The Difference a Year Can Make

About this time last year, our family had been to Florida, enjoyed a cheap but great vacation to the Disney/Orlando area and Abbey and I were knee-deep in Abbey's Vegan Eats, raising support and awareness for her upcoming Mission Year. I don't even know at this point if she'd received her assignment in Houston, Texas. I only knew in a little over a month, our girl was flying out on that big bird, making her way into the wonderful adventure God had for her.

This side of a year's Journey and next Friday, we will welcome home a very different Sojourner of faith. I wish I could convey to you all the blessed ways in which Abbey has changed. 

She has learned compassion and patience by serving children who live in deep poverty in one of Houston's toughest neighborhoods. She's had the joy of becoming family with people she had never even met last July. 

Because of them and the neighbors that have welcomed them into their lives, she's had a taste of authentic, intentional community and she longs for more...more of God showing up and showing off His Kingdom Love in and through the lives of people committed to serving Him.

As evidenced by Abbey's Vegan Eats, food was already her passion...now it is her rallying cry for the injustice of food deserts and limited, unhealthy choices for those already confined by conventional thought, unfair practices and no means to pull themselves up out of the mire of cheap, traditional American convenience food, that is killing them. She longs to teach others how to live fulfilled, healthy lives, caring for the only temple God gave them...their bodies.

She has still found time to embrace the beautiful and to be creative, but her team and City Directors have helped unleash the inner Artist that has struggled to accept her gifts. Creativity through art, musical theatre, baking and more are necessary survival skills now that she has opened up the toolbox of talent that God had already equipped her with.

Who will come off of that big bird we put her on last year? I'm not exactly sure and I don't know precisely where she's headed next...but I am absolutely certain that with the Holy Spirit as her Guide, it will continue to be the adventure of a lifetime.

We love you Abbey and we long to see your face! (I Thess. 2:17)

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If you'd like to see more photos of Abbey's Mission Year experience, follow her on Instagram.

More Covington Exploration

Did you know that there is a troll that lives under the Roebling Bridge? We didn't either. But while walking around Roebling Pointe yesterday, we discovered all sorts of wonderful things!

Leah wanted to visit the Basilica for her birthday, but that adventure would have to wait since there is no visitation on Sundays. Instead, we headed down toward the River to look for a coffee and bookshop I'd read about online. Last Sunday when we ate at Molly Malone's for Father's Day (which was absolutely delicious!) we tried to find it, but got turned around on the one way streets.

Yesterday...success!

But only about 10 minutes before they closed. We'll definitely be back.

I asked if we could walk around a little more and headed under the bridge where I thought I had previously seen murals. The first thing we found though, was this ingenious place called The Gruff. Why The Gruff?

Because obviously that's where the 3 Billy Goats would hang out after getting past the aforementioned Troll! 

Whoever thought up this restaurant idea at the base of the bridge is genius. I have no idea what they serve (they are closed on Sundays), how much it costs or if it's any good...but I will without question support such amazing local creativity!

A little further on, and we found the murals...

they're sort of hard to miss.

What followed was a great history lesson for my girls about Covington's Riverfront district and how the Roebling Suspension Bridge was actually a prototype for the world-famous Brooklyn Bridge. Historically important...aesthetically beautiful...and all I know is, scary to drive on.[I'm sure it's just me, but I always feel like my tires are slipping on it...even the new tires.]

It was a gorgeous day and a good way to celebrate Leah. 12 years ago we set off on an adventure with this little girl who is always on the go. She loves people, she loves life and most of all, she loves Jesus. Her passion and zeal for adventure is unlike anyone else I know. It was entirely appropriate to have an unexpected adventure on her day.

Bus Adventures & Taste of Newport

Today was the day for a new adventure! Dale and Rebekah were off to a music festival, while Noah, Leah and I wanted to check out Taste of Newport. This was the day for our first ride on...the bus!

I concede nervousness. 

I mean, give me a train in Philly and I'm all researched, asked advice of locals and have no problem looking like a tourist, reading all the signs along the way. But in my own back yard (almost literally!), I want to at least appear a little knowledgeable.

Taking a picture of the bus stop was the first clue that I'm a newbie.

Appearances aside, the first three are back home without getting lost and with the friendly assistance of two different TANK bus drivers. I didn't have to look for parking, and Dale didn't have to pay for parking. We had an air-conditioned ride each way and were almost dropped off at our front door. 

