I Love You Enough . . .

All right, yesterday I told you about my husband, Mark, buying his toy—a Harley motorcycle. Plus being his sweet self, he bought me a helmet so I could ride with him. YIKES!

My first ride out with him I clung to him like a leech on a leg. I almost drew blood by gripping his waist so tightly. He drove slowly, turning corners carefully. I began to relax---a little. Then suddenly, an elderly gentleman pulled out right in front of us. Brakes---heart pounding—no accident. UGH!

However, because my husband is passionate about this new hobby I stuck my butt on the seat again and again. Trying to follow the advice of Proverbs 19:14, “House and land are handed down from parents, but a congenial spouse comes straight from God.” (Proverbs 19:14, MSG) That will teach me to write a Bible study titled Perplexing Proverbs! Now I have to try to live it out in application.

Now after a couple of years, I can brag that I rode for six hours on the back of a Harley Hog. I listened to my i-pod and can honestly say I had a good time. Is it my favorite activity? No. Does my hubby appreciate my participation in his hobby? I hope so.

Who would have ever thought that me, Susanne, would be riding around on a Harley with a helmet and black leathers, listening to praise music, and wondering about God’s sense of humor? Not me!

Hog and Husband

I should have had it written in our marriage contract. But I didn’t think I needed to do it. My conservative husband poked fun at the people who rode motorcycles in black leather. He would look at me and say, “That’s looks so miserable. The heat, the weather, the bugs in the teeth, be thankful I won’t ever do that. Besides, they are so dangerous.”

“I am very thankful,” I would respond from the deepest part of my soul.

(Oh, my husband is a State Farm Insurance agent.) He knows safety stuff.

Years tumble —same remarks. Same thankful wife.

Then five years ago, Mr. State Farm, conservative husband announces he wants to buy a Harley motorcycle—a Harley Hog.

“But what about the danger?”

“I’ll be safe. I promise to wear a helmet,” he says.

“But what about the miserable weather? What about the bugs?”

“They’ll add protein to my diet,” he says with a grin.

“YUCK!”

It was no use. In his mind, he “needed” a Harley... and so, he purchased his bike. He became a full-fledged HOG—Harley Owner Group.

Oh, and with the Harley, he bought me a helmet, too! The saga continues tomorrow.

The Buzz on Books

Digital Books?

One of the hot topics at the Christian Book Expo was the new e-readers -- products like the Amazon’s Kindle 2 and the Sony reader. These are, for lack of a better description, books on a device similar to an audio MP3 device. The devices can hold thousands of books at a time, are the size of a small paperback book and have the “feel” of reading a paper book--not a computer screen.

It seems odd to me, but then I felt the same way about my i-pod originally. Now I have i-pod withdrawals if I do not have it clipped to me.

The publishing industry insists that this is the way books will eventually be published. Universities and colleges have taken to this concept like white on rice. Students no longer need to carry 50 pound book bags on aching shoulders. They can download books immediately and usually at a cheaper cost—no paper, no binding, etc.

Now I haven’t actually held one of the devices yet. But soon! A friend in my monthly book club just purchased one. All the rest of us can’t wait to give it a test drive. (By the way, we are reading, Loving Frank). It’s a novel about Frank Lloyd Wright—so far I like it.

I would love to know your thoughts on digital readers. Do you have one? Do you think they are worth the money? ($350) Would you miss the smell and feel of a good traditional book? Let me know your thoughts.

*Are digital books the way of our future?
*Do you own a Kindle or Sony Reader?
*How do you think digital books will change our children’s reading habits?

Holy Tattoo--An Excerpt from Divine Prayers for Despairing Parents

Holy Tattoo

Skulls grin at me from across the room. As my son’s arm reaches for his water, a snake’s blood-red eye winks at me. I recall hanging my son’s crayon pictures on the fridge. Pastel Sunday School portraits of the Jesus he loved. Now he displays colorful artwork of a different genre on his own skin.

Sullen indifference replaces the sweet excitement my little boy used to possess . I wonder where the young artist-child hides inside this young man I hardly recognize. Surely, he resides in my son’s soul still.

