Facebook Mom

OK, I have to admit that the only reason for joining Xanga, Myspace and Facebook was to be a watchful eye for my son and his friends. Being a Myspace Mom actually strengthened my relationship with my teen, if you can believe that.

The other day my 17 yr. old son asked, "Mom, how come you haven't asked me to be your friend on Facebook?" This was said over a lunch date with just the two of us sharing a white pizza with LOTS of garlic! To say the least I was shocked he invited me into his world that I usually barge into.

Up until recently the only reason I joined these networking forums was to be fully informed as a Mom. We have a rule in our house if you haven't personally met someone, then they can't be your friend ( with the exception of music groups, of course) You have to be friends with your favorite groups!

Recently, I found an unexpected blessing as I am so wet behind the ears with Facebook. Yes, I guess my pride gets in the way to ask my son how to do this. You can actually have a high school and college reunion! I have found long lost friends and am so excited.

I encourage you to enter into the unknown galaxy. Yes, Facebook can seem like 'the new frontier' to us parents. Trust me it is worth it to continue building bridges with your teen and can also expand your own horizons.

Will you be my friend? (Only if I know you of course!)

Isolation v. Connection

Isolation v. connection. How many of us struggle with this dichotomy in our deepest heart of hearts?

I was so touched by Lysa TerKeurst blog, "She Likes Me, She Likes Me Not". Check it out sometime www.lysaterkeurst.blog.spot.com. By reading the many responses, I realized I am not the only one who suffers from the disease of dorkness.

My soul cries out for someone to talk to…someone who really understands… someone to truly connect with. As the years go by I have realized that I am not the only woman who longs for this connection. Dee Brestin wrote a book years ago called, The Friendships of Women that addressed this very issue.

We live such separated isolated lives in our culture today. Piano lessons, soccer practice and PTA meetings keep us from eating dinner together, let alone allow us time to build deep relationships.

In years past several generations used to live under one roof or close by. A woman would learn how to keep house, cook and raise babies from her mother, grandmother, aunts and siblings who lived in the same house or nearby. But now we put our parents in nursing homes and move far away from family. Connection to family and friends is crowded out by our choices to be independent, prosperous, fulfilled and…lonely.

James 5: 16 says, "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."

Maybe it takes us to make the first move to find someone to "confess" to. I know, I know. Many of us say, "but I'm always the one that calls. Why doesn't someone call me?" Wish I knew the answer to that question. But most likely our non-initiating friends have a phobia about initiating. We all have our weaknesses, though.

I've been asking God for connections and it has been amazing how He has been answering. By the way, the little girl across the street who needs a 'Mom' to care, came over again last night. She needed.....connection!

Hopelessly Romantic...

Yes, my husband is so hopelessly romantic. Now before you click to another blog and wish you were living in Cinderella's world like me, stick around for a minute and keep reading.

My dear sweet man ( who knows I am writing this, btw) is hopeless...at being a romantic. Yes, that is what he thinks and I used to believe the lie. In fact, I won Lysa Terkeurst's Valentine blog contest because I was so frustrated with this 'wonderful' man. Flowers? Nope. Candy? Nope. Card on Mother's Day? Nope!

Maybe a couple of times a year he will think of doing those small niceties, but the rest of the year? ? He is always ready to listen when I need him. He patiently holds my hand when I'm spazzing over the loss of hair us middle age women experience. And he works so hard at his job so he can desperately get that promotion so I can cut back my hours at work.

Romantic? Maybe not like Cinderella. But romantic where it counts. Romantic not just one or two days out of the year, but in the everyday commitment. I love you, honey!

Prayer

Dear Bloggin' Sisters,
Our family is in need of prayer right now. Would ya mind? My husband has been handling an enormous stress at his job. After a year of many hours of overtime working on a project that only he could do in the short amount of time they requested, the project was finished successfully. However, management above him however is not happy because he did such a great job...

We are waiting the next few weeks to see if he gets a so needed promotion or if he gets axed. We have been clinging to Prov 3:5 & 6 ...Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not to thine OWN understanding. In ALL thy ways acknowledge HIM and HE will direct your paths.

Also, "the heart of the king is in the hand of the LORD...Proverbs somewhere :)

I am learning on a daily basis what being an encouragement to your husband is. I'm am so grateful he doesn't 'cave' on me. He is so sweet and tries to keep me informed as best as possible without worrying me!

When our guys look like they have it all together, look a little closer and they might actually really need a big hug and a word of encouragement 'No matter what happens, honey, I'm right here beside ya!'

Thanks, sisters for your prayers...I'll keep you 'posted'

Margin

Thanks to all who have read my one and only blog and were kind enough to comment!
God was prompting me today to get back to writing on here and when I checked my blog to write a new post, I had no idea some new friends so kindly stopped by to leave comments. Sorry guys; I'm new to all this.

This time of year I feel that my schedule takes me for a ride instead of me being in charge of IT. I am reading this awesome book called Margin by Richard Swenson. He shares that we all need to leave margin in our lives so that when the cup gets bumped what comes out is joy and readiness to serve rather than emptiness. If we are exhausted we have no reserve to minister to the "unexpected" blessings that come our way.

My husband and I listened to Dr. Swenson speaking on Midday Connection recently. One comment that resonates in my soul is ...the things that are important are "slow, mellow and deep". Jesus' ministry on earth was not crammed full of activity from morning until night. He spent time with his disciples sharing His Father's ways. He spent time away from the crowds to pray.

He did not set up healing clinics to heal everybody. He ministered to those who came across his path. I don't picture Jesus scurrying down the street late for an appointment proclaiming his schedule was crammed too full today. In the scriptures Jesus contrasted Mary and Martha for a reason. I think it is interesting that he chose two women as examples of contrasting overload serving and sitting at Jesus' feet. Don't you think woman, more than men, struggle with the myth of feeling significant? We think if we are busy, we are fulfilled.

God gave us 24 hours each day. Dr. Swenson stressed that we often think that God can't make it without us so we need to fill our day with ministry 23 of those 24 hours.

God created the earth in 6 days and rested the 7th. If God the ultimate Creator, scheduled time out to rest, to process and to think...ahhh "it is good", why should we as finite creatures feel we are any different? I guess we think she who wears the most 'hats' wins.

I guess you can tell I have been processing through this concept. It does put me in a predicament. I live in a world that constantly tantalizes me to join this and that. I fall prey to 'good' things which end up sapping energy meant to minister to my family. Even service opportunities at church can pull me away from my communion with Christ and service to my family.

I recently made a very tough decision of resigning from a position at my church. Instead of leading our music ministry at church, God is asking me to be open to His ministry for my life. A ministry that allows 'margin' in my life...a ministry that puts my family first. I'm excited to see what doors are opening...