You Have To Believe It To See It!

Walt Disney’s widow was being interviewed after the completion of Disney World in Florida. The reporter remarked, “Isn’t it a shame that your husband never got to see this?” Mrs. Disney quickly corrected him. “He did see it. That is why it is here!”

“I’ll believe it when I see it, the ultimate cynic’s response. The problem is they will not see it until they believe it. So many of us have been disappointed in believing for things that did not happen. We have believed for the impossible, against what others told us, and then felt foolish when it didn’t happen the way we thought it would. Those moments can sometimes define us, some call it a little wiser for lesson learned. I, myself, hurt because of even the slightest cynicism that has creeped into my thinking from past disappointments. I know that in order to be all that God has called me to be, I will always have to believe the impossible and see in my heart what is not yet visible to the eye. Isn’t that faith? Hebrews 11:1 says “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ” Your faith is what sees the impossible.

A couple of weeks ago, as we opened our new sanctuary for the first time, my Bishop said “I am standing in my past. I have already preached here many times in my heart and in my mind, and I am already walking in the future.” (TrinityChapel.org) This is what Walt Disney’s wife meant. Your vision has to be so real to you that while you still can not touch it with your hand, or see it with your eye, you know that it is already a reality to you and God.

With each great man there was a vision. Martin Luther King Jr. said “I have a dream…” The reason he was so powerfully descriptive, and was able to cause so many to share his dream, was because he had already walked it. He had already seen it. Because of his reality that he walked in, no pain or suffering could stop his dream from coming to pass, not even unto death.

What dreams do you hold, what vision has God birthed in you that it is more real than reality itself? Get it, see it, believe it. If God put it in you, he will bring it to you and through you. He is no respector of persons. He does not pick and choose who’s dreams to fulfill, He is simply waiting on you to let Him do it.

Love Your Neighbor (and Your Children) As Yourself

In Campus Life a young nurse tells of a patient called Eileen. A cerebral aneurysm had left her with no conscious control over her body. The doctors thought she was totally unconscious, unable to feel pain, unaware of anything going on around her. It was the hospital staff’s job to turn her every hour to prevent bedsores, and to feed her twice a day through a stomach tube. “When it’s this bad,” an older nurse told her, “You have to detach yourself emotionally.” As a result Eileen came to be treated as a thing, a vegetable. But the young student nurse decided to treat her differently. She talked to Eileen, sang to her, and even brought her little gifts. One Thanksgiving Day she said to Eileen, “It was supposed to be my day off, but I couldn’t miss seeing you on Thanksgiving. Just then the telephone rang. As the nurse turned to answer it she looked quickly back at the patient: “Eileen was looking at me…crying. Big damp circles stained her pillow.” That was the only human emotion Eileen ever showed. But it was enough to change the attitude of the entire hospital staff toward her. Not long afterward Eileen died. The young nurse closes her story by saying “I keep thinking about her…I owe her an awful lot. Except for Eileen I might never have known what it’s like to give myself to someone who can’t give back.“ BobGass

This passage really got me thinking about people in my life who seem “unlovable” and hard to love. There are days when my own children seem incapable of giving back, and at times it is true. Babies are demanding creatures, toddlers are all the more better at it. Even my six year old does not always appreciate the sacrifices that we make to give them the best life we can. There are times of frustration with them, because I feel like they are so ungrateful, and I  find myself saying “I never got the things you did” and “You have no idea how good you have it”. You know like Grandma and Grandpa telling you “at least you get to ride the bus, I had to walk 3 miles in the snow barefoot one way everyday to school.” (Because, you know it snows in SC everyday.)

It is in these moments that we must remind ourselves that they are children. They have to learn gratitude and the best way for them to learn it is through our generosity in the moments they do not deserve it. It is what Christ did for us, even when we did not know how to appreciate it.

The same is also true for “baby Christians”. Unfortunately “baby Christians” sometimes have been saved 30 years, and have gray hair and wrinkles. At least children are cute to look at, and easier to control, right? But still, the same is true. They have to learn gratitude and the best way for them to learn it is through our generosity in the moments they do not deserve it.

