A Judgement Call...

There's this blog that I lurk around at every once in a while. I know of this family through the adoption world and I used to find their family facinating. I was so captivated by their ability to have so much going on and handle it all with such grace and true faith.

This is a good place to insert the fact that I am a terrible judge of character and my first impressions are almost always wrong.

Anyway, I have had the opportunity to follow (via blog) this family for over 2 years now.

Wow.

Oh, how my first impressions definitely deceived me once again!

I think of this family nearly every day. I have caught myself judging them to the point of condemnation. I KNOW that the way they live is built on their own experiences and their own version of faith.

I know that my obsession with the way they live is sinful. I have tried to reason with myself and come to some logical explanation as to why I even give this family a second thought. They are clear across the country and I have no connection to them what-so-ever.

After much thought, I think I have come up with an answer as to why I think of them so often. Today, as I was cleaning my (too big) house and washing my (too many) clothes, I started to think that perhaps it's

MY outlook that is un-faith-filled. (my own made up word)

This family has 12 kids. It would be 13, but an adoption disrupted. Some are grown and out of the house but I think 6 or 7 of them still live at home. I belive all of the kiddos have been home-schooled. Mom and Dad are 50 years old. NEITHER parent is working, and they just announced that they are expecting. (yes, as in PREGGERS!)

They openly admit that they do not have money in the bank to pay April's bills. Yet they road trip across country far more often than my family of 4 goes on vacation. They attend marriage workshops and purchase books and stay in hotels and then plea on their blog for jobs and provision.

In my world, this is complete irresponsibility. Teetering on the brink of abusive to children who may not be provided with opportunities they need to succeed..ie car, college, social events, etc.

Now before you get all indignant, remember that this is my opinion on my blog...but I have ALWAYS thought that is is our responsibility as parents to provide our kids with everything they need to complete college or whatever technical training they will need to perform a meaningful, wage- paying, honest job.

WHERE is the responsibility in any of the antics of above said family?

Does anyone have an opinion on any of this?
Am I completely out of line? (I mean, aside from judging them)

Or am I living too conservatively?
Is my faith weak because I don't expect Jesus to intervene for me at every corner?

~ I rely on Jesus to press on me and whisper in my ear and encourage me to make good decisions. ~I rely on Jesus to watch over my family and give me discernment in dangerous or iffy situations. ~I rely on Jesus to heal my loved ones when they are in pain and ailing. ~I rely on Jesus to stay close to my children and wrap his arms about them when they are hurting and scared. ~I rely on Jesus to place people on the planet where they are needed to minister to unchurched, unloved and injured people. ~I would even rely on Jesus to provide for my family in the case of a catastrophic injury or some unexpected expense.

I do not rely on Jesus to pay my monthly bills.

What do you think?

TLM

March Meltdown...

I was soo on track. I had posted 3 times before the middle of February. I was gonna be back to my regular musings that entertained all three of you and kept you glued to the edges of your seats...

Ugh. Life. It soo gets in the way sometimes.

I had a little melt down. Some of you know that I have been to Ghana, and I have adopted and I went back to Ghana with some friends last summer. In fact, my last post was about some of the great things that went on while we were on that trip. Warm. Fuzzy. Nice.

Every silver lining has a cloud, right? Right. Said cloud began to pour on me about 3 days after my last post. A group of 20 people will have 20 ideas and 20 agendas and 20 personalities and 20 opinions. Two groups of 20 people will have 40 ideas and 40 agendas.....well, you get the idea.

Sometimes more is less.
Sometimes bigger isn't better.

I want to calf-rope. I want to throw my hands in the air and walk away from the difficultness. I could easily wash my hands of the whole thing and find an "easier" Ghanaian project to support. BUT...

I have two VERY dear friends and an adolescent boy in Ghana that I pray for every night. I won't give up my ties to Northern Ghana because of these people. I will support and try to help however I can because these lives touched mine.

My life was forever changed because of some VERY SPECIFIC faces and people in the community of Vea.

