Some call it Spring Break, Some call it a Snow Day

Call it whatever you want, it means I have a house full of kids and 5 inches of wet, heavy white stuff all around me.  I was determined to carry on with my day, but it all fell apart as I was running in to shower after the gym and before Bible study.  Too many people with too many questions and I already am prone to forget what I am doing if I am not repeating it to myself constantly.  So instead I threw on some shorts, drove over to Morgan's house and took pictures of us sitting in the snow.  Why?  Sometimes you just have to keep a sense of humor and roll with it.  I am confident that someday spring will in fact arrive and these cold, wet, unpredictable days will become unpredictable for entirely new reasons.

It is early afternoon and I have gone from quiet, dark, coffee in hand, Bible on my lap, to spinning in the cold, dark, music filled room, to a living room full of teens cutting out pictures of vegetable and googling "what is a legume?" while others sat by knitting clothes for a school project.  It's a strange and wonderful world that I live in.  Then I get intermittent texts from friends such as:

  And my children's friends dropping by with Mochas, just because.  God brings blessing in strange and mysterious ways, and I am very thankful.

This is not really what I pictured my life looking like when I was 20 something and idealistic.  I can't imagine what my 60 something life will look like.  This 40 something gig is always on the brink of disaster, and certainly never boring.  So far my kids are doing really great things.  Madie will graduate from college in May!  How did that happen?  Not only graduate, but graduate with honors.  I was just happy to get to wear a cap and gown, but she is hitting it out of the park.  Unfortunately I won't be there to witness this incredible event.  Too many people here need supervision, especially in mid-May, not to mention bad financial planning means $600 tickets are not an option.  The grandparents will be there to fill in and cheer and take pictures and glow in her presence.  Maybe by the time Brook graduates next year I will be able to get away.  I so clearly remember thinking what if they never get potty trained, or learn to read?  They did!  It is awesome!  Even Soren who struggles reading out loud, asked for Temple Grandin's new book for his birthday.  Mind Blown!

My kids may still compare me to Malcom in the Middle's mom, but I know they mean it as a compliment.  If they don't I will ignore the implications.  I love each and every one of them.  They are amazing people because they have an amazing savior.  Their mom is questionable, but doing the best she can.  I'm hoping I'll be an awesome grandma someday, someday way far away from now.  I'll keep working on chasing after God, loving my kiddos and rolling with the day God gives me.  Clearly Bible study went well without me, our 4H meeting will be great because Karsten loves it, and we have awesome leaders, the snow will just keep coming and we will do our best to make the most of whatever comes.  This isn't the life I imagined, and it is so much better!

I am thankful for:
1.  Morgan's photography skills and lack of other things to do.
2.  Snow days, even in March.
3.  Grant's mocha making skills and free time.
4.  Karsten's full life spilling over everything in my house.
5.  The incredible lack of major car accidents in our lives, especially with four teen drivers.
6.  Exercise which truly keeps me sane, is that an addiction?
7.  The Word of God which also keeps me sane, and is ok if it is an addiction.
8. 4H, which keeps my kids busy and active in their communities.
9. Spring break, to remind me how great all the other breaks are.
10.  Swimming which keeps Helen sane.
11. Great books for all seasons.
12.  KG, who never ceases to make me smile.  Every.single.day.
13.  Rick who manages to live with us all, and keep us from going bankrupt in so many ways.
14.  Laughter

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

I decided to embrace the digital age and let my technology work for me this Advent season.  I sent the troops out to the mall with their iDevices and a goal.  They were to take pictures of things they would like to find under the tree on Christmas morning.  I thought this would fun, and helpful.

I got this little beauty texted to me about an hour into our job.  Rick had the boys with him.  Apparently Soren spotted this (Rick insists that he was not actually shopping in this department, they were just passing through) and suggested that I might like this for Christmas.  While Rick was dutifully snapping a picture for our list, a good friend of mine walked by.  Karsten at this point was turning eight shades of Crimson, 'tis the season, right?  Rick quickly explained that this was Soren's gift idea, not his, necessarily.  She chuckled and headed on with her shopping.

Soren thought it would be lovely, and I would like it.  Thank goodness he is still in the stage where mom looks good in everything.  He did walk to the rear view and had second thoughts.  He pointed out that you could see through this side which might not be a good idea at the beach.  Rick realized that Soren thought this was swim wear, not under wear.  When he pointed out that this is meant to go under your clothes he began to see the world in a whole new light.

Discussing this whole scene at the dinner table was hilarious.  Karsten wanted nothing to do with this conversation.  He was out looking at ties, just for the record, not ladies intimates.  I found the whole affair completely funny, especially the part about my friend walking by.  My older girls where horrified.  Soren was still trying to make sense out of when and where this kind of thing is appropriate.  All the while I had scenes of National  Lampoon's Christmas Vacation running through my head.  Laughter is good medicine, so I thought I'd share the moment.

iPhone the tempter

My Mom got herself "the gadget" last spring.  She loves to stay current with the latest technology, even if it is completely out of date by the time she figures out how to use it.  I had no interest in iPhones until I got to play with hers.  I don't really like talking on the phone, I prefer face to face conversations.  I got my daughters an iTouch to share for their birthdays last year.  Really, I wanted to be able to listen to Pandora on something other than my computer speakers, so I had ulterior motives.  Then my friend Heather got an iPhone for Christmas.  She kept telling me how great the calendar, was.  The temptations just kept growing.

