Hurricane Survival Guide

Hurricane Irene packed a powerful punch all along the eastern seaboard. As winds swirled in our area, we decided to document the day to provide a hurricane survival guide for our friends north and south. (If you need a "real" hurricane survival guide, check out this link!)

Rule 1: Choose to embrace the interrupted day! Driving a car in gale force winds on water covered roads is quite dangerous. Stay home and embrace the "unscheduled holiday." We knew the storm was coming -- so we prepared a scrumptious breakfast casserole. (YAY! Power went out during the night AND about 10 minutes after the french toast finished baking... so we actually got to enjoy it!)

Rule 2: Plan appropriately for power outages. Our son practiced piano when the power went out, providing music for our day! (If you don't have a gifted piano player in your family, maybe you can play the kazoo!) No blow dryer? No problem. Let your daughter do your hair! And when you run out of other things to do, dust the house! Especially the ceiling fans -- seriously, we had no idea how dusty ours was since it runs non-stop when the power is on!

Nathan's hands blessed our day!

Ellie did a fabulous job with my hair.
Daisy did not like the howling wind and rattling windows!

Ben dusted carefully, every nick nack too!

Thanks, Rob!

Rule 3: Document any damage as soon as possible. Eagle-eye Nathan discovered the watermark on our kitchen ceiling. We seriously can't find where it came from -- the roof and flashing look good. Time to call in the pros. Bummer!

16 inches long. Sigh.... It grew from there. :(

Rule 4: Enjoy what you can! Ellie painted this beautiful rainbow -- a great reminder that even Hurricane Irene has to end sometime. The boys played wii, once the power came on and stayed on.

Our budding artist

"Whee" -- power's back!

Rule 5: Celebrate when it's over! Once we knew it was over, we got busy cooking. Crackers, cheese and fruit did not really qualify as lunch. Rob made pretzel chicken in mustard cheese sauce. I baked a triple berry pie. We all ate and enjoyed! Then we played Spades -- Nathan and Ben destroyed us!

Pretzel chicken in mustard cheese sauce
Thanks, Rachael Ray!

Triple berry pie
I did not add the tapioca. Great recipe!

Really, dude. You're killing us.
No need to think that hard!

Of course, had we been in the line of the storm, we wouldn't have been able to relax quite so much. We know that. We continue to pray for everyone affected by this storm, especially for those families who lost a loved one.

Love,

Overnight Blueberry French Toast

We knew Hurricane Irene was coming and we planned ahead... sort of. Only we didn't count on losing power at all. Really! We're two hours inland. Who knew this storm would be heavier to the west? The leading edge, N-NE, should be the worst. Oh well....

The good news is the power came on just long enough to cook this amazing breakfast and brew a pot of coffee.

I hope you aren't "hunkering down" against a hurricane. Find another fabulous reason to devour this scrumptious breakfast!

http://chef-n-training.blogspot.com/2011/05/overnight-blueberry-french-toast.html

NOTES:
1. I do not know this blogger, but I love her recipes!
2. We substituted 12-grain bread, still delicious. And healthier :D
3. We substituted neufchatel cheese, lower fat. Still amazing.
4. We licked our plates clean -- well, not quite. That wouldn't be very civilized.

Enjoy!

I'll post the rest of our "fun-filled" hurricane day on Monday.

Back to School Prayer: Full Armor of God

Put on the full armor of God 

so you can take your stand against the devil's schemes...

Ephesians 6:11

Another school year is off and running. We sent Nathan off at 6:30 a.m., before the sun arose -- as you can see in the picture! This is it, the last one... SENIOR YEAR! Not only that, we sent him off driving his car (that he paid for himself -- yes I am proud.) I still can't believe that the same smiley faced guy I sent to kindergarten "just yesterday" is almost done.

Here...

was...

Nathan (and his amazing smile)

driving off to his last first day of high school.
There are no pictures of my emotional heart or the lump in my throat.

Don't you love his shirt? He's so funny...