This, my friends, for a first-time outing...was a success!

And yes, the food was delicious too! There's definitely a few places in Newport we'll be visiting again.

For the one day event, several blocks of Monmouth Street were open to pedestrians only.

We now want to come back and check out this comic store sometime when it's open.

VERY cute (& some beautiful) cakes in this store front.
To the right was a cake that resembled pancakes, with eggs & bacon on the side.

More Than You Could Ask or Imagine

Sometimes...words are just so inadequate.

I have struggled to wrap my brain around what God has done in the last two months. I have expressed it to friends, discussed it with family and tried to compile feeble praise to an Abba who loves to give sweet surprises to His children. I have witnessed the exuberance of friends who have been on this Journey with us and delighted as their uncontained excitement for us has spilled over onto the walls and floors of our new home. And yet, words have often failed me.

How do you describe a God who patiently walked me through the steps of what I thought we needed to work toward sustainability (at least  a 1 acre farm) toward the reality of where He wanted us (a 0.1 acre urban farm)?

How do you find words for a God who prompted an annoying homeowner to walk down an alleyway at precisely the right moment we exited viewing his home, which "coincidentally" steered us to the next home that I didn't even think we needed to view (and where we now live)?

How do you honor a God that I know (after meeting them) inspired the previous owners to pray for the exact family to come along that would appreciate the home they had lovingly tended for 35 years?

How do you explain a God who gave you every minute detail in a home that you've ever wanted, but were afraid to believe you could have?

How do you thank a God who knew you needed a lawn mower, yard tools, a trimmer, a new queen-sized bed, a shower curtain, space for indoor hydroponics, even stakes to hold up your tomato plants...and had the previous owners leave it all in excellent, clean condition???

How do you give voice to the amazement of a God who kept whispering, "Don't worry that the size of the yard is too small. You never know what may happen. There may be an abandoned lot or other space free up someday?"...only to discover on Monday that there is a community garden less than 1/2 a block from our home, and by Thursday, find someone working in it, which prompts my sweet friend to laugh and say, "Let's go talk to her", and the woman graciously contacts the person in charge who seriously offers you one to one and a half of the plots, hesitantly asks if you're okay with using only organic gardening practices AND ALMOST APOLOGETICALLY ASKS IF YOU'D BE WILLING TO SET OUT ANY ABUNDANCE FOR THE NEIGHBORS TO TAKE FREELY????????

There is, as yet, one single heart's desire that I have to find unfulfilled! My husband and children are pleased with the location, we are excited to become familiar with the bus system, and there is low-income housing down the street that others may fear, but expectantly calls me to serve and Love in the Name of my precious Savior and Abba.

I have attempted and failed to express to those around me all that has happened these last eight weeks. I have apologized for appearing docile while their excitement cannot be contained. It has truly been more emotion than I can absorb. It almost feels like I'm beginning to simply "take it in stride".

I never want to take for granted the precious care my Father provides, but yesterday as we walked back from the community garden, I think my sweet friend summed it up best, 'How could the One who shaped and molded your small heart in His hands not know exactly what you needed and wanted?' 

I guess it was just a matter of time, refining in us, and prompting beautiful people to give up their well-loved home before it could all be played out to His glory and honor.

God, please create the words in my heart and soul that express my joy and delight in You. And when words are not enough, may my life be a reflection of Your grace, a witness of Your love and a steady stream of mercy flowing out into everyone around me. You. Are. Amazing. I am blessed to be Your's! Amen!

Too Anxious to Stay Inside

What do you do when life is changing soon and the anticipation of it is more than your passionate soul can bear? Do you stay inside and wade through hours of math, algebra and geometry with the kids? Or do you surprise them with a day of "going out", soaking up sun, eating tasty treats and contemplating how different your life will soon be?

The rhythms, the hums, the cadence of life is steady and sweet. The joy, the elation, the significance of what is about to happen is not lost on anyone. Friends and acquaintances almost cannot contain their excitement, so how can I?

God's plans are so much bigger, higher, deeper, wider and all-encompassing than I could ever ask or imagine. Every detail of what we thought we "wanted" and the things we didn't even think were askable are all on the table. Do you have an hour? Soon you can come sit on our front porch and I'll tell you how He did it. 

Come to think of it, an hour may not be long enough.

