Friday

A Shot In The Arm

I am so excited my fingers are flying off the keyboard! This political season has really had me in a funk. After all the exciting possibilities from both the Democratic and Republican primaries, I was a little disappointed that John McCain was up against Barak Obama. It seemed like an uphill battle. Then add in the historic, cultural significance of a black American running for the Presidency... Obama's presidential race is good for this country. But, still - I am conservative and I was starting to think my vote would be a shot in the dark.

Until today.

I am so excited about John McCain's Veep choice I could bust. This was one of his most brilliant moves to date and I just want to hug the advisors who steered him in this direction, and I want to hug Palin's husband for giving his family over to the country for (possibly) the next four years.

After Hilary's exit from the Presidential race, McCain's best bet to catapult his campaign was to choose a woman VP. THIS choice is even better! I have followed Governor Palin's career for the last few years, and at times wish I lived in Alaska just to volunteer for her. What a great example. I think this country just might be ready for not only a black president, but a female one as well. This is history folks.

Congratulations Mr. McCain, and I pray that your VP keeps her values as steady as they are now before the Washington engine runs her over.

Monday

A List

A list is easier to post sometimes than real stuff, so here it is... My List.

You must answer each question in one word - can you do it?

1. Where is your cell phone? kitchen
2. Where is your significant other? work
3. Your hair? up
4. What you’re not? mathematician
5. Your spouse? unconditional
6. Your favorite thing? laughter
7. Your dream last night? nonexistant
8. Your dream/goal? eternity
9. The room you’re in? office
10. Your hobby? scrapbooking
11. Your fear? accidents
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? here
13. Where were you last night? here
14. One of your wish list items? van
15. Where you grew up? Mayfield
16. The last thing you did? laundry
17. What are you wearing? t-shirt
18. Your pet? tanked
19. Your computer? laptop
20. Your mood? motivated
21. Missing someone? yes
22. Your car? old
23. Something you’re not wearing? shoes
24. Your summer? wet
25. Love someone? yes
26. Your favorite color? navy
27. Last time you laughed? 7pm
28. Last time you cried? 9pm
29. Your church? expanding
30. How many sisters? one
31. How many brothers? zero
32. How many children? five
33. Your favorite drink? water
34. Your TV? watched
35. Your life? wonderful
36. Favorite store? TJ Maxx
37. Who will repost this? dunno

Saturday

It's All Downhill From Here

Yesterday my baby girl decided to walk. She had been contemplating this task for a few months, but evidently she was waiting until the perfect day to take off. That day was yesterday.

Everytime we turned around she was walking from one piece of furniture to the next without grunting for us to hold her hand. Each and every time one of us caught her doing this we would squeal with delight. Upon hearing our squeals of delight, she would promptly fall down and look to see what all the commotion was about.

So, today she decided not to walk. Again.

How many kids am I gonna have to have before I figure out how this works?

I have no babies anymore. My 3 year old informed me as I was rinsing his hair in the bathtub, "Mom, you are driving me CRAZY!"

Get used to it, bud. There's about 15 more years of craziness yet to come.

It's true, having kids does get easier as they get older. The only problem with that is... they keep getting older. I think I'll trade the toughness of little ones for the growing up part.

Friday

The Shack - A Review?

Well, I'm not finished with The Shack yet, and I might not finish it. I'm not really getting why this book is all the rage right now. Someone help me.

In the forward, the author warns us that if we don't like the book not to worry because it wasn't written for us. I'm assuming that means he doesn't want to hear or read a bad review. This isn't a bad review, it's just a statement, a warning.

I'm not sure that this is the book to introduce scores of non-Believers to the God of Agape Love. It seems like too much, too soon.

If you want a lifetime worth of theology stuffed in one book with a 5th grade reading level, then I guess this is the book for you.

I know this book has resonated with thousands of people who need to understand God's love in a tangible way. For that, the book has accomplished a great purpose. But, what do those readers do next? If there is no meeting at The Shack for them how do they move forward beyond their doubt?

If you've read it, please let me know what you think.

UPDATE: As I'm finishing this book, I do want to point out 2 areas where the author does an excellent job: his discussion of Jesus' view of church, and the forgiveness journey Papa takes Mack on. These are great models for us.

