I wasn't nervous, this time...

OK...this past weekend my husband went skydiving. No, I'm not nuts, and he's not nuts. He's wanted to for years, and this was the year. I sent him with 2 other friends, Brian & Erik (it was actually a Father's Day gift for the 3 of them...). I say I "sent" - but the whole family went along of course. It actually turned out to be a 2 week event. The guys were supposed to "jump" last weekend, but the weather didn't cooperate, and the actual jump just had to wait. We thought we were in for the same this past Saturday, but we waited it out longer than the clouds (honestly, I didn't know if we would), but finally the 3 Amigos were called to suit up and get ready to jump.

They were literally giddy. It reminded me of girls at about 11:30 at night - they just get that giddy look and laugh that can't quit. Although at moments you would think the ongoing good-byes meant a pending doom, we were all so excited for them. Now, remember there were 3 families there - 3 wives, 6 kids, and the 3 hubbys up in the air. Once the clouds cleared, the sun was bright. And it just kept us from seeing the plane as it flew over head - we lost it in the sun. Pretty amazing - we're hearing it, but can't see it, and then...chutes begin to open, and the frantic call of "is that him?" begins. "There he is." "That's him." The frustration at not being able to see the plane turned to excitement as we knew they were falling towards the Earth starting at 160+ mph, and then as their chutes opened, they begain their descent with a little less speed, but the same thrill. They all asked for spins and adventure - and they got it. At times their parachutes were vertical as they spun in circles this way - and then they'd straighten out - then they would spin in the other direction. Once they were close enough to the ground you could hear them saying "WOO!HOO! YEAH!" and more. They were having the time of their lives. They deserve it.

I just wanted Steve to know that he is so important to me and that I love him so much. When he went bungy jumping about 14 years ago (I think), I wouldn't go with him. I told him I'd stay home and wait for the phone call from the emergency room after his head crashed to the ground. So why is it that I wasn't nervous at all about him jumping out of an airplane? 13000+ feet in the air. Honestly, the release form you sign is serious business...they all but say - you really don't want to do this, just turn around and go home. That was almost the hardest part for the guys, signing all the acknowledgement of the dangers involved. But you know what. It didn't but me. I wasn't nervous. Am I nuts? I don't know.

But seeing the smile on Steve's face - hearing him scream out of thrill as he came in for a landing - listening to him relive the moments over and over during the last couple of days - it was SO worth it... I am so glad he had the time of his life with some of our lifelong friends. He's still to this day, "the most incredible specimen of the male species on the entire face of the Earth" and I am SO glad I married him. I am blessed beyond belief.

"RANDOM" Acts of Kindness...

I got back a few days ago from Youthquake - an amazing, fun, exciting, challenging missions week for middle school students! There were 28 in our group, and we had a blast! Sure, there was hard work, little sleep, giant slugs, but...having the chance to serve arm in arm with these students and leaders was a blessing to me. People from our group did yard work, visited retirement homes, conducted vacation Bible school, washed wheelchairs, did car washes and much more... Another highlight was the day we did a "random act of kindness" - and made lunches for...well, we didn't know who we were making them for, but we were going to give them away. We thought we would be giving the majority of them to the homeless in Salem, but we didn't know. As we approached the Marion Bridge our lead van didn't see anyone to give lunches to, so we proceeded over to Riverfront Park. We ended up splitting into 2 groups - one heading into "town" to see who needed lunches there; the rest of us stayed in the park to do our "random" act of kindness, and just give away lunches to whomever we came in contact with. To our surprise, workers were setting up for "The Bite" - a weekend festival coming up. Little did we know that ALL those setting up the rides were day workers who were going to have to go find something to eat. Once we handed out one lunch, we were swarmed with others looking for a meal as well. It was really pretty amazing to see the need, appreciation, and surprise on the faces of the men, working SO hard, yet not knowing where their lunch was going to come from. God put us in just the right spot at the right time...but it got me thinking...

