Lego's & Lessons

When my third nephew, Deacon was younger, he LOVED putting lego puzzles together! It was something we did together just about every time I visited. As he got older, they got harder and more complex! We have put together trucks, fire trucks, planes, ships, you name it! We would proudly take a picture and he would then display them on his shelves.

Now here's the thing about these lego projects:  you had to follow the directions. ONE piece out of place and the whole thing was ruined. You would have to take it apart at the incorrect spot and go again. The other thing about legos is that lots of kids have great imaginations and can design all kinds of things with legos.

I took a friend's son to the Lego Movie. I feel like I should watch it again because it had so many subtle lessons for life. The idea was that all of these lego people had routines that they followed every day. On the other hand there were those called the "master builders", who had great imaginations and could make anything they could think up. The leader of the land was a guy who wanted everything to be the same, everyone had to follow the "instructions" and could not think, or do, outside of the box. He had workers called, "micro-managers" who would go around and make sure everyone was following the instructions.

His goal was to capture all of the "master builders" and lock them up. The story had been told that there would be one person who would come and be able to save the land from leader. He was called, "the special" - "the most talented, capable person who would do amazing things because he was so special".  He could change everything.

The lego who was "the special" didn't think he was all that much. Nothing special about him. No one noticed him during the day. He did his job and there was nothing about him that stood out. However, in his mind he would come up with all these crazy ideas to build things....like a double decker couch with cup holders (which in the end was what saved he and his friends from certain lego death).

When he would mention his ideas, he was made fun of. No one thought much of his ideas. So he gave up and stopped trying. When he went to save all of the master builders, they ended up laughing at him and he was convinced again that there was nothing special about him. After lots of lego drama, "the special's" mentor said this to him:  "don't worry about what everyone thinks, embrace what is special about you".

In the end, of course, "special" saved all of lego land from the leader and his micro-managers and the land no longer looked like the same "block buildings made with instructions to be followed". Legos embraced being different, not fitting the mold and believing that what made them special was what was on this inside.

Lessons:

1. Think out of the box
2. Be ok with who you are - you are made in the image of God and are special.
3. Don't worry about what others think of you (that's hard)
4. Trying to make people fit into your mold isn't going to work, isn't right or healthy.
5. You are the most talented, capable person and will do amazing things because you are special. You can change everything (through the power of the Holy Spirit and with the gifts God has given you).

This ..... from a lego movie.

With my mouth I will praise the Lord

This morning I was praising Jesus remotely, with a friend, for all the He is doing and has done particularly these past few months, and she pointed me to this passage.

Ps. 66

"Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! Sing about the glory of his name! Tell the world how glorious he is. Say to God, 'How awesome are your deeds! Your enemies cringe before you mighty power. Everything on earth will worship you; they will sing your praises, shouting your name in glorious songs.'

Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people! He made a dry path through the Red Sea, and his people went across on foot. There we rejoiced in him. For by his great power he rules forever. He watches every movement of the nations; let no rebel rise in defiance.

Let the whole world bless our God and loudly sing his praises. Our lives are in his hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling. You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver. You captured us in your net and laid the burden of slavery on our backs. Then you put a leader over us.

We went through fire and flood, but you brought us to a place of great abundance.

Now I come to your Temple with burnt offerings to fulfill the vows I made to you - yes, the sacred vows that I made when I was in deep trouble. That is why I am sacrificing burnt offerings to you - the best of my rams as a pleasing aroma, and a sacrifice of bulls and male goats.

Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me. For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin n my heart, the Lord would not have listened.  But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer.  Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love for me."

About a month or so ago now I was on my way to physical therapy. As I usually do, because these appoinments are early morning ones, I stop at McDonalds for a cup of coffee and a breakfast bagel. As I pull up to the window to pay, the lady says, "your order was paid for by the car in front of you".

I always hear of people this has happened to, but it NEVER happens to me. I was so suprised that it took me a few seconds to get myself together. Now, let me back up some ...

I am a worrier, I panic, I think of all the worse things that can happen, I have every illness there is and I can be a hypochondriac. I know, this suprises most of you! (not everyone!) God will meet a need and then I will still worry the next time something comes up.

As most know at this point, I am getting married. So I put my house on the market and had a plan for how much I wanted to walk away with. It would be enough to pay off my car so that I wouldn't bring that debt into the marriage and still bring a good number of savings into it as well. While I was waiting for my house to sell, wedding costs were adding up as well. I finally found a couple to buy the house and we agreed on a number. However, when the appraisal came in EVERTHNG changed. I went from walking away with 10 grand to owing 12 grand if I wanted to sell. I didn't have the ability to do that and pay for a wedding and so I began to worry about what to do. I was reminded that I have NO control over any of this and I needed to sit back, trust God and watch Him work.

