Shopper for a Day

A week or so ago we were having a discussion at dinner regarding the cost of groceries and how much we actually spend each week just to eat. I don't think the boys believed us. "It is ridiculous," they said, "that you don't have any money left over for more fun stuff after you buy groceries. It' CAN'T cost that much!" They were convinced we mismanage our grocery budget and cheat them out of a lot of "other stuff" in order to keep more for ourselves.

We agreed to let the kids do the grocery shopping next week with $100. (Their eyes widened) They were a little mesmerized by the thought of walking around the store with FIVE $20 bills, able to buy whatever they wanted to last for a week! They quickly began plotting what they would do with any leftover money because, in their words, "there's NO WAY it costs THAT much just to eat for a week." (Clearly, Chad and I are about to be taught a lesson..hee, hee.)

Kid One wasted no time in clipping coupons for his assignment this Friday. After consulting the pre-planned meal calendar this month, they quickly asked if they could change the menu. (We may be eating cereal and toast for the next 21 meals...) All Chad and I have to do is trade places with them when we go grocery shopping on Friday...oh, I'm giddy at the thought...We will walk through the store, ask for EVERYTHING sugary and expensive, complain about anything healthy that goes into the basket, then pick a fight with each other over who gets to choose the chips this week. I might even slap Chad or he may try to trip me and push me into one of the endcap displays...It's going to be great...

Find out next week how it REALLY turns out!

It's Less Than 6 Weeks!!

Here's the "almost official update" -- Looks like our little one will most likely be born on October 29 -- that's the word from the doctor. Of course it's subject to change in the next few weeks but we're getting close! We'll schedule it for sure on Oct. 4.

Guess I better start nesting, huh? Somehow that sensation tends to diminish with each baby. With the first one I was on my hands and knees scrubbing baseboards at -6 weeks, now I'm frantically looking for a housekeeper. ha/ha.

"Ruined" - Isaiah 6:5

Last weekend at church, Craig's message was about having been blessed with a burden. Most of the time we don't think about it that way, do we? His point was there is probably something each of us is more passionate about than the next guy -- something that stirs us, upsets us, "ruins" us and moves us to action through the love of Jesus.


My "blessing of burden" is easy to identify -- I love single moms. I've been one, grew up with one, cried with some, and rejoiced with some. I honestly think they are some of God's favorite gals! Craig's message challenged me to think further than just identifying my burden. I left church wondering if "single mom-ness" is something I am upset by or is it something I've let the Father use to move me to action -- to really love those women, even when it's not convenient for me? Tough question. (I'm not going to be honest enough to answer that right now... :)

Without the details, today Chad and I were blessed to be burdened by a single mom we saw through the window while we were eating lunch. 2 kids, crying, car hood up and jumper cables in her hand. [I had flashbacks to my own car trouble days!] She commented through her tears, "I don't have anyone to help me. My car won't start. I can't afford to get it fixed." [Now enter Kim's tears.] We helped her out.

There is more to that story but the outcome isn't as important as the point... I am learning when I ask Jesus to "ruin" me for Him -- to give me a passion and deep desire to love people the way he loved them -- to burden me for other people...He does. And I am reminded that for many years while I was single, others were "ruined" for me. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us!

Craig's message is worth listening to. http://www.lifechurch.tv/
Now, go love people. GO!

A Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day...

If you have young children, you've probably read this story. It's about a boy whose day is crummy -- really crummy. That's how I feel today. I am actually working today but taking a "frustration break" to help calm down...

