Never a rain drop.
Only one over-cast morning. (And it cleared up nicely.) Perfectly warm temperatures. Wonderful company. (The entire Hossink clan!) Beautiful accommodations. Fun adventures. Charming wildlife. And I never had to cook a thing! What could be better? *smile* We had a fabulous time in Mexico last week. Specifically in Riviera Maya. And here, for your
I prayed.
I read my Bible. I listened. I watched. I spent time reflecting. I asked for help. For insight. For something. But I got nothin'. That's how it went the last time I was trying to make a video devotion for you. I got nothin'. I turned off my computer, and as I sat in my living room - tempted to feel defeated - I recognized the heavenly irony of the whole situation. And I couldn't help but smile. *I didn't have the sense that God was speaking to my heart about something to share with you - and I really wanted to have words with which to encourage you. But I had complete confidence that God is able to speak to your heart. And mine.*I couldn't see you or know what you are facing in this moment, so as to know how to cheer you. But I had certainty that God sees you and knows what you need. Just as He sees me.*I had no words to express the love and perfect plans God has for you. Yet my heart delighted in knowing He does. For both of us.*Stories about God's trustworthiness, which might build you up, were escaping me. But I knew for a fact that He remains faithful and you can trust Him. As I can. So I sat there saying to myself, I got nothin', but the Holy Spirit was telling me I have a God who knows my heart, who sees me in every moment, who loves me beyond anything I can imagine, and who is perfectly capable of meeting my every need. And that's when I smiled at the irony of it all. Because I realized in the midst of my feeling like I had nothing, the Truth was - I had everything.
*****Ahhhhhhh.****
My family and I are taking a vacation this week. Which means my blog is, too. LORD willing, I'll be back to posting next Monday. Have a great week!
When you like something, say so!
We've all heard the adage, The squeaky wheel gets the oil, right? Meaning, if you don't like something and you complain about it, that thing will get changed. Because - who likes to listen to a squeaky wheel? We give it oil so it shuts up! OK. That wise old saying makes perfect sense to me. When something isn't right, speak up about it! (Or "squeak" up about it, as the case may be.) But this week at Edgewood, I saw another kind of wisdom in action. A kind of wisdom which I think we really ought to put into practice more often than we are in the habit of doing. That is, I observed someone not complaining about something she didn't like. Rather, she was complimentary about something she did like. I put together a little activity I thought our community members would enjoy ***Read that: I copied a great idea which I found by searching 'Senior Activities' on Google.*** and when it was over, B said to me, "That was great. We should do it again sometime!" She went on to tell me why she liked the activity so much and I assured her - we will do it again. And you can be certain, when we do it again there will be a smile on my face as I make the plans. I will do everything I can to be sure B is able to participate with us, and I'll try to recruit even more people to play along. Because I know B enjoyed the game and I want to bring her joy again. The thing is, it seems today we are so quick to point out the things which bother us but not the things we like. I can't tell you how many times I hold my breath - waiting for a complaint - when someone approaches me after a program. (And I don't mean just at Edgewood. Those folks tend to be quite appreciative.) I have a feeling you know what I mean. And I must admit, sometimes I am the one complaining. Maybe you are, too. What a breath of fresh air it is when someone likes what you've done - and they tell you about it! B encouraged me with her words, and I want to spread her wisdom. Yeah, yeah, yeah. When things aren't right we need to squeak up. But let us not stop there. OK? When you like something, say so!
Disclaimer: The ideas and opinions expressed in this post are my own, and may not necessarily reflect those of Vista Springs Living Centers.
That question hasn't been so painful the past couple of weeks.
