THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

The end of May ushers in the last day of school across our great nation. There are proms, graduations,yearbook signings and end of the year parties. As Moms of school-age children, we all look forward to a little less structure in our daily lives (for just a little while, at least!) I haven't had school-age children for almost a decade, but I still remember my baby's last day of school.

For 16 years, I had been running back and forth from one school or another to take forgotten items to one of our two boys. It is a job, all "moms" understand. It is just one more way we "stand in the gap" for our kids. My oldest son constantly forgot something during his junior high years. The school secretary and I are still exchanging Christmas cards! In fact, I still believe he should have named his first born after her. My youngest did a much better job at remembering. However, on his last day of school an unexpected call came from him about a forgotten event. He had participated in the school's Knowledge Bowl Team and there was a lunch for them in just two hours. He needed a dress shirt, tie and slacks in less than an hour. I was in a hurry that morning for work and the last thing I had time for was pressing clothes and running to the school

In my years of "mothering" I often have said too much too quickly and had to go back and apologize. I am thankful that this time I kept silent. (Probably because he hung up before I finished speaking!) So, as I pressed those slacks and that shirt, God whispered in my heart that this was most probably my last trip up to the school with a forgotten item. Through my tears, I counted it a joy instead of a job, to run up to the school. God showed me it was a privilege rather than a duty.

I believe parenting is one of the greatest callings that one can have on their life (except perhaps grand parenting!) But even in the privilege, there are hundreds of tedious, thankless tasks. So as you endure these last days of school take time to count it all joy and hug your "blessings" this week!

A NEVER ENDING LOVE STORY

A couple of weeks ago my father-in-law had surgery. It was a minor procedure, but when you are 86 years old, nothing seems very minor. David's parents are both 86 and have lived long, godly lives. They are still very much in love and are only whole when they are together. Mr. Haines did not want Mrs. Haines to sit at the hospital during the procedure and only allowed me to bring her when he was out of recovery and in his room. As she entered his hospital room, they both just lit up and he said "How is my girl?" She was just fine as soon as she saw that he was!

The Haines come from the generation where the man took care of the woman and the woman took care of the home and family. (I'm personally grateful that by the time my generation came along, there was more shared responsibilities at home!) My mother-in-law was the primary caretaker of the home, but she worked outside the home whenever extras were needed. They raised five children and I cannot imagine a time when there would not be a need for "extras". I have taught many young married women using the Haines as examples. In the more than 60 years of marriage, Mrs. Haines has honored and respected her husband in both word and deed. Mr. Haines has seldom started a day without first telling her how much he loved her. It is truly a love story that has no ending.

It is a great blessing to belong, if only by marriage, to the legacy they have built for their family. I'm writing today to ask myself how I'm adding to this legacy and encouraging you as you build yours.

THE BABY BOY'S DAY

Tomorrow my youngest son has a birthday. Bless his heart, all his life, the entire family has celebrated a birthday before it was his turn. And believe me, nobody liked a party more than Jordan. As each of us would take a turn celebrating our special day, Jordan would say "My birthday be May 4!" (not 4th, but 4)

Ever since we brought our youngest home, he has kept us on our toes. He climbed before he walked and he walked too early. He talked later than some because his big brother translated his "unknown tongue" way too long. Oh my goodness, once he did talk... he argued, debated and communicated his opinions perfectly! I studied nights to keep a few steps ahead of him. (He passed me up when he was in 6th grade!)


I want to share with you just a few things that make my baby so special to me.

1. He has always loved his Mom!
2. He has always stepped up to the plate to do the hard things
3. Not many fears, this one, even if he had them, he faced them
4. When circumstances demanded he move his junior year in high school, he went willingly even though he loved his school here in Houston. When I offered to stay behind with him and let him graduate, he said "No Way, I'll miss my Dad too much"
5. He never got a fair shake at his new school and it was hard... sometimes harder for his Dad and I then for him, but he stayed the course and finished strong.
6. He really is a "rocket scientist"
7. He married well.
8. He's a good Dad.
9. Last week, he called me to tell me about a man in his division that lost his job. He told me he was heart sick about it. He has compassion when it counts.
10. He loves Jesus.

I have seen many promises in scripture fulfilled for this boy. Next week is a big week for Matthew Jordan Haines. Another birthday, another graduation, another career goal reached.

We are so proud of you son. It's May 4... Happy Birthday

I'VE BEEN A MOTHER FOR 30 YEARS!

Tomorrow marks the 30th anniversary of the birth of Jeremy David Haines. It's also the anniversary date of me becoming a Mom. I had so many plans for motherhood (before I became a mother). The babies would surely be perfect. They would never have a cranky day or a rebellious thought. I would be written up in newspapers and magazines as the "Mom of the Year". Those plans mostly went out the window with 24 hours of labor and a baby that tipped the scales at over 10 pounds! I was the cranky one.