For my anniversary my Mom and my husband got me an iPhone 4.  It is slick.  It is easy to use.  It is way too seductive.  I can keep all my planner information in it.  It lets me update facebook with a picture that I can take with the phone.  It has replaced my camera, phone, planner, recipe organizer, and computer all in one gadget.  I can tell you that if someone swipes it I will be lost for several days.  It has everything in it.  I have used it several times on this little trip to Seattle to keep myself from wandering unfamiliar streets in the middle of the night, and day.  On the one hand it is the greatest gadget on the planet.

On the other hand, I feel like Frodo with the ring.  There it is blinging at me 10 minutes before every item in my calendar.  I woke up a few days ago to it beeping whenever anyone updated facebook.  It calls to me, literally, to stare at it's amazing little screen.  I feel like I am becoming its slave.  One friend described it as an external brain.  While I could definitely use on of those, I just wonder what it is doing to my soul.  Do I need to know every time someone has sent me an email?  Do I have to answer every tone?  Do I answer every tone from my children?  Do I stare lovingly at their little faces as often as I stare at the screen?  What would become of me if I turned it off and left it for three days?

I don't want to become someone who only communicates in three word semi-sentences.  I love to have conversations face to face.  I prefer to see the other person's eyes when I am talking to them.  There are times when all I really need to say, is "yes, I will be there at 4."  But I want most of my talking to be to a real person.  Sometimes I wonder about this blog.  I'm sure there are people out there who feel like they know me, when we have never actually met.  I am sort of worried about what they think I am like.  This blog is such a small peek into my life.  I want it to be a peek that my kids might not get otherwise, or that I might forget about.  This is a very one way communication device, and I really love interaction.  I learn so much more from listening to others.  I guess that is why I read other people's blogs.  They are great beginnings of conversations, that never actually happen.  It is sort of sad really.

Technology, where is it taking us?  I know there are books written on the topic, but I'm not sure I want to read them.  I like books that don't talk much about technology at all.  In my overreaction I often want to unplug it all and move to some remote place, like my hometown.  I just hope that I will not let this little apple in my pocket, become my undoing.  Several friends had a great time with references to apples and temptation when I was contemplating whether or not I should get one.  It was very funny, and really too true.  Apple has created a very powerful little idol, I just hope I can keep my power over it and not let it overpower me.

Where Are We?

I've been reading Nate Wilson's book, Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl.  It must be getting to me, making my head spin.  Rick and I went for a little walk together this morning.  I asked him what his story is.  He looked aside at me with an arched brow, "huh?"  I had to explain.  God is writing a grand epic poem here, and he has seen fit to write us in as characters, not main characters, but characters.  Where is He going with our subplot?

The story of Naboth in 1 Kings 21 has always bothered me.  Here you have a godly man, living his quiet peaceable life next door to the king.  He must have been a good landowner, he had a beautiful vineyard.  So beautiful in fact that Ahab noticed it, and wanted to trade.  I'm sure the trade was a swindle, but either way, Naboth stood his ground and did what he felt God had led him to do.  He refused.  Jezebel catches wind of the whole thing and comes in and has him killed.  He was a good guy, what did he do to deserve death?  He made it into the Bible, which is pretty good for a short life, but it was so short. 

If our lives are eternal, then Naboth didn't really get ripped off.  There are no short eternal lives.  Our part in the story that we are all in right now, may be short, but we are moving into a bigger and better plot.  It will do me well to keep this in mind when I am trying to figure out where I am in my story.  I may think I am in mid-life, but who knows?  My friend Hannah wrote a beautiful post about her grandparents and the family that they have developed.  I commented to her that her grandparents looked so ordinary.  I didn't mean it to belittle them in any way, just that this young couple looking very happy and sweet, had lead to such a glorious group of people.  Their subplot was so fruitful, so joyous, so hopeful.

Rick commented to me in the middle of our conversation that we need to look ahead and see what God has for us.  I told him it might be more profitable to look behind and see what He has been developing up until now.  What direction are we heading?  What gifts has He already given that we can be using more successfully?  What about the other characters in our chapters?  What is He working out for them?  The best part of being in a story is that there are other characters, and that they all influence the plot.  I can't possibly know all that God has in store for me, but it helps to know how He tells stories.  Being in His Word everyday gives me some idea of the way He works in His character's lives.  I know what direction I should be praying.

