I Have a New Teenager!

Mark and I survived raising 3 teenagers...and I think with each one we had to call our State Farm Agent for a claim regarding: 1) car vs. parked car, 2) car vs. garage door, 3) car vs. Ryan on a bicycle thereby resulting in damage to another person's vehicle when Ryan's body dented the gentleman's Honda as he rolled over the hood (and was totally unscathed.) But, as they have matured, and become better motorists, we haven't had any issues recently. This morning, however, I realized I am the mother of yet another "teenage driver." She is 83, and she is my Mom. She drives a 1985 Mercury Gran Marquis--which is the size of an oil tanker---and she has to use a little cushion so she can see over the steering wheel. Therefore, parking lots become a special challenge for my 4 foot 10 inch tall Mama. She called me to tell me that as she was parking in the Community Center where her church meets in Colfax, she scraped the side of the vehicle on a retaining wall. I would be in tears if this was MY Focus that had been scraped, because so far, it's in pretty good shape for a 2005 model. Mama's "Tuna Boat", however, has it's share of dings, dents, and broken body parts---and all of the little mishaps occurred when Mom had to try to park her monstrosity into a parking lot at the Care Home where Dad resided.
She didn't learn to drive until she was 30, and has always been a nervous wreck (excuse the pun) when driving. She has also had some encounters with the side of the garage. So, when she returns from her Mexico trip I will have to take the car in for body work. My Dad was always neurotic about his vehicle....kept it spotless and waxed...he was an excellent driver and didn't have any scratches on the car...all I can say is that I am glad there are "no tears in Heaven"...and I am interpreting that to mean that Daddy will be spared from seeing the cracked taillight and dented side panel on his precious blue sedan :)

Home from Paradise

We returned Monday from a 30th Wedding Anniversary trip to Hawaii! For our 25th, Mark took me to Maui for the 2nd time (first time was in 1986, when I was pregnant with Michelle...it was our "second honeymoon.) This time we weren't sure if we could afford a Hawaiian vacation...they can be very pricey, as many of you know. However, Mark got a great deal on Expedia (airfare, car rental and hotel) and we could do it within our budget. Maui and Kaui, on the other hand, were significantly more expensive. Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii, is a short 4 1/2 hour flight from SFO....we barely finished watching the inflight movie ("Diary of a Wimpy Kid") and we were getting ready to touch down! I was a bit apprehensive about our accommodations, however, at 'Uncle Billy's Kona Bay Resort." The name conjurs up images of an island redneck sipping Blue Hawaiians underneath a palm tree located near a broken-down pickup on blocks. It didn't help when I got on the hotels website and realized it was a two-and-a-half star rating. Then I made the mistake of reading the comments: "This place was run-down, dilapidated and the "continental breakfast" consisted of weak coffee and stale muffins." "The pool was dirty, the A/C was loud, and the "free parking" was actually $5 per day." And then to make matters worse, a friend of mine said she really didn't like Kona at all...."just alot of lava rock and no beaches." Now I was having "travelers remorse." Perhaps I should have postponed the trip for another 5 years while I saved up more cash so we could have a really nice vacation for our 35th.... Mark, the perpetual optimist, kept reassuring me that everything was going to be fine. And, if it wasn't, he agreed we'd upgrade the rental car and sleep in it.

Well, I am happy to say that everything about the trip was awesome! The flight was smooth, the weather was perfect, and even Uncle Billy's wasn't half-bad. Yes, it probably had it's "heyday" back during the Nixon Administration, and it was an older hotel. However, it was spotless and the staff was very, very hospitable. The freebie breakfast was very good...fresh papaya, blueberry muffins, pineapple juice, good Kona coffee....we couldn't complain! Our accommodations were located very near the beach and shopping area and restaurants. Everything was within walking distance. In the evenings we would walk to the "downtown" area for a nice dinner and walk around the shops. Unlike the NorCal beaches, the tropical tradewinds were pleasant, even after the sun went down. And speaking of sunsets, Kona is famous for spectacular ones. We were not disappointed.

