Sent Here to Finish

At church today I heard a story about the great Olympian, John Stephen Akhwari.  In 1968, Akhwari represented Tanzania as a marathon runner during the summer Olympics in Mexico.  During his race he fell, cutting his knee and displacing the joint.  Despite the pain, he continued running.  Hours later, he finished the race.  When asked why he was so determined to finish the marathon, Akhwari replied "My country did not send me 5,000 miles to Mexico City to start the race. They sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race."

Again, in 1992, an Olympic runner, Derek Redmond, fell and injured himself during his race.  Just like Akhwari, he was determined to finish strong--with the help of his father.  Watch the inspiring video below.

God didn't send us here to start a race. Just like Jesus, believers have a purpose to fulfill while we're alive.  And just like Jesus, we need to finish and fulfill our calling. God's doesn't expect us to run alone.  He'll carry us, but we have to keep running...

Thanks Mom and Dad

I have to confess that the 30 day Media Reduction Challenge has been much harder than I expected.  I didn't realize that I am addicted to talk radio.  Of course, it's not hard to become an addict when you've spent the last 10 years of your life as a commuter.  I easily spend 3 hours a day in my car just going to school!  And after about 30 minutes the drum beat and bass rhythms give me a headache.  So, I prefer to listen to human chatter--I know, you'd think it'd give me a migraine.

Since I'm trying to put-off the worldly chatter with my 30 day challenge, I've been "putting on" spiritual wisdom by listening to sermons.  The other night I heard Dr. Robert Jeffress talking about Servanthood based on Philippians 2.  His point was that Jesus came to be a servant.  Despite being God, He did not seek to be elevated to God's level, but was willing to bear our sins--something that was beneath Him.  And as Christians we're called to be servants.  We're called to actually make a real sacrifice.  For examples, Dr. Jeffress said husbands should sacrifice their down time at home to listen to their wives (apparently this is a huge sacrifice) and wives should be good to their husbands and not critical.  Likewise, parents should realize that children are their perogative at this point in their lives and should be willing to sacrifice their future retirement funds if it means protecting and adequately guarding the hearts and minds of their children by using these funds for a Christian education.  (This was the best argument I've ever heard for sending a child to a Christian school.)

This made me realize that my parents did exactly what Dr. Jeffress said parents should do.  I know for a fact that they gave up a lot of luxuries and worldly benefits so that I could go to Christian schools.  They wanted to protect me from the world--and they succeeded.  I never did anything remotely dangerous, illegal, or stupid in high school, and I've made very calculated decisions as an adult.  And because of what my parents were willing to do for me, I am where I am today.  I can only pray that I will have this impact on my own children someday.

Thanks Mom and Dad for your sacrifice.  Now that I'm a parent, I'm starting to understand what you gave up.  Thanks for your example of servanthood.  Even if you don't enjoy your retirement at the country club, I know that God will honor your sacrifice someday.  I love you guys!

Finding Your Happily Ever After

"This is what the Lord says: Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.  But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."  Jeremiah 17:5-8

As the married girl at school, a lot of other girls will come and share their relationship woes with me or seek my advice.  I mean, I'm married, I have all the answers, right?  At least not the answers that most college-aged girls want to hear.  I have successfully solved some of my friends immediate love crises, but deep down these girls are like plants trying to live in wastelands full of salt.  It doesn't matter how many times I suggest not living with their boyfriends, or going to church, or getting into a Bible study.  Most girls just keep searching in the parched places to find a man who can make their lives better.

Haven't we all made this mistake at some point?  At the point when we have allowed a human relationship to consume us so much that when there was a "drought" in the relationship, our souls shriveled up?  I know I have struggled with this and it's not a pretty ending.  But for people who love Jesus, there is hope.

