College football season is one of my most favorite time's of the year. College basketball is right up there, too.
We are two weeks into college football season. And, my beloved Bears are (oh, this is hard to write) (really, I cannot believe I'm typing this record) (come one, do I have to write it) not doing good.
0-2.
I cannot remember the last time we lost our first two games of the season. These are pre-conference games. Baylor is consistently skewered for playing 'easy' season starters. I naively thought these first two games were going to be walks in the park. We have a new coach. We have new energy. We have a defense. We have a rosy outlook.
Oh, I was promised so much. All of Baylor nation got behind those PR spins and we were in for this era, this Rhule.
Not so much.
We didn't go to the game this weekend. We did visit my fair school and favorite place last weekend. Here or there, a loss is a loss. It stings. It is not fun. I do not like losing.
I don't like planning a fourth part for a loss. I do like planning a fourth part for a fun trip and bumping into friends and getting to eat at George's or eating tailgating kind of snacks at home.
I'm going to have to rethink my Saturday fourth parts. There are two, maybe three more games we will get to Waco to see. Those two, maybe three games will more than likely be tough to watch. But, I'll be there flinging my green and gold and sporting nifty outfits to reflect my support. Inside, I may be crumbling.
Yeah, these are the feelings I have over college football. My feelings over high school football aren't as strong, but we do have a team we root for because G coaches there. I cheered a little more loudly and with more exuberance when Chris played there (I mean, duh). I still cheer. This year, we've had two games and both deserved some cheering.
The first game was a Thursday on TV. Because of Camille's gymnastics, we couldn't get to the game, but I planned it out and we were able to watch the game from home. It was a come-from-behind win. The second game was on a Saturday. (What happened to Friday night lights?!) With my high school football season organization skills on point (not my first rodeo), we knocked out a lot of activities and made it to the game early enough to wish G good luck. Another win. A big win. We stayed the whole game. I knew through watching my Twitter feed and Gametracker there was no need to rush home and watch the other game I wrote about earlier. (When we left the Lee game, I think Baylor was down 7-17. I'll leave that there for you.)
2-0
While I recover from Baylor losses, G reviews game outcomes and readies for the next game with the other Lee coaches. It's called film. Watching game film. Reviewing plays over and over. Watching film from the upcoming opponent. Figuring out an approach. Creating a game plan.
G gets home late from games. We are all asleep. Then, he's out the door early the next morning to go watch film. When it's a Saturday game, that means he misses church. So, that means I'm solo directing 'let's get out the door' maneuvers. Getting dressed, doing hair and fixing breakfast are all included and a part of that agenda. Silently reminding myself that a fourth part will come motivates my efforts.
I wonder what our game film would look like. I wonder what the plays would be that we would keep and those we would change. I wonder if some are standard, go-to schemes.
Y'all know I like a good Netflix series. I can binge with the best of them. I love to watch TV. Fall fourth parts when G has film or a JV game or a Varsity game we don't attend, I like to watch a show. During these last two weeks and the August weeks of two-a-days, I watched Party of Five. Six seasons of about 20 shows each. If you are doing the math, that's 120 hours of television viewing. That's a lot of film. That late 90s show had a hard to deal with issue each week. About four seasons in I wondered when the family would catch a break. It seemed as if every time they got their feet underneath them, something would cause a discussion on the need for a second mortgage taken out on the house or someone not fulfilling a dream to move out of the house. I wanted the family to watch the film so they could change or at least predict some of the happenings they experienced.
My husband watches game film to adjust and adapt to another team. He watches to understand where his team has strengths and weaknesses and how those will present against the upcoming opponent. He also watches to determine who is going to do some extra bear crawls at practice. (OK, not really, but if a kid gets an unsportsmanlike penalty, I think tire flipping is on order.)
In my mind, I watch replays of our frenetic mornings and days to figure out how to improve. I think through what works and what doesn't really help.
After Paul had watched Timothy in his young ministry and he knew he might not make it back to Ephesus for a while, he wrote Timothy a letter. This first Timothy (1 Timothy) letter was intended to develop him and help him work on that growing church. There were issues with false teachings and for Timothy, those were a challenge to his charge of spreading the gospel. Paul asked that Timothy devote himself to the public reading, preaching and teaching of the scriptures. He told him to be diligent.
'Watch your life and doctrine closely' begins 1 Timothy 4:16. Paul wrote this to encourage Timothy to live his life as a believer. As others watched and heard him, Timothy needed to live the life inspired by Christ that he committed to do.
When I re-watch my days and when G reviews his players' performances on film, we both then do something with that information. I reflect and then, work toward improving my attitude and planning. G takes what he sees and creates a game plan.
We watch to make sure we don't repeat the same mistakes. We watch to make sure we continue to use our strengths to help others.
We have a ministry. It's not as big as Paul or Timothy, but it's a size God gave us. G ministers to those players day in and day out. He is teaching and coaching football, and sharing his doctrine. I have my own Party of Five, three of whom are learning and watching my life and doctrine. On these mornings where we are needing to get out of the house or evenings when we are trying to get to games, my girls watch me.
Our challenge each and every moment of each and every day is not fitting in a fourth part. Our challenge is more of taking our film and making necessary adjustments to that our doctrine, our story, our life is one others can watch and desire to learn more about.
This Party of Five needs to diligently devote itself to living a life that inspires others.
Wonder what our record will be at the end of the season?
Sunday, September 10, 2017
Friday, September 1, 2017
Gas Shortage, I mean, Outage and T-shirts
We are tired in this house. First week of school will do that to you. Add to that a longer gymnastics schedule four nights a week and a televised Thursday night football game and you'll understand.
No, that's ridiculous. Those things don't make for the kind of tired we've felt this week. Our tired is because we've been watching non-stop coverage of the damage Hurricane Harvey did to our beloved Texas coast. We're tired because of the emails, the emotions, the calls, the texts, the images, the videos, the tweets and all the social media posts we've been following this week.
But let me be clear, our tired pales to what family, dear friends and work colleagues have suffered through and experienced this week. When water is a foot or two deep in your home, when your roof is leaking, when your power is out, when your car is underwater, when you can't get to the grocery store and when you worry if the water is going to recede in time so that releasing water from the reservoirs doesn't affect you, you are truly tired.
I've cried this week and been so sad. I've prayed. Our family has made financial contributions to disaster relief organizations and we've bought needed items for those staying at shelters.
Again, my tired and my family's tired is not the tired those in Houston, Rockport, Port Aransas, Beaumont and all the towns in between have felt.
It's the first week of football season so usually our fourth parts are dedicated to prepping for game day. Planning outfits, arranging babysitters and hanging burlap door hangers in the shape of footballs for both G's high school and my precious Bears are how fourth parts during football season should be spent.
This week's fourth parts have been spent figuring out where to give money, what t-shirt I should buy to show I support recovery efforts and where to buy gas.
Oh, yes, because of potential damage to refineries in the gulf -- thanks Harvey -- gas getting to us has been slower than usual. And, media or no media -- the industry is now so readily blamed for everything (an industry of which I was a part of and still claim as my first love) -- people made a run to gas up.
Let's be clear. G Adams is quite a preparation kind of guy, so we had gas in the cars before the hurricane hit. With a week of driving under our belt, we needed gas. OK, I had around 1/3 of a tank and so did G, but still, we needed gas. As did all of San Antonio and the surrounding areas. You know what that demand means . . .a gasshortage outage. Yes, I know the lilies of the field are dressed and the birds are fed, but I hit a panic as I searched for gas.
Each and every gas station I drove by had those little yellow, plastic bags wrapped over the pumps indicating . . .shortage outage. Deep breaths.
At work on Friday, a colleague (and friend) and I used gasbuddy to track stations with fuel. That site wasn't really my buddy, but after worrying and having a few raised voice kind of conversations with my husband, we found a gas station. The downtown HEB had gas and a short wait. We couldn't get there fast enough. I waited all of 16 minutes to fill my tank (I think I put in around 13 gallons) and drive off to head home.
Whew. That emotional roller coaster of wondering when, where and how I was going to get gas wore me out. I am tired.
It's been a week. We are worn out. Please know, I know, we have not experienced the tired so many in Texas have. My heart breaks over the tragedy and loss. Bible verses and hymns are there to claim, but how do they truly soothe.
Each morning, the girls and I do a kids version of Jesus Calling. I do my own and then, we read their version together. Yesterday, when we had no more adrenaline and first week of school excitement to get us up in the morning, the devotion reminded us of depending and leaning on Jesus for strength and guidance. 'He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. . . but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.' Thanks Isaiah. That wrap up of chapter 40 helps. Chapter 40 actually begins what is known as the Book of Comfort portion of Isaiah. It was Isaiah's message of indicating God's people and the exile was over. It was about comfort.
