Archive for the ‘Change’ Tag
July 17…a reminder from Ecclesiastes
The author of Ecclesiastes in the bible tells us:
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance…
Well July 17 was like that in our home.
At 9:00 am we took our faithful family dog to the vet for s checkup and a bath.
We heard she was suffering from cancer and should be humanely put to sleep.
At 1:00 pm five of us said our goodbyes to our pet of 12 years.
At 4 we decided we needed a new puppy to turn our mourning into dancing.
At 6 pm Zoie came into our lives.
Zooey was scheduled to be put to death because she was an orphan and there are too many unwanted puppies in the world.
Being in the business of rescuing people we may as well add puppies to that list.
What a emotional roller coaster ride or maybe it was more like finding hope in the midst of calamity.
Seeing change in me
I’m not the same person I used to be.
Multiple personalities?
Not exactly…changed…for the better.
My priorities have been rearranged…maybe …or maybe I just have new priorities.
I was up late getting Twelve to sleep for the night.
Once that would have upset me because I needed to be on top of my game in the morning…for what?
For pointless meetings and emails that lead to what?
Twelve slept all night…good for her…good for us!
That’s a change in priorities.
I think…if I can sum it up…the biggest change is that all that I do is not just about me…and I’m good with that.
It sounds strange to say it out loud…but you can feel fulfilled…significant…even when it isn’t all about you.
No…you can feel better.
I sense God in this.
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight…” (I Corinthians 3:19)
I’m finally getting it.
When a baby spits-up on me today, my heart goes out to the baby…not for me. After all…its just a t-shirt…I can change.
I like me better this way.
“Therefore, whoever is in Christ is a new creation…the old has gone…the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Amen for the new!
Dog stalking
This is another one of those things I never thought I’d be doing.
The primary family pet…our senior citizen dog…makes yellow spots on the back lawn when she pees.
With more time on my hands I find I don’t care for these spots.
Researching the problem I have learned that her first pee of the day is the most acidic.
So I let her out for her morning pee, observe the exact location, and promptly flood the area with fresh water.
It beats several of the alternatives…
Eliminate the dog…alter her diet…walk her on the neighbor’s lawn first.
I heard birds this morning
I can’t say that they woke me up this morning…I have too many other helpers who take that responsibility 
seriously…and they are all back fast asleep now.
But I hear the birds…they’re back!
I can remember a time when the birds meant I had to get up and drive 20 miles to spend the best part of the beautiful day inside doing things I really didn’t want to do.
But now the birds are a wonderful reminder that it will be a beautiful spring day that I can spend with those who mater most in my life.
Blessings do come in disguise sometimes.
I want to savor every day the birds wake me up this season.
The next three seasons are like my manna from God that only lasts for the day. It can’t be stored up so it must be consumed…enjoyed…for the day.
Isn’t that like our lives?
So I’m up for fresh air, sunshine, exercise, outdoor work (even picking up after the dog is a joy when you don’t have to wear a coat), and grilling for eleven.
What a gift to be able to open and enjoy God’s gifts in the midst of the world’s confusion.
Said another way…finding hope in the midst of calamity!
Adults 6 – Kids 5
No…not family soccer…we have a new adult in the house.
No…nobody new moved in…we didn’t rent Four’s room out while she was away at college.
Six turned 18!
Now the adults (those of us 18 and older) have the upper hand.
Actually, if you throw in Mom and me we already had a majority.
For that matter, either Mom or me is a majority.
Back to the blog…yesterday we welcomed Six into the club.
Today’s a new day and we’ll be expecting a lot more adult stuff from you Six so be prepared.
News flash…you can never go back to being a kid.
You can behave like a kid but you will forever be an adult!
New assignments
Filed under: God, Reflection | Tags: Blessings, Change, Children
Leave a Comment February 23 is the day your mother and I started dating officially.
This February 23 we both received new assignments.
Mom landed a new job that is a wonderful match of her gifts, passion, and energy.
I learned that my new assignment was not what I thought it would be but an expanded role as Mr. Mom.
An equal match of my gifts, passion and energy.
God is good…all the time.
AAABC+BBBCC = Parent payday
Filed under: Resolutions | Tags: Boot Camp for the Real World, Change, Children, Hope
Leave a Comment New math?
Not hardly.
I call it parent payday.
The first semester is over for our two special needs high school children (Six and Seven) and it was their best ever!
