good stuff, bright hope, and poetry that tells your story
It’s an understood trajectory. High school. College. Marriage. Babies. Society’s idea of success. If you’re feeling stuck in life it’s probably because you’ve bought into the lie you need to do or become this, that, and the other for good things, for a full life.
But God is so much more creative than our cutouts, and we weren’t meant to thrive in our own expectations or in the expectations others have for us. God doesn’t need our boxes to make something beautiful, big, and full of His glory.
Today’s marks one year of A Pygmy’s Life for Me being in the world! I’ve loved giving adults and kids a place on the shelf. A Pygmy’s Life for Me has spoken straight to the hearts of those who have or who are struggling with the label of “good,” but it’s also been a fun and comforting read to those who are just walking their way through life.
The broken darkness of this world holds no respect for Christian kids in good homes. And we’ve got to get that in our heads! A “good” kid’s battle-torn heart, inward mind games, and difficulties are nuanced in ways that fly underneath the radar all the time. No one is exempt from the broken darkness of life on earth. THANKFULLY GOD IS GREATER! And we have answers to questions like: Continue reading “Celebrating ONE Year of A Pygmy’s Life for Me!”
WOW. WOW. WOW!
There’s just no other way to start this post than with that! It has been a summer packed full to the brim of hard things, good things, strengthened friendships, worth it moments, blackberries, heart cries, heart songs, and a growing love for the life that God has given me.
We began the summer season with the big celebration of my sister’s wedding! This technically happened in May, but I’m including it in the summer season festivities. You can read more about that wonderful day HERE. But man oh man, what a day to enjoy!
Ben and I also celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary in May. We drove down Highway 1, moseyed on the beach, ate seafood with the ocean in view, and did a lot of laughing. We also finally made it to Red Lobster (I know nothing hugely special about that), but I had never been and had wanted to do that on our honeymoon. Well, we finally got around to it TWO years later! This photo was taken on our anniversary under our wedding arbor (yes, it’s still standing in the backyard!). Can you tell how desert-sun bright it is?! I-YI-YI! Continue reading “Summer Recap 2017!”
based on a true story
actually, it’s a true story
In a young married couple’s life, the making of traditions is a big deal. It is done with excitement and trepidation. It is a time of new adventures and experiences.
But enough of the sappy stuff. Let’s get right now down to it.
For this particular Husband and Wife., it was to be the first Christmas spent quietly in their own home. They had planned and prepared for a different Christmas, hoping to make their own memories and traditions, while also knowing they would naturally miss all the family living far away.
So, Husband and Wife began Christmas Eve day with much gusto. Christmas movies played throughout the entire day, the Christmas tree star was made, cookies were baked and given to the neighbors, frozen pizza & barbecue chips made a grand appearance as the long-awaited Eve arrived.The determined couple was doing pretty well. They had a Christmas-y day, filled with quiet Christmas-y things, as they made Christmas-y homemade memories.
At 9:30 pm, Loving Husband turned to Nostalgic Wife and asked if she would like to look at Christmas lights. He wanted to make this Christmas Eve a good one and the evening was still somewhat young even though the day was well-spent!
Nostalgic Wife agreed and looked forward to driving around the small little town for the Christmas lights. She just loved lights! Loving Husband prepared for the grand Christmas adventure.
Enter Persnickety Truck.
The heat wouldn’t work, so the windows didn’t defrost, so Nostalgic Wife prepared herself for an evening of admiring one Christmas lighted house—their own. And she was quite OK with that. But Loving Husband would not be deterred. Christmas lights, we will see! NO MATTER WHAT!
Persnickety Truck says, “OK, I’ll work.”
Enter Happy Dog.
“Why not?”, they think. “We will only be out for a little while and he can come with us!”
So, now Husband and Wife are on their way.
Being fairly new to the town, this particular Husband and Wife didn’t know where the good Christmas lights were and since it was later in the evening they didn’t feel liking driving the distance to a big city. So, Loving Husband stopped on the side of the road to check the Faithful Internet for good Christmas Lights.
Enter Police Car 1
Nervous Husband and Not-Breathing Wife cross their fingers, drive extremely cautiously, and hope their suspicious park on the side of the road doesn’t give Police Car 1 reason enough to pull them over. The Police Car follows for a time and then (much to the relief of Husband and Wife) Police Car decides that this particular situation is not suspicious.
Relieved Husband and Now-Breathing Wife get back to making Christmas-y memories on this first Christmas Eve as just the two of them. They go down main street, admire the beautiful festive lights, and then proceed to drive through the neighborhood.
Persnickety Truck is doing well. Happy Dog is happy. And Husband and Wife are pleased.
Enter Police Car 2
(Is this the same police car from before or is this a new one? I guess we will never know).
Alert Husband notices he’s being tailed again. He wisely keeps this to himself while Clueless Wife is still enjoying the Christmas lights around her. “How nice to be making Christmas-y memories together on this Christmas Eve!,” she innocently thinks to herself.
Nervous Husband keeps his cool, and watches as Police Car 2 continues to tail him. A nerve-racking game of Follow the Leader is played for quite some time before Nervous-but-Calm Husband says to Still Clueless Wife, “Dear, don’t be surprised if we are pulled over before we get home tonight.”
WHAATT?!
(How did she miss that Police Car 2 had been tailing them for the past few blocks? I guess we will never know).
Isn’t it amazing how Clueless Wife can turn into to Freakazoid in a matter of half-seconds?! Her heart stops, and Happy Dog sticks that tongue out like nothing in the world could possibly go wrong.
5
4
3
2
1
Enter Sirens
Enter red & blue lights.
Enter pulling to the side of the road on Christmas Eve.
Enter Police Man
There’s the shining flash-light. There’s the Wife still not breathing. There’s the Dog with that stupid tongue still hanging out. Theres the Husband still keeping calm.
“So, what are you guys doing tonight?”
“Just out looking at lights.”
“Can I see your license, please?”
Calm Husband provides all the necessary information and explanations for the suspicious Persnickety Truck on Christmas Eve.
Policeman leaves to confirm everything, and Almost-Breathing Wife turns to Calm Husband and says—“those were not the lights I wanted to see!”
Everything is confirmed. Nice Policeman is not suspicious of this young couple, and he even takes time to tell them where to find the really good Christmas lights. The information is naturally blocked out of their minds, because all they can think about is getting home with no more police cars in their rear view mirrors!
Loving Husband and Nostalgic Wife learned something very important that night—
When looking at lights around Christmastime, you want the red and green ones, not the red and blue ones.
