Shelter...

We've had more snow this year than I can remember ever having in one season. 

I'm not complaining, I do love it...especially when it means a day spent at home-

 in pajamas all day, by the fire. 

I'm not passing that up any time soon.

At this point in the season, I'm burning the reject-wood in the fireplace.

It requires more effort since it's old and burns twice as fast, 

but I'm not complaining...

I'm obsessed with fires 

and being warm.

But all throughout the day I can't help thinking about some people I know who are not as fortunate as we are to have a place to call their own. A place that has healthy food in the kitchen...

running water in the sinks...and a warm fire in the living room. 

They're living in a shelter.

Warm and dry, probably...

but certainly not what anyone would call home.

Most days they wander from morning until night, just biding their time from free church meal to free church meal, until the time comes to return to their place in the shelter at night.

And what happens when there's a snow storm 

and the public library you rely on for warmth during the day

is closed...

It's a terrible existence for anyone to have to live through...

add on the fact that they are pregnant- 

and as a mom, it is almost unbearable for me to see.

We do what we can to help and support, 

but it never seems like enough...

I can only hope that someone has allowed them to take shelter during the storm today...

I'm praying they know Comfort far deeper than their circumstances dictate.

Still trying to figure out exactly how that looks...

because sometimes love just never really seems like enough...

Grateful today for a day off of work

in my house

by my fire

with my daughter

......

And reminding myself that, but for 

{GRACE}

that could be me...

Our last day...

Sitting alone on the largest wrap-around porch you can imagine, I'm soaking in the quiet and peace of our last day of vacation.  Everyone is upstairs getting ready to start a new day, and I'm wondering how it's possible that this week could have gone by so quickly.  Last week, having gone through a move and then days and days of unpacking...was seemingly endless.  But it had the same amount of hours and days in it that this week had...although I am almost certain the clock ticked in double time this week.  Why is it that real life runs on slow speed and vacation runs on fast forward? 

There should be scientific research on this. 

Here's the thing about vacations...at least in our family.  You learn alot about people when you live in a smallish space with them for 24 hours a day.  Sometimes you learn things you wish you didn't know.  {ie: thongs in the laundry and tofu in the fridge}  Sometimes you learn things that concern you {which will go unnamed} and sometimes you learn things that just make you laugh {ie: SOMEone in our family has germ issues, and placing one of the forementioned thongs on our resident kitty is NOT funny to them...only to us}.  Anyway, the point is this: even when we think we know someone through and through, spending a whole week together is very eye opening.  AND...it gives us a chance put LOVE into practice, because, let's face it...even when we LOVE our family there are irritating quirks that drive us nuts.  Spending an abundance of time with them makes us have to live out who we say we are. 

It's not always easy, because I feel like I just have to say what I think about your attitude, or your immodest outfit, or your way of life.  But it's not my job to convict others and it's not my job to voice my opinion on everything I think.  {That stupid voice inside me tells me I should say exactly what I think....I hate that voice, it really wants to get me in alot of trouble}

My reading for today brought me here....quite appropriate for this last day together:

"Regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way." 

Colossians 3

{The Message}

Every thought captive...

We've packed exactly three boxes.

Actually, the credit goes to my two youngest kids..."Pack a box" was added to their "to-do" list the other day.  I found a book in one of those boxes {yes, I actually looked through the box of books...not sure why I didn't look while still on the shelf, but nonetheless...}  I was looking for something new to read during my quiet reading time in the morning {Notice: Alex getting a job has been VERY good for me.  Both of our alarms go off at 6am and I actually get out of bed, make him some breakfast and pack his little lunch box.  Then I fight the strong urge to go back to bed and instead take a cup of coffee out to the porch to read...if you know me well..you know this is progress...}

Anyway, I pulled a book out called, "Every Thought Captive" by Jerusha Clark.  I have no idea where I got it, or when, but I've never cracked the spine open on it, so it sounded like a good choice.  It's a book for women, written by a woman who has struggled with self-worth, believing the lies of the world and understanding God's LOVE.   As we've been dealing with alot of issues among our girls in youth group in the area of self-worth and understanding how God sees us, this book has come at an opportune time.  {Not to mention there is a certain someone in my house in the full-blown middle school years who has messages of the lying kind being thrown at her daily}

I'm an underliner. 

