So often in this crazy world of ours, we expect instant results. We have grown accustomed to fast food, drive thrus, instant messaging, tweeting, and digital photos {remember the days of 35mm photos? Where we had to wait until the film was developed to see if you were caught mid-blink?} Some off us, okay, I’m guilty, have the tendency to carry over that instant gratification expectation to other, more important areas of our lives.

Whether it be weight loss, financial success, overcoming addictions, climbing the corporate ladder or other… we have been programed to expect immediate — or, at the very least, quick — results.  And when we don’t get them…

we grow weary. frustrated. and impatient.

At times, we might even give up if we don’t see the changes we would like to see in OUR time.

And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:11-12

Many of us have made prayerful resolutions for the new year, commitments to live a healthier lifestyle, exercise more, spend less, get promoted, pay off debt… I challenge you to persevere. God tells us through faith and patience…

we will inherit HIS promises!

Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. Robert Louis Stevenson

So, my dear friends, persevere. Continue your hard work, it will pay off! Continue sowing those seeds and you will one day reap a harvest worth celebrating!

And as the old saying goes — good things come to those who wait.

Photo Credit:  aviana2

I’m not sure if it was the stress of the upcoming holiday that was wearing on me, or maybe it was the fact that my husband and I weren’t seeing eye to eye on a few things.  Throw in the mix that I have been working more than I usually do — which has left me a little sleep deprived.

But, Sunday worship was one of those days. Have you been there? Seemed like tears were streaming down my face before I walked through the doors of the sanctuary. I had come before God empty, raw…

…and He did a number on me.

So, with me already in a puddle of tears, my wonderful church Hosanna! played this You Tube video smack dab in the middle of worship.

Christopher Duffley is an autistic, blind child who was born to a drug addicted mother. He demonstrates an intimate relationship with God, and an undying faith… despite his disabilities.

Sniff, sniff…

So after I collected myself, I began to question, “Who am I to wallow in my pity?” I have a choice in how I respond to my circumstances!  I hold onto this truth:

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. – John 1:5

I don’t always get there right away, but I think that’s okay. {Grace!}

There is a time to feed and a time to be fed. It is just good to know how the story ends…

…darkness will never extinguish the light!

And Christopher, you have one bright light shining and impacting the lives of many!

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. – Ephesians 1:17-19

Photo Credit: gnlogic

“Every child you encounter is a divine appointment.” Wess Stafford

From YouTube footage of a teen being whipped with a belt for ‘discipline’ — to famous coaches sexually molesting numerous children over a number of years, the reality of child abuse has reared its ugly head over the last several weeks.

I have taken a special interest in these stories because abuse is my formal line-of-work.  I see children just like the above mentioned.  I interview and examine them.  I collect evidence when able…

…I see their anguish, their shame.

I talk to their non-offending parents who are brought to their knees in devastation.

Horrified. Heart broken. Innocence lost.

They are victims. Victims of others’ sinful, destructive and hurtful actions. But, the abuse they have endured doesn’t define who they are. It is our job, each and every one of us, to let these children know how very special they are. How God created each of them and He has a plan for them.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

We may not know them personally, but we can pray for them, for their families, and for their recovery. My prayer would sound something like this song, Beautiful by Mercy Me…

Days will come when you don’t have the strength
When all you hear is you’re not worth anything
Wondering if you ever could be loved
And if they truly saw your heart they’d see too much
And praying that you have the heart to find
Cause you are more than what is hurting you tonight
For all the lies you’ve held inside so long
And they are nothing in the shadow of the cross
Before you ever took a breath
Long before the world began
Of all the wonders He possessed
There was one more precious
Of all the earth and skies above
You’re the one He madly loves enough to die
You’re beautiful
In His eyes
You’re beautiful
You are made for so much more than all of this
You’re beautiful
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His

“Safety and security don’t just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear.” – Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa

My hope is that these horrendous stories of sexual and physical abuse create a public awareness. That instead of turning a blind eye, we might have the courage to speak up and say something when faced with an opportunity to ally a child.

My question for you –> What role can YOU play?

One of my most favorite times of day is during the evening hours- when the dishes are done, house is picked up ,and I have donned my ‘comfy’ pants. (It’s true. Probably not super stylish, but part of my nightly ritual!)

I cuddle in to be with my kids.

I breathe…or maybe it is more a sigh of relief that the day has come and gone, usually without major incident. Almost a sense of accomplishment that we made it through the day. Safely tucked into cozy beds with all the comforts of home.

It is during this time when I learn the most about what is going on with my children. What kind of day they have had, their worries-if any, their accomplishments and what is on their heart.

I lay with each child and talk. And pray. Whisper a blessing…

…and scratch their back.

I know I drag it out; it ends up taking more time than it probably should. But you know what… I treasure this time with them. To connect. And to let them know that they are precious to me, and precious to God. The chaos of the day has come and gone, and I have their undivided attention. Just me and them. And the quiet night time offers.

