that this time goes so fast and my kids are so, so, wonderful.

4. Coming up on 10 years of marriage.

Reflections on how this relationship has changed me.

OK – you pick. Which one first?

 

Giggles

Our beach vacation brought back many wonderful memories for me. Growing up, my grandparents spent 2-3 months out of the year snow-birding it in Clearwater Beach, Florida. I spent nearly every spring break down there with my mom and brother.

I remember searching for shells and sand dollars with my grandparents, and later gluing them down to big straw place mats; “Pirate Cruises” on a fancy red sailboat way out into the ocean; trips to Bush gardens; and probably my favorite part – going out to eat at fancy restaurants and ordering Shirley Temples, fried shrimp, and crab legs.

One restaurant I fell in love with right away was the Belleview Biltmore. Beautiful ball rooms, gorgeous grounds, amazing food. I decided I MUST get married there…

I’m pretty sure my parents were relieved when I didn’t go that route. Tee Hee…

PS: H7 and L4 – don’t get any ideas.  How does the Steak Pit sound?

 

 

What we can…

I have a bona-fide animal lover for a daughter. She loves animals, and they love her back. She is most at home in her own skin when she is around them. She plays with the neighbors outdoor cat for hours on end. We don’t feed it, don’t let it inside, and yet it faithfully comes over for a daily dose of love and affection from her.

We can not have our own animals right now, and so we are on the hunt for ways to continue to develop this passion – actually, it’s more like a need. We checked out a local riding facility this weekend. She loves horses. She has a way with them. She has that natural confidence and calm about her that make horses comfortable. If I had told her we could spend the night there, only we had to sleep on the freezing cold ground without a blanket she would have cheerfully agreed. (Side note: grandparents who read this blog. This is what she wants for Christmas…$$ for lessons. She is faithfully saving her allowance and with Christmas money is hoping to buy an 11 lesson package for the spring.)

Anyway, we are also volunteering at our local Humane Society together. I’m not sure we are going to make good volunteers. We may end up crying way tooooo  much or end up ‘”borrowing” animals to drop off at all our friends and neighbors houses.

We are doing what we can. I’m not complaining. Truthfully, this part of parenting I treasure. I love seeing how God has made her. I love training her up in the way she should go, in other words, coming alongside the way God has made her, providing experience and guidance, so she can blossom and grow.

I guess, all I’m trying to say is, if you find a dog or cat on your front stoop with a little note, you’ll  know she fell in love with another one, and well, you know.

A Little Peak

We had a fantastic time on vacation – and thanks so much to those who prayed for our health. God answered your prayers – and kept the kids sick. This, however, ended up being the reason why we had such a refreshing experience.

We were in Florida to attend the The Navigators National Collegiate Conference. Every four years our organization hosts this conference to gather all of us who labor on college campuses in the US for a time of encouragement and teaching. Typically, Ben and I look forward to these conferences as a time to learn and connect with our fellow Nav staffers, and leaders we don’t see frequently.

Because the kids were sick this year, we couldn’t put them in the childcare offered at the conference, or get together with friends who had small kids, as we didn’t want to spread the joy of fevers and runny noses though out the conference. This forced us to evaluate what content each of us most wanted to attend, and only go to that, swapping being with the kids, back and forth. The kids and I alternated between lying low at the condo watching Animal Planet, and playing on the beach. We did very little else – and it was exactly what we all needed.

I could almost hear the collective “sigh” as each of laid our burdens down on the boardwalk and relaxed and played in the beautiful sand and waves.

God did two really special things for me on the trip. Seeing the kids enjoy a fun-filled, relaxing vacation filled me with joy. You know how I’ve struggled at times with all the upheaval and transition we’ve dragged the kids through over this last year. Despite the peace God’s given me in my soul that He loves them, that He will use these experiences to reveal Himself to them, it was wonderful to see God bless their socks off. I know each of them felt God had designed each day just for them and saw His caring and loving provision of sun and waves and free kayaks. They all had a sense God was saying, “Thanks kids! You’ve earned this great vacation. Enjoy yourself!” And they sure did.

God also allowed time to reconnect with a dear friend from our days in TN, Allison. We enjoyed a wonderful conversation after the kids were tucked in one night. I’m always so blessed when I get to see how God is moving and working even in the midst of hard stories. I feel really humbled to be friends with such compassionate and earnest people who God is using in such interesting ways.

