Snapshots

Saturday, October 8, 2011

The Aches and Pains of Service

I could still feel the vibrations in my hands (and my elbows and shoulders ... and teeth). I found two very tender spots on the palms of my hands, located just below my rings. On my right hand, a small blister was forming. And I knew the next day I would most definitely feel it in my hamstrings, hiney and back. Ahhh ... evidence of a difficult task accomplished.

I would love to say that I had tackled some enormous job ... jackhammering the back patio in preparation for a new deck area, sanding the entire house for a new paint job, breaking up tile in the bathroom for a new jacuzzi tub. Alas, I just mowed the lawn.

But in reality, it wasn't "just mowing the lawn". It was a birthday present for my hubby. An act of service that, as expected, spoke directly to his service-lovin' heart! By hauling that behemoth mower around, emptying two near-to-bursting bags of clippings and subjecting my hands to a beating, I was treating my husband to a lawn-care-free birthday weekend and getting two extra hours with my sweetie. I also enjoyed a bonus smooch on his arrival home. :)

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!!

Did it cost me something? Yes.

Was it worth it? Definitely!

That is the way with service, I think. The acts of service that involve a few aches and pains are the sweetest.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy being on the receiving and giving end of any sort of service, but if there is a little sweat, a little sacrifice, a little surrender, it seems to mean just that much more. Those vibrating, tender hands and soon-to-be-sore muscles were saying, "You are important. You deserve this. You are worth some aches and pains."

Here are a few more examples of this sacrificial service:

During the season premier of "The Amazing Race", an innocent bystander at a gas station found one of the contestant's passports abandoned in the parking lot. This man made the amazing choice to drive to the airport and seek out the frazzled traveler. He could have just turned it in to the gas station attendant and gone on his way, but he chose to go all out and spend his time, energy and gas for a complete stranger. The absolute joy on the contestant's face was a just reward for this man's sacrifice. (That and his cameo on the hit TV show! Smile at the camera!)

Brett's folks are just now beginning to see an end to a very long season of one particular health issue. It has been a long road and we are celebrating with them as they discover the richness of life on the other side of Mom's amputation. On our recent Labor Day weekend with them, Mom wanted to make calzones. She has always had a heart for service and this was an important act of love for her. It was challenging for her as she stood on her one leg with her walker and rolled out dough and stuffed it full of the pizza toppings. And it was challenging for us to let her. But in the end, we enjoyed a delicious dinner and she enjoyed the satisfaction and fatigue of a tough act of service. (And a good night's sleep, too!)

We recently had my mom and sister's dogs and canary for a week. Their four pets and our own menagerie brought the number of living beings under our roof to a whopping 18! Even as I write that number, I have to shake my head ... what a zoo! There was an awful lot of barking, tweeting, "sshh-ing", ball throwing, treat eating and four-footed frolicking going on. I will confess that there were a few moments when I felt a little overwhelmed by the endless needs and excessive energy in the house. But ... that sacrifice meant that my mom and sis were off enjoying a very much needed vacation! That made the slimy balls to retrieve from the other side of the fence and the puddles from incessant markers more okay. (I don't think we'll be adopting any additional pets, however!)

Finally, Jesus demonstrated a beautiful act of service for His friends during His final dinner with them. He washed their feet. Their dirty, sweaty, stinky, callused, filthy feet. And He dried each foot (all 24 of them) with a towel He had tied around His waist. After He cleaned their road weary feet, He said to them,

“Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³ “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. (John 13:12b-15)

Those were strange words for the disciples to hear because this act of washing feet was actually the job of the lowliest servant of the house. Not for the Son of God. But this act of service was Jesus's MO. This is how He works.

But Jesus didn't stop there. In fact this foot washing was a precursor for His ultimate gift of service, His willingness to die on the cross and take on our punishment for sin.

Jesus reminded His friends in Mark 10, that His purpose on earth was not to be crowned King, but to do the tough work of Servant and Savior.

⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

What does this mean for us?

For me, it is a challenge to serve sacrificially and cheerfully. And embrace the aches and pains that come along with it!

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31 Days of Mom in the Midst

Day 1: Mom in the Midst

Day 2: My Button is Lame

Day 3: Splendidly Lavish

Day 4: Keeping My Head Above Water

Day 5: Time-Warp Wednesday ~ Little Me

Day 6: Me, Myself & I

Day 7: Food For Though ~ Bacon

Day 8: The Aches and Pains of Service

Friday, October 7, 2011

Food For Thought ~ Bacon

I love bacon.

