Mumblings of A Mommy "Monk"

The Swiss Courier

2009-10-21T18:49:00.003-05:00

I have been reading less and less these days, unless you count math books, statistics tests and geometry notes. But, last weekend when I needed a real break, I sat down with Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey's newest release: The Swiss Courier. What a treat (kind of like Swiss dark chocolate)!

The story is set in the last days of WWII, with a touch of espionage, nuclear physics and love. The central character is a regular girl, who is a half Swiss, half American young woman trying out her feet in the world and making discoveries about true love from the two men who are vying for her attention and her simple godly parents.

I enjoyed this unique perspective on stories from that time in history and the realistic internal struggles the main character faces. I don't think I've read anything from the perspective of a Swiss (neutral) national being involved in the war or about the building of the atomic bomb. The historical elements tied together with the real life experiences made this book a fun read. I hope you check it out!

Find out more here.

How to handle Gossip

2009-10-08T05:00:00.001-05:00

Have you ever been in a situation where you realized that people were talking about you behind your back? I remember the moment I discovered that my so-called friends had been criticizing my every move when I wasn't there to defend myself.

It was my first year teaching (16 years ago) and things hadn't been going very well for me...at all. I didn't have a classroom and the teachers sharing their rooms with me were hostile and irritated with my "new teacher" mistakes. I had more students than I knew what to do with (150+) and to top it off, I didn't get a lunch break, but instead spent lunch monitoring students. I remember sitting down at 3:30 for the first time all day, feeling completely spent and very overwhelmed by everything.

And in the midst of all this, my friends were doubting my ability to do the job. They were kind to my face, but when I was gone, they talked about my weaknesses and criticized my character.

Read the rest of the story at Laced with Grace today.

Yackity Yack

2009-09-26T15:27:00.005-05:00

I talk and talk and talk all day long. I talk about quadratic equations, Geometry proofs and standard deviation. I talk about homework and accuracy and attention to details.

Yackity Yack

And when I'm done talking about math, I talk about responsibility and kindness to siblings, cleanliness and healthy eating habits. I talk about how the day went and I talk about trials and blessings. I talk about me and then I ask about his day too. Talk, talk, talk

Talk on its own is pretty meaningless though and I wonder how much of my talk is sweetened with love.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I
am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
1 Corinthians 13:1

Read the rest of my devotion at the Internet Cafe this morning.

A New Day

2009-09-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

Have you ever had one of those days where you wish you could just start over? Sometimes it's because of mistakes made and the ensuing consequences, like when you gripe at your family on the way out the door in the morning. Or it might just be the result of living in a fallen world.

All I know is that some days I'm really glad when it's bedtime and I get to close the book on that "terrible horrible, very bad, no good day." And in the morning light, everything looks different.

Mostly it looks new. Each day we are given a fresh start, a new chance to make this day better than the one before.

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:22- 36

Read the rest of my devotion today at the Internet Cafe!

God's Plan for Us

2009-08-25T03:00:00.002-05:00

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will
call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me
and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29: 11- 13

This is one of those verses that makes it onto encouragment cards or even gets the highly honored name of "favorite verse." It's a verse that's so full of hope that we cling to it like a buoy in the stormy seas of life.

Read the rest of my devotion at Laced with Grace today.

Blue Like Play Dough

2009-07-23T15:23:00.003-05:00

Let me introduce you to a wonderful book for any mother seeking to find God in the everyday moments of motherhood:

In the everyday stretch and squeeze of motherhood, Tricia Goyer often feels smooshed by the demands of life. In Blue Like Play Dough, she shares her unlikely journey from rebellious, pregnant teen to busy wife and mom with big dreams of her own.

As her story unfolds, Tricia realizes that God has more in store for her than she has ever imagined possible. Sure, life is messy and beset by doubts. But God keeps showing up in the most unlikely places–in a bowl of carrot soup, the umpteenth reading of Goodnight Moon, a woe-is me teen drama, or play dough in the hands of a child.

In Tricia’s transparent account, you’ll find understanding, laughter, and strength for your own story. And in the daily push and pull, you’ll learn to recognize the loving hands of God at work in your life… and know He has something beautiful in mind.

Read an excerpt: http://triciagoyer.com/cmsdocuments/Blue_Like_Play_Dough_Prologue_CH_1.pdf

About the author: Using her own experiences as a teen mother, and leader of today’s generation, Tricia’s vision is to be a voice of hope and possibility for teenage girls, pregnant teen girls, mothers and wives through her educational and inspirational speaking, workshops and books.

