Lessons from Dad

I remember one time when I was in the throes of young motherhood and was frazzled ninety nine percent of the time.  We were at church, where we used to attend with my parents and Todd's parents, and the boys were running around us, like they loved to do, and I snapped at my husband.  I don't remember why, or what he said or did to prompt that reaction from me, but Dad called me out on it the next time we saw each other.

Dad and I were talking, as usual, and he became really serious all of a sudden and said, "Jen, I need to talk to you about something."  He told me he had overheard me snap at Todd and was concerned that I'd belittled him in front of others.  He told me it was normal for a couple to argue and disagree on things, but that when things like that happened, make sure to handle in private, never in front of others.

Dad will never claim to be perfect, but he's been around a few decades and he has learned a thing or two about marriage.  I could have been offended when he told me this on that day, but rather than take that perspective, I thanked him for telling me that.  I know that wasn't easy for him, because I am his baby girl, but it needed to be done.  I'm glad he took the time to think about it for a few days, and pray, knowing him, before he confronted me with this.  What a godly example!  I sure can appreciate that, and I am so fortunate to have such a father as him.

And about how I could have been offended...friends, if we profess to be a believer in and follower of Jesus Christ, then we must learn to take captive our thoughts when they run away, and make them obedient to Him.  (2 Corinthians 10:5)  That "mama bear" instinct is real, but it needs to be squished down.  It's not God-honoring, that instinct, and we must honor Him in how we think, in what we say, and how we act.  I seem to relearn this every so often, when I'm not acting Christ like.

I want to remember this conversation forever.

Love to all.

October 25, 2019

This day was a little out of the ordinary in that Dad ran late today.  Poor Sandy!  They were on their way to my house when something in the road blew her tire.  They had to turn around and go back, and get his truck.  I offered to pick him up, but Sandy wanted to bring him.  We ate lunch at Chick Fil A, where we haven't been in AGES.  Had I not needed to run to Kroger, we would have stayed in, because all the rain made everything a mess.

After lunch, Jonah dropped me at the door of Kroger, and I bought the ingredients for dinner.  Since Sandy was dealing with the tire on her car, I told her I was making them dinner too, and insisted she just take it and not argue.  ;)  I was also making some for my friend Abbey, and us, and I made two cakes all at the same time.  I made broccoli cheddar soup, using my favorite recipe.  This one.  It was delicious.  Sometimes we all just need a little comfort food.  Amen?

While I did all of that, Dad sat and talked to me, and all the boys ended up coming in here as well, which was nice.  Drew made it home from school and got to tell us about his day, and that's always a treat, because he never talks to me most days (introvert probs), and it was fun hearing him excited about nursing school.  I finished all the cooking, cleaned up, and we sat in the living room for about thirty minutes before I needed to take him home so I could deliver food to my friend by five. 

All of this makes me tired.  ;)  I was drenched at the end of all that, but I got to cuddle a sweet baby boy, so it makes up for that little fact. 

I try to bless Dad and Sandy with dinner every so often.  Sandy does all the driving these days, since Dad's been declared as legally blind, and she is such an excellent wife to him.  She never complains, at least to me, and I know she would rather stay home some days, but she always considers his needs above hers.  What an excellent example of a godly wife.  There is a verse about this, that she reminds me of.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others ore important than yourselves.  Philippians 2:3 (ESV)

I gain a lot of wisdom by observing her as his wife.  She is truly a Proverbs 31 woman of God, if ever there was one. 

I know she'll never read this, but I thank God for giving her to my dad.  Her worth is far more than rubies, and the only person she loves more than my dad is Jesus. 

Love to all. 

laughing with Dad

Today was special, in that we stayed home, and my husband was with us.  We had an inspector coming out, and Todd was here waiting for him.  We enjoyed our lunch together!  On this day, I made grilled cheese sandwiches and roasted red pepper and tomato soup.  Last week I made us pinto beans and cornbread, then sent the rest home for him and Sandy to enjoy. 

I love when we're talking, and Dad starts telling a story, and we get to laughing so hard that he almost can't talk.  He told the story on this day, of when he bought a cow...a sick cow, because it was cheaper.  He and Paul (my brother) had to give this cow a shot, and the cow started kicking Dad hard in the chest, so he gave the shot to Paul to try.  He missed, they ended up in a pond, and Dad accidentally gave the shot to Paul instead!  We were crying, we were laughing so hard. 

I have so many memories like this, and it doesn't matter if I've heard the same story a thousand times, it gets funnier with each telling.  I am so thankful that we have this kind of relationship, and Dad and I have definitely made some memories over the years.  The boys were all taught how to drive by him, because he started them on tractors when they were about nine years old.  He slowly moved them up to driving his truck on the land around his house, and he would never mind them driving him on an actual road.  Dad helped me raise these sons of mine, and I love that all of their childhoods are wrapped in memories of him in them. 

If you've read my other blog, you know quality time is my top love language, and this is the reason  our Fridays make me so happy.  I consider them a gift from God, and one I don't take for granted.  I know not everyone has had this in their life, and I am sad for them.  I thank the Lord for this gift, every time I think of Dad. 

Love to all.