sports illustrated?

dear emily,

when i was a timid, young bride, my stomach would be tied
in knots before a business dinner or social function.  i fretted
about what i would talk about or what i would wear.

hans, who is a natural extrovert and completely comfortable
in any social environment, couldn't really understand my
worries.  "honey, you'll be fine.  they'll love you."

yeah right.

so, i took the matter into my own hands and began to read
"us news and world report" before each event.  this armed me
with some talking points, but i also quickly discovered that
most people are happy as clams to just talk about themselves.

and, of course, i bought a new suit (think armor not armani.)

when our oldest turned twelve, he no longer found me very
intelligent or interesting.  so i read "sports illustrated" to say
things during games like, "do you think he should hold for
one or take a look?"

desperate times call for desperate measures and "a good
sacrifice is not necessarily sound but leaves your opponent
dazed and confused."  (nigel short)

love,
lea

"i appeal to you . . . to present your bodies as a living sacrifice."
romans 12:1

iphones

dear emily,

what was life like before iphones?  i'm trying to remember
my loved ones' faces,  as i mostly just see the tops of their
heads now.

my worship pastor asked me if i had one, and i quickly
responded, "no way!  everyone i know who has one, gets
married to it!"  i didn't know i felt that strongly until that
popped out of my mouth.  poor guy was just going to invite
me to play 'words with friends'.

that's what my sweet husband was playing . . . during the
church service last week. . . with my daughter!  i wanted
to raise my hand and tell on them.  :)

i have found iphone messages in the morning from young
mommies, "well, here i am nursing my baby at 3:00 in the
morning."  seriously? when i was a new mommy, i stumbled
into the nursery in the middle of the night barely opening my
eyes.  i used to pray that i wouldn't fall out of the rocker.

remember when everyone had carpal tunnel disease from
spending so much time at the computer?  well, i'm afraid
there is going to be a new more threatening disease, called
carpal iphonal.

the left hand will freeze in a clawlike state and become
useless for any other task than holding an iphone.

it will be up to those few non-iphoners to care for the rest
of the world.  thankfully, though "many are the afflictions
of the righteous, the Lord delivers him out of them all."  
(psalm 34:19)

call me,
lea

ain't no rock!

dear emily,

a lovely lady was standing next to me at my sanctuary, i
mean william sonoma, and i overheard her ask if this was
easter sunday.  "well, she's not in the choir," i thought to
myself.  we can tell you the date and celebration of every
sunday until Christmas.  :)

it's palm sunday,  one of my favorite days of the year!  who
could resist little children waving palm branches, singing
"hosanna to the Son of david!"  not me.

when the religious pharisees heard the children shouting
their hosannas to Jesus, they were indignant.  "do you hear
what they are saying?"  they asked.

well sure, "from the lips of children and infants has been
appointed praise."  (matthew 21:16)

i love the next part even more, Jesus said if the people
"keep silent, the rocks will cry out." (luke 19:40)   a long,
long time ago, i decided, "ain't no rock gonna' cry out in
my place."

hosanna!

love,
lea

ps.  i'm singing "the holy city" this sunday and would
appreciate any and all prayers.

consistency

dear emily,

it has often occurred to me that when we are training our little
ones to be kind and good, we are really training ourselves.

there are many gadgets in our parenting tool belt, but consistency
is one of the most effective.   if i am unfailing to shine my light
on his bad language, for instance,  then my child will usually
upgrade his vocabulary.

on the other hand, if my ornery widget is not totally sure how i
will react, he will spout off the dirty words.  the fun of it is worth
the risk.  maybe i'll ignore it this time.

if we take advantage of that very short period of time in which
they want to please us, we can teach our children invaluable
life skills.  the key is our unswerving response.  we  need to
reinforce any kind and thoughtful gesture and correct the hurtful
or selfish ones.

sounds pretty easy, but those days that i don't feel well or just
don't want to get off the couch can sabotage me.  as nike says,
"just do it!"

or as Jesus says, "let your light shine . . . that they may see your
good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."  matthew 5:16

love,
lea

don't give up!

dear emily,

i was sinking into thicker, deeper mud, reaching for the shiny
bell around my grandma's neck, when the phone awakened me.
at 12:30 in the morning that is never a good sign.

"mrs. h.?  this is officer jones from the 'xyz' police department,
and i have your son, max, with me."

"mrs. h.?"

my voice was trying to find its way around the immense wad
of cotton in my throat.

i finally choked out, "is he ok?"

"yes, ma'am, but he was driving after juvenile curfew hours.
what would you like me to do with him?"

hmm,  i was tempted to say, "how about hog tie him to the
back of your car and drag him through the stock yards!"

this is how we began max's senior year.  he was supposed to
have been at his all-night senior retreat.  i was reminded of his
ornery three year old days, when i used  to say, "if you weren't
so cute, i would strangle you!"

as we helped him pilot through the rest of his senior year, we
often wondered if he even heard our morning devotions or
repetitive encouragements.  he sort of raced in and flew out.
one thing we never doubted, though, was his heart.

by the end of the year, he was encouraging his all state track
team at their pre-race pep talk.  after hearing from so many
coaches and parents about it, i asked him what in the world
he had said.

"oh, i just told 'em what dad said at family devotions that
morning."

miracles never cease.  don't give up or "become weary in
doing good."  galatians 6:9

love,
lea

dear emily,

plane fare to the bahamas:  expensive

four days at atlantis on paradise island:  also expensive

the opportunity to laugh with dear friends . . .

and kiss a dolphin. . .

priceless.

"i was filled with delight day after day. . ." proverbs 8:30

love,
lea

a mother's prayers

dear emily,

one of my favorite authors is jan karon who wrote the
mitford series about a quaint little town nestled in the hills
of north carolina.  she is a retired advertising executive, so
her  prose is spare yet lovely.  her characters are quirky,
and their conversation is authentic and inspiring.

the most beloved is father tim, an episcopalian priest and
shepherd of the village, who loves to pray 'the prayer that
never fails', "Thy will be done."

when praying for my children, i search the bible for the
scriptures that seem most fitting for the situation.  then i
just insert my loved one's name.

for instance, if any are struggling with their future i might
pray, "Lord, please fulfill Your purpose for shelby and dan
. . . and please do not abandon the works of Your hands."
psalm  138:8

i believe so fervently in the power of God's word, that it
seems only natural to pray it.  more importantly, it protects
me from vain or selfish prayers that may have nothing to do
with His will or purpose.

love,
lea