I still remember how overwhelmed I felt with my first feelings of a Mother's love to her child. Totally shocked that I could be so completely in love with someone I just met. I thought it might be the drugs, but it has never worn off.

Before motherhood, I had always worked outside the home. When we decided that I would stay home, Jeremy was the only person I knew who stayed home, too. We took long walks around the neighborhood with him bundled up in his stroller. I talked to him non-stop (still do when I can.) Together he and I solved all the problems with our little world before Daddy came home at the end of the day.

What an adventure I've had these past 30 years. My babies have both grown up and have babies of their own. Motherhood was so much more that I thought and so much better than I imagined. The dreams I had for that little boy 30 years ago have been over-shadowed by the man he has become.

A couple of weeks ago, David and I watched our first miracle from 30 years ago lead his church in pure and authentic worship. We were both moved to tears. We knew the journey God had taken him on to get him to where he was that morning.

So proud of you, son.

Happy Birthday.

MY GOD IS SO BIG!

This morning in my quiet time, I read the neatest verse out of "The Message" by Eugene Peterson: "God's love is meteoric, His loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, His verdicts oceanic. Yet in His largeness, nothing gets lost; not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks."

This verse should bring us great comfort and hope. No matter the problem, He is bigger. In spite of the obstacle, He can get around it. If I run far away, He can find me. In His "largeness" nothing gets lost. Not a middle aged woman and not a little boy.

I pray you find much joy today.

BOUNDARIES

“Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup. You have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places, surely I have a delightful (beautiful) inheritance” Psalms 16: 5-6

If there ever was a day when we need security, it is today. The local news programs proclaim gloom and doom. The newspaper is filled with reports of crime, financial ruin and confusing political opinions. Frankly, I am checking out the family tree for a hint of inheritance.

As I read the verses above, I am informed that God himself assigned my portion on this earth. He is responsible for my security. These verses have become my life verses. They have brought me comfort, when I was out of my comfort zone. They have given me security, when there was nothing secure about my circumstances. They offer me promise when I lose sight of the vision God has for my life. They have also reminded me of who I really work for, when I’ve decided I didn’t like my earthly boss that much!

You and I can spend so much of our life questioning why something happened; grieving over bad circumstances; and wishing God had assigned to us another portion and cup. But, we will have spent our life in vain. I only have one life to spend! I need to spend it wisely and so do you. Your family and your mission field are depending on it! From the time, my boys were old enough to understand, I explained to them that they and their Dad were my primary “mission field”. I served on staff at 2 churches for almost 25 years. Those churches and those women demanded a great deal from me. I had to have boundaries. I learned early on, I could not be all things to all people.

A commercial several years ago encouraged women to “be all they could be.” I tell you today that you need to be “only what you can be”. I am the only Mom my boys had- I had to be there. Someone else might have wanted to be a wife to my husband, but they would have to come across my DEAD BODY! In order to effectively “shepherd” my women, I had to guard my family time and my personal spiritual time in order to minister effectively and do what he called me to do in an excellent way.

What’s He called you to do? If the enemy cannot make you bad, he will make you busy! Today is not too late to accept and appreciate the boundary lines God has wrapped around your life. You can decide to live like you really are the child of a King!

IT'S ALWAYS THE LITTLE THINGS

I had such plans for this wonderful Monday. I had a schedule recorded in my Daytimer that was sure to result in a productive day. By noon I had finished my Bible Study, my house was clean, laundry was done, dinner planned out, and I was caught up on most of my work on the computer. As I stopped for lunch I would feel a tad bit of pride and self-righteousness creeping in...

As soon as I sat down at my computer to do some writing assignments, I knew I was in trouble. Every document I was working on was locked. I tried everything I knew to do (i.e. I called Jeremy and asked him what was wrong.) He could not fix it long distance and so I creatively went on to the next project. I was quickly interrupted by a very loud, annoying smoke alarm going off. I know the sound well. It happens frequently when I cook. Lest you misunderstand, it's not because I burn things, it's because it's ultra sensitive. Water boiling sets it off. It drives me nuts! However, I was not boiling water, so I went to investigate. Absolutely nothing is burning or smoking in my kitchen. The alarm stopped only to begin again in about 10 minutes. I did all I knew to do (i.e. I called David to ask him what was wrong.) He told me the battery was probably low and it could wait until he got home. At this writing. It has gone off at least a dozen times, the noise is driving my Yorkie out of her mind. When the alarm is not ringing, the dog is shrieking at my feet. I would fix the thing myself, except my ceiling happens to be 12 feet tall.

I had some really big things to write about today, instead I'm crippled by the "little things." Isn't that typical.

Have a great day in spite of the the "little things".