Jackson and I woke up early to leave for Dallas on Saturday morning. It was 6 am when we pulled out of our driveway. When I drive, I like to make good time. I only stop every three hours to fill up on gas and take a potty break. I knew that if I left at 6 am I could get to Dallas around 6pm.
We were on the road and making great time out of Colorado Springs when I heard a horrible noise. I thought maybe the road got rough so I just moved to the other lane. That didn't work so I looked in my rearview mirror and saw smoke. Oh no, a flat tire. I pulled off the side of the road. Thank you Jesus, a nice family saw what happened and pulled off in front of me. The husband and his two boys helped me unload my suitcase to get my spare tire and they began to change my tire.
The only problem was that the tire wouldn't come off. All the boys pulled and tugged on it as hard as they could. We didn't know what to do. I called Discount Tire and asked if they had any suggestions. The nice man from Discount Tire said that sometimes with my car you just have to give it a nice swift kick. Who would have thought? It worked. The man just kicked the tire and it came right off. I know, only in my life does this kind of stuff happen.
I am sure that if the nice family wouldn't have stopped to help me, I would have already thought to kick the tire. I am sure I would have kicked it about a hundred times in frustration because I was so mad that my good driving time was messed up.
Anyway, we got the spare on and I had to turn around and drive back to Pueblo to get a new tire. It was about 9 am by the time I pulled back onto I-25. My record was ruined so I decided to just slow down and enjoy the trip. Jackson and I had a ball. Don't we all get in such a hurry and so busy that we forget why we are even doing what we are doing.
I am off to Mexico with my hubby on Friday to stop and enjoy life together. To do nothing together.
We are going to "be still and KNOW that He is God" while enjoying His magnificent creation on the beach!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
The Plane Has Landed
Drew has arrived safely and I was dying to find out all that happened. I tried to give him a minute before asking 100 questions. Once we got in the car, Drew asked, "Mom, when can I have a girlfriend?"
This was not the question I was expecting to answer right after getting off a plane from a mission trip. I didn't plan on sending him to Mexico to find a girlfriend. A better relationship with the Lord, yes. A girlfriend, NO!
I am not quite sure what to think. A girlfriend, he is 11.
Can you believe it? I am not quite sure why I didn't think it would happen. It is obvious that when you send 12 middle school boys and girls away for over a week, it is bound to happen. But, I am not ready for this!
This was not the question I was expecting to answer right after getting off a plane from a mission trip. I didn't plan on sending him to Mexico to find a girlfriend. A better relationship with the Lord, yes. A girlfriend, NO!
I am not quite sure what to think. A girlfriend, he is 11.
Can you believe it? I am not quite sure why I didn't think it would happen. It is obvious that when you send 12 middle school boys and girls away for over a week, it is bound to happen. But, I am not ready for this!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Helicopter Mom
I was standing outside our middle school room at church and I was just watching Drew while he was hanging out with his friends. I was just wanting to see how he was acting, what he was doing etc. You know, being a mom! Our middle school pastor walked up to me and said, "Hey, Helicopter Mom!" I looked at him stunned because I was not sure what he meant by that. He started laughing and said, "you are hovering." I thought it was hilarious because I was doing just that and had never heard it put quite that way.
Well, I want to hover this week while Drew is in Mexico and I can't. All we have heard since they got there is that they arrived ok. I am glad to have heard that but I want much more. I want to know exactly what is going on and I can't. It is a very weird feeling for me. I want to hover but I can't.
I have to trust that all is well with Drew and the team and continue on with life here. I have no choice. This is good for me, I know. God wants for me to trust Him with my son and allow him to work in his life without my interference - imagine that. What a hard lesson to learn. As my kids grow, I should step back and allow the Holy Spirit to move in them, to convict them and not me (all the time). It is exciting and scary at the same time.
I can promise you this: It has increased my prayer life. Nothing like a 11 year old in Mexico with a youth group to keep you up at night!
Well, I want to hover this week while Drew is in Mexico and I can't. All we have heard since they got there is that they arrived ok. I am glad to have heard that but I want much more. I want to know exactly what is going on and I can't. It is a very weird feeling for me. I want to hover but I can't.
I have to trust that all is well with Drew and the team and continue on with life here. I have no choice. This is good for me, I know. God wants for me to trust Him with my son and allow him to work in his life without my interference - imagine that. What a hard lesson to learn. As my kids grow, I should step back and allow the Holy Spirit to move in them, to convict them and not me (all the time). It is exciting and scary at the same time.
I can promise you this: It has increased my prayer life. Nothing like a 11 year old in Mexico with a youth group to keep you up at night!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Global Food Crisis
WHAT IS THE GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS?
The World Food Programme calls the global food crisis a phenomenon, a "silent tsunami," that is affecting families in every nation on every continent. Food prices for popular menu items like rice, wheat and beans have doubled in the last year. Though increases in food prices have hit all budgets, it's the poor who bear the brunt of price inflation. The higher prices are forcing people who survive on just $1 a day to spend upwards of 80 percent of their budgets just on food. As a result, many people, including millions of children, are going hungry. The longer food prices rise, the more people will be plunged into hunger and poverty.
WHAT IS CAUSING THE CRISIS?
Since 2005, food prices have risen a whopping 80 percent because of...
• rising fuel costs
• rising food demand from populous nations like India and China
• natural disasters destroying crop yields all over the world, including the United States
• growth of biofuels
The global food crisis is forcing poor families to spend more of their household budgets on food, leaving little for anything else. In Bangladesh 95% of the 11,782 children Compassion serves there are affected. Many children are eating only at the church-based center (also known as a Compassion project). In Haiti, inflation rates have risen 40%, pushing up food prices. All 60,000 children served by Compassion in Haiti have been affected by the food crisis there.
