Hosanna in the Highest

Our 16 year old daughter, Hosanna, took a job recently at Chick-Fil-A.

She started in the Dining Room - sweeping, cleaning floors, refilling drinks and being social with customers.

One day, a lady noticed her name tag and said, "Hosanna.  I LOVE your name!  How'd you get it"?

Hosanna is gracious.

She smiled and said sweetly, "Probably the same way you got your name.  My parents gave it to me."

This is my child.

The real, REAL story goes  like this....

Back in the mid 90's Billy was helping to lead worship at our church in Valrico, Florida.

Elizabeth was just a few months old.  

That Sunday evening, I had the "ministry" of running the slide projector.  Some of you will appreciate.  

"State of the Art" in worship ministry at the time, the machine projected the words to the songs on the wall - just incase someone forgot them.

I sat on the back row and clicked the button forwards and backwards - keeping in pace with Billy.

I wasn't praying -- or asking -- in a typical sense, but I was listening.  Listening to see if there was anything God would want to whisper to me.  

All of a sudden, in my imagination, I saw a blonde haired little girl, dancing (and dancing well).  I heard, "Her name is Hosanna."

I was a little taken a back.  It was so crazy vivid in my minds eye that I actually began to talk to God, quietly, but out loud.

This is what I said, "You can't name a baby Hosanna.  It's not a name."  :)

But over the course of the next few weeks, it grew on me.  A lot.

Billy loved it.

But we told no one our plan.  We had already decided and we didn't want to be talked out of it.

Funny, years later, if you know her -- well her name has always just suited her.  Although, I'm sure she didn't want to explain all of THAT to the lady at ChickFila.

And, did I mention, she can dance?

Selah.

Fundraising 101

It's that time of year around here.

Not just in my home, but in my community at large.

And we love it.

People are preparing for all kinds of missions trips.

We've been so excited to be able to give to people traveling domestically with the Thorn Production, friends serving at an orphanage in Africa, kids leading soccer camps in Argentina, teens leading Young Life Camps here in Colorado, friends fundraising for an adoption, and young leaders with YWAM headed all over the world --- to name a few.

In the past few years alone, our children have made multiple trips to Mexico, Germany, Alabama, and Trinidad and Tobago.

I am thankful we live in a place where there is a culture of giving -- and going.

Today, I'd like to give you an inside look at our "fundraising" process for those also considering whether or not they can  afford to send there kids on mission.

1.  We encourage savings -- ALL YEAR LONG.  The average cost of a trip has been approx $2,200 per person.  In the past, Elizabeth has been able to save over $1,000 in a year -- and Hosanna (even without a job) has been able to save more than $500 to put towards her own costs.

2.  We insist that our children pay a portion of their own way before we seriously look at fundraising.  We want our children to be the first to take THEIR calling, THEIR mission seriously.  We remind them that it's a perfectly legitimate way for them to spend their birthday money.  If they aren't willing to "pay a price" -- or sacrifice for the sake of going -- we don't feel it's fair to ask other people too.

The cost we expect up front from a particular child is based on the child's age and ability to earn money.  Generally, any where from $300 - $500.

3.  Next, we sit down with the child(ren) and come up with SEVERAL ways for them to WORK and EARN the money.  Our older daughters have regular, paying jobs.  Easy.  Our younger children have to be creative.

Besides the usual babysitting and misc household chores they can do for the neighbors, Victoria can knit like a machine.  Here is a sample of her work:

She uses bulky yarn and knits on a loom for accuracy.  She is currently selling this hat/scarf set for a $30 donation.

Here's another example:

Victoria also makes and sells homemade laundry soap in 5 gallon buckets.  $15 per bucket.

Our neighbors and friends buy her soap and switch out their empty bucket for a full bucket when necessary.  She also sells homemade Glass and All Purpose Cleaner for $5 per container.

** Let me add a little note here:  Victoria profits off her scarves and laundry soap BECAUSE HER PARENTS BUY ALL HER SUPPLIES.  More on that later.

Benjamin wants to do "manly" chores.  Fine then.  He began by making a flyer which he attached to neighbor's doors with a rubber band.  Whereas it's not quite time for Coloradans to begin mowing their grass, all the snow/dirt/slush this time of year does make for messy cars.  He advertised he would come to their home, detail and wash their car for a $20 donation.  His mother also insists that he be a Poopper Scooper.  I do not allow any job to be "beneath them" at this point.

Insert (and expect) kink:  Shortly after the flyers went out, Benjamin broke his foot in a basketball game.  Cast and Physical Therapy for approx 9 weeks.  This makes any walking/standing activity difficult.  No impossible, but difficult.

