Who wants to be rare?

Friday August 8, 2014 

Who wants to be rare? 

It seems we’re all about being one with our culture today, being up-to-date on the latest technology, watching and doing what everyone else is watching and doing…

As a redhead, I always stood out whether I liked it or not. Sometimes that was good and sometimes, not so good. (Then I married a redhead, had four more of them, and we all felt right at home! Days at the beach left my arms numb from applying and reapplying sunscreen.)

Stay tuned for my fifth favorite today—as usual, a quote. One about the value of being rare. 

I’m linking up today with Susanne and the ladies at Friday’s Fave Five, where we replay the blessings of our week. Won’t you join us?

Here are my favorites this week: 

1. Back with friends. The great thing about starting school is being with my teacher friends. It’s been great to catch up with them and their families. Most of us have taught each other’s children, so we have a vested interest in each other’s families. It’s great to see my teacher friends again!

2. Firsts. Our youngest just moved into his first apartment with a friend, and he’s close to two brothers. Hearing stories and seeing pictures of the move and his new digs makes me smile. He starts his first full-time job next week, so it’s a season of firsts. SO proud of him. It’s so great to see them do what you raised them to do.

3. Unexpected paint. They painted my classroom this summer, and I didn’t know they were planning to. It looks so nice and fresh. They took posters and things off the wall and that has made me re-evaluate my décor, and it’s probably about time for that. I’m replacing some things with other decorating ideas I’m excited about. And my husband is helping me. Fun!

4. A dinner rendezvous. My hubby worked last night and sometimes he is able to get away and grab dinner. I got a cryptic but fun text about meeting him for dinner unexpectedly. It was better—and more fun—than eating my leftovers at home alone last night. Loved it.

5. A quote: 

“There are rare Christians whose very presence incites others to be better Christians. I want to be that rare Christian.” (A.W. Tozer)

I don’t know that I can elaborate on that quote—it says things so well. It’s a great one for me to begin the school year with, as I strive to see what I would call “problems” as opportunities.

I’m probably not enough of a rebel to our times and culture, but I long to stand not on the shifting sand of today but on an eternal foundation. May I be rare today! 

Wishing you rare moments this week, 

Returning to my Source

Friday  January 24, 2014
 

Ever wish you could go back to the beginning?  

Find newness, rediscover joy? 

My #5 today, a quote reminds me how to get there… 

I’m joining Friday’s Fave Five again today to recount the blessings of the week. Won’t you take a moment to count yours, too? 

My favorites this week:

1. An opportunity for my son. My youngest, a college senior, is on his way to Sochi to work on the Olympics broadcast. I’ve ever-so-excited for him, and a wee bit concerned, as any mom would be, I think. What an opportunity! He’ll be there for three weeks, so if any of you would like to join me in prayer, I’d sure appreciate it. Praying for safety and an great experience. 

2. Faithfulness! God’s, that is. When my son and daughter-in-law embarked on the adoption adventure, the funding seemed an insurmountable barrier. But God had other ideas, and He has helped them get closer and closer…and now it all seems so real and so possible. All the paperwork is now in India (all six pounds of their dossier), and they’re waiting for a referral. That can take up to a year, but it could happen at any time. I’m asking for sooner rather than later—but our times are in His hands. 

3. Fun with students. This was Winter Court week, and the kids (and teachers) have been dressing up along with the themes of each day. Tuesday was Teacher Clone Day, and yes, I had one (minus the red hair). We planned our outfits—it was fun!

4. Working on another web home. I’m working with the greatest designer on a web landing page and personal blog. I’ll still be posting here, too, though. She’s the best! And if you want to check out deals on the latest Christian fiction for your Nook or Kindle, she runs The Vessel Project. It’s a great thing! 

*Bonus: My hubby is planning a little getaway for the two of us. I can’t wait!

*Bonus #2: We saw The Book Thief last weekend. What a poignant, thought-provoking movie.

5. This quote:

”The yearning to know what cannot be known, to comprehend the incomprehensible, to touch and taste the unapproachable, arises from the image of God in the nature of man. Deep calleth unto deep, and though polluted and landlocked by the mighty disaster theologians call the Fall, the soul senses its origin and longs to return to its source.” (A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy)

Deep calleth unto deep…isn’t that lovely?

But the best part to me is that “the soul senses its origin and longs to return to its source.”

I know I do.

Thankful for the longing,

Gold and Hope and Spring

Friday April 13, 2012
Ah, spring!
One would think that we wouldn’t notice the difference here in Florida…the slow slide from March to April. But notice we do. I miss the daffodils pushing up through the hard ground, but I sense spring here anyway.

