Midnight Lesson in Thankfulness

My dreams were invaded last night by a piercing, intermittent beeping.  Every thirty seconds or so, the plot of my dream would be altered by a beep, until finally my brain thought, "Hey, I wonder if that beeping is happening in real life?!"  So I woke up and laid there with my ears open, praying that it had only been my dream.  But, no, the beep shrilled again.  And it was 4:30 in the morning.

Normally this would not be a problem.  I would usually just nudge Adel awake and he would take care of this sort of thing.  Trouble is, Adel is out of town this week.  Naturally, I called him, hoping he would at least be able to tell me what to do, but there was no answer.  I thought about calling my dad, but I figured the benefit of getting his advice might not outweigh the price of waking up my mom in a panic.  I thought about calling my neighbor Tony, but I figured after one 4:30AM phone call over something so silly, they would probably never speak to me again.  Okay, I reasoned, I can call someone for help.  But let me at least try to solve the problem myself first.  This is a major step forward for me, because usually at 4:30 in the morning, all I'm able to think is grog.  Also, because I usually prefer not to have to do anything for myself if I don't have to.

After assessing the situation, it was the smoke detector in my room that was beeping, but the one near the stairs was not.  So, I grabbed a sweater and went out into the cold garage to get the ladder.  I didn't really know what I was going to do once I got it, but it seemed like at least getting close to the smoke detector was a good first step.  I figured I could at the very least ask the smoke detector to kindly be quiet.  Now, our ladder must be at least eight times my weight, if not more, and it was no small task getting it through the house, not to mention the number of times it crashed into the walls and door frames.  I finally got the ladder into place, when I realized that there was a good chance this ladder might not be tall enough.  But, as it is all we have, I decided to at least give it a try.  

So there I was, standing on the second-to-last rung of a very tall ladder, praying that I would not get vertigo, reaching my hand as high as I could over my head to see if I could figure out how to make my smoke detector stop beeping and at the same time trying not to get myself killed.  I really didn't know what I should do.  I really didn't know why the smoke detector was beeping in the first place.  But when I looked up, I noticed a button.  And so I pushed it.

I still don't know what the particular function of that button is supposed to be, but it set of a series of rapid-fire beeps communicating back and forth between my bedroom smoke detector and the one on the stairs that were louder and more annoying than the original intermittent beep.  All the while, I was regretting my decision, and trying to reverse the affects by pushing the button again and again and mumbling, "No, no, no, no!"  Finally, for whatever reason, the beeping stopped.  I waited for another minute and there was only silence.  So I did what any responsible adult would have done.  I left the ladder there in the bedroom doorway and went back to bed.

Now, let it be known that during this whole time I was inwardly cursing Adel for not being home.  I was cursing the smoke detector manufacturers for creating that maniacal beep.  I was cursing myself for letting Isaac sleep in my room where surely any minute he would wake up dramatically from all the beeping and banging that was going on.  But, after I was again snug in my bed, I remembered that lately I am trying to learn to have an attitude of gratitude.  So I decided to fall asleep thinking about what there was to be thankful for in the situation.  Upon reflection, I realized I am thankful that:

• Adel is such a good husband who always takes care of me (so much so that when he is gone during a crisis, he is greatly missed)
• my kids, in fact, did not wake up through all the noise
• I did not fall to my death while reaching so high on the ladder
• even though the smoke detector seems to be going senile, I have this house and my family that are so worth protecting
• the smoke detector did finally stop beeping
• Adel comes home tomorrow!
• God loves me enough to teach and grow me even at 4:30 in the morning

Dinner Picnic...Brrrr

This afternoon was so beautiful, absolutely perfect blue sky and crisp, cool air.  While we finished up a walk around the lake, I suggested that we continue to enjoy the beauty of the day with a dinner picnic for our family night.  The sun was close to setting by the time we returned home, but I enthusiastically threw together our traditional picnic fare: boiled eggs, bean dip and chips, and some cold fruit and veggies.  After dragging out a big blanket and some jackets, we sat down to enjoy our meal.

Even with Daddy being out of town, the kids were excited to eat outside.

But it didn't take long before we realized that we were COLD.

We stuck it out for a few more minutes and then retreated back indoors.  The sky promptly turned dark.