Her intention is to serve ordinary women by encouraging extraordinary things with God’s help. Tricia expresses real life, real hope, for real women. Tricia is the author of 20+ books and has published over 300 articles for national publications such as Guideposts for Kids, Focus on the Family, Christian Parenting Today, Today’s Christian Woman and HomeLife Magazine.

She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from American Christian Fiction Writers, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer's Conference in 2003. Tricia's book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion Book Award in 2005.

Author website: http://www.triciagoyer.com
Link to purchase the book: http://triciagoyer.com/store.html
Blog tour schedule! http://www.litfusegroup.com/latest/what-is-new/87-blue-like-play-dough-blog-tour

Thankful...

2009-06-24T22:26:00.002-05:00

So thankful this week for many things...

God's voice through music (driving for 2 1/2 hours listening to worship music, hearing His whisper)
through His never-changing Word (isn't amazing when stories about King Solomon, so well-known can still capture my attention and draw me closer to my God?)
through His people (thankful for my husband and his ability to steady me when emotions swirl around).

Sing a New Song

2009-05-26T05:57:00.002-05:00

It was a good thirty minutes past bedtime when I walked by my son's closed door and heard a sweet sound. "Waves of mercy, waves of grace..." he sang quietly to himself, not knowing he had an enraptured audience on the other side of the door. At the age of four, he is too old to have someone sing him lullabies as he snuggles into bed, so instead he has learned to sing himself to sleep.

Come visit with me at Laced with Grace today as we talk about music.

Getting into Trouble

2009-05-16T12:50:00.002-05:00

Today, I get to tell you about one of my favorite authors and her newest release! Here's a note from Susan May Warren:

Sometimes, do you feel like you just don’t fit in? You look around you and if anyone knew how difficult it was just to put yourself together, to smile when you feel completely overwhelmed, to even figure out what you were making for supper, they’d know what a mess you were. Maybe you totally relate to those words in 1 Peter – God’s elect, strangers and aliens in the world. Do you feel like when you look in the rear view mirror, all you see are your mistakes?

Maybe not. But if so, then PJ is your gal. I wanted to write a story about the person in so many of us who just wants to get it right…but can’t seem to stay out of trouble. My friend and I have what we call the “stupid mouth” club…and we report our weekly foibles (usually on Monday, after Sunday church!). PJ is our charter member. She’s the girl that changes her mind, always hopes for the best, is always discovering that she is just a little different than everyone else. PJ is us.

And that’s good news. Because God loves PJ. He loves her messiness, and her impulsiveness, her heart bent toward others, the hope that fuels her actions. And He has a plan for PJ – one that includes her weaknesses as well as her strengths.

Yep, I need to hear that – need to hear that I don’t have to be perfect for God to love me, use me, sing over me. Need to hear that although I don’t fit in, well, I’m not supposed to…in fact, I’m supposed to be a little…alien.

I wrote PJ for everyone who feels just a little messy, just a little like they can’t quite get it right. And who needs to hear that God loves them. Period. Full stop. Hallelujah.

Heather says... What I really like about Susan's writing in general AND PJ
Sugar in particular are the real issues that the characters face. PJ is a
normal girl, who is trying to figure out who she is and what it means to be a new creation in Christ. I really related to her inner struggles and loved the way she discovers herself through the course of the story.

Here's a little about the book:
PJ Sugar knows three things for sure:

After traveling the country for ten years hoping to shake free from the trail of disaster that’s become her life, she needs a fresh start.

The last person she wants to see when she heads home for her sister’s wedding is Boone—her former flame and the reason she left town.

Her best friend’s husband absolutely did not commit the first murder Kellogg, Minnesota, has seen in more than a decade.

What PJ doesn’t know is that when she starts digging for evidence, she’ll uncover much more than she bargained for—a deadly conspiracy, a knack for investigation, and maybe, just maybe, that fresh start she’s been longing for.

It's not fair to say that trouble happens every time PJ Sugar is around, but it feels that way when she returns to her hometown, looking for a fresh start. Within a week, her former teacher is murdered and her best friend's husband is arrested as the number-one suspect.

Although the police detective investigating the murder--who also happens to be PJ's former flame--is convinced it's an open-and-shut case, PJ's not so sure. She begins digging for clues in an effort to clear her friend's husband and ends up reigniting old passions, uncovering an international conspiracy, and solving a murder along the way.

