Paradigm Shift

I've been M.I.A. for the last month or so due to some major life upheaval..... sorry. Lots of juicy stuff but nothing quite ready for prime time. I am going to write a book about it all. I think I'll call it Why 16 Year Olds Should NOT Have Sex. So, until publication (who knows when!!) you'll just have to trust me that the experience has been note worthy, to say the least.

In the meantime, I've been reading about Rachel and Doug's big decision over at Small Notebook. WOW! Could you do this? Would you do this? Should you do this?

This has raised some seriously big questions for me.... because nothing like changing perspective up when life has thrown you some major challenges!

What is normal?

So.... its the day after Labor Day. The first official day of "normal" season. Summer is over. Back To School flurry and novelty is definitely worn off. We even had our first possible sick day today, but being the stealth mom that I am, I put the kibosh on that real quick.

The reality of life is settling in like concrete today. We received several bouts of bad news over the last 7 days making the start of September like a gigantic sucker punch to the jaw. Situations and beliefs that I've had about my life and the lives of my friends and family are all crashing down around me. Life as we've known it is ending. The few places left were some naivete existed in my world are quickly being swallowed up. I am stuck in a whirlpool of unknowns were I am questioning what "normal" really is.

I've never been a big fan of "normal" -- isn't it just a setting on the dryer? I hear "typical" used frequently in its place and that somehow fits the bill, sometimes... but the changes ahead definitely won't be considered "typical," at least not for a few years.

I admit I'm scared. I'm not generally afraid of much, but the upcoming changes in my world are frightening. Perhaps because I feel like a pioneer into this new world. No one around me has gone this way before. At least not yet. This is where I can identify the passing away of my naivete,  all the while quickly recognizing when it is still alive and well in others.

What does normal/typical look like?
What is a normal life expectancy?
What is a normal standard of living for college educated professionals?
What is a normal definition of success?
What is a normal definition of thriving?
What defines the middle class?
Does God fit in anywhere in normal?
Is normal the goal?

Thoughts?

Stamina

So, we start day 8 of 1st grade tomorrow! Liza is loving school but struggling with the "no more naps" issue. Evidently, stamina is a big issue at this time of year in 1st grade. Her teacher mentioned something about stamina today, but Liza came home talking about "taminals" and it took me about an hour to figure out what she was really talking about.

The fact that its 9:30 and I'm thisclose to falling asleep at the computer proves my point! Meanwhile, I hear Bruce jumping on his bed and playing with his truck. He can't wait for day 2 of preschool and is making sure the neighbors hear about it!

Apparently, there is no shortage of stamina in preschool.

Good night

Summer To Do List

While my summer to do list isn't complete, I did cross some biggies off the list.

Potty Train Bruce
Start Writing
Finish Furniture projects
Drop 20 lbs.
Work out routine solidified (ha!)
Visit Aquarium
Take Kids Hiking around town
Visit Firefighters Museum
Go To the Zoo
Go Camping
Teach kids to clean up after themselves at meal time!
Read more, read to kids more
Regular Dates with Liza
Regular Dates with Silver Fox
RELAX
Spend lots of time at airplane park
Get everyone caught up on dentist and doctor visits
Hang up Liza's artwork in frames


So, we focused mostly on that relationship stuff.... the maintenance of the mundane... which has been surprisingly refreshing. While we didn't have a fantasmagorical summer break loaded with grand adventures, we did spend some great quality time with those we love. My kids got their first real chance to spend time with their paternal grandmother; and some precious time with each other. While they are sooooo ready for some time apart, I'm thankful we've had the last few months, while they are  best buddies, just us... doing our thing.... Bruce wanting to get into Liza's stuff.... Liza bossing Bruce around.... just hanging out.

I am amazed at how refreshed I feel.  I'm ready for Fall and school and all its routines.... not because my kids are driving me nuts, but because they are ready... after a great season with mama and daddy, safe in our nest, they are ready to take a step out into the world. Excited to explore what the world holds.... prepared because things are in order at home.

Is this a Christian Blog? A Disclaimer

Someone asked me the other day if my blog was Christian. 

Well. 

That's an interesting question. 

My blog, in and of itself, a noun, a thing, an electronic computer program able to transmit data, 

doesn't have a will of its own... so no..... 

My blog is probably not a professing Christian. 

Although, my blog does have a bare chested picture

 of Tim Tebow on it 

and HE'S a Christian. 

Ironically (?) my blog hasn't corrupted/crashed/lost that particular data, 

so..... I'm gonna say maybe.                    

Maybe my blog is Christian.

Or maybe my blog just likes hot boys 

who love Jesus. 

We'll see what happens after the Bronco game this weekend. 

If the photo is still sound after Tebow's pro debut.. 

my blog just might be admitting that its a football fan. 

We'll have to wait and see. 

Back to my original point, 

(how do I get so off track? Must be Lola's fault... she can't focus much either! Sheesh!)

as the writer of this blog and a follower of Christ

 - yes, my blog could be considered Christian.  

However, I'm hesitant to say that I'm a Christian Blog Writer. 

(I know, your saying "What, Cara, hesitant to say anything?!?!)

