Getting Ready for the Party

With less than 7 days until the Big Day, our Christmas lights are still looking good--except for the one white light bulb that burned out a week ago on the right side of our roof.  Our tree is miraculously still standing, considering that our full grown cats have this daily ritual where they climb inside and shake the entire tree. Ughhh.  And all of the presents have been purchased, thanks to the fact that online shopping is still a viable option with deliveries scheduled to arrive by Christmas Eve.  It's almost weird to be 7 days out from my favorite holiday feeling like I'm prepared.

Oh sure, this Christmas won't be exactly as planned.  My new nephew is scheduled for delivery (via birth) tomorrow morning in Houston, so he and his excited parents won't be making the trip home to join us on Christmas Day.  And we won't be going to the Christmas Eve service with our friends this year, because we've found ourselves in a situation we're were currently homeless church goers (meaning that we're currently looking for a new church home.)  But despite all of these new happenings this year, I'm really excited about celebrating Christmas as a family.

Instead of putting out cookies and milk for Santa, we've decided that our family is going to make Jesus a birthday cake this year.  After all, isn't Christmas supposed to be a birthday party for our King?  Isn't that why we decorate a month early and hang all the fancy items around our homes?  I like to think that we make such a big effort so that we can throw Jesus the best birthday party ever, right? 

Ok, I don't think any party I throw will be quite as great as the party God threw Him the night of His actual birth--I mean, I doubt I'll be able to book a choir of angels by next Sunday.  But even still, I'm trying to approach Christmas a little differently this year.  Our family is having a real party for our king.  And when I think of the holiday from that perspective (instead of superficially as I'm apt to do), I realize that I can't be wholly prepared for such an occasion.  But my heart can.  I can take the next 7 days to get on my knees and thank God for the gift of Emmanuel.  And I can focus on getting  ready to through Him the best party of my life.

Sometimes It's About How You Get There

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9

It's always fascinating to me to watch lawyers go through the decision-making process on how to go about filing and winning lawsuits.  It's not as easy as it looks.  First of all, you have to be able to meet all the jurisdictional requirements where you're filing.  And these can vary greatly from state-to-state.  Then, you have to understand how the court where you're filing works.  Court procedures tend to vary greatly from county-to-county.  Then you want to make sure that you get to know your assigned judge's clerk so that you can make sure you adhere to your assigned judge's preferences.  This varies from judge-to-judge.  In the event you've never or rarely filed a suit in a certain county or court  you might even need to hire a local attorney to help you figure out all the rules and procedures.  Then, you have to be careful to follow all the rules and to present yourself in a matter so that the judge and/or jury will give you the time of day.  This varies from locality-to-locality as well.  Only then does it matter if you have a real substantive claim that is winnable. 

Life is a lot like trying to file a lawsuit.  HOW we do things is often just as important has WHAT we do.  It's easy for us to know what we're supposed to do.  But I think too often, we're apt to choose the easiest way to get there.  Despite what we may think, the easiest way is rarely the best.  When we choose the easy path, we tend to railroad other people.  We tend to get angry with them when they're not going along with our plans.  We tend to act too quickly.  We tend to do things in a matter that might not be the most prudent or wise.  We are this way because we are sinful human beings who forget to ask for help when we should, and we forget that waiting on God is more beneficial than taking immediate action.  Waiting is hard, because it requires faith.

I learned this lesson the hard way last year.  I really felt that God wanted me working with certain people in a certain place.  But I accepted a position that I wanted, rather than what was best for those around me.  And when a wise person told me that what I was doing was wrong, all I did was get angry--uncharacteristically angry.  The whole ordeal eventually blew up when God humbled me to the point of demonstrating that I was going to have to give up all control of the situation.  I literally walked away from what I thought I was supposed to do.  6 months later, God presented another opportunity for me to be a part of this organization.  But this time, I was perfectly at peace with the matter.  God opened the door for me to accomplish what I knew He wanted me to do, but in a way that was honorable to Him and was not hurtful to those around me.  And today, I can honestly say that getting slapped upside the face last winter was the best thing God could have done to me.  Because now I know I really am where I need to be.