I was convicted through this story, both with my children and with particular relationships in my life. To see beyond the stoic, to see beyond the ungrateful attitude, and to see beyond my feeling good about giving freely. Jesus did not say “love your neighbor, if he is as good to you as you are to him…”. No, he said “Love your neighbor as yourself “.

The Humiliation of Parenting…

Kids often imitate their parents when they play. You’ll see little girls acting like little mommies and little boys acting like their dad. Unfortunately, you’ll also see little ones imitating parental flaws. ~ Lisa Barker

So I was searching for some laughter today, and I found an interesting site. Lisa Barker of Jellymom.com, which I had never heard of until today, also writes for a site sponsored by Disney called DisneyFamily.com. (Very interesting by the way) She wrote a post called “One Smart Family”, I had to check it out.

“I’ve come to expect a little humiliation when my kids play. It’s good for a parent’s soul. It might be one of the rare ways you’ll ever get some real feedback on your parenting and thus gives you the opportunity to change your ways….I think God builds children with these idiosyncrasies to keep parents from getting too proud. There’s no way I’m going to brag that my son can read the satellite channel guide when two seconds later he’s going to order the food on his plate to jump into his mouth.”

I laughed as she describes a particular moment when her son is not exhibiting his “full potential”, and it got me to thinking about my own moments of parental humiliation. It seems to be in the moments when you want your children to really show out that they tend to instead make people wander if drugs during delivery is such a good idea after all. 🙂

It is in these moments that my daughter decides to paint the room with her soiled diaper.(Really happened… several times) It is in the moment when mommy needs her to be on good behavior in front of our Pastor of Family counseling that she decides to lie on the ground and throw an all out fit. Of course I can just imagine what is going on in his head, (and she is giving advice to other women for what?).

Then after they have shown their hiney in public (sometimes literally) they will come and wrap their little arms around you and say “I love you” or give you a kiss on the cheek. You wonder “why could you not have done that when someone else was around ?” Yet you take it, enjoy it, and the humiliation of parenthood is somewhat not compared to the joy of it.

Healthy Lunches for Kids

There is a lot of discussion about school lunches, and the quality of nutrition. Schools do have to follow a form of dietary nutrition such as vegetable, fruit, meat, etc. However, the fruit cup is soaked in sugar, and not to mention the fat content and preservatives. While I realize that a lot of times in public schools lunches are provided to those who can not afford to buy their own, the best choice for those that can is to prepare your child’s lunch at home to ensure the quality of nutrition.

When I took a healthy cooking class last fall, we asked our instructor about healthy lunches for our kids. My sister said her daughter would only eat PB&J’s everyday. Tracy, our instructor, said “If that is all they eat, and you buy the all natural peanut butter and the all natural jelly with Whole wheat (or organic) bread, then they have protein and fiber, with low sugar. Add a fruit, and you have a balanced lunch.” It is not about variety, it is about quality. If you find a healthy lunch they will eat, then let them have it as long as they will eat it.

There is a lot of propaganda over certain foods being healthy. Most Fruit Waters contain high fructose corn syrup (which alters the hormone leptin in your brain which tells you when you are full.) If you are going to give them a fruit juice or water, the best fruit water we have found is Minute Maid Fruit Falls water. They like it as much as fruit juice, but it does not have excess calories.  (This has less than 2% of fructose which is a natural sweetner. There is a difference between Procesed High Fructose Corn Syrup, and all natural Fructose.) There are other waters that are healthy, you just have to read the labels. Lunchables is not a healthy lunch. They are full of preservatives, and high in sodium, and nitrates. Nitrate, which are found in most lunch meats are known to cause cancer. The best alternative to Lunchables is to buy the nitrate free meats, some crackers, and cheese, and create your own. ( Hormel, and Oscar Mayer has an all natural product now. And most all Boar’s Head is nitrate and preservative free.)

Leftovers are a great, inexpensive and fast way to get a healthy lunch in your child. My daughter loves leftovers. Today for instance, she took pork chops and couscous. This is healthy and packed last night as I was cleaning the kitchen, so it is quick and easy. If you do different leftovers two to three times a week, you have given variety and healthy choices, and saved money on lunches.

Remember to not overwhelm your kids with all healthy things, if you do they might rebel. Throw in a small cookie, or their favorite snack once in awhile. Fruit water is one of my daughter’s treats, but it is still healthy. You still want them to be fun, and healthy.

