I Am Progressive #OnlyWhenIWannaBe.

I can't sleep. #SometimesThatHappens.

Between nursing a 5 month old and responding to the 2 year old's "momma? MOMMA!" through the night, I'm not even sure what time it is. Saturday, Sunday? #DaylightSavingsTime.  

I reach for my phone. My constant data retriever. #MyLoyalFriend.

I check Facebook. Not much new between midnight and now. (2am-3am?) #DidIChangeMyClock.

What boring friends I have. #TheLifeOfTheParty #NOT.

I stock my Tiny Tower. I finish a few gold crown levels on Siege Hero. I check Twitter, there's always news there.

I open my YouVersion Bible app to do a little study prompted by a tweet that looks intriguing. @doorposts

Still not working right. Can't seem to access my favorite translation: NIV84. #Delete.# Reinstall.

It's gone. NIV84 has disappeared. #Ermahgerd.

Back to Twitter to learn the version has been made unavailable by Biblica and Zondervan. @Youversion #NIV84.  #TheresAlwaysTheNewNIV.

Whoa. Back up. What?

You can't just change stuff. #MyRules.

I just got used to calling the NIV84 the NIV84.  They tried to pull the wool over my eyes and sneak in their new NIV translation by using the name NIV and changing the old version's name to NIV84. But I'm on to them.  I know.  See how I think?  #ItsPureTorture.

Just like how the Newsboys still call themselves the Newsboys even though there's only one guy left and they don't sound anything like they used to. I guess it was @Peter Furler all along for me. Even VanHalen/Hagar had the decency to change their name. #ButItMattersToMe.

I digress.

I suppose the switch from KJV to NIV was like this for some people way back then. I also, for the record, had a hard time with the new Hymnal when it came out in the early 90's. #LutheranLifer.

It was introduced when I had two very small children and couldn't wrangle them both and the hymnal to follow along for months. #NotAnOctopus.

I was the one still singing the old responses. #OneInEveryCrowd.

Again, digression. #OnARoll.

The Bible doesn't have to be so conversational does it? Isn't there some comfort in the words themselves?  What about memorization? #StuckInMyWays.

At the rate these new translations are flying about, I'm afraid that pretty soon the whole Bible will just be a paraphrase and Jesus will be all emo for going postal in the temple. #IsNothingSacred.

The B-I-B-L-E-N-I-V-8-4 Yes, that's the book for me. I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E-N-I-V-8-4. #MaybeImJustTired.

If you want me today (tomorrow?) I'll be the one rocking in the corner clutching my guns, ammo, hardcover NIV84, along with my old Newsboys CD's.

#Peace out. 

Loaded Question

A few weeks after Ramona was born Matt and I decided to take the younger set to a gun show. Isaac was very excited while the other boys?   Not so much.

We are a family infatuated with weapons of all kinds but the idea of an afternoon of "don't touch", "slow down", "hands to yourselves" might have had an influence on their indifference.  But Isaac?  He was absolutely giddy!  He even dressed for the occasion:  Full mismatched camo, vest included.

We perused aisle after aisle of displays when, out of the blue, Isaac tugged on my sleeve and asked...

"When does the gun show start?"

Do Hard Things.

On the way to the soccer tournament this morning Hayden asked me, "What if I asked to play goalie today?".

"What?!?!?! No way!" was the first thing that escaped my mouth thinking he was kidding.

I made it through my entire educational career with only one formal speech under my belt.  I don't know how I weaseled out of them.  I think I feigned sickness and took the "F" once, probably didn't take classes that required them... 

That's pretty much how Hayden has avoided the goalie position for the last 13 years.

"Well, it all depends on who we play... it's my last day, and if we're really far ahead... Maybe I'll give it a shot."

He played his usual defensive position for all but the last 10 minutes of the game... they were down 3-0. 

From the sidelines I saw him donning the long sleeved green and black striped goalie shirt.  I fumbled for my video camera.  Ramona started crying.  I opted to watch instead of film.

So, with Ramona bawling on my hip and me pacing the sidelines the game commenced with him in the goal.

It wasn't pretty... In fact, their first drive on goal ended in Hayden picking up the ball out of the box and being called for handling.  Then shortly after, they scored on him.  He made a valiant dive to try to block it though.  The ball never made it in his vicinity again.

He was smiling when it was over.  He had given it a shot and had failed.  Twice. 

But he was still smiling.

I was proud. And inspired.

A Special Bond

While watching the 3 banded armadillo yesterday at the zoo, a mom stood by and listened as her two young sons, I'd guess ages 2 & 3, engaged in typical bathroom humor conversation.

