Lisa is my cyber acquaintance, we're tight, she and I.
Okay, maybe not. But I wish we were, because she's the kind of woman I want to be when I grow-up. She and her husband brought home 3 kiddos from Ethiopia last year. Here is her YouTube to commemorate this anniversary. I think it's touching and the song is perfect, but maybe that is because I have a soft spot for such things.
****
I was reading it in "Seizing Your Divine Moment" about how faith is never ever safe. If you take a leap of faith there is a decent chance you'll go SPLAT. If our spiritual journey was safe it wouldn't require faith. And that is an essential part of the equation.
Risk.
Faith.
Success.
Failure.
They are all entwined.
And unfortunately, real faith requires real risk. And, almost always, it's really messy.
Lisa lept. She chose to parent 3 kiddos with bruised hearts. She didn't have to. I guarantee it was expensive, and not just the finances. People pay for adoption with their hearts.
I'm pretty sure, Lisa would tell you that when she allowed Jesus to break her heart for the orphans of Ethiopia the journey began. It's heart-wrenching, and amazing and fabulous and risky.
Not everyone should adopt...but everyone can live life on the edge.
What's your edge?
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Random Thoughts About Teenage Pregnancy
I saw 2 seconds of an interview with Bristol Palin (you know, Govenor Palin's daughter). She's 18; she just had a baby. I wish I could say that Bristol was insightful and articulate. Nope. She was sweet, and probably pretty bright and OH SO 18. So so 18.
-Now, she's got it pretty good, this Bristol Palin. She comes from an upper middle class family and has a great support network, but her life just got 100 times harder. Most teenage moms don't have it that easy.
-I heard a statistic that a single mom needs to make about $16/hour at 40 hours per week to support herself and her child. It's hard to do that without a high school education. Near impossible.
-Some teenage moms come from good homes. They've been taught life skills, and how to work hard. They've got a solid background to use as a foundation for the treacherous road of young motherhood. Unfortuantely, many young girls don't...and it begins, or continues, this cycle of poverty. And with each generation the culture and the patterns of poverty become more entrenched.
Now I know some women, some strong determined women who were, or are, young moms. They have overcome, succeeded against tremendous odds. I salute these women; I'm not sure I could have done the same. But I have never heard one say it was easy; it's not.
I wonder what would happen if we stood with young moms instead of shunning them, or blaming them. I wonder what would happen if we gave them, and their children a fighting chance...
-Now, she's got it pretty good, this Bristol Palin. She comes from an upper middle class family and has a great support network, but her life just got 100 times harder. Most teenage moms don't have it that easy.
-I heard a statistic that a single mom needs to make about $16/hour at 40 hours per week to support herself and her child. It's hard to do that without a high school education. Near impossible.
-Some teenage moms come from good homes. They've been taught life skills, and how to work hard. They've got a solid background to use as a foundation for the treacherous road of young motherhood. Unfortuantely, many young girls don't...and it begins, or continues, this cycle of poverty. And with each generation the culture and the patterns of poverty become more entrenched.
Now I know some women, some strong determined women who were, or are, young moms. They have overcome, succeeded against tremendous odds. I salute these women; I'm not sure I could have done the same. But I have never heard one say it was easy; it's not.
I wonder what would happen if we stood with young moms instead of shunning them, or blaming them. I wonder what would happen if we gave them, and their children a fighting chance...
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Porridge
This is how it went down:
We've been trying to pinch pennies around here and in a misguided attempt at economy I decided to forgo grocery shopping until there was literally nothing in the house to eat. We didn't make it...I caved. But not before Fruity Dino-Bites made it into our pantry. The kids had no idea cereal came in all those colors. They thought cereal looked like this:
I remembered to turn on the crockpot. We did indeed have porridge for breakfast. We gave it a 1.5 stars out of a possible 5. It was "goopy" and the dried fruit had rehydrated into brownish tasteless blobs. The flavor was good, though (thus the 1.5 stars).
E said that it would probably be better if I just did it on the stovetop like the other times when I've forgotten to turn on the crockpot. I think he's right. But, dang it all, that totally defeats the point of making porridge in a crockpot.