You see, our motives and are hearts might be in the right place, but if we're not willing to go about God's work His way, we can really mess things up.  Christians do this a lot.  I see it happen more than I'd like.  Good people try to do good things the wrong way.  Let us not get caught up in this.  Let us allow the Lord to determine our steps.  Let us listen to "many advisors" so that our plans succeed. (Prov 15:22).  And let us be humble enough to let the Lord direct our steps. 

Just like many lawyers have learned the hard way, it doesn't matter how great your cause might be.  If you don't take the proper steps to get there the right way, then what you're doing is pointless. 

Christmas Mail

I love mail.  Sometimes I check the mailbox 3 or 4 times a day until it arrives.  Maybe I'm this way because I'm not on Facebook and Twitter and still believe that someone might actually send me a letter the old fashioned way.  Or maybe I love mail because my grandmother frequently does send me random postcards and letters, which gets everybody in our house excited.  There's just something about opening an envelope with my name on it that's exciting--even if it's from an unknown solicitor.  I know, I'm weird.

But for mail nerds like me, Christmas is an extra special time.  We get letters or picture cards from friends and relatives that we hardly ever see.  And I never tire of seeing pictures of little kiddos that are miniatures of my friends.  It's even fun to hear stories of what people have been doing all year long.  Plus, it's always interesting to see how people manage to summarize their entire year into a few paragraphs.  This is not an easy skill!

I understand that people are less inclined to send letters in the mail these days.  After all, the US Postal Service is asking practically half a dollar per card.  And I completely understand that it's much cheaper to send emails or to post Christmas pictures on Facebook.  But don't let the price of a stamp prevent you from sharing your holiday cheer.  Trust me, a letter in the mail is probably the cheapest gift you'll send.

Even though it does take awhile and can be a headache, I enjoy putting together our own family Christmas cards every November.  I know that some people think it's cheesy that I include some type of letter, and that's fine.  You don't have to read it.  The writer in me just has fun putting together our little envelopes of holiday magic to share.

I'm sure there are friends and/or family members of that are scratching their heads and saying, "but I didn't get your card this year."  And my only response to this statement is that "I probably just don't have your address."   In fact, I still have a few unaddressed Christmas cards in my desk drawer just waiting to travel to a friendly destination.  But if you don't share your address, you'll never get to experience the magic of opening your own letter.  So the next time you get married, move across town, buy a house in a name other than your own (oh, yes--I even search county property records for addresses), or get a new PO Box, let me know.  It would be so cool to actually send out a stack of cards and not get 1 or 2 returned to sender because of a wrong address.  So my fellow cousins and long lost friends, my apologies if you feel left out this year. Maybe next year I can mail some holiday cheer your way!

And no, I'm not sending you a virtual "Christmas card." (Yes, I'm soooo stuck in the 1900's.)

It's Minnesota Outside

You know you're raising Texans when they think 60 degrees means it's cold outside.  I have to confess that I kind of agree.  After enduring what felt like an Arizona summer with Florida humidity, it's hard to fathom the idea of wearing a coat. 

Texas buildings, churches, and restaurants  are not equipped with "coat rooms."  Thus, if you choose to wear a coat somewhere, you can bet that you'll have to drape it over the back of your chair or literally carry it around.  If you choose to wear it around (like you can do up north) you will die of heat exhaustion.  Store owners in Texas adjust their temperatures with the expectancy that their shoppers are going to be wearing jeans year-round.  Thus, in the summer time, if you're dressed for warm weather by wearing something sleeveless with flip flops, you'll freeze.  Conversely, in the winter, if you wear a sweater and boots with your jeans and your coat, you'll be sweating profusely before you even reach the check-out counter. 

