Life in the slow cooker or microwave

This morning after a healthy - and I do mean HEARTY - Thanksgiving holiday it has occurred to me about our life in general. We have so purposely made everything so fast and easy for people to get things whether that is through the internet or through calling in and purchasing items. What ever happened to waiting for your turn? Or waiting for it through the trusty US postal service? We've often heard the degrading remarks of snail mail compared to email...I myself have called it that myself (apologies). What ever happened to making things personal, and I'm not talking about taking things so personal either - that's another subject. Receiving a handwritten letter from someone mean so much more to me than getting an email anymore. It's that personal touch, it's meaning that someone took that extra step in showing me that they care. 

What about teens today that text message people more than they do, calling people? I feel that I should reduce the services on my daughter's cell phone service, because I rarely see her call anybody on it; it's just a text messaging tool. I recently heard a news article on TV about how teens send more text messages than actually calling people and talking to them. We have trained our children - and we are to fault - that it's okay to shun away from people and forget that they are truly a person. Are they just a person on the other end of the message who sends random messages? I am guilty of this, thinking that I don't want to hold a full blown conversation with someone. I just text someone to either say mindless chit chat or if I have just one question or statement for them. I have seen my daughter text message people for hours. Whatever happened to just calling them and having a personal contact with them? I've also been told that I don't understand the concept of text messaging or teens today. It was't too long ago that I was one, I'd think I'd have some kinda clue... 

Some would say that text messaging is a form of communication. I'd agree with that. But what I am saying is that they have taken the person out of it and made it so easy for people to hide away in their little hole and never have a reason for personal contact. A friend of mine once said that technology has made it so easy so that people don't have to worry about confrontation and that it makes it so that teens do not learn how to have a proper personal conversation with anybody. I'm beginning to see that is true. How are we raising our children to have a personal relationship with anybody? When a conflict occurs how will they learn to follow the Matthew 18 principle? How will they learn to confront the person and let them know they caused problems or "offended" someone. Like I said, I'm preaching to choir. I, myself, need to be talking to my kids about this. I am a fan of technology - I don't know where I'd be without it, since this is my field - but I can see, sadly, how it has become a crutch for so many people. 

Do you think that God meant for us to be so impersonal? What if He was? Think about that question...what if God was impersonal? God created us to have a PERSONAL relationship with Him. What if everytime He wanted to show or tell us something, he decided that the only way to do was through text messaging? Sure that definitely would get to us quickly - for those of us who do have that application. But even TM has problems. What if God wants to show us something instantaneous? What God can reveal to us, comes from our conscience through our heart, mind and soul, not our hand held device. If God did just text does that show us His heart? His heartfelt promise to us? 

Picture this if you will: When you become saved, God doesn't reveal everything to you BOOM! You know everything! No, if He did, you would become so disoriented and confused; overwhelmed. God likes to turn things on slow (at times) and let you grow and mature over time. If He put you in a microwave, and had you know things right away, you wouldn't understand it, your mind would be on overload. Why do you think that when God created us, He created us as babies? I like to think God likes the slow cooker or Crock pot. When you cook in a crock pot, you put all your ingredients in a stoneware bowl and put your ingredients in and let it slow cook for hours on end, dependent on what temperature you've placed it. Don't you think God works the same way? He has put us in a safe place (earth), seasoned us with His love and wisdom - if asked for it - and through our times of arriving to the end result, we have been transformed to something that was once hard, raw and disgusting to something that is pleasing to eyes and ears.  Hopefully our aroma is something that is pleasing as well - do we give off a smell of religion or a smell of personal relationship with God? He reveals to us in small doses of information. And once we are finished we're primed for anything that tries to come against us. We have been simmering for some time now, we have been through the trials; we are a work in progress; a work in MARVEL progress.

Good things come to those who wait.

Natalie

My youngest daughter will be turning 12 soon! How is this possible? It seems like just last week we brought her home from the hospital or it was just recently that she was the same heighth as me when I would be sitting on the floor. I used to be looking down at her and telling how to do things and now its looking up into her beautiful sunny eyes and letting her know how to deal with life lessons. 

I remember like it was just yesterday that common things from her mouth were "I wanna watch Poop (Pooh) bear" or "Can I have chloclate(chocolate) milk?" and a favorite that always made everyone laugh was "Christmas uh lights!" with a lilt on the word lights.

When Natalie was just a few days old (?) my husband came up with her nickname "Nattie." To this day it just seems fitting to call her that. Even though she is taller than me and getting older and smarter by the minute she will always be my little baby. She hates when I call her that. But in my mind she will always be my baby. I think what makes it hard for me to see her as a young person is that her sister is 5 years older than her and no matter what milestone Nattie has overcome it just seems like she will always be too little to do it. Even though her sister did it also at the same age and was so big at it.

They say that every family has a drama queen. In ours, it's Nattie - it's only because she is just like her mom. 