Smiling at the memories, I ask, “Son, can I get you a refill? I’m headed to the kitchen.”
Without looking up, he nods.

I stop at the fridge to fill up the glass and whisper to God, “Bring back the boy of the crayon days. Help him to feel the excitement again! Let him remember how he colorfully displayed Your love for him each week. Lord, tattoo his heart with of Your love. Give my son a tattoo of holiness. Fill him with Your love, just as I fill up this glass.”

As I hand the brimming glass to my son, I know God heard my prayer. I smile down at my son’s colorful arm, but this time, I wink back at the snake.

“For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants.
They will spring up like grass in a meadow,
like poplar trees by flowing streams.
One will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’;
another will call himself by the name of Jacob;
still another will write on his hand,
‘The Lord’s,’ and will take the name Israel.”
—Isaiah 44:3–5


Whispers
Father, pour out Your water on ____________’s dry spirit. May my beloved child say, “I am the Lord’s.” May _______________ call on the Lord and write on his hand, “Belonging to the Lord.” You are ________________’s Redeemer. Let my child say, “You are the Lord of hosts, and there is no God besides You.” In Jesus’s name. Amen.

Questions about Air Travel

After attending the Christian Book Expo, I am sitting in the Dallas airport (DFW). Sitting here waiting for my flight, several questions have popped into my thoughts.

Why are airports so cold? Do they think the passengers are overheated after taking off their jackets and shoes when passing through security?

Why do airports not have enough seating for waiting passengers at the gate? Do they not want us to sit too long because of possible blood clots due to lack of leg room on plane?

But wait—now it’s a gate change. Not only a gate change, but a terminal change. Off we go, more than 100 passengers trying to squeeze onto the DFW Skylink to Terminal A. Ah—I get it! It is our exercise for the day.

Now we sit and wait again. People are shifting around, buying books, coffee, and boxed pizza in anticipation of a “fun” flight home. What do you suppose is the average expenditure spent at an airport while waiting for flights? (Including the bottled water, because it cannot be carried through security. )

I am now aboard the plane. This is a first! My seat leans backward. Usually, the button for my seat will not allow my seat to recline. Oh, but this is special—this one swings back without my help. My apologies to Mr. Passenger behind me. If having your seat back upright is VERY important according the flight attendants, why is mine OK to lean backwards during the entire flight?

I just realized I have lost my new pink neck pillow. I believe it must have fallen during the rush for the gate change. Why do these $20 neck pillows not have a clip or latch to hook it to your carry-on?

Why do airplanes go from stifling hot (unthawing frozen passengers) to freezing cold during the flights? (“Oh, I am sorry we don’t have any more blankets.")

Ah, the joys of air travel! Although I write this with a tongue in cheek attitude, I am grateful that I will be home in 2 ½ hours. Yippee! It’s worth it, right?

OH NO! We’re delayed for at least an hour. They won’t let us off the plane, because why?

Thank you, Lord, for electronics--I-pod, I-phone, laptop, and an audio book. What would I do without them? Smiles!

Home at last—2 hours late—but home. Thanks to the wonderful American Airline pilots who landed the plane with barely a bump, although the wind was gusting up to 60 miles an hour. Good job! Air travel can be tedious, but the pilots and flight attendants do a great job.

In Memory of Mocha

In Memory of My Mocha

2/14/98-3/14/09

Good-bye, Moocha Mocha.

Like Father, Like Son

As we talk about aging, one of the blessings of aging is watching your children become adults. For myself, my children are now my best friends. I have a blast with them--no one can make me laugh harder or smile more.

Here's a picture of my son when he was almost three. Every Christmas season I set out this picture as a reminder of my blessing and how fast time flies.

More years than I care to count have passed since this was photo was taken. But here's why we can rejoice as years turn into decades. The next photo is of my grandson taken recently. It was created to mirror his daddy's photo.

So again, I will revel in this picture and treasure my time with the most precious people I know. I will smile and laugh--bring on those laugh lines!

Smiles!