A New Driver

My son turned 16 on the 17th, but because of school and the cross country schedule, we had to postpone the road test a week. He finished his online driver education course on Tuesday and we were scheduled for the test on Wednesday at 4:40 pm. I picked him up from school and he wanted to practice backing into a parking space, so off to Kohl's we went. After a couple of successes, we headed to the DMV. We arrived early and waited. And waited. And waited. Forty minutes after the appointment, he took the road test and passed. However, we couldn't get the license because the administrators of the online course had not emailed the completion certificate. They said we should see it in 24-48 hours. We were frustrated, but planned to return on Friday.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

This may be a strange verse to attach to this situation, but we believed what they told us was true. We had faith that this certificate would be sent, we even planned the return trip to the DMV based on their assurance. 

On Friday afternoon he had still not received the certificate. We were beginning to lose hope that we would be successful that day. I called the company and finally talked to a person. It seems that they had his birth date wrong and nothing was matching up. We corrected that date and they said they would email the certificate in another 24-48 hours. Time out! We had already waited 60 hours, so I begged, I pleaded, I told them how crushed he would be. It worked! She talked to her supervisor who said she would mail it that afternoon. He sent a message at 3 pm telling me he had it. I picked him up from school and headed back to the DMV. Friday afternoon around 5 pm, he became a licensed driver. 

I'm glad God doesn't get our birthdate wrong. He knows who we are, where we are and what we need to do.

Fall has Arrived

After a record breaking 91 degrees last Wednesday, I was beginning to wonder if fall would arrive. It snuck in on Friday with high winds and cool temperatures in the 60s. It's hard for me to adjust to the changes, so I end up wearing multiple layers and scarves - constantly adjusting my clothing. It's cool outside, but the car has heated up in the sun. I enter a building that still has on the air or is so hot you just can't breathe. I've been told that my happy temperature range only covers about 5 degrees, and I'm beginning to believe it.

Currently it's 60 outside and I'm siting in my lounge chair in sweats, under a blanket, with a nose that feels like a Popsicle. In a few hours I'm going to drag myself out on a bike ride because I know it will warm me up and I'll feel better. However, the lazy me just wants to stays wrapped in my little cocoon.

Proverbs 13:4 The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.

I choose not to be lazy today. I will go out and enjoy this beautiful fall day!

Stay-cation

I took a week off from work because my kids were off on Monday, I needed a break from the every day grind, and I didn't want to lose any vacation days this year. Each day I wrote a post on Facebook listing what I considered my adventures for the day. I posted photos of my dad on an old tractor, me on a newer tractor, my kid's projects and accomplishments (National Honors Society, bike rides, a 5K) and a Jamie Grace concert.

Looking back, I feel like I accomplished quite a bit around the house, got some errands done and was able to spend a whole lot more time with my kids. I even cooked - actual sit down meals! It was amazing how much I felt like going the extra mile because I had the time to plan and the energy to get it done. The days flew by, but it was a joyful week of staying home and spending time with my family.

Ecclesiastes 5:20 For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.

Hurricane Matthew

For the past few days I've been following reports on the destruction caused by Hurricane Matthew. From 100s of lives lost in Haiti to intense flooding in North Carolina, the storm is packing quite a punch.  This morning I was watching what my cousin had posted from Cape Hatteras. Her house was surrounded by almost 5 feet of water. The sound behind the island and the ocean had come together, leaving no ground without flood waters. The winds were incredible. Snakes and sea life were swimming around. It was scary to me, even if she seems to take it in stride.

I was thankful that I was not close to this storm, but we all have some kind of storms in our lives. It could be from sickness, unrest at work, relationship problems, parenting issues, etc. There's always something - external or internal, but there's always a way to find calm in the midst of any storm.

Psalm 107:28-30 Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distresses, He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to their desired have.

Just Do It

After a very busy week at work, Saturday dawned with me feeling drained. I sat in a chair reading, getting up occasionally to do laundry. However, I had promised to go on a bike ride and I was determined to do it.

We finally started on the new (at least to us) bike path around 3 pm. We had no map, no idea which paths to take, just one person's vague recollection of "There's a lake around here somewhere." They said it had to be "this way." Blindly trusting them we topped a hill and headed down, and down, and down. We pretty much rode the brakes for about 10 minutes. My only thought was, "How in the world am I ever going to make it back up this mountain?"

We found the lake with a great bike path. (We also found there were other parking areas that didn't involve the gigantic hill.) After a couple laps around the lake we took the path that I dreaded so much. I learned a lot about my bike gears and that I can peddle just enough to keep my bike upright and still go up those inclines. I did stop a couple times for air and to wait on others. At last, we reached the top of the hill!

Psalm 8:1-2 Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up hear voices? She takes her stand on the top of the high hill,beside the way where the paths meet.

I was ever so happy to see the parking lot and finish the ride. I got up this morning feeling better than I had all week. It was a challenge that I wouldn't mind trying again.  Can I make it up that hill without stopping? Apparently I can be rather competitive wth myself.