As inspired as I get to do special things for my family, this kind of thing is pretty typical.  You know: big effort to set an idea in motion, small return on investment.

At least the kids didn't miss the allusion to The Bears' Picnic: "Hey Mom!  We're just like the Bears!"  "Yeah, but they had rain and mosquitoes and we just have cold!"  So we said together as we retreated to the warm house:

"I'll find the perfect place to eat.

I'll find a spot that can't be beat.

The finest spot you've ever seen.

Now that is the kind of place I mean!"

Teaching Kids About God

I recently had a discussion with a friend who is beginning to wonder how to teach her young child about God at home. That got me thinking about all the resources we have been given by our generous friends and family who also love the Lord, plus a few we bought ourselves.  Here are some good resources for teaching your young children about God:

In Books:

The Rhyme Bible Storybook  is great starting at around age two, once the toddler can sit still for a few minutes.  It goes through the major Bible stories set to rhyme.

Devotions for Preschoolers is perfect for teaching a two-to-five year old how to have a quiet time.  One devotion for every date on the calendar, it tells a one-minute story and ends with a bible verse and a rhyming prayer.

My First Study Bible is better for ages three and up and goes through every book of the Bible in age-appropriate stories and descriptions, with pictures.  When a book of the Bible doesn't exactly lend to good storytelling, like say, the book of Habakkuk, it is summarized on one page with the prophet himself giving a short description of the book.  It also includes a small index with names and topics of interest.  Great for teaching first-time Bible study.

The Big Picture Story Bible is good for ages three and up and similar to the The Rhyme Bible Storybook in that it goes through the major Bible stories.  This one goes deeper though and is good for a young child who is really starting to ask deep questions and understand spiritual concepts.

In DVDs:

Most people have heard of Veggie Tales, but there are a few DVD series that are less well known but just as good, if not better for toddlers and preschoolers.  One of those is Boz the Bear.  The Boz series is very safe for sensitive children.  It is full of positive God-centered messages in short episodes.

Similarly, the Auto Be Good series is great for any child who loves the action of Disney's Cars, except that each short episode has a Godly value and song attached.

Finally, Adventures in Odyssey is good for ages three and up as the action gets a little more tense.  

In Audio: 

If you get sick of listening to children's music in the car (I do), The Adventures in Odyssey Bible Eyewitness Collector's Set  is great for teaching kids (and their parents) major stories of the Bible.  It's appropriate for ages three and up but anyone under four may have trouble focusing on listening.  These stories are really entertaining.

In Resources:

Finally, Parents' Guide to the Spiritual Growth of Children is an awesome resource put out by Focus on the Family.  It guides parents through rethinking the way to teach their children about God.  Let's face it, some of us were either not taught, or taught in such a way that perhaps did more harm than good.  This book helps give parents a variety of techniques and styles to fit their own unique children and family life.  The idea is to make learning about God relevant and fun.  It also points to tons of other resources to help parents get started.  

So that's about it.  Hope you find something good to get you started.  And now I'm going to be in trouble with my sister who is going to say, "Wait a minute...how come you have all those great resources and aren't sharing them with me and my girls?!"  

Please add any additional resources you love in the comments below.

A New (Old) Direction (Again)

It started with the phone call from my Dad's church.  The pastor, having read parts of EveryMom, wanted to set up an opportunity for me to come talk to the women of her church.  I was immediately terrified but mostly excited for the awesome opportunity and right away I began to plan what I would say.  I saw the door open for this opportunity and I began to wonder if the was The Door opening for me, The Door that would launch my career in women's ministry.

The thought thrilled me.  I have had a heart for women's ministry since I first became a stay-at-home mom.  Since I've been through my own journey, learned so much, had my own struggles, I have wanted in so many ways to help provide guidance and resources for other women going through the same journey.

I have written two books with this in mind.  I have started this blog that I hope will one day be a tool for other women to grow along with me.  I have sent a proposal for a creative women's ministry idea to my church, which currently has no women's ministry, volunteering to lead and organize if needed.  And I have prayed for opportunities to lead women through motherhood to growing as followers of Christ.  Once I got that phone call, I thought my time had arrived!  

But I began to feel scattered as I started planning for how I could seek out more speaking opportunities.  It was almost like I was trying to grab for myself something that God should provide, like Abraham taking God's promise for a son into his own hands.  I asked my small group to pray for God's guidance for me because I just wasn't sure where I was going or how to get there.  

