Living on the Edge

I didn’t plan on having goals this week but that was only wishful thinking.  Turns out I have a couple: 1.  Because I procrastinated in getting a hair appointment before we left home my roots are full blown noticeable and bordering skanky which will require some home coloring this week if I can ever decipher the difference between medium golden brown, medium chestnut brown, medium ash brown, or darkest lightest caramel, and 2. I wore a swimsuit that tied around the neck and have the awkward tan line to prove it.  So from hair to neck I am striped.  All I need are some glitter tattoo stars from the henna shop where Sydney had her hair wrapped and I would look like a perfect 4th of July patriot. Rather, it appears I will have to perform some strategic sunscreen placement magic to try to even out.  My goals are high and lofty.

Speaking of the henna shop, it wasn’t nearly as shady as I thought it would be.  At least on the inside.  Two darlin’ teenage/early 20 girls were working and I enjoyed them so much.  They gave me the low down on the owner’s son who liked to hang outside the place with his boys every night and hit on the freshly-tattooed girls.  I couldn’t help but laugh when the girl working on Syd yelled at the dumb boys and told them, “Leave now! Y’all are so unprofessional!”  What amused me more was the fact the boy looked exactly like Merry on Lord of the Rings who also happens to be the same actor as Charlie on LOST.  He was a morph of the two in appearance and action.  The shop girl assured me the mom would die if she knew he were handing out his number to the customers.  Were he mine, he would be the one dying. (Not Penny’s ship!)  But truly, Syd’s hair turned out cute as a bug.  And striped.  Just not the same kind striped as her mom’s.

I can’t say enough how thoroughly we are enjoying our kids by simply being together after what have been two ridiculously hectic months.  Every night we have gone for a treat and driven through the village/pier area for fun.  Tonight we rode to the soundtrack of Elijah’s musical stylings on his new ukelele.  Who among you can say that you cruise through town with your teenage boy playing Don Ho on his Mahalo?  This morning Elijah was making fun of Sam because he was watching ‘Say Yes to the Dress’.  That from the boy who is playing a purple uke.  My family delights me.  

I’ve also just learned I have one more goal for the list that I wasn’t planning on accomplishing until we returned:  taking Sawyer to the Traveler’s Clinic to get a yellow fever shot for his upcoming trip to Bolivia. (More on that later. Momma doesn’t feel like freaking toda.) Yes, we should have done this a long time ago but what fun would it be if we didn’t dance on the edge of deadline?  Turns out you have to have all your shots a certain period of time before departure and hello?  Do these people not understand that I am a deal-with-number-next kind of girl and even though he is leaving on July 9th it is not Number Next until July 8th? 

One day I will do better.  It just won’t be this day.

Today I have to color my hair.

June 28, 2011 | Filed Under Uncategorized | 9 Comments 

I Blame It on The Sunshine

Hello!  Once again, I’ve left you in silence.  Back in the day I would have declared a blog break until I can find some regularity in writing but then when such a thing is stated,  then I restrict my liberty to pop in when I can.  Which makes no sense whatsoever because, hullo, where are the WordPress Police Headquarters?  It’s just that I’m a rule follower and it feels as wrong to write when I’ve said that I wouldn’t as it does to not write when I’ve somehow implied through the existence of this site that I should.  No doubt many lose interest when the author is unreliable, but be assured I don’t hold it against you.  I disappoint myself much more than I could anyone else.

I am drawn out of my seclusion by virtue of being on vacation in St. Simons Island, GA and therefore blessedly finding myself on Island Time.   Island Time is not the same as Slow Time.  This is North Alabama speak for the Central Time Zone as opposed to Fast Time aka Eastern Time which we travel in and out of on a regular basis.  It’s very confusing and when we first moved to Slow Time and I had appointments in Fast Time you could count on it that I would be one hour late. Or an hour and 15.  Because that’s just the reality of it when I have four other people to motivate into the Suburban before we can be on our way.  All that aside, Island Time is another way of saying we don’t have anywhere to be at any certain time unless we are trying to make an Early Bird menu which is pretty much every night because did I mention I do not cook on Island Time save for Grill Night which hubby will do most of the work? 

[Yes, I just told the web that we are away from home but never fear!  Armed and dangerous roofers are at the house all week guarding our broken down abode in which there are no valuables.]

