May 23, 2011 | In the Name of Love
Sometimes I’m not sure exactly where I’m headed on the adventure that takes place right here in this little corner of the world wide internets. What I feel sure of so far is that I’m supposed to write, encourage, challenge, and share words of life.
When I read God’s Word, sometimes things jump off the page — it’s almost as if I sense Him over my shoulder pointing to a verse and saying, “Well did you think about that?” or “How ’bout this one?” And I picture Him the way I see myself, standing over the Bear’s high chair helping him learn to trace and write his letters. Slowly and gently, there’s progress over time.
{Only God, in relationship to me, is significantly bigger, stronger, smarter, more amazingly wonderful — and the list continues — than me, in relationship to the Bear. But I’m sure you already knew that.}
The results that have come about from spending time here, writing and encouraging and endeavouring to just bring a smile to someone else’s face five or six times a week, have been wonderful, and exciting, and different than what I expected.
A lot of you have taken a moment to write me and say thank you. You’ve told me something I said meant something to you. And that really meant something to me. So I’ve done my best to point back to the One to Whom and through Whom and for Whom all things are — because if you find anything good here, you can be sure His hand is in it.
Now don’t get worried that I’m about to announce that I’m finished writing in this space, because that is NOT the case. I just want to take a moment to say thanks.
People often feel called to do something and get very little support, and that makes it hard for them to step out and do what they should. But as I’ve stepped out, you’ve held me by the hand and encouraged me. I can no longer count the number of times I was swerving to wonder whether I was wasting time here, and within days or even hours, I’d receive an email. From next door or from Brazil, someone touched base, saying “This meant something to me. Thank you for saying it.” Those life-giving words have stirred the gift in me and encouraged me to keep at it.
I look at numbers, so I know how many visitors come by this way, and I’m thankful for each of you. I love your comments, I love your emails and encouragement, but even if you’ve just been dropping by, that’s meant something to me, and I want to say thanks.
I think about 90% of you are female, so I feel confident you’ll appreciate this analogy. You know when your body feels a little loosey-goosey? Perhaps you’ve just had a baby and aren’t back into form, or you just aren’t in shape quite like you used to be or might like to be? There are these magical underpants a lot of you will already know of, called Spanx, that hold you in place and make you look like you’ve lost ten pounds, just by putting them on. Underneath the wedding dress, the bridesmaid’s dress, the Little Black Dress, enter the Spanx.
In a beautiful way, you have been Spanx for my soul. You’ve been holding me in place to do what I feel called to do — to use the gifts God has given me to write, here and elsewhere — at times when I’ve felt a little loosey-goosey, a little uncertain, a little afraid that if there is a difference to be made, this ain’t making it.
I want to say a special Spanx to you likers and commenters and sharers and tweeters. Writing here is giving me more and more opportunities to write in other places (more on that soon), but this place feels like home. And we all know there’s no place like home. A lot of you have shared a link on Facebook, or tweeted something, or linked from your website to mine, and sent other folks this way, and that has really, really blessed me. You’ve clicked “like” on my fan page, or on a post, and helped share this space with others. When you see enough value in a post to share it, it means a lot to me.
I want to give special Spanx to the sites that have sent the most traffic my way for the past wee while. I do hope this place will grow, and I’ll be an encouragement to more folks who haven’t been here yet. {But even if this has all been just to encourage those of you who’ve been here already, it is TOTALLY worth it.}
So here’s a special Spanx to my Top Referrers since the start of this year:
1. Se7en @ Se7en.org.za {Lekker love and thanks!}
2. Amanda @ Seriously. {You’re one of a kind. Love ya.}
3. Hero Hubs @ Quiver Tree Photo {Wowzers, my dear! Already! Thanks!}
4. Grace @ Grace {Sweet & Amazing Grace! No pun intended!}
5. Allison @ DameronGirlz {Thanks sweet friend!}
6. Erin @ Happy Noise {I’m honoured and you’re hilarious!}
7. Pam @ PamLewsey.com {Go Pammy! So glad you’re writing!}
8. Brunette Koala @ Learning from Sophie {My first blogging/IRL friend, thanks for sticking with me!}
9. Paul & Michelle @ BroonandMish {Miss you guys & love you!}
10. Michelle @ Michelle Has Thoughts {Congrats on Baby Brielle!}
And because you’re number 11 and I love ya ta pieces, Natasha @ The Chronicles of Nat. {Whoo-hoo, you are great!}
And a little further down the list were Neal and Julia and Aubrey … I just don’t like it when people get left out. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Friends, thank you again and again for your encouragement and support. In dark moments, you’ve been here for me in tangible ways. Thank you for rejoicing with me at wonderful times. (And thank You Lord that I haven’t been doing much weeping for you guys to share in!) What a privilege it is to walk the road of life together.
