When we know what 6, 16, 46 looks like

"Death is not the sad part. The sad part is looking back at how they affected your life, and how such a great person is leaving. Looking back at the memories and how they went the extra mile to make your life better. How not a lot of people knew how great of a person they were. But the greatest relief is knowing whole heartedly that they will be dancing in heaven soon. I hope that I have the type of impact on people when I pass."
 
huffington post - we know what 6 looks like

The first statement was written by our 16 year old - after he visited our dear friend in Hospice - the link is to a great article written about the CT tragedy and why we feel so affected.  I happen to read both of these last night back to back - and....I....broke.  If we are blessed - we know what life looks like.  We know the joy, the sorrow, the excitement, the pain.  We know.  Jesus states, "I have come that you might have LIFE and have it more abundantly",  if we know what 6 looks like, if we are able to  fully experience a life at any stage we have life more abundantly.  It becomes easy to be bogged down in the day to day life and to just be waiting for the next stage - but when we see a life that was lived well end - we are faced with the reality of not watching that life anymore.  And we are saddened - I believe for the hole that cannot be filled by anyone else - because we were created individuals - we were created for a purpose - to worship, to laugh, to live, to love.  If we have the extreme privilege of knowing and experiencing someone who was able to live life more abundantly we are blessed.   I think I was so moved because both in our son, in our friend, in my parents, my husband, in family members and friends I have been touched with life and love more abundantly.  And...I...Broke for the sadness of no longer hearing the most contagious laugh that I have ever known, the longing that I know his boys will have when they hit milestones that cannot be shared in this life with their father, and for the absence that will be felt by my husband when he is not able to pick up the phone and talk to his friend.   But as our 16 year old stated, in this there is also joy - joy for the lifetime that will come when we can dance and shout and worship together - with no pain or suffering.  In that I have hope.  The tragedy in CT this week just reminds us of how fleeting life is - but whether that life ends at 6, 16, 46 or 86- we know what it looks like, we know how awesome life is and we long for it to last longer.   The good news......
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16

As we celebrate the season, that celebrates the birth of Christ, may we rejoice in the knowledge that as believers in Christ we will celebrate for eternity together.  

Waiting on the World to Change

So we keep waiting(Waiting)Waiting on the world to changeWe keep on waiting(Waiting)Waiting on the world to change
These lyrics have been going through my head for two days - I was sent a link to a great blog article - I don't wait anymore - http://gracefortheroad.com/2012/02/03/idontwait/
When I began reading this article I was trying to figure out where it was going, as I continued to read - I was moved.  I am a little too old to have been a part of the true love waits youth group generation - I'm from the, "we don't talk about it - just don't do it generation."
While reading this blog - I was interested in the story and the realization that not only are young girls filled with a false hope of if they follow the rules and just wait God will make it all work out,  I think in many ways there are many areas of life where we are told just wait - just wait - wait for the right job, wait for the right man or woman, wait on the child you are longing for, wait for approval from your parents, just wait......
With the True Love Waits idea "A lot of girls were sold on a deal and not on a Savior."  I think we are all too often waiting for our contract to be fulfilled - we think- once I get to a certain point in my life - once I follow all the rules, once I achieve the perfect job, once I meet the right person, once my spouse changes, once I have children, once the children are grown -- then life will be what I was promised, will be what I need, will be Perfect.  Then I can be happy, then I can start living, then I can .........  We are mistakenly waiting for the stars to align when Christ said, "It is finished!" - start living - 
If you grew up in church you were taught "Seek you first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you" - as we attempted to do our best and seek first and then, all "these things" were not added unto us - we got restless - we begin to wonder was I told the truth - does it really matter all this seeking and waiting???  
I agree with the author of I don't wait anymore - I think I need to realize that I have all I need in Christ and if I live my day loving Him and following Him - the rest is icing on the cake .  Jon Mayer's  lyrics  are an incredibly sad statement for this generation - he states that they are so misunderstood - they just keep waiting on the world to change - perhaps if Jon (and his followers) would stop waiting on everyone else to do something he might actually see some change - 
With the current President's manta of Hope and Change it seems to me that waiting won't get you very far - as a society we have been taught that we are not able to do anything about our situation - just wait for someone else to Change it - and Hope that it is better - Good Luck - Jon As for me I think I will join  the other blog author who realized thatChrist is the source of everything we need and the giver of all good gifts, we need to stop waiting and start living -  for now I Chose the words of this John - John 10:10- I [Christ] came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

And the Winner is....