Then God began to speak to me in His mysterious way.  A few friends said just the right thing or asked just the right question.  Then, one afternoon, both my kids had unusually awful meltdowns.  Our family life since Isaac turned three has been mostly peaceful.  Tantrums still happen, but they do not usually reach the overwhelming peak that they did when Isaac was two and Abby a baby.  So, to have both of my kids go completely out of control on me, finally snapped my thinking back into reality: I am not ready to take on any more than I have going right now!  

Upon further reflection, I realized that I have so much going right now.  I have my household to manage, my children to creatively raise, and my husband to love.  This has been my full-time job for the past four-and-half years.  But, I've also got my two books that I would still like to attempt to distribute beyond my immediate circle of friends, one of which I'm in the process of rewriting.  I have my blog that I LOVE to contribute to several times a week.  It's no Shakespeare, but it gives me an outlet and keeps my creative juices going.  And, when I stopped to think about it for a minute, I remembered that God has already blessed me with an awesome women's ministry.  

Two years ago, I felt prompted by God to invite the moms from my playgroup to join a new small group I would be leading.  I was nervous that no one would reply and I would feel like a total loser.  But to my pleasant surprise, my group filled up quickly with nine women.  And throughout the year, we had several other ladies inquire about joining.  So, I asked my friend Julie if she would be willing to start a second group.  To my pleasant surprise, she was.  In fact, she said that she has always felt like it was something God wanted her to do, but she just hadn't done it yet.  So, this fall, we split our original group into two groups, each with more than ten moms.  Still, we have other women inquiring about joining.  Then, to my pleasant surprise (again!), my good friend Jen told me she wants to start a third group in the fall.  Julie, Jen, and I have met together to plan how we can keep our two groups going, add a third in the fall, and even host a women's retreat weekend this spring.  What an amazing, growing, blessed women's ministry!  And I had forgotten to even notice it all until God knocked me on the head.

I also just so happen to have finished reading The Life and Strange Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoethis week.

  

This quote in particular stood out to me: "I learned to look more upon the bright side of my condition and less upon the dark side, and to consider what I enjoyed rather than what I wanted; and this gave me sometimes such secret comforts that I cannot express them, and which I take notice of here to put those discontented people in mind of it who cannot enjoy comfortably what God has given them because they see and covet something that He has not given them.  All our discontents about what we want appeared to me to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have."  This spoken by a man living alone on a deserted island for more than twenty years!

Okay, so I'm one of those people who need to be reminded to be thankful for what I have!  Now to refocus, once again: I am a wife and mother first, I am blessed secondly by an awesome women's ministry, and finally I work on my writing as I have time to do so.  I will continue to work with these blessings God has given me and let Him open the doors for me!  And if this sounds at all familiar to you coming from me, it's because it is!  On November 9 last year I wrote a post called 'My "New" Job' which was pretty much about the same thing.  I also have more than one chapter in EveryMom about having to learn to be content where God has put me.  It's both a strength and a weakness of mine to be inspired and excitable and to have a big heart for grand plans.  As always, God continues to speak in His mysterious way to guide me gently back into His path when my inspired, excitable nature starts making other plans.

Continue to teach me to be content, Lord, and to follow your lead.

_______For the Love...Happy Valentine's Day!

What a fun weekend!  Here's the highlights:

Saturday

Decorating.

Daddy flipping pancakes onto the kids plates (or at least trying to!).

Daddy and Isaac ready for the birthday party of Isaac's good buddy Kyle.  

Star Wars of course! Abby's in the spirit with her karate girl moves.

After a sushi date night, Adel and I made chocolate covered strawberries.  

Very romantic evening.

Sunday: After our church service, we had a family Valentine's Day party.

Abby decorating our table.

And enjoying a left-over chocolate strawberry.

Isaac wouldn't join us until he finished the project he was working on.  

That boy is so like his momma...when he gets inspired to do something...

Then we played our Valentine's Day game.

Abby tickling Mommy.

Both kids tickling Daddy.

Aw, a kissing moment. Abby is kissing my shoulder.

She pretty much joined in and hugged and kissed anyone she could grab hold of.