There I said it. Confession is good for the soul!

I love crisp bacon on salads, baked potatoes, hamburgers, on the side of my breakfast and in my BLTs. I love the smoky flavor. I love the smell of cooking bacon in the air. I love the salty taste.

But that is the pretty side of bacon.

I don't love the ugly side of bacon. The side of bacon that is less than appetizing.

I don't love the grease on the glass stovetop, the streaks as I try to wipe it away, the splattered spots on the oven control panel that smear and smudge. I don't love the left-over grease in the pan. I don't love the residual "old bacon" smell that lingers in the air. I don't love the metabolic results of eating bacon ... salt-induced water retention and additional ounces on the scale.

It's a love-hate relationship!

My words are just like bacon. Sometimes they are delicious, while other times they are ... well, let's just say they're less than tasty.

Sometimes my words are hearty and filling ~ just the encouragement someone needs to hear in the middle of a tough spot.
Sometimes they are slick and greasy ~ saying just what they want to hear in order to feel better ... and to earn me a pat on the back.

Sometimes my words are tasty little morsels ~ reinforcing some other great truth my reader already knows.
Sometimes they are sharp and hard to swallow ~ spoken at the wrong time, at the wrong place, and in the wrong spirit.

Sometimes my words resonate in the air ~ reminding my hearers of my love and affection.
Sometimes my words hang heavily in the air ~ nagging my hearers to "step it up", "get it together", "stay in line", "listen to me".

Sometimes my words are seasoned with grace ~ speaking love and inspiration.
Sometimes my words are lacking in flavor ~ speaking to hear myself speak.

⁶ Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. (Colossians 4:6)

Who knew that bacon could be such an inspiration?!?

Not only is it delicious, but it's also a hands-on reminder to me of the power of my words. Whether I am speaking to my husband, my kids, my family or friends, I want my words to be appetizing, flavorful, scrumptious. They should be seasoned well with grace and love and truth.

And if I speak well ... they will be coming back for seconds!

In true form for my Friday Food For Thought, here is an Italian Bacon Lettuce & Spinach sandwich we enjoyed recently. Not only can you savor the truth of the importance of delicious words, but you can delight in a tasty sandwich, too!

Italian BLS Sandwiches

1 loaf french bread, sliced
2 tomatoes, sliced
1 lb bacon, cooked
2 cups fresh baby spinach
Pesto, here is my recipe

Fresh ingredients

Toast the bread and assemble the sandwiches as usual, spreading the pesto on generously in place of mayonnaise. Pretty simple, but a nice change from the usual BLT! We served ours with crispy steak fries ... delicious!

Scrumptious ingredients!

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31 Days of Mom in the Midst

Day 1: Mom in the Midst

Day 2: My Button is Lame

Day 3: Splendidly Lavish

Day 4: Keeping My Head Above Water

Day 5: Time-Warp Wednesday ~ Little Me

Day 6: Me, Myself & I

Day 7: Food For Though ~ Bacon

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Me, Myself & I

I have an on-going battle in my life right now. It's not a new battle, but one that I have actually fought for years. And periodically lost. Here's the scenario ...

In the middle of the afternoon, I'm sitting at my computer minding my own business when, from the other room I hear a familiar voice. The voice of my nemesis, my enemy, my foe. Her sweet, sugary voice breaks my concentration. I'm in the middle of a thought, in the middle of a sentence and she barges right in!

Myself: Yoo-Hoo! Anybody here? I have treats!

I: Uhm. I'm in the middle of writing at the moment. Please let me be.

Me: Yeah ... you heard her. Let her be.

Myself: I have chocolate! Scrumptiously sweet chocolate. Just for you!

I: No. I am busy and I am focused. Go away.

Myself: Oooh ... looky! I found that Buttterfinger that Lydia opened at the store the other day. The wrapper is half off and ready for you to take a biiiiig bite!

Me: That is so mean! You know how she loves chocolate and peanut butter together. Don't be a bully!

Myself: Chocolate and peanut butter, chocolate and peanut butter! Yummy, sugary sweetness!

I: Do you mind? I. Am. Trying. To. Write. Leave me alone.

Me: You heard her ... go away! We don't want your candy!

a moment of silence ...

Myself: Oh my ... did you see that there is an almost empty bag of nacho flavored Doritos in the cupboard? There are just a few handfuls of crumbs left. Or should I say, mouthfuls?

Me: Oooh ... Doritos? Really? I love those cheesy chips!

I: Hey! You're supposed to be on my side!

