Sunday, May 30, 2010

Day Thirteen – Brown Suede Peep Toes

shoes-1-8
Behind every fabulous pair of shoes is a great story.
And these shoes have a fantastic story behind them.
About four years ago, on my birthday, Nathan surprised me and told me he was sending me, and my friend, Susie to the Twin Cities, for a week-end girls getaway. He had made reservations at a Hampton Inn for us near a very posh outdoor shopping center. Then he pulled out, what seemed like an enormous wad of cash and told me to spend it all! Well, alrighty then! Have fun shopping, treat Susie to a nice dinner and spend the night at the hotel. Not a problem.
Susie and I drove down to the Cities and had a fabulous week-end perusing the stores. I spent money like water. It was fun! I think it’s the only time in my entire life I’ve ever gone on a serious shopping spree. These shoes came from that shopping trip. I had bought a whole outfit at Coldwater Creek at full price (something I had never done before and will probably never do again) and needed a pair of shoes to go with it. We went into an Aldo to look around, and I just fell in love with these shoes. I love bows, so the bows on the toes of the shoes, sold me.
After shopping all day we had an amazing, relaxing dinner at a really great Italian place, then put our jammies on, crawled into our soft beds and watched “Legally Blonde” on TV. Yup, the perfect girls week-end.
But, little did I know, my birthday surprise wasn’t over. As Susie and I neared home the next day, she had me pull over and took an envelope out of the glove box. In it was a clue that led me on a scavenger hunt to find more clues. First to the swinging bridge in Jay Cooke State Park, then to the overlook at the top of Mile Long Hill and finally to what Nathan said was a “picnic with a few friends at Ron’s house on the river.” When Susie and I pulled up there were cars on both sides of the highway for about a 1/4 of a mile. I totally freaked out. “What is going on!?”
I had just come off of two very difficult years. I had been very sick and had 4 sinus surgeries in those two years.  Susie hugged me and told me that this was partly a thank you to all the people who had helped us over the past two years and partly my birthday party to let me know I was loved. Wow! I felt very loved. I was in tears as I pulled in and got out of the van to find about 200 of my closest friends gathered on a perfect August evening in Ron’s backyard on the St. Louis River.
Nathan had done all the work himself; from making the spaghetti, to decorating all the tables with one of my favorite flowers: gladiolas. There were three big cakes, one a carrot cake, my favorite.  Everyone brought presents. It was a wonderful, special memory I will cherish forever.
And I think about my husband’s love for me and all of my wonderful friends every time I slip these brown shoes on my feet. That’s a pretty big story behind a little pair of shoes!

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Day Twelve – Pink Ballet Flats

I love ballet flats. Tonight I talked to another girl who said she loved flats too. As much as we love high heels and how they make our legs look, really, don’t we all just love a pretty pair of flats? There’s something so Audrey Hepburn-ish about them. Until I had to go to a bonfire tonight, I even had on capri leggings all day with my ballet flats. I felt like I was in a movie, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” or something. Except I’m not nearly as elegant or thin as Audrey, but a girl can pretend in her ballet flats, can’t she?

shoes-1-7

Friday, May 28, 2010

Alone – But Not Lonely, Part II

It’s been a week since I saw my family. I’m finally starting to miss them. Is it bad that it’s taken me a week to miss my husband and kids? I’ve discovered I have so much energy with no kids around! And that makes me laugh. Ah-ha! This is why I’m so ridiculously exhausted at night! My kids suck the life out of me! No school to teach, no dinners to make, no socks to pick up, and I have lots of energy! But. . .

It’s so quiet. I haven’t laughed all week. It’s not like I’m sad, but I haven’t just laughed out loud at something outrageously silly that Daniel said, or an air-headed moment from Laura. I haven’t woken up to Nate flying yet another Lego creation through the kitchen. In fact, I haven’t had a hug in a week. Yeah, that’s kinda sad when you think about it.  But, it’s cool, I’m ok.

