Expectations

We are here on the beautiful island of Jamaica and I am so happy to see old friends and make many new ones - already!  

Yes Jay - the steeple is still attached!

The national animal - just kidding!

The team of teens are one of the best we've ever had - and I'm pretty sure we say that every year.  I am just loving getting to know each and every one of them.

But today I want to share with you a devotional thought...about expectations.  

What are your expectations for your life?  your summer?  your week?  tomorrow?

Read this story...

"

Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days.

Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches.

Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches.

One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years.

When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”

“I can’t, sir,” the sick man said,

“for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up.

Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”

Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”

Instantly, the man was healed!

He rolled up his sleeping mat

and began walking!”

John 5:1-9

What do you think this lame guy’s expectations were for the day?

Yeah, I’m pretty sure he just expected to lay around this “magic pool” all day and maybe – just maybe - when the healing bubbles came -  someone would help him get there first.

It hadn’t happened, for him, in 38 years, but you never know! (Really?)  (you have to admire his tenacity)

or - could it be that he just had that much faith - that it could still possibly happen to him?  Hmmmm  - pondering this….

Well, HIS expectations weren’t met – were they? 

Well – were they?

Here he was – expecting his miracle to come from this magic water.  This is where he had seen it happen for others.  If he could just get to that water…. Just a little quicker.

Ahhh – next time – next time!

But – (and if you study the Scriptures at all you will quickly see that God has put a LOT of what I call “Big But” statements in it – and that’s “Big But” not “Big Butt” – whatever)

BUT – God had other plans!  I love this about God!

We have our expectations – and we think they are so big and great and noble…and God laughs at them.

We calculate our expectations from other people's experiences, our past situations, and what we’ve seen happen before - and we base our “expectations” on that.  (so tiny)

BUT – God has something so much bigger and better than you can ever hope or dream or imagine! 

That is pretty big – because as far as I'm concerned - I’m a pretty big dreamer!

So – maybe we need to write out our expectations based on what God can do and has done and wants to do.  (Ponder that for awhile)

and while you're pondering that... here's a verse that's hanging on my mirror at home...

"My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
    

“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    

so my ways are higher than your ways
    

and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9

Jamaica Mon'

Well, tomorrow we head to Jamaica, again.

This will be the 23rd year going, but some years we went more than once.

I haven't been the last two trips, which equals 3 years since I've stepped foot on Jamaican soil.

Jamaica holds a very large piece of my heart - in fact - I consider it my second home.  

I am in process, though, with all the other things that have flooded my life the past 3 years - evaluating where I stand in my Jamaican life.  (Actually, they call our family "Jamericans")

(I thought that was pretty creative)

We have a "son" in Jamaica.  His name is Richard Russell and we are just so proud of him.  We first met Richard when he was 15 years old.  He has a younger brother and a much younger sister.  As with many Jamaican families, Richard's mom and dad never married and after 3 children, his father went on to begin a life with a younger woman.  We see this on a regular basis - and then this community of women raise all the kids.

But with Richard it was a bit different.  When he was 9 he came home from school with his younger brother and his mom was in the street with his sister.  She kissed the boys goodbye, got in a car, and never looked back.  Richard has said that he thought she was just going to town.  A close friend's mother looked after him and his brother from that time on.

When we met Richard he was trying to attend a Christian School in Montego Bay, but was going to quit if his money ran out.  (He earned money doing any type odd job possible) We began sponsoring him during the school year.  We would bring him onto our team when we were in Jamaica each year. He actually got to come home with us several summers and he even got to come one Christmas and join us on a Youth Convention trip to Cincinnati.  

Even though our family has the reputation for sucking people into it and making them our 'kin - this time Richard adopted us.  And it was an honor to be called "his parents".

Richard is now a master barber in Montego Bay.  He is married and has 3 beautiful children.  He is approximately 37 years old and is a great Dad and husband.  My Richard still calls me early every Mother's Day in a usually successful attempt to beat my own girls at calling. :)

You can now see how Jamaica holds a big piece of our hearts, as we have many, many long time friends with story after story of how they have affected our lives throughout the years.

