2007 December | chatting at the sky

fly to my rescue and crash through the wall

December 17, 2007

I had a new friend come over this morning. She’s the best kind of new friend. She brought me a really large coffee. From Starbucks. And cinnamon rolls. She is a mom as well, but her kids are in middle school. She asked me a question and I found myself excited to answer her because it was a real question that required real, cohesive thought. And I began to share from my heart about things I have learned and am still learning…and what I was saying was profound and smart and vulnerable…but for some reason she was not nodding thoughtfully. Rather, she was smiling, almost laughing. Why, you ask?

Turns out she was distracted by my pacing from one needy child to the next. As I was talking, evidently I also pried open one mouth, pulled one baby from the dining room table (4 times), settled 3 arguments, dressed 2 polly pockets and took 147 steps while pacing the floor and I didn’t even realize it until she opened her mouth and said these beautiful words:

“There’s a reason why the laundry doesn’t get done.”

And it was nice for someone who’s been there to recognize that which I already know…that I can work hard all day and still get nothing done. The only proof that I worked at all is my sore back, tired feet and, of course, piles of laundry…if that even makes any sense.

So here I am at 8:30 pm and it feels like midnight. Blinking takes effort. I’m tightly clinching my jaw as I type and I. can’t. stop. This life is exhausting. And I’m not even sick or pregnant or depressed or dying of starvation or homeless. But I still need a hero. Good thing I’ve got one.

I’ve thrown myself headlong into Your arms -
I’m celebrating Your rescue.
Psalm 13:5 The Message

How life-giving it is to know I have someplace else to throw myself headlong into other than my bed. Besides, it isn’t made and the sheets are dirty.

title quote from Chris Rice’s I Need a Hero

Filed Under a girl, a mess, a mother 2 Comments

sisterly love

December 16, 2007

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o little town

December 12, 2007

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel…And this One shall be peace.
Micah 5:2,5

It was last year about this time. I was driving and thinking, a rare moment alone in the car….trying to sort through the difference in my head between what was true and what was simply a product of my often over-active emotions. I was stuck in a dark place where the idea of the hope and joy of Christmas seemed to be an illusion at best. I had Christmas music on in the background and the second verse to this song struck me in particular.

How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heav’n.
No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

And in that moment alone in my car, the reality of Christmas and the hope of all believers seemed to connect for me like never before. Because there was a real day when a real baby was born in a real stable from a real woman. And He was a real human and a real King who came to bring real life. So I celebrate the day He was born to die so that I might have life. Not just life forever with Him, but life on this real day, in my car, in the midst of my emotional rut…He offers me the choice of death or life, conflict or peace, hope or despair. Without Christmas, there would be no choice…defeat would be my only option.

What a beautiful thing to celebrate the birth of a King who offers so much, who is so much…to remember that from that little town that wasn’t even big enough to be included among the clans of Judah would come One who is called Peace.

As I continued to drive, it began to seem as though she was singing about me and not a little town called Bethlehem. Small, insignificant… yet among the sometimes dark streets of my soul shines His everlasting light. He chooses to be born in me, to reside in the manger of my heart so that life and peace are made available to me in limitless supply.

Filed Under a girl, a masterpiece 5 Comments

my day in pictures

December 8, 2007

These are the cinnamon rolls I made this morning with Alisa. I am considering it to be a trial run, as my mom and sister and I are planning to make them just before Christmas. Of course, I will be 15 pounds heavier by then, as this recipe makes 8 tins of rolls. While they were cooking, I took a few photos for some friends’ Christmas card.
I think that was a good one. Then I headed over to my sister-in-laws house for her birthday. She’s married to my husbands’ brother. Here they are in Spain on their wedding day 4 years ago.
The Man’s mom and sister and I helped her decorate her house for Christmas. She mentioned she was so glad we enjoy decorating, because she certainly doesn’t. I asked her what brings her joy to the same extent. And in her thick, Spanish accent, she answered me, “Studying. I love to study.” I suppose that’s why she’s the university professor with 2 masters degrees and I’m the one with the cute house. And I guess when you love to study and don’t care about decorating, then you also don’t care when your husband builds a putting green in your backyard. Don’t believe me?
There it is, baby. Green in all its glory. But back to my day. The girls had fun with their cousin, as always.
Then later, when we came home, we had carolers. We’ve never had carolers….some freshmen girls from the youth group. And it was great, albeit a bit strange to have people singing to me on my porch. But great. And they left these behind.
And, unfortunately, they’re gonna be ON my behind. Along with 8 tins of cinnamon rolls. At least Santa will have some company.