She also discovers that maybe God can use a woman who never seems to get it right.

Read the first chapter: http://gotsugar.susanmaywarren.com/

Sugar Bomb!

2009-05-15T12:43:00.003-05:00

Today is the day to pour on the sugar, sweet and thick! :) Ha - it's not the kind of sugar you're thinking about though. Susan May Warren just had her new book published about PJ Sugar and she's encouraging us to get out there and start buying. If you like fiction that is fun, stories that are full of mystery and characters that remind you of yourself, you'll LOVE this book. Click on the button in the sidebar... "Get in trouble with PJ Sugar" Check it out!

Making Work at Home Work

2009-05-06T14:26:00.002-05:00

These days, there are many women who are right in the middle of the stay-at-home vs. working mom debate. They do both! And because of that, they face unique challenges and blessings.I'm the first to admit that I thought working out of the home meant "easy" work. As I've discovered though, working at home can be full of challenges. Mary Byers has recently written a great book addressing many of these issues. Since I'm not an "entrepeneur," I shared the second half of the book with a few friends who are. They immediately appreciated some of Mary's ideas about how to simplify work at home.

Making Work at Home Work shows moms how to develop an entrepreneurial mind-set without sacrificing their families. It covers important topics such as developing a successful business philosophy, balancing time between work and family, setting realistic goals, and handling the challenges of being both "Mommy" and "CEO" while running a profitable home-based business.

In addition to including her own experiences, author Mary Byers profiles real moms with home-based businesses who offer their hard-won advice.

Mary M. Byers successfully juggles both a freelance corporate
writing and speaking business and her responsibilities as a wife and mother of
two school-aged children. She is the author of The Mother Load: How to Meet Your
Own Needs While Caring for Your Family and How to Say No . . . And Live to Tell
about It.

Visit her website to learn more: www.marybyers.com or her blog www.makingworkathomework.com

Contest!
Win a copy of Making Work at Home Work (or another one of Mary’s books--your choice) AND a $25 Amazon gift certificate (for some WAHM essentials – Day Planner, bubble bath, funky file-folders, toddler DVDs)!

There are three ways to win:

Leave a comment on this post

Sign up for Mary’s quarterly newsletter where she offer tips and advice about all facets of a women's life: WAHM, mothering, women's issues. More info here! (http://www.marybyers.com/index.cfm?pID=569)

Join the Work at Home Blog Ring. More info here. (http://www.makingworkathomework.com/2009/04/new-making-work-at-home-work-blog-ring.html)

My Cup Overflows...

2009-05-06T03:00:00.002-05:00

I’ve always been known as the person who walks around holding a cup/mug in my hand wherever I go. In college, the gals down the hall would tease me for needing my herbal teas and classical music to get me in the “I’m intellectual, so now I’m going to study” mode.

Read more about my tea and coffee habit today at Laced with Grace.

The Rapture's Here!

2009-04-29T18:42:00.003-05:00

This week, I'm thankful for the eyes my children give me to see Jesus in a new light:

Being the child of a teacher means that you have to have lessons on the couch on a regular basis. Poor kiddos. I sit them down just like I used to do with my dolls, all in a row, and make them listen to wild stories like the one about a woman giving a drink to a mysterious man who said he had living water. Or, the one about a white horse stampeding to earth to right all wrongs and bring evil to task and create justice in this messed up world.

Well, that's the story we were settling in on this week. I skipped the home drawn Sunday school lessons that I used to share with the dolls and opted for the awe inspiring story telling that could only come from the Bible.

When I told the kids that some day we might all just disappear and join Jesus in the clouds, their eyes were as big as saucers. Seriously, I thought these stories from the Bible would be old hat to them, but a little freshness and mystery made them sit on the edge of their seats wondering what this Jesus guy was going to do next.

"We really get to go be in the clouds with Jesus?" "What will people think when we're gone?" "What are we going to do up there for so long?"

The story continued with a grisly battle scene (toned down a bit for the little ones though) and the storyteller (that would be me) got everyone wrapped up in the adventure of it all. Until suddenly one little listener was missing.

Where did she go? A tiny voice called out from under the table, "I disappeared to go up into the clouds with Jesus, Mom." Well, when I told them the rapture was an imminent event, I didn't think they would take me so literally!

Refreshed

2009-04-27T08:22:00.001-05:00

Good morning! I'm over at Laced with Grace today, talking about getting refreshed! Come visit me.

