Tag Archives: gods girlies

A Thursday for Your Thoughts; An Invitation to Prayer- by Jordan Stoker

Kristi Burden • 29 August, 2013

Written by Jordan Stoker

The Lord was good to me.

I did not get perfect parents. They did not get a perfect daughter (anyone?) I always knew they wanted God's very best for me, though. I heard that and I visibly saw it.

One way was my mom started leading a Mom's prayer group (called Moms In Touch International) when I was in high school. Every Monday morning my mom plus 3 or 4 of my friends' moms would gather at our dining room table. My mom called it Moms In Touch. I called it super inconvenient (I mean, was I expected to get my own jeans from the dryer??) and somewhat embarrassing ("Jordan's mom is like super religious").

Without fail, those moms met. Sometimes just 2 of them, because of illness or other unexpectancies. I never knew what they prayed specifically about. Honestly, I never really cared to ask.

I just noticed, and I never forgot the image of those moms praying together.

Fast forward through college, getting married, and moving to Nederland. I was attending the Women's Bible Study at FBC Nederland and I heard an announcement about MITI (Moms In Touch International, which is now called Moms In Prayer), I was immediately attracted to it. I had my own school age kids now, and I wanted to be a part.

I was so nervous (even though Nita Hughes, who was the facilitator, was and still is one of the gentlest spirits I know) but I felt a connection right away with the other moms. I went a few times and the next year my kids started public school one in 2nd and one in Kindergarten.

Three or four of us met, and I cried through the whole prayer time. It hit me square on that these were the same verses and similar prayers that were prayed over me by my own mom. God's mercy nearly knocked me out. I realized wholeheartedly that the prayers of my mom's prayer group had been heard. All the poor choices, ugly situations, people I had associated with came pouring into my mind.

He was showing me that I had been spared; perhaps by a debilitating car crash, disease, teen pregnancy, or possibly even death. Maybe, but most importantly I believe I had been spared of a life apart from Him.

All these things were specifically prayed for week after week, and I am a living testimony that "..the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16). I am so glad I didn't get what I deserved (and still deserve).

I am so thankful for my prayerful mom.

Jordan's Mom

I am not a praying expert.

I'm just a mom with a desire to have God's very best for her children, just like my mom.

I think you can relate.

I want you to know that there is a small group of us that meets every week to pray specific prayers for our children and their schools. I want you to know that we do not meet on Monday mornings while our kids get ready for school (yikes! I guess Monday mornings were different way back then). We would like you to join us. We meet for an hour or less. We strictly pray. It's confidential, and we take that very seriously.

We meet at FBC Nederland in the Education Building.

Room 108

Sundays @ 6:00

Wednesdays @7:00

We recognize it is a privilege to pray with moms, especially when it's about our most treasured "possessions."

I truly believe there should be many Mom in Prayer groups in our area. If it doesn't work out for you to come to ours, start your own.

You can do it, and you and your family will be blessed.

(www.momsinprayer.org is a great resource, but I am sure there are others)

I want to end by doing a little exercise together - insert your child or children's' names in the blanks below............

May the God of hope fill ___________ with all joy and peace as he/she trusts in You, so that ____________ may overflow with hope by the power of Your Holy Spirit.

(Romans 15:13)

May_________be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. May he/she put on the armor of God so that he/she can take his/her stand against the devil's schemes.

(Ephesians 6:10-11)

Now, go back and insert the children of someone else.

That's the heart of Moms in Prayer.

Be blessed,

Jordan

About Jordan: Jordan is the mom of four fabulous kids and she's a coach's wife. One of the things that amazes me about the Stoker family is their devotion to being at church; even every Sunday during busy football season. She has a warm smile the size of Texas even though she's from Iowa. She's one of the first people I text when I have a prayer need. When she says she's going to pray for me, I believe it! She's a beauty; from her gorgeous long locks to her compassionate heart. I love this lady like a sister.

