Football in Texas

I love football. I love softball and baseball, but honestly…there is just something about football.

Maybe I love football because my childhood babysitter was a cheerleader. I practiced with her maroon and gold pompoms on Saturday nights when our parents were eating prime rib at the country club. I never minded at all that they dressed up and went out, because she was my friend and my favorite cheerleader.  She was my cheerleader and still is in a way. 

I dreamed of being an Eagle cheerleader on the sidelines doing “Two Bits, Four Bits” and I tried with all of my might to master a toe touch. That never happened, but I could do a herkie for try-outs in 7^th grade.  I wore a gold polo shirt with royal blue wind shorts.  The polo on my shirt matched my shorts perfectly.

Maybe I love football because I'm a Texas girl. Somethings just go together with Texas like chicken fried steak goes with gravy.  Here in the Lone Star State you can bet on:  big hair, Dallas Cowboys, Gary P. Nunn, Cadillac convertibles with longhorns, and cowboy boots.  Football also runs through our veins just like the Brazos River runs through Waco.

When I was diagnosed with cancer many years ago, my golden group of friends first had to see me in person to know I was ok.  We met for lunch in a seafoam green dining room on Watson Street.  After they knew my prognosis was positive, they quickly inquired about what would happen to my hair. We Texas girls love our hair!  We also adored the familiar chandelier we sat under as we ate our sandwiches.  The gigantic subs were perfect!  For a moment, we were perfect too.  Friendship is perfect.

Thank the LORD, I beat cancer and my hair grew back after six months of chemotherapy and fifteen days of radiation. Frequent trips to the beauty salon still keep me blonde. With a hot curling iron, hot rollers, and some good hairspray, my hair can still be big.  Texas is big!  Football is big!

Maybe I love football because my high school years were built around football.  I can still feel the air in Jacksonville and Huntsville back in the day.  Fridays were everything. It began with the pep rallies in the afternoons and ended in the early hours of the next morning.  Those were the days! 

Perhaps I love football because it unites our community.  Some march, some cheer, some twirl.  Willing concession stand workers report to duty early to get the nacho cheese just right.  Stores stock spirit wear and pay to have their windows painted.  Why Not?

The metal bleachers may be scorching hot in August and September, but we still plop down on them and gladly bake ourselves just like cornbread bakes itself in a hot, iron skillet. Texas is hot!

November slowly rolls around and we give thanks for the cooler weather, changing colors, and our many blessings from above.  Giving thanks is the key to life!

When the cold finally blows in, we tote in blankets and thermoses to the freezing and sometimes even icy metal bleachers.  We rob instant hand warmers from our deer stands to keep us warm.  My girls and I love to wear Uggs on our feet and toboggans on our heads.

I love football because my husband does and my boys do too.  My hubby is obviously done with his playing days, but still calls plays from the stands and knows way more than I ever will. 

My boys drink milk, work outside in the summer heat on purpose, and do everything they can to earn their spot under the Thursday or Friday nights.  They just want to be a part of something bigger!      

It's more than just a game and it dawned on me recently that it's more than just the “Friday Night Lights.”

The stadium lights on Friday night are just the beginning. 

It's the sunlight on a humid July morning when the players pull out of the parking lot in their pick-up trucks, but the coaches stay late to line the fields. 

It's the moonlight that's still glowing when young men crawl out of bed for the optional morning workouts.

It’s the sunlight just beginning to peak through in the sky when old men gather in coffee shops to gossip about how they reckon the year is going to pan out.   

It's the night lights and lamps that never seem to take a rest in homes where coaches draw out plays, principals work on schedules, teachers grade papers, and boys scramble to complete their homework just before it is due.

It's the headlights of cars pulling out of towns on Thursday and Friday nights praying for safe travels to and from away games.

It's the classroom lights across the many schools in Texas, which we hope and pray remain open with more state funding cuts, because you got to pass to play!  Education does come first.

It's a rented or borrowed disco light that transform gyms or cafeterias into a dance floors on homecoming night.  I still remember that …

It's the bonfire lights during Homecoming week in towns that have not carelessly blown their chances of having one.  (We blew it.)

It’s the front porch light that Moms keep on until their sons get home safely on Friday and Saturday nights.  We wait and we pray that our precious boys make it home.  (I never got this until I was a Mom.) 

It’s the front porch light that Dads keep on to insure their daughters get walked straight to the door by their dates.  They wait and they load their guns.  (This is Texas, folks.)

I am told…It’s getting your lights knocked out, breath knocked out, but knowing your buddies are staring over you with an outstretched hand ready to pull you up and slap you on the butt before the next play begins.  Get up, get up!  We gotta have you.

It’s the lights in pastel painted and dinosaur themed bedrooms that coaches’ wives turn off when they tuck kids into bed alone and pray for their Daddies to get home safely on the bus.  They know Daddy is a coach and has to do laundry before he can come home. 

It’s the light in a daughter’s eye when she ponders her Dad’s legacy…he did not run a company or make a million, but he coached high school football, and she is proud!  Her Daddy is now in heaven.  She misses him.  Her husband is a coach. Her brother is too.  His legacy continues.  The light in her eyes does still shines too.

It’s the bright lights in the emergency room when a hand needs to be examined after a helmet gets the best of it.  We pray for the x ray and for a good, true report. 

It's the light and sparkle in a young man’s eyes when his mom and dad are nowhere to be found after the loss, but he looks up to his coach and says “Yes Sir, I gave it my all.”

I don't know much about positions or plays on the football field, but I know that being a part of a team is one of the most valuable experiences we can have in life. 

I know that in football, because I just confirmed with my boys, that there are 12 players on the field at a time and that each one must do their part and give 100% or the team fails. 

Football is not an individual sport.  Likewise, life is not an individual sport. 

Here’s to another year of “Friday Night Lights” in this great state.

May the light shine on us all!

The beds

Last Friday, when our baseball and softball games were cancelled, I got a “bee in my bonnet” so to speak.  I picked up my crew at school and headed home to accomplish something I had put off forever…I mean forever!  The top item on my agenda was to flip two of our mattresses.  Mattress maintenance needs a sticker like oil changes have or phone call reminders like six month dental check-ups offer out of courtesy to remind us when it is time. 

Flipping the mattress is as important as both, but often avoided around here at the Monico household.  Maybe it is just us….