God is Good

2009-04-22T22:01:00.004-05:00

A little trip to the post office this afternoon was all it took to remind that indeed our God is good - so good, so caring, so attentive to the details in our lives that it knocks me off my feet!

So, let me back up a little bit. First of all, I have been largely absent from the bloggy world over the past....eight months or so? It's sort of a blur to me, because that's how life has been. I've been on the computer so much with my online teaching job that I just haven't had the inspiration, time or desire to sit down and write. But, there's something about writing that calms me and focuses me on what's really important.

What's really important is not the daily ups and downs of life, although God holds our hands through these roller coaster moments. What keeps me grounded is knowing that in the midst of paying bills, doing dishes, teaching, working, ministering...God is IN me. God is WITH me.

I definitely needed a little bit of reminding about that this week. When someone I respect described me in bland and unappreciative terms, I wondered where I had gone wrong. It wasn't so much that I believed these things about myself, but I questioned how this person could know me and yet not really know me at all.

I brought all these discouraging thoughts to the Lord and told Him I was ready to follow HIS lead if only He would make that clear. I'm not sure why, but I had only a tiny sliver of faith that God might actually give me clear guidance.

Then, I went to the post office and received a note that reminded me that God always has a plan and this time He gave me a little glimpse into His plan so that I wouldn't lose hope.

I'm sure this all sounds a bit vague right now, but for me it was a huge moment. God cared enough about my little problem to let me see that He's working on it too. I still don't know the answer exactly (although I have an idea!), but I have renewed faith and clear direction on what to do next.

So, this week I'm thankful for:

God's Direction
A newly decorated basement (so cozy!)
2 days until the retreat (counting them down...I can't wait)
A birthday girl who makes me smile (SOOO glad she's in my life)
The addition of a cabin to our family
My super supportive and wise husband whose words of encouragement helped me through this week.

Visit Laurie to hear more thanksgiving today!

Good (?) Friday?

2009-04-07T06:10:00.003-05:00

My eight year old daughter knows that Jesus died on the cross for her sins, but there are still some mysteries in Christ’s life that puzzle her. This week, in Palm Sunday services, she heard the term “Good Friday” and immediately questioned me a bout this seemingly inappropriate name. Why do we call this day “good” when it is the day remembering the death of the most important person in the world(God in the form of man)? What is good about that?

Read the rest of my devotion at Laced with Grace today!

The Scarlet Thread

2009-03-30T21:56:00.003-05:00

She had a choice. Everyone around her seemed unaware that their sinful lifestyles had brought them to this day of consequences crushing in upon their cushy lives. The fear was palpable in the air around the city as they realized that forces greater than they had ever seen were hovering outside their doorstep. They all had a choice that day. But, fear of destruction and even death was not enough to change their hearts from their rebellious nature.

She was, however, different. She stood out from the crowd. Not because of her pure unadulterated lifestyle, but because of her heart. She was a sinner just like everyone around her, but she made a choice to overcome her fears, to give in to God, and to trust Him with her life.

You probably know her story from childhood songs about a courageous man named Joshua and his conquest of the walled in city of Jericho. The song we sing with lusty voices as we march around the table in our living rooms with hand made construction paper horns blown at regular intervals doesn't say much about the brave woman who somehow survived the onslaught of that day of destruction. Why would a prostitute named Rahab be worthy of saving (and consequently, of remembering)?

She alone stood alive and well on the rubble of her once great city because she alone took the courageous step of faith that saved her life. She rescued the Hebrew spies and tied a scarlet thread in her window so they might remember to spare her life in return. Yes, it was a life for a life. She saved their lives and they saved hers in return. Isn't it like that with Jesus too?

We give our lives to Him because He gave His life so completely for us.

Why would God save Rahab? Because He looks around the whole world seeking for hearts that are sincerely dedicated to Him. God knows the heart of even a prostitute and sees her desire to serve Him through all the outer wrappings of her life. God is still seeking for hearts that are fully committed to Him, for hearts with a scarlet thread wrapped around them like a gift to the King.

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to
strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

Do you remember that moment in your life when everything was crashing down around you, fear prevailed, and your sense of unworthiness as a sinner almost made it impossible to step out in faith?

I know we all have different stories to tell (and won't it be fun to hear them all someday?), but there's a common thread that runs through each of our lives and it's tied back to that crucial moment of decision. So, what's your scarlet thread?

