Before you publish that blog post............

S.T.E.A.M.--Where would we be without that "T" for "technology"?  In some ways, the world has never been more connected.  News, good or bad, can be shared with thousands of people instantly.  Everybody can rejoice over your child's first loose tooth moments after it is discovered!  What a time to be alive!

While technology connects us in ways that our grandparents never thought possible, it also seems to aid in a very sad, harmful sort of disconnect.  It allows us to "interact" with one another without the messiness and inconvenience of actually being with one another.  I have read many blog posts that could be titled  "Dear lady I watched cry at Starbucks" or "To the mother of three that I creeped on at Target".  Perhaps posting a blog about wanting to help the lady at Starbucks or typing what we wanted to say to the lady at Target makes us feel like we really did help in some way.  However, chances are overwhelming that the ladies addressed in the blog posts will never read them......and never be helped by them.

In 2012, my husband suffered a heart attack and underwent quadruple bypass surgery.  It was, without question, one of the most frightening times in my life.  So many gracious family members and friends reached out and helped us logistically and financially.  Meanwhile, there was one person who chose to "help" in a very unusual, unexpected way--by writing a blog post.  This was not a "please pray for my friends as they go through this" kind of post.  This was more of  the"make sure you appreciate your loved ones--you never know what might happen to them" variety.  I don't mind that the post was written.  It just bothered me that this person lived close by and never personally reached out to us.  They never offered to pray or even send a message asking how we were doing.  To this person, our difficult circumstance was simply an opportunity to write a blog post.  I will admit the possibility that this person thought that the blog was helping us in some way.  In a way, it did.  It taught me never to do that to someone.

If we can take the time to wax eloquently about what we would say to the overwhelmed young mother or to the heartbroken lady in Starbucks, should we not use some of that time to walk up to them and show God's love in some way?  Our efforts might be rejected or unappreciated, but I can nearly guarantee that attempts at personal connection will do far more than writing.  Who knows, it might make for a FAR more interesting story.

When the Broken Clock is Right

"Even a broken clock is right twice each day".

This witty and familiar quote has little to do with actual clocks.  What do we do with literal broken clocks?  Typically, we change the battery, try to repair them or throw them away.

What do we do with the human "broken clocks" in our lives?  The people who regularly over-share on social media.  The people who pontificate ad infinitum about topics of which they have little knowledge.  The people whose grammar, approach or hygiene leave much to be desired.   No matter how kind and understanding we are, there might be times when we would like to, figuratively, throw such people away.  We automatically dismiss anything they say as "wrong".

Broken clocks are right twice each day.  Broken people can get it right far less often.  However, this does not mean that we should completely stop listening to the "broken clocks" in our lives.  While they might not be fountains of wisdom, they can be occasional streams of insight that help us find our way.  They might even be able to help us find and fix some of our own broken parts.

The next time you look at a broken clock, don't automatically assume that the time is incorrect.  It might really be 12:37.  The clock is still broken, but for 60 whole seconds, it isn't wrong.

Geriatric pregnancy

Well, July has been a very busy month! Adjusting to life in Houston, trying to find work and..........did I mention that I'm pregnant?!   I had been feeling very sick, and Eric suggested that I take a pregnancy test to rule out the possibility.  We were ecstatic to learn that we have a little one on the way!

As many of you know, I am 37 years old, which is considered "geriatric" in the baby-making world.  As this pregnancy progresses, I hope to encourage other "older moms" that a healthy pregnancy is possible, even in the mid to late 30s.  Believe that you can have a healthy pregnancy, trust that God has a purpose for this little life and find a positive doctor who encourages healthy habits.

Fear

Yesterday, I wrote about my struggle to maintain a clean house.  Today's blog is about an even bigger issue with which I struggle:  fear.  I think that I just might be afraid of everything.  I am afraid of dying, afraid of living, afraid of pleasing the wrong people, afraid of displeasing the right people.........I could go on all day.  I am beginning to understand that many of my fears revolve around my desire to control the world in which I live.  I know that God does not want me to be afraid.  II Timothy 1:7 says "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."  I want God to live through me, and, clearly, living in fear is not going to accomplish that.  Today, I will do things that scare me, relying on the power and the spirit of God to shine in my life.  May others see Him.

Cleaning

I struggle with keeping my house clean BIG TIME!!  I never really learned good cleaning/organizing skills, so I am playing catch up!  Here are my favorite cleaning links.

http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/2010/09/08/speed-cleaning/

http://www.myfrienddebbie.com/article_master.php?id=278

What's that smell?!

Some people take out the trash on a schedule:  "It's 7:30 AM on Monday--time to take out the garbage".  I take out the garbage when it begins to smell.  Even if the trash bin in less than half-full, I will find anything that I can possible throw away to fill it so that I can get it out of the house. 

I need to work on doing this mentally as often as I do it physically.  I have a lot of "junk thoughts" in my head, and I do not like to take the time to do anything about them.  As a result, they continue to recycle in my mind and cause trouble.  Doubts, fears and lies continuously churn until they grow so big that they affect my energy, emotions and choices.  I need to discipline myself to write a minimum of five minutes each day.  As much as I try to ignore or run from my thoughts, they never go away.  They just continue to grow and permeate, like garbage.

Classical Conversations

Our little Shiloh will be four years old in July.  Like many parents with children her age, we're thinking about preschool.

Since we are moving to Houston, Texas at the end of this month (aka:  NINE DAYS FROM NOW!!!!!), I began to research the facts about preschools there.  They say that everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes the cost of preschool!  I was a little discouraged, since I know that she needs some sort of class to help improve her social skills.  We had been praying about it for a few weeks when my sister-in-law mentioned a program in which her young girls were involved.  It is called Classical Conversations.  Classical Conversations is a Christian organization that supports families who home school.  We think that it will be a good match for our family, since it is very affordable and is geared toward Shiloh's strengths.  She is gifted in memorization and loves to learn.  She will attend one day each week, which will allow her to take music lessons and play a sport.  We are very thankful for this answer to our prayers!