Daddy

Father's Day 2014 brings a new and greater appreciation for the caring Daddy that God gifted me with.  As I began mulling over what to write at the beginning of this week, all I could think of were cliche phrases at best-a phrase such as "Best Dad in the World."  I wanted to depict that to me-without going all adjective crazy on you- he is a wonderful dad, and that I'm thankful for him.

I'm writing a feeble, night-turned-morning-on-Father's-Day account of seven quickly unearthed snapshots of events -that were so normal and taken for granted as a girl, but so life-giving and valuable to me now-because I see these moments, some I still experience even today as pathways to thanksgiving to God!

1. Sky Aware.

He likes flying, sunsets, and the moon.  Daddy is constantly looking skyward at the slightest chop of a helicopter, the low rumble of a 747, or stellar heavenly handiwork displayed by evening light.  This "Ah! Cool! There's a massive rumbling sound in the air!!!" thought sticks with me through everyday. :)  As I sit at the park with Amanda and the kids, and I hear a plane I can't help but scan the blue atmosphere for an airplane-even if the planes are flying overhead at the rate of 1 per 4 minutes-and I like it.

2. Trails.

Daddy and Momma biking down the trails of the Cedar Valley with Anna and I in tow, is a memory that is pleasant to recall.  Anna and I always had a time of keeping up with our two bicycle-loving, fit parents.  I think the longest bike ride I  took before I was 12 was near Lanesboro Minnesota, and it was about 25-26 miles long.  Sometimes it was really great to be biking, and sometimes Anna and I would have thought to skip it; but now I appreciate it as great family-time fun.

3. Time Telling, Lefts and Rights, and Money.

Today, daddy was just "drilling" Asher about which hand was his left, and which was his right, and Asher passed the drill with flying colors at three years old (smartypants).  There were many kitchen-side drills similar to the one I witnessed a few hours ago.  "Raise your left hand, point to your right ear. . ."  I needed the practice with "left" and "right," and Anna needed the practice with her "face-telling-time," and you've taught both of us through the year about money.   Thanks for practicing these basics with us, without laughing at us, I don't know if I could have done it! :o)

4. The Treasure Tree. 

This is a book you read to Anna and I many times when we were tiny, tucked beside you, we would hear the tale of four animal friends finding great treasure when they all work together.  The stories were amazing then, but now I value the time you took to read story books, advent books, and God's Word to your daughters. Thank you for leading us to love learning.

5. Green and Yellow. 

I've been an extremely opinionated tractor observer since I was able to speak- I'm certain.  The Reed family is a "big green tractor" family, and it was always fun spotting the naughty blue and red tractors in the fields and yelling out incredulously, "That naughty tractor!"  You're a loyal hard working Daddy, thank you for working long hours to provide for your family.  I appreciate the work that you do, and I know you do it with excellence! And, I truly like the fun-spirited brand loyalty we have for John Deere.  [Gigging to myself as I write about this one.]

6. Subs, Pitas, and ice cream {and many other food adventures}.

I know, the heading for this one is broad. But we have spent a lot of time together over food, so I thought it appropriate. :)  One very big thing that happened to me around the dinner table, was a conversation about the Gospel lead by my Daddy.  God used that conversation to reaffirm my trust in Christ alone for saving me, not in my "good girl deeds," or trusting in a prayer I may have not understood when I was three when God first drew me to Himself. Salvation in Christ alone.  What an awesome time of hearing from God's Word, and being prompted to respond in faith to the Gospel that day!

Thank you for taking me on dates, to eat yummy food, ask thoughtful questions, and to give me space to talk about my life with you.

P.S. Tonight's ice cream date was really fun. :)

7. "I Spy." 

It's been a family tradition for years, whenever anyone sees something that is incredible in nature (for us, it's usually a sunset in the backyard), we say "I spy!" and it reminds us to marvel and be thankful for that gift we see right in front of us.  You'd better try this one sometime, it's a lot of fun to spot things that are marked with beautiful design in creation!

I'm grateful for my Daddy, because he leads me to wonder at little things, and then turn that enjoyment of the created, toward the Creator through thanksgiving.

