Abounding in Grace

Sunday, August 20, 2017

How Teachers Can Relate to the Frustrations of my Typical Kid

My 10-year-old has never seemed like a typical boy his age. As early as age 3, he would engage adults in conversations about topics more interesting to adults than kids. He would talk to Nana about gardening, decorating, and the weather. When with Pops, he talks about Duke basketball and mowing the lawn. He talks to his dad about space exploration, nuclear reactors, military strategy, and computers. He talks to me about theology, current events (he's especially interested in N. Korea's nuclear weapon capacity), politics, fitness, and finance - to the degree that he can understand anyway.
His favorite magazine right now is Popular Mechanics, and he also seems to like Money Magazine. He still likes Legos but primarily the programmable Mindstorm kind his dad likes best. When he was 4, he busied himself while I was homeschooling his sister by assembling his father's Lego Mindstorm kit. When he was ready to program it, he logged into his father's computer (apparently he had memorized the password by watching his dad type it in repeatedly over time) and figured out how to program the thing. Lego instructions are in pictures, and he had watched his dad to do that enough, too, I guess.

When our school hired new teachers, bought new textbooks, and replaced some chairs, he asked how that increased spending affected the school's debt-to-income ratio. When we spend money on large home improvements, he asks me if we have enough money to do that and today asked how paying mortgage interest impacts our income taxes. He wants to start investing/trading stocks, but he keeps blowing/investing his money on Pokemon cards. He'll get frustrated if you don't take that game seriously, playing by the rules and strategizing effectively.

He likes obeying rules when he can see the utility in them. Rules that seek to maintain order and fairness are his favorite. While his room may be messy, he generally likes structure and order, so when kids his age act like kids his age by running around wild, crazy, and loud when they are supposed to be working on a project, he gets annoyed. And his biggest peeve is when boys do not follow the game rules, cheating during recess. When kids in his project group smash what they are supposed to be studying or use tools inappropriately, he gets aggravated. So, as he was relating to me about his day today, he vented his frustration over the fact that the kids in his class acted like....typical kids.

"Did you lose your temper?" I asked him?

"Yes!" he cried!

"Uh-oh - did you act out in anger and get in trouble?" I asked.

"No, I only lost it on the inside," he replied.

"Did you politely ask your classmates to follow the instructions or tell them how their behavior made you feel?"

"Yes," he said, "BUT THEY WOULD NOT LISTEN!"

"Then now you know how it feels to be a parent or a teacher who gets to endure such behavior by kids all day long. Perhaps you should show some empathy and servant-minded kindness to your teachers and other parents. You could help make their days more tolerable, even pleasant, you know." - I said (or lectured).

While I may think my little man is odd, quirky, or not quite normal, I'm guessing there is no such thing as a typical kid, for they are all wonderfully, beautifully, and uniquely made. And if they behaved according to a predictable pattern, then parenting would be too easy. May we all seek to exude more patience, harness our tempers, love without condition, and find ways to better empathize, but let him not miss out, I pray, on the simple pleasures of just being a kid.
#PracticingPatience #LearningEmpathy

My Girl is Growing Up while I'm Gaining Some Perspective

Her rough delivery left us both black and blue.
We weren't sure she would make it; her APGAR was 2.

13 years ago, she would not eat, making me so uptight.
Now she eats most everything in sight.

11 years ago, bath time could be a battle.
Now her showers take so long the pipes rattle.

10 years ago, she was all about princesses and pink.
Now she collects sports gear and cleats that stink.

8 years ago, she loved reading to her Build-a-Bears
Now she writes fiction and cooks meals she shares.

6 years ago, American Girl Dolls were her favorite toy.
Now special needs ministry brings her such great joy.

3 years ago, gymnastics consumed her time.
Now she flips for Christ; in whom her thoughts sublime.

Last year, she matured, both inside and out,
Now she leads with more faith and less doubt.

