Lemonade

It's very rare that I get to enjoy a grocery shopping trip by myself, but I got to do just that a couple of months ago. Since there was no one there begging for sugary cereal, no one asking for the 15th time how much longer the trip would last, nobody screaming, "He pinnnnnnnched meeeee!".... I was actually able to hear a neat song on the store Muzak. I liked it so much I wrote some of the lyrics on my shopping list so I could come home and try to find the song (thanks, Google!)

The song is called "Lemonade" and it's sung by Chris Rice, one of my favorite Contemporary Christian artists. I thought it was him singing, but I'd never before heard the song. It's one of my new favorites, just recently added to my iPod. (Isn't the iPod the greatest invention? I love mine! It's probably the only thing I'd run to save if the house was on fire... after the kids and hubby were safe, natch...)

So, here are the lyrics (you can listen here if you want to hear it):

So go ahead and ask her
For happy ever after
‘Cause nobody knows what’s coming
So why not take a chance on loving
Come on, pour the glass and tempt me
Either half-full or half-empty
‘Cause if it all comes down to flavor
The glass is tipping in my favor

Life gave me lemonade and I can’t imagine why
Born on a sunny day, beneath a tangerine sky
I live life without pretending
I’m a sucker for happy endings
Thanks for the lemonade
Thanks for the lemonade!

Now take your time to answer me
For the beauty of romancing
Is to calm your trembling hand with mine
While begging love to fill your eyes
I can hardly breathe while waiting
To find out what your heart is saying
And as we’re swirling in this flavor
The world is tilting in our favor

Life gave me lemonade and I can’t imagine why
Born on a sunny day, beneath a tangerine sky
I live life without pretending
I’m a sucker for happy endings
Thanks for the lemonade
Thanks for the lemonade!

I’ve got it made
Rest in the shade
And hold my love
While God above
Stirs wiith a spoon
We share the moon
Smile at the bees
More sugar please
He really loves us after all
We’re gonna need another straw!
We’re gonna need another straw!

Life gave me lemonade and I can’t imagine why
Born on a sunny day, beneath a tangerine sky
I live life without pretending
I’m a sucker for happy endings
Thanks for the lemonade
Thanks for the lemonade!

I definitely got lemonade. No lemons here. I do need lots of extra straws, though. Life is GOOD.

That's My King

Yesterday's Easter service started with this video, which contains the words of S. M. Lockridge's sermon "That's My King". When it was over, I wanted to stand and shout.

Tears

“There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of
weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief...and unspeakable love.” Washington Irving

This week, paint us a picture of a time when you cried. Maybe it was recent, maybe it was ages ago. Maybe it was tears of grief over a break-up, or tears of joy over an engagement. Maybe you cry when you get mad, or perhaps you cry when you're laughing hysterically. Perhaps you have a hard time crying at all. Pick one time, and color the story for us.

I cry at the drop of a hat, basically. I am a very emotional person, but I don't mind crying. In fact, I feel so much better after a good cry. It's healing!

I cried tears of joy last week after opening an email from a friend. She told me she was expecting a baby. I was overjoyed for her, because I know how badly she wants a sibling for her son. I immediately committed to pray for her and her unborn child. I asked God to protect her and the baby and help her give birth to a healthy son or daughter. I cried for her, knowing how happy she must be.

I cried tears of sadness the next day when I opened another email from the same friend, telling me that she had miscarried.

I cried tears of anger and frustration for my friend. I don't know why God chooses to do that, to take life like that, to break hearts like that. I just have to live in the faith that God almighty, all powerful and sovereign, knows why it happened. I pray my friend has the same faith, that she trusts that God has a reason. I have prayed that God comforts her and holds her in the palm of His hand while she goes through this trial.

Hopefully one day soon I can again cry tears of happiness for my friend. I will pray for her every time God brings her to my mind. I'll pray for peace for her, for strength, for health, for understanding, for faith, for perseverance, for wisdom.

And I'll pray that one day, in the not so distant future, she has another baby to hold in her arms, to laugh with and love and yes, cry over.

Blog Challenge: Nuggets

What are 5 nuggets of wisdom that have been imparted to you by people you've cherished? How do those nuggets show up in your daily life... or do they? Have the words of wisdom shaped you? Which nuggets have you passed on to people who cherish you?

Well, it turns out my mom actually had some wise things to say. How do I know this? Because, dadgummit, I find myself repeating them to my own kids on a daily basis. The words just fly out of my mouth before I can stop them.