Words are words, I know. A t-shirt with Texas Forever, Texas Strong or We are One is just a shirt with words. No matter where the proceeds go and no matter what color, cut or the sleeve length is, a t-shirt is just a t-shirt. Yet, for some reason, I became obsessed with trying to find 'the one' that I really liked. At one point during the day, I even said out loud, 'it's a shirt so who cares.'
Then, I bought one. Maybe the search for the shirt took the place of my worrisome search for gasoline. Maybe the hunt for the right words that reflected how I felt about the hurricane and its' aftermath was a substitute for my hunting for a picture of our cherished Island Retreat to see if there was damage. Maybe my looking for the right charity for the t-shirt proceeds to support was my attempt at soothing those who all I could offer up was prayer because I couldn't take them a hot meal or rip out wet dry wall.
Maybe that's what Isaiah did when he wrote about hoping in the Lord. Maybe he wanted the nation of Israel to stop searching for help on their own and so he wrote the words of comfort.
The t-shirt I ordered reads 'We are One.' That message of unity spoke to me and I believe, it shares what I want to do. I want those who have had such loss to know that I will stand with them and be with them and support them and help them as best I can.
When it was finally my turn at the pump this afternoon, and I got out to start the gassing up process, I noticed it was quiet. Yeah, there were engines running and people driving around, but it seemed so still. It wasn't a harried experience like I had seen on television or read about. People were pleasant, waving to each other and smiling.
Was this our chance to remember and reflect that God does provide our strength and is our portion.
Was it a reminder that we should 'go out in joy and be led forth in peace.'
Was it a moment where I knew my search should not be for the perfect t-shirt or gas station but, rather for that rest in Christ where the peace that passes all understanding can be found so that I can not grow weary.
And, not experience a shortage or outage in my spirit and walk with Him.
No, that's ridiculous. Those things don't make for the kind of tired we've felt this week. Our tired is because we've been watching non-stop coverage of the damage Hurricane Harvey did to our beloved Texas coast. We're tired because of the emails, the emotions, the calls, the texts, the images, the videos, the tweets and all the social media posts we've been following this week.
But let me be clear, our tired pales to what family, dear friends and work colleagues have suffered through and experienced this week. When water is a foot or two deep in your home, when your roof is leaking, when your power is out, when your car is underwater, when you can't get to the grocery store and when you worry if the water is going to recede in time so that releasing water from the reservoirs doesn't affect you, you are truly tired.
I've cried this week and been so sad. I've prayed. Our family has made financial contributions to disaster relief organizations and we've bought needed items for those staying at shelters.
Again, my tired and my family's tired is not the tired those in Houston, Rockport, Port Aransas, Beaumont and all the towns in between have felt.
It's the first week of football season so usually our fourth parts are dedicated to prepping for game day. Planning outfits, arranging babysitters and hanging burlap door hangers in the shape of footballs for both G's high school and my precious Bears are how fourth parts during football season should be spent.
This week's fourth parts have been spent figuring out where to give money, what t-shirt I should buy to show I support recovery efforts and where to buy gas.
Oh, yes, because of potential damage to refineries in the gulf -- thanks Harvey -- gas getting to us has been slower than usual. And, media or no media -- the industry is now so readily blamed for everything (an industry of which I was a part of and still claim as my first love) -- people made a run to gas up.
Let's be clear. G Adams is quite a preparation kind of guy, so we had gas in the cars before the hurricane hit. With a week of driving under our belt, we needed gas. OK, I had around 1/3 of a tank and so did G, but still, we needed gas. As did all of San Antonio and the surrounding areas. You know what that demand means . . .a gas
Each and every gas station I drove by had those little yellow, plastic bags wrapped over the pumps indicating . . .
At work on Friday, a colleague (and friend) and I used gasbuddy to track stations with fuel. That site wasn't really my buddy, but after worrying and having a few raised voice kind of conversations with my husband, we found a gas station. The downtown HEB had gas and a short wait. We couldn't get there fast enough. I waited all of 16 minutes to fill my tank (I think I put in around 13 gallons) and drive off to head home.
Whew. That emotional roller coaster of wondering when, where and how I was going to get gas wore me out. I am tired.
It's been a week. We are worn out. Please know, I know, we have not experienced the tired so many in Texas have. My heart breaks over the tragedy and loss. Bible verses and hymns are there to claim, but how do they truly soothe.
Each morning, the girls and I do a kids version of Jesus Calling. I do my own and then, we read their version together. Yesterday, when we had no more adrenaline and first week of school excitement to get us up in the morning, the devotion reminded us of depending and leaning on Jesus for strength and guidance. 'He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. . . but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.' Thanks Isaiah. That wrap up of chapter 40 helps. Chapter 40 actually begins what is known as the Book of Comfort portion of Isaiah. It was Isaiah's message of indicating God's people and the exile was over. It was about comfort.
Words are words, I know. A t-shirt with Texas Forever, Texas Strong or We are One is just a shirt with words. No matter where the proceeds go and no matter what color, cut or the sleeve length is, a t-shirt is just a t-shirt. Yet, for some reason, I became obsessed with trying to find 'the one' that I really liked. At one point during the day, I even said out loud, 'it's a shirt so who cares.'
Then, I bought one. Maybe the search for the shirt took the place of my worrisome search for gasoline. Maybe the hunt for the right words that reflected how I felt about the hurricane and its' aftermath was a substitute for my hunting for a picture of our cherished Island Retreat to see if there was damage. Maybe my looking for the right charity for the t-shirt proceeds to support was my attempt at soothing those who all I could offer up was prayer because I couldn't take them a hot meal or rip out wet dry wall.
Maybe that's what Isaiah did when he wrote about hoping in the Lord. Maybe he wanted the nation of Israel to stop searching for help on their own and so he wrote the words of comfort.
The t-shirt I ordered reads 'We are One.' That message of unity spoke to me and I believe, it shares what I want to do. I want those who have had such loss to know that I will stand with them and be with them and support them and help them as best I can.
When it was finally my turn at the pump this afternoon, and I got out to start the gassing up process, I noticed it was quiet. Yeah, there were engines running and people driving around, but it seemed so still. It wasn't a harried experience like I had seen on television or read about. People were pleasant, waving to each other and smiling.
Was this our chance to remember and reflect that God does provide our strength and is our portion.
Was it a reminder that we should 'go out in joy and be led forth in peace.'
Was it a moment where I knew my search should not be for the perfect t-shirt or gas station but, rather for that rest in Christ where the peace that passes all understanding can be found so that I can not grow weary.
And, not experience a shortage or outage in my spirit and walk with Him.
Sunday, August 27, 2017
Trash and Facebook Live
This has been a weekend of watching. We've watched a lot of TV, we've watched a lot of news and we've watched a lot of movies. There was also a fight on last night that was watched. I've watched a few workout videos (and did work out). We've watched cooking shows. We've gone outside to watch the skies. We've watched and watched and watched.
This morning, we're watching church on Facebook Live. Our friend, Ken Hicks, organized a church service from his home. Technology, right? He reminded us the church is people not a place. He encouraged us to remain in our PJs and watch while we are gathered around the breakfast table. He's not in his PJs. But, yeah, we are.
Because, again, today, we are watching.
Our skies are a little clearer, but now we are watching Houston weather. My sister, two cousins, one of G's closest friends and a load of other friends are there. They are in different parts of town which means different situations. My sister lives in the Heights. Thankfully, that means, it rarely floods since it is a bit higher than the rest of Houston. One of my cousins already has water in her home.
So, while we are watching church and listening/singing 'How Great is our God,' we also have an eye on the weather channel. And, we're using a laptop to scroll through Twitter and Facebook watching for stories on the weather.
Tomorrow, the 2017-18 school year begins. Typically, the weekend before is a flurry of activity. G is usually up at school watching scrimmage film and preparing for game number one. I'm usually scurrying around making the best plans I'll make all school year -- lining out fancy bento-like lunches, selecting five days worth of school outfits (with socks!) and talking hair-dos.
We did pick out the first week of outfits -- remember it's been raining with high winds and we are inside -- and we have a hair appointment today to have the first-day (hopefully, second and third day, too) braids done.
The lunch list is done. Before the rain started yesterday morning, I took care of a Magnum PI, Frida Kahlo look I was rocking and was able to dash into Trader Joe's for some lunch supplies. Remember, we are going fancy and bento and big this week.