My hubby and I are in need of a new mattress, but have put off shopping for one.  There are so many choices, options, and other things to spend money on.   It also seems overwhelming; therefore, our mattress needed a flip.  It was not the only one.  Blaise, the youngest of my kiddos, often likes for me to lay down with her.  I have noticed for a few weeks that I have been sliding over her way when we cuddle  to talk.  She was in need of a flip job too. 

Friday we got the job done. It only took Bosque and me.  We manhandled the mattresses like professionals and had them flipped and ready to go in no time. The result:  better rest!  My bed is totally different.  I have slept so well the past few days.  Blaise’s bed is the same.  It feels like a new mattress. 

My only lingering thought is…why did we wait so long?  The mattresses could have been flipped earlier and I would have not lost sleep over aching joints and hips from a flatter than recommended bed. 

The mattresses were important, but not a truly urgent matter.  However, there are things in life that are urgent.  Today in church I was reminded that being a light for Jesus has to happen now. It is not something that we can put off or wait until another day for.  The often dark and hopeless world we live in needs to see the light NOW.  Matthew 5:16 says “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  We need to let our light shine and we really can’t linger on dim mode any longer!

The other thing that cannot be delayed is a truth from John 10:27, and it is personal.  It says “My sheep listen to my voice, I know them, and they follow me.”  It is imperative that we as believers, who listen to the voice of the Lord, obey the voice of the Lord.  We cannot hear his voice, listen to it, and then choose to not follow Him. 

Sheep are dumb. We have three right now for the county fair.  We guard them closely because they are so simple minded.  Jesus must use sheep as an example because surely we are smarter than they are!  This all boils down to obedience and the act of us hearing and doing what the LORD tells us to do.  Anything less than total obedience really cannot be put off.

This week, it is okay to procrastinate and wait on what you can. The inspection sticker might can delay until the end of the month or the grocery shopping might can go another day, but there are things that need to happen now!  Being a light so that others can see they love of Jesus is one of them.  Listening and obeying the Word of God is another.  Do not wait…Act now.   

Lab work

Last Friday, I had routine lab work scheduled.  I called my nurse to see exactly what I could have before I went.  The answer served me very well…black coffee and water. Most mornings all I have is black coffee and water.  I am typically very content with those two things.  I eat a big breakfast later and then enjoy a late lunch. 

However, something funny happened to me last Friday.  Because I could not eat, I was starving! I dreamed about biscuits, gravy, and eggs.  My mind was totally focused on food!   Most of the time, I do not even think about food until much later in the day.  Friday though… food was forbidden, food was the bad thing, and food was all I wanted.  Food was my focus!

A preacher on television reminded me of the power of my own mind Friday after I got home.  He enthusiastically and empathetically said that our circumstances were not the real battle at hand, but our own minds were the real problem. My battle with food or the lack of food on Friday in my mind was the real problem at hand.  My mind was telling me that I was starving… and maybe I was really not. 

Perhaps it was all in my mind… My tummy was typically satisfied with only black coffee and water until mid-morning,  but I was focusing on the bad and what was bugging me, what I could not have, more than what I could have on my normal Fridays . 

F.C.A. was awesome as usual.   A precious young man shared his testimony and what the LORD was doing in his life.  It was awesome!  When he finished and I headed out to the lab, I was again…starving!  On any other Friday, I would not have thought about food. 

Philippians 4:8 says “Finally brothers, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever I pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or   praiseworthy – think about such things.” 

Think is the key word here. Whatever we think about is the big deal!  A scripture says that our minds will keep in perfect peace if we are focused on Him. The Him is Jesus.  It is true that if we are focused on the positive and if we are focused on Jesus and on the good, we will be okay. 

It is so easy to think about what we can’t have or what we have messed up having, that we can’t think  about the here and now…

Jesus in here.  Jesus is now. Focus your thoughts on Him and you can’t go wrong.   Blessings to you this week. 

One things leads to another

I read one of my favorite books to a group of kids last week at reading camp.  I absolutely love watching the eyes of little ones light up when they hear a story for the first time.  They usually lean in to get closer to the book to seemingly absorb every detail possible.   Storytime is the main reason I love working in a library. 

I still  believe in the power of storytelling. By that I mean… a real story told by a real human being, not a computer or phone.  It may sound cliché, but books can come to life! 

Last week we journeyed through several genres and made sure we had fun along the way.  “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” by Laura Numeroff was one of our top picks.  One thing leads to another with the mouse in this circular tale.  

The mouse gets a cookie, then he wants milk, then a straw, then a mirror to check for a milk mustache. The story goes on and on until it circles back to him wanting a cookie.  In another version, there is a mouse who wants a muffin.  This leads to apple juice, his Grandmother’s sweater, and so on. I saw several eyes roll at the ridiculousness of the characters not controling their own thinking, desires, and actions.

I laughed with my group last week, but I also wanted to cry!  I realized as I read “If You Give a Pig a Pancake” that I was somewhat like the character in the book.   One thing has led to another, as it typically does in the spring with my family!  My thoughts and actions have been moving quickly…leaving me a bit dizzy from so much going on and finally desperately in need of rest. 

Therefore, I planned a day of NOTHING!  By this I mean an intentional, guilt-free day of rest.

My rest began yesterday morning.  I dropped off my son and work at 7:00 and snuck by the donut store to buy an apple fritter.  A warm apple fritter and a cold glass of milk have always been among my favorite indulgences.  Something about the apple flavor, texture, and the sweetness of it all combined puts a smile on my face and puts me in a carbohydrate coma. 

My plan worked. I rested and slept. I sat in my husband’s chair and sipped my coffee. I relaxed more.  I did absolutely nothing until early afternoon.  Then I was ready to get up, and I l felt so much better.   I was back! 

I looked back over the blur of the past few months.  High school softball lead to high school baseball, which lead to prom, homework, and standardized tests.  More school work led to Project Graduation, which led to numerous end of the year activities and awards ceremonies.  Little league softball and baseball began, the school year ended, and that took us right into the county fair.  We closed out the fair with Father’s Day, and I started reading camp. 

By the time reading camp concluded, I was tired!  I do not regret a single second I spent in bleachers, the car, the library, or at the fairgrounds; however, every season has an end.  My spring is complete. I now am officially in slow, summer mode. 