A friend of mine began to pray that God would meet my needs and to provide for Russ and I in unique ways; ways that would point to only Jesus and cause us to acknowledge that only God could have done this. He has. Long story short, I am selling my house for only a loss of about 2500. Today I found out I am being paid to develop my online courses. The amount will allow me to pay off my car and some other things as well, and leave me with a small surplus after the wedding. On top of that, I still have a few more things coming in that will help.

Back to the lady at McDonalds who paid my bill ... its as if God was telling me beforehand, that no matter what happens, He's got my back. I had no idea of all that would transpire with the sale of my house, quitting my job, getting married and how the Lord would meet our needs of the wedding and afterwards. He did (and He will). After this happened, a friend of mine reminded me of the McDonalds episode and that it was like God was telling me ahead of time that He will take care of everything. It might not, and hasn't looked like WHAT I HAD PLANNED or how I THOUGHT IT SHOULD. But God has meet my NEEDS and blessed me over and above those needs. I don't deserve it.

God is faithful, He can be trusted.

Best Sermon ...

I heard one of the best sermons on biblical womanhood I've ever heard. I may be a bit biased as it was from my pastor at Grace. I also certainly don't have all the answers. However, I have grown up in one mindset of what it should look like or what a group of people have interpreted scripture to mean. I have learned that, yes, the Bible is very clear on a number of things when it comes to women and our roles. However, I have also learned that we, in our sinful and humanness, include our own personal bias, opinions and growing up experiences into how this plays out.

We often blame only the "world" for its scewed version of womanhood. I believe the church is to blame as well, and by church I don't mean a specific building. I mean groups of people. We see some things through our own lenses of interpretation or just beliefs, or how we were raised.  For example, what does it mean to be a "complimentarian"? You and I may both be one, however how we live that out practically, may look a little different.

What's my point? While we may have different ideas or interpretations of what scripture means to us practically, none of us have the right to see "our way" as the right way and shun those who don't believe the same way as we do.  I am not referring to those biblical distinctions we hold to that separate us from other "religions". I am talking about how we live out our lives as followers of Christ, when we don't all agree on everything.

What does this have to do with womanhood?  (I'm getting there!) I have lived my entire 49 years as a single woman. I've been told I am not fulfilling my life's greatest calling: that of being a wife and mother. I've been told I am less then a man, that I have to obey men, that I am not worth as much financially as I make less then a man doing the same job.  

My greatest calling is where God has me now and using the gifts He has given me to share Christ with others, encourage believers and to love God and others more every day. While being "alone" may not be ideal, God's grace is enough.

Here are four fundamentalist flaws (from my pastor's sermon)

1.  Hyper-patriarchy over partnership - absolute rule over women, that we are under all men.

2.  Non-biblical ideals as requirements:

     a.  woman can't work outside the house

     b.  women should never be in charge

     c.  women should never teach men, period

     d.  women should not excel their husbands - be smarter than, make more money that, etc.

3.  Cultural norms over timeless truths of scripture

4.  A fulfillment of the second part of the curse...that men will rule over women in a negative way.

We confuse the word "helper" ..... God is referenced  as helper as well. It is not being inferior or weaker. Adam could not do his role alone. He needed help, a partner.

Yes, I am soon to be married ... and my role will change. I can no longer do what I want, whenever I want to. ( yikes! ) LOL ....... this doesn't make me "better" then single people. It makes my role now different.

Church:  we HAVE to change how we see single people, how we treat them and how we use them in our churches. There are single people I would rather have influencing my children (if I had them) then some married people. 

Now that I have offended somebody ........ we are ALL made in God's image. Let's act like it.

Women I am Thankful For

Philippians 1:3
"Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God."

There are many women I am thankful for today.  So I just want to mention a few and say thank you.

To the woman who gave birth to me:  thank you for choosing life in a time when being an unwed pregnant teen was kept silent.

To the woman who gave me "life":  thank you mom ... for taking a baby (3 in fact) that you didn't give birth to and making us your own. For making every birthday seem like the biggest deal ever. For making our house a home. For modeling what a Godly mom and woman looks like. For your sense of humor! For modeling prayer. For modeling great courage and strength in the end. I miss you.

To the woman who is another birth mom:  thank you for choosing life so that my family could raise Preston and Lillian.

To my SIL, Kari - thank you for being the amazing mom you are to Preston, Quinten, Deacon & Lillian. Thank you for allowing me to completely and un-ashamedly spoil and love them. Thank you for caring for dad ... you are modeling grace, God's love and caring for someone through difficult times.

To the women who have been my "other moms":  Patsy Kuhar & Sheron Gibbs. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your families, for nursing me through many surgeries (Sheron!), Sunday dinner with your family, your examples of selfless giving and service, and for your daughters who are my lifelong friends.

To some women who are dear friends:

Beth - for not killing me as a 17 year old freshman! For not being intimidated of who my family was and putting me in my place when needed, for discipling me and still being my friend 30 years later. By the way, the mattress out the window was Cheryl's idea.

Kim - for reaching out and "taking me on" ... for helping me survive our common office space : ) and encouraging me so well. For all the chats, coffee and being in the "circle of trust".