(Week two of school will be a bag of Cheetos, a highly processed granola bar and a Nutella sandwich for each of the girls.)
(But for this week, it's hummus and hard boiled eggs and homemade pizza rolls and turkey wraps.)
(Chips, absolutely not. Organic pretzels, of course.)
Keep your eyes on the Adams' lunch boxes. Watch for that quick slide into pre-packagedness.
Again, watch.
While we watched the weather yesterday and walked outside a few times, it was only until G took out the trash. (The Petri girls . . we can fill a trash can like none other, we just struggle with taking it out.) As he rounded the corner of our house with a full bag of trash, he saw something that none of us expected.
A downed tree. A fallen oak.
On to the swing set. Not the new fence, not the house. I guess there was just enough wind to take it out. With offers from friends, we should have a fire wood sale sometime soon (when the wood dries.)
Watch for that. It will have to be a random Saturday or Sunday where there is no Lee game, no Baylor game or no film watching. November?
With us settling in for another day of watching -- with a brief trip to get hair done and maybe a quick run into HEB -- we might get a bit tired. We might get sore from just sitting. We might be over television (can you imagine the Adams' being over television!?). We might want to do something.
Ken is telling us through Facebook Live in Romans 15 and 16 that Paul encouraged us to walk among others and to be unified. He says to welcome one another and demonstrate the unity of the body of Christ. Right now, there's need to be addressed. We've watched the weather and the storm and the evacuees come from coastal areas. We've talked about texting the Red Cross so that $10 is donated. We've wondered out loud how we can help.
Our simple acts of serving can be a demonstration of unity. Yes, people will notice. People will watch. But we aren't doing it for recognition, we're serving because we are called to do so. Maybe we can do it from our living room. Praying, posting encouraging comments and collecting goods around the house to donate are all ways to serve.
It was hard to watch the reporting from one of our favorite places, Port Aransas. We were able to visit twice this summer and had tried to get back a third time. We are so familiar with the roads, the shops, the buildings and can recognize them even from an aerial or blurry, water-logged television camera. G is familiar with those waters because he has fished almost every inch of them around Port Aransas (and all the other places he tells me but I just lump into Port A).
When we watch the coverage, we are so sad. We see places destroyed. We remember we were just there. We wonder of other spots we haven't yet seen. We want to go down now for our third visit and help. We are having a hard time watching and not being able to do.
Ken said, 'This unity we are seeking, there are going to be people who claim faith in Christ and will try and get in and cause division.' Even at times such as these, we'll watch people who may be divisive. But, we can't judge. We just have to pray. We have to welcome others. We have to watch.
Romans 16:17 reads 'I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.'
Trash collection is tomorrow. We've accumulated a lot of the past couple of days. We can clean out a refrigerator because of bad food and because we are just snacking and eating as we watch weather coverage. Sure, I could write, get rid of those other things like 'smooth talk and flattery' that belong to those who don't serve the Lord (Romans 16:18), but that's too easy.
What's tough is watching for how we can serve and then serving. What's harder is watching for things to do that continue the work of Jesus. What's difficult is watching friends, family and fellow Texans struggle and suffer, and finding something that is meaningful.
Here's what you can do. Pray. Recognize those who are serving as Paul did in the first 16 verses of Romans 16. And, watch for those opportunities to serve and demonstrate unity.
This morning, we're watching church on Facebook Live. Our friend, Ken Hicks, organized a church service from his home. Technology, right? He reminded us the church is people not a place. He encouraged us to remain in our PJs and watch while we are gathered around the breakfast table. He's not in his PJs. But, yeah, we are.
Because, again, today, we are watching.
Our skies are a little clearer, but now we are watching Houston weather. My sister, two cousins, one of G's closest friends and a load of other friends are there. They are in different parts of town which means different situations. My sister lives in the Heights. Thankfully, that means, it rarely floods since it is a bit higher than the rest of Houston. One of my cousins already has water in her home.
So, while we are watching church and listening/singing 'How Great is our God,' we also have an eye on the weather channel. And, we're using a laptop to scroll through Twitter and Facebook watching for stories on the weather.
Tomorrow, the 2017-18 school year begins. Typically, the weekend before is a flurry of activity. G is usually up at school watching scrimmage film and preparing for game number one. I'm usually scurrying around making the best plans I'll make all school year -- lining out fancy bento-like lunches, selecting five days worth of school outfits (with socks!) and talking hair-dos.
We did pick out the first week of outfits -- remember it's been raining with high winds and we are inside -- and we have a hair appointment today to have the first-day (hopefully, second and third day, too) braids done.
The lunch list is done. Before the rain started yesterday morning, I took care of a Magnum PI, Frida Kahlo look I was rocking and was able to dash into Trader Joe's for some lunch supplies. Remember, we are going fancy and bento and big this week.
(Week two of school will be a bag of Cheetos, a highly processed granola bar and a Nutella sandwich for each of the girls.)
(But for this week, it's hummus and hard boiled eggs and homemade pizza rolls and turkey wraps.)
(Chips, absolutely not. Organic pretzels, of course.)
Keep your eyes on the Adams' lunch boxes. Watch for that quick slide into pre-packagedness.
Again, watch.
While we watched the weather yesterday and walked outside a few times, it was only until G took out the trash. (The Petri girls . . we can fill a trash can like none other, we just struggle with taking it out.) As he rounded the corner of our house with a full bag of trash, he saw something that none of us expected.
A downed tree. A fallen oak.
On to the swing set. Not the new fence, not the house. I guess there was just enough wind to take it out. With offers from friends, we should have a fire wood sale sometime soon (when the wood dries.)
Watch for that. It will have to be a random Saturday or Sunday where there is no Lee game, no Baylor game or no film watching. November?
With us settling in for another day of watching -- with a brief trip to get hair done and maybe a quick run into HEB -- we might get a bit tired. We might get sore from just sitting. We might be over television (can you imagine the Adams' being over television!?). We might want to do something.
Ken is telling us through Facebook Live in Romans 15 and 16 that Paul encouraged us to walk among others and to be unified. He says to welcome one another and demonstrate the unity of the body of Christ. Right now, there's need to be addressed. We've watched the weather and the storm and the evacuees come from coastal areas. We've talked about texting the Red Cross so that $10 is donated. We've wondered out loud how we can help.
Our simple acts of serving can be a demonstration of unity. Yes, people will notice. People will watch. But we aren't doing it for recognition, we're serving because we are called to do so. Maybe we can do it from our living room. Praying, posting encouraging comments and collecting goods around the house to donate are all ways to serve.
It was hard to watch the reporting from one of our favorite places, Port Aransas. We were able to visit twice this summer and had tried to get back a third time. We are so familiar with the roads, the shops, the buildings and can recognize them even from an aerial or blurry, water-logged television camera. G is familiar with those waters because he has fished almost every inch of them around Port Aransas (and all the other places he tells me but I just lump into Port A).
When we watch the coverage, we are so sad. We see places destroyed. We remember we were just there. We wonder of other spots we haven't yet seen. We want to go down now for our third visit and help. We are having a hard time watching and not being able to do.
Ken said, 'This unity we are seeking, there are going to be people who claim faith in Christ and will try and get in and cause division.' Even at times such as these, we'll watch people who may be divisive. But, we can't judge. We just have to pray. We have to welcome others. We have to watch.
Romans 16:17 reads 'I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.'
Trash collection is tomorrow. We've accumulated a lot of the past couple of days. We can clean out a refrigerator because of bad food and because we are just snacking and eating as we watch weather coverage. Sure, I could write, get rid of those other things like 'smooth talk and flattery' that belong to those who don't serve the Lord (Romans 16:18), but that's too easy.
What's tough is watching for how we can serve and then serving. What's harder is watching for things to do that continue the work of Jesus. What's difficult is watching friends, family and fellow Texans struggle and suffer, and finding something that is meaningful.
Here's what you can do. Pray. Recognize those who are serving as Paul did in the first 16 verses of Romans 16. And, watch for those opportunities to serve and demonstrate unity.
Saturday, August 19, 2017
Red Pencils and Shower Curtains
I perceive myself to be organized. I mean, I think I'm kind of on top of things most days. I've the calendars, notes and lists that demonstrate and scream 'organized.'
Yeah, not always.
If you look at the precious, little, perfectly sized entry way table, you would see stacks of school supplies. There's a beautiful pewter bowl from Mexico holding some, too. And, the monogrammed back packs and matching lunch boxes are on the hooks above the table.