A good friend (who lived on the island for several years) gave us an itinerary of some suggested sites, activities, and restaurants to visit. We were grateful for her wonderful advice, and she also gave us gift certificates for a fun snorkeling cruise! She told us about a little Hawaiian Shave Ice stand that she knew of....it was fantastic! Not at all like a snowcone! She recommended a fabulous restaurant called the Canoe House, located at the Mauna Lani Resort. Five-stars doesn't even begin to describe it....white linen table cloths with a view of the beach at sunset...attentive waiters and delicous cuisine that was remarkably "presented." It was truly a memory-maker :)

We had such a relaxing vacation that we dreaded getting back on the plane Sunday evening to head back to"reality." We slept 4 hours on the plane, but even with only that amount of sleep, we came back refreshed and rejuvenated. Mark has even begun to wear flip-flops around the house now...something he NEVER used to do. I am thinking of wearing a floral lei around my neck along with some puka shells so I can stay in the "Aloha" mood. Now I am counting down the days until our next "milestone" anniversary so we can return to Hawaii :)

My "Unfavorite" Thing

In a few weeks from now, Mark and I will fly off to Hawaii to celebrate our 30th Anniversary! We didn't know if the family budget could withstand a 6-day island getaway, but, not running the A/C even when it's 92 degrees does have a payoff! Anyway, as I was looking at some pictures from our 25th anniversary trip, I realized I still have the same swimsuit. Much to my dismay, I decided I probably should "update" swimwear. With much fear and trepidation, I made my trek to Roseville....the shopping Mecca of Northern California. With some Kohl's 15 percent Off Coupons in hand, I made my way to the swimwear section. A lady who must have been 85 years old commented: "Don't you hate swimsuit shopping? And when you finally find one you like, you jump in the pool and couple of times and the chlorine fades it!" That wasn't my biggest problem...my hangup was trying to find a suit that made a 54 year-old mother of three look 35 again! The first thing that's depressing about this whole ordeal is that a woman must get a swimsuit at least two sizes bigger than her dress size. So, normally I wear a 4...now I had to jump into the double-digit size arena....that pretty much ruined my day. Then, you have to look for a suit that makes your tummy flat but doesn't make your boobs flat. You also have to make sure you don't look like an old lady. One suit was really cute, but it had horizontal stripes...definitely a "no-no". Black is always a good choice because it is slimming....but I have had a black swimsuit since beginning swimming lessons in 1963. I finally ended up with a halter -top cut tankini in a hot pink and black print. Oh, well, if it makes me look fat I'll just wrap my Brazilian sarong around my lower body and no one will ever know:)

When Bad Things Happen to Christians

Late Sunday night as Mark and I were winding down and watching the 10 o'clock news, our phone rang. It was a fellow church member whose daughter went on a mission trip to Haiti with a team of students from her college. They were in a horrible bus accident where one Haitian was killed. Rosie, our friend from church, sustained minor injuries, but several of the volunteers were seriously injured. The bus apparently lost its brakes and nearly went over a cliff. Thank God, the driver was able to crash into the hillside instead and the bus came to a stop.

We have a photo and prayer card of Rosie on our fridge. We have been praying for her and team of students all week long. They were supposed to come home on Monday. We know God was watching out for them because every single person on that bus could have lost their life. But it made me wonder....were we not praying hard enough? In my humanness I ask: "Why did God allow something bad to happen to these wonderful students while they were on a trip to help the people of the quake-ravaged country? They had to raise their own financial support and sacrifice a week of their own time to endure hardship and see an immense amount of human suffering. My daughter, Michelle, believes that when you go on a mission trip you really have to "count the cost." You should prepare for hardship, and be willing to endure it for the greater cause of Christ. Suffering always has been a part of the "deal" when we sign on to become a follower of Christ. However, as comfortable Americans, we feel entitled to a life of pain-free ease and abundance.

