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By admin, February 27, 2009 7:20 am

I’ve been trudging out to the mailbox for 5 months now. Every day, with kids in tow, in calf-deep snow and in freezing rain.

Normally I never check the mail. Neither does Paul for that matter. And the mail carrier, I’m pretty sure, totally hates us. Cause she stuffs and crams and rearranges and stuffs some more till she gets every last phone bill and pizza coupon to fit. She really is the woman. And we’re mail checking delinquents. But anyway, back to why I’ve been checking religiously.

On September 11th, we received a heart breaker from one of our youth group’s sponsor children, Ruth, informing us that her mom had passed away. Within 10 days, our jammin’ incredible students pooled together 300 dollars, which is the maximum gift we could give Ruth’s family. Ever since then, I’ve been waiting for a letter.

And we’ve had letters. Lots of letters from Ruth, in fact. But not that letter. Not that one. Till yesterday.

The kicker? Yesterday was my birthday. I’ve been waiting 5 months for one letter and I got it on my birthday. Of all days, my birthday. Though I’m not huge on birthdays, there isn’t anything I’ve wanted more than this letter. And I got a picture to boot.

Ruth’s family was able to take a special shopping trip to Alto City with the donated money. They bought food and furniture – a bookcase, pots, a kettle, pans, spoons, knives, forks, cups, blankets, a bed-cover, rice, sugar, potatoes, flour, more sugar (I take it she likes sugar – that’s our girl), oil, and sneakers for all her siblings.

“When I got your gift, all I could do was cry.” Ruth thanks us all over and over and asks God to bless us again and again. It confounds me that she asks God to bless us more when we’ve already been given riches. Even more amazing is that this girl who has almost nothing has given us so much in her life, her letters, her love for Jesus.

You can’t tell me that this was an accident, perchance, crazy luck – that we would receive her letter yesterday. Cause I would say this is the work of a God who takes great delight in His children. A God who quiets with His love. A God who rejoices over us with singing.

By means of a letter from a child in Bolivia.

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By admin, February 26, 2009 2:21 pm

I’m a native New Englander. So all the adages apply.
I love long-necked clams. I sprint into frigid cold waves headfirst. I bleed Red Sox blood.

Us New Englanders are also said to be hard-headed, independent, and stubborn. Or maybe that’s just me. We are a hard working people, up before the break of dawn. We’ve got clearly defined circles of trust. And we can sniff out fraud pretty easily. Which is why:

I want people to be real.
I want church to be real.

Now I am in no way here to bash the church. I adore the church and I adore my church. I would defend the church to my grave. We are a desperate people made beautiful by a Savior.

But I wonder if we’re doing more alienating than welcoming sometimes.

First example, church signs. They infuriate me. In my opinion, they belittle and cheapen and shrink something so magnificent into a corny little quip. I would never enter a church, upon seeing:

Be Fishers of Men…. You catch ‘em, He’ll Clean ‘em
A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.
Are you wrinkled with burden? Come on into Church for a faith lift!

Words carry a lot of weight with me. And because of that, the churchy words have gotta go also. We’ve got so many cliches. Stuff that no one would understand outside of sanctuary walls. Can our language be real and authentic? How can we communicate truth without alienating the vast majority?

All that being said, communicating one’s faith isn’t easy. I have wrecked on many attempts. I am pretty sweet at stumbling over my own words. Sometimes I sound like a salesman pawning a cheap ware. It’s been awkward and fake and too driven and weird. And for that, I am sorry. So sorry. Cause my God is nothing short of breathtaking.

Which brings me to a question I unearthed the other day in a book called The Organic God, by Margaret Feinberg. This question is the reason for my rambles. My eyes immediately welled up in tears upon hearing:

“What do you love about Jesus?”

Hmmm… Now this, this is simple and yet profound. It doesn’t alienate or cheapen. It invites and welcomes a response. I think this question goes well with coffee and a friend. Or a stranger. Or my Dad.

Gotta wake the kiddos up from their naps soon, so I gotta run. But I can’t wait to share what I love. And even better, I can’t wait to hear what you love. Anyone?

“What do you love about Jesus?”

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By admin, January 20, 2009 4:20 pm

Dunkin Donuts small regulas
Staying up till 1 handcrafting cards with my mom
Watching college hoops with my dad
Seeing my kids fall in love with their Mimi and Papa

Lobsta, scrod, scallops, and indulging on fruit and vegetables
Carousel rides, Gymboree, and making wishes in the fountains
Exploring at the Providence Children’s Museum
Relishing my Grandfather’s stories, again. Thanking God for his life, wisdom, love

The heaps of snow
That salty ocean air
Long talks
That wicked Rhode Island accent

I’ve missed this place. It’s great to be back.
The only thing missing is Paul.
Home isn’t home without him.
We love you, hon.

Comments (3)

By admin, January 16, 2009 10:37 pm

One delayed flight.
One full out sprint to make connection. In heels. Holding Adden on hip and careening Selah in stroller. (heels= horrible choice for travel)
One mom on verge of tears praying for the gate door to re-open.
One lost stroller.
One sweet ride on an airport taxi.

One great homecoming.
Two fantastic little travelers.
And innumerable answered prayers.

Thanks.

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By admin, January 13, 2009 9:05 pm

Hi guys!

I’m flying to Rhode Island tomorrow with kids in tow. WHOOHOO! WHOOHOO! The only bummer is that Paul has to work. We will miss him terribly! Hoping he’ll be able to join us in the spring/summer…

Anyway, I would really cherish your prayers for a safe and peaceful flight. (That means pray that Adden doesn’t have a conniption while on the planes.) I’m already stressing over angry/sympathetic/annoyed looks from fellow passengers, but I need to give the little guy the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he’ll be fabulous.

Thanks so much,
Kristin

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By admin, January 1, 2009 2:24 pm

Hey guys-

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! (a bit belated, but still worth the sentiment) This is the pitiful extent of our Christmas cards this year.

Ours was delightful and super fun with Selah. Adden, well… he had quite the day being ill. I suppose he made it memorable? He’s thankfully returned to his normal self again.

All of my office training is now completed, so I will be going back to a much needed 2 day work week again. I am psyched to see my kids again, try out my new bread maker, and be around more to do mommy and wifey things. Wow, I sound so domestic?

Our Castle Retreat is this weekend with our youth group. If you are the praying type, we would love for you to pray. Pray that God would be honored, students would be made whole, and that it would be a blast. Also pray that Paul would sleep and eat and such:)

Okay, I reek. So a shower is of utmost necessity. Gotta run, while kids are snoozing.

Much Love, Kristin