Getting ready for the storm

Well, when we moved to PA I knew we would have snow but really I never thought about a hurricane.  I grew up with hurricanes in Texas—it was a yearly thing.  We would start school and then school would be canceled for a while to ride out a storm.  I had to laugh when my dad called to make sure we were using all our hurricane knowledge to prepare for the storm.  This is my “hurricane preparation knowledge”:

“Kids, here is a box, fill it with what you want to take to LaGrange and then get in the car.  Dad will stay here to take care of the house during the storm.”  (Thanks to my Aunt Kay and Uncle John for providing safety from the storms!)

As an adult I’ve never lived in a hurricane’s path!  As a child, I was sent out of the path and my Daddy took care of everything.

This time I’m still relying on my Dad—my heavenly father knows exactly what will happen and we are making preparations and then trusting Him for protection.

I’ve already cleaned the gutter, brought in all the plants and the patio table, made cookies using my frozen dough, banana bread is in the oven while I type and now we just wait.  If you are in PA, I hope you will take precautions too—hurricanes are not to be mocked!  I can still envision what our basketball goal, cemented in next to the driveway, looked like when we returned from LaGrange, once again, this time after hurricane Alicia.  Let’s just say my little brother who was probably 6 could dunk the ball easily!  Fortunately where I live we are on the “good side” of the storm so the winds should not be that bad.  We are more worried about the trees and the already saturated ground in which they sit.

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Riding the Waves

It is summer time and so that means lots of time for swimming and the occasional trip to the beach.  Of course, up where I live in our great nation you don’t go “to the beach” you go “down the shore”.  Last week we had the chance to spend the day on the sand and in the surf.  It was great.  I didn’t know how our 6 year old would do as it had been a long time since we had been to the beach and she isn’t one for getting her head wet even at the pool so I didn’t know how she would respond to the waves.  She loved to stand about knee to waist-high and jump the waves as they came.  Our 9 year-old loved everything about the water.  She was in it for every moment we were there.  She used floats, wave boards, and just her tiny little body to ride the waves.  It was fun to watch them enjoy each wave.

Our 9-year-old would stand and watch in anticipation, wondering if this wave would be the one that would allow her to ride all the way in.  While the 6-year-old just stood and braced for whatever came her way.

I’ve been reflecting this morning on life and the waves came to mind.  This summer has seemed like one wave after another is crashing through my life.  Waves can be overwhelming if you aren’t ready for them.  I am glad that several passages in the New Testament remind me that God is in control of the wind and the waves.  I think about Matthew 8:23-27 when Jesus and his disciples are all in a boat together.  Jesus was asleep and a crazy storm came up on the water and the disciples were scared.  When they awoke Jesus he calmed the winds and waves and they were amazed at His authority.  Then there is the Matthew 14: 29-30 passage when Peter steps out of the boat to walk on the water to Jesus.  In this passage I am reminded how important it is to stay focused on Jesus and not to take my eyes off of him.  When the wind and the waves distract me then I begin to get pulled under.

My girls loved the waves….do I love the waves of life?

My girls were prepared for the waves…am I spending time daily with my Lord to get ready for the waves that may hit me that day?

My girls have fond memories of their time “down the shore”….will I have fond memories of how I allowed God to work through these times of trials?

I hope so.

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I can trust God when I’m scared

I’ve always heard preachers say that it seems that the passage they are preparing to teach on becomes real, in life situations to them that very week.  Tomorrow (Sunday) I get to teach both Jr. Church and Sunday School.  I usually don’t teach either but I wrote myself into the schedule for Jr. Church and then our regular Sunday School teacher for K-2 will be out.  We are talking about honor in Jr. Church.  I love that topic- especially as a parent.  But honor is not just for kids, it is for me in my everyday encounters with people.

Then there is the Sunday School lesson.  I’ve  been looking at the lesson all week, but it dawned on me today that there is a message there for me too.

We will be talking about the Israelites leaving Egypt and crossing the Red Sea on dry ground.  How wild that experience must have been for them.  They have lived through the plagues and then Pharaoh says “Go…get out of here”.  They pack up and leave.  They must have thought “oh, finally we are out of here…things are finally going our way”.  Then they get to the Red Sea and realize that Pharaoh changed his mind.  I can imagine standing there and thinking “How are we getting out of this?”

Then God tells Moses to raise his staff and the waters begin to part.  I would have loved to have seen their faces!  I can imagine mine…the wonder and the awe….the realization (once again) of the power of God.  They had to then step out in faith.  The miracle was right there before them and they had to trust God to carry them through to the other side.  If they had not trusted, they would not have experienced all that God had set before them.  They walk through to the other side- safe in His care.

