Archive for the ‘Series’ Category

“Laugh”

In my family of nine people everyone is a stand up comedian. I laugh more with my family than just about any group out there.

Laughing is one of the most important lessons to learn. If you can’t laugh you won’t enjoy life.

When was the last time your sides hurt, or your eyes watered because you laughed so hard?

“Listen”

Within my family God has given me many opportunities to learn how to listen.  But there is a difference in listening to what people say and hearing what people say… 

It reminds me of a quote from the movie “Fight Club.”  The narrator pulls us in when he says, “When people think you’re dying, they really, really listen to you, instead of just… ” Marla finishes his thought giving us all something to think about.  “…instead of just waiting for their turn to speak?”

What would it look like if we took the time to really hear what people are saying instead of just waiting for our turn to speak?

“Love”

When nine people live in a four bedroom, three bathroom house you learn a thing or two about getting along.  But there’s a difference between getting along and loving. 

Getting along is tolerating each others differences…

Loving is embracing each others differences and seeing what you can learn from them.

Getting along keeps the peace…

Loving makes the peace, even if you have to walk through rough times to get there. 

Getting along can plant pockets of bitterness…

Loving opens up our hearts even when it hurts. 

Getting along looks good…

Loving is good.

Have you noticed a difference for you in your family? 

“Learn”

Not only am I the fourth of seven siblings… we were also all homeschooled.  Now, before you write me off as some Amish freak of nature that doesn’t believe in electricity or birth-control… hear me out.  I’m a “normal” homeschooler… really, I am.  But there are a few things I’ve gained from being homeschooled that I wouldn’t trade for the world… 

Self-discipline–I learned that the only person I was hurting by not doing my work… was me. 

Motivation–The quickest way of getting something done is to do it!

Perseverance–I didn’t only get a grade… I actually learned what the books were trying to teach… even if that meant going back several times and trying again. 

But the greatest lesson I learned from being homeschool was how to learn.  I wasn’t just a student, I was a learner.  Which has served me well long after the graduation hat flew into the air.  Because I learned how to learn, I feel confident tackling any obstacle thrown my way.

What obstacles could you be tackling with a learner’s mindset? 

I’m the fourth of seven siblings. My immediate family consists of 9 (count ‘em) nine people! I realize this is not the norm for today’s culture. I also realize that because of my unusual family and even stranger up-bringing I’m a bit different than the average person. So this week I’ll share a few things I’ve learned from living in a big family.

“Live”

When you have nine people in your family the term “necessities” takes on a whole new meaning. Most people would consider a cell phone a necessity, a car, a computer, a weekly visit to the massage or nail lady…(okay, kidding about that one… Or am I?)

Growing up in a big family has taught me that it is possible to live below my means.

I didn’t have a cell phone until I was 16 years-old and had a job where I could pay for it. I didn’t buy my own car until I had cash enough to pay for it all at once. My family never went out to eat only because a meal that would feed all of us cost around $70! And that’s the all-you-can-eat buffet at CiCi’s! My mom cut our hair and I wore hand-me-downs for most of my Jr. High years… Mostly because we had to.

Now, I’m on my own and I make a pretty good living for just one person. And even though I do enjoy some of life’s little pleasures I’ve learned not to take it too far. It would be easy to start adding things in my life that aren’t considered “necessities” but the lesson of living below my means, taught to me by my family, has carried over.

It’s the secret to financial freedom.

Are there some “necessities” you could give up in order to live below your means?

As I reflect on our obsession to connect I cannot forget the very reason we were made with this synaptic craving.

The Creator carries in Himself the very desire to connect and He placed it in each of us when He put us together.

So while modern technology has made it incredibly easy to connect with those around us (I wrote this blog from my phone!) we cannot forget to connect with the One who made it all possible.

His desire is for us.

So among the turkey, the pumpkin pies, and the family craziness, don’t forget to stop and spend some time connecting to our Lord, our Savior, our Love.

Our ability to truly connect depends on Him.

I hate to say it.  But I didn’t actually leave my phone at home today.  Disappointed? 

I would be, had I not learned a very important lesson: we were made to connect!  

Here are a few things I would’ve missed had I gone through with my challenge

A text from a friend inviting me to dinner…

A call from my Mom who gave me some very good advice…

An invite to a movie with a new friend…

A text from a friend who was bored and needed someone to talk to…

A call from my sister, just to see what I was doing…  

God says you want to love Me?  Love others.  You want to connect with Me, connect with others.  I’ve realized what a full life I can have when I open myself up to the people around me.  When I let them see my hurt, my burdens, my joys!  When I make a conscious effort to connect. 

We weren’t made to do life alone.  We were made to connect with others. 

Tell me your thoughts on the matter of connecting…

I’m going to try an experiment today. 

I plan on leaving my phone at home.  I want to turn it off and leave it sitting on my bedside table.  Why the sudden, rash decision to live so outside the norm? 

I’ve recently realized how addicted I’ve become to my phone. 

It’s not just that.  I’m addicted to the feeling of connection.  The idea came, when, yesterday, I realized I hadn’t been recieving my text messages.  In a panic, I called AT&T to set my plan straight.  What I realized during that time of complete social dryness is that I hinge so much of my identity on other people.  I put so much stock in the volume of my connectivity that I feel like I miss the point. 

So, I want to see if I could go a whole day without it.   

Here are a few thoughts running through my head right now…

What if someone wants to get a hold of me?

What if I miss an opportunity?

What if I get in a wreck and have no way to call someone for help? (This is an actual fear, so I plan on driving very carefully today.) (…because I don’t drive carefully every other day?  Whatever.)

I want my identity to be in one Thing, one Person.  This is my crazy way of making sure that happens.  Think I can do it?