The Titus 2:4 Project

Thursday morning, after the hurricane, as the sun rose above the trees, we nervously stepped outside to assess the damage. Despite the winds that had howled all night long, our neighborhood was in surprisingly good shape.  As we surveyed our neighbor’s lots (neighbors who had not yet returned for “the season”) we began dragging big, green palm fronds to the street and loading them into the bed of our truck. First this lot. Then that lot. I snapped pictures and messaged friends to let them know if there was any visible damage to their property. T hey would reply with their gratitude and then ask “can you check lot ‘such and such for so and so’…” so we would. More clean up. More pictures. More messages. And our 8ft truck bed filled up fast. Very fast. Over and over. As the day wore on, my mind was filled with thoughts like, WOW! These palm fronds are heavy! I asked my husband how much he thought they weighed on average… he guessed about 25 pounds.  Lifting them over an...

As you know, my hubby travels extensively for his job.  There are many days that go by and I'm lucky to get five full minutes of conversation.   Much of our communication happens via text message.     Several years ago, while listening to a radio show, my husband learned that the numbers 1,4,3, when sent as a text, mean "I love you."  The number 1 represents one letter, "I".  The number 4 represents four letters, "l-o-v-e."  The number 3, as I'm sure you can guess,  represents three letters, "y-o-u."  The first time he texted me 143 I had no clue what he meant.  He explained it to me and since then it has become a regular part of our conversations.     It's a great way to share a sentiment when he's in a meeting and can't take time to type much.  It's our little 'secret' (or was until now.)  It's a special way to share a special message.   And, you know how I love meaningf...

Faith and trust go hand in hand.  Would you agree?  In my mind they are closer than cousins...perhaps more like Siamese twins.  It's difficult for me to imagine having one without the other...but I'm not here to debate the fact, or to convince you one way or another.  It's just my humble opinion.  Take it or leave it.  But have you ever thought about the amount of faith and trust it takes to get through a day??  Walk through a typical day with me:  I have faith that my alarm clock will go off.  Which means 1) I trust that the electrician properly wired my home to provide power to charge my phone, and 2) I trust that the folks in that factory in some distant land put all the pieces together properly when my phone and charger were assembled.  3) I trust the person who wrote the program that causes my phone to keep up with time accurately... Getting in the car and driving my child to school requires monumental faith!  I h...

I did it!  Today I learned how to drive the John Deere!  As I drove up and down the field, leaving row after row of cut grass in my wake, I felt strong.  I felt like there was nothing I couldn't do.  I even considered tackling my husband's broken down diesel truck, parked in the driveway.  If it hadn't been for the streaming sounds of my contemporary Christian station on Pandora filling my ears, I'm certain I would have been hearing the Katy Perry song, "Roar" inside my head.  I love to cut grass.  On the riding lawn mower, at least.  We cut approximately 15-17 acres of grass at our place, week after week after week...all summer long.  The whole process takes at least two full days, sometimes three.  And when rain messes up the routine, it can take even longer.  We have a system that has been working for a few years now, since all but one of the kids have left home.  I cut 60% of the grass with the riding mower - because I...

Have you ever had that feeling that something is too good to be true?  And what's the old adage?  "If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is."  Didn't everyone's mother tell them this?  There's always a catch, right?  Usually, I refer to that as the 'fine print'.  Or that really annoying, super-fast voice that comes on after the too-good-to-be-true offer was just made, to immediately disqualify every one who's breathing.  But no purchase necessary.  That's nice to know.  So often we demand proof.  We have to see it to believe it.  Ah yes, you've no doubt heard this one too, "Believe none of what you hear and only half of what you see."  Is it any wonder we are a pessimistic society, lacking in trust?  I used to ask my children if their homework was done.  Of course it's done.  "Show me."  If it was truly done, they would proudly produce their papers, chin out, shoulders back, as if to say, "I tol...

Today's post is coming to you live from the dusty pit, trackside at Round 4 of the MWXC circuit at Fallen Rock campground in Brazil, Indiana. Only Jake is racing today because Caleb's bike has an oil leak. I am sort of glad because there was a couple of crashes at the starting line. Once the dust cleared and all the riders were safely accounted for, I whispered a prayer of thanks to God that my baby wasn't out there. I'm amazed at the physical strength it takes theses guys (or gals) to ride this 8 or 9 mile track through the woods,  creeks, hills and fields.  They pass by us every 20 minutes or so,  pitting for water or gas as needed. Each time they pass, they are dirtier and the exhaustion shows in their muddy faces. It can be heart wrenching, as a mother, to watch. The hardest part for me are the minutes in between, when you wait...Praying to see that familiar number plate through the cloud of dust and know that your child has made it safely another lap around. ...