My house is a mess.  Dust absolutely everywhere.  Disarray.  You might have been wondering “Where has she been?! Again!”.  I forgot to tell you that we were beginning a remodel last Friday.  It seems like old news since we’ve been investigating, acquiring bids, shelving some ideas, discovering new ones and walking through this tedious preparation process for over a year.  So, when the crowbars began to fly and the saws began to buzz last weekend, it wasn’t particularly eventful since we’ve become so familiar with The Plan. 

We bought our very affordable, very dated 80s-style home with the intent of doing some cosmetic updates.  No moving of walls or plumbing.  Sounds easy enough, right?  Right.  We would have liked it to be done by now, but there simply wasn’t a peace to commit and begin a project.  Estimates floored us.  Costs add up so quickly on stuff like this, don’t they?  We didn’t have joy to proceed with anything.  We met lots of wonderful and gifted people who were very gracious and accommodating.  They deserved to get the job, but we couldn’t afford them.  Our budget seemed impossible, but God knew.  He led.  We w…a…i…t…e…d.  We sought, we found, peace came.  And although the dust hasn’t settled yet, things are falling into place nicely.  Not perfectly because nothing is perfect this side of heaven (except perhaps a newborn baby, a fresh spring roll from Indochene in Tacoma , an August Puget Sound sunset…oops, rabbit trail!) but we have a solid sense of absolute peace.

We could have striven big-time to make this happen sooner.  There is a time to fight and claw to get to the goal, but there’s also a time to back off and wait.  The key for me is to be sensitive to my inner man - that voice inside - knowing in my ‘knower’ what time it is, and a big part of that is to sense a calm, certain, steady, tranquil ‘anchored-ness’ in my heart.  A green light to ‘go’!  Freedom from angst within.  Absence of mental conflict.  Chaos may be raging on the outside, but peace anchors me on the inside.

This has become a principle to guide me in my daily life.  If you’re around me for long, you’ll hear me say, “it’s just not the way of peace.”  It’s not consciously premeditated or staged, but automatic because it’s become my lifestyle.   Like when I say, “I’m craving Mexican food.”  Or, “Gregory Mira is such an amazing man.”

Phillipians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

…and every dollar it will cost you, even at its $59.99 retail price.  This 7-part video series chronicles the extraordinary life journey of one of the primary shapers of our independence and government, whose legacy has often been eclipsed by more flamboyant contemporaries like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and Benjamin Franklin. Set against the backdrop of a nation’s stormy birth, this sweeping miniseries is a moving love story, a gripping narrative, and a fascinating study of human nature.  Based on the Pulitzer prize winning biography by brilliant historian/writer David McCullough.

Just released for purchase this week.  What a prize for Dad on Father’s Day.  The kids will love it, too.  We were riveted.

Trust me on this one.  

(Qualifier: Some mature content - view with small children at your discretion)

The pox saga continues.  Buying myself an hour to get with God last night, I gave my little patient the opportunity to watch an animated 90-minute movie, hoping it also to be a welcome distraction to his misery. 

When the credits began to roll, it was my cue, once more, to be ready for action.  Around our house, it’s not just about Momma serving popsicles, applying Calamine, taking temps and preparing cool rags for the forehead.  It’s about being there.  On call every moment. 

Observe:  After presenting a fresh bowl of sliced fruit, arranging bedding and engaging in some brief, sincere, commiseration with the little fellow, I ran out of the room to transfer laundry and attend to kitchen duty (someone is always hungry at our house).  As I flew, I heard a little voice proclaim, “I have just two words for you:  HURRY BACK!“

Then, he launched into some fun facts about how Orangutans can’t cope if the female disappears, likening the tendency to that of our household.  He went on to describe how they arrange a ‘hunt’ until they find her.  If they couldn’t find me, he continued on, they would first go to Starbucks and then to Trader Joes.  Well, by then, I was laughing out loud.  But he was very serious.  He wants Momma there, right next to him.  Now.

I plopped down next to his makeshift bed in the living room and opened a book we’d been wanting to read together. As I began to read, he reached his arm as far as he could, to hold my hand.  It took him quite an effort, and reminded  me just how much of a comfort I am to him. 

Mommas were made to lessen the pain, soften the blow, comfort the afflicted and most of all perhaps, just be there.  I’m so grateful to be spending my hours attending to him at the moment.  Yeah, it meant waking to his cry at 4 a.m. today, interrupting my sound sleep to attend to his pressing needs, but I consider it a privilege.  Truly.  At thirteen, he’s becoming very independent, and the times he feels a need to have me around become fewer and farther between.   So for the next few days, you know where I’ll be.  Right there.

