Socks and Underwear

If you spend any time on the internet or watching TV,  you have most likely seen this amazing story about WestJet airlines in Canada.  Before boarding, the passengers were asked to scan their tickets and then tell the virtual Santa Claus want they wanted for Christmas.  Without second thought, the passengers then got on their plane and set off for their destination.  Little did they know that the WestJet employees were busy checking their requests, hustling off to buy the gifts, and rushing back to get them wrapped and ready for them by the time they landed in Canada.  When they arrived at the baggage claim, instead of suitcases coming down towards them, they saw neatly wrapped presents -- inside were the very items they had shared with Virtual Santa that they dreamed of getting for Christmas this year.  People received Kindles, iPhones, cameras, even a flat screen TV.  And then there was the guy who had jokingly said he wanted socks and underwear.  Guess what he got?  Yep, socks and underwear!!!  I bet he wished he had taken the virtual Santa a little more seriously as he held his socks and underwear and looked around at everyone else with new phones and TVs!

We can laugh at the poor guy, but maybe we should learn something from him too.

Before I share what God taught me through this heart-warming story, I want to add a little disclaimer:

I am NOT saying that God and Santa Claus are on the same level.  

I am NOT comparing God to Santa or vice versa.  

I am JUST passing on to you what God seemed to speak to me through this story.

How often do we miss out on receiving amazing blessings from God?

When we pray, do we really, truly believe God hears us, that He can and will answer us?

Do we pray big, unrealistic, humanly impossible prayers OR do we pray safe prayers?

Are we scared to ask God to do something because we fear He won't or can't?

If we pray "little" prayers then maybe we're more confident we'll get the answer we want.  BUT, if we pray for something that is huge, something we know only God can do, then we tend to be a little hesitant, doubting if God will do what we have asked.  At least, I know I feel that way all too often.

Right now, we are praying for a little 4-month-old baby girl named Nella.  She has been diagnosed with SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy), for which there is no cure.  Basically, her muscles will stop working.  However, her brain will be fully functioning, so she will be fully aware of the pain her body is in.  Doctors have given her weeks to months to live.  Every night, we pray for God to touch her body and heal her, completely.  And yet, I don't expect Him to.  Not if I am totally honest with myself.  

You see, for many many many months we prayed for our dear friends' little boy Levi, who had a brain tumor.  We prayed God would heal him, but He didn't.  At least not this side of heaven.  Levi went home to be with Jesus earlier this year.  

Before that, we prayed faithfully, earnestly, daringly for another sweet family and their baby boy Samuel.  He had some complications at birth such that he was deprived of oxygen.  We prayed for God to heal him, to restore his brain, to let him live and tell the amazing story of divine intervention.  For reasons I don't understand, God chose to take Samuel home to heaven to be with Him.  

When I think of God-fearing, faith-filled, passionate lovers of Jesus, I immediately think of Levi's mom Alicia and Samuel's mom Grace.  They are the most amazing women I know, living boldly and wholeheartedly for Jesus in all they do, teaching their children to do the same.  If God would answer anyone's prayers, surely He would grant Alicia and Grace their pleas to heal their baby boys.  James tells us to pray in faith, without any doubt or hesitation about God's ability to answer us.  I know Alicia and Grace did just that, every single day, all day long for that matter. And yet, God didn't do what they so desperately wanted. 

You might think that these women would walk away from their faith, turning their back on God since He seemingly did the same to them.  Far from it, they have remained strong and steadfast, continuing to love Jesus and live for Him despite the pain they experience every single day.   

These moms and two little boys have forever changed me, and many others too who also prayed for Levi and Samuel.  I tell myself if Alicia and Grace can still believe in God, so can I.  Not only that, I can trust Him to hear my prayers and answer them.  Granted, He doesn't always give me the response I want, BUT He always listens to me.  And so, I keep praying.