This trip, though, makes me a bit nervous.  

Our only bus driver/ pastor, Mr. Lloyd Lindsay, will not be with us as he decided to be done with this world and go on to "drive" for Jesus.  I don't want to be there without his watchful eye and his quiet spirit keeping us safe.

I also find that there are many tears yet to be cried and my emotions are very unpredictable.  Going to an orphanage and a children's handicapped home may not have the best effect on my emotional state. UGH!

But, I look forward to what God has to teach me.  How He plans on continuing to heal me, emotionally.  I anticipate His voice speaking through many different people of many different ages.

Closing...I DO ask for your prayers, though.  We leave tomorrow - we return late on the 16th.

Safety - God's Presence - Wisdom - Patience - and hearing, listening, and not missing one drop of all that God has for me.  

Please pray intensely for the 25 teens that are leaving their Mama's and are walking into areas of poverty and injustice that they've never experienced before.  Pray for God's "velvet hammer" in their lives. 

And you might also include my family that remains at home.  Sometimes they have a hard time while we are basically unreachable!  :)

Love Your Guts,

Hug Your Babies - waahhhh - cuz I already miss mine

Pray Big - for big miracles for our team of 30

Janet :) xoxo

PS - I will blog while I'm gone - love you all so much!

Why Humble Pie??????

 You might wonder why in the world did I name this blog “Humble Pie”.

I bet you thought, “that’s pretty arrogant, to say you’re humble”. HA

Well, it’s really not like that at all. 

If you have any history with “Humble Pie” (besides the 70’s band) you will know that it’s something that you eat when you are in a situation and you realize how stupid you’ve been or maybe that you said something really stupid, etc. It’s at that point, that you realize that you need to eat some “humble pie” and go apologize to the offended parties. 

“Humble Pie” is not very tasty and is not easy to swallow, but after it’s all said and done, I think it probably digests quite well. 

It’s basically humbling yourself to the point where you admit your wrongs, in a given situation, and seek forgiveness.  Very Biblical, if you ask me.

Naming this blog “Humble Pie” is just me admitting that I’m often found with a big slice of it in my mouth!  If anyone is ever the Queen of sticking my foot in my mouth – which is hard when it’s already full of humble pie – it’s me! 

And I DO say, I hope we can all continue to eat of the pie of humbleness.  It’s beginnings are very hard and tough and scratchy – but in the end it’s very sweet and rich and makes wonderful friends – even more wonderful!  (Kinda like sourpatch kids, worms, bears, etc.)

Remember this dear children – the hardest things to do are usually the most rewarding.

(like admitting you were wrong – in case you “just don’t get it”)

And now I hear a baby crying, which is my call to lay this entry to rest! 

Love Your Guts,

Hug Your Babies – on the way to doing this

Pray Big, Bigger, Biggest!

Janet :)  xo

What a Beautiful Morning!!!

It was a morning of tears, laughter, hugs, pictures and candy... and most of that was Mama Molly and Mama Gina.  

Who but God would orchestrate having little Mia and Hannah Jane just happen to be at the clinic at the same time on the same day?

Some of you have been following Mia's FB page (Prayers for Mia) and will remember that we met Mia, Gina - her Mama, and her G'ma last August.  In fact it was the last regular visit Hannah Jane had at the clinic and it was Mia's first.

Mia still had her hair and Hannah Jane had absolutely no hair.  If you have seen the pic's of Hannah Jane holding her "I beat cancer" sign...that was the day we met Mia.

Gina was a bit shaken, as that was just the beginning of a much longer journey than we have ever taken and we were ready to celebrate at the news of the surgery to remove Hannah's port-a-cath in just a few days.

All along their path, Gina could read our posts and see where her little Mia was heading.  

I hope you will continue to pray for their family, as you have been so wonderful to pray for ours.  

They believe in the power of prayer and just like us - we will never know how many people have bent their knee to bring our Hannah Jane and set her in God's lap.

