Tuesday, December 13, 2011

I Know Better

The year is wrapping up.
There are only weeks left
until I can put this year behind me.
Finish it.
Close the book.
Send it packing.

Only weeks
a few days
and
2011 will be history
2012 will begin
a new calendar
a new set of months

I am on the cusp of Christmas
I am not rushing to pass it
I am not busying it away
I am sitting here,
embracing it
basking in it
knowing this Christmas
is different

This Christmas is unlike any other.

Any
Other.

For me.
For my children.

This Christmas is more tender
more meaningful
more needed
more treasured and valued
more humble
more sincere
more gentle
more genuine
more poignant

Because, I know better this Christmas
what I am celebrating
what I am savoring
what I am
who I am

and why He came.

I know better this year,
than any other
Why He came.

I know better this year,
that I need a Savior
that I need Hope
that I need Him with me
that I need the Friend who sticks closer than a brother
that I need the Peace that passes understanding
that I need a Redeemer
that I need Love

I know that I am filled with flaws
and selfishness
and weakness
and hurt
and ache
and despair.

And

I know He loves me
His love is perfect
His love is patient
He is fond of me
He has come because of His great love
for me.

He knows
how dark
how common
how frail
how fragile
how needy
how fickle
my heart can be

He knows the weakness of my will
and the strength of my stubborn-ness

He knows the depth of my self-absorption
and the shallowness of my empathy

He knows the ins and outs of my life
the things hidden
the things buried
the things denied
the things I cannot face
admit
or
acknowledge

He knows the hurts.
He knows who has hurt me
and whom I have hurt.
He knows.
And He brings healing.

He knows those I have left behind
and those who have left me.
He knows.
And He stays with me.

He knows the truth of me.
All of the truths of me.

And He loves me.
He sees my beauty
my vulnerability
my need for Him.

And He is here.
He came in humility.
He came in skin
Skin like mine.

He came with vulnerabilities
He came dependent on others
He came in a position of infancy....
a position where He experienced all...
All
All that I experience.

Hunger
Loneliness
Sleeplessness
Sorrow
Human hurt
Human pain
Human disappointment
Rejection
Misunderstandings
Judgement
Loss

He came.
He knows.
He came to redeem me.
To love me.
To forgive me.
To make me His.
He came to make a way for me to be whole
and clean
and complete
and united
With Him.

I know better this Christmas,
than I have ever known
that I need Him.
Really, truly need Him.

And I know better this Christmas,
than I have EVER known,
that He has met that need.

He has met my need
for love
for forgiveness
for hope
for a future
for grace
for understanding
for compassion
for restoration

He has met my need.
I am secure in Him.
In His love
In His forgiveness.

This Christmas
I am worshiping Him
I am bowing low
so
very
low
with weeping....

because I am grateful
so very grateful
for
Him...

I know Him better
love Him better
need Him better
worship Him better
because of 2011

Merry Christmas.
Merry Beautiful Christmas, Everyone.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

20 Questions for My 9 Year-Old Twins

It's a little late....but here are the answers to the 20 questions I asked Tucker and Tatum when they were on the verge of their birthdays...THESE are the answers to the SAME questions, but from Haily and Paige, both NINE years old, a week AFTER their birthdays......made me chuckle and made me proud. They are so very different from each other!

Haily first. Because she's 6 minutes "older":


1. Who are your heroes?
God, my mom, Paige and my dad.

2. What is the biggest thing that has happened during your life, so far?
Probably getting to fly to Tennessee for my eighth birthday. It was my first time on a plane.

3. What do you think is the biggest problem in our country today?
That people think they aren't being treated right, so they are always fighting to get more and make other people do things THEIR way all the time.

4. What famous person would you most like to meet?
Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez and Paul Frank.

5. What sets you apart from other people your age?
I am unique. I have a twin sister, but we look nothing alike. We are our own people even though we are twins.

6. What do you want to do as an adult?
I want to own a pet store or be a doctor. I might want to be a police woman. I would like to be a billionaire and a governor.

7. How do you want to be remembered?
That I am someone really different and unique. As someone who wants to help the world, by making it a better place and trying to help people with needs. And as someone who wants to help people who are hurting so they won't hurt anymore.

8. What brings you joy?
Cuddling, collecting seashells, talking with my close friends and joking around.

9. What makes you sad?
Being lonely, not having anyone to play with. When people don't let me play a game or leave me out.

10. What things do you want to improve about yourself?
I can be more involved with making things happen. I want to be better at helping people stop fights. I want to help people without being bossy.

11. What do you like most about yourself?
I like being alive and being a person who can do lots of different things. I like being a kid, because I know I have a long life ahead of me to live and do lots of things.

12. If you could go back an relive one day from your life, what day would you pick?
I want to change the day we moved to Florida. I would like to make it that we always lived in Georgia and never moved.

13. What kind of family do you want to have in the future?
I want to have 12 pomeranians. And a husband who is sweet, caring, loving, cute and skinny--and two or three kids.