I remember when we had brought our dog home for the first time. She looked at it and I asked her how she likes her new puppy. She said "I never wanted a puppy. I wanted a kitten." Come to find out she had just watched our new puppy (Zoey) and Zoey's sister get into a little scrapping session together; so she was a little scared of it. 

I think if you ask her, her favorite time of the year is winter. She will be the first one to be bundled up to go play outside in the snow. She will be out there for hours, if allowed and then she wants a cup of hot chocolate to make the red in her cheeks to fade. She's so cute!!

If the sunshine ever had a color I think it would be the color of Nattie's beautiful smile. That's what we call her, "sunshine" - so hence she has always had a song just for her in the house - You are my sunshine. I remember when I used to sing that to her when she was just a baby. She has twinkly eyes and when she smiles, she just melts your troubles away. You can always tell when she isn't feeling well, because the twinkle in her eyes, disappears. She can never smile with just her mouth, but when she does, she does it with her whole face. That is a sign of a true smile.

A few years ago Tim and Nattie were in a car accident. I was a witness to it when someone had hit the van from the side. It was one of those moments that makes you think "Did I just see what I think I saw?" The way the car hit our van and where Nattie was sitting in the van, it was like God had sent his angels or His Hand around the area where Nattie was sitting and cushioned her so she wasn't hurt at all. On the same side that she was sitting, the front and the backside of the van was hit; but not the area where Nattie was sitting - in the middle. The only thing that was hurt was our pocketbook. We had just purchased the van and was ours for about 2 months. The van was demolished. But it was one of those moments that you seen God move in a mighty way to protect our family.

Recently, when I was watching her at a game that she was in, she made me so proud. She isn't the best player on the court - she's pretty close though, but that isn't what impressed me. What impressed me is her attitude towards those players who do not do well. She always went over her team player and slapped their hand. Not everyone on the court did that and she always encourages other players. She always seems to be for the underdog. She is well liked in her class and her teachers can never say anything but good things about her. 

Whenever she is watching a television show, she always wonders if they are a Christian. She has done that ever since she was wee little. What child do you know does that? She tries so hard to be older, different. I know she has a lot of growing up to do in her young life. 

Kris vs. Mrs. Plotner

Now when I was first hired at my current employer, I was never called Mrs. Plotner. I was always called by my first name, Kris. It's true when the first time you hear the salutation before your last name you do a double "what?" The first time I heard it, I looked around the room and wondered who they were talking to; Mrs. Plotner, who's that? Is my mother-in-law in the room? It has taken me some time to get used to the second name. I don't even allow "Mrs. Plotner" in my house. Mrs. Plotner no longer exists when I step into my car to go home. She stays at school and doesn't appear at my house. When my daughters' friends would come to the house and they would call me that, I would quickly correct them and tell them, that it's "Kris" or "Sarah's mom" or "Natalie's mom." I know that it is a sign of respect (I tell my kids to call their friends' parents "Mr." or "Mrs." unless told otherwise), but in my house, Mr. and Mrs. does not reside there or even at my church. "Mrs. Plotner" only appears from 8-3 Monday through Friday. The first time I heard "Mrs. Plotner" at church, I cringed; I'm "Mrs. Kris" at church.

But another situation...I don't like it when kids call me "Kris" at school." For instance, a student at the elementary called me "Kris" and I cringed at that as well. How dare they call me "Kris!" My name, as long as I am working at the school, is "Mrs. Plotner."

I know...I have issues.

Who is Kris? I like to think that Kris is someone who knows how to have fun; someone who enjoys her family; someone who enjoys a good laugh; enjoys time with her sisters; someone who can spend hours on hours on the phone with friends; someone who is not afraid to cry or get angry when the time is appropriate. I like to think that Kris knows how to step away from Mrs. Plotner and find who she is; she likes to create websites; she likes to read; she likes to watch TV; she likes to listen to music; talk with her family. Her house is a mess; her room is a mess; her life can be a mess as well. She can spend hours on hours at the computer and not get tired of it. When her kids were young, phrases like, "Are you supposed to say no to mommy?" or "Hon, it's your turn to watch the kids" used to come from her mouth. Now common phrases from her mouth are "If you don't get your hind in out the door at this minute, you're gonna be left home" or "Do I have to make supper?" or "Can we order pizza tonight, I don't wanna cook" or "What homework do you have?" and "No, you can't wear that out of the house."

Who is Mrs. Plotner? Well Mrs. Plotner can be kinda ouchy. She likes her room to be in order; she still has a messy desk from 8-3; but after school her desk is clear. She knows what she expects from her students and she expects a lot from them! She gets annoyed by the loud speaker because every time an announcement is made, it's right when she is in the middle of explaining something. She tries to be even keeled and when things don't go well, she tries to keep a handle on it into the next class. At the end of the day, she wants to just sit in solitude and figure out how to get ahead for the next week without interrupting into "Kris'" world. Mrs. Plotner also gets upset at the kids during lunch if they don't know how to throw away their trash. Common phrases are "Sitting with six legs at the desk" or "No long distance conversations" or "If I see anything thrown again, you will be cleaning this table for the next week." Mrs. Plotner seems kinda square. Such a by-the-book kinda person. I think if I met her in the hallways, I would try to steer clear from her. She'll nail you with something. She has eyes and ears like a hawk. You can't get away with anything in her room. She has beady eyes that will haunt you if you do something wrong. The looks she gives you makes you want to hide under a chair because you know you did something wrong and she knows it too!