Because three nights a week, I haven't been the one who has to answer it! My wonderful husband instituted a plan when school let out for the summer that each of the kids would be responsible for making dinner one night each week. I'll help them pick out what they're making, and I get the groceries during my weekly shopping trip. I even am home to answer questions and provide necessary guidance as dinner is being prepared. BUT, I am not on my feet doing the work. (In fact, I *might* even be creating a blog post while dinner is being prepared.) And, I am loving it! The kids are gaining valuable experience in the kitchen, they are proud of what they're doing, and I am getting a break at the end of long days a work. This.Is.Good. OK. Honest moment here: My first reaction to Brian's proposal was two-fold. First, I thought, It'll never work. The kids will object and I'll spend all my time nagging and cajoling. Not looking forward to it! And second, the control-freak in me started rearing her ugly head. I thought, But then, I won't have charge over dinner. I won't be in control. And that just doesn't feel right. Thankfully, God got me past both of those objections and now we are all reaping the benefits. I am sharing this story with you, not to make you jealous, but to encourage other control-freak-prone moms like me: Let it go! Give your kids a chance to do more of the work, to experience growing up, and to find joy in discovering what they can do. (Just don't go far, 'cuz they will need your help!) Gotta go now. Josh says dinner is ready. *wink*
That was one of the profound statements I heard at church Sunday.
GOD doesn't need an education.The context of the statement is this: We were entering into worship through song, and the worship leader was reading the words to us which we were about to sing. They were words describing God's power and faithfulness. We were reminded God doesn't need to be educated about how good He is, rather we need to be remembering that Truth ourselves. Oh, how true it is! God is fully aware of Who He Is. He knows it all. Even every little thing about our world and our little lives. There is nothing we can say which will surprise God, or catch Him off-guard. Nothing which will improve His knowledge or self-confidence. Indeed, our worship, our prayers, the time we spend with God in His Word is not about us teaching Him about Himself. It's about God moving in and shaping us. So, I look at my current memory verse and I say, "Yes."
My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with Me." And my heart responds, "LORD, I am coming."Psalm 27:8Yes. Yes! I come, not because God has anything to learn from me, but because I need to know Him more.
So, I know I've reported here a time or two about Josh and his fishing exploits. But this time I have to include a picture. Because I am so stinkin' proud of my son.
What do you think about this one???
Oh, the little purple paper on the wall above my shoulder? I hope it isn't too distracting. It's a note which says, "I love you." Joshua put it there years ago, and I simply canNOT take it down. *smile*
Your life matters.
I had the opportunity yesterday to hear quite a lot about a man I knew a little bit. J moved into Edgewood maybe a year ago with his wife, E. And sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas he moved into a memory care facility. So, I didn't have a lot of time with him. But during the time J was at Edgewood, I experienced a delightful - albeit confused - man. He had fairly advanced Alzheimer's, so real conversations with him pretty much didn't exist. Mostly, I just knew a pleasant disposition and frequent smiles. Eventually, caring for J became too much for E to handle. She visited him regularly at his new home, and often came back with sad reports that he didn't remember her anymore. J's disease was overtaking him and before long, E told me he'd gone into a coma. It was just a matter of time until he'd be going Home. And so it was, about a month ago, E told me her husband of almost 68 years had been promoted. To heaven. Yesterday I sat in the back of a small chapel at J's memorial service, listening to a lot of people I've never met - or only met a couple times - talking about a man I sure wish I'd known more. His children and grandchildren spoke of a man who loved his Lord, and cherished his family. I heard stories of J doing magic tricks with his son, teaching his grandchildren to draw, and even making a "coloring book" for his great-grandchildren. People talked about the many ways J served in churches, and the lives he impacted in each place. It was particularly touching to hear one of his grandsons talk about his desire to live out J's legacy of sharing the good news of Jesus. As I took it all in, I became very inspired by this man who I only knew a little bit. He was a simple man - spent most of his career as a janitor in the local schools. By the world's standards, he didn't leave much of a mark. Clean schools years ago, but what difference does that make today? Yet he was faithful - to his God and to his family. And he touched lives. That fact became very clear with each person who spoke. And with each testimony I heard about J's life, I became more and more convinced of the importance of building our legacies. Regardless of what the world says about our successes, our accomplishments, or our contributions, we can make a difference by being faithful. Your life matters.
Disclaimer: The ideas and opinions expressed in this post are my own, and may not necessarily reflect those of Vista Springs Living Centers.
