Secret Location

     Yesterday was our first Car Rallye (yep, that's the way it's spelled) with Braille Institute.  The blind kiddos are the navigator for drivers who bring their decked out cars to Los Angeles.  The parking lot was full of 48 cars...."Old Fashioned" ones, police cars, vintage ones, Porsches, Back-to-the-Future styled DeLoreans, souped-up everythings, Vipers, smart cars.  Basically, you name it, it may have been there.  It was a sight to see...and watching the kids feel their way around their cars was awesome!
     The coolest thing about the event is there is a secret location only a few parents (who ask until they find out like me) and the organizers know about.  The drivers are expected to take direction from the students who read the directions in Braille.  The drivers CAN read the Large-Print directions if they choose, but they are not allowed to run for the winners' categories if they do so.  They totally trust this blind child sitting next to them.  It's so stinkin' cool!
     I was one of the few parents to hang out with the kids since I was new to the event and like to see what these things are all about before trusting anyone with my kid for 4 hours in a car alone.  I was so thankful Taylor was with a husband and wife team.  They seemed great enough to spend the day with Taylor.  I watched the send off and figured I'd meet up with them at the secret location several hours later. Off they went.  I LOVED BEING THERE!

      I got to meet up with Taylor, Miss Patty, and Mr. Skip after 4 hours!!!  They literally spent the entire time driving, taking direction from an 11-year-old blind girl, and getting to know each other a little better along the way.  Taylor found out this couple lost their 40-something year-old son to cancer about a year ago.  She told them how sorry she was.  They found out her secret boyfriend is Scotty McCreary when his song belted out of the radio.  She told them about her sister, her parents.  They told her how much fun they have spending time with children and giving back to the community since they don't have grandchildren of their own.  Taylor was exhausted after the drive, and Patty and Skip let me know she was their first navigator who hadn't fallen asleep on the road! 
     As I was driving home, I realized this event is much like life with Jesus.  I am born into the world, and as soon as we make our entrance, we're rushed off to the great game of Life.  We can have the directions in our Bibles and through prayer, but really we have no idea what the exact directions for our life say.  For Christians, we know our "secret location" is Heaven, and I know I get to be reunited with my Father and family one day.  In the meantime, I'm doing my best to navigate the way and making mistakes en route.  It's comforting knowing the Lord is truly doing the driving and my back is covered if I get too far off track.  I love that He allows us to make mistakes and guides us back onto the right path.  He doesn't just take over, He wants us to experience the thrill of the ride all the while being right there with us.  Sometimes, it's totally painful and other times we're riding the mountaintops.  One day we get to make it to our not-so-secret Secret Location! 

5th Grader of the Year

    "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."  Hebrews 10:24-25

     I'd been dreading the last day of elementary school for about 2 years now.  There are no words to describe the gratitude we have for every student and teacher, staff member and parent at Smith Elementary School.  Everyone was amazing from the first day of Kindergarten with Lauren to the last day of 5th grade with Taylor.  We tried to do what we could to thank them over the years, but it was in June that things just really felt totally overwhelming emotionally. 
     Several parents and I put together a luncheon thanking the staff for their many years of dedication to those of us whose youngest child was moving on to middle school.  It was a way of looking back over the years and thanking teachers for their love and support for our children.  I look back at the way the Kindergarten and 1st grade teachers took a chance on Taylor without knowing what kind of experience it would be for them, for us, for the other children, for anyone.  They never doubted themselves or Taylor's abilities once.  The other children and parents at Smith embraced Taylor the moment they saw her which was 2 years before she ever started Kindergarten because she'd be with me dropping off and picking up Lauren.  It was remarkable.
     The last week of 5th grade is a special awards ceremony.  Parents are welcome, and students are given awards for academics, attendance, responsibility, citizenship, artistic talents, and several others.  There is one award honoring a 5th grader each year.  Taylor received that honor. 
     We had no idea and almost didn't make this assembly a priority because of our work commitments.  It wasn't that we didn't think it was important or special, it was just trying to figure out what we could miss work for and what we couldn't this last week of school.  There are so many different events that come up.  I am SOOOOO thankful we were there!  We asked my parents to go, and my aunt visiting from Spokane was there too.
     The emotions of the month welled up inside me as I realized they were going to honor Taylor. Mrs. Beck, our principal, read a paragraph of Taylor's accomplishments and mentioned that at Outdoor Science School a huge group of her classmates helped her reach a steep peak, guiding her and cheering her on those last grueling steps.  (After the ceremony, I just let it all go with my dad's arm around my shoulder.  It was completely overwhelming.)  I realized all the people involved in making this award happen. Every teacher, every student, every parent, each staff member had been a part of Taylor receiving this award.  If it could ever have been given to an entire class this was the year.  Taylor's successes are only because of all the people who surround her.  The encouragement she's received from Day 1 has gotten her where she is.  The belief that she can do all things through Christ who gives her strength (Phillipians4:13) is evident in what she does and who she is.  The understanding of building others up and spurring one another on to do good works (Hebrews 10:24) is how she gets it done.  Never before have I seen so clearly how the Body of Christ can work and has to work for God to move mightily!  And to think I almost missed it. 
     How many times have I almost missed God's timing or have I missed His calling?  I am beyond grateful for this experience in so many ways.  How many times do I almost miss it, and how many times do I miss out on working together with others because I think I can get it done?  Taylor's award was representative of mountains being moved TOGETHER! 