(1) Jeremiah 29:11. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

My mom repeated this to me anytime I got down about things that didn't go the way I expected them to. She still recites this verse to me as an adult. I have quoted it to my own 8 year-old daughter a few times just this past year. Dontcha' hate it when you find out Mom was right?

(2) "She didn't make you feel that way. You allowed her to make you feel like that."

Classic mom, again. I have to repeat this one to myself a LOT. I have to reign in my emotions many, many times. I have a tendency to fall into pits of self pity. This mantra pulls me out of my pit quite frequently. Others' words only have as much power as we give them.

(3) "(S)he who laughs, lasts." Mary Pettibone Poole.

I love this quote. I have to remind myself to laugh when I get too serious or sad. Laughter truly is a medicine for me. It's as vital to my daily existence as water. I thirst for laughter. A hearty guffaw just makes me feel better.

And while I'm on the subject of Ms. Poole... I had to look up the quote above to make sure I had the author right. I found another great quote during my search. That Mary Pettibone Poole was a cool chick. MUST Google her to find out who she was!

Oh, the quote! "To repeat what others have said requires education; to challenge it requires brains." You go, girl.

(4) "Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you."

It's a Spanish proverb. Who knew the Spanish were so wise? I knew they made good rice, but this... this is better than Spanish rice!

I have a love/hate relationship with gossip. I hate being "out of the loop", but I hate being "in the know", too. I just don't get a good feeling when I hear gossip. I have been the victim of it, and I try to stay away from it. I have learned the hard way not to trust too many people with my secrets, and I never get too close to people with loose tongues.

(5) "You can't love an inanimate object."

Wisdom from Dad. My sister and I used to roll our eyes whenever we heard this one, but it has truth to it. While I guess it is true that you can love THINGS, they won't love you back. It's better to invest in loving people. Dad was right after all.

Man, I hate it when He does that...

Okay.

I'm still whining about my mother-in-law being here for 2 months. So shoot me. I have the right, don't I?

But I read my Bruce & Stan book this morning and I've decided that I (1) need to quit reading the Bruce & Stan book or (2) quit whining about my mother-in-law.

Hmph.

The title of today's entry in my book? Make Someone Happy.

Yeah. Uh-oh.

"Personal happiness is most easily gained by bringing happiness to others." (emphasis mine). As if it weren't clear enough the first time I typed it, it somehow got erased and I had to type it again.

OKAY, GOD. I GET IT. Don't make me type it again.

Mostly the entry is about not trying to place your happiness in things, but the last paragraph just settled on my chest like one of those dental x-ray aprons. It's heavy, man. Heavy.

"A better way to gain happiness is to do things for others. Make others happy, and the happiest person will be you. Make others happy all the time, and your happiness will turn to joy."

God has spoken. It's time to shut up about my mother-in-law. I gotta make like Nike and Just Do It.

Days of Elijah

Have you ever listened to a song that gave you goosebumps? I have a list of songs that give me that reaction.

This is one of them:

Days Of Elijah (words and music by Robin Mark)

These are the days of Elijah,
Declaring the word of the Lord:
And these are the days of Your servant Moses,
Righteousness being restored.
And though these are days of great trial,
Of famine and darkness and sword,
Still, we are the voice in the desert crying
'Prepare ye the way of the Lord!'

Behold He comes riding on the clouds,
Shining like the sun at the trumpet call;
Lift your voice, it's the year of jubilee,
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.

These are the days of Ezekiel,
The dry bones becoming as flesh;
And these are the days of Your servant David,
Rebuilding a temple of praise.
These are the days of the harvest,
The fields are as white in Your world,
And we are the labourers in Your vineyard,
Declaring the word of the Lord!

There's no God like Jehovah.
There's no God like Jehovah!

Our church choir has sung this on a few occasions, and this past Sunday it was included in our praise & worship time.

I.LOVE.THIS.SONG.

I put the Twila Paris version on my iPod and I crank it at least once a day. It just LIFTS ME UP.

Here's the story behind the song: Take a few minutes and read it. It gives me hope.

During the last few days and weeks I have stared open-mouthed at the TV screen night after night as I watched the evening's news. Things seem awful. There is true evil in this world, and at times I know the question is asked, "Where is God during all of this? Why does He let this stuff happen?"

