Old Friends

While we were home last week, we made a point to drive up and visit some friends. Trent and Robert were the best of friends in college. Shortly after Robert and I met, Paige and Trent got together. Our girls were born three months apart and both named Hannah Elizabeth, but it has been about eight years since we spent time together.

The promise of meeting Mr Trent's cows was enough to intrigue the kids for the hour drive out to the property. Rolling down the dusty drive, I caught a glimpse of Paige as she came around the back of the house with baby Abigail in tow. She is still the beautiful and gracious girl I knew ten years ago. Trent still has the same sincere laugh, the kind that comes from deep down. Our brood poured out of the car anxious to meet their brood. We took a moment to gaze in awe at the two families that God has created. Their six plus our four made for an amazing sight.

Trent offered to take us on a tour of the property. As we climbed into the Suburban, ten children managed to find places to squeeze into the back. We rolled through pastures and herded cows into neighboring fields. We watched wild turkeys scurry across the hill. And we walked along rows of blueberry bushes listening to the soft hum of bees.

After lunch, the children found entertainment rolling up and down the driveway on the "gator". I love the comfort that comes from falling into a natural rhythm with old friends.

Waiting on God

When we found the house last week, I was ecstatic. Its perfect. So when our offer was accepted, we were excited. That is until we learned the sellers needed to close in 20 days.

Um. What?

Yesterday at 3:30 we found out that we had 24 hours to move forward or step aside and allow the sellers to entertain another offer. As badly as I wanted the house, I knew that I needed to desire God's will that much more. My initial reaction was to hold on to the house; part of me didn't want to seek God's will. Why do I do that? I prayed that God would give me peace to obey Him regardless of the outcome. After praying with the ones I love throughout the day, we decided to let it go. And I think I was surprised at not only the peace, but the joy that God provided in that moment. Why do I doubt the good things that God wants to give to me? Why do I doubt His provision and His perfect will? I'm excited to see what God will do now.

I marvel at this whole process. If you had approached me about moving back to Mississippi 6 months ago, I would have fought the idea tooth and nail. I was adamant about not going back. You would have found me clinging to the Florida state line. I wouldn't even entertain the idea. Knowing that, I can declare without hesitation that God has changed my heart. Why, how, when? I'm not sure. But it was a slow, subtle transition. God eased me into something I felt so strongly against. I love the history and culture of the South (sorry, Kathy), but I didn't see a future or opportunity there. Now, well things are different. Opportunities abound and there is tremendous hope over the options available to the children, Robert, and me. We wait to see where God will lead.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. -I Corinthians 13:12

Home Sweet Home?

We made an offer on . . .

Yeah, that's a little waterfall trickling down to a Koi pond at the bottom of the property. Very picturesque. Pray that God will open and close doors where He sees fit.

Observations from the Rest Stop

Would you look at that. That woman's got a rat on a string.

Honey, that's a chihuahua.

Same difference.

Conversations from the Car

What are you doing?
Blogging
From the car???
Its called mobile blogging.
Oohhh! Can I see your phone when you're done?
Voice from the backseat: Oohhh! Can I see it next?


Don't eat candy off the floorboard!

What's that smell?

Knowing the words to the "Pina Colada Song" a little too well.

Mom, where are we?
Florida.
Yeah, but you said that two hours ago.
Ask me again in two hours and I'll say the same thing.

Honey, why is your forehead furrowed like that?
Because I'm married to you.

"Time is on My Side" the Rolling Stones classic as sung by the four in
the back seat. Oh, the cruel irony.

Yeah, its turning out to be a swell trip so far!

Road Rage

Landrum road trip day 1
Estimated time of departure: 5 am
Actual time of departure: 7:30 am

You might as well have tied the tails to 6 cats together and thrown them
into a Dodge Durango. Same effect . . .

Like Father, like Daughter

I guess it was only a matter of time. Hannah in her creative quirkiness decided she wanted a blog. As if there wasn't enough traffic on this one poor computer! She posted three times the first day! Make it stop!

Because it makes me laugh . . .

Blog Language

So its been a week since Robert started blogging. At times I am glad he has taken to it and is enjoying himself; at other times I regret ever showing this to him. A few terms have come into existence since this phenomenon began in our household, so I thought I would share the conversations that spurred this new language.

Low Blog Esteem - "No one's commented on my blog today. Is that bad?"

Blog Whore - "Wow! Maddi* commented on my blog again!"
"Honey, Maddi comments on everybody's blog.
*names have been changed to protect identities

Blog Envy - "Your blog gets more hits than mine."

Blog Wars - "Ha ha ha! I'm putting that on the blog!"
"You better not or I'll post about what you did!"

Blogpetitive - "I posted twice today! Did you post yet???"

Blog Snob - "If you keep bugging me, I'm not going to read your blog today!"

Blog Apathy - "Honey, I posted this afternoon! Did you read it yet???"
"umm, no."
"Are you going to read it???"
"umm, no."
*Please note: Blog Apathy often contributes to Low Blog Esteem

More on Judging

I knew this would happen. I read Robert's post from last night and grew frustrated over the fact that he didn't tell what precipitated that reflection. So let me provide the context.

We were driving out of a parking lot last night when a young couple caught our eye. They were huddled in the shadow of a hedge just before an intersection. The man held a sign that read "Victim of fire, she is pregnant, please help." They looked pretty rough. I saw Robert look intently at them as we passed. "Make the block," he requested. "How much have you got on you?" I had a five dollar bill which Robert took as he searched the landscape for the couple again. I protested, "How do you know they're really in need? They could be scamming people." Robert informed me that it wasn't his job to sort out people's intentions. God has commanded us to meet the need of people who ask for help.

The light from the setting sun had cast heavier shadows upon the couple, as we pulled up next to them Robert rolled down his window and extended the small offer towards them. Their response was genuine. "You are the first people to stop and help us. God bless you, God bless you."

As we pulled away, I found myself still wondering if they would use the money for alcohol or drugs. Robert looked out the window and declared, "I wish I had done more. Next time I'll do more."

Does my skeptical nature keep me from being the hands and feet of Christ? If those people had taken money from us under false pretenses, it was a fact that didn't affect my husband. I whispered a prayer for them as we drove on, and a small prayer for myself as I reflected on the one who may truly have been in need of God's mercy.

Old Dog, New Trick?

I had to raise an eyebrow when Robert came into the living room and asked me when I was going to be "done" with the laptop. Done? You mean there's an end point? But I was more curious to know what he wanted it for. Robert associates the computer with work. He just finished his second master's degree and time on the computer meant typing paper after paper. Defensively (clutching the laptop to my chest) I insisted on knowing what he wanted it for.

"I want to set up a blog."

A what? What do you want to set up a blog for? I think I laughed. I know, it wasn't very nice.

"What's that website you use?"

Blogger. It's blogger, honey. I figured I had better help him set up his first blog or he would end up with some unrealistic blog name. That's important stuff, you know! I walked him through the set up and left him to write his first post. I came back and read his first entry. It was a serious introspective one. I wanted to know if that's what he planned to write about all the time. He shrugged. I informed him he could write about anything (as if he didn't know that). I suggested that the blog was a great thinking tool. It's great for deep thoughts as well as shallow reflections. The blog is the place that you can talk about relationships, how to not offend your brothers and sisters in the church nursury, the infinitness of God, or a glittery shirt that takes on a life of its own. Anything goes here . . .