We are told that those who trust in the Lord are like plants who can withstand the Texas heat.  No matter what happens, even if we don't get the water our soul needs, Jesus is going to be there to sustain us and help us bear fruit.  What a beautiful and encouraging picture!  If we stop relying on people to make us happy but instead put our confidence in Jesus, He promises to help us bear fruit.  Jesus wants to sustain us during the dry and hot times.  Are we letting Him?

In his book, The Pilgrim's Regress, C.S. Lewis wrote that "What does not satisfy when we find it, was not the thing we were desiring."  Deep down we all desire a happily ever after. Only Jesus can give us that.  Let's stop putting our energy seeking for love and acceptance in the wrong places.  Let's seek our happy ending from Him.

Mommy Etiquette at the Park

<a href="http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=13358&picture=park-playground">Park Playground</a> by Shari Weinsheimer

As per our normal routine, we walked down to our local city park this morning.  And I must say, I was appalled at the women who were there.  I apparently intruded on their play date.  As the odd-mom-out, let me just encourage all my dear mommy friends that when you go to the park there are a few etiquette rules you should follow:

1) Watch your children.  I know this seems like a no-brainer, but if you've ever been to a park with lots of children, you will find that mommies get busy talking.  If someone ever wanted to abduct a child, the park is the perfect place because too many mommies don't pay attention. 

2) Say Hello to other mothers--especially when you are in a group.  I was the mom not in the group and these ladies didn't say boo to me.  Their kids did, because their kids weren't being well supervised, but the other mothers completely ignored me.  It's too bad for them.  They were sharing ignorance with each other about treating childhood asthma.  Too bad they didn't talk to the former school nurse--I could have taught them something.

3) If you're going to breastfeed your child in full public view, keep all female appendages covered.  I mean seriously, my 2 year old should not be asking why that other mommy is taking her shirt off.  If you can pick a wedgie without lifting up your skirt, who should be able to nurse a baby without showing the world your lady parts.  They have great little tools for breastfeeding in public--they're called blankets!

4) Don't judge other mothers based on their appearance.  I almost broke this rule on Monday.  The other mom at the park was with her husband and mother, and I seriously misjudged these people. Based on their appearance I would have sworn that they were growing marijuana in their backyard and were dealers.  But when I started talking with them, they were just nice people with a nice little boy who was very kind to my 2 year old son!  My little guy had so much fun with theirs.

5) Don't hog all the benches with your junk.  That's right.  Other people like to sit on benches while they watch their kids.  So pick one bench and put your junk there.  Be an example for your children and share.

6) Don't let your kids be brats.  This little snotty girl would not let my 2 year old go down his favorite slide today.  I really wanted to get involved, but I was curious to see what he would do without me.  He's such a good little man!  He didn't flinch, scream, or cry, but he just waited until she got tired of harassing him and went down the slide.  She's a lucky little girl.  I'm confident that if she had tried that stunt on my other son, he would have pulled her hair and pushed her down the slide.  I'm so proud of my oldest child for setting such a good example, even at the age of 2!

7) Don't block the sidewalk.  People who are walking or riding their bikes through the park shouldn't have to go through the wood chips or grass solely because you have set up camp on the sidewalk.  Be polite and move yourself. I actually had to get my kids out of our stroller today and had to carry the stroller around these ladies because they wouldn't move!

8) Play!  That's what the park is for.  The daddy I saw at the park was flying a kite.  I was walking the trails with my kiddos.  And that's why we have parks.  If you want to gossip--find a coffee shop.

9) Don't irritate other mothers at the park.  Or else the might blog about you!

Integrity Defined

"The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out." Proverbs 10:9

Justice Douglas Lang from the Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals came and spoke to my Professional Responsibility class this semester.  He also brought us each a copy of his book, Deeds Not Words.  Justice Lang has a passion for the legal profession and has worked his entire career to encourage lawyers to adhere to our professional code of ethics.  In our class, he discussed the need for integrity and honesty in our profession. 