Call me weird, but I love reading the OBITUARIES section of the newspaper.  While perusing our local paper recently, I discovered that Irvine Robbins of Baskin-Robbins ice cream fame, went on to his reward earlier this month.  You might even have had a double scoop of Irvine’s genius over the holiday weekend! (our absolute favorites are Jamoca Almond Fudge and Peanut Butter Chocolate - I burned out on the Pralines and Cream years ago)  Irvine grew up in Tacoma, Washington, scooping cones in his family’s ice cream store.  But he had a bigger vision, and after serving in the armed forces, he and his brother-in-law-turned-business-partner Burton Baskin, invested themselves into Irvine’s crazy idea that “somebody ought to open a store that sold nothing but ice cream and do it in an outstanding way.”  We all know the end of the story, but did you know that his son, John, rejected the family business and in 1987 wrote Diet for a New America, a book critical of the meat and dairy industries?  See what you can learn in the OBITS section?!

The same day I also read an interesting piece about the passing of a high profile waitress from our city, whose diligence, charm, humor and lively personality  paid off handsomely, but whose private life was apparently a mess.  Sad.

Upon perusing the OBITS, I’m most often left with the sobering reality of eternity.  “Did they know Jesus?”  “Did anyone tell them the truth?”  “Would they do it the same way all over again?”  “Who’s next to go?” are questions that swim in my head.

Then it gets real personal.  “What will I be remembered for?”  “Were my days spent wisely?”  “Did I fulfill my destiny?” 

The average person’s life contains about 25,500 days on this planet, but of course we’re all believing for more! (and everyone said, “AMEN!”)  It’s uncomfortable to ponder such things, and most Americans probably don’t.  Reading the Obituaries reminds me of what’s true, what’s not, what’s important, what’s not, what life is really all about and what my lifestyle priorities should be.  May our lives be lived worthy of our Savior’s ultimate sacrifice.

I was reminded of how each of us home schooling moms struggle, when I received this email from ‘Marie’.  Earlier in the week she had requested help to navigate the web site in order to complete a transaction for a book order, and when it didn’t come through the system, we emailed her to make sure she had received our reply.  She began her email with…

“It’s my fault, I haven’t been back on the site, the Lord reminded me today, I really am looking forward to reading the book (No Ordinary Child), I am in a terrible rut with parenting and home schooling, I have home schooled for 10 years and we have 9 children 6 boys and 3 girls ages 18 - 6 months.  In Christ, Marie

I could feel Marie’s heavy burden as I read these brief words.  I wanted to reach through cyberspace and give her the BIGGEST hug, make her a cup of tea and clean her kitchen.  I don’t even know what state she lives in!  I wanted to  reassure her that there is hope.  It weighed on me as I buzzed about that day.  I woke up the next day and replied:

Dearest Marie,

As I’m reading your email, I’m filled with God’s love for you and your family.  I’m so sorry you’re struggling - we’ve all struggled and at times, intensely, as we’ve endeavored to be all we must be - or all we THINK we must be as we walk through our days with our precious children.  At times I’ve needed to ‘call it a year’ and set ’school’ aside for now.  Sometimes, when push has come to shove, I have to re-focus and adjust my priorities for a stretch, while I find my own peace in Him, with my kids’ behaviors and scheduling, and with bringing more practical order (cleaning out stuff, straightening closets, tossing clutter) in our home.  Not to mention, taking time to give my husband the loving attention he deserves - he can be sorely overlooked while I’m trying so hard to wear so many hats.  What do academics really do, if everything else is askew?

Marie, Jesus loves you today and I commend His love and grace to you!  May your burdens become lighter and may wisdom and clarity come for you and yours.

In His great love, Denise

(Marie’s response) Hi, Thank you for your encouragement, (a right word spoken at the right time) the Lord is encouraging me to continue on, but I just can’t see how? That seems so silly for me to not just trust Him. But by faith I will follow.  In Christ, Marie

Friends, we’ve all been there.  You may have something specific to share with Marie that will make a difference for her in this trying time.  Perhaps some practical advice, words of comfort or wisdom.  I invite you to share what comes to mind.  I know your words will bring encouragement to everyone who pops in to read.

(P.S.  Marie gave me permission to share her story with you.)

 Stop the whole wide WORLD, it’s Junior’s birthday!  That’s the message we’re getting here in America, anyway.  Yes, I love parties.  Who doesn’t?  And I adore my children.  Who doesn’t?  And I recently had the unexpected pleasure of spending the entire weekend hanging around my son Benjamin while we were in town for a ministry time, which happened to land on his 22nd birthday, as well you know. 

But, I’m really quite tired of birthday obsession and I’ve been wanting to chat about it for awhile.  Especially as it relates to our children.  This might sound bad, but I haven’t been in town for some of my children’s birthdays. Recently I was in Boise, Idaho, with my husband’s blessing, ministering all weekend long while my Seth Daniel turned 13. I chatted to Seth in advance to reassure him of my love and devotion, and reminded him of how God always brings him such happy surprises when it’s necessary for me to be gone on his special day. I had a couple of gifts wrapped and ready so Daddy would be prepared for THE BIG DAY. Wouldn’t you know it - a precious family from our local church invited him to their son’s birthday party and ended up spoiling my Seth and honoring him unbelievably. I couldn’t have planned that, now, could I?! Our Father in heaven knows just what needs to happen, if we could only trust him more. How many times over the years, have I heard a mother proclaim, “oh, no, never, no we couldn’t, absolutely not - we wouldn’t, we shan’t for it’s JUNIOR’S BIRTHDAY!  As if suddenly the earth must stop orbiting and time should stand still while we all:

-buy extravagant birthday gifts and coordinating plates and napkins and decorations and $5.00 cards and $6.00 bags and $40.00 cakes and…

-cancel all kingdom activities for the entire day since, after all, it’s a birthday…a BIRTHDAY - did you hear me????