I have thought about this as well. When my husband and I were newlyweds, we had a horrible car crash in a Toyota. We were on our way to the beach when some projectile came into the vehicle and hit Mark on the temple. He thought he had been shot and was distracted and took his eyes off the road for a millisecond and he crashed the vehicle into a huge oak tree. Mark walked away with a couple of bruises and torn jeans. I suffered a broken back and severly fractured forearm. I was in bed for 3 months recuperating. The personnel at the hospital said it was a miracle I didn't become a paraplegic...the injury came very close to my spinal cord. My Dad believed that God spared my life because he had a special plan for my life, and "He wasn't through with you yet." My husband had been "running from the call." He knew God had called him into the ministry, but he was afraid of the loss of income that would mean if he left his job in sales in the Silicon Valley. He wasn't ready to be "poor"....especially since he was just getting a taste of "the good life." But this was God's way of getting his attention. This new car that he polished and adored was a mangled piece of metal destined for the junkyard. God was saying, "Don't worship your stuff....because I can take it away in an instant. Worship me and I will take care of the material things. Put me first." I was also running from God by being in a sort of rebellion. We were youth leaders, but had alot of growing-up to do. But God was disciplining us, just like a good parent disciplines their child when they are headed down a dangerous path. So, I believe sometimes tragedies are God's way of correcting us.

Another reason that I think God allows us to suffer trials and tribulations is because he wants us to have a testimony to the world of His greatness. He wants to demonstrate in us a miracle. It might be that we came through this particular hardship stronger than ever. We might be able to empathize better because we know exactly how it feels to be in a body cast, lose a loved one, go through chemotherapy, etc. When God brings us through a trial, we can give Him the glory for getting us through the problems. We don't get angry at God, but rather we praise Him for His goodness. This shows the world that we have faith in someone bigger than us. Someone who has the power to do whatever He wills...someone who promises to "never leave or forsake us."

And, finally, I think God allows difficulties into our lives to "keep us on our knees." Have you ever noticed that when you are going through a particularly difficult problem in your life you tend to pray at every opportunity? The t.v. and radio are stilled so you can carry your burdens to the Lord. You can't wait to get up and see what encouraging word awaits for you in the Bible. I think that when everything is going along relatively well in our lives, we tend to not cry out to God. Everything's just fine, thank you. My goal is to cry out to Jesus even during the good times....to worship Him and praise Him just because He is an awesome, amazing God in so many ways...and He is worthy of all of the praise and prayers....not just when I need help, but ALL the time.

I Got a New Kid!

My youngest child, Matt, came home from college this past week to spend the summer at home. Right when he pulled up in his car (which was loaded "to the gills") I was on my way to Sacramento to get Michelle on a plane to LA. So, I gave him a quick hug and I was off. While enroute to SAC, Matt calls me on my cell. He was DOING LAUNDRY! He wanted to know which setting to use on my washer since he was used to the machines at his apartment complex.
Could this possibly be "my baby"? I was so pleased with his initiative.

I have always been the enabling "Super Mom", who, if at all possible, will try to do everything I can for my kids. Realizing that once they left the nest and went to college, they would need to know how to do some basic life skills. So, approximately a week before each of my kids moved down to SoCal to attend college, I would give them a "crash course" on life skills: how to sew on a button, ironing 101, checking oil in their vehicle, paying their Visa bill, balancing their checkbook, and how to make burritoes. Of course, I think that is way too much information for them to assimilate in just a few days. It went in one ear and out the other. So, they would have to sink or swim once they set up their own little households. Along the way, I think all three of the kids called me from the laundry room as they were trying to decide "Hot or Cold Wash"?
They did very well on their own, however, and I was proud of them. I coddled them while they were at home, but once they "launched" I pretty much "took my hands off." At first I would send a card & email frequently, but as the semester wore on, the communication became less frequent. They would call if they had a question or concern, but for the most part they did a phenomenal job of making it on their own and making good choices. And, along the way, I think they all had a near-perfect GPA....and I didn't even have to help:)

Anarchy in the Preschool

I got called in to substitute teach at our school district's preschool. It is held in a beautiful facility on the campus of our local community college. There is a Head teacher, and about 4-5 asssistants. The staff is wonderful and caring, and the classroom is a spacious room filled with books, paints, games, blocks, gym mats, tunnels, a piano---you name it. Approximately 24 children attend the preschool every day from 9 am until about 3:45 pm. The children range in age from 3 to 5. They were all absolutely adorable. And yes, I believe 98% of them were also demon-possessed! But then I have always believed that the reason God made 3 year olds so cute is because if they were ugly, we would probably be more tempted to kill them.