Please consider writing something for our "A Thursday for Your Thoughts" segment. On second thought, don't consider it. Just do it. Knowing how you've overcome a struggle or hearing how God has blessed your family is such a joy for our readers. Have a good recipe? Share it. Is there a must-read book you'd like to tell us about? We've had nine year old writers and writers from the Pacific Northwest; everybody's qualified to share. All you have to do is send me your writing on email. Pictures are great, but not necessary. Others will be blessed and you will be too. I'll be checking my email.

kristiburden@gmail.com

We Are God’s Girlies

Kristi Burden • 28 August, 2013

"What is God's Girlies"?

I've been asked this question quite a few times. The only answer I can usually muster is "I'm not sure". I'm waiting to see what God wants it to be. Here's what God has shown me God's Girlies is, so far.

This is God's Girlies.

This is too.

These are God's Girlies.

Generations of girls bridging the gap to be friends and confidants; family. We offer advice when you need it and a hug.... maybe a glass of tea, a cup of coffee or a juice box when you don't.

We're in desperatel need of prayer whether we know it or not.

We're sisters, grandmas, mamas and daughters in need of companions whether we think we have time for one, or not. We talk on the phone, we text, hang out at each others' house (not enough). We chat it up when we meet unexpectedly in Dillards.

These are God's Girlies. Well, almost........

Men who have little clue how we work yet they love and support us. They pray for us and encourage us. They teach us too. Some of them even read this blog. I'm blown away by that; over the moon grateful.

We're big sisters and little sisters

and we're girls who feel like sisters.

We're friends from afar.

Time and distance has no bearing on our friendship.

God's Girlies are strangers with a connection. We're girls who strike up a conversation with the check-out lady in Wal Mart. We read sweet stories like the one about the ninety-six year old man we've never met who wrote a song for the wife he just lost. We smile a blurry-eyed smile. We share in the pain of a mom in a restaurant with an inconsolable baby. We stop and listen to the zany songs of street performers and

we remember how important it is to stop and listen.

We reach out across computer screens, but our bond is deeper. We're girls that laugh and cry in the same minute; we're a mess. We get angry. We learn. We grow. We're selfish and we serve. We pray.

It's much more fun to do life together.

We're a community that knows that God is our help in time of trouble. Sometimes that help comes in the form of a friend.

Two more things help sum up who God's Girlies are-

1.) God's Girlies-Last Sundays of the months, young girls about first grade through sixth, meet up with their moms or some other mature girly and fellowship together. We play games, do a craft and a devotion. We've had so much fun that a group of High School girls have decided to join us as mentors. I LOVE THIS GROUP OF GIRLS! Check out in the top menu-"Just for GG's" to see some of our previous get-togethers and activities!

2.) A Thursday for Your Thoughts - much more precious than a penny for your thoughts. Thursday is reserved on this website for ladies who want to recipe/story/learning experience/share. No writing experience or club membership required. We're just girls sharing our hearts. To read some past posts go to the top menu and click on "A Thursday for Your Thoughts". My cooler than cool friend Jordan is sharing tomorrow about our awesome mom's prayer group. You don't want to miss. So, y'all come back now, ya hear?!

Miley Cyrus, Your Kids, and the Knowledge of Good and Evil • 6 Comments

Kristi Burden • 26 August, 2013

I'm in between loads of laundry so I'm taking the uninterrupted opportunity to write. We have less than stellar wireless service which means my internet connection stops abruptly if one of the kids decides to microwave a hot pocket (Not today; the kids are at school 🙂 ).

Did anybody see Miley Cyrus on the VMA's last night? I didn't watch it, but Facebook lit up with posts about her performance. So I did what any curious person would do. I looked it up on YouTube. I can honestly say I was embarrassed watching it. As Jason has said before, "I felt like I needed to go wash my eyeballs".

I remember Miley years ago when she played Hannah Montana. Hallie watched the show some, but she really liked Miley's music. I did too. Her music started off kid friendly, but it wasn't too long before Miley started posing provocatively in photos. Her lyrics mirrored that negative change.

I remember Hallie praying in third grade (or so) that God would help Miley not to lie. She said that Miley, in an interview had stated the Bible was her favorite book. Hallie prayed saying she didn't think Miley would be acting that way if the Bible was her favorite book.

