This little guy makes us laugh, chuckle, shake our heads . . . every day. These pictures have not been photo-shopped! Hope they make you smile.
She’s Moving In With . . .
A Boy! And he now has the apartment to prove it!
With only a few weeks to go until the wedding, plans are moving along, right on schedule. This weekend the newlywed apartment become reality as the blending of his and hers comes together. I must admit, this is fun to watch.
Our daughter has successfully and completely revealed all her hidden shoes to her fiancee. Somehow the master bedroom closet is not quite as large as they had hoped. But they will make it work.
Step by step, they have investigated, researched, planned, and done an amazing job of making this next storybook chapter a reality. This precious couple has determined their priorities, continue to set their budget and make adjustments where needed, but keeping the important things, the important things. As parents, we are so blessed to watch our future son-in-law “count the cost” of putting together a new family and a new home.
As believers, all new endeavors require some basic planning (whether it’s something as serious as getting married, or changing your job, or as basic as buying a new car). Jesus makes it very clear in Luke 14:25-33:
- Decide if you are on Jesus’ side. Will His Word be your authority and your wisdom for the decisions you are making? (Luke 14:26)
- Own the decision you do make. “Carry your own cross.” (Luke 14:27) Once you decide, follow through. Don’t give up. Own it.
- Count the Cost. Plan the plan. Get wisdom. Do some research. Talk to others for counsel. Make sure you know the steps to take. Pray! (Luke 14:28)
- And then again, give up everything . . . that you think you know and trust the Lord AGAIN! He will see you through and continue to guide, direct and help you. (Luke 14:32)
A very wise man has said, “Every successful Christian endeavor begins with prayer.” From the beginning, through the middle and even as the plan unfolds, pray. Wisdom will come. Success will follow.
Real Love Loves First
Real loves makes the first step . . .
Toward breaking the silence
And asking for forgiveness.
Real love thinks more highly of others and looks out for their interests (Phil 2:3)
And gives the benefit of the doubt.
Real love cleans the kitchen, and makes the bed, and takes out the trash
Even when it’s not really your “job.”
Real love meets at the hospital. And waits. And waits.
And prays.
Real love gives time and energy to another’s life celebration.
And then serves ice cream too!
Real love gets over it
And forgives. Really forgives.
Real love saves the last piece of cake.
Real “love is patient and kind . . . It does not demand it’s own way.” (1 Cor 13:4-5)
Real Love Loves First
‘God showed us how much He loved us by’ . . . . loving us first. ‘This is real love . . . ‘ 1 John 4:9-10
Real love.
“Real” defined is “actually existing as a thing or occurring in fact, not imagined or supposed.”
The other night we were eating Braum’s ice cream with our son, a celebratory ice cream sundae really – He has just very successfully finished his sophomore year at college. We were talking about the difference between loving with words and loving with action. Loving with action – real love – is the backing up of your words. For example, “If there’s anything I can do for you, please let me know.” We have all said that to someone — probably lots of someones. I know I have. And when I said it, I really meant I would want to know. Really.
Haven’t we all said that? Somewhere? Real love means it when the “What I need” is help loading a truck to move into a new apartment. Real love is making a meal for someone and delivering it to their house. Real love is sitting with someone recovering from a difficult chemotherapy treatment. (Often words are not needed – just your presence). Real love is babysitting for your friends so they can go on a date. Real love is words in action.
I am blessed to know people who put love in action, and as I wrote each of those examples, I could picture precious, special friends who have done each of those things.
The love of God makes it possible for us to lay down our agendas for another.
Next time, my question will be: What can I do for you today that would make a difference for you?”
“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.“ (John 15:13)
Something old. Something new.
It was only fitting that Nicole and I would be huddled together in my closet, on the floor. We were looking through my jewelry box — years of collected treasure at our fingertips. We were on a hunt for something specific and precious.
Something old . . Something borrowed. I believe we found both. It may take some creativity to make it work, but I think we can. We looked through so many years of gifts and memories — from the first Christmas gift Scott ever gave me to our high school class rings, homemade bracelets from my kids, and then we found something I wore on my wedding day. A perfect find. Just what I was looking for.
I will remember this evening for a long time.