Appearances can be deceiving. Because when you do a quick compare of the school supplies in my home to the list provided by the school district, you will notice a missing item. Four of them.
Red grading pencils. We need two each. We need four.
After visiting three Targets, a Walgreens and an HEB, we've batted zero. These things don't exist.
I should celebrate the finding of all the other items and making the purchase under $50. (Thanks to my sister-in-law and a $50 Target gift card -- the supplies were 'free.') Now, I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I did look really hard and far into that horse's mouth to see if there were a few red grading pencils hiding in there. Nah.
The following lists what we were able to buy in one shopping trip to Target. Remember, I've doubled the number because I have two children needing to be supplied up on day one of third grade.
48 number 2 pencils
2 boxes of 24-count Crayola crayons (none of those HEB or Target brands)
2 pair of 5"-pointed Fiskar scissors (again, with the brand name)
4 wide-ruled 70-page composition books (wide-ruled is another challenge to find when you are shopping late in the game, such as two weekends before school starts)
8 spiral notebooks
2 packages of 9"x 12" assorted, loose construction paper
2 boxes Crayola classic broad-tip washable markers (quick reminder there are about 15 variations of markers -- brights, neons, glitter and watercolor among them)
12 pocket folders with brads -- different colors (thankfully, I consider black and white colors because there are only so many colored pocket folders with the freakin' brads)
8 glue sticks (no brand requirement -- we went Target brand because well, cheaper)
2 plastic supply boxes 9" x 6" x 2" (yeah, specific measurements to hold pencils and the precious Crayolas)
2 packages of 12 count colored pencils (No brand requirement? No color requirement? Can you imagine the impact of varying brands and colors?)
4 packages wide-ruled notebook paper (again with the wide-ruled)
2 2" 3-ring binders -- no Trapper Keeper (right, we're spending that kind of money?)
2 sets of 8-tab dividers (conveniently and more frequently packaged in sets of five)
4 boxes 200-count non-scented Kleenex tissues (the brands, the brands)
Please know, we had a few supplies left from last year . . .a package of the loose construction paper, a composition book, a box of brand-name crayons, three pocket folders with the dang brads and two packages of the notebook paper. We also had to supply two rulers and yes, we had those from last year. In fact, I think one is from when Chris was in elementary school. Rulers last.
We did struggle with finding two bottles of 8-oz glue, but our babysitter stumbled upon them one day and scooped them up for us. Whew. Those first-day projects might not have been finished.
Then, there's the red pencils. Where or where are you red pencils?
Throughout the school supply finding and gathering, I've been putting a few things aside for Chris' new apartment in Lubbock. Remember, I'm organized. I had his bed linens and his bathroom supplies -- towels, bath mats, over-the-door hooks for the towels that really won't ever hang up but there is opportunity as indicated by the hooks -- all in those vacuum-sealed up bags. I even had the soap dish and toothbrush holder gently wrapped as to prevent those $1.99 items from breaking.
But where was the shower curtain and the shower curtain hooks. I mean I tore up looking in bags and cabinets. I even had my guys go into the attic because I just knew those two random items were up there in some kind of bin or bag.
Uh, no. I found them. They were deep inside one of the vacuum-sealed bags.
I've been worried about the shower curtain. Not because it was expensive or even a fancy design. It was a kids' shower curtain with a fish design. Chris liked it and because the fish were yellow, orange, light blue and gray, it added a bit of color to his gray towels, gray bath maths, gray soap dish and gray toothbrush holder.
I'm worried because I'm not going with Chris to Lubbock to help him move into this new apartment. It's furnished, so we don't need another car to haul up furniture. He's moved into an apartment before, so there's really nothing new to do except learn a new address and figure out what it is like to live with three roommates and not just one. The dishes, pots, pans, lamps and wall hangings have already been purchased and will be re-used this year. No need to buy new or help organize.
Remember, I'm an organized organizer.
I'm also a mom who wants to hang her son's shower curtain in his new apartment.
I'm not sure he knows how to do that. I don't think he knows how to hook the hooks on the bar and then thread the curtain through the hooks. I mean, these hooks.
I know there is probably a You Tube video or better yet, I know he is perfectly capable of hanging a shower curtain. But, I want to hang it.
He said it was my choice to go help him move in to his apartment. He said he was fine. He said he could do it and it was a long drive for us.
(sigh)
(sigh)
(tear)
Proverbs 22:6 is the verse that so many quote -- 'train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.'
He's not old yet, OK. And, just a few chapters over, there's a lot of verses about the wife of a noble character. So, there isn't a reference to hanging shower curtains or hunting down school supplies, but there are verses on her role. A role that is one to shoot for as long as it isn't being done just to be done or prove out worth, right?
It's about first and foremost, fearing God and demonstrating wisdom. All the work, the spinning of cloth, the getting up early and sewing are simply works. And, we all know what works get you . . . plain ol' tired.
We moms really want to be full of joy as we watch our children grow. We want that reassurance that we have trained them and we want them to arise and call us blessed (Proverbs 31:28).
We want to know that they know how to best use red grading pencils -- gently but firmly -- and that they know how to hang a shower curtain.
'Listen my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.' Proverbs 23:19
Godspeed little man on that path.
Godspeed on hanging that shower curtain.
Godspeed.
Yeah, not always.
If you look at the precious, little, perfectly sized entry way table, you would see stacks of school supplies. There's a beautiful pewter bowl from Mexico holding some, too. And, the monogrammed back packs and matching lunch boxes are on the hooks above the table.
Appearances can be deceiving. Because when you do a quick compare of the school supplies in my home to the list provided by the school district, you will notice a missing item. Four of them.
Red grading pencils. We need two each. We need four.
After visiting three Targets, a Walgreens and an HEB, we've batted zero. These things don't exist.
I should celebrate the finding of all the other items and making the purchase under $50. (Thanks to my sister-in-law and a $50 Target gift card -- the supplies were 'free.') Now, I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I did look really hard and far into that horse's mouth to see if there were a few red grading pencils hiding in there. Nah.
The following lists what we were able to buy in one shopping trip to Target. Remember, I've doubled the number because I have two children needing to be supplied up on day one of third grade.
48 number 2 pencils
2 boxes of 24-count Crayola crayons (none of those HEB or Target brands)
2 pair of 5"-pointed Fiskar scissors (again, with the brand name)
4 wide-ruled 70-page composition books (wide-ruled is another challenge to find when you are shopping late in the game, such as two weekends before school starts)
8 spiral notebooks
2 packages of 9"x 12" assorted, loose construction paper
2 boxes Crayola classic broad-tip washable markers (quick reminder there are about 15 variations of markers -- brights, neons, glitter and watercolor among them)
12 pocket folders with brads -- different colors (thankfully, I consider black and white colors because there are only so many colored pocket folders with the freakin' brads)
8 glue sticks (no brand requirement -- we went Target brand because well, cheaper)
2 plastic supply boxes 9" x 6" x 2" (yeah, specific measurements to hold pencils and the precious Crayolas)
2 packages of 12 count colored pencils (No brand requirement? No color requirement? Can you imagine the impact of varying brands and colors?)
4 packages wide-ruled notebook paper (again with the wide-ruled)
2 2" 3-ring binders -- no Trapper Keeper (right, we're spending that kind of money?)
2 sets of 8-tab dividers (conveniently and more frequently packaged in sets of five)
4 boxes 200-count non-scented Kleenex tissues (the brands, the brands)
Please know, we had a few supplies left from last year . . .a package of the loose construction paper, a composition book, a box of brand-name crayons, three pocket folders with the dang brads and two packages of the notebook paper. We also had to supply two rulers and yes, we had those from last year. In fact, I think one is from when Chris was in elementary school. Rulers last.
We did struggle with finding two bottles of 8-oz glue, but our babysitter stumbled upon them one day and scooped them up for us. Whew. Those first-day projects might not have been finished.
Then, there's the red pencils. Where or where are you red pencils?
Throughout the school supply finding and gathering, I've been putting a few things aside for Chris' new apartment in Lubbock. Remember, I'm organized. I had his bed linens and his bathroom supplies -- towels, bath mats, over-the-door hooks for the towels that really won't ever hang up but there is opportunity as indicated by the hooks -- all in those vacuum-sealed up bags. I even had the soap dish and toothbrush holder gently wrapped as to prevent those $1.99 items from breaking.
But where was the shower curtain and the shower curtain hooks. I mean I tore up looking in bags and cabinets. I even had my guys go into the attic because I just knew those two random items were up there in some kind of bin or bag.
Uh, no. I found them. They were deep inside one of the vacuum-sealed bags.