Brotherly love.  Is there anything more precious?

Every time I see this picture I get teary-eyed.

Daddy's turn for a hug.

After chasing him around the house, Abby gets a little help from Mom to catch and tickle big brother.

Another hug for Daddy.

And this sibling hug was more like a tackle.

For the fill-in-the-blank part of the game, here's some of my favorites:

Abby: Isaac, you're special because you're cute.

Isaac: Daddy, you're special because you're so smart.

Isaac: Abby, you're special because you know almost all your numbers.

The game ended in much chasing and tickling by all.

_______Lovin' On My Girlfriends

It just so happens that Valentine's Day marks the anniversary of the playgroup I joined after I had Abby.  My local friends and I have been mothering together for two years!  Here's a tribute to the friends I have made in the playgroup, and of course, it also includes my other dear friends that I'm still in touch with from high school, college, and all the church groups I've been a part of.  Pretty much, the title says it all: it's an ode to all of my girlfriends.  Love my girls.

An Ode to My Girlfriends

All my best girlfriends

Work full-time, whether they’re employed or not.

They are nurses and teachers, students and stay-at-home moms,

Even dentists and pastors, psychologists, dancers, homeschoolers, exercise instructors…

And all of them work hard.

All my best girlfriends

Know the importance of eating right and working to keep their bodies fit and strong. 

They are educated and smart, making good choices.

But they also know the importance of sitting together with a friend, a tall glass of milk, and a stack of Oreo cookies.

All my best girlfriends

Talk about how their kids drive them crazy

Almost as much as they talk about how they adore their children.

They know that laughing is just as important as loving,

And they make no pretense to perfection.

All my best girlfriends

Have curly hair, straight hair, worn long or short,

They have freckles, and braces, and glasses, or not.

They are polished and glamorous, or natural and plain.

They are dark, light, tall, petite, thin, full-figured,

And beautiful, all.

All my best girlfriends

Love to make fun of their husbands

Almost as much as they love to love their husbands.

They know that laughing is just as important as loving,

And they are real, and deep, and sincere.

All my best girlfriends

Love manicures, mommy’s night outs, and margaritas

Just as much as cuddle time and agendas and projects and ABCs,

Because they know that sometimes a girl just needs to feel young and carefree again.

Sometimes a girl just needs to be a girl.

All my best girlfriends

Are strong enough to do it on their own,

And smart enough to know they don’t have to.

They help me see my strengths and weaknesses

And understand that sometimes those can be one and the same.

And all my girlfriends

Love and laugh, cry and comfort,

Pray and praise, work and walk through life together.

Thank God for girlfriends!

Creative Dating Ideas (AKA, Cheap Dates)

Since my last post was all about celebrating Valentine's Day with the kids, here's a follow-up post on celebrating it with just hubby.  As I've mentioned before, we've been on a strict budget ever since I became a full-time stay-at-home mom over four years ago.  When we had two incomes, we would go out to eat at actual restaurants several times a week and think nothing of it.  Mmmmm, the memories!

Now, I'm happy if we go through a drive through once a week so I don't have to prepare one meal out of 21 weekly meals typically eaten at home (breakfast, lunch, and dinner, seven days a week, baby!).  Disclaimer: I don't cook three meals a day.  I'm a mom who lives in reality, not Martha Stewarts-ville.  Breakfast is usually cereal or leftover pancakes and lunch is pulled out of the refrigerator.  I try to cook dinner most nights a week but we regularly do "Free For All" night.  Last night the kids' dinner was a tangerine, baby carrots, black beans straight from the can, and some deli ham.  And I had a bowl of cereal. But, whether I cook or not, we usually eat at home because eating out is just so costly.  

With our budget as it is, if we plan for it, we can go out to a special meal at a restaurant once or twice a month (usually we use one as a date night and the other is my mommy's night out).  It's a different world for us these days.  And because of our budget, Adel and I have resorted to creative dating.  If you are similarly on a budget, a Dave Ramsey fan, or just don't want to fight the crowds on Valentine's Day, below are some cheap date, I mean creative dating, ideas.  Let's be realistic, these creative dating ideas will only work after the kids are in bed.  Music and lighting don't hurt either.

·        Create a romantic picnic in your bedroom.  Spread a clean blanket or sheet on top of the bed as a “table cloth,” and enjoy your favorite take out.

