In Search of Oasis...

I have been a lousy blogger lately. ("Tell me something we don't know, Mary.")

I've managed (for the most part) to keep my commitment to the devotional sites I write for, but I haven't been able to get much posted here. I think I finally figured out why.

I have a mission here--to be a place of refreshing in the midst of sometimes dry, dusty, desert-like ordinary days. But our life has been extremely desert-like for a couple years now. And when circumstances lead to being parched, it's not easy to provide refreshment to others. It's kind of like that old youth group game where you have to cram a sleeve of saltines in your mouth and then whistle.

But even so, God has been faithful to keep me from shriveling up altogether. And I want to be more faithful in sharing that. So my posts might be shorter than usual (some would say that's a good thing!), and they might not be profound or deep (after all, I've been dwelling beside puddles rather than wells). But maybe, as I am aware of the oasis' I find while wandering in our particular desert, my observations will help you see the lush, green, refreshing places He's prepared for you as well.

So even though it's summer (which is the driest time of all on the west coast), and the boys are out of school and Hubs and I are scrambling to fill our days with productive work (and I have dreams of completing some writing projects as well), I'm going to take the time to see where God brings moisture to the parched places of my spirit and I'll try to share them with you. It might be a photo, or a brief word, but my commitment to share it will keep me mindful of looking for it.

"...so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. The God of peace be with you all. Amen." Romans 15:32-33

And maybe even more important, I want to hear from you. Are you parched? Where do you find refreshment in your driest days? How do you find ways to share that with others even when you don't have much to spare?

What's Your Superpower?

I have side-eyes.

At least, that's my boys' assessment of my ability to see what they're doing without looking at them. Not quite as deluxe as eyes in the back of my head, but they do the trick.

They come in handy when Bug (who is quite speedy and seems to think if he runs fast enough he'll become a semi-invisible blur like the Roadrunner) is trying to avoid bedtime or breakfast and makes a mad dash toward the front room where I won't be able to see him.

"Ah ah ah!" I warn.

He comes slinking back in the room. "How did you know? Did you see me with your side eyes?"

They haven't figured out that I also have supersonic hearing. Like this morning when they were playing in the front room and I called (from around the corner and down the hall) "Stop jumping on the couch!" It made me laugh when they shut the door between the two rooms.

Sorry kids, I also have "Mommy-sense" (not to be confused with Spidey-sense) that alerts me whenever you're doing something you aren't supposed to.

What's your Mom-power?

A Meaningful Memorial Day

I had to laugh when my 5 year old found a rogue black seed in his watermelon the other night and he had to ask what it was! With the proliferation of seedless watermelon, we have a whole generation of kids who've never experienced the messy fun of watermelon seed spitting contests!

Although I know I sounded like my parents, I took the trip down memory lane and told the boys about my childhood church's Memorial Day picnic, which, of course, included watermelon (along with three-legged races, water balloon tosses and Kentucky Fried Chicken-endorsed by the Colonel himself).

The next question that came from the curious one was, "What were you remembering?" Which led right into a mini-lesson on what Memorial Day is about. And this year, I actually had something to tell him because I wrote this article last year. Check it out if you're looking for a way to bring some meaning to the holiday weekend. And have a safe, blessed weekend.

Just Take 'Yes' for an Answer--Internet Cafe

For a long time, I wanted to name our firstborn son 'Gideon.' (I think it will be the new 'Jacob.') But, if I were the psychoanalyzing type, there's probably a deeper reason behind my attachment to the name.

I don't know about you, but if I'm honest about it, I think I may be more like Gideon than any other person in the Bible. It's not about putting God to the test as much as it is wanting to make sure I heard Him correctly.

Recently though, I had the opportunity to break that pattern a little and I learned a lesson about taking 'yes' for an answer. I'm privileged to be sharing it over at Internet Cafe Devotions.

Stop by and let us know if you've ever had trouble accepting a 'yes' from God.

Midlife Mom Blog List

If you're a midlife mom (or know someone who is), take a look at this list of "40 Awesome Blogs for Midlife Moms" on www.nursingschools.net. It's a privilege to be included with the likes of Antique Mommy (a longtime favorite of mine) and Motherhood Later than Sooner, a site with multiple writers that covers many perspectives and experiences of midlife mommyhood. (A recent post tells how to make up creative stories to tell your kids at bedtime).

So, if you're looking for some new blogs to check out, click on the link above. The Nursingschools.net blog has a lot of other interesting information as well, featuring articles like '15 Fascinating Scientific Facts about Siblings,' and '50 Tiny Changes You Should Make During Stress Awareness Month.'

I appreciate being included in the listing of Midlife Mom blogs, as well as finding this interesting new resource. Take a minute to check it out!

Creative Urges--5 Minutes for Faith

How do you express your creativity?

Do you paint or draw? Sing or sew? Dance or decorate? I used to think I wasn't creative--until I got a new perspective...I'm sharing more about it at 5 Minutes for Faith. I'd love if you'd stop by and let us know what you do when your creative juices are flowing!