Me (second from left) with most of the Booksneeze Bloggers

I had never attended a Women of Faith event before, so this weekend’s “Over the Top” program in Omaha, Nebraska was all new to me. In many ways, it was just what I expected; in other ways, I was surprised and challenged. It was, of course, a perfect excuse for a short road trip with my husband. He was able to spend time with his family in the area while his mom and I took in the conference in the Qwest Center downtown.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I loved the stage – feminine, professional, modern. I wasn’t sure I’d like the round style, open to all sides, but it grew on me.

I was still assessing the atmosphere during the opening prayer. I glanced over toward two women we had met briefly when we first took our seats. The older of them had grabbed her friend’s hand, grasping it tightly in both of her own and bowing her head with tightly closed eyes. I saw fervency and sincerity in that action. I realized this event meant a lot to some people. It wasn’t just a chance to escape for the weekend or hear some good music; it was a chance for God to move on her friend, to do something new and real. My own expectation level went up after seeing that.

MUSIC

If you have to use a worship team of pre-recorded music, this was a successful model. The four leaders were dressed in coordinating clothes and their intentional movements criss-crossing and circling the stage worked well to keep our attention. I knew all of the songs and enjoyed the women-only arrangements. Each of the four leaders was engaging in her own way. Again, I’m a live band kind of girl, but this was the next best option and it was executed well.

OPENING DAY SPEAKERS

Patsy Clairmont was the perfect choice for the first session and my general favorite all weekend. She came onto the stage carrying a simple journal and somehow that made her appear prepared but not canned. Her age, humor, and humilty all worked together to engage us, challenge us, and still make us smile. I loved her. By the end of the second day I had tweeted: “New plan: BE @PatsyClairmont when I grow up. : ) Actually, she makes me want to be my best me. Well deserved standing O.”

The biggest surprise for me in the speakers department was Andy Andrews. He bounced onto the stage and then over and across it several times before he settled down and said some really direct and poignant things to the crowd of thousands of women. I realized then that he had us in the palm of his hand. He had acted silly and told jokes and introduced himself to the security team and all the while he was winning us over, story by story, smile by smile.

His closing message on Friday night was masterful. Telling us that every decision in our life was a chance to change the world, he proved it through his storytelling. The material is from his new book The Final Summit but in person he mesmerized us with his theatrical reenactment of individual stories from American history that had impact on the entire world. Again, we were putty in his hands and he was faithful with that power.

BEST TAKE-AWAY

This might have also been my biggest surprise. I have listened to hundreds of Compassion and World Vision style child sponsorship presentations before. Because I have friends who are missionaries and plenty of opportunities to give, I can usually resist the sales pitch and move on. (Not to mention that those missionaries often remind me of the money wasted by big organizations on salaries and marketing.)

But I couldn’t resist anymore. This weekend I was sick of my excuse that if I’m going to give, I should give in this or that other particular way. The fact was, I wasn’t doing that giving either and this opportunity was at my fingertips. I was gripped with a pull toward that orange World Vision sponsorship table. Once there, I couldn’t help but notice how small the line was in front of the table with all the photos of children in need while the product tables nearby were backed up and blending together with the other long lines at the concession stands – in fact, it looked like one line where you got Parmesan fries at one end and patterned tote bags at the other. I walked right up to the World Vision table, no line and no waiting.

During that first break one picture caught my eye immediately: A five year-old boy with chubby cheeks and a smart red and white jacket. He wasn’t smiling or frowning, just sort of looking out of his photo with low expectations. I noticed he was from South Africa and I thought I’d keep looking to see if they had any countries that were a little more hip – you know, Uganda or Malawi kind of countries. Looked over more faces. Decided to talk to Dan and ask before making the jump. I went back to my seat.

Dan approved immediately. We could choose to sponsor a child instead of coming home with sugary treats or stickers. I thought the kids would love the chance to exchange letters and photos with a “brother” through the years. I tried to decide where I wanted him to be from or what age he should be . . . I started constructing the perfect sponsored child in my imagination.

