The Grocery Getter

For several years I've been in a season of my life where convenience is crucial, especially in fulfilling my role as the grocery getter.

I will travel afar to the Costco when I need a truckload of paper towels. Or when I would like the dinner fairies from the Costco deli section to make food that all I have to do is heat and serve when I get home.

But what about those days where I actually decide to make something that requires...ummm... ingredients. That have to be bought at a store because they refuse to just magically appear in my pantry. Well, then I have to pay a little visit to the local grocer.

Now, here's the thing. I'm no fool. I very much know the grocery store that is most convenient AND who has a STARBUCKS tucked just inside the door AND who plays soothing music is a little more pricey than the other grocery just a few more blocks away. But really who want to count pennies...

THOSE IN A FINANCIAL MELTDOWN, that's who. Ahem.

So, yesterday Holly and I did a little experiement that I've been wanting to do for a long time. We decided to make out a grocery list with a few odds and ends and the ingredients for two dinners.

Then we went to FANCY grocery store and bought the list:

Then we went to the not-so-fancy grocery and bought the EXACT same list. We are talking the very same stuff y'all. Same everything. Did I mention that the list was the same?

And do you know what we discovered? First, fancy store has much smaller Rotisserie chickens for $.50 more. More money, less chicken? hunh?

But the real shocker came at the check out line. Fancy store has fancy prices... yikes!

Now I'm no math whiz but it's looking like to me that the not so fancy grocery store sells the exact same items for $7 cheaper. And please don't think Holly and I rigged this little experiment. There was no checking of sales fliers and careful planning involved here.

We just simply chose 2 new recipes and with no premeditation, happily went to both stores.

So, if the savings came out to be about $7 per $50 worth of groceries, let's see how that nets out over time...

I spend about $200 a week on groceries. So, if I went to the less expensive store I could possibly save about $28 a week.

If I kept going to the less expensive store for a year... it would be a savings of over $1400!!!

Can anyone else but me think of some seriously fun places I could go spend $1400?!?!

I think I just might be forgoing the STARBUCKS tucked just inside the door with classical music playing grocery in favor of a vacation later in the year... with no grocery stores in sight!

Just my thoughts... What are yours?

Has God Ever Hurt Your Feelings?

I've come to grips with being honest with God. If something hurts me, I tell Him.

Is it irreverent to be honest with God? I don't think so.

As a matter of fact, I think it is essential in paving an authentic connection from my heart to His. Tip toeing around pretending to be fine, fine, fine with everything that comes my way would be fake at best, deadening at worst. I don't shout my gut feelings to the world, but I do take them to God and ask Him to help me process them.

It's understandable really. We are told from an early age that God can do anything. We've read stories where Jesus helped people in impossible situations. So, how do you process these beliefs in the face of God seeming silent in your situation?

It can be disillusioning at times.

But I've also realized that trying to figure out why God allows certain things to happen is a bit like chasing the wind and trying to turn it into something visible. It's a chase that will simply wear you out, to very little avail.

So, I've just about decided asking "why" is the wrong question. Instead, I ask "what now?" Now that this is my reality, what would You have me do... learn... glean from this now?

What now, is just a much better question to ask. If we make the choice to let it lead us from our hurt to positive changes, it will! God will.

Continuing to ask "why" will leave us stuck and frustrated. And really, even if God gave us the answer to our why question, it probably would never satisfy us. We would probably weigh out God's reasons against our hurt and still be hurt.

Our flat human perspectives simply can't process God's multi-dimensional, eternal reasons.

Isaiah 55 refers to this in verses 8-9, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are you ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."

I don't know who needed to hear this today. But I sure did.

What now, will be my question for today. And I love the sense of possibility this question brings to my soul!

Happy Thursday...

Even a great husband makes a very poor God

Last weekend, Holly and I were in Nashville, TN. Home of country music, southern twang and the very hip and happenin' Annie Blogs. (See Annie far left and Katie B. far right.)

I spoke at the Pure Glory Conference in Dickson, TN. After the conference was over, Holly and I met up with Annie and her friend over some serious southern salsa and some slightly questionable Fajita Salads.

During our time together the conversation flowed freely about all sorts of things. Blogs. Writing. Leaving your comfort zone because God said so. Biscuits. Voices that sound funny.

And then we moved on to the subject of relationships and eventually landed on marriage.

Annie is not married yet. But, she would like to be one day. So, she asked if I would consider writing a post with advice to those not yet... but will one day be... married.

I always thought marriage was all about finding the right partner. If you find "the one"- you'll be happy, secure, and fulfilled. I do think it's good to have a list of standards that you look for in a spouse.

However, it can never be with the expectation that if you find that special someone, he'll right all your wrongs and fill up all your insecurities. The problem with this thinking is the pressure it will eventually put on your spouse.

To expect another person to make you feel happy, secure, and fulfilled will leave you disappointed at best and disillusioned at worst. Even a great husband makes a very poor God.

Only God can settle those deep heart needs. A man can never do this. If a husband could meet every need his wife had, we'd have no need for God. Therefore, instead of just focusing on finding the right partner, let God work on your heart to help you become the right partner.

The time to start working on becoming a wife is now. Before the white dress, delicate bouquets, unity candle, bacon wrapped shrimp, and reception punch, there is some heart stuff to consider:

Getting married doesn't instantly make you selfless... it makes you realize how very selfish you can be at times.

Getting married doesn't make you feel loved... it makes you realize love is more of a decision you make than a feeling you feel.

Getting married doesn't take away loneliness... it makes you realize true companionship comes not when you demand it but rather when you give it to another person.

So, what does marriage give?

A chance.

A beautiful chance to make the choice to...

Laugh-
whether or not the jokes are funny.

Love-
by folding his collar over his tie every morning.

Pretend-
like you don't need flowers, but delight when he buys them anyway.

Cheer-
him on through both failures and successes.

Tell-
him he's a great man everyday.