If I had the choice for Hallie to never have heard of Miley Cyrus or for her to have known of Miley and her shortcomings I'd choose that she knows her, and prays for her.

It's not just Miley that disappoints. And it's not just music.

I find myself perched on the shakiest of teeter-totters as a parent.

Bizarre, unhealthy relationships and families with an alternate design other than what God intended are injected into what we see on TV. Young voices sing "I crashed my car into the bridge. I watched it. I let burn." and Eminem glorifies being in an abusive relationship (even the clean version). It's one thing to see the broken. It's an altogether different thing to encourage, even promote it. Watch and see, there will be girls dressing up like the Kardashians this Halloween.

Not one to protect my kids from everything, I allow them to be exposed somewhat to a deteriorating society (It's almost impossible to avoid). We allowed our kids to see "The Hunger Games". I read the book to them on one of our Colorado trips. I'm well aware of the violence in the book. However we had good conversations about Christ-like sacrifice and not losing yourself to the pandering crowd.

We are in the world.

We are called to "not" be of it.

I'm all for protecting my kids. They rather abhor the fact that I get on their ipods and go through their music googling song lyrics of titles found in their playlist. I know they intentionally get some songs they know they shouldn't have. Other catchy songs are purchased without a thought as to what the lyrics mean providing a chance to talk and learn about what they mean (Words mean things). Either way, inappropriate songs are deleted.

Sound wishy-washy?

Here's what I'm thinking.

1. I don't want to shelter my kids to the point that they have no awareness of evil. I want them to recognize evil for evil. I want Jesus to be the mark of goodness they use to measure all else.

2. Any exposure I allow the kids, should NOT be exposure without supervision. I'm almost nervous to let the kids watch TV (even the Disney channel now) without my checking every few minutes or watching the TV with them. I am becoming more and more convicted about the times where I haven't been so cautious.

3. What I allow the kids to watch and "listen to" HAS to become more of a matter of prayer. It's ok for me to say no. And it's ok for them not to like it. You best be sure we won't be watching the VMA's. I'm done with Super Bowl half-times too. Don't let the Jones's idea of what to watch dictate what you do. PRAY ABOUT IT.

4. It remains important to have an open dialogue. There have been dozens of conversations that have been accompanied by pink cheeks and sometimes disagreement, but hopefully the kids know that there is not an off-limits topic. I walked in to Hallie's room one time to find her watching "Toddlers and Tiaras" My instinct was to tell her to turn it off. Instead we talked about how mere toddlers' innocence had been stripped and replaced with flippers and spray tans.

5. Hollywood, Nashville and the media provide examples of talent and physical beauty. In song, on film and gracing the pages of magazines these people appear heroic and perfect. Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong were quite the guys to aspire to be like until we learned that they both had problems with different kinds of cheating. Hayden and I had a conversation about Lance Armstrong. I told him that Lance Armstrong is just a person. He wasn't as good as they made him out to be in the first place and probably wasn't the devil they made him out to be recently either. It was a good reminder that people are people. Star role models are hard to come by. We need to talk about that. They're fallen people. Jesus and people who've made him their role model are the ones to pay closest attention to.

6. I have to make the effort to pour God into them. Though I fail, I need to be an example. I need to PRAY PRAY PRAY that as right and wrong are before them, that they'll choose right. And I pray that they'll be surrounded by a community of grace that loves them when they don't.

7. I must make time to turn the music down and the TV off.

It is my job to help them make sense of ALL the voices.

²⁰Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
²¹at the head of the noisy streets she cries out Proverbs 1:20-21

Grace Blooms; When Plans go Awry

Kristi Burden • 23 August, 2013

To read "Dear Me and Other Parents running around trying to get prepared for a great school year" click here- http://kristiburden.com/?p=6068

Three of my favorite grace blooms

I have a terrible time growing things. My plants either wither and die or they explode like my rosebush that spilled its billowy barbs over the driveway and sidewalk looking like the scene from Sleeping Beauty where Prince Phillip is trying to rescue Aurora.

You want to talk about kids? My best attempts at growing them Godly often fail. I fret over proper parenting. Despite parenting websites that tell you how many books your kid should read a day and what age you should let your girl start wearing makeup there's no fail-proof way to raise them. "Raise a child in the way he should go" are words to live by but I go the wrong way. Constantly.