Strong-willed, compassionate, brave, and bold
What words will describe her as her years unfold?

#GrowingUp #FirstBorn

Monday, April 17, 2017

Easter Weekend 2017

Good Friday
For family devotions tonight, I read about Jesus' crucifixion as recorded in John 17. Verse 29 records Jesus taking his last drink from a sponge on a stalk from a hyssop plant (fulfilling yet another tiny detail from ancient prophecy) right before He said, "It is finished" (vs. 30) and died. After I read those verses, my mostly right-brained, usually non-detailed kid said, "The hyssop plant may also be significant because hyssop was dipped in the blood of the sacrificial lamb and used to paint blood over the door frame in a shape similar to a cross so the angel of death would pass over their house." (She was referencing Exodus 12:21-21.) Then we remembered that King David once said, "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. " (Psalm 51:7). The hyssop references all work together to "paint" a beautiful picture of God's salvation plan and shows how inspired the Scriptures really are.

Who needs a concordance to make Biblical connections and deepen understanding when you have kids who study the Bible? Praise God for planting faith, love for God, and His truth in their hearts.

I just had to bike back to my happy place today to contemplate the crucifixion of my Lord in my place.

My happy place on Good Friday

"It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”When he had said this, he breathed his last.

The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” (Luke 23: 44-47) #GoodFriday

Saturday

I know some amazingly organized and ambitious Pinterest friends who are Betty Crocker and Martha Stewart (minus the jail time) all in one. But for those moms who feel like they always fall short of that perfect standard, I am here to let you know you are not alone and make you feel better about your successes. I call it my ministry of mediocrity.

I impressed myself by actually remembering to buy Easter basket gifts for the kids this year, but I forgot to get Easter baskets. I bought cards for the grandparents, signed, addressed, and stamped them a month early, but I did not remember to send them until after the mail came yesterday, so they will all be late. I bought a new Easter wreath from Pier 1 and other spring decor, but I forgot to decorate until today. I saw eggs were on sale for 59 cents a dozen at the store yesterday, but I didn't buy them because I couldn't think of a reason why we might need them. Then my daughter asked if we could dye eggs this morning. I found three in the refrigerator and she boiled and dyed them by herself while I was trying to climb out of my son's closet where a purge fest was underway in an attempt to find something that still fit him for church tomorrow. When I came out of his room alive, thanks to the Hazmat suit, I found the mantle looking cute with three colorful eggs, thanks to our dear daughter who still treasures traditions.

My mom tells my daughter that this family would fall apart if it wasn't for her here to be the mama. Why does my mother always have to be right?

Now that my husband is finally home after an unusual period of excessive (IMO) business travel, maybe I can handle this mom gig a little better. Taking another bike ride to my happy place at sunset certainly helped clear my head.

The critters seemed excited about Easter. Orwell wanted to look festive for the occasion, so while I was changing out the wreaths on the front door to the one covered in Easter eggs, Orwell decided to wear the other one as his Easter tu-tu, but is much too big for him.

So Orwell gave up and took a nap. He wanted to build a fort like the kids often do, but he's much too lazy for all that effort, so he made do with a stool as his fort.

Easter Sunday

We got up early Sunday morning and rushed to my hometown, so the kids ended up looking inside their Easter bags (I could not find their baskets) in the van on the way to church.

We arrived at my home church early enough to recreate a photo we took 25 years ago at that same location. Back then I had just met my husband during his spring break trip to our area with the USNA Glee Club concert tour, and he had returned with a childhood friend of mine (who was also in the USNA Glee Club) for Easter weekend.

