Playing Phone Tag With the Police

Nine or ten days ago, the local paper posted a cryptic one-liner in its Police Beat section. "A camera and video recorder, reported stolen from a garage in the 2400 block of _______, were later returned to the owners with a note."

The freelance writer in me perked up instantly. A mystery! Who took the camera? Why did they return it? And what in the world did that note say? Admit it. You're curious to know what was in that note too.

So, like any Nancy Drew-style detective, I called the police to find out more. I tried to sound more sophisticated to the police sergeant with whom I was leaving a message by listing some of my recent published articles, but deep down I was just a girl following a story. The police sergeant and I played phone tag for a few days to no avail, until his vacation time started and the story became old news. That mystery stills comes to my mind though at times and makes me smile. Missing pieces and an incomplete story. Who? Where? When?

My life feels that way at times-- like an incomplete story with some missing pieces. Our house has been on the market for two months, and we are waiting for it to sell before we settle on and purchase a new one. To stage our house, we packed up half our belongings. This week as our homeschooling year began, I pulled out two boxes of school books from the garage and unpacked them. To my horror, I discovered that one box of school books had been taken away in the U-Haul truck to be stacked, shrink-wrapped, and lifted 30 feet off the floor with other pallets. Aiye! It's gone now, until we move someday, and some of my kids' subjects are in that box! We have been scrambling to borrow and react to my mistake this week.

This limbo period, though, of waiting and wondering on our house and life feels like a mystery sometimes to me too. Wondering where, and when.... Missing pieces and an incomplete story. Curled up on a leather chair in a coffee shop for an hour this Tuesday, some verses in Isaiah resonated with me: 

"Surely, as I have planned, so it will be,

and as I have purposed, so it will stand." (Isa. 14:24)

"O Lord, you are my God, 

I will exalt you and praise your name,

for in perfect faithfulness

you have done marvelous things, 

things planned long ago." (Isa. 25:1)

"You will keep in perfect peace

him whose mind is steadfast,

because he trusts in you. 

Trust in the Lord forever

for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal." (Isa. 26:3,4)

The questions still tumbled in my head then at the coffee shop, amid the jazzy crooning and whooshing espresso machines. The questions still rise in my mind at home sometimes. Missing pieces, and an incomplete story, but I pause, breathe, and choose peace, knowing the Rock and the Storyteller. 

What about you? Do you have parts in your life that feel like missing pieces? Are the plot lines of your story replete with questions of Who, Where, When, How? Feel free to share here or email me and we can pray for each other. Or share a verse that has brought you joy.

You Had Me at ...Avocados

He was waiting outside the bathroom door for me, flowers in one hand and two avocados in the other hand. I grinned and kissed him, pulling him close. It was our wedding anniversary, and my husband was speaking romance to me in my own language. Having lived overseas for many years as a kid, I crave mangoes, avocados, and guavas, yet the frugal woman in me hates splurging too often on the exotic produce. My husband knows me well and woos me in avocados!

YOU are being wooed and romanced too. You are studied, understood, and known intimately. The Artist knows your cravings, knows your sweet tooth desires, knows your hidden longings. He remembers what makes you smile. He records your tears, and cradles your broken heart. He woos you --woos US--like a Lover bringing flowers.

I am on a journey to see God's gifts, to thank him, to run to him. This journey, this new discipline, is exciting! The "dare to live life fully right where you are" renews my way of thinking, forces me to see the gifts, name them, and run to the Giver. My family has joined me in this. We now have a "Gifts"/gratitude book that we keep on our kitchen counter and add to daily as desired. It delights me to see various hand writings scrawl their gifts across the page... daughter, her friends, son, my visiting parents. Like a guestbook of naming gifts and thanking the Giver, the Artist, the Lover. He romances and woos us, like a husband holding flowers and avocados in my hallway.

 

What about you? What gifts have you seen from the Artist today? We counted a huge rainbow yesterday that spanned our sky, enjoying family today, sweet cantaloupe juice, laughter and games as a family, and "happy for a great summer," says my daughter.

Captain, My Captain ... and God as the Greatest Psychologist

Okay, some feedback from yesterday's post reminded me that you may not know me well enough for me to not explain myself. Yesterday's post spoke of me threatening and forbidding my husband and being critical of him. That's wrong of me, obviously, and partly tongue in cheek!

And actually in our house, my husband is the boss. We believe from a look at some parts of the Bible that he is the leader of our home. We also believe that we are equal, and that both of our feedback is important. He has the hard job of loving me and the kids in the sacrificial way that Jesus loves his church -- thus putting my, our, needs above his own, and dying to what he wants for the benefit of our welfare. Whew! Hard job, huh?!

So in any hard decisions we may have to make, my husband and I talk over the issue, give feedback, weigh each other's ideas and then choose. In the hard cases where we don't know, I love resting in the fact that this is his choice. Isn't it great that God is a master psychologist, giving marriage advice from around 62 AD that counselors today say make for a fulfilling marriage?