But when I went back to the table, the first thing I did was check for that first boy. He was still there, so I rifled through some more profiles. Surely I shouldn’t pick the first photo that caught my eye; I have to make sure this is the one I want. The volunteers offered to find me a child with a particular birth date or country of origin. They had a special pack of babies, maybe I would prefer that? In the meantime, I saw a small group of women looking over the profiles near my boy. I hope they don’t take him, I thought. And then I knew he was mine. I told the volunteer I didn’t need to keep looking. I had found my match.

I was so satisfied with this move that I felt Friday night could have been the end of the conference. I couldn’t wait to show Dan and the kids.

But there was more to come . . . And Saturday was full of its own joys.

To be continued . . . .

UPDATE: Serenity says I should mention Claire’s question to me in the bathroom this morning (found in the comments section), “Mom, when are you going to bring that boy home?” What a brave and loving girl she is – no thought of how a new member of our family might need to be planned for or arranged for in anyway, no worries about how it would affect her, just an open heart.

Work for the week completed.

House cleaned picked up.

Bags packed.

Road trip taken.

Last-minute emails sent.

Time to rest and enjoy a couple days of new experiences at the Women of Faith “Over the Top” Event in Omaha, Nebraska.

Two* of my favorite things!

I’ll report back here as soon as possible after all the fun.

*OK, maybe three. There will also be dinner out that includes thin-sliced and toasted rustic bread, locally made ricotta cheese, and farm-fresh strawberry balsamic jam. This may or may not be yet another important ingredient in a fantastic weekend in my husband’s hometown!

I believe in chasing your dreams and pursuing your callings. I believe God gives us dreams and expects us to do work to see them accomplished. I believe God likes us and wants us to have good things.

But I don’t believe accomplishing your dreams is a sign of God’s favor or approval. I don’t believe he is somehow obligated to give you the “desires of your heart” if you work hard or believe even harder. (Note: There is a difference between promises and proverbs in the Bible.)

I’ve been reading a lot about people’s dreams lately and how they feel compelled to accomplish them at all costs. I’m fine with that usually – until it starts stressing me out! For example, I’d be more compelled to pitch in to worthy Kickstarter fund raisers – I know of three off the top of my head right now – if I had more of the disposable income that I already wish I had so I could spend it on starving orphans in Africa! Or, I wonder, if I’m going to support someone’s Kickstarter project, maybe it should be mine. Maybe I’m the one not working hard enough, not paying the price for what I want. But while considering (and occasionally freaking out about) this topic personally and in response to others, I remembered Phil Vischer.

Yes, Bob the Tomato.

I read Vischer’s memoir – Me, Myself, and Bob: A True Story About Dreams, God, and Talking Vegetables – years ago and have often thought back on his words as wise advice. As the founder and leader of Veggie Tales he basically experienced an amazing rise to fame, growing his vision from a small staff of 5 to a booming business of 250. But faster than his rise to the top was his humiliating fall to failure. His perspective on it all, though, is inspiring and cause for me to reflect on my own attitudes and pursuits.

Vischer’s conclusion was that God loved him enough to allow the failure of his business. God probably loved his business, too, but he loved Vischer more. He wasn’t against the success of Veggie Tales, but when Visher’s own ambition pushed him over a cliff, God was there to pick up the pieces of his life and assure him that the failure of his dream was not the failure of his purpose in life.

According to Vischer, we have to recognize that God loves us more than he loves our dream. We are not what we want to accomplish.