Unfortunately, on occasion, it isn’t always so picture perfect. When our nights are overloaded with activities, when patience runs thin, or when the dial simply doesn’t get turned down soon enough, meltdowns occur.

It shouldn’t be a surprise to us as parents, in fact, it should be very predictable when the volcano is about to erupt. When our children are about to come undone.

And at times…even us grownups.

I think we can learn a lot from this scenario, and maybe even apply it to our relationship with God. God delights in spending time with us. For us to be quiet enough to hear His still, small voice. I bet he takes great pleasure in hearing about our day. Our accomplishments and anxieties. Our burdens, fears and hopes. In fact, God calls us to be like little children.

Matthew 18:4 “Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

So, when you put your head on your pillow tonight, humble yourself like a child, and let God tuck you in for the night. Connect with Him. And let Him remind you how precious you are in His sight. Sleep tight.

You know what bugs me? Perfect moms. Perfect moms with perfect kids, in their perfect homes, and perfect husbands who dote on their perfect little family. They are always put together, dressed to the nines, with their hair perfectly colored and nails manicured. Their houses are spotless, and they somehow seem to flow through life effortlessly.

So there. I said it!

There are times when I am in a pity party mode, and everyone around me appears to have it, what ever ‘it’ is, all together.

Do you know this type?

Unfortunately, I’m surrounded by people who appear to me like they have it all!  Cute, sassy, full of energy, always on top of the latest style and fashion, without so much as a weed in their front yard.

And then there’s imperfect me.

Always running late to events, making a quick pass through cleaning the toothpaste off my kids’ faces before they run out the door in the morning, forgetting in the process to look at my own face. My floor cluttered with baby dolls and clothes, toys, art projects and the remainder of the card game from the day before. A dried out container of now dead flowers in front of my garage and my dog running out of the front door with a pair of underwear in his mouth (swear to God that happened).

Did I really just admit to all of that???

It probably isn’t really that bad, nor am I as scattered as I am making it sound. (I hope.) But, you get the idea. There is always someone else to compare yourself to- who has it better- or so it seems.

When I get in these pity party modes, I remind myself what matters most…the condition of my heart.

When you wipe away all the clutter (whatever that might be- as we all have our ‘clutter’)  it is what’s left that counts the most. All the external appearance crap we spend so much time maintaining is just that…crap, if we don’t take the time to manicure our heart, and the hearts of our family.

Proverbs 27:19 As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.

We have been talking a lot about going to school lately. Gracie asked Owen if it is okay to sit by him the first day she rides the bus. We have been rehearsing what it will be like having lunch at school. We’ve practiced saying Mrs. Grebinow’s name. I’m not even sure that is how you spell it, in fact, I’m pretty sure that is not the right spelling. (I better get on that.) We’ve talked about how important it is to listen to the teacher, to respect her and others who may be helping.  How when you have to use the bathroom, it is okay to politely ask the teacher. We’ve talked about needing to go to bed earlier to make sure they are rested for a full day of school. We’ve even had the talk about strangers, as well as safe and unsafe touches. (Qualify that with remembering I all sorts of crazy stuff at work).

I think I am doing okay with everything… getting Gracie off to kindergarten. Mainly because she is so ready and excited. Even still, I know there will be some tears shed on that first day. Tears of sadness for my little girl (and boy!) who are growing up so quickly. Tears of joy, as I know Gracie is off on a new, exciting chapter of school years.  I pray my children are safe, that they are treated kindly, and that they are nurtured. That they are corrected when needed in a firm, but loving way. I pray that God will guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Maybe I am still in a state of denial, but I don’t think any of my tears will be out of pure worry. Or at least I pray they won’t be. Sure, I’ll have a jittery stomach, for all the reasons mentioned above. But God tells us not to be anxious about anything. (Phil. 4:6) Oswald Chambers once said this, “Worry is an indication that we think God cannot look after us.” That would go against the core of my beliefs! I think his quote is a little simplified (as we are only human), but for the most part true. Don’t you think? I hope that my faith is strong enough to leave the worry behind.

So Gracie, when you step onto that bus on Wednesday morning for the very first time, and you see your mom and dad staring back at you, know this. We love you, and are so very proud of you. The tears you might see will be happy tears. Have so much fun; you have been looking forward to this day for a long time! We know that God is going to be with you each and every second of the day. We’ll be waiting with big smiles for your return!

And Owen, you are an amazing big brother. We know that even though you sometimes are annoyed by your little sister, you have an amazing heart and will watch out for her. It was only 2 short years ago that we stood in our front yard waving at you as you drove off in that big yellow bus for the first time. Oh, how time flies. Have a great year, buddy. We love you, and are so proud of you!