Man, once I get going it's so hard to stop-- I just want to keep adding to the list of thankful thoughts for today!  My hope for you, dear reader, is that through small things (like the memories of my Daddy on this page), God would increase your joy in Himself in big ways, and that He would be magnified through your own memories of His faithfulness to you.

Happy Father's Day Daddy! 

I'm delighted that I get to spend the day with you!

John Deere Tractor Exploring Circa Sept. 27, 2008

Not life-skilled. {For our Joy in Christ Remember}

This week I'm rediscovering that, in the words of an old teacher of mine, "I am not life-skilled."

I don't live life to the fullest when I act like the people with whom I live along side (in person or on social media) are my audience, as if I live on the set for a quaint movie that is out in real time.

Okay friend, I think this Thursday evening is a good time to remember something together.  Have a seat, I'm smiling, and there's also a twinkle in my eye as I lean over and tell you something that God can turn into a celebration of His grace and faithfulness--

"Don't worry, you're not alone. I certainly love to put on a show that appears like I have "it" all together, I try to hold myself to *my own standard* of what a good person looks like, acts like, and is. I speak words that only smooth out tension, keeping the face of peace, escape my lips. Instead of speaking the truth in love.  I let my little charges watch TV-- When I could stop writing and imagine a car town for 15 minutes with the tiny one. And, don't worry, I don't know what's for dinner most nights either. What I'm getting at is. . . *I'm messy too.*" 

What I need to hear at these times when the true me is exposed, and I ACTUALLY remember that which is always before me, but most often scuffed to the side, is that the Christian life is depending on Jesus, reveling in God's glorious grace toward us in Jesus, and glorifying God through enjoying Him forever. I'm trusting Him to fulfill His promises, that He is JOY, He is Redeemer, He is Rescuer, & He is stronger than messy storms in my heart. 


His love for his beloved bride the church, *in Christ* is never severed.

 
I'm trusting God rescued me for *eternal abundant life in His presence* through Jesus' blood shed in my place. And that He *is loving me* even in this moment, this hour, and this day--only by His grace working in me--there is sanctification taking place. 

No matter what happens in this day, oh dear friend and fellow heir in Christ, take new hope and a gain a new fervor in your ministry through these precious Words of God: 

"Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [No one. Not even me.] Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

 . . . 

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors *through him who LOVED us.*" Romans 8:33-35, 37 (Emphasis mine.)

God loved you. He loved you enough to rescue you from your own sin, and He's working in you today. No matter what today looks like.  I'm not life-skilled, but because God is opening my eyes to the grace that He has loved me to the point of complete forgiveness in Christ Jesus; God is changing my passions, desires, and actions for His own name's sake. And that is an incredible thing to celebrate!

Hang in there, keep it real, and keep trusting the God of true joy.

 

7 Things I am Coming to Appreciate About the Calling of Parenting

Recently, I have been happily able to observe, encourage and live life with my sister and her husband in their daily journey as parents of a 3 year old boy, and a 1 year old girl.  They are both precious and I love them to pieces, but they are not "easy" by any stretch of the imagination- for either of them.  I have seen them both sacrifice so much, and I really want to honor their commitment to their relationships with their children and them as parents-they are a great team (even though they might be a sleepless team for now).
From my up close perspective- day in and day out, for 3.5 months so far- with a young growing family of four, I have come to better understand a some things about the calling of parenting,  more specifically motherhood, on a level that demands my respect and appreciation for my parents, and for those who are fulfilling their calling to the best of their ability all around me.  Here are 7 things I have recently come to appreciate about parenting.

1. I will never ever think that being a stay-at-home-mom (or a mom at all!) is the "easy route." Not Ever.

They may get to wear yoga pants on the job, but have you considered all the emotional stamina, perseverance through sleep deprivation, and creativity one must have in order to walk in the calling well?  It's quite shocking to see what mommas go through in one 24 hour period, and still have the energy for as much as a smile at the end of the day. When is that again? Cause last I checked, the babies still wake up at 1 am and 3 am and 6:30 am... I know how to pray for you new mommas a whole lot better now! :)

2. A specific time of day that children can look forward to just playing with a parent is the highlight of a child's day. 