It was cheap, and healthful which this is in direct contrast to the what the kids ended up eating after they decided the couldn't take any more porridge (see picture below). Hubs, out of shear desperation, went to the store to pick up some cereal. We don't send him often because he has a weakness for endcap displays and junkfood. Case in point:
We've been trying to pinch pennies around here and in a misguided attempt at economy I decided to forgo grocery shopping until there was literally nothing in the house to eat. We didn't make it...I caved. But not before Fruity Dino-Bites made it into our pantry. The kids had no idea cereal came in all those colors. They thought cereal looked like this:Eddie, whos mother allowed "sugar cereal", finds this to be unamerican... so occasionally he rebels and my crunchy, hippy tendencies. It's okay, I forgive him because, frankly I am easily bought. Look at what he brought me this morning:
Monday, February 16, 2009
I love my crockpot.
It's really ugly, my crockpot. Like U.G.L.Y.!!!!!!!!!!!
But it cooks stuff without me being there. And that, my friends, is just fabulous.
Plus, I found a blog called "A Year of Crockpotting", and it has all sorts of interesting and (more importantly) gluten free ideas.
My latest kick? Porridge. Step aside Goldilocks, my crockpot and I are on the move.
Tonight I'm trying a concoction of steel cut oats, millet, and sweet brown rice. I threw in some dried cherries, craisins, apple and raisins and cinnamon in for good measure. Before I turn in for the night I'll add some water and turn my ugly pot on low. And when the alarm goes off in the AM breakfast will already be made.
What's not to love?
Well I guess that, potentially, it could be really gross. And then there is this little issue I have with remembering to turn the crock pot on. (A critical step by the way!) I think I've solved that delimma, though. I brought Mr. Crock upstairs and plugged him in next to my toothbrush.
For real.
Eddie was dismayed.
In Eddie's world you just don't do that; crockpots belong in kitchens. This is why Eddie needs me. His life would be so very normal without my influence; so very predictable. He'd probably eat stuff like instant oatmeal for breakfast. He'd probably always make it in the microwave. In the kitchen. How BORING!
Bring on the millet, I say. Maybe next time I'll try doing it in the toaster oven.
Stay tuned...I'll keep you posted on the results.
But it cooks stuff without me being there. And that, my friends, is just fabulous.
Plus, I found a blog called "A Year of Crockpotting", and it has all sorts of interesting and (more importantly) gluten free ideas.
My latest kick? Porridge. Step aside Goldilocks, my crockpot and I are on the move.
Tonight I'm trying a concoction of steel cut oats, millet, and sweet brown rice. I threw in some dried cherries, craisins, apple and raisins and cinnamon in for good measure. Before I turn in for the night I'll add some water and turn my ugly pot on low. And when the alarm goes off in the AM breakfast will already be made.
What's not to love?
Well I guess that, potentially, it could be really gross. And then there is this little issue I have with remembering to turn the crock pot on. (A critical step by the way!) I think I've solved that delimma, though. I brought Mr. Crock upstairs and plugged him in next to my toothbrush.
For real.
Eddie was dismayed.
In Eddie's world you just don't do that; crockpots belong in kitchens. This is why Eddie needs me. His life would be so very normal without my influence; so very predictable. He'd probably eat stuff like instant oatmeal for breakfast. He'd probably always make it in the microwave. In the kitchen. How BORING!
Bring on the millet, I say. Maybe next time I'll try doing it in the toaster oven.
Stay tuned...I'll keep you posted on the results.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Telling the Stories
This morning Eddie and I hauled the kids out of the house so we could attend a leadership meeting for our church. It was good. This is why:
I heard stories. They were stories that have always been emerging, but I hadn't heard.
-I heard how Jason and Pricilla picked up and left their home to become church planters in Denver.
-I heard that Linda was taking a risk and stepping into a new role.
-I heard that Nancy is using her gifts to build a team of children's ministers and her socks are being blessed off in the process.
-I heard that Dave was being called back to being a leader, and a sheperd and vision caster, and that people were stepping up to help him manage.
-I heard that Jackie and Paul had a passion for church planting in urban Denver. They're going and we get to stand with them.
-I heard Paula's heart for making people feel loved and welcomed when they come to church.
-There is something powerful about a story. Something unique in it's ability to call me out of the ordinary and live on the edge. Because when I hear of Linda taking a risk, or Paula's love for people I want to be like them.
Jesus told stories, and it changed lives. Jesus IS the story.
He's the best story every, really. There's never been a better hero, or a greater lover, or a battle where the stakes were so high. It's the ultimate tale, and we've been invited to be a part of it. Paul and Jackie, Jason and Pricilla, Dave and Linda and Conche and Bud and Annie, they've got their place in the grand adventure. And so do I.
What's your story?
How will you be a part of the grand adventure?
I heard stories. They were stories that have always been emerging, but I hadn't heard.