Saw this on Facebook last week, and I'm still laughing about it.
It's hard to explain puns to kleptomaniacs, because they always take things literally.Hope it keeps you smiling today!
"Sooooo, how are you doing?"
That seems to be the question most frequently asked of me lately. Everyone wants to know how I'm doing in regard to Elizabeth graduating from high school and preparing to go off to college. (In just two months and three days. *ahem*) The truth is, I'm doing fine. Yes, it's strange to think about her not being here all the time. Yes, I'm going to miss her terribly! Yes, I realize I *might* not have a full grasp on the reality of that which is about to take place in our lives. But, the truth is, I'm doing fine. Er, I just said that.Anyhoo! My daughter is growing up. She's becoming an adult. She's spreading her wings further, moving on with life, trying new things, and discovering the path God has for her to walk. But she is still going to be my daughter. I'm still going to be her mom. I recall hearing people say when my children were young, "Enjoy them now. They grow up so fast!" And I had to wonder, Does that mean I can't enjoy them when they're grown up? Because I have absolutely NO intention of discontinuing my enjoyment of my daughter now that she's an adult, and going off to college. Our relationship is changing, not ending. And I'm good with this development. This is how it's supposed to be. My little girl has been in my home for 18 years. She's grown into a beautiful woman of God, and I am fully confident that HE is going to do great things in and through her "out there" in the great big world. HIS world. And, besides, now I'll have a great excuse to travel to Chicago for a little girl-time and retail therapy with my girl. *wink*
We're together to be a bother.
In my daily activities at Edgewood, I have abundant opportunities to help people with lots of different things. To name a few: I have unlocked doors, fastened necklaces, searched for answers on the internet, retrieved power sources for oxygen tanks, purchased postage stamps, led a blind man through the store, picked up dropped pillows, gotten items out of storage units in the basement, given fashion "advice", adjusted fans, opened and closed windows, and fixed broken televisions. (That is, I found the TV remote and pushed Power.) Most of the time, these actions of mine are met with smiles and words of thanks. People are grateful for whatever I have done for them, and I am truly happy to do it. But recently a new woman moved in and when she asked me for help, her words were a little different. It was probably the third or fourth time she needed something that day, and when she approached me she began with, "I'm sorry to be a bother..." I looked at her and said, "Oh, G, you are not a bother. We're all here to help each other. Every one of us needs something sometime. It's why we're together." And her neighbor who was standing there with us confirmed what I was saying. We're in this together. G seemed satisfied with our encouragement. She hasn't been shy about being a bother. And I'm glad. I really do love being able to serve the men and women at Edgewood. Even with the simple things like turning on their air conditioner. It's why we're together. To help each other. And just the other night, the reality of my situation at work hit home. Quite literally. (And you should know I don't use that word lightly. *wink*) Brian and I had just gone to bed Read that: I was almost asleep. when there was a pounding on our door. I mumbled, "Come in," and saw Matthew standing in our doorway. He was printing something for school and needed to know where the new ink cartridge was located. So I told him, and rolled over to go to sleep. Moments later, the knocking was back. Matthew couldn't find the ink cartridge. So I got up, found it, helped Matthew print and scan the alignment page and went back to bed. Again. Annnnnnnd, yet moments later, the knocking was back once more. This time the printer "wasn't working" and I said to Brian, "Can you get this one?" Because I
Disclaimer: The ideas and opinions expressed in this post are my own, and may not necessarily reflect those of Vista Springs Living Centers.
So, I'm not much of a scientist. But something intrigued me the other day, and I decided I wanted to conduct an experiment so I could understand the matter.
