Wordless Wednesday - Science Class

All kinds of fascinating exploration took place last week at the Cranbrook Institute of Science...

Some exhibits were a bit more "hands-on" than I was comfortable with.

But we had loads of fun none the less.

I think I'll keep the second set of photos on the fridge.  

Nausea always helps me say "No" to imprudent snacking.

Proverbs 24:5 

The wise are mightier than the strong,

      and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger.

Never stop learning.

Me.

'Twas the week before Christmas...

... and all through the house, not a creature was stirring... except for a bright eyed, bushy tailed, mother of three.  (up at 3:11am and feeling strangely well rested... Cue song "I believe in miracles.")  The stockings are laid on the floor with (some) care, until I figure out where to hang them, they shall remain there.  The children are sleeping all snug in my bed,  one with his feet placed against the other's head.

     And so on and so forth...

     What a gloriously beautiful morning!  As I type this blog with steaming coffee nearby, and only the magical glow from the Christmas trees (yeah, I said trees... big new house... lovin' it.) illuminating the night, I am able to think clearly without interruption for what seems like the first time in weeks...  Precious.
        This moment right here, is what I asked Santa for :)  Well, maybe it wasn't Santa... I chose a Higher Source... and it was more like begging and pleading than a simple request.  Friday night after I tucked in the bambinos, I dropped to my knees and admitted that I could use a little help.  Finances, homeschooling, presents, ministry, photography, parties, housework, unpacking, snow shoveling, and keeping two kids alive by myself... Well, 'nuff said, right?  I should've talked to God about it before, but I had a rather distorted view of prayer for a while.  Don't get me wrong.  I always pray. It's just that I  was praying about "noble" things... like our ministry partners, and starving people with aids in Africa, and the stray three legged dog that I maybe shoulda' put in my car, taken home and named, "Stooge".  That sort of thing.    Anyway, I put my pride aside and asked The Big Man to help a sista' out. I also asked Him to return my five long-lost packages that, according to the USPS were "left on the porch."  If only they had been left on my porch... Sigh.
     The next morning my Mom called me and jokingly said, "Christina, did you pray for help with the kids and your house or something last night?  Because I guiltily tossed and turned all night thinking about how I should be over there helping you out today."  Ha!  My God is a riot I tell you.  (If you don't know Jesus well, you need to get better acquainted with Him... He's totally pro-endorphins.)  There was more work to be done than just us two could accomplish though... It's a good thing my dad, aunt, and grandma volunteered too!
      Sometime between Dad fixing the vacuum and television and Mom unboxing Lucy's room, there was a knock on the door...
      "Hi, you must be Christina Lusk.  I wanted to get these to you sooner, sorry.  They've been sitting in my front room for over a week."  Yeppers!  My packages.  Thank you kind and honest new neighbor Melissa.  I like you.

     First Peter 5:7 is one of my ALL-TIME favorite promises from the Bible... It worked for me.  I bet it'll work for you too!

           "Cast ALL your cares upon The Lord.  Because he cares for you."

       See you at church this morning?

                   Me.

P.S.  Ever wish you could share an Extraordinary Ordinary Me blog entry with someone, who, just doesn't do the blog scene?  Click on the envelope below to send it to their email inbox.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

P.P.S.  - My apologies for all the wacky layout changes lately... I think I have found one that "suits me". For a while anyway. :)

I am not a bimbo. I am not a bimbo. I am not...

"Well, nothing was the same when you were away..." - Captain Von Trapp (Sound of Music)


     Perhaps I've never been the pinnacle of organization, but really, am I as utterly dippy as my actions as of late could lead me to believe?
     Leaving the keys in the outside door overnight?  Ok, I can retrace my steps on that one pretty well.  Arms loaded with groceries and a toddler, I approach the front door, drop a couple of bags near the entrance, take keys out of my mouth, unlock door, herd children into the living room, unzip their coats and go back to car for the rest of the bags...  enter door again to discover two-year-old is missing.  Frantically search upstairs, basement and storage ottoman (his favorite hideout) only to realize he escaped out the side door into the dark and vast snow covered yard.  Barefoot target located and held hostage, I head back into house and close and lock both exits... Grandma knocks on front door next morn, holding my keys, going on about how me being in my twenties makes her feel better about her forgetfulness at seventy something...
        Alright, so that one is somewhat understandable.  But, leaving the keys in the ignition, WITH THE CAR RUNNING AND UNLOCKED as I merrily drool my way through the aisles at  Hobby Lobby, in FLINT for TWO HOURS!? Ashamedly, I was alone with no toddler to blame... That one made me question my sanity (not to mention stand in awe of God's miraculous protection).  Searching for answers as to how such a thing could happen, I pondered  the sleepless night spent battling the possessed smoke detector (Note  - Buy the cheapo alarm.  You do NOT want the talking CO/smoke test-once-a-week-at-random-it's-better-because-it's-ridiculously-expensive detector - It's pure evil.), and the stress that comes with moving into a new house, homeschooling, running a business, and single-handedly preparing for Christmas.  But, let's face it, I've fried bigger fish before, with a respectively clear head even...
     What makes this time different? It's the grace factor.  I don't know how to explain it.  Previously, every time my husband and I have had to separate in order for the Gospel to be announced in the uttermost parts, there has been this strange sort of peace and easiness about his absence.  Sure we all missed him, but there was an excitement of "roughing it" by ourselves.  I call that peace, "the grace factor"
         Well folks, the exhilaration is gone, and I want my husband back.  Is the sacrifice worth it?  Without a glimmer of a doubt, YES.  I'd do this for five years if I knew people were getting to hear about Jesus because of it.  But, what I really feel, is that, God is moving us in a new and wonderful direction, to a place where we can travel together, as a family, making an even greater impact on the world. There's a stirring in my heart, distracting me at all times, causing me to... leave keys in the ignition, and place dirty socks in the refrigerator and the milk on the washing machine, and all the unmentioned absent minded things that I'll discover later.  It's there.  It's constant.  It's unmistakable, unshakable.  He wants us to go as a family. No financial burden will stand in the way, no excuses.  It's big, to have your family travel like that for the purpose of evangelism.  I only know one other living human who has done it (besides us, on occasion).  I say, "What the hey!" Pioneers make the way easier for others to follow in their footsteps, and I'm not only willing, I'm happy to do it. Future generation of evangelists, You're welcome!  Christina and Michael Lusk love you!