This WestJet story, though, reminded me that I still need to pray BIG.  I have become lazy in my prayer life, just offering up quick prayers as I rush through my day.  "Please help So and So with their marriage."  "Be with So and So as they seek Your will."  "Help my girls grow up to know You and live for You."  So generic.  Nothing specific.  Nothing humanly impossible.  Nothing only God can do.  I'm kind of like the guy who asked for socks and underwear.  I forget that I serve a God who created the universe out of nothing.  He spoke the stars into existence.  He breathed the planets.  With one word, zebras and peacocks and bombadier beetles appeared.  At His command, the Red Sea separated and the Israelites walked safely across to the other side on dry land.  The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is still at work today - in ME!  If God can do all that, then He can certainly heal baby Nella.  So, why do I doubt Him?  I shouldn't.

I need to be more like the people who asked for cameras, iPhones, Kindles, and big screen TVs.  I need to remember to whom I am praying and pray BIG.

If I pray socks and underwear prayers, I'm going to get socks and underwear answers.

Only as I "dare" to pray BIG am I going to get GOD-SIZED answers.

Won't you join me and start praying for the impossible?  After all we are praying to One for whom NOTHING is impossible!!!  We just might be blown away with the answers to prayer we get!

Less Is More

That's a hard one to swallow this time of year.

During this holiday season, we seem to have an unspoken competition to see who can get the most, do the most, be the busiest, be the most stressed.

The more presents under the tree, the happier the family.
The more parties and events on the calendar means you're a successful, popular, well-liked person.
The more elegant and fancy the dish you make, the more compliments you receive, which of course makes you a more joyful, cheerful person.

More, more, more.
We're always trying to out-do each other.

But WHY?

Maybe we don't even realize we're doing it.
And yet, we somehow get caught up in the competition, striving to win a prize we can't see or touch or hold.  Recognition from others.  Tweets on twitter.  Comments on facebook.

But really, truly what does all this praise, recognition, and accolade amount to?
Nothing!

Except maybe credit card payments.
A messy kitchen.
A tired, weary, cranky, stressed-out mom who snaps at her kids.

Okay, maybe that last one is just me.

Yesterday morning, I read a great blog post and was kind of slapped in the face.
I was reminded that LESS IS MORE, that I need to STOP and SLOW DOWN, to keep things SIMPLE.
Then, to confirm that was the lesson I needed to learn, a friend in my small group last night shared how she was "forced" to play with her 2 small children for almost 2 hours.  Her husband was having his students present their final papers in their home, and she was confined to the play room with her kids, giving her no other option but to play.  She couldn't clean or organize or make supper or do anything else on her normal to-do list.  Normally, like me, she is busy getting things done around the house and doesn't have time to sit and play for hours on end.  Granted, we both will sit down and color or read or play with our children in little segments throughout the day, but to just do nothing but play for more than 15 minutes is not a pleasure we rarely allow ourselves.  We can't.  We have too much to do, too much to get done.  Or do we? 

As I was shown yet again yesterday, this is simply not the case.
Or at least it doesn't have to be.
The choice is MINE.

And so today, we are slowing down.  We are keeping things simple.

For the past 3 days, we have gotten out and about -- shopping, running errands, going to story time at the library, playing at Chick-fil-A.  All good things.  But it was all just too much for my 3 small girls.  Today, my 4-year-old informed me, "We are NOT going anywhere today.  No more shopping or going outside until winter is over."

Well, I don't know about staying home until March, BUT for today that's the plan.  We are just having fun coloring and traveling to outer space in our pretend rocket and reading books and holding the baby.  Nothing big or spectacular.  And that's okay.  In fact, it's best.

Remember, less is more!

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

My 4-year-old is obsessed with Charlie Brown right now.  She has watched every episode available on Netflix, multiple times.  Who cares if it's about Valentine's Day or Halloween.  While she watches Charlie Brown, her 2-year-old sister takes a nap, so I try to get things done around the house -- cleaning, laundry, prepping for supper, etc.  Oh, and cuddle with my 3-week-old!

Today, as I was doing my own thing, I couldn't help but stop and watch and listen to Charlie Brown too.  As I did, I learned a life lesson:

You won't know unless you try.

Charlie Brown may be a good man, but I don't want to be like him.  

Now, hear me out...

If you know anything about Charlie Brown, you probably know he has quite the crush on the "little red hair girl."  Only problem, he has never actually talked to her.  He's too scared.  He's afraid she will reject him.  And so he sits on his bench during lunch and watches her from a distance.  He makes a Valentine for her, but doesn't give it to her.  He wants to ask her to a dance but can't walk over to her.  He finds her pencil she dropped but can't get up the nerve to return it to her before someone else takes it out of his hand and does it for him.  Poor Charlie Brown!