We’ve had such a rest thus far.  Luke and I hit an antique show in which we scored these:

Luke has been obsessed with vintage fans since he saw one on American Restoration.  It weighs approximately 800 lbs. proving that indeed, they do not make things like they used to.   I picked up the Georgia map from a vendor who had dozens more that I adored.  I really wanted a very large one that dated back to the original boundaries but it was several hundred dollars and, well, no.  Just no.  Speaking of Georgia, it really is refreshing to be back in the motherland where all gift and sports shops bleed Red and Black.  I stocked up on Bulldog gear on sale at an athletics store in the mall where, glory, there was not an elephant or eagle in sight.  Yes and amen. *grin to my Alabama sisters*  And the Tums in the photo?  I refer you back to the aforementioned Early Bird Specials and the fact certain things are not made like they used to be. 

As much as I would like to hang around, I need to go nurse my sunburn which consequently matches my new Georgia Bulldog shirt and is equally welcome.  I didn’t get one smidge of sun last summer so I’m grateful for the sting.  Afterwards, Sydney and I are going to the village to get her hair wrapped in one of those seedy little henna tattoo shops that I hope no one sees us patronize.  And yet I’ve just told you we are going proving yet again that the sins?  They find you out.  Especially if you are of the sort that tends to tell on yourself.  

Well, now.  How’s that for a lets-catch-up post? 

Assuredly I remain the more disappointed,

June 26, 2011 | Filed Under Family, Vacation | 20 Comments 

Called Out: Being a Barnabas

Being a Barnabas

By Jen Bauer

While reading through To Live is Christ by Beth Moore, I not only became more familiar with Paul, but also with his friend Barnabas. Barnabas’ name means “son of encouragement or consolation.”  Paul comes across as a rough and tumble kind of man, so it’s almost odd to see him become good friends with someone like Barnabas. Paul doesn’t seem to be the type of person who needs encouragement, but he did, so God sent Barnabas into his life. 

How often do we need a good friend and God gives us a Barnabas? Awhile back I needed some encouragment and God sent a Barnabas to me. I have several friends who I am able to depend on in the good times, as well as the bad times. Friends who let me know they’re praying for me, who share Scripture with me, who just lend a listening ear (which is no small feat because I like to talk…a lot). 

Sometimes it’s so easy to tell someone “I’ll be praying for you.”  But do we follow through with that promise? Samuel said, “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you…” (I Samuel 12:23) 

I have a friend who is going through a difficult time.  Here are a few ways I’ve thought of to be an encouragement.  Maybe you can add more in the comments.
  • Promise to pray for them, and then be sure to take the time to pray for them.
  • Share scripture with them.
  • Listen…I always tell my children, God gave us two ears so we can listen twice as much as we talk.
  • Send them a card reminding them that you are praying for you them (Then be sure to really pray for them!)
  • If you can afford it, send them some flowers, or go pick some wildflowers. What a nice reminder that they are special to you.
  • Lastly, don’t share their burdens as “prayer requests” to others, unless the individual has specifically asked you to. Sometimes “sharing prayer requests” is just another method of gossiping. 

Here are some verses you can share with others in their time of need. 

  • Psalm 9:10 “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”
  • Psalm 18:6 “In my distress I called upon the LORD and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.”
  • Psalm 27:14 “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
  • Psalm 30:5b “…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
  • Psalm 34:18 “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
  • Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
  • Psalm 61:2 “Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
  • Psalm 62:8 “Trust in him at all times; ye people pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.”
  • Psalm 86:5 “For thou, LORD, art good, and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.”
  • Psalm 119:71 “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn they statutes.”
  • Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have they which love thy law; and nothing shall offend them.”
  • Psalm 130:5 “I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.”

Most of these psalms were written by David, a man of God. I love how God showed the weakness of His people. David was a man after God’s own heart, but there were times when he was discouraged. Paul says in I Corinthians 1:4 ” [God] comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” Sometimes God will put us through trials, so we may be able to comfort (and encourage!) others down the road who will go through the same thing. God is good!

There is good news for those discouraged! I Corinthians 10:13 says “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it.”

I once saw this quote on a friend’s facebook status: “Be kinder than necessary, everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.” It’s now one of my favorite quotes. I pray that each of us will be a Barnabas to someone today.

Jen writes at Be Thou Exalted (http://bethouexalted.blogspot.com).  She and her husband are missionaries waiting patiently (or at least trying to) for their visas.  They’ve been married for 12 years and have 2 children: Autumn (8) and Cody (3).

*Are you interested in writing an article for Called Out?  Do you know someone who might?  Be sure to check out our submission guidelines.  If you have any questions or are ready to submit your article, please email us at submissions@apreacherswife.com.  We’ve loved what we’ve received, so please keep them coming!  Look for our next Called Out article on July 8.

June 24, 2011 | Filed Under Called Out | 4 Comments 

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