I realized about 5 minutes into the day that my philosophy of teaching children is definitely considered "old school." The philosopy of this particular school is: "if a child misbehaves, there are no negative consequences." The child is re-directed to another activity or area, or is "talked-to". This talk goes something like this: "I know you're angry, but you need to use words to tell Katie how you feel and what you want. We don't use our fists to show how we feel." This might work when one is counselling a married couple, but have you ever tried to "reason" with a 4-year old? My belief is that they need to feel some pain in order to be trained not to repeat a particular undesirable behavior. When dealing with my OWN preschool-aged children, this meant a swat on the bottom or a flick on their hands. It is Pavlovian conditioning that we learned about in college Psych 101. It's how you train a dog or a dolphin, and it works pretty good with humans if you stay consistent. However, at this particular preschool there were no negative consequences for bad behavior....not even a "time-out" rug or chair, and no removal of privileges. If you were being a brat you simply got escorted to another activity in the room and given a nice little talk. These children were aggressive and defiant. There were countless incidences of one girl smacking another in the face and then the "victim" would immediately retaliate. They particularly enjoyed running from the teachers. They also enjoyed not cleaning up after themselves. (I think I burned off 3,000 calories yesterday.) Naptime was optional, so the 6 wild children who didn't want to take a nap simply reaked havoc while the others tried to rest in a dark room. I do not take sass from a child who comes up to my knees. I had to work within their framework, their philosopy, even though I think these children are going to be headed to prison if they don't understand about consequences. However, if one of the children told me "NO!" or tried to fight me physically, I had to get in their face and put a little fear into them....I'm sorry, they won't be getting a "how does that make you feel" therapy session from me. I also MADE a child pick up the food he threw on the floor....and I wasn't goin' anywhere until he did it. Am I bad? Yeah. And how does that make me feel? Really GOOD!

Rules of Engagement

My kids are all in their early twenties....and that can only mean one thing....suddenly, all of their friends are getting engaged! My daughter's best friend got engaged today. It was the culmination of a series of carefully- orchestrated plans that seemed incredibly complex to me. It involved siblings whisking the bride-to-be away to Santa Barbara under the pretense that she was the subject of a photo shoot for one of the sister's photography class....then parents and aunts flew in for the day and awaited in a decorated hotel room to celebrate with the happy couple. Along the way there were bouquets of roses, dressing up for a fancy dinner out, and purchasing a one-carat diamond! And this was one of the simpler engagements! Another friend of my daughter's was going to receive her proposal after the prospective groom chartered a helicopter, paved a walkway with rose petals, and hired a string quartet to serenade his future bride!

Let's talk about how people got engaged in the 70's. First of all, none of the twenty-somethings had any money back then, and youngsters couldn't get credit cards until they had a "real job" for a couple of years or so. A couple that had been dating awhile usually started talking marriage, then you'd toss around a few possible dates, then you'd go together to shop for rings. Usually they were priced under $500, and the diamonds were about 1/16 carat because in the late 70's inflation was crazy and the price of gold was outrageous (but only half as outrageous as it is today!) Anyway, you put the ring on "lay-away" while the groom-to-be scrounged up some more money from his summer job. Then, a special dinner or other type of date was planned and the boy "popped the question" officially, and the girl would say "Yes!" Then you'd drive out to see the girl's parents and the boy would, out of a sense of respect, ask the father for his daughter's hand in marriage. Then the girl and mom would get giddy with excitement and begin talking about dress shopping, color schemes, and bridesmaids. Of course, we were working within a budget....in my case, Daddy gave me $1400 and told me to "go to town" and plan a big wedding! (My younger sister got married 8 weeks after I did...so she also got a $1400 budget to work with.) Back in the day, there were no limos, dj's, or sit-down dinners at fancy hotel ballrooms. There was a cake from Safeway, punch, coffee, nuts and mints---enjoyed in the basement fellowship hall that was decked-out with crepe paper streamers. The bridesmaid dresses were homemade (polyester and chiffon), and there was no videographer. In fact, camcorders had not even been invented. No one got their hair or nails done, and the bride served as the wedding planner/coordinator, thus saving even more money! The bridal gown was purchased on sale, and the most expensive item in the whole wedding budget was the professional photographer who charged about $400 for his services. Friends were asked to sing special music, accompanying themselves on guitar (because CD's hadn't been invented either)
and it was the 70's for cryin' out loud...you needed some good acoustic guitar "folk-music" or early Christian contemporary ballads to add some emotion and sentimentality to the event!