I water too much; sometimes not enough.

Planned and well-tended to blooms, wither and fade.

The well-meant grows out-of-hand

"Mom! You let me wear eye shadow LAST year. Why is it a problem now?"

"I always watch this many shows".

It's crazy how things grow here in Southeast Texas. Not so much the things I've planted though. I planted a Lantana bush. Here's what's left of it (Ignore the weed in the background). I hate sharing a picture of something so barren.

But strangely a Lantana bush is growing eight yards away by the back door, not planted by human hands. I can only guess that the wind carried the seed across the yard. I haven't done a thing to deserve its beautiful pink and rhthymarm orange blooms

I've decided to call them grace blooms.

There are grace blooms of a different kind in the front yard where the unmanageable rosebush once grew.

Beauty given to me without the asking

like my gregarious child whose free speech made me nervous for the first few years, who has taught me the gift of boldly approaching others who may need encouragement or a friend

by "my stop and smell-the-roses" child who has taught me to slow down and enjoy the ordinary

and by my strong-willed one, who I pray will be better able than I to handle the pressure the world puts forth

I didn't pray for a single one of those characteristics in my children, but I'm thankful.

Beauty springing forth with no effort or goodwill on my part

Like when I stumble upon an opportunity to hang out with my kids and good and meaningful conversations come up like "Is it good to pray for forgiveness for sin that we don't even know we committed?".

Beauty appearing in the unlikeliest of ways

Like the time I was prepared to inspire the inmates at the prison revival with my spirit-filled smile and warm handshake only to be blown away that the spirit beat me there.

or the time that a dying woman showed me that death can come with grace and dignity and peace.

Grace blooms come through an unexpected hug or when a needed message presents itself through a song on the radio.

Grace blooms remind us:

We shouldn't feel inadequate over our flowering failures.

We can mourn lost flowers and broken dreams if we must, but we will keep our heads up to see other blooms God has placed before us.

We will appreciate all blooms, no matter how short-lived.

We will give God credit for all that grows.

We will seek out God's grace blooms, which are too many to count by the way.

We will seek to be a grace bloom as God sees fit.

What grace blooms has God placed in your life?

A Letter to Me and School Parents Everywhere • 4 Comments

Kristi Burden • 14 August, 2013

Dear Me and Other Parents running around trying to prepare yourselves for a great school year,

It's that time again. The school year seems to wind around about as quickly as the long arm on the clock. You're never quite ready for the new year to begin. You're making that mental list of the things you planned to do over the summer that didn't happen. And you're scrambling making sure that the kids have new socks and jeans, and the right kind of binder so they won't (and you won't) appear to be less than serious about their education. This year is no different from the rest.

But I do want to write to you, urging you to remember some things this school year. August, like January is a month full of good intentions. Those well-planned, smooth and seamless days will last about as long as the lunch money check you send.

You might as well drop your perfect school year dream.

There will be times when Hallie forgets her homework at school. Having consequences, especially if it becomes a habit, is fine, but don't worry about it too much. Don't freak out and don't let her freak out either. Her figuring out how to approach the situation will help her develop her problem-solving skills.

Hayden is more than likely going to take a test that he isn't prepared for. Asking him every day if he has a test the next day is ineffective. By the twenty-eighth time you've asked him, He's thinking that you sound like the teacher on Charlie Brown (wah wah wah-wah...) if he hears you at all. He's not once in the past responded to your question with "Hey Mom, glad you said something. I do have a History exam. I think I'll go study for it right now." Maybe have some expectation that he's aware of. Let him reach those expectations, or not. Go from there. Sheesh!

RYLIE IS GOING TO TALK IN CLASS. You know that, right? It's in her nature. It's not a bad thing. She's done pretty good the past two school years not getting into much trouble for it. Remember that her disrespecting the teacher or being unkind to someone is more to be upset about than her being chatty.

You're going to forget to sign her homework folder several times regardless of any "system" you set up to check her folder. Be gracious with yourself just as you are going to be gracious when she slips up and chats during class. If her not having her folder signed ruins her day, you've probably missed teaching her that we have imperfect days, and that it's ok.