Or is he?

Should we really feel all that sorry for Charlie Brown?

At some point,  he's got to get past his fear.  If he loves the little red hair girl so much, what is keeping him from going up to her, saying hi, introducing himself?  In one episode, he is getting advice from "Dr. Lucy" and asks what he would do if the little red hair girl does like him and then he realizes he doesn't like her as much as he thinks he does.  How will he leave her?  Exasperated, Lucy screams, "How are you going to leave someone you have never met in the first place?!"

We can laugh at Charlie Brown, but how often do we do the same thing?

How many times have we let fear get in our way of trying something new?

How many opportunities have we missed because we were too afraid of what someone would think of us?

How often do we have an idea or a dream but are too scared to even try to make it happen?

We tell ourselves everything that could go wrong.

We think of all the bad things that could possibly happen.

We focus only on the negative.

We convince ourselves that we shouldn't even try, that our idea is ridiculous anyway, that our dream is too big to ever become a reality, that everyone will laugh at us.

And so, like Charlie Brown, we end up sitting on the bench all alone, with a bag over our heads.

Like I said, Charlie Brown may be a good man, but I don't want to be like him.

At least not in this instance.

Instead, I want to take life by the horns.

I want to dare to dream.  And to dream big, huge, IMPOSSIBLE dreams.

I don't want to miss out on anything.

I don't want to let opportunities pass me by.

And so, I am ready and willing to TRY, to give it my best shot.

That's all I can do.

I will make mistakes.

I may even fail.  

I may fall down.

BUT, I can always get back up.

As I was reminded today:

I liked this one too:

And this one:

Then, there was this:

What are YOU afraid of?

What's keeping you from reaching your goals?

What's stopping you from making your dreams come true?

What if you let all that go?

What if you went for it?

What if....

What if...

So stop waiting!!!

Let's make today count!!!

Let's live life to the fullest!

Let's try our hardest and give it our best.

Let's dare to dream!

In Your Dreams

The weather outside is frightful.  I think the high for today is somewhere in the low 20's. Brrrrr!  So, we're having a lazy Saturday inside our nice, warm house!

I got to sleep in, all snuggled up to my newborn baby girl.  Then, as I just laid there in bed next to her, I watched her sleep.  So peaceful.  So content.  I want to soak up these moments, because I know they won't last forever and once they're gone, I can never get them back.

Eventually, I forced myself to get up out of bed and slowly made my way downstairs where I heard Christmas music playing.  I found my 2 year old sitting on my husband's lap as he worked at the computer.  I started a pot of coffee, fixed some breakfast, and then sat down to enjoy my scrambled eggs and blueberry pancakes.  My 2 year old felt the need to pull her chair from one side of the table to where I was sitting.  She "needed" to be right next to me.  Again, something that won't last forever, and so I smiled and treasured this memory, storing it away in my heart for those times when my daughter is a teenager and yells, "I hate you!" or something awful that she hopefully doesn't really mean but feels the need to say in her fit of hormonal rage.

As I was putting the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, I felt little fingers tickling my back.  I turned around, expecting to find my 2 year old, but instead I found my 4 year old smiling and laughing as she delighted in surprising me.  I gave her a big hug and melted as she whispered, "I love you, Mommy!"  Yet another precious moment.  Nothing big or grand or extravagant, but oh so meaningful.

Perhaps it's all these "little" priceless treasures that have gotten me in a dreamy mood today, but whatever the case, I am feeling quite pensive and reflective and excited, honestly.  I feel as though I am on the edge of my seat peering into the future, trying to imagine all that could happen and daring to dream.  Not just normal dreams though.  Big, huge, WILD dreams!

Actually, it's as if God is daring me to let Him dream for me!