Wednesday

Talk About It

Like I said, I'm here. I'm hanging on. This is the 2nd week of homeschool for us, and we are alive. No one has been seriously injured in the re-entry process. There have been several, "Go to your room and don't come out til you are 40!" moments - but, hey...we're getting there.

I was browsing around for back-to-school-activities for homeschoolers (not much there) and found THIS. I'm going to have to go back for more. Preach it, brother!
"I feel the need to address an issue that few women are willing to discuss. Being a profound extrovert, and also not a woman, maybe I can put into words what many married Christian women today are feeling, but are afraid to say:
"I'm burned out, burned up, and the ember that is my personal existence is running on fumes—
—yet I have to keep up appearances."
"While I will say in public—public being church—that my husband is the rock of the household, I'm the one holding our home together."
"I'm petrified to admit I'm barely holding on."
"I'm terrified of letting anyone else know that I question whether this is the abundant life or not."
If that's you, I have a word for you: Grace. My prayer is that you receive it abundantly.

I don't understand what we're doing to women today in the Church. The pressure to conform to a lifestyle that incorporates one part Beth Moore, one part Martha Stewart, one part Jessie Wise, and one part Salome astounds me. And don't even toss in that proverbial woman from chapter 31 that every female is told she must aspire to. That's a whole 'nother post.

Is it any wonder that so many Christian homes are struggling? What woman wouldn't struggle underneath that burden? And as I noted, as she goes, so goes the home.

Frankly, I'm angered at the expectations and the pressure to conform that many women endure. We men don't have that same burden. Yes, our lives our hectic and we're overburdened, too, but we can always opt out and claim we're "just being a guy for the day." Fire up the tube and plugin to six hours of football and no other man will accuse you of being a jerk. We'll all nod and say as one, "Yep…."

But let an Evangelical Christian woman tell her compatriots that she thinks it might be easier to send her kids to public school this year and you'll witness a shunning worthy of The Scarlet Letter."

Only a man could put this into words and get away with it. All of us women folk would agree, but look over our shoulder to make sure no one sees us agreeing. When did this happen? Those of us who left the career world to devote our lives to our home have now become as cut-throat as working women are stereotyped to be. (I know several who are not.)

It is for this reason that I have enjoyed the freedom to whittle down my life. That includes blogging. I have strived to do away with the pressure to have a clean house (don't come over unannounced, please - no matter what Fly Lady says.) I have given up on having Gap-dressed children. That's too much laundry for me to handle. I'm still whittling away other parts of my life and trying to free up time for my spiritual renewal - that's a tough one. I've enjoyed reading as Megan tries to put this part of her life in order as well.

People ask, "How do you do it all?" I don't. I don't do it all - I do a few things, and sometimes I do them well. How do you do it all?

Tuesday

I'm Back - Sort Of

I'm back, but not really. Ever since my middle-of-the-night-revelation this past spring I have been on a blog break. It has been wonderful. I have let go of the pressure to post thought-provoking material, and have dedicated that time to helping those in my care get back on our feet. These last 2 years have been a roller-coaster ride. Not a Batman dangling-feet type ride (top speed non-stop twists & turns), more like a Screamin' Eagle type ride (moderate speed, slow climbs and quick dips.)

My husband lost his job in April, for the 2nd time in 2 years. This summer we dove heart-first into a business ownership opportunity that had our entire family on Cloud 9. That failed. Now, we are finally back on track. Maybe not COMPLETELY on track, but at the very least we are in line for the Ferris Wheel. (Why is it called that anyway, anyone know Mr. Ferris?) My husband has a new job, we started our homeschool last week, Rachel turned one, I have found a pre-school for Gideon, and we made some amazing real-life friends this summer. I'm ready to sit back and enjoy the view from the top of the Ferris Wheel. But, something tells me there's a Tony Hawk's Big Spin right around the corner. Can you tell we've spent a few days at Six Flags this summer?

Anywhoo. Even though I haven't posted in a while (a long while) I have been easing my way back into the blogosphere by reading some of my favorites. I have received so much encouragement, wisdom and inspiration. Thank you bloggy friends. It's an odd thing to feel such comfort from complete strangers. But, because of those strangers I can sense that my feet are more firmly on the ground.

So, I'm here. I'll probably be doing more reading (lurking) than posting; but it won't be long until my red-headedness pops back into shape. You've been warned.