This conundrum is probably the reason why southerners tend to wear their summer clothes with sweaters in the summer and why you rarely see them actually wearing coats in the winter. Of course, I love coats about as much as high heels and have no intention of NOT wearing my coat.  So, I've just learned to take it like a lady and deal with the "glisten" that I get when I'm hot.  Oh-- and I almost constantly run my AC in the car on full blast during the winter.

Regardless, I'm learning to enjoy the random wintery blasts when we get them.  My boys get all excited when the temperature drops in the 50's because they think it will snow.  And every time my oldest thinks it's cold enough to snow, he informs me that "it's Minnesota outside."  Since he's never actually been to Minnesota, this always makes me laugh.  According to my 3 year old, we've had a lot of Minnesota in North Texas lately.  And no--we still haven't seen a drop of snow. 

For the sake of my little guys, I kind of hope we get a real taste of Minnesota soon.  But in the even that we don't, I'm thinking a taste of Hawaii would suit me just fine.  But this is Texas.  You never know.  As they say, "if you don't like the weather in Texas, wait five minutes!"  Time will only tell.

Out of the Fog

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him...Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil." Psalm 37:7a, 8

I think I'm starting to come out of the fog.  Dear Husband and I had a strange weekend.  Less than 12 hours before we celebrated our 7th anniversary, someone really dropped a bomb on us. You know how they say ignorance is bliss?  Well, it's also true that being "in the know" can be excruciating.  Sometimes knowledge brings with it responsibility and a need to take action.  Sometimes knowledge means you just have to sit tight and keep your mouth shut.  So, in light of the information that was shared with us, Dear Husband and I realized that we were between a rock and a hard place.  (Hey, did I actually use that phrase correctly?  I'm always getting my sayings mixed up.)

Anyway, when I woke up on my anniversary, I was angry.   What was supposed to be a day of wedded bliss turned into a day of agonizing discussion.  Were we supposed to "intervene" in the situation at hand, or were we supposed to go on with life with this new-found knowledge as if we didn't know it?  And regardless of our decision, is it possible that we will ever be at peace with this situation?

Well, God is also very timely.  In my devotions yesterday, He gave me this verse--and an entire chapter on anger issues!  Psalm 37 is God's promise to me that I just need to give the uncomfortable situations and knowledge to Him.  Verse 8 even goes so far as to warn that fretting only leads to evil. Thus, my anger and worrying is not helping.  God is the great and ultimate intervener.  I am not. 

I'm really not convinced that my initial response of anger was actually sinful.  But, my brooding and and my bad attitude were sinful.  For 2 days I have been unproductive.  I've been physically and mentally exhausted.  But yesterday evening when Dear Husband talked to me about giving it to God, I did.

This morning, despite the dreary winter day outside, I'm seeing the first rays of sunlight.  I have joy that I have a personal relationship with my God who loves His people enough to direct their steps.  If I am patient, I know I'll see His work in the lives of those around me and I know God will direct my steps.  He can handle the situations that I cannot.  He can work in ways that are miraculous and amazing.  He can set the prisoners free.  He can make the blind to see.  And in my own life I know that "God is so good, He's so good to me."

Football Pick 'Em is Over

Even though we technically still have a few weeks of NFL pick opportunities on Yahoo, Dear Husband has given up any pretense that he still has a chance to win our first ever pick 'em duel.  I'm accepting his failure to make any picks this week (automatically earning me 9 points) as evidence that he will stipulate for the record that Lovely Wife is the winner and will be the proud owner of a designer handbag in due time.

Now, we just have to go shopping.  I'm sure that after an entire season of hearing me dream out loud about buying a coveted handbag you think I'm going to do something crazy.  And to be quite honest, after putting up with football every weekend for the past half a year, I might be entitled to an "investment" purse.  But if you've read any previous posts, you already know that I very rarely actually pull the trigger when it comes to making giant splurges.  For example, I completely chickened out when Dear Husband offered to buy my all-time favorite Jimmy Choo's as a graduation gift.  So, please don't get your hopes up that I'm going to be sharing any pictures of a Louis Vuitton or (dare I say it?) a Birkin bag any time soon.  Someday I'll cash my tokens in for a personal splurge as a result of this football season, but for the time being, I'm just content to be a winner.