I was upstairs in the nursery, feeding my baby girl and dreaming again, when it was a though God whispered in my ear, "I can do better than that."  I stopped making my mental list of all I want to do and accomplish in the new year that is just ahead of us.  I listened.  "My dreams for you are bigger than your dreams."  I was blown away at that thought and couldn't help but smile.  My joy quickly turned to fear, however.  You see, if God is going to be able to work out His plans and purposes for me that first requires me to give up my own plans and purposes.  I would need to surrender my hopes and dreams.  I would have to lay them at Jesus' feet and trust that what He would give me in return would indeed be far better than what I had imagined myself.  I shrunk back, wanting to hold on to what I had planned for myself and my family.  I wanted to cling to my plans and hopes and dreams.  They were all good things, after all.  BUT, as God reminded me, "My ways are not your ways.   My plans are not your plans.  Mine are better, far better!"  It was as if God was challenging me to take Him at His word:

"Now all glory to God, who is able, 

through His mighty power at work within us, 

to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."

~Ephesians 3:20

or as the Message version puts it:

God can do anything, you know --

far more than you could ever imagine or guess

or request in your wildest dreams!

He does it not by pushing us around

but by working within us,

his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

I love how God speaks to us through His Word.  It may have been written thousands of years ago, but it's still alive and applicable today.  I also appreciate how God knows exactly what is going on in my mind and heart.  He, then, meets me right there and shows me in His Word how He wants to work in my life to bring glory to His name.  The reality of that can be scary, extremely scary, at times - like now.  Yet, I certainly don't want to miss out on what God has planned.  If I cling to my hopes and dreams, as big and crazy and even unattainable as they may seem to me, I will miss out on something better, far better.  If I hold on to what I think is good, I won't be able to receive God's best.

My husband and I will be sitting down during Christmas break to write out some of our dreams for this upcoming year, and I am looking forward to that.  I so enjoy doing life with him and am blessed beyond words to have him as my partner and companion on the journey God has laid out for us.  But as we put on paper what is in our minds and hearts, I am challenged to dream even bigger.  Or really, to let God dream for us.

Ironically enough, my husband just called me down to the basement where he was winterizing our window.  He's all excited about how we can have kids over to hang out and do tutoring and who knows what all else.  We already have a weekly Bible study, but evidently God has bigger things in store for us.  Or as my husband shared, "I don't know.  It's like I'm renewed and rejuvenated and ready to dream."  

Evidently, God has been speaking to my husband today too.  

Which makes me all the more excited!

Who knows what will happen in 2014?

I have no idea.  

All I do know is that it's going to be beyond our wildest dreams!

'Tis the Season

We've stuffed ourselves with turkey and now we're stuffing our cars with presents that we'll stuff under the tree.  Before we unwrap all those bright packages, we'll probably sit down to a nice meal and stuff ourselves with rich food once more.  Then, we'll stuff garbage sacks with torn wrapping paper and empty gift bags and cardboard boxes once all the presents have been opened.  Then, we'll stuff our closets and toy chests and drawers and garages and basements and who knows where all else with all our new stuff.  A few days later, we'll stuff our faces yet again as we snack our way into the New Year.

'Tis the season...

We're stuffed.
Our houses are stuffed.
Stuff is coming out of our ears.

The only thing that is empty is our wallets.
And our bank accounts.

Or is it?

What about our hearts?
Are they stuffed?
Shouldn't they be with all the joy and good tidings of the holidays?
Shouldn't they be with all the new toys and trinkets and clothes and cars and whatnot we just got?

But what if they're left empty too?
What if there's a hole in our heart that none of that stuff can fill?

You see, noTHING can fill that hole.

It's God-sized hole.
One only Jesus can fill.

As we stuff our faces and get new stuff, we tend to forget the REAL REASON FOR THE SEASON.
We forget that Christmas is about a tiny baby born in a manager over 2,000 years ago.
We forget that Christmas is about the hope and joy and peace that baby boy brought with Him to earth.
We forget that Christmas is about the presence of God, not presents under a tree.
We forget that Christmas is about the gift of salvation, not stuff.

Today, we finished Christmas shopping.
It only took us 3 days.  Granted, we had 3 children ages 4 and under with us, but still...
I added up how much we spent and was somewhat sickened at the grand total -- about $600!
And we didn't go overboard.  Really, we didn't!!!