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines "integrity" as being "firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values, an unimpaired condition; the quality or state of being complete or undivided."  Proverbs says that a man of integrity "walks securely."  I'll have to admit that if I hire a lawyer for $200/hour, I expect that person to have integrity and to produce legal work that is on the up and up.  But I also expect that the person I marry is someone complete or undivided.  I hope that the person who watches my kids is someone who adheres to moral values.  I hope the person who changes my oil is someone in an unimpaired condition.  The bottom line is that integrity is something that everyone should strive for.

I love the title of Justice Lang's book, Deeds Not Words. That just sums up the point entirely.  We are known by our deeds, despite what words we use.  We will be known as hypocrites if our actions don't match what we say.  But Christians can be known as people of integrity if we live especially moral lives that reflect God's Word.  Let's strive for integrity.  Let's live our lives as open books.  Don't walk the crooked path and hope you aren't found out.  Instead, let your deeds, not your words, define you.

Rejected and Happy About It

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."  Matthew 11:28

I did something that I probably shouldn't have done over the weekend.  I applied to a job.  It was a job that I didn't need, but something that was kind of interesting to me.  I justified applying to it because the commitment was minimal.  But as soon as I sent out the application, I immediately regretted that I had hit the send button.  For some reason, I felt guilty and burdened by what I had done.  I've been so happy at home, why in the world would I want to go back to work in a hospital?  I have been sick to my stomach and worried about my actions ever since.

That's when I prayed about it.  I was honest and said that if it wasn't meant to be, that I didn't even want to get an interview.  Well guess what?  I didn't even get the interview!  And trust me, I was overqualified for the position.  I can't tell you how much better I feel today knowing that I'm not carrying around the burden of trying to figure out how to juggle a job again.  I also know that God has something bigger in store.  He's got a purpose for this law degree, and one day He's going to show me. 

In the meantime, I'm going to rest in Him and use my time to encourage others. God wants to give us rest, we just have to seek it from Him and let Him carry our burdens.  I don't know why I have had such a hard time learning this lesson. 

Oh, and if you ever apply to Baylor Grapevine, don't use my name as a reference.  They've never given me an interview for any job I've applied for there.  Of course, I'm sure my former law firm employer isn't exactly on Baylor's favorite persons list...

Choosing the Right Necklace

"My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck." Proverbs 3:21

I didn't go to Baylor for college.  (And as an SMU student I'm supposed to wrinkle my nose as I say the word Baylor.)  But I had quite a few friends who went there.  One sweet friend of mine showed me her dorm room when I visited her during her freshman year of college, and she informed me that she lived in the dorm with the nice girls.  Apparently the guys at Baylor were known for dating the girls in another residence hall--one famous for producing sorority girls--but then later marrying the girls who lived where my friend lived.  That doesn't say much for the Baylor guys does it?

This same scenario actually played out in my own college group.  One of my friends who is probably a fabulous wife and mommy was told by a guy in our group that he couldn't date her because she wasn't "edgy" enough.  He said that he needed a girl with more edge.  Well what is that supposed to mean?  All I know was that this comment hurt her feelings and made me scratch my head.  Why are Christian women taught to exercise sound judgment and discernment when Christian guys claim they want edgy women?

We're taught to be women of sound judgment and discernment, because that is God's command in Proverbs.  We are told that good judgment will give us life.  The next few verses even say that sound judgment and discernment will allow us to walk safely, not be afraid when we sleep, not have fear during disasters, and give us confidence from the Lord.  He says that choosing discernment is like wearing an ornament to grace your neck. In other words, sound judgment and discernment are the perfect accessory for any woman.

Don't feel bad about being considered a prudish woman.  If you're exercising discernment in your life, God says you're wearing the right necklace.  It may not seem like the "fun" way to live, but having high standards and sound judgment "will be life for you."  You may not be known as the best party girl, but you'll be known as the girl in the nice girl residence hall.  You know, the kind of girl that a guy will actually buy the diamond for; the girl that God will use to be a good wife and mommy; the girl whose testimony hasn't been tarnished.