Many people commented that our wedding was "one of the most beautiful weddings I've ever attended"....there wasn't a dry eye in the house, especially after Mark serenaded me on his 12-string guitar. Our wedding was simple, but it was beautiful, memorable and full of emotion. And best of all, it was completely paid for by the time we drove off to our honeymoon that evening in our burnt-orange 1976 Ford Granada :)

Oh, If I Could Only Be 2 Again!

Today during our Upper Grounds Cafe' at church, I had the joy of chatting with our Youth Pastor's children. Hannah just turned 4 years old, and I was asking her if she had a fun birthday.
I already knew that both sets of grandparents were at her party, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, and friends. Hannah is a very serious young lady, and very intense. She is a little lady with blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes. She was quite discreet about describing her birthday party to me, and simply said: "I got millions and millions of presents." Her little brother, two-year old Elijah, who is a "rough-and-tumble-100 percent boy" kind of guy was contendedly sipping on a drink from a white styrofoam cup. "Apple juice!" he exclaimed as he held the cup high for me to see. Then, when he had over heard my conversation with big sister Hannah, chimed in: "On my birthday I'm two and I blow out all the candles!" I love the preschool- aged child because they find wonder in the simplest of pleasures....candles, juice, a spider in a corner, a balloon centerpiece, a fresh strawberry---the things us adults gloss over because we're too busy moving on to the next item on our "To Do List."

When Ryan was in kindergarten, I would load up Missy and Matthew in a little red wagon and pull them to the elementary school that was two blocks from our home. They would always point out various interesting sights on the way to the school----a cat sitting in a sunny window, cherry blossoms on a tree, and sometimes Missy would ask me to stop the wagon so she could get out to pick something off the ground...usually a "rolly polly bug" or an injured butterfly. It took us a bit longer to get to school when we had to stop for all the "points of interest", but it forced me to slow down and savor the little things in life that I often take for granted. I was able to enjoy all of God's many creations as I looked through a child's eyes instead of a harried adult.
What a blessing it was to see all of the uniqueness of Creation as if it were a new discovery. I remember taking the kids to a public bathroom and of course there were a million questions: "What are those? (toilet seat covers) What's that box for (receptacle for personal hygiene items)? "Can I have a quarter so I can buy some of those? (personal hygiene items!) And of course there were always those noisy hand dryers that you just loved to hate! Who ever thought that a trip to the restroom at Target could be such an educational experience!

Since we moved up the the mountains (technically, "foothills") I feel like a two-year-old child again, seeing nature in a whole new light. I go for walks in the morning and take a deep breath and I feel like I am at youth camp in the mountains of Sun Valley, Idaho. The air is clean and crisp and the scent of the pines is everywhere. It isn't uncommon to spot a group of deer in the neighbor's yard (or OUR yard as a matter-of-fact) and there are always grey squirrels scurrying across the road and up and down the trees. It is as if I have discovered a whole new world up here. After living in the suburbs of the Bay Area for 10 years, and the Central Valley for 17, it is truly a new experience to live in the "country". There are no streeet lights up here and at night it is pitch black....but look upward and you will see the most fabulous star-filled night sky---it takes your breath away!

