Name that tune
Every now and then you get a glimpse of what seems like a quintessential California moment. We spied this sexy, shirtless sixty-something on the way to a walk-in clinic this morning. (No worries, Olivia just has a little rash.) Ten (imaginary) bucks if you can guess the tune he was jammin' to.
Parenting lessons from Mrs. Tabitha Twitchit
The other day Olivia and I were reading The Tale of Tom Kitten by Beatrix Potter. (Mike commented on the change in what comes home from the library once you have children. Once Band of Brothers, now Olivia Forms a Band. Once A Tale of Two Cities, now The Tale of Tom Kitten.)
Anyway, most of you have probably heard the tale. Mrs. Twitchit brinks her rambunctious kitties inside to clean them up for a tea party she is hosting. She bathes and brushes them, then dresses them in very cute, very impractical clothing - especially for cats. Then she turns them out into the garden with instruction to stay on their hind legs and stay clean while she gets her tea ready.
Well, even if you haven't heard the story you can imagine what happened. They tired of walking wobbly on their hind legs, fell in the dirt, climbed walls, stained and ultimately lost all their clothing to a bunch of rowdy puddle ducks. Mrs. Twitchit is furious when she finds them. She smacks them and sends them upstairs, then lies to her guests by reporting that her kittens have the measles and cannot join them for tea.
Mrs. Twitchit's issues with anger and honesty aside, I was immediately convicted by how I expect things from my children (and friends and family for that matter) that they are not yet capable of. I expect Olivia to act like she is twelve not two. Like putting clothes on a cat and expecting it to walk around on its hind legs - and behave human which it is not, I expect Olivia to understand time and consequences and relational and spiritual realities that she is not yet able to grasp - and then I get frustrated with her when she doesn't.
I found hope, though when I read an excerpt from one of Mike's books the other day - Zach Eswine's Preaching to a Post-Everything World. (I have to keep up with Mike's reading in case I ever need to sub for him in the pulpit. Just Kidding - settle your reformed feathers!)
In reference to how Christendom responds to the conversion of controversial figures like Anne Rice and Francis Collins (Google them if you want to know more about who they are.), Eswine writes:
"Christians and non-Christians alike are unsure of how to respond to these two recent and ardent followers of Jesus. Neat and tidy categories implode. In this environment, instruction and conversion to Christ is returned to a process that takes time. Taking time with people sometimes feels like living in an unfinished house. We tire of washing our dishes in the bathtub while we wait for the sink to be fixed. (Can I get an 'amen' from any other rehabbers?) We long for convenience, routine, and certainty. But taking time with people challenges our notions of perfection. We live with the unfinished, and we are forced to remember ourselves. People need the same amount of time we were once given. They need an environment in which they can get answers wrong and find room to learn what is right."
I shouldn't say anything else. That says enough.
Anyway, most of you have probably heard the tale. Mrs. Twitchit brinks her rambunctious kitties inside to clean them up for a tea party she is hosting. She bathes and brushes them, then dresses them in very cute, very impractical clothing - especially for cats. Then she turns them out into the garden with instruction to stay on their hind legs and stay clean while she gets her tea ready.
Well, even if you haven't heard the story you can imagine what happened. They tired of walking wobbly on their hind legs, fell in the dirt, climbed walls, stained and ultimately lost all their clothing to a bunch of rowdy puddle ducks. Mrs. Twitchit is furious when she finds them. She smacks them and sends them upstairs, then lies to her guests by reporting that her kittens have the measles and cannot join them for tea.
Mrs. Twitchit's issues with anger and honesty aside, I was immediately convicted by how I expect things from my children (and friends and family for that matter) that they are not yet capable of. I expect Olivia to act like she is twelve not two. Like putting clothes on a cat and expecting it to walk around on its hind legs - and behave human which it is not, I expect Olivia to understand time and consequences and relational and spiritual realities that she is not yet able to grasp - and then I get frustrated with her when she doesn't.
I found hope, though when I read an excerpt from one of Mike's books the other day - Zach Eswine's Preaching to a Post-Everything World. (I have to keep up with Mike's reading in case I ever need to sub for him in the pulpit. Just Kidding - settle your reformed feathers!)
In reference to how Christendom responds to the conversion of controversial figures like Anne Rice and Francis Collins (Google them if you want to know more about who they are.), Eswine writes:
"Christians and non-Christians alike are unsure of how to respond to these two recent and ardent followers of Jesus. Neat and tidy categories implode. In this environment, instruction and conversion to Christ is returned to a process that takes time. Taking time with people sometimes feels like living in an unfinished house. We tire of washing our dishes in the bathtub while we wait for the sink to be fixed. (Can I get an 'amen' from any other rehabbers?) We long for convenience, routine, and certainty. But taking time with people challenges our notions of perfection. We live with the unfinished, and we are forced to remember ourselves. People need the same amount of time we were once given. They need an environment in which they can get answers wrong and find room to learn what is right."
I shouldn't say anything else. That says enough.
Meems and Scrapaw
My parents have been here since last Wednesday and we have had fun showing them some of our favorite things. This is back at La Jolla at sunset. Check out the beach in the second picture - there is more than just seaweed on that beach.
We visited the Wild Animal Park at dusk and that was fantastic. I have to admit that I was a bit suspicious when we got there. We were the only car pulling in and I felt a little like Clark Grizwold in N.L.'s Family Vacation. I thought we were going to have to beat up a security guard to get in to see the animals - since we had driven all the way out there and missed getting to go the night before because I forgot the free passes for my parents. I was also a little wary when all you could see in about the first 100 yards of the park were gift shops and eateries selling souvenir cups with tiger heads as lids for about 10 bucks. But it was worth it - we saw a cheetah up close (I have never seen the one at the St. Louis Zoo) and tons of giraffes and rhinos and about 6 one year old lion cubs playing. Did you know that giraffes only sleep about 2 hours a day - and even that with their head still upright? Apparently they are prey for many other animals and can't afford to sleep. They also all sit facing different directions - to keep a lookout in all directions. Anyway, it was fun and I am gooby and like animals and animal facts.
