Today I am preparing to leave on a road trip. I think I put too much pressure on myself in my preparations. I like to leave a clean, mostly organized house. Why? When returning there is usually a chaos of stuff coming into the house, which if put on top of a mess would make me nutty! If we depart with organization and cleanliness it allows me to relax and rest upon my return. Make sense?
This process of preparation usually drives my family nutty, remember I live in Forest of Crazy. I tend to get wound up and go non-stop, jumping from one thing to the next. I understand why the family gets frustrated, I don't really like it myself. I have tried to tame this beast and have made some progress, I think. Maybe should I should ask the family?
I have spent the last few days trying to get the lawn mowed. It is obnoxiously long and must be cut or it will be out of control. Problem is that it continues to rain so getting it done has been a challenge. Last night, I was attempting to mow the last two sections when the squealing began, ending my mowing. Hubby declared it a bearing issue... a new part has been purchased. Alas, hubby may need to do finish the mowing.
This is the longest road trip I am undertaking without my hubby. I will be traveling with my youngest daughter, DD#2, who is a lovely 13 years old. I am excited to get away with her, spend one-on-one time, find our way on an adventure. In essence mother-daughter bonding. Leaving behind DD#1 and hubby for some of their own bonding time.
On the first leg of our journey we are joined by hubby's sister, E, and her adorable 7.5 month old baby L. They are the ones that began this whole adventure. A casual comment from E telling me was going to visit her aunt with L, a five hour journey. Thinking she was brave to travel that distance alone with a baby, I asked if she wanted company. Now we are a day away from departing.
This is the only part of the journey with E and L. They will be joined by brother-in-law, G, the following evening where they will continue on with their own weekend adventure. As this trip developed, I realized that my very good friend would be in the states the same weekend. This is significant as she is a missionary serving over seas. In visiting Auntie, I realized I would be within four hours of her location!! Whoo Hoo!
The plan is to spend one night with Auntie, depart the following morning to meet up with S. Yet it gets better. S is attending our church domination bi-annual conference. I did not think this was something for me, as I figured it was for the missionaries, pastors, and church leaders. But I discovered I was wrong - I can attend as well. Hear the incredible speakers - Ravi Zacharias and John Stumbo, Gracia Burnham, & more. My pastor's wife was able to obtain tickets for us to attend the popular ladies luncheon. How cool is this deal? Not only do I get to connect with S, I get to attend an incredible conference. AND I get to share it with DD#2.
I have been tickled at DD#2's excitement. I wasn't certain that she would be excited about a church event geared mostly for adults. She has proven me wrong, counting down the days to our departure. She is a great companion. I am anticipating some fun memories. She already knows her mom is the queen of turn arounds, so we should travel together just fine.
Feeling very blessed to be able to go on this adventure. An unexpected adventure to be sure, but I think these are the best kind, don't you? So now the house is mostly clean, the lawn mostly mowed, the clothes are packed, and the departure is near. Excited to spend time with DD#2, E, L, Auntie, & S. Most importantly looking forward to what the Lord has planned for us.
Showing posts with label Darling Daughter #2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Darling Daughter #2. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Hunger and Hope
This morning, I was sitting on the sofa recovering from our mini-vacation. Basically being a couch potato. Still in my pajamas, not moving fast, watching TV, drinking coffee, hanging out on Facebook, and re-stylizing my blog. How do you like the new look, by the way?
My husband had asked me yesterday if we had anything going on today, which I responded with a negative, except for the church drama practice in the evening. So, I was enjoying doing nothing. It is Spring Break after all.
On a random whim, I checked my calendar. It's online, easily accessible from any electronic device in my possession. I also print it out regularly and post to be viewed by all family members. My problem is not in putting things on the calendar as much as looking at the calendar. I am constantly double booking myself or forgetting things because I think I have it all in my head. I really do need to understand that my memory is not as young and agile as it once was in years past. Note to self, you are middle aged now, nothing is as it once was.
Anyway, I looked at our calendar only to gasp! We are signed up to volunteer, as a family, this afternoon at a local food distribution. Oops! How did we all forget? Especially since DD#1 regularly participates in this with school for community service hours. UGH! I was not feeling very energized by the thought. I am pooped! But we had signed up realizing that with the Easter holiday and Spring Break extra hands are needed.
We got up off our rear ends and made ready to go. This being the first time for all us except for DD#1, we were not certain what to expect. In fact, there was uncertainty as to what time we were to arrive. We arrived a couple of hours prior to the start of the distribution. People were already lining up outside the doors, waiting in the cold wind for the food.
We were put to work opening boxes and redistributing some of the items. The quantity and selection of the food was impressive. Frozen items, produce, meat, canned good, even some children's birthday bags. All the volunteers were gathered shortly before door opening. We were given brief instructions and we prayed.