I love this quote from Robin Mark as he explained how he came to write "Days of Elijah":

That these are not days of God stepping back and allowing the world and the church to roll uncontrolled towards eternity, but rather days when he is calling on his body to make a stand, to offer right praises and to declare that He is totally in control.

God's there. He's there. He has a plan. He's calling us as Christians to stand up and be the truth in the middle of lies. We are to shout loudly the hope of God in the middle of despair. We're beacons of light in a world of darkness. We're the city on the hill (Matthew 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.")

There is no God like Jehovah.

Useful

"Happiness comes from the capacity to
feel deeply,
to enjoy simply,
to think freely,
to risk life,
to be needed."
-Storm Jameson

Your assignment is simple. Take all or part of this quote, and let it inspire you.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gulp.

I saw this challenge, and I immediately felt like I was hitting a wall. I have no trouble sharing about FACTS, but when it comes to exposing my FEELINGS, I am a clam with a deadbolt lock on its shell.

I know how I feel, but expressing what I'm feeling is hard. It's rare that my husband and I fight, but when we do, I usually explain my side to him via email. It's easier that way, and I can actually erase a thought before he hears it. Sometimes I just furiously and feverishly type out all the words I want to yell at him, and then I feel better. I click "delete" and the thoughts aren't there anymore, on the screen nor in my head. He's none the wiser.

Eh, I'm rambling.

So, feeling deeply. Enjoying simply. Thinking freely. Risking life. Being needed. Hmmm.... (Insert the sound of fingers tapping here... drumming in hopes that they'll bring about the perfect thoughts to share...)

You know, I think I've partially lost my capacity to feel deeply. I am affected by things, sure, and there are many times in life when I'm moved to tears by things, events, stories. Yet I seem to be unaffected by so many things that I think I should feel more deeply than I do. I seem to have grown a callous on my heart in some areas. I've been aware of it for some time now. I know that my hardened heart is going to require softening, and I fear what God might do to bring back my tender heart. I wonder what kind of refining fire is in my future.

Okay, moving on...

Enjoying simply. I've got this part down. I am a simple girl. Heh. My husband would roll his eyes at that comment, because he thinks I'm super complicated, but I see myself as a simple person. It doesn't take much to make me happy.

I'm not a fancy girl. I buy my clothes and jewelry at Target. I love the Dollar Store. Pizza and an evening spent in meaningful conversation with my husband is my idea of a great date. If pajamas were acceptable daywear, I'd be the best dressed person out there. I love me some pajamas.

I like living simply (and by simply, I mean cheaply!) I was recently joking with my mom that when I die I want my tombstone to say, "I used a coupon to buy my casket!" I don't like owing money to anyone, and I'm not a frivolous spender. I'm not a tightwad, either, but I like things simple.

(On a funny side note: when I looked up "simple" at Thesaurus.com, it returned 103 synonyms. How's that for simple?!?)

I had to look up "freely" at Thesaurus.com as well. I have trouble wrapping my head around phrases and words sometimes, no matter how straightforward they seem. I rely on the dictionary and thesaurus a lot.

So, what exactly does "think freely" mean? I tend to search for synonyms to help me understand words. I pick apart phrases to get a clearer view explanation.

Thus, I can tell you that "freely" is defined as "unrestricted". Other explications are candidly, frankly, openly, plainly, unreservedly, unchallenged, without restraint, without hindrance, and without reserve.

Goodgooglymoogly. I am a free thinker. I can't be a free thinker! I'm a conservative Republican!

I've always thought of someone who defines themself as a "free thinker" to be somewhat liberal. I dunno why. But there it is. I do tend to think candidly, frankly, openly, plainly, unreservedly, unchallenged, without restraint, without hindrance and without reserve. I don't let social norms confine my thought patterns...or do I?

I know for sure that I am not a free speaker. I think freely. Sometimes too freely. I type freely. I don't shrink from sharing my opinions through written word, but I have an oh, so difficult time telling people orally what I think. The written word is just so less likely to cause a fracas. I hate dealing with confrontation in person or even over the phone. I wish I could be better at that. I just get all twisted up inside and then, heaven forbid, I start to get teary and choky and **gasp** I start to CRY. I can be more composed and sensical when I write things down. I'm not such a GIRL when I can confront people in a written manner.

What's left? Risking life. Again I have to consult Mr. Webster.