I've been worried about the shower curtain. Not because it was expensive or even a fancy design. It was a kids' shower curtain with a fish design. Chris liked it and because the fish were yellow, orange, light blue and gray, it added a bit of color to his gray towels, gray bath maths, gray soap dish and gray toothbrush holder.
I'm worried because I'm not going with Chris to Lubbock to help him move into this new apartment. It's furnished, so we don't need another car to haul up furniture. He's moved into an apartment before, so there's really nothing new to do except learn a new address and figure out what it is like to live with three roommates and not just one. The dishes, pots, pans, lamps and wall hangings have already been purchased and will be re-used this year. No need to buy new or help organize.
Remember, I'm an organized organizer.
I'm also a mom who wants to hang her son's shower curtain in his new apartment.
I'm not sure he knows how to do that. I don't think he knows how to hook the hooks on the bar and then thread the curtain through the hooks. I mean, these hooks.
I know there is probably a You Tube video or better yet, I know he is perfectly capable of hanging a shower curtain. But, I want to hang it.
He said it was my choice to go help him move in to his apartment. He said he was fine. He said he could do it and it was a long drive for us.
(sigh)
(sigh)
(tear)
Proverbs 22:6 is the verse that so many quote -- 'train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.'
He's not old yet, OK. And, just a few chapters over, there's a lot of verses about the wife of a noble character. So, there isn't a reference to hanging shower curtains or hunting down school supplies, but there are verses on her role. A role that is one to shoot for as long as it isn't being done just to be done or prove out worth, right?
It's about first and foremost, fearing God and demonstrating wisdom. All the work, the spinning of cloth, the getting up early and sewing are simply works. And, we all know what works get you . . . plain ol' tired.
We moms really want to be full of joy as we watch our children grow. We want that reassurance that we have trained them and we want them to arise and call us blessed (Proverbs 31:28).
We want to know that they know how to best use red grading pencils -- gently but firmly -- and that they know how to hang a shower curtain.
'Listen my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.' Proverbs 23:19
Godspeed little man on that path.
Godspeed on hanging that shower curtain.
Godspeed.
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
Cheetos and Bluetooth
Those days where the second part is full, busy, productive, tiring and you look back and think 'I got a lot of stuff done today' -- had one of those today. I gave where I needed to give. Asserted myself when required. Laughed when appropriate. Put on my serious face when it made sense.
Nice.
Then, I got into my car and started to drive home and remembered this third part was fuller and busier than I prefer. Ideal third part is going straight home and not having to cook dinner. It's not having to pack a lunch or lay out clothes or organize for the following day. Today's third part was not an ideal third part. It was more like what my third parts tend to be most nights during the school year. Not during the summer. It's still summer, right?
Oh, my summer is kinda over. Not the reminder I wanted August 9.
I had one daughter at the gym where my husband coaches. First stop, park and get her. Second stop, drive and get the other daughter at a friend's house who served as driver and hostess this afternoon after horse riding camp.
OK, if today's third part requirement was just a simple two-different place pick up, I'd have been fine. Yeah, that wasn't all I had to do in the third part.
Let me back up.
I ate almost half a bag of puffy Cheetos this afternoon at work. And, toward the end of work, I started in on a bag of crunchy Cheetos. A few of us were trying to show how we ate puffy Cheetos which I interpreted as 'let's keep eating them until the other people in the room really notice and take in how you eat puffy Cheetos.' No one cared that much, but I couldn't stop with just one -- that's Lay's, but it still applied in my case.
I was eating Cheetos not because it was a part of my latest diet plan, but because they were at the table and I felt the pressure of the upcoming days at work. Big days a coming and loads of accountability I'm feeling.
I trust my partners at work, yes. I know they are capable of delivering to expectations, yes. But. This. Is. A. Big. Deal.
Pass the puffy Cheetos.
Then, let's add in a Reese's Peanut Butter cup because that's another junk food item that needs explanation to how you eat it, right?
Or, let's step back and realize that there is a lot of coordination of life occurring in today's third part and the next two days.
More Cheetos, please.
The voice inside my head said, put them down, so I didn't finish the crunchy Cheetos. I drank some water, chewed some gum and headed home.
As written above, heading home involved two stops. Both of which were on my way and rewarding in that I saw my husband before his evening arrival home and I caught up with a friend (driver and hostess).
(I've a lot of thank you cards to write in the next few days and some gifts to buy.)
(When your thank-you list grows long, you know you have been asking for more than usual from others.)
(My thank-you list is long right now. It's really long.)
But before I even put the car in park while at the first pick-up stop, I'm finishing up a work call. It's a static-y mess of a call where I think I hear my work colleague and I say things such as 'glad we are on the same page.' That makes me want to throw up that I actually use those words seriously.
At the start of the call that my colleague and I tried to have a couple of times during the Cheetos-eating part of the day, she said she hoped I could hear her through the Bluetooth. I said yes because yeah, I could at that moment. And, then, as the call went in and out of range and static, I gave. There were no puffy Cheetos in the car so I tried my best to listen. Even upon parking, I tried to hang on and did that pressing a finger into my other ear to really hear.
I think I agreed with my colleague on what we need to agree and then we hung up. I went about the rest of my third part and started the pick-up efforts.
Agreeing over concepts at work seems so important at times. It seems as if it is life-saving surgery. At times, I let the tasks of work overtake the necessary tasks of life. I get into a mode of my job is critical to life, rather than my life is critical to me. And, that is plain ridiculous.
I care about my job. I do. I know I am making a difference.
It's just at times, it tries to become larger than my life. It interferes with the third and fourth part. It becomes too much. And, I remember that I need to be making a difference not because I'm paid to do so but because I want to do so. I need to turn off work once I leave. I need to honor my family. I need to be present in this life that if I blink my children are off and on to the next chapter of their lives.
And, I know that my role as wife, mom, sister, friend, aunt, daughter and yes, employee can be fulfilled by being true to myself and God. He tells us in Colossians 3:23 to work at whatever we do with all our heart as working for the Lord, not for men.
Maybe that's why I get tired, maybe that's why I want people to hear my voice at work. Maybe that's why I'm on a Bluetooth call with a co-worker figuring out how and why we agree on something. Maybe that's why puffy Cheetos become the plug for my mouth.
I sometimes (ugh, do I write oftentimes) work for men. The literal sense of working for men, yeah, I do, but when Paul writes this letter to the people of Colosse he's writing to refute heresy existing in the young church there. He's writing to share that we can find completeness in Christ. We don't need the praise of man.
We don't need puffy Cheetos, either.
So, when, the girls and I arrive home and we create agreements around the remaining third part activities, I have to make sure I'm not just running a list of tasks to make work just be work. The list is long. Pick a leo for tomorrow. Start a load of laundry. Get dinner on the table. Pack suitcases for a couple of day's at Camp Grandmother and Granddad. Talk to my son about his apartment. Go through the mail. Run bath water and wash two heads of hair. Put together tomorrow's lunch and snack for gymnastics.
Reminder -- work with all my heart as if I'm working for the Lord.
Everyone pitches in and I can feel the fourth part coming -- it's RHONY season finale and I've the RHOC on DVR. Big, big fourth part. And, I've a new bottle of rose chilling in the refrigerator picked up from Trader Joe's yesterday.
I'm working. I'm working for my family because as a mom and wife that's my way of working for the Lord. I'm honoring that time. I'm reading Charlotte's Web with the girls.
I'm putting everyone to bed. I'm turning on the TV and I'm getting a fourth part.
Without puffy Cheetos, without Bluetooth.
Nice.
Then, I got into my car and started to drive home and remembered this third part was fuller and busier than I prefer. Ideal third part is going straight home and not having to cook dinner. It's not having to pack a lunch or lay out clothes or organize for the following day. Today's third part was not an ideal third part. It was more like what my third parts tend to be most nights during the school year. Not during the summer. It's still summer, right?
Oh, my summer is kinda over. Not the reminder I wanted August 9.
I had one daughter at the gym where my husband coaches. First stop, park and get her. Second stop, drive and get the other daughter at a friend's house who served as driver and hostess this afternoon after horse riding camp.
OK, if today's third part requirement was just a simple two-different place pick up, I'd have been fine. Yeah, that wasn't all I had to do in the third part.
Let me back up.
I ate almost half a bag of puffy Cheetos this afternoon at work. And, toward the end of work, I started in on a bag of crunchy Cheetos. A few of us were trying to show how we ate puffy Cheetos which I interpreted as 'let's keep eating them until the other people in the room really notice and take in how you eat puffy Cheetos.' No one cared that much, but I couldn't stop with just one -- that's Lay's, but it still applied in my case.