Stay off that Home Access grading system. Or at least limit yourself for goodness sake. There's no need to check it like you do, willing good grades to appear, thinking that if you check it enough, new grades will pop up. It's not that helpful how you use it. You pick up the kids all nonchalant, and then in two minutes the afternoon mood has been ruined having been turned into a lengthy lecture on responsibility and self-discipline just because you spotted a bad grade .

Make the kids ease up on TV. They watch it too much. And you've already missed having them seven hours of the day.

Don't make such a big deal when Hallie's ponytail is messy-looking (Need I pull out old pictures of your hair?). It sure shouldn't EVER be the last thing you say to her before dropping her off in the morning.

Do try to keep a bedtime. They need their rest. So many times that's when you finally recognize that you let the afternoon pass without spending any time with them. Make time for them before 8:30 at night.

I know you're praying that they have good healthy friendships. Keep praying that.

Pray for their teachers too. Pray that they will see the good in each of your kids and that they will encourage them, love them and grow them (even when it might be a little painful).

When (if) you have a teacher that does something incredibly insensitive, or unfair, and it infuriates you, don't let the kids know. They can know that you feel that they were treated wrongly without coming unraveled. You've done that before. Remember, a certain coach yelled something terrible to one of your kids and you lost it in the car. Rylie ended up, though she was only four, asking you to chant with her "Let's ruin Coach's Life". Surely there's a better way to let your kid know that you don't like what happened to them.

Let the kids know you appreciate their teachers. Maybe it will help them appreciate them too.

Take them lunch every once in a blue moon.

Tell them what they're doing right every now and then.

Go to a movie on a Tuesday.

Help them with their homework when they need it.

Have cookies waiting at home for them when they get out of school.

Don't put all the emphasis on grades.

Have a sound idea of what they're capable of.

Have an open honest relationship with their teachers.

It's ok to get them from school a few times when they say they're sick, but they're really not.

It's also ok to tell them to tough it out a few times too.

But above all, keep in mind how quickly the school year passes and another year's gone.

Encourage them

when it seems nothing is going their way

Enjoy them

When their grades are not up to your standards.

Enjoy them

When they come home in a rotten mood.

If you forget everything else I've said, remember this

If you'll replace even a quarter of the time you do worrying and lecturing, with praying for them, it's going to be a great year.

Enjoy it.

Enjoy them.

School years won't last forever. Make memories and foster growth that will.

Victory at Viterbo Rd

Kristi Burden • 12 August, 2013

May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. Psalm 25:21

I put my own integrity into question this past week.

Hallie needed three immunizations to start back to school; two we got easily at the local CVS. The other shot, the second dose of the chicken pox immunization, we were told would have to be prescribed, ordered, picked up and carried to our family doctor who would then administer the shot.

This turned out to be untrue and thus the wild goose chase began.

I called several clinics and visited pharmacies several times. I might mention too that I spent umpteen minutes listening to jazz while on hold waiting to talk to my insurance company about immunization coverage.

That was last week. I gave myself a six-day hiatus from the shot-chasing fiasco.

This morning I picked up the phone again; my resolve renewed.

After calling two clinics, one clinic five times, I hit the jackpot. For a substantial fee, they would give the immunization. And they only had three left. Hallie threw some clothes on. And we hightailed it to Viterbo Rd. We didn't have cash which caused....you got it.... more running around. Pain.

But we got it.

After calling numerous clinics.

Despite being rejected at the pharmacy three times.

And even with runaround from the insurance company-

We got the immunization!

This may seem trite. But this was somewhat of an ordeal to me. I really wanted to get ugly with unhelpful people. What I really wanted to do was forget about the shot. I was presented with several opportunities to bypass the immunization. I had the chance to -not get- Hallie the immunization with only the slightest amount of dishonesty necessary.

#1. The notification from the school stated that the immunization could be bypassed if a letter from the parents stated that the child had already had the chickenpox virus. A lying letter only crossed my mind after the seventh failed call to clinics.