I was making dinner and washed my hands. I noticed that the soap dispenser was just about empty, and made a mental note to refill it soon. Moments later, my oldest son entered the kitchen and gave the soap dispenser a couple firm presses - apparently freeing it of the remaining contents. I wondered if he would refill the container, since he had just completely emptied it. He didn't. Shortly thereafter, my husband arrived home from work. As I was working on dinner, I noticed him standing at the kitchen sink repeatedly giving the soap dispenser firm presses. Such that it made that sucking sort of sound which lets you know, there ain't no more soap gonna come out of that container. But apparently he got enough, because my hubby turned on the water and rinsed whatever soap was his hands. I held my proverbial breath, waiting to see if he would refill the container. He didn't. So, the soap dispenser in our kitchen needs to be refilled. And I could do it quite easily. The supply is right under the kitchen sink. (Or maybe it's in the boys' bathroom. Not sure. But it wouldn't be difficult to figure out.) Either way, I could do it. But I'm not going to. Instead, I am going to keep track of how many times I observe family members (Who are equally capable of refilling said container.) try unsuccessfully - then forcefully - to obtain soap from the empty container. And I am going to make mental notes of how often they move on to other activities without refilling that empty container. (Which they are fully capable of doing.) In my efforts to understand why capable people neglect to do a simple job which would benefit themselves and others, I may even conduct some interviews to gather empirical data. This should be interesting. I wonder how long my little social experiment will last. We're on Day Two right now... ***Breaking News*** The soap container has been refilled. Now I need to find out WHODUNIT!
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: ...a time to be silent... Ecclesiastes 3:1,7bJosh and Matthew were messing around in Matthew's room and somewhere in the scuffle, Matthew's glasses got knocked to the floor. When I walked past his room, the boys were sitting on Matthew's bed just talking and everything seemed fine. I didn't see the glasses on the floor, and Matthew didn't seem to be concerned about them, either. However, things were about to change. They were "at it" again and I walked in to referee just as Matthew was falling to the floor. Right on top of his glasses. I'm pretty sure Matthew saw his glasses before he landed on them. The shriek he let out mid-fall told me so. And the groan-scream which followed as he gingerly picked up the glasses let me know they didn't fare well in the collision. Matthew was quick to yell at Josh, and blame him for the broken glasses. He was soooooo angry and upset. And he was sure Josh was soooooo at fault. While I could empathize with Matthew's frustration at the broken glasses, and I understood why he blamed his older brother (Josh was being the instigator, after all.) I couldn't find myself agreeing with him. I was thinking Matthew could assume some of the responsibility. Because....it seemed to me Matthew would have been wise to pick up his glasses as soon as they fell on the floor and put them somewhere safe. That way, they wouldn't have been there when he fell. I know. I know. He didn't know he was going to fall on them. Even so, I thought the wise thing to do would have been to pick them up immediately. You know, to keep them safe just.in.case. And as I listened to my son scream, and watched him cry over broken glasses - everything in me wanted to share my bit of wisdom with him. For next time, of course. Fortunately for both Matthew and me, Solomon's words of wisdom ran through my head before my words of wisdom had a chance to escape from my mouth. I realized I was existing in that time to be silent. No matter how profoundly wise my words were to me, God allowed me to understand that now was not the time to speak them. My Matthew was waaaaaaay too upset to listen to reason. So I stayed silent. (A major feat for this girl! *wink*) The next day - after we visited the vision store and got the glasses fixed - I took advantage of the time to speak. Matthew was in a much better frame of mind, and I suggested that the next time his glasses fall to the floor he should pick them up right away. And he agreed. Because my words were so wise? I'd like to think so. But I think the most reasonable conclusion I can draw is that Solomon was right. My boy wouldn't have heard me if I'd spoken when it was time to be silent. When have you experienced a time to be silent?
Prom:
Have I told you lately that my girl is growing up? We went to the bank Saturday so she could open a checking account. One more step... Graduation is less than three weeks away. And her open house will be the day before. So, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to put a pause on my blog posting for a while. At least until after commencement. My sanity requires it. *ahem*
In the meantime, feel free to peruse my archives. They contain over 1600 posts. That ought to be enough reading/viewing material to fill your thoughts, don't you think? *wink* To the right you can find links to various mom-related posts, as well as some regarding my depression journey. And I'll label this post with some of my other favorites. Just click on the label to find posts related to that topic. I pray God will encourage and inspire, though the words may be old. May the peace of Christ rest upon you today. And every day!