I am glad that God has written me into this adventure story.  I am glad that there are moments of comedy, and lots of them.  I am glad that there is drama, but that I know there is a reason for it all.  I am glad that I can see myself as a small character in the big novel.  It makes my worries, seem as small as they are.  God has written in all of my children, and whatever tale He tells through them will be for His glory.  I need not fear in the day when my children begin to live stories that I would not have written for them.  I can look back at where I have come from.  Kristin Lavransdatter is my very favorite story.  Many Christians read it and wonder why I love it so much.  They read the first book of the trilogy and give it up at godless trash.  If my story had been written they probably would have done the same thing.  I always encourage them to read it until the end.  What happens to us mid story, is not the end.  The final chapters, even the ones that are written when our final scene is past are the really good ones.  There are so many books that I read more than once because I missed things in the plot.  The story always looks different when you know how it will end.  That is how our story looks to God.  He knows our end from our beginning.  He knows that He shouldn't give up on us when we are in the midst of our drinking binge, we will recover, we will lead fruitful lives.  Even authors that claim to have turned away from God, and write books shaking their fists at God, their story is not over.  Read His story, it has all happened before.

So, here I am mid story.  Where is this tale going?  I'm not completely sure, but it helps to know that I have a people, I have an author who knows the end.  If I live this life well the final scene for me will be glorious, even if I am murdered by a wicked king.

The Things I Miss

I had a hard time transitioning back into American life after our trip to pick up Nes. I was prepared for it this time, and having a couple of friends who understand has been a huge help. Many people are shocked that I loved Ethiopia. Yes, the bathrooms leave something to be desired, but I have lived with outhouses before so I know it can be done.

The things that I loved were the Communal life and the open acceptance that there are things we don't control. I live in a cold climate, so much of our lives is lived indoors. This allows us to isolate ourselves from our neighbors and the people driving by. In Ethiopia life is lived outside. While we were driving around we could see people washing their laundry, threshing their teff, bathing their children, chatting, having coffee, just living life. It was fascinating. We drove by a post office in a rural town where there was a huge crowd. I asked the social worker why all the hubbub at the post office. He explained that a few people had post office boxes, and they in turn delivered the mail to their friends and neighbors. How would you like that? All of your bills being delivered by your brother-in-law. He explained that the Ethiopian culture is much more communal than our individualistic society. We are able to insulate ourselves and feel like we don't need our friends and neighbors. It isn't real, but we like to think it is.

I was thinking about this trip. It wouldn't have happened if it hadn't been for a large network of people that got involved. Having Michele and Heather allowed me to go places and meet people I never would have met. Taking Honeybee got her family involved. Her family in the US helped my family, they did fundraisers to send her, which got more people involved. My dad came and took care of my family which got even more people involved. It was truly a community trip. I certainly did not do any of it by myself, and I am so grateful for all of the people that helped out.

We also quickly realized that we had to live each day by faith. We had sent messages ahead and asked to meet family members. Some we had phone numbers for and some we didn't. We expected appointments to be made and confirmed ahead of time. Pshaw! We had to learn that no matter how many times we asked they were going to make the calls when we got to wherever we were going. Honeybee has been well acclimated to American life. She had a watch and was constantly telling us how many minutes we had before we were supposed to be at the next appointment. We eventually took her watch and hid it. What she didn't realize is that we did not have a car, so we had to wait for our driver. We didn't know where we were going. We didn't have a phone or a phone number and we didn't speak the language so they wouldn't have understood even if we had tried to explain. We made it to all of our appointments. We met with everyone we wanted to meet with. Everything worked out in God's perfect timing and we had no idea how any of it happened.

The hotel we stayed at in Jimma had the sign at the top of the post behind the door. We all laughed heartily at that. When we left in the morning we had to give them our key. Huh? In America you get to keep your key, and you feel safe knowing your room is locked. Why? The person at the desk can still get into your room, the cleaning lady is coming in with all of your stuff there. In Ethiopia they just take your key so there is no illusion of security. We kept our huge sums of money with us. When we returned some lady down the hall came out and handed our key to Jubilee. She had her hair full of soap and clearly had some position with the hotel, although I have no idea what it was. All of our stuff was still there, God by praised.

What can I say? I miss the messiness of life. Life in America seems so controlled. I know it is an illusion, but it is easy to slip into the false security of having everything run relatively smoothly. The power comes on every time I flip the switch. Everybody drives down the right side of the road, between the lines. The cows and goats are all fenced in. Buses run on schedules. When things don't run on schedule everyone gets all uptight. Not in Ethiopia. They just sit patiently and have faith that eventually it will all work out, and it does. When our driver locked his keys in the car, someone came along with some wire and in five minutes we were on our way. When I forgot my passport at the German embassy, the driver said no problem. He dropped us off at another orphanage so we could take pictures of some of the kids, and he drove back to the guesthouse and got the passports. Then when I got into the embassy and they told me I didn't need the transit visa anyway, I said, "no problem," and went shopping. It all worked out, and we were all okay with it. I know, it's weird, but I loved living like that.

Silly Things I find Funny

A few weeks ago NPR was obsessed with the doings of Mr. Madoff. I found it quite funny that anyone would invest all of their money with a guy named Madoff, pronounced made off. Which he in fact did, with all of their money. I guess these folks would bet on a horse named Loser, but what is in a name?

I found Warren Buffet's response equally entertaining. He said, "It isn't until the tide goes out that you find out who was swimming naked." I really like that guy.