How I Missed God’s Life-Giving Love

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How I Missed God’s Life-Giving Love

The first time I remember learning about J.O.Y was in Sunday School. I was young elementary age and my well-intentioned teacher walked the class through the acronym.

“Want to have true JOY in your life? Then you must have your priorities straight. To live a proper Christian life that pleases God, we should follow these three simple steps. Jesus always comes first - your daily devotions, in all your decisions, in your job, in everything. Others come second - your family and friends are second after God. You serve them, love them and sacrifice for them. But only after you have followed what God asks from you. Then there’s you. You come after serving God and your family. Jesus Others You - that’s how you have that true joy.”

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Surgery, rest and stopping.

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Surgery, rest and stopping.

My doctor said many women have this procedure done on Friday and return to work on Tuesday.  After all it’s “just” laparoscopic.

Thinking positively I figured to myself, “Worst case, I’m functioning 100% within a week.”  So, in I went on a Friday for surgery, fully expecting to be like those other women.

The Tuesday after surgery rolled around and I was flat on my back, helpless and in pain.  Without assistance, I was incapable of getting in or out of bed.  Showering or using the toilet still required help from my husband.

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Church Hurts

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Church Hurts

Going to church can hurt.  Like really hurt.  As in it can bring on a panic attack or tears and emotional soul wrenching. 

The weight of years of partial truth on your shoulders pulls down in full force.  There are triggers starting in the parking lot.  Just making it inside the church building takes outrageous courage. You want to believe.  You want to be there.  The foyer starts to spin.  Your heart beats faster and faster.  People around you become a blur.  The feeling to run overwhelms. The music and program format are all too familiar. You remember the past. It feels as though someone is slowly wrapping your body in plastic wrap. Before long, your whole body is tight and you can’t hear anything but the pounding inside your head and you finally give in to the desire to escape before your whole being explodes.   

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Travel Joy - Paris

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Travel Joy - Paris

Paris.

Just the name brings up thoughts of romance.  Movies.  Chocolate croissants.  Glitz and glam.  Art and fashion.

As part of our homeschool experience, my family was able to make the journey to Paris, France - in the middle of September. It was the perfect time to go. It was in the 50’s most days, and a little rainy off and on. We were ready and had packed rain jackets and water-proof boots so the weather didn’t hold us back.

For about a month, our library’s shelves were depleted of anything related to the France and it’s history as we prepared for the trip of a lifetime.

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Motherhood: Complaining, Becoming a Group Drop Out and Deconstruction

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Motherhood: Complaining, Becoming a Group Drop Out and Deconstruction

Mommy groups have never been my thing. I just never fit in. As a younger mom, I really tried to connect with other moms in my church and community. Whenever I tried, it just wasn’t natural. Everything was awkward. Finally, I stopped forcing myself into uncomfortable situations.

For years I thought something was wrong with me and I was just a social misfit.

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Guest Post by DNA Counselor Brianne Kirkpatrick

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Guest Post by DNA Counselor Brianne Kirkpatrick

Brianne Kirkpatrick is the founder of DNA Watershed. She is a DNA Counselor, wife and Super-Mom to three children. And to top it off, Brianne has co-authored a book on DNA topics for adoptees which will be released soon! It’s such an honor that she agreed to be a guest on my blog!

Brianne and I met briefly at NBC Studios while on set for the Megyn Kelly Show a couple of months ago. She is leading the charge in the world of DNA Counseling. With the tsunami of people taking DNA tests via Ancestry.com, 23 and Me and others, there often come questions and surprises. Brianne is there to help you navigate the waters of understanding who you are, genetically.

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Brokenness

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Brokenness

After years of counseling, changing beliefs and thought patterns and seeking God's truth, the realization happened again, "I am broken.  My family is broken.  Will it ever end?  I need help."  My husband and I had just had a fight and my emotions were raw.  Pain from the past and fear for the future was filling my heart.  But then I heard, "We are all broken," inside my head, and the freedom of knowing this was a human condition, not merely a Rebekah condition calmed me.  "I will always need help.  No one can ever be perfect.  That's why there's Jesus."

Brokenness is another Christian buzz word.  Unfortunately, it's a word that has been used to control people and make us continue working to achieve God's approval.    

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The Last Tooth

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The Last Tooth

I'd put my kid to bed, grabbed my lap top and nestled into my own King-sized.  I had work to do for a client.  Fifteen minutes later, my bedroom door flings open, crashing into the wall.  "Mom, I think my tooth is going to come out!"  

Like any good mother who thought their child was in bed, I had jumped into the the middle of a project.  Looking up for two seconds I said, "That's nice, Love," and quickly started typing a few more things.

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Non-DIY Remodel Tips

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Non-DIY Remodel Tips

In this day of DIYing, there are three kinds of people…

  • Those who are amazing at it.

  • Those who can’t do it.

  • Those who financially can pay for someone else to do it!

I have fallen into all three categories.  Some projects I’ve tackled and it’s been a major win.  Other’s, a total failure or not within my ability.  (Like my kitchen backsplash.  Uhm, yeah, glad my husband tapped in for the save!)  And then…we’ve paid someone else to do large or overwhelming projects.

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Flying With Kids Checklist

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Flying With Kids Checklist

When flying with kids now, the whole game changes.  Forget that novel you've been dying to read or those podcasts or movies.  A latte to sip and Sudoku to solve is out.  This is work now.  And most likely some embarrassing situations.

Below are things I've learned about traveling with kids.  Maybe it's just my system and my prodigy, but it works for us.  Hopefully, what's written here will help your trip go smoothly.

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Go LIVE!

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Go LIVE!

Go LIVE! in Life

As I sat in a small cabin in the mountains of New Mexico, it was snowing.  About four inches of good, powdery snow.  The air was crisp and invigorating.  Wild turkey and deer were venturing around the property.  Thankfully, no bear sightings.

While on vacation, and for a bit before that, I'd realized something.  I'd starting to buy into a lie.  "Live for the picture."

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