God is using a verse a speaker shared at the conference to help me continue to remain relaxed and filled with the sense of peace and care I felt on those beaches.

It’s Psalm 9:10 -  “And those who know they name will put their trust in Thee. For Thou, O Lord, hast not forsaken those who seek Thee.”

Sorry for the old Englishy version. I’m so used to NASB, I can’t switch. But isn’t that the truth though? I know God. I can trust God. He has not forsaken me. Amen.

Honest Scrap

Ness, over at Happiness is a Butterfly,  included my blog in her list of 7 Honest blogs! So, the deal is I have to tell you 10 “honest” things about myself. Well, I’ve been mulling it over as I unpack from vacation…

1. I also, just like Ness, don’t enjoy talking on the the phone. I also, just like Ness, only ever call my mom, because she doesn’t really like the phone either. However – I love to text. So, hey…text me!

2. I am also, just like Ness, stuck in neutral about the more kids thing. I think I would really like another one, but feel conflicted about why – is it because I just miss having a little lump of love who will hug me and snuggle with me whenever I want to, do I have the physical stamina to have another one and not totally drag the family down for the next year, am I just trying to escape the hard work of really getting to know and develop my relationship with my older kids…

3. I tend to over think things a bit… see above.

4. I wrestle with anxiety. However, I really do wrestle with it, which means I try not to let it win in my life.

5. I, just like Ness, am a jack of all trades, master of none.

6. I like a lot of external structure in my life. That’s why public school is working out for us right now, it’s why I love our big mega church with lots of programs and groups all set up and ready to go, why I love living by the academic calendar… I think it’s because I have no internal structure. I’m a big blob of feeling, intuition, ideas… All the external structure allows me to stay productive and lets my insides stay jumbled and jiggly, which is how I like ‘um.

7. I have always dreamed of living on a huge farm/ranch with lots of animals. I would love to use the place as a rest-stop type of place for missionary families who need some pampering and encouragement, and a tiny weeny bit of counseling.

8. I would like to write a book. I have a plot, 2 heroines, 1 villan, and a working title ready to go.

9. I am prejudiced against very confident people – people who don’t have a “but-clause.” You know, people who are unwilling to acknowledge they might be wrong, or under influences they aren’t aware of, or not as well read as they think, etc. I think it’s because I grew up with an attorney for a father, who of course, was never, ever, ever wrong.

10. I don’t floss very frequently. Ugh. How embarrassing.

And so, this is how this whole Honest Scrap thing works.

1. Must thank the person who gave you the award and list their blog and link it.

You rock Ness. Thank you!

2. Share “10 Honest things” about yourself. (check)
3. Present this award to 7 others whose blogs you find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged you.
4. Tell those 7 people they’ve been awarded HONEST SCRAP and inform them of these guidelines in receiving the award.

Ok, here -in no particular order- are 7 blogs I read regularly:

1.  Well, Ness at Happiness is a Butterfly – but she already knows that. Duh.

2.  Megan at Half Pint House. She and I have known each other since college, and she is the most industrious women I know.

3. Megan’s husband, Craig, at Second Drafts, and I have also been friends for eons. He used to be my boss, and a really good boss at that.

4. Susie is my super-duper friend. She has seen me through thick and thin – and she just moved to the town I grew up in. Yeah!

5. Mark and Dana, over at Life According to Zaba, have been true, true, friends of our family for a while now. They are the type of friends you call on to pray for you, even if you haven’t talked with them in a while. They are good people – and the dog is just icing on the cake.

6. My friend, Allison, over at Stellar Propeller, is a wonderful photographer, and amazing friend.

7. The Long Thread…for sewing ideas.

There you have it! Up next…vacation pics! And thanks again, Ness. I sure do hope we meet in person soon.

Flip

Late last night we all returned from…

Journey 09 was our regional Fall Conference…wait, do you know what I’m talking about? Here we are…

See NIU up there in the corner? We belong to the Indiana/Illinois Region. So, all the campuses who have Nav groups up and running in Indiana and Illinois gathered together with as many of our beloved students as we could convince to come (a little over 200) to do “Journey 09″ together.

The highlights:

1. Our students are totally amazing. I sat beaming with pride as I surveyed the meeting space that first night. Here sit some of the most talented and gifted young men and women in the whole world. Here they are soaking up the truth about who God is and who they are. Here they are learning how to discover God through His word. Watch out world. God’s kingdom is coming, and it’s coming through these students.