14. What angers you?
When I don't get things I want. When someone is mean to me. When I get in trouble.

15. What do you know is true?
I believe we can all make a difference and be involved in making everything better than it is for ourselves and for other people. We can help others who are going to be here after us, like babies and people who haven't even been born. Everyone can make a difference.

16. What is confidence?
Confidence to me, is not being self-centered, or being sad and worried all the time. It's about living strong and treating people the way they want to be treated, but being strong about how you feel and what you believe.

17. If you were President, what would you do?
I would pay and help people who don't have much money or homes. I would pay their taxes for them. I would hire good policemen to fight crime and make sure there is justice.

18. If you become a mother, what will you be like?
I will be nice and caring. I will be strict too, but not when they are babies, because it would make them cry like crazy. I would be strict when they are not babies and make sure when they disobey, they are taught what to do. I would be just like my mom.

19. If you could write a book, what would it be about?
I would write one that would be turned into a movie. It would be about Sock Monkeys and Barbie. It would have Webkinz and toys, but not like "Toy Story." It would be real life, not animated. They would come to life and turn into real people.

20. What is important to you?
1. Life
2. sock monkeys
3. my parents
4. Paige and Tatum and Tucker (my siblings)
5. computer time
6. books
7. school
8. children
9. basketball
10. Having friends


Paige's answers:

1. Who are your heroes?
My mother, my father and my family.

2. What is the biggest thing that has happened during your life, so far?
I think every day is big.

3. What do you think is the biggest problem in our country today?
Drugs.

4. What famous person would you most like to meet?
Bridgette Menler (from "Lemonade Mouth" and "Good Luck Charlie" on Disney)

5. What sets you apart from other people your age?
I have curly hair. I love, love, love to draw.

6. What do you want to do as an adult?
I want to be a fashion designer and a model. Be an art teacher or dance teacher or famous singer. And last, but by no means least, a Superstar!

7. How do you want to be remembered?
I am not boring. I want them to remember me as someone who was fun, and I want them to think I am kind and I am a good sport. I want them to remember that I say good things to people and encourage them when they lose, and even when I lose.

8. What brings you joy?
When other people are happy. When I am a part of making someone happy. I know someone who is very sensitive, and she cries at school sometimes. I put my arm around her and make her happy. It makes me happy to make her happy and keep her form crying.

9. What makes you sad?
When other people are sad. I feel like them. I feel what they feel. I feel it too.

10. What things do you want to improve about yourself?
Stop being a bit bossy. I do get called that sometimes. I want to improve pretty much all the ways that I act. But lots of parts I want to keep like they are.

11. What do you like most about yourself?
The freckle on my left hand. It makes me feel pretty. I like my skin. My hair and my nails. And the kindness of my heart.

12. If you could go back an relive one day from your life, what day would you pick?
The day I flooded the girl's bathroom in school. I would make sure I didn't do it again.
OR
My birthday party from this year. My luau. I really enjoyed it.

13. What kind of family do you want to have in the future?
A kind family. I want my husband to be handsome with blue eyes and brown hair. I want to have three kids. 2 boys. 1 girl.

14. What angers you?
When people get on my nerves. When people tell me what to do. When people yell at me.

15. What do you know is true?
 My family is always by my side no matter what. Especially my mommy and my daddy.

16. What is confidence?
When you don't have fears. When you don't stop from doing what it is you are supposed to do. When you do what you want to do and know you are supposed to do. You aren't afraid.

17. If you were President, what would you do?
I'd make the country a better place to live in, by constructing more houses and more safe neighborhoods and more places where people could go to get food for less money.

18. If you become a mother, what will you be like?
Strict. Patient and kind. I want to be kind, and be sweet to take care of them. I want to be strict because I need to teach them what they are supposed to do. It's a part of life to learn what you need to do in life and I think being strict teaches them about life better.

19. If you could write a book, what would it be about?
It would be the story of my life. But I would change the names in it.

20. What is important to you?
1. my family
2. drawing
3. good sportsmanship
4. school
5. being alive
6. having friends
7. getting to have a roof over your head
8. having clothes to wear
9. having food
10. God being by my side no matter what

Sunday, August 21, 2011

20 Questions for my 13 Year-Old

Tucker turns 13 on Tuesday. I sat down with him tonight and interviewed him using the same questions I asked Tatum, his 11 year-old sister, before her birthday. I didn't let him see her answers...he did a lot of clowning, and then got surprisingly profound with his responses. I kept them just as he gave them, because...well because, this is who he is at thirteen. Here's what he said:

1. Who are your heroes?
Tim Teebow, God, Elvis, The Beetles and Batman.

2. What is the biggest thing that has happened during your life, so far?
Getting to move back to Georgia after having to move away and leave all my friends and my house to live in Florida for a year (the worst year of my life).

