Mercy

I once heard mercy and grace distinguished from one another like this:
Mercy is not giving someone what they deserve.
Grace is giving someone something they don't deserve.

So often, when we're talking about God, they go hand in hand.  Because he is always giving us something wonderful we don't deserve INSTEAD of what we do deserve. Think Romans 6:23 "the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of god is eternal life in Chris Jesus our Lord."

So i was going about my business doing a little morning bible study the other day when I came across what might be the first recorded act of grace in the bible.  I'm in Genesis 3, reading about the fall. And right after God gets through with the curse of their fall (the consequence of their sin, if you will) if says, "and the Lord God made for Adam and his wife garments of skin and clothed them."
BAM! Grace. Geez Louise. They deserved anything but a gift. The had just crossed the ONE boundary. They had been dealt the consequence of their sin, and yet... "He clothed them."
Oh, but it gets better.
Next verse.
"Then, The Lord God said, "Behold the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever--" therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden..."
Mercy.

God had warned them not to eat of that trees (the one that gave the knowledge of good and evil); and once they disobeyed it, rather than say, well you get what you deserve. You'll probably eat of that other one and live forever. That'll be a miserable existence. No. God moved them.
Mercy.
And grace.

By chapter 3 of the Bible, we already see so much of who God is. He is just, and yet merciful and gracious.
Sometimes- those times when I let my mind clear and slow down and open up my heart- He reveals to me a bit of who He truly is. Sometimes it's something I knew, but revealed in a new way or with a new understanding. And sometimes, it's totally new. Something I never realized.
Because our God is huge.
His thoughts and ways are higher than my finite brain.
And yet, he reveals himself to me that I might grow in my relationship with him.
Grace.

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Please follow...

Someone recently asked me questions about "following" a blog, as opposed to just reading it. Also, I've had many friends and family tell me, "I just love reading your blog."  So, that has led me to believe, many people don't know how (or choose not to) "follow" the blog; instead, they just enter the address or click from Facebook or keep it bookmarked.  If that is you, and you read regularly, can I ask you to please consider "following?"

Here's why... 

1- I'd like to know who's reading. 

2- I'd like to "up" the readership so I can consider joining a blogging network.
3 - it's easier to comment on the blog if you 'follow'  & commenting creates dialogue & i'm an extrovert therefore i love dialogue :) 

Not sold? Email me or comment below and I can answer questions.  

Sold on "following?" Or at least willing to help a sista out? :) There are many types of blog readers for "following" blogs. The advantage for you (if you don't already use one) is that a 'reader' puts all the websites you like to read in one place and shows you the updates/ new posts so that you don't have to have a million sites bookmarked across the top of your browser.  Another advantage is you don't have to keep checking to see if people updated the sites you like to read. You can just open your reader, see what's new for the day, read, and close.  

UPDATE - I changed the directions. 
way easier now.
thank goodness.

you can either...
follow by email
         or
go to 'blogger' on google and join
         or
click FOLLOW ON BLOGLOVIN, which is a separate reader I just joined.

each one will walk you through the step-by-step; comment or email with questions.

thanks for 'following!'
:)

Grateful

I don't know about you but once in a while, it occurs to me that God is protecting me (and my family) from things I don't even know about- a car accident, a health tragedy, a bad boss, etc...  But then, every so often, I get a glimpse of what that thing really is in all it's danger.  Let's use the car accident example.  You're driving a long, going about your business as you approach a green light when suddenly you decide to look left, and as you do, you slam on the brakes because somebody else is running their red light, and had you not looked left, they would have slammed into your driver's side door.  Or, I'll use a personal example. When I was in high school, we were in a car accident.  The kid I was driving with was tired, and the garbage truck was going too fast.  We pulled out right in front of a garbage truck going over 40 mph, only to be spun several times, the car totaled. All the windows shattered. The driver's side of the tiny compact sedan practically crunched up to the passenger's side.  My friend, my brother, and I climbed out. Unharmed. Brian might have needed a bandaid, but I don't remember. If you had looked at the car, you would have thought every passenger was dead.  (In fact, there were some rumors going around at school that we were dead, but that's besides the point.)

It was a miracle.

My parents covered our lives in prayer. And God heard, and protected us, just as His Word promises. 

But, most days, we go through life unaware of what God is protecting us from. And that's a good thing.  However, once in a while, for whatever reason, you get to actually glimpse what He's protecting you from.  And, when you do glimpse it- that miraculous protection- as I did recently (in an event I'd rather not detail on the World Wide Web), it just leaves you, well... I can only speak for myself.

It left me grateful, humbled, and in prayer once again. 

On my knees before my Lord- thanking & praising Him for how he watches over my life and my family. 

