When Plans Go Differently

You know when you are planning something and you have this vision of what it will look like? It could be something big like an outdoor wedding or a large funeral you are orchestrating. But it could also be just a small dinner with friends or a quick getaway. Regardless, there is either a general or very specific idea of what "it" is going to look like, and then for whatever reason, before said event, it becomes clear that things are going to go in a pretty different direction than you'd thought. It might be weeks before the event or moments prior that you have to change gears. There is rain when you counted on sun, there are people you thought would be attending that back out, or people end up bringing guests they weren't expecting themselves, or the caterers cancelled and there had to be a last-minute audible. 

What do you do in these situations? 

How do you act and feel? 

For events where weather is a true impacting force, it is best to not have your heart set on it being any one way. Make sure your backup plan is satisfactory and decide beforehand to accept whatever comes your way. Weather can be unpredictable so plan accordingly--that is, plan to be flexible!

When it is an event that involves other people, commit the event to the Lord and trust Him to bring who He wants to be there. Sometimes the keynote speaker has to miss, there is an unavoidable delay, or what one person wants differs from what you want. We have a choice to go with the flow or be uptight. Going with the flow is much easier. Plan as best you can, but if it gets all wacky, all you can do is roll with it. That is a good way to show grace to other people and a way to demonstrate the relationships are more important than our own perceived needs. 

No Excuses

We do what we want to do...ultimately, it is true. 
Even if we feel pressured to do something, if we do it, it is because we chose to do it.
What we do reveals who we are. 
If it is because we want to do the thing, it says something.
If it is because we don't want to do the thing but do it anyway, it says something else. 
We do what we want to do...ultimately, it is true.
What does what you do say about you?

By J Dub

Summer is Here for Real

You know it is summer when VBS outreach has occurred and the pool is open every day. Today we did some outreach with a friend since it was raining last night for our last official time and it went great. Afterward we all enjoyed hitting the pool; our first time to get there this year since weekends are so busy in June.

It is such a great feeling to have my oldests high school records to date all set and ready in the binder. Her transcript looks terrific, thanks to her dad. We're doing all we can to prepare her for whatever God calls her to; it will be a joy to learn what that is when the time comes! As our oldest has gotten to this point in high school, we are so glad we didn't keep her a year ahead academically. She will be reluctant to leave the nest as a normal aged senior in high school, let alone one that is a year younger than the norm. When she was in 4th grade we made this call, realizing that we weren't going to want to send her out in the the world as a 17 yr old girl. She did 4th grade a 2nd time, though we kept advancing her academics. Now she is simply ahead in some areas with high school, but also right on track in others since it is easy to make adjustments along the way. One plus to doing things this way is that she finished AP Latin as a 10th grader, giving her the freedom to have more time for languages in upper high school should she want to take a 3rd foreign one.

Raising Christian daughters is challenging. In this liberal culture to train them to be a submissive wife is one thing, but then to instill as best you can Biblical roles and values, but educate and equip them to stand on their own and make a good living should they not get married (but be willing to give up whatever career they've been preparing for should they be so blessed...). With sons it is just so cut and dry--make as good a living as you can, for yourself or hopefully, for your wife and kids one day. Mothers of sons, rejoice in this! Seriously.

Tomorrow is Father's Day. What a joy to celebrate godly fathers that lead and sacrifice for us.

Gaining Time

A few months ago I began praying about how I use my free time. Free time being anything outside of my family responsibilities, side jobs I take on, and church involvement. From hobbies like gardening, to TV, to Internet, to friends, to ministries on the side that are outside of church--it all goes in the 'free time' category in my mind.