Please keep sharing, please keep commenting, and please keep letting me know when something means something to you. It means so much to me.
Spanx!
With Love from Here,
xCC
May 21, 2011 | Stories
Hey guys and dolls. Hope your weekend is going well. I have a little bit of happy to share with you! Besides the fact that Goo-Goo and Gammy are arriving today and the Bear is super-excited. And the fact that it’s Saturday, and that’s just a good thing all on its own.
So. Some of you probably aren’t aware that the photography used on this site is home-grown stuff. I would say about 4% of the photos you see here have been snapped by yours truly. I know. I deserve a huge pat on the back. And the creative genius behind the other 96% is one Señor Hero Hubs.
Heckuva guy, y’all.
After some encouragement, mayhaps a little prodding, but not much, Hero Hubs has finally decided to make a little extra effort in sharing his photography skills with these world wide internets. I think it’s a creative outlet that comes at a really good time — job changes and moving top the list of stress causers, and we’ve got that going on right now. Again. I retreat to my favourite medium — words — and he can dig his hands into his — photography.
His scrumdiddlyumptious new site, Quiver Tree Photography, generally features one wide-screen, five star photo in each post, with a backstory. Which is rather nice, because you see a lot of the photos here but don’t get to know much about them — they’re like untold stories swimming in a sea of all the things that I have to say ’round these parts. And I sure do have a lot to say. But don’t they deserve a chance to shine, too?
Gosh, I’m a tired Mama and I digress.
Back to the subject. Here’s my favourite thing about the new site that I want to tell you. On a reasonably regular basis, the Hubs snaps a shot that I want. Like framed and hanging in my kitchen. Like that bird up there that has been my favourite for about six weeks. No, he took it before Baby Brother was born so three months. Well, HH has a nifty thingamabob installed which enables all you sweet potato friends to use the photos on his site to send free e-cards, create a sweet greeting card, or buy a professional quality print. You know, to hang in your kitchen.
And when you purchase a photo to enjoy whilst washing dishes or making Thai Shepherd’s Pie, you’ll be supporting our ministry, as we embark upon the adventure that awaits us. And you’ll live happily ever after.
So, will ya do me a favour on this bright and hopefully sunny Saturday? Please visit Quiver Tree Photography and send the Hubs some love. If you’re on Facebook and you take a moment to “like” his fan page, I will give you a hug next time I see you, because he’s like a kid in a candy store every time he gets another like.
But if you like his fan page and you haven’t liked mine, my feelings are gonna be hurt. Just saying.
So now you know the scoop: if you see a photo round these parts and you want the backstory, leave a comment. I’m sure HH will be glad to take an order, post the photo and share the story with you, and then you can hang it on your fridge or share it with someone else! (And a side note in case you’re wondering: the watermark that you see on the photos when you view them on the site will not be there if you order a print.)
Happy Saturday!
xCC
May 20, 2011 | The Good Word
It’s late afternoon and the sun is streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows and doors of our living room. The dryer is humming in the kitchen. The wonderful meaty mixture for the World’s Best Lasagna is simmering on the stove.
The baby who suffered with gas this afternoon is in his baby gym on the floor beside me, cooing and figuring out how to make everything jingle when he kicks his feet.
His big brother is in his high chair working on tracing letters and colouring the pictures on each page.
I’m pausing in my heart to give thanks.
We feel a little like we’re facing giants. Finding the finances to cover another transcontinental move. Selling our furniture. Selling our car. Saying good-bye to South Africa and the family we love here. HH needs a spousal visa and his interview is next week. Baby Brother needs a passport and the process is moving in African time. There are a lot of metaphorical ducks to get in a row and they sometimes feel kind of like boulders. Big, daunting, immovable, grumpy-faced boulders.
But part of faith is sometimes trusting that it’s going to be okay, no matter what.