Sometimes what I thought I "needed" and what He wanted me to surrender to seemed vast, untameable and more complex than this hyper-analytical brain could comprehend. That's why He is God...and I am not. 

Sometimes I dragged my feet and buried my head because it was just all too good for me to take in. If I had just let You be God and gone along for the ride, how much more could I have learned, experienced and absorbed? But my failings, You don't hold against me.

When friends and total strangers tell me they see me "come alive" in the gifts You have given me, I need no more affirmation of what You've been speaking to my heart. I hear Rafiki from the Lion King say, "It is time."

And so it is.

We'll be leaving this home soon. It has been a place of healing, a place of immense growth. It has been a respite from a world that dug its claws into us and threatened to defeat us.

"But our God is greater. Our God is stronger. Our God is higher than any other." We sing those words in R3volution...but I have lived them.

Now, because of His faithfulness, not ours...we begin a new chapter. In this leg of the Journey, we not only continue to grow, but are granted the absolute privilege of pouring our lives out so that others can know that they are loved.

Follow us here. Check out my new gardening blog (coming soon). Come sit on our front porch, sip sweet tea, visit the garden, or stay for a spell and pour out your life too. I can promise you nothing...except the ride of a lifetime!

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Note about these photos:  I love this River...and we're moving nearer to it. We'll be only a 10-15 minute drive from downtown Cincy, or a 25 minute bus ride...which will be our new (highly anticipated!) way of getting there!

The Hobbit Cafe'- Houston, Texas

On my trip to Houston to visit Abbey, the one place she'd mentioned that I really wanted to try was Hobbit Cafe'. It was just as fun and delicious as I'd hope it would be. 

Started in 1972, these are people dedicated to the Tolkien stories, not the presently popular movie versions. Their food, while mostly named for characters and places with which I'm familiar in the stories, still had us pulling out Abbey's iPhone to Google Valinor and a few other terms with which were weren't familiar in Hobbit-lore. That's how fun this place is.

Indoors, you're surrounded by a hefty collection of memorabilia and outside, you sit in the beer garden underneath the Party Tree. It was a beautiful day, so we sat outside. For a Kentuckian in February, just sitting outside for lunch made the entire experience delightful.

I had a delicious salmon burger (with no fun Hobbit name for it) and Abbey had a tasty portobello burger sans bun topped with jalapenos and alfalfa sprouts.  Our server was kind, prompt, attentive and helpful with suggestions. 

If I'm ever lucky enough to visit Houston again, I would definitely head back there for lunch or dinner. They have Sunday brunch items too. If you're in the area, check them out.

Pride and Stubborness

Jane Austen is one of my all-time favorite authors. And although my situation looked nothing at all like her heroine, Elizabeth Bennet's, this phrase in my title was a play on words that kept humming through my head recently. I don't have a lot of time today to explain, but I think I should at least attempt to try.

Mission Year hosts "Come and See" weekends twice each year in their various service cities. Abbey has long wanted me to come, but I didn't possibly see how I could. (You know where this is going, right?) Well...God being the good Giver of absolutely every perfect gift, as I (and Abbey) began praying for His wisdom and provision, several things "fell" into place that I recognized as being from Him...and some it took a little longer to put together.

First, I kept back some of my Christmas gift money. That is big, right there. Then, I picked up some contract work worth a couple hundred dollars, the very day after Abbey told me she'd be praying for God's provision. I also had two dear friends ready to head out on an 18 hour (one way!) road trip, and to be honest, the hours and hours of girl/Jesus time sounded amazing! One of these friends even has a sweet friend in Houston where we could stay.

Then...like the unforeseen curve in the road, a friend offered me frequent flyer miles to get a free airplane ticket. Suddenly, my well-planned trip had to be reassessed: I couldn't stay with my friend's friend without her. I'm a little afraid of flying. I had it all planned out in my head, Maybe I could take the ticket and pay for a hotel. I'd still have to rent a car in Houston, so would I really be saving that much?

And then He did it.

Yep...this is what I heard: "You are just being stubborn! You ask me to provide and..." I know in that moment if I could actually see the Holy Spirit He would have had His shoulders shrugged, His hands open wide and a look of "Well...what did you expect?" on His face.

My pride and stubbornness was uncomfortable with a free ticket and a free place to stay with a stranger. But these are both Christian hospitality in their finest. There are no strangers in God's family, right?

