An upgrade from Jesus?

On Thursday night we went up to Great Wolf Lodge to get some dead-of-winter fun. And we did. That waterpark is GREAT fun. The 4 of us spent the night and played and played. I highly recommend doing a mid-week, winter get-away if you can... even though we were just in Mason it felt like we went into another little world for 24 hours (insert all Mason jokes here).

We booked a special rate online. I had looked through the room possibilities and, ideally, we'd have a couple different sleeping areas since we have a baby whose bedtime is 7pm, a toddler who goes down by 8-830pm and us...who don't usually go to sleep quite that early. But, alas, as all you other families know -- sleeping arrangements on trips are never quite right. So, we made our peace with everyone in one room and lights out early. There was one particular suite with a loft that I'd thought would be great for us but was way unaffordable for a random night away.

You guessed it. When we checked in on Thursday we had been upgraded to the Loft Fireplace suite: a room that was a full $150/night more than anything we'd ever even think of paying for with the coveted loft. I immediately thought "Thanks Jesus. I know you knew that was the desire of my heart." It took us from a great-night-away-up-until-bedtime to just a great night away. God is so cool like that when you least expect Him.

King Hezekiah

Today I am just processing some things by writing them out...I have been interested and learning about an ancient king of Judah named King Hezekiah. I think God is pushing me into knowing and understanding his life. Here's how God has pursued me with this guy:

• About 3-4 weeks ago I sat down to read my bible and just heard the word "Hezekiah" in my heart. I immediately thought that it must be one of those really small, prophetic books in the OT that had slipped my mind. So I just looked in my Table of Contents, but turns out it's not a book of the Bible. So I didn't find it that day and I let it go.


• About 2 weeks ago I was given some books by my friend, Mary, just to read for pleasure. The one I chose "randomly" happened to be a historical fiction retelling of the reign of King Ahaz...and Hezekiah was his son (and next in line for the throne of Judah). Wow! I finished this book and thought I really need to get the next book in this series: I can't wait to see what happens during Hezekiah's reign.


• About 3 days ago I sat down to read my bible and was flipping through the book of Isaiah and "stumbled on" a section in Ch 38 entitled 'The events of the reign of King Hezekiah!' I read it voraciously and felt like I got the sequel to my book! Sweet.

So I've been kind of amazed by him. I just keep thinking about this guy... why God loved him and what his life and reign was like...here's a few highlights I'm pondering:

2 Kings 18:5-7 "Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. 6 He held fast to the LORD and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses. 7 And the LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him."

• He had Courage with a capital C. He took over Judah in ruins, idolatry and desperation with no army whatsoever. And he stood up against a crazy, bloodthirsty king of Assyria. Even the King of Assyria was incredulous at his Courage. He said to Hezekiah "On what are you basing this confidence of yours?...On whom are you depending that you rebel against ME?"
• He was a picture of walking by FAITH. He had nothing to work with except for God. But he held fast to God's sworn promises to Him and to Judah. And He BELIEVED them. He acted against ALL circumstances to say to God "I know you're a God of your Word. I believe you."
• God listened to this guy's prayers and actually changed his mind because of them. In Isaiah 37 God says to Hezekiah "BECAUSE YOU HAVE PRAYED TO ME concerning..." and proceeds to promise him that his enemies will never conquer Jerusalem. Also - he was later on his death bed and he wept to God about it and God said "I have heard your prayer and seen your tears: I will add fifteen years to your life..." Sometimes I am so tempted to not go to God in prayer because I think it's not important enough or it's already been decided upon. I am so encouraged by this guy's prayers and God's response to him.

What else do you see or hear in this?

Lunchtime with Daddy

Today I'm celebrating something that Bill does regularly... comes home for lunch! This picture is just about an hour ago in our front yard playing with the boys in the snow.

This is one of the most loving things that Bill does in our day-to-day life. It shows me that he's thinking of us, that he wants to spend time with us and that his family comes above all else. It also shows me that he understands my needs - that a small break in the day can mean so much when you're taking care of 2 little ones all the time.

I used to think he was just doing it because he felt bad for me or because he had guilt or something. But that isn't the truth at all... the truth is he does it because he wants to and because he loves us. I think I just struggled at first to receive it. I am careful never to turn this into an "expectation" of him. I don't huff if a week goes by and it doesn't happen. I just yuck-it-up when it does. So today was one of those days!

I know other dads show their love in other ways, but I happen to LOVE this particular way of Bill's. Here's a few of our favorite spots to meet: the Atrium at Crossroads, Beech Acres Park (also pictured below last July), Big Apple Bagels or just at home for some playtime together.

Today I am just celebrating Bill and his love for me and for his boys. Awesome husband. Awesome dad.

Let's talk about TV.

Not your favorite shows. But TV.

Last night I paid attention to something that went on inside me. I'm glued to a fantastic book (thanks Mary!) and then Bill and I do a marriage-study right now together on Sunday nights. So....between those 2 things the television never came on last night. Yes! Sweet. Almost.

I had this moment when I felt it pull at me. I swear it was daring me to defy the entertainment, laughter, pleasure (whatever) that comes from within it. I'm not sure why last night vs other nights, but I noticed it. It was pulling at me. Daring me to think I could be fulfilled in my evening without it.