In a Focus on the Family broadcast from last year, Vischer shared his testimony. This is an excerpt of Vischer’s thought process after the collapse of the Veggie Tales empire and with it Vischer’s dream of being the next Walt Disney:

At what point did God tell me to be Walt Disney, when did that happen? And I realized it never happened. God never told me to be Walt Disney. He never told me to hire 200 people and try to do as much as I could as fast as I could. What he told me . . . ? “Tell stories that help kids.” So where did all that other stuff come from? . . . . it came from my insecurity . . . . I realized this burden I had been carrying which I called my dream – wasn’t a dream; it was a burden. It was a rock around my neck. . . . It didn’t come from God.

It is good news to me that God loves me more than my dream. It’s good news that he’ll still want to be in relationship with me even if I never accomplish some of the things I hope to accomplish with my life. It sets me at peace. I can rest in the knowledge that living well and finding contentment in my present moment is enough of a task on most days.

I don’t think it makes me less likely to pursue my dreams simply because I take this approach, but I do think it might make me less crazy on the journey. And less guilty about not having extra to pitch in toward someone else’s dream – at least for today.

What do you think?

What does our anniversary celebrate?

All the times we looked at each other in the middle of our worst attitudes and still decided, this is where I belong.

All the days we changed diapers and cleaned up chicken nuggets when we would rather have gone to the movies.

All the smiles from jokes only we understand.

All the cups of coffee prepared and offered.

All the loads of laundry and dishes, washed and dried and put away (usually).

All the times we had to be the super hero side-kick, business partner, or math tutor.

All the times we knew when to call in a real expert.

All the big tears cried over sick family members and a baby sent to Heaven.

All the little tears cried over everything else.

All the dreams dreamed. Some realized and others yet to be.

All the strength that comes from being one but also two.

All the pride of knowing others have not made these choices, won these battles, or conquered these obstacles, but we have. Together.

All the expectation for many, many more.

Happy 11th Anniversary, Dan!

I’ve been following Katie’s blog for a couple of years now. I can’t explain the challenge that her young life has presented to me in my established religious ways.

This woman has adopted 14 orphan girls and makes a home with them in Uganda. She started a non-profit called Amazima that specializes in support for women and children, especially in the areas of healthcare, finances, and education. And here’s where it gets crazy – she’s only 21. Rare Rock for sure.

This is her story in the form of a book trailer. The book, Kisses From Katie, releases in October. I can’t wait.

Daniel John (my rock star husband) is playing a mini-concert on Thursday night August 18th. He’s trying out a new system called Stage It that will broadcast from our computer to yours. Watch live from anywhere! He’s even taking requests. Tickets are $1. Tell your friends!

A favorite line on mothering from Peter Pan:

It is the nightly custom of every good mother after her children are asleep to rummage in their minds and put things straight for the next morning, repacking into their proper places the many articles that have wandered during the day. If you could keep awake (but of course you can’t) you would see your own mother doing this, and you would find it very interesting to watch her. It is quite like tidying up drawers. You would see her on her knees, I expect, lingering humorously over some of your contents, wondering where on earth you had picked this thing up, making discoveries sweet and not so sweet, pressing this to her cheek as if it were as nice as a kitten, and hurriedly stowing that out of sight. When you wake in the morning, the naughtinesses and evil passions with which you went to bed have been folded up small and placed at the bottom of your mind, and on the top, beautifully aired, are spread out your prettier thoughts, ready for you to put on.

I was able to do this out loud for Ada last night. She was quite distraught at bedtime, as the best of the dramatic 7 year-olds are bound to be.

Ada, crying: “I just have this weird feeling, like, when I get to Heaven I’m not going to find it fun or enjoyable. And it just makes me feel so baaaaaad!” More crying.

Me, summarized: “Ada, you’re just a little girl. You couldn’t possibly imagine what Heaven is going to be like. And God knows that. He’s your Good Father who loves you. But even if you can’t imagine what Heaven will be like, can you trust Him when He says it will be good? If you can trust Him, even when you don’t fully understand, then you are doing everything He asks. You don’t have to stress out about it. He isn’t worried that you don’t have it all figured out.”

And it worked. Worries smoothed. I love being a mom.