-I heard how Jason and Pricilla picked up and left their home to become church planters in Denver.
-I heard that Linda was taking a risk and stepping into a new role.
-I heard that Nancy is using her gifts to build a team of children's ministers and her socks are being blessed off in the process.
-I heard that Dave was being called back to being a leader, and a sheperd and vision caster, and that people were stepping up to help him manage.
-I heard that Jackie and Paul had a passion for church planting in urban Denver. They're going and we get to stand with them.
-I heard Paula's heart for making people feel loved and welcomed when they come to church.
-There is something powerful about a story. Something unique in it's ability to call me out of the ordinary and live on the edge. Because when I hear of Linda taking a risk, or Paula's love for people I want to be like them.
Jesus told stories, and it changed lives. Jesus IS the story.
He's the best story every, really. There's never been a better hero, or a greater lover, or a battle where the stakes were so high. It's the ultimate tale, and we've been invited to be a part of it. Paul and Jackie, Jason and Pricilla, Dave and Linda and Conche and Bud and Annie, they've got their place in the grand adventure. And so do I.
What's your story?
How will you be a part of the grand adventure?
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Gluten Free Advice for a Newbie
My friends Angela, Dawn, the other Dawn, and Julia are fellow gluten-freeers. Some are veterans, some are newbies. And that isn't counting my sisters, or my dad, or aquaintences I know. Gluten free just ain't as weird as it used to be; there are a lot of us out there. But when you begin the journey into gluten free territory it can feel a little daunting and a lot lonely. It's hard at first; I won't lie. But it does become second nature. Here is my advice in no order whatsoever.
-Shop at Vitamin Cottage. It's cheapest and has the best selection. Buy bulk.
-Xanthum Gum. Guar Gum. Tapioca Starch. Potato Starch. Brown Rice Flour. Sorgum Flour. BUY THESE THINGS - THEY ARE YOUR NEW STAPLES.
-Tinkyada Pasta rocks - as a general rule the other stuff tastes like cardboard.
-Spice mixes are your new enemy (down with taco seasoning packages). You can buy bulk spices at Vit. Cot. that are GF. Also, all McCormick's brand spices are GF. Learn to blend your own spices; its cheaper anyway.
-La Choy Soy sacue is GF.
-Lot's of things are naturally GF. They are a great place to start. Think: chili, baked potatoes, polenta, grits, rice, rice porridge, tacos, corn tortillas, fruit, veggies, chicken, most homeade soup.
-Shop the outside of the grocery store. The inside isles contain most of the gluten.
-Quinoa is good.
-Bean flour is weird; you might aquire a taste for it, but I haven't.
-Visit Katrina's Kitchen, Gluten Free Girl, Celiac.com, a Year of Crockpotting, and Gluten Free Gobsmacked. They are excellent on-line resources.
-Carol Fenster's cook books are good.
-When you are mourning the loss of all comfort foods call me; I have a deliciously unhealthy recipe for homeade gluten free doughnuts.
-Shop at Vitamin Cottage. It's cheapest and has the best selection. Buy bulk.
-Xanthum Gum. Guar Gum. Tapioca Starch. Potato Starch. Brown Rice Flour. Sorgum Flour. BUY THESE THINGS - THEY ARE YOUR NEW STAPLES.
-Tinkyada Pasta rocks - as a general rule the other stuff tastes like cardboard.
-Spice mixes are your new enemy (down with taco seasoning packages). You can buy bulk spices at Vit. Cot. that are GF. Also, all McCormick's brand spices are GF. Learn to blend your own spices; its cheaper anyway.
-La Choy Soy sacue is GF.
-Lot's of things are naturally GF. They are a great place to start. Think: chili, baked potatoes, polenta, grits, rice, rice porridge, tacos, corn tortillas, fruit, veggies, chicken, most homeade soup.
-Shop the outside of the grocery store. The inside isles contain most of the gluten.
-Quinoa is good.
-Bean flour is weird; you might aquire a taste for it, but I haven't.
-Visit Katrina's Kitchen, Gluten Free Girl, Celiac.com, a Year of Crockpotting, and Gluten Free Gobsmacked. They are excellent on-line resources.
-Carol Fenster's cook books are good.
-When you are mourning the loss of all comfort foods call me; I have a deliciously unhealthy recipe for homeade gluten free doughnuts.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
A day in the life of....wait for it.....ME!
A wholly narcissitic post about my day
(Jennifer - you have just been double dog dared to do the same!!!)
