Uncalculated Costs

You have probably seen the email that calculates the cost of raising a child--something like $185,000. I expected the monotary costs of food, clothes, housing, doctor visits...the unmonotary costs of the loss of sleep, privacy, time... Well as was vacuuming this morning, I sucked up 2, almost 3, rubberbands that I didn't see in time to save. And wouldn't you know the one I did see was broken! Since kids entered our house it seems that we never have rubberbands, paper clips, or tape! Tape! I went to wrap presents this Christmas and ran out of tape! (One year I was out of tape and used rubber cement! That was a hoot!) I put up the Christmas tree and didn't have any masking tape to secure the box. Scotch tape wouldn't hold it, and I couldn't find the duct tape! With creations like this...

it's a wonder we have any tape at all!
(I'm not sure what it is, so don't ask!)

With my mom it was clothes pins. We were always using her clothes pins to make a tent somewhere. With my Mema it was nails. My Papaw is a master carpenter, and we loved to "hammer" with his scraps. I'm sure they wondered where that new box of nails went to on more than one occasion! Of course, kids are so worth it. It just sometimes makes me laugh at the little things we run out of! So what are some of the uncalculated costs of parenting for your family?

My Best

I am not athletic, but my husband is--at least was, and now is a spectator. And I am one of those wives who decided to enjoy the game with him than be without him. Before we married, I already enjoyed football, and now I am into baseball too. And I try to stay current so I can have an intelligent conversation about what is happening in the sports world. I love to get points for my man because I like sports. When we lived in Cleburne, we were in the adult choir and one practice we were playing a game. One of my questions was, “Who are the Texas Rangers baseball announcers?” When I responded, “On the radio or TV?” and knew all four, Eric got Wow! Where did you find her? looks! I have to be careful though. Two of the brothers let me in on a fantasy baseball game because they planned on three people and the other brother couldn’t do it. Shh…don’t say anything, but I beat them! All of that to say, this girl really enjoyed the inspiring football movie Facing the Giants and that is where this is coming from.
In the movie the football coach has a change of heart where he decides winning isn’t everything and he will give God his best and praise Him no matter the outcome. He gets this concept across to his defensive line leader by asking him to death crawl (crawl on his hands and feet while carrying another player on his back) blindfolded as far as he can down the field. The player thinks he can go 30 maybe 50 yards at the most, but the coach says, “You just do you best and leave it all on the field.” And he starts. The entire way the coach is encouraging him. And when he wants to give up and it hurts, the coach is crawling right beside him encouraging him, “Don’t quit! Your best! Don’t quit!” And when he finally stops, the player asks, “Did I make it to the 50? I had to have made it to the 50.” The coach takes the blindfold off and says, “Look. You made it to the end zone. Don’t tell me what you can’t do. All things are possible with God. Give Him your best.”
This year (2008), God has asked for my best and praise Him no matter the outcome. And when I am in His Word everyday, I can hear Him encouraging me right beside me every step of the way!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will
call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will
seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found
by you,” declares the Lord…Jeremiah 29:11-14a

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and
night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you
will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be
strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the
Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua1:8-9

Search for the Lord and for His strength, and keep on searching. Psalm
105:4

In Your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall….God arms
me with strength, and He makes my way perfect. Psalm 18:29; 32

He gives power to those who are tired and worn out, He offers strength to the
weak. Isaiah 40:29

You are their glorious strength. It pleases You to make us strong.
Psalm 89:17

As soon as I pray, You answer me; You encourage me by giving me strength.
Psalm 128:3

So do not throw away your confidence, because it has great reward. For you
need endurance in order to do God's will and to receive what is promised. (New
English Trans.) Hebrews 10:35-36

For nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all
things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. Philippians
4:13

I want to live in a way that I can say as Paul did…

I [Paul] have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but
also to all who have longed for His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8

And don’t forget…

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1

That death crawl scene in the movie was just a test to prove to the player that he had more than he thought he did. Then later in the movie when the championship game was on the line, depending on him to lead the defense to hold the opposing team inside the 5 yard-line from getting a touch down, he was tired and weak. The coach said, “Four more downs. You can do it! We just need four more.” He knew that he had more strength than he thought possible. If it is hard, ask Him for help and direction! He promises over and over that if we seek Him, we will find Him. He wants to be found. He wants you to be in His will. He will show you. Be in His Word consistently and look for the answers. When SweetBoy was a baby, I had no idea how to be a mom. So I asked Him to show me what a good mom looked like. He did. He continues to. I was looking for the answer and when I found part of it, I wrote it down. Have a system of writing down the answers He shows you. You will need it for game time! There may be a pattern or theme that you can see in the answers that you might miss if you just read it and say, “Oh that is good.” Write it down! There might be more!

Whatever I may be carrying—my children, relationships, a difficult situation, job, health concerns—give God my best and praise Him no matter the outcome. My best. Because with God all things are possible, and He is with me every step of the way—through the test and through the game!

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not
for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a
reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24

We are the Children of God!

A few weeks ago Mom called and said Steven Curtis Chapman is coming to town, do you want to come? Um...let me think about it...YES! He is one of those musicians who write songs that just speak to my life every time! From "Great Adventure" going to college, "I'll Be Here" duet with SweetHeart at our wedding, "Fingerprints of God" on the walls of SweetBoy's nursery, "Dive," "All Things New," "Believe," "One Little Heartbeat" lost in mommy-hood, to "We Are the Children of God." When we got his latest CD for Christmas, the kids loved "Children of God" and ask for it every time we get in the car. I told SweetDoll that we were going to the concert and she needed to practice and be ready to sing it with SCC. And boy was she ready! She doesn't typically sing very loud. But when Steven started playing the song, her eyes lit up! When our part came to sing, I could hear her, even with the band rockin' out! What a blessing to have a blast with my girl, and see her light up about being in God's family! What fun! Not to mention I cried, again--I do everytime, during "Cinderella." I thought of SweetHeart when Steven sang "I will be Here," and SweetBoy during "Fignerprints." SweetTate was in my arms as we sang "You are Loved." Oh, I want my kids to grow up knowing that the Father sings over them and loves them more than they can know!

Blessed "Between"

Ahhh! The brief respit between football and baseball seasons (with a little March Madness to hold us over). I have always enjoyed watching football, but nothing like living for it like SweetHeart does. And our TV was fuzzing out for the big game! Luckily we were able to go to family's house to watch the last quarter, and watch the big finish! Now baseball is just around the corner--the teams report to spring training this week! Growing up I remember especially my Papaw watching baseball games. And I would go find something else to do--watching baseball was so slow! I wish I had paid more attention! SweetHeart loves baseball! When we were dating, he took me to a game and I was hooked. Then he taught me how to score a game. Don't mention fantasy games--I can hold my own with the boys! Now we tease that we could be the commentator team calling the game! In recent years we have made it to Opening Day. This year our favorite team is away, so we will get there as soon as we can in April. But for now we will just relax and enjoy no "must see TV" at our house!