Today I went grocery shopping for my week-end, because I realized if I didn’t get something, I was going to starve over the week-end. I’ve never been single and living on my own. I got married when I was 20, so I’ve always bought groceries for at least two people. Today, this is what I bought: some pop, some frozen Healthy Choice meals, 4 apples (4!!! and that might have been too many), a big watermelon (why!?), a pack of bagels and a tub of cream cheese. OK, that was just sad. I found myself at the store surrounded by all these moms loading up their carts for their holiday week-end and suddenly I felt a little weird. I wanted to yell, “Look! Look at my left hand! See this big ‘ol diamond? I’m loved! I’m married! Do you wanna see my kids pictures? I’m somebody!”

Isn’t that silly? I drove home asking myself, Really Molly? Are you defined by your husband and kids? No, I’m not, it just felt strange and kind of pathetic at the grocery store for a few minutes there. I’ve never bought just four apples before. I usually buy 4 POUNDS of apples, at least! And that’s just for a few days!

So, I’m still alone and starting to feel it a little. But, I wouldn't’ say I’m lonely.  I am still cherishing the time to talk with God.  It’s a good exercise to realize I can be whole without my family around me.

But boy is it going to feel good to feel those little arms around my waist on Monday night!

Day Eleven – Black Wedge Sandals

Today, I cheated. I bought new shoes. I did! I’ve been looking for a new pair of black, high heeled sandals for awhile now and today I found the perfect pair:

shoes-1-6

I saw them in DSW and I thought, “Those shoes totally rock.” And they looked amazing on my feet and they were super comfortable too. And they were only $30! It would have been just so wrong not to bring them home to live with me.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Day Ten – Tommy Hilfiger Plaid Flip Flops

My mommy bought these for me:

shoes-1-5

When she was up here about a month ago she brought a pair for Laura, that were pink plaid. I tried them on and they were super comfortable. So, I did the only sensible thing; I whined. “Pleeeeeeese Mommy!? Can’t I have a pair, too?” So, she took me to TJ Maxx and got me a pair.

I know, I’m a spoiled brat. And I have a nice mommy.

Simple Gifts

My love language is gifts. I adore gifts. My favorite holiday is Christmas. I’m like a little kid when I get a present. So, when I knew Nathan and the kids were leaving for 8 days, and I would be gone for 3 days before they left, I kinda secretly hoped I would come home to find Nathan had left a little gift for me. Silly, I know. 

What I found was a note on the kitchen counter that informed me an elderly lady from our church was in the hospital and could I please go get her dog and take care of it all week. Love you! OK. I’m a grown up, I can deal.

Later in the week, yesterday, I think, I wandered outside to weed the flowers in front of my house. I noticed my irises were blooming and I remembered before I left for the retreat that they looked really weedy.  Even Nathan had mentioned they needed to be weeded. So, I thought I’d get to that chore. When I got up front I was so surprised to find the entire front of the house had already been weeded! 

I have no idea if Nathan did it himself or if he had one of the kids do it, but I have a sneaking suspicion he did it, because it was done so thoroughly.  The point is, he thought of it and that was a big deal, because I know before he left he was massively stressed out and super busy.  And yet, he took the time to weed my irises.  I felt like he had just handed me a pretty little package all tied up with a ribbon. It said, “I love you,” all the way from Canada.

It’s not always the grand, extravagant gestures that mean the most.  Sometimes it’s the simple gifts; the ones where we have to give of ourselves and take time out of our busy schedules to say I love you to those who mean the most to us. I can’t wait til he gets home to say, “Thanks, I love you too!”

The Last Christian

I read a lot of books. A lot. Specifically I read a lot of Christian novels. But, recently I’ve been realizing there’s two kinds of these novels.  There’s novels written by Christians and there’s Christian novels. The first is a book that just happens to be written by a Christian.  There’s nothing offensive in it, but also nothing that happens to give glory to God. It’s just a book. It’s neutral. Kinda like Switchfoot. Then there’s the second, the Christian novel.  It’s a rare find. A novel not only written by a Christian, but also one that has a great plot and that gives glory to God.  I just finished a book like that. It was called The Last Christian by David Gregory.