·        Plan a movie night.  Rent, borrow, or use one you own.  Get popcorn, your favorite candies and sodas, and snuggle on the couch.

·        Plan a game night.  There are many board games designed for four or more players that can be creatively adapted for two players. And who else can you play trivia with while snuggled up in bed?

·        Watch your old home videos or look through your photo albums together.  Make it fun by playing your old tunes too.

·        Create a spa in your home.  Play serene music while you pamper each other with massage.  Light candles and make the atmosphere romantic and relaxing. 

·        Create a puzzle or mystery for each other to solve.  You can buy a dollar store puzzle, assemble it, and then write a message on the back for each other to discover while assembling the puzzle.  You can also make your own puzzle with a good piece of cardboard.

·        Cook a fancy dinner together, something you’ve never tried before.  Share a bottle of wine while you cook.

Comment below if you have any other good ideas for cheap, at-home date nights!  

I would love to expand my repertoire!

Family Valentine's Day

I believe in date nights.  I completely and wholeheartedly do. I have a kid-swap arranged once a month with a friend of mine.  For a while we had two date-nights a month, which I thought was awesome.  I just think it is so so important for a couple to have some time without kids.

However, there is one day of the year that Adel and I have sworn never to go on a date again: Valentine's Day.  Our Valentine's Day phobia started one year before Isaac was born.  It was on a Friday night that year and we finished our long days at work and waded through rush hour traffic to come home and prepare for our special night: change clothes, freshen up, take dog to kennel, check into hotel, drive to Downtown Disney for dinner.  The problem was, by the time we got there, it was 8:30pm and seemingly every other Anaheim local had made the same plans.  The wait time for dinner would be no less than two hours.  So we got back in the car to drive around and try to find an alternative.  Nearly two hours later, we ended up tired and grumpy at a dingy IHOP, vowing to never eat out on Valentine's Day again.

So, this year we will celebrate our love on the 13th of February (7 years of marriage, 10 years of being a couple, 11 years since we first met!).  That leaves our Valentine's Day open for some good family fun.

Last year, I created a game that was fun and easy for the whole family to play (Isaac was three-and-a-half and Abby just eighteen months).  I can't help but do this sort of thing.  It's the teacher in me.  And watch out...it's contagious.  PS, in the instructions below, I include "Simple Steps" that can be done in a matter of a few minutes and "Get Creative" steps that make it look cuter but take longer to do.  You can make this game as simple or elaborate as you want.

Making the Game:
1.  Simple Step: Take a cubed-box or make a cube out of paper (to see how, click here).  On each side of the cube, write one of the following: 1. Give a hug, 2. Give a kiss, 3. Tickle, 4. Give a Valentine, 5. Say "I love you!", 6. Say "You're special because ______."  
     Get Creative: If you can find pictures or clip art to go with it, that would be good to help pre-readers.  (If I was smart enough to know how to upload a link to the pdf of the labels I already made, I would do it! If you want it, let me know and I'll email it to you.)

2.  Simple Step: Make a stack of cards. Each card should say the name of a family member. 
     Get Creative: Or, better for pre-readers, each card can have a picture of a family member.

3.  Simple Step: Get individually wrapped candy or conversation hearts.
     Get Creative:  Or have the kids help make a pile of Valentine hearts.

Playing the Game:
Take turns rolling the dice and picking a card.  The dice will tell you what to do.  The card will tell you who to do it to.  (If you pick your own card, just pick again.)  For example, you may "Give a hug" to Daddy or "Tickle" little sister.  You may even have to "Give a Valentine" (the ones you made or the candies you bought) to Mommy.  Little kids will not think this is at all cheesy.  They will LOVE it.  Super simple family fun.  No one loses and even babies can play.  The game ends when the kids lose interest or you can't stand the love anymore.

From last year:

Isaac giving a Valentine

Rolling the dice

Picking a card

Abby giving a Valentine

Do you have any Valentine's Day family traditions?  Comment below if you've got a good idea to share!

_______Goodbye Constellation

And so, with the announcement that funding will be cut for NASA's Constellation program, our lives face unwelcome change.  Adel has been working on this program for over three years.  I am so proud of all the good work that he has done to further our country's exploration into space.  He has brought his solid work ethic and his incredible brain (I don't even know what he's saying half the time) to this project.

