Author Archives: therealmimi

Not so Desirable Front Row Seat

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harry-potter-poster_330x508It seems almost everyone is talking about the new Harry Potter movie, “The Half-Blood Prince” based on J.K. Rowling’s sixth book in the series.  I’ve read all the books and as usual, I think the book is so much better.  The movie is entertaining, for sure, but so much had to be left out and several liberties taken with original story.  [SPOILER WARNING – if you haven’t read the book or seen the movie yet and plan to, don’t read on]

At the end of the story, Death Eaters (the bad guys) have made their way into the previously secure school Hogwarts.  Draco, a student who has become a death eater, has been charged by the dark lord, Voldemort, with the task of killing the head master, Dumbledore.  He’s made several feeble attempts that failed but now has found Dumbledore in a tower (Harry & Dumbledore had just returned from a dangerous quest in another place) and stands with his wand pointed at him, poised to kill.  In the movie, before Draco gets there, Dumbledore tells Harry to run and get a professor and not to come back up to the tower under any circumstances.  Harry starts downstairs but then, hearing what’s happening, stays a floor underneath watching and listening.  He doesn’t run back up to help Dumbledore because He gave his word not to.

In the book, Harry turns to go get the professor and hears Draco come up to the tower where they are.  Before he can turn to say anything or help, Dumbledore wordlessly casts a spell that immobilizes him.  Harry stands under his invisibility cloak, stiff as a statue, leaning up against the wall, an unwilling spectator, unable to move or speak.  Dumbledore talks Draco down so he almost gives up and gives in, but the other death eaters reach the tower including the professor Harry was supposed to fetch.  Harry watches with horror, powerless, as the professor who was supposed to help actually raises his wand pointed at Dumbledore Continue reading →

Day Four

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This morning (Sunday) we woke to a crystal clear blue sky and sun, got dressed, had some cereal and went to church.  What a great time of celebration and refreshing!  There have been times lately when I pondered on the value of the weekly worship service, is it really serving a purpose?  Does it help fulfill Christ’s commission to us?  Is it worth all the time and preparation?  Well, today I realized that although we can’t base our faith on emotion, emotion is a part of our faith and relationship with God and helps us reconnect to Him.  I was so encouraged and uplifted by the songs we sang, seeing other people worship alongside my family, the freedom to sing out and raise my hands, and hearing God’s Word spoken boldly and passionately.  The lesson we heard was right on and was such a great reminder:  God is for us.  When we are hurting we sometimes feel abandoned or when things don’t turn out the way we planned we feel hurt, or that God’s not listening.  His wisdom appears as foolishness to us oftentimes but we have to remember that God’s foolishness is wiser than any man’s best wisdom.  Great truth!   The speaker was engaging and funny, which I also thanked God for, because our girls were clearly connected throughout and seemed to soak it in.

We experienced something new in the worship time:  the speaking of tongues and the interpretation of it.  I have never experienced that.  I’ve been in services at pentecostal churches where everyone seemed to be speaking in tongues but no one explained anything or interpreted so all it seemed to be was a frenzied chaotic mess…not something God used to bless or instruct anyone.  This was much different.  Following one of the worship songs, one woman began speaking in what sounded like a different language.  When she did the band got quiet, all the people quieted and we just listened.  It lasted about half a minute.  Right after she finished another lady in a different part of the room “interpreted” and shared a word from God with us about having faith and hope in spite of disappointments or unrealized dreams, very impassioned and strong.  After her another woman shared briefly that when we don’t understand what God is doing, it doesn’t mean God isn’t working on our behalf – the our future and hope is in His hands.  How cool that these two words from God were exactly what the preacher was going to speak about!  Instead of feeling uncomfortable or weird, I felt like it was a special holy moment, like God was truly speaking through those ladies to each of us.

The girls were handed some money from their great-grandmother last night so of course we needed to make a trip to the mall.  Now we’re home and getting ready to have some pizza.  It’s our last night on vacation and I hope it goes by slowly.  We head home tomorrow – back to routine, back to “normal” life.   At least we’ve had this long weekend getaway with each other, John’s family, and God.

Day Three

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Saturday morning I woke to a sunny sky with big clouds and was optimistic about the rest of the day since it was the day for the big 50th anniversary party.  The house was quiet with sleepyheads sleeping in, so John’s dad and I went to the lake path again.  We walked and talked, then I jogged for a while, then we walked back to the car.  It was nice.  A breeze had started to blow and the sky was getting a little grayer.