Here's what we got:
*2 presents for my mom (can't say what they are because she might read the blog and I don't want to ruin the surprise for her)
*1 VERY simple present for my dad (a calendar with a picture of our girls for each month - I can say what we got him because he told me that's what he wanted and he doesn't really read my blog anyway)
*2 toy trucks for a cousin (part of a gift exchange we do with my husband's family, $10-$15 limit)
*Pokeman cards for a cousin (part of the gift exchange)
*Pokeman cards for another cousin (part of the gift exchange)
*Stocking stuffers for the 5 women in my husband's family ($10 total for all the gifts)
*Stocking stuffers for the 3 men in my husband's family ($15 total for all the gifts)
*Presents for the person I drew for the gift exchange for my husband's family ($50 limit)
*Presents for the person my husband drew for the gift exchange (another $50)
*Presents for our teenage niece ($30 total)
*Presents for our 3 girls
     -pajamas for each of them ($30 total)
     -sets of socks for each of them ($20 total)
     -sticker books for the 2 older girls ($2 total)
     -watercolor paint sets for the 2 older girls ($2 total)
     -toy balls for each of the older girls, because this is the toy they picked out! ($8 total)
     -diapers and wipes for the baby, because she's 2 weeks old and isn't going to remember her 1st Christmas and with 2 older sisters and lots of hand-me-downs doesn't really need anything given we have 12 - yes TWELVE - tubs of clothes and 2 rooms - yes TWO BIG ROOMS - full of toys and books galore ($20)
     -cardboard castle for all the girls to color and decorate and play with together ($15)
     -wooden letters to spell out each girl's name and paper to decorate them ($35)
*Ornaments for each girl to represent something they like/their personality this year ($50 total)
*Ornament for our family to represent us as a whole this year ($15)

And there you have it...$600!  Gone!  Just like that!

My husband and I didn't even buy presents for each other - we would rather save the money for a big vacation and enjoy each other's presence and the memories we will make as a family!

We didn't even buy toys for our 3 children, except for a football and ball with things in it that shake and make noise!  They already have toys coming out of their ears (and noses and eyes and mouths and every other place already).  We know the grandparents will buy them new toys.  We don't really have any more room for more toys.

I can't even begin to imagine how much we would have spent if we had bought each of the 3 girls even 1-2 new toys each.  Say we spent just $25 on each child, that's like ONE nice toy.  $75 more...gone!

It's not about the money.  Not really.  At least not this year.  In years past we would have never been able to afford this type of Christmas - simple as it is.  2 years ago, we were on WIC and wondering where in the world money was going to come from to pay our electric bill let alone put presents under the tree.  Thankfully, this year we are not strapped financially.  We are certainly counting our blessings and praising God for His abundant provision!

That doesn't mean we're running around filling our shopping carts up with stuff just because we can.  Yes, we can afford more this year, but that doesn't mean we have to get more.  Nor that we really want to.

I guess it's just not who we are.

The idea that we just spent $600 and still have money left in the bank blows my mind!  But, the reality that we could have spent so much more blows my mind even more!

We don't NEED anything more. We have so much already!!!  I am sitting here in my living room/dining room in our new house (I guess it's still new even though we moved in February and have lived here almost a year now) and still can't get my mind around the fact that we really do live here.  As I look around at my kitchen and into the play room and the door that leads to the basement and the stairs that go up to our bedrooms, I can't help but feel blessed.  And burdened at the same time.

Burdened with the reality that not everyone has it as good as we do.
Burdened with the truth that people are shivering in the freezing cold today, with no place to call home.
Burdened with the fact that so many kids won't have any presents this year, let alone a decent meal or clothes to keep them warm.
Burdened with the responsibility that I can and should do something about that.

And this is actually when I start to get excited about Christmas again!
All that shopping and getting of stuff drained me.
BUT, the idea of GIVING fills me up again.

It's not just about blessing others with stuff though.

Yes, we had fun picking out things to fill a shoebox for a little girl.  But, I am much more excited about the joy she will have as she opens that box and the hope it will bring as she will be given a Bible too and have the opportunity to learn about the best gift of all - a relationship with Jesus!