This morning I awoke to the usual aches and pains of pregnancy so I really didn't expect anything to be out of the ordinary. The kids woke up in a good mood so by the time I scooted them out the door for school I was expecting a happy Monday. Our shower has been leaking for several months and we've had it repaired twice. My shower guy was supposed to arrive at 9am to fix it a third time but he didn't show, despite the fact I stayed home to work today on a Monday. Tried to move a doctor's appointment tomorrow to accommodate a work thing but was unable to, so 6 other people had to change their schedule for me. I seem to have "misplaced" my camera bag which has my nice camera and my new digital video camera, along with my cell phone...I've looked everywhere in this house and can't find it. I even drove to the field where we had yesterday and didn't see it. Mix in a couple of work "things" that I didn't want to deal with (and which aren't worth mentioning). I accidently dried a couple of my maternity shirts (and at this point that is NOT a good thing!). My mums outside are begging to be planted and threatening to die with each day I don't stop to work on the flowerbed. So... I stopped at Sonic for a diet Coke with raspberry AND vanilla to give me a little pick-me-up treat. I managed to dig $1.52 out of the coin cup in my car and pay the attendant. I was nearly home when I discovered it wasn't diet Coke but TEA!!!!!!!!! I hate TEA!! -- especially when my blood pressure is at an all-time danger level from frustration. Now I'm home again, drinking a glass of milk with a bagel. The shower guy still hasn't shown, or called, or answered his phone. But oh-well, I've got all day [and it could be a long one!]. It's only 11am.

James 1:2 -- "Consider it pure joy [PURE JOY?] when you face trials of many kinds because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance..." Maybe these aren't the kind of trials he was talking about but it is certainly developing character!

People Loving People - "Tasha"

If you missed the entry from 9/9, go there first. This week's entries are dedicated to our family's experiences on a micro-mission trip to a single parent housing complex last Saturday!

Tasha - Tasha was allowed to "shop" first because according to the complex manager, she had the least. "I need a bed," she said. -- Not because she wanted a newer, bigger one, but because she didn't have a bed on which to sleep. She got a new bed with a headboard. I helped her find a new box of dishes, silverware and some other kitchen items. Several people rounded up other household things and carried them to her apartment. She also found 2 lamps (that matched!) for her living room. At one point I observed her just standing still, looking at the pile of "stuff" to be carried to her apartment. I smiled and asked what else I can help her find. She took a deep breath and responded, "I'm just so amazed. I feel so blessed today that I almost can't stand it."

A bed, used lamps, and a heap of other stuff someone else didn't want. -- That was enough to make her feel blessed beyond belief. I wish I could say that's all it takes for me. How about you?

Pray for Tasha today that she will see those "blessings" as a gift from Jesus, not just from a bunch of church people. And then ask the Father to teach us to appreciate the little things in life that we may take for granted because everything we have is a blessing...even my leaking shower. :)

People Loving People - "Kim"

If you missed the entry from 9/9, go there first. This week's entries are dedicated to our family's experiences on a micro-mission trip to a single parent housing complex last Saturday!

KIM - I first met this lady when I was helping Providence residents find clothing for their kids. Later I saw her when I was helping near the household items unloaded from the truck. She was in need of some sheets to put on her son's bed, some rugs for her bathroom and I think there were also some towels involved. She was thankful for the help to find some of the items in the big "free yardsale" area! I helped her to her apartment so we could take it all in one trip. She invited me in while she grabbed a drink. I stood in her living room and noticed a picture on a shelf. It was a photo of four people -- 2 had just been baptized and the other two had done the baptizin'! I smiled.

"Do you go to LifeChurch?" I asked her. (She was one that had been baptized.)
"Yes - the south side." she replied.

The picture caught my eye because one of the people in the pool was the south side pastor - Trevor Williams. I smiled and shared with her that my husband grew up with Trevor and he and his friend had baptized Pastor Trevor just about three years before in Lake Arcadia before he came to the LifeChurch family as a campus pastor.

So?! Again amazed at how God is the Master of the Unexpected, I shared this story with my husband who smiled humbly. He knew why I was telling him the story. We ALL play a key role in the body of Christ -- even if we're not senior pastors. My husband's part [one of them] was living out his faith in front of friends who may not have had the same faith experiences. But God wastes nothing. Who knew that YEARS down the road, his buddy would sell out to Jesus, be baptized in a lake by an old friend, become the senior pastor and be instrumental in leading others -- Providence single moms! -- to a saving relationship with Jesus!