Just Say Yes

     This has been a fantastic few weeks...insane scheduling and chaotic time, but fantastic!!!  Lauren has reluctantly said yes to a couple of things that have had huge payoffs.  The "Yes Attitude" has paid off in tremendous ways!
     Lauren was a catcher in our championship tournament for softball a few weeks ago.  She hasn't played catcher since she was in the 8U division, (5 years ago!) and she only played 2 weeks back then.  She had a blast using her regular mitt rather than the specific catcher's mitt, calling pitches, seeing the game from a completely different angle, and even held the runners at their bases.  She looked like a bit of a pro, not that I'm biased or anything!  She was afraid of being in that spot but said yes anyway.  It paid off!
     A week later, she was partnered up as a "Buddy" for a special needs child at Beach Cities Church's weeklong camp.  She was not too excited about this volunteer position, but we discussed committing to the role for the first week of camp since it was where the staff felt she would best be utililized.  (I told her if she wasn't comfortable with it, she could take on a different job for the 2nd week of camp.)  She reluctantly agreed.  Well, we found out she was Buddied with our dear friend Scotty.  He is a 6 year-old vibrant, handsome, charming, energetic little guy who happens to have a mild case of Cerebral Palsy.  Scotty and Lauren bonded immediately!  Each day he would run from his parents to Lauren as soon as he saw her on campus.  It was beautiful!
     I saw reluctant and hesitant "yeses" turn into some pretty special moments and memories.  How often am I reluctant to say Yes to the Lord because it just doesn't seem to fit into my schedule, my plan, my desires?  I loved seeing Lauren's yes turn into these beautiful memories, and I can certainly look back with fondness at the times I've trusted the Lord and said yes when I feel that nudge (or push) to go for it.  I guess the lesson  for me is to Just Say Yes!!!

Waiting on the Lord

    
"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."  Proverbs 16:3

     Mike's mom has had some really challenging months recently.  She's been diagnosed with a kidney issue, has been hospitalized three times in the last three months, has lost part of a toe, and has been dealing with vision loss for about five years.  Let's add to that that her husband had a stroke about five years ago and has had lots of struggles since that time.  They live independently and manage to pretty well.  It takes more work, but most of the time they handle things on their own...until this year. 
     We've tried to rally around Russ and Bev as a family and have seen recently that some of these things are just out of our grasp.  We can't help the way we want to or they need us to.  Additionally, they aren't able to do the things they used to be able to do independently.  Last weekend was rough to say the least.  They were trying to do something on their own that they actually needed help with.  They don't want to inconvenience anyone, but it ended up becoming a bigger issue that took up more time, efforts, and energy to deal with on everyone's part.  It also created a health risk issue for Bev that could have easily been avoided.
     It hit me that my life with Jesus is much the same.  I try so hard to do the things I can all by myself rather than committing it all to Christ.  I wait until problems come up, and they end up being bigger issues than if I had just prayed through it in the first place or "talked with God" and worked it out with Him first.  I often create my own problems rather than trusting Him in the first place.  I want to be independent at times rather than yoked up to the One who makes my burdens light.  I find myself so much more at peace when I surrender my wants and timelines to the Creator of Time Himself, to the One who knows me best and knows what best for me. 