Me: Uh, right. Sorry. ... but it's, uhm ... well, never mind.

Myself: What's wrong with just a few bites?

I: I'm not hungry, that's what's wrong. I'm trying not to snack. Now, shoo!

Me: Right, shoo! You just move along there, little Sneaky Snacker!

Myself: Alright, alright ... if you say so. I'll just be over here if you decide you need something to munch on. Don't mind me and my crinkly package of Oreos.

Me: Mmmm ... I love Oreos!

I: Excuse me? You are absolutely no help!

Me: Oh, come on! Just one? One little nibble couldn't hurt, could it?

I: Okay ... just one. Only one and then back to work, alright?

Myself: Yeah!

Me: I'll get the milk! Who wants a scoop of ice cream on the side?

Sound familiar? I certainly hope so! Surely I'm not the only one with the afternoon Sneaky Snacker calling my name!

I don't always give in, but more often than I'd like to admit, I end up relenting and having a bite or two of some sweet or salty treat. Or three or four.

Sometimes I find myself on the other side of that nap-time nibble frustrated with myself for my lack of willpower. How is it that the handful of chips or handful of cookies were stronger than me? How is it that I couldn't say "no" to their wooing calls from the kitchen? How is it that I can't control myself in the face of their sweet saltiness?

And then I remember ...

¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

²¹ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²²For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:18-25, emphasis mine)

This is an age-old battle and it's one that I can't win on my own. But gratefully, I'm not on my own!

What battle are you facing today?

Are you fighting alone?

Jesus wants to join me in this argument between "Me, Myself & I"!

And He wants to rescue you, too!

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Prompt: 1 Share a disagreement you're having with someone and let your readers be the judge! Be gentle with me. Myself. And I. :)

Also ... this is Day 6 of 31 Days of Mom in the Midst

Day 1: Mom in the Midst

Day 2: My Button is Lame

Day 3: Splendidly Lavish

Day 4: Keeping My Head Above Water

Day 5: Time-Warp Wednesday ~ Little Me

Day 6: Me, Myself & I

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Time-Warp Wednesday ~ Little Me

Today is a fun day! I have a guest post over at faithblogs ... so pop over there and you get two posts for this wacky and wild Wednesday! It's kinda like it's your birthday week, too! :)

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This past Monday I turned 36 ... which is really weird because it's absolutely impossible that I am actually that old! Of course, my creaky hips and achy feet tell me that, "yes, indeedly doo, you are that old", but in my mind's eye, I'm more like this:

My mom has said the same thing - experiencing jaw-dropping shock after catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror and realizing that she's 60 ... even if she is still young at heart. This age-business can really mess with your head!

I have also become a bit more aware of my age in regards to sports figures. Nothing is more humbling than seeing a star athlete at the height of his or her career and realizing that I am A DECADE older than they are. A decade. Proof that it's probably time to put my aspirations to be an Olympic synchronized swimmer to bed. It's not gonna happen.

Or, discovering that celebrities, of whom I have always projected as much older than me, are actually my age. Or younger. The biggest shocker recently was discovering that Angelina Jolie is my age. And Ashton Kutcher is three years my junior. I'm not sure why that struck me as strange, but it did. Maybe it's because I picture them as above me in age and stature as opposed to a peer. Not a peer in the sense of fame, fortune or fan-club status, of course, but we could have been in school together, bumped into one another in the hall, traded secrets for fighting acne.

Maybe my shock at crossing over to the "other side" of 30 is due, more than anything, to the surprisingly swift passage of time and the seasons of life that are behind me. I have two possible responses to this discovery: cling to the past or fling myself into the future!

Gratefully, God orchestrated my days long before even that adorable little snapshot above was taken. While my future may be hidden from me, it's already written out in great detail in God's book.

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:13-16, emphasis mine)

And with the peace that comes from that sweet knowledge that God has my days already planned out, I can smile at the future.

With the same goofy grin from when I wore teeny-tiny overalls and had a lot less hair!

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31 Days of Mom in the Midst

Day 1: Mom in the Midst

Day 2: My Button is Lame

Day 3: Splendidly Lavish

Day 4: Keeping My Head Above Water

Day 5: Time-Warp Wednesday ~ Little Me

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Keeping My Head Above Water

A few times in my recent Snapshots posts, I have alluded to my current status of feeling overwhelmed. I haven't written that with the intent of garnering your sympathies, but to be frank and honest with you. This mothering gig is a doozy!

