Hi Mom! Oh, I never knew those words could sound so good. Reuben's in China and we hadn't heard from him for a few weeks. We understand that connections are sometimes not great and they are being kept very busy, but we had been hoping he'd call soon.

So today the phone rang. No one there, so I hung up. Just as my hand left the receiver a thought crossed my mind "what if that's Reuben trying to call." So when the phone rang a minute later I eagerly grabbed the phone again and said "hello."

It was him. It was hard to hear. He talks into his computer and calls our phone and it was like the buffering you experience if your internet speed isn't the same. He could hear us very clearly, but we only heard bits and pieces of jumbled words. I understand he is now in Beijing. I heard a very joyful laugh in between words in my one sided monologue! :)

It's really the littlest things in life that bring the most joy. Hearing "Hi Mom" and the laughter.....the perfect start to my day. My heart absolutely soared as I realized how precious those two little words were. I think God really knew that I needed to hear that. And I realized that sometimes it's not what they say....it's how they say it. Only two other people in the world say it quite like that.

Monster Goals

How do we begin to dream bigger? We limit ourselves and what God will do in and through us by our own thinking. After all God can do more than we could ever ask or imagine!

I did a little informal survey a while back. I began to ask women if they had dreams and/or goals. It was a wide variety of women from all walks of life. Some said yes, some said no. But almost every one who said yes had a goal that revolved around a family member.....and not them per se. It's easy to dream for other people. It's easy to see their potential. But I really believe that women need to see the big, audacious dream that God has for each and every one of us.

I was one of those women without even realizing it. No real goals or dreams. Vague 'to be a great mom' kind of thing or 'a great wife', but no clear goals or actions to get there (take the time each week for one hour to spend totally undivided attention on each child; each day say a word of affirmation to my husband that I totally mean from the bottom of my heart).

God really gave me a vision of something he desires. It's beyond my simple reasoning. I see the goal and I have to admit it scares me. On my own I have no skills that are enough to accomplish this. Even with others along side me believing in the same vision, it isn't enough. It's a God kind of goal. It's a moving the mountain or turning the water into wine kind of thing. And I know that He doesn't need me to accomplish it, but I believe He placed it in my heart to pursue it and He will see it through.

Do you have a goal? Do you have clear steps that will take you toward that end? Do you have a time frame of when you need to be at each step? Is it measureable? It doesn't matter what kind of a dream it is. It might be personal, job-oriented, a dream vacation, something you just always wanted to learn how to do...but start dreaming and don't forget the desires that God places in your heart. Go after the goal!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

Go run with God gives you!

Nothing and Everything

So often people ask "So what have you been up to lately?" and I'm at a loss of what to say. Most of the time I say "Not much," not because I've been sitting on the couch eating bonbons, but because my everyday stuff doesn't always seem significant in a 'newsy' sort of way.

I'm a wife and a mom, so my days are filled with laundry, cooking, errands, appointments, shopping (the grocery and laundry soap kind mostly), phone calls about said appointments and driving people places and watching them do their thing. All of which is totally needed and totally my calling.

In between those things I have a couple part time jobs and teach a Bible study and help with women's ministry. Throw in a few hobbies like scrapbooking, sewing and working out (which reminds me....) and you've got a very full life! It's a great life, but the weeks seem to pass by so quickly and before you know it they are gone. Which makes scrapbooking the everyday moments seem even more important.

So what did I do this week? Well as a matter of fact I tried really hard to make my family feel loved and feel special. In fact I went out of my way to do so. I worked diligently to help provide for my family through my job. I spent time with God, without which I would've been a basket case I'm sure. I reached out to women in my church to encourage them. I'll never get a promotion, or probably even be noticed in a corporate ladder kind of way, but I've got a great life! And it feels good to not have a 'class reunion' kind of answer to life, but rather one that I can answer for when God asks.

So what have you been up to?

Hot Pursuit!

Oh my goodness.......every time I think of those words I have Cletus' voice from Dukes of Hazzard running through my head! LOL.......so how does that fit in you ask? Well my Sunday school class is on marriage. We have a wide range of people/couples in our class. Some married 27 years, then divorced for two and then remarried, some (us) married 22 years, some married 15 years, some married 4 1/2 years, some separated currently, one single, one whose husband left her the week before class started, two couples that are engaged to be married. But all desiring to know what marriage God's way looks like. And to be as close to that as possible.

The first thing that really struck me was pursuit. How back when we were dating and also during the honeymoon phase we pursued our mate. When asked the question of 'how do you currently pursue your mate' I heard a myriad of ways, but mostly things that we do just because we love them, not necessarily things we do to 'pursue' them. You know, the over the top things that we go 'out of our way' to do INTENTIONALLY just for them. Now I do lots of little 'I love you' things like laying out Dave's clothes because he's flying into the house to shower and leave (not because he can't pick out his own), but I realized I didn't do too much pursuing. And sadly I kinda forgot in the busyness of life what that looked like.

The other day I was reading a blog and it hit me.....Dave would LOVE that! Homemade from scratch cinnamon rolls........but wait, there's more......with maple frosting (a favorite of ours)!

Now I haven't made anything with yeast in years........long enough that I can't remember what it was, but enough to remember it wasn't worth all the work. And I don't normally have much time at home either, so this was going to need careful planning. Today I had a whole day at home, so last night I picked up the ingredients. When I brought everything home and left it in bags in the kitchen I just said, "please don't ask any questions, I want to surprise you." Okay, so he then knew that the surprise was food, but that's okay.