As I read, I underline...{not to be confused with a highlighter-I prefer not to change the color of the page, just draw attention to what sticks out at me}  Here's today's underlined thought:

"The heart of life is this: to make the LORD and His immense LOVE for you constitutive of your personal worth.  Define yourself radically as one beloved by God.  God's love for you and His choice of you constitute your worth.  Accept that, and let it become the most important thing in your life."

I confess that I had to stop and google the word "constitutive"...I just wasn't getting it in this sentence. 

Constitutive: Making a thing what it is.

I like that. 

Interestingly, as I'm reading this with many teenage girls in mind, I'm realizing that I constantly need to relearn this, too.  How often do I look in the mirror and not like what I see, or do I look at my life and think it doesn't measure up???  Too often.  If I'm completely honest with myself, I define so many things based on the way the world around me says I should. 

 So, then, I guess the world is constituting my self worth...not God.  Will I ever really get it?  You'd think by now I would.

The phrase "define yourself radically by one beloved by God" really stuck out at me, too.  I use the word "radical" often when I pray for my kids faith.  I remember talking with a mother who's kids have grown {and into some very fine Christian young people, I might add}...when I made mention of my appreciation for one particular son who has far surpassed his years of rebellion, her comment to me was this:  "my children are radical.  They were radical in their rebellion, and now they are radical in their faith."  I will never forget that. I want this for my own kids and for the students I work with.  {I'll pass on the radical rebellion, please...but it was the radical rebellion that brought them to radical faith....}   

I'm only on page 33 in this book, and much of it is underlined- to be remembered and passed on.  The subtitle reads, "battling the toxic beliefs that separate us from the life we crave..."  

I guess I'm setting myself up for a good toxic cleansing. 

{Not to be mistaken for THIS kind of toxic cleansing}

PLUS

EQUALS

the end

playing catch-up...

One of the best things about my life is the privilege of working with the youth at our church.  I love, love, LOVE these guys!  It's a delight watching them grow and blossom..seeing them become young women (and men...but especially the women...sorry guys!) of substance. 

But...when they leave us...and they DO leave us eventually...they are sorely missed.  So, this month is catch-up month.  I'm squeezing in as much of them as I can.  And these young women amaze me.  They have become beautiful...and not just in the way you can see.  They are young women emerging...on the verge of changing their worlds. 

So here they are...featured here for me to brag on them...

Ali, who went back to college too soon...

Amber, who you can find here

 and Beth, who just made this because she is heading back to Gabon for the summer. 

(and I'm totally jealous, I tell you!)

And these two who have hearts for Cambodia and I fear will fly there and never return! (Wait..maybe I would be so proud of them that I can't put it into words!)

Caitlin and Ana

And Halle, who also returned back to school too soon...some stupid reason, like a J-term, or something. Blah...whatever.

Kelly and Angela who've been friends since diapers...or almost...

Kelly shows up on our doorstep everytime my oldest son is home from college...hmmm, coincidence? 

I think not.

And Jess, who was my coffee buddy this morning.  We were the ones hogging the comfy seats at Panera today.  Sorry...deal with it, we were catching up.

And, Beth...who will be sharing coffee w/me on Saturday before she flies off to be some big-wig event planner...WHATever.

These girls...they are the reason I stay in youth ministry.  Because they're becoming the full-circle.  I'm seeing the outcome, and it is good.  There are piles and piles of girls coming up behind them...all with such rich potential.  I heart them all!  I can't wait to post these same thoughts with new faces included...they're already etched into my mind...

Next to the love I have for my own children...these girls rate a close first place. 

Who knew?  I actually LIKE teenagers!