I was eating Cheetos not because it was a part of my latest diet plan, but because they were at the table and I felt the pressure of the upcoming days at work. Big days a coming and loads of accountability I'm feeling.
I trust my partners at work, yes. I know they are capable of delivering to expectations, yes. But. This. Is. A. Big. Deal.
Pass the puffy Cheetos.
Then, let's add in a Reese's Peanut Butter cup because that's another junk food item that needs explanation to how you eat it, right?
Or, let's step back and realize that there is a lot of coordination of life occurring in today's third part and the next two days.
More Cheetos, please.
The voice inside my head said, put them down, so I didn't finish the crunchy Cheetos. I drank some water, chewed some gum and headed home.
As written above, heading home involved two stops. Both of which were on my way and rewarding in that I saw my husband before his evening arrival home and I caught up with a friend (driver and hostess).
(I've a lot of thank you cards to write in the next few days and some gifts to buy.)
(When your thank-you list grows long, you know you have been asking for more than usual from others.)
(My thank-you list is long right now. It's really long.)
But before I even put the car in park while at the first pick-up stop, I'm finishing up a work call. It's a static-y mess of a call where I think I hear my work colleague and I say things such as 'glad we are on the same page.' That makes me want to throw up that I actually use those words seriously.
At the start of the call that my colleague and I tried to have a couple of times during the Cheetos-eating part of the day, she said she hoped I could hear her through the Bluetooth. I said yes because yeah, I could at that moment. And, then, as the call went in and out of range and static, I gave. There were no puffy Cheetos in the car so I tried my best to listen. Even upon parking, I tried to hang on and did that pressing a finger into my other ear to really hear.
I think I agreed with my colleague on what we need to agree and then we hung up. I went about the rest of my third part and started the pick-up efforts.
Agreeing over concepts at work seems so important at times. It seems as if it is life-saving surgery. At times, I let the tasks of work overtake the necessary tasks of life. I get into a mode of my job is critical to life, rather than my life is critical to me. And, that is plain ridiculous.
I care about my job. I do. I know I am making a difference.
It's just at times, it tries to become larger than my life. It interferes with the third and fourth part. It becomes too much. And, I remember that I need to be making a difference not because I'm paid to do so but because I want to do so. I need to turn off work once I leave. I need to honor my family. I need to be present in this life that if I blink my children are off and on to the next chapter of their lives.
And, I know that my role as wife, mom, sister, friend, aunt, daughter and yes, employee can be fulfilled by being true to myself and God. He tells us in Colossians 3:23 to work at whatever we do with all our heart as working for the Lord, not for men.
Maybe that's why I get tired, maybe that's why I want people to hear my voice at work. Maybe that's why I'm on a Bluetooth call with a co-worker figuring out how and why we agree on something. Maybe that's why puffy Cheetos become the plug for my mouth.
I sometimes (ugh, do I write oftentimes) work for men. The literal sense of working for men, yeah, I do, but when Paul writes this letter to the people of Colosse he's writing to refute heresy existing in the young church there. He's writing to share that we can find completeness in Christ. We don't need the praise of man.
We don't need puffy Cheetos, either.
So, when, the girls and I arrive home and we create agreements around the remaining third part activities, I have to make sure I'm not just running a list of tasks to make work just be work. The list is long. Pick a leo for tomorrow. Start a load of laundry. Get dinner on the table. Pack suitcases for a couple of day's at Camp Grandmother and Granddad. Talk to my son about his apartment. Go through the mail. Run bath water and wash two heads of hair. Put together tomorrow's lunch and snack for gymnastics.
Reminder -- work with all my heart as if I'm working for the Lord.
Everyone pitches in and I can feel the fourth part coming -- it's RHONY season finale and I've the RHOC on DVR. Big, big fourth part. And, I've a new bottle of rose chilling in the refrigerator picked up from Trader Joe's yesterday.
I'm working. I'm working for my family because as a mom and wife that's my way of working for the Lord. I'm honoring that time. I'm reading Charlotte's Web with the girls.
I'm putting everyone to bed. I'm turning on the TV and I'm getting a fourth part.
Without puffy Cheetos, without Bluetooth.
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Eyebrow Pencils and Cornbread
All of us recognize when summer is coming to an end. I don't mean the actual calendar date of when we are to claim fall over summer. I mean when the start of school occurs.
Some people know it comes by the turning of the calendar pages to August. Others know by the tax-free weekend sales and school supply displays at grocery stores. Many recognize the close of summer by the influx of school activity calendars -- that have dates beginning before school starts?
In my house, there are three activities indicating summer is coming to a close. The first -- a big work activity that happens mid-August every year. The second -- coaches school, freshman football camp and two-a-days. The third -- Chris goes back to college.
Ugh.
Ugh.
And, ugh.
This summer, we've had the bucket list, we've had family game nights and we've been to the beach twice. We've watched plenty of Netflix (Caroline has a goal to watch all that are in the kids' queue. Today, was Pee Wee's Big Adventure) and eaten more popsicles than I can count.
Yet, it's coming to an end.
Ugh.
Ugh.
And, ugh.
It's hot. Really hot. Hot as how my grandmother would describe the placement of Devine, TX, on this Earth -- either straight over hell or directly below the hole in the ozone layer hot. It's so hot, you don't want to be outside except when you are neck deep in a swimming pool. Or at the beach. (Oh, how I wish we could squeeze in one more trip.)
And, because it is so fire hot, we limit late afternoon activities. But, when we do have the need to get out of the house, we run those errands and get ourselves to the places where we need getting faster than well, someone trying to get out of the fire. It's hot. So hot.
This afternoon, after a day full of planning and organizing and re-planning and re-organizing my big work thing, I volunteered to pick up Camille from gymnastics. I knew I still had to do some work once I arrived home, but I needed to do a quick run to Sephora. It's in the mall. It requires parking in a parking lot that is out in the heat.
I had to go today because I had used every last drop of my foundation -- it weeps off my skin in this heat so I was able to stretch it because I don't use too much in these summer months -- and had a stub of an eyebrow pencil left. I couldn't even sharpen my pencil anymore because it was too short.
Apparently, Sephora was the place to be on a Wednesday afternoon.Air conditioning, maybe? All I needed was the foundation and eyebrow pencil. Everyone else in that store wanted to talk returns and product allergies and girlfriend gifts. My little gymnast and I navigated the tight product-laden aisles and waited in line. While it went faster than expected, it was still drawn out. Like my eyebrows will be tomorrow.
I'm not so hip that I blend two or three colors, use the liquid setting gel or even get a good brush in most days, but I do have a pencil. Maybe because I have those bald spots in my brows. Or those gray hairs.
These last few weeks have had atypical fourth parts. I've watched plenty of Party of Five on Netflix (oh, the fashions!) and played many card games with the family, but I've also been searching Pinterest for pink hair ideas. You see, while my brows are balding as I age, I have a dear, dear friend in the midst of chemo for her breast cancer and her hair will fall out and no stinking eyebrow pencil can help. The fourth parts of doing what I want to do have been that but it's also been praying for my friend and trying to figure out gifts and casseroles to take to my friend.
It all seems just not right. This friend also works with me and is very involved in the big work thing I mentioned above. I have told her countless times I don't need anything from her for work, I just need her. But, it's so nice to have her at work because she's a part of my band.
It doesn't seem right to be shopping at Sephora, watching crappy TV and thinking about backpack ordering and school supply shopping when my friend is . . . her life is forever changed.
It doesn't seem right to be thinking about my stinking selfish fourth parts when I need to be thinking of meals and care calendars and inspirational sayings to share with her.
It doesn't seem right that I'm frustrated I have to make homemade cornbread to go with the beans G made for dinner tonight rather than pop open a box of Jiffy cornbread mix when I should be frustrated my friend has to think about all the foods she can and cannot eat.
It doesn't seem right for me to be picking out just the right color of eyebrow pencil when she's looking at her new hairstyle in the mirror and wondering how it will grow back after her treatments are done.
It doesn't seem right that I'm continuing to claim the scripture that God works for good and that he has the peace that passes all understanding and we can cast our anxieties on Him.
Wait.
That is right. I should do that.
I should be deep, deep in God's word as I pray for my friend. I should be even deeper as I speak to her about all that I know my mighty God can do. I should go way deep when we cry and pray together.
Yes, our summers are coming to a close and we all have different indicators. My friend is in a whole other season right now. It's not simply defined by a date on a calendar or the placement of the moon or sun in the sky. It's a season no one wants to be in, and yet she and her family are just starting to plan for it, shop for it and live in it.