 Kids LOVE your undivided attention, and when a parent gives it to them, they really do value it.  It just makes sense.  From an outside perspective- I LOVE hearing all the giggles, music, and encouragement that goes on during these times!  It makes my heart happy.

Thank you mom and dad for taking time to go on walks and to the park with Anna and I often!  Those times of playing "tickle bear" on the playground, or learning how to cast on the knit stitch means more to me now than you know.

3. Teething lasts a REALLY LONG TIME.

At least to me it seems like it does- I'm talking months.  That means baby is crying and upset because her mouth is on fire, she is sore in places one never wishes to be, and is generally sad.  It's long, and they can't help it.  And how parents muster the endurance to keep on comforting and hugging the baby through their pain- is definitely a grace that is given in the moment of need. 

Thank you mom and dad for letting me chomp on your fingers, chew on the pages of your books, and listening to my girlgling vibration noises. :P And to you parents who are going through this right now-there is hope, it's only a few months, and it's so worth it.

4. Some days it is perfectly acceptable to simply "do" keeping everyone in the home alive. No shame.

I think I would have previously thought that this is a statement for the weaklings, but no, it's definitely a real thing that can and might really be necessary for the most competent parents.  Life is full of give and take, and some days just seem to "take" more out of you than you can give.  On those days I offer my congratulations- Good job parents. You made it til 7:45 p.m., you may now eat ice cream and sit on couches like real grown ups might do.  Remember there is always hope for a brighter (and less crazy) day tomorrow.

 5. So much emotional energy is necessary for parenting. 

Especially for the momma who stays at home with her small children (I say that position of parenting because that's the kind I've had the closest experience with for now.) Just because your kids are the "cutest kids in the world" doesn't mean that they are unable to bother, upset, annoy or pain you in very personal ways.

Thankfully God designed mommas to be able to endure-what's more laugh at AND enjoy- many of the antics of toddlers and babies.  Spitting all over? Hilarious because the babe has had her tongue out for the past 10 minutes straight.  Hanging on the cupboards?  Let me video this moment cause little man continues to yell out "Where is meee?" while he hangs there.

6. A thought on peas for dinner.

Seriously, its an act of sincere love if a parent gives a small child frozen or cooked peas at dinner time.  The peas are entirely too difficult to clean off the floor in my opinion.  Watching my sister dispatch peas to her children, and then seeing how the clean up process goes afterwards leads me to wonder if I'll ever have the bravery it takes to give children peas inside the house someday! (You pea-distributing parents must REALLY love your kids!) ;)

I'm not sure if my momma gave me peas, I'm sure she did. But meals in general are crazy messy, and I can better appreciate the cleanliness of a kitchen -where ever I am. Someone worked hard to put it in order that for sure.

7. It all comes down to self-sacrificing, all-enduring love.

In the past 3.5 month segment of life I have been privileged to observe an obscene amount of selfless love in parent-child relationships.  The gentle word, the soft "pat-pats" on the small back, the hours of reading, and the consistent and appropriate consequences that come to the wayward little man when needed.  I could go on and on about all of the ways that self-sacrificing love shows it's beautiful self in real-life parenting situations, but I really just want to let you linger on the meaning of this one in your life-whether you're a parent or not.

My fellow believers, we have tasted of the most self-sacrificing love God demonstrates- given through Jesus' death on the cross, burial, and resurrection.

"but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."Romans 5:8

We are called to love one another deeply.

"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart."
1 Peter 1:22

How can you show that selfless love to the people in your daily life?  Parents by nature of the job become really good at this; and if you're not a parent, don't sweat it, there are so many venues to take this kind of love and let it play out for your joy, for the good of others, and for the glory and fame of God. 

It's not easy, but it's so worth every prayer, helping hand, and scrap of encouragement you can give.

A note to my Momma: 

Thank you for taking all of the complexities of child-rearing and loving me and my sisters right through those complexities.  I didn't realize how much of a daily love bearing motherhood is.  We children, often forget to thank you for your hope concern, and endless loads of dishes and laundry you've sacrificed your time to provide us with.  For this Mother's Day, I can appreciate just a little bit more about how much you gave in my youth.  You are always serving, normally funny, and ever a hard worker.  Thank you for leading by example. Thank you for pointing me to Jesus.