It reminds me of that song... 

Hallelujah what a Savior, 

I owe everything to Him.

Hallelujah what a Savior, 

Hallelujah to my King.

Business

We are moving to Boston and now that I'm in stay-at-home-mom mode (which I think I will refer to as SAHM henceforth.) I love sounding fancy. Ok, where was I?

Now that I'm in stay at home mom mode, I've been thinking of ways to make some extra money on the side.  I'm still in the brainstorming phase, so here's what I have so far:

1. Compile my teaching resources digitally, blog about how to use them, and sell them on tpt. Long term, this might turn into an opportunity to compile a cohesive elementary music curriculum/ sequence to teach to college students. 

2. Invent something awesome. 

3. Amateur professional photography?  I know, I know... With cheap, high quality cameras, everyone's a photographer.  But here's my idea.  I was in a wedding recently, and the photographer couldn't be at the girls' getting ready location.  So, I brought my camera and the owner of the hair salon asked if I'd send him the pictures for his website and Facebook page.  I of course agreed. And then got the idea-  by word of mouth, I could photograph small businesses like that salon, or a local restaurant opening, or a 3 year old birthday party.  Random things that people want good pictures of but don't want to pay a legit professional for.  I can compile a portfolio of shots I've taken and mostly acquire business by word of mouth.  Say I charged 100$ (or so) for a couple hours and you get all the photos on a disc.  No hassle.  It'd be a great way to learn more about and practice a hobby I love too. I don't have all the details worked out, but you get the picture... 

(Cheesy pun totally intended.)

4. Take another kiddo in my home (by home I mean, 800 sq ft apartment) a couple days a week. 

I'm not super stoked about this idea, but I'm open and willing, depending on the scenario.

5. Piano or voice lessons. Good old fallback. Except we won't have a piano in Boston... But I could do it out of a studio, or church, or university practice room. Maybe. 

6. Professional organizer. Consulting, helping people come up with systems for their home or office, and helping them set up the systems and implement them well.  This could go in lots of directions, but you don't get to heartbeat details now because my sweet Adelyn is waking up.  

I have thought through some pros, cons, and details, but any input you have is appreciated!!!!!  Comment below :) 

That conversation with someone you haven't seen in a while.

I recently was in a wedding and had the chance to catch up with many old friends (and make some new ones).  Sometimes I dread that kind of thing where you have to make casual conversation all night, but it was actually super fun! 

A lot of times the convo went like this:

Me and person in union "oh my gosh it's so great to see you" (insert hug and smile)

Me: how are you? What are you up to these days?" (Or if a new acquaintance, "so, what do you do?"

Person: "oh, you know... I'm finishing up my masters at Yale."    Or 

"I just got a new job as a special Ed teacher."     Or 

"I am moving to San Francisco to design a new parole system."    Or 

"I work for Harvard Mass Gen doing research in the bio genetics departments."    Or

"I'm with a political documentary company out of California... So like we were just filming in the Middle East."     

(Seriously, those are all real. No exaggeration.)

Me: wow, that is so neat. 

(After some discussion of said amazing profession, the convo continues.)

Person: I've seen pictures of your baby on Facebook... She is so cute. What are you up to?

Me: being a mom. I was teaching but now I'm going to stay home with Addie.  

Annnnnnd here's where the reactions start to vary.

"That's so great. You're lucky." (I have to say, this one used to surprise me, but now, it is by far the most common reaction.) 

Or

"Awe fun. But won't Ben be in school...?" (I think the implied question is - how will you make money? Haha)

Or my favorite:    

"Oh....." (Silence)

Here's the thing. We have made a conscious decision for our family that for this season (or at least this next year), and for as long as we feel like God allows it- I will stay home with our children.  We might have to give up some things we wont be able to afford for a while. It might mean you and I don't have much to talk about. (Because the average person doesn't find diapers, first giggles, and first rolls at fascinating). It might mean people think we're a little nutso. It might mean I'm not showered even though we are talking at 3:00 in the afternoon. 

But I'm okay with all of that.

And I'm not even wanting to climb on a stay-at-home-mom soap box and try to justify why i do it or complain to you about diapers and spit up and laundry. Nor am I doing those things in my head as I part ways with the above mentioned acquaintance.

I just want to say that I love it. I'm thankful it's possible for us right now. I'm adjusting to how to engage people who are in a different place in life than me. 

So back to that conversation at the wedding that I had over and over. A lot of times, people would follow their reaction with "and how's being a mom?"

Long answer: I don't have time right now. :) 

so I'd usually just give the short answer.

"I love it. It's better than I imagined and we are so grateful."

And that is the whole truth.