Our lesson “take away” tomorrow is that we can trust God when we are scared.

HA!  How did I read that all week and it not hit me until today.  I am so scared right now.  I am up against my own Red Sea.  I know that the God who took care of the Israelites is the same God who is taking care of me.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  So he can still part the waters if that is how He chooses to work.  I see the waters before me and I see the enemy approaching behind me….I am standing, trusting and waiting to see how God will move.

Last summer as God began to put some things on my heart, he spoke to me through the passage of scripture where Peter walks on water to Jesus.  God told me not to be distracted by the waves of life but to focus on Him and keep walking.

Now this summer–water again.  A Red Sea of life.

God says, Trust Me when you are scared.

I’m yours Lord.  I will trust.  Help me trust you more and more.

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Reporting Back….have you tried it?

Reporting back is something that most adults do on a daily basis–maybe it is at work with your boss or a committee you are on.   Regardless of where, I am sure it is something you have done in your lifetime.  Well,  have you applied that “adult skill” to your kids?

I attended a parenting webinar on Tuesday night from the comfort of my own home office.  I put a movie on for the girls and logged on to learn how to tackle morning routines.  The speaker, Scott Turansky with the National Center for Biblical Parenting, had many great things to say.  One nugget that I pulled and I’m working on this week with my kids is “reporting back”.  Scott shared that before you can begin a morning routine you have to have several things in place.  The first one was an Instruction Routine.  He said that there are two components to this: coming when called and reporting back.  The coming when called isn’t a new concept for us, but the reporting back was.

He said that after your child has done what you asked of him/her, the child should be trained to come and report back.  So “I finished putting my books back on the shelf Mom.” would be an example of reporting back.  He said to tell your kids that you are going to teach them an “adult skill”  something that will be important their entire lives.  Then let them in on reporting back.

It was an “aha” moment for me.  I don’t know why I never thought to do this with my girls.  It trains them to have a skill that they will need to be successful and it also will help me know if they have finished a task that I have given them.

So I am saying things differently this week.  Instead of just saying “go get your pjs on”  I’ve said: “Go get your pjs on and report back to me when you are done.”  Then I have to remember that I am TRAINING them and you don’t run a marathon on the first day out.  You have to train and build up.  Suffice to say…they are still in the training mode.

I liked the emphasis Scott made throughout the webinar on being a coach.  So many times I jump to disciplinarian and I need to be a coach.  Maybe I should wear a whistle to remind me?!

So, have you tried reporting back?  If so—tell me about it.

If you haven’t tried it, what do you think about the concept?

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No more yammering

Tonight I stepped out of my comfort zone.  I went to a meeting at the school to discuss the movie “Race to Nowhere” that focused on the impact homework is having on our kids.  For those that know me well you have picked up on the fact that I don’t like to speak up in groups in which I’m not already comfortable.  I say it takes me about two years to warm up.  With Brad working at night, it makes for an easy excuse to NOT attend these kinds of meetings.  Why pay a babysitter, right?  Well, I’ve yammered on and on about homework this year and I decided that I really needed to show up at the meeting.  So I did, with my two girls.  They sat to the side of the library and were really very good.  Except for needing to go find some books on the other side, they would have never been seen by anyone there.  Child #2 was doing her humming bit near the end so they were heard, but one lady kept looking out the window thinking the sound was coming from there!

After the meeting I told the girls we would go to Wendy’s and get a frosty as they were so good.  As we drove to the next town to get their treats, I tried to tell them why I went to the meeting.  I said that it is so easy to complain and fuss about things but it takes a different kind of person to step up and say “Hey, there is something not working well here, let’s see what we can do to fix it”.  We talked about how the school has needs, kids have needs and parents have needs and somehow there are things that can change to make homework a better fit for all parties involved.  I’m sure some of it went in one ear and out the other, but I’m also sure the topic of stepping up to make things better is one that I will keep yammering about for years to come !

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9

Yep….9.  9 is the number around our house lately.  Child #1 had a birthday recently and she turned nine.  So in honor of her 9th year, here are nine things that are on my mind tonight.