Much has changed in the past 25 years, but many other things have stayed the same. My childhood church may have grown exponentially, built new buildings, and altered their format, but their love for God and others, the faithful teaching of His word, and even the landscaping around the old building remain steadfast. Our budding romance 25 years ago may have fizzled for a season, but God resurrected it, and we were married inside this old church sanctuary 9 years after this old photo was taken. I still have big and bad hair days, and my husband still doesn't smile for pictures, but at least I stopped wearing flying nun collar dresses. Each of us has been made new by Christ's redemptive work on the cross and by His Spirit's continual work within us, and we are certainly changing with the years on the outside, but our faithful God is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

After a wonderful service at church in which I was dearly touched by the number of people who recognized me and took time to "visit" with me after church, including the senior pastor and his wife, it was the kids' turn for a throwback Easter picture. They sure have changed over the past 10 years!

We also took a some rushed family Easter pictures before the kids changed into play clothes.

The boys played Pokemon card games, and Tessa practiced her face painting skills when the kids weren't feasting, hunting eggs, or checking out all the great gifts in their Easter baskets from Nana & Pops! What a fun day it was!

Our boy spells happiness "H-A-M" Nana's spiral ham made him very happy!

Hallelujah! Christ is risen indeed! As I wrote earlier this week, the Resurrection changes everything!

Because of the Resurrection, when we are mocked, falsely accused, or slandered, we are not shaken or offended but continue to love and pray for those who oppose us.

Because of the Resurrection, when believers around the world are persecuted, even slaughtered (just yesterday in Egypt even), the gospel keeps spreading, faith keeps increasing, and the church keeps growing.

Because of the Resurrection, injuries and diseases may break the body, but they cannot break the spirit.

Because of the Resurrection, when human liberties are trampled by corrupt rulers, the soul keeps soaring freely.

Because of the Resurrection, death means “see you later” instead of “goodbye forever”.

Because of the Resurrection, thieves may steal our possessions, and injustice may take away our livelihood, but nothing can rob us of our joy.

Because of the Resurrection, the meek and lowly will be raised up, the sick will be made well, the weak revived, the lonely comforted, and the lamb will lie next to the lion in peace.

Because of the Resurrection, love wins in the end!

Because of the Resurrection, our chains have been broken, our sins are forgiven and forgotten, and we become new creations.

Because of the Resurrection, we stand firmly on the solid rock and have certain hope in that which lasts forever.

Because of the Resurrection, there is no fear of death or condemnation for those in Christ.

Because of the Resurrection, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us to the cross, the grave, and back to life here and to Heaven again.

Because of the Resurrection, death has been defeated, and we get to live with Him in righteousness forever, if we so choose.

Friday, April 14, 2017

2nd Track Meet

So our little track & field novice, who still insists on competing in the tall person events, just finished 1st place in all 3 of her events at her 2nd track meet ever.

While I love to watch her sprint and jump, I'm much more impressed by the integrity and loving kindness I saw displayed by these teams while I was volunteering out on the field today. When the girls weren't racing against each other, they were caring, sharing, and making friends with their competitors. It's not so much about who wins the race but about how well they love others with grace.

I enjoyed helping run the stopwatch and cheer my head off for our runners. After the meet, we were asked to bring Lily home, but we brought her to our house instead for dinner. I had nothing planned, but my girl insisted she and Lily would cook dinner. She ended up spending the night, and they made pancakes for breakfast, too!

Note: If my daughter invites you over for dinner, she may talk you into helping her make dinner, and you will have so much fun you will never know you just blessed me by doing a chore I dread.

I promise I tried to serve our guest as Southern hospitality requires, but my daughter makes household chores so much fun, maybe her next guest will beg to clean our bathrooms!

Monday, April 3, 2017

Words You Can't Take Back

I am vehemently OPPOSED to giving kids (or teens for that matter) smart phones. As long as they live in my house, I get to choose if they have smart phones, and even if they they pay for the phones and the monthly service, they are presently not allowed! When we do let them have smart phones, they will pay for the monthly fee and we will be the administrators, with sole permission to set passwords, install monitoring and blocking software, freedom to inspect every app, email, browser history, and the right to take them away at any time for disciplinary purposes.

