Post Category → marriage

recent events

This is the last week of the girls’ visit.

I can’t decide if I’m sad or glad, since the end of their visit means the beginning of my visit back home. That should just make me glad all around, but I’d be gladder (yes, gladder) if they were also coming back here with me at the end of my NY trip. But they’re not. When we fly out of JFK in August, it will just be the four of us, me and my three boys, and when we land on this Opposite Coast, we’ll be on our own. Walks and errands and chores and life will be all on my lonesome again. And I just like it all a bit better when there are these lovely girls in the picture.

It’s been fun.

This last week has also been a bit of a sleeper, since more often than not, someone has been a tad under the weather. And on the days when we are feeling well, the temperatures have been ridiculously high, leaving us all wilted, sitting in front of fans, willing the day and its intense sun away. So not so many crazy events.

Just a few, like:

:: taking the girls to Carmel-By-The-Sea, and then on the drive of a lifetime. I speak, of course, of Highway 1 to Big Sur. Incredible. Windy, whippy, and awe-inspiring.


Aren’t they cute?

:: finally going out for dinner, just Ryan and me, for our anniversary. (Four years!) It was oo-la-la fancy. Two whole hours just disappeared as we ate beautiful food and talked. (I know, I know. I’m such a girl. Wives and their talking.) Just in case anyone’s interested, the scallops were the best I’ve ever tasted, I ordered squab because I watch too much Top Chef and had to grab this prime opportunity to taste something I never even see on a menu, and the chocolate souffle is as decadent as it looks on their website. (Don’t you wish that was your spoon, dipping into that chocolatey goodness?) We tried taking a picture of ourselves, but I guess this is the only one we ended up with:

(Thanks, girls, for our special night out alone!)

:: and last, but most definitely not least, there are the events of yesterday and today — days that were supposed to be restful, quiet, and cool. But oh, no, Jameson made sure there were Events. Like yesterday — when he woke up from his nap ridiculously early, crept into the girls’ bed, smeared an entire tube of lipstick all over their bags, clothes, sheets, and the wall, ransacked the closet of their suitcases, my fabric, and the wrapping paper, and was about to start cutting into that wrapping paper with my incredibly sharp embroidery scissors just as Camilla walked by. Oh, I loved that Event!! And today, when it seemed far too quiet, I sent Liana to check on my sweet little boy, and she found him lounging outside on our patio furniture, with a jar of peanut butter, happily eating that peanut butter by plunging his entire hand into the jar. Oh, and we’re not talking the nice creamy Peter Pan stuff. Oh, no, this is the all-natural, runny, drippy, globs all over the place peanut butter.

Is anyone interested in a 2-year-old Events Coordinator? I think my life needs a little break from his Events!

enough, and more

One of the things I really appreciate about my parents is how practical their Christianity is. By their example, I realized that Christianity applies to every waking minute, every task you put your hand to, every thought that graces (or attacks!) your consciousness.

The very cool thing about faith becoming an everyday, practical living sort of thing is that suddenly, amazing passages of scripture apply to me! I don’t have to be hosting revival meetings in sub-Saharan Africa for the writing of Paul to have meaning in my life. You know?

Like this one, for example:

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. (2 Cor 9:8)

That verse has been a rock of truth so many days in the last six months. When I’m exhausted. Weary. Unsure. Stretched thin. Empty. Probably popular counsel would tell me that I should call Ryan, tell him to get home and watch the kids, and go to the spa for a day. ‘Cause, you know, I clearly need me time. But this life-giving, empowering Word tells me this: God can make all grace abound to me. In Him, I have all sufficiency. And I have an abundance for every good deed.

Deeds like speaking patiently. Doing more laundry. Even folding and putting away that laundry. Being awake because I can’t sleep on the job. (You know, the big things.) Serving my husband faithfully.Smiling.

When a nagging whisper tells me I don’t have enough to give a single bit more to anyone, the Word tells me there is a Fount that never runs dry. There is grace, sufficiency, and abundance.

That is the kind of Christianity I need.

And that is the kind of God we serve.

sarah and peace

“Submission’s greatest enemy in our hearts is fear. Yes, we have to get over our stubbornness, our pride, our American feminist independence, our plain old preferences. But when it comes down to it, when the rubber meets the road, it’s fear that can completely do us in. I mean, let’s face it: we’re being asked to put our life on the line by a fallible man. That doesn’t sound very secure. And it’s not — except that God Himself is part of this equation, and He’s ready to defend those who walk in obedience to Him. [read more]

more on sarah

Sarah, part three:

Submission is not a crazy idea someone had back in the Stone Age (as if there was such a thing…) God Himself has ordained this authority thing, and has chosen to execute His plan for our lives through it. Yes, God’s plan for your life will come to pass as you embrace His call to follow and place yourself under the authorities in your life. Honestly, submission is really about obedience to God. It might seem crazy at times. (Or insane; ask Sarah!) But the question God is asking us is, Will you obey me in this? Why would God promise to lead and guide us and then tell us to submit unless He planned on guiding us through the structure of authority? God will not contradict himself; there is no way true joy for you lies in disobedience, and there’s no way His plan includes rebellion. (more)

a. carmichael: grey days

When I was 16, I spent two months in India. It was my first overseas trip, my first independent travel, and my first length of time away from home. A special friend gifted me with this small book before I left — a compilation of letters written by one of our heroes, missionary to India Amy Carmichael. (Do you read this blog, Erin? If you do: this book is the most well-worn on my bookshelf, save for my first Bible. It has been read over and over and over. Thank you.) May I recommend it to you? Small little snippets — deeply inspiring, convicting, and full of love for the Savior.

I remember the first time I read a particular page from this book for real. I was sitting in the library at school. The windows behind me let in the dull gray light of a wet, dreary day. I was taking a break from the monotony of study on a totally routine day. This booklet had made its way, again, to my devotional rotation, and so I pulled it out, ready to read anything that had nothing to do with polytonality.

I read, and the words burned in my heart:

All sorts of days come and go — they go, that’s the best of them. Don’t let the dull days pass without giving you what only dullness ever can give. It isn’t the days of high tension that try us most, and so give us most; it’s the days that seem all grey and dull. They test the quality of the gold.

Of all the truths I stumbled upon in my singleness, perhaps this one has helped me most on the path of motherhood. Learning to value gray days. Realizing they do happen. And realizing that the question asked of me is, Will I be found faithful? Even on the days that could easily be discounted, wasted, seen as not really counting — will I serve 100%? There is the ability, when you’re single (or at least childless) to get a “gray” moment and immediately squirm your way out of it — go somewhere, do something, you know. Add some spark. Live from high to high, drama to drama, event to event. I know. Hey, it’s more fun. But learning to just do my best and plod on when it was an active choice was phenomenal training for this role in which I now find myself.

Certainly there are plenty of dull moments, if not entire days, of dullness in this current season. I’m not trying to be negative; there simply are. Sometimes I think I must have done something wrong to have landed such a dreary day, but no, not always. Sometimes they’re there because there is gold that needs testing: my faithfulness and steadfastness of heart.

Most of all, it’s reassuring to know that God can be found, even on days when there’s no prayer meeting scheduled, no cell group meeting at your house, no emergency that requires ten hours of speaking in tongues. He’s there, watching for my response in those moments that don’t seem to matter. Smiling when I choose diligent service. And encouraging my heart with His songs of delight.

So whatever season you’re in, don’t discount the gray days. Sometimes they’re the best ones.