Everything about Nicole’s upcoming wedding is right. The man. The timing. The excitement. There are no questions about any of those things. And yet, there are still moments when we find ourselves asking each other, “How are you doing?” Some pieces of this beautiful story are so significant in our lives, that we catch ourselves taking deep breaths, holding back a tear or two (or not), and then relishing every emotion that we experience.
Our sweet Nicole is about to embark on a wonderful chapter in life. We are thrilled. We are pleased. We are satisfied in her decisions. And oh so confident that she will become a most amazing wife to an outstanding husband.
And we are parents — Which means sometimes we have to sit down and catch our breath. Often we hold ourselves in check when we think about how this changes our family forever.
This is where our “something new” begins.
God is so very, very good to us.
Mommy! The Clouds Fell Down!
As a 2 year-old, my daughter Nicole was traveling with me and her little brother on an airplane to visit family in Michigan. We had been in the air for a little while and she had finished her first snack of the trip. She stretched to look out the window.
“Mommy! The clouds fell down!” As she peeked out that tiny oval window, she could only see clouds as far as she could see — below the airplane.
Perspective. It can be a funny thing. It can cause us to be a little bit off the mark, even though our intentions may be right.
These three things help me get a better look:
- Wisdom and input from others who have been in my place before. Seek out advice and a different view point. Often, there are smarter people in the room than me!
- Take a step back. Give it some time. Emotions can affect the way I see things. (Being tired can cause wrong thinking too)
- Pray. Some quiet time alone allows your spirit to settle down and give opportunity for the still, small voice of God to speak and give insight and understanding.
And if none of those work, a trip on an airplane to a tropical place could take care of it all! A change of scenery may be the answer you need!
It’s All Under Control.
One of my favorite stories in the New Testament is Mark 6:45-51. It’s probably familiar to you too. Jesus had just finished feeding the 5,000 and then the day continues:
“And at once He insisted that the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side of Bethsaida, while He was sending the throng away (from feeding the 5,000).
And after He had taken leave of them, He went into the hills to pray.
Now when evening had come, the boat was out in the middle of the lake, and He was by Himself on the land.”
Verse 48: “And having seen that they were troubled and tormented in their rowing, for the wind was against them, about the fourth watch of the night (between 3:00 and 6:00 am) He came to them [walking] directly on the sea.
And He acted as if He meant to pass by them.
Verse 49: “But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and raised a deep shriek of terror. For they all saw Him and were agitated (troubled and filled with fear and dread) But immediately He talked with them and said, ‘Take heart! I AM! Stop being alarmed and afraid!’”
“And He went into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were astonished exceedingly beyond measure.”
I noticed 3 things Jesus does here in this situation — for those He loves:
- Gave them instruction. (Get into the boat, go ahead of Me, he told them)
- Prayed for them — He sees and knows. (The boat was in the middle of the lake – with high winds and huge waves.) He had a knowing they were in trouble even though He probably could not visibly seem them. But verse 48 says, “And having seen that they were in trouble. . .” (Even though they were in a physical sense – far away – maybe even a mile or more).
- He knows how to help them and is moved toward their situation. Look again at verse 48: “And He acted as if He meant to pass by them.”) I believe He was ready to calm the storm and save them without them even seeing Him. (But He called out to them and He came close).
This same word “passed by” is a similar word used in Exodus 33:19. Here the Lord God is talking to Moses, saying “I will make all My Goodness pass before you, and I will call out My Name. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.”
No matter what’s going on today, the Lord of the universe is mindful of you. He is in the midst of your situation, and may have already ‘passed by’ with every answer you need – full of mercy and compassion.
Proverbs: Helping us pay the bills.
We are now two months away from our daughter’s wedding. We have done a lot this week: Finalized the reception menu. Addressed wedding invitations. Everyone has their wedding clothes now …. or at least they are either here or ordered. Plane tickets for grandparents are secure. Bridal portraits have been taken. The groom’s ring is in the house.
And we have more crafts complete. With just two more months to go, we are watching the goodness of God in each step. He has helped us with our finances, and we are on track to “pay as we go” and have met all timelines for deposits and continue to see every thing paid right on time. The Lord has a good track record with us for important events like this.
