The Man on The Roof

V

So, the other day I was driving down the main street in Waverly, Iowa. A local business was having its roof re-shingled as part of a huge effort to beautify our downtown mainstreet. One roofer was walking on the front slant of the roof facing the street. I could see that he was wearing his safety harness. You know the ones... a thick looking belt around the waist with loops around both legs. These are used as a part of safety gear in many cases.

A few years ago I wore one of these harnesses when I ziplined in Belize. I was fitted by a professional. I was also given a fitted helmet and thick leather gloves and then taught how to position my hands to control speed and how to lift my legs as I approached a platform to remain injury free. A professional hooked me on the zip line and then hooked me on to an additional line for added safety. Now, I must admit I am not a fan of heights, but I felt safe. I was properly taught and properly fitted to go on this crazy ride above the rainforest in far away land.

So, why did seeing this roofer remind me of my time in Belize - that darn safety harness. HE WAS WEARING IT, BUT IT WASN'T HOOKED TO ANYTHING!!!!!! He had the correct equipment but he wasn't using it correctly. His safety equipment given to him by his employer would not keep him safe because he chose not to use it {or at least use it } correctly.

And, any of you who know me know that I like to relate things I see in my "regular" life to things that happen in my spiritual life. So here I go...

God has given us safety equipment!

*We have the scriptures that can teach us just about anything, including how to dish up ice cream properly. (interested in that, ask me later)... These words encourage, calm, teach and bless our lives.

*He has given us wise leaders who can lead and guide us because they have been more highly trained than us.

*He has given us the gospel - a huge safety line that helps us have faith and work on having charity. Coupled with prayer and personal revelation, we can know what we should be doing to return and live with Him. It even says in the scriptures that we received our first lessons in Heaven before we came.

*He has given us families to help us feel like we are not alone. We have children to practice on and parents to learn from.

*He has given us a Savior to cling to... To follow, to learn from, to plead to for help and succor.

 

He wants us to be safe. He wants us to return. How often do we strap on the safety harness that does us no real good if we do not hook in? How often as a youth do we ignore what our loving parents teach us because we think we know better? How often do we reach out to the world for comfort when we are hurt but do not turn to the Lord? How often do we let our scriptures sit when we are trying to solve a problem or look for direction.

 

He has given us all we need to be safe. He has taught us when and where to look. He has loved us more than we can imagine. He sent His son who has shown us the way. Today I commit to be more connected, more safe by relying on Him. I desire to return to Him safely and I know that I can because I trust Him more than any other "professional" with whom I have trusted my life!

The Mailman

     OK, this holiday season I asked Oliver (the 4yr old) to tell me who brings gifts.  He said that mailman.  Then I reminded him that Santa was going to bring him gifts too.  From then on when I asked him about people bringing gifts, he said the mailman and Santa.  The mailman did bring lots of packages this year.  Thanks to all the loving friends and family who made this Christmas soooo wonderful!
     I also saw God in the mailman.  A few days before Christmas I was out on a shopping trip.  The snow coming down was a little wet and was freezing on the windshield.  I have old wipers on the mini-van so I would have to roll down my window every few minutes and turn on my wipers and catch it when it was at the top of its arch and snap it to get the snow and ice off.  At one stop light I noticed the mail truck next to me.  He saw what I was doing and jumped out of his truck to help me clean my windshield.  I gave him a big smile and wave as the light turned green and he jumped into his truck and drove away. 
     This small act of kindness reminded me that humans are, in general, nice - kind - loving beings. 

I Saw God, and He was Dressed Like a Lumberjack

I have moved quite a few times in my life.  It is usually a small adjustment period and then it feels like home.  Well, it has been harder this time.  I left a community that we wonderful and moved away from the support of family and long-time friends.  Although I have made some great friends here, I have had a bad attitude much of the time...

So, I am changing my attitude.  Today, and I hope everyday hereafter, I am going to "look for God" in people and things around me.  I am hoping this will help me focus on the good and improve my attitude.  Here is my first story.

I saw God at the laundry mat yesterday.  Hurray that this is the last time I am going to the mat here as we are getting our new washer and dryer on Monday!  Anyway, as I was loading my wash I started chatting with a man who looked like a lumberjack in his late 40's / early 50's.  In the course of the conversation he asked what my husband did for a living.  I answered that he was a mechanical engineer.  The typical next line came as no surprise.  When you live in Cedar Falls everyone assumes you work for John Deere if you are an engineer.  No, I answered.  I explained that my husband works for a small company but would eventually love working at Deere.  They have a great benefits package and retirement.  He said he knew that because he was able to retire from Deere at an early age.  He encouraged me and my husband to keep trying, not to give up, to work for what we wanted. 