So tomorrow, bright and early, I'll be taking that flight to Houston and tomorrow night, Abbey will be staying with me in a lovely home with a brother and sister I have yet to meet. I could not have put this all together any better than if I'd actually written the manuscript. It all makes me wonder what other perfect gifts have I missed out on in the past because of my Pride and Stubbornness.

Is there anything that you are missing out on receiving because you've already got it all "figured out"? 

Two HEALTHY Super Bowl Snack Recipes

I've been on a quest to find some healthy alternatives for next week's big game. And even though "Deflate-gate" has had me angrier than I care to admit, I know my family will want snacks. It's sort of a tradition. Last year, Abbey handled most of the cooking and it was amazing, healthy, and even better because I didn't have to fix it! But this year, I'm on my own for finding healthy options.

I almost put in a request to Liana Shanti to ask her to develop a Super Bowl recipe book. Her Rawganic Vegan recipes are always tasty and usually fairly easy with very few "weird" ingredients. [weird = difficult to acquire in the Midwest U.S.A.] She must have read my mind, because although a booklet has yet to arrive in my inbox, she recently shared a delicious dessert hummus recipe that I made today and received a hearty thumbs up from three of the four who tried it.

The Double Fudge Chip Hummus (mine pictured above) has just enough sweetness, in addition to substantial protein from white beans and nut butter, to make this an awesome alternative to pancreas-overwhelming fruit dips you find in the store.

My favorite magazine, Urban Farm, also came through with the Hungry Locavore's Orange Salsa recipe. I made both of these today and let's just say lunch was pretty awesome!

If you have any tried and true football snacks that are healthy and delicious, please share in the comments below. While the boys in our clan will chow down on their favorite Buffalo Chicken Dip (yuck!), the girls and I will be highly anticipating our tasty whole food and vegan alternatives.

My Co-worker

As I've been making my way through 1 Thessalonians I kept coming across some wording that struck me as odd, yet I'm certain it's intentional in the way that Paul, Silas and Timothy chose to write it.

"and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ; to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith." (1 Thessalonians 3:2)

Note what it does and does not say: Timothy is their brother and God's fellow worker. Other versions use "fellowlabourer" (KJV) and "God's man for spreading the Message" (The Message). 

I confess, I don't often think of myself as God's co-worker. I think of other Christians as my fellow labourers. But what if I saw them all as my brothers and sisters only? 

I would probably be more gracious, forgiving and tolerant of the little things that being human crop up and annoy or frustrate us. We're all much more forgiving with family. Usually.

And instead of thinking of trudging along with other flawed humans as my partners...what if I actually believed that God's plans hinged on me showing up for work?

Aside from the obvious problem of getting fired (because God would never fire us), there are people depending on you for your "goods and services". If no one showed up at the local Amazon warehouse, we'd all be doing without a whole lot of stuff.

And what happens when one (or a handful) of people are left to do all of the work while everyone else huddles around the water cooler or breakroom just wasting away the day? In the real world, the "few" would probably be resentful, angry and ready to quit. But just for the sake of argument, let's say they are gracious, absolutely love what they are doing, wouldn't trade their job for the world, and find great personal meaning and fulfillment in what they believe is their calling? 

To be honest, the loyal, hardworking labourer can only carry the dead weight for so long. If we're talking about a multi-billion dollar company that spans every corner of the globe, has about 2 billion employees and only about 2 million of them or less are actually doing any work, that means .1% (0.001 or one-thousandth) of the employees are actively engaged in the job to be done. And since there's the global-potential to reach 7 billion "customers", that is 1 co-worker for every 3500 potential clients. If we were Hunger Games people we would say "the odds are definitely not in your favor." 

Anyone out there with a client-base of 3500 people that they need to introduce to the product, peak their interest, sell them the goods, and then provide life-long customer service if need be? Yet, this is exactly the burden we place upon those who are working in the Kingdom if we even have 2 million workers in the fields. Jesus told us two thousand years ago that "the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." (see Matthew 9:37, NASB) It seems not much has changed in those two thousand years.

Now, while I've crassly placed salvation and God's plan for all of mankind in the context of business, goods, sales and everyday life, I do so for what I hope has become an extremely obvious point:  We take God's grace and Love for granted.