When I saw the personality attributes, I couldn’t help but think of my own children, and how their teacher would describe them. Pretty adaptable, not too impulsive, average intelligence. How would that translate into their adult personality? Will they be successful? Driven? Secure in themselves? How much influence do I have in helping them develop their personalities? What personality traits do I place value on and encourage? How does ones personality help define their character? I want nothing more than for my children to grow up as well adjusted, successful, content, Christ-centered adults.

The personality traits of this world are so often in opposition to our Christian walk. For instance, the self-minimizing behavior referenced above… Isn’t that really defined as being humble?

1 Peter 3:8 “Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.”  The article also made a negative reference to adults needing to seek advice. Isn’t this also contrary to what the Bible says? Proverbs 12:15 “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.”

I come from a medical background and find great value in research. I tend to agree with the article’s findings. Personality traits exhibited in our youth will continue to follow a child throughout their years. What I question is society’s measure of success. Are the personality traits I place value on in alignment with the world or the word? I’m not saying it can’t be both, but what I am saying is I’d much rather have my compass set to God’s standards.

Not only is this both an art and a science, (it is really a complicated process!) it is a great time to catch up with old friends. My ‘station’ is by the sink and stove, with one of my most respected friends, ‘Sus’. She is really like family. Because life is busy, we don’t get to see each other or even talk all that frequently.  But when we do, I so appreciate her. Her example. Her heart. One of the many reasons I look forward to this weekend.

In recapping my Pickle Party, I realized there are some important lessons learned. Not only for pickling, but for life in general:

• Pay attention to detail. To process. To your team members. (Those jars won’t seal and your pickles will ‘sour’ if each step isn’t followed correctly! Isn’t that also true with certain real life situations?)

• Collaborate. It is a team effort, and each person has a valued role.

• Listen. To not only direction, but to each other!

• Teach. Take time to teach each other a craft, trade or simply life lesson learned. Pass on something to the next generation!

• Laugh. Don’t take yourself too seriously!

• A little sweat labor yields a priceless product.

• Enjoy the fruits of your labor.

• Take time to start and keep a meaningful tradition.

• Make reconnecting with your family / friends a priority.

and lastly…..

DON’T HIDE THE GOOD PICKLES IN THE LAUNDRY CABINET. ENJOY THEM!

Pretty good life advise, don’t you think?  …….thanks for the great pickle party Marian!

One, two, three…. Jump! Come on, you can do it! Okay, lets try it again. One, two, three…….Yipee!!!!

We were so excited for our son who after much consideration, found enough courage to jump off a cliff/rock into beautiful Sylvan Lake.

On a similar note, our usually skiddish daughter decided after watching her cousins go tubing for all these years, that she was going to try it. She was actually going to get on that tube and go!

I haven’t heard such glee, laughter come from our children! They were proud of themselves for taking a risk, for being brave, courageous. In return, they had a rush of excitement and were filled with joyful noises.

It may not be a cliff or tube, but what is it that you fear? What is holding you back? I sometimes think fear has this incredible grip on us, that if we would only have a little more courage, we too, would be able to experience that feeling of accomplishment, and perhaps a little more joy? Let the lessons of my 5 and 7 year old encourage you to JUMP!

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.” ~Ambrose Redmoon

Last week, our family piled into our car, and headed west. 10 hours west to be exact. We toured South Dakota for the next 5 days before we turned around and headed back the same 10 hour stretch as our trip began.

One of the traditions my husband started when we backed out of our driveway was to play the song, “Holiday Road” every time we got in the car. (You know, the theme song from National Lampoon’s Vacation?)  The reaction from Gracie was joyful. She began singing along the minute it started. “Turn it up” she would scream with delight. Owen on the other hand, got a little grumpy. Like he was ‘too cool’ to participate in our silly family fun. I would sneak a look in his direction, and see him trying desperately hard NOT to smile. Before long we would all be laughing and singing along… “Holiday Road, oh oh oh, oh oh oh, Holiday Road oh oh oh, oh oh oh!”

We had the most amazing time exploring, sight seeing, appreciating the God given beauty of the Bad Lands and Black Hills. I knew it was going to be pretty. Just didn’t realize how pretty. Breath taking, really. There were several times during this trip when I sat back, consumed with gratitude. Gratitude for my family, for this opportunity to spend time with them. And to share appreciation for each other and the beauty around us.

As you can imagine, a road trip like this can also lend itself to some irritability as we were in each others’ hair, literally 24/7. At times I felt like we were playing a part in a National Lampoon movie. (Please don’t speculate which character I was playing!) Tempers flared, patience grew thin. But somehow we would rally. These moments were usually short lived, and we would soon be back to singing, “Holiday Road….”

So here’s to all of you taking Griswold family vacations this summer! And for those of you considering… just do it! You won’t regret the memories you will make with your family. All of them. The good, the bad and the ugly!

Please share with us your summer vacation memories, and silly traditions!