This would be why more than one of my children thought chicken came from cows…
Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-Fil-A is a tradition here at the circus.
We start them young with our indoctrination!
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From the category archives:
Wife
Sometimes in the chaos of finding baseball gloves and missing cleats, in the midst of grocery shopping and read alouds, sometimes if your not careful, it is all too easy to miss the point. In the midst of doing so many good and important things, you can neglect to focus on the main purpose of it all.
I
recently had a the opportunity to read and review the book One Million Arrows by Julie Ferwerda. The book is based on the vision of a man named Dr. M.A. Thomas (Papa) whose vision for ministry is based on Psalm 127:4-5, “Children born to a young man, are like sharp arrows in a warrior’s hands. How happy is the man whose quiver is full of them.” Papa’s vision is that of “one million arrows for God—one million children gathered, sharpened, and launched to make an eternal difference in their communities, cultures, countries, and even the world at large.”
Julie encourages and challenges her readers to embrace the mission as parents. She encourages us to raise our children to become arrows for Christ. She challenges us to keep that vision at the forefront of our mind and as parents to be active and intentional in our parenting. She says that the responsibility for raising our children to be spiritual champions, lies solely at the feet of the parents. She also encourages parents to have a goal oriented approach to parenting rather than a survival based approach.
She speaks with several parents who have successfully raised “arrows for Christ” and shares strategies and tips that worked well for them.
While the first half of the book focuses on raising our own arrows for Christ, the second half of the book talks about how we can support others raising arrows around the world, particularly orphans in other countries. She encourages us to invest our time, money, and prayers in supporting ministries which focus on raising arrows for Christ in their own countries.
One point she made that challenged me was when she spoke of the stark contrast between the extreme poverty in other nations and the extreme wealth and abundance in our own nation. She found herself asking God, “How could he let this happen?” She then realized that God could ask her the very same question, “How can we let it happen?” God has blessed us with an abundance and what are we doing with that abundance to help those around the world in need? I found this to be a challenging and sobering thought.
If your interested in learning more about the book, you can check here or purchase it from Amazon here.
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In the interest of keeping it real, I’m going to tell you that I have not really been much for the whole green fad that has swept my generation. While we do recycle, that’s about the extent of it. Then a few years ago my pastor gave a sermon during a series on stewardship that hit home for me. He talked about the fact that while God did make the world for us to enjoy and inhabit, it didn’t mean he made it for us to squander and trash. He talked about stewardship in terms of taking care of God’s creation. I realized that I had been treating this would with a sense of entitlement and with little care to how I effected the environment or creation.
Recently, I read the book Green Mama… the guilt free Guide to Helping you and your Kids save the planet by Tracey Bianchi.
I really like this book b/c it is real and down to earth. Tracey isn’t preachy and doesn’t make you feel like scum if you aren’t using cloth diapers or organic sheets. She’s a mom of 3 living in a Chicago suburb who is passionate about taking care of God’s creation and shares that passion in a very practical, applicable way.
She comes across as a real mom, one I’d meet on the playground or sit next to at a MOPS meeting. She does not carry an air of superiority that is so often a real turn off to me. I like real people. I don’t like people who portray perfection and make you feel like scum if you don’t do everything the way they do it.
In the beginning of the book Tracey shares her reasons for “going green.” She gives an analogy of our role in taking care of creation, that I thought was so perfect. She says:
“The weight of saving the world does not rely solely upon us. God can save the planet himself. Actually, he already has, which is tough for me to swallow because I like to think God needs me. Ultimately, God is interested in your heart and movement towards wise living and responsible stewardship, not how many gallons of water you saved this month. He created this world and then invited us to partner with him in caring for it. He wants us involved in the process just like I want my children involved in projects I design for them. Of course I can make the chocolate-chip cookies myself (and honestly it would be much so much easier that way),” … “We learn magnificent truths about our Creator when we care for God’s creation. This is what God wants for your family when it comes to taking care of the earth.”
I thought this was such a beautiful picture of our role as Christians in taking care of creation.
At the end of each chapter Tracey encourages you to reflect on one thing you’d like to apply and one you’d like to throw out. She also encourages you in the book to find one big thing to focus on, rather than trying to change your whole world at once. I like this because it is practical and doable. Overall, that’s how I’d describe her book. If you’re like me, and you know you haven’t been living as “green” as you should or like, I think this provides a wonderful introduction. I also really appreciate the time she spends discussing the motivation for going green.
The circus hasn’t completely changed everything… in fact, I am still slowly digesting things. But, I can feel God tugging on my heart. I love the beauty of His creation. I love spending time in it. I want to be a part of taking care of it and I want to raise my children with attitudes of service rather than entitlement.
We live near the Chesapeake Bay. Each summer our family spends countless hours swimming, fishing, and boating in it. Sadly, bacteria levels in our bay get so bad that it is monitored weekly and some days we aren’t allowed in it. I’d like to find some projects that we can work on as a family to help the bay. As I teach my kids to enjoy this resource God has given us, I also want to teach them to take care of that resource.
I think I am also going to look into switching to reusable bags. Tracey said that each year the typical American family uses roughly 1000 plastic bags a year.
Tracey has numerous other ideas and information, some of which I am going to try to apply, some of which I will probably “throw out” as she suggests.
