I Pity the Fool

This is me (in my blonde phase) and my best friend, Tiff. If you can’t figure out who that other guy is … well, you’ll have to wait a minute for that story.

 

There are lots of pretty yucky things about being my friend. It is true. 11:30 phone calls from people wanting to get Jud’s home phone number. People that use her to get to me. She has quit going with me to church events since it takes me so long to get out of there. She has to talk to people about their B.O. because no one wants to hear that from their Pastor’s wife … its a long story. The list could go on and on.

 

But every once in a while, I get to throw a perk her way. It doesn’t really even out the pain of being friends with me, but it makes me feel a little better. So a couple of years ago, I arranged a little backstage meeting with Mr. T when he came to the church. Let’s just say, Tiff is easily star struck. I wish I had had my video camera, but I’ll share my favorite lines:

Tiff (jumping up and down excitedly): “You were my favorite cartoon!”

Mr T (also jumping up and down excitedly): “I forgot I was a cartoon!”

Priceless.

 

Anyone else ever have your friendships and relationships impacted by the fact that you are in leadership or ministry?

Walking Wounded

 

I have talked to a few people lately that seem like the walking wounded. I wish I had pearls of wisdom to share with them, but I don’t. But maybe you do.

 

How do you trust again when you have been betrayed by those you trusted the most? How do you let people in close to you, when those closest have turned against you?

Country Music and Pig-tails

 

When I was in High School, my grandparents lived in Littlefield, Texas. The name pretty much summed it up. It was a tiny, nothing town surrounded by cotton fields. There wasn’t much to do there except visit our family and watch MTV which my parents had blocked at our house.

 

Once a year, Waylon Jennings (who sang the Dukes of Hazard theme song) came to town to do a free concert since it was his home town. But one, very special year, good ole Waylon brought his friend Willie Nelson with him. 

 

My granddad was thrilled. He couldn’t wait to introduce me. We walked down to the sad little community center where they were playing dominoes. He walked right up, acted like he had known them for decades, and introduced a mortified granddaughter. 

 

Let me start off by saying - I LOATHE country music. Hate it. It literally hurts me. Most people are surprised at that since I’m a native Texan. But it is horrible. Secondly, I don’t love men with long braided pig-tails. Maybe it is just me. Thirdly, I was very put out that my granddad was taking me away from the rare opportunity to watch the banned MTV and Pauley Shore.

 

Have you met anyone famous? Were you star-struck or did you play it cool? And if you have pictoral evidence and can figure out how to upload it, you get extra points. Let me hear your story. And Angie, since you inspired this post with your wonderful story on Facebook, you must share it again for everyone to read!

Four Arms

 

I used to say that I needed to sprout an extra set of arms. I just knew that four arms would help me get everything done. This week, I’ve needed a whole extra body. A clone, maybe.

 

Is it just me, or is Back to School one of the busiest times of year? Ever felt like there just isn’t enough of you to get everything done?

Color Coding

 

I was never one to really use calendars or “to do” lists. I would always start really strong in January with some brand new fancy calendar that I had purchased. But by mid-February, things were a mess! Then I had a brain storm … color coding.

 

Now I color code my calendar. The kids are blue. Jud is red. Church events are orange. School is purple. And so on. This is made super easy with iCal and my handy Mac. But here is how it works, practically speaking, for us.

 

For instance, church events. I decided how many church events we would do per week and per month. That included church meetings, ministry events, dinners with small groups, dinners with church members that we didn’t normally hang out with, etc.

 

Once we reach our limit … that is it. Everything else is pushed to the next month or the next and so on. The freeing part was two fold: 1. I don’t have to say “no” to people. I just tell them we can do it in three months, or in six months, or whenever our first available time is. Some people don’t mind and stick it on our schedule. Some don’t want to wait. That’s ok. 2. We then have more free time to be with friends and family and foster those relationships. And if something important were to come up with church members, we actually have the margin to help. It has really helped with my sanity!

 

What do you do practically to manage your schedule?

Balance is Bunk

 

I stink at “balance.” I wonder if anyone is really super good at it. There is just so much to balance: the house, the laundry, the cooking, the cleaning, the homework, the kids, the extra-curricular stuff, the friends, the hobbies, work, work out goals, the church, volunteering, meetings, quiet time, Bible Studies … and on.