What employer would allow 90% or more of His workers to fill pews, wax philosophical and armchair-coach-away the problems of the world and how they would solve them "if they only had a chance"? That would be the most gracious, loving, kind and longsuffering employer you would ever have.

But here's the beautiful part: He doesn't consider Himself your employer, He is your fellowlabourer.

He's right there in the trenches with you, cheering you on, delighting in your successes and commiserating in your trials and pain. He meets you around the water cooler when you need to debrief and He discusses the next step and the vision in the "business" plan when He's groomed you and you're ready for the next adventure in your career. And no one could be any prouder when you reach "retirement" and hang up your briefcase. Nothing's changed in the company manual in over 5000 years and it will remain the same long after you've reached your Reward.

So here's the question that is begging to be asked:  When your loved ones gather around for the "retirement roast", what will they say of you? Will they mention your financial portfolio? Will they reminisce about your good intentions and ideas? Will they put a gold-plate on the pew that you warmed? Or will your children "rise up and call you blessed" (see Proverbs 31:28, NASB)? Will there be anyone to shake your hand in the Promised Land and say, 'if it weren't for your work, your labor of love (see 1 Thessalonians 1:3), I would not be here?'

It's time to work. No matter what you think the sacrifice may involve, it pales in comparison to the joy and blessings that will be received. Paul went so far as to say, "for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 3:8) 

I'm ready to "really live"...aren't you? So let's go back to the Manual and ask our Co-worker to show us the next phase of His personal Vision for us and as Nike reminds us "Just Do It"!

WIJD

What Would (Is) Jesus Do-ing?

Most of us have heard the phrase "What would Jesus Do?" Some of us probably even still have a plastic bracelet bearing the initials WWJD thrown into the back of a junk drawer somewhere.

While the question has merit, this year I want to ask WIJD...What Is Jesus Doing? I want 2015 to be the year where God's Kingdom "on Earth as it is in Heaven" becomes a reality that I see daily.

This Spirit-inspired task is a daunting one, it will take more discipline than I can muster in my own power, and it will challenge and perhaps shake the very core of my American-church faith.

Shane Claiborne writes, "Few things have more transformative power than people and stories." (Irresistible Revolution). If you'll join me as I dig into God's Story, read the stories of God's faithful and interview those who are already on the frontlines of His Kingdom work, and begin to join God in places where He is already working, I promise you will be transformed too. (12/24/14)

Today as I reflect on these words that poured out of me as I sat in my car and waited for Abbey to complete her gift shopping in Target on Christmas Eve, I cannot begin to relay to you all of the various affirmations that God has used to confirm that this is the theme for me in 2015. I haven't made a New Year's resolution in a few decades...and I've never kept one...but God's Holy Spirit is faithful to often direct me into themes that He wants to explore in my heart, mind, body and soul.

2014 was a year of attempting to become chemical free and I think I'm about 75%+ there. It's involved making homemade alternatives to shampoo, conditioners, toothpastes and using essential oils, herbs and teas for stress and pain relief. Did it take time? Yes. Did it take effort? Yes. Did it cost additional money? Sometimes yes...but often it was less expensive or free.

Wouldn't it be amazing if at this time next year I could share with you that I see God actively working in 75%+ of each and every day? Call it a resolution, a goal, a theme or the impossible...but He has me chomping at the bit...ready for the challenge.

While I can't possibly convey every situation that has brought me to this place...because some of them extend back in time over a decade...I can share a few highlights that I hope encourage you to join me on this leg of the Journey:

• Our church (2000+ members) is presently reading through The Story together. This version of the Bible tells God's Story and how it has prevailed throughout history.
• In a series of meetings with our Serve Ministry Leader at First Church of Christ, I had the "idea" that people learn best through and are inspired by the stories of others, so why don't we create short videos showing where God is already working and trust Him to inspire others to join in.
• During this same set of meetings, we chose to begin reading Irresistible Revolution as a Serve Team to dig into a narrative of how Jesus is fleshing out His work in others.
• While contemplating how to educate people in our congregation about needs in our community and how we can meet those needs, this idea of sharing a book discussion to the whole church arose and we began sifting through a lengthy list of what book to start with because Irresistible Revolution might be too challenging for most...yet this book rose to the surface and that's where we'll begin.
• The paragraphs at the beginning of this post poured out of me on Christmas Eve, because I read that amazing quote from Shane Claiborne while I waited.
• What is the title of my blog for pete's sake?
• Too many more to relate here.