Thank-
God for the privilege of being his wife.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay Bloggy friends...
Time to pipe in and share.

What should Annie and her friends know about marriage?

He gets his athletic ability from his mom

It's a Holly Day!

Look what my son, Ethan, and his friends worked on while I was with Lysa at a speaking engagement recently.

Yes ma'am, he gets his athletic ability from me. Personally, I love the shot from the trash can the best. And yes, just in case you were wondering, this is the same son who was playing in the trash can a few months ago.

Lysa is begging me to make our own version of crazy basketball shots. Oh my, now that would be interesting....what do you think?

Enjoy ~ and remember God loves you. When you tap into the depths of His love your life will be forever changed.

GO Phillies!

One day at a time

Thank you for all that helpful insight on blogging from Friday's post. I laughed with those of you who admitted to being nosey. Aren't we all? Thank you for taking time to let me know why you blog, why you read blogs and where you are from.

Y'all we hit almost all 5o states and many countries. How fun that our blogging community is from so many different places.

I also promised in Friday's post that I would give you a little update on the reason I've been asking you to pray for me and one of my daughters lately. To sum it up in one simple to understand sentence, middle school can be stinkin' hard.

I hated middle school. It was one of the worst times of my life. I constantly felt my life was like one of those snow globes. As soon as things would settle and seem normal, something would come along, turn life upside down, and pieces of my scattered world were suddenly tumbling all around me.

Interestingly enough, my daughter who is in middle school right now, collects snow globes. Oh the ironies of life. And her life has taken some upside down turns lately. Friendships, academics, emotions- they all seemed to be in constant upheaval.

I know a lot of this is normal for middle school. I've lived through the angst of these years with my two sons and my oldest daughter. But with this particular child, I was sensing a change was going to be needed.

For over 3 years, she has been attending a small Christian school that I love. The classes are small. The students get lots of attention and hands on learning. And they start everyday with a beautiful devotion time. This seemed to me, to be the very best environment for her to be in.

But this year, things just started falling apart. Doors started closing. And as much as I wanted to force the doors to stay open and to make things work for her in this small schooling environment, I knew I had to back off. I love to fix things... a.k.a. control things to make them easier to deal with.

Then the Lord started challenging me to turn all my fix-it energy to prayer and embrace what He was doing. I won't lie, it was very hard.

Things unfolded that I didn't want. Tears were shed over things I could have fixed but knew the Lord was challenging me not to. And then one day, my precious, full-of -life girl, refused to get out of bed and go back to school.

So, I embraced another option. The option the Lord had been impressing on my heart that I'd been so resistant to even considering. I took her by the hand and walked into the halls of our local public middle school containing over 1400 kids.

I got her enrolled and watched the tears roll down her cheeks as it was time for me to leave her in her first class.

I pressed a card full of handwritten Bible verses into her back pack that I had also doused with my perfume that morning. I reminded her that every time she smelled it, to remember the many, many prayers I'd be praying for her all throughout the day. I gave one last hug and walked away.

Everything in me wanted to run back and whisk her away. I think just about everything in her wanted me to do some whisking as well. But I knew the Lord was challenging both of us to embrace this. To trust Him. To lean not on our own understanding but to press in to His.

And you know what? She survived.

She got into her big brother's car that afternoon where I was waiting on his cell phone. Breathlessly she exclaimed, "It was great. I made two new friends but I don't remember their names. I didn't like my first or last class but I can deal with those. I loved everything else."

Now, I'm no fool. I know there will be hard days to come. But our plan is to keep embracing what God has for her today. To trust Him with today. And then tomorrow. And then the next day.

What are you having to trust God with right now?

Remember...

One day at a time. We can't let fears or worries over tomorrow steal our joy for today.

One prayer at a time. We can't forget the source for all wisdom, perspective and peace is but a prayer away.

One step of faith at a time. If I'm going to call myself a woman of faith, I'm going to have to be willing to live a life that actually requires a little bit of faith.

Off to write some more verses and spray some more perfume...

Happy Monday.

Blogging

Today, I am doing some research and I need your help. I'd like to write an article on blogging and would love to get your input.

Just 2 years ago, if you would have asked me what a blog was, I would have looked at you a little glassy eyed. One word would have described my knowledge of blogging: clueless. And one word would have described my interest in it: none.

Now, it is one of my favorite parts of ministry.

The other day a friend asked me why I blog. I loved the chance to answer this question because it challenged me to stop and think for minute. And thinking is good. I once heard if you keep your mind engaged in activities that require thinking it reduces your propensity for going senile.

I have no scientific data to back this up. However, seeing as I find myself being quite forgetful sometimes, I've decided I better step it up in the thinking department of life.

Like the real kind of thinking and pondering. Not the grocery store kind of thinking where you try to figure out if sugar cereals actually have more sugar than the healthy cereals. It can be a tricky exercise.

Or the kind of thinking that is required when buying things at Costco. Is it cheaper to buy a year's worth of paper towels which are .0427 cents cheaper per square foot than your grocery store brand? Because then you have all this extra money tied up in paper towels just to try and save a buck or two later. But then again, what are you going to do with that extra money you are saving on paper towels... invest it? Good luck.

And my husband wonders why my trips to the grocery and the Costco exhaust me so!

Anyhow, that's not the kind of thinking I'm talking about. I'm referring to the kind of introspection that requires me to take a look at why I do certain things. Like blogging.

So, I thought it might be interesting to ask you two questions today.

1. Why do you blog? (If you don't have a blog, either say why not or just skip to question 2.)

2. Why do you read blogs?

And I really want to throw in one more question even though I said I'd only ask you two questions. See what thinking can do? It just opens up all kinds of cans of worms!

3. What state are you from? (And if you aren't from America, what country are you from?)

If you are normally a reader and not a commenter... today it is time to come out from shadows and share sisters, share! Just click on the word "comments" below and follow the prompts. If you aren't a blogger, click on the anonymous button and you won't have to register.

I can't wait to read your input.

And be sure to tune in next week.