Several years ago, as we were getting ready for our first child to go to college, we sat down and talked about what it would take to add college tuition to our budget. This was a huge decision for us and we knew that there was a good plan for us to meet the financial obligations of putting our kids through college.
Both of our kids have been excellent students. Through high school, they both did their part to pave the way for the best college opportunities available to them by getting good grades, studying and testing well on the SAT and ACT tests. They qualified for good college scholarships. Of course, we were grateful, but we all understood this was a partnership in their future. They continued to be responsible for good grades through college, to keep their scholarships active.
Partnership. That’s what we have with God too. Proverbs 2 has proven to wisdom to us over and over again as the Lord has helped us, as we have partnered with him:
- Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Search for them as you would for lost money or hidden treasure. (Verse 4) For us, this verse teaches us to be wise in our spending; looking for better ways to save and to be open to other streams of income.
- He grants a treasure of good sense to the godly. He is their shield, protecting those who walk with integrity. (Verse 7) As we continued to give our tithes, we knew the blessing of God was protecting all that belonged to us.
- Then you will understand what is right, just and fair, and you will know how to find the right course of action every time. (Verse 10) The decisions we made, the changes we had to consider in our spending, and the ability to obey the leading of the Lord leads us to the right course of action. We know what to do.
- Wise planning will watch over you, understanding will keep you safe (Verse 11). Wise planning, counting the cost, considering the expenses and making adjustments where necessary keeps us on track.
Wisdom is the main thing — the principle thing and it’s available to you. “If you need wisdom — if you want to know what God wants you to do — ask Him, and He will gladly tell you.” (James 1:5)
Happy 95th Birthday Grandma!
Today is my Grandmother’s 95th Birthday … She’s celebrating it in heaven today (If they celebrate these birthdays there, that is).
My Grandma Szablewski (yes, a true Polish name) moved to heaven in November of last year. I have written about her before (click here) and as I look at this picture of her, I can still remember the strength and confidence with which she lived and raised her family.
Today I am reflecting on the joy she had just being with her children and grandchildren. Life may have been more simple in the 50′s and 60′s, but the responsibility to raise children who were hard workers, good students, polite, honorable, respectful and of good character required the same kind of stamina, backbone, prayer life and wisdom that is needed for every parent today.
I am thankful today for an amazing example of a woman who loved God, loved her family, and brought peace and joy to any room she entered.
If you have a grandmother that you can call today, let her know how much you love her. It’ll make her day.
Do As I Say AND As I Do
As a child, I was responsible for taking care of myself (as were my younger sister and brother) earlier than most kids my age. As a 3rd or 4th grader, I remember that it was our job to get up for school, get dressed, and eat breakfast (every day it was a bowl of cereal). My father left for work about an hour before we had to wake up. With our friends who lived next door, we walked to school. Because we lived so close, we also walked home for lunch every day and then walked back for school in the afternoon. For lunch, it was almost always our responsibility to make a sandwich, eat it and get back to school on time. My mother worked late many nights of the week, and did not get up with us in the morning, and we very seldom saw her at lunch time either. She was a late, late sleeper.
We did all right — we three siblings. But as a mom myself, I could not in a million years imagine requiring that kind of responsibility of young kids – ages 7 to 10. Nor do I recommend any parent require that of their children.
I have a personal philosophy where my kids were concerned. If I was not willing to do something, it wasn’t fair to expect them to do it. For example, if I expected my children to get up and get ready for school by a certain time, I made sure I was also up, ready to start my day. Some mornings we even had time for me to make a hot breakfast. We would have devotions most mornings, and would always pray before the kids left for school.
I enjoyed the ride to school with my kids — we laughed a lot as I remember. We had a good rhythm most mornings. I was grateful for two kids who got up with their own alarms, showered and got dressed without poking and prodding.
The kids kept their rooms clean – most of the time. I kept the house clean – most of the time. Kids need examples set before them … Being told what to do and seeing it demonstrated helps our kids learn that responsible behavior is for everyone in the family. Scott and I believed that in order for our children to develop good habits, we had to have them too. That’s our job as parents – teaching, training, demonstrating.
Kids are amazing in their ability to learn (and notice) the things adults do. Show them how to make the best choices possible.
You know the old saying, Monkey See, Monkey Do. It works.
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