I have added a new blog to my list of blogging friends - Restless Heart Ministries. Brian and I met Bryan Bywater during our time in seminary. And what a true blessing God has given us through him! Bryan is a priest, ordained in Tanzania, living and serving in his hometown in Connecticut. He has quite an awesome ministry there. I would encourage all of my readers to check out his blog. It will make you laugh - it will make you cry - it will make you think. But you won't come away unchanged. This man is a force of nature - an incredible passion for Christ, and for serving Him through the least and the lost. Bryan is authentic and real - something rarely seen in clergy anymore, sadly. His latest posts have been about his experiences on standing on a street corner holding a sign which reads simply - "PLEASE PRAY FOR CHINA". Wonderful, thought-provoking, inspirational stuff.
Thank you, Bryan for all that you are doing. It does not go unnoticed.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Waters of Hope
One of the reasons that I have not been blogging much of late is because my dear husband has been in preparation for, and now, has just completed, Waters of Hope, a 1100+ mile bike ride around the state of Iowa. This project has raised, so far, to date, enough money to provide clean water for 60,000 people in Swaziland and the Sudan. In these countries, it is estimated that somewhere around 4500 children die every day because there is not enough clean water. But it is not just about providing them with water. t is also paving the way, sowing the seed, because before we can earn the right to proclaim the Gospel, we must first meet their most basic needs. And then, maybe someday, someone will enter one of these villages and be able to teach them about the One who gives Living Water, and feed their souls, not just their bodies.
It seemed to be Brian's call on this ride to remind everyone WHY they were out there doing this. It's not about personal gain, glory, or athletic endeavor. Instead, it is to open people's eyes to the need that is out there, for both the Gospel, and for clean water, a necessity for basic modern living conditions, something we all take for granted. You can read some of his thoughts here.
It seemed to be Brian's call on this ride to remind everyone WHY they were out there doing this. It's not about personal gain, glory, or athletic endeavor. Instead, it is to open people's eyes to the need that is out there, for both the Gospel, and for clean water, a necessity for basic modern living conditions, something we all take for granted. You can read some of his thoughts here.
It's been tough, single-parenting all 6 kids while he's been on the road. And he's been through a lot, too, pushing his not-so-young body to its limits while on his bike. But it's a small price to pay, and a sacrifice I'm willing to make, to bring these people the gift of clean water, and to teach them of the true Waters of Hope.
Long Time, No Blogging...
I'm back. Or I'm trying to be, anyway. It has been a busy winter and spring - with both the usual craziness of our horde, along with a few unexpected events thrown in for good measure. All of which has combined to keep me away from the keyboard more than I would like.
And in keeping with the freshness in the warm breeze, and the new life springing forth from the rich Iowa soil, I, too, will endeavor to create new life in words, here, in my little corner of the blogosphere.
There have been many posts percolating inside my head for the last few weeks, so look for some random ones, maybe even more than once a day - as time (and Mommy-dom) permits.
But it feels good to be back here. I've missed it! Happy Spring!
And in keeping with the freshness in the warm breeze, and the new life springing forth from the rich Iowa soil, I, too, will endeavor to create new life in words, here, in my little corner of the blogosphere.
There have been many posts percolating inside my head for the last few weeks, so look for some random ones, maybe even more than once a day - as time (and Mommy-dom) permits.
But it feels good to be back here. I've missed it! Happy Spring!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
Reflections on my daughter, and myself...
Last week, Sarah got herself contacts. A VERY big day in her thirteen-year-old life. Well, she didn't exactly get them herself, but rather, her father and I provided them for her. I cannot even begin to tell you how excited she is. Still. Almost a week later.
I know exactly how she feels. I was once in her shoes - the awkward young teenager, fumbling into adolescence, complete with gangly limbs and plastic-rimmed glasses. But I must confess that Sarah is much less of a dorky girl that I was. She's actually pretty, and much more self-assured than I was at her age. I hope that means I'm doing something right...
I HATED my glasses. I had to get them in 3rd grade, but I probably needed them sooner. And, being one of the smarter girls in the class, wearing glasses did SO MUCH for my social life. *insert sarcastic-smilie here...* I was no longer pretty - I was just geeky-looking. The day I got contacts, everything changed. It was, literally, one of those places along the journey that transformed the entire course of my life. I was still the gangly, unsure kid, but I was no longer handicapped by glasses. Just those darned braces... *rolls eyes* I felt normal again, like I'd been given a precious gift. It all sounds so trite and vain, now, I suppose. But I still feel it, deep inside.
And I saw it on Sarah's face. The joy, the freedom, that she now carries with her. I remember it, as if it were yesterday. She no longer has to worry about losing her glasses during a snowball fight, and she can cook without her lenses fogging up. But one thing was missing... getting contacts didn't change how she saw herself. They just changed the way the world sees her. I wish I would have had her inner strength as a child, to be so sure of who I was, and not have been so insecure.
