Life as a Lewis

Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?  No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. Romans 8:35, 37 1. I've been home alone all week since Brian and both kids were off to camp. Remember I'm an introvert to the core and will never turn down a little quiet time (chemo recovery is so much easier when I can just be a grouch alone). But I am missing all 3 of my people. I know they're having a blast and not missing me one bit, but I'll be happy to have them home. I expect to welcome them home soon after lunch. They will talk over each other in their excitement, and then they will crash in their comfy beds for a much-needed nap. I had all kinds of good intentions to do a whole lot of reading or binge watch something fun. Instead, I spent a whole lot of the night ...

Ever get the feeling that maybe you've started to neglect honoring the ones you love? Just me? I've been battling a nagging feeling for several months now that I have let down my people. Well, I can call it a naggling feeling or I can call it conviction, which is probably closer to the truth. We've never been strong on celebrations. I'd rather stab my eyes out than host a birthday party complete with pinterest-worthy decorations and crafts. Our parenting philosophy errs strongly on the side of simple not extravagant, and I stand by that. But 20 years of low-key marriage/parenting has disintegrated into a half-heartedly written card (or not), maybe tossing a little gift (certainly with no wrapping) into the lap of whoever's day it is. And I think maybe the pendulum has swung too far in the opposite direction. I want Brian to feel like the most honored dad in the world on Father's Day. I want the kids to feel they are the most special 10 and 13 year old i...

Remember when I used to use this lens (my 28-75mm) for a bobble head effect with the kids? It was kinda cute when they were little. Now it's just weird. And remember when they played in the water all summer long? Just doesn't happen anymore.

So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Ephesians 5:15-17 1. This week felt officially like the first week of summer since this is the first week that we were all 4 home (no camp, no in-service, etc.). We're keeping our screen restrictions the same as during the school year - Netflix and video games for the kids only allowed on Friday/Saturday/Sunday. This is much easier to handle when the kids are in school all day. It's a CHALLENGE during the summer, but the truth is that their attitudes are so much better (especially the boy) when screens are not running their life. We do allow family TV in the evenings. Here's what we've been watching this summer: America's Got Talent, The Great British Baking Show, any sporting event (now that our Nashville Preds lost the Stanley Cup and the Cavs l...

Love is patient and kind.  Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. I Corinthians 13:4-7 Twenty years ago, my dad read this passage of scripture before I vowed in front of my family, my church, and my God to love Brian for better or worse. As 21-year-old babies, we couldn't have possibly realized the gravity of our vows; definitely didn't realize how wise this passage in I Corinthians is or how difficult it can be to live out.  At 41, I'm still learning what this kind of love actually looks like . . . in my marriage, in my parenting, life in general.  On May 31, Brian and I celebrated our twentieth anniversary. Much like the start of every school year or on all birthdays,...

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead,  even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - though your faith  is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials,  it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. I Peter 1:6-7 I'll never be able to cover everything that's happened in the last several weeks in 5 paragraphs so I might fill in with some extra blog posts over the next week. Here are the highlights. 1. Memorial Day: my parents, grandparents, aunt and uncle drove down to spend the day with us, and it was delightful. I think I'll post pictures separately. 2. Mom and Dad stayed with the kids while Brian and I ran to Chattanooga for a quick 20th anniversary trip (separate blog post coming). We nearly didn't get to go b...