Little is much.

I saw a sign in a coffee house a while ago that read, "Little is much when God is in it."  The phrase has stuck with me ever since.  Remember the widow who gave all she had?

"Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd put their money in the treasury.  Many rich people threw in large amounts.  But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.  Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They all gave out their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on." Mark 12: 41-44

Little is much indeed.  Our savior came into the world as a baby born in a barn.  He rode into Jerusalem on a lowly donkey.  His word reminds us over and over what mountains can be moved with even the tiniest bit of faith. 

If you're feeling that what you have right now isn't enough--time, money, faith, patience--put God in it.  Out of our greatest poverty comes His greatest riches. 

You are loved, friends.  In plenty or in want.  You are loved.

XOXO...Kelly

And that's when I lost it.

I mentioned our summer New Braunfels vacation in my last post.  Vacations are great and this one, our annual family getaway with Kevin's parents, was wonderful.  But there is still a lot of stress that goes along with getting your family out the door and living away from home for a time with small children.  I started the weekend under the weather a bit.  When we got to our condo on Friday we couldn't get the key out of the lock box.  The mattresses were terrible, so no one slept well.  There were no condiments for the lunch meat sandwiches (that one didn't really bother me, I'm just throwing it in for my husband and father-in-law).  Burger King had no ice.  Etc., etc., etc.  Really nothing big and very little to complain about, but just small nagging things that built up until, after a long day in the sun at SeaWorld, I stepped in gum at a gas station on our way home.  I looked down at my shoe and the gum that someone else had been chewing now ground into the floor of the van--the second piece of gum I'd stepped on that day actually--and that's when I lost it.  I began to sob.  I think I also threw a chicken sandwich. 

I love it when you react super emotionally to something as an adult and people try to comfort you by reminding you that even Jesus turned over the tables of the money changers and wept at the death of a friend.  This was nothing like that.  I was throwing a great big, adult sized fit over gum and I have no good excuse except that I was simply too tired to do anything better. 

It's not that the vacation wasn't relaxing.  I actually sat by a pool and read two magazines cover to cover.  Two!!  But I guess I got caught up in all that relaxing and didn't spend much time with God during our trip.  If I had, surely I would have remembered to hand all those little annoyances over to Him. 

I like to picture that I have a spiritual bucket.  It gets full of all sorts of unpleasant things, big and little, and needs to be emptied often.  I do this by starting my day in prayer.  Before my feet hit the floor I ask God to prepare my spirit for the day, thank Him for the joys and hand over the burdens.  When I don't do this the bucket gets full until it has no choice but to overflow into a heaping, chewed gum, chicken sandwich throwing mess.  And I have I mentioned how heavy a full bucket is?  But God's peace is light and freeing.  "Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. The will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:30-31. 

Ain't no eagles flying around with a bunch of buckets 'round their necks. 

So my point is this.  Empty your bucket.  Even when things are great and the vacation is wonderful and the day is perfect.  God needs to be a part of your good days just as much as your bad ones.  Take care of your soul everyday.  Because there's a lot of gum out there and you never know when you're going to step in it.  XOXO...Kelly    

Now.