I could write a lengthy thesis citing reams of research explaining why I feel so strongly about this issue, covering everything from mental, spiritual and physical safety concerns to lifelong damage done to brain development. Cyber bullying, low self-esteem, increased suicide rates, pornography, child predators, identity thieves, sexting, severely hindered development of social and communication skills, lack of tenacity or patience, and inability to develop meaningful relationships or to filter one's words all negative outcomes being realized in detrimental ways as Millennials who grew up with smart phones in hand are entering the workforce.

Some links to consider:

It’s ‘digital heroin’: How screens turn kids into psychotic junkies

No electronics because I love you and want to spend time with you

Before I had completed my research on the matter, however, our daughter had saved up enough of her own money to buy an iTouch. It's not a phone, and we have very strict monitoring and blocking software on it, so at this point, she can only text friends, receive a limited number of emails, and go to websites we authorize, none of which can have buttons or links to social media sites. We also have our home internet secured with blocking technology to limit whatever friends and family can access when connected to our home internet.

Despite all those safeguards, we still monitor her texts. She must put her iTouch on the charger in my husband's office every night, knowing we could read all her texts. The parents of her texting friends also monitor their group chats, and we keep each other informed of any texts that seem insulting or convey anything other than a kind and gracious tone. The girls are learning that words on a screen do not convey body language or voice inflections, so it's very easy to misinterpret someone's words based on how one girl might be feeling about herself that day.

When we see conversation going south, we take advantage of those teachable moments. One mom misinterpreted something my daughter had said as hurtful. Upon further investigation, it seems like more of a misinterpretation than hurtful comment with any intention of being unkind. Even so, kids need to understand that when they joke around with each other with nicknames and such, they must do so while edifying each other, for no joke is funny or permissible if it hurts someone else.

To illustrate the power of words sent via any web based platform, whether email, text, or social media, I bought a brand new tube of toothpaste and told my daughter to squeeze out all the toothpaste, which represents our words. Then I told her that we accidentally said something we regret, so we want to put that portion of the toothpaste back in the tube. But there is no way to take back words that go out into the web. Copies are saved by servers and users at any number of levels. Even the federal government, Obama's shadow government, Google, Amazon, every social media platform, smart TVs and household appliances, and any "smart" device with web access are savings and/or tracking whatever we say or do. Be careful. Think before you speak.

March Birthdays

If I'm going to keep this family blog journal going, I need to start with November 2016 to catch up, but I seriously doubt that time for that will ever come, so I'm just going to post when I feel like it henceforth. Family, church, ministry, maintaining my health/fitness, work, and other writing venues have scooped up all the time I once allocated to blogging. And now that I can print my Facebook feed, it has become my new source for family scrapbooking. So for this private blog, I'll focus primarily on things I would not feel comfortable sharing with my Facebook friends.

March feels like Christmas for our family. We have family members celebrating birthdays on March 3rd, 7th, 9th, 20th, 19th, 25th, two birthdays on the 29th, and 31st. I should probably also include our bunny whose birthday we also celebrated on March 22nd. It's non-stop partying around here in March.

We traveled to China for 10 days this month, so that felt like one long festival as well.

Our daughter turned 13 this month. Her celebration began early when Nana and Pops came up to help her celebrate. They brought her a cookie cake and took her out to eat at Chipolte.

They also brought gifts from family and friends from my hometown.

Since her actual birthday was the day before we left for China (when I knew I would be scatterbrained and VERY BUSY packing) and the same day as her basketball team's final celebration party, I had coordinated with the coach and team mom to make it a joint basketball/birthday party. But I somehow managed to put the ending time of the party as the starting time in my phone calendar, so we arrived right after everyone had left. I had this huge cake to share with all the teammates and family members, and we were catching a flight for China in less than 12 hours. What a waste. We were both very disappointed, and I earned the Mommy Fail award for the year.

