I did not mean to publish last night. Really you knew it wasn't going to be up on time didn't you?
1. I pick Packy up from Kindergarten at 12:30. Everyday we have a discussion where I tell him he has to eat lunch if he wants a snack (meaning something sweet). Everyday he cries (unless we go to Chick-fil-A) and tells me he doesn't want to eat. Today he said, "Mama, I'm just not into eating." I told him he didn't have to be into soccer or television shows, but food was not optional. Some days I give up and just let him eat snacks. On Columbus Day, I cleaned like crazy and let the kids fend for themselves. Packy announced to his Dad at bedtime, "By the way Daddy, I didn't eat anything healthy all day." Great. Send my Mom of the Year award right over. It's hard to have a child that doesn't want to eat. Sometimes I plan to fail. I cannot control what the church serves on Wednesday night and since Pac usually won't eat the hot meal or the kids option (peanut butter and jelly) (None of my kids eat PB&Js. ?$&!), I just know that on those nights he doesn't eat. He eats a dessert and some lemonade. It's just not a fight I'm going to have every week. 2. Let's talk commercials. New Brad Pitt for Channel #5? Super creepy. It doesn't make sense and it's just weird. (SNL already did a great job making fun of him. And 7 million? Seriously?) Jimmy Dean commercials with The Sun? Really makes me happy and has for a few years now (since 2006). I really like that guy (and the clouds, moon, leprechaun). He's so nice. T-Mobile girl on her motorcycle? Hate.
3. Guess what? I am typing this on a laptop. I am close to becoming an actual blogger. Now I just have to blog more than once every 3 weeks. (Thank you to R for "finding" an extra laptop at the office. You are awesome!)
4. Speaking of the past few weeks, I'll catch you up. I sold my camera, a lens, and a broken lens on Ebay and avoided being scammed by people who wanted me to send my camera to Africa before they paid for it. (Really?) I bought a new, simpler camera, and 2 new lenses. Then left my camera bag and one of the lenses at a public park in Macon where we went to celebrate a family reunion. It was found the next day and, thankfully, turned in to the people who run the park. (So thankful for honest people.) I also sold Jay's bunk bed on Craigslist and he is now sleeping in a queen. He is so happy to finally have a "big" bed and since he's 11 and very sensitive to textiles, I bought him some nice sheets. Not anything crazy, but nice and not below 200 thread count scratchy. So throw in a business retreat for Jason, field trips, a wedding, a few birthday parties, Uncle Lee in town for a night, and all the regular school activities, and the past few weeks have flown by. Fall is my favorite time of year, but it is busy. Wonderful, but busy. (62 shopping days until Christmas in case you were wondering.)
5. It's hard to learn from the experiences of others. We have to sometimes learn from experiencing it ourselves.
A man at our church said this a few weeks ago when we were studying 1 Kings on a Wednesday night. We were discussing how the different kings kept repeating the mistakes of the past kings. I really thought this was a good observation. I can tell you my story and you can maybe identify with parts of it but you haven't experienced it. You may have similar issues and I can help you by telling you what helped me, but I can't take away the part where you actually have to experience it. Whatever "it" is. If you are active in addiction then you probably aren't going to get sober because you know me. You have to experience it yourself. The entire process. If you don't go through the process, and feel the pain, then the reward of sobriety isn't as sweet. And to me, it is a reward. (More on this later.)
7. How about that Felix guy that jumped from space with a parachute? That really made me sick to my stomach. Someone would have had to push me out. I have absolutely no desire to hold any world records. I set the bar low.
8. The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from the darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. Isaiah 61; 1-3
Karen Russell is the person I took my photography class from and she wrote the most beautiful post called Ashes that you can read here. I just think that this is the theme of the Christian walk; using what He has brought you through in order to help others. I know he uses suffering us to draw us near to Him, but it doesn't end there. It wasn't without purpose. God gives us a story so we can share it with others and give people hope. The hope that is found by trusting in Him alone. What story do you need to be sharing?
9. Thank you to the people I've seen in the last few weeks that have told my you read this. I do not have any high tech tracking devices and have no idea who reads this. This is just a small way I feel like I am telling my story. It helps me and if it helps you then great.
10. I have heard lots of sad stories of sickness, marriage problems, and addiction over the past few days. Let's just say that my prayer life is in overdrive. Realizing that I am powerless to heal and powerless to change a person's heart, prayer is all I have. I am thankful to worship a living God that listens to my prayers. He may not answer them the way I think is best, but I don't see the world like He does. He has the big picture and I'm glad. It would be way too much pressure if I actually had any kind of power.
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