Mark 6 tells the story of Jesus going, going, and going.  After feeding the five thousand, Jesus told his disciples in verse 31 “Come with me by yourself to a quiet place and get some rest.” 

I believe in living life to the fullest. I also believe in rest!  Join me this week and do both.  

My dog, Bubs

I feel sorry for our dogs when we all head back to school and work on Mondays.  They must be downright lonely and bored to tears.  Over the weekend, we typically entertain a houseful of kids who play basketball, ride four wheelers, fish, and come in and out of the house constantly.  The dogs tag along with them step for step and love our “everyone is welcome” way of life. 

Last night, my fifteen year old son and a few of his friends lit a small bonfire down by the lake.  They selected a perfect location.  My table by the front window was ideal for supervising them.  I enjoyed the warmth of my own fire in the house.  Their bonfire put out sufficient light so I could see them.  My job was easy. 

Before it was time for me to crank up the “taxi” and “uber” everyone home, the crew came up to eat.  As customary, I had plenty of snacks on hand.  The boys will eat anything and everything that does not eat them first.  I never even thought about the dogs.  I assumed the threesome followed the kids home, but one was missing. 

If you read my column often, you can guess which one it was.  It was Bubs!  His nickname should be  M.I.A.  It was time for us to drive everyone home; therefore, I reluctantly left the house and left him on the loose.  I pictured him in my mind several counties away following the scent of something irresistible. 

When we got home, Brazos made a round on his four-wheeler, but returned home empty handed.  We sat down to warm up by the fire one more time before we headed down the hallway for bed.   Brazos remembered when they parked the Ranger, they walked in the shop to get a drink.  I did not offer to go and look. I was not responsible, and it was cold.  Brazos headed out again. 

Thankfully, Bubs walked in right behind him. He looked pooped.  I fussed at him as usual.

He looked up at me innocently though, seeming to say…I just followed them into the shop.  True enough, he followed the crowd and got locked up. He nearly also got locked out of the house for the night too!   (This sounds like an episode of the t.v. series COPS.) 

Conversations that take place in our home regularly could be appropriately applied to this scenario with Bubs “following” the crowd.  We explain to our kids that you can be in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong crowd and get into big trouble!  Following the crowd may be fun, but it may not be right!  I encourage them to proceed with caution and “Just say No” when in doubt. 

Unlike Bubs, who followed the crowd in the shop, I must admit that most of the trouble I found growing up, I discovered 100% on my own.  (Still true today, this is not just past tense) I would like to blame someone else, but it would be a lie!

I guess a good rule of thumb is NOT to follow our own fleshly desires and not follow to the crowd! IF we are looking for a person to follow, the only one worthy is Jesus.  If we are looking for an instruction book that covers it all, it is the Bible.   John 8:12 says “Again Jesus spoke to them saying, ‘I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” 

Whether we walk in darkness or in light depends on who we follow.  Follow Jesus this week.  

The Hawk

Most of what I do in life is routine.  I take care of kids, dogs, chickens, and even tend to the cats when my husband is not at home.  The cats are typically his domain, but I pitch in when it is absolutely necessary. I also love my birds and watching them is a predictable thing for me.  My Purple Martins arrived last week right on time.  I talk to them and sometimes even pretend that they talk back to me. 

At work, I also have a set schedule in the library and love every minute of it.  We purposely follow the same procedures with our classes and keep things simple.  This allows us to focus on the kids that come in and out of the door all day long and to get to know them. 

Every now and then though I encounter something that totally catches me off guard.  That happened this week.  I was tootling up our white rock road on my way to work and something in our batting cages caught my eye.  It was big, and it was moving.  I realized as I got closer that it was one of my hawks that lives in our front pasture.  I am calling him a “him.”  It just seems right. I have witnessed him scoop up many a mouse from the field.  He stands guard by the lake too and seems to watch over that part of our property. 

However, on this particular day he was in trouble.  He was trapped inside of the massive net and in panic mode.  He was flying from side to side trying to get out.  My husband just so happened to be out of town and my kids were at school.  That meant it was my job, and my job alone, to free the hawk.  I slammed the truck in park and got out to assess the situation. 

The first thing I noticed were his talons.  They were huge and looked as sharp as knives.  I pictured him attacking me, but bravely ignored the risk.  My first thought was to hold the cage up, and I did.  I realized after trying to coax him my way that he was afraid of me. Duh! 

The only other option was to drag a big screen used for pitching over and prop the net up on the top of the screen.  This would give Mr. Hawk a way out.  It took some muscle, but I got the screen moved.  Mr. Hawk was still hesitant to come my way, so I drove on up the road and trusted that he would be okay.  Thankfully, when I checked later, he was free.

This morning when I was preparing for my Sunday school lesson, Mr. Hawk came to mind.  Isaiah 61: 1-3 was the first passage I ever memorized.  It is an absolutely beautiful proclamation of what Jesus was sent to earth to do, and is so worth your time to read.

It begins with “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me; because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.”

I thought…I freed the hawk and Jesus freed me…literally!  I was once held captive by sin.  Without the blood of Jesus, I still would be a prisoner to my own sin. 

Jesus died so that I could be free, and He also died for you.  If you are caught up, trapped, and in trouble, there is a way out!  The way out of Jesus.  Call out to Him today.     

  

FCA

Friday mornings are one of my favorite times of the week.  I hang out with a bunch of junior high kids at Fellowship of Christian Athletes, otherwise known as F.C.A.  We gather in the gym at 7:30 for a few minutes.

 Kids volunteer most of the time and share what the LORD has laid on their heart.  They typically pair up and lead as a team. It is quite amazing to sit there on the gym floor and listen as they minister to their peers.  Their courage impresses me to say the least.  I do sit on the floor with the students, Indian style, as we used to call it when I was in grade school.  The proper term now is “criss-cross apple sauce.”  It takes me a few minutes to get up off of the gym floor, but I usually can count on a kid or two to grab my hand and pull me up. 

Something happens in school buildings a few weeks after Spring Break…and that “something” is bad!  Nearly everyone gets lazy and starts acting like the year is over, when it is not over at all!  We as educators and students still have a lot to accomplish. 

Our F.C.A. attendance has even been down. On a particular week in late March, I went into the girl’s locker room and started pulling girls out.  The “regulars” were not even being regular!  I let them know real quickly that I was not afraid to hunt them down. 