I recently found myself pondering one of the descriptions of the woman in Proverbs 31:
She is clothed with strength and dignity, she can laugh at the days to come. {v. 25}
Other translations say she smiles at the future or she laughs without fear of the future.
Really? Who does that?
How do you look at the future and laugh? Is it a flippant decision to laugh and leave worrying about the future for another day? Or the impudence of a lion cub Simba declaring, “I walk on the wild side. I laugh in the face of danger,” and then getting into trouble with the hyenas? {You’ve seen the Lion King, right?}
It must have something to do with courage. And a purposeful decision to trust an unknown future to a known God.
The woman’s attitude may have been built on the confidence that she was walking in the ways of the Lord. Each verse demonstrates another way in which she honours the Lord with her actions. She is clothed with strength and dignity… and having put on all this godliness, she must be a person of consistency and firmness of mind. She’ll know to expect difficult times — in this world we will have tribulation. But our actions — our decisions to walk in God’s ways, and our beliefs — our decisions to believe God’s truth, demonstrate that, like her, we trust God to meet us and see us through.
It takes faith to look ahead and trust that everything is going to be okay, even though we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. But keeping that frame of thankfulness around my life, I am more often see God’s sovereign hand in places I would not have seen it before.
He is clearly moving. There is reason to take off my shoes. As Psalm 100 describes it, we enter the gates with thanksgiving, and we enter the courts with praise. We remember that the Lord is good, and His love endures forever. Why should we fear?
Can you laugh at the days to come? What’s holding you back?
xCC
May 18, 2011 | The Good Word
The story is told in Mark 5 of a certain ruler of a synagogue who came to Jesus. His name was Jairus, and he found Jesus and begged Him to come to his home. These words are recorded:
“My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, that she may be healed and she will live.”
Jairus had the faith to find Jesus, and to ask for the healing. And Jesus followed Jairus — He followed his faith — and they started on the journey to Jairus’ home, where Jesus would perform a miracle.
It was while they were on this journey that another woman crawled through crowds to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment with the thought, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
The power of God met her faith and she was healed from a health problem she’d struggled with for years. And Jesus turned around in the crowd — pausing in the midst of the journey — to find out who’d touched Him. {Though He certainly already knew, the story was not yet finished.}
He had the opportunity to speak to the woman and encourage her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.”
I imagine that Jairus, seeing this, would’ve been encouraged all the more that Jesus could indeed heal his daughter, too.
While all this was going on, word came from Jairus’ house that his daughter had died. It was a word of fear: “Why trouble the Teacher any further?” The situation is hopeless. Let Jesus be on His way. There’s no longer anything He can do for you.
But Jesus met Jairus with these words: “Do not be afraid; only believe.”
Is there a situation in your life where you’re waiting for God right now? Is it a situation that seems to have gone from bad to worse while you were waiting? Does it seem like all hope is lost?
Life deals us those times — when you want to hold on to hope against all odds, but everything around you seems to tell you it’s hopeless.
The voices in your own mind, and even the people around you, say it’s hopeless. No one is going to want you. It just doesn’t happen like that. Maybe for someone else but not for me. Give up. It’s impossible. Let go of that dream.
But bring it to Jesus, and let Him meet you with these words: “Do not be afraid; only believe.”
In one of my favourite lines from the movie Faith Like Potatoes, Angus Buchan says:
“The condition for a miracle is difficulty, however the condition for a great miracle is not difficulty, but impossibility.”
Jairus believed, and continued the journey to his home, taking Jesus with him. He brought Jesus to his daughter. Though the people there mourning and weeping ridiculed Him, Jesus took control of the situation. He put all the disbelief outside, and went in to the room where the child lay, took her by the hand, and said “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”
The impossible became a reality for Jairus. His daughter got up and walked. His faith brought about her healing. His faith-words to Jesus became faith-walking reality: “Come and lay your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”
Though what you are hoping for may seem impossible, bring your faith to Jesus. And keep on bringing it. Let Him kick out disbelief. The woman’s faith moved her mountain. Jairus’ faith moved his. Keep speaking faith-words. Keep looking forward to faith walking. Let Him whisper to you, strong and true:
Do not be afraid; only believe.
xCC
May 17, 2011 | Travel..ling Tuesdays
Happy Tuesday, chicos y chicas! It’s a busy week ’round these parts, lots on the heart and on the mind…but more on that and how God is moving our mountains soon!