In the book, Abby emerges from her village home in Papua New Guinea where she has been living as a missionary for all of her 34 years. The year is 2088.  She flies back to a new world in the United States. Virtual Reality is a common place thing, and brain transplants are the new frontier.  The most frightening thing is that she is the only Christian left in America. Christianity has died out completely. The mega-churches of the 90’s are now schools and malls.

While all this sci-fi stuff is entertaining to read, the heart of the book goes much deeper.  Gregory makes a really important point in his book. The reason, he writes through one of his characters, that Christianity died in the US early in the 21st century is because Christians didn’t look any different than non-Christians. Their lives hadn’t been transformed by the power of the Gospel. And now, this character challenges Abby that she is preaching an incomplete Gospel. One of God’s forgiveness for our sins, but not of a changed life.

The theme of new life is central to this book.  On one side, you have the scientists offering so-called “eternal life” through brain transplants.  On the other, Gregory challenges the notion of modern Christianity that offers Jesus as the Way to heaven, but forgets to mention that He is the Life.  That when He calls us to Himself He offers us and demands of us a completely transformed and changed life; one lived for God’s glory and purposes alone.

This book was fun to read, but more importantly it made me think.  What if an entire generation of Christians looked different than our culture?  What if we truly lived the life Christ is calling us to live?  What if our lives were so radically changed by our decision to follow Christ?  I think we would be either hated by or irresistible to the world around us.  As it is, I don’t think the world cares one way or the other.  Our divorce rate is the same, our rate of sexual immorality is the same, we talk like them, think like them, watch the same movies and TV shows as them.  We are just as busy and frazzled and messed up as the world.  No wonder no one wants Jesus. What difference does He make?  That really was the burning question at the end of this book. What difference does Jesus make in my life?

For more information on The Last Christian go to www.waterbrookmultnomah.com

This book was provided by review by Waterbrook Multnomah Press

Day Nine – Denim Wedge Sandals

Why do I do this to myself?

shoes-1-4

No that’s not a burn, that’s a blister. From these gorgeous shoes:

shoes-2-2

I wore them shopping all day yesterday and am paying the price today.  I’ll probably be barefoot all day today.

I’m crazy, I know, but I subscribe to the notion that “Beauty is pain.” I used to tell this to Laura when she was little and she would whine when I braided her waist length hair. “Beauty is pain, Laura,”  Now shut up, kid. As Westly told Buttercup, “Life is pain, Highness. Anyone telling you otherwise is selling you something.”

Yeah, a pair of incredibly gorgeous, painful shoes.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Alone – But Not Lonely

I just came off of a week-end spiritual retreat.  Our theme for the week-end was prayer and solitude.  The best part of the retreat was the two hours we had on Saturday afternoon to just be alone with God and our thoughts.  I sat on a quilt in the sun with just the breeze in the pines, the birds, my Bible and journal and God.  I found myself, surprisingly, not distracted at all, like I usually am at home.  There was nothing to be distracted by. I knew I had two hours of uninterrupted alone time, and I can’t remember the last time that happened. No phone was going to ring, no kids were going to demand my attention, no laundry or stove buzzers were going to go off.  My mind was just so relaxed.  I was able to talk to God, to be still and listen.  It was amazing and wonderful.

I came home to an empty house. Nathan and the kids had left for 8 days in the Boundary Waters.  Yeah, I know, most of you mothers are going Wow! Seriously? Eight days alone! What will you do? But, truly when you think about it, how many of us are comfortable being alone? Right now it’s Tuesday night and yes, I’m alone, but I’m not lonely. I know my family is . . .well, somewhere in Canada, and in God’s hands.  And I’m here, alone with my Savior. It’s a beautiful thing. To be able to be strong enough to be complete without another human being to complete you is an important place to reach in our growth.  I love my husband dearly. My children are the light of my life.  But, they don’t make me who I am, they don’t define me.  I am whole only in my relationship with Jesus Christ.  I’m here alone, but not alone.  Alone, but not lonely.