Pray for me. Pray for Vea. And Pray for Matt Turner because I think he will be the one to get it all done.

Peace and Grace!

TLM

Humbled

Some of you know that I travelled to Ghana for the third time last summer. This trip was a little different from my others. I was fortunate enough to be able to travel with an amazing group of people. We were a group from all walks of life with one common purpose. We went to enrich the lives of people in my son's home village of Vea.

We saw and treated over 700 people during a medical/dental clinic. One of our physicians even delivered 2 babies! We were also able to pay to have a well drilled near the existing medical facility. We played soccer with kiddos and worshiped with the masses in authentic Ghanaian style. It was an amazing experience!

We also saw first hand the effects of living without contemporary medical care. One of the kiddos we saw was a small boy who has bladder extrophy. His father cares for him the best he can, but the child is in constant danger or getting a deadly infection. He dribbles urine constantly and has been asked not to come to school or use public transport because of the smell.

Our team promised this father and child that we would help him. In the past 3 weeks or so, I have been sending out emails asking the team to remember our promise to this child.

In addition to over $600 in donations from the team, I collected another $100 from a very generous friend. In all, I am sending $783 dollars on Monday back to Ghana specifically for this child. The medical portion of his care is covered by a national health plan. The problem is that the facilities that can help him are hundreds of miles away. The money raised will pay for transportation and logistics of his travel.

Thanks to everyone who prayed, donated or just took time to give this child an extra thought. We are very blessed to live in this country where we have so much at our disposal. Hug your kiddos tight tonight as you tuck them in their clean, warm beds.

Peace and Grace!
TLM

- Posted using my super cool iPad

Location:Home Sweet Home,United States

Back to Soccer...

My Philip has decided he wants to play Soccer again. I'm glad because he is pretty good and needs to keep playing in order to keep his skills up, but sad because this Mom loves baseball. This is a little treat from 2008 when he had only been home a few months.

Word Salad

This blog was the second of three that I started. This one was mostly centered around my lap band. The first one was all about Ghana and adoption and the third blog was for community support in Calallen. Hmmm. All of these things are my life and the title of my blog is "Life of Lively", after all. I am now merging all three blogs with this one being the home. I hope you will stay and read through some of it. It's a small snapshot of the 'big mess' that is swirling about my cranium daily. It has something for everyone.

Peace & Grace,
TLM

Back to Blogging

I'm checking out this process of blogging from my iPad. I have so many random thoughts and I really think I need go get back to writing. My spontaneous randomness is getting more intense and I think writing can be cathartic and clarifying in my situation. I sometimes feel like an octopus with each of my legs in a different tank of water. So there you go. I'm back, take it or leave it.

- Posted using my super cool iPad

Location:Lone Oak Dr,Robstown,United States

Round 3 Playoff Information

Football Regional Playoff

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2010

2:30 pm

AT Alamo Heights

150 E. Fair Oaks

San Antonio, Texas 78209

In San Antonio from 281 North, take the Hildebrand Exit

Right on East Hildebrand, left on Broadway, right on Fair Oaks

OR 

Take the Basse Road Exit, Right on E. Basse Road

(drive around quarry), right on Broadway, left on Fair Oaks

All Tickets are General Admission

Adults $7  Students $3

At the gate all tickets $8

Field House Ticket Sales

Tuesday 0800-1100 and 1300-1700

Wednesday 0800-noon

Area Playoff Game

As far as I know, tickets are still available at the fieldhouse but it was pretty slim pickins' yesterday afternoon.

UPDATE!  Game is sold out!

The game is Saturday night, 7pm kickoff at Cabaniss Field.

Pep rally will be Friday afternoon in the high school gym at 3:30 – it will be fun!

There will be a send-off pep rally in front of the field house on Saturday afternoon at 3:30ish – come join us as we send our boys to beat up on those little wildcats from across the bridge and show all of South Texas who the REAL WILDCATS ARE!!!!!!