The winner of the Bloggy Boot Camp is Stacey Cooper - Congratulations Stacey enjoy this awesome weekend of information and fun -

Blogger's Giveaway

Well, Summer is over and it's time to get back to all things "normal".  I have been mulling over several uncompleted projects and many topics - just ready to share with you - aren't you excited?!  If you like to blog, would like to blog, or just like people who blog - this one's for you (if you are female).   From now until Sunday at 10:00pm (9-9-12) you can enter to win entry to Bloggy Boat Camp.*  I attended last year in Denver and am not sure I have yet recovered.  The energy and information that is packed into this one day event is amazing.  You can check out the details and the speakers here http://www.bloggybootcamp.com/dallas-2012 -  including our own Dallas mom blogger Holly http://sheisdallas.com.  This is a fun event and this year they have added 2, that's TWO, Friday night fun networking events.  All you have to do to be entered is share on Facebook, then join as a follower and LIKE our facebook page - that's it -no money down - no monthly payments.  (We've made it easy for you - both buttons to share and join are on the right hand side of each blog post, you'll have to go to our Facebook page .https://www.facebook.com/pages/Good-Doctors-Wife/281727385260551 and like)

So share, sign up, like  and hope that your name is drawn - let all your friends know and they can share, sign up and like too.  (Guys you can share and sign up too - but will need to give the prize to your favorite lady blogger)

What you will win - entry for a chance to win a ticket to the Dallas Bloggy Boot Camp (Sept 14th and 15th, 2012)*.   Ticket comes with entry to all social networking events provided by Bloggy Boot Camp during the weekend.  Travel, Room and Board not provided.

Keep reading and sharing and enjoying the journey.
Winner will be posted by 10:00 am 9-10-12 check back and see who won -

Summer Reading 2012

I began reading them so I would know what my teenagers were
reading.  I continued reading them because the character development was very good.  I finished reading them because I was very curious to see what Suzanne Collins had in mind.  There are many books on my summer reading list for 2012 (list is included at the bottom) but it began with the new cult series, "The Hunger Games".  I reluctantly began reading this series because our 12 year old daughter asked if she could.  I generally shy away from pop culture and anything that smacks of a fad (especially when it comes to literature).  48 hours later our 15 year son had finished the first book and was looking for the second one.  I started reading the first five pages and then was not incredibly impressed.  My friend assured me it got better, my thought, it should have me at hello.  Faced with a trip to Florida and no time to go find a book I threw the Hunger Games in my backpack.  While sitting on a white sandy beach, looking into a crystal blue ocean I became captivated.  Maybe it was my religious upbringing, maybe it's my "Tea-Party" father, maybe it's my (according to my husband) critical nature.  But the entire time I was reading this book I kept thinking I can't believe they let HER publish this.  This book is an awesome political tool.  This book actually teaches kids that they have something to fight for, that family is important, that self is not the most noble, that when faced with adversity you can survive.  I was engrossed and yes, Mrs. Collins, you impressed me.  Not only was I impressed, I was ready to enter the arena.  Fortunately, our son had put his hands on the 2nd book, "Catching Fire", and had not yet returned it (Yes, Bennet you'll get it back).  The sequel was surprisingly good, it had twist and turns and a few givens but it did keep me reading and most importantly it kept me in the fight.  The third book, "Mockingjay", was not as well liked by our 15 year old.  I did love the way there were parts that kept you guessing and parts that kept you rooting, the ending was probably a little tame for a war-loving boy.  True literature buffs and English scholars I'm sure will and have and have had their say as to the significance of these books.  What I can say is they make you think.  They cause one to not settle for the status quo, they cause you to look around and ask, "Am I living in reality or just a lie?" For a believer of Christ I think they are a great reminder of the battle that we are fighting and will fight.  Do I think that all tweens and teens should read them?  Probably not.  There is the great premise of people thrown into a ring killing to  survive for the sake of entertainment.  I question if that same scenario doesn't play out everyday in our junior high and high schools.  As adults do we not look back on some of those years and wonder how we came out alive and possibly we would not have survived had it not been for our "sponsors".  I have yet to see the movie and after finishing the last book probably won't - I would like my version of the "Hunger Games" to continue to play in my head and not be contaminated by the Hollywood version.
If you find yourself with a little extra time this summer and you are struggling with a way to connect to your tween or teen - pick up a copy of the Hunger Games read it as a family, ask each other questions, find something you have in common.  And fight, fight for each other, fight for family, fight for beliefs and enjoy, enjoy life, enjoy each other, enjoy beliefs.

The rest of my summer reading:

The Case for Christ - Lee Strobel
Not a Fan - Kyle Idleman
Explicit Gospel - Matt Chandler
Global Censorship of Health Information - Jonathan Emord
Galileo's Lawyer - Richard Jaffe
Does you Bag have Holes? - Cameron Taylor
You Don't Sweat Much for a Fat Girl - Celia Rivenbark
One Thousand Gifts - Ann VosKamp

Rat Killn'