I contacted Tracey and she gave me a copy of the book to read and review for myself. She in no way compensated me for my review of the book. These are my thoughts and reactions to her book. She also generously gave me 4 copies of the book to give away to my readers!! I am so excited to share this with you. I think you will be challenged, encouraged, and inspired.
I will randomly choose 4 winners on Monday, April 26th for the books. Please leave a comment below to be chosen. You can receive extra entries if you tweet or face book this post (and leave an extra comment to tell me you did so) or if you sign up in my reader or follow me on google friend connect (again leave me a comment telling me you did so).
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10 years ago we came…spread a blanket out on the sandy shore to watch the sunset.
Today we came, with sandwiches and Doritos. This time there was a picnic table where we had spread our blanket. And we watched the sunset mirrored in the faces of our three children.
10 years ago it was quiet… we held hands and sat close on the blanket.
Tonight there was sand in our shoes and children squirming….
10 years ago we sat up all night and talked and dreamed of our future together.
Tonight we held our future in our arms (and my belly).
1o years ago we spent the day in Washington D.C., then topped it off by watching the sunset at our park. Scott got down on one knee and declared his love for me before asking me to be his wife.
And tonight we celebrated that anniversary with a picnic dinner at sunset.
Thank you Scott for asking me to be your wife 10 years ago today and thanks for making all my dreams come true. I truly, truly love being married to you!
Read more about that special night 10 years ago, by clicking here.
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As I’ve already made well aware, I am not exactly a fashion guru. You won’t find me flipping through the pages of Cosmopolitan in my free time. My nails are rarely done and my idea of styling my hair involves taking the time to blow dry rather than air dry.
I wanted to look cute when Scott and I went on a date a few weeks ago. I was so excited because my friend had just lent me some adorable maternity clothes so I didn’t really give my thought to my wardrobe till about 30 min before we were going to leave when I began to change. Only to discover that those cute dresses were not going to fit over my very pregnant belly.
No problem, I’ll just wear that cute jean skirt she threw in there with a maternity top.
Only that cute small jean skirt wasn’t looking so cute on my not so small hips.
With 4 outfits discarded on the bed and Scott due to arrive home in 15 minutes, panic was starting to set in. After all, I didn’t want to wear my sweats and my Indian tee to the Cheesecake Factory!!
I found a maternity dress that I thought would work but the problem was it had spaghetti straps and the weather outside was rainy and in the 50s…
Here is where my insecurity and lack of fashion sense creep in. Can I just throw a cardigan over it and call it a day? Is that cute or lame?
I don’t know.
And to be honest, I don’t think my husband would know either.
Thank goodness for technology. I quickly texted my SIL in Texas and told her I was e-mailing her a pic and I desperately needed her fashion advice. See Karen is my go to girl when it comes to fashion. She has a good fashion sense about her, but not only that, she knows and gets me, so she doesn’t try to make me into something I am not. She is my favorite person to go clothes shopping with because she will be honest and say, “No, Crystal, do not get that.” (which I sometimes need) And yet she helps me find things that are me, so I don’t feel like I come home with a closet full of clothes that aren’t really my taste.
As the sister I never had, I knew I could trust her to tell me if this outfit was acceptable or if I needed to try, try again.
I attempted to snap a pic with my smart phone to e-mail to her…. But every pic was either of my head or my chest, neither of which would help her determine if I could wear that dress or if I could wear the dress with that sweater.
So, I asked my son to take a picture for me with my camera phone. Seriously, what did we do before technology??
And I quickly sent out this S.O.S. from Annapolis to El Paso.
from: you
subject: HELP!!!!
to Karen
Do I look like a whale?? Can I wear this sweater with this dress?? Be honest…I need help
I then texted her again to say, by the way, I know I need to blow dry my hair, just pay attention to the dress and sweater.
Within 10 minutes my phone was ringing and help had arrived. Not only did she provide fashion consult… telling me the cardigan provides a slimming effect….but she was also super cute and encouraging… instilling confidence in the insecure girl who had a bed full of discarded, too small, inside out, clothes. I know the dress isn’t the most flattering, but it was all I had and at least I had the confidence of knowing it wasn’t completely ridiculous.
Hooray for technology….it truly bridges the gaps and shortens the miles…providing the “across the hall” type fashion consults for sisters who are miles a part.
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When it comes to books and movies, one favorite category of mine is crime drama. If the back cover mentions CIA, FBI, or any other government agency, you can bet I’d give it a try. I was quite excited when I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Lis Wiehl’s book Hand of Fate and review it on my blog.
The book centers on 3 friends, (one a crime reporter, one a federal prosecutor, and the other an FBI agent) as they work together to solve the death of radio talk show personality, Jim Fate. His death prompted panic in the city of Portland, OR, as terrorism was suspected. This type of book is right up my alley.
The book was a quick read. I easily read it in two evenings. It wasn’t overly captivating, and I must confess I did not find myself staying awake all night to finish it, like I have with some other crime dramas. Though I will say that I didn’t expect the ending. I love when books have a surprise twist at the end and it didn’t disappoint with that.
To be honest, I’d give it a 4 out of 10. Not bad for a night or two of entertainment, but not in my top 5 of fiction crime novels either. The book is her second in her Triple Threat novel series. After reading this one, I’d be interested in going back and reading the first book.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
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