#2. The second pharmacy we visited already had the paperwork filled out saying that they had administered the shot to Hallie. The pharmacist had already signed and dated the form when we found insurance wouldn't cover. I had the form needed to give to the school though in actuality she hadn't received the shot.

Honesty is important to me, but honestly this felt like this was one of those times that it would be a little lie that wouldn't hurt anybody. I had put more than enough time and effort required to get the shot. I also have a growing and unending list of things to do (which probably doesn't include blogging). Doesn't that qualify me to tell a little lie? Shouldn't that make me exempt from shot-chasing?

I hope you're not shocked at this admission.

I'm absolutely unaware of how many times I take the crooked road; lined with white lies...................Ok... It's probably a big lie to make someone think Hallie has had a shot that she hasn't. But it would have been an easy one to tell.

I thought myself lacking integrity for even considering the easier way. And sure, there are those of you out there that it would never occur to you to be dishonest in this or similar situations.

Bottom line? I knew we had to get the shot regardless of the ill-conceived thoughts that popped into my head suggesting ways to get out of it.

The heart is deceitful....

It should always be my prayer that as I seek to do what is right that God will be faithful to help me with my feelings.

Integrity is strength of decision no matter how you groan in it's making. Integrity, I believe, is choosing what's right when what's wrong is tempting.

I wish we had been able to easily get our shots on the first try, but it was on Viterbo Road that we found the shot we needed. And it was there that I had my integrity still with me.

Integrity is not always my reality, but it is my goal.

Scattered Rants and “The Big Announcement” • 4 Comments

Kristi Burden • 7 August, 2013

August 7

Our momentary troubles

I caught one of the kids wearing their swimsuit yesterday because they said their unmentionables needed to be laundered. I can't decide if I should be more embarrassed because my kid was wearing their swimsuit for underwear or for the fact that I'm sharing this with you.

You might remember that Monday I spent hours, no exaggeration, calling and visiting pharmacies and clinics to get the second dose of the varicella (chicken pox) immunization to be school-prepared. Our insurance wouldn't pay for a pharmacy to administer the shot and there wasn't a clinic I could find that had it available. We still don't have the shot which is required to be admitted in school. I'd rather not pay the hundred plus non-insurance cost. And I'm not home schooling.......To be continued. P.S. I haven't bought a single school supply. I've got to face shopping, apparently more unmentionables need to be on the list.

Yesterday was day three of our wheat free week. I ate out with some wonderful ladies at the Tea Room on Nederland Ave. I skipped the wraps and scrumptious sounding Quiche for Lentil soup and a salad. (It was actually really good). The kicker was the waitress describing the Chocoflan on the dessert list. I rarely have dessert but it bothered me that I couldn't have the Chocoflan because it wasn't wheat-free (my friends were watching).

I made rice noodle lasagna for supper. I was pretty pleased until I heard a crunch-the kind that makes you want to put your fork down and call dinner done. Hayden announces "Y'all be careful not to bite down on the dry wall". He bit into a noodle not exposed to adequate sauce. I'd really tried to make this dish work........

The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think. -Horace Walpole

Still buried under mounds of laundry.

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come -Proverbs 31:25

We're packing up to visit Trinity to remember one of our favorite ladies in the world, Ms Marj, who lost her battle with leukemia. She was as dazzling as her hats and earrings. I wish I could have one more hug, but I know she is fully experiencing the victory of the THE BIGGEST BATTLE. I'm glad for that.

Energy is hard to find these days. My body is in rebellion to my new diet and insistence on working out; it wants to know where all this 'out-of-the-blue healthiness' comes from anyway.

There's one thing most-worth mentioning that happened last night prior to the noodle fiasco. Rylie took her spoon and tapped her glass of Gatorade, toast-style, and said she had an announcement. It was a good one. I won't share it just yet because she plans on sharing it with the world this Sunday.

There are a thousand things in a week that don't go just as I planned (Thank goodness some of them don't!). My computer not working, another failed dish, pants that won't fit, arguing in the backseat, clutter on the stairwell....... these things put me in a tizzy. And they make me tired.