I don't want to be grouped in with a bunch of bloggers 

who do the whole "Christian Blog" thing 

with excellence, grace, elegance, 

scripturally sound and inspiring messages 

that discuss their striving to be 

Godly women, married to Godly men, bringing up Godly children

.... cuz that. ain't. me. 

These blogs:



Moms in Need of Mercy




JoyDance

are really GREAT blogs. 

(Please, check them out!) 

They've inspired and encouraged me, 

changed my perspective and outlook, 

and for a critical few minutes, 

kept me from walking out the front door leaving 

Liza and Bruce to fend for themselves, 

fighting over an unopened box of 

honey bunches of frosted fruity cardboard shreds! 

If you know me IRL (in real life)
you know that I love Jesus! 

I try to follow Jesus! 

I try to encourage others to follow Jesus! 

He really is the way, the truth and the life

... because I've been stuck in the 

fun house full of mirrors called self-sufficiency 

and it SUCKS with a capital UCK! 

However, I've also figured out in the nearly 4 decades I've walked the earth 

(how the heck did that happen... my mother looks 50!)

that I don't have the market cornered on
this whole Christian/Follower of Jesus thing... 

not by a long shot. 

I'm a sinner... a big, fat one! 

No worse than anyone else, really. I'm just not trying to convince anyone
I'm not a total screw up all on my own. 

I did that thing for awhile and that was a train wreck, too. 

As I understand it, there are these 2 worlds - 

the natural world 

(everyday life on planet earth) 

and the 

spiritual world
(God's world.)

 I live in both, occasionally at the same time. 

In the natural world, 

I'm a mess. 

I'm broken. 

I'm a sinner. 

(No, I'm not afraid of that word... anymore. Again, another blog post.) 

Those 3 facts won't ever change in the natural world. 

I will hurt people, do stupid, harmful, dishonest things. 

I will lie, cheat, steal, gossip.... and the list goes on.

Ungrateful, entitled, arrogant and stubborn are character traits 

that permeate my existence here on earth. 

The consequences of these traits and the actions are far reaching in this world. 

I hurt my kids' feelings, they go out and hurt their friends' feelings 

and so on and so on

... kind of like an old shampoo commercial. 

THANKFULLY, because Jesus "adopted" me as His child 

when I fell in love with Him, 

I am covered -- the punishment was paid

in this world 

for all my ugliness.  

In God's world and in God's eyes... 

He sees me the way He originally intended for me to be... 

Honest, loving, generous, patient, kind, self-controlled, peaceful, thoughtful, 

thankful, hopeful and 

 not worried about my life! 

In God's world, I don't have to pay the price for my crappy, earthly behavior and character. 

Jesus already did that when he died on the cross.  

When God's world and the natural world intersect, 

God takes the natural consequences of my dumb-ass behavior 

and turns them into something amazingly beautiful and fabulous... 

and THIS is the adventure.. 

the good stuff... 

the miraculous, magnificent, 

out of this world, 

nobody-in-Hollywood-could-write-this

stuff! 

Therefore, since the natural world on its own is a jungle, 

and God's world is still a ways away, 

I try to apply as much as I know of God's world 

to the natural world where I possibly can. 

For me, that means I've got to acknowledge and be realistic 

about the natural state of things, 

all the while striving for the 

"on earth as it is in Heaven" 

part of things. 

Some days, I do this well. 

Others, mmm... not so much! 

I will blog about both 

- my life in the natural world where I drop F-bombs 

and drool over young, hunky quarterbacks, yell at my kids, 

reply sarcastically to my husband and generally 

function out of individual and communal wounded-ness 

that keeps us all tethered to terra ferma ...  

BUT, I will also blog about living at the 

intersection of Rejection and Redemption... 

the times and places
where God intervenes in my humanness
and reveals Himself in new ways, 

calling me evermore to share
His world with my fellow sojourners. 

All that to say, for me to even think about writing a "Christian Blog" 

would require a level of
 excellence and piety that I don't have
and don't really feel comparable to.

... or maybe its because if I am a "Christian Blogger" 

I can't have half naked pictures 

of Tim Tebow on my blog.

Frugal Finds

Now, I'm a girl who loves a bargain. Paying retail for most anything is ridiculous, unless you are talking underwear or mattresses and some other pieces of upholstered furniture.

However, today I learned a new little tip about bargain shopping! Be sure to check out the thrift stores, ie: Goodwill, Salvation Army that are close to big box stores like Target.

Seems I stumbled upon a Goodwill store today right across the street from Target. Inside the Goodwill were TONS of brand new summer merchandise leftover from the Target end of season clearance sales!

The shoe department was stocked with brand new shoes, sandals, etc.  all were priced about $4.99! They seemed to have a decent selection of odd sizes.

But, I was good. I don't need shoes. So, I didn't buy any. I got in and out with what I went searching for.... a bread machine. I'm only $6.99 lighter!

Gotta love a bargain!

Honey, I need a date night!

Had a dream that Tim Tebow asked me out on a date. Serious indicator of need for adult time with my honey...... Time to call a babysitter!