So, what WILL I do this week? Well . . .

-I’m going to do the laundry, and it will stay done!

-I’m going to clean the house, and it will stay clean!

-I’m going to sew.

-I already planted my garden (and boy do the back of legs hurt!)

-I’m going to read and veg out in front of some movies.

-I’m going for long walks everyday.

-I’m going out for lunch with a friend.

-I’m getting all of Laura’s grades into the computer (I’m going to do this daily, or at least weekly next year. I vow I will. Doing all her grades for a semester in one sitting is NOT fun!)

-I’m going to organize my music.

-I’m going to be available to help serve needs in the church if anyone needs me.

-I’m going to sleep in everyday!

-Turns out I’m dog sitting, a lady from church’s dog is living with me this week, and I’m taking care of the dogs that Laura normally takes care of, too.

I have lots to do and lots of time to spend talking to God and listening to God. Although I’m slightly concerned about the amount of words I’m NOT using during the day. I talked to the dog yesterday as if she could understand. Yeah. Good thing I’m having lunch with my friend tomorrow. I think I may need a little human contact this week.

Day Eight – Black Mary Janes

I’ve been wearing Mary Janes for as long as I can remember. I’ve always had very narrow feet.  So, when I was a little girl, the only shoes that would actually stay on my feet were Mary Janes, extra narrow.  This was a source of great disappointment to me in late grade school when penny loafers became all the rage, because my feet were still so narrow.  Penny loafers would just fall right off my feet, so while all the other girls had penny loafers, I had to go to school with babyish Mary Janes buckled to my feet.

Obviously I got over my disappointment. Mary Janes have made a comeback in recent years. Now, you see women of all ages wearing them, in many classy and fashionable styles. And I am one of those women who loves the Mary Jane.

It got me thinking, Where did the name Mary Jane come from? I turned to my trusty friend, Wikipedia for the answer:

“Mary Jane was a character created by Richard Outcault for his comic strip, Buster Brown, which was first published in 1902. She was the sister of the title character, Buster Brown.

In 1904, Outcault traveled to the St. Louis World's Fair and sold licenses to up to 200 companies to use the Buster Brown characters to advertise their products. Among them was the Brown Shoe Company, who later hired actors to tour the country, performing as the Buster Brown characters in theaters and stores. This strategy helped the Brown Shoe Company become the most prominently associated brand with the Buster Brown characters. The style of shoe both Buster Brown and Mary Jane wore came to be known by her name, Mary Jane.”

Today I own many pairs of Mary Janes, including this basic black pair, which I wear all the time. They are comfortable and go with everything. Let’s hear it for the Mary Jane!

shoes-1-3

Monday, May 24, 2010

Day Seven – Polka Dot Garden Boots

Today I mucked around in my garden all day, so the only shoe I wore all day was my garden boots. They’re looking pretty muddy this evening as we had rain last night.

shoes-1-2

If you’re a gardener it doesn’t take long to figure out that tennis shoes don’t cut it in the garden.  Even those so-called “gardening clogs” don’t work so well.  All it takes is one good rain and you’re going to leave your shoes in the mud with the peas.  As hot as they may be on a muggy day, nothing beats a pair of tall, rubber boots in the garden. But, why not be cute while doing it? Hence, the black, polka dot boots I pull on every time I venture out into my vegetable garden.