As far as football went yesterday, it was as expected.  Tebow pulled off another last-minute win.  The cowboys handed their opponent another late game victory.  And the Colts lost.  Such is football, so overrated and so predictable.  Even a girl can figure it out.

Strength for Today

 Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain O Israel, 

"My way is hidden from the Lord; My cause is disregarded by my God"?

Do you not know? 

Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:27-31

Sometimes we need a little reminder that God will bring "strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow." May your Friday be blessed and may you have the strength to accomplish God's purpose for you today.  Happy almost weekend!

Proving Our Worth

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give your 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 11:28-29

A relative of mine has been enduring the job interview process recently.  I don't envy him.  There is an art to selling yourself to an interviewer that requires the interviewee to be able to read the interviewer to give that person what they want.  For example, I once had an interview where the woman on the other side of the table wasn't nice.  Every time she asked me about a personal trait, she then proceeded to tell me how that might not work for the job.  After a while, I realized that she wanted me to argue.  She wanted me to fight for that job.  I must have won my case at some point, because she eventually hired me to do a position for which I was not qualified.  That was probably my favorite job ever.

Acing an interview is all about knowing what to say to whom.  There are books and books out there with pad answers and advice for interviewees, but unless you can deliver what the interviewer is looking for, you won't get the job.  Sometimes an interviewer wants you to prove how smart you are, sometimes an interviewer wants to see if you can dress well (got another job because the hospital president liked my suit), sometimes you just have to show that you are the person with potential.  To get a job, you have to make yourself a special person and prove your worth.

I'm so thankful that Jesus does not require us to endure an interview and prove our worth in order to follow Him.  When He recruited His disciples, He didn't go to the tier one law school to hire the people on law review with the best grades.  He also didn't go to the country club to hire the offspring of His parents' friends.  Instead, Jesus went and found Joe the plumber (back then he was Simon the fisherman) and He called normal people.  He didn't look for the blogger with the most followers or the teacher who had won teacher-of-the-year.  Jesus called people to join His ministry who didn't deserve to be called.  Why else would he call Saul the I-should-work-for-MSNBC persecutor? 

Romans says that God loves all of us--even the persons we deem to be the scum of society.  Jesus befriended tax collectors, lepers, prostitutes, and foreigners.  Matthew says that he specifically called the weary and burdened!  Jesus did not come to praise or glorify the achievers.  He didn't preach that we should be all we can be or that we should follow or dreams.  Jesus came and told us to humble ourselves, be prepared to suffer for his name, and expect to be shunned by the world.  I wonder, sometimes, if Christians really understand our calling.  Are we teaching Jesus' calling of humility to our children?  Or are we so wrapped up in the American dream and pursuit of happiness that we forget to teach the truth?

None of us are worthy apart from Jesus Christ.  Our earthly successes are fleeting and momentary in the grand scheme of eternity.  Those who follow Christ really do have to renew our minds.  We have to understand that life isn't about being the best we can be.  It's about living in God's will and following His calling for us.  He didn't choose us because we were worthy.  He chose us because God is love.

The Literary Journey

One of the greatest lessons I learned in law school was that READING matters.  How can you learn if you do not read?  How can you expose your mind to truths or concepts without reading?  How can you prevent your brain from becoming dormant and dull without reading books?

Even though I'm supposed to be studying for the Bar (I am actively doing this), I've also challenged myself to read as much as I can.  When I first started working after undergrad, I don't remember reading very much.  Then, when I had a baby I figured I wouldn't have time to read.  I have lots of mommy friends who say that they don't have time to read.  So I kind of put my love of books on hold.  Until law school. 

