A View from the Fast Lane

It has been a long time since my last post.  Life has taken some unexpected turns in the past few months. 

·         My oldest is home for a short time, working and earning money to leave again.  This time, she’s not only leaving for school, but “really” moving out. 

·         I’ve started substitute teaching here and there. 

·         My 15 year old niece has come to live with us for the school year. That means that I have four teenage girls and one pre-teen boy in the house.

·         My homeschooling is in full swing with a 6^th grader, two sophomores, and one senior.

·         Mark and I have aging parents with various health issues that need constant attention. 

Needless to say, we have our hands full. 

So that is the view that I am currently enjoying.  Enjoying?  Yes… most of the time.  Stress is unavoidable.  But God is giving us grace beyond what we could imagine.  Mark and I celebrated 25 years of marriage in October.  What an amazing gift.  Family times are precious as we try to make playing together a priority.

During this time away from my blog, I’ve been really wondering what direction it will take in this season of my life.  I’ve always tried to make it a reflection of what I’m learning or what is occupying my thoughts the most.  Right now, that consists of dealing with a busy schedule, raising teens and the extravagant love of God.  Sounds like I could stay busy for quite a while with those topics.  

I’m not an expert on blogs or blogging, but the mom blogs that I read are typically written by moms with young children.  I haven’t found many that deal with a house full of teens.  (Please send me your favorite links!)  That’s where I am, so that’s what I’ll be writing about for the near future.

I’ve read a lot of parenting books in my career as a mom – just ask my husband.  I love my kids so much.  I want to be the best mom I can for them.  I know that I’ve made many mistakes.  As my kids get older, the seeds that were sown in their youth are bearing fruit – for better or for worse.  Now, as we near the time when they will fly out of my nest, I feel an urgency to make the most of the days, months and years that I have left.  I'm like a kid that realizes that summer vacation is almost over and has a ton of stuff yet to do.  I know that I must be more intentional about parenting before this season of my life is over.

The books that I love on this topic are:  Age of Opportunity, by Paul David Tripp and Loving our Kids on Purpose by Danny Silk.  Writing about what I’m learning will help me process the information as well as pass it on. 

The situations in my life that cause stress will not be changing any time soon, so finding balance in my life is key to my survival existence.  I don’t merely want to survive – I want the abundant life that was promised me by my Savior, Jesus.  It's out there, I just need to carve out space to rest and receive it.

I think I'll paraphrase the apostle Paul and say, "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether too busy or rested, whether living in peace or in stress."

"I can do all this through him who gives me strength."

Philippians 4:13 NLT

Enjoying the View is becoming more than a blog name.

When I started this blog, I searched for a name that would represent me.  Something that I've always loved is a great view.  I'll endure quite a bit just to see one (as you may have noticed by my hiking posts...).  But as with a lot of things in my life, the name is evolving to mean more than just a physical view of my surroundings.  A view can also be a perspective of life, like a world view.

This week, I'm busy working on retreat presentations.  Our topic for this year is from Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts: Daring to Live Fully Right Where You Are.   If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it.  One of the main points of the book is learning to see what God is placing right in front of you as a gift from Him.   All of life is a grace that is meant to be received with gratitude.  Eucharisteo is the Greek word that breaks down into three:  Eucharisteo = thanksgiving, Chara = joy and Charis = grace.  Such a power-packed word.  I'm learning to look around with new eyes.  I look for the beauty of the ordinary; a rainbow, a sunset, a child's smile, a piece of bread.  I look for the joy even in the hard things as Jesus did - but for the joy set before Him, endured the cross.

This looking for the God-gifts is not easy.  It takes deliberate effort, practice.  I've been trying to make a list to 1000 for quite awhile now.  I must admit.  I haven't been adding to it lately and I miss it.  As I look over my previous posts that have a portion of my list, I instantly feel the joy that came along with those entries.  Counting gifts makes me feel God's love for me.  That's a view that I will always enjoy, right where I am - no hiking necessary!

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.  Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,  singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:15-20 NLT

Hiking and the Unexpected

I hardly know where to start.  That's something I struggle with as a recovering perfectionist.  It's hard to start something if I don't know exactly how I will finish it.  So here goes.  I'm going to fight that urge and just plunge ahead...who knows where this will end up.

Our Christmas was short but sweet.  Short because we had so many family activities leading up to Christmas.  The ballet production wrapped up on the 20th which only left us a few days to really relax before Christmas.  We were able to get our homemade goodies put together for gift baskets and actually got them all delivered by Christmas eve. 