Here are some pic's from our blessed day - oh - and by the way.... ALL SCANS WERE CLEAR!

Clear and beautiful!!! Are you surprised?  How Big is God?!

Love Your Guts - Hug Your Babies (long and hard) Pray Big - Janet :)

This from Molly...

What a blessed day at Brenners. We walk in, and low and behold there is miss Mia and mama Gina!!! Tears were flowing, pictures were taken, and success stories were all the rage! What a blessing! Then to top it all of we got the "BEAUTIFUL, PERFECT, AMAZING, CLEAN SCAN" news! Thank you Lord for a beautiful morning! Oh yeah.....#hollerrrrrrrrr #cancercansuckit#justkeepswimminglittlemia #nobodycantakeawaythissmile #alldayerrrrrrrday

(8 photos)

A Return to the Wretched Horrible Awful

Today went on like any other day.

We all went to "City Lake Park" this morning, to enjoy a great picnic with Hannah Jane and Lola Mae's Preschool Class.  (Two of my Grandbabies)

We played.

We ate.

We sang.

We swung.

We rode trains.

We got dizzy on the carousel.

and then we came home and took naps.

     (my favorite part)

The rest of the day was more of the preciousness of life with 2's and 3's.

Singing/Eating at our fav. barbecue place... "little Richard's"... and then there is ... ice cream.

and today was put to bed.

Tomorrow, 

will be a wreck of humanity.

It,

will be a curse on all mankind.

   When we, of our family, are pulled back into the world of childhood cancer.

Tomorrow, 

our blessed Hannah Jane will go back to Brenners Hospital for the scans that she currently reports for every 3 months.

Tomorrow I will watch my baby - Mama Molly - "buck up" and be ever so strong for her sweet Hannah Jane.  

We will go and ask the questions.

We will spend too much time reassuring our little 3 year old that "it's ok".

We will wait, entertain, take snacks, walk, pray, entertain, and wait some more.

We will all try to be light hearted - while waiting to hear the report of "clear scans" once more.

and I watch

and I pray

and I cry

and I trust that God really does know what He's doing with my babies...

If you think of us tomorrow...please pray for our strength for our Hannah Jane

and my Mama Molly

and maybe even me.

I love you all!

Love Your Guts,

Hug Your Babies,

Pray BIG,

Janet :)  

Write the Dang Letter Already!

To write is to slow it down.....

I am a firm believer in the hand written note.  

To write a hand written note (which is becoming a lost art) you have to slow down, gather your thoughts, and take the time to actually write - if you can remember how.

You have to spell the words out (lol - brb - TO - rbmbct)...(btw - I made that long one up) (**)

You have to think about punctuation!!!! Which I am already challenged in.

Create complete thoughts...haha - I didn't mean to do that on purpose...how appropriate.

It really is becoming a lost art!

A handwritten note - even if you walk up and give it to me - means so much to me.  

     It means you took the time to find a decent  piece of paper.  This is a difficult thing in our house.

     You organized your thoughts and found the vocabulary to adequately express your feelings and what you wanted to convey to me.  

     Most of all - you took time, out of your busy schedule, to write down something that you wanted to share with me.  

How special does that make me feel... you shared something with me that was near and dear to your heart.  A sentiment, or something, possibly, that God directed you to share with me.  I love it!

And then, if you mailed it...well - that's another whole time consumption issue.

You have to sleuth out my address.

You have to create an envelope.  (Have you ever gotten a card or note and the envelope was way to big?  I love it - and of course I have done just that) and when I say create...I have actually cut an envelope out of newspaper before and mailed a letter in it.  (This was not done out of a spark of creativity)

You have to dig up a stamp from somewhere in the lost stamp land of the junk drawer.

It can be quite an endeavor just to mail a letter.

So, today, I dare you...double dare you...to sit down and write a letter.  

Maybe someone you knows needs encouragement.