In visiting with a friend on the phone the other night, we got to talking about the fullness of life. Not necessarily the full, satisfying, rewarding aspects of life, but the "one more task", "one more activity", "one more errand to run", "one more meal to make" aspects of life. The parts of life that really wear me out!

The general consensus was that this full-to-the-brim with a-little-running-over characteristic of life might just be my new norm. It's inevitable that our four kids will be going in any number of directions - even if we are intentional about keeping our family activities to a minimum. It's just pack and parcel to the life of a busy family.

While this realization doesn't really change my situation, it does change my perspective a bit. I may not be able to carve away any excess busyness, but I can be more relaxed and go with the flow a bit more readily. I have been diving into my morning without consulting God on His plans and that is like starting the day already partly underwater. If, instead, I start my day with His big picture of what needs to happen and if I am realistic about whether or not all of my plans will fit into the allotted hours of the day, then I am more prone to feel a sense of satisfaction at the end of the evening. That is, as opposed to a sense of being swamped. Submerged. Sinking.

Recently Ashley illustrated this beautifully. And with a good amount of splash!

A few weeks ago, we spent the evening at the pool. My husband's athletic club hosts a family swim night on Fridays and we try to take advantage of it as often as we can ... if only to keep the kids' gills moist.

During our time at the pool, Norah was practicing swimming from one side of the pool to the other, Lydia was leaping into the pool from the stairs with her foam noodle tucked under her arms, Aaron was chucking the sponge ball back and forth with Brett. And Ashley was "treadmilling".

Little Le-Le parked herself along one wall where she couldn't reach the bottom. With a quick, "Watch, Mom!" she would let go of the wall and begin running in place - arms flailing, legs kicking, head bobbling and body sinking. For about 1.7 seconds she would frantically churn the water and then as her head went under she would seize the edge of the pool again, turn to me and proudly shout, "I'm treadmilling!"

Of course, Norah was quick to correct her.

"It's treading water, Ashley. Treading. Water. Not treadmilling."

That didn't dampen Ashley's enthusiasm. She simply turned back to her corner of the pool and did her best to keep her head above water. So very much like her Mommy.

I think that might be one of the best pictures of my life recently. I'm in the deep-end of a pool-full of life's demands and I am running in place, expending a lot of energy, not really going anywhere and still feeling like my head is on the verge of going under. glub, glub, glub ...

If, on the other hand, I were to recognize that I can't touch the bottom of my day's demands, that God is my Wall (Psalm 91:2) Who will stay right within my reach, and if I allow His River of living water (John 7:37-39) to flow through me, I might be able to relax enough to actually tread water and keep my head up!

I don't think my list of "to-do's" is going to change. If anything, there is the potential for our daily schedule to get a whole lot deeper. But my outlook can be different.

Here's to swimming instead of sinking!

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31 Days of Mom in the Midst

Day 1: Mom in the Midst

Day 2: My Button is Lame

Day 3: Splendidly Lavish

Day 4: Keeping My Head Above Water

Monday, October 3, 2011

Splendidly Lavish

There is something about a birthday landing on a Monday. (Especially a Monday in the Kellum household where it's, "go! go! go!" from sun up to sun down.) Something that makes this birthday girl grateful that her family started celebrating Saturday!

With extra time to write, uninterrupted opportunities to create and free time to rest, I loved my birthday weekend! And as if those little gifts weren't enough, I also enjoyed Brett's homemade pizza for dinner, breakfast out before church on Sunday and a delicious dessert. Imagine with me a generous bowl of coffee ice cream nestled next to a slice of from-scratch (from our garden) carrot cake topped with homemade cream cheese frosting. And not a smidgen of frosting, mind you, but a generous slathering; a thoroughly liberal blanketing; a splendidly lavish layer of creamy sweet goodness!

I remember reading somewhere years ago about a delicious correlation between a lavishly iced cake and God's lavish grace. The author wrote about how her grandmother wasn't skimpy in the way that she iced a cake. She was generous with the icing in the same that God is generous with His grace.

Abundant.
Big-hearted.
Sumptuous.
Luxurious.
Plentiful.
Unsparing.
Bountiful.
Openhanded.
Unstinting.
Extravagant.

In Paul's letter to the Ephesians, we read:

⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. (Ephesians 1:7-8a)

I can say, as I lick the sugary sweetness off my fingers, that this snapshot of God's abundant grace is a delicious reminder. Delicious and sweet.

Thank You, Jesus, for Your lavish grace. And help me to love those around me with that same lavish grace ... ~~even~~ especially the goofy ones!