God bless you, my daughter. May I learn more from you as we grow together on this journey - mother and daughter, and one day, friends.
I know exactly how she feels. I was once in her shoes - the awkward young teenager, fumbling into adolescence, complete with gangly limbs and plastic-rimmed glasses. But I must confess that Sarah is much less of a dorky girl that I was. She's actually pretty, and much more self-assured than I was at her age. I hope that means I'm doing something right...
I HATED my glasses. I had to get them in 3rd grade, but I probably needed them sooner. And, being one of the smarter girls in the class, wearing glasses did SO MUCH for my social life. *insert sarcastic-smilie here...* I was no longer pretty - I was just geeky-looking. The day I got contacts, everything changed. It was, literally, one of those places along the journey that transformed the entire course of my life. I was still the gangly, unsure kid, but I was no longer handicapped by glasses. Just those darned braces... *rolls eyes* I felt normal again, like I'd been given a precious gift. It all sounds so trite and vain, now, I suppose. But I still feel it, deep inside.
And I saw it on Sarah's face. The joy, the freedom, that she now carries with her. I remember it, as if it were yesterday. She no longer has to worry about losing her glasses during a snowball fight, and she can cook without her lenses fogging up. But one thing was missing... getting contacts didn't change how she saw herself. They just changed the way the world sees her. I wish I would have had her inner strength as a child, to be so sure of who I was, and not have been so insecure.
God bless you, my daughter. May I learn more from you as we grow together on this journey - mother and daughter, and one day, friends.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
Babymooning...
The last almost-seven weeks (gosh, has it been that long already????) have been wonderful. And exhausting. And peaceful. And absolute chaos. In other words, I've just had a baby. And I've been reflecting, as I've exited that 40-day period of post-partum stupor, on just exactly how blessed I am to have been able to babymoon for the sixth time. Really, I mean, how many other women get to do that? Or are crazy enough to even contemplate it??? Not to mention that this babymoon took place over the holidays, something I have not done since my first (Sarah was an early December baby).
There were times when I did feel a little resentful (ok, in my hormonal haze, it was probably MORE than a little...) that I wasn't able to get all the rest that I thought I needed, due to having to mother 5 other kids and tend to the household alone, b/c the Christmas season is notorious for making temporary widows of clergy wives. *sigh* But Hannah is such a little sweetie, and the other kids are so well-behaved in general, that my life has been able to return to more-or-less what it was before adding another wee one into the mix. And I haven't suffered too much.
Now, there was more than one occasion when the kids ate ramen noodles for dinner more than they ought, and I allowed them to watch more TV or have extra snacks, simply b/c I was too tired to get off the couch and do something about it. But I kinda think we're all entitled to a little of that, every now and again, right????? And not as many Christmas cookies were made, and not all the decorating got done. And even some of the traditional stocking stuffers were forgotten (BAD Santa.....). But we all made it through, and I don't even know if anyone, besides me, really noticed.
But soon, too soon, my baby will no longer be a newborn. And I will no longer have the luxury of spending the entire day in my jammies, eating nothing but chocolate and cookies, b/c the baby wouldn't let me do anything else. And I'll have to chase her away from the cat food, and down from the table. So I think I'll just enjoy the rest of this sleep-deprived fog, and snuggle up with my babies - all 6 of them. As long as no one minds that I haven't showered recently, and I smell faintly of spit-up, and that it's ramen noodles for dinner, again.
Happy babymoon!
There were times when I did feel a little resentful (ok, in my hormonal haze, it was probably MORE than a little...) that I wasn't able to get all the rest that I thought I needed, due to having to mother 5 other kids and tend to the household alone, b/c the Christmas season is notorious for making temporary widows of clergy wives. *sigh* But Hannah is such a little sweetie, and the other kids are so well-behaved in general, that my life has been able to return to more-or-less what it was before adding another wee one into the mix. And I haven't suffered too much.
Now, there was more than one occasion when the kids ate ramen noodles for dinner more than they ought, and I allowed them to watch more TV or have extra snacks, simply b/c I was too tired to get off the couch and do something about it. But I kinda think we're all entitled to a little of that, every now and again, right????? And not as many Christmas cookies were made, and not all the decorating got done. And even some of the traditional stocking stuffers were forgotten (BAD Santa.....). But we all made it through, and I don't even know if anyone, besides me, really noticed.
But soon, too soon, my baby will no longer be a newborn. And I will no longer have the luxury of spending the entire day in my jammies, eating nothing but chocolate and cookies, b/c the baby wouldn't let me do anything else. And I'll have to chase her away from the cat food, and down from the table. So I think I'll just enjoy the rest of this sleep-deprived fog, and snuggle up with my babies - all 6 of them. As long as no one minds that I haven't showered recently, and I smell faintly of spit-up, and that it's ramen noodles for dinner, again.
Happy babymoon!
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