peeking during prayer

This morning I attended a church where there were 4 infant baptisms. During the prayer time, I'll admit: I peeked. I always like to watch the babies during baptism or dedication. They are just so cute, and sometimes they are doing adorable baby stuff.

This morning, however, as I peeked, I was sidetracked by the pastor himself. I've never really witnessed a pastor pray in such a manner (maybe because I don't peek very often). He was gesturing, actively gesturing, using his hands to talk: very animated. I watched him have a conversation with God. It was a pretty awesome thing to watch. I will freely admit that I peeked during the other two prayers during the service as well. 

What a great reminder to me: God is real. He doesn't require anything fancy from us in order to talk to Him. I don't usually use eloquent words and I don't have a specific place or position where I pray. Sometimes it's while I'm walking around the house or driving in the truck. There are people who pray very genuine and heartfelt words and sound like they are reciting poetry. Sometimes my prayers are: "Lord, help me keep my stinkin' sanity today!" 

I honestly don't think there is a right way or wrong way to pray. But today I was reminded that prayer is real; a real conversation with a real God. 

KC

happy friday

I love Fridays. 

Here's a dozen things that I am happy about from this week:

1. Tri-tip: if you don't know what that is or are a vegetarian, I'm sorry. That is a sad thing.

2. Slushies: every Friday I pick the kids up from school and we get slushies from Sonic. The lady there knows us now...we are her "regulars."

3. Honesty: a friend who can give it and can take it.

4. High heels...I can't help it, I just do!

5. Making my son's day. Do you think I really wanted to do this?

6. Being able to make a friend laugh. Not just a little "ha!" but an out loud 10 second laugh.

7. Finding that one Pin on Pinterest that perfectly matches someone in your life.

8. Our cat's squeak. Sometimes I seek her out while she's napping just to hear her wake up and "squeak."

(Here she is ignoring me as usual)

9. Accomplished and proud piano students - I have a couple of students who have decided to share their talents in front of their classmates - this makes me so happy!!

10. Confidence - I love confident people. Someday I hope to be one.

11. Successful parenting moment - they don't happen very often but sometimes you look back at a situation with your kids and think, "Wow! I handled that like a champ!!"

12. New flowers in the yard - it feels fresh and clean and alive when the flowers are brand new.

KC

investing in music

I know I often come back to this subject, but it's so valuable and so dear to my heart that I must. Plus, this is my blog and I get to write what I want. You don't have to read further, but I'm going to write anyway! 

Music. Of all the things you could invest into your children, music is one that will be present in their lives until they die. Even then, I'm pretty sure God's got a pretty good line up of musicians up in heaven for our listening pleasure. And I suppose that you could argue that there is no value in music for someone who is deaf.  But one of my awesome piano students is deaf so your argument is invalid. 

I don't know what music elicits in your mind, heart, body, and soul, but here's a quick, condensed list for me:

Joy

Memories

Running/Exercise (Yes, certain songs come on and I need to go for a jog!)

Tears

Dancing, often dancing (if this is against your beliefs, I apologize...a little)

Depth (often when listening to hymns)

Worship

Calmness

Connection (ever have a song that brings to mind one person every time you hear it?)

Release (stress often dissipates with music)

Dancing (oh wait...I said that already)

My kids want to play sports, or take horseback lessons, or gymnastics, or art classes. All these are wonderful. However, the one thing I will always insist on in their education is music. 

I want music in their souls. I want them to dance. I want them to sing. I want them to be filled with joy and good memories. But most of all, I want them to be able to worship God. He gives us so much. This is our gift to Him.

KC

gifts

Sometimes I am in awe of the people God has surrounded me with and that I have had the opportunity to meet. Amazing people with awesome gifts. People who sing with phenomenal talent, who bring goose bumps with their voices. People filled with wisdom. People with a great understanding of God's word and the confidence to share it. People not afraid to witness to a random stranger. People who write moving words. Gifted people.

You ever feel inconsequential around people like that? As if they are filled with gifts from God while you have the ability to clap during worship? They are leading thousands to the Lord while you hope to lead one. I know I do! 

I know I have been given a gift or two from the Lord. But sometimes those gifts seem so small, of hardly any use at all. I don't have vast amounts of scriptural knowledge. Shoot, I can't even memorize scripture anymore! I can carry a tune, but it is in the alto range so...not much use by itself! Ask me to pray out loud and I would opt for the Lord's Prayer all together! 

So what do I do with that? Sometimes I just want to minimize my gifts, they aren't that special after all. But you know what? That line of thinking is baloney. You know why? Because every gift is important. Otherwise God wouldn't have given it to you. We can't all be pastors or worship leaders. Some of us have to stand at the door and greet. Or clean up the church after the service. Or take care of the babes in nursery. 

1 Corinthians 12 discusses this very thing. We are all part of one body but this body has many members...each member has a function. If we do not perform our function, then we cannot work together as a whole. See? Even the little part is important!

Take pride in the gifts God has given to you, no matter the size. The fact is that you are a very important piece of the puzzle and it wouldn't be complete without you. 