I've been doing some cooking and plan to feature some of your recipes! And I'll give you a little update on the situation you were so sweet and prayed over for me.

We'll also try to solve the mystery of a certain necklace that just showed up in my closet one day. And best of all, we will be having a "Holly-day!"

Happy Weekend.

The Girl Who Thought She Could Fly

I still remember the rickety tables in the big banquet room. My Dad was in a meeting in the Board room across the hall. So, it was my perfect chance.

I climbed up onto the top of one of the tables. Stretched my arms as far as I could, closed my eyes so tightly shut the my nose crinkled, flapped my arms and whoosh.

For exactly 1.2 seconds I was a bird. Weightless. Breathless. Free.

Then the reality of gravity rudely interrupted all my determination. And there might have been some sort of crying, blood, and stitches that finished out this little adventure that night.

But oh those 1.2 seconds were glorious. Without the weight of the world. Without people telling me I couldn't. Lost in my own unconventional dream.

Like a roller coaster free-fall mixed with the thrill of Christmas morning. Oh to be a girl again. Minus the blood and stitches of course.

And I'm fully aware that we moms are not really supposed to live out our childhood dreams through our kids... but really who can resist this:

Thank you "Painted Bunting Project" of 2008 for helping me remember the thrill of being a girl again.

And in case you are wondering if Brooke in fact did this little project on her own, notice the spelling of Bunting above. You gotta love that girl.

Now speaking of loving some girls, I just have to say again that I treasure the fact so many of you let us all peek inside your blog worlds for the "Getting to Know You" writing contest of sorts.
These are the other entries that fit the specific projects that are on the table right now at P31:

2 Kimberly

17 Luane

205 Imperfect

252 Lisa

This was such a hit, I think we will do it again sometime soon. That is if I can stop being tempted to put on Brooke's Painted Bunting costume and try... try... try... for another one of those 1.2 seconds. Smiles!

These aren't your grandma's Aerosoles

I'm sorry, but when many of you suggested that I look at Aerosoles during my recent shoe crises, I gagged.

Horrible, I know.

I had a picture in my mind that we won't go into. Except to say that I pictured Aerosoles looking like a tacky version of a black tennis shoe I once wore. Key word there: once.

So, I come today in full repentance and humble apology. Because Aerosoles have gone stylish y'all. They got game, as my boys might say.

May I present you with a delight to both my toes and my fashion desire...

I found mine on sale at the Steinmart. And then Holly ran right out and found her some too. I love that. It assures me that my fashion sense has not failed me.

Here is the official description: A tailored mule with a striking square toe and ornamental gunmetal buckle. Ultra soft sueded lining and extra cushioned footbed on a 2½" heel and flexible rubber sole.

Here is my description: Whether you are wearing jeans or pants, these shoes will help you on "those" mornings. You know the ones where you are about to rip your hair out and a few strands of any people standing too close to you? Yes, those mornings. These shoes require no thought... no consideration. They are hip, stylish, and comfortable. They will soon be your foot's BFF.

If you don't have a Steinmart, I found them on sale at this website.

And really, I think I might have missed my calling.

I should totally help Aerosoles write the descriptions for their shoes. So, if you work for Aerosoles or you are like the owner of said company, have your people call my people. I heart your shoes. The end.

(Note to writing friends... I will post more numbers tomorrow. Sorry for the delay. I spent too much time flitting around in my new aerosoles yesterday to get all organized. The end. Again.)

The smell of trust

This past weekend, when I was reading your entries, I was particularly struck by something Joy said her mother did when she was younger.

If Joy was troubled by something, her mom would dab some of her perfume on her daughter's wrist. Her mom told Joy this could be a reminder of the fragrance of her prayers that she would be lifting up for her throughout the day.

Truly, this was one of the most tender things I've ever heard of a mother doing for her child. I love this idea. And I plan to put some of my perfume on my daughter's wrist today. Actually, all three of my daughters.

Today, in the TerKeurst's home, trust smells like a light blue bottle from Gap called, "Dream."

2 Timothy 1:12, "...I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day."

believed... to have confidence in the truth

convinced... persuaded of; very sure; certain

able... having necessary power, skill and resources; having superior intelligence

guard... to keep safe from harm or danger; to protect; to watch over

entrusted... to give over to another for care and protection


Lord, I know You. Therefore, I can have confidence in your truth. I don't have to believe your truth hoping it will be. I have absolute assurance in your promises. I have been persuaded of your truth to the point that I am certain your plans are perfect.

Only you have the necessary power, skill and resources to handle every situation we face. Only you can watch over, protect and keep safe those we love.

So, I place each of my kids in your hands today. I give them over to you for your care and protection. As a mommy this is hard. But as a child of God, who believes and is convinced that you are able to guard, protect, and watch over...I entrust my most precious ones to You.

Amen.

Amen.

And all God's girls collectively say, Amen!

Now, on to Renee's radio picks from your amazing entries. (If you missed the Getting to Know You writing contest of sorts... click here.)

43 Tasha Via

30 Leebird

8 Amy Beth

136 Amy Brooke

189 Shelley Gallamore

Congrats girls!

Don't forget to check back tomorrow. We'll have some more numbers posted for entries we are using in other ways at P31.

Happy Tuesday y'all. May it be full of good smelling wrists, and lots of trust.

Normal Redefined

Motherhood is hard.

Not that this is some kind of earth shattering news flash. But there is something I need you to pray for me if you will... and then we'll get to the blog post winners part 1 from this weekend's "Getting to Know You."

Do you ever have the kind of day where you know you have to make a decision so big that you just want to pull the covers over your head and will the sun to be delayed in rising?

That's pretty much where I am today.

In the grand scheme of things, this decision will only change life for one little person. The rest of the world will continue to zoom by with normalcy. But for this precious one, her normal is about to be redefined.

I trust God that this change will eventually be good, healthy, and full of new kinds of promises. But in the moment this change feels like a death of sorts.

