WALKING IT OUT

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Sense of Community

When you live in a bigger city or even the sprawling outskirts of one, it is hard to capture the essence of teaching children the responsibility of helping others in and around you. Of course, leading my example and using teachable moments really DOES help. 

I tend to get frustrated with the older siblings because they are so disconnected in every way regarding caring for their younger siblings. The oldest two do not live here and visit twice a month. Of course, this is the same schedule that has been happening for just over 6 years....yeah, that hasn't impacted them at all. They love their siblings and love to play with them or even occasionally change a diaper. The reality of their every day life is missing the aspect to help be responsible for someone else in a positive way rather than just telling!  So, it really is a challenge as it is not their lifestyle. They are both however very giving children in other aspects and enjoy buying gifts for the younger siblings.  (The art of Gift giving is a different blog!)

Madisen on the other hand has loved being a big sister from the moment she realized she was getting a little baby. She is a perfect small mommy (most of the time).  Maternal instincts ARE DIFFERENT than community responsibility. That's another blog if you disagree!! We have been able to really teach her about helping take care of ANYONE that needs help. Of course, stranger safety in our house means that unless mommy or daddy says, you can't help or talk to anyone. She dutifully asks for permission to even talk to other small people on the playground! So precious yet so compassionate. 

She can meet you once, and you are good for her ~ she won't remember your name, since she obviously got that trait from both Asa & I. However, she will figure out a way to help you!! She loves Jesus and I know
This is a friends small one who I find utterly contagious~ Madisen offered to walk with her since she kept running away from the place we were suppose to stand!
I always want to allow small people the opportunity to serve one another and really care about others.  This one, we got right!!

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Carry Me!

I sat down with a dear friend, who is also a man of God and a trusted pastor and as we normally do we conversed about what God is and isn't doing in our lives at the moment. When people are cut from the same personality type but decades separate their ages they have a choice - to clash like cymbals or learn from one another and have a beautiful friendship. We often tug the conversations back & forth and love listening to what God is speaking to each other. Of course, our spouses get in on the action... but, well, I'll admit it's hard for them to get a word in edge wise. Especially when it's been a while like our recent dinner~! We all have so much to catch up on.

We sat down and the talk turned to what a good Sheppard looks like. What a good pastor does and doesn't do for his sheep and the difference between Jesus' leadership example and how so many pastors think of themselves. As a former paid pastor my friend knows the heart of Jesus as a Sheppard better than many. He brought up the reality of a Sheppard who can see the rebellious young lamb and chose to break it's leg in order to carry it and keep it safe.  Now, this leads me to why I choose this picture!


No legs were broken in the making of this picture! I love being a mom, but so often I understand the need to keep a child close enough to protect them. I have documented my use of those little toddler leashes. OK - I know this throws so many into a tizzy, but sometimes you have to harness that energy. Mind you, I only ever used it for one of my children and for extreme visitor or touristy places. ANYWAY - I digress. I realize that a mom (good moms) can and MUST recognize the needs for us to emulate a good Sheppard, such as the apprentice sheep herder. We do bear so much of the burden of raising our small people and really showing them the grazing pastures. And as much as I support and pray for those moms who are leading without a father for their child....

I simply LOVE it when the Daddy comes in and saves the day by just picking up said small child and escorting them (in style) to the safe location. I too need this protection and safety (from my Heavenly Father).

Let's be honest: I spend most of my day wrapped up in three children (5 when it's the weekend) and although I can tell you the pulse of this home at any moment of any day I often can not tell you what is happening outside our little bubble. This presents a very dangerous problem except that my husband, the Sheppard of this family is responsible and keeps watch over all the goings on in our community, nation and world. At times I have heard women complain about this issue of being stuck in this nucleus. (I may or may not have been one of those women at some point.) The joy of this nucleus really becomes understanding that my role allows me to watch for unrest, disputes, or even hurt lambs from WITHIN the herd; While my husband watches diligently from a distance to survey for EXTERNAL threats to our family. I should state here that this can often include keeping an eye on the extended families needs, the neighborhood and even the local wolf (in sheep's clothing).  Daddy's lead the sheep & mommy's feed the sheep. (A little simplicity never hurt anybody.)