We did not send him off without prayer: For his year, for the first day of school, for wisdom, for his teachers, the bus drivers, the other kids driving to school, for God to shine in him and through him. No way! Each day, we pray with him and for him. Every day of every school year since preschool. The world's tough enough without the full armor of God!

Ellie's first day of FIRST GRADE!
She's wearing the outfit she picked out....
And doesn't leave for school till after the sun wakes up!

Sweet Ellie headed off to first grade, covered with the same prayer. She loves praying for her school, her teachers and her classmates. I love to listen as she asks Jesus to help her remember her "STAR" rules and not make other kids get in trouble. She's getting it... she's a little light in her big class! And she knows that Jesus wants to help her through each day! Training her up... one little step at a time!

Ben and I were busy all day -- enjoying the start of our last homeschooled year together. He officially starts his year Monday. We shopped for and cooked a tremendously awesome dinner to celebrate this monumental day.

Oreo ice cream pie. YUM! 

I battle the feelings inside -- joy for the new year, especially for Ellie. Sadness that this time next year Nathan won't be here. He'll be off to college, embarking on his own adult journey. I pray the lessons we've taught have sunk in well. I pray he is prepared for the future -- to make wise decisions and shine God's light wherever he goes. And I'm thankful -- time with him is not quite over... YET.

I love you, my three sweet kids.

May you always follow God and live for Him!
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Why me?

Friends,
It's one of those days... the kind no one thinks anyone has but them. One kid decided to stay up late last night -- really, really late. Grumpy today. Not my fault, I want to scream. I tucked you in at a reasonable hour. You chose to get up after the house was dark and quiet. Not my fault!

Another one is so excited for school tomorrow that nothing makes sense today. I want to hit the fast forward button and get there, but then I feel guilty for wishing life away.

And the last one procrastinated. Doing things this morning that should have been done last week. Mad. Again, I want to scream, "I'm mad too! I wish you had listened!"

It's the last day of summer. Today should be wrapped in a big giant bow. A gift -- togetherness, fun, one last hurrah before the school year grind begins. Instead, we all are grumpy and frustrated. Why me?

Can you relate? Maybe your kids drive you up a wall? Maybe you set the expectations too high -- wanting perfect, but ending up with blah? Disappointed? Frustrated?

For the longest time, days like this ended as they began. Frustrated. At best, I was thankful we survived. But I don't live that way anymore. I've learned not to define the day by emotions, but instead to choose to take my feelings captive. Yes, captive. In a stranglehold (my feelings, not my kids) if needed.

Today I choose to live differently.
I sent the kids off to the pool (once the dallying one finished up).
I'm headed there soon -- after I shop for food to make a fun dinner for five to celebrate the end of summer.
Most importantly, when they left, I prayed. God, still my heart. Calm my frustration. Show me what's important. Today. Just today.

Gotta run!
A pool chair and three wonderful kids are calling my name!
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The Bus Driver

The phone rang early this morning -- any time before 9:00 and the second cup of coffee is early. I looked at the number, didn't recognize it and thought about letting it go to voicemail. Then I answered.

It was my kids' bus driver! Truly, I never would have expected a call from the bus driver. School hasn't started yet, so I know my kids can't have done anything wrong. Yet. (Hopefully never.)

She called because bus routes changed this year (a cost cutting effort by our school system which I applaud). My son, a rising senior, would have had a new bus stop. He's driving this year so it doesn't affect him... She laughed when I told her and said, "Ahhh, the senior freedom bug." And she wished him a wonderful senior year.

She happens to drive for my daughter, a first grader, too. She commented that she loves seeing me wave from the window every morning. (That's my compromise -- letting my daughter have some freedom while I still watch over her.) Her route doesn't change. YAY! We can keep waving through the window.

A short call, but so sweet.

Nobody ever hears about the good bus drivers, just those who text and drive or fall asleep or forget a kid... Today, I salute all the wonderful bus drivers out there -- the unsung heroes who drive safely day in and day out, care about their kids and actually get to know them. Thank you for all you do!