For over 90 minutes we handed out food to hundreds of people. Each time I looked up from my station of handing out canned goods, I saw a constant stream of people, it did not seem to end. Young, old, tired, every ethnicity, every walk of life and in my community. A few times I looked into the face of someone that could be me. On the street, anywhere else, I would never guess they were any more needy than I. A few that I know personally came through: some helping others, some for themselves.
I did my best to offer a smile and a kind word to each one that came through, treating each with the dignity they deserve. Some were trying to hide being uncomfortable going through the line, others were too tired and weary to care what anyone thought of them. Some did not speak English well, as I was handing out an item that is a definite like or dislike, I did my best to communicate with them to give them option of taking it or not.
Once I found my rhythm in handing out the items, I had a chance to purposefully and specifically pray. I prayed to see each of them with the eyes of Jesus. That my words and actions would convey the love of Jesus. I prayed each would find hope and a bit of cheer. That there would be something... a word or item in the cart that would give them joy on this Easter holiday. I pray that each would know Jesus' love and joy.
There are hurting people everywhere, from every walk of life. Poor, rich, young, old, healthy, sick, every race. Our current economy is finding more in the area of need. Some who never thought they would be in such a position. Frankly, we are just one job away from being in a very similar predicament. I am thankful everyday for the my husband's job and all that it provides for our family. It is not something to take for granted.
For many years, my family has packaged food with an organization called Feed My Starving Children. (www.fmsc.org) We have helped to feed starving children around the world. This gives us the opportunity to help those in our community, in our backyard, those that are not that very different from our own family.
Will I return? Yes. It is hard work, my body aches from shifting and moving canned goods. But that is nothing, I will recover soon. It is a minuscule sacrifice to know that a simple act can bring hope.
My husband had asked me yesterday if we had anything going on today, which I responded with a negative, except for the church drama practice in the evening. So, I was enjoying doing nothing. It is Spring Break after all.
On a random whim, I checked my calendar. It's online, easily accessible from any electronic device in my possession. I also print it out regularly and post to be viewed by all family members. My problem is not in putting things on the calendar as much as looking at the calendar. I am constantly double booking myself or forgetting things because I think I have it all in my head. I really do need to understand that my memory is not as young and agile as it once was in years past. Note to self, you are middle aged now, nothing is as it once was.
Anyway, I looked at our calendar only to gasp! We are signed up to volunteer, as a family, this afternoon at a local food distribution. Oops! How did we all forget? Especially since DD#1 regularly participates in this with school for community service hours. UGH! I was not feeling very energized by the thought. I am pooped! But we had signed up realizing that with the Easter holiday and Spring Break extra hands are needed.
We got up off our rear ends and made ready to go. This being the first time for all us except for DD#1, we were not certain what to expect. In fact, there was uncertainty as to what time we were to arrive. We arrived a couple of hours prior to the start of the distribution. People were already lining up outside the doors, waiting in the cold wind for the food.
We were put to work opening boxes and redistributing some of the items. The quantity and selection of the food was impressive. Frozen items, produce, meat, canned good, even some children's birthday bags. All the volunteers were gathered shortly before door opening. We were given brief instructions and we prayed.
For over 90 minutes we handed out food to hundreds of people. Each time I looked up from my station of handing out canned goods, I saw a constant stream of people, it did not seem to end. Young, old, tired, every ethnicity, every walk of life and in my community. A few times I looked into the face of someone that could be me. On the street, anywhere else, I would never guess they were any more needy than I. A few that I know personally came through: some helping others, some for themselves.
I did my best to offer a smile and a kind word to each one that came through, treating each with the dignity they deserve. Some were trying to hide being uncomfortable going through the line, others were too tired and weary to care what anyone thought of them. Some did not speak English well, as I was handing out an item that is a definite like or dislike, I did my best to communicate with them to give them option of taking it or not.
Once I found my rhythm in handing out the items, I had a chance to purposefully and specifically pray. I prayed to see each of them with the eyes of Jesus. That my words and actions would convey the love of Jesus. I prayed each would find hope and a bit of cheer. That there would be something... a word or item in the cart that would give them joy on this Easter holiday. I pray that each would know Jesus' love and joy.
There are hurting people everywhere, from every walk of life. Poor, rich, young, old, healthy, sick, every race. Our current economy is finding more in the area of need. Some who never thought they would be in such a position. Frankly, we are just one job away from being in a very similar predicament. I am thankful everyday for the my husband's job and all that it provides for our family. It is not something to take for granted.
For many years, my family has packaged food with an organization called Feed My Starving Children. (www.fmsc.org) We have helped to feed starving children around the world. This gives us the opportunity to help those in our community, in our backyard, those that are not that very different from our own family.
