Modern Conveniences

For the last two days my phone line has been out. Not a big deal since I could use my cell phone. Then the repairman came and took down the system to troubleshoot the problem. I lost my Internet. Oh, no! I couldn't write my blog, check my email or anything. It's not like I'm online all day, but it seems inconvenient when you can't at any moment grab your iPad to check on the weather, the news, store hours or _________(fill in the blank). It's kind of like when the power goes out and you reach for the light switch anyway.

So how did it change my day? Well, my 9-year-old and I spent the entire afternoon planning a book report. We sat together in my lounge chair, read the directions and brainstormed ideas. We spent hours talking about the book, what to report and what kind of props would help in her oral presentation.

As I looked back on the day, I thought about Mary and Martha. Martha's distractions were preparing a meal, and if not for a lack of modern conveniences, my distractions could have been this blog or whatever else I wanted to check on. Instead, I got to emulate Mary and be completely focused and absorbed in helping a little girl with her first big project at school.

Luke 10:41-42 And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

Home Sweet Home

Proverbs 14:1a Every wise woman buildeth her house.

I read this verse in 1992 and decided to build my house. I'm not sure how many people choose to take such direct instructions from the Bible, but it was one of the best things I ever did. I moved in on April 2, 1993. Over the years I've changed some colors, worked on new rooms and tried to maintain it, but I've found myself at a point where I'm having to hire others to do much of the work.

Next week I have a general handyman coming to repaint the window trim, re-screen windows and redo my screen porch. After that, I'll be searching for a plumber to set up the utility room. Then there's the flooring, the ceiling and a dozen other jobs I want to complete. It never comes to an end, but that's a good thing.

Part of the fun of owning a home is dreaming up what I want to do next. Do I want to add a room, change a color or figure out a new storage system? I want the kids to be involved too, so I recently told them they could pick a new color for an accent wall in their own room. The girl who chose pink three years ago now wants a blue-green and the boy who just started high school chose lime green. (I am still wondering if the lime green is just a dare to see if I'll do it.)

With so much time and money needed to keep up a house, it feels like I'm walking a tightrope between being exasperated about what's not done and excited about all I could do. Then I think about how this home is temporary.

John 14:2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

So while I wait for a mansion, I'm going to choose to be excited about laundry rooms, newly screened porches and lime green paint.

What's New?

I took a week of vacation just to rest, travel a bit and work on a new room. After a short trip to the mountains, most of the week centered on prepping and painting my new utility/laundry room and reading several novels I had saved. I must be such a creature of habit since I've written about all of these things in the past. I always save a Dee Henderson novel to read uninterrupted. (This one was called "Taken".) I seem to always be working on an unfinished room in the basement. (You might remember the sewing room from last year.) So what's new?

Well, on Wednesday evening we headed to church for Awana and Backpack Love. I left my 9-year-old at Awana's football-themed Spirit Night and I walked over to pack food in backpacks for needy families. After about an hour I headed back to check on the Awana groups. I found my child who looked pretty happy, chomping on a hotdog and heading to the gym. Her teacher came up to me and handed me an envelope - which I couldn't read without my glasses. I just asked what it was. She smiled and said that my child had answered the altar call. Wow! I was so excited that I gave my daughter a couple of hugs until she told me to stop because it was embarrassing. 

II Corinthians 5:17 Therfore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

What a perfect week!