And as her mother, I am grieving.

My mature mother self says, embrace this change and see it as one more way God is steering her down His perfect path. After all this change wasn't something you caused or conjured up. It found you. And it is forcing a change in direction. You've always prayed that God would make His direction clear for your children. How much more clear could He have been?

But then my immature mother self says, Grab her up and protect her from this change. Don't let go of the way you thought things would be for her. Just jump in and fix this.

Ever been there with one of your kids?

I would appreciate your prayers more than you can possibly know.

The reality is I can't stop the sun from rising. I can't fix this. I know God's plans for this child are the best even when they look so different from the way I would write the script for her life. So, today I will dry her tears. I will brush the hair from her eyes. I will ask her to trust me.

And I will place it all in the tender hands of Jesus.

Now, if you'll hold on a second while I grab a tissue, I have some announcements to make.

I have done some reading this weekend.

And I think it no mistake that I had all this reading to do in the midst of what we've been facing. You all, in one way or another, blessed me this weekend.

It was an absolute joy to get to visit with you.

My team and I have determined you all are seriously the smartest, wittiest, most spiritually sound, and fun blog community out there.

Thank you for trusting us with your writing.

I will be posting numbers over the next several days for those entries that work for the specific purposes we need at P31 right now. Today... here are the numbers that will be used for P31 radio shows in my upcoming recording.

177- Angie

166- Lisa

172- Sanja

207- Joy

222- Tina

If this is you... a big ol' congrats!

Please check back tomorrow as there are several more numbers that will be posted for Renee's recording. And then Wednesday we will post some numbers that will be used for some other P31 opportunities.

Oh and one more fun thing I must tell you about... my dear friend Sharon is hosting a very cool give away today. God used Sharon's obedience to send me some chips once in a very big way. You can read more and enter her contest by clicking here.

And thanks for your prayers today... I'll keep you posted.

Writing Radio Shows

I am blown away by the response to yesterday's post. How fun. If you haven't linked yet, feel free to still join in.

Me and my very "official team" are excited to be visiting your blogs this weekend. Please don't run around tidying things up. It's crazy how we women do that.

But if you want to set out a treat of the salty or sweet variety, that would be great. We like to eat while we read. Which might explain a few wardrobe issues I had this week. It may or may not have had anything to do with M&M's. But, thanks to Ephesians, I haven't gotten into any of these delicious, colorful evils since last weekend.

For today's post I thought it might be helpful to show you how a blog post can be transformed into one of the P31 radio shows. If you'd like to listen to one of these shows, click here.

Renee Swope and I have to write, edit, practice, record and send out 40 of these one minute radio clips every six weeks.

That's a lot of writing.

So, a few months ago I was reading this post by Shelly W when the thought occurred to me that it would make a great, practical radio show.

So, here's what I did with it:

v.76 L-1007- Practical Help from a Friend

Isn't it great when your friends love you in practical ways? Hi I'm Lysa TerKeurst for Proverbs 31 Ministries. Recently, Shelly shared with me how her friend Amy loved her in a very helpful way.

Shelly and her family had been away on a missions trip for almost two weeks. And if you've ever left home for a trip like this you know the hardest part is returning to an empty pantry and a fridge full of out of date food. So, her friend Amy prepared a delicious dinner that was waiting for them when they arrived home from their trip.

Amy had also stocked Shelly’s fridge with a few essentials for the next morning so she wouldn't have to worry about running to the grocery store.

Hearing this challenged me to take a moment to think of something I could do to love a friend or neighbor in a practical and supportive way. For more encouragement, visit Proverbs 31 Ministries at Proverbs31.org.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And that's how a radio show is born.

So, just out of curiosity... does the P31 show run on your local Christian station?

If so, did you imagine me with blond hair before you saw my picture? I can't tell you the number of people that tell me they pictured me as a blond before meeting me.

I'm totally taking it as a compliment.

Happy Weekend!

Getting to Know You

Yesterday, I had a very fun lunch with these three gals. Please meet...

Emily from Chatting at the Sky.

Kristen from An Imperfect Beauty.

The Nester from Nesting Place.

Kristen is wonderfully insightful. If you click on her post, you will see an honest vulnerability that I think all girls can relate to. The conclusion she comes to in her post from yesterday is exactly what we've been chatting about here... Jesus is enough!

Emily is witty and smart y'all! She has a passion to make sure people know that the Gospel is Good News. And she was willing to step outside her comfort zone this summer and come to She Speaks all by herself. I know you will see her books (yes, Emily, I said books) on the shelf at your local bookstore one day.

The Nester is Emily's sister and one of the most creative women I've ever met hands down. Her theme is 'it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful.' I love that. It makes people who are emotionally allergic to fabric and craft stores, like me, feel a little less intimidated. If you ever happen to go out with The Nester, beware. She will want to steal your sweet biscuit but would never ask. Thanks to Kristen who solved the dilemma and suggested we cut our biscuits in half and share with Emily and Nester.

Getting to know these gals, delighted my soul. And gave me lots of ideas for connecting their unique passions with articles that could be written for the P31 Woman Magazine and the P31 radio program.

So, I thought it might be fun to get to know you all a little better as well. I know from reading many of your blogs that there is some serious creativity, hilarity, and practical advice floating around in our little bloggy community.

Use the Mr. Linky below to link up to one or two of your favorite blog posts. They can be new or old! They can be spiritually insightful, funny life observations, or practical how-to posts. I'll spend some time over the next week reading through them.

Then I'll have a very official review board... smiles... help me pick some of your writings for upcoming opportunities at Proverbs 31 Ministries.
Happy linking!

Opportunity

If you read my post from Monday, you know that I've pretty much been parked in Ephesians this week lest I ravish all things chocolate.

And Ephesians has been good. Very good.

The circumstances that troubled me so much over the weekend are still bubbling. There are still things to pray through, talk through and consider. However, that feeling that I'm going to choke on my own breath is slowly subsiding.