6:15 - alarm goes off...kick husband....husband hits snooze.
6:30 ish get out of bed...hope the baby is still sleeping. Read Celtic Daily Prayer and Bible or alternatively get up with grumpy baby pour her a cup of milk and snuggle with grumpy baby while staring blindly at the wall.
7:00 - get myself ready for the day.
7:15 - wake 3 older kids. Have them get dressed and ready for the day. Start a load of laundry
7:20 - make and eat breakfast.
8:00 - pile kid into the car
8:15 - drop kids off at school
8:30 - work out (and then shower), or run errands.
10:00 - do some kid thing like read books, go to the library, bake, do playdough....
11:30 - get lunch on the table
12:00 - baby gets a nap
1:00 - do my paperwork, make dinner, do baking, cleaning (which I HATE), laundry or ah, blog, sometimes do official schoolish stuff with Bub (who is, by the way, hysterical....yesterday he told me he knew Michael Phelps was real because he just saw him going to work at the Tomato Store aka Fazoli's - where does he get this stuff!!!)
2:20 - run a super quick errand or not.
3:00 - pick up big kids from school and play "Best and Worst" on the way home. EVERYONE MUST TELL WHAT THEIR BEST AND WORST PART OF THE DAY WAS...NO EXCEPTIONS, EVER...IT'S MY RULE...BECAUSE, AFTER ALL, I DECIDE WHAT'S FOR AFTER SCHOOL SNACK...THE POWER KINDA GOES TO MY HEAD.
3:30-5:00 - afterschool snack, homework helper, kiddo stuff.
6:00 - Dinner, and pack lunches
7:00 - Baby goes to bed
7:30 - Big kids set out clothes for next day get jammied, and brush teeth, read.
8:00ish - bed time for kids. I blog or read, or sometimes do actual work...pretty much I'm toast by now.
9:30-10:00 BED (yea...not so much of a night owl)
REPEAT. REPEAT. REPEAT!!!!!
(Jennifer - you have just been double dog dared to do the same!!!)
6:15 - alarm goes off...kick husband....husband hits snooze.
6:30 ish get out of bed...hope the baby is still sleeping. Read Celtic Daily Prayer and Bible or alternatively get up with grumpy baby pour her a cup of milk and snuggle with grumpy baby while staring blindly at the wall.
7:00 - get myself ready for the day.
7:15 - wake 3 older kids. Have them get dressed and ready for the day. Start a load of laundry
7:20 - make and eat breakfast.
8:00 - pile kid into the car
8:15 - drop kids off at school
8:30 - work out (and then shower), or run errands.
10:00 - do some kid thing like read books, go to the library, bake, do playdough....
11:30 - get lunch on the table
12:00 - baby gets a nap
1:00 - do my paperwork, make dinner, do baking, cleaning (which I HATE), laundry or ah, blog, sometimes do official schoolish stuff with Bub (who is, by the way, hysterical....yesterday he told me he knew Michael Phelps was real because he just saw him going to work at the Tomato Store aka Fazoli's - where does he get this stuff!!!)
2:20 - run a super quick errand or not.
3:00 - pick up big kids from school and play "Best and Worst" on the way home. EVERYONE MUST TELL WHAT THEIR BEST AND WORST PART OF THE DAY WAS...NO EXCEPTIONS, EVER...IT'S MY RULE...BECAUSE, AFTER ALL, I DECIDE WHAT'S FOR AFTER SCHOOL SNACK...THE POWER KINDA GOES TO MY HEAD.
3:30-5:00 - afterschool snack, homework helper, kiddo stuff.
6:00 - Dinner, and pack lunches
7:00 - Baby goes to bed
7:30 - Big kids set out clothes for next day get jammied, and brush teeth, read.
8:00ish - bed time for kids. I blog or read, or sometimes do actual work...pretty much I'm toast by now.
9:30-10:00 BED (yea...not so much of a night owl)
REPEAT. REPEAT. REPEAT!!!!!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Oh Grow Up
Sometimes I do some pretty immature things. Because sometimes being a grown-up sucks. You have to do work, and mostly, its not all that glamorous, it's just, well, work.
Being a grown-up means doing the right thing.
It means being self less.
Grown-ups spend their money wisely and give generously.
Grown-ups know who they are and what they believe, and they live it out in in the face of opposition.
Grown-ups take risks, and they do things that they're scared to do.
Grown-ups don't whine.
Grown-ups see others, really see them, and they are moved by compassion.