Interesting. All definitions of the word "risk" also include the word "loss". Does risk have to involve loss? I don't know, but I do know that I'm not much of a risk taker. I find solace in the mundane. I'm spotaneous in certain situations, but it's a restrained spontaniety. How's that for an oxymoron? Tempered free-spiritedness. Controlled impulsiveness. That's me.

So, back to the original quote. I guess I need to answer the question it seems to pose.

Am I happy?

Yes. I'm happy. I think that my greatest source of happiness lies in the author's last line "to be needed". To know that I am needed brings me great joy.

I meet the needs of people every day. I meet my husband's needs, my kids' needs, friends' needs and strangers' needs. Someone always needs me. I find joy in being needed. It keeps me from thinking only of myself.

Being needed reminds me of a line from a hymn.

"Here am I, send me Lord;
Here am I, send me Lord:
Make my life useful to Thee."
Make my life useful to Thee.

As long as I'm useful to God, I'm happy.

Entertaining Angels

This week's blog challenge: Write about an event in your life that you were directly impacted by, whether you were on the receiving end, or on the giving end. Tell us about an act of selflessness, an act of bravery, an act of servitude...

I don't know why I've had a little bit of blog block with this assignment. I just couldn't think of what I want to write about. So I did what the average internet user would do.

I Googled "Entertaining Angels". This story came up on many of the hits. I liked it. I thought I'd share the link (I can't copy it, because I don't have permission from the author, but please read it!)

In his editorial note at the end of this story, Jaye Lewis said, "'Entertaining Angels' is a true story which illustrates my belief that a life not shared with those less fortunate is no life at all."

Dictionary.com gives this definition of fortunate: having good fortune; receiving good from uncertain or unexpected sources; lucky

That made me ask myself this question: When have I received good from uncertain or unexpected sources?

I thought long and hard.

I mulled it over all day on Tuesday.

I pondered it all the way out to Camryn's school and back today.

I considered it a little while longer this morning while I was emptying the dryer.

I struggled to come up with SOME instance the entire time I was emptying and filling the dishwasher today.

I was prepared to write that I have never been on the receiving end of such kindness. I actually sat and typed a sentence to that effect, but I had to erase it, because God, who always sees what I type here, suddenly reminded me of the floods of kindness I have received in my life, the times I know that angels had me in their grasp, the times when I have received good from "unexpected" sources.

Though I don't remember it, I am frequently reminded by my mom that I fell down a long flight of concrete stairs when I was very young. I was, of course, shaken by the incident, but suffered no injuries from the fall.

When I was a teenager I passed out in a hotel bathroom. We had been on the beach for hours the day before, and I'd gotten extremely sunburned. I woke up dehydrated and dizzy. I went to the bathroom, and don't remember anything after I stood up to wash my hands until my dad came into the bathroom.

As is typical for hotel bathrooms, it was a small space. The sink and the tub were parallel to one another, with the toilet on the wall in between. I remember I was facing the sink, washing my hands, but I woke up laying on the floor between the sink and the toilet, as if I had turned 90 degrees before falling. It was if someone had caught me under the arms as I fell and laid me gently on the floor. Had I fallen backwards, I would've broken my neck when I hit the side of the tub. I know it was an angel that held me that day.

On my 2nd full day of classes at the University of Alabama, I decided I had chosen the wrong school. I wanted to go home and start over. I just didn't know how to do it.

I called home to talk to my mom, but I got my 15 year-old sister instead. I poured my heart out to her, and after doing so I felt a little better. I thought I could stay and tough out the semester. I made her swear not to tell my mom.

I opened up my mini fridge and took out a tub of pimiento cheese spread. I lifted the lid and noticed a Bible verse there. The verse was Isaiah 58:9. It says "you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I."

"Alright, God," I said silently. I told my roommate I was going to take a shower. In the shower I prayed for God to show me what to do.

I got back to my room and my roommate told me my mom had called, worried about me. I secretly cursed my loose-tongued sister.

I called Mom. She said, "What's wrong?"

"Why? What did Brooke tell you?" I said.

"Brooke? She hasn't told me anything. I just felt that something was wrong with you, so I called."

My mom is an angel. She and I calmly discussed everything I had to do to come home and find another school. I started at Samford University the next week with partial scholarships. God is good.

My 3rd child, Quinn, was born via c-section. He was breech, and I was given the choice of trying to turn him or going ahead with the surgery. I chose the surgery, even though everything in me was saying "try to turn him".