Dream big,

Christina Not Nearly As Arrogant As I Probably Sound Lusk

P.S.  This is the one other human I was referring to.  Thank you Dr. T.L. for your inspiration. We love you dearly.

Wordless Wednesday - Story Time.

"When reading to friends, you mustn't forget to show them the pictures."

Matthew 7:12 (Amplified Bible)

¹²So then, whatever you desire that others would do to and for you, even so do also to and for them, for this is (sums up) the Law and the Prophets.

Have a nice day!
   

Like play-doh - By Carl Johnson

Hey there Blogeroonies,

Good friend Carl Johnson is back at the keyboard tonight.  Please enjoy his post about what he is most passionate about.  Until tomorrow,

Christina



Parents, if you want to give the greatest gift to your children, give them this: Teach them honor. Honor in a family has 3 parts.

First, treat people as special. It is so easy to treat our family members as less special than our friends. We find it easy to violate the dignity that we would afford others. It's easy, because our family is stuck with us. But it's important to reach beyond that, to treat each other better than outsiders.

Second, do more than is expected. As parents, take a moment to write a note to your child once in a while. Teach your children to look beyond the tasks you give them to do. Teach them to look for something extra to do every day. This habit will follow them, and they will find favor with anyone they deal with. Imagine the spouse your child will become with only this one habit.

Finally, have a good attitude. Today I taught the children that attitude is like play doh. You can shape it any way you want. Attitude is your automatic reactions to situations. When you want that candy in the store and Mom says no, do you accept your disappointment, or do you badger or throw a tantrum?

In the end, this is how I packaged it for the kids in my class: Would you rather live in a house with happy parents or angry parents? Would you rather live with happy siblings or frustrated siblings?

We recommend discussing this with your children frequently, but not in the midst of conflict. Discuss it over dinner, or in the car. Make this investment when things are going well, and potential conflict may be avoided.

Carrying honor with them will help them in their future, with teachers, employers, and with their own families. And they will expect to be treated with honor, which will help them choose friends that treat them well.

The Bible only gives two commands to children, honor and obey. The better they learn these as children, the easier the rest of the commands will be for them to live by. Make this investment.

My Groovy Granny

     I placed the dreaded call - AGAIN.  "Hi is Grandma there?" "Hang on, I'll find her."  Once located, "Hello there, Christina, what are you up to today?" (still chipper because I haven't dropped the bomb yet)  I gulped involuntarily. "Hello my wonderful grandmother." said I in my sweetest voice.  Not sure why, but she never reciprocates my tone when I talk to her like that. "Oh GOD. Now what do you want?"  (Well excuse me lady, if you didn't want me bugging you to sew stuff, then you shouldn't have learned how to do it in the first place, you know, like thirty years before I was born.) 

     
   This time it was a pretty simple request, and as always, last-minute.  I asked her (via Facebook - She's deep into digital agriculture.) to do it at 8am this morning.  She was at my house cutting material at 8:45.  Today, at church, the 6-12 year old class hosted a 60's/70's themed Sunday.  Lucy's outfit was groovy enough, but I felt her pant bottoms could use a little more oomph in the bells.  Granny came over, cut, sewed, rebuked me for my lack of foresight, and watched the munchkins while I enjoyed a shower before church, AND (bonus) she did my dishes. We were out the door at 9:25.  Yay!

     Thanks, Grandma (Gloria), for all the outfits, even the SIMPLE:) (total sarcasm there) ones that made you pop pills and see spots for days. (Note: Apparently, some patterns on material, can cause severe trauma if you stare closely at them for several hours. See my psychedelic dandy below.) 
    The photos with Michael and I are from a Groovy Sunday and some sort of space-themed Sunday ten years ago.  The one with the girls and me is a snapshot of my "Divine Divas", the beauties in my bunk at summer camp.  Grandma made my costumes for all of these.  I never imagined back then, she'd be creating them for my kids just years later.  Grandma, I  found a bible verse that describes you well.

Psalm 37:26 (Amplified Bible)

"All day long they (Gloria) are merciful and deal graciously; they lend, and their offspring (ME :p) are blessed."

Thanks much!




All other photos were taken this morning, a decade later, in the same place, directed by the same never-ceasing, faithful children's pastors, Mr Chuck and Miss (really Mrs. but she likes the young feeling of Miss) Becky Siglow, who were there back in the day, training up Michael in the way he should go.  You guys blow me away.

PS.  This is NOT a photo of Mr. Chuck and Mrs. Becky.  These cool cats are teachers, Desiree Jinks (one of the Divas above, if you can believe it), and Emily Siglow.



 If you're looking for a church to attend, I HIGHLY suggest this one,  Faith City Church. If you are not fortunate enough to live close enough to physically attend, you can still see all the action online.  I thoroughly enjoy the videos, podcasts, and blogs connected to the website.  


Have I told you I love you?


Christina

Silent Saturday

Some things you just can't put into words.  Enjoy highlights of my day.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

LOVE, AMOUR, AMOR

Christina