When I got home, I thought about what he said.  I was lifted by his encouraging words.  I know that the job Paul has is a good one, but it was nice to know that it is alright not to settle but to keep striving and enduring.  So, I saw God at the laundry mat and he was dressed as a lumberjack.



TV

Just trying to get a handle on the amount of time my kids watch videos at our house... I want some feedback on how many minutes a day does/do your child or children watch a day?  If not a day - in a week?  Do you watch with them or is it something they do by themselves or with each other... 

Just tryin' to work it out...

On Being Creative

In high school I was always in an art class.   I loved Ms. Google and I loved creating art.  But, when it came time to think about college and apply for scholarships, I found out - from deep inside myself - that I did not want to go to art school.  I know Goog went through a lot of trouble helping me make a portfolio and take slide etc... And, I am grateful to the people in Iowa City who were interested in interviewing me and learning more about my art. 

When the day arrived to go to Iowa City, I didn't go.  I called Goog on that snowy morning and said that the weather was too bad to go.  Really it was me.  I didn't want to go.  I didn't want others to "judge" my art.  I didn't want to "explain" my style or thinking.  I had no real talent, I just enjoyed creating.  I felt that if I had to be creative for someone else that it would ruin my enjoyment of the process.

I did a little painting in college and then I discovered scrap booking (thanks to my sister, Linda).  This was perfect for me.  I loved photography, so I had boxes of pictures just waiting!  I found out how much I missed creating.  To take something and build on it and change it and manipulate it to make it something of my own.  And, I still love to scrap book.  Sometimes with paper and scissors and sometimes on the computer. 

One of my favorite high school art pieces was a couple of sheets of homemade paper - made with pulp and glue and sea shells...  I put the two small pieces of paper one on top of the other with some crushed shells trailing out the side of one of the pages...  I now don't make my own paper, but I do make paper in an entirely different way.  As I have gotten more into card making and paper crafting, I have learned to create my own background paper.  What a neat skill. 

I love card making in particular.  I can sit at my craft desk in my bedroom (thanks to my hubby for suggesting this) and make a card in a few minutes.  With my own space I can make cards almost every day.  I can get my crafting "high" and then return to cleaning the bathrooms. 

Creating is important to me... it makes me feel alive - whole - special - vibrant...  I am hooked on being creative...

If you are interested in the picture above, see the link below... We loved Frogner Park!
http://members.cox.net/c.kau/Vigeland/walk1.html

Halloween Party

I don't think much about Halloween.  It has never been one of my favorite holidays. What I do like about Halloween is the fun decorations.  Orange is not one of my favorite colors, but I find myself SO attracted to it this time of year.  Paul thinks I am sort of silly and that I go a little over board...
 But, last year we told Lincoln he was too old to trick-or-treat.  Instead, we offered to throw him a Halloween party - and it was lots of fun.  We had a costume contest, donut eating contest, played charades, can you tell the candy bar and music trivia... 
Needless to say, we are having another Halloween party this year.  Another costume contest, donut eating contest, more charades,  and music trivia...  But year we are adding a new item if I can pull it together.  WE are playing - what is in the box.  The kids will stick their hands in a box and have to tell us what "body part" they think they are feeling (peeled grape could be an eyeball etc.).  The boys will love this, the girls - not so much...  I am excited to meet all of Link's new friends and get to know the old ones better.  The house is covered in cob webs and pumpkins and gourds.  I got two new little signs to hand outside and little spiders to put in the cob webs. 
I'd love to do a lot more, but I just haven't got the time... Maybe I do kinda like Halloween after all...

Ya think?

My Favorite Times of the Day

There are a few times of the day that I just LOVE!  Now is one of those times.  The half hour before my husband gets home from work.  I love the anticipation, the excitement that I still feel about seeing him - still there after 5 years of marriage.  I pick up the last few items in a flurish of activity to make the house nice for him.  The kids are usually sent outside to play so that they don't instantly undo what I have done. 

I also love the time of night when all the kids are in bed asleep (or at least not in my bedroom) when I lie down in my own bed to read and relax.  I love my bed by the way!  As my back hits the bed, I know it is time to surrender to sleep and I usually cannot wait.  I read before bed most nights.  My eyelids get heavy and I put the book away and turn off the light.  I plump my pillow to perfection and then breath deep.  Oh, what joy in sleep.

I also love snack time... We usually have snack on the porch.  This is a time in the middle of my day when I don't feel like I am rushing around without direction.  I actually talk (and listen) to my kids.  It is probably what most people think happens at dinner - and it does for Lincoln.  But, At snack time, I hear from Oliver and Ameila. 

I am thankful for these times - and many others - that I have to reflect on my blessings and slow down and enjoy my time.