Quote of the Month: “Courage is a character trait most oft attributable to men. In fact, it is the universal virtue of all those who choose to do the right thing over the expedient thing. It is the common currency of all those who do what they are supposed to do in a time of conflict, crisis, and confusion.”

-Florence Nightingale

Scripture of the Month: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1

 

 Yes, I really did climb a fire truck ladder, 80 feet in the air!

      Have you ever struggled with “what to do next” or “what to do now”?  The reason for all of this speculation is simple: I am entering still another phase of my life as a mother. With children in college, high school, junior high and middle school, I’ve floundered a bit.

     Who am I and what will I be if I am not walking in my baby girl into the most wonderful elementary school every day?  How will I survive without seeing the same precious group of other mothers who are exactly in my stage each afternoon on the playground? My girls are growing, changing and needing me in vastly different ways. I’m not entirely sure I like it; I am entirely sure that I don’t have a choice.

     There are subtle, but unmistakable changes, even with my youngest. A few nights a week, the pungent smell of pre-adolescent Noxzema face wash eclipses the sweet, heady scent of Johnson’s baby shampoo. And each time it does, I mourn. I walked her into middle school every single day the first week of school; now I have dutifully weaned myself to three days a week. And although she is still my snuggler and is thrilled to see me when I work the twice -a-month Friday socials at her school, she doesn’t fling her arms around me with the same abandon that she did just a few months ago.

     So I am reminding myself that while my identity is tied up in many things: being Greg’s wife, Eden’s, Emmy’s, Ellie’s & Elexa’s mom, Don & Patsy’s daughter, worship minister, writer, speaker, former high school teacher – my ultimate true identity is that I am God’s child. I am, as are you, a precious, chosen daughter of the King. That doesn’t change, not even when my circumstances, my phases of life and stages in my career do.

     I was inspired to read part of  Condoleezza Rice’s story [Stanford University professor & former Secretary of State]. During her travels as 66^th Secretary of State, she was often asked how she came to hold that position. She replied: “I started as a failed piano major.” And I thought, What fun! In other words, when circumstance dictates that we stop being one thing or we can’t do it anymore, adventure might be just around the corner. Don’t despair – God has big plans for us, even when we think we liked the old ones better.

 Fun Facts:

*August 13 was International Left-Handers Day, a trait shared by only 10-15% of people on the planet!

*My husband and I are both lefties; none of our four daughters are! The oldest child in all of my daddy’s sibling’s families are left-handed.

*Many famous people have been or are left-handed, including President Obama, Bill Gates and Oprah. [Parents, 8/11]

*The Rescuers, was the first successful Disney animated film that Walt Disney himself has not worked on! It was released in 1977.

*The average American household spends $55 on toilet paper every year.

*American kids consume an average of 7 ½ hours of electronic media DAILY! [Family Circle, 144, 8/11] Since we blink two to three times less when we’re staring at a screen than when we’re not, make sure you purposely blink to avoid eye fatigue and dryness.

From Our House to Yours

As the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaches, it’s hard not to think back to this time ten years ago.  I taught that morning at Joplin High School, and as I ran downstairs  to make a quick copy of something, a colleague whispered to me that a plane had just hit one of the Twin Towers in New York City. We briefly mentioned the idiocy of a pilot who couldn’t miss that landmark, but deep inside, I think we knew it couldn’t have been an accident. I ran back upstairs to my classroom and saw the second plane hit the second tower. My students fell apart. Some had parents who were in New York on business or who were supposed to be flying that day. Others had relatives who lived there. The reports and rumors kept coming.

I finished classes and debated about whether or not to pick up my older children from school early and decided against it, not wanting to scare them, wanting them to have whatever normalcy was left.

When Greg got home from work, we sat on the couch after the girls were tucked in bed, holding each other and our newborn, watching the news in disbelief and listening to the final phone calls made from planes and buildings, with tears in our eyes.

 When a bi-partisan Congress sang “God Bless America” on the Capitol steps, my heart rejoiced. God blessing us. That’s what it would take for us to get through this.

I will have the privilege of singing and signing that song on Sunday, September 11^th at a Silver Dollar City service honoring First Responders. I would appreciate your prayers. Our servicemen and women, firefighters, police officers and EMTs need our thanks.

In my office, I am nearing completion of my first novel, Barefoot in December, and am thrilled and terrified to be sending it out to my agent and prospective publishers next month.

In my home, we have closed our little above ground pool, cleaned out the chimney in preparation for this season’s cozy fires and decorated for fall, my favorite time of year.

In my marriage, I rejoice to spend each healthy day with the Love of my Life, who grows ever more precious to me. In my mothering, well, I take whatever snuggles I can get, rejoice in every confidence shared and beam like crazy when a voice on the other end of the phone says, “Hey, Mom! Can I tell you about….” You bet they can.

My this season of rich, vibrant color cloak you in God’s fullest blessings! I pray for you more than you know,

 Cindy

 Upcoming Speaking Schedule

Branson, Missouri & Silver Dollar City – September 10-11 – Hot Chocolate for First Responder Couples – Honeysuckle Conference Center – Saturday; singing at the First Responder Memorial Service in Echo Hollow at Silver Dollar City 10:00 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11 [see www.responderlife for details; there are FREE tickets for all First Responders and their families!]

Maranatha Bible Camp Area Women’s Retreat – Everton, MO – September 16-17 “Prepare: to Live in Hope & Prepare: to Live in Victory!” – 2 Main Sessions & Hot Chocolate for Couples workshop

Galena, Kansas – Tennessee Prairie Friends Church – Fall Women’s Retreat – September 23-24 – Rediscovering Joy as a Woman; as a Wife & Mother; as a Child of God

St. Louis, Missouri – New Heights Christian Church Fall Retreat –  October 7-8 God’s Got It Covered: A Quilt of Joy; A Quilt of Comfort; A Quilt of Victory. 3 main sessions.

Jackson, Mississippi – Tiak’o’khata Resort – Fall Women’s Retreat – November 4-5 – God’s Got It Covered: A Quilt of Joy; A Quilt of Comfort; A Quilt of Victory. 3 main sessions.

Waterbrook Press is releasing the compilation, “Everything Romance” this fall. Two of Cindy’s stories will appear in that volume.

 

 My friend Karen’s brilliant idea for book club favors when we read, The Help.

 

 Congratulations to cookbook winners, Pat Stuckey & Kathryn Barr! Thanks to those of you who sent e-mails of recipes as well. Our family will have lots of new ideas to try this fall.