Today I planted peas, sugar snap peas, green beans, pole beans, potatoes, onions, beets and carrots. I’ve also got strawberries, lettuce, asparagus, herbs and lots of perennials coming.  It doesn’t look like much more than bare dirt and a few small green things now, but in a few months, there will be mouth-watering treats coming out of that dirt! That makes all the mud and my sore back worth it!  I hear my hot tub calling my name.

shoes-3

Friday, May 21, 2010

Letting Go

My kids are about to embark on a grand adventure with my husband. And I’m going to let them go.

From the moment of birth, we are in a constant state of letting go of our children. But, sometimes it seems like we have the hardest time letting go and trusting our kids into the hands of their own daddies!  Sometimes our husbands’ ideas of childcare leans more toward Fear Factor or Survivor than SuperNanny and suddenly “our children” becomes “my child.” 

Have you ever heard yourself say these words?  “How could you take MY child into the woods for two hours without telling me or leaving me a note?!”

“How could you let MY child eat pizza, chips and garbage all week-end, not take a bath and glaze out in front of the TV!?”

But, I want to challenge this notion. Unless your husband is abusive to you and your kids (in which case, why the heck are you still there!?), chill out Mom!  Let go.  Remember, even though Dad’s parenting style may be different and even less nurturing than yours, he loves those kids just as much as you do. YES HE DOES!  God created a family to have a Mom AND a Dad for a very important reason. Our kids need the nurturing they get from Mom, and they need the adventure and sense of self-worth they receive from Dad. So, let go. Let them have some fun. They’ll survive.  They will! God is in control even if it seems like Dad is not!

So, today I’ll kiss my husband and my babies good-bye as they embark on an eight day trip into the Boundary Waters.  Even knowing that last year, my baby almost drowned.  But, guess what?  His daddy was watching over him carefully, loves him soooo very much, and was instantly there to rescue him and bring him to safety.  God is in control and Dad is large and in charge. 

Have fun kids!

Day Six – Rocket Dog Mary Janes

Do you have a brand that you just love? Or something or someone you can just pick out no matter where you are?  You know, like you hear a song and you KNOW that’s Alan Jackson. Or you hear a TV commercial and you can tell without a doubt that that voice is James Earl Jones.  Or that smell when you walk into the mall, yup that would be Abercrombie.

That’s how it is with me and the brand Rocket Dog. Weird name, I know. But, Rocket Dog shoes are just so different and quirky, kinda like me!  In any shoe store I am instantly drawn to a pair of Rocket Dog shoes and I am never surprised when I go, “Oh, I Looooove these shoes! They’re so cute!” Then I look at the brand, and sure enough, they’re Rocket Dog. I have several pairs of Rocket Dog.

Next time you’re at DSW, check ‘em out. I think you’ll agree. They’re pretty cute shoes!

shoes-1-1

And those socks, btw, they’re pretty darn cute too, dontcha think? SmartWool summer socks. My kids picked them out for Mother’s Day for me. :)

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Day Five – Black Beaded Flip Flops

Oh the joy of spring in Duluth. This morning I put on my flip flops that matched my tank top and capri pants.

shoe-1-3

My toes were hangin’ ten in the breeze. Ah yes, the breeze. That ever present force we deal with here in Duluth.  When I went into Wal-Mart at 10:30 the breeze was a gentle, warm friend, making me think of lemonade in my hammock.  When I came out of the store a short 45 minutes later, the breeze had morphed into a 25 mph east wind off of Lake Superior. And we all know what that means! The temperature had dropped about 20 degrees in a half an hour.  Oh it still looked like a lovely spring day; the sun was shining, the birds were singing, but it felt more like March.

Of course, being the stubborn, first-born that I am, I convinced myself that I would be fine and no lake wind was gonna make me change my outfit that I had picked out for my date with my hubby later that evening.  Who knew it would be 45 degrees in Canal Park!? OK, in the back of my head I did know, but I just didn’t want to admit it to myself. Sigh. My toes practically fell off from frostbite, but I comforted myself with the fact that there were plenty of other girls hobbling around Canal Park in flip flops on numb toes.  Thank goodness I have a hot tub where I thawed my frozen tootsies when I got home.