Will I return? Yes. It is hard work, my body aches from shifting and moving canned goods. But that is nothing, I will recover soon. It is a minuscule sacrifice to know that a simple act can bring hope.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Hunger Outreach
Can my hands help eliminate hunger throughout the world? That is a large, seemingly, impossible task. And yet, for approximately seven years, my family and I have been participating in a ministry to feed the hungry children of the world.
It began as an effort to find a volunteer opportunity for my grade school aged children. Many organizations and places required a minimum age of 14 or so. I had children in age range of 6 and 8. We had a desire as parents to teach our children to serve in our community. But where, how?
We learned of a local organization, Feed My Starving Children. Their goal is to eliminate hunger. We began volunteering immediately. My children were young but they had the opportunity to touch the lives of many, many children who did not have anything to eat but mud cakes and rocks. Even at this young age, they could assist in packaging a rice manna pack. We were hooked! That was seven years ago.
Throughout the years we have held birthday parties packaging food, gone with our 4-H club, with friends, with our church family, by ourselves, almost any opportunity to that arose to package food! We have donated monetarily to help buy the food to package, we promoted the ministry, we have prayed, we have quite simply fallen in love with this ministry.
Tonight we returned with our church family. We again packaged food for the starving children of Haiti. We prayed over the food. More special this time is the donation my 13 year old daughter (who started volunteering at about the age of 6) gave from the proceeds of the earrings she has made and sold. She has a deep passion for this ministry. I believe it breaks her heart to think of a child without any food.
As a parent, I could not be more proud of my child. She has seen a need, considered how to help, and came up with a way to help. I know I was not this selfless as a teenager. She is my hero. She gives her time and talent to minister to others. Wow.
For more information on this ministry that is growing please visit their web-site www.fmsc.org. Find out about them, consider supporting them with your hands and/or your wallet.
It began as an effort to find a volunteer opportunity for my grade school aged children. Many organizations and places required a minimum age of 14 or so. I had children in age range of 6 and 8. We had a desire as parents to teach our children to serve in our community. But where, how?
We learned of a local organization, Feed My Starving Children. Their goal is to eliminate hunger. We began volunteering immediately. My children were young but they had the opportunity to touch the lives of many, many children who did not have anything to eat but mud cakes and rocks. Even at this young age, they could assist in packaging a rice manna pack. We were hooked! That was seven years ago.
Throughout the years we have held birthday parties packaging food, gone with our 4-H club, with friends, with our church family, by ourselves, almost any opportunity to that arose to package food! We have donated monetarily to help buy the food to package, we promoted the ministry, we have prayed, we have quite simply fallen in love with this ministry.
Tonight we returned with our church family. We again packaged food for the starving children of Haiti. We prayed over the food. More special this time is the donation my 13 year old daughter (who started volunteering at about the age of 6) gave from the proceeds of the earrings she has made and sold. She has a deep passion for this ministry. I believe it breaks her heart to think of a child without any food.
As a parent, I could not be more proud of my child. She has seen a need, considered how to help, and came up with a way to help. I know I was not this selfless as a teenager. She is my hero. She gives her time and talent to minister to others. Wow.
For more information on this ministry that is growing please visit their web-site www.fmsc.org. Find out about them, consider supporting them with your hands and/or your wallet.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Highest Civic Duty
Tomorrow we have elections here in our nation. A day that we can actively participate in our government process. A privilege not to be taken for granted. Many men & women have sacrificed their lives for this privilege.
Last week, I was discussing the election with my DDs. Being too young to vote, they are on the side-lines watching and learning. As parents we are trying to include our children and discuss some of the issues and explain the process to the best of our ability. Of course they are exposed over and over to the commercials and advertisements in the mail - not to mention the phone calls. However, in our discussion, it occurred to me they can participate, in fact, it is our highest civic calling which is to pray. No matter your age or voting eligibility, political leaning, social status, economic status, or nationality anyone can participate in this election. They can bring our nation to the feet of Jesus in prayer. This is our highest civic calling.
Have I prayed enough for our country or leaders? No! I never pray enough. The verse that challenges me is to pray without ceasing. Continue to pray for our nation those who lead us.
Last week, I was discussing the election with my DDs. Being too young to vote, they are on the side-lines watching and learning. As parents we are trying to include our children and discuss some of the issues and explain the process to the best of our ability. Of course they are exposed over and over to the commercials and advertisements in the mail - not to mention the phone calls. However, in our discussion, it occurred to me they can participate, in fact, it is our highest civic calling which is to pray. No matter your age or voting eligibility, political leaning, social status, economic status, or nationality anyone can participate in this election. They can bring our nation to the feet of Jesus in prayer. This is our highest civic calling.
Have I prayed enough for our country or leaders? No! I never pray enough. The verse that challenges me is to pray without ceasing. Continue to pray for our nation those who lead us.
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