As in the picture above, the Sheppard over the family sometimes keeps a little lamb closer to him than the herd. While it will be safer and in less trouble this way! The mother Sheppard does this sometimes too... but as a mom we have to know when it's our job to keep the lamb close - or let the lamb leave the herd to hear the heartbeat of their Father. 

I hope I can keep this herd together without them trampling each other and I pray that I listen when my children whisper the heart of THE Father back to me as I feed them. But I hope that if you are a husband, father, mother or wife - you can see the divine ability we all have to work together and sense the simple life of a sheep herder or Sheppard.

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Thursday, April 22, 2010

Bubbles of thought in the park!

One of my most fun memories of childhood was my mothers homemade bubbles! As a mother, I think bubbles can add hours of fun to any thing... when THEY ARE OUTSIDE OF COURSE!!! But I often allow my children to play with bubbles while I wait at a safe distance from the soapy saturation. 

I have always told my relatives that children are small people, not some different species of human. Not meant to be kept in a cage (room), or forced to play outside, or even forced to live in a world differently than a person with opinions. (The parenting discipline is a different blog, but children LIKE big people need boundaries.) I think that I grew up in a culture, all be it one of respect, that discredits the adventure of childhood by saying it's some sort of syndrome you should grow out of. You should become respectable and clean. Which brings me to my conclusion as a teen and a new Aunt (since I was 12), that children were just small people! They too needed to be treated with SOME level of expectation to be who THEY need to be. I instantly formed an opinion that has helped to shape my adulthood and how I respond to the most precious people on the planet... kids! Follow my crumbs on this rabbit trail to my current subject; where I was standing in a park waiting for guests to arrive at a party, sweating and watching these cute small peeps TRY to blow bubbles. WHAT WAS I DOING?  I was already sweating, already dirty, and in a park ~ far away from my carpet! 


AND SOAPY FUN WAS HAD BY ALL MY PEEPS! Chasing bubbles just happens naturally in this world, as it does for anyone who stops long enough to admire the beauty in a shimmering see-through round floating miracle of our own breath. 


Find a spot with a slight breeze, drop a $1 and blow some bubbles with your adult friends this weekend. It's our job to remember what real simple fun should be!!! 

Bubbles to you in peace.

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Wednesday, April 21, 2010

First Easter Anyone?

Noah was doing pretty good for a hungry, nap time egg-hunter until the eggs took the shape of balls. Yes, as my mother thought it was so awesome the plastic eggs came shaped like their favorite items this year!  Well, what's a boy to do when the small ball just happens to have candy in it?
Click here to see the video

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Sunday, April 18, 2010

Tomatoes Go Splat -Onions Peel

I love those old movies when people actually threw tomatoes at actors who were terrible!! Wish I could do that sometimes to comedians who use too much foul language. One or two words, is too much - but I understand the comedic effect of something in context it's just that constant slamming of words that by themselves in sentences don't mean anything.OK that's my obsession with throwing tomatoes.

But the fun part of tomatoes is that eventually they all squish nicely.  I really don't like any kind of tomato, but there really are a tone of varieties. I think this is my fascination with tomatoes in general; no matter what the tomato ultimately looks like, smells like or how big it is, the inside is full of squishy... goodness? The most conventional way to consume a tomato... raw & fresh. (Canned tomatoes work for my Northern friends when they are longing for sun.)

The same is true of onions, no matter what species or size, they are all categorized and all have layers of flavor. Some onions make us cry more than others, some can be sliced without any tears. But the flavor of an onion is best tasted when lightly cooked or grilled. (most of the country would agree with me on this one I think.)   ~ And sometimes, they have started NEW growth, from the inside out!!


So, what does any of that have to do with the humorous or interesting things in life?  Well, EVERYTHING!!!
  • I can choose to walk out this life like a fragile tomato, and only be firm on the outside while the inside of me continues to deteriorate and eventually everyone around me with be covered with my mess when I explode. For a period in time those messy friends my hang out with me, but at some point I will need to grow a new batch.
  • I can choose to walk in my life like a yellow onions; with a thin skin protecting my friends but the minute someone hurts me or dare to peel back my facade... I will inevitably make people cry, and in time the only people who surround me with only talk superficially and make sure that they pat my back with ease. No real friends are found.
  • I can be honest - transparent and realize that I am more like an onion than I want to be... then choose to be an onion who stays chilled and like the vadalia onion which creates hardly any tears if any and is ALWAYS Sweet. These people realize that life is more fun to peel back the layers of our real personality (flavor) with our relationships... but it is tempered by the reality, that as in all life, sometimes the layer must submit to death to find New Life and learn how to be transformed by the Giver of Life (Jesus Christ) and only in Him do we learn how to be sweet and savory with each bite.
Here's hoping you smile, peel and rid yourself of the squishy today!!! :)  

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Thursday, April 15, 2010

Interview of a Grandpa!