I like to play a kind of "Russian Roulette" (did the Russians really invent that?) of note writing where I ask God to just impress on me someone and something to say.  It's quite interesting.

However you want to approach it..

 - sit down 

 - quiet your heart

 - gather your thoughts

and take the TIME to hand write a letter.

Love Your Guts,

Hug Your Babies,

Pray Big,

Janet :)

** the key to the above initials is ... "Laugh Out Loud", "Be Right Back", "Time Out", one that I made up, and btw is "by the way"  :)

Today is the Day!

I'm sure you don't ever procrastinate.  

I have never been a procrastinator in the past, but for some reason I keep avoiding the beginning of this blog, and any blog writing, as if it were the plague.

I have some Gollumisk voice that keeps saying things like, "you don't have time right now"... "you can do it later"...(and here's the big one)... "what can you say that hasn't been said a thousand times"!

That last one is the one that always stops me in my tracks.

So, every now and then I have a little chat with God about this and then I will begin hearing songs about doing what God gifted me to do.  (and I just want to add - right here - that this type writing is just as if I were sitting here talking with you...I'm still not too sure about the "giftedness" of it.) 

OR - as of lately - I hear a someone on the radio talking about how he has shared with his church over 800 times and he wondered what could he ever say to them that they hadn't already heard?  (This got my attention - obvi)  (sounded a little familiar)  

Then, God told this guy to keep reminding his church of the things they had already learned!  

How simple!  We all need to be reminded of the things we have already learned!  

Am I the only one who learns something for a test and then totally forgets it about one hour after the test.

     or - I learn something, like when I was having my babies, and then when the grand babies comes along, I had to re-learn or remember all that baby stuff.  and not only remember it, but update it!!

     or - how about the teacher that teaches the concept, then has to review it with the student before the test, and then the student will review it some more, only to have to remember it later in life.

Personally, I have been on a journey the past 3 (approximately) years of returning to the basics.  The basics of my faith.  Where it began, how it started, what did I base my beliefs on, where did that crazy, risk taking, belief in a Sovereign God go?  

Somewhere in the course of time,  I got soft and became a weeny!  I began depending on "me" and all my devices of solving the problem, instead of literally running to God - my Father - for help, rest, peace, and all that other good stuff that comes with faith.

UGH!  I'm so mad at myself!

BUT - I'm so glad that God never gives up on me!  He is patiently taking me back to the basics.  

Not only the basics where I first really started to believe Him at His WORD, but utilizing some of the knowledge I've gained and life experience I've had - to make this an even bigger and better faith than before.

So, I'd love to have you join me as I walk this path.  Let's walk it together!  (I love that!!!)

I continue to be humbled as my faithful Father peels back the layers of doubt that have taken root in so many areas of my life.  It can tend to be a bit painful at times, but the things that give us the most change in our lives are usually painful.  (ponder that for awhile)

Most of these "doubt-bugs" are so small I don't even see them.  

Some of them are very good at camouflaging themselves to look like something else, but then my God gives me His magnifying glass and lo and behold... there's a little beggar to be dug out!

Some are created by society, and what's "safe", what's "healthy", what's "normal", what's "the smart thing to do".  (ponder it - go on - ponder it)

Some are like "no see 'ums".

Sometimes they are like chiggers that dig under your skin.

Sometimes they are like fleas.

Sometimes they are like gnats,

Sometimes a tick. (nasty!)

And then there are the stink-bugs! (gag!)

They can become really big - like a Florida roach! (gross!)

But...they are all pests!  and they are a pain in the neck!!!  They all are from the "pit of hell" especially as far as destroying my faith in what God can/will do and creating a false security in man-made answers!  (I think you could even call them "idols".  Yep - I said it...I think these bugs are just idols.  Isn't an idol something we put our faith in - instead of God?)

Anyway.... I hope you will walk, skip, run, ponder, grope, crawl, roll around pathetically, bounce back, and jump in with me and we can go at this together - because two or more are ALWAYS better than just one.

Love Your Guts,

Pray Really Big,

Hug Your Babies!