by jphilo | Mar 28, 2013 | Different Dream, Encouragement, Spiritual Support
Parenting a child with special needs is a big thing—sometimes, an overwhelming thing. Those big things can keep us from seeing and appreciating the small things God uses to draw us close to him. With Easter fast approaching, may God use this devotion and your life as the parent of a child with special needs to fix your eyes upon the glory of the cross.
For who has despised the day of small things?
Zechariah 4:10a
As a young child, I daydreamed about becoming big-things kind of girl. I had big plans for a career as either a television star or a princess. Therefore, I focused on the big things like dramatic poses and tiaras rather than little things like learning to tie my shoes. Or telling time. Or making letters like b and d point the right way. Or memorizing math facts. Eventually, my parents and teachers made life miserable until I learned to pay attention to little things.
But I remained a big-things kind of girl at heart for many years—even after I became a Christian and started reading the Bible. I preferred the big, showy stories—Moses parting the Red Sea, Daniel in the lions’ den, and Jesus feeding the five thousand—to hidden, quiet events like Moses in the bulrushes, Ruth gleaning grain, or the long drudgery of rebuilding the temple in Zechariah’s day.
I remained a sucker for bright lights and big things until two babies entered our home six years apart. When they arrived, life became a river of small things. Tiny fingernails to clip. Itty-bitty diapers. Minuscule onesies. Little bodies asleep in my arms. The first tiny hints of toothless smiles.
The rest of this post can be read at the Not Alone website.
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by jphilo | Feb 26, 2013 | Top Ten Tuesday
Winter came to visit last week, not as fiercely as the weather forecasters predicted. But it covered the ground with a clean, white reminder of the top ten good things about snowstorms.
10. The prospect of a humdinger of a snowstorm breaks the monotony of the job for weather forecasters, especially after last winter’s incredibly boring and blizzard-free weather.
9. When a snowstorms hits, those of us with sense enough to stay home feel far superior to the TV news reporters who stand on the edge of the snowy freeway, gravely reminding viewers to “Stay home and don’t even think about driving in this!” Hmmm, do you suppose the reporter and the film crew walked or drove to the freeway?
8. White snow is prettier than brown, dead grass.
7. The snow makes it easier to track the critters who hang around the yard, possibly lowering your house’s resale value.
6. A cold, snowy day makes a person much more thankful for a warm and cozy house.
5. The reflection of light on white snow makes a sunny day seem even sunnier.
4. The prediction of a snowstorm brings back the Will school be called off? pit-of-the-stomach excitement and uncertainly of childhood.
3. Being home during a snowstorm is a good excuse to bake something yummy.
2. Every snowstorm means spring is one day closer.
1. Snowstorms bring back memories of past winter adventures: my little brother ordering a rose for Mom during a Valentine’s Day storm and asking for it to be delivered; Hiram picking up his mom at the Rapids City airport during a May blizzard, after she purposely scheduled her visit to avoid a blizzard; watching my kids, bundled in snowpants and coats, dig tunnels in the snow piles around the garage.
How about you? What memories come to your mind when it snows?
by jphilo | Feb 15, 2013 | Daily Life
Valentine’s Day at our house was about as healthy as they come:
- No lunch date because Hiram spoke about heart health at a noon meeting for a church group.
- No home-baked sweets for Hiram because he’s watching his blood sugar.
- No heart-shaped box of milk chocolates because they contain dairy.
- No flowers because they make me sneeze.
- No dinner out because a) we’re just getting over viruses and have no desire to catch new ones, and b) Hiram helped the high school worship team at evening practice.
Our romantic Valentine’s dinner consisted of:
- Whole wheat spaghetti with marinara sauce,
- Crispy garlic bread,
- Greek salad,
- And fresh pineapple for dessert,
- With a tissue box centerpiece because we’re almost but not quite over the aforementioned virus.
In fact, our healthy Valentine’s Day was making me sick until I thought about:
Thank you God, for romance alive and well at our house!
by jphilo | Nov 27, 2012 | Top Ten Tuesday
November’s 30 days of gratitude project will be over in just a few days. For the past two Tuesdays, because I seem to have trouble following the rules, I’ve listed ten reasons to be thankful per week rather than one per day. Today, I’m back with ten final reasons (in no particular order) to be grateful.
- Mom’s love of reading and history which she passed on to all her children.
- A public library that turned our kids into avid readers, and offered books, audiobooks, and DVDs that provided endless free entertainment.
- Our seven years in Camp Crook where we were loved, supported and made life long friends among the hearty people in cowboy country.
- My dad had a great sense of humor he passed on to his kids and grandkids.
- Burgie’s Coffee Shop in Ames.
- My Uncle Jim and Aunt Donna. They added adventure and love to my young life.
- Family Camp in Idaho every summer.
- The best group of high school friends ever.
- A solid public school education thanks to dynamite teachers.
- The television show, Parenthood.
That’s the last of this year’s thankful lists. But it wouldn’t be hard to think of more. What about you? What are you thankful for today? Mention one thing or two or ten or even thirty in the comment box.
by jphilo | Nov 20, 2012 | Top Ten Tuesday
Many of my Facebook friends are still participating in the November 30 days of gratitude project. As was mentioned in last Tuesday’s post, I missed the memo about when to start, and played catch up by listing 10 things for which I was thankful. This Tuesday, because I seem to have trouble remembering to post one thing per day, I’m back with ten more reasons (in no particular order) to be grateful.
- My twenty-five year career as a teacher provided our family a good livelihood and was perfect preparation to be a writer and speaker.
- Being an uncoordinated kid because it gave me compassion for students who hated recess.
- Our warm house, preferably mouse-free, but even with unexpected company, it’s a great home for over twenty years.
- My son’s early medical adventures and my father’s illness taught me to never take good health for granted.
- Being raised in Iowa and raising our kids in Iowa.
- Attending a church where the pastor preaches truth and makes in interesting.
- A loving church family.
- A mom who taught me to cook and to love cooking.
- Being able to spend most Tuesday’s with Mom, though this week she’s visiting my sister in Minnesota.
- Siblings who do all they can to make Mom comfortable and happy.
So what are you thankful for this Tuesday before Thanksgiving? Leave a comment…or two…or ten!