By Jacob (I think I get rights to my sons work, don't you!)
The Summary is the only thing Jacob wrote in his report. 

Question 1: Pa, what games did you play when you were my age?
Answer: When I was 8, I played outside or played sports. There were no computers or ipods.
Summary: When my Pa was 8 he played outside or sports. There were no computers or ipods.

Question 2: What kind of clothes did you wear when you were my age?
Answer: I had a lot of the same clothes that you wear like jeans and T shirts. The shirts were different because they didn't have any graphics on them, you know, like writing or printed pictures.
Summary: He had mostly the same clothes but there was no graphics on shirts.

Question 3: What chores did you have when you were my age?
Answer: Well, by 8 years old I had a lot more chores than you do. I mowed the lawn, and picked certain kinds of grass for the rabbits. My big chore or job was to feed all the animals on our farm. So, I feed the rabbits that we breed, the chickens and horses.
Summary: When my Pa was 8 his chores were hard. He mowed the grass and feed all the animals on the small farm.

Question 4: How was transportation different when you were my age?
Answer: Well, I don't know if it has changed much except that no one could afford to have a car and especially more than one. Well, we did get a car in the year I turned 8 and that sat in the drive way unless we had some where far away to go. When my parents needed to go somewhere they always took the bus or walked.
Summary: They did not have a car until he was 8. They walked or rode a bus.

Question 5: What do you know about our ancestors? How were their lives different from our lives today?
Answer: Jacob I know some of our history and on my mothers side of the family I can only really tell you about the life of my granddaddy. He moved to Enterprise, Alabama and got married and they had 9 children. One of them was my mother. He would be your great-great-great grandpa and he was almost half Cherokee. His family was from the Eastern Cherokee Tribe. So, my granddaddy lived as a share-cropper and farmed land but was very very poor.
Question: What was that like?
Answer: They did not have running water or pipes so they had to carry water from a well out by the farm and anything they needed water for meant they had to carry it from a long way away. There was no electricity and that meant that they only saw inside by candle light.  When they needed something from the town they had one horse to work in the field and they would tie him up to a buggy and ride it to town. So, they also had an outhouse and that was the only thing like a bathroom.
Summary: My great-great-great grandpa was part Cherokee and lived in Alabama. He had 9 children and was very poor. They had no running water. They only had candles and a horse and buggy.

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Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Innocent laughter or heavenly secrets?

The picture I posted speaks a thousand words in the context of the title of this post. In this moment the picture was taken this little boy was the most fun-loving little man with a grin from ear to ear. He had a day with mommy & daddy and new friends with a grandma & grandpa he doesn't see often enough. At first glance you just know that he is "tickled pink" by something. Within each child holds the mystery questions behind those eyes of a child that can't yet talk about what they're thinking.

In the face of a newborn is the face of pure dependence, and simple love. Take care of me and I will love you forever. ~Please~

I know that angels guard over us, and although I believe that they can be powerless when God allows bad things to happen; I know that they whisper God's love to each small child.

In a moment of sweetness a baby can coo or a small toddler can bust into a full laughter with nothing prompting them. I believe there are sweet messages from heaven that tickle their hearts and ears. God is Love, as the Bible declares it, and Jesus was specific about letting the little children come to him while he walked this Earth in ministry. Why would he NOT allow the gurgles of each toddler be sent by angels straight to Heaven and why would He NOT simply tell the angels to give each child loving messages of silly clouds, God's creative masterpiece of this world and even give them secrets to unlock the hearts of their parents??

I know some will say I am crazy . . . but those are the people who don't have a little one in their lives who cuddles up soft and sleeps with ease.  Or maybe those people let too much impurity separate their memories of what it was like to be SMALL.