I don't know if it's because I have the freedom to read whatever I want now (as opposed to hundreds of pages of criminal procedure or ERISA law) or if it's because I've learned that I can learn a lot when I read, but I feel like I'm addicted to books.  Dear Husband and I are total book nerds.  We even go on dates to the bookstore.  We go antique shopping to find books.  And we have become book collectors.  We're not open-minded enough to embrace the "virtual" libraries yet either. And our dream would be to have a house with its own library someday.

Anyway, I read a lot of nonfiction.  (I know, I can hear you groaning.)  And I tend to pick books based on topic or author. Or sometimes I just read random books that look interesting.  Lately, I've been reading a lot of books about what it means to live as a godly woman.  I think it's good for women to hear other women describe biblical womanhood.  We're so inundated with feminism on a daily basis, that we sometimes don't even realize it.  So finding biblically based books written by godly women has been refreshing. 

This week I finished reading Nancy Leigh DeMoss' book, Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free.  This book describes the importance of meditating on God's Word in every day life.  Nancy reminds the reader that when we allow our minds to become numb to our own thinking, we slip into bad attitudes, despair, and sometimes depression.  Each chapter is filled with statements of biblical truth and corresponding verses that she recommends her readers should memorize and meditate upon.  I am confident that anyone who reads this book will walk away with a Truth and a verse in their heart.  You really have to read this with your Bible, because she gives you homework at the end of each chapter. 

This book referenced the writing of some Puritans, whose books I was able to locate on the Barnes and Noble market website.  It looks like my reading is going to get a bit harder in the near future, because reading unabridged Puritan books is almost like reading English legal opinions--sometimes migraine inducing.  But, I look forward to where this new literary journey will take me. 

In case you're interested, I'm going to try harder to keep my BOOK REVIEWS up-to-date.  In the event that you wonder why the topics, genre, or styles of books sometimes follow a pattern and other times wander off the grid, I just wanted to give you a peek inside my brain so you can see why I do what I do.  Hopefully you will get inspired to follow your own literary journey.  And if it's been years since you've been an avid reader, it's never too late to start.  I'm a full-time mother, part-time legal researcher, almost daily blogger who is studying for the Texas Bar, and I still have time to read.  Looks like you're out of excuses.

The Clause

Yesterday my boys had their annual "Train Day" with the in-laws.  Every year, my in-laws take the boys to the train exhibit at the North Park Mall in Dallas.  For my boys, anything having to do with trains is the equivalent to going to Disney Land.  They love trains.  They have tons of trains.  They watch train shows.  They have train books.  Did I say that they love trains?

Anyway, to mark the momentous occasion of the annual trek to Dallas, my mother-in-law bought our boys The Polar Express.  I have to confess that I had never seen the entire movie myself, so I was pretty excited about the movie too.  So yesterday afternoon, when I got home from a litigation meeting at work, my son and I curled up on the couch together and watched The Polar Express.  It was mesmerizing.  How in the world have I not seen this movie before?!

My little guy really liked the movie too, but he completely didn't understand why reindeers needed to pull a bag of presents on the sleigh.  And he was really curious why all the children and elves in the movie wanted to see Santa Clause.  It occurred to me mid-movie that my son had NO IDEA who Santa Clause is!  In fact, when Santa walked out to visit with the elves and children in the movie my son was in awe.  He just kept saying, "The Clause is so big."  He decided that he kind of likes The Clause now.

The Clause just hasn't been a part of our Christmas celebration before.  Our family celebrates Jesus' birthday every year.  My son is really on board with having a month-long birthday party for Jesus where everyone in our neighborhood joins in by hanging lights on their houses.  We've never really attempted to fit Santa Clause into our Christmas.  (Hence the blank stare he gives people when they ask what he wants Santa to bring him.) 

So I guess this year, if you ask my little guy about The Clause, just be prepared for him to give you a religious-sounding explanation about a nice old man who celebrates Jesus' birthday by bringing presents to children.  I'm sure I can fit The Clause into our birthday celebration somehow.  But let us parents not forget, this holiday is about Baby Jesus--the best gift that any child could receive.