In the meantime, I’m delighted to share with you a wee privilege I enjoyed the other week and am so happy to tell you about. Quite a while ago I stumbled upon the website of a Mama Extraordinaire, M.E., for short, (but not me…you get the idea) who is an incredible nurturing, loving, homeschooling Mama to not one, not two, not three, okay this could take all day, not seven, but eight amazing kids.
Her blog is called se7en (when she started it there were only seven pairs of kiddie feet to count pattering around the house) and is very aptly subtitled “The Life and Times of a Homeschooling Mom of Se7en +1.”
Se7en’s site is packed full of goodies from baking recipes (be still, my heart…or tummy) to craft ideas, homeschooling tips and tools, book suggestions…and the list goes on. She shares awesome ideas for getting your kids to read, welcoming newborns into the home (and dealing with older siblings in the process)…okay I’ll stop, but I could go on. For quite a while.
Anywho.
We got connected a wee while ago through the amazing internets, and Mrs. Se7en herself suggested that if we were going to be in her neck of the woods (did I mention she’s also right here in SA, in the Western Cape, no less!) that I should touch base. We were going to be a hop, skip and a jump down the road last week. And it occurred to HH and myself, with very short notice, that we would indeed be in the Se7en neck of the woods and joy, oh joy, I emailed, she phoned, and instead of on our way home, we were on our way to hers!
Now we’ve gone far too long without photos for a Travelling Tuesday. So here’s one!
{There was so much life and beauty and tidiness in this place! Those untidy bags on the floor there are mine! Cheeky me!}
I was so impressed with the organisation and peacefulness of this home to eight kids (plus two grownups!).
Each kid with a unique manner and personality, with spunk and charisma, with charm and politeness, and so much friendliness!
We were spoiled with at least three or four tour guides for most of our visit and I just loved seeing the craft ideas coming to life, the shelves and shelves of beautiful and loved books, the happy faces enjoying life to the full.
You can imagine who fit right in and found himself rather happy… {and rather sad to leave!}
It was delightful to meet Se7en in real life… Inspiring and special, indeed!
Now I have to comment, because I know what some of you are thinking: One is a pet, Eight is a zoo! But it was absolutely not the case. One older one was helping Mom with the bread for lunch, another was entertaining a couple of younger ones so the grownups could chat… {Did you see an older one helping my younger one in the picture above?} And even though we’d called with short notice, it seemed there was “a place for everything, and everything in its place.”
And I’m afraid, even though it’s Tuesday, I must digress a little further.
The other day I read this post and was challenged and encouraged by these simple words:
“Do you know what the Bible calls riches? Children.”
And it put me deep in thought about something I’ve thought a bit about before: do we often decide not to have kids, or specifically not to have more kids for the wrong reasons? Is there more to life than making sure you can pay for all your kids to go to college? (And haven’t we faith that Little Brother is going to play football like nobody’s business and earn a scholarship?) Have you ever heard anyone say {other than perhaps in jest!} “I wish we’d stopped at two.”? Have you ever heard anyone say “I wish we’d had one more?” It seems to me the latter is more common.
I would never stretch to say that those who don’t have children or are unable to have children are poor — many are the blessings of the Lord — but I would dare to say our society has come to see children as a liability rather than an asset. A hindrance rather than a help. But could that be because of the way we are parenting? Are they burdens to carry or blessings to count? Mouths to feed or hands to help?
What a pleasure to see the latter of each of those options shining brightly just down the road.
I’ll return from my stroll down Digression Lane, but I would love your thoughts on this subject. Are you saying “Just Two And We’re Through”? Or “We’re at Four, Lord give us more!” {Why??}
The colour and vibrance of this home were heartwarming and welcoming…
but what really made this house a home was the beautiful kids in it.
{One sweetie pie got a camera for her birthday and is putting it to good use!}
{Look, Baby Blake is asleep in the stroller across the way!}
We were lined up for a family photo before our departure… But look who was disappointed at the thought of leaving!
Dear Se7en {+1!},
Thank you all so much for your wonderful hospitality! It was a delight to come for a visit. We certainly hope to be in your neck of the woods again soon!
Lots of love from our clan to yours!
{And hoping for you, dear friends and readers, that you enjoy your adventure wherever your travels take you next… Happy Tuesday!}
xCC
P.S. If you’d like more from Se7en +1, click here! Enjoy!
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