A Brand New Year -- In August!

It's a brand new year... day one of year number 22 with my wonderful husband!

We celebrated the milestone with a romantic dinner out last night. Yummy food, relaxed pace of service, and a decadent dessert closed one chapter and opened the next. Our menus even celebrated, personalized with "Happy 21st Anniversary" written at the top. So sweet.... You know it's the little things, right? :D

The coming year is one of our biggest yet!

• We prepare to send kid #1 to college! For the first time ever, our nest will get smaller. Hard to believe!
• My speaking ministry is taking off... a little bit. I'm so excited that it's finally God's time to step forward. My family is 100% behind it, which means the world to me! I couldn't do this if they thought it pulled me away from my first, most important ministry, them!
• Rob and I launch a new small group at our church on -- what else? -- parenting, of course!!! God's brought us through so much, it's about time we give back. We are not perfect. We never will be. We know God is the center and we parent in His confidence. I'm sooooo excited to walk with others -- sometimes encouraging them, sometimes being encouraged. Can't wait!!!

I look back, grateful for all God has done.

I look ahead and marvel at all He still has to do. In me, through me, and around me.

Forever prayerful,

A Wedding Prayer

At our wedding, 21 years ago today,

my sweet friend, Kate, offered this wedding prayer.

Rob sang "Let Me Call You Sweetheart."

Father,

I am so thankful that Rob and Karen

each have a personal relationship with you.

Lord, thank you that you've grown

the friendship that they've had for many years

into a deeper, more intimate relationship.

Bless Rob and Karen as they begin their marriage

and give their vows to each other

in the strength of your steadfast love.

Thank you that as they are committed to you and follow you,

you will sanctify them by your Holy Spirit,

teaching them to love each other sacrificially

the way that you love us.

I pray that from this foundation

they would reach out to serve others.

Through the the power and grace of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Twenty-one years and every request made before God that day

is being lived out in our lives today.

Rob, thank you for leading our family God's way --

loving Jesus, us and others.

Thank you for loving, encouraging and nurturing my dreams.

Thank you for teaching our sons how a Godly man lives.

Thank you for filling our daughter with dreams 

of her "Prince Charming" -- Jesus!

Thank you for living beyond yourself --

sharing your heart in service at church

and offering Jesus' love to broken hearts you meet at work.

Our family, three kids later, this summer at the beach.

I look forward to serving another 21 years with you:

May our kids be blessed by our love -- and Jesus' love -- for them.

May others discover the hope and love of Jesus

as we share God's love with other families.

May others find Jesus because we're willing to ask,

"Have you heard? Jesus loves you!"

I can't wait to see what comes next!

I love you,

Always and Forever!

Stepping Up!

Did you know that single parent homes accounted for 34% of all homes in the United States in 2009? Or that another 5% of homes included kids living with neither parent? (source) That's about 40% of families -- Two in every five homes!

My kids are blessed. Mom and dad live here, with them, together. At bedtime, they get two good-night kisses. They get two prayers. They get double hugs. When I'm having a bad day, I have back-up -- my kids don't have to deal with just me. Dad can calm the storms. (And I do the same for him once every three years on his bad day.) I can't imagine raising them without him.

A whole lot of families in this country don't have that same opportunity: Ready or not, they're raising kids the "hard way." Single moms and dads push through to "git 'r done." Grand-parents, aunts, uncles, siblings and foster parents stand in the gap, addressing hurts and pains, loving and nurturing the best they can.

Who's there to help? Sure, we have over-worked agencies and programs: Big Brother, YMCA, social workers and more do their best, but there's not enough government money meet the needs. There aren't enough volunteers to help everyone. School teachers give till their hearts break, called on to be counselor and conscience, not just teacher anymore. They can't do it all.

Church -- it's our job. "Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow." (Isaiah 1:17) Plain English: Do right. Seek justice. Encourage. Defend. Plead for. Calls to action directed to the church -- God's people.