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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Eggs & Glory

Easter weekend was definitely our most busiest weekend since Noah's birth. Friday night was the egg hunt at the YMCA, Saturday was Madisen's birthday party at a local park, then off to Brandon for a meeting with a portion of the volunteers for Real Fest, and Sunday was church with a dinner to cook once we got home. And did I mention I was suppose to fill eggs, baskets and hide things on Sunday? 

So, before the weekend got underway, I took a night on Thursday to go by a local church and watch their production of Forgotten, a production for Easter. 

I realize that this might be a solid weekend of fun for some, but for this mom... well, my three small people tend to be extra greedy and irritable when any one of them has a birthday. So, this was no walk in the park ~ literally! Though, passionate about their candy, my children don't get it very often and the extra sugar was showing. Mommy was at the end of her rope before Friday night even got underway.  Then the real DRAMA unfolded at the Y. The Y was unprepared for the turn out and did not think through a few of the decisions ahead of time. Which left parents like me and Asa confused and in a daze trying to figure out how our children waiting for more than 30 minutes to not get to pick up any eggs, or only a few. (2 & 3) My children were THANKFULLY content with us allowing them to play in the field with their friends from church and eventually went home happy.

The birthday party was at least a moment to relax... except that I got to the park to decorate the shelter and realized I had forgotten ALL of the cupcakes AND the Popsicles! 

Anecdote for this Easter weekend was:
"The world will pass away and with it the sculpture's work, but our children's souls will live on for eternity."*1

I had to focus on the eternal meaning of this weekend, not the pounded headache or the hustle and bustle or even the perfect outfit that just got covered in dirt.  This life doesn't go on forever, but I can affect the shaping of my children's souls by showing them (without complaining) what the Love of this season is for.  
















I was reminded of all of this as I arrived (late of course), frustrated and hot to the meeting with other volunteers to talk about our testimonials. It was my turn first, as I had already been warned. I had prayed on the way there and was not quite ready to swallow my pride and dismiss my disappointments of the day. ~ Looking into the eyes of the people who sacrificed MUCH more than I had for this festival/event I drew a breath of humility and recited the amazing things God showed me in the weekend prior. I began to hear the amazing things from others that happens in God's Glory and how we can do nothing that compares to what happens as we prepare a place for the Glory to show up ~ and wait for it.

Sunday did meet me by surprise and we did let the little people sleep in but God's presence was felt in the story of His love for me as I worshiped with a local body of Christ. While they served Him and my children, I was really blessed.


IT WAS REALLY ALL ABOUT SHOWING OTHERS THE LOVE OF CHRIST - ALL ALONG. Happy Easter 2010!

citation *1 :
http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=15249

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Monday, April 5, 2010

Real/Serving Real/Fest 2010

ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION:
My body and mind are exhausted from months of preparation and a week full of hustle and bustle to pull together an event to really reach a community. After such a long preparation we tend to want a certain level of success to feel as though our contribution to this community was significant. God's plan is not to always allow us to physically SEE the impact we have on people and places. In 2 Corinthians 5:7 "we walk by faith, not by sight" should be our guide to remember not to let our EYES get in the way of what God is asking us to believe by Faith.

For an event like what we were a part of this past weekend many people can look at the events similar in the past and count success in: the number of tickets sold, items sold at the event, artist contributions to revenue and even in a head count of people. This event was not like the other events in so many ways, but Man's Success was not a tool we were using to measure this weekend's accomplishments. Instead, there were NO tickets sold to this completely FREE event, there were no restrictions on coming & going, so people freely left & returned, the event was not asking bands or artists to contribute anything and other people (not affiliated with event) tried to distract funds in the parking area. Ultimately, this FREE event could not be measured in the same standards as those events of the past. This wasn't about meeting a financial goal but about meeting practical needs of people within the community and bring awareness to some of those needs.

MEASURING TOOLS:
2 Corinthians 2:17 "Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God."
Titus 3:14 "Our people should learn to spend their time doing something useful and worthwhile."
Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
Jesus' responses to Peter as Jesus asked, Do you love me? When Peter said yes, then Jesus declared; "Feed my Lambs", "Take care of my Sheep", "Feed my Sheep".