(Now ... who is going to come help us eat this cake? Because I can't be left alone with it's deliciousness ...)
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31 Days of Mom in the Midst

Day 1: Mom in the Midst

Day 2: My Button is Lame

Day 3: Splendidly Lavish

Sunday, October 2, 2011

My Button is Lame

I had been contemplating participating in the 31 Days Challenge and then suddenly it was October 1st. As in Day 1 of 31. Oops. How did that sneak up on me so quick?!?

That meant that I was sitting at my computer, stunned by the sudden start of the writing challenge and frantically reading through the "rules".

Pick a topic. Check.
Link up. Check.
Write daily. Check.
Design a button. Uh-oh.

I scrolled through the links. What pretty little linky buttons! There were fun colors, stylish fonts, vintage images and personalized designs. Oh, boy.

"No problem. I'll just Google "blog buttons design free" and fill in the blanks. I'm sure it will come together really quickly."

Forty-five minutes later ... blurg.

The fact that I am a word person and not a tech person was becoming more and more clear to me. I love to put my thoughts on paper, but I am oblivious when it comes to making it look purty for my visitors. I tweaked the data fields, I wrinkled my brow (and my nose), I tweaked some more and this is what I ended up with:

Hmmm ... I guess that'll work. It's not fancy or original, but I guess it will do the job.

I headed back to host's blog and linked up. After selecting my new button as my icon, I hit "enter", then headed back to the list of contributors to make sure my link was successful. I looked for my button and to my dismay I found this:

Awesome.

And double blurg.

Undeniable proof of what I said earlier, "I am a word person and not a tech person." But that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

I have my gifts and strengths which are different from those of other people. There are (apparently) people out in the blogosphere with the amazing ability of navigating the sea of "html". I am not one of those people, but that doesn't make my abilities any less important.

Paul talks about this truth in his letter to the Roman church. He must have been dispelling lies regarding the different roles in the church. Some Christians were extolling the virtues of the "important" jobs (teaching, preaching, apostleship) while snubbing those believers with the "insignificant" jobs (service, giving, mercy). Paul is quick to put an end to this confusion:

⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. (Romans 12:4-8)

I might go on to add, "if it is to create really awesome blog buttons, do so with style; if it is to write from your heart, do so with enthusiasm..."

With a shrug of resignation, I am releasing my blah-blog-button. It's not my thing. Writing, on the other hand - that is a gift God has given me and I intend to use it, "generously, diligently and cheerfully; in accordance with my faith."

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Day 1: Mom in the Midst

Day 2: My Button is Lame

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Mom In the Midst

As moms, we often find ourselves up to our necks in busyness. We are surrounded by people who need us, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We find ourselves facing endless demands of our limited time, energy and attention. We make lists of tasks to accomplish and feel that the lists grows daily in spite of our attempts to mark things off. We clean a room, move on to the next task and turn around to find that same room in need of cleaning again. We face challenges we never anticipated ... how do you get diaper cream out of the upholstery? We come face to face with our own human limitations and persevere anyway.

If you are agree with those statements, it’s probably safe to assume that you, too, are ...

A mom in the midst of life.

A mom in the midst of diapers and teething rings.

A mom in the midst of homework and tough friendships.

A mom in the midst of high chairs and building blocks.

A mom in the midst of raising a child and discovering your own personal growth, too.

A mom in the midst of tough choices and gut instincts.

A mom in the midst of bruised shins and broken hearts.

A mom in the midst of long days and longer nights.

A mom in the midst of doubts and worries.

A mom in the midst of big successes and little triumphs.

A mom in the midst of the toughest job you’ve ever known.

These are all true and very real. But I would also add that you are ...

A mom in the midst of God’s peace and love.

A mom in the midst of God’s grace and mercy.

A mom in the midst of God’s purposes and plan.

I am also a mom in the midst ... in the midst of the craziness of parenting, but also in the midst of discovering God’s goodness. Recently my prayer has been for God to show me the value of my mothering and He has been faithful to do so. I believe that if we ask God to open our eyes to see where He is at work in the middle of our harried days, He will give us little snapshots of what He is doing. And when we see that God is present even in a regular day of changing diapers and teaching ABC’s, we discover that everything we do as mothers has the potential to move from the ordinary to the sacred.

God speaks to us every day - through His word and through the world around us. If we take the time to listen to Him, I believe that we will discover that He has a lot to say to us ... in the midst of our mothering.

I am taking part in the 31 Days Challenge ... join me this month for some amazing discoveries!