I love you Momma.
-Your Cally girl

Summer Tiiiiime...

So, Olivia and I were at Target and decided to get some fun, and really obnoxiously RED lipstick. Oh my goodness. When I was putting it on we totally were cracking up, we were on the way to my house... Livi put hers on before we went in the house. We walk in the house and start absolutely loosing it. My mom walks over and she sees me on the floor, and she says something like like "are you ok? You're not ok are you." It must have looked like we were crying! Oh good times.

On Wednesday I was getting rather tired of all the rain we had been having and thought we may as well make the best of the situation and have a soap slip n' slide! Miranda, Kristine, Anna, Olivia M., April, and Livi were there. That was really soapy... At least it wasn't that muddy though! After we had our fill of the slide we all went back to my house and played Pit.

A fence running along our backyard made a great makeshift dock... :) The water in one place was over my knees; yet, we had no water in our basement. Praise the Lord!

Reflections. Yeah, this is upside down. :)

One of my FAVORITE summer time snacks are snow peas straight from our garden, it's like candy. Really. Soooo good.

Well, from here on out it might get a little crazy... 1. I may get to detassel next week. Yay for 5 AM mornings. 2. I leave for Kansas city, Kansas next Monday (July 19th) for a ministry trip with my youth team. Your prayers for people to be impacted spiritually during the week would be grand. Pray for our team that is making the haul, and for the youth group we're helping out, and for the teens we reach out to in Kansas, to have a willing heart to listen and trust God. Thank you! 3. Sr. High camp is right after I get back from the ministry trip, I have 1 day (Sunday) to relax catch up on sleep and do laundry before Sr. High. I'm SO excited for camp though! 4. Sr. High rolls right into Family Camp 4; I'll be staying in Clear Lake probably in between the two camps... :) 5. Before I know it I'll be back at volleyball, and starting the very difficult and time consuming task of slaying the dragons named Algebra 2, and Chemistry. Phew.

For now, I'm very glad it's summer; I'm totally enjoying it! Stay cool. :P

Minnesota Visiting.

For the past few days I've been hanging out with this couple, :). I've made cake, and lemon bread, (from a package -haha); I also attempted to make homemade macaroni and cheese, and carmel corn but they didn't work out so well... Let's just say- now I know what butterscotch is made of, and basically how they make it.

We had a nice outing to Lake Minnetonka on Sunday night, took pictures and watched cars and boats.

Last night Charlie took me to my first baseball game. It was mmm, ok. And I can't believe people pay SOOO much money for their beers! ;) Twins lost but it was a nice day to be at the ball park. Oh, I thought when the choir sang the national anthem it was cool that "red rockets" actually glared "boms" bursted in air-in time with the song. Pretty neat!

Life... A somewhat brief analogy

On my internet explorer server what-cha-ma-call-it there is the option to have many different tabs open so you can be on different sites at once. Now, this is not new news, but tonight I looked at the tabs I had open at the time; and thought this kinda describes my life lately. Let me explain.

I have a tab open that would be representing schooling right now, it's http://www.readprint.com/author-147/Martha-Finley-books, I'm interested in this right about now because I have to do research for an American Literature class assignment. Martha Finley is the American author I've chosen for the subject of the "research project." That is in quotes because for the assignment we have to do the research and bibliography and all; except we don't have to actually write the paper. :)

Next I have keeping in touch tabs- facebook.com and gmail.com. Enough said? :P

Susiemag.com comes next and this is a bit of a fuzzy analogy to my relationship with God as I grow and learn. Lately I have been learning more about trusting God with summer plans, the future... Connecting with other Christian girls has been a fun experience on susiemag.com. Two of my essays have been "published" on the site in the creative corner.

This site blogger.com that I'm writing on is next in the line-up of tabs. Yeah, I haven't updated very often...

Thttp://www.etsy.com/shop/TheMulberryButton?ga_search_query=themulberrybutton&ga_search_type=seller_usernames This is the link to the next tab creativity-ness. :P If you're in my contacts for email, you may have got an alert about this small business that a friend and I have started, about a week and a half ago. If you haven't checked us out go for it! I was making jewelry somewhat recently, it's fun to do, but I think I go in spurts. :P If you already have looked at our shop, thank you for taking the time to.