Ecclesiastes 3 runs through the time for everything and a 'season for every activity under heaven.' You can hear Simon and Garfunkel singing now . . .'to everything turn, turn, turn, there is a season turn, turn, turn.' Right?
When you spend time in Ecclesiastes after you've read Psalms and Proverbs, you see it's the author (King Solomon?) trying to explain life. He's taking stock and looking around to then share that God controls and orders all things. In those moments of study, you want to get a little peeved because if you are in a season that is far from enjoyable or is extremely difficult to endure, you don't want to read that we just punt to God and all is for His purpose.
But it is. And when you sit and marinate in that and you really go deep, that's all we can think. We can't figure it out. We can't understand. We can't know why something bad happens to someone so good. My friend is really good. She's so good, she's great. We don't call her Wonder Woman for nothing.
We can recognize that God does provide, He does work for good and He makes everything beautiful in his time. He sets up this desire for eternal life in our hearts and soul wanting us to have him fill that -- where we ask Him for eternal life because he sent his son to die on the cross for us to save us.
He doesn't need eyebrow pencils. He doesn't need a good cornbread recipe.
He just needs our hearts.
#tajillary
Some people know it comes by the turning of the calendar pages to August. Others know by the tax-free weekend sales and school supply displays at grocery stores. Many recognize the close of summer by the influx of school activity calendars -- that have dates beginning before school starts?
In my house, there are three activities indicating summer is coming to a close. The first -- a big work activity that happens mid-August every year. The second -- coaches school, freshman football camp and two-a-days. The third -- Chris goes back to college.
Ugh.
Ugh.
And, ugh.
This summer, we've had the bucket list, we've had family game nights and we've been to the beach twice. We've watched plenty of Netflix (Caroline has a goal to watch all that are in the kids' queue. Today, was Pee Wee's Big Adventure) and eaten more popsicles than I can count.
Yet, it's coming to an end.
Ugh.
Ugh.
And, ugh.
It's hot. Really hot. Hot as how my grandmother would describe the placement of Devine, TX, on this Earth -- either straight over hell or directly below the hole in the ozone layer hot. It's so hot, you don't want to be outside except when you are neck deep in a swimming pool. Or at the beach. (Oh, how I wish we could squeeze in one more trip.)
And, because it is so fire hot, we limit late afternoon activities. But, when we do have the need to get out of the house, we run those errands and get ourselves to the places where we need getting faster than well, someone trying to get out of the fire. It's hot. So hot.
This afternoon, after a day full of planning and organizing and re-planning and re-organizing my big work thing, I volunteered to pick up Camille from gymnastics. I knew I still had to do some work once I arrived home, but I needed to do a quick run to Sephora. It's in the mall. It requires parking in a parking lot that is out in the heat.
I had to go today because I had used every last drop of my foundation -- it weeps off my skin in this heat so I was able to stretch it because I don't use too much in these summer months -- and had a stub of an eyebrow pencil left. I couldn't even sharpen my pencil anymore because it was too short.
Apparently, Sephora was the place to be on a Wednesday afternoon.Air conditioning, maybe? All I needed was the foundation and eyebrow pencil. Everyone else in that store wanted to talk returns and product allergies and girlfriend gifts. My little gymnast and I navigated the tight product-laden aisles and waited in line. While it went faster than expected, it was still drawn out. Like my eyebrows will be tomorrow.
I'm not so hip that I blend two or three colors, use the liquid setting gel or even get a good brush in most days, but I do have a pencil. Maybe because I have those bald spots in my brows. Or those gray hairs.
These last few weeks have had atypical fourth parts. I've watched plenty of Party of Five on Netflix (oh, the fashions!) and played many card games with the family, but I've also been searching Pinterest for pink hair ideas. You see, while my brows are balding as I age, I have a dear, dear friend in the midst of chemo for her breast cancer and her hair will fall out and no stinking eyebrow pencil can help. The fourth parts of doing what I want to do have been that but it's also been praying for my friend and trying to figure out gifts and casseroles to take to my friend.
It all seems just not right. This friend also works with me and is very involved in the big work thing I mentioned above. I have told her countless times I don't need anything from her for work, I just need her. But, it's so nice to have her at work because she's a part of my band.
It doesn't seem right to be shopping at Sephora, watching crappy TV and thinking about backpack ordering and school supply shopping when my friend is . . . her life is forever changed.
It doesn't seem right to be thinking about my stinking selfish fourth parts when I need to be thinking of meals and care calendars and inspirational sayings to share with her.
It doesn't seem right that I'm frustrated I have to make homemade cornbread to go with the beans G made for dinner tonight rather than pop open a box of Jiffy cornbread mix when I should be frustrated my friend has to think about all the foods she can and cannot eat.
It doesn't seem right for me to be picking out just the right color of eyebrow pencil when she's looking at her new hairstyle in the mirror and wondering how it will grow back after her treatments are done.
It doesn't seem right that I'm continuing to claim the scripture that God works for good and that he has the peace that passes all understanding and we can cast our anxieties on Him.
Wait.
That is right. I should do that.
I should be deep, deep in God's word as I pray for my friend. I should be even deeper as I speak to her about all that I know my mighty God can do. I should go way deep when we cry and pray together.
Yes, our summers are coming to a close and we all have different indicators. My friend is in a whole other season right now. It's not simply defined by a date on a calendar or the placement of the moon or sun in the sky. It's a season no one wants to be in, and yet she and her family are just starting to plan for it, shop for it and live in it.
Ecclesiastes 3 runs through the time for everything and a 'season for every activity under heaven.' You can hear Simon and Garfunkel singing now . . .'to everything turn, turn, turn, there is a season turn, turn, turn.' Right?
When you spend time in Ecclesiastes after you've read Psalms and Proverbs, you see it's the author (King Solomon?) trying to explain life. He's taking stock and looking around to then share that God controls and orders all things. In those moments of study, you want to get a little peeved because if you are in a season that is far from enjoyable or is extremely difficult to endure, you don't want to read that we just punt to God and all is for His purpose.
But it is. And when you sit and marinate in that and you really go deep, that's all we can think. We can't figure it out. We can't understand. We can't know why something bad happens to someone so good. My friend is really good. She's so good, she's great. We don't call her Wonder Woman for nothing.
We can recognize that God does provide, He does work for good and He makes everything beautiful in his time. He sets up this desire for eternal life in our hearts and soul wanting us to have him fill that -- where we ask Him for eternal life because he sent his son to die on the cross for us to save us.
He doesn't need eyebrow pencils. He doesn't need a good cornbread recipe.
He just needs our hearts.
#tajillary
Friday, July 7, 2017
Deodorant and Term Papers
Three times now in the last week, I've experienced deodorant marks on my work clothes. And, not just the white marks. I'm talking greasy, residue marks that cannot be rubbed or washed out of a shirt.
The best part of deodorant marks on your work clothes is (1) if you notice it before you catch a morning flight and wash it out because you don't want to have to re-think an outfit in the dawn's early light and then, (2) you notice when you get to your destination, after you've walked through airports, sat on a flight and interacted with co-workers in a different city, that the stains are still there and look more like sweat stains than deodorant marks.
(The sweat could happen because I happen to live on the hottest place on earth and it is mid-July.)
(But, go with me on the embarrassment and that I had to facilitate a session in front of a group of people without flailing my arms around, rather keeping them pinned to my side so no one would notice the not-sweat, but deodorant stains.)
So, along with the deodorant marks landing on my work clothes, I've spent three evenings scrubbing out the damned spots. (Literature reference. This all fits in to what's to come in this writing.)
And, then, the scrubbing doesn't work. OK, it did on one of the shirts. The dress required another night of scrubbing. The other blouse is dry-clean only so now I have the deodorant stains mixed in with the water stains . . . Calgon. Or Tide stick. Or something take these stains away.
Welcome to my first, second and third part. These are the times I want and want for a fourth part.
You might be thinking. Wash out the spots and take them to the dry cleaner if that doesn't work and friend, you've got a fourth part.
Nah.
I've a son in summer school. He took six hours the first session. Both online courses. Both basic requirements for his B.A. Welcome American Literature and Texas History to the Adams' house.
I mouthed off one evening early in the summer session that I would help my son because these were courses that really didn't contribute to his degree, and, hey, I have a Journalism degree and took many, many hours of English. The icing is his granddad was a History teacher.
Cake. With icing.
More like a natural disaster cake like my grandmother used to make. (Oh, I miss her. She named her desserts natural disasters because there was either a crack in the cake -- earthquake -- or something caved in -- sinkhole.)