As if she suddenly realized she wasn't alone, she looked my way, apologized and said "I'm sorry, I've got two boys... I don't even notice it sometimes."

"It's okay" I reassured her "I've got 4."

We shared a knowing smile and went our separate ways.

Ahhhhh......

Bittersweet

If I had to sum up my emotions for the day... I was cheering and feeling a little sad all at the same time.  

Cutting the Crap

Honesty.  With yourself.  With others.


That's my definition of personal responsibility.


A couple of years ago while talking with a friend about weight loss, we came to the conclusion that, in all honesty, we were overweight because we ate more calories than we burned. 


That's it.  Cut the crap.


Not because our thyroids were out of whack, not because we had too much to do and not enough time to exercise or cook healthy foods, not because... blah blah blah.


The excuses can be endless and overwhelming.  And in the end, that's all they are... excuses.


I've since taken that approach  to just about every issue I've encountered.  Sometimes with the help of that close circle of friends that reminds me to cut the crap and sometimes I can pare it away myself.


It's funny how we can try to excuse our way out of our own selfishness, laziness, greed or whatever happens to be your weakness.  Your real weakness, when you cut away the crap, is hard to hear. 


My kids, for example, don't always do a good job at the task they've been assigned.  Is it because they're bad kids? No, they're great kids.  But they are kids and kids will only do what is inspected not what is expected.  If I'm being too lazy (or selfish) to drop what I'm doing to inspect the job, I can almost always find myself disappointed with the results.


The kids, on the other hand, cannot use that as their excuse.  They all know how to correctly accomplish the task at hand.  Personal responsibility dictates that they cut the crap and fully do what is expected of them.  Period. 


In society today not many people can cut the crap and put the blame on their crumby circumstances on themselves.  


I was listening to the radio the other day and I heard Mark Gungor's Better Marriage Minute.  I can't find the exact quote but it went something like this:

100% of divorces happen because one or both spouses become selfish.

Talk about cutting the crap.  

I came across a book that was title something like Get Off Your Butt and Parent.  Needless to say, I didn't need to read it... I knew all to well what my problem was.

It's rather easy (if you're willing) to chisel away the excuses to get to the real issues when you're studying the 10 commandments (again?) with your children.  Go ahead, dust off your Catechism.  Give it a whirl.  We've clouded even the only 10 commands God has given us to obey with excuses.

Yikes!  I could list something under every commandment that I deal with regularly.  Murder?  Not me!  But always being patient, kind, and forgiving from our hearts towards everyone?   Once again, not me.  

Recently I've begun praying for awareness of my sins.  Yikes again!  Without awareness, how can I ever change?  If I can't cut the crap, see my sin for what it is, how can I truly repent?  I thank God every day for His grace. 

Although, I don't think all crap is sinful.   My personal convictions may not be yours.  BUT if you are lying to yourself... allowing yourself to be a victim of your circumstances... you may be missing out on a lot of opportunities.  Opportunities you never thought were available to you because of your thinking.


A single word can make a difference in your whole outlook.  Take, for instance, Want and Need.  If you can differentiate between the two your whole life could change.

scrape   scrape   scrape

The sound of my soapbox coming to the front.  There are only two things that I'm outspokenly passionate about in life, and this is one of them.

Moms That Say They Need To Work. 

Before you load your catapult with rotten tomatoes, hear me out.  


One little word could put you in control of your situation and give you peace or hope or whatever it is you think you might be missing.  One little word could change the way you think.


Moms, do you really need to work outside the home?   If you want to, that's your choice, just quit telling everyone (and yourself) that you have to work to make ends meet.


In all honesty, if you cut the crap, making ends meet can be defined as maintaining the standard of living that you are accustomed to. 


Are you standards too high?  If you really thought things through...

Is cable a necessity?  Do you really need 2 vehicles?  Is there a bus route close by?  Do you eat out more than in?  Do you need a cell phone?  Is your cell phone plan the cheapest out there?  Do you have internet on your phone and at home?

These are only a few (and the easiest) categories to  simplify.  I've got a ton of them up my sleeve. 


When it comes right down to the wire... Are you sacrificing your children's need for direct parental involvement to your own selfishness?


Ouch.  I know right?

If the answer indubitably is NO then you can rest assured that your choices are working for your family.  Kudos to you... most people can't successfully juggle it all and come out unscathed.

If NO doesn't come so easy... or if you can whisper yes... redefine your situation.  Assess your wants versus your needs.  You can make a change, you do not need to be a victim.  Take a stand, do it for your family, you'll never regret it.


If you're stuck, I'd like to help.


Let's talk.