Party at the "bus." You can't see Mimi and Scrapaw's bus here, but I think Olivia wants to move into it - at least so she can climb up and down the stairs all day long. This was a birthday party for Lucy - that's right, the dog. Notice who is not in the picture. But don't worry I have a picture of Mike in a birthday hat - from this party and from his birthday earlier this summer - and I will use them as neccessary.
The guys got to play golf at Torrey Pines today and we...well, we hung out in the bus all day. Not as exciting, but good time together nonetheless. Joe is not old enough to know what he missed out on. We did all have lunch at the golf club and toured around a bit - Joseph fully recognizes golf (as does Olivia) and he knows what to do if you put a club in his hand. He can even stand and swing now - and chase his own ball now that he is walking.
We visited the Wild Animal Park at dusk and that was fantastic. I have to admit that I was a bit suspicious when we got there. We were the only car pulling in and I felt a little like Clark Grizwold in N.L.'s Family Vacation. I thought we were going to have to beat up a security guard to get in to see the animals - since we had driven all the way out there and missed getting to go the night before because I forgot the free passes for my parents. I was also a little wary when all you could see in about the first 100 yards of the park were gift shops and eateries selling souvenir cups with tiger heads as lids for about 10 bucks. But it was worth it - we saw a cheetah up close (I have never seen the one at the St. Louis Zoo) and tons of giraffes and rhinos and about 6 one year old lion cubs playing. Did you know that giraffes only sleep about 2 hours a day - and even that with their head still upright? Apparently they are prey for many other animals and can't afford to sleep. They also all sit facing different directions - to keep a lookout in all directions. Anyway, it was fun and I am gooby and like animals and animal facts.
Party at the "bus." You can't see Mimi and Scrapaw's bus here, but I think Olivia wants to move into it - at least so she can climb up and down the stairs all day long. This was a birthday party for Lucy - that's right, the dog. Notice who is not in the picture. But don't worry I have a picture of Mike in a birthday hat - from this party and from his birthday earlier this summer - and I will use them as neccessary.
The guys got to play golf at Torrey Pines today and we...well, we hung out in the bus all day. Not as exciting, but good time together nonetheless. Joe is not old enough to know what he missed out on. We did all have lunch at the golf club and toured around a bit - Joseph fully recognizes golf (as does Olivia) and he knows what to do if you put a club in his hand. He can even stand and swing now - and chase his own ball now that he is walking.
Mrs. America
Well, this is one time where we don't ask Olivia to put a Ms. in front of an adult's name - this is our new friend America - so it is a little cliche to be calling her Ms. America all the time. She is the administrative strength at the Harbor office downtown. Josie, the kids, and I went out for lunch with her today. You see Olivia likes her - she has accessories.
Sugar overdose
Olivia's dreams came true the other night when we went to Richard Walker's Pancake House for an after hours breakfast bonanza. The tone of the event was much classier than a bonanza, but I am from TN and we brought a 2 year old and a 1 year old to the shin dig so expectations of us should be low.
This is actually an upscale-ish pancake house and the owner goes to Harbor. This was a great community event. The restaurant was full of neighbors, not just church people. They served champagne and non-stop crepes, blueberry waffles, mushroom souffles and something with slices of roast beef on it. It was delicious and Olivia was licking powdered sugar off the plates for a good thirty minutes. Like I said, set your expections low. I'm not sure how she is the only one in this shot not moving. You might recognize Josie - and this is her husband Joe. We have had a lot of fun with them this summer. (Sorry about the wrap around text - I can't turn it off.)
This is actually an upscale-ish pancake house and the owner goes to Harbor. This was a great community event. The restaurant was full of neighbors, not just church people. They served champagne and non-stop crepes, blueberry waffles, mushroom souffles and something with slices of roast beef on it. It was delicious and Olivia was licking powdered sugar off the plates for a good thirty minutes. Like I said, set your expections low. I'm not sure how she is the only one in this shot not moving. You might recognize Josie - and this is her husband Joe. We have had a lot of fun with them this summer. (Sorry about the wrap around text - I can't turn it off.)
s.e.x
That's right - sex. The sermon this evening was on Ephesians 5:1-14 - a passage contrasting the old man (not a believer in Christ) and his behaviors and temptations and the new man (one who has called on Christ as savior and purposed to, in God's strength, shed the behaviors and temptations of the old man). Okay, so more specifically the chapter is about sexual immorality and the like.
Some of you know that we try to keep our kids in the service as long as possible and then take them to the nursery when they become a distraction to others. Olivia is doing great with this - staying longer and longer each week. She was in rare form tonight anyway - dancing through all the music, spotting people she knew and giving them "the nod." She was especially attentive. So, when Stephen starts the sermon and says the word sex about 10 times in the first 3 minutes it gets Olivia's attention. We meet in a beautiful, old Lutheran church (see picture above - the is the Harbor Uptown site) so the accoustics are great. So, naturally, when she asks "He is talking about sex?" during an ill placed pause in the sermon, the whole congregation and some people out on Park Blvd. heard it.
Obviously we decided this was the best time to take her to the nursery. Most of the time she asks to go. This time she informed her dad on the way out that she didn't want to go to the nursery. She wanted to "stay and listen to him."
In the mean time we have decided that we will answer any questions on the topic (if they come up again) on a need to know basis.
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