I guess that's why the prudish college girls always end up the first ones married.  My Baylor friend did get married--to a good guy from the University of North Texas who really was looking for a godly wife.  And my church friend found a guy who appreciated her for the woman she was.  Oh, and the guy looking for an edgy wife, well he's been single for a long time...

The Free Garage Sale

My church did the coolest thing this past weekend.  We had a garage sale where we gave away everything for FREE.  People were shocked and so excited when they realized that they didn't have to pay.  I was amazed at how quickly people snatched up their bargains.  My husband unloaded an old porch rocking chair and within 20 seconds some man was carrying it away from the truck.  People were truly behaving like kids in a candy store.

But that was the point.  We wanted people to feel blessed and loved.  And we handed out over 100 invitations to our Easter service.  I don't know if people are still doing door-to-door visitation, but I do know that a quick way to reach out to a large number of people is to have a free garage sale.  Maybe next year we can have one that is bigger and badder.  And maybe we can pass out 200 invitations...

The Perfect Patent Pump

This is the perfect shoe. This is a Jimmy Choo.  Four years ago, I drove by the Jimmy Choo store and made up my mind that when I graduated from law school, I was going to buy myself a perfect pair of Jimmy Choo shoes as a graduation present for myself. I thought that every aspiring lawyer needed a pair...

 Fast forward to today and reality has set in that I may never own a pair of Jimmy's.  In fact, I've come to realize that it would be foolish to own a pair.  Who really needs a pair of $500 pumps?  Definitely, not me.

Four years and 2 kids later, I need pumps with rubber soles that will support me when I'm carrying 25 pounds of baby.  I need pumps with super soft insoles to comfort my feet when I'm chasing my toddler around the house.  I need pumps that don't make holes in my grass as I'm trying to get my kiddo buckled into his car seat.  Ok, to be honest, I guess I need tennis shoes. (Yeah right you're really going to catch me in sneakers!)

Anyway, the moral to the story is that over the past four years, my attitude, heart, and desires have changed a lot.  I'm starting to get a grasp on money and the value of things--$500 shoes are just stupid when I can buy $15 black patent pumps at Ross.  I'm understanding how to prioritize my life--having money for diapers is so much more important than having cash for Starbucks.  I'm learning patience--that's why God made toddlers.  And I've come to understand how the pursuit of worldly endeavors is meaningless and can make you miserable--you've never seen misery until you've met a first year law student.

I know that a lot of people think that going to law school was a waste of four years of my life since I'm not planning on working right now.  I've even had Christians tell me that college, in general, is a waste of time for women.  But it's not.  God used this time to teach me, to mature me, and to open my eyes to the battles that my children will face in this world.  I can't wait to see what God has in store for me next.  Who knows, maybe  someday He'll give me the opportunity to argue before the Supreme Court of the United States and He'll make sure I'm wearing a pair of Jimmy's... Hey, miracles happen!

Since I don't want to violate any copyright laws, you can find this shoe and much more at http://www.jimmychoo.com/.

Time to Get Your Fan Gear

Now that baseball season is here, I know that I can expect to have to go to at least a few Ranger games this year--especially if we make the playoffs again.  This means it's time to get my fan gear.  I don't know if you've noticed, but Ranger fans last year all seemed to have the same shirts.  We saw lots of claws and antlers and we saw the same ladies' t-shirts over and over again.  And you can totally blame Academy for that.  Isn't that where we all went for Ranger gear?  (Well, you should have, because the Ranger gift shop is lots more expensive and has most of the same clothes.)

I'm very excited to announce that there is a new store carrying Ranger gear this year.  Thanks to our stint in the playoffs, Victoria's Secret has added the Rangers to their MLB collection.  This means that if you're like me and want some really blinged out fan wear, Victoria's Secret is for you!  Check out some of their collection:

Aren't these cute?  To see more, you can go directly to the VS Ranger's Collection at Victoria's Secret.