I got to one particular part of Ephesians 5 and just feel compelled to share something that jumped out at me. Ephesians 5:15- 16, "Be very careful then, how you live- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity..."

Living out loud for Christ can be hard to do when issues arise. I find that my flesh wants to hunker down, retreat, and find someone to talk to that will understand my side of things.

I want to stop paying attention to those I come in contact with and I want to stop making the most of every opportunity. I just want to go through the motions being cordial, but not really reaching out.

However, when you are saturating yourself in Ephesians, God tends to interrupt your flesh feelings with His commanding truths. So, the theme of this week for me is to be hyper aware of the opportunities to reach out and love others that God brings my way.

Running into a young friend who lost her husband last year. She was checking out at Target. I may or may not have been looking for M&M's. Help her. Give to her. Love her. Make the most of every opportunity.

Seeing a friend who is seperated from her husband right now, sitting alone. Pause for her. Don't rush to accomplish those other to-do's that seem so important. Sit with her. Listen to her. Make the most of every opportunity.

Getting a call from my parents who are sitting at the airport. Looking at the 29 things I'd planned to accomplish while my kids were at school that day. Lay down your plans. Go see them. Love on them. Hug them. Look at their hands. Be thankful. Make the most of every opportunity.

Realizing a child needs help processing life in the midst of pulling everything out of the fridge to cook dinner. Decide to eat frozen lasagna instead. Hold her. Speak truth to her. Help her see things from a more mature vantage point. Make the most of every opportunity.

Getting consumed with my thoughts, my issues, and my distractions is exactly what Satan wants. He wants to me to take detours around making the most of every opportunity.

Really that's Satan's plan for all of us.

Ironically, this is the very thing my pastor spoke on this past Sunday. Yes, you know, the one where I was eating all those M&M's.

Ahem.

Anyhow, at the end of the service, this video was played. And just like those verses from Ephesians, I can't get it out of my mind.

Make the most of every opportunity. Especially when you are facing issues that seem so distracting... make the most of every opportunity. And you will be the one so very blessed.

My mom's hands

Yesterday morning I got a surprise call from my mom. She announced she was with Dad at my local airport. They had a three hour layover and wanted me to head over to see them.

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know my mom has been very sick this past year. Sick to the point of wanting to give up. The medical professionals determined she must have a severe case of Lyme disease but couldn't land on a treatment that really helped her. Then about a month ago, she found a naturpath doctor who prescribed some kind of colloidal silver drink treatment.

It instantly made me think of that man that rubbed this medication on his skin rather than taking it internally and now he is a silverish blue color. Literally, from the top of his head to his chiny chin chin, he is a walking piece of sterling.

So, I was very thankful when I personally laid eyes on my mom and saw she was not glistening in the morning sun. But for the first time in a long, long while, the sparkle was back in her eyes and she seemed like herself.

During our conversation at the airport, she mentioned the only thing bothering her now, medically speaking, are her wrists and her hands. She thinks she might have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

I was intrigued by this since my mom doesn't regularly do any of the activities that usually contribute to this problem. That's when she told me about how she sleeps with her hands tucked under her chin and they think that may be the cause.

Suddenly, my breath caught in my throat. I was no longer a part of a Carpel Tunnel discussion. I couldn't really focus on what she was saying at all. Something deep in my heart was triggered.

I remember being a little girl looking at my mom's hands. I wanted hands just like hers. But mine looked different. For some reason the playground topic of discussion that year centered on whose hands looked just like their mom's hands. Then some little playground sassafras announced that if your hands don't look like your mom's hands that means you were secretly adopted.

It sounds silly now. But at the time, it made me panic. I ran home that day and dug through the dining room drawer where my mom kept our important papers. I scanned my birth certificate with great fury. Everything seemed legitimate. But what if?

I'd long forgotten that childhood experience until yesterday.

When my mom talked about how she sleeps with her hands tucked under her chin, my heart warmed. I sleep the exact same way. I even made her demonstrate it in the middle of the airport. Yes, indeed something is very similar and familiar with our hands.

Then last night, after my girls were fast asleep, I quietly made my way into each of their rooms. And there before my eyes was a generational thread. Each of the them had their hands tucked underneath their chin.

And a deep sense of belonging welled up in me.

Why I ate 172 M&M's in church yesterday

When I was in high school, my Mom had a saying that signified trouble was brewing. "Girls, we have a SIT-uation."

To this day, this is what I hear in my head when things in life go awry.

It's what I heard in my head all weekend as I found myself troubled over an issue. I strongly dislike issues, don't you?

I think that's going to be one of my most favorite things about Heaven- there will be no issues. We'll all be happy all day long. Our hearts will be free of the entanglements that make life so complicated.

This issue bothered me so much that I didn't even feel like singing praise songs in church yesterday. My heart just felt blocked, stiffled and grumpy. I think Art could tell how bothered I was as he kept looking at me with a smile that said, "Hon... everything's going to be fine."

Meanwhile I was eating 172 M&M's. In the church y'all. And I ate them the way I do whenever I have enough nervous energy to power a small city. One by one, I bit all the hard candy shell off and then let the choclately goodness delight my tastebuds. I'm sorry, it's another thing I learned from my Mom. When you have a SIT-uation, chocolate is a must.

Holly kept encouraging me to read Ephesians. I didn't want to read Ephesians. I wanted to sit in a corner and eat another 172 M&M's.

Finally, last night, I decided that I was either going to read Ephesians or gain 172 pounds.

I'll be honest, the pound gaining option was tempting.

But in the end I chose Ephesians and I'm so glad I did. Around chapter 6 I was reminded of a truth that soothed me and helped unblock my heart. "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take a stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood... but against the powers of this dark world."

The devil is constantly scheming against us. He wants to stir up trouble, cause dissention, distract our hearts and render us ineffective for the cause of Christ. He wants us to fall prey to his bitterness and run away emotions.

Instead of fighting against each other, we must fight together against Satan. We must take everything back to the truth of God and deal with issues the way God tells us to... not the way Satan tempts us to.