I happened to be teaching this particular day and the Lord totally took me in a direction I had not planned.  I gave the kids and adults in the room a good, old fashioned pep talk about how we still had to come together and meet!  I pleaded with them to keep on coming, keep on working, and that every single one of them mattered to Jesus and to our group.  Teenagers often feel invisible.  I wanted them to know that without a doubt each and every one of them was significant. 

I thought of the parable in Luke 15:4 when Jesus poses the question “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.  Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” 

I sent one kiddo over to the corner isolated from the group.  I left the group and walked towards her, showing them how Jesus will search us out individually like the parable teaches.  I brought the young lady back with me, illustrating how Jesus will even bring us back when we go astray. 

I took it to another level and sent Michelle, my volunteer, out through the middle of the crowd, across the gym from where I was.  Again, I walked towards her.  This time, totally led by the Lord, I explained to the kids that one sheep had drifted again; however, Jesus was going to get her.  When I got to Michelle, I asked her to fall down.  She did, but I picked her up.  At this point, she had drifted, fallen down, and needed help to get back to the group.  I assumed the role of Jesus and did just what He does so often.  I picked her up and carried her back to the crowd on my back.  That sure does resonate with me.

Today, being Easter, and I woke up thinking how grateful I was that Jesus died for an unworthy person like me.  Without Him, I would be such a mess!  He came to seek and save what was lost. That includes me.  That includes you.  

Birthday Girl

The youngest Monico turned 12 yesterday.  To celebrate the special occasion, I let her decide how we  would spend the afternoon on her special day.  I pulled an “all-nighter” for Project Graduation the night before, so we could not start until I got some much needed rest during the morning hours. 

Staying up all night is not for the weary.  The only reason I will say yes again will be to chaperone an important event for one of my kids…and if the event happens to have enough chaperones or if I can sign up for a shift that includes a bit of shut-eye, I will surely pick one of those options.

Blaise picked a movie for our outing.  She used my phone to look up possible movies and times.  After carefully researching her options, she chose the 4:50 showing of “A Dog’s Purpose.”  I was pumped!

We ate at Panda Express, filled up with gas, and then took advantage of a quick car wash.  We arrived at the movies just on time.  The attendant looked at me like I was crazy when I politely asked for three tickets for “A Dog’s Purpose.”   She said “Mam, that movie has not been showing for months.” 

I cannot for the life of me figure out where Blaise got her movie titles and times.  They were wrong.  She immediately said that the movie theater sure did need to update their website. (Doubtful) 

Since it was her birthday, I just smiled and dug some cash out of my wallet for games.  They played in the arcade, I ate popcorn, and then we headed back home. It was still a fun event….like it usually is with Blaise.  She inherited the trait of making lemonade out of lemons. 

However, as we pulled out of the theater, I silently vowed to always double check times, dates, and locations for Blaise.  No damage was done on this particular occasion, but it could have been more than just a movie that we were totally mistaken about.

There are other things too that we need to double check in life.  I am currently, as I type, involved in a conflict with someone that I need to address. I have been praying and asking the LORD for wisdom before I discuss this matter.  You might say I am double checking with God before I move. 

I do not want to step out in my own power or even in my own understanding and mess anything up more. Psalm 119:105 says “Your word is a lamp to guide me and a light for my path.”  I feel like I am in the dark about this particular issue.  It is such a relief to know that I do have a guide though.

It is wise to double check the Word of God with everything!  In Romans 15:4, Paul wrote “Everything written in the Scriptures was written to teach us, in order that we might have hope through the patience and encouragement which the Scriptures give us.”

Meditating on scripture about specific matters or life in general will not only give us wisdom, but also will help us remain patient and give us the encouragement that we need to cope. 

How do I know this?  Why do I believe it?  I know it is true because Romans 15:4 says it.  The Word of God does not lie! 

With difficult events and the hard to live with circumstances that we all face from time to time, we have to spend time in the Word.  It is sometimes my only hope!   Before you act, move, or even allow yourself to feel too much, check with the Word and then…recheck with the Word. 

Prom

We experienced our first prom last night. I say “we” because even if only one Monico actually attended the event, it was a family affair.  When my daughter asked if we could host a pre-prom dinner, I immediately said yes and counted it as a blessing. 

It took all six of us to pull it off.  My boys moved stuff, hung stuff, and picked up.  My girls helped me decorate, and my hubby mowed.  For a variety of reasons, gatherings at our home have happened less and less as the kids have gotten older.  Therefore, it was really exciting for me to think of creating something beautiful out here in the country for a group to enjoy.  Somewhere in the middle of the dishes and laundry, I forgot that God created me to be creative!  I desperately needed our prom dinner to remind me!

The dinner was only a small portion of it… let me tell you, getting ready for the prom is quite an extensive process.  First, the perfect dress must be selected. No matter your budget, style, make, or color, the dress is a must.  This is followed by choosing shoes, accessories, make-up, and even dates and or prom groups.  Nails, spray tans, and hair appointments come the day before or even the day of the prom.  Sleeping late on prom day is not an option, since getting prettied up is an all-day affair. 

My daughter had quite the crowd here to marvel at her when she first walked down the hallway dressed and ready.  Her entire family and several close friends were present for her entrance.  Let’s call that phase 1. 

Phase 2 should be called “Paparazzi.”  There are individual pictures, date pictures, group pictures, family pictures, and the ever popular “selfie” pictures.  Phase 2 is not for the weary.  Smiling and knowing which camera to look at when several are flashing takes experience. 

Phase 3 is usually dinner.  I mentally prepared three settings for our prom dinner.  The first was a lighted area in the front of our house with a view of the lake.  The second option, depending on the weather, was under the carport.  Strands of lights were ready there too.  Lastly, our “big room” was set up and ready.  The girls voted after pictures to move the dinner inside.  The kitchen crew stepped in and everything was relocated indoors with ease and efficiently.  My Fiestaware dishes and silver must have loved the activity.  Our dinner guests ate, visited, and seemed to enjoy this particular phase of the prom.

Finally, after an often entire day of pomp and circumstance, it was prom time!  The group left here in a limo about 8:45 and were back to the house much earlier than I expected.  It seems that getting ready for the prom and everything leading up to the prom may be more exciting than the prom itself.  You might say they loved the “process” of the prom more than the actual “product” of the prom!  I refer to this process vs. product concept often. 