KC

baby steps

I spent about 15 minutes with a mom today who often inspires me in my blogs. I'm not sure she realizes how great a mother she is, but I am often in awe of who she is striving to be. Today was no exception. In the short conversation we had, my "blog idea" light came on once again! So here goes:

You ever look around at your life and see all the things you want to change about it? 

I wish all my closets were organized.

If I could get a better routine for chores around here, things would go smoother.

I wish we had healthier food in this house.

If I could just sync my phone and get all my hundreds of pictures saved (surely, I'm not the only one!)

My consistency in discipline and teaching my children responsibilities certainly could use some work.

The 7 piles of important papers throughout the house would sure look lovelier as just one condensed pile.

Nevermind the 45 projects around the house: finish painting the den, sort and organize the playroom, get our landscaping going in the backyard, start putting up curtains,  (seriously, people, there are 45 projects - my husband will concur!)

Sometimes when you look at your to-do list, it can be so daunting! So much so, that you don't want to tackle it. So you don't and nothing changes. Or you try to tackle it all at once and you wear yourself out to the point of giving up!

But you know what? Doing something is better than nothing and slow and steady wins the race. In other words: baby steps. Start small! Don't tackle it all at once of it seems to overwhelming. 

When I look at the food that is on our house, I see a lot of changes that I want to make. But we started making changes a few years back and our pantry/fridge look so much better.

When I go to workout, I am usually not the fastest one. As a matter of fact, I'm often one of the slower ones. However, what I am doing in my workout regardless of the speed in which I do it, it's better than sitting on the couch!

So cut yourself a break. Start small and make little accomplishments. Little accomplishments add up and turn into major accomplishments...eventually!

KC

the power of a guilty conscience

So apparently my daughter's guilty conscience was working overtime this evening.  In a matter of 2 hours she has confessed approximately 10 different things to either my husband or me. 

Here are a few:

"I tell my friends that my Mom is mean." (no big surprise there!)

"I said the word 'idiot' today." (If that's the worst thing that comes out of her mouth, we are fortunate parents!

"One time while doing math, I accidentally stuck my middle finger up and the kid who sits across from me saw it." (Um, well, accidents happen! Try to be careful when you count!)

There were a few more, some that I know she would disapprove if I mentioned them so those will stay under the trusted Mom hat. However, all these confessions led up to a good lesson and reminder for her.

First of all, I explained the good news: the Holy Spirit was definitely living in her heart. He was the one who was telling her heart what was right and wrong. He was the one leading her to remorse and confession. Essentially, he was being her conscience. 

Secondly, I explained the even better news: all she had to do in order to erase her "dirty chalkboard list of wrong-doings" was to confess what she had done and to ask for forgiveness. I told her that I would help her but she decided to pray it all on her own. She cried with a broken heart as she asked God to forgive her for what she had done. And then continued to pray for the salvation of a friend. 

Wow! What an example of a truly contrite little heart. (Feeling smart because I used that word just right!) As I listened to her pray, it struck me that my little "please forgive my sins" at the end of my own prayers lacked the true emotion that this 8 year old was displaying for me. That true remorse, the deep down sorrow was lacking from my prayers. It was time for me to re-examine my prayer life.

It's amazing the things that God reveals through little children.

KC

visits from heaven

Sometimes God gives you little glimpses of loved ones who are up in heaven with Him.

(My Dad - I called him "Pa" - passed on to heaven 7 years ago, the day after Easter.)

The other day I was writing a little note rather quickly. After I finished, I skimmed through it and for a second I saw my Dad's handwriting. I always thought I would have beautifully scripted handwriting like my Mom's. Afterall, I do have her hands. But nope. I write in more of a square-ish font, similar to that of my Pa.

I've got a few brothers. They all remind me of my Pa.

My oldest brother exhibits my Dad's mannerisms: in the way he stands, uses his hands when he talks, and waves. 

The brother after him has my Dad's hands. Almost literally (hmmm, not sure I'm using "literally" correctly here; you be the judge.) I mean that when I look at his hands, it's like looking at my Dad's hands. 

And the brother between him and me has my Dad's sense of humor. I love it when he tells a cheesy joke and can't contain how funny he thinks it is!

And then there's the random guy I see in a crowd who, for a second...just a second, I could swear was  my Dad. It was his hair or perhaps the way the guy was standing or how he was walking. Whatever it was, it brought me a flash of my Dad. (The first time that happened was very difficult because it was all very raw.)

A little over a year after my Dad passed away, our son was born. He bears my Dad's name as his middle name. I'm not completely sure, but I think God might have put a little bit of Pa into that little squirt. The jokes he tells, the way he talks, even the way his little brain works...

Just little glimpses. 

These used to be heart-wrenching because I missed my Pa with my whole being. Just a little sight of him in someone else reminded me that he wasn't there. Now, although I still miss him with my whole being, it is more of a fond ache instead of a deep, searing pain. Now those glimpses are pleasant little reminders of a good, godly man who I was blessed to have in my life for 28 years. 

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for letting me see my Pa once in a while. Because I really miss him. 

KC

(Sidebar: I was planning on going to bed before I started tonight's post, but the prompting was there. I try not to ignore the prompting because maybe one of you needed to read this. I hope this reaches the heart(s) it was meant for!)