And me? My marriage job in obeying God is attempting to meet my husband's psychological needs of being respected. By me being his biggest fan, by my believing in him and cheering him on (giving honest feedback), and submitting to his lead in the dance of life... I am his wife, his lover and his friend.

As a passionate independent woman, I sometimes forget and take the lead in the dance of life. Several years ago, I chose an affectionate pet name for my husband as a reminder for my heart of who is leading our dance. "Captain." Our teens at youth group love it, and grin at us when it comes up. "Captain" is a natural part of my conversation now and a term of love.

So, yes, yesterday's post was showing my wrong attitude then, and being honest about my struggles. Thanks for stopping by, for reading, for growing with me. I appreciate you being here with me. Thanks for your great feedback and support!

What about you? What pet names do you have for your man and why?

(P.S. For you history buffs out there... know where the "Captain, my captain" term came from?)

"Fine, But Like a Spy!"

I begged him. I cajoled.
I bargained.
I threatened and forbid him.
Finally I caved, "Fine, but like a spy!"

Tiptoeing away, my husband braved the gauntlet.

For the last four weeks, midnight fiascos have been occurring at our house. My family's late night trips to the bathroom are waking up our three year old. Shortly after any bathroom excursions, no matter how stealthy, my preschooler starts to cry and pads over to knock sleepily at our door. It takes several trips to get him to fall back to sleep again then.That has turned me into a cranky, Gestapo-like monitor.

"Slide the door to the right as you open it to avoid the loud budging noise," I caution. "Turn the door handle as it latches to be absolutely silent," I warn. "Hey, you tripped on the potty chair!" I hiss as my poor husband returns.

Yes, I have become critical and scary at night. All actions are rated against the idea of being As Silent As a Spy! Leave no trace, make no sound, is a common theme at night now. After a month of interrupted sleep though, I am weary and not as gracious as I should be.


God, in his humor, decided to take my pride down a little. Two nights ago I was noiselessly maneuvering the hall and bathroom (feeling haughty, I admit), when suddenly my toe hit the rubber door stopper. "BWOnnnnnnnngggg!" reverberated the corked stopper loudly in the silent house.

Climbing into bed, I reached over to touch my husband's cheek. "I bet you laughed at that," I murmured humbly. He grinned in the darkness, and I apologized, brushing his face with my lips. "I'm sorry I'm such a jerk at night. I'll try to get better at that."

What about you? What is God gently, humorously, teaching you? 

The winner of last week's coffee card giveaway is AmySaunders. Amy, email me your address so I can send you that coffee card. Congratulations!

Win a Free Coffee Card! Share Your Back to School Ideas...

 Last night after a coffee date, my husband and I strolled through the Back to School corner at Target. Smooth-glide pens, unsharpened pencils, piles of notebooks or three ring binders, and boxes of untouched crayons excite me with their possibilities.

School starts in 13 days. While we are savoring every last day of summer now, once school starts I like to inspire my kids for learning. We've raised live butterflies and tadpoles, painted family crests, and decorated journals. Plus each year, I like to lay out the new school books, notebooks, freshly sharpened pencils, and art supplies to intrigue and draw in my children's interest for the year.

What about you? Let's swap creative ideas for getting kids and moms excited about going back to school. What do you do to raise excitement for going back to school for your kids? Or, what did your mom do that got you excited for school each fall? I would love to hear your ideas.


In fact, as a thank you gift for your  ideas, I'll enter your name in a hat to buy one person coffee for the day. Here's how to win: 
1.) Post your answer in the comments below to get your name in the hat.
2.) Optional: Answer this question on your blog also with a link to my blog there for another chance to win.
3.) Optional: After commenting with your answer here, click Share to Facebook to post this site with your good idea on your facebook wall too.
Three ways to earn your name in the hat for a coffee card. Let me know what you do in the comments section below so I can get your name listed as many times as possible. I'll post the winner on Monday.

Let's encourage each other as our families go back to school.

Add Sizzle to Your Love Life

Admit it. Your heart thumped.

The first time he held your hand; the first time he leaned in close to kiss you -- his lips brushing yours, his breath warm on your face.

Pause now. Glance over. See him across the room? Forget the dirty dishes, the toddler toys on the floor, and just look at him. Those eyes, that profile, those strong tan hands.

In my "Microwaves vs. Ovens: Issues of Sexuality in Marriage" message, I use research from several psychologists and authors to tackle the complexities of passion, to build a strong vibrant marriage. But for now, click here to download this fun, easy way to add some sizzle to your marriage today. It's free. Add some romance and  passion tonight!

For you homeschooling families that my husband and I will be with at the Grindstone Lake Bible Camp homeschooling retreat this weekend, I am eager to get to know you. There is a special download just for you here too. Simply click on the "Add Some Sizzle: Homeschool" version.

This Weekend

What was your weekend like? What grabbed your heart, your eyes, your attention? Where did you see God's beauty today? Post below, if you'd like.