In the case of Seven…Mr. 3.4 GPA it was his only semester.
Yes, they worked hard.
We parents worked harder.
Cajoling…consulting…and flat out threatening had its impact.
But for the next semester we’re going Hi Tech!
They both have cell phones that they treasure above all things.
Their phones come with a special option called Parental Controls.
I can control when their phone works…never during school hours…except to call or text family.
I can control the quantity of texts they are allowed each month.
Forget to do your homework…BAM…you are incommunicado for the next day!
All it takes is a few key strokes.
So I’m taking the proverbial chill pill…the consequences are automatic…and as far as appeals go…no inane appeals.
Good Job kids.
Caterpillar to butterfly…what a transformation!
Filed under: Reflection | Tags: Boot Camp for the Real World, Change, God, Hope
Leave a Comment Did you ever wonder what a caterpillar thinks when he crawls out of his cocoon?
What the _______!?
Today I crawled out of my cocoon.
And I didn’t even know I was in one.
But these wings…they are amazing…and the colors…unbelievable.
For a long time I was part of a couple of organizations that were dying…struggling to survive.
Like the proverbial frog in the kettle…you roll with the punches…not quite aware what is happening until it’s too late.
Sometimes the organization spits you out…tosses you overboard…so it can make it one more day…holding off the inevitable.
I was beaten down.
I went into my cocoon.
And God was there with me.
I needed a time out…like so many of the children I’ve parented..my heavenly parent gave me a wonderful time out.
I’ve spent time in God’s waiting room before.
It isn’t easy…but it is always good for me.
I’m not the same person I was last spring.
I’m not the same person I was when the water in the kettle started to get hot.
I have grown…I am growing…I am transforming.
I had a job interview today.
Will I get the job?
Too soon to tell but the process I went through to get to this point has restored my soul.
I’m out of the kettle.
I’ve left the cocoon.
The people God has placed in my path…in His waiting room…have helped me break free.
Thank you.
Olly Olly Oxen Free!
Intentional vegetarians…day 12…intentionally healthy!
Wow! Time really flies when you are having fun.
We have been intentional about being vegetarians for 12 days.
I can honestly say I’ve been 98% vegetarian.
The key is making meals without meat tasty and inviting.
Six and Seven have been loyal followers with Mom and me.
Ten has always been a vegetarian.
The rest of us have been part-time participants since they don’t do the shopping or cook the meals.
We need a new name.
Vegetarian is so over used.
I know people who wear the vegetarianism like a green badge of courage.
I wouldn’t go out of my way to tell people I meet.
Aren’t we supposed to get more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains anyway?
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) has actually created a website called www.Fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov.
You can put in your age, sex and level of activity and it will tell you how much you need.
I need 2 cups of fruit and 3 1/2 cups of veggies every day.
I ask you now…are you getting that much?
Anywhere near that much?
The website even tells you what constitutes a cup of fruit or veggies.
If you focus on meat dishes there is little room for the fruits and veggies and you can end up feeling stuffed.
Twelve days and I feel like I have more energy, more flexibility, lighter (I am too).
Maybe we should we should call ourselves Intentionally Healthy.
We eat a balanced diet weighted with plenty of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, light on the meat.
We get exercise and a good nights sleep.
Only intentionally vegetarian
What in the world does that mean?
Funny how life takes turns you never suspect are coming.
Some may think that makes life exciting.
I do…usually.
Well, somebody in the family has high blood pressure.
We’re going the route of attacking the problem through diet and exercise.
Some of us are standing alongside each other to make the transition easier.
So I’m saying we are intentionally vegetarian.
Five attended a college this fall that claimed to be intentionally Christian.
As it turned out, intentionally was a far cry from the real thing.
Webster says intend means “to proceed on a course”.
I think that’s better defines our journey with healthy eating than the school’s with Christianity but I’ll save that for another post.
But if it wasn’t for the school experience I wouldn’t have a cool new name for what we are today – right?
So, we (some of us) are now intentionally vegetarian.
Purists will, no doubt. look down their noses at us.
Who cares.
So we are planning to chow down on everything vegetarian…fruit…vegetables…whole grains…and low-fat dairy.
We won’t force anybody to comply.
But we may sneak a drumstick or an all beef hotdog now and then…we’re only intentionally vegetarian, don’t you know.