For me, it was the day I decided that being a nerd, an unaccepted and misunderstood teenager was worth it if I knew I had God's approval and acceptance. But my scarlet thread went back even further into my childhood when I realized that the God of the Universe cared about me and loved me more than I could imagine. That was the first day I took baby steps of faith, trusting in Jesus to save me from my sinful nature and draw me into His embrace of grace and compassion.

But the scarlet thread of redemption and salvation didn't end in my childhood or in that moment of decision. It weaves it's way through my life day by day as I continually choose to give my life over moment by moment to Jesus and as I fully commit my heart to Him.

Action Point:

*Take just a few minutes to trace the scarlet thread through your life. Which moments tested your faith and when did you learn to lean harder upon God's promises? Where do you look back on your life and see God's hand rescuing you from the rubble and where do you see a heart that is fully committed to Him? Draw a heart with a winding thread around it and mark these momentous events on there as a visual reminder of God's hand of salvation throughout your life.

Gimmee, gimmee, gimee

2009-03-26T05:00:00.001-05:00

On lazy Saturday afternoons, the kids often get restless and I begin to hear, “Mom, can we go rent a movie?” Or, “Can we run down to the store and buy some treats?” Once in the store, the materialistic spirit takes over with requests for new toys, new books, items that so-and-so has or special snacks that we don’t usually keep around the house. Gimmee this, gimmee that…

I understand where they are coming from since I have a long wish list myself of items I would love to add to my home and life. Even in tough economic times, we still come from a nation with the “gimmee”s. Part advertising, part upbringing, and part human nature, we are never quite content with what we have but always longing for something a little bit more. Or maybe I just speak for myself today – I struggle with the peaceful contentedness that the apostle Paul claimed to know. Even if the glass of life is 95% full, I have a tendency to look at the 5% of emptiness and wish for more.

Read the rest of my devotion at Laced with Grace today (just click on the button above).

Thanksgiving brings joy!

2009-03-19T11:06:00.004-05:00

A week and a half ago, I spoke to a large group of women about joy. I shared with them that the practice of gratitude can make a huge difference in our outlook on life. And then I realized that I have neglected this practice lately. To seek for joy and to look for gifts from God's hand...it takes constant reminding, but it is so rewarding.

I am thankful for...

Crescent moon and sparkling stars on a bright dark morning (and as an aside, I'm thankful that I woke up at 5:20 despite my alarm's lack of functioning so I could make it to my excercise class barely on time)

Blue skies and sunshine (it's colder today but still feels like spring)

A little girl curled up reading

Bike rides (soon, I'll be riding a bike too instead of chasing after them on foot...looking a bit ridiculous)

Flirting with my husband (I'm still in love with him!)

Students who participate and enjoy learning.

Friends

Volunteers who eagerly throw themselves into projects that I have no talent for (i.e. painting backdrops!)

A moment to pray for someone and see God moving in her life

Hugs and snuggles from my boy

The enthusiasm of kindergarteners

The Word of God

So, what are you thankful for today?

Another Great Read...Every Sunrise by Tricia Goyer

2009-03-14T15:39:00.008-05:00

Tricia Goyer has become one of my favorite writers. Her series, Heather Creek, by Guideposts, has continued to capture my heart with the story of the reality of growing teenagers crashing into a life with grandparents and a sleepy farm town. Tricia's characters jump to life off the pages of the book and each individual's personality connects with my own inner challenges. Emily and her wishes to be loved, Charlotte and her insecurity about parenting, and Sam's adolescent angst to find his true identity and place of belonging in the world. The story is authentic and the challenges are just like the ones each of face in daily life. Every Sunrise is the third in this series with new twists and turns and changes for this family to face together.

Charlotte Stevenson's world is turned upside down when her daughter, Denise, dies in a tragic car accident. She ran away at eighteen and Charlotte has never forgiven herself. Now, Denise's children, abandoned by their father, are coming from California to live on Heather Creek Farm in Bedford, Nebraska. Charlotte is uncertain about her ability to care for three grandchildren who are not thrilled to give up the beach and sunshine for snow and farm chores! But she sees a chance to make amends and will do whatever it takes to keep her fragile family together. Feel the courage, strength and commitment of this family as their lives unfold in the Home to Heather Creek series.