2. Our region has committed to a partnership with the  collegiate Navigators in Zambia. It is a sending/receiving relationship where we will send students to learn and be impacted by an opportunity to labor amongst our Zambian brothers and sister, and they will do the same, graciously sending us students to teach us and influence our campus works here in Indiana and Illinois. Nearly 30 students signed up to go this summer. Then, we asked the students to consider giving to the Zambian staff, to help offset the costs of them sending their students to us, and to help begin an internship for new college grads who have an interest in full-time ministry there in Zambia. The Zambian staff asked for $7,000 – our students pledged $13,000!!!

3. Our NIU students dived into the experience. They bonded, they prayed, they asked good questions, they let God move them. It was beautiful, absolutely beautiful to watch.

4. I went to a fantastic workshop on Leading Bible studies.  You know when you do something so much you feel like you could do it with your eyes closed, walking backwards, and eating a hot fudge sundae, but you also know – it could be better – you’re stuck in a rut – you need ideas?? I got a ton of really good ones, and was once again reminded how precious these small groups are, and how much time, and effort, and prayer, they deserve.

5. The kids had a total blast enjoying the property of Spring Hill in southern Indiana where we spent the first half of our summer. There was only one little hitch. Guess who forgot to set her alarm clock back to central time and woke the kids up an entire hour early for school this morning, on a morning they were already extra wiped out and tired? Whoops.

So, I’m feverishly unpacking and doing laundry, because we leave on Thursday for another conference. Don’t feel sad for us. It’s in Florida and even though there will be “work” we are also going to do a little vacation on the side with the kids.

And just one more thing, to those of you who read this and support our ministry financially – thank you. Being a part of this work is a true joy. We couldn’t do it without you.

Pumpkin Fest 2009

Tonight was opening night for our town’s Pumpkin Fest.

1st stop – Turn in our pumpkins for the big contest.

The entire courthouse lawn is now covered with thousands of pumpkins!!! We were nearly first in line to enter because we heard there would be big lines later. (Thanks for the hint Jenny!)

Second Stop – Redeem our “Free Hot Dog and Soda with Each and Every Entry” coupon.

(We got swarmed by sad little bees trying to live just one more day, so we had to stuff and go.)

Third Stop – Trick or Treating on Main St.

Mmmm…. the Bakery handed out cooooookies.

One of our fine, locally owned restaurants was in on the fun.

Movie theater popcorn and coupons!! Yippeee!!

Just walkin’

There was just one little fussy moment. Ben and I got to talking about our plan/dream/hope to pull the kids out of school in 4 years and head overseas for awhile so our kids can go through the awkward years enjoying the comforts of home school and missionary work in Africa. Libby thought we said we were leaving her and moving to Africa, like-today. It was touch and go for a minute. Then we said she could eat some Nerds and she was all good.

This little kitty raked in a couple of FULL-SIZE candy bars. I think she charmed them with her cuteness.

This little kitty would not share her cookie with her mommy. Bad kitty.

And this little bat stole my heart, just like he does every day.

That a fun day!

Vanessa and Phil

I went to a beautiful wedding on Saturday!

It was a very lovely wedding and I had a lovely time catching up with Madison friends. Here are a few of their lovely faces.

Boy do I miss this incredible gal…wise, beautiful, warm, smart, loves God’s people – yup – the total package!

Oh, here’s another one of the those “total package” gals. Ksenija… stunning, funny, sweet, getting her Phd in something really, really, tough, and also a faithful Christ follower.

Wow – look at how we are both “glistening” with love. Tee Hee. Here’s Martha. I’m getting choked up just thinking about her… joyful, engaging, charming, stylish, and yet another passionate follower of Jesus.

There were so many others…Val, Heidi, Jacklyn, Elisa, Rachel, Karen, Patty, Rae…

I miss you ladies. You are the bomb. Thanks for a very fun time Saturday.

Craft Fur

Dear Craft Fur,

I love you.  I hate you.

Yours,

The person who just made two cats and one bat out of all the craft fur remnants she could find at JoAnne’s and has just spent the last hour repairing her sewing machine – it hates craft fur, and vacuuming the entire house – because even fake cats and bats seem to shed.

PS: Thank you Ms. “I bought almost the entire bolt of both the white and black craft fur, leaving just enough for someone else, 1/2 price in the remnant bin.” I really like you and I’m not being sarcastic.