Why is it these days that kindness is considered random? Why is it that when someone does something nice that it is unexpected, brings surprise, and almost shocks the recipients? Isn't that sad? It reminded me of the news story a couple of weeks ago from Kansas where a woman was stabbed, and 5 people (yes 5) walked passed her and didn't offer to help - one of those people even took a picture with their cell phone as they walked over this woman, who would die a short time later. I was completely shocked. In this age of cell phones why did it take 2 minutes for someone to call 911?? I mean, you can pull it out of your pocket to take a picture, but you can't call the police? I'm not meaning to slam this person who made this choice, because most honestly, I think similarly we each pass up opportunities each day to just do the right thing - to serve someone because they have extraordinary worth, uniqueness, value...because God made them in His image, and He loves them. How could I help but love them back?

I don't want kindness in my life to be random. I don't want to have to consciously decide, ok, today I'm going to do something kind for someone else. I talked about this concept at The Link this weekend - one of the verses that struck me during my study was in Psalm 119:5 (NLT) - "Oh that my actions would CONSISTENTLY reflect your decrees." Oh that I would live my life in such a way that moment by moment, opportunity by opportunity, person by person I would honor Him with my choices to see them as He sees them, and treat them accordingly. I fall short. Day in and day out. I want to do better. Lord please help me...

So...I hope today you will choose for kindness not to be random - not to be an "act" - but to be a true reflection of your love for Him and for those He loves...

How Time Flies...

It's been nearly a month since I posted something on this blog. Man, it seems like yesterday. Time flies, doesn't it. Let's see...what's happened in the last month. Oh wait - I was doing my best to be "all present." That can really be a challenge, don't you think? "All Present" - what on earth am I talking about.

Shortly after my last post, my mom and dad came to visit from Atlanta. We kept them SO busy seeing many local sites, and just being together. The Oregon Coast, Salem Riverfront, Bauman's Farm, the Aviation Museum. But all in all...it was about being all present. Just being with them. Regardless of what we were doing - just being together was worth it.

The next week, we went to visit with my brother, sister-in-law & nephew in Lake Tahoe. A week away - busier I think that any of us expected - but...just being together - that was good enough for me. We did A LOT too...beach, boating/tubing, walking, sight-seeing, taking lots of pictures of the kids playing together...but it was the being together that I'll remember. Regardless of what all happened, I liked being with everyone.

It would have been easy to miss the blessings of those weeks. In the time leading up to them, I was ready for them to be here...and on the days they ended, I didn't want to separated again. And now, here we are, without them here... But there are more moments in the here and now. I cherish those moments we've had...deep in my heart they are important to my soul & well-being. And I can sit and reflect on them (like I am now) and have them bring a smile (and a tear). But I could get caught up in just wishing for yesterday, or dreaming about tomorrow...and not living in the now...and then I'd miss things like watching Noah dance on the back patio today while eating his popsicle, or reading 2 books with Kaylee while she sat miserably sick on the couch, or listening to Steve talk about his new job, or while at church listening to someone talk about their cousin's funeral that day. I could have just cleaned, done the laundry, raced around fixing some tech something, said "wait just a minute" again, and again, and again...

I've never been great at setting goals. That's not a strong-suit for me. I have things I want to get done, sure, but I'm not good at making and keeping track of goals. I can keep up with so many details in my head it freaks me out sometimes. At other times, I can't even remember why I left one room and what I went into the next room to get.

But I do know this --- God wants us to make the most of every opportunity. He wants us to be all present - and to cherish the moment we are having, and those we are experiencing it with. He wants us to give our absolute best in the moment we have. He wants us to be reminded of just how much He loves us, and how we should love others, because He first loved us. He wants us to care for others, in a way that shows His love for each of us. He wants us to tell anyone and everyone we can that He loves them, and longs to be their best friend. We can't do that if we're only thinking about weeks, months, years from now. Do we need to think about it? Absolutely. Planning is important on so many different levels...but if you miss out on the now, then what is all the planning for... Note to self... Carpe diem - seize the day! (That's for you Steve!!)