In the past week I have been faced with the Awesome reality that we have rats.  Yes, they are rats - they are not mice.  I do know the difference - having come across my first large rat at the age of 11.  (I was finally cleaning out my room - which my mom continually said would harbor pack rats - and she was right).  I can still see my dad chasing that rat around the room with a broom and trying to corner it - this experience did cause me to begin to throw out a little more stuff - sort of.  I tell you this story so that you will know - I - saw- rats.  The first sighting was in the attic when the cable guy came to do some repairs - there were tell (tail) signs of the little beast and then an actual sighting - no big deal.  That same day while moving yard equipment in the shed - a second sighting - this time the rat looked me in the eye and scampered off.  I, of course, headed straight to the store for a large supply of rat killer/poison.  Coming home and doing my bait duty I was satisfied that I would eliminate all traces of the rat.  Four days later victory - dead rats found in the pool - the bait does work they were searching for water.  One day later - strange sounds coming from my pantry cupboard - I slowly open the door to see the tail-end of the rat disappear into the ceiling (we are remodeling - and have a few holes).  After being mortified that the rats were brave enough to encroach on our dwelling I called my husband to see if he recommended someone more professional to handle the situation.  He calmly replied, "Buy more rat bait."

We used to have an employee that worked for us that would say her day was filled with rat killn' - all those things you have to do in a day that just keep coming back day after day after day.  Our lives are filled with rats - sometimes they can live with us for years and we don't even know they are there or we just chose to ignore the small signs - until one day we turn around and the rats are staring us in the face, holding a cup of coffee and eating toast at the breakfast table.  Quite awhile ago I wrote a blog about weeding the garden http://www.thegooddoctorswife.com/2011/09/weeding-garden.html I think rat killing is similar only we find it a little more repulsive.  Weeds don't move, breathe and bite.  Rats on the other hand actually can think and strike back.  Rats also come with the fact that they run in packs - so where there is one there is more.  Just like the physical rats, our emotional and spiritual rats need to be dealt with on an ongoing basis.  The rats will continue to encroach and tear apart your space if they are not dealt with and they will come back to take up residence if you don't continue to put out the bait.  As much as I don't like the fact that I have rats, it is good to know that I do.  Now I can look them in the eye and know that they are being taken care of - my rats my not die today or tomorrow but I am in the process of killing them and that makes each day a little easier.

As ugly and gross as it may be I encourage you to go through your attic and basement and identify your rats - then don't jump on a chair and scream or run away - throw out some bait - attack them head-on and just do a little rat killn' each day.  In the words of Martha Stewart, "It's a Good Thing."

Luke 21:34-38 "take heed to yourselves" and "watch . . . and pray always"—is absolutely essential.

Now I lay me down to sleep

Now I lay me down to sleep....... If you grew up in somewhat of Christian America you can complete this sentence.  (if you didn't .. it's - Now I pray the Lord my soul to keep).  The other night as I was praying for our youngest I heard myself say the same words I repeat most nights and had the thought bubble "does this mean something, is this working?"  I then read a blog  - http://www.d6curriculum.com/teacher/previous-quarter/fusion-31-ways-to-pray   and know that I am not alone.  Several days later I look at my rapidly growing teenager and in a moment of "I can't take this anymore" spew --- "If you spent 1/20 (yes that was my fraction) of the time you spent texting - reading the bible - you would read the bible in a week," - My 15 year old stood ready with a retort and my 8 year old snorted - (I could not make this up) The 15 year old's reply was, "My bible is on my phone and by the way I have read Exodus, Luke and some of Timothy this week."  I don't know maybe he did, maybe he didn't, that is not my point... My point is, my point is ....... that I am struggling between religious salvation and sanctification -  [Most youth ministries faithfully preach justification by faith in Christ alone.  However, in the space of sanctification, youth ministry often focuses on emotional exhortation and moral performance.] A legalistic tone frequently characterizes the theology of sanctification in youth ministry http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/04/16/youth-ministrys-tendency-toward-legalism/   What is sanctification?????  According to Wikipedia (which we all know means nothing) Sanctification is the act or process of acquiring sanctity, of being made or becoming holy (hint: this is not something you can do) - Driscoll - (come on we all know him) - has a 5 minute video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpc2oQo9osU  on sanctification, especially in reference to Philippians 2:12-13. He is talking about the  issue and encouraging us in our ongoing struggle to grow in the Lord. He wants us to understand that there is no perfection in this life, but that we must continually repent and draw nearer to Christ.   The problem with all of this is that it creates somewhat of a Dante's inferno - the closer we draw to the sanctification, the more we realize we are not sanctified.  Which leads me back to ..... Now I lay me down to sleep....   At the end of the day, at the end of it all don't we hope we made a good choice, don't we desire that we did the right thing, don't we PRAY that it all works out ---- Guess what ?!?!?!?! It's not about you.   It's not about the things you do, it's not about the words you say, or text you send , or the words you write, it's not about how you raised your kids, or didn't ---- It's about Jesus - It's about who He was and is  and what He did and is doing - and how HE did it for YOU.  So today, before you make the long list of things to do, before you you flog yourself 40 times for all the ways you did it wrong and before you repeat the words... -deep breath-  STOP and STOP and STOP - do you hear it - it's a whisper - a quite break in the chaos - Its about JESUS - he did it for you. - Because you matter.......