Beyonce upon a time

I love Siri.

Siri is the "voice" of Apple products that serves to answer questions, be a "knowledge navigator", and be a source of entertainment.

One of my students has "taught" Siri to call her "Beyonce".  Her given name is Morgan, but her favorite singer inspires her so that she wants the digital personal assistant to call her by the star's moniker.

Although Siri addresses her correctly, when Morgan asks Siri "What is my name?", Siri says, "your name is Morgan, but you wish for me to call you Beyonce".

We can pretend we are someone we are not.

We can pretend that we are a famous singer, or a mom who has it all together, or part of a perfect marriage.  We can pretend and possibly fool others, but we cannot fool God.

He knows.  He knows our name.  He knows our desires.  He knows our disappointments. He knows our struggles.

And He loves us anyway.

I need to be reminded of that today.

I have called myself many names today: defeated, overeater, disappointment.

But He calls me "beloved daughter".

That is better than anything I could train Siri to call me.

Amberly

Scone Gusto

There are homemade scones in the staff room today.

Homemade. Scones.  Did I mention that they are homemade?

Does the baker not know that I am trying to abide by my resolutions?  Do they not know how much I enjoy scones with a cup of coffee?  Are they TRYING to tempt me?

No.  They are trying to be a blessing.

This is yet another realization that life is not about me.  Never has been.  Never will be. 

The person who bakes that was no more thinking about me when they baked that plate of amazing goodness than fly, but somehow, I am a little grumpy about the whole thing.

Sometimes, when things in life go awry, people are quick to blame God, judge others, and grow bitter.  Sometimes, dare I say MOST of the time, it is not about them (or me).

It may be that God is allowing things in their life to make them stronger. (James 1:2-4)
It may be that God is using the choices of others to draw them to Him. (James 1 :2-4)
It may be that God is placing that trial in their path to help them learn to trust in Him more and in the scone less (James 1:2-4).

I am walking away from the plate of scones now...
And praying that the staff will come and eat them ALL soon (and lick the frosting off the plate as well) before I return...

Amberly

Science Not-So-Fair

Our daughter, Judah, completed her Science Fair project this week.

After much nagging, eye-rolling, scrapbook paper, cajoling, a trip to Home Depot, reminders, 3 glue sticks, two trips to Costco photo department, tears, and finally pride in watching her finish, the project was submitted yesterday.

Her project had a great premise: what type of music makes plants grow most quickly: jazz, classical, worship, silence, 80's, and Broadway tunes.

The plants were given equal amounts of sun, water, and time.

The result?  Worship and silence were the two highest achievers. 

Now, no one from "Science Fair Daily" called for an interview, but it turned out to be quite a project...and a lesson for me.

I grow most when I am listening to God's Word in music AND when I take time to just "be".  I do the first one well, but the second one is more painful than I can imagine.

If I try to be still, I TRY REALLY HARD to listen to God (I last about 6 minutes).  I then make a laundry list, start thinking of all the grading I have to do, fall asleep, and/or feel guilty that I do not sit still well.

I am a terrible listener and I am no better with God.  Ugh.

If I am going to "Unleash Joy", I should take more time to just "be still and know that He is God" (Psalm 46:10).

God's blessings on your day.  And on your stillness.

Amberly

Java Minute?

I got a new coffeemaker.

I actually received it months ago, but my inner cheapskate could not cast my old one aside because it still works. But my family cajoled me into giving the new one a try.

My old machine makes 12 cups of coffee at a time.  Since I usually only drink one cup each morning, I would drink old coffee each afternoon and the subsequent days thereafter.  I would make iced coffee out of the "old coffee".  It might gross some out, especially java snobs, but I have been doing it this way for years.

My new maker makes one cup of coffee at a time.  I use the reusable filters so that I am not spending my kids' college fund in K-cups and I truly enjoy the fresh coffee (especially because I have started drinking coffee sans creamer).

I had grown accustomed to old coffee.  Unfresh coffee.  Yesterday's (or the day before's) coffee.

I do the same thing with time with God.

I rely on memories, old lessons, worn-out sermon notes, and experiences from days gone by when fresh and exciting time with Him is just a prayer away.

God prompts me in Isaiah 43:19 "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

In order to "Unleash Joy" in 2014, I need to remember to stay thirsty for God and not settle for yesterday's portion.

Have a great week!

Amberly

Muscle Memory

Today is a big day.   My teaching schedule is in full swing: 8 Spanish classes, 1 Algebra class, and two University English classes.

But the class I am dreading is my Friday exercise class.  At 5:30 a.m.. about 15 women flock to the gym to be tortured humiliated strengthened.  We work on our abs, backsides, quads, shoulders, and core strength.  The strain of the early morning is eclipsed only by the strain of my body as it attempts to look coordinated.  Epic fail.

I have eaten loaves of bread that weigh more than most of the women in the class.  I provide the comic relief in hopes that the instructor does not notice my inability to perform all the tasks.  It never works.

I can feel my sore muscles for the rest of the weekend.  Sometimes, the soreness begins before I even make it to my car.  I often look like Yoda as I toddle to my vehicle.  Sore I Am.  Ridiculous I feel.

According to Elizabeth Quinn, exercise expert, such soreness is called "Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)... (which) is a normal response to unusual exertion and leads to greater stamina and strength as the muscles recover and build hypertrophy."

Soreness is a normal, natural response to the development of strength.  We recognize it when discussing exercise, but why does it surprise us so in life?

When most people make resolutions, they fail to anticipate the DOMS of carrying new things, stretching budgets and calendars, and pushing back old habits.

I am hoping that someday,  I will not feel the pangs of soreness on Saturday mornings.    I hope my body grows accustomed to the class and does not wail in protest.  Or maybe not.  If I stop stretching myself, I may stop getting stronger.  As I strive to "Unleash Joy" in 2014, I must embrace the idea that struggle is an ally.

And speaking of struggles, happy Monday. :)

Amberly

New Year's MESSolutions

I think it interesting that on January 1st, the day I pre-chose to kick off the year "Unleashing Joy", I rang in the new year cleaning vomit off off Legos.  Yep.  You read it right.  My life is officially awesome.

Our son has a virus that has plagued him with a cough that won't quit.  In fact, thrice now, it only "quits" after he throws up.  Bless his heart.

Scott and I are blessed.  Both of our kids are quite healthy.  Nausea is SO rare in our house, neither kid knows how to handle it.   Josiah just sits there and gets sick.  ALL. OVER. THE. PLACE.  AND. ALL. OVER. HIMSELF.  He gets paralyzed and chooses to soil himself and everything around him.

At the risk of grossing all my readers out, many of us struggle with a similar malady.  

We often get paralyzed when we are surprised by the "ick" of life.  Broken hearts, hurt feelings, disappointment, websites that don't work according to deadline, disappointing personal choices, and unstable finances can overcome us if we choose to stay put and not put our faith into action...

January 1st is the PERFECT time to decide to not get paralyzed when life gets dirty, nasty, smelly, and gross.  It is the perfect day to choose to make 2014 one of action and to truly "unleash joy"!

Will you join me???

God's richest blessings on your 2014!

Amberly