Life is a process. I pray daily in this crazy process called life that I am personally getting closer to Jesus Christ.  I will, we will, never be finished products until meet up with our maker to live forever in heaven.  Psalm 3:4-5 is a great verse to keep in mind while muddling through your own process.  It says “I call out to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain.  I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.” This week call out to the LORD and thank Him that He “does” life with you!  

Jesus Calling

My favorite devotional is Jesus Calling.  It was “right on the money” July 15^th.  You might say that it “hit the nail on the head” or hit me on the head, and I was super excited when I read it.  It lined up with one of the most basic beliefs I have adopted in recent years.  I probably valued it too because this was an instance that I could read and say to myself…Yes, I do this already!  Bullseye! 

That is not always the case. Often after reading a devotional or spending time in the Word, I feel convicted about how far I am off the mark.  Thankfully, on this particular day, that was not the case! 

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young has been my go-to devotional for the past few years.  The kid’s edition is totally worth looking up and buying too.  Before I had a driver in the house and was privileged to take all of my kids to school, we read it out loud on our 10 mile drive to town.  Those were the good old days!  I just did not know they were the good old days. 

These days the kids load up with their big sister and take off.  They pull out laughing at me.  I stand in the carport with my dogs waving goodbye like a fool.  Somedays I cry because they are so big and no longer need me.  Somedays I smile and go back to bed or sit in silence with another cup of coffee. 

Back to the book…The cool thing about Jesus Calling is that it is written in first person. 

July 15^th says “Do not worry about tomorrow!  This is not a suggestion but a command.  I divided time into days and nights so that you would have manageable portions of life to handle.  My grace is sufficient for you, but its sufficiency is for only one day at a time.” 

I journaled beside it in hot pink:  My life!  The only way! 

I truly believe with the demands of constant multitasking and non-stop mothering that “One day at a time” is the only way I survive and enjoy this season of my life. 

When we live one day at a time and learn to trust God with the day we are presently living in, amazing things happen.  I will never forget the first time several summers ago that we had three places to go at the same time on the same night.  (This happens more often now with four kids close in age.)  I mentioned to my parents that we would need help and had team parents in mind, but I did not panic.   By mid-afternoon, the one softball game in Teague was canceled due to a field conflict.  That left us with only two games in Fairfield.  God always takes care of us.  Nothing is too big for Him, and especially when we walk with Him day by day, minute by minute. 

If you have never experienced the facet of God’s character that is omniscient and omnipresent, you are missing out.  How do I know that the God of the Universe cares about me personally, can tend to me, and others around the globe at the same exact time? 

I know because He changes schedules just for me, gives me grace when I need it, and personally meets with me anytime that I call upon His name.

Jesus told Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you.”    This week begin each morning  claiming that truth.  Do not worry about the future.  Enjoy today. God’s grace is sufficient!

Honda

As usual, it is Sunday afternoon and I just sat down to begin my column.  Writing helps me conclude my week and get ready for the next one.  You might say I wrap up my thoughts as I type.  Writing serves as my therapy. I discovered it in fourth grade.  Spending time on Sundays here at my laptop is such a treat. 

Sundays are not all “rainbows and unicorns” though.  They can be difficult.  Today proved to be just that!  Someone explain to me how the Monico children are never tardy to school, but on Sundays we struggle to get out of the door on time for church.  The answer is simple:  spiritual warfare.  The enemy would love for us to give up on church, family time, and everything else good that can happen on Sundays. 

I woke up today and thought…what a beautiful Sunday.  The cooler air seems to have pushed out the humidity. Thank goodness! Everything is green, and the birds are singing. 

Looking out of our front window towards the lake, I just witnessed a lovely sight too unfolding right before my eyes.  Three Monicos were outside walking their lambs together.  They took turns letting one lamb go so it could run across the lake dam and meet the others.  At first, I thought one lamb broke loose, but then I realized they were working as a team to get the job done.  How great life is when we work together!  (No, it does not always happen here with any of us.)

Yesterday my hubby and I spent the day in Dallas shopping for a new car.  He researched all week and was ready to deal before we ever stepped foot into the first dealership.  We decided on a Honda again.  The process could have been easy, should have been easy; however, it took the entire day and four dealerships before we were satisfied on our end. 

I kept on thinking as we traveled from one Honda place to another Honda place …why can’t these Honda people just work together?   I drew the conclusion at one point, suffering from pure exhaustion, that if they worked together more and competed less, they might sell more cars.  I mean…a Honda is a Honda.  What is the big deal?  Evidently it is a big deal because we got a much better price at the last place.

My conclusion that Honda dealerships ought to work together and that the Monico kids sure do get more done when they work together relates to other things too.  Churches, schools, businesses, organizations, and etc. all need to compete less and support each other more.

I was blessed today to visit my former church to speak to a group of Seniors at lunch.  I felt totally at peace to gather with my brothers and sisters for the lunch hour, even though I spent the morning in another church across town.  No matter church we attend, you might say…we are all selling the same thing, and it is Jesus!  There is no need for competition among churches, but a huge need to share the love of Jesus Christ.

Schools are all selling education.  We need not compete!  Service organizations “sell” compassion and service; therefore, there is no room for rivalry. 

Sounds good, but working together has always been hard.  In Philippians 2:3-4, Paul wrote “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” 

This week strive to work together, look out for others, and love others.  You will be BLESSED.

Berries

Last night I did a good deed, not that I am bragging or anything!   I walked over and turned off the water on the berries for my hubby. I still had on my shoes and there was no reason not to lend a helping hand. I also absolutely love making, baking, and especially eating fresh berry cobbler.  Hopefully, I earned a nice batch of berries on down the road. 

When I reached the water faucet, I utilized one of the greatest lessons my Dad ever taught me.  “Righty, tighty, lefty loosey.”  The practical tip comes in handy on nearly a daily basis. 

My Dad also taught me how to drive a golf cart at some point during my childhood.  One night I must have begged to park it in the garage. I say begged because I cannot imagine him intentionally asking me to do such a thing.  I do not remember the details, but I do recall what happened when I ever so gently crashed the golf cart into the garage wall.  It just so happened that the point of impact was at the water faucet, and water went everywhere. 

When you first learn a new skill, it is natural to want to do it all of the time. In this case, I probably only knew the basics of driving and took it “one notch too far.”  (Oh, I wish I could say that my driving record improved, but I would be lying.)