Just a Few Thoughts…

This morning as I was getting Emily ready for school, she did not want to tuck her shirt in (which is dress code for her school). I told her she has to tuck her shirt in. She argued that some of the other kids in her class do not tuck their shirts in. Now I know this seems to be a minor issue, although in the later grades they can get written up for not tucking their shirts in, but it was still a teachable moment. After thinking a moment I told her “It is better to Follow the Rules than The Crowd”. Though some may disregard a simple rule because they think it is silly, or aggrivating , it is a purposed rule for a reason.

It has not been long now since the headmaster at our school had to send out an email to all the parents concerning car pool issues. Some of the parents were not only disregarding the guidelines, but telling the teachers “what for” in the process of being corrected. I thought to myself what a shame. These parents are showing their children that if they think a rule is stupid, they can totally disregard the authority that is in place. They were actually disregarding the authority that they have told their children to obey, and placed as their care. Many parents do not see, or recognize, the amount they are teaching their children through example as opposed to words. But, let me ask you this… At a young age parents are children’s greatest heroes, who they want to be when they grow up. If my child does not want to tuck in her shirt because her other class mates do not, then how much more will she disregard the rules that have been set up to protect her when I disregard rules and authority placed over me?

Let us not forget our very important influence as parents, and Christians. Even in small things, at especially the young ages, we must see the teachable moments that will spare them from harder lessons later.

Recipe: Layered Enchilada Dish

Ingredients:

  • 1 can enchilada sauce
  • 8 corn tortillas
  • 1 lb. Hamburger
  • 1 can mexicorn
  • 1 can cream of mushroom
  • 1 can cream of chicken soup
  • 2 cups grated mexican mix cheese

Directions:

  • Dip tortillas in enchilada sauce and line in a casserole dish.
  • Pour rest of sauce on tortillas.
  • Then add cooked hamburger evenly on the tortillas.
  • Sprinkle 1/2 of cheese over hamburger.
  • Spread corn over the cheese.
  • Mix the 2 soups.
  • Then pour evenly over the top of the corn.
  • Sprinkle the rest of the cheese over the top.
  • Bake at 375 for about 30 minutes.

* from the kitchen of the Krause house! Submit your favorite easy recipe to 1Smartmom!

A Marathon Adoption of Epic Proportions…Are You My Mother?

I bet you thought I was on a permanent vacation. Wishful thinking for us all. I did go to the beach with my gal pals in August. It was FABULOUS! I highly recommend R&R for all you ladies. It has done wonders for my outlook on life. When I decided that I would go on this long needed girl trip, I had 2 things that I was really looking to hear answers from the Lord about. One of those things was dealing with some emotional issues regarding my marathon adoption. I can’t say that I walked away from Panama City with all the answers, but I can say that God definitely gave me something to ponder.

Here is what I am pondering and praying for more revelation about even today. I truly believe that God destines each and every child to be in a family, whether biologically or by adoption. So….If this is my belief then I must trust God that He has and will equip me to be my children’s mother. Being a mother long distance brings a whole new meaning to this for me. And the question I have asked myself is this: Am I emotionally equipped to deal with this issue of long distance motherhood indefinitely? Because in reality that is how I am forced to look at it.

Many people already think that I have decided to move on just because we have added Gabe to our family. SO NOT TRUE! Every ounce of my being is still Mitchell Feri’s mom. But what does that look like? Here is what I have been hearing from the Lord about this issue and maybe it will help you too in your journey of motherhood.

When I took that small hand in mine in the airport, the reality of being another little man’s mom was very tangible. Now 3 years later, it is still very real in my mind when I let it be. Some days it is just too painful to realize that I haven’t touched my son for 3 years. But did God let me touch him and know him in person to keep me from him? NO! He let me know my 2nd son so that I could better be his mother. God chose me to be Mitchell Feri’s mom because He knew that I could handle it. He knew what I would have to become to be Mitchell Feri’s mom and that I would be willing to walk through it. God knew that not only was Mitchell Feri meant to be a Krause, but that I was meant to be his mom. God wanted to teach me and “grow me up” all while being a mom to a wonderful child.