On the day after Christmas, we decided to take the family and a couple of friends on a hike into Kahana Valley.  It is a beautiful area, and our family had not yet ventured into that part of the island.  I had bought Mark a GPS for Christmas, so we were excited to try it out with a bit of Geocaching.  It was a beautiful day.  We found a wonderful stream to swim in. It couldn't have been a better hike.  When we were about 36 feet away from finding the cache, Mark ventured off the trail *mistake* and lost his footing.  He only slipped about 3 feet, but ended up impaling himself on a piece of re-bar that was sticking out of a huge cement block that had tumbled down the side of the hill.  The re-bar went into his calf about 5 inches deep.  In an instant, the whole day changed.  He was able to pull his leg free and scramble back up the hill.  We were all stunned.  We went from laughing and joking to a potentially life threatening situation.

One of the friends we took with us that day was Jake.  He is our church's new intern and he's only been on the island for two months.  We were just getting to know each other.  There's no ice-breaker like a crisis....  Well, like I said, I didn't really know Jake.  I kind of supposed he must have been a Boy Scout or something.  I looked at him, and he looked back at me, white as a ghost.  It was at that moment I realized it was up to me.  (If you've read the book Captivating, by John and Stasi Eldredge, you'll know what I mean when I say that I was playing my "irreplaceable role in a great adventure.")  Ever prepared, Mark had an extra t-shirt in his pack. I used Jake's knife to cut the shirt into a bandage.   As Mark lay on the ground telling me what to do, I tied the shirt onto the wound as tight as I could.  We helped Mark up and started out.  Once Mark was steady on his feet, Jake found him a strong walking stick and took the lead and kept us on the right trail.  We knew we had at least a mile to go just to get to the trail head, then another half mile back to the truck.  I have never prayed like I did on that trail.  I knew we would be in real trouble if Mark's leg didn't stop bleeding, or if he passed out...  The kids were all very quiet.  There had been good-natured complaints on the trail going in.  But it's kind of hard to compete with re-bar in the leg.  No complaints on the way out.  And actually, they were encouraging their dad.  It was sweet.   After an hour more of hiking with no less than three water crossings, we were out to the trail head.  I left Jake with Mark and the kids and I started running down the road to bring back the truck.   Thankfully, I was offered a ride by a very nice woman who lived in the valley.  By the time I got back to the gang, everyone was laughing and joking again.  We took a quick peek at Mark's wound and found that the bleeding had stopped. Mark was in good spirits and since he had stopped walking on it, the pain was much less.  We decided to take the kids home, clean up, and then head over to the ER. 

God has been so good to us.  Mark's leg is healing well.  The doctors told us that he would certainly have infections that may need to be treated with surgery.  For the first 5 days after the accident, Mark had to return to the hospital for IV antibiotics.  But Mark has never even spiked a fever. The infections have stayed in check. Another issue was from the re-bar itself.  It was so old and rusty (from a WWII bunker) that quite a bit of rust flakes were left in Mark's leg.  Our prayer was they would be expelled and not cause Mark, an avid runner, any lasting effects.  So far, most of the pieces have come out.  (Mark found the use of a magnet quite helpful in fishing out pieces...but that's another very gross story.)  The ones remaining will not be a problem.  God is indeed answering our prayers. 

So with all that excitement, it seems like Christmas was months ago. 

As my usual bent, I tend to head into the new year with a list of resolutions.   I love the feeling of a new start.  It gives me hope and revives my ideals.  Implementing them is always a challenge.  But it's getting late, and one of those resolutions is not to neglect my husband... so I'll try to finish this thought tomorrow.

Even when the trail turns and bends in a direction that is unexpected, the name of the Lord is a strong tower.  And under the shelter of His wings, I am always ....enjoying the view.

So much to say, so little time.

I really don't know how all you bloggers get it done.  I know you are real people with real lives, and yet you all manage to post everyday.  Not just any post.  Beautiful, thoughtful, helpful posts. 

This week, I have so many new ideas I'd love to explore....but...  The girls have rehearsal for their ballet performance 4 days this week.  My FIL's 80th birthday celebration is this Sunday and besides replacing their kitchen counters, we've got to get their house ready for 40 dinner guests....  and decorate it for Christmas. 

Ususally, my house and Christmas tree are all decorated by now.  Today, the tree it sits with just the lights on.  (I quickly put them up yesterday before running out of the house for worship practice.)  And the Thanksgivng centerpiece is still out.  This is a first.