When you use the Word of God as a meter for success, you find that God grants you the favor to feel that toiling for a good work was not in vain. God's Kingdom living is the kind of life that requires much of us even when we don't get a reward here on earth. As we learn in Matthew 6:19-20 "Don't store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them." We can not gain rewards both here and in Heaven so, the eternal rewards MUST outweigh our mindset to gain something here on Earth. We have to change our thinking to reveal our Faith in the seeds planted, the harvest that was watered and the few people we are able to guide into the Kingdom as the MOST SUCCESSFUL adventure of our lives. We should be working on these things all week, and at events like this three day community outreach we have to understand the BLESSING in seeing all three stages being prayed over at the same time.

TESTIMONIALS & SUCCESSES:
* The family van full of people who could NOT get over the genre's of music all in the same place. This family was by far the funniest family I met this past weekend. The dad (of course) had no idea what "Hard-core" was while the mother pretended to know what "Indie" music meant. The teens in the back were completely excited that in one stop they could get a taste of all the music styles they liked as one teen was definitely more into the hip hop than his sister. Talking to this family and explaining the mission of the event and CONVINCING them that it really was free was a joy! They may not have stayed for the entire event, but that family was moved with compassion at anyone hungry could eat, and laughed a lot at the lack of knowledge of their parents at the kind of music they liked. I know God's voice of Love was heard in that family van when they piled back in.

*By Saturday night I noticed that a sweet looking pregnant lady and her tiny little daughter had not ever really left the grounds. She had walked onto the property earlier that day. By nightfall she did walk for what seemed like as far as the eye could see to what we could only assume was home. Early on Sunday morning as we were trying to kick off our Palm Sunday Worship...I saw her and her little girl walking from down Bloomingdale. My sister and I even noted that she had noticed her too. They had come and seemed to be waiting for the day to start, but really they were waiting for someone to tell them breakfast was served. They ate breakfast in no real hurry but eventually ate breakfast again. What a joyous look that precious little girl had to enjoy herself some pancakes? By afternoon before the storms hit, they both had a plate of chicken and I didn't really take notice until the rain came, that they had then had another plate of free chicken. The things we notice when times are quiet, but I began to ache as I realized that this pregnant mom was indeed finding a need met here in this pole barn, in a regular looking weekend, she found enough food to fill their bellies.

*Parking Lot:
So many stories came from working the crowd of people while they were in their cars. Honestly, it was not the place I expected to be, and Asa really did not feel so excited about serving in the parking "department". (jokingly noted as a department) God made sure that we had a front seat to the needs that were being met and we had a unique opportunity to actually spread the good news of why this "Jesus Village" comes together for events like these. I know that having the understanding about Glen & Linda Clark (www.jesusvillage.net) and how they bring local ministries together with local & regional artists allowed us to speak the truth in a concise manner without "teaching" another volunteer how to explain it. Although, I always ask Linda how she wants us to speak "to" the ministry, just for a refresher!

So, we saw and met the moms who were touched by bringing their kids for a free fun time on the bounce houses; the parents who were reached by feeding their family; the adults who could not get over the blessing of free music was by far the most surprising reaction; and the countless people who just couldn't believe it was really all for free. The point here was that everyone left different than they entered, for the better.

THE TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS:
I have never seen so many people bale out on something they have committed to do or when some people offered donations of equipment but didn't follow through. It was shocking to me, but everyone who was there & everyone who did commit or who donated equipment WAS SUCH A BLESSING!

The team of people that prayed, and worked for months to ensure the success of this event were changed by the event for the better. The family that inspires us all were even more amazing during putting this event together because more things were difficult about this event than any other to date for them. It was stressful by any stretch and I can not even imagine but I have prayed for them throughout this planning and the event process. I can tell you that at every chance 7 of the Clark family members were working long hours on this festival. They each invested many hours of sweat, and some of them invested many days of hard labor. I heard volunteer after volunteer explain how much they were inspired by their compassion and dedication. Few volunteers understand the real sacrifice that this family makes, but God blesses them in ways we could only imagine. Really, their compassion is a RESPONSE to who they KNOW God is and HOW MUCH HE LOVES THEM. They draw their strength in Him.

The other volunteers who showed up each inspired me in a way that only each could. I am really grateful for getting to met each part of the team.

I am forever different because of this festival at this time in my life. I can, and without much pain make a large difference. Offering without sacrifice means nothing.

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