Knock Knock... Whoooooo's There?

Late this afternoon I was on the back porch talking on the phone. I know, imagine that! I was enjoying a slight breeze through the trees when I saw movement at the base of one of our largest pines. I blinked and tried to decipher what I was seeing. Squirrels are common pests, um, I mean cute critters on our property, but this was far larger than a squirrel. Dark in color I momentarily thought I had simply imagined the movement. Then I saw golden orbs staring right at me.

I almost dropped the phone.

There, right in front of me was the biggest owl I have ever seen - and did I mention it was in my back YARD?? What an amazing sight! He stared at me motionless. Gathering my thoughts I wrapped up my phone call and backed up slowly heading for the door. Quick as a flash I scrambled through the kitchen past the microwave repairman (thanks again, Alan!) and got the camera. I called the kids down to come and join me.

Reluctant to leave the Wii, the kids ran down the stairs to see what all the fuss was about. Once outside I showed them the owl. The one I spied had relocated up the pine. I took a few pictures as the children appropriately oohed and aahed. Feeling I had adequately captured the owl I began slowly backing away.

Rustle, rustle and Katherine yelps, "Look! There's another owl!!" No way, I thought. Sure enough, further up an adjacent tree, sat an equally elegant owl. This one, a bit smaller, seemed a little frigtened. Gee, who wouldn't be with shrieking and pointing from an over-zealous 40 year old mom, not to mention the kids? Well, then there is also the repairman... We all got involved.



Now that I'm back at my desk enjoying a cup of tea compliments of my newly operational microwave, I sit and think what a neat happening this was. I was going through my average daily activities when my routine was interrupted by extraordinary owls. Okay, not all of you may be excited about owls, but this certainly was an unexpected event.

I am glad I was not in a hurry or too wrapped up in my chores. I put everything on "pause" to really appreciate these magnificent creatures.

How often are we in a hurry? How often do we think, "Oh, if I only had more time!" or "Maybe they will be there later after my work is done."

I don't want to miss any opportunity to embrace the unexpected. Do you? Sometimes the greatest things come in the most unusual packages. Are you in a position to recognize and be in awe of them?



Thanking God for His incredible creation and the jolt of joy He has provided,
Julie


P.S. No, Lynda, they are not the fake stuffed kind! :-)

Sometimes when it rains it pours.

I appreciate this phrase and can point to times in my life where this has seemed to be true. In fact, I am currently in one of those periods. Our family moved about six weeks ago. Moving, whether down the street or across the state, will always present challenges. One can count on a few surprises along the way. This is why I am not surprised with my current situation.

Shortly after moving in, I found a puddle of water under my kitchen sink. I figured it was the left-over run off from my dish drainer since I store it under the sink. So, I cleaned up the water and didn't think twice about it. One week later I saw the puddle emerge again and decided it might be something more serious. Sure enough, there is a leak in our faucet. No problem; I'll call the home warranty folks. After hefty service call out fee we learn the faucet is not covered under the warranty. Figures.

While this is all happening we also discover the microwave is not working. The turn table motor has burned up! This is compliments of the second hefty service call out fee. :)

Fast forward to earlier this week when I prepare to transfer my wet clothes from the washer to the dryer. Imagine my surprise when I lift the lid and I see my clothes soaking in a tub full of water. The pump blew and the machine ist kaput! For a moment I growled, "Every wheel on my wagon is falling off! What is up?!?"

Self pity is a really obnoxious trait (though I am prone to my share of bouts), so as I was digging my clothes out of the washer I decided to recite things I was thankful for.

My non-theological very basic list went something like this:
I'm glad I have a washer and that I am not washing our clothing on a rock near a river bank.
I'm glad I have towels to wipe up the water from under the sink and that I'm not having to walk to a well to gather water. I have a sink!
I'm very happy I have a pot I can boil water in to make my tea. Who really needs a microwave anyway? I remember my mother doing well without one during my childhood.

You get the picture.