 

It is hard. I can’t do it all. My husband suggested (according to Ecclesiastes) that I start living my life in seasons. Instead of wondering what time is it … to find out what the time is for. What is the purpose of this time in my life?

 

So here is my purpose right now: Love, take care of, and enjoy my family. Take care of myself and my Spiritual life so that I can give to them and others. Do what I can in ministry. That currently means that my house doesn’t look too hot most of the time. Laundry is put off as long as possible and done as fast as possible. And sometimes a load sits in the washing machine too long, and I end up having to rewash it. I usually have dishes in the sink. It also means that I don’t do much volunteering at the schools outside of special events and holidays.  I could go on but I will spare you. That’s just me.

 

What’s the purpose of the season in your life? And what does that mean practically for you?

Welcome to Miami

 

Cue Will Smith music … I’m going to Miami. In a couple of weeks, on Labor Day in fact, I’m heading to Miami. I’ve never been there, so I’m excited about that. But the reason I’m going has me even more excited.

 

I’m getting to attend a little Senior Pastor’s wives round table type conference. Lisa Young, wife of Ed Young, is hosting. I think there will be about 15 women. So, of course I am looking forward to meeting other pastor’s  wives and learn from them. I’m going to do my best to blog from there and share the great insights that I’m sure to pick up. And of course I’ll post my new Henna tattoo, if Donna and I are able to find a place.

 

One of the things they asked us to come with were questions that we have about life and ministry. Oh, I’ve got plenty of those. But it got me wondering … if given the opportunity, what would you ask about life and ministry? What questions rattle around your brain, that you would love to get some feedback on?

100th Post & Oblivious

So, this is the 100th post. Honestly, I’m just glad I’m not out of stuff to say at this point.

 

When some people get to their 100th post, they write 100 things about themselves or something else that is creative.  Me, well, I’ve decided to just admit one more crazy thing about myself.

 

When it comes to details, I’m kinda oblivious. Lots of times I am so focused on the big picture that I occasionally miss the details of things. This plays out in lots of ways. But here is a visual case in point:

 

I thought I would take this lovely picture of my kids and the Foster kids at the beach in San Diego. I lined them up carefully along the sea wall so that we could see the beach and ocean in the background but also so they wouldn’t get a bunch of sand in their shoes.

 

It wasn’t until I posted it on my Facebook that Shara pointed out that I had missed a very important detail. I stood Emma in exactly the wrong spot. Now the stupid sea wall sign says “alcohol, smoking, ass bottles” Right there in my picture. Crap!

 

So how about you? Are you a big picture or a detail person?

Super Heroes and Vampires

 

A while ago I had a really interesting conversation with another pastor’s wife. It went something like this:

 

“So, you’re from Vegas.”

“Yes.”

“Do you ever have people come to church wearing low rise jeans and mid-riffs?”

“Uh … yep.” And I was thinking “Yeah, and I wear low rise jeans every weekend, and if I hadn’t had 2 kids and stretch marks I might be tempted by mid-riffs.”

“Well, there is another church in Phoenix, where we live, that is CAPING people who come dressed inappropriately to church. If people come wearing clothes like that, the church has capes to put on them. You might give that a try.”

Cue bulging eyes and dead silence.

 

Huh? I thought that capes were reserved for Super Heroes and the bad vampires in Twilight. I was shocked. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Can you even imagine? 

 

Now I know that every church culture is different … we’re jeans, shorts, & flip-flops kind of people in Vegas. Thoughts?

Kids and Tattoos

While we were on our break, I let my kids get henna tattoos. Of course, that was only after a long lecture about “good” tattoos and “bad” tattoos. Not that I really think real tattoos are bad - I actually think they are cool and often beautiful. But the idea of a needle touching my babies’ arm or back - the body that I washed, and took care of, and kissed boo-boos on - isn’t something that I can imagine. 

 

Emma in usual girl style chose a cute little star on her ankle. She was very proud of it.

 

Ethan was a different story. What 4 year old chooses the Chinese symbol for “intelligent” over a spider or a lizard? When I told him what it meant, he said, “Well, I am a smart boy.” Who can argue that logic? So he proudly sported his Chinese symbol for about a week and a half.

 

I’m too wimpy to get a real tattoo myself. Scared of the needles and afraid I would get sick of it in about a month. How about you? Anyone have a great tattoo? Do tell. I want details. What is it and where?