Losing the friend I saw and talked to the most recently really brought this issue to the forefront. I have more free time now, and over the last decade God has been trying to show me something about how I relate to Him and how I spend my time. Where do I go when I need someone to talk to? What is my first 'to do' when I find I've gotten the house cleaned, the dishes done, meals are under control and I've logged my food for that day? (Yes, the latter is a regular thing as I strive to go down a size or two... still)

I've been praying more and asking God for opportunities to use the gifts He's given me, and it has been a very good week on that front. It is such a great feeling when God gives us people to minister to. Even today, my son and I saw a woman who needed help with a flat tire and since we keep an electric pump with us in our vehicle, it was a no-brainer. Just being aware of what is going on around us and not in a big rush--a plug for good time management is that it affords us opportunities to listen when someone needs to talk or help someone in need.

The older I get the more precious time and opportunities are. I love Jesus and want God to use me--to work through me. I'm not able to do a lot, but through me He can do a tremendous amount. I have spent far too much time 'not' talking to Jesus like I did when I was a newer believer and far too much time thinking mainly of getting outside mom mode.

I love being a mom; it is the best thing in life for me. I love being a wife and a homemaker, too. With all of the deaths this year between Greenfield, church, and that of my good friend, it can't be missed that there is no guarantee how long I'll have my family or how long I'll have opportunities to serve here on Earth. When it was just me and the Lord, I was consumed with sharing the truth with everyone, and I want to get back to Him using me like that again.

24A man of too many friends comes to ruin,

But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

When Confirmation Comes

God really does amaze me, in my finite little mind. As I debated so heavily on what to do with school this year (of course still homeschooling), He made it beyond clear that I'm exactly where I should be, doing just what we are doing. I won't go in to the details here, but be encouraged that God may have a plan for you where you are for reasons you cannot imagine. Just as our struggles are sometimes for someone else, so are our 'assignments' with activities. Today I felt like an athlete that had been training for a long, long time, and who thought perhaps the moment to run was never going to happen...and then suddenly, someone walked up to said athlete and handed them the slip to enter a really famous race----POW!, an incredible rush of energy and total fulfillment happened. God doesn't have to hand us opportunities to do what we're longing to do, but out of His unreal love, sometimes He does...and it feels so good to serve Him. It feels so wonderful to be used by Him and to have Him bring Scripture to our mind just when we need it. He's an amazing God.

What Drives Your School?

I've been laboring over a decision about school next year. Why it first began is rather predictable, but why it's ensued isn't. I think I'm getting to the bottom of it, because I've spent a ridiculous amount of time thinking on it and talking to trusted friends and my husband about it. I need a break from our usual routine, and I am starting to think the reason is that I want to be driving our school next year rather than any program. I'm a firm believer if you do a program, you need to DO it, and when you've been in one for a long time, it's going to have to be done because that is how we're trained. We don't just go and show up to anything, we prepare, we invest, we're committed. But next year I really don't want to be driven by externals that much, at least not as much as we have been.

Quitting Track & Field

Each year after Christmas it's time to evaluate and pray about what we will do the following year. Co-ops, CC, art classes, dance classes, music lessons, service with church etc. get fresh consideration. Only God knows what the year will hold, so it's really something I feel has to be put before Him.

In talking to my oldest about one particular decision I'm on the fence about, it occurred to me that an activity is always most pleasant when it is richly relational. It can be difficult to maintain satisfaction if something was relational but morphs more into just a business situation and thus, not something emotionally satisfying. Next thing you know, I'm recalling high school...

I love how God reminds us of past decisions we've made to make a point. Years and years ago I ran track, but only in 9th and 10th grade. Why did I quit? My best, and only friend on the team, graduated at the end of my 10th grade year. Ruth is still my bosom buddy and well, if we were running on a team even now and she quit, and I had no other friends, I'd probably want to quit all over again. That said, I'm not so sure I can lead with my emotions on bigger decisions as an adult! Even my oldest recognized that this particular decision I'm struggling with could be a growing opportunity.

How about you? Do you find it hard to be involved with something that is really just business? Us people-persons run on the closeness of it all, but I guess old dogs can learn new tricks when it's for the greater good.