All of this brings me to two nights ago. I had fallen asleep while thinking about making peace with the home repairs and shelling out money we saved for a vacation that was diverted to replacing the washing machine when I was awakened by a loud beeping noise. I grabbed my glasses and checked the clock: 4:40 a.m. Realizing it was not a smoke alarm I relaxed a bit. My husband slumbered peacefully beside me, so I went to track down the noise. Ah ha! it was coming from one of the cordless phones downstairs. The battery was dying to be put on the charger. Maybe the guys who invented the cordless phone could also install a light sensor so it won't beep until daylight.....

Crawling out of bed I headed down the stairs at a good clip thinking that if it continued to beep it would wake the kids. Wanting to avoid this at all costs I miscalculated my speed as well as final two stairs. I made enough of a thud to wake the dead as I landed squarely upon my knees on the hardwood floor. My knees were the least of my concerns as I realized I couldn't move because of my wrenched back. What a sound, what a sight, what a pain!

The bright side to this scenario is my loud landing awoke my husband and the kids slept on. Whew! Doug came down, did an assessment, and got me settled. As I laid there I began digging deep to count my blessings. Faithful as the Lord is, the first thing that popped into my mind was, "Thank you God for hand rails!" The fourth wheel had fallen off my wagon, so maybe now I could make a sleigh.

Sometimes we might feel we are tumbling through life head over heels (and not in the 'lovey dovey' sort of way) or navigating a mine field of frustrating mishaps. When we face these times let's challenge ourselves that the first thing we will do is to give thanks.

Somehow when we get our minds off of our circumstances and deliberately fix our thoughts upon the goodness of our Lord, a change occurs. The Book of Psalms is packed with instances when David is faced with serious problems and with great determination decides to praise the Lord. He sheds his woe and begins to praise. When He does this, the psalm turns from lament or fear into thanksgiving and praise.

What has you down today? Are you literally lying on your back like me, or are you figuratively on your back so far by life circumstances that the only thing you can do is look up? Whichever it is, open your eyes, look up, and begin to thank God in heaven for all you have been given.

You may have heard the hymn "Count Your Blessings". Well then, do it. Name them one by one. Count your many blessings ~ see what God has done.

Your friend,
Julie

Laughter is the Best Medicine

This week a dear friend emailed me a link to the following video. Normally I do not have time to watch things online, but for some reason I decided to give this one a click. I was pleasantly surprised to see this short clip of an extraordinary couple playing the piano in the atrium of the Mayo Clinic.

If you have about 1 min. and 14 seconds I promise you will not be disappointed to take in the following.



Remember, now, this is in the lobby of the Mayo Clinic. I am sure most people who visit the clinic are seeking medical attention or are going to spend time with one who may be extremely ill. I imagined for a moment, that there may have been someone there that day who was full of fear after receiving a devastating diagnosis. Perhaps there was one who was doing what they could to put their "best foot forward" as they showed up for treatment. Only God knows what each person there that day was facing.

Imagine next, walking into the atrium and seeing this 90 year old couple playing the piano together. What joy! What laughter must have filled that space! This duet (and where it takes place) made me call to mind Proverbs 17:22. Here are a few versions for your consideration.

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones. New American Standard

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. New International

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. New Living Translation

A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired. The Message

Don't you know there were those there who were bone tired, broken spirited and feeling dried up? But look at how for a brief moment two 90 year old people gave life to all who were near them!

God knows we need to laugh! He knows it brings healing to more that just our bodies. When was the last time you had a good chuckle?
Joyfully His,
Julie

Plain Old F-U-N

Houston is subject to a fair amount of rain fall. Houstonians have learned how to appreciate a sudden storm that leaves a steamy scene then soon dries up allowing one to fry an egg on the front sidewalk if one truly wishes.

Recently our family was enjoying a lazy Saturday morning when a down pour erupted lasting maybe 20 minutes. At first the kids moaned about outdoor play time being lost when I said, "Nothing is stopping you from having some big fun right now!" Here is a series of pictures that shows what immediately ensued.



"On your mark!"






"GET SET!"



"SPIT! I mean.... GO!"

Pure hilarity followed and everyone had a bang up time. Water was flying, laughter was tumbling every which way, and I am certain our neighbors were wondering about the new folk in town. Towels were used to dry everyone up, and it was all over with so very quickly. It was a brief window of time, but we grabbed it and ran with it before the rest of the day got away!