Contest: Okay…this book is loaded with yummy food: strawberry cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, baked chicken with cornbread, chocolate cake, pancakes with homemade syrup, French onion soup, parmesan crusted chicken…well you get the idea! So the contest for this tour will be the EVERY FOODIE contest! Leave a comment on the blog tour post (http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com/2009/02/every-sunrise-blog-tour-and-contest.html) at Tricia’s site with your favorite meal and a recipe (feel free to post more than one recipe!)! She’ll choose the one that most tantalizes her taste buds to receive an entire set of the Home to Heather Creek series (books 1-7)! Five runner’s up will win a copy of Every Sunrise (or another Tricia Goyer book of their choice). Let the mouth-watering commence!

Cutting Corners

2009-03-02T09:24:00.002-06:00

It started out as a rationalization, an explanation, a little recreating of the truth so I wouldn't look so bad. It wasn't that big of a deal, really. Just a little fudging. God forgives everything anyway, right? And besides, He would understand why I needed to keep that mistake a secret or hide those items from snooping eyes.

But, the choices to use little exaggerations or hidden truths started turning into a pattern of speech. Lies became easier to tell and harder to catch before they escaped my lips. That's when I read the story of Cain and Abel with fresh eyes.

If you want to read more of this devotion, click on the coffee cup above!

2009-02-25T06:00:00.001-06:00

I love the scene in the old Indiana Jones movie where he is required to step out in faith onto an invisible bridge over a deep chasm. He discovers rather quickly that a little dirt on the path will show the way and confirm his suspicions of an unseen bridge. It's such a great illustration of walking by faith. We can't see what's ahead, but we have to believe that God has made a way and that He will show it to us.

When I think of walking by faith, I imagine great missionaries stepping out into difficult, life-changing experiences or the faith of Abraham, who left his home to go where God led. But, God wants us to live and walk by faith everyday, wherever we are, so it isn't always about making drastic choices, but it is always about venturing into the unseen world.

Go read the rest of my thoughts on faith at Laced with Grace today.

I Spy...

2009-02-01T03:19:00.000-06:00

In the van on the way to church, the kids love to play a little guessing game. "I spy with my little eye something blue (or red, or green, or orange...)." They try to guess whether the item is in the van or outside and this simple game keeps their eyes and minds occupied for quite a while.

You can read more about our game of "I spy" at the Internet Cafe:

I am... He is...

2009-01-27T03:04:00.000-06:00

To Do:
Wash clothes, clean dishes, mop kitchen, take daughter to the doctors for her unexplained sickness...
Grade homework, write advertisements for ministry, call so-and-so...
Teach AWANA, exercise, pray for the little baby at church who is having heart surgery...

You can read the rest of my devotion at Laced with Grace....

Self-Reflection

2009-01-19T18:58:00.005-06:00

My oldest daughter loves to look at herself in the mirror, or any reflection for that matter. She'll be having a conversation with her dad, but the whole time she's watching herself talk in the reflection on the widow-pane. We tease her about this natural (although a bit narcissistic) trait. All of us are prone to it, right? We walk by a mirror and we do a quick check.

What do we say to ourselves at that moment - when we are looking deep into our own eyes in the mirror? Do we say, "You look maahvelous, dahling?" Or, "Woah, chickie, you better lay off the chocolate ice cream for a while?" (And, on a total tanget, I have been doing that and I've lost 5 pounds. Woo-hoo!)

Jennifer Rothschild asks us to think about the top five thoughts we have about ourselves. What are yours? Mine seem to fluctuate. During some seasons, I think I'm clumsy, forgetful and dippy. In other seasons, I think I could rule the world. Well, maybe not the world, but a High school or a blooming ministry, or something like that. I see that my behaviors are distinctly different depending upon my inner thought life. When I feel like I am on top of the world and I believe that I have something to offer, I act like it. When I think I'm totally useless, I act like it. (Which, by the way, is a pretty pathetic sight!)

So, what names do we call ourselves when we look at that person on the other side of the mirror? I remember telling my little sisters that we shouldn't call each other mean names, but instead should come up with silly names for each other. It was so ridiculous...my sisters just looked at me like I had lost it. I was calling one of them a bunny and the other a butterfly while they were laughing at me and calling me a frog. I'm not sure if it cured us of calling each other names, but it made us think about it.

But now I know that God has a name for me, a special name that He keeps hidden away until the day when I see Him face to face. He has a name He calls me even now and it certainly isn't the names I heard on the playground as a child or in my sibling squabbles. He calls me Princess, Child of God, His Ambassador, Beloved, and so much more. I just need to remind myself of those names the next time I look in a mirror!