Experts predict the combination of a weakening dollar, soaring oil prices, and reduction in food production will not dissipate. They are predicting this long-term crisis will tighten its grip on poor countries, causing more children and families to suffer.
ABOUT THE GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS FUND
Compassion International has launched the Global Food Crisis Fund to bring aid to those most adversely affected by rising food costs. More information is available and donations can be made at https://www.compassion.com/contribution/giving/global-food-crisis.htm
Donations to the fund will provide:
• food vouchers to children and families needing immediate relief.
• seeds and agricultural tools so that families can grow their own food as well as earn extra income.
• supplemental nutrition services offered at Compassion-assisted centers around the world.
ABOUT COMPASSION'S DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING
Compassion International has set aside June 25 as a day of fasting and prayer to honor the victims of the global food crisis and pray for them. To place a Compassion Day of Prayer and Fasting widget on your blog go to: http://www.springwidgets.com/widgets/view/42681
FOOD CRISIS INFORMATION PAGE: http://www.compassion.com/sponsordonor/global-food-crisis/default.htm
• CRIS FUND DONATION PAGE: https://www.compassion.com/contribution/giving/global-food-crisis.htm
• DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING WIDGET: http://www.springwidgets.com/widgets/view/42681
• POST ABOUT THE FOOD CRISIS ON COMPASSION'S BLOG: http://blog.compassion.com/tag/global-food-crisis/
The World Food Programme calls the global food crisis a phenomenon, a "silent tsunami," that is affecting families in every nation on every continent. Food prices for popular menu items like rice, wheat and beans have doubled in the last year. Though increases in food prices have hit all budgets, it's the poor who bear the brunt of price inflation. The higher prices are forcing people who survive on just $1 a day to spend upwards of 80 percent of their budgets just on food. As a result, many people, including millions of children, are going hungry. The longer food prices rise, the more people will be plunged into hunger and poverty.
WHAT IS CAUSING THE CRISIS?
Since 2005, food prices have risen a whopping 80 percent because of...
• rising fuel costs
• rising food demand from populous nations like India and China
• natural disasters destroying crop yields all over the world, including the United States
• growth of biofuels
The global food crisis is forcing poor families to spend more of their household budgets on food, leaving little for anything else. In Bangladesh 95% of the 11,782 children Compassion serves there are affected. Many children are eating only at the church-based center (also known as a Compassion project). In Haiti, inflation rates have risen 40%, pushing up food prices. All 60,000 children served by Compassion in Haiti have been affected by the food crisis there.
Experts predict the combination of a weakening dollar, soaring oil prices, and reduction in food production will not dissipate. They are predicting this long-term crisis will tighten its grip on poor countries, causing more children and families to suffer.
ABOUT THE GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS FUND
Compassion International has launched the Global Food Crisis Fund to bring aid to those most adversely affected by rising food costs. More information is available and donations can be made at https://www.compassion.com/contribution/giving/global-food-crisis.htm
Donations to the fund will provide:
• food vouchers to children and families needing immediate relief.
• seeds and agricultural tools so that families can grow their own food as well as earn extra income.
• supplemental nutrition services offered at Compassion-assisted centers around the world.
ABOUT COMPASSION'S DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING
Compassion International has set aside June 25 as a day of fasting and prayer to honor the victims of the global food crisis and pray for them. To place a Compassion Day of Prayer and Fasting widget on your blog go to: http://www.springwidgets.com/widgets/view/42681
FOOD CRISIS INFORMATION PAGE: http://www.compassion.com/sponsordonor/global-food-crisis/default.htm
• CRIS FUND DONATION PAGE: https://www.compassion.com/contribution/giving/global-food-crisis.htm
• DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING WIDGET: http://www.springwidgets.com/widgets/view/42681
• POST ABOUT THE FOOD CRISIS ON COMPASSION'S BLOG: http://blog.compassion.com/tag/global-food-crisis/
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Underdog
I am sitting here in my big brown chair watching the golf tournament. We were all on our way to Lowe's to get tile for our bathroom and then suddenly the golf tournament gets really close between Tiger and some guy named Rocco. So, here I sit. It was so funny because the sports commentator said that Rocco looked liked he should be cleaning Tiger's pool and not beating him in the U.S. Open. Poor guy. I am cheering for him. I always like when the underdog wins. That is one thing my dad always taught me. He always cheered for the underdog (unless our Cowboys are playing). My dad has always taught me to stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves. I am a fighter by nature so the underdog does well when I am in his corner. My dad taught me many things but today as I sit here cheering for the underdog to be Tiger, I can't help but think of my dad. We have spent many of Sunday afternoons watching golf tournaments.
Most importantly, my dad loved me and took care of me when I was the underdog. He always took me back in and never withheld his love from me when I made choices that weren't the best for me or anyone in our family. He loved me when it looked like I was not going to make it. He showed me Jesus. He was a pastor for a long time and we had many rough years but He always put us first as a family. He didn't just preach Jesus to me, my dad showed me what Jesus was like. I am in the gospels in my Bible reading and I can't get over the fact how many times it says Jesus had compassion on the people. My dad roots for the underdog...just like Jesus.
Most importantly, my dad loved me and took care of me when I was the underdog. He always took me back in and never withheld his love from me when I made choices that weren't the best for me or anyone in our family. He loved me when it looked like I was not going to make it. He showed me Jesus. He was a pastor for a long time and we had many rough years but He always put us first as a family. He didn't just preach Jesus to me, my dad showed me what Jesus was like. I am in the gospels in my Bible reading and I can't get over the fact how many times it says Jesus had compassion on the people. My dad roots for the underdog...just like Jesus.
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