We just returned home last night for a long weekend in the New Braunfels area with Kevin's parents.  It's a tradition we started a few summers ago.  We take off for a few days to a beach or river somewhere and just hang out and it is wonderful!  There is a special kind of bonding that comes with squeezing your whole family into a condo or beach house somewhere that simply can not be beat.  Everyone is exhausted today, of course, so I plan to exercise some of my super parenting skills and allow the boys an extra hour on the Wii while I do laundry.  And then it's back to the grind!  The school year is almost upon us and I really can't believe how fast the summer flew.  Remember when I said several weeks ago that I fear the summer?  All the heat and wide open expanses of time needing to be filled.  But as it turns out I do not mind the heat that much (which either makes me crazy or some kind of adaptation super mutant) and the extra time with my kids was just what I needed.  So now I sit at the brink of another school year and temptation is pulling at me once again.  Part of me wants to be sad, mourn the loss of summer, wish my soon to be kindergartener and first grader could be toddlers again, angst over whether or not I cherished them enough while they were home.  The other part of me says, arg, this is hard, and longs for the days they can stay home by themselves and I don't have to drag four less than willing little boys to Target with me, and dreams of uninterrupted manicures and Jazzercise.  But the bottom line is I don't think God wants me in either of those places.  Oh, I love my babies.  I loved them when they were little and pudgy and cute and giggly and I am sure the time ahead of me when I can move with a little more freedom will be justly deserved.  But what I really love is the NOW of my life.  I love what God has given me to enjoy now.  Michael is smart as a whip.  Blake thinks he's a weapons specialist.  Zachary is working hard to improve his "arm-pit toots".  Parker yells at all of them in baby talk.  It's precious!  How could I possibly want to miss it?  How can I be a good parent, wife, friend, sister, disciple if I'm constantly looking back with longing and ahead with anxiety?  As Kevin and I were floating on the river the other evening, watching all the college kids make a ruckus, I said to him, "I remember that college was fun, but there's no part of me that wants to go back."  (To be fair, watching a group of ragged 20 year olds nearing the end of a long tube ride accompanied by their favorite alcoholic beverage isn't really a good post card for any university.)  Isn't that what God's peace is for all of us?  That no matter what lies ahead and what lies behind, His joy meets us right where we are.  Sometimes the now is rough,  but I believe God provides for every moment of our lives and His greatest desire that we would see Him in them.  Father, I praise you with highest gratitude for what you've given me, for a past and a future touched by You.  But I thank you especially for today and the joy that comes from all that is before me now.  Amen. 

XOXO....Kelly

I'm really, really ridiculously good looking--Part 2

While visiting my parents in Pittsburgh last week I unearthed these photos.  When I was 16, I wanted nothing more than what every 16 year old girl wants.....for someone to follow her around with a camera fashion model style and take beautiful pictures of her and only her.  (If you're female and you're thinking, "I never wanted that" then you are lying to yourself.  If you're male and you've suspected this of our gender all along, well, what can I say.  It's part of our charm.)  So my parents treated me to a Glamour Shot session for my birthday.  Look out world, here I come....

These first two series are really aimed at capturing my sophisticated side.  When you're trying to capture this sort of essence it's helpful to flare your nostrils a little bit.  I love how the fur collar matches the natural highlights in my hair and how my eyes twinkle like the studs on the silver vest.  I can picture myself driving away from the studio in my red Chrysler Sebring convertible with white leather seats.  Fancy!!

 

A little more luxury here.  I bet if you saw me on the street wearing that black and gold jacket you'd assume I was worth a million dollars.  But I'm really just like the rest of you.  And look at how they've played with my image a little on the last line of pictures.  The denim and black says I am tough, a force to be reckoned with, but the teddy bear reminds you that I have a softer side.  How about that last shot?  That's right...eat your heart out.   

 

If looking at these photos inspires you to do nothing more than this right now I will rest well tonight....think of that person that drove you nuts in high school or broke your heart or picked on you and let it go.  Because thank God for the mercy and grace that allows us to be better than we were at 16!  "The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon" Psalm 92:12.  But cedars and palm trees don't grow over night.  The process for some is slower than others, but make no mistake.  He who began a good work in you will keep on doing it, moving us from Glamour Shots to glory with the quiet strength of His hand.  That saying about people peaking in high school doesn't account for the chance that God gives each of us everyday to get better.  Maybe it's yourself that you need to forgive and accept that spiritual growth is something that never ends.  Yes, we end this life as imperfect as we begin in, but we do get better!!   "We, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with EVER INCREASING glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" 2 Cor 3:18.  I know several people right now doing amazing things for themselves, allowing God to move in their spiritual lives, in their finances, in their health.  You are in my prayers everyday.  Know that His glory in you is becoming greater everyday, too.

 

But back to these photos.  Look...my hair makes a perfect triangle.  Awesome.   

XOXO....Kelly