Author Archives: therealmimi

Which Direction?

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My girls think I overreact when they drive recklessly or make a mistake on the road but they don’t realize that in those split seconds my brain immediately recalls the dumb stuff I did as a teenage driver.   I guess I could see how my sudden gasps while clutching the dashboard for dear life might appear as overreacting.  One memory of my early driving years in particular that makes me laugh now but then scared the stuffing out of me was when my sister and I were attempting to navigate the one way street maze that is downtown Indianapolis – at night.  I don’t remember what we were doing down there but at one point we turned left onto a street and started to head to the next intersection, only to look and see cars parked on the curb facing the opposite direction and a lady in the crosswalk waving her arms and pointing.  Continue reading →

PWYP

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You know how yesterday I blogged about loving the unlovable and how much I love my daughter even when she disobeys or does something that hurts me?  Well last night after swatting away (as gently as possible) a disrespectful attitude that was thrown at the back of my head by said daughter, I sulked into my bathroom to get ready for bed and felt God poke me on the shoulder.  I could almost see a smirk on his face as He asked me, “So, do you still love your daughter?”  I practically rolled my eyes at His question as if I had a feeling it was coming.  “Yes, I love her,” I muttered to myself through gritted teeth, “I love that little…”  (insert synonyms for “pain in the neck,” “toot”, “pill”…you get the picture).  Continue reading →

I love you

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A husband and wife sat together at the kitchen table in awkward silence.  They had decided, having trouble getting along lately, that perhaps they should share with one another the frustrations they had with each other by each making a list.  After some quiet thought and pencil scratching it was time to share their complaints.  The husband read his wife’s first. A long list of his faults filled the page, and then another page. Continue reading →

No Fear

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They said three days.  So why was I still waiting to hear from them?  Granted, Monday happened to be Labor Day, and of course the lab was closed that day, so that didn’t help.  If it was nothing I would have heard by now.  The not knowing was so hard.  If only I knew the situation fully I could face it, but facing an unknown, invisible enemy was awful and seemed impossible.  I could hardly keep my mind from trying to figure out or imagine what it was, what the outcome would be.  During that time of waiting, the anxiety was so intense that my very nerve endings seemed on edge, all over my body, as if fear was continually pricking my skin. Continue reading →

SCL

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I stumbled on the “Stuff Christians Like” blog a few months ago, thanks to a link my friend PJ had posted on his blog.  After reading a few posts, I was hooked.  This guy is funny!  At the same time he speaks truth – truth sometimes that stings just a little but is so, so necessary.  I subscribed to his blog and get his posts sent to my email everyday.  I’ve never regretted that decision.  I also follow him on twitter – and no, I’m not creeping on him or stalking.  I just think he’d be a fun guy to have as a friend.  And hey!  He put himself out there, okay? Continue reading →

Surrender

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“There is a God.  It is not me.”

(The first line of chapter five in the book I’m reading, “The Me I want to Be” by John Ortberg.)

What a great line – that should be my motto.  It’s the beginning of true wisdom.  To really live in relationship with God, we have to surrender.

Surrender is difficult: it requires a pushing down of my pride and that’s an ongoing battle.  I have to  admit I’m not in control and that if I really was it would be a disaster; that I need someone else to take control and “drive” my life – someone who is stronger and wiser.  It’s an act of denying my selfish wants, opinions, hopes and brilliant plans.  It’s a falling back and completely letting go, which is scary!  What if God messes up or isn’t paying attention or…?  Continue reading →

One

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Click the link below to watch a video – watch it all the way through.

One of those moments.

What struck me the most after seeing this is how much, how incredibly much, this man’s life was changed by the other man’s monthly gift of only $38.  It is mind-boggling.  I think I can understand why he was so overwhelmed to meet his friend and “savior” face to face.  To be saved from starvation and a life destined to be wrought with struggle and hardship, then set on a path to wholeness, hope, and purpose – how could he fully express his gratitude?  He had no words.  I would have no words.