So this morning I began preparing. Now this recipe has lots of steps, but they are really easy and don't take that much time after all. Just lots of time between steps. And I admit that when mine came out of the oven they didn't look QUITE like the photograph. But I placed the pan in front of Dave after lunch today and waited. Actually I did the dishes and said, "If they are great, then let me know.....but if they are awful, I really don't want to know." :) The sound that followed told me they were phenomenal and that he loved them!! And I hadn't realized how much I really needed to have done something out of the ordinary that he loved....and to feel so happy about it!

So there you go. Pursue your mate today. Not the everyday sort of stuff. And it doesn't have to take a ton of time either. Think back to when you were dating or newlywed and how you worked hard at knowing more about your spouse and impressing them! And then do it. Be intentional and just do it.

And if you happen to want to know more about the cinnamon rolls....look here:

http://thepioneerwomancooks.com/2007/06/cinammon_rolls_.html

Go Ye

It's so easy when God clearly gives you an answer to a request. A firm reply through a loud speaker that says "Ruth, 'this' is exactly what I want you to do." But so often that's not how he works. So often it's the still, small, quiet voice that leads gently. So gently that sometimes we aren't aware of what He's doing in us until it is done. Then we can see clearly.

A while back we had a missionary at church who spoke. And while she was speaking God was turning me inside out. I wasn't sure if it was because I have a son across the world in missions right now, or if He was calling me to go on a mission trip, but I KNEW God was really talking to me powerfully that day.

Then a month and a half ago they had an informational meeting about a mission trip to the Phillipines. As it turned out, I couldn't attend that day. Then we had another missionary.......from the Philippines no less and his teaching was awesome. But more important God gave me a clear vision of what His work looks like. And what true faith is. Actively trusting Him.

We had another meeting....the very weekend I am in Chicago, so again I cannot attend. I began to think maybe that was a sign that it wasn't meant for me. Then God opened my heart to the thought that maybe satan was just putting obstacles in my way and God was waiting to see if I was obedient. So I picked up an application for the mission trip. Name, address, phone number: easy. When were you saved: easy. What areas do you currently serve in this ministry: easy. Do you faithfully serve sow into the Kingdom of God: easy. Have you been baptized: easy. Why do you want to go to the Philippines on this trip? Whoa.

Great question. I'm certain that I do not fully understand or comprehend God's plan for this trip. I know God has given me a heart for it. I know that I need to find out more. I believe that He wants me to be a part of it, but in what capacity I am not sure. Am I going? Am I supporting? Is He preparing me to receive believers back when they return?

One thing I'm sure of is that both meetings so far have been at times I could not attend them. It would be very easy to give in to thinking like the world does and feel like that is a sign I'm not supposed to go. However it's clear to me that that is not the case.

Perhaps this is just a call to obedience in my life to step out in faith. I honestly don't know the exact thing God is doing right now. I just know He's calling me to take another step.

Honestly, I don't think I can answer the question "Why" do you "want" to go to the Philippines on this trip. I don't know why. And I'm not sure I could say I 'want' to go. I mean you 'want' to go to Hawaii on holiday, but you "go" where you feel called by God to go when it comes to mission trips.

So I am waiting on the Lord. But I do realize that he often doesn't give me the full picture. He gives me bits at a time. Kind of like a puzzle piece. As I obey the little steps he gives me I begin to see portions of the picture and realize I am on the right track. Then suddenly it all comes together in such a beautiful way...but often not the exact picture I was anticipating. Better, oh so much better! But if I had something in mind and tried to make parts fit that really didn't lock together properly it would've been mishapen and distorted.

God has a plan. His plan for me today was to consider what He is saying to me. So I am filling out the application form knowing that He will use my obedience. And if that's the call He has for me........he will give me everything I stand in need of. God is good. All the time. All the time. God is good.

Inspired

So I have a blog. Have had for a few years. But really it was just a journal......you know......the private thoughts that really aren't meant for anyone else. But then there were such gems here and there. And I really couldn't share them.

Today I was inspired to go global. To start a new blog that I could share with friends so they can keep up with my life as I do theirs. :) So for what it's worth.......here I go! As far as the title went........well that wasn't the most clever title, but it reveals a bit about me. I'm keeping it real and my faith is what I'm all about.

I was thinking today as someone posted to share what 'table' means to them. And it brought back a myriad of memories, some from long ago and some current. And how for just a moment I longed for yesteryear. For those days when we were all around the table a bit more often... together. Now the table is still full but our family unit of 5 gets together far fewer times with two already out of the nest. Thanks to technology though, I can get a call from one while he is driving down the road......even though he is 12 hours+ away from home. And I can talk to another through the computer (sweet!) while he is on the other side of the world. So cool! I even branched out enough to make a Facebook account so I could see pics of the other side of the world.......and it did a Momma's heart so good to see photos of one I haven't hugged since July 5.

I realized how easy it is to love on them when they are so far away. But I needed to be reminded to love on the one who is still here. Not that he isn't super lovable, but sometimes we forget to take advantage of those moments. To say I love you and hug them. To explain unconditional love. To say we are so stinkin' proud of them. And to realize that just because they are teens and oh so independent that they are still our children......even when independence brings a bit of attitude.

And now to get brave enough to share the blog.........