This one “One notch too far” concept is one that I notice often in life and especially with my family.  One of my children is a natural leader, but one notch too far makes her bossy and controlling.  At a young age, one of my boys was an analytical, deep thinker.  However, anxiety took over when he could not keep his thinking balanced and turn it off.  One of my crew is laid back; however, laid back can lazy when it is not managed and goes one notch too far. 

I battle several of these issues too.  If you look up “peacemaker” in the dictionary, you might find a picture of me there smiling and wearing a glorious halo.  That makes me sound so spiritual and wonderful, right?  I often quote Matthew 5:9.  It says “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called Children of God.” 

Could the trait I proudly embrace ever be negative?  The sad truth is that being a peacemaker and allowing it to go one notch too far turned me into a people pleaser, and being a people pleaser is horrible.  It is a never ending pursuit, because pleasing everyone is impossible.  It is also rooted in insecurity!  (Gosh, I sure did hang up my own spiritual halo quickly.)

I hold no degree in theology or philosophy, but perhaps our greatest God-given strength, intended for good and Kingdom work can be our downfall.  If pushed one notch too far by the Enemy or by our own selfish pursuits, our flesh takes over.  What a waste!

It has been a gradual process to get my people pleasing tendencies back on the right track.  I constantly have to keep myself in check with the help of the Lord.  Romans 8:6 says “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” 

Our minds are constantly at war.  The war rages to pull us from a life controlled by the Spirit to a life controlled by our own desires and inclinations.  Be aware this week of your “One notch too far” tendencies.  A relationship with Jesus is the only hope for balance! Seek Him and be blessed! 

  

Broken

We broke down last week and bought a new washer and dryer.  You must know that I have a great deal of respect for the household items around here that assist me in cleaning.  My vacuum…Oh, it is such a hard worker!  My Swifter…I feel so sorry for it!  My washer and dryer…If they only knew what they were signing up for, they would have never chosen to live here at the Monico house.  It is a tough gig.

My washer and dryer help me with three to four loads of laundry a day.  I do not dare boast about my floors or my bathrooms, but I can brag about my laundry.  When a Monico takes off an article of clothing, they know that the next day it will be back in their room fresh, clean, and ready to wear. 

My old washer and dryer were really worn out.  I did not truly know how bad they were until I used my new ones.  The washer was barely spinning. I should have known something was wrong when the spin cycle woke us all up. It often sounded like a freight train.  The dryer never dried with only one cycle. It always took two or three.  I thought I was just overloading them; however, it was really that they needed to retire.

My new washer and dryer are so efficient that I am totally amazed!  Laundry is fun!  Laundry is quick and easy!  How did I ever settle for less?  Why did I live for a few months with a washer and dryer that were totally not up to par?

Honestly, I settle for less all of the time.   A local businessman shared something last week with a friend that stuck with me.  She told him that she had to go see her Mom at the nursing home and he said “No, you don’t have to go and see her, but you get to go see her.”

I sometimes think and even say that I have to go to the ballfield or that I have to do the dishes.  That is really a lie.  I am settling for less, settling for a lie.  I do not have to do anything at all, but I get to do these things. I am alive, well, and able to pack the car for another game or wash another dirty plate.  It is a blessing that my house is full of kids and that my hubby cooks for us.  I get to do these things!   Dishes are good, laundry is good, and life is a gift! 

A ten year clear check-up at Baylor Dallas this week reminded me of this again.  We should not take our health or our lives for granted.  I met a lady while at Baylor with breast cancer who was struggling and glad to be alive.  On the contrary, I left there well with a clean bill of health and no need to return again.  Others are not that blessed.

James 4:14 says “You do not know what will happen tomorrow!  Your life is like a mist.  You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away.” 

I strongly suggest we live life today to the fullest, that we love the LORD with all of our heart, soul, mind, and that we fully understand that today is a gift! We do not HAVE to do anything at all, but we GET to do it. 

washer and dryer

We broke down last week and bought a new washer and dryer.  You must know that I have a great deal of respect for the household items around here that assist me in cleaning.  My vacuum…Oh, it is such a hard worker!  My Swifter…I feel so sorry for it!  My washer and dryer…If they only knew what they were signing up for, they would have never chosen to live here at the Monico house.  It is a tough gig.

My washer and dryer help me with three to four loads of laundry a day.  I do not dare boast about my floors or my bathrooms, but I can brag about my laundry.  When a Monico takes off an article of clothing, they know that the next day it will be back in their room fresh, clean, and ready to wear. 

My old washer and dryer were really worn out.  I did not truly know how bad they were until I used my new ones.  The washer was barely spinning. I should have known something was wrong when the spin cycle woke us all up. It often sounded like a freight train.  The dryer never dried with only one cycle. It always took two or three.  I thought I was just overloading them; however, it was really that they needed to retire.

My new washer and dryer are so efficient that I am totally amazed!  Laundry is fun!  Laundry is quick and easy!  How did I ever settle for less?  Why did I live for a few months with a washer and dryer that were totally not up to par?

Honestly, I settle for less all of the time.   A local businessman shared something last week with a friend that stuck with me.  She told him that she had to go see her Mom at the nursing home and he said “No, you don’t have to go and see her, but you get to go see her.”

I sometimes think and even say that I have to go to the ballfield or that I have to do the dishes.  That is really a lie.  I am settling for less, settling for a lie.  I do not have to do anything at all, but I get to do these things. I am alive, well, and able to pack the car for another game or wash another dirty plate.  It is a blessing that my house is full of kids and that my hubby cooks for us.  I get to do these things!   Dishes are good, laundry is good, and life is a gift! 

A ten year clear check-up at Baylor Dallas this week reminded me of this again.  We should not take our health or our lives for granted.  I met a lady while at Baylor with breast cancer who was struggling and glad to be alive.  On the contrary, I left there well with a clean bill of health and no need to return again.  Others are not that blessed.

James 4:14 says “You do not know what will happen tomorrow!  Your life is like a mist.  You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away.” 

I strongly suggest we live life today to the fullest, that we love the LORD with all of our heart, soul, mind, and that we fully understand that today is a gift! We do not HAVE to do anything at all, but we GET to do it. 

The lambs

Our family increased by three the week after Spring Break when the lambs for the county fair moved in.  The kids named them Butch, Festus, and Winchester.