Do we realize what we have been saved from by Jesus?  Continue reading →

New

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(I’ve lost track of which day I’m on.  I missed one here and there so no more numbered days on post titles!  I’m still fasting from facebook until Easter.)

Driving to work was cheering today since instead of gray foggy heaviness there was a wide open blue sky.  I so enjoy the artwork of God!  Many times the beauty of what He’s made draws me closer to Him and causes me to worship.  A few wispy clouds gathered around the bright orange disc of a sun, almost as if they were coaxing it to come up – up through God’s watercolor splash of soft orange fading to warm apricot then to faint pink then to clear aqua blue.  It was stunning.

I didn’t even pull my visor down but actually enjoyed the piercing light of the sun in my eyes, as it rose now fully awake, big and bold and enjoying its task of announcing a new day had begun.  New.  That word became my mind’s sole focus for the next few moments as I kept driving…driving into a new day.  “This IS a new day,” I could hear God say to my heart.  Continue reading →

Muchness

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[SPOILER alert: If you haven’t seen the latest “Alice in Wonderland” film you may not want to read on]

I tend to see the “deep” in just about everything.  I can’t help it really.  Because of this I’m always watching for messages and morals in movies and books and when I find one it can move me and stay with me a while, giving me ponder material.  When I saw the “Fellowship of the Ring” and watched near the end as Sam tried to swim after Frodo to keep him from going on his terrible quest alone, I cried seeing the loyalty and tenacity of his friendship played out on the big screen.  I made a promise, Mr Frodo. A promise. “Don’t you leave him Samwise Gamgee.” And I don’t mean to. I don’t mean to. It was beautiful to me.  Likewise when I watched the last movie, “Return of the King” I was moved at the visual image of battle scenes between good and evil, dark and light…the willing sacrifice to fight for what was right in a last-ditch effort to push back what was so wrong.  It reminded me of the world we live in and the battle we fight as followers of Christ.

Sometimes when I mention what I learned from or got out of a movie, my family will humor me  with rolled eyes but then say things like “I thought the graphics were amazing!”  or “I liked the fight scene” or “wasn’t it funny when Gandalf smacked Sam on the head with his staff?”  I do remember after watching “Napoleon Dynamite” a few years ago, Krissy saying to me, “I didn’t see any lesson in that movie, Mom.”  I actually agreed with her on that one.

I was surprised when we went to see the latest remake of “Alice in Wonderland” to find myself inspired by some of what I saw and heard.  Continue reading →

Day 23 – Rainy

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On days like this my mood seems to mirror the outside, drippy and gray.

Breakfast with a good friend was an uplift and blessing.  Instead of withdrawing when I feel down, which is my tendency, I need to be with a friend and be a friend.

I often start cleaning when I’m thinking hard, frustrated, or need to release pent-up energy.  You should see my spotless kitchen.  I guess that’s one of the perks of parenting teens!

Oh, and today I received the award “Strictest Parent Ever”.   Thank you, thank you…I’d like to thank the little people who aren’t so little anymore for giving me the opportunity.

Hugs are good.  I need some more.  Where is that husband?  I’m going to go get a hug or two right now.

I accidentally included a reimbursement check of ours in with my work deposit last night!  Fortunately when I called the branch they said they found it.  Oh my.  What will I be like when I’m 70?  Stick around – it should be entertaining!

I’ve always thought it would be kind of fun to work at Target.  What do you think?  Do you think the magic would wear off if I was there all the time?  I don’t think that’s possible.

I’m using The Message version in my daily Bible reading plan this year and love it!  I found this verse yesterday in Proverbs.  I thought of writing it on a poster board and sticking it by the door:  “Dear child, if you become wise, I’ll be one happy parent…”  (Prov. 23:14-16)  The verse before that one says “Don’t be afraid to correct your young ones, a spanking won’t kill them.”

As I drove to breakfast this morning I heard a beautiful song.  The words made me cry.  Please take a minute to listen to this:

Places where grace is, soon to be so amazing…

Oh Lord, let it be true.  I’m counting on You.