1. I have wonderful parents!  They flew up to be a part of Em’s baptism and while here helped redo our 1/2 bath.  Goodbye 1980s wallpaper, hello brown paint!!
2. I have no spare time lately—hence the very few posts in the last weeks, sorry.  I’ve hardly cooked and when I have it has been my old standbys- Taco Soup, spaghetti, corn dogs and Ranch style beans….
3. I’m trying to capture time with my girls in this hurried life.  The quote that propels me to capture time, ” Mom, I’m 9….I’m almost in middle school”  (and, uh…no you aren’t)
4. I can’t believe I let Em ride her bike to piano tonight.  She was very excited to take my cell phone for her trip around the corner.
5. I love PA in the Spring….come on Spring.  Today was so nice.
6. Different personalities- it is amazing to watch my girls and see how they respond to the same thing in different ways.
7. I sure did enjoy my cup of spiced tea with my 9 year old this evening and our time on the back deck.
8. Will Heather actually sleep through the night?  She fell asleep at 5:45 and hasn’t woken up yet……
9. I love my new living room rug!  After four years we finally found one that we both liked and could afford

So there you have it.  Nine random thoughts.

Now, I have to go tuck that 9-year-old in.

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Summer Camp Really Isn’t for the Kids

Ah, summer camp….a time to try new things, hang with friends, and have a break from the “normal” life.  Oh and I think the kids enjoy it too—not just the parents! 

My girls just got back on Friday from two weeks at “Camp Freedom” — Freedom from Mom and Dad, freedom for Mom and Dad from the kids, and Grandparents free to spoil the grandkids rotten—a true win-win for all involved! 

Rainforest Cafe with Mimi and Pop

Yes, Camp Freedom is in one of the oldest towns in Texas—Liberty!  It is the hometown to both my handsome fella and myself.  Our parents still live there in the small town of 7,500.  Since Em was three she has ventured to Texas for some time with the grandparents.  So at age three, Heather also met the age requirement for camp and took her first venture.  So this year was a return for both of them to a loved camp.  They are getting to be seasoned campers! 

Grandad and Nana took the girls to the Bluebell Ice Cream Factory

This year we drove them to camp 

Snoozing to Texas

It was a long drive but fun!  Our girls were great travelers.  We had two 14 hour days in the car broken up by one day of site-seeing in Chattanooga, TN.   We were so glad to see the Texas state line.  After a week in Texas ourselves, Brad and I said our goodbyes and drove back to PA in a very quiet mini-van.  My mother-in-law said that Emily was outside for a long time after we left and had begun to walk towards the main road.  She was worried that Em was sad that we were gone so she was preparing in her head how to comfort this 8-year-old that would not see her parents for two more weeks when Emily turned around and said “Yes, they are gone….let the games begin!”  So clearly, they were just as excited about Camp Freedom as were we. 

My “Mommy guilt” sometimes tries to take over and say- hey what about theatre, science, art or soccer camp?  Will my girls be left at the end of the line later in life because they didn’t get a jump start in summer camps? 

But ya know what?  I think this time they spend with family is priceless.  They get to experience who we are—what makes up our family.  It is a learning experience like none other and hopefully gives them a firm foundation to step out into the challenges of life.  We live so far from them that this time is precious. 

Now, I won’t lie….Brad and I enjoy Camp Freedom too. 

• Freedom to try a new restaurant…Bobby’s Burgers and El Rey
• Freedom to go to lunch with a friend at the drop of a hat….Burlap and Bean
• Freedom to come and go…bookstore at 9 PM…just because we could!
• The beauty of the coffee table staying straight for longer than 30 seconds.
• The wonder of a clean family room for days on end.

Wow- how precious the days are! 

So summer camp—time away—is good for the soul…the kids’ souls and the parents’….kids have fun and the parents refresh.  

Disclaimer- There is absolutely nothing wrong with theatre, science, art, and soccer camp.  I would love to be able to send my girls to these along with time with family but there isn’t enough money or time to do it all!  You have to decide what is best for your child and family.  For now, for us–Camp Freedom–is the best choice for the Smith girls. 

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Road Trip Reading

I had time to read a bit on our trip (Four 12 hour driving days will provide that for ya!)  So I thought I would share a few of the things I read in case you are looking for something to read.

The first book I read was John Adams.  This 600+ pages book by David McCullough is a hefty read even for a former history teacher.  I got through 100 pages on our way down to Texas (The reading conditions aren’t so great with two kids in the car…Mom can you hand me, Mom, can you…. You get the idea!)  As I read though I was reminded that not much changes through time.  Adams shares in the book how often in the Continental Congress they didn’t get much accomplished because the representatives like to hear themselves talk!  I had to laugh when reading that…could be said of our Congress today.