So we took her out to eat at Moe's (she's apparently into Tex-Mex these days) and opened gifts at home, and I got almost no sleep that night before our early departure the next morning.

Then on the last day of the month, which was our youngest nephew's birthday (on my husband's side), we had a belated birthday party for her which involved dinner at Which Wich, homemade cookie cake (that makes 3 birthday cakes for her 13th not counting the gourmet cupcake just for her) by her mama who has zero artistic talent and minimal domestic skills, shopping at one of the very popular, very large shopping centers nearby that looks "cool at night" in her estimation, makeovers at Ulta, buying matching, obscenely overpriced water bottles/canteens at Omega Sports, teens terrorizing Target, and feasting on more dessert at Smoothie King and Yolo.

Her party idea seemed simple enough in terms of planning, but I felt like I was wrangling toddlers at times and was exhausted by the time it ended...which was much later than I planned because the girls kept calling their parents to tell them to pick them up later. I'm realizing more and more how our ability to control our kids diminishes as they grow older. They were actually well behaved, but I think the store workers get freaked out anytime a mob of talkative teens walk in. The Ulta staff were afraid these girls might steal something. They don't know our girls at all. They would be much more likely to buy all the staff lavish gifts, even if it meant skipping meals just to afford it.

The next birthday within our own family was Muffin's! She turned three years old. While we had plenty of cake leftover from our daughter's birthday, she obviously could not eat it, so our daughter made her a muffin shaped, muffin sized, Muffin-safe cake comprised of pellets, lettuce, carrots, hay, and green pepper seeds to look like sprinkles on top.

My husband celebrated a birthday on the same day as our youngest nephew on my side. Here is photo of the two birthday boys back in 2011 and a collage of old photos my mother-in-law provided. What a handsome boy and young man my hubby was/is!

I made him a pathetic looking lemon pound cake and served it with icebox lemon pie ice-cream. As always, he wanted to to go Chili's for dinner. When we arrived, I realized my son was wearing a silly silkscreen t-shirt with a cat inside a cheeseburger that reads, "Cheese-purrger". Just as I was telling my son he should wear something nicer than play clothes when we go out to eat, the waitress brought his entree and commented on how well his dinner matched his shirt. He also noted that his father was also wearing a silkscreen t-shirt. I lost that debate for sure.

I also wrote my husband a cheesy poem for his birthday but was too embarrassed to share it on Facebook for more than a few minutes, so here it is in a more private setting for our amusement.

Thank you, Lord, for this awesome man.
Whom I met as a result of your sovereign plan.

I was drawn to him when our eyes first met.
On that fateful weekend we will never forget.

I wanted him then, but You told me, "No."
"For you have much to learn and seeds to sow.

When your satisfaction is wholly in Me,
And you know the truth that will set you free,

Only then can you wed and unite as one.
With eyes ever fixed on your Savior, My Son."

Four years went by, and we stayed far apart.
While the Spirit kept molding me and filling my heart.

I met someone else who I thought I would wed,
I told the sailor, for my hopes for "us" were dead.

But that handsome sailor who I had loved so long.
Suspected I might be completely wrong.

We were meant for each other, it had to be true.
So four more years later, he found me, out of the blue.

I had remained single, and the timing was right.
Now I could wed the one I "loved" at first sight.

As we said our vows, we felt God's pleasure.
The love we've shared since has been beyond measure.

He knows when I'm wrong like he did back then.
And patiently leads me to the truth again.

He treats me far better than I ever expect.
And deserves all my devotion, love & respect.

Happy birthday, beloved!

Thursday, December 8, 2016

The Power of the Incarnation Means No Blanket Required

My daughter and I take turns on Sunday mornings volunteering with our church's special needs ministry. She serves during one service, and I serve during the next. We usually work one-on-on with children to help them integrate into standard classrooms. We've worked with kids who have Down's syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, autism, and a wide array of physical or mental handicaps.