Originally posted March 4, 2010.
God used my dog to teach me a wonderful lesson recently. I don't mean the one about my comfort doesn't really matter.
I walked into the kitchen and said Hello to Mindy. She looked up at me, wagged her tail and immediately flopped onto the floor - on her back, belly up, paws limp, tail wagging, waiting expectantly.
Originally posted November 17, 2010.
Through a series of recent conversations and email exchanges, I have come to understand something about myself. I have realized why I liked math when I was in school.
It's OK to not be "enough".
My boss is hiring a full-time "Life Engagement Director". And I am really excited about it. Because I will no longer be all alone in my job. I won't have to plan, prepare, set up, and execute everything by myself. We'll be able to do more, enjoy more, live more. It's going to be wonderful! The owner of Vista Springs wants everything to be "Full of Life", and that means - everything. And no matter how hard I try, I can't do it all on my part-time schedule. And my family and I can't afford to have me working outside the home full-time. Quite honestly, there just isn't enough of me for all of it. So, they're adding a full-time person to the staff, and I can't wait. However, this week I overheard some interviews and found myself feeling down. Things like, "It's better when two people are working together," and, "How would you make this calendar 'Full of Life'?" got me thinking things like, I do a good job here. And, People like the activities I plan. And, What's wrong with me? Suddenly I felt like I needed to defend myself. Like I had to justify the fact that there isn't enough of me to do this great big job they want done. And then God's Spirit whispered to my heart, You aren't enough, dear. You need help to do this work. And that's OK. Then I remembered how relieved I was when I found out this person was going to be hired. I reminded myself how much these men and women I love will benefit by having another person to love and serve them. Thoughts of fuller life and lesser burdens brought me peace. And I found myself agreeing with Him. It's OK to not be "enough". In what area of your life do you need this reassurance today?
Disclaimer: The ideas and opinions expressed in this post are my own, and may not necessarily reflect those of Vista Springs Living Centers.
It's May Day!
But for me, it's more like, "Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!" Because I need help. Help accepting reality, that is. My baby girl is an adult now. She's 18, and there's nothing I can do to change that fact. She will graduate from high school one month from today. She's all signed up for college and will be heading to Wheaton in August. AND, the other night she came to Brian and I with a declaration of independence. In Elizabeth's sweet and sensitive nature she said, "I need your help. Most of the times when I have an opinion, it's because you two have told me what you think, and I choose to think the same. And I know I need to think on my own now. I also need to do more things on my own. Even though I'm not very good at it, and I don't like to. I need your help to get me to do things on my own." (OK, that's what she said, roughly.) She followed up with some sort of statement about not wanting to hurt our feelings by saying these things. And I thought, Oh, sweetheart. Those words do hurt. But that's OK. You're growing up, and you are becoming independent. All of it is good and right. But it does hurt a little. So, I guess now we sign the document and face the fact that our little girl is, well, not so little anymore. Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!
The one thing I ask of the LORD - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD's perfections and meditating in his Temple. Psalm 27:4I am memorizing Psalm 27 with two of my friends, and we are currently working on verse 4. I love this psalm, and particularly - this verse. It paints such a beautiful picture of the heart of a person who truly seeks the LORD. Wanting nothing more than to just be with HIM. *Ahhhhh* But a funny thing happened to me when I started memorizing this verse. It's kind of a long verse, so I decided to memorize it in two parts. For the first couple of days I was rehearsing, The one thing I ask of the LORD- the thing I seek most-. Repeating those words over and over made me wonder: What is the "one thing" I seek most? Well, there's peace in the midst of my chaos, wisdom for raising my children, grace to deal with difficult people in my life, courage to do the right thing, and various needs for several people who are on my heart. Yeah, that's a lot more than "one thing". But it's a pretty good representation of the thing(s) I seek most. Annnnnd, before I go any further~ Let me just say this: I am more than confident that God loves to meet our needs. HE created us. We are HIS. And I believe it delights God's heart when we acknowledge our dependence on Him by asking Him to supply everything we need to make it through our days. However, when I started memorizing the second part of verse 4 my heart came under conviction. Because I saw a vast difference between the psalmist's "one thing" and mine. The psalmist wasn't looking at his circumstances for his "one thing". Rather, he was looking at the LORD. And I have to believe focusing on the LORD had a beautiful impact on his heart. Oh, to want nothing more in life than to live in the house of the LORD, to delight in His perfections, and meditate in His Temple. And so, in the midst of learning Psalm 27:4, I am also asking God to continue the transformation of my heart and my desires. Because I want to be able to say with the psalmist, The one thing I ask of the LORD - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD's perfections and meditating in his Temple.