Perhaps I see it most in my students, that straining toward spring and just beyond, to the golden days of summer. Which leads to my list of favorites today…

(Joining in with the FFF ladies for Friday's Fave Five, hosted by Susanne here. Be sure to click on over if you'd like to join us!)

1. Counting them down. The weeks, that is – until summer begins for us. I turn the page in my attendance book on Monday, so that means we’re halfway through the last quarter. Dividing my time between home and school has been hard since January, so I’m certainly anticipating late May.

2. Jan Karon books. Oh, my. I do love them. I read her latest last week, In the Company of Others. It’s #2 in the Father Tim series. I love a book full of “characters,” and this one didn’t disappoint. It takes place in Ireland (which makes it a personal favorite of mine) and I found myself thinking with an Irish lilt as I read! Now I need something good to read…it’s hard to follow a good Jan Karon novel.

3. Reveling in Easter. We got to worship together – all three of us – for the first time since January. Easter is a holiday full of hope. Hope fulfilled, in fact. It was great for all of us to be in church on Sunday, for so many reasons.

4. Remembering my mom’s words: “Don’t borrow trouble.” There’s so much unknown and uncertainty in life that we can make ourselves crazy. I often remind myself of what my mom says about trouble. We truly do have enough trouble for today, and we can’t do anything about tomorrow’s unknowns…except trust.

5. A quote:

“So strong, so beautiful is hope, that it is scarcely possibly to overpraise it. It is the divine alchemy that transmutes the base metal of adversity into gold.” (A.W. Tozer)

I just love that – “the divine alchemy that transmutes the base metal of adversity into gold.” There’s no improving on that.

Anticipating the gold in the coming week,

Christmas Hope: Friday's Fave Five

Friday December 9, 2011

Can you name five blessings from your week? Susanne from Living to Tell the Story hosts Friday’s Fave Five each week. Click on over and see her if you’d like to join in!

Here are my favorites for this past week.

1. Madrigal Dinner 2011. Our annual school production was Monday and Tuesday of this week, and the kids were awesome. I told them our goal was to get better each time we practiced or performed, and they did just that. Beautiful songs of praise, tons of Christmas candles, trees, and twinkling lights, breathtaking costumes…it was an incredible time. I’ll share pictures when I get some.

2. An end in sight. We’ve been reviewing for exams this week and the kids take them next week…then Christmas begins! Looking forward to that light at the end of the tunnel.

3. Christmas specials, music, you name it. I’m loving all the Christmas specials on television, the music everywhere. You have to hear this song! Just follow the link and play -- it's SO cute!

4. Writing, directing. Back to the Madrigal Dinner – I write the script for the play each year and I direct the drama. People are always so full of praise and I do appreciate that. But what a blessing it is to me, to be able to use what God’s given me. Just think – to write something and then to get to see it come to life on the stage. It’s a real blessing for me.

5. A quote.

“So strong, so beautiful is hope, that it is scarcely possible to overpraise it. It is the divine alchemy that transmutes the base metal of adversity into gold.” (A.W. Tozer)

This is a season full of hope. The coming of that babe in the manger is hope personified. And through the “divine alchemy,” He transmutes the adversity of life into gold; a manger becomes the birthplace of a king who is welcomed by shepherds and kings alike. He comes to die so that we might live. Divine alchemy, indeed.

Wishing you hope in the coming week.

An A for August: Friday's Fave Five

Friday August 5, 2011 Can you name five blessings from your week? Susanne from Living to Tell the Story hosts Friday’s Fave Five each week. Click on over and see her if you’d like to join in!

Well, August gets “A’s” from me so far. Here are my favorites (my “A’s”) for this week.

1. A first classroom. I mentioned before that my son has his first teaching job. I’m so excited for him! He texted me pictures of his door, his name on the Math faculty sign, and his classroom today. Our visit with him and that special young lady earlier this week was great. I had so much fun doing a little shopping for each of their first classrooms and surprising them each with a little package.

2. A fall conference. I attend a writers conference in March each year, and I just found out I get to go to another conference this fall. I’m pretty excited!

3. A little encouragement. I got a smidgen of publisher encouragement about my nonfiction book proposal. It hasn’t made all the hurdles yet, but I’m hoping and praying it will.

4. A back-to-school sale. I stumbled on a great sale this week and came home with quite a few new things for school—for a great price.

5. A great quote—about Abundance.

“It is a solemn thing, and no small scandal in the Kingdom, to see God’s children starving while actually seated at the Father’s table.” (A.W. Tozer)

Abundance at our Father’s hand, surrounding us at His table. All we have to do is throw off the solemnity and the scandal, draw near, and partake!

I know I’m going over 5, but I have to mention that, here in South Florida, we’re pretty thankful that Emily has broken up and won’t be kicking up a storm after all!

Hope you have an A-rated week ahead.