So, yes, I am 53-going-on 2. I am hoping I can slow down enough to enjoy this beautiful place I am living in because each year comes and goes faster than the next. I want to be 2 years old again so I can savor all of the intricacies of nature and be excited about each new discovery. But at the same time I will thank God that I am 53 because who would ever want to go through potty training again? Or trying to stop sucking your thumb....or getting rid of your "blankie" or your "ba-ba"....or getting a mean kindergarten teacher.....or going through junior high again....
not me! Being an adult DOES have it's advantages! :)

Tell Me Somethin' I Don't Know!

Since the country's economic meltdown started a couple of years ago, we have been bombarded with hundreds of articles on "How To Save Money" on everything from food to credit cards. Every time I pick up one of these interesting articles to read, I walk away thinking: "Why didn't I write this article? I've been practicing frugality since I got married 30 years ago....no, actually, I was BORN into frugality.

Like many Baby Boomers, I had "Depression Era Parents". This means that they save every plastic bread bag, twist tie, piece of string, fabric, Cool-Whip container, jar, tartar sauce cup, plastic straws from Burger King, etc. etc. As a teenager, this seemed so quirky. As an adult putting three kids through private college, these habits became ingenious ways to run a household! And now that EVERYBODY is "poor", I feel like a trendsetter! Yes, I wash, dry, and re-use ZipLock bags...and in the summer I have begun to dry clothes on a line in my garage. My husband refuses to let me have a clothesline outside...he thinks we'd look like a bunch of hillbillies. I told him it is not "hillbilly" it is simply a "solar-powered clothes dryer." The people here in Nevada County would applaud me for being "green" and "environmentally responsible."

I read an article in the doctor's office while waiting for my mom the other day, and it was about saving hundreds of dollars from the family budget. Brilliant idea # 4 "Save $5 a day per family member by brown-bagging your lunch instead of eating out." We have been doing this all of my life. We even pack a lunch when we attend a sporting event. And yes, I smuggle my own candy and bottled water in my oversized handbag into the theater....sue me! :) I think it is a bigger crime to charge those outrageous prices for concessions! The brown-bag idea is really so much healthier, too. So you save on doctor bills and medications by eating a healthy lunch prepared at home. :)

One magazine article gave some hints for spending less on wardrobe items, one being that you should "buy classic pieces" and "go with neutral color schemes to build a mix-and-match wardrobe." I wasn't sure what the definition is of "classic", but in my closet "classic" means a black blazer and slacks, black skirt, basic black dress, and various colored blouses and tops to mix-and-match. About 50% of my clothing items are black. There are several reasons for this:
1) I will forever have this nugget of truth etched into my psyche: "Wearing black takes 10 lbs off instantly." 2) Black doesn't show when you slop spaghetti sauce, coffee, or other foods on yourself, and 3) Black instantly takes off 10 lbs! When you get my age, you wear stuff that is totally out-of-style, but it doesn't matter because ignorance is bliss. I am still wearing flared leg jeans (bell-bottoms) and my daughter has moved into the year 2010 by wearing "skinny jeans".
I will wear "skinny jeans" when I win the lottery and have my tummy-tuck. In the meantime, I am saving big bucks by wearing out-of-style clothing that in my mind is "classic". Because after all, isn't "classic" just a cool way of saying "really old?"

Keep It Simple

Today I went to the church to my KidZone classroom to decorate for Easter and the new month. As I was making bulletin board labels and posting teaching pictures I realized why I love teaching kids about God---you just keep it simple! Adults make it more complicated than it really is. For example, last month we studied Creation. The truth we teach the kids: God created everything. No arguments about evolution, big-bang theory...God just spoke it and it WAS! The amazing paradox is that our Intelligent Creator who made everything in nature, with all of its complexities and intricacies, still cares about how we are going to pay for our car to get repaired! Children have that childlike faith that Jesus praised while he was on earth...they accept the fact that even though our God is mighty and powerful, He is not too busy to listen to our worries and concerns.