That lady may never be the same because my Chad loved Jesus and because Trevor was obedient to follow God's call on his life. -- And I know there are COUNTLESS other people in that chain of events too!!

Pray for Kim today that she will grow in her knowledge of Jesus -- and that she will know how high and how wide and how deep and how long is the love of Christ. Pray also that we as believers are reminded of the impact we are making on the lives of people even when we don't realize it!

People Loving People - "Christy"

Yesterday we went on a micro-mission trip to Providence, a low-income apartment complex that houses mainly single moms -- many of whom have gone through a treatment program of some sort and are completely starting over...with nothing. NOTHING!

About 60 people from LifeChurch caravaned to the complex and started working around 9am. I helped in the clothing area - sorting and handing out "gently used" clothing to moms who needed it for their kids -- coats, pants, shirts - you name it! Chad and Tate worked to build fences. Nick joined the team working on the kids' playground.

We unloaded a HUGE semi full of household items and distributed it to those in need. Women were lining up to get the most basic of things -- a bed, lamp, dishes, etc.! (not because they needed a new one - but because they needed ONE period.) This week's blog postings are all centered around our experiences and the people we met Saturday morning. Pray for them by name as you read these each day this week.

CHRISTY - I met this woman while she was "shopping" for some clothes for her 3 kids -- 9 year old boy, 7 year old girl, and 18-month old baby. The two older kids were in DHS custody and she wanted to get a few new clothes for them for when she gets them back (hopefully this week.) She chose some practical items like sweatshirts and a coat for her daughter. She didn't really look me in the eye and you could tell she was humbled by the help. I loaded a garbage sack full of appropriately sized items for her family and offered to carry it to her apartment for her.

On the way, I was able to share with her how I'd been a single mom and how I know what it's like to try and be everything your kids need. Our situations are very different but no matter what your economic background is, there are some things every single mother has in common -- a lonliness and helplessness that doesn't disappear without the love of Jesus filling in the gaps.

I entered her apartment and was immediately confronted with my own selfishness and pride as I looked around at what she called home. I prayed with her and for her that she would experience the love of Jesus - just something simple like that - but oh how deep is the simplicity of the love of our Master!!

She walked back down to the complex center with me and said, "When I woke up this morning and looked out the window I saw all of you coming. I started to cry to see you [LifeChurch] again." Then she said, "I can't believe you all do this. Why would someone do this for people?" I shared with her that Christ calls us to be people who love people because Jesus has loved us right where we are. But inside I was crippled with my own guilt, thinking why don't we do this more? Walking where Jesus walked, ministering to those who are crying to be loved, loving people the way Jesus loved them. Why am I so selfish?!

How dare I ever complain about being a single mom again! I cried on the way home knowing it is ONLY by the grace of God working through my family and friends that I made it through my own tough season of life. Christy could have easily been me if it were not for the love of Jesus.

Pray for Christy that she will feel the love of Jesus this week!

Monday Product Endorsement 9/4

1. Malt-0-Meal Cereal in a bag: Blueberry Muffin Tops - YUM. Nick and I love this cereal. And it's appropriately named as well. You know the way the top of blueberry muffins taste? A little crunchy and a little extra sweet because of the sugar on top? Well, it's like a little taste of that in every bite. Now before anyone panics -- it actually has less sugar than many cereals and fewer calories than an 8 oz glass of grape juice (in case you're a calorie counter). A small handful of this cereal also satisfies a sweet tooth just before dinner.

2. Dirt Bike Adventures - Nope, I don't participate in this one. It's a boys club and one I'm happy to endorse and also stay out of! Chad has taken up dirtbiking with the kids as a way to spend some "guy time" with them. (And I am certain there's a little something in it for him too!!) Nick already has a dirt bike and as long as Tate can stay out of trouble in the next 2 weeks, he'll soon [finally] be introduced to his. Once I get passed the fear of thinking about them riding with those big motorcycles, I am blessed each time to know he has blocked out time to show those boys how important they are to him. Watch for dirt bike videos coming soon!