Yet we drive to church Sunday morning, dressed to impress. We sit in the pew, nodding our agreement with the pastor's wise words. We drop a token offering in the plate. We leave -- thanking the pastor and praising his efforts. We go home.

Just add one more thing to Sunday morning: Serve. One hour each week. Teaching kids that God loves them. Reminding them that God is there even though it's tough at home sometimes. Encouraging them to make wise decisions that will last a lifetime if they just learn them now. A hug. A tear, wiped away gently. A prayer offered from an innocent heart. Serve. Care. Be God's hands and feet.

Just a couple hours each week -- leading a Bible study group for women who parent alone. Encouraging them to discover God's truth: they are important. They are not forgotten. They can -- in Christ's strength -- do all things, even parent "alone." Offer to provide childcare for these groups. Pay for someone's childcare so she can attend a group. Serve. Love. Be God's hands and feet.

Just a couple hours each week -- be a Godly example to the fatherless. Men, these kids need you! Boys need to know what it looks like to be responsible, to listen well, to stand firm and not run away. Girls need to know that Godly men are humble, honest, kind and sincere. Who will model fatherhood to these future fathers? Who can show a girl what a "good husband" might be for her one day? Serve. Be an example. Be God's hands and feet.

Our call as Christians is to know God and make him known. (See Matthew 5:13-14 for Jesus' explanation)

Will you do it? Will you be one who does right, seeks justice, encourages, defends, pleads for? Or are you content to let a generation fall apart? What do you think God would like you to do?

Getting organized with meal planning.

But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

1 Corinthians 14:40

A Star Wars inspired meal: Tie Fighter ties, yoda soda and more.

Dinnertime at our house is often horrible! HORRIBLE! We've endured a long day and we're tired. Everyone's hungry. Tired PLUS hungry often EQUALS grumpy! Sometimes, thos pre-dinner bad attitudes spill over to dinnertime. Grumpy is NOT a pleasing appetizer!

Supper should be our opportunity to "be" a family, all together. It grieves me when this time is spoiled by grumbling! To combat the grumpies, Rob and I are committing to being more organized. Some of you are pros at this: you plan your menus for the week or the month. You prepare in advance. We are not good at that....

So we're taking baby steps. If you find dinner prep and planning stressful, maybe these tips can help you too.

1. Sunday afternoon we take "orders" from the kids (they share their cravings and meal requests) and then sit down for about 20 minutes to plan the week's meals.
2. I record the meals on our calendar (mine's on my computer -- and I attach the URL to any online recipes we plan to use).
3. Rob records the "shopping list" for the week as I read off the recipe.
4. We head out to the grocery store -- often it's Rob and Ellie for some daddy-daughter time!
5. Sunday evening, we prep the food for Monday.

That's it. Just a few simple organized steps offers us a week free of meal-planning stress. Not only that, we are eating healthier and meals get to the table more quickly. Most importantly, grumpy is no longer offered as an appetizer. :)

If you decide to try our "plan," please let me know if it works for you by leaving a comment below. If you have some quick meal-planning tips that we could benefit from, share those too. 

God didn't intend for us to live in chaos! Let's reclaim family dinner -- and the joy that goes with it!

Love,

Becoming the Mom I was meant to be...

My older son, Nathan, told me that when his U.S. History class discussed 9/11, his teacher had asked the class if anyone's family had been affected by the tragedy, Nathan shared our story. 

We were moving from Ohio to North Carolina when that tragedy struck. Already struggling emotionally with the change and feeling lonely, I splintered apart. I couldn't take my eyes of the television -- afraid that if I looked away, something worse might happen. I was a mess... make that MESS!

It took the loving care of a church to help me heal. Months after 9/11, the real me started to emerge... not the pre-9/11 me, but the me I am today.

Nathan told his class that I became a "Mom" because of 9/11. 

I had always doubted that I could ever be a good mom, so I parented in fear. When the boys were young, I did everything I could to protect them. I obsessed over their meals, their toys, even how I spoke to them. I worried. All the time. As much as I loved them, I didn't really enjoy them.

