Fresh From The Vine

Although the days and nights seem to be getting a little cooler the last week, nothing says summer like watermellon fresh from the garden! We have some of the best this year, and we opened one up on the patio the other day and ate the whole thing! Natalie just loves it (as you can see) and was covered in juice from head to toe by the time we were done.



Still no Baby Beckett to welcome to the world, though I tried to promise some people at church this morning that I would have someone new to bring next week. I'm very proud that we made it two Sundays in a row the last two weeks because in August we have church at 7:30 a.m. instead of 9 because of the heat. I think we made it three out of 5 Sundays this month, which is not bad for 9 months pregnant and not sleeping, not to mention having to wake Natalie up to leave by 6:30 (it takes us an hour to get there). I just hate waking her up because she sleeps in so little as it is, but this morning she was up at 5:45 and didn't believe me that it was time to get ready for church because it was still dark. She did just fine, though, and Daddy was home to go with us!

I'm still keeping my glucose levels in check and doing home checks 5 times a day. I've actually had really low levels on and off, so things are OK. The ultrasound went fine Friday and showed him to be a little big, but not to the point I'm screaming c-section! I have an appointment Tuesday, so we'll see what the doc says. That's about all for now. I'm too tired and unmotivated to write anything else right now, so I'm just going to post what I wrote for the church newsletter this week. It sums up a lot of how I feel right now, getting ready to bring another precious child into an unstable world. Have a blessed week, and thanks for all the thoughts and prayers.

As my daughter prepares for her first day of preschool next week, I can’t help but think of how this is just the first step in a long march of first days of school. I wonder what each of our conversations will entail every time she embarks on a new year as she becomes an independent child, then a young adult who will form her own values and opinions and shape her own reputation.

I think too many parents today expect teachers to lay the stepping stones our children will need to make good choices and the “right” decisions. In fact, their morals and integrity must start at home with us and our faith. Our teachers do their best to keep our little ones on track in a class of 30 or so all day long, but the foundation must be laid at home and in our sanctuaries first.

As a parent of a young child I fear her being bullied or herself being mean to another kid because of peer pressure. One of my greatest regrets to this day, at age 30, is not standing up for one girl in particular who was teased and tormented every day in middle school. My heart ached for her while at the same time I was so thankful I wasn’t in her shoes. Theresa was very poor compared to most of the kids at our school, and she was always dirty and had holes in her clothes. She sat in the same corners of the classroom each day, just waiting for it all to begin. I was one of those kids who ran the middle of the road. I wasn’t extremely popular or unpopular- I was quiet a lot of the time and seemed to just fit in with everyone. However, I was not willing to give up that comfortable position to stand up for Theresa, and I regret it immensely still. I failed to act with integrity by not acting at all. I failed to follow a Christian path.

When she’s old enough I’ll tell Natalie that story and hope she can relate to it somehow. I want her to know that God created and loves everyone just as they are, regardless of insignificant things like wealth, clothes, skin color or gender. People are people, and most of us deserve respect. I want her to judge others with integrity, by what it really means to be a good person. I want her to be stronger and more confident than I was so she can make the right decisions and stand up for herself and others. The great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us that it’s not what we do in times of comfort and prosperity that really matters, but rather what we do in times of instability and adversity that define who we are.

I am reminded of this during what is set to be the most historical election of our time. We will either elect the first black president or the first female vice president, either of which are huge steps forward in our historically frayed social system. Although our country was founded on many wonderful ideals and principals, such as religious freedom and democracy, we cannot deny it was built in part on the backs of blacks and women who were never given due respect or credit. I am trying to lead by example and make my decision for president based on real issues that will affect my children and the world they will live in, not party lines, race and false fears. The grave issues we face are not those of democrats or republicans, rich or poor, black or white. The decisions we make in the next few years must bring us together as people of God to ensure a future for our children and our planet. That’s something every responsible parent should want, regardless of political party. We must have faith that God will help us and see us through, even as we continue to choose between buying groceries or filling the gas tank one more time.

As I get Natalie dressed for school on Tuesday, I will keep all of this in mind. But I think I’ll just start her out with, “listen to your teachers and play nicely with the other kids.” That’s a good start for now.