God's Gift to me this Holiday Season

This Holiday Season is turning out to be a bit different then all the rest for me. In a great and terrible way! Anyone with me? Family, family, family....love them or not really love them, they "belong" to us! But does that mean that we HAVE to actively participate in what we think we should be doing? So that our family is "normal" and we do what "normal" families do for the holidays?

In my own personal circle, people who have mean streaks in them (one person actually) is actively participating in her own selfish out-lashing. This is causing a physical separation between 4 generations..... as seemingly sad as this is, I have to say that after about a week or so of reflection and not even a phone call on Thanksgiving from family that lives 10 minutes away.... I'm ok with it!

Let me tell you why. My life has consisted of longing for and looking for love... and from my background and perspective, this void should have been filled by my parents. Hence, all of my thoughts, actions, words, energy has been put towards creating a relationship with my father and his girlfriend (of 15 years that he hasn't married). Although I would never choose her as a friend of mine, my quest for "family" has put me through all kinds of unnecessary drama (I'm sure that none of you have ever suffered this). Well, she has thrown another one of her "fits"(consisting of "I'm not speaking to you and I'm going to say all sorts of mean things about you to your father"), and for the first time, I'm not torn into pieces, and wallowing in the fact that I am not "celebrating the holidays" with my birth father and his partner.

Instead, I am choosing to see this as God's hand in bringing me out of the illusion that I need a close, loving relationship with my parents to be happy, complete, fulfilled, whatever you want to call it. After all, I can only control me and my actions, not those of others. I believe that God has a plan for me and is assisting me in not putting my time, energy, and talents into relationships that are not beneficial for me or my husband and children. This event has opened my eyes to the fact that I don't need to do what I've always done, simply because I've always done it. We grow, we change, our lives change and our priorities change and today I am thanking God for opening my eyes to a healthier, happier holiday season with those people that I really love and care about and am not just obligated to "love"!

History in Our Public School

I learned so much about Christianity from my son's 6th grade history book (sarcasm intended). The chapters were on the rise and fall of the Roman Empire.  Who knew that Christian zealots conquered the Roman Empire and Jesus was arrested for treason?  He was an outspoken political figure speaking out against the government.  All I can say is Wow!  The book also outlined other religions that surfaced at the same time as Christianity.  The one that also brought hope and was the same as Christianity was Muslim.  Mohammad and Jesus similar leaders of the people. 

I couldn't believe what I was reading.  My son and I actually chuckled a little going over the information.  After I absorbed the seriousness of the text I felt saddened and blessed at the same time.  Blessed because my son knew the Truth and saw through the lies.  Saddened because most of the kids in his class were hearing these "facts" about Christianity and believing them.  The school was actually teaching a false Jesus and a false Truth.  It is not a coincidence this lesson immediately followed their lesson on evolution.  Do I think that the teachers had an agenda to sway the minds of these kids? No.  What it sounded like to me (coming from my son) the teachers were just as clueless and mislead.  They didn't know the Truth.  And believe me when I say, "someone" has an agenda.

Sisters in Christ know the Truth.  Read and study God's Word.  Teach your kids.  Nothing is more important than knowing Truth as a family.  Do your children know who Jesus is?  What He did for them?  Do they know that the God of Abraham is their God too?  Do they know that they were chosen before the foundation of the world?  Do they know their God?  Do you as a family believe God?

Get to know your God and read His Word.  If you don't teach them, "someone" will. 

Just a thought.......

Learning From Autism

I have just written a children's book that describes a relationship between an autistic boy and a typical little girl. I love this story because it is near and dear to my heart.  The little girl I describe is my daughter Jessie and the boy is her best friend Jesse.  The main reason I wrote this book was to teach each and every child to  truly understand how much we can learn from children with special needs. 

There are people out there that view children with special needs as useless or without value.  Doctors may use this perspective as an excuse to give counsel for terminating a pregnancy.   My dear readers I wish I could give you a glimpse at the transformation Jesse Boy has made on my children's lives.  Even though they are not perfect (he doesn't have super powers) but because of Jesse they are more compassionate, they befriend the special needs child in school, they have patience and they understand that God made them for a reason.

Both my daughters have a special needs child in their class.  Jessie, my fourth grader, asks "Mike" to sit by her at lunch and invites him to play with her at recess.  Her teacher says she is the only one who can sit by "Mike" and not complain.  The teacher even forgets that she needs to monitor him because Jessie has taken over the job to guide him and redirect him.  Jessie didn't need to be coached or trained, because she "gets it".  She is now explaining to her friends how to understand with him and how to be apart of his life. 

My youngest daughter, Becca, is in kindergarten and has a child in her class that can be really difficult because of her special needs.  Becca came home the other day and said "Hayley" hit her hard in the stomach.  I knew this child so I explained that "Hayley" was like Jesse Boy and she doesn't mean to hit, she is just trying to make friends.  But because she learns different she is not sure how to play and make friends.  Once she made the connection that "Hayley" was just like Jesse Boy she had a totally different attitude toward her.  The next day she asked to play with "Hayley" at recess and used her words if she thought she was being too rough.  It worked.  She "gets it". 

I could never have taught my children how to understand special needs kids if it wasn't  for our best friend Jesse Boy.  People with special needs are really just people who, if given the opportunity, can transform your life.

