It’s a GIRL!  We, around here, are pretty excited to see what a little girl looks like.  Let the shopping begin!  (Eric wants photo credits here.  So, photo credits to Eric.)

Blue Filter Photography

Ok.  I don’t do a lot of product recommendations so when I do, it’s because I really think the item is outstanding.  My leather sofa was in need of some serious attention.  It looked dry and sad and I was sort of falling out of love with it.  In the past I’ve tried to condition it every 6 months to maintain it’s youthful allure, but to very little avail.  I might as well have been applying Oil of Olay.  My sofa needed botox.  Or surgery. Or something.

Enter Leather Honey.  This stuff is thick and sticky and messy just like it’s name implies.  I coated my cushions and sofa in it and then left them to cure overnight.  Leather Honey does not mess around- immediately I could tell it was something different from all the disappointing creams and lotions of my past.  It was penetrating and healing and sealing.  And after 12 hours of relaxing, my sofa looked amazing.  I wish I had taken photos.  I didn’t know it was going to be this dramatic!  Just imagine your sofa looks like Mick Jagger and then overnight turns into Taylor Swift.

I haven’t tried it for these uses yet, but it’s also wonderful for leather shoes, purses, etc.

And just when you thought things couldn’t get more exciting- we have a give-away!

So if you’d like to take part, just share with a friend/on social media and comment to let us know you did, then we’ll add your name to a random drawing for an 8oz bottle of Leather Honey.

I carefully separated the perforated perfectness of Matthias’s social security card from the larger sheet of mildly heavy paper. Matt had never needed it- no bank account, no job, no nothing. I handed him that and his only photo ID- his passport- his proof that he was who he claimed to be for the college entrance exam.

At 14 and 16 years old, there stood Taite and Matthias with a herd of others hoping to pass this test so they could attend college. And suddenly, once again (because this is really the third time I’ve hustled a 14 year old  for a college entry test), It finally occurred to me that I might be off my rocker- 14 looks awfully young in that context. So like any overbearing, over protective, micromanaging mother would, I hovered around the doorway to watch them go into the test center.

At that very second, after the social security card had been verified, I had to do this quick, but firm, self-talk to keep myself from rushing in to grab the passport and social security card for safe keeping. I had to tell myself, “Get a grip, the kids are  possibly heading to college and you  are going to care for a little slip of paper, like they aren’t capable, give me a break.” So I let it go. And waited.

After about four hours, a fairly deer-in-the-headlights looking Matt appeared and handed me his scores wherein it announced that he had tested beyond college level in all three tests- English, reading and math (and mentioned, “I lost my social security card.”) And like a dirty copper penny held at arm’s length can totally block the sun, that stupid social security card loss was capable of that for me that day. What a total low-life.

So, I got to have my own little test that day too. I thought about what a pain in the butt dealing with the government would be to get a new card, about someone stealing Matt’s identity, about how unperfect it is lose a social security card.

After years of hard, hard work and study Taite and Matthias both had owned that test, I had prayed for this day, their work, their character, their very lives and now this was to be my little test- like seriously!? and I looked at Matt and said, “Let’s not let this ruin your success, we’ll get it figured out.” We checked at the various counters of help and information. Nothing. And went and had ourselves a little celebration lunch.

And I thought about how often, too often, some niggling little buggery thing of absolutely no account can completely ruin the joy, the success, the goodness from God. I can be so thankless.

The next day, Andrew and I were taking a day trip when Taite texted- “Call me!” When I did, she said, “The college called, they found Matt’s social security card.”

Caitlin’s children have all been throwing up for about forever. They are mere half-weights of their former selves. Jude was throwing up so much that they decided to give him just liquids and no food for the night hoping the liquids would stay in him that way. He watched forlornly as the family chowed down on dinner, and Caitlin and Zac, even knowing it was the best thing for Jude, found it hard to keep from giving in. And Jude had to trust that his parents loved him.

If we are honest, the “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life” can every now and then sound a little hollow, not quite match up to reality.

Reading Jesus’ statement to John as he molders away in prison suddenly made sense because, you know what, sometimes love doesn’t look like love.

The offer of his head on a platter accepted as payment for Herodias’s daughter’s beautiful dance, John is kinda wondering if the Savior of the world is going to be his savior in this prison cell? Or  should he have looked for someone else someone maybe capable of saving not just the world  but saving him too there in prison?

“Are You the One who is coming, or do we look for someone else?” (Luke 7: 19-20, Mtt 11:3) I’ve staked my life on you; maybe I shouldn’t have.

Jesus answers, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” (Mtt 11:4-6, Luke 7:22)

Did you zippity through what Jesus says?  I skim (or skip) when people quote scripture but you have to read the last sentence: “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

What in the world?! I am the Savior, I have fulfilled the old testament prediction of He who was to come-  the restoring of sight, hearing, walking, health and life. the gospel preached. (Is 35: 5ff) And, don’t fall away on account of Him. Huh, does that even make sense- miracles of healing…  don’t fall away?

Now why would anyone fall away when this miracle worker, Jesus, can do all that and more? And that is exactly the problem.

John’s cousin is the Savior of the world and  He is not going to rescue John from prison. John is going to have his head chopped off and served up at a banquet all because he was telling the truth to a spiteful but powerful woman. Seriously, of all the things that Jesus has done-  healing, saving, and rescuing, this should be easy- just spring John from jail. But John is getting the feeling that Jesus just might not do that. It’s looking bleak. Trust is so easy when life is easy; trust when it looks like abandonment is another thing.

Health, wealth and happiness from a kind, loving Savior- easy. Trusting that our Savior is kind and loving even in pain, illness and death?  That’s what he’s asking John to do. That’s what he eventually asks all of us to do. Someday it’s not going to be the trial of “hold still while this thing is removed that makes your life less than great, you know, like a splinter”  Someday it’s going to be “hold still while I make your life really, really hard and it looks like I’ve abandoned you, but I haven’t. I love you. Trust Me.”

“Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

I attempted and failed miserably to capture the beauty of Tim and Erin’s kitchen at Christmastime. These photos are from a professional- the ones who made the cabinets: Wynwood Fine Cabinetry

And click here to see a few of the “before” for the kitchen.