But then I think about Ms Marj. And I think about last night's "Big Announcement".....and I then I remember

For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond comparison. 2 Corinthians 4:17

It's that knowledge that turns my tizzy into felicity. Really, these momentary troubles are weightless in light of eternity.

Every day is not a good day. Life is lived best when every day is realized as a God day.

Wheat-Free for a Week (and a link to a recipe) • 4 Comments

Kristi Burden • 5 August, 2013

Diary of a Wheat-Free Gal

If you missed my last post, due to some health issues, I shared that the Burdens are attempting to go a week with no wheat. This is difficult for two reasons. 1. I am the grocery buyer and family chef (sorry as I am at it). 2.Wheat is in almost everything. I LOVE BREAD (Oops! that's three).

We have survived the first thirty hours of our wheat-free week; with only like one hundred thirty-two hours to go.

8/4- Yesterday wasn't too terrible. I had a Rice Crispy treat for breakfast. I realize that doesn't fit the general good-health bill, but it doesn't have wheat.

Church cheered me on with a good message and some of my favorite songs. (If you're dying to know what those were, they were "Soon and Very Soon," and "Days of Elijah"). One song, that I can't remember, had the perfect line for me:

I had to grab a pen and madly scribble down those words. They'll be my worship words this week.

Yesterday for lunch I fixed a potato and ham casserole and substituted regular flour which contains wheat with rice flour. When asked if it should be something we have again, the dish passed 4-2 (Our schnauzer Griffin gets a vote because he eats the leftovers). The family has been very cooperative.

In case anybody from church was wondering, I ditched my bun at the hamburger supper last night. Sorry you had to see me eat my beef patty with my fingers, but I didn't see a fork. So though ill-mannered, supper was a success.

I had a Mooo Bar for a snack. It gave me a nightmare last night that it had wheat. I was terribly disappointed that I had unwittingly consumed wheat disguised in an ice-cream bar.

8/5- After a rough night, I went to HEB this morning and stocked up on more gluten-free snacks and lots of veggies. My receipt wasn't that much more painful than usual. I never foresaw (is that a word?) healthy eating as something that I would choose to struggle with. And in some way, it still doesn't sound mention-worthy. But here's a few things I'm looking to see happen.

1. I'm hoping that my family will be healthier. I'm hoping for fewer headaches and less belly issues. Being able to say hello to some of our old jeans would be nice too.

2. I know that it's those things I can't do on my own, that cause me to pray. I'm hoping that I learn to better pre-emptively pray and not only pray when I'm desperate though it's a good idea to pray then too.

3. I'm hoping that my self-discipline, with God as the source, will be increased.

4. I would love for my kids to learn alongside me that doing things we don't want to do (but know we need to) is a part of maturing.

5. In case you noticed, I mentioned that my family is going wheat-free, then I said a lot of me, me me's. I believe I am the tone-setter for my family. My decisions and attitudes are an important guiding force in my home; I pray I would be a good guiding force.

Emeril's Potato Casserole:

http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Emeril_s-Potato-Casserole-Recipezaar?columns=4&position=6%2F7

Goodbye Wheat (and other Infatuations); Hello Spirit

Kristi Burden • 3 August, 2013

Pleasure often comes with adverse reactions.

I've come to the conclusion that, presently, wheat is my one of my pleasure enemies. Due to Rylie having an allergy to it, amongst other offenders, I've intentionally become more aware of what we eat. After avoiding wheat myself and then going on a weekend splurge of fresh tortillas and empanadas, I realized that wheat affects me adversely too. I get headaches and stomach-aches. And ironically, wheat puffs me up like I'm carrying a bun in the oven.

Through some research, I've been attempting to find out if wheat should be avoided. I love it dearly. I would be satisfied with simply a thick slice of buttered sourdough bread. Is that too much to ask?........ I think so.

So I say goodbye completely to wheat for a week. No oat and honey breakfast bars, no PB&J sandwiches. No yeasty rolls and no fried....anything.

Jason has joined me. Rylie doesn't know it, but she has too. She is only supposed to eat wheat every fifth day, but I've let her cheat, a lot. We start tomorrow.