The child we've been working with lately is gifted with an exceptionally brilliant mind. At age four, she reads, memorizes, and comprehends at levels higher than many kids twice her age. However, she has sensory processing issues and possibly other diagnoses (TBD) that often leave her in a puddle of tears and tantrums by the end of the last hour.

This past Sunday was different. She kept telling the Christmas story (the entire story with details few adults remember to include) while moving magnetic figures on the class dry erase board to illustrate the story as she spoke. She took such delight in telling the story that when it was time to present the class lesson, we began by having her share the Christmas story with the rest of the class. She was very dramatic in her presentation and completely captivated the attention of the other kids. She also led us all in singing the Christmas songs from her Christmas CD at home. That child knew every word. While she never ceases to amaze us with her intellect, what truly astounding me this past week was that she stayed so calm, not just while presenting her portion of the lesson, but also throughout the class period. She usually carries various therapy toys or implements in her hands which help calm her, but this time she did not want or need any of them.

She connected with me for the first time that day in a way that let me know almost intuitively what she needed and what to avoid because it might cause her stress. But the stress she usually feels was absent that day.

The miracle that morning, which flowed out of her repeated telling of the Christmas story, reminded me of the segment from A Charlie Brown Christmas when Linus tells the audience what Christmas is all about. When Linus appears in Charlie Brown comics, he is almost always carrying a blue security blanket. But when Linus recounts the angel's appearance to Mary and cries out, "Fear not!" (Luke 1:30), he dropped his blanket and continued telling the rest of the story without it.

"The birth of Jesus separates us from our fears.

The birth of Jesus frees us from the habits we are unable (or unwilling) to break ourselves.

The birth of Jesus allows us to simply drop the false security we have been grasping so tightly, and learn to trust and cling to Him instead." - Jason Soroski

After recounting the Christmas story with great joy and leading us all in worship songs, our little friend needed no coping devices in her hands to help her stay calm. The things that usually upset her did not phase her. She was at perfect peace. That's the power of the incarnation at work! No blanket required!

²⁶And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
²⁷To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
²⁸And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
²⁹And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
³⁰And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
³¹And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
³²He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
³³And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. (Luke 1: 26-33)

A mural along the marketplace walls in Bethlehem (January 2016)

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Fall Festival and Trick-or-Treating for Halloween 2016

FALL FESTIVAL

Too old for the Fall Festival, she gladly volunteers her time to help the kids enjoy their night.

You might be friends if you show up at the fall festival wearing the same costume and didn't even plan on matching.

If you are wondering where my son's face mask/sash is.....well...that's a funny story. I came across that black piece of fabric in the laundry room with 4 ties and could not figure out what in the world it could possibly be (never realizing it was part of a costume). After examining it more closely, I decided it was the perfect shape and fit to tie around Muffin's behind as a sort of bunny diaper.

When I saw his friend wearing one just like it tonight, I finally realized what it was. Oops! Lucky for him I never got around to using it on the bunny, so he will be all set on Halloween.

The thoughtful consideration of kids like our boy by our church fall festival coordinators means that I did not get to eat a pile of Reeses cups that night.

I know it isn't nice to make friends jealous, but y'all, I just had to share. Look who showed up at church tonight and agreed to take a photo with me. And get this - he didn't even require me to first give large sums of money to the CF or other slush fund to gain access to him.

HALLOWEEN

Muffin dressed up as American Girl doll, Felicity.

I'm not sure what our daughter was supposed to be dressed up as, but whatever it is, I would not let her out of the house wearing it on any other day of the year.

The kids had another candy weigh-in competition this year. For the second year in a row, the first born won! He had 3 pounds, 2.6 oz. She had 4 lbs., 11.6 oz. Given how terrible candy is for the immune system and overall health, I'm not sure if the winner is really the loser.

High School Mini- Reunion

I helped coordinate a small high school reunion in October. This reunion was intended to be casual. The next one in five years will be big and fancy.