Maybe I’ll learn someday to wear socks. It’s just that socks aren’t very cute with flip flops.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Day Four – Blue Old Navy Flip Flops

Ahhh, the beauty of Old Navy once again. Yes, I know, I do go on and on about Old Navy, but you’ve got to love a store where even the most fashion-challenged person can succeed.

My blue flip flops match my eyelet, sleeveless baby doll shirt, which matches my blue tank top.

shoe-1-2

It’s awesome, it’s like Garanimals for Grown-ups!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Life, In Spite of Me

Faced with the death of a close friend, sexual abuse and arguments with her parents, 17-year-old Kristen Anderson, like so many young people today, felt she had nothing to live for. Although she grew up in a “religious” home, she had never come to know the life-changing power of a relationship with Jesus Christ. And so, one bitter January night, Kristen made a spilt-second, life-altering decision. As she sat in a park near the railroad tracks, she heard a freight train coming and raced to lie down on the tracks.  She figured she would simply end her life and go to heaven, then all the pain and misery of her short life would be over.  But, God had other plans for Kristen.

Life, In Spite of Me is an amazing autobiography of a young girl, desperate for hope, who is changed forever by her circumstances and then by meeting the one Person who can truly triumph over those circumstances.  In spite of losing her legs in her suicide attempt, Kristen went on to defeat her depression with Christ’s help, attend Moody Bible Institute and establish an organization that reaches out to other teens who are struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts.

Kristen’s story is a triumphant and joyful testimony about the life-changing power of Jesus Christ.  She is witness to the fact, that circumstances do not affect our joy.  What a fabulous book to read and to share with any young person struggling with depression.

For more information on this book, please visit www.waterbrookmultnomah.com

This book was provided for review by Waterbrook Multnomah Press

Day Three – Embellished Espadrille Wedges

Aren't these shoes pretty?

shoe-1-1

Confession: Sometimes I buy a pair of shoes for no reason other than they call my name.  I’m not sure if there is anything in my closet that matches them, I don’t “need” them, but they are just so doggone gorgeous I have to have them. That’s why I own these shoes. Nathan says I “bling everything,” so I guess my shoes are no exception. Like the sirens luring sailors to their death, these shoes MADE me buy them. And it turns out I do have something to match, a cute burn-out green t-shirt. So, the blingy, green shoes stay.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Day Two – Charcoal Metallic Flip Flops

My sister says flip flops don’t count as real shoes. If that’s the case, I say hooray, because I don’t have to count the twenty-some-odd flip flops I own as “shoes” per se. Maybe there is redemption for me after all. I mean if flip flops aren’t real shoes, I don’t have THAT many shoes, right? I’m down to only 65 or 70 pairs. That makes me. . .ok still a shoeaholic.
So, my shoe choice today is pretty basic. And while I am a girl who can appreciate a pair of $1,000 Jimmy Choo’s (hey, I’ve made it my life’s oh-so-worthy ambition to own a pair of Jimmy Choo’s one day), I can also appreciate the wonderful deal of a pair of 2 for $5 Old Navy flips.  I mean, there’s filet mignon and there’s hamburger and both taste good, right?  Most of us just eat hamburger more often. OK, so I eat hamburger like ALL the time these days.
Still, Old Navy has a dazzling array of colors this season.  And at 2 pairs for $5, a girl can buy one for every summer outfit and not feel guilty. I was especially taken by their metallic flip flops, as metallic accents are very “in” this season, and they were just so much cuter than plain, old boring grey and black.
A pair of flip flops is the perfect excuse to show off a set of 10 perfectly pedicured toesies. Plus they make that cool and annoying (to some people) FLIP. FLOP. FLIP. FLOP. sound everywhere you go.
Yeah, can’t go wrong with flips. I basically live in them all summer long. As long as the mercury starts to climb above 70 here in cold Minnesota, I’m gonna have ‘em on my feet.
Hey, race you to Old Navy. I think I need a few more pairs.
shoe-1