You can probably guess what I'm eating today. I made chicken fried steak for lunch. For dessert and supper I made chocolate chip cookies. I know.......I'm in trouble.

I can't imagine that anyone would be remotely interested in my diet, but there's a broader issue at hand I feel certain some of you can identify with. For those of you with saintly self-control, my hope is that you'll in pity pray for me.

I'm terribly soft. Like my seven-year old told me in May, "I want to do what I want to do". For the most part, I want you to do what you want too, unless it's clearly wrong. A self-justifying creature, I can talk myself into watching one more episode of Disappeared on the ID channel when I have other things to do. I can remind myself that I didn't drink the entire content of the last Dr. Pepper can, leaving an excuse to pop open one more. I'm the friend that says, "Go ahead and get the dress, you look great in it".

It's now as I sit with my gluttonous belly-full of gluten that I am convicted of my lack of self-control. My tendency in choosing pleasure over what is good for me has been layed bare.

So it is with a full stomach that I ask for prayer. I want to better know that pleasure and joy are not the same. In an arm wrestling match joy would win; pleasure would poop out. Joy comes from a deep well. Pleasure is a tickle to our senses; immediate gratification that goes as quickly as it comes. I want to learn to have joy in waiting for desired change. I want to experience the accomplished and grateful feeling that comes as a result of something worked for. Pleasure has been my partner. It's time for a partner change.

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but i will not be mastered by anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12 (Take that, pleasure!)

I need the partner that shows me the difference in what feels good and what is truly good. I need that partner, the spirit, that urges me in the way I should go, whether or not it makes me happy. I need to be filled so that I'm capable of living beyond my most immediate whim.

Pray for me.

The heights charm us, but the steps do not; with the mountain in our view, we love to walk the plains.

-John Wolfgang von Goethe

Beyond the Dust • 2 Comments

Kristi Burden • 18 July, 2013

Go Ahead and Dust

I avoid dusting. It was one of my jobs growing up. I was supposed to dust the shelves in the living room once a week. I was as dramatic then as I am now so you can imagine my dismay every week come dusting time. If my mom didn't remind me, you better bet dusting didn't happen. Of the times I did dust, I cheated half. I dusted around the five dozen music boxes and trinkets that lined the shelves. I skipped the corners and the shelves that were too tall to meet the eyes. I had better things to do.

The girls and I are at my parents house for the week. I plan on visiting my Meme who I never see. Saturday will be my class reunion. I'll travel twenty years back to poofy hair where we all existed in caricature form. I'm going to store up mom and pop, sibling, niece and nephew time because soon the school year schedule will hold us hostage again.
Mom had day surgery today. I decided to spruce up the house a bit before she got back. I swept and mopped and ran a load of dishes. I straightened pillows. I opened the curtains feeling rather pleased.

Sunlight revealed shelves lined with dust urging my attention.

Rather than ignore what had been exposed, I grabbed the bottle of Old English dabbing drops of lemon oil onto my rag getting set for my work.
After cheating on an entire shelf I decided to do right. I began to pick up every trinket swiping underneath. I dusted under the wooden church music box with the broken cross steeple (a result of my dusting). I was reminded of our many trips to the San Francisco Music Box Company to pick out something for mom for Christmas.
Beyond the dust-lined shelves are memories like the one of my dad crawling, with me on his back, to my room at bedtime. And that memory leads to thoughts of how thirsty I always seemed to be when I got into bed, "I need a drink of water!".

Working through the dust was heart-filling; so much so that I dusted the Grand Piano. It stands firm on large carved legs; a familiar backdrop to pictures growing up.

On it, I dusted little faces captured just a year or two ago of a new generation. I was struck by the hard fact that time pays no heed to my wish that my kids remain kids.

Today I didn't forget to dust. Mom didn't have to remind me. And I didn't cheat. I removed all the dust and went back to the place where I was formed; a place I love. I let waves of sweet and sad wash over me.

As I hold tight to these uncovered memories, I know that busyness and the dust will return.

Still, I'll take the time,no shortcuts, to dust again. Because sometimes there's nothing better to do, than remember.

Sometimes, he sighed, "I think the things I remember are more real than the things I see." -Arthur Golden