Sometimes we miss the little things, and then they turn out to be really big things. If God hadn’t chosen me to be the mother of my children…I would not have grown to trust the Lord in the ways that I have. Case in point…..My scripture to live by has always been: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 God has brought me squarely back to this in the last few weeks. He has taught me to trust while being an adopting mom. And you definitely don’t understand how it is all going to work out in the world of adoption. So you must constantly turn to the Lord to direct you in your own path and in the paths of your children. Quite simply, He does this for us, if we allow Him.

If you are questioning your ability to be a mom or wondering if you are ready to be a first time mommy,
just know that God chose you to be a mom. He will equip you if you will trust Him. And we all know that we should just try not to figure God out. Let God be God. Sit back, pray and watch God show you the path that motherhood will take you down. It is the best ride and some days the worst. But we will always be the mother of the best children in the world because they are ours and no one else’s.
Imagine….God did it all on purpose too.

I walked away from the beach knowing that I was glad to be Mitchell Feri’s mom, what ever that looks like. Now I must trust and lean on the Lord for the rest.

This one is for my Carolina Girls. Thanks for giving me the space I needed, the laughter, and a really great tan. I Love You ALL!!!!

Fun Friday:

Though my husband is not quite as “challenged” as the following, my sweet brother at 25 years old has had to call my sister a few times when my mom is out of town to ask her how to do laundry. You know, whites, lights, and darks, and what settings to wash them on. ( As good of a daddy I know my brother will be, I pity the woman who has to clean up after him. He has had two older sisters and a mother to care for him. It is going to be a super woman who can pick up the slack that it has taken three women to manage. 🙂 ) I feel sure I will receive an email or phone call from his wife one day, sharing this scenario:

One day my housework-challenged husband decided to wash his Sweat- shirt. Seconds after he stepped into the laundry room, he shouted to me, “What setting do I use on the washing machine?” “It depends,” I replied. “What does it say on your shirt?” He yelled back, “Clemson University.”

Have a great Weekend!

These are a Few of My Favorite Quotes

Yesterday I was nursing my daughter through a stomach virus. Today, she is on a field trip, and I am nursing myself. You know how you say “I wish I could take your place for you.”… Ahhh, the sacrifices of parenting.

So today, you get a few of my favorite quotes. And since it is Thursday I will throw in a “Thankful Thursday”… I am Thankful this is a 24 hour stomach bug!

A Few of My Favorite Quotes:

And thou shalt in thy daughter see, This picture, once, resembled thee.

~Ambrose Philips

 

 

If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders.

~Abigail Van Buren

 

Sing out loud in the car even, or especially, if it embarrasses your children.

~Marilyn Penland

 

We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today.

~Stacia Tauscher

 

 

Babies are always more trouble than you thought – and more wonderful.

~Charles Osgood

 

Called to “Be”

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you; take your everyday ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking around life – and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him. Don’t become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God – you’ll be changed from the inside out.” Romans 12:1-2, Message Translation

Tracy Hurst wrote yesterday about using your ordinary life in extraordinary ways. I especially related to the following passage:

“There are days when all I feel like I do is get up, read the Word, change diapers, pick up the house, make dinner and go to bed.”

A lot of times, personally, I feel my days and weeks are from one activity to the next. We get through one thing, wipe our brows glad that it is over, and look to the next thing to do and get through. We have so much to do and be apart of that we know will affect other lives, I have to remind myself not to feel guilty for not being apart of everything.

But while I can often be guilty of trying to do as much as I can for others, and then feel drained at the end of the day, it is not necessary to function this way to be an impact. Tracy pointed out that it is important to serve God in the every day things, not realizing how the smallest smile in the grocery store can impact a person. Think about the difference it can make between friendly customer service, that goes out of their way to offer you a hand and a smile, and just the “Here are your groceries” leaving you to do it all yourself. Well, they are trying to sell you something and earn your repeat business by being friendly, what does your attitude say about your life? Does it make others want to know what you have that they don’t? Or does it make others glad they do not have your life?

On Monday I posted an interview with Rick Warren, He said “God didn’t put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He’s more interested in what I am than what I do.We’re called human beings, not human doings”. Think about that, we are not comprised by the things we check off our list, or the good deeds we do, we are comprised by the goodness that is in us, and comes through us.

(Read all of Tracy’s post by clicking here.)