Grown-ups are disciplined; they don't eat half a cake at one sitting.
Grown-ups are discerning but not judgemental.
Grown-ups do the hard thing.
Grown-ups do what they say they're gonna do.
Grown-ups can be vulnerable, but know who to be vulnerable with.
Grown-ups know when to be a daughter and when to be a mother and when to be a friend.
Grown-ups forgive.
Sometimes I don't act all that grown-up.
Being a grown-up means doing the right thing.
It means being self less.
Grown-ups spend their money wisely and give generously.
Grown-ups know who they are and what they believe, and they live it out in in the face of opposition.
Grown-ups take risks, and they do things that they're scared to do.
Grown-ups don't whine.
Grown-ups see others, really see them, and they are moved by compassion.
Grown-ups are disciplined; they don't eat half a cake at one sitting.
Grown-ups are discerning but not judgemental.
Grown-ups do the hard thing.
Grown-ups do what they say they're gonna do.
Grown-ups can be vulnerable, but know who to be vulnerable with.
Grown-ups know when to be a daughter and when to be a mother and when to be a friend.
Grown-ups forgive.
Sometimes I don't act all that grown-up.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
What if...
fWhat if we just pulled up the stakes and left? Just WENT and DID?
The best decisions of my life never made any sense on a pro con chart. Those Excel spreadsheets are handy and all, been when it comes to a life of faith they rarely work.
When I was in high school I quit volleyball and decided to go to Ghana on a 3 month short term missions trip instead. The coach was not pleased; she was down right irate. Despite what she thought, it was a good decision, one of the best I've ever made.
Later I married my husband, who at the time, was a landscaper making a smidge over minimum wage. I alway told my mom I was going to marry rich because I wanted a maid. HA! A pro con chart would suggest falling head over heels for someone with a trust fund, not a landscaper. But, alas, my husband is no longer a landscaper. He is a intelligent, godly man full of integrity and his groundedness is the perfect match for my flightiness.
Then there is always our decision to add to our family through fost to adopt. The social workers at the county make no apologies for requiring prospective parents to lay their hearts on the proverbial rail road tracks. It made no sense. No pro con chart would recommend such action. But, as long as I live, I will never ever regret choosing to bring Baby into our home.
Some of my dumbest decisions, the ones I regret the most, are the ones where I didn't take the risk. I played it safe and lost.
I am not promoting recklessness here, well not precisely. I just wonder, "What if we jumped? What if we WENT and DID? What if we engaged the battle? Or took the road less traveled? Or went on some crazy adventure for Jesus?"
I think my life would count for more, and I might have more grey hair. I think I would know Jesus better, and feel more alien in my own country. I think I'd have better stories to tell my grandchildren, and more scars on my body and in my heart. I think I might know what Paul meant when he said, "For me to live is Christ..."
The best decisions of my life never made any sense on a pro con chart. Those Excel spreadsheets are handy and all, been when it comes to a life of faith they rarely work.
When I was in high school I quit volleyball and decided to go to Ghana on a 3 month short term missions trip instead. The coach was not pleased; she was down right irate. Despite what she thought, it was a good decision, one of the best I've ever made.
Later I married my husband, who at the time, was a landscaper making a smidge over minimum wage. I alway told my mom I was going to marry rich because I wanted a maid. HA! A pro con chart would suggest falling head over heels for someone with a trust fund, not a landscaper. But, alas, my husband is no longer a landscaper. He is a intelligent, godly man full of integrity and his groundedness is the perfect match for my flightiness.
Then there is always our decision to add to our family through fost to adopt. The social workers at the county make no apologies for requiring prospective parents to lay their hearts on the proverbial rail road tracks. It made no sense. No pro con chart would recommend such action. But, as long as I live, I will never ever regret choosing to bring Baby into our home.
Some of my dumbest decisions, the ones I regret the most, are the ones where I didn't take the risk. I played it safe and lost.
I am not promoting recklessness here, well not precisely. I just wonder, "What if we jumped? What if we WENT and DID? What if we engaged the battle? Or took the road less traveled? Or went on some crazy adventure for Jesus?"
I think my life would count for more, and I might have more grey hair. I think I would know Jesus better, and feel more alien in my own country. I think I'd have better stories to tell my grandchildren, and more scars on my body and in my heart. I think I might know what Paul meant when he said, "For me to live is Christ..."
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Baby and a laser Pointer
You know those mean people who make their dogs chase the light of laser pointer? We would never do that. Never. Turns out that a 21 month baby is way more fun.
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