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Day One – Blue Satin Mules

I’m sorry to say, this blog is about to get a whole lot shallower. I was challenged by my daughter, Laura, to wear a different pair of shoes everyday for as long as I could and blog about it. Yeah, I know, very, very deep. Very insightful. However, this is the beauty of the Internet and blogs. If you don’t like it, don’t read it! If, however, you have always heard of the mythical quality of Molly’s Shoe Collection; well’s here’s your chance to glimpse it. Although, I may have to take a break in August when I run out of summer shoes, cuz I ain’t wearing brown clogs in August. But, then again, I may not run out of shoes! We’ll see.

Day one: Blue Satin Mules.

shoes-2

Is it possible that I am the only person who actually owns something called a blue satin mule? And to think, I almost, ALMOST got rid of this little gem! Shocking, I know. But, I was trying to be a good person and clean out my closet at least somewhat (and when you get rid of some shoes, you can buy more!) I thought, I don’t wear those at all anymore, I think I’ll get rid of them. In fact, this morning they were actually in a bag, in the back of my van ready for the next trip up to Saver’s.  Yes, these blue satin mules could have been yours, except for a fashion crisis!!! I had on another outfit this morning that I decided made me look like a sausage. I ripped it off and decided on a brown and light blue dress and was debating over two pairs of dark brown sandals when I remembered these lovelies! This is why I kept them in my closet! Simply for this one particular dress. Yes, I am the kind of girl that buys shoes for one outfit and this was the outfit. So, the blue satin mules went back to a place of honor in my shoe collection.

HUGE. Sigh. of. relief.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Indivisible

The past and how it holds us captive is the theme of Indivisible, Kristin Heitzmann’s newest psychological thriller.  Jonah Westfall is the police chief of Redford, CO, following in his father’s footsteps. Jonah is trying to overcome his abusive childhood and his own alcoholism. Redford is normally a small, peaceful mountain town, but lately Jonah has been investigating some disturbing, occult-like animal slayings. Jonah also spars with his childhood friend, Tia, owner of a small candle shop.  Tia struggles to overcome her past feelings of inadequacy and shame.  Several other key characters round out this cast of imperfect people battling private demons that all culminate in a crime that ultimately draws them all together.

Indivisible explores the themes of repentance and renewal, grace, forgiveness and also what makes us unified and what tears us apart as human beings.

Although, Indivisible was exciting and fun to read, I felt that it had one too many plot lines going on. There were at least three major plot lines in the book. This became confusing at times. Either one of the plot lines needed to simply not be in the book or the book needed to be 200 pages longer. In the end, I was completely confused and had to re-read the ending several times to figure out what was going on and I was left wanting more.  I felt that while the story was good, the characters were one dimensional and could have been developed much better with more content in the book, or maybe less characters.  I think I would have liked another book about Piper and Miles, and simply left them to be a very small part of this story.

For more on Indivisible by the author herself, check this link for an interview: http://www.multnomahemails.com/wbmlt/audio/Kristen_Heitzmann.mp3

Also, check www.waterbrookmultnomah.com for more information on this book.

This book was provided for review by Waterbrook Multnomah Press.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Don’t Lose Heart

Do you remember the day your children were born? Those first cries? That magical moment when you looked into your newborn’s eyes for the very first time? I do. I’ll never forget how amazing each one of my children were and are.

But, I’ll be perfectly honest. Today, I could happily call the stork and ask for a full refund. That’s right, just pick ‘em all up and take ‘em back to the Baby Store. This product is not what I expected.

The youngest one whined and threw fits all day and acted more like a three year old than a seven year old. I’m sorry, did you forget how to SPEAK!? The middle one also seemed to forget how to use words and simply communicated with heavy sighs all day.  Apparently it was my fault he was sick and couldn’t eat the freshly baked peanut butter cookies.  And the oldest, well, she was being a teenager. She thought basically about herself all day long. This drives me nuts, because I see my own worst self played out in her when she does this. Wow, do I look like this when I get all pouty and selfish? Yuck.