Satan is our real enemy. Not another person. Not a circumstance.

And that my sisters is the truth of the SIT-uation! Now, I'm off to hide the M&M's and let God's word soothe my soul instead.

Shoes, part two

Bring up shoes and girls will talk. Who knew? And I laughed out loud when I saw Shari Braendel's comment. One of you caring, loving, kind and sneaky readers went and told on me. I feel a shopping trip with Shari coming on soon! Whoever told on me, confess! And if you live close by, we'll take you with us.

Speaking of shopping trips I have to tell you what happened yesterday. Holly and I were flying to speak at a banquet. For some reason I get my mid-west states all confused. I thought we were going to Wisconsin.

Well, it turns out we actually were headed to Minnesota. Are these states mid-west? Well, even if not, they are more in the middle and west than North Carolina. So, when we got to the airport, I became especially concerned with the fact that I was wearing flip flops. My feet just couldn't take anything else.

We landed in Minneapolis to a brisk 44 degrees. Hello cold toes.

We had a couple of hours to kill before going to speak so we planned to take some of your shoe advice and go shopping. As we made our way to our hotel, what to our wondering eyes should appear?

The MALL OF AMERICA people!!!

It's like the largest mall in the whole US of A.

We walked in, turned a corner and there before us was an oasis of shoes with the promise of warmth and COMFORT!!! It was a CLARK's shoe store. Thanks to all my bloggy friend's recommendations, I knew that was good. And to beat all, they were having a SALE!!!!!

Now this is where we have to keep a little secret from Shari. I bought clogs. If I had my camera I would take a photo. They are cute clogs but clogs non the less. And I personally know that Shari is emotionally allergic to such shoes.

I once wore some clogs at a speaking engagement and Shari immediately took me shopping once we stepped off the stage for something more "appropriate." And in Shari's defense, they were old beat up clogs. But I really never thought anyone would look at the speaker's feet for Pete's sake!

Do you? When listening to a speaker, do you even bother with looking at her feet?

Regardless, I have come to one conclusion with the whole shoe dilemma this week. The e-mail I got from my daughter last night was completely and totally worth a few bloody toes. And I quote, "I LOVE YOU! thanks so much for this week!"

When you live in a house with lots and lots of teenage hormones you sometimes feel like you might just have a slight mental breakdown. Notes like these remind me of that sweet sage advice... This too shall pass.

And when it does, I have a feeling I will miss it. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some new Clark's clogs calling my name. Happy weekend!

I am having a shoe crisis

So in all my efforts this week to look "not embarrassing," I decided to put on my fancy shoes. By fancy I mean I got them at Target rather than the Walmart. They got the big thumbs up from my teenagers. HOWEVER...

Hello, what is that? Is that blood? Oh yes. My toes hurt while I was walking around but I had no idea they were actually being squished to the point where they would turn black and blue and bloody.

So, here's my problem. My feet were made for shoes like this...

Or this... Oh yes these are really, really perfectly designed with my chubby little feet in mind.

And these aren't bad either...

So, here's the problem. It's fall, which means it's no longer summer. Which probably means, I shouldn't be wearing open-toed shoes much longer. And, of course, there is this little detail about the temperature getting cooler and cooler.

What is a girl to do? I know some people trade comfort for cuteness. But after my bloody results today, I'm not so sure I'm willing to do that.

Help a sister out. Where can I find inexpensive, high heeled (but not too high), closed toed shoes? Is there a style that looks fashionable without squishing the daylights out of my toes?

And just out of curiosity... are you more concerned with cute or comfort?

Will you be my Bingo Buddy?

Many of you wanted to know how the class went on Monday. Since I can't say the word "cool" any more... I'll say fab. I think the kids really enjoyed learning about Spiritual Gifts and discovering some of their own.

I'll be back in the classroom today talking about how our unique personalities and spiritual giftedness can be helpful indicators for the types of careers for which we are wired. I am really enjoying this opportunity this week.

I am excited that my daughter's school is doing these types of assessments early on in her high school career.

When I was my daughter's age, I went through a season thinking I wanted to be a nurse. My mom is a nurse. My sister is a nurse.

Had I taken a spiritual gifts test and seen that I actually score very low in the mercy department it would have saved me the torture of taking certain science classes that made my brain hurt and my throat gag.

Interestingly enough, Hope scored very high on mercy the other day. And guess what she wants to be one day? A nurse. It runs in the family. Only it skipped me. Sigh.

I think it is a great thing that she wants to be a nurse. It makes me feel more secure about getting older. You know that little thing where she'll have to one day take care of me? I have a feeling that I will be a wild old lady. And this whole thought makes me smile.

I can see it now.

She'll come to my old folks residence to teach some class about geriatric health concerns. Before she comes, we'll have us a little discussion on her coolness factor lest she embarrass me in front of all my Bingo Buddies or Senior Electric Slide Sisters!

And I will most certainly remind her that if I throw out "this look" she is to stop whatever it is that she's doing. Oh yes, I so look forward to those days.

Don't you think that we should have a whole wing at our old folk residence reserved for us bloggy sisters? Oh think of all the fun trouble we could get into together!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Speaking of sisters sticking together... I have a very generous friend named Melinda in the bloggy world who is doing a giveaway I must tell you about.

A couple of weeks ago, I shared a little about my healing journey from my painful past. So many of you commented and shared your own heartbreaking experiences. I believe holding secrets inside renders many, many women ineffective for the cause of Christ.

One of the things I did that helped me break free from the shame of my "secret" was to participate in a Post Abortion Bible study that radically changed my life.

This week Melinda is doing an incredible giveaway with Pat Layton's new book and Bible Study from LifeWay called "Surrendering the Secret." Whether you enter to win the resources she's offering for yourself or for your church's library... this giveaway is an amazing opportunity for many women to be helped.

To see what Melinda has going on... click here.