Some of the most profound theological truths that I have learned were gleaned not from a religion professor, but from my own children when they were preschool age. One evening we were on an overnight visit at my parents house and I was settling 3 year-old Ryan down for bed. I asked him to say his nighttime prayers and he began: "Thank you, Jesus, for Mommy and Daddy, and Grandma and Grandpa, and Sandy (their dog), and the cats, and for McDonalds, and for hamburgers, and fries and the ketchup, and the straws...." I had to eventually cut this prayer short...I was getting drowsy! Perhaps it was Ryan's way of postponing his actual bedtime a few more minutes, or maybe it was the way a four year old really expresses thanks to God...not forgetting any little provision that God gave us...but thanking the Lord for EVERYTHING! It was a good lesson to me, especially when I get negative.

Another time my two younger children, Michelle and Matthew were leaving big brother's T-ball game and we were having a conversation about a friend, Lisa, who was very ill. We were just talking and the children were holding my hands as we walked across the Little League field. Matthew stopped, looked up at me and said, "We need to pray for Lisa." I said, "Yes, we need to remember her in our prayers so God will touch her." Matthew came to a dead stop in the middle of the grassy field and bowed his head and prayed, "Dear Jesus, please heal Miss Lisa.she is very sick but I know you can make her all better. In Jesus Name, AMEN!" Matt couldn't care less that there were people all around us, probably witnessing this craziness...he just knew someone had a need and we needed to "lift it up" now...not later. How many of us adults promise to pray for someone and then get so busy with our life that we forget. I loved the lesson this taught me....when you are aware of a need in someone's life, don't procrastinate---intercede for them right then and there.

As I think about Jesus' resurrection this Easter I realize that that one event makes Christianity real...and gives us hope that we, too, will rise one day to be with Him in Heaven if we put our faith in Him. The people who were witnesses to this event had nothing to gain (and everything to lose) by making up the whole story of Jesus rising from the dead, and yet people today still doubt it. There were many, many eyewitnesses who saw the resurrected Christ after he arose and left the tomb. But even those devoted followers couldn't believe it...the women visited the tomb on that first Easter Sunday to take embalming spices...they totally expected to find the dead body of Christ in the sepulchre. The apostle Thomas (dubbed "Doubting Thomas" for time immemorial!) wouldn't believe until Jesus showed him the wounds in his hands and feet. Jesus said, "You have believed because you have seen. Blessed are those who have NOT seen and yet believe." May we recapture the childlike faith that we lose as we become jaded, cynical adults---because following Christ isn't complicated....it's so easy even a child can do it :)

Motherhood: Ultimate Job Security

Today while I was driving my Mom to get labwork done, and helping her get in and out of my little red Focus, it reminded me of when my kids were toddlers...all three of them in the backseat of a Buick Skyhawk...the three carseats barely fit.

I used to think "I can't wait til they're 18 and then they'll be on their own" when I was being overwhelmed with the endless diapers, bottles, ear infections, and other responsibilities of motherhood. Having 3 babies in 3 yrs and 3 months seemed like a good idea at the time. I wouldn't have had it any other way, in spite of how much work it was. Ryan, Michelle and Matt are the best of friends and shared many of the same experiences at about the same time growing up---something I missed with my sister who was almost 4 years younger. But this afternoon while I was helping my mom with her bills and checkbook my cell phone rang. It was my Matt calling from college. He needed me to download a document and get a signature, etc, etc. My baby might be 21, but he still needed me. I think I kind of like that feeling. That is why I still pack my husband's lunch (he has two masters degrees and a doctorate--totally qualified to make his PB& J sandwich) and my daughter's lunch (who is 22 and is a prolific writer and former AP intern whose work has appeared in the Washington Post, the LA Times, and every other major newspaper in the country.)

But I love doing things like that for my kids, my husband, and my elderly mother
because I like being the person who supports them from the "background"...they are all far more ambitious than I am. I graduated 4th out of 1200 from my college, have a Lifetime California Teaching Credential, but I still enjoy emptying garbage cans and doing laundry...because somebody's gotta do it, right?" Anyway, I must go...I just got an email from my son in college and he needs some cleaning advice on what to do about smelly drains and garbage disposal in their apartment. It sounds like an emergency! I think I am in no danger of being "laid-off" or getting "furlough Fridays"...but I definitely need to contact the Payroll Department because I haven't got my paycheck in almost 30 years!

