Dec 19, 2013

All Natural



Lately I’ve been on an all-natural kick. I’ve bought unbleached flour, tried to limit my processed food intake and started making more from scratch. My Suzy Homemaker hat is a little lopsided, but I’ll wear it occasionally. That being said, I’m also lazy and won’t go too far out of my way to be healthy. For example, I know I could technically make my own cream of [fill in the blank] soups but Campbell is so much easier. If I didn’t have ten or so other hats to wear, maybe I’d spend all day in the kitchen creating masterpieces, but right now I simply don’t have the time.

Likewise, my vanity shelf is as unnatural as they come. Even my curls are chemically produced. I have not gone down the no-poo road, nor will I. I cover my hair and face with all sorts of creams and products that contain components I can’t pronounce, let alone know what they are. However, in a world of natural versus artificial, I want more than anything that my faith be 100% natural. 


The other day I was shopping for Christmas gifts and lost my cell phone. I had stupidly kept my phone in my back pocket, and the jeans I was wearing were the stretchy kind (you know, 99% spandex). While comparing playdough sets, Kayla decided she’d have some fun with mommy and threw her sippy cup beneath a shelf. I bent over to pick it up, and my cell phone popped out.

I only realized my phone’s absence when I was checking out. Panicking, I tossed the merchandise I planned to buy back into my cart and started searching the store. Not finding it in the bathroom or where I’d retrieved Kayla’s sippy cup, I went to customer service and asked if someone had turned in my phone. Praise Jesus, someone did! In fact, when the employee handed me my phone, I even said, “Praise Jesus!” The words naturally flowed from my lips. The lady scoffed a bit at my exclamation, and at first I couldn’t figure out why. Then the sad truth sunk in; not everyone knows Jesus.

I’ve mentioned before how my faith is really the hat rack on which all my hats hang. I’d like to think that my faith shines through all parts of my life. My cousin teases me sometimes and says, “Your Christian is showing.” Like the time my conscience got the better of me, and I felt compelled to return a refrigerated item we’d decided not to buy back to the refrigerated area. Joking aside, I was not insulted by this statement. I mean, I sure hope my Christian is showing!

Is yours?


Hats off to you, my friend. I will write again, but until then...
hang on to your hat! ;-)

Dec 7, 2013

Turning Thirty



My hairdresser found a white-grey hair while giving me a perm yesterday. I’d discovered steely grey ones before, but not one so light. She was amazed to hear that I would turn thirty in a couple weeks. Bless her heart; she thought I was younger than she is.

My cousin and I made a pact when we were stupid teenagers. Thirty was unbelievably old to our daft young minds, so we decided that suicide was the best option when we turned that dreadful age. That way, we wouldn’t grow past being able to care for ourselves—cause, you know, the nursing home is right around the corner from thirty. To call us half-witted would be gracious. 

 

I admit that looking old is something I plan to fight tooth and nail. What can I say? I’m vain. For as long as I can, I’m determine to battle the wrinkles, grey hair, dark spots, and whatever else aging throws at me. I wouldn’t dream of plastic surgery, but expensive-cream sellers, I’m your target audience. Fortunately, God has given me a deceptively youthful face. What was curse at age ten is now a blessing.
Honestly I’ve been dreading this birthday for some time now. To a point, I think that ridiculous pact conditioned me against this transition. Not that there’s really a transition. I’ll be a year older. Whoop-de-do. A deeper fear of thirty comes from the fact my mom had her car accident when she was thirty-one. What if I’m a year closer to life as I know it being ripped from my grasp?

Then a new idea hit me: my twenties will be behind me. This threshold into the next decade is a chance for a clean slate. Sure, I’ve made some great decisions during the past thirty years, like following Christ, making good grades, getting a college degree, marrying Jon and adopting Kayla, but I also live with regrets.
I want my thirties to have no regrets. My goal is to live this next ten years as the best woman I can be through Christ Jesus, who gives me my strength. This is my opportunity to “focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead (Phil 3:13 NLT).”

Are you about to walk through a new door in your life? Maybe you have a new job, are moving to a new town, or perhaps you are about to embark on an adventure. Whatever lies ahead, keep your eyes on the goal.  


Hats off to you, my friend. I will write again, but until then...
hang on to your hat! ;-)