When you squeeze in a semester's worth of work into four weeks, you get a lot of readings, a lot of writings and a lot of quizzes. And, a lot of late nights because your son works retail and typically closes, which means he gets home around 10:30 p.m.
All with a side of term paper. Only 1200 words. Again, cake. I can write 1200 words in a minute. I was a reporter who could knock out 10 to 15 inches of copy in a heartbeat. I was paid to write those words. This go-round, I paid to write these words. $500. We needed two As.
What did I learn this semester? I learned that there were Japanese internment camps in Kenedy and Crystal City. I learned the history of barbed wire. I learned about the journeys Texans took before the fall of the Alamo. I also learned that it is easy these days to cite sources.
Enter the term paper.
As many of you will fondly recall, in any English college course, there comes a requirement of demonstrating you are making progress on your term paper. The outline, the draft, the thesis statement and a sprinkling of potential sources. Gone are the days of going to the library and handwriting down the sources. Gone are the days of the MLA as we knew it.
Now, MLA is like on version 8 or something and you have web addresses to take into account. You also have to distinguish between print or web.
But guess what? Whenever you find the source you need, after hours of searching the only two allowable databases, you click this little button to the right of the source and up pops the MLA-approved citation. Come on. Easy. And, since the internet is always right, you don't double-check against any MLA information your history professor provides.
We (with a heavy emphasis on me) worked on the term paper preparation paper. We got an 86. I was astounded and disappointed. Apparently, the central question was two questions even though the second question began with 'and' and if that second sentence had been added to the first, it would have been a run-on.
(hmmm. . .some things never change.)
Put that 86 on the shelf. Or 86 it. Bring on the 1200 words comparing Native American creation stories to the original, Genesis 1.
(By the way, the Bible is a primary source and you don't cite it as 'God, The Bible.')
Chris began and I wrapped it up. We spent four evenings and a weekend pulling this bad boy together. We cited, we attributed, we quoted, we presented a fine analysis in 1300 words, give or take.
I got a 92. Oh, I mean, Chris earned a 92.
An A. I was excited and thrilled. Chris told me his grades don't count, it just goes to credits and is indicated as a 'pass.'
My Grandmother would have named this natural disaster cake as 'the mom who hasn't enjoyed a fourth part in a week' volcano.
He passed. We're happy. We had As in those classes and we learned something. We discussed Thoreau's Resistance to Government (Civil Disobedience) and ways we step out and show our disagreement with our government (I don't buy garage sale permits). We talked about the internment camps and what that was and how it could happen today.
That's when I thought of the importance of these unnecessary, required courses. They spark conversation. Maybe not when you are in the middle of college and just wanting to get through these basics, but maybe when you are a parent having those late nights with your college student.
Today, Chris turned 20. The last few weeks have been time spent between the two of us working on homework, talking about the readings and yeah, griping about the grades. In only a few years, I won't have that time. He won't be home. He'll be away. He'll be having conversations about current affairs with other people.
Tonight, we'll have cake. It's not a natural disaster, but it is his favorite -- the yellow cake from a box with the chocolate icing from the tub. We'll go out to eat as a family. G will complain that the meal costs too much and Chris will order the most expensive item on the menu. We'll talk about the day Chris was born and birthday parties of the past. And, I may be a bit sentimental because I'll be wondering how I can remember the moment. I'll try to remember so I can attribute and cite the statements and conversation.
That's a perfect fourth part.
The best part of deodorant marks on your work clothes is (1) if you notice it before you catch a morning flight and wash it out because you don't want to have to re-think an outfit in the dawn's early light and then, (2) you notice when you get to your destination, after you've walked through airports, sat on a flight and interacted with co-workers in a different city, that the stains are still there and look more like sweat stains than deodorant marks.
(The sweat could happen because I happen to live on the hottest place on earth and it is mid-July.)
(But, go with me on the embarrassment and that I had to facilitate a session in front of a group of people without flailing my arms around, rather keeping them pinned to my side so no one would notice the not-sweat, but deodorant stains.)
So, along with the deodorant marks landing on my work clothes, I've spent three evenings scrubbing out the damned spots. (Literature reference. This all fits in to what's to come in this writing.)
And, then, the scrubbing doesn't work. OK, it did on one of the shirts. The dress required another night of scrubbing. The other blouse is dry-clean only so now I have the deodorant stains mixed in with the water stains . . . Calgon. Or Tide stick. Or something take these stains away.
Welcome to my first, second and third part. These are the times I want and want for a fourth part.
You might be thinking. Wash out the spots and take them to the dry cleaner if that doesn't work and friend, you've got a fourth part.
Nah.
I've a son in summer school. He took six hours the first session. Both online courses. Both basic requirements for his B.A. Welcome American Literature and Texas History to the Adams' house.
I mouthed off one evening early in the summer session that I would help my son because these were courses that really didn't contribute to his degree, and, hey, I have a Journalism degree and took many, many hours of English. The icing is his granddad was a History teacher.
Cake. With icing.
More like a natural disaster cake like my grandmother used to make. (Oh, I miss her. She named her desserts natural disasters because there was either a crack in the cake -- earthquake -- or something caved in -- sinkhole.)
When you squeeze in a semester's worth of work into four weeks, you get a lot of readings, a lot of writings and a lot of quizzes. And, a lot of late nights because your son works retail and typically closes, which means he gets home around 10:30 p.m.
All with a side of term paper. Only 1200 words. Again, cake. I can write 1200 words in a minute. I was a reporter who could knock out 10 to 15 inches of copy in a heartbeat. I was paid to write those words. This go-round, I paid to write these words. $500. We needed two As.
What did I learn this semester? I learned that there were Japanese internment camps in Kenedy and Crystal City. I learned the history of barbed wire. I learned about the journeys Texans took before the fall of the Alamo. I also learned that it is easy these days to cite sources.
Enter the term paper.
As many of you will fondly recall, in any English college course, there comes a requirement of demonstrating you are making progress on your term paper. The outline, the draft, the thesis statement and a sprinkling of potential sources. Gone are the days of going to the library and handwriting down the sources. Gone are the days of the MLA as we knew it.
Now, MLA is like on version 8 or something and you have web addresses to take into account. You also have to distinguish between print or web.
But guess what? Whenever you find the source you need, after hours of searching the only two allowable databases, you click this little button to the right of the source and up pops the MLA-approved citation. Come on. Easy. And, since the internet is always right, you don't double-check against any MLA information your history professor provides.
We (with a heavy emphasis on me) worked on the term paper preparation paper. We got an 86. I was astounded and disappointed. Apparently, the central question was two questions even though the second question began with 'and' and if that second sentence had been added to the first, it would have been a run-on.
(hmmm. . .some things never change.)
Put that 86 on the shelf. Or 86 it. Bring on the 1200 words comparing Native American creation stories to the original, Genesis 1.
(By the way, the Bible is a primary source and you don't cite it as 'God, The Bible.')
Chris began and I wrapped it up. We spent four evenings and a weekend pulling this bad boy together. We cited, we attributed, we quoted, we presented a fine analysis in 1300 words, give or take.
I got a 92. Oh, I mean, Chris earned a 92.
An A. I was excited and thrilled. Chris told me his grades don't count, it just goes to credits and is indicated as a 'pass.'
My Grandmother would have named this natural disaster cake as 'the mom who hasn't enjoyed a fourth part in a week' volcano.
He passed. We're happy. We had As in those classes and we learned something. We discussed Thoreau's Resistance to Government (Civil Disobedience) and ways we step out and show our disagreement with our government (I don't buy garage sale permits). We talked about the internment camps and what that was and how it could happen today.
That's when I thought of the importance of these unnecessary, required courses. They spark conversation. Maybe not when you are in the middle of college and just wanting to get through these basics, but maybe when you are a parent having those late nights with your college student.
Today, Chris turned 20. The last few weeks have been time spent between the two of us working on homework, talking about the readings and yeah, griping about the grades. In only a few years, I won't have that time. He won't be home. He'll be away. He'll be having conversations about current affairs with other people.
Tonight, we'll have cake. It's not a natural disaster, but it is his favorite -- the yellow cake from a box with the chocolate icing from the tub. We'll go out to eat as a family. G will complain that the meal costs too much and Chris will order the most expensive item on the menu. We'll talk about the day Chris was born and birthday parties of the past. And, I may be a bit sentimental because I'll be wondering how I can remember the moment. I'll try to remember so I can attribute and cite the statements and conversation.
That's a perfect fourth part.
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