Lori W. - for allowing me into your family and letting me be an "aunt" to your kids. For being so excited every time you see me. For your love of life. For allowing a very unmusical person be your sound "man".  For being a dear friend and more recently, being my matchmaker.

Kirsten - for being my "sister, for being patient while I "figured you out" : ) , for walking through hard, hard times together, for your loyalty, sense of humor, encouragement, your example of complete and utter trust and faith in Jesus, for being "Jesus w/ skin on" when I needed it, for our mutual love of food and laughter and for being a forever friend.

Jessica - I've learned so much from you watching you be a mom. thanks for your raw honesty and vulnerability about being a wife and a mom. Thanks for letting me love your kids!

Becky & Brooke - for all the laughs, snarky times, serious conversations and friendships especially these past couple of years. Thanks for your examples of grace. You are lifelong friends!

There are others and I probably offended somebody : )  which is not my intention. I just wanted to say thank you to some women I love and one I miss.

Is 43:19

"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

A friend reminded me of this verse recently.  God HAS been doing a new thing in me for awhile now. Not going to lie, it has been a tough season in my journey.  In previous posts I have talked about change, being in a dark tunnel and having so many anchors in my life taken away or changed in some way.

Had God NOT allowed some of these things to happen, I'm not sure I'd be on the path I am on now....the path of marriage.  God knew what I needed to bring me to this point.

So now a new chapter begins ..... one that is both exciting and terrifying at the same time! Every little girl's dream is to find her "knight in shining armor", "the man of her dreams", "the one" ... however you want to say it. God's timing is perfect. I can honestly say, without doubt, that until now I was not ready to be married. I needed to face and deal with things from my past that caused hurt and a view of God that was incorrect. I needed to learn to trust ... people and God. I needed to learn what real love looks like. I need to learn how to be a friend.I needed to accept friendship. I needed to learn what true community is. I needed to learn to speak truth to myself. I needed to let go. I needed to hold on. I needed to be honest with God, myself and others. I needed to learn who I was in God and because He loves me and gave himself for me. I needed to get involved in some small groups/bible studies. I needed to learn to be free in my worship and not care what others think. I needed time.

I needed the last 28 years (since graduating from college) - God needed the last 28 years to prepare me for this next big change and part of my journey.

I am marrying an amazing man. He loves me for who I am ... this strong, introverted, independent women. He loves Jesus. He loves my family. He loves my close friends. He's kind, gracious and giving of his time and resources. He strives to be a better man and follower of Jesus.

God IS doing a new thing in me. God HAS prepared of way in the wilderness for me. God has provided water in the midst of my desert ... through the Holy Spirit, His grace and people in my life.

I see it now.

Time flies by

Top - Mexico family vacation 9 years ago

Bottom - family pics 2015

I am obviously reflective this weekend as I watched Preston play his final high school basketball game.  What a way to go out - State championship game!  At some point I will write something just about him as he graduates in June.  However, as I have reflected this weekend on my family, I remembered this trip we took ... and this picture.

9 years ago we took our first family vacation with all the kids. My parents went as well and this was right before mom got noticeably sick.  We went to an all-inclusive resort in Mexico and had a blast!  This was one of my favorite pictures of that vacation and they decided to re-enact it ... sort of : ) ... 9 years later.

Lily - our only girl! is a tough, girly girl!  First of all she is a Huckaby and so she "has" to be tough and sporty!  Secondly, she has grown up with all brothers who treated her like one of the guys when it came to wrestling, etc.  Now they are her protector!  So watch out any guy who wants to date her, much less anyone who hurts her!  If you get past her 3 brothers, you will then have her dad to contend with.

Deacon - the last boy.  He is our "follow the rules" kid .... for the most part!  He has always been a picky eater and won't eat anything GREEN!  He is Lily's best friend - they are 6 months apart.  He was my shadow from about 6 months to two years old while I lived with them.  He loves all sports, but seems to have settled on football and basketball.  He is our "little Scott".

Quinten - our fisherman!  Our artist, our information guy.  He knows everything! Well, sometimes he thinks he does, but more often then not, he is right.  Its quite annoying actually!  LOL ..... he will be our giant and is already as tall as, if not taller, then his dad.  He took off football last year to focus completely on basketball and has become quite a player.  He is smart and kind and is a servant.

Preston - I can't believe he is a senior!  I remember the day he was born.  They had been anticipating adoption for awhile, so when he came home it was a BIG DEAL!  I was there every few months.  He has gone from picking dandelions in the outfield during a soccer game, to a state runner up, amazing athlete and hard worker.  By the way, imagine all of us on the sidelines yelling at him to stop picking weeds and get the ball!  He really didn't stand a chance in this family!  He is loyal, quiet and loves people.  He graduates in May and I can't wait to see what God does and where he leads him.  Looking forward to many college games!

So glad I have a lot more years to watch these peeps grow up ..... and, yeah, they hated holding hands for that picture!  haha