Adel and many of our friends here, are waiting to see how this decision will impact them.  Our NASA employed friends, I'm told, are guaranteed jobs since they are civil servants.  Contracted workers, like Adel and many of our other friends, are not so secure.  Although there's no guarantee, Adel believes that his company will still have a job for him once the dust settles.  He just fears that it may be located in West Virginia instead of here.

While Adel is concerned about watching his dreams of a lifetime career in human space flight crumble, I am preoccupied with the potential crumbling of my own dream: keeping this beautiful life we have going in League City, Texas.  If Adel is forced to relocated for work, it will shake my little world.  I will have to give up my house (sniff).  I have loved every minute living in this house, being able to open my home to friends and Bible study groups.  I love the space and I feel like just now I'm starting to make it feel more of my own.

If Adel has to relocate, I will have to leave the friends and community I have found here (waaaaaaaa).  Some of my friendships are just starting to get good, deep and real, just the way I like them.  I don't want to start all over again!  I moved just months before having each of my babies.  I know what it's like to need friends and not have them, to have to lean on the loving people of the church community when I don't even really know them.  I don't want to go through that again!  And then consider how devastated I would be to have to move away from my family (WAAAAAAAA).

The biggest fear of mine, the one I'm trying not to think about, or even imagine (and yet, here I go), is that Adel will be out of a job altogether and competing for a limited few with thousands of similarly distressed aerospace engineers.  This would be a worst-case scenario and would mean for me that I would have to go back to teaching.  I loved being a teacher; I just don't see any room for it in the full life that I lead as a stay-at-home mom.  I LOVE this life.  It is so full of joy and peace.  (Side note, it hasn't always been though!  The first six months of staying home with Isaac, before I met other mommy friends, was incredibly lonely and boring.  And the year of trying to care for a toddler and a newborn was the craziest, most stressful year of my life.  But I worked through those hard times, found my groove, and now I LOVE this job.)  I would be incredibly sad if I had to give it up.  No matter what happens, thank you THANK YOU, Adel for working so hard so I could stay at home with the kids for more than four years!

Both Adel and I are staring into the face of possible change, not necessarily liking what we see, hoping for the best, preparing for the worst.  So, once again (hearken back to my January 21 post), I am having to trust in God beyond my own understanding.  Our lives are His.  Everything He has given us...our home, Adel's job, this community of friends, my freedom to stay at home...He is able to take away.  We are praying (fervently) during this time of waiting that God would provide for us to be able to stay here and continue this life that we love.  But we are also praying that no matter what happens, God would use our circumstances for His glory.  And, in the midst of waiting to see what will unfold, we pray that God will use our uncertainty to mature us in His wisdom.

Good work, Adel.  We are so proud of you.
Goodbye Constellation!

PS, My grandma sent me this reply via email: Dear Meg and Adel, we have moved many times, always with a lot of tears and fear of the unknown, The worst was Indonesia,  but every time things worked out great.  We have friends all over the world and I would not trade one move for a million dollars.  If you have to go(I would cry a lot) you will not regret it even though you can't see it now.  Love, D.D.  


Actually, as scared as I am of change, I have to admit that waiting to see what God's going to make out of it is kind of exciting.  Still hoping with all my heart to stay here forever, but also trusting in God's plan!

_______Book Review: The Shack

The Shack by Wm. Paul Young was really not what I expected.  I was expecting a heartbreaking novel.  What I got was a cleverly disguised book on theology.

The story is tragically compelling.  Mack, the protagonist loses his young daughter to an act of evil.  The reader, especially the sympathetic parent reader, wonders how Mack will cope with such a loss.  Then Mack gets mysteriously summoned to the very location of his daughter's brutal death.

It is at that shack that Mack has a series of conversations with God.  That much I expected.  What I didn't expect was how much detail would go into the conversations.  Mack pretty near asked every question known to riddle the mind of man when contemplating a just God in an unjust world...all the way down to, well if God is so good, why did he create mosquitoes?  (Have I not thought that a hundred times, living here in Texas?!)  But the God figure in the book patiently explains it all.  And there's some good stuff in there.  Once I wrapped my mind around the fact that what I was reading was really a book of theology, I actually enjoyed some of the descriptions of God.