Then in Texas I was able to go to my favorite book store- LifeWay.  I don’t think my sister-in-law really understood my love of this store when she agreed to go with me!  I’m glad they have comfy chairs to sit in so she could rest her cute little pregnant-self while I slowly walked the aisles. I picked up several things and among them were two books.

The Yada Yada Prayer Group by Neta Jackson

I’ve seen this one for a while now and wanted to read it.  It was on sale for $5.97—-SOLD!  It is an easy read.  I related right away to the main character, Jodi Baxter.  She was saying how she has a “hard time remembering those pesky [scripture] references, even though I’ve been in Sunday school since singing “Climb, Climb Up Sunshine Mountain” That made me laugh out loud as it fits me to a tee!  I can sing more scripture than I can quote AND I did sing Climb, Climb Up Sunshine Mountain every week at our church’s Children’s TV Program we taped on Thursdays after school called, what else….Sunshine Mountain!  I was just quickly reading and so enjoying the book.  Brad drove and I would read when I could.  As we entered Maryland on Sunday the book caught me by surprise but I found that I could still relate to Jodi Baxter.  The premise of the book is that Jodi finds herself in a prayer group at a Ladies conference.  The group decides to keep on praying together even after the conference.  Jodi is the list-maker of the group and the first to offer to gather the emails and send them out to get the group started.  She compiles requests and gets them sent out…but she rarely offers anything from her life to pray about  (ouch- that was like looking in the mirror for me)  As the book progresses Jodi is forced to look at herself and really come to terms with some things.  I highly recommend this book—it even has recipes at the back!  The book is a quick read and will most likely challenge your prayer life. 

Five Conversations you must have with your daughter by Vicki Courtney

This is another one that has been on my “I want to read” list for a while.  It was not on sale but I thought it was time to pick it up.  The chapters focus around the 5 Conversations

1. You are more than the sum of your parts.
2. Don’t be in such a hurry to grow up.
3. Sex is great and worth the wait.
4. It’s OK to dream about marriage and motherhood.
5. Girls gone wild are a dime a dozen—dare to be virtuous.

I read through the first conversation and a bit into the second.  Vicki has some great insights and will help you think about many things. It allowed Brad and I to chat about some situations we will encounter in the future but also how we can talk and interact with our girls right now.    I think this would be a great book to do in a book club with Moms that have daughters.  I think there might even be a guide that goes along with the book.

Vicki has another book Logged On and Tuned Out that I would like to get about navigating the technology waters. 

So now, I’m off to check the library to see if they have book two in the yada yada series—let me know if you want to borrow my Book 1; I’d be happy to loan it to you.

A friend from Texas wrote this book review on her blog last month—so check it out if you are still looking for something to read http://www.fishythingshappen.com/2010/06/something-newa-book-review-out-of-spin.html

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Leftovers

Tonight was leftovers at the Smith house.  Well, let me tell the whole truth: Brad went to the Phillies game (so he didn’t eat with us), the girls had chicken nuggets and I had leftovers.  My day was kind of like that all the way through.  The same “leftover” issues at work creeping up; the same “leftover” whines and  moans from my girls; the same “leftover” requests that I make everyday (don’t chew with your mouth full, put your clothes away, yada, yada, yada).   I don’t care for leftovers on my plate nor in my life.  I’m glad that with my Heavenly Father each day is new.

The Bible tells us in Lamentations 3:22-24, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him’.”

That reminds me of the song “Great is Thy Faithfulness”: 

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

He gives us just enough–All we have needed, He has provided.  Each day is a new day.  Yes, I have some of the same “leftover” issues that I have to deal with but His faithfulness is new each day.  He will help me get rid of the leftover issues if I lean on Him and follow His guide.

Oh, I did end the night by making a new recipe- Blueberry Citrus Loaf…it should be coming out of the oven soon.  So we will have a new recipe in the morning to go along with our new mercies!

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3 Things I was reminded of

1) It is important to have your kids lay out all their clothes the night before.  We spent 20 min. looking for the 1 tennis shoe -AKA sneaker if you live north of the mason dixon line- until it was found in the dirty clothes basket. Better the night before than in the morning with the rush to get to the bus.

2) I love to hear thunder rolling.  We had thunder last night but not much rain, which is a good thing since Emily has field day today.

3) I make really good chocolate chip cookies.  I signed up to provide cookies for the field day volunteers lunch and doubled the recipe so we could have some cookies too.  I never really liked chocolate chip cookies growing up, but now I am a fan.

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