I received an email over the weekend from a mother of young children who is at her wits' end with all the things she needs to do. And as I was typing out my response to her I thought, "OK. This needs to be a blog post." Because I believe the thing with which she is struggling is common to all women. Which one of us, if we are being honest, can say we are unable to relate to this statement I read in her email?
I am so overwhelmed and overworked. Some days I just want to cry. I can't do it all, and it is so hard when I can never catch up.My kids were once 5, 3, and 1 - like hers are now - and I certainly remember having those feelings. And now that my children are 18, 16, and (almost)14? I still have those feelings!But there is a difference now - even though I still get overwhelmed. And that difference is, I no longer feel like a failure for not being able to "do it all". I no longer feel like a failure because my kids, my home, and my self are not perfect. The thing which brought me to this point is simple - even while being very hard for me to grasp. It is GRACE. *It is the realization that my kids, my home, and my self do not need to be perfect. *It is the understanding that my Father is using these hard times I'm experiencing to create a beautiful me. *It is the conviction that my identity and my self-worth are not dependent upon my ability to "do all things". *It is the confidence that God will faithfully see me through every trial, every disappointment, every time I fall. It doesn't make much sense to my logical, methodical way of thinking. But in God's economy, it is perfectly reasonable. HE imparts grace to me - to us - so "failure" may be taken completely out of our vocabulary. Fellow mom, are you nodding your head in understanding of this need for grace? Do you spend more time beating yourself up for your failures than you do believing that your kids are going to turn out just fine? If so, please accept my invitation to explore grace today. I told you what grace means to me. What does it look like for you? Spend some time asking God to draw you a picture of grace. I pray HE will give you the courage to believe and embrace it!
Kids remember what moms say.
One of our favorite games to play at Edgewood is "Hangman". You know the game, right? *First you draw steps and a pole with a noose. *Then you decide on a word or phrase to be guessed, and draw the appropriate dashes and spaces for each letter. *And then you invite people to guess letters which might be in the puzzle - and you fill in the dashes with the correct letters as they're guessed. And, the incorrect guesses turn into body parts drawn into the noose, with a goal of solving the puzzle before "hanging" the man. Wow, that sounds really morbid when you write it out. *wink* Anyway, there is a significant group of folks who love playing that game with me at Edgewood. And I love finding words and phrases which will get them thinking. I use lots of nursery rhyme titles - which always ends in us reciting the ditties, spending a little time "remembering when". But my favorite Hangman category has to be "Adages". Except this week, we re-named that category. Now I'm calling it, "Things Your Mother Probably Used to Say". Because... When I was picking this week's puzzles, T was in the activity room talking with me. She asked about the categories for Hangman this week and I told her I was choosing nursery rhymes and adages. T told me how much she loves the adages, because they remind her of her mom. Seems T's mom often spoke those wise sayings to her daughter. "A man is known by the company he keeps," T recited. And, "Haste makes waste." I enjoyed the smile in T's eyes as she remembered moments with her mother. And after just about every adage puzzle was solved on Wednesday, I heard T saying, "My mom always used to say that!" So there you go, mom-friend. Keep speaking words of Truth and wisdom to your children. Day after day after day.Kids remember what moms say.
Disclaimer: The ideas and opinions expressed in this post are my own, and may not necessarily reflect those of Vista Springs Living Centers.