There was a little time to sit and read, watch a TV with the girls, and just relax before getting ready for the party.  We got dressed and “snazzy” and headed out to the Elks lodge to celebrate John’s parents’ marriage for 50 years!  Many friends and relatives joined us, in spite of a torrential downpour on the way there.  It was fun to watch them all reconnect, talk and laugh together.  Some of those Polish peeps can get really loud!  I know some of them, as well, so got to catch up a little.  We took lots of pictures and video, had some 5731_118891228893_660523893_3046650_7394089_nyummy food for dinner including tortellini, meatballs and homemade kielbasa (polish sausage), enjoyed watching John lead his parents through the renewing of their wedding vows, and had some delicious wedding cake before cleaning up and going home.  What a beautiful thing to see two people who have not had a perfect marriage (there is none, I believe) but decided they were committed to staying together through it all – good and bad.  There love is so obvious.  It was wonderful for John to get to be part of their recommitment to one another.  His mom’s parents are both living so her dad got to walk her “down the aisle” as we all hummed the wedding march.  So special and fun.

We were all pretty tired when we got home but had enough energy to watch the movie “Willow” and flake out on the couches in our jammies.  I was playing a game on the Nintendo DS we brought along when Kristine  chastised me, “Mom, you’re not being present with your family.  That’s just as bad as texting.”  I scowled at her playfully, but then realized she was right, so I turned it off.  I’ll take that from her.  I need to be reminded as much as anyone else.   Special people, special reason to celebrate, special day.

Day Two

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lakesideWe woke to a beautiful, sunny day and once everyone got dressed and had some of Grandma’s eggs and sausage, we headed to the nearby lake to take a walk/jog.   I’m coveting this lake and the walking path right along the edge for several miles.  It was so pleasant to walk and jog along the twisting path underneath big shade trees, with the lake breeze blowing.  Ahhhh.

The girls and I went to Chili’s for lunch then Target and Barnes & Noble, before coming back to the house.  We all had yummy grilled chicken and pasta salad for dinner and then watched “The Knowing” with Nicholas Cage.  It’s a very interesting, albeit weird, movie.  I liked it – very thought provoking in parts.   Is our existence something that was planned or just a result of a string of amazingly coincidental cosmic accidents?   What would I do if I knew the end of my life was supposed to happen on a certain day in the near future?   Would that change the way I live?  Most definitely.  The truth is, we are all on the path to death (in our human bodies) and none of us know when.  The cliche of always living as if it were your last day kept coming to mind while we watched.  That’s actually not a bad idea!  The movie didn’t meet the “Mimi’s happy ending” preference, but I think it was worth watching.

It was fun to have a day when we could just do as we pleased.  That’s true vacation in my book – not a lot of plans, just time to “be”.  It’s actually been freeing to not have our phones or facebook.  I feel like we’re all present more in the time together and conversation here.  It’s peaceful.  It was a little crazy when the girls and I were out and we had no cell phone.  I thought, “What if we get turned around or lost?”  But then I realized I could go old school and use a pay phone or ask someone for directions.   You know, I existed happily before I had my cell phone, I just forgot what it was like.

I think it’s time to go sit somewhere and read.  Ahhhhh….

Day One

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rockyWe made it to Syracuse in one piece.  Our pets, who we had to bring along, seem sane at the moment.  The girls – not so much.  Just kidding!  There was a lot of napping going on in the van so we’re feeling rested and ready to have fun.  It’s a beautiful sunny evening – maybe a walk is in order after grilled out hamburgers and NY hot dogs, aka “coonies”.

We let Kimmi drive the last two hours of the trip.  It’s great to have someone else to help – especially with an 11-hour trip.  Oddest moment in my day:  an older, skinny, shirtless guy with a few teeth missing telling me how to save money travelling with pets.  Obviously you can request a “service dog” vest and paper from the govt. and then fly free with your dog,  stay in any hotel with it, etc.,  fooling the masses.  Best $65 he spent.  How about that?  I kicked myself once back in our van for not at least saying, “But that’s not really honest…”   He was quite the rest area socialite, chatting up lots of folks before hopping into his old RV with blue dolphins painted on the sides.  I love people – never a dull moment!

I better go for now – we’re trying to be as unplugged as possible.  I just thought it would be fun to document our trip.

Unplugged

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Did you hear it?  The wails of three teenagers echoing across the entire state of Indiana when we told them we were having an “unplugged” no cell phone, no facebook trip to see their grandparents in NY this weekend?

John and I decided we’re going to leave cell phones at home (except for his in case of emergency) and not allow anyone on facebook either.  It’s only for five days but you would have thought we asked each of the girls to personally cut off their own arms and forever live in caves as hermits.