And lastly, after I had this whole relating my tabs to my life thought, I opened pandora.com. Music is also a part of my life. :) Do you have any suggestions for new CDs for me to listen to? Right now I'm listening to Captains and Cruise Ships by Owl City... My thoughts on that, Owl City has VERY random thoughts in his songs. But, apparently he's a Christian?

I've enjoyed playing the piano recently. I like the song Dream Scene for now; also, Wonderful Words of Life is quite fun. I have a cool arrangement for Wonderful Words of Life, I played for church, at a home school program, and I'm going to play it again this spring at an awards ceremony thingy...

So, generally that has been my life as of late- OH! I couldn't forget photography! But if you're my friend on facebook, you can look at pretty recent photos on my page. I might post some on here soon. I very much enjoy taking pictures. So, if you want to do a photoshoot, let me know, I'd probably be willing. :)

Mud facial masks, and other escapades at the creek.

The creek is a great mini vacation to an Iowa beach, to one of the best spas around, and an adventure-filled wading pool! I went there last night and had a double mud facial with a couple good friends, there's hardly anything that's more fun. The sad thing is we all forgot our cameras... ;0) Our skin has to be in better shape because of all of that natural goodness, so carefully slathered onto our faces. We tend to get a little wetter than we intend to when we go plodding through water, the unstable creek bed takes care of that. Sploosh! But that the fun part, the surprised screams of sand (or mud) sinking friends, is so hilarious. So we end up with a great fun filled work out- laughing is great for your abs, and wading really gets your legs working.

Praise God for creating creeks, and letting me live so close to one, and for friends that don't mind getting muddy. :D

Blog is a little confuzzling...

Sorry Guys about the mess around the blog. I forgot to put the pictures in before I started typing so I tried to get it right... Bear with me!

Thanks!

Summer Time!

Hello!

Sorry I haven't written in a while but I've been so busy with camp two weeks, Derek's wedding, and playing at the pool! Oh yeah did I mention that I got my hair cut for locks of love?

We'll start out with Jr. Girls camp. Working at IRBC is: fun, hard work, fellowship with good Christian friends, and a week of growing in Christ, building character. I appreciate the workers so much more now that I know what they have to do even to prep. for just one meal (not to mention the clean-up)! There were around 30 girls that prayed to accept Jesus into their hearts! So exciting! I don't have any pictures of this week because I had so little time...

Jr. High camp. I went to Jr. High camp with the group from Walnut Ridge; on Monday the 14th at 8 a.m. and arivied back on the 19th at 10:30ish a.m. (Photo #1)

Liza and Krista were in this cabin and I had a blast especially on Thursday afternoon, because it started to rain and they set up a slip-n-slide covered in soap bubbles! Krista, Aliza and I went into the barn and wrote our names on the wall and then on the ceiling. I have a picture of these. We also found Daysha's (Aliza's older sister) name on the wall too! That was pretty sweet! (Photo #2 & 3)

On Friday I was going to spot for the Jumbo Dog ride for Krista and there was going to be another girl going too but she couldn't make it, and Katie Kline (one of the Faith Baptist Bible College contenders) was the driver of the bout so she said that if I wanted to jump back there I could ride with them. It was 40 minutes before chapel started and I didn't have my swimming suit on but it sounded like fun so I said yes and hopped on, clothes and all! (Photo # 4)

Derek and Jammie's wedding on July 19th, 2008. The ceremony was so worship inspired, the wedding march was replaced by a Christian contemporary song-so kool! The reception was beautiful and the food was amazing!

Ahh, finally I get to today! At 12 noon today Elizabeth Deeds, Danae Wheeler, Miranda Wheeler, and myself at Jiva salon Down Town Cedar Falls. Locks of Love is an organisation that makes wigs for little kids that went thrugh cancer and had to have cemo theripy and lost thier hair and locks of love makes wigs so that the kids can have hair too. I got 10 inches cut off and it's really short, but I'm getting used to it now, I like my hair cut. I think the other girls do too! (Photo # 5)




I can't wait to see ya'll again! Talk to you soon!