Then I discovered Psalm 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

The horror of 9/11 was intended to destroy us, but God turned it around. From the bottomless pit of despair, I reached up to God. He became my refuge and strength. Trusting in Him, finally, I became the mom I was meant to be.

How about you? Do fears hold you back? Or is God your refuge and strength?

Dear God, I am in awe of You. Thank you for being my source of strength, in times of trouble and in times of peace. Be with us today -- lead us, guide us, protect us and fill us with Your love, Your purpose and Your power. Go before me today -- let everything I do bring praise to You. In Jesus' name, Amen

Feeling Small

When I was a little girl, I would lie in bed at night and feel small. Sometimes, I even felt like I was shrinking as the dark room around me grew. I'm not sure what that was all about... but last night, while I tossed and turned, the memory came back. The room was dark, but at least I didn't feel like I was shrinking!

That childhood memory kept me awake. Why did I feel so small? Do other people ever get that sensation?

Since I couldn't sleep, I asked God why that thought. Why now. Then I laid there and listened... to the air conditioner hum.... Hello? God? Are you there?

Psalm 39:5 popped into my head (I'm not sure it comforted me): You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you.

My first thought was -- "Ummm, Big Guy, are you warning me?"

Then I asked him to explain himself.... he did.

"Karen," he seemed to whisper (not exactly, but I don't really know how else to explain it), "don't ever forget that your life is short -- no matter how long you live. Make the most of it. Don't shrink back -- nothing happens when you fade away. Grab life, make the most of every moment. Make it count."

Not in so many words.

Oh those days that count for nothing -- when I can't get moving.
When I won't crack open my Bible.
When I dismiss the kids with a casual wave and tell them to entertain themselves.
When my husband comes home tired and I just dump more in his lap.
When I serve out of a sense of obligation and not out of passion...

Life is short. Too short to take for granted.

It's a choice: Would I rather live it passionately or would I rather let it slip by, insignificant and small?

It's not about fame or recognition, but about making it count for God. Like Paul, I guess I'm realizing that life isn't about me -- It's about making God known. Especially now, the hopeless need hope. The unloved need love. The hurting need forgiven. We all need Jesus!

How about you? Which would you rather?

The Cancel Button

My kids: I'm not telling you who this story's about!

For some reason, when I use the microwave, I always mess up. I'll put in the wrong time -- setting the coffee to reheat for 1 second instead of a minute. Or I'll put the chicken in to defrost, but end up setting it to cook instead. Thankfully, the microwave (and lots of other useful gadgets) has a "cancel" button. These machines give me a second chance to get it right!

I wish I had one for my mouth! You know, when hubby comes home from work late and droopy... Instead of "Hey, hurry up. Dinner's on the table," I might actually say "Oh honey, what happened today? You look beat."  Or when the kids shake the house with various crashes and shouts, instead of screaming up the stairs, "Kids. Stop that this instant," I might actually ask, "Hey guys. Whatcha doin' up there?" (My kids actually play together a lot -- why do I always assume the worst?)

Maybe you're not like me... but I know someone out there can relate. Oh please... tell me I'm not alone!!!

Right now, my mouth and I are having a particularly difficult time with one of my kids. This child has always had a hard time understanding "no." I got used to responding to every request loudly, firmly and absolutely. It seemed to be the only thing that sank in. Recently, this kid decided to mature! (Really -- some of you might wonder if it ever happens. Apparently, it does.)

For the most part, this one now thinks before blurting things out, but I still respond loudly, firmly and absolutely. My child, hurt and offended, says, "Mom, you don't have to yell at me. Just say no or later or something nice."

Geesh! When did it get that easy? And why can't I keep up? Seriously, I want a cancel button for my mouth. I want to treat my child with respect and kindness... but I'm not used to the "new and improved" version yet.

Since I don't have a cancel button, I have to settle for "I'm sorry. I'm listening. I'm learning." Then I listen, focus and respond kindly... even when I have to say no. Hopefully I'll catch on soon, but until then, "I'm sorry" will have to do.