About how God wants a relationship with us, not just for us to follow His rules: "It is true that relationships are a whole lot messier than rules, but rules will never give you answers to the deep questions of the heart and they will never love you" (p.198).

About how God wants all of us, not just a piece of the pie: "You see, Mackenzie, I don't just want a piece of you and a piece of your life.  Even if you were able, which you are not, to give me the biggest piece, that is not what I want.  I want all of you and all of every part of you and your day" (p.207).

About separation from God:  "Mackenzie, evil is a word we use to describe the absence of Good, just as we use the word darkness to describe the absence of Light or death to describe the absence of Life.  Both evil and darkness can only be understood in relation to Light and Good; they do not have any actual existence.  I am Light and I am Good.  I am Love and there is no darkness in me.  Light and Good actually exist.  So, removing yourself from me will plunge you into darkness.  Declaring independence will result in evil because apart from me, you can only draw upon yourself.  That is death because you have separated yourself from me: Life" (p.136).

There were some parts that annoyed me to the point of rolling my eyes, like all the references to The Matrix. But there was nothing that shocked me and there were even parts that challenged me.  For example, with God's help, Mack is able to forgive the man who victimized his daughter.  I have to admit, that is a stumbling block for me.  I find it so hard to forgive someone who could harm a child.  But I also believe that a God who is big enough to forgive us all of our grossest sins is also big enough to handle it when I tell Him, "I'm stuck here and I'm not going to be able to move forward without Your help."

In all, I found The Shack to be a good, extremely detailed, look at the God of Christianity.  And, if that sounds interesting to you, I have an invitation for you: join a Bible study!

The Bible says it all.  It's the original description of the God of Christianity.  It is God's love letter to His people.  And what better way to dive into the text of a lifetime than with a group of people who are walking through and growing alongside you?

_______New Recipe #3: Sweet and Sour Shrimp

This recipe comes from a Better Homes and Gardens book called Fresh and Simple: 20-Minute Super Suppers.    It caught my eye because it was dubbed "four ingredients make a meal."  When it comes to cooking, right now quick and easy is what I'm all about.  Remember, I'm looking for simple dinner recipes that I can make for my family on a regular-basis (and which must contain at least one vegetable).

12 oz fresh or frozen peeled and deveined shrimp
1/3 cup bottled stir-fry sauce
1/4 cup pineapple-orange juice
3 cups assorted fresh stir-fry vegetables

We chose red bell pepper, fresh broccoli, and orange

Thaw shrimp, if frozen.  Rinse shrimp; pat dry.  For sauce, combine the stir-fry sauce and pineapple-orange juice; set aside.  Spray an unheated nonstick wok or large skillet with nonstick spray coating.  (Add oil if necessary, during cooking.) Preheat over medium-high heat.

Stir-fry vegetables in hot wok for 3 to 5 minutes or until crisp-tender.  Remove from wok.  Add shrimp; stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes or until shrimp turn pink.  Push shrimp to side of wok.

Add sauce to wok.  Return vegetables.  Stir vegetables and shrimp into sauce.  Cook and stir about 1 minute more or until heated through.

My Review
This dish lived up to our expectations.  It was super simple and a fast meal.  But here's my confession: we had guests for dinner last night and served the grown ups the yummy shrimp meal while the kids ate leftover pizza. So, I have no scores on this one for my kids.  I can guess though.  I'm pretty sure this would be a major food battle.  But it's one battle I think is worth fighting because this was a good-tasting, healthy meal for our family (119 cal. per serving, according to the recipe, although I think each of the four of us grownups actually ate 2 servings).  I think what I'll do for the kids is give them the veggies and shrimp cooked before we add the sauce.  They can have the sauce on the side for dipping until they get used to it.  What we would do differently next time: trade the orange (which didn't hold form) for pineapple (fresh or canned) and try another green veggie instead of broccoli.  The broccoli did fine but we need to branch out to something new, right?  We're sort of in a broccoli rut!  Also, Adel would like to try adding some spice, perhaps in the form of red pepper flakes or chile powder and maybe trying to thicken the sauce a bit (which I'm sure would add some more calories, but we can play around with it).

Our Scores
Megan: 9/10 - yum!
Adel: 8/10 - score would go up with the addition of some spice