Not to be outdone by her older sibling I must announce my daughter won 1st place overall in the Second Grade watermelon seed spitting contest at her school. Perhaps she gained important skill and form from watching her older brother...





I pray you will grab and run with whatever the Lord gives you this day, His day...the day He has made.

Will you rejoice and be glad in it?

Here's hoping so,
Julie

What Do I Know of Holy

This morning as I drove home from taking the kids to school I heard a wonderful song I was not familiar with: What Do I Know of Holy by Addison Road. As the garage doors closed behind me I sat in the darkness of my front seat listening to lyrics like...

What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

What followed was spontaneous prayer, praise and simply being within God's presence. It wasn't something that was accompanied by fireworks or fanfare. After all, I was in darkness, alone in my car, yet completely engulfed in God's Holy Spirit.

And even as my mind scampered down the many trails of what could written about this song and my time with God, the overwhelming word I sensed from my Father was 'be'. Simply BE in my presence, Julie. Don't try to figure it out, write about and thereby miss your visitation. Simply be.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10 It is a familiar verse to many of us who were raised in church. But is it a steady practice in our lives? Just think of the things we could learn (can learn) when we are still.

So, what do you know of holy? May I encourage you to open your copy of the The Bible today and catch a glimpse of who God is? May I also ask that you not go with any other expectation than to meet with Him? Lay aside your expectations of what it will or won't be or what you will or won't learn and merely yearn to simply be in Him. Once you encounter Him you will never be the same.

Practicing being still,
Julie

Best Mother Award Goes To....

Phones will be ringing and florists will be delivering record numbers of bouquets this weekend since Mother's Day is Sunday. How are you planning to spend this day set aside to celebrate mothers everywhere?

Mother's Day will most likely bring up all sorts of emotions. For those of us with young children we look forward to homemade cards and perhaps piles of pancakes for 'breakfast in bed'. For others, Mother's Day may be marked with sadness due to a mother who has passed away during the previous year.

I particularly enjoy celebrating Mother's Day because I have two women to honor. My first mother, my birth mother, who gave me life and provided a family for me through adoption and my permanent mother who walked beside me each day of my life and reared me into adulthood. They are two very different women, but they are my two heroines! While I have inherited certain biological characteristics from one, I have also acquired learned characteristics from the other.

However you choose to spend Mother's Day I pray you will pause to remember the birth mothers who are rarely remembered on Mother's Day. These courageous women make life possible for their children and create stable homes in the arms of loving mothers who will care for them on a daily basis. I also hope you will pause and remember the adoptive mothers who have opened their homes to children who are not born of their flesh but have been born from the love of their hearts.

No Mother's Day would be complete without the opportunity to ooh and aah a little. So, take a peek at this video which illustrates mothers come in a variety of packages. Whether a child is born into or brought into a family does not matter. Whether the child looks like the mom or not has no bearing on his or her value and place within the family. The love of a mother remains the same.



Happy Mother's Day,
Julie

Internet Chat Room - Adoption

Christian Women Today is hosting a chat room discussion on adoption tonight @ 9 p.m. EST. CWTis a division of Campus Crusade for Christ Canada. I have had the great pleasure to work with these dedicated ladies over the past decade and can assure you of their dynamic and effective Christ-centered ministry to women. Tonight I will be the guest moderator in their chat room. These Internet chat rooms are incredible places where women can log on, maintain anonymity and seek answers to questions they may be anxious to ask in regular situations. Tonight we will be discussing adoption specifically, but they have a series of ongoing topics they discuss. Be sure to tag their site so you can visit for future chats.

If you are able to join us tonight click this link to get to the chat room. Then create a user name for yourself (i.e. sunshine, bubbles, etc.) To keep it simple I will be "Julie S." for tonight. You do not need a password. Once you type in your user name you immediately gain access to the room. There will be a host (cwt) and co-host moderating the evening. Stop by to see the session in action and how the Body of Christ reaches out in love to those seeking answers, understanding and healing.

Have a great day. Hope to see you tonight!
His,
Julie Stobbe