By 8 I’d had enough. That’s it, I don’t care what time it is, just go to bed. That’s right, see ya tomorrow.

Sometimes being a mom is awesome.  We have fun, we laugh, we bond, we love, we cry, we hug, we serve each other.  But, other times, being a mom stinks.  I’m crabby, the kids have attitudes, no one remembers to take out the garbage, I feel like I’m nagging all day long, I just want to give up!

Somehow I don’t think it was any coincidence that my cruddy day came right after Mother’s Day. We had a fantastic day yesterday and I felt loved and appreciated and today, well today it was like my kids used up all their “goodness” yesterday. “Whew, that was a strain, now we can go back to taking advantage of mom.” That’s how it felt anyway.

Maybe you didn’t have a good Mother’s Day at all. Maybe your mom is no longer living, or your relationship with her is strained.  Maybe you are estranged from your daughter or she is rebellious right now.  I don’t know, but I do know that sin and the consequences of it in our family relationships, whether in big issues or little issues can make a mom want to just throw up her hands sometimes and yell, “I Quit!”

“And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.” Galatians 6:9

And so, as moms we press on.  When our feelings are overwhelming we continue to do good in faith, trusting that we will see a harvest of righteousness in our children.  We believe God’s Word when He tells us not to lose heart in doing good. And taking care of our children, teaching them to obey God is doing good!

So, I say to myself, just as much as to my friends in the motherhood trenches with me, don’t lose heart, don’t grow weary. Keep doing good. Your children will be blessed for your hard work for them. And you thought labor was hard work! It was only the beginning!  In faith, keep pressing on with God’s help, for in due time we shall reap!

 

Sunday, May 9, 2010

I’m Blessed

I’m blessed, that’s all I can say.  I had a great Mother’s Day. This morning I got up to this:

MD-1

My tea was all set up for me with a new Life is Good mug and travel mug. I was especially glad for the travel mug as I’ve been going around with tea in a Rapala travel mug with fishing lures on the outside. Not so much, a girly thing. Now I have a pretty, girly travel mug for my tea.

After church I came home to a delicious lunch prepared by my kids. Ham, cheddar and mango chutney panini’s on ciabata bread. Yum! And some new summer SmartWool socks.

And, it was a gorgeous day. A blizzard two days ago, sunshine today.

I love my husband, I love my kids. I am so very blessed!

MD-3

MD-5

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Someone Has to be the Adult

In his book Love and Respect, Emerson Eggerich talks about a concept called “The Crazy Cycle.” He acts unlovingly, so she reacts disrespectfully, so he reacts unlovingly, so she reacts disrespectfully and round and round they go.  Eventually, Emerson says, someone has to be the adult and get off the crazy cycle. Why not you, he asks? Why don’t you be the one to react lovingly to your wife’s disrespect? Why don’t you be the adult, and respond with respect to your husband’s unloving response?

The body of Christ is sometimes surprisingly like a marriage. Someone acts unlovingly, so we react with hurt and anger.  Someone else is disrespectful to our thoughts and ideas, so we react with pride and gossip. Round and round we go. We get caught up in the agendas and subagendas, the hurt, the pride, the gossip, the anger, and no one wants to be the one to stop it all. I mean c’mon, they started it! They’re wrong!

But lately I’ve been wondering, what if I was the adult here? What if I got off the “Christian Crazy Cycle?” Almost sounds oxymoronic to write it. But, what if I responded to pride, with humility? What if I responded to anger, with a soft answer?  What if I swallowed my hurt feelings and responded with forgiveness; even if none was asked for?  Ouch. That’s hard.  But, walking in Christ-likeness should be the goal of every Christian.

Lord, make a change and let it start with me.