So we're diving in...we've created a private Facebook group for church and online participants who want to read Irresistible Revolution and join in the conversation. I'll also be posting quotes from books, sharing videos of God's Kingdom work and trying to engage you in this Journey. Follow me on Twitter (link above), find me on Facebook, come to our Sunday morning book discussions (message me for details), join us in our LifeGroup or at Thursday morning Bible study at FCC, message me to meet for coffee, join us in serving at Tent Day, the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky, homeless hosting this winter at FCC or any of the other possibilities that will arise throughout the year...but most of all fall on your knees and implore the Almighty, the Savior of your soul and His Holy Spirit that is alive, active and living in you to show you where He is already bringing His Kingdom "on Earth as it is in Heaven."

I am so ready! Aren't you??

p.s. I almost forgot!! We'll be using the hashtag #FCCGodStories for Kingdom-work inspiration. What better way to show how God is "trending" everyday??!

You CAN Go Home Again...

but you'll be changed.

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I anticipated this. I knew it may happen. It does not make me sad. It makes life real.

I joyfully picked up our oldest Friday afternoon from Indianapolis International Airport, hugged and kissed her sweet little ginger head, had lunch with my parents, sister-in-law and niece and nephews, and started the long drive home.

It's not lengthy...but it was quiet.

My introvert who has had her comfortable, suburban world jolted by the reality of a broken and often hopeless one, needed time to decompress. My usual tactic of pummelling my children with questions until they open up was not appropriate, I had perceived as much.

At some point in the journey I must have asked the right question and the conversation flowed more easily. It has increasingly done so over the last two days...yet, there's one significant change that I have noticed: 

She's no longer set off by the small things that used to light her fuse.

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While I knew maturity would arrive swiftly for an 18 year old (now 19 year old) who's sacrificing comfort and the "norm" for a woman of her tender age, I wasn't prepared for the "untroubledness" of her maturity.

I was fully prepared to avoid her triggers. We all have them. In families we learn to step around them to keep the peace. When I've asked about laundry, food choices, and plans for each day, I think I'm no longer perceived as a nag...but she understands that my genuine concern for her is manifested in the little things.

What I've been asking myself for the last 48+ hours though are questions of myself that I think each Christian should delve into and accompanied by the Holy Spirit, grapple with and mold into our being and modus operandi for daily life:

What can cause us to abandon our priorities?

What can help us not to sweat the "small stuff"?

What must happen for me to put into perspective the minutiae of life?

What changes inside a perfectionist to bring them more calm, peace and joy?

The answer is simple...yet profound...

Love!

It may have been long-distance, but I have seen this beauty fall in love with a city, a neighborhood, a school and the children inside of it. She has talked with prostitutes, shared meals with feeble grandmothers in her new home, made pies and candy for her neighbors, taught children to sing and draw and enjoyed a birthday "cake" made from playground mulch accompanied by a preschool-pitched chorus of "Happy Birthday Miss Abbey".

She has also learned the humility of poverty and dependence upon others. She has found pleasure in the simple things like a free, reconditioned bike, local taco stands and new friends that quickly become family.

She has found new outrage inside of herself. While others her age are frustrated with the latest iPhone update or that their favorite cafe' no longer carries their preferred mocha, she has discovered fury over racism, injustice, deep poverty, and the desperation that drives people to merely survive instead of thrive.

She has found her Voice...and it is a melody of grace.

He'll Wreck Your Life!

I'm beginning to think that every potential Christian should receive this word of caution: Watch Out! He'll wreck your life!

I have been deeply reminded of this in the last few days. This morning the Holy Spirit drove it home with a line from a book I began reading, Kisses From Katie. In the introduction she writes these few small words that are jam-packed with a lifetime of adventure: "You see, Jesus wrecked my life."

Not 20 minutes later I stood in my kitchen preparing my morning juice and the quiet in our place was too much for the spinning wheels of my mind. I turned on a Christmas CD from a group that my now-grown Abbey listened to in her pre-adolescent years...Jump 5. Their rendition of "Joy to the World" has always hit me in the right place, but today...it flat-out made me cry.

Why?

Because Jesus doesn't just want to "wreck your life"...He came, lived and died so that He could wreck the whole world!

He brought His Kingdom come on "Earth and it is in Heaven." And He has never looked back. 

