Month: April 2012

I had a ‘so much’ weekend.  Have you ever had one of those?  A time when there was ‘so much’ goodness that you soaked up every bit of it but were still concerned you may have missed a drop.  A ‘so much’ time that maybe your brain couldn’t really process it all at one time?  ‘So much’ so that when you are overwhelmed and then find a moment of silence, God himself slips in the door and you are paralyzed by His magnificence….

I drove home from Portland today and had 3.5 hours with this Chris McClarney CD playing this song over and over again (THANK YOU Bo Stern for the tip):

If you do take time to listen to this song you’ll believe Mr. McClarney possibly wrote the song for me.  More likely  is that we serve the same God and sometimes God just lets someone else turn your story into a song!

The weekend actually began for me on Thursday with a 5th grade field trip to the Oregon coast. My daughter and her classmates really enjoyed themselves during the quick 36 hour trip to Newport and back!  It was a great time with my girl but that drive is really a hard one when you go over one day and come back the next after sleeping on the floor of a church…. just saying.  Never the less, God opened my eyes to so much and began planting and developing some seeds of thought in my mind that I have yet to be able to put together for myself.  Someday I’ll have it all sorted out enough to share…God often times stirs up something in me and it renders me speechless for a time.

After coming home Friday, I ran up to Portland to meet my husband and attend a benefit dinner for Union Gospel Mission.  Donald Miller was the keynote speaker and I just sat in awe as he spun his story and shared his tale.  I’ll share more of this in the days to come.  It was just that good!

The ‘so much’ part of the weekend continued as I spent Sunday with my husbands parents while he was working.  We started the day off meeting with their bible study group and digging a bit into the life of David and sorting out the mysteries of God’s forgiveness, all of which I promise to write about soon because forgiveness is so big and deep and hard and wonderful all at the same time.  Its one of those truths of God that just grows in wisdom and understanding the more you live with it.

After bible study their neighbors who attended the bible study with us joined us for brunch at a lovely restaurant on the Clackamas River.  BEAUTIFUL.  Later I had many hours just to roam the shopping capital of Oregon and purchase some wants and enjoyed the fresh spring air of the valley.  I returned that evening to enjoy some more delightful conversation with my in-laws and awaited the arrival of my man.  We all dined together, went to the store to purchase ice cream together and chatted into the evening.  It was full of family life and love.  It was perfect.

It was just so much.

God was whispering and pointing and nudging me all weekend.  It felt like I was a kid visiting Disneyland for the very first time and God was pointing out every little fun detail so that I wouldn’t miss a thing.  I’m sure I can’t even begin to bare witness to the glory of it all here because it was just ‘so much’. 

And as I drove home and listened to the song and this album over and over….God began to knit together all the ‘so much’ moments and the tapestry began to show some semblance of order and for a moment I understood more about the workmanship of Christ then ever before.  It was a brief flash of brilliancy, a little brush up against God himself, a flash of understanding. And although now  that moment has slipped away, I long to retrieve it!  But I am content to rest in the ‘so much’ moments of the past couple days. Knowing God will show his face again, He will step close again and I will wait for him to come that close again.

So Much, So very much!

The task of raising a teenager has a whole host of challenges.  Most of the challenges are related not as much to the teen but to the hangups of the parent. Most of what I see in my boy is a reflection of his parents and lots of it is related to inconsistency and poor habits and lack of structure and lazy parenting. 

So, now that I’ve painted the picture of poor parenting…..let me share with you the brilliant ‘ah ha’ moment I had last night.  I was thinking about the 13 year old boy and all the hopes and dreams I have for him.  I was thinking about how it feels like somehow I’ve failed him and he will be lost in these teenage years, never to emerge a man who can contribute to our society with any meaning…blah blah blah.  I asked my self what I expected of a boy who is drawn to video games like a sinner drawn to a savior.  What do I expect of a boy who prefers sitting rather then moving.  What do I expect of my boy?  What do I want for him? 

Ultimately I want the boy to be a good grandpa. 

So, I began the quest to create an environment that Grandpa would thrive in and I compeltely expect that a teen given the expectation to behave like a good grandpa, that somehow we’ll emerge from these years with raving success!  Here is the list of how to raise a son to be a grandpa:

1. Grandpa’s don’t play video games all day – limit playing for teen

2.  Grandpa’s pick up after themselves – expect teen to keep his things in order

3.  Grandpa’s eat anything – the teen should eat the food prepared for dinner

4.  Grandpa’s go on walks and enjoy the outdoors – put the teen outside

5.  Grandpa’s are polite and kind and gentle – don’t respond to a rude teenager

6.  Grandpa’s make great popcorn – encourage the teen to make snacks for the family

7.  Grandpa’s do things for others without thinking – teach the teen how to put others first

8.  Grandpa’s do projects around the house – make the teen your personal slave

9.  Grandpa’s like adventure – make the teen do things he doesn’t want to do

10.  Grandpa’s always have money – give the teen opportunity’s to make money and then have them put it in the bank

…this is really just the start of the list.  I’m sure it can go on and on but for today, this is where I start.  If I can impart the ‘Grandpa Lifestyle’ to my son….I am confident in his future!

Early in the morning on March 24th we went to meet with the Laurie from Makena Weddings.  One of the things that stuck with us was the saying “Happy Wife, Happy Life”.  Lots of truth to that ancient Hawaiian secret!

After setting the details for the next day we made a stop here:

We got pretty excited after we found the beach we would meet on to say our vows the next day.  Beautiful!

That evening we had a family gathering and shared a meal with our parents and brothers.  My soon to be husband then spent some time doing this…

I had no idea he had such talent, nor did I know we shared the love of this:

Early on  March 25th my daughter and mother and I packed up our beauty supplies and made our way to a wonderful little resort where we lounged by the pool

Got our hairs done and our make-up did…..

It was so much fun and my daughter was sooooo beautiful

As we made our way to the beach I couldn’t help to think how faithful God is.  Faithful to make all things new and to bring beauty from ashes.  I was ready to step into this new adventure in my life and I was confident that God had brought us all to such a time as this.

Reverand Al met us on the beach to help us tie the knot

:

AND IT WAS WINDY!!!!  I’m pretty sure if I wasn’t so full of love I would have blown away!

These two were full of love too….

This guy was pretty wonderful too, he has a steady hand with the flip camera

 

The wind didn’t stop us from beginning a lifetime together…

It was simple and beautiful and perfect.  The photographer did amazing work!  Please if you go to Maui, connect with Caprice Nicole Photography.  She was wonderful to work with and I am so excited to get my hands on the ‘Storybook’ she is creating for our memories.

Of course no wedding is complete without eating Filet Mignon in a fitted little white dress and gorging yourself on delectable treats with your loved ones.

When all was said and done, I was indeed blessed but more than a beautiful wedding, I desire a beautiful marriage.  One that reflects Christ’s Love for the church and brings glory to God.  A marriage that would be a picture to those around us, especially for our children, a picture of the sacrificial love that embodies the Gospel of Jesus!

Happy Wife….

….until next time Maui….ALOHA!