My Daddy

My Daddy went home to be with Jesus on a beautiful spring afternoon in his care home in Auburn, CA. Mom and I had been visiting with him and he was in his bed, wearing a hospital gown and oxygen mask. This was the least responsive he had been...and the healthcare professionals must have known that death was near because they were all stopping by the room and giving Mom hugs and words of support. When Mom and I prayed with him and left, he died 10 minutes later. It was as if once the family left, he was free to "let go" and leave this world. I didn't think I was going to lose him, however, because we had already experienced some times where he was rushed to the hospital and we thought he was near death, and then he would recover just fine. Before I had received the call that he had died, I was praying all the way home as I drove the beautiful backroads to Grass Valley where pink and white blossoms and daffodils dotted the rolling green hills. My cry to God was that He would not let Daddy suffer. God answered my prayer when he took him to Heaven at 1:45 pm on March 15th. But then I felt guilty for my prayer because I truly missed him. In the 12 days since his death, I have been thinking about how happy and whole my dad is right now...walking with Jesus and enjoying a great reunion with all who have gone before. He's not in Heaven because he was a good man....even though he was. He is in Heaven because he put his faith in Jesus Christ to take the penalty of his sins as a 16 year old teen in a little country church in Kentucky. He only attended the services because all the youth in the area knew that all the cute girls went to the church...especially when there was a Revival Meeting in town. He recalled how the song that was sung during the altar call was "Why Not Tonight?" It was a song that warned of procrastinating on making a decision to follow Christ.
Daddy had his ups and downs...he had a fiery Irish temper, that's for sure, and I am sure he was the first case of Adult ADHD in this country. And I inherited both of those "qualities" from him. He was a hard-working man with big, calloused hands and I always remember how he seemed to have endless energy. He especially loved the outdoors, and probably never slept more than 4 hours a night. (His penchant for sleep deprivation skipped a generation...Michelle takes after her Grandpa.)
My Dad was a very colorful character who wouldn't hesitate to ask women their age or their weight, and had no problem asking someone point-blank: "And how much money do you make a year?" He was one of the most generous people I have ever met. Even though he grew up poor (his dad was an alcoholic who spent all of his money on whiskey)he was always a very generous person. He always wanted to make sure that his kids and grandkids got money for birthdays, graduations, etc. He wasn't very materialistic in his later years...just let him wear a pair of broken-in denim overalls and he was just fine. In his younger days, his weakness, however, was buying a new car every couple of years and taking extensive cross-country road trips. Some of my favorite childhood memories were of our family vacations to the East Coast and to the South to visit family and visit every museum, historical marker, and tourist trap (ie. "Reptile Gardens" "Prairie Dog Town")in the good ole
USA. Last night we watched some old family videos of our kids when they were babies, and there was Grandpa Cotton, holding Michelle at her first Christmas and giving her hugs and kisses. He was probably in his late 50's, but still very active.
And that is how I want to remember him.
Dad,thanks for being a good husband to Mom for nearly 55 years and for teaching us that God hears every prayer and that we should pray about everything...there is nothing too big or too small for the Lord. I can't wait to see you in Heaven..love you always!

Get a Life

Today my husband and I had a date--sort of. We scheduled to trek down the hill to Roseville Kaiser to get our annual physical checkups. We had labwork done so he had to fast for 12 hours. The worst part of that was NO COFFEE this morning; on the upside, when you fast for that long your weigh-in will be much more encouraging. I also chose to wear the lightest clothes that I owned and didn't wear my usual big earrings and bangle bracelets. It was worth it...I weighed 3 lbs less than I did 3 years ago. My blood pressure was on the low-side, so the nurse joked that if I want to raise it all I have to do is "eat more salt"! When the doctor (who, by the way, was about 14!) asked if I was on any meds she was surprised to hear that I only take multi vitamins, calcium, and Claritin for seasonal allergies. I told her, "Yeah, for someone as old as me, I'm pretty darn healthy!" Mark was in another building getting his check-up and he got an equally good report. The jury is still out, however, as we haven't received results back on the labwork...I mean, we might have 3 months to live...so we celebrated by going to Sizzler for all-you-can-eat salad bar..because life is too short!