Tolerance is an Interesting Word

I was reading the paper today, as usual.  The paper of choice around here is the Vail Daily (actually the choices are limited, but we live in a small town so it is all good).  Apparently Vail wants to stimulate our local economy by having Gay Ski Week.  I thought that gays were allowed to ski every week but I guess this is some celebration of sorts or organized event to recognized the gay community.

However, some folks wrote in stating that this is inappropriate and disagreed with such an event  It wasn't hateful or mean-spirited, they just disagreed.  Apparently they were now intolerant people.  Tolerance is a very interesting word in our society.  It seems tolerance only is used when addressing people who agree with the mainstream media or people who lean to the left.  If for some reason an individual doesn't agree with lets say gay marriage, universal healthcare, prochoice, or medical marijuana they are intolerant, close-minded  hate-mongers.  The personal attacks on their character run wild.

Unfortunately the folks who disagreed with Gay Ski Week were called "close-minded, bias and insensitive" and  "not good stewards to our country" and "ignorant and hate-inspiring".  It seems that the people who wrote in to rally behind Gay Ski Week were being very intolerant.   It is kind of funny when you think about it.  They were basically saying "I hate you because I think you are a hateful person."  or  "I cannot tolerate such an intolerant individual".

I wonder why the "tolerant police" were not there to chime in on behalf of the citizens who wrote the Vail Daily against Gay Ski Week.

Book Review

Good news!!  My book Two Shoes was reviewed last week by Christian Children's Book Review.  They did a very thorough review and I was extremely encouraged by their kind words.  I am still so new at this Author stuff that I can't believe when my book pops up on Amazon.com.  I look for it everyday just to make sure I didn't make it all up in my crazy brain. 

This journey I am on is so out of my comfort zone.  I would rather talk about someone else's success than my own.  But today I am tackling my fears of self-promotion head on. I am so thrilled about my book review from CCBR and I am excited to continue establishing myself as an author.  There is so much to learn and even though it is tough to market my books (and myself), I hope I never forget the joy of writing and rhyming for children.  Especially when it is glorifying to God.

God must have given me this "gift" of rhyming for some reason or He wouldn't of made me think and write this way.  In fact it is very hard for me not to rhyme, does anyone have the time, I make my salsa with lime, I hope that is not a crime....."stop rhyming and I mean it, does anyone have a peanut?" (Princess Bride movie)

Gotta Go!

God Can Change Even Me

The last couple of weekends a mom from my soccer team came up to me to "talk" to me about her son.  She was visibly angry and frustrated.  I am not easily intimidated so I said sure, lets "talk".  I listened and validated and tried my best to keep the conversation at an even level. 

Because she doesn't know very much about soccer the conversation was difficult.  It was like talking to someone who knows very little English.  We were both confused.  I think we both had deer-in-the-headlights expressions on our face. 

After the conversation I realized my growth as a Christian woman.  Sometimes I wonder if I have grown at all.  It is similar to seeing your children everyday and not realizing that they grew 2 inches until you messure them on the kitchen wall.  That is how I felt this last Saturday.  The old Beth (BC-Before Christ in my life) would have got in that lady's face and told her somethin' somethin'.  Especially when she verbally attacked my son.  But I didn't even go to that dark place of anger and domination.  I actually felt sad for the woman because she was so angry and bitter. 

I went to my car and thanked my Lord and Savior for saving me from a life of bitterness.  I never thought that I would ever be at a place that was more about love than anger.  I truly felt a desire to love that mom.  I couldn't imagine holding on to such resentment.  You could see her pain and emptiness in her expressions.

I feel like God took me into the kitchen and messured me on the wall.  God is good and boy can He change us.

Our Husband's Helper

God created Adam and put him in the garden to cultivate it and keep it.  Then God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone:  I will make him a helper suitable for him."  Then God made every creature, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.  (Gen. 2:4-23 NASB)  So God created Eve, to be Adam's helper.

There are a lot of views out there describing the relationship between a husband and wife.  Who is the leader of the home?  Who works?  Roles?  Respect? Parenting duties?  Who cleans?  Cooks? 

Women continue to fight for the right to work and take on more and more roles.  Why?  I can only generalize  the reasonings behind women's motives.


What did God call woman when He created her?  "Helper suitable for the man."  Why is that such a bad thing?  I figure since God created us, He should know what makes us tick.  Helper.  That is very specific.  We were made to be a helper. God created us just for our man.  Together we become one flesh.  I like that visual.

With that thought in mind, why are women struggling to be more than that or different than that or to be the man.  I find the woman's role to be hard enough without taking on the man's role.  It should be a partnership like no other.  Because together husband and wife are one flesh, unable to seperate.

I find life to be peaceful and secure when I let my man lead.  When I embrace my role as a helper.  The system works and it works well.

Now if you were to ask our children who's in charge, there is debate.  My oldest daughter Jessie says I am in charge and my son Logan stands firm and says that Jim is in charge.  The youngest Becca "Boo"  says I am in charge but then whispers in her daddy's ear that she thinks he is in charge too.  But when we break it down, they all agree I am in charge of the laundry, cooking, cleaning, soccer practice, homework and singing/dancing in the kitchen.  Jim is in charge of working, owning and running two businesses, outside chores, bills, handing out chores for the kids, taking care of his family and wrestling after dinner. 

But now that Jim got me a housekeeper I don't have to be in charge of cleaning anymore.  Sounds good to me!