It's crap. I've got a couple favorite shows and I think it's fine to be entertained by decent shows. But really? It's crap. I've grown impatient with it - and with myself for wanting it. And the things I allow into my mind and heart when I do watch TV are not exactly always noble, lovely, good and pure. And what's worse? Sometimes I don't even see that. (I'm a big Friends fan. If you'd watched as many old Friends episodes as I have; you'd notice a sickeningly consistent theme of porn references throughout many episodes. Watch just one show and you'll barely take note of it).

I've begun to think "I wonder who is writing this show? I wonder what they're like...what they think of God, what they'd say about the values I hold for myself and my family. " (And I used to BE an advertiser so I KNOW what they're thinking!) This is all crap. Let's turn it off. I'm not an extremist by nature -- but I'm growing ever more suspicious of what's on there and what it does to my soul.

Ok - now we can talk about your favorite shows: does anyone else kinda like that Duggar family? And the blind guy on American Idol!

I love pictures...

I just decided to randomly select a picture and tell you a story. So - here it is. That's me in college with my 2 friends, Laura (middle) and Christina (right). Here's the story: not about the picture but about Christina.

Christina is dying of brain cancer. This picture was taken just months before her first of many surgeries and a 10 year struggle that, by all recent reports, is about to be over. I lost touch with Christina not long after college. But Laura recently brought me back up to speed on her condition. It's rocked my world.

I could say the normal stuff about facing-your-own-mortality. And that's true and startling. But for me the thing that I am feeling the most deeply is about the devastating possibility of losing a spouse. It's Jack (her husband) that I find myself thinking of. I love Bill and my boys so much that sometimes it hurts me. And finding out about Christina has just made me mourn for her spouse so deeply. I find myself thinking about them and praying for them all the time.

If you are reading this post, please stop right now and pray for them...pray these prayers with me:

Father - HEAL. Come now and be the Healer that IS. Touch Christina and heal her completely! I'm asking you for a miracle. I want to read about her in the newspaper as an inexplicable medical mystery. I want to giggle and know that it was YOU while I'm sitting in my living room with my hot chocolate watching Dr Phil interview her and all the baffled doctors.

God, you say that Jesus is the Good Shepherd...please send out a shepherd with your heart to take care of Jack. He has faith in you. Honor that, Lord, and send him someone who can tenderly guide Him to your comfort and your shelter during this terrible time.

Be the Redeemer. Redeem this family's faith. Bring them all home again to you. Let not one moment of Christina's struggle be wasted... Father, bring them all into relationship with your son.
Lastly - I'm asking you to call up Christina's intercessors all over the world...put her name...her full name on the lips of people praying in every country in every language all over the world. Call them forward to ask for her healing.

Amen. So may it be.

Pictures of Receiving

On Tuesday I called my friend Mary and said "I need to receive some stuff from you!" She's a fantastic, passionate cook and baker. And my meal-times need some serious inspiration. So I decided I could borrow some of her passion. I gave her some parameters: a) as hands-off as possible (i.e. Crock-pot, bake a whole dish instead of meat-with-sides-meals) and b) little kid friendly.
I also needed to receive BOOKS. Mary and I share a love of reading. I would rather read than watch TV, talk on the phone or many other things. And Mary always seems to have good books. And I'm always struggling with what I should read next. So - she brought me 6 books that night.

It's great to receive. It's great to be able to call a friend and say "I need something and you've got it to give." God is like that. That's pretty much exactly what He wants us to do. He's got it all. We've got nothing to offer Him. He's the one who came to serve US. (Not the other way around). He's the Mary and you're the Alli. We're the ones who need restoration, infused passion or just plain healing. He's the one with all the good books and recipes.

Last night I saw another picture of receiving. I went to a meeting about mentoring/discipling other people. I learned again (and felt that flame fanned in me) that He, as the Good Shepherd, teaches us what it looks like to help care-for, fight-for and mature someone else in their faith. It's intentional, strategic and at the bottom of it is the heart of a groom who wants his bride lovingly cared-for in his absence. And it's practical stuff like "how can I be a good wife, mother, daughter? how can I care for my family and my work? how can I spend time with God and learn how to pray?" There are people around who know more than you and me. And it's just sitting out there waiting to be offered and received.
31 women (and I don't know how many men) stepped forward to say "I want that. I want to receive that from another person in my life."

If you need something, receive it. From a friend, from another woman, from your husband - and ultimately, from God. When I called Mary, I just knew we were friends...I didn't have to offer her anything. I didn't have to convince her that she should give me stuff. I called. She gave. That's how it works.

Little-thing update

I just had to write a quickie here about how one of my "little things" (see post below) happened.

Two days ago I felt prompted to "write notes of encouragement" -- so I went upstairs, dutifully and immediately, to retrieve my box of personal notecards and a pen. I just thought 'once I sit down, I'll know who to write to:' but nothing came to me, so I ditched it.

Then today, without knowing it, this 'notes of encouragement' thing happened afterall. Andrew and I were spending some time together during Luke's nap this morning. And, as we often do, we were doing an "art project." Andrew said he wanted to make something for a friend. So I asked him a series of questions (he was thinking of 2 friends: Alexis and David) and we ended up doing special art projects with special messages for each friend. It was so very sweet. And we will deliver each of them personally. I wrote EXACTLY what he told me to write. (David's said "I like to laugh with you. I'm so glad you're my friend." Alexis' is pictured here.)

Then I logged back onto my blog and thought oh my gosh we wrote notes of encouragement! And I think it was God IN Andrew that led us into fulfilling that prompting in me. How cool is that? I was all ready with my pen and paper but God had some other people in mind...some little people.