'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. :)

Digestive Reader

"You're a bad Christian, Sancho, because you never forget any insult you ever receive.  But men of noble and generous heart do not pay attention to trivialities." - Don Quijote

   Good morning, friends.  Pot 'o coffee brewed,  crickets humming, and I've been ministered to by a delusional fictional character.  All in all, it's been a pretty terrific morning.

     I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, these scarce little moments.  You moms know what I'm talking about.  The tots are enjoying themselves at Grandma's house, and you are completely alone.  We become like kids and silence is our candy store.  Honestly, I wasn't sure where to begin this morning.  I greeted God (who, by-the-way, returned my salutation), meditated briefly on some of His generous promises, and then gleefully skipped past the dirty dishes, unclipped coupons, and toys on the floor, straight to the shelves laden with unread bounty.  It had been so long since I had indulged myself.  Who would I tackle first?  Grisham, Leman, Crichton?  I closed my eyes and spun around, determined to read whichever book my outstretched finger touched.... Dr. Seuss.... Seriously? How did that get in there?  Redo.

      This time I struck gold.  Miguel de Cervantes.  I forgot how funny that guy was.  Michael and I used to read through his "Don Quijote" together.  We would end up laughing at anything that was written in it, like a couple of happy drunks.  (We weren't drunk... just happy.)  We should do that again.  I'll bring the book on our TBD vacation.

What inspirational thing will you read today? ("Christina, I'm reading your blog, he he he.", doesn't count.)

Thanks for stopping by, you faithful, faithful,  Bloggeroonies,

I prayed for you today,


Christina

P.S.   It's awfully quiet around here.  I sure do miss the kids.

L.L. Cool PJ

   So, I wasn't planning on a sleepover.  It just kind of happened.  There I was, ready to say good-bye to Lucy's friend, when two pairs of eyes met mine.  I don't know how they did it, but all four of those eyes became cartoonishly huge.  Sweetness spilled out of every fiber of their being.  All the while I'm going through my mental to-do list,  "Newsletter has to be designed and ordered tonight, clients need to be contacted regarding their orders, receipts need to be issued, bloggies will be expecting a new post, checkbook balanced, costume made (cue Gloria), etc."  Just as my tongue hit the roof of my mouth to pronounce the "n" sound in "No",  Lucy, (without whining - that's key) made her request known, as she proceeded to tell me all the reasons she felt it would be the right thing for me to do.  "Mom, you always said I couldn't have a sleepover until Noah slept all night, and now he does." She wasn't finished. "AND, you and Dad said I couldn't have anybody overnight because he was going on a trip, and would miss me so he wanted me all to himself for awhile.  YOU said that when he left you would consider letting me have a friend spend the night.  It is a week-end so there's no school tomorrow and Dad will be home soon and want to spend more time with just me."  She's good I tell you, sinisterly good.
      And you know what,  I didn't realize it, but I desperately needed a slumber party.  It's refreshing to get away from the hectic, busy, task oriented life and enjoy a precious life moment.  There is an unequaled joy that comes with listening to seven year olds talk about how cute that boy actor is.  "Yeah, he's soo cute I would probably kiss him. Giggle giggle".  "Um yeah, giggle-snort, but not until you were married."  Thank you, Lauren, for your high moral standards.  I hope that rubs off a bit on the ministers' child:)
    
     Thank God Lucy was so darn convincing, because I was so zonked and under pressure that whatever I did wouldn't be my best work anyway.  And when I knock it out tomorrow, only one day will have passed.  A year from now, I won't remember how I missed a night of work, but I don't think I'll ever forget Lauren's wise instruction on pre-marital relations.  In fact, I plan to smile about it often.
      
         Long story longer, Lucy won me over because she executed two biblical principles.

1. She made her request known. Aka, she ASKED politely.

 Philippians 4:6 (New King James Version)

 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

2. She believed I would do what I said I would do.

Matthew 8:13 (New King James Version)

 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

The key to "getting what we want" from God is doing exactly what Lucy did tonight.  She knew the words I had spoken, she believed what I said, and she acted on it (She ASKED.)

God doesn't have a problem with us bringing up his promises and hoping for a piece of the pie.  He eagerly waits to give us good things. I find throughout His word (the Bible) his desire to give us peace, joy, greater understanding, restoration, even "non- spiritual" things like houses and money.  Oh Yeah! So I am encouraging YOU, special reader, to search his promises and believe them for your life.  And then, if you can muster the courage, (It worked for Lucy) ASK Him to give you all the things he's claimed he'll do.  What have you got to lose?  Ok, next question.  What have you got to gain?  Try it!

I've even done some research for you.  You'll find a boatload of promises from the Bible by clicking Here.  

I love you all more than you could imagine.

Christina

P.S.  Which of these promises will you apply in your life?