Wordless Wednesday

Energy

It’s 8:12 pm and I have zero energy. I know it’s because I was up really, really irresponsibly late last night (having way too much totally worth it enjoyable conversation and laughter). But many days I am just done by AJ’s bedtime–can it be mine? Of course I’m not bright enough to actually go to bed extra early. Then when would I waste time online take care of all the important things to be done?

I know I don’t have any less time in my day than anyone else. It feels like it sometimes, though, because I’m so mentally worthless after dark. And I’m already getting up in the dark, barely after 5:30. There are things I would like to build into my life, but when? I just can’t get up one single minute earlier. Until the snow gets bad, when I’ll have to. Bah.

I know I need to make better use of these couple evening hours, and I know I am not always as tired as I am tonight. It’s often a matter of momentum too–applying energy creates energy, or getting started keeps me going. Kind of the same theory that’s making me blog right now. (Well, that and stubbornness.)

And now that I’ve stared at this screen for ten minutes while my mind totally zoned out from any coherent thought I was going to add . . . I think I’ve made my point!

Why Parents Turn from Jekkyl to Hyde

Why can a parent lose his or her patience within the span of one minute? The same way a child can go from oh-so-sweet to . . . well . . . read and learn, dear friend.

AJ at bedtime, sweet and snuggly as can be: “If I wake up I can’t go back to sleep.”

Me: “Yes you can. If you wake up, just go back to sleep.”

AJ: “No, I can’t go back to sleep, I have to call you.”

Me: “No you don’t!  If you wake up in the night just close your eyes and go back to sleep.”

AJ: “I can’t close my eyes. I can’t. That’s the way God made me.”

Ten seconds later . . .

AJ, putting her finger in my nose: “Smell this!”

Me: “I don’t want to—it stinks.”

AJ: “It was in my butt.”

Sunday Irony

Pastor Tim asked this morning, How do you handle a bad day?

I guess the Lions get to answer that. Holy cow, that was painful.

Today I…

• made french toast
• got gas
• went to the library
• shopped at the farmer’s market
• sorted toys
• took toys to thrift shop
• stopped at Target
• made applesauce and squash
• worked out
• showered (finally)
• made easy chicken alfredo for dinner
• grocery shopped
• checked fantasy football roster
• blogged

I am ready to sit down and do one more thing: watch an episode of Chuck.

Looking forward to a much lazier Sunday!

Words from (and for) a PT Veteran

My grandfather served on a PT boat during WWII. A few years ago my mother asked my grandfather to write up some of his stories, and last year she had copies of A PT Sailor’s Story spiral bound for all of us. A few of his concluding words:

Our Squadron 7 was composed of some pretty good men. Their record was 132 sinkings, 3 probable, 111 damaged; fuel and ammo dumps destroyed. Eleven men were killed; 24 were wounded; 1 boat was lost to enemy gunfire. . . . Many are gone now, but there have not been many days since our war time experience that I have not thought of those times.

Generally I would rather not think too much about war and the military, because they are uncomfortable to me. But we can’t forget. My grandfather has not forgotten. And he is proud–I have a fresh memory of him just a few weeks ago telling Aaron about his tattered flag displayed in their home. And we are proud of him. Because of him and others, we have an amazing America for his great-grandkids to grow up in.

Thank you for your service, Papa. (I know you’re reading this, which is pretty awesome!)

Thank you to all who have served, and to their families.

Commercialized Have You Been?

Awesome Christmas gift?

OR

Awesomest Christmas gift?

(Actually, I honestly think this is a little weird, at least the way it is described. But it might be worth the price for Santa Yoda–merry Christmas will he wish you!)

What’s the weirdest Christmas item you’ve seen this pre-Thanksgiving season?

Wordless Wednesday: Great Grands!

On Being Out There

With his seminary graduation on the distant yet rapidly looming spring horizon, Aaron is officially “out there” in the sense of looking for a pastoral position. He finished his ministerial profile in September–a document answering a number of questions about his values, style, strengths, beliefs, and so on. It’s much more detailed than your typical resume. It’s in depth. It’s personal.

And when he sent it to that first church, it suddenly felt very . . . exposing. You try to put the essence of who you are as a leader and a Christ follower, a preacher and a person, into 15 pages, then wait for strangers to read it and decide whether they like you enough to want to talk to you.

Aaron’s very likable–who doesn’t like him? No one!–but the reality is that a lot of churches won’t even consider someone taking their “first ordained call,” even if they have other ministry and life experience. I’ve been on the other side of this as well, on a church search committee, and I think it’s sometimes unrealistic on churches’ part (most experienced pastors aren’t looking for a more difficult, lesser paying situation) and often unfair to good candidates. Sure, a few situations clearly need experience at the helm, but most of the time, how can you just rule them all out without even considering them? I am positive that when churches talk to Aaron, they are not going to see him as a naive new grad. They’re going to see a guy who loves God, Scripture, the church, and people; who’s thoughtful, passionate, and wise; who knows how to lead and knows how to love. Someone’s going to see a great pastor in waiting.

But it wasn’t the first church. It might not be the second, or the third, or the twenty-seventh.

We just pray God keeps granting us enough affirmation to ward off discouragement while we walk on.

And when necessary, we sing some Adele!

Never mind, I’ll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you too
Don’t forget me, I beg
I remember you said,
Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead
Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead

A Summer Funny

I was thinking about times AJ has mispronounced something or used the wrong word with hilarious results, and this tale should not remain untold:

One day this summer Aaron had hurt his sciatic nerve (thigh/rear) so badly that he was sitting on a heating pad. Even though it was about 90 degrees and humid outside and thus 105 degrees in our upstairs office. So he took the unusual for him step of taking off his shirt.

AJ walked in, marched up to him, dropped whatever she was holding, put her hands on her hips, stared with her mouth wide open, and then admonished:

“PWIVACY, DADDY!”

He looked at her. “What?”

She pointed at him. “PUH-WIV-A-CY!!!!”

When I collected myself, I clarified, “I think you mean modesty, honey.”

At least she is learning that concept!

What funny mix-ups have you heard?

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