And don't forget to sign up to be my Bingo Buddy. Or if you are more of an Electric Slide Sister, that's great too. Happy Wednesday everybody!

Chasing Love

For those of you who popped over here from my Encouragement for Today Devotion... welcome. Within this blog post you'll find those Scriptures I promised about God's love. If you'd like to leave a comment, please click on the word "comments" at the very end of this post and follow the prompts. I'm glad you decided to visit!

A few years ago, I sat with a beautiful young woman and watched the tears stream down her face. Six months before our meeting, her world was filled with so much. A loving husband, a healthy toddler, fun friends, and a new starter home that her mom helped her decorate.

Life was full.

But some part of her heart still felt restless, unsettled, a little empty. She couldn't put her finger on it. She tried talking to some of her friends but they laughed it off as something related to hormones that would pass.

Only the feeling didn't pass.

She started to feel detached from her husband and disappointed that his love didn't fulfill her. Why couldn't he make her feel loved? She'd always thought of marriage as the ultimate love. He was going to be the one to right her wrongs, fill up her insecurities and give her a lasting feeling of love, or so she thought.

Questions bombarded her constantly... What is wrong with him? Why didn't he say what he's supposed to say? Maybe it's me. Maybe I'm not pretty enough, witty enough, good enough?

Then one day she met a man that said things she'd longed to hear her husband say. He made her feel pretty and witty. Soon, she rationalized that she'd never really loved her husband in the first place. She'd made a mistake marrying so young. This new man was her true soul mate.

She fell into his arms. A web of lies was spun. The thrill of new romance clouded her every decision.

She had not wanted to come to the women's retreat. She knew it might make her feel guilty and she was past any guilty feelings. She was just waiting for the right time to leave her husband and start over with the real love of her life.

But her friends had started to grow suspicious of her pulling back from so many church activities. So, to appease them, she went.

Over the course of the weekend, the walls she'd so carefully constructed to keep everyone at a distance and her secret safe started to crumble. By Saturday night, she sat down with me and confessed her secret.

She desperately wanted to know how I felt so full of God's love. She'd never known that kind of relationship with God. She was now convinced it wasn't the love of another man her heart craved, it was the love of God.

I think this is true of many people. We spend years chasing things in this world that we think will make us feel loved. But everything this world has to offer is temporary. Everything. The kind of love our souls crave is lasting, eternal. And only God can fill up our hearts with that kind of love.

The sad thing about chasing love outside the will of God is it invites so much into our lives that is the exact opposite of love. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 is picture of God's perfect love. It is patient. It is kind. It does not envy... it is not self-seeking... it does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth... it always protects... it always perseveres. Love never fails.

This is not a description of what is inherently ours when we fall in love with another person. It is a description of God's love. This kind of love can be ours as we become more Christ like and decide to give this kind of love. It is never focused inwardly. It is never about what I'm going to get from another person. It is deciding this is the kind of love I will give away.

The things we chase in this world are so opposite from God's love. False attempts at love will make us impatient, unkind, envious, self-seeking, resistant to the truth, reckless and temporary.

I am challenged by this. Because our souls were designed for God's fulfilling love, if we aren't staying closely connected to Him everyday, our hearts will start to feel empty. Restless. Unfulfilled.

Let us never get to the place where we think we are strong enough to not be tempted in this way. If we are all completely honest, we are only a few bad decisions away from the same kind of mess my sweet friend is now trying to untangle herself from. While I have complete hope in God's ability to restore her, the consequences of her chase for love will be severe on many levels.

Oh sweet friends, can we make a commitment together today? Can we commit to be women who recognize how crafty Satan can be and how vulnerable we are when it comes to our need for love?

And if something or somebody in this world seems appealing enough to draw our hearts away from the truth of God, we commit to being women who will readily admit it to another godly woman and ask for help.

The kind of love our souls crave will never be found in the things of this world. The only lasting and perfectly satisfying love will only be found when we stop chasing and start living out the truths of God.

I will survive

How have I survived 39 years of life without the guiding aid of my 14 year old daughter?

Somehow she has formed this notion in her head that it is suddenly her responsibility to rescue me. Otherwise I will most certainly embarrass myself in every situation. Every place we go. And then I will embarrass her, especially if her peeps from school might be around.

Which brings me to her latest rescue attempt. I will be teaching some classes at Hope's school this week. So, she has developed a sudden urgency to train me in all things cool. Otherwise I just might kill her whole high school career with the few hours I'll be spending standing in front of her class.

Here is Hope's advice with my response in parenthesis.

* Wear your cool jeans.

(I wear jeans to be comfortable not cool. And I'm not sure that is the most professional look for my brief high school teaching job.)

* If I give you this look it means stop doing whatever you were just doing.

(Thank goodness Hope will be there to monitor my every move. And to think I've been standing in front of audiences all these years without her sitting in the front row. Teaching none the less. Without her cues. Sakes alive.)

* Please don't talk to us like we are little kids. We are very grown up highschoolers.

(Yes, so grown up that you still care about whether or not people think your mother is cool.)

* Don't give homework or schedule a test.

(Ummm... I am teaching about Spiritual Gifts and I'm actually giving you a Spiritual Gifts Test with the first lesson. Bummer.)

* Please don't use the word cool.

(Hunh? I am supposed to be cool but not say the word cool. Very interesting. Especially in light of the fact that I have reached an age where I could care less about my coolness factor.)

I love you sweet Hope. We will survive. As a matter of fact, I feel so tempted to bust out in that Gloria Gaynor song. And I can throw in some pretty bad mama jama dance moves as well.

Come on... you know you think that would be very cool.

Y'all are seriously smart!

Oh do I have some reporting to do.

First, I will be speaking in both Chicago and Atlanta this weekend and would truly appreciate your prayers. Holly would also really appreciate your prayers as she tries to keep me straight. You know all "those" stories I share about my kids... the apples don't fall far from the tree.

Speaking of kids...