He wrecked the places where we find our security. He wrecked the notion of who is strong and who is weak. He wrecked the attitudes toward "the least of these". He wrecked deeply-ingrained notions of gender importance. He wrecked who is embraced by the King. He wrecked our hope in the world systems that keep us enslaved. He wrecked the perceptions of why people are poor and just exactly who is poor. And He called His followers to voluntarily let Him wreck their lives...sometimes to the point of death.

So this year, amidst the gifts, the lights, the music, the laughter, the contentment of having our oldest home, and the beauty of a world that at least seems peaceful for a brief season, I will be looking for the Savior that came to wreck my world...my life...what I actually find contentment in...and in where I place my hope.

My Christmas prayer for you is that His Presence, His Emmanuel (God with us!) will wreck your world too!

Old Kentucky Christmas: First Church of Christ, Burlington, KY

Our church has given the gift of this event to our community for the last few years. Each year, Old Kentucky Christmas grows and grows. This year's crowd is expected to reach around 10,000 between the four night and one day event.

Today, my kids and I volunteered for the field trip shift. We worked in the school house, teaching children how to write with a feather quill and ink.

There is something fun for everyone. You can make a candle...

pet real animals, like llamas, a donkey, burro, cow or angora rabbits...

take a carriage ride, play pioneer games, make your own Christmas ornament, go on a hayride and there is food too.

Decorate your own Christmas cookie, drink hot cocoa, or dip a pretzel in chocolate at the candy shop.

Inside our main building there will also be a quilting display, a dulcimer ensemble and several opportunities to participate in our church's candlelight service. Thursday night, Cooper High School performed their Christmas concert in lieu of a candlelight service.

There are also several photo opportunities outside and a more formal family photo opportunity inside.

Did I mention that this entire event is free?

My only caution is that with local road and community building construction this year, parking is more restricted. If you're heading out, there is the option to park at Camp Ernst Middle School and catch the free shuttle over to the First Church campus.

Trust me..your family will love this and it might become a favorite tradition in your home.

Visit the website for more time, location and map details. There are also lots of photos on the Facebook page.

And this...

this is what happens when you teach several hundred students how to write with a feather quill and ink. Oh well...back in the day, I would have just looked the part of a serious author.

River Road Ramblings

I love living near the Ohio River. Honestly, I could easily while away the hours on a gorgeous day like today, simply listening to the gentle ripples as the warm breezes stir this majestic and beautiful river. We've been studying the Northern Kentucky region for school...its history, geography, ecology and even  the marine life contained within it.  Today, we wrapped up our study with an amazing drive along the river road that meanders across the tip of our state. We had no agenda...just clear blue skies, an unusually warm late October day, more happy fall color than Bob Ross could ever give a tree, a little bit of gas in the car and my always-ready-for-an-adventure attitude.

We often tread the path between our home and the Covington or Newport areas along this road. I enjoy driving the river route when we have the time, because the interstate just can't compare.

A little more than an hour into our trip today, we ended up in Augusta, Kentucky. This small river town hands down has to be one of the cutest little places I've ever seen. Just look at their Welcome Center...

As only I would, we saved this stop for last. (Welcome to my world!) Inside Dorothy greeted us with her space heaters cranked up to 90, smelling like my grandma, and a head full of history and trivia that only a tiny town like this could contain. I instantly loved her!

We only spoke to two people on our little excursion (Dorothy and a shopkeeper), but both conveniently name dropped George Clooney. It seems Mr. Clooney graduated from high school here and his parents still live in the town. Both ladies pointed out his mother's store, which would have been easy to identify if I had indeed known his mom's name is Nina.

There's also a ferry boat that crosses here and Dorothy told us pedestrians are free to cross. But if you have your own boat, you can pull right up to the riverside park. I'm not a boating person myself, but boat ties on the side of the river seem to indicate to me that it's deep enough for you to dock here.

Dorothy also informed us that the longest stretch of the Ohio River that is straight is about 9 miles long...and Augusta lies on that stretch. All of the homes along the riverfront were built in the 1700s or 1800s. I'll add to Dorothy's helpful information that these house are also absolutely adorable.

On our brief walking tour, my kids chastised me for taking a picture of this private yard. My response? "Anyone who spends this much time on their garden, wants it to be admired."

