Tattoos

I am raising hippies at my house.

I'm not real sure how that happened because their dad and I are pretty conservative in most ways. I am a little bit of a Jesus freak and I don't really care that much what people think (or I like thinking that's true) but my values are pretty mainstream conservative. That is unless you consider my views on immigration (pro amnesty - I know, I know) and the environment (I think we should take good care of our planet and if corporations won't do so. I think they should be made to do so by government).  If you think that's liberal, then I'm cool with that being liberal.

This is my daughter.

That is a nose ring.  And she wants to dred lock her hair.  We said no to the dreds.  We had to draw the line somewhere.  She plans to get a tattoo and dreds on her 18th birthday.  My husband has encouraged her to do it because he says it will save him a boatload of money that he was planning to pay for college.  I'm not sure what I think about that.  I'd be more on board about the dreds than the tattoos because even if she has to shave her head to get rid of them, it's still not permanent.

I wouldn't get a tattoo for a lot of reasons.  For one thing, I'm a complete wimp and I'm pretty sure that would HURT! I don't even eat spicy food because of my moral conviction that if it hurts you shouldn't eat it.  This conviction includes activities.  In general the 'no pain, no gain' crowd and I don't hang out.  Also, I am old enough to remember how many favorite colors, quotes, shapes, and sayings I have had in my forty plus years.  I'm so glad those things weren't indelibly printed on my body.  I like being free to change my mind.  To me a tattoo limits my freedom of choice.

My daughter wants to get the globe printed on her back.  It's actually quite a lovely tattoo, as those things go . . .

But I'm not convinced she will always want that showing through her t-shirts and her formal dresses. I might have wanted it on my back at one stage or another but not now and guess what? It would still be there!

I think it's likely that tattoos are just a way for adolescents to say "I'm different than you" to their parents.    If that is the case, I got that message a LONG time ago.  She definitely is different from me in so many wonderful ways.  Time will tell if tattoos will be one of those ways.  I hope not, but at some point it will be her decision and if she goes ahead with putting permanent art on her body, I might even think it's pretty.

I May Be Back!

I really can't believe it's been four and a half months since I blogged. Then again, I've had a hard time keeping track of time lately so I guess it has been. For example, how long have we lived in this house? I'm pretty sure it's been a year and a half but it seems like at least three years. How old is Charlie? He'll be four in June but he seems two to me, while it also feels like I have had him forever. Charlie got a hair cut while I was away. He really needed one. Bless his poor, pitiful, filthy heart! This is the before picture:

But Tiva, his groomer, made him happy again. Yay for Tiva!

A couple of weeks ago our daughter and I went to Wheaton College to let them wow us and WOW us they did!

Wheaton is a lovely college that has produced many well known missionaries and evangelists as well as being the alma mater of some of our favorite people. Our daughter wants to be a missionary and we think Wheaton would be a great fit. They are a relatively small college in a cute town that is close to a big city. Wheaton is a thirty minute train ride from Chicago, where we had a wonderful time.

We took the train into the big city.

We ate great pizza.

We explored Millennium Park

and had a great time checking out the people and architecture. Chicago is a great city. When I think about Micayla going so far away (twenty hours by car), I feel a little sad but I also know she will more than likely live really, really far away after college. At least if she is in Chicago we can use frequent flyer miles to get home every once in a while.

Whew! Good Stuff!

I love Francis Frangipane. This video is a great example of why. Watch it. I think you'll be glad you did.

i LOVE this . . .

In no particular order, tonight I feel like writing about things I love:

1. I love Oklahoma. It has been my home state for more than thirty years. The people are friendly. There is beauty all around. My parents live here. And we have a great theme song, which I sing at the top of my lungs every time we cross the border from another state. 'Ohhhhhklahoma, where the wind comes screamin' down the plain!' Yeah. I sing the whole thing. Whatever conversation we are having can pause. If people are sleeping, I try to sing kind of quietly but it somehow wakes them up anyway. I don't know why.

2. I love my sisters. They are my best friends. They are the ones I call to rant, brag, cry, get advice, laugh, and make plans. I love hearing about the details of their lives and I love being a part of the good times and bad. I love their children like they were my own and enjoy their successes with pride and pray for them in their difficulties. My kids love their cousins more than anyone else on Earth. Oh, and did I mention we are going to see them in one more day!!!! Yippee Skippee!!!!


3. I love my hubby. He is so smart and sees things so clearly when they are cloudy to me. He is flat out crazy about me and lets me know it every day. I am such a lucky woman.


4. I love my doggy. He and our big, black dog were at my mom and dad's from Friday morning until Sunday night and I missed him so much. While he was there, he was eating his dinner with the big dog watching him. The big dog eats in the morning, don't worry. Charlie stopped during his chow down, turned and placed 3 pieces of dog food in front of Zeek, and resumed his meal. Isn't that sweet? That's just like him. He is sweet and funny and wonderful.


5. I love my kids. Our son has been home more lately and I have been enjoying heady conversations with him about quantum physics and the sovereignty of God. He's brilliant and it's always (ok, usually) been so fun being along for the ride as he grows up. Our daughter and I have been eating lunch together pretty often lately and I enjoy her so much! She and I have so many similar interests and I really feel honored to be her confidant. I am a blessed mama.


6. I love my job. As a counselor I do see some really sad things. In fact, I think Christian counselors should have front row seats to watch Satan being kicked into the firey pit by God at the judgement. But I also have a front row seat to some of the most amazing things God does and God does some amazing things! Also, because I work at a Christian ministry, I get to be close to some amazing people who love people only a little less than they love Jesus. Working with other believers on things that I think matter makes my life feel so worthwhile.

7. I love Christmas. How amazing is it that God came near?! Immanuel! God with us.

Glory to God in the highest and on Earth, peace among men upon whom his favor rests.

My Hubby

My husband rocks. One of his favorite things to do around this time of year is to act like what I'm asking for is ridiculous and then show up with it and have me open it early.

For example - he was pretty adamant that our lights looked bad last year so he was NOT doing it again this year. Then he showed up the next day with these three angels and made my house beautiful! :)


They were my Christmas present.

Then a few days later, after lots of eye rolls and 'seriously?'s, I got this.


My new fire pit was my birthday present. I love it! I'm about to go fire it up and make s'mores.

Yay! :)

It's Just Not Easy

We have teenagers.

Sometimes when they talk to us about a problem and we try to help by giving them advice they say "you just don't get it". Those are the times when we just need to listen.

But what I wish they could hear us saying is
"We've been there."
"It will get better."
"Some things are really hard but that doesn't mean it's not the right thing or that you are on the wrong path."
"You matter where you are. You are making a difference."
"Every day ordained for you was written in God's book before one of the came to be."
"Let days like this turn your faith that God loves you into intimacy with Him."
"Ask God what to do. He'll lead you."
"We aren't going to rescue you because we love you way too much."
"Pain does not mean quit."

I think one of the hardest things about being a teenager is feeling misunderstood. I think it's also one of the hardest things about being a parent.

The Way

"And you know the way to where I am going" Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" And Jesus said to him, "I am the way . . . "