Brooke was not deterred by the shut down of her sugar factory restaurant. She marched in from school and announced she was highly disappointed in whoever "stolded" her lunch.

Ahem.

She went on to proudly announce her entrepreneurial efforts are still alive and kicking. She is now officially doing hair for those willing to pay with rocks.

I am hiding all my scissors and will be doing random checks of backpacks. Pray for me to be able to stay one step ahead of this little sprite!

On another note, there is a delightful pop up camper fully set up in my front yard. This might be the only way for hubs and I to be able to do that fall getaway we've been dreaming of. Rednecks do vacations fancy y'all.

I mean really nothing speaks romance like a pop up camper- in your front yard- with no bathroom or running water.

On a completely different note, y'all are seriously smart with your book introduction advice. Thanks to you, I wrote one for my next book, "Becoming More than a Good Bible Study Girl."

And I thought it only fitting to share it with you...

This is for all 3 of you who like to read introductions:

Since we will be spending the next several weeks together as you read this book, I thought it might be helpful to let you in on a little secret. I’m a very picky book reader.

When I pick up a book, I don’t do it lightly. It takes time to read a book and time is a hot commodity in life. I’m just not into wasting it. Unless of course I happen to be fortunate enough to be somewhere that requires me to have sun tan lotion and a skirted tankini. But even then, I’m not into reading books that are full of theory but lacking in real life application.

The reality is I’ve got dishes to wash, loads of laundry to fold, kids to raise and cellulite to deal with. If I’m going to give a book some of my time I want to know that I’ll be able to relate to the author as a trusted friend of sorts and that it contains a message that will challenge and impact me.

If that’s what I want as a reader, you better believe I want to deliver that as a writer.

So what is the message I’m delivering in this book? I want to help women not only know God’s truth but also feel equipped to live it out in their everyday lives.

For too many years I was full of Bible knowledge with no idea how let the truths I knew impact my daily life. I would go to Bible Study, leave all inspired, and then come home and have a complete melt down over bleach being spilled on my favorite shirt. Or a kid’s bad attitude. Or finding out a friend betrayed me. Or gaining back the five pounds over a weekend that took me two months to lose.

How do we apply truth to this kind of everyday stuff? We are quick to say all the right Jesus answers in church, around our Christian friends and in our Bible study. But when the strains of life press against us, do we live as if Jesus really works?

I’m challenged by this. So, I wrote this book not as an expert having achieved this perfectly but rather as a friend who dared to try and become more than just a good Bible study girl.

Prayers for the very mean lunch fairy

Today I wrote a Proverbs 31 Devotion about the battle I sometimes have in my head where I bounce from feeling like a good mom to a bad mom... good, bad... good, bad... and on and on.

So, tell me what kind of mom gets half way to school and realizes this is what her youngest daughter packed in her lunch box?

Ahem.

Yes, well it seems as though my youngest talked her older siblings into taking certain liberties when they were sent to the Target to get a few items for lunches this week.

We now have an abundance of goodies that mama bear does not usually allow said cubs to buy. First, they are expensive. Second, they are crazy full of sugar. And third, a child crazy full of sugar makes a mama crazy in need of sugar and she gains weight.

So, yesterday morning one young cub was fussing at another young cub for taking snacks out of our supply and selling them on the playground at school.

Excuse me?

Yes, it turns out that the youngest likes to play restaurant. Apparently it is in her blood from her father's side. Only instead of selling her wares for money, she sells them for rocks.

Rocks! Like those things we have 15 million of in our front driveway.

All kids at school with moms who say no to sugary snacks for lunch sacks have been very happy this week. Each morning these classmates have been gathering rocks from the school yard. Then at lunch when my youngest sets up her shop, life suddenly gets quite sugary and hyper for some of these kids.

Have mercy.

Too bad the very mean lunch fairy found out about this plan. And too bad lunch pails are placed on hooks outside classrooms. For the very mean lunch fairy devised a plan to foil the sugar factory restaurant.

She flew to the local Subway and purchased a sack containing a ham sandwich and apple slices. She then made a little switcharoo much to the dismay of all the rock toting lunch friends. And of course the very mean lunch fairy blew kisses inside newly packed lunch pail before flying home with the removed sack of sugary wares.

Good mom? Bad mom?

It can wear out even the best of very mean lunch fairies.

So, here's a little list of prayers to lift your spirit and encourage your soul no matter if you are having a good mom or bad mom day.

As a mom I pray...

* I will leave behind any sins or generational strongholds passed down to me from previous generations. I am a new creation in Christ. The old has gone, the new has come! Teach me to become the mom you created me to be.
(2 Corinthians 5:17)

* God will instruct and teach me the way I should go as a mother. God, please counsel me and watch over my family.
(Psalm 32:8)

*I will cast all my anxiety on God because he cares for my children and me.
(1 Peter 5:7)

* My walk will be worthy to be followed by my children. God, please be my shield.
(Psalm 84:11)

* I would not embitter or discourage my children, but instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
(Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21)

* I would only have good things stored up in my heart so that when I speak, the overflow of my heart will be good for my children to hear.
(Luke 6:45)

To intro or not, that is my question...

Does anybody have any of those party horns we can blow? Wahooooo! I have finished writing all the chapters for my book. And for all those who prayed for me through this process, please don't stop.

Often times the editing phase is harder than the writing phase. Please keep praying. Whenever I write a book, it is like entering a battle field. A lonely battlefield. So, thank you for praying for me, my family and this project.

I will be turning the book in today but I'd like to get your input on one more thing. I am finished writing the chapters but I still need to write the introduction. But, my question to you is, does anybody read the introductions to books?

If you do, what do you like to see in the introduction... not what do the official book writing manuals say should be included. Rather, what would make the introduction worth your time to read it?

If you don't read the introduction, what do you read to help you decided whether or not to invest your time and money in a book?

Thanks for your input. Now, I need to go find a horn or two to blow myself. Oh yeah, I forgot to remind you to eat something really yummy today. The calories should never count when you're celebrating... right?