I'm glad I didn't listen to *my* voice. God's voice and peace helped me make the right decision. Quinn was born with the cord wrapped twice around his neck. Had he been turned, he might not have survived.

I have been ministered to by earthly angels, too.

Weeks of meals were brought to me and my family as each of my children was born. Those meals provided nourishment for us and rest for me.

The unselfish souls that take care of my children each week either in the nursery or the kids' Sunday school classes are angels. Without them I would be distracted during worship. Those sweet angels also serve to plant very important seeds of faith in my children's minds and hearts.

I have been calmed by unseen angels on airplanes. I am a nervous flyer, and God always provides me an angel to help distract me when I fly. Someone to talk to to get my mind off the flight.

God and his angels have kept me safe from many an accident. I am quick to thank God when there is a near miss with another car. Thank you, God, for the protection you provide through your unseen angels.

God has allowed me and my children to be angels as well.

I have had the joy of buying stamps for a woman who had to mail her power and water bills. She came to the post office prepared to buy stamps out of a machine that no longer dispense stamps. I gave her 2 of mine.

My daughter shared her toys with 2 impatient and misbehaving twin boys in a line once. She had just gotten the toys out of the prize box at the dentist's office, but she realized that the boys (and their mom!) needed the distraction the toys could provide more than she needed the toys.

Nahum 1:7 says, "The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him."

God is our refuge in times of trouble. Thank you, God, for sending help when we need it. Please remind us to ask for your help and to be responsive to your call when we need to assist you in being a refuge for someone else.

From the Mouths (Pencils) of Babes

My 8 year-old daughter came to me last night and asked if she could sing me a song she'd created during her bathtime. She also needed a piece of paper on which to write her song; she had to copy it off the bathtub where she'd written it with bathtub crayons. I'll have to post a picture of that later. I am without my camera right now.

Thought I'd share the song. It is pretty amazing for an 8 year-old.

God is
Earth maker
Land creator
Water flower of the earth
Man maker
Everything that we could need
We are servants, sinners
But we are descendants of the Lord
Savior Jesus
Died on the cross
Blood of his fell on the ground
No other gods exist
Every night and day
I praise you for ever more
Land maker
World creator
Star, moon and sun maker
You are everything
That I will ever need.

Oh to have the faith of a child!

All I Ever Have to Be

I'm struggling a bit lately. I can't exactly put into words what my struggle is; I just feel out of sorts, I guess. Something's up, but I can't put my finger on it. I wish I could plug myself into some machine that would diagnose the problem so it could be fixed. I guess it started when I threw the pity party for myself a few days ago. When I get down like that, it takes awhile for me to get back up.

I have to be so many things to so many people. I am the cook, the laundress, the maid, the chauffeur, the teacher, the handywoman, the appointment keeper, the shopper, the organizer, the family historian, the diaper changer... and so much more. Basically I am *the* person who makes sure this machine called "Our Life" runs smoothly. I feel like I'm hardly ever given that pat on the back I think I richly deserve, and that bites.

Sometimes I get so caught up in making sure everyone else is taken care of that I forget to take care of myself. I take such pains to make sure that everyone in this house is happy and content. I forget. I forget the person whom I'm ultimately here to please. I forget that God created me to make Him happy. I forget to be the person He created me to be, because I'm so busy trying to be who I think I should be instead.

I forget that He's up there cheering for me. He's patting me on the back. He sees what I do. He knows how hard I work. He gives me the strength to keep doing what I do day after day after day.

This is one of my favorite songs. I sang it to try out for the high school ensemble at my church. I love its simplicity, its brevity, its message. It reminds me that no one else matters. There is no one on this earth to be impressed. It's Him. HE matters.

When the weight of all my dreams
Is resting heavy on my head,
And the thoughtful words of health and hope
Have all been nicely said.
But I'm still hurting,
Wondering if I'll ever be
The one I think I am.
I think I am.
Then you gently re-remind me
That you've made me from the first,
And the more I try to be the best
The more I get the worst.
And I realize the good in me,
Is only there because of who you are.
Who you are...
And all I ever have to be
Is what you've made me.
Any more or less would be a step
Out of your plan.
As you daily recreate me,
Help me always keep in mind
That I only have to do
What I can find.
And all I ever have to be
All I have to be
All I ever have to be
Is what you've made me.

-----Amy Grant, "All I Ever Have to Be"