Patience PLEASE

1 Corinthians 13:4-7  "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

      I promised to take Taylor on the bus one day during Easter Vacation.  It's a big deal because this is how Taylor is going to get around for much of her future...that is if she can't convince her sister to take her around and earn some gas money...
     I had this crazy realization as I was tapping my fingers, checking out my phone, and looking every 2.5 seconds for the bus to come.  (We happened to be about 15 minutes early!)  Taylor's entire life will be about patience.  She'll have to wait for someone to pick her up, drop her off, wait for someone to give her directions, wait for someone to help her out...wait wait wait wait wait.  Then wait some more. 
      Taylor is really good at being patient, and she's really good at taking her time.  I am NOT!  I want to move fast, get there fast, do hundreds of things up until the last second, then push the limits of time but relish in being there right on time with my to-do list checked off.  Sitting with Taylor and seeing how bad I am at waiting made me realize I am not helping her out for the future by satisfying my own instant gratification problems.  I am also realizing that patience helps me listen better.  I had a blast listening to Taylor and having some fun conversation with her.
   Of course, I also see how patient God is with me, but that's another entry for another day!

Waiting for the bus...practicing patience

We have reached our destination! Just a bustrip away

Bev's Prayer Mat

     My mother-in-law, Bev is an amazing prayer warrior!  She was so sick for about 4 months, and the doctors finally figured it all out after a few days in the hospital and pumping her with lots of different medications, followed by lots of medications at home.  One of the things I found out while helping her around her house was that she has had a prayer mat for years...in fact, the same prayer mat for years! 
     I looked on her table and saw this gardening mat.  It was worn so badly that I just had to inquire about it.  She told me it was her prayer mat and that she used it almost every day during her prayer time.  She was feeling badly that she hadn't been able to physically get down on her needs most days these last few months.  The most amazing thing about this is that Bev has suffered with rheumatoid arthritis for most of her life.  I never dreamed of her being on her knees every day.  I knew she prayed for us, for others, for the church prayer requests, for any requests people make known to her, but I never realized she physically got down on her knees.  It blew me away.
     I also got to thinking about each of the crevasses and creases I saw in that mat, and realized each one stood for a person or people and their needs brought to her attention.  I was humbled because I knew that mat had my name on it.  It had Mike's name, Lauren's and Taylor's.  It had the names of several family members who we had prayed for and who Bev prayed for.  It also had the answers to prayers upon that mat.
     Bev got me my own prayer mat.  I hope it's as worn as hers one day!

 
    

Happy Birthday, Taylor!

     Today Taylor turned 11!  Today was awesome in so many ways.  I got to hang out with the Birthday Girl for much of the day, teaching art in her class and having lunch together.  After school, we went to Lauren's softball game which also happens to be one of Taylor's favorite things to do. She kept saying, "This is the greatest birthday ever!" throughout the day.  What joyous words to hear for a mom.
     One of Taylor's latest talents is being able to call balls and strikes, high and low pitches, pitches in the dirt and over the catcher's head strictly from listening to where the ball is caught (or not).  It's incredible...and she's nearly always right.  Tonight was no exception, and it got me thinking.  What if I was that in tune with the Lord's voice?  What if I could decipher His voice that clearly?  What am I doing to be more in tune with Him all day long?  Tonight was a great lesson for me.
     After the game, Taylor got to experience the catcher's gear first hand.  She couldn't get over how heavy it was and how much work it was to get it on and off all game long.  She asked questions about why it was needed and what each piece was for.   This got me thinking too.  I have to get my equipment and gear ready for the fast balls, curve balls, and change-ups of life.  That would come in the form of putting on the whole armor of God in Ephesians.  Now I'll definitely think of His armor as our catcher comes out prepared for each inning.

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,  and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:11-17