It will definitely be a different kind of Christmas.  No bad, just different.  I have managed to keep up with what's really important:  my own quiet time, schooling, and making sure the family has something to eat...  Other than that, regular routine is out the window.

Through it all, I have managed an Advent thought ~

It had been 400 years of silence when Jesus was born.  Seemingly, God had stopped speaking.  So life among God's people had settled into a routine.  And yet, God saw that it was time.  Christmas came. 

O LORD, please break into my life with Christmas.  I am so grateful for your timing.  Even when I life is rushed and busy, You come.  You rescue me from my routine. 

Listen to the words of the prophet Jeremiah, chapter 33:

14 " 'The days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.

15 " 'In those days and at that time

I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David's line;

he will do what is just and right in the land.

16 In those days Judah will be saved

and Jerusalem will live in safety.

This is the name by which it will be called:

The LORD Our Righteousness.'

May the LORD Our Righteousness, this gracious promise fulfilled, fill you with His grace today.


I'll leave you with the view from our neighborhood park where Andrew had a homeschool P.E. class yesterday.  No matter how busy I am, the LORD always provides reminders of His glory.  Enjoy!

The child that could do no wrong

Growing up in my family, I was the youngest of three girls.  I was very shy and timid.  I loved to dance and sing, cared for little creatures like my pet mice, and lived in my roller skates.  Overall, I'd say I was a pretty good kid.  I was never called to the Principal's office, never put my gum under the table, and never talked back to adults.  This is not to say that I was perfect.  There was that time when I hid behind my backyard fence and sprayed the ice cream man with the hose...  Or the day when I threw my neighbors shoes on their roof.  (In Hawaii, we take off our shoes and leave them at the front door...)  I was duly punished and turned from the error of my ways.

Ephesians 1:4 says this,

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

The part in this verse that stuck out for me this week is, "without fault in his eyes."  It amazes me that God can see me as holy and without fault.  Even before the world began, God's plan was to make me the child who could do no wrong.  Was I innocent?  No.  Was I without sin? No.  But God's plan included the sacrifice that Jesus made, and that by faith I could be holy.  That is love.

And it goes on,

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. (Eph. 1:5)

He did it because He wanted to and it gave him great pleasure.  This humbles me.  God chooses me, redeems me, and adopts me ~ all for His pleasure.  And yet I am the one who benefits.  It doesn't make earthly sense.  But I am also reminded that His ways are higher than my ways.  This sacred romance continues as I am swept off my feet once again.

Our Thanksgiving day was very fun.  We started with the usual last minute clean-ups, putting the turkey in the oven, and making the final preparations for our guests.

Then it was out to Kailua Field for our annual Thanksgiving Day flag football game.  All us 40-somethings get out there with the kids and play.  I'm usually quite sore the next day, but it's worth it.

This year, we ended up having a table of twelve for dinner and a total of about 18 for dessert.  What a blessing to have a houseful of family and friends.   Here is a photo recap of our day.

Table for twelve, set with Great-Grandma Ruby's china and crystal.

Steph chops apples for her pie.

 Annual flag-football warriors.

 Rebecca's cherry pie.

the bird

Rachael, Lauren, Rebecca, and Ashley.

 Grandma Marilyn and Grandma Jean

 Mark and Caleb (our nephew to be...)

Desserts!

The usual silliness...

Psalm 95:1-2:

Come, let us sing to the Lord!

Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come to him with thanksgiving.

Let us sing psalms of praise to him.

They say that the first Thanksgiving feast lasted three days.  I jokingly said that it probably took 2 1/2 days to cook, 20 minutes to eat, and the rest was clean up.  That's kind of what happened around here, too.  But I don't mind.  Like I've said before, I love Thanksgiving.  All the preparations and clean up makes the celebration last just that much longer.  It helps me to carry that thankfulness into the next season....Advent!

The Rainmaker

The first of the real fall rains came today.  I thoroughly enjoyed them.  The humidity and the VOG was all washed away.  It was a perfect day to put stew in the crock pot and watch a movie.

It just so happened that I picked up a bargain DVD from Walmart last week.  It seemed perfect for today ~ The Rainmaker (1956), with Katherine Hepburn and Burt Lancaster.  I had seen bits and pieces of this movie as a kid, but had never gotten to watch the whole thing.  You can always count on Katherine Hepburn for a stellar performance. 