I showed lambs and heifers when I was a kid too.  I remember well the walking, feeding, and one fight in particular I had with my brother over who was going to carry the bucket of water out to the pen.  We both got spankings.

The county fair and camping out at the Emmons camp was the highlight of my year.  One of the reasons we loved it was the animal judging.  The real reason we loved the fair though was the meeting and mingling that took place over the five days and five nights. 

You see, boys and girls from all over the county came together dolled up and cleaned up in their best western attire.  Everyone tended to collide right in front of the Ferris wheel or over by the show pen, and it was fun!

Back to present tense…our kids work hard with their projects.  One may feed in the morning and one may feed at night, but they all individually walk and work with their lambs.  There is no substitute for knowing and nurturing your own animal. 

Brazos, the oldest one involved here, really has developed a knack for setting up his lamb and showmanship. He coaches his younger siblings and sometimes even takes their lambs into his own hands to “show” them what to do.

He demonstrates and then passes the lamb back to its rightful owner. My job is usually includes standing outside of the pen, keeping my shoes free of poop, and offering encouragement. 

We had a hiccup this week.  Blaise, the youngest of our fair participants, was as sick as a dog.  She spent three days in her Dad’s chair sipping on Ginger Ale, taking medicine, and trying to hold down crackers.  Obviously, she did not work with her lamb because of her illness.

Last night when Blaise was well enough to get back to business, her lamb acted like a fool! After three work sessions, we are nearly back to the point that Blaise can control her animal.  The time away from her sheep made a difference….and not a positive one.    

Her lamb does not responding to her like it did last week, and it is not just the lamb.  Blaise feels more frustration than joy and excitement.  It is going to take time!  Thank God we have a few more days until show time. 

This county fair project relates to most “projects” in life.  Anything that we want to do good in takes time, dedication, and work!  When we neglect our assignment, there will be consequences.  Often too…others can help out, but nothing can substitute for us personally connecting with our task and our own hard work. 

This is true for our relationship with the LORD too.  Others can pray for us and teach us, but the time we spend alone in Word and with our heavenly Father must be done personally. We must show up, there are substitutions or a way to pass the buck to someone else.    

In John 3:3, Jesus said “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”  Much like with the lamb, nothing can take the place of you personally connecting with your Father. Spend time with Him this week.  

Are you born again?  If so, spend some time this week with your Father.  If not, call on the name of Jesus, you will be saved; however, no one can do it for you.  You must call out to Him.  

Old Junk

The Monico crew is beginning round two of baseball and softball this week.  Sadly, both of my high school players are finished.  I mourned the end of their seasons and caught myself thinking…what now?  Even though my daughter will play softball for most of the summer and my son will individually work here on his baseball skills, there is nothing like supporting your kids and their high school teammates. 

Round two begins for us officially though because the younger two Monicos play their first games this week.  There has been some fierce instruction the past few days in the backyard.  Luckily, my only job is to fetch stray balls.  The dogs and I stay busy trying to keep up with Blaise and her pitching. 

Yesterday, I had a date with just Bosque and Blaise.  We spent the afternoon in Dallas getting Bosque outfitted and ready for the year.  It was a quick, successful, and expensive trip to his favorite store, Dick’s Sporting Goods.  We made a pit stop at Starbucks on the way home, so my day was complete! 

At one point when we were barreling south down I-45, we came upon a pick-up truck packed completely full of mattresses and boxes.  The truck bed was jam-packed and moving slowly with its hazards on.  A smaller car followed closely behind it with its hazards on as well. 

I thought to myself, as we zoomed past them, that I sure was glad they were cautiously creeping along, because if they lost their load, it would be a mess!  The construction along I-45 is already is a fiasco.  I cannot even imagine what kind of a delay travelers might face with mattresses and home goods everywhere.

The thought occurred to me as we passed the truck that we all move slower when we are bogged down.  Carrying a heavy load always means more labored movement.  That is true for vehicles and it is true for us.  In Psalm 38:4 David says “For my iniquities are gone over my head; As a heavy burden they weigh too much for me.” 

Sin always makes me feel YUCK!  It zaps my energy, creativity, and joy.  I move slower and think slower when I get myself in a bind.  I feel weighed down and like I am carrying a heavier load than normal when I am out of fellowship with the LORD and living in disobedience.  I also feel alone!

Luckily, the truck had another vehicle traveling right behind it.  The driver of that car had two jobs I assume.  The first job was to operate her own car.  Her second job was to watch the load that was in front of her and make sure that it did not shift or start to move.  The shifting of just one box could have been disastrous.  It was important that everything remained strapped on stayed put. 

That is NOT true for us and sin.  We need NOT keep old junk strapped on and carry it around like a heavy burden.  Sin does not need to stay put!  Sin needs to go!  

Psalm 38 gets worse as it goes on.  David is violently troubled by his own sin, but cries out to the LORD at the end.  Verse 21 and 22 say “LORD, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God.  Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Savior.” 

Just like David, we can ask the LORD to help us this week.  Call out to your Lord and Savior. Forgiveness begins with Him.  Why carry such a load?  

Colorado

Sunday a week ago I took off on the longest road trip to date with all four of my kids.  We pulled out of the driveway at 3:30 a.m. with our sights set on Manitou Springs, Colorado and arrived by late afternoon. We checked into our hotel and headed out on an adventure to find some dinner. 

The town was charming. Colorado Springs may surround it, but they are as different as Paris, Texas and Paris, France.  Manitou Springs actually reminded me my days in Europe. Every storefront tells a story and seemingly invites you in.  Places like Manitou are special and unforgettable. 

Denver was our home away from home.  My oldest daughter played softball, but we still had time for fun…the most fun perhaps being the cooler weather and the mountains. 

After a few days though, I missed my husband. I missed my dogs. I even missed my house, but managed to block it all out and cherish the time away with my crew.  I may never have all four of them to myself again for an entire week, so I loved it while it lasted!

And then…the voyage home.  It was treacherous.  When we reached Amarillo, we voted to make it to Dallas.  (I would not recommend this to anyone who does not love coffee and have a strong bladder.) 

I drove and drove.  I prayed and prayed.  Just like Motel 6, the Monicos, my in laws,  left the light on for us until 3:30 in the morning.

Today on the last leg of our trip, I journeyed down memory lane back to when my kids were little.  I was outnumbered then too, but overwhelmingly determined to get out.   Loading up the Suburban and getting them all buckled in was a beating! I needed a serious nap by the time I got us all ready.  However, I poured myself a cup of coffee and hit the road.