"Mrs. Plotner" and "Kris" are made from the same flesh but wearing different hats is what the key is. Knowing when to be flexible but knowing also what the limits are. Too much of Kris...too much of Mrs. Plotner and not enough of Jesus.

Heather Pick

I am a creature of habit. I get up every morning, do a devotion, do my rituals in the potty room, turn on the morning news. Now for around the past several weeks, there has been somebody different sitting at the desk next to Chuck Strickler. They were an Angela An, a Cara Connelly, or somebody else. Now every time I would see that Heather was not sitting next to Chuck, I would get a little concerned. I would tell Tim and let him know that she has not been back. We all know she has been battling a horrible disease called cancer.

Then today, I get the news that stops me in my tracks, makes me breathless for a moment... Heather Pick has passed away today. Instantly I do a Google search for Heather's name and all I get are the sites in which she has helped with the Komen organization. So I turn to the source I know would have first hand knowledge if this news is actually true. I access the 10tv website. and lo and behold there on the front page her story is plastered.

Today at the end of the school day, a student said, "I don't know why, but it just seems kinda gloomy today, kinda sad." She didn't even know about the passing of Heather. I think it was fitting that today we heard the news; it was rainy, cloudy, cool and dank.

It's weird, someone you don't even know other than on TV. Someone you've allowed in your house everyday to let them share the news; somehow they became a member of your family, someone you count on to be there in the morning. Through the special airing on the news station, I learned so much about her and her special causes. What a special woman who gave so much of her time to people.

Today I feel like I lost a very close cousin and my heart goes straight out to her two young children. May her legacy live on in her kids and to those who knew her best.

I will leave what I posted to the 10tv website: "Our family is deeply saddened of the passing of such a wonderful person. Her legacy will forever remain in Columbus and those who watched her battle a treacherous disease. May the Peace that passes all understanding fill you in the darkest of days. - Tim & Kris -"

Going Home

Today my family went back to our previous church to visit, it was something we had planned to do several years ago shortly after we had left it, but never got around to it. But after listening to our current pastor, Bill - we decided it was time to do it, or we would never do it.

As we approached the parking lot, old memories flooded our minds as this was something we had done so many years before; anxiety, sadness and memory lane came back. The second we came upon the door we were greeted by the greeter who had been there six years ago. It was good to know Gerald is still up to his greeting business and welcomed us wholeheartedly. Once we get passed him, there seemed like there was a slew of people who were waiting to see who had appeared at the door. Hugs and quick catch ups were soon to follow and ushering us to the kitchen to get refreshments and doughnuts. Once service began, I looked around and for a majority, things had not changed. The same songs were sung, the same people were around, the same 'rituals' had not changed. I remember also thinking this is where I got my start on knowing and starting my relationship with God. It was here, where the foundation was laid; it was here, where we were challenged; it was here, that both of my girls were dedicated to the Lord; it was here, that we formed friendships -old and new- that still impact our lives today; it was here, that this was the only kind of worship that my children had come to know; it was the people in this house that people ministered to us when we found out we were going to lose a child; it was here, that we began to grow up. So many memories, that will be forever cherished in my heart.

I remember when we went there, that it was always mentioned that this was an oasis to be fed with the Word of God; many people were going to come and drink from the fount and move on. Move on is what we did and sadly not in the way that God had wanted us to do things. Yes, I believe that moving on from ALF was the best thing for our family, but in the manner in which we (I) did it was not the way of God. I had left for selfish reasons and did not wait for the spiritual leader of the house to move first; I took things in my own hands. In this manner, our family suffered but recovered, only by the grace of God.

During the time of communion (which I had forgotten they did every week instead of every once in a while like we do at our current church) a sadness came over me and I began to tear up. I don't know if it was knowing that Pastor Joe is really sick and we came to 'clear the air' or if was a sense of foreboding for where this church will be if Joe decided to stop his ministry. Where would people go if this place closed? Would people be able to find another place to worship and be fed the Word of God? Would people feel lost? I know deep down God would direct their paths but it is still a feeling I can't shake off...

Before we left church, Sarah wanted to go downstairs and recapature the memories of when her and two older girls would chase each other down the hall before and after Sunday School. She recollected that rooms and areas seemed smaller to her now and than what they did then...only natural. I think it was good for the girls to go back - home - and see where they came from; that old wounds can be healed and see the direction that their future can take. I don't know if we'll go back and visit, but we can know there will always be a family of believers that will take us back in a heartbeat.