I've aged 20 years in the last five years, but I skipped having my hair and make-up done, for truly, why should I care what everyone else thinks about my outward appearance anyway? My value is found in Christ alone and any beauty that truly matters should come from the Spirit radiating through me, not from outward adornments.

³Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— ⁴but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. (1 Peter 3:3-4)

With the most divisive presidential election in my lifetime involving nationwide violence and heated exchanges on social media and across the extremely biased and corrupt mainstream media networks, I was concerned that the reunion would be filled with political conflict. One classmate in particular had shared some fighting words with me over social media, so I was especially concerned how conversations would go with him, so I prayed that politics would be kept out of the evening. And for the most part they were. Actually, what happened that evening was miraculous. My political polar opposite classmate greeted me warmly and asked me to say a blessing before our meal. What public school has ever had a group blessing before the meal? The thought of praying corporately never occurred to me. This guy who attended "church" with Hillary Clinton, majored in religion, and insisted I was wrong when I simply stated that all God's words were true.....calling me arrogant while acknowledging that he is essentially shaking his fist at God and insisting that He was wrong when he wrote the inspired word and that the church could win a lot more souls if He had left out the unpleasant parts....you know...about sin and judgment...the whole reason Jesus came to earth and what the gospel of salvation is all about. But I digress....

So on the fly, I publicly thanked God for the roots we all share....same experiences, same hometown, same school, same teachers, same commitment to unity and to loving one another. Something like that anyway.... and the evening was so much fun without any disputing whatsoever. Thank you, Lord!

Our primary reunion planners (I just took care of registration & internet marketing)

I was known as the goody-goody in high school. I never really felt like I belonged in any one clique, and we certainly had a cliquey school. I just tried to be a friend to everyone without labeling myself or others. I may have felt distanced as a result, but God used it for my protection. The ladies shown below were always nice to me, however, both then and now.

Such sweet ladies

I really wish I had spent more time getting to know A, the nice lady in blue pictured above. Maybe she was just making flattering small talk, but what she shared with me at the reunion touched me deeply. She said she always watched me in high school and knew I was different and was inspired by me. She said she reads my blog posts as part of her devotional time and that she has been hosting international students as a form of ministry for the past 12 years, since she did not expect to have the resources to travel globally. I never hosted an international student for a lengthy period of time at all, so I'm not sure how I could have influenced her to do that. No, the Lord both inspired and prompted her to love the nations in that way, but if she saw the Lord in me, then all glory to God because far too often, I find myself quenching the Spirit and speaking or acting in the flesh and not the Spirit.

I shared how she had encouraged me with the 12 and13 year old girls in our Bible study group as a reminder to them that others are always watching them and learning from them, and that if they choose selfless love over self-interest and do the hard thing God wants them to do, even without any reciprocation or maybe even being persecuted for it at the moment, their classmates will grow-up and develop immense respect for them when they are older. And God will always reward them for their faithfulness. How I want to encourage them to keep that eternal perspective!

Ben (who traveled from Arizona to attend) & Pete

I haven't seen Christine since high school, but I was thrilled to learn that she is teaching now. No doubt she is called by God to that vocation. Teachers are heroes!

The guy pictured below in red may disagree with me on politics, but we both agree that his Boy Scout Troop makes some delicious venizon chili. I'm so glad they shared their cooking talents with us.

I never expected to bring a spider bread plate to an event, but Halloween was approaching!

I always have to give props to my long time friend, Craig (pictured at left in photo below). We attended church and school together since 6th grade. We went through confirmation together, co-led the high school youth-group, served together in student government, did music ministry together in nursing homes, and I even accompanied him on the piano during his All-State music competition. He made it! My closest friends had crushes on him, so I was often playing matchmaker for him, but oddly enough, he is the reason I met my husband! The whole story is summarized in the Our Love Story series on this blog in which I referred to him as "Curly".