Dallas seemed so far back then. I mastered the art of driving with one hand and somehow reached back with my other arm to feed a baby or to plug a mouth with a pacifier.  (No wonder I now frequent the chiropractor.) 

It was only 90 miles away, but seemed like eternity.   Standard procedure was a fresh diaper or trip to the potty before we left our house.  I recall one horrific trip into the McDonald’s bathroom in Ennis. I was the guilty party.  I held Blaise in my arms and used the restroom.  Banner was in the stall with us. She probably had to button my pants.   I have no clue what I did with the boys, but we made it. 

Today was different though.  That is what hit me!  Dallas to Fairfield was the easiest drive in the world.   The distance has not changed, but my view of the drive has changed over the past 12 years since I first drove it with my tribe.  My circumstances have changed, not the distance.  My tribe grew up! 

Sometimes though we cannot change our circumstances, and then life is really all about perspective. My favorite book to read and reread in the summer is “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp.  She writes “The practice of giving thanks…eucharisteo…this is the way we practice the presence of God, stay present to His presence, and it is always a practice of the eyes.  We don’t have to change what we see. Only the way we see.” 

I shed a few tears this week over the majesty of the mountains in Colorado.  Pike’s Peak seems to reach the heavens, but you cannot stay up there forever. Likewise, ups and downs in life are inevitable.   The key is the way we see the mountains and valleys.  Choose this week to see them both as a blessing!

Old Dodge

This is an old journal entry I found from 2012.  It proves to be very significant now that Brazos has his driving permit and will get his license next year.

Brazos just turned 11.  He loves George Jones, Tom T. Hall, and his Dad's old pick-ups. The green Dodge is a 1990 model. Braz has big plans to drive it to high school. He said this week that he will never sell his Dad's old trucks. He even went so far as to say that HIS kids better not sell them! He wants the trucks to be here forever. "Can I take them to heaven, Mom?" he asked me yesterday.

I had to break it to him that he can't take anything to heaven. Then I changed my anything to...there is one thing we CAN take with us to heaven I believe: the people we have told about Jesus. We can take them.

When we share the love of Jesus with others and they too invite Him into their hearts, we are in a way taking them with us to heaven. Our relationships with people are the only thing that really will outlast this earth.

John 15:16 says "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit- fruit that will last."

Share something with someone today that will last! A smile, a word of encouragement, a verse, an invitation to a CHRISTmas celebration, an apology, a second chance, a bit of your time to show you care. Show someone Jesus today. Be Jesus today to someone! That is guaranteed to last!

Oh, and if God is making a room in heaven right now for my son, I believe it will be full of old pick-ups; however, the trucks will MEET Brazos there. He will not take them with him!

It is now 2017 and a lot has changed around here.  I have changed a lot, some positive and some negative if I am completely honest.  My kids have grown up.  They are bigger and stronger than me, both physically and mentally in some areas. 

One of the things that has remained the same is how Brazos loves his Dad’s old Dodge.  When he gets his license in the Fall, the green Dodge will be his first vehicle.  We run our errands in it now.  I used to drive him around.  Now…he drives me.

I still remind him and my other kids about the truths I wrote many years ago in this journal entry.  We are active and more in the community than ever.  Just for old time’s sake, I will repeat them again.

Share something with someone today that will last! A smile, a word of encouragement, a verse, an invitation to a CHRISTmas celebration or a church service, an apology, a second chance, a bit of your time to show you care. Show someone Jesus today. Be Jesus today to someone! That is guaranteed to last! 

I pray this week that we all will bear fruit that will last and show someone else the LOVE of Jesus Christ.  Time sure is passing quickly…be blessed this week and be a blessing!  

Auto Parts Store

I went on a real adventure Saturday afternoon.  My husband sent me on an errand.  The objective was simple.  I was given a spark plug and told to get another spark plug just like it at the auto parts store. 

Auto parts stores on Saturday afternoon are very busy.  On this particular day, there were local townsfolk shopping for batteries and such, but there were also several people just passing through town who encountered trouble and needed help. 

There were two men in need of a carburetor.  Luckily, the gentleman at the counter had the exact carburetor they needed; however, there was evidently nobody in town to replace the old one.  The men got busy on their phones and tried to find the closest place that could help them.  They decided on Madisonville and set out as advised, without their air turned off and their fingers crossed, to hopefully make it to their destination. Another woman was stranded I guess because a tow truck came and towed her out of the parking lot.

My task seemed simple compared to all of theirs.  The kind lady looked at my spark plug and quickly searched for a match on her computer.  She found one and sent me on my way. 

When I got home and proudly showed it to my husband, he immediately knew it was the wrong one.  I could have given up at that point and let him go to town like he offered, but I did not.  I accepted the challenge, hopped back in the car, and headed back to town. 

Round two:  Upon closer inspection, the spark plug that had been used in our old Chevy was an after-market one.  There was not an exact match, but I got one that would work. 

I laughed as usual at the fiasco I found myself in.  I mean…me at the auto parts store, two times, talking spark plugs, yet not having a clue what I was talking about.  I obviously did not have any background knowledge of spark plugs to use as a reference point. I did not even know if I was on the right track or not.  I was clueless!  All I could do was laugh and “act” the part.

There are obviously things in life that are more important and crucial to me than spark plugs.  I can fully accept not knowing random truck parts.  I don’t even want to know about truck parts.  However, there are things I cannot accept knowing nothing about, such as having a good marriage, raising decent children, how to make my school better, how to help my community, etc. 

Most of all though, I want to know more about living a life that pleases the LORD and points others in the right direction, in HIS direction.  Even if I openly admit that life as a Christian is not perfect and that sin sure can get the best of me, I know without a doubt that walking hand in hand with Jesus Christ is the only way to go.  Jesus is peace, joy, and an abundance of everything good!  He is life.

If I want to know more about living a life pleasing to God, I will have to intentionally study the Word, listen to Christian music, pray, and spend time with the Lord.  Nothing good is going to come to me via osmosis.  My walk with the Lord does not just affect me either.  It is a ripple effect that touches my husband, children, students, and others in my community.   

In Acts 4:13 Luke writes about Peter and John “they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” 

My goal this week is to be with Jesus.  Join me.