Leah mentioned several times that the town reminded her of Storybrook. That's the fictional town where her favorite TV program, Once Upon a Time, takes place. I had to admit, Augusta felt more "Southern" than I am accustomed to feeling in Northern Kentucky. I could almost picture myself standing next to the Mighty Mississippi somewhere in Louisiana, instead of standing across the river from the state of Ohio.

As we were looking around, I kept picturing this cute little place all dressed up for Christmas. Both ladies we spoke with concurred that Christmas would be a great time to return. I think we'll be back.

Last week, we also worked in a trip to Rabbit Hash, Kentucky, when my parents were here. Yes, you read that correctly, Rabbit Hash. This is what I expect a Kentucky river town to look like. We love Rabbit Hash, but there's not much to do there on a weekday, other than visit the General Store. 

As we continue to explore Kentucky, little treasures like Bellevue and Augusta reinforce my love for this beautiful state. Next region...Bluegrass.

Tent Day

What is Tent Day? Tent Day is what happens when churches take food, fun and fellowship outside of the church walls and to neighborhoods where people need to experience God's Love. We all need God's Love, but some communities are more receptive to people sharing life with them. Such is the case on Tuesday and Thursday nights in two Northern Kentucky neighborhoods.

CityMerge is a relatively new non-profit whose vision not only includes Tent Day, but meeting real needs for real people. The needs can't fully be known until the relationships are established through consistent involvement in the lives of neighborhood families though. Once the needs are identified (i.e. homework assistance, nutrition classes, or small home repairs for the elderly), the needs can be met by church members, Tent Day volunteers, or local agencies that are already active and funded in the community.

The biggest need that is met by Tent Day is relationship. In poor communities, you don't want to feel like a "project"...you want to know you are loved, valued and a needed part of your neighborhood. Through informal community dinners, games and conversation, neighbors step out of their homes and into each others lives. When you know your neighbors are working together, you know that your contribution can make a difference.

Just as this Gigi's cupcake brings BIG icing to Tent Day...CityMerge's BIG dream involves transformation of lives and neighborhoods on nothing less than a massive scale. But as I've learned over the last year, it all starts with the little things. Obedience, time, listening, discernment, personal study, dedication and love...above all else Love...is what will make lasting change in the lives of those who are marginalized in our society.

But the flip-side of this is that the Tent Day volunteers will most likely be the most transformed! When you invest your own obedience, time, listening, discernment, etc. into the lives of people in your local community who only have their lives and time to give in return, you quickly become the recipient of priceless gifts like honesty, authenticity, joy, fun, conversation, insight, perspective on what really matters, and love...above all else Love.

CityMerge hopes to one day have other Northern Kentucky churches capture the vision and adopt neighborhoods in their own communities. What would happen if every church in Northern Kentucky took one night each week to feed their neighbors and talk with them about what's going on in their homes, schools and neighborhoods? 

Can you see it?

It may turn out to be nothing more than a cut-throat game of Trouble...

or maybe...just maybe...it could become the beautiful Body of Christ that Jesus envisioned His Church could be: On Earth as it is in Heaven!

Books By the Banks- Cincinnati, Ohio

My friend Sarah shares an amazing calendar of events around our area that homeschoolers may find interesting. I am always thankful for her diligence and dedication to continually update the calendar...especially today.

Once the sky went from gray to blue this morning, I was determined to get out of the house during the pause between rainstorms. One glance at Sarah's calendar and the decision to check out the free "Books By the Banks" event was an easy one.

A large convention room full of authors, books and extra freebies available from libraries, arts organizations and more? Yeah...no question about going again in the future from me.

See this man? See the engagement in his face with the toddler you can't see because his mom with the red purse is blocking the camera's view? That man is Marc Brown, author of the Arthur series of books that spawned a PBS franchise that along with the books, provided my children (and myself!) hours of amusement and life lessons.

Speaking of kids...mine were a little too old for the Kids' Zone full of crafts, face painting, balloon animals, story time and games...but that did not stop us from having a photo shoot with The Snow Queen, courtesy of  Cincinnati Children's Theatre.

The only "bad" part about the festival? I absolutely spent too much money. Local authors are evidently my weak spot. This is not surprising if you know me. Evidently, I have my reading workload mapped out for the rest of the year.

But seriously though, you should keep Books By the Banks website "book"marked and reserve time on your calendar for next year's event. If you're book nerds like us, you'll be glad you did.