Some have asked about tailgating at Cabaniss Field – SORRY – NO – CCISD will not allow it.

No noisemakers of any kind per agreement between the schools – but you can use megaphones and BE LOUD AND PROUD.

At least that annoying gee-pee train whistle will not be there…..

Finally, there is a need for parents to do painting and other spirit-building activities.  If you are available to help out, please contact me here or on my facebook.  

Laury T-Shirts

You may have noticed the pics of the T-Shirts on the left side of this blog.  We still have plenty of pink "Laury" shirts in S-XL. You can order them here. We are also in the process of creating a new T-Shirt that will be available in the next 2 weeks.  It is a black shirt with the gray ribbon created from various words on the front and a small gray ribbon at the neck on the back.  I put the small ribbon on a white background, but it will obviously be on the black shirt.

These shirts are available as pre-order here on this site.  We are ordering a limited number of them and will only be ordering once, so pre-order is the best choice.  Once we know what we have left, we will announce a selling place.

The profits from the sale of these shirts go directly to Andrew's family to offset the cost of medical treatment.  It's an EPIC uphill battle for this family so any and all prayers and help is appreciated.

Peace and Grace,
TLM

Number 1

Mish Mash
I am combining all of my blogs. Its the first step in controlling my ADD. :) I love this post. Its introspective and personal, but it can translate to anyone in any community.



I hate to start out a brand new blog with such a downer post, but this post is the reason that I decided to create this blog in the first place.  I promise it won't be all gloom and doom, but there are a few inaugural things I need to get off my chest.  Bear with me...

I LOVE my life.  I LOVE my community.  It gives me chills to head toward the school on a Friday night and see the lights of the stadium and witness such community spirit and support.  I wasn't sure if/how I would fit in the big picture of Calallen when we first moved out here, but have made many great friends and consider myself a card-carryin' member of the Calallen community.

Recently, a kiddo that plays football with my oldest son was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.  That's right, Brain Cancer in a 14 year old healthy boy-child.  How's that for a great big "sucks"?  As a pediatric nurse and more importantly, as a Mom, this hit too close to my inner circle.  This family is awesome.  They are funny and kind.  They are witty and real.  They are anyone and everyone you would want to befriend and I, for one, love them like mad.  Three months ago I didn't even know them.

This makes me think...how many people are going through really tough stuff?  How many people are struggling while putting on a happy face?  How many people aren't getting REAL with their kids or spouse and letting their guard down so that healing can begin?  I know I am sooo guilty of the "fake" happy face.  I am proud and vain and don't want others to know that I have weaknesses or flaws.  

In my circle of friends:

• a 14 year old boy suffers from brain cancer and is unsure of any future plans he has dreamed
• a Mom teeters between being strong for her child and completely breaking down
• a 14 year old boy buried his Dad last year and visits his mom in rehab
• a mom of 13 and 16 year old boys learn that her kids smoke pot (regularly) and get it from their DAD
• a family with two small children and one on the way lose health insurance and the only income they had when Dad is unexpectedly laid off (as a church pastor)
• a family with 3 kiddos is also looking for work this holiday season after losing their single income
• a family struggles with a profound and progressive illness of their Mom
• another family deals with a very rapid decline in the health of their Dad, the sole bread-winner
• 3 girlfriends are dealing with divorce this holiday season

                   and how can I forget the story I heard on K-LOVE yesterday...

a completely healthy high-school football player went up for a pass, got hit as he was stretched out reaching for the ball and fell to the ground dead.  Heart stopped.  Just. like. that.

As we go through the holidays and onward in our lives, let's try to seek out the truth.  Let's get real with each other and put it on the table.  Let's help each other and lift each other up.  Let's not pretend to be okay when we are cracking at the edges.  Why don't we discipline each other's kids and look out for each other.  If it takes a village, we should be in good shape.  We have the strongest "village" I know of.  If you don't believe me, come to a Calallen Football game.

Peace and Grace,
TLM

Back in the real world...

Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.
-- Martin Luther King Jr.