Her character, Lizzy, is a perfect picture of shattered dreams, of "hope deferred" making her heart sick.  And it's not just her.  Her whole family is losing hope.  The drought is killing their cattle.  Then, in rides Bill Starbuck.  (Yes, that's his name.)  He's a con-artist who says he can make it rain...for $100, and a few crazy stunts.  Lizzy's father and younger brother, desperate to believe again, go along with Starbuck's foolishness.  Lizzy and her older brother, Noah (interesting name choice for someone needing rain...), see right through Starbuck and tell him so.  But Starbuck can see that this family is in need of much more than just rain.  Here's a clip of Lizzy, finally opening up to the possibility that she is more than she appears.

http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/index/?o_cid=mediaroomlink&cid=208673


It is a beautiful story of the power of believing.  It's an example of what our belief and encouragement can do in someone's life.  This will be one that I will watch again and again.  It's old-fashioned and corny, but some days nothing else will do.

If I could add anything to this story, it would be that our true source of worth is not found merely looking inside ourselves, or in a man or any other human.  Heaven knows that only leads to other problems.  It is only found in Jesus Christ.  In Starbuck, Lizzy finds a type of savior.  He looks at her with love and she sees that love reflected back, making her beautiful.  I love that image.  And just as Jesus does that for each of us (if we have the courage to look into His eyes...) we, too, can do it for others, pointing to the worth they have in Jesus.  There is no better way to be like Jesus, than to reflect His love.

In the end....wait, you'll just have to watch it for yourself.   But don't save it for a rainy day.  Sharing the grace of encouragement is great when the sun is shinning, too! *;)

Me, Mr. Magoo, and Francis Chan

When it comes to my spiritual journey, I must say that more often than not, it looks like a Mr Magoo cartoon.  I seem to wander along fairly clueless about what lay before me.  It would be amazing to see how many near-misses I encounter every day.  The Lord just leads me on and somehow, by His grace, I continue on in one piece.  And yet, isn't that sort of what child-like faith is all about?

Case in point.  My Life Journal has me reading in the book of Acts.  Every time I read through this book, I have the same emotion.  Why does my life, my Christian experience, look so much different than the first century disciples.  I'm not trying to compare my life the the big guys like Paul or Peter...I'm just taking about the nameless "disciples."  The Holy Spirit's prominence in their lives is so evident.  Acts always leaves me wanting more in my life.  There has got to be something I'm missing.

Just yesterday, I was playing that same old lament in my mind when I "stumbled" across an audio book on iTunes.  It was Francis Chan's new book called, Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit.  Wow.  I loved Chan's book, Crazy Love, and didn't even know he had another one out.  I immediately snatched it up (complete, unabridged, read by the author ~ $4.85)! Another source for the audio book of Forgotten God .

God is so good to me.  He never fails to give me just what I need, exactly when I need it.  It has been this way for years.  God places a book or other resource in my hand, just like a spoon-fed baby.  He knows how much I love books.  I am so grateful for His care and attention.

This is going to be an exciting read.  In the Introduction, Francis already sounds like a kindred spirit,

Grab a copy and read along with me.   I'd love to hear what you think of it.  Perhaps we may "stumble" onto something that moves us further down this Kingdom road...

Confessions of a recovering perfectionist.

Seems like the more you get to know someone, the more you realize what shapes them.  Struggles of the past leave their mark on the present.  Even when the victory has come, the victor's character is altered by the contest.  All that to say, that I am a recovering perfectionist.  Not that I ever attained it....  That's the endless treadmill of the condition.  But I have begun to recognize the marks still shape who I am and what I do.  For example, I tend to put things off if I don't have a complete picture of how I will complete them.  It may look from the outside like I'm lazy, but in reality, I can get exhausted trying to mentally conquor the task.  (Even as I write this, I'm tempted to delete it all and start over!) 

The further I get on the journey of this life, the easier it is to let myself off the hook.  I'm learning to jump in with both feet and figure out how deep it is later...  I'm learning the lessons of Grace. 

This video clip of Pete Briscoe is great.  I can totally relate to what he's saying. 

I Am Second

Today's attempt at being an un-perfectionist comes in the form of school schedules.  Technically, we should have another two weeks before a fall break.  But, with all the kids' friends off this coming week, I have decided to take a week off as well.  It takes everything within me to convince my self that it's okay.  After all, who's in charge here?  I want to live everyday giving the same amount of grace that I depend on myself.  The school work will be done.  We'll get our required 36 weeks in before summer.  It'll be one more way to keep the first things first - because I am second.