3. What do you think is the biggest problem in our country today?
Poverty and gas prices.

4. What famous person would you most like to meet?
Megan Fox.

5. What sets you apart from other people your age?
I care deeply about things and people.

6. What do you want to do as an adult?
Help build the first colony on the moon as an aerospace engineer.

7. How do you want to be remembered?
As the guy who built the first colony on the moon as an aerospace engineer.
As the hot kid on the block.
As being smart and friendly. And a good son.

8. What brings you joy?
Video games, seeing my friends, going to youth group, hanging out with my mom, buffalo wings, burping and jokes. And Megan Fox.

9. What makes you sad?
Children dying and animal abuse. And Megan Fox not being in the third Transformers movie.

10. What things do you want to improve about yourself?
Not be so addicted to technology (video games, tv, computer games).

11. What do you like most about yourself?
I'm a good friend. I work hard at school. I'm a good son.

12. If you could go back an relive one day from your life, what day would you pick?
The day when I was eight and we were at Sea World, and we were playing carnival games at one part of the park. My mom was tossing rings on these bottles, trying to win me a prize. She got a ring on the bottle to win me a gigantic Sonic the Hedgehog stuffed toy, but my sister threw a ring at the same time and knocked it right off before the guy in charge of the booth could see it, so I didn't win it. If I could live it over, I'd make sure Paige never threw her ring.

13. What kind of family do you want to have in the future?
An intelligent, sophisticated, humorous, good-looking wife and 2 or 3 gifted, adorable children.

14. What angers you?
Bullying, women being abused, AIDS and cancer.

15. What do you know is true?
God is real.

16. What is confidence?
Knowing what to do in different situations and feeling brave while you do it, because of the life-skills you already have and what you know about yourself. 

17. If you were President, what would you do?
Lower the prices of oil. Improve trade with other countries. Invest in NASA and build the space program again. Try to end poverty and hunger in the US and contribute more to cancer research.

18. If you become a father, what will you be like?
Grateful. I would really be grateful all the time that I got to be a father. Kind, caring, loving, patient, mature, giving and compassionate. Adoring and faithful.

19. If you could write a book, what would it be about?
How to be a good father and how to be good to your wife and family because they're all you have.

20. What is important to you?
1. family
2. school
3. friends
4. relationships
5. life
6. God
7. animals
8. movies
9. video games
10. food: buffalo wings, Pizza, BBQ, ribs, steak, spicy potato chips, Cheese Fries at Outback.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

20 Questions for My 11-Year-Old

Tatum turns 11 tomorrow. I sat down with her after school today for an interview. I thought of 20 questions while we were talking, and jotted down her answers. Here's what she said. Her answers completely.

1. Who are your heroes?
Martin Luther King Jr, my mom, God and Susan B Anthony.

2. What is the biggest thing that has happened during your life, so far?
Getting into Accelerated Math in 6th grade.

3. What do you think is the biggest problem in our country today?
Debt. Everyone has so much debt.

4. What famous person would you most like to meet?
Daniel Radcliffe.

5. What sets you apart from other people your age?
I think I'm a tad crazier than other people.

6. What do you want to do as an adult?
Be an actress on TV or a lawyer who defends poor people in court.

7. How do you want to be remembered?
As someone who was fun with a good heart. Someone who was a good friend and was happy.

8. What brings you joy?
Music, magazines, math and amusement parks.

9. What makes you sad?
Thinking about someone dying, cancer and war.

10. What things do you want to improve about yourself?
How much I talk in school and my ability to focus better.

11. What do you like most about yourself?
My eyes, because that's what I get the most compliments about.

12. If you could go back an relive one day from your life, what day would you pick?
When I stayed at the Grand Floridian Hotel with my mom and twin sisters. My mother picked me up from first grade for a dentist appointment (she said). Then she drove us to the hotel. We dressed up as princesses and went to "Pirate and Princess Night" at Disney World.

13. What kind of family do you want to have in the future?
I definitely want to be married and have 2 or 3 kids.

14. What angers you?
Being wrong. I get angry when I think I'm right about something and get proven wrong by someone else.

15. What do you know is true?
I'm going to have a job that involves math.

16. What is confidence?
Your belief in yourself. You know what you need and you know what you want. Other people can't put you down or take that from you.

17. If you were President, what would you do?
First, I'd be really proud to be the first girl President. Instead of over-powering people, I would try to help all people be equal.

18. If you become a mother, what will you be like?
I will discipline my children when they need to be disciplined and give them treats every now and then. I will try to be one of the fun moms, not one of the obnoxious ones who let their kids do anything and everything they want.

19. If you could write a book, what would it be about?
It would be about a person who gets lost in a different world. She meets friends along the way who help her get back to her world, but in the end, she wants to stay in the new world, and one of her friends trades places with her and goes back to the other world instead.

20. What is important to you?
1. friends
2. family
3. love
4. happiness
5. music
6. the performing arts
7. school
8. colors
9. nature
10. Life: Being able to see things, feel things and live moments.