-over plan, over spend and over hassle due to Junior’s BIG DAY!

Let’s not allow Hallmark, Chucky Cheese and Build-An-Expensive-Bear run our already chaotic, expense-filled lives.

STOP the insanity.  Inhale.  Exhale.  DON’T feel you must make ‘party bags’ for already over-indulged children who have way too much already.  They add up real quick $$$ and never quite satisfy. The kids get to come to your house, eat cake and play.  That’s enough.  Save your money.  Take them all to the park with a ball and jump ropes and water balloons and let ‘em run wild.  Keep it simple.  Your child can feel just as much love for half the price!

Now I don’t want to bring you into bondage by making you feel guilty over your creative party planning.  I want you to be truly FREE in Christ.  I’m grateful for the freedom I have to love my sons; to, yes, even lavishly express my love with extravagant gifts at the appropriate times…but if I’m feeling PRESSURE to create an event; if I feel huge expectations I must fulfill…then it’s probably not the way I should go. 

If something inside you is saying, “yes, this sounds right.  I need to scale back and relax on this birthday party thing-it’s gone too far,” then take practical steps that you’re comfortable with.  That’s often how change comes to our lives: step-by-step, little-by-little as God gives us grace.  We move from the ‘real’ that we’re living, into the ‘ideal’ that God has for us.  Perhaps you’ve got some victories in this area that you’d like to share with us.  We’re all ears (under the party hats!)

Did someone say “PARTY”??? Don’t forget, every comment you post ANYWHERE on the blog is an automatic entry in our May drawing!

…AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE RELEASE OF YOUR FIRST WORSHIP CD!  Yes, they just arrived this week, so if you pre-ordered a copy, it’s being shipped out today - whoo hoo!  Soon, you can hear samples here on my website/blog. Ben is our second-born son, and has filled our lives and the lives of so many with God’s love, grace and truth. We are very blessed indeed to have been given the gift of our Benjamin 22 years ago today.  We have the happy surprise of spending the day together on this sunny and beautiful day here in the Pacific Northwest. Can’t wait to share Benjamin Greg with all of you!

…..by simply posting a comment during the month of May - ANYWHERE on ANY month’s posts here on the Blog.  It doesn’t have to be fancy, intriguing or provocative - just tell us what you’re thinkin’.  

We would LOVE to hear from YOU!

This DVD is not only guaranteed to make you SCREAM with laughter, but comedian Jeff Allen’s refreshingly honest testimony of his conversion to Christianity at the end of the tape, will bring you nearly to tears.  This is hands-down, one of our most favorite videos EVER.

I FOUND THIS IN MY INBOX RECENTLY AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU - MY BLOG READERS AND FRIENDS, BOTH HOME SCHOOLERS AND NOT, COULD HELP ME TO ANSWER AMANDA’S HEARTFELT INQUIRY(FYI Amanda okayed me sharing this with you):

Hey Denise
I have been thinking about homeschooling for about a year now (it is my second choice as the Christian private schools are just unaffordable for a one income family) and I was wondering if you could give me the hard facts about successful homeschooling. No flower please. My husband doesn’t think I can do it because of my temperament and is convinced that homeschooling is what causes premature socialization. (he is comparing 4 homeschooling families and they are all, in fact, socially immature for their ages)
Can you give me some insight?
Thanks Amanda

O.K. LET’S GIVE IT TO HER STRAIGHT  AND REMEMBER, ANY COMMENT YOU POST ANY WHERE IN THE HISTORY OF MY BLOG IS ONE MORE CHANCE FOR YOU TO WIN DURING OUR…

 BIG MAY CELEBRATION! 

you’re entered TO WIN! 

This is one of our MAY CELEBRATION! prizes and one of the best comedy videos we’ve ever seen.   We’ve shared it with too many folks to count, who, in turn, have shared it with too many folks to count - it is truly contagious. This guy is outrageous  - creative - unpredictable - non-religious, yet devoted to the Lord,   brilliant, the father of four and as my hubby says, “he grows on you”.   Some folks try so hard not to like him, and then he just crashes in and steals their hearts!  This particular video is some of the best laughter therapy in a package you’ll find anywhere and will provide you, your friends, your kids, your dinner guests, the Pope, ANYONE and EVERYONE who enjoys laughing, a more-than-entertaining evening!