We live in a deluge of input, information, communication, entertainment, and technology and it seems to have caused American Christians to become spiritually malnourished, weak, subtly distracted and preoccupied.   I have to admit I have allowed it to make me that way.   When was the last time I sat down just to be quiet?  How about an evening without turning on the TV or sitting down in front of the Internet?  How about going for a walk outside and not taking the iPod?  Continue reading →

The culprit

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Walking and talking – one of my favorite things to do with a friend.  We covered 3-4 miles on a sunny, cool morning and many topics ranging from parenting teenagers, memories, misc. stuff, our parents, church, and faith.   My friend shared something with me that I want to share with you.  She had looked up “discouragement” in a commentary.  The author offered four reasons why we get discouraged as believers: the hardness of the way, the difficulty of the task, the affluence of the wicked, and desires that remain unfulfilled.  These all totally make sense to me and I could easily relate to each one.  The fact that life is often not as we expected it to be, especially when following Jesus, can be discouraging.   To see others who aren’t living for Christ and seem to have so much, or have it easy is discouraging if we let it be.  Going through tragedy, sickness, unemployment, persecution, or any other “trial” can definitely wear on us and discourage us.  For each of these discouragement “triggers” my friend said a Bible verse was listed to show the remedy for each one according to God.  Oddly enough, each verse contained the words, “fear not.” Fear is the culprit!   If you think about a tough circumstance or trial you’ve been through, fear is bound to be involved somehow:  fear of the unknown, fear of things turning out different than we hope, fear that we won’t make it through, fear that we’re inadequate for the task, fear of others’ opinions, fear of not having what we need or want, fear of failing…

1732461-9-just-for-today-i-will-not-be-afraidWhen I don’t fully trust God it shows fear, and that leads to discouragement.  Conversely, when I decide to lean out over the edge of the unknown and fully trust in God, even though I can’t see what’s coming, I have such peace and freedom.

Our enemy, satan, loves to use fear.   Continue reading →

mishmash

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This morning I have so many thoughts, lessons, convictions swirling around in my mind I felt a little overwhelmed as I drove into work.  I talked with God about it but thought it would also help me to put some of them in writing.

I laid out a beautiful sermonette to John last night about how we need to trust the girls and God during these teen years when we can’t really control what happens and we oftentimes have to just sit, watch and pray.  Then today I woke feeling anxious.  God rewound the tape from my “message” last night and played it back right in front of me – the nerve!  Living by my own words is tough today.

If I really trusted Him completely I wouldn’t worry.  So, I’m practicing faith and trust, leaning on Him even though I still feel uncertain.  Sometimes letting go hasn’t been that hard but there are days…

What if my daughters choose ways and lifestyles other than what I hope for them?  Continue reading →

A Changin’

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In the words of my daughter Kaitlin this evening, after we attended camp meeting and I only saw two people I know (!) “Mom, times, they are a changin’ “.  What a true statement.   It’s especially true for me as a mom of three teenagers.

Mimi and girls

It used to be that wherever I went during the day or on the weekends, all three girls piled into the car or van with me, we’d listen to music, sing, laugh, be silly and pal around.  Nowadays they’re usually at work, busy, out with friends, texting friends and boyfriends, on a date, or otherwise occupied.  We have a lot fewer dinners around the table when everyone is present.  It used to always be the “Klotzfive” out on the town.  Now sometimes it’s the “Klotzfour” “Klotzthree” or…gasp…”Klotztwo” – me and John!  Today I went to the pool by myself and had to talk myself out of a pity party.   Continue reading →

The bed bug’s noble purpose

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I’m not sure if the purpose of bed bugs is the same for everyone but God has taught me something through this process of trying to escort these persistent pests out of our house for good.

They are so stealthy and seem to come from nowhere.  Just when we think we’ve killed the last one, steamed every inch of the walls, corners and mattresses, we’ll see one on the wall or way up high, hiding in a paint crack in the edge where the wall meets the ceiling.

It’s become a morning routine for me to wake up, wipe the sleepies out of my eyes, then stand up and survey the ceiling edges all the way around the room.  Any bug spotted will be crushed with a Kleenex.  Then we steam that part of the wall in case there are any of the practically invisible eggs nearby.

For several days we saw none but now we see one or two a day, either in our room or our daughters’ room where they were the worst.

We’ve super-cleaned, we’ve sprayed “Kilz” over the stained areas so that new activity will be easily seen, we’ve vacuumed like crazy, washed our bedsheets over and over…all in an attempt to rid ourselves of this problem once and for all.  We’re so persistent because if we aren’t they will multiply and the problem will be worse and a big pain all over again.

search-heartOne night as I was steaming and scouring my girls’ room for the little boogers, God spoke to my heart and said I should be as diligent about making sure I’ve gotten rid of all the sin lurking in the edges and cracks of my heart.  I have to let God daily survey my heart, crush any sinful “pest” He finds there, and cleanse me again.  I have to search my heart all the time to make sure some bitter attitude isn’t growing in the corner or some small temptation I’ve let remain isn’t crouching in a shadow waiting for an unsuspecting moment to trip me up.

Thank God that His Holy Spirit can see every part of me, into even the tiniest crevice, and that He can wash away EVERY last smudge of sin and make me truly clean.  Thank God that He’s willing to do that time and time again and not give up on me, because I won’t be rid of the pest of sinfulness completely until I go to be with Him in heaven.  What a joy that will be!

I even thank God for the bed bugs, if only for the lesson He’s teaching me, and the reminder they will be each time I see them, to be ruthless about ridding my heart of sin.

“How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from these hidden faults.”     Psalm 19:12