Yes, we have donated to some friends and various ministries they are involved in.  I am thrilled to be able to help "stuff a bus," bring some orphaned children into forever families, pay for a surgery, and ensure that a little boy has a Christmas he'll never forget.  In all these things, the best part is knowing that we shared the love of Jesus, that we filled someone's heart in a way that it can never be emptied.

After all, 'tis the season!

Why Wait?

I just saw a quote, "Changing your life is hard.  Changing it by yourself is harder."

I know right now we are in the middle of the busy holiday season, and you may not be thinking about change and resolutions and goals.  Usually, we wait to do that until January 1 -- or 2nd or 3rd or whenever we get around to it....

Why wait?
Why postpone becoming a better person?
Why put off making changes that will improve your life NOW?

Why?

Honestly, usually because it's easier, less threatening, not as scary, and doesn't require a good hard look in the mirror or the admission that change is necessary.

Maybe you are thinking about change and resolutions and goals already -- maybe even just a goal of NOT gaining so much weight this holiday or being more consistent in your work out routine even during these busy times or not letting the hustle and bustle stress you out this year.  Whatever your goal may be for NOW and/or for the New Year (which will be here before you know it), I would certainly love to help you reach that goal.

If change is hard, and making that change by yourself is even harder, why go about it alone?!

And why wait?

I'm here NOW.
I'm ready to come along side you and help you.
Encourage you.
Support you.
Push you.
Go the extra mile with you.
Pick you up when you fall.
Rejoice with you when you succeed.

Together, we can help each other BECOME the people we were created and designed to be!!!

Together, we can get more out of life.

Change is hard.
So, let's not make it any harder than it already is.
Let's do this TOGETHER!

Why wait?

Had I Known

Had I known Tuesday morning when I woke up that I would have a baby girl that afternoon, would I have gone about my day a little differently?

Had I known when I was at story time with Coralyn and Kellah that it would be my last trip to the library with just 2 kiddos, would I have checked out more books or talked to more of the moms around me?

Had I known when I was walking on the treadmill that I would be in labor just hours later, would I have done the same work out?

Had I known driving to and from my prenatal appointment that I would be giving birth when I got home, would I have made the trip all the way to Overland Park and back, through ridiculous construction zones?

Had I known I would be holding my newborn baby within an hour after my friend left my house, would I have told her to come on over to get a wrap and talk about the It Works business?

Had I known my "mild" contractions would go to INTENSE in a matter of minutes, would I have taken the 5 minutes to sign up a new customer?

Had I known my labor was going to be as crazy as it was, would I have called Lawrence home a bit earlier?

Thing is... I didn't know.

As I was reflecting on all that happened prior to Kyiah's birth on Tuesday, I admitted I would probably have done things quite a bit differently that day had I known what was going to happen that afternoon.

And yet, I am glad I didn't know.  I thoroughly enjoyed everything I did on Tuesday -- story time, working out, the prenatal, chatting with my friend, etc.

If I had known Kyiah was coming, I might have been tempted to set the timer and watch the clock.  Every tick would have seemed like hours.  The day would have stretched on and on.  4:54 would have seemed like an eternity away.

Not to mention I would have had plenty of time to sit and think about all that could go wrong, all that MIGHT happen.  I already struggle with fear and worry and imagining the worse case scenarios enough.  I don't need any help with my imagination.

And so I am thankful I didn't know.  That I went about my day like it was any other.  How much would I have missed out on if I had woken up, gone downstairs, and just sat on the couch waiting for the big event to happen?

How true is this of my relationship with Jesus though?

I don't know when He's coming back -- I just know He is.  In the same way I knew Kyiah was eventually going to come, I know Jesus is planning His return.

I didn't just sit around and wait for my baby to arrive though.  That would have been stupid.
And it would be stupid for me to sit around twidling my thumbs waiting for Jesus to show up.

Imagine how much life I would miss out on!!

So, I challenge you (and myself) today.
Make today count.  
Live life to the fullest.

Should Jesus come back today, may He find us sharing His love,
spreading the Good News,
fighting for our faith,
standing up for what's right,
helping the poor,
serving our neighbor,
and simply living for Him in every area of our lives - no matter how big or small they may seem at the time.

Don't be caught saying, "Had I known Jesus was coming today, I would have..."
Instead, be found DOING it!