Since he was limited, we decided to do an Intercessory Prayer Calendar.

Benjamin has been "selling" dates on his calendar.  If you buy April 1st, the cost is $1.  If you buy April 21st, the cost is $21.  When someone signs up to be his "intercessor" for that day, in exchange for their donation, Benjamin is mailing them an "Map" put out by Every Home for Christ (which we got free from our church) and a list of "Prayer Points" both for his mission trip and the country in general.  It's a great family activity -- and great for Ben to have had to sit down and research concerning the country he'll be working in.

We have several dates available April 4 - 14, and April 22 - 28.  

I allow them to use my facebook to advertise and from there they branch out to neighbors, their own friends, and family.

4.  Billy and I sit down and decide how much we can contribute to the trip.  After all, they are our kids.  In the past, we have funded anywhere from 30% - 100% of their trip costs.  However, we do not offer this money until after the work is done.  We want our kids to work as hard as possible to cover the costs themselves.  After all, they are going to work, to give.  It's not a vacation.

Also, if I decide that in March, for example, I can give my son $200 towards the costs of his trip, why not have him work for it?  In the past the kids have cut coupons, helped dad with yard work, maintained our cars, etc to get their money from mom and dad.  It's a win-win.

This also goes towards fundraising supplies.  If I ALREADY plan to give Victoria $15, why not buy her yarn to knit a scarf she can then sell for $30.

5.  At this point, they are well on their way to earning their own money for their trip.  Therefore, we now allow them to send out "support letters".  Again, because we live in an area where giving -- and going -- is a part of the culture, people are accustomed to such letters and WANT to be apart of young people learning to live on a mission.

Truthfully, we probably couldn't do it without the generous support of our family and friends.  It takes a village and we are so so deeply grateful for ours.

6.  Finally, we sit down as a family and discuss different ways to use our gifts and talents to create fundraising events -- and sometimes involve others who are fundraising in our efforts.

Events Calendar

Kindermusik Playdate, March 26th at 10am

Ages 4 months - 6 years and a caregiver

$10 suggested donation per child

Mountain Dew Cakes

$10 suggested donation per cake

Will deliver, Saturday March 30th

Car Wash, TBA

Krispie Kreme Doughnuts

Preorders

TBA

In this way, we raise the remainder of the funds $10 at a time.  $10 becomes $100 -- and $100 hopefully becomes $500.

We pray that God would bless and multiply our efforts.

Does that sound like a lot of work?  It is.  Lot's of work -- added on to our regular, already full lives -- for several months a year. 

But, if my kids can't handle it -- how are they suppose to handle the hard work that comes from being set in a foreign culture, with foreign language and food, little sleep, and physical labor in the hot sun for up to 10 days at a time?

Worth it?  I think, yes.  The training process, the giving, the sacrificing, the hard work, the going -- all worth it.

Until next time,

   

{13 Great Books in 2013} - Plain and Simple

As far as raising our family is concerned, Billy and I have never been good at following other people's prescribed formulas.

We have tried.

We have every Heritage Builders book in the tool chest.

We have books on family date nights, family vacations, family devotions, and on and on and on......

We have programs for organized chores, scripture memory, christian education, teen dating, and on and on and on....

Never made ANY of it work.  You heard me.  Never.

It took awhile, but eventually, we gave up following other people's to-do-lists for the most part.

Don't get me wrong.  We love hearing other people's stories.

We love advice, listening to teaching and we actively seek out mentors.  We read  ALL.  THE.  TIME.

However, we have learned that there is no substitute for praying and trying to hear God's guidance on behalf of your own family.  There is no substitute for cooperating with what God is already trying to do in the lives of your children.

We believe this so much so -- that all our parenting advice to others boils down to READ THE BIBLE - DO WHAT IT SAYS.  PRAY, COOPERATE WITH WHAT GOD IS ALREADY TRYING TO DO.

In a nut shell, I guess, we are just simply better at writing our own.

When Elizabeth and Hosanna were babies, around early '97,  I found this book....

It starts off with the sentence, "I'm a lousy mom."  I sympathized.

   

Basically, it's a sweetly written, honest look at Carol Brazo's journals during the years she stayed at home with her 3 children.  3 children which she birthed in just under 3 years.  

A blog - before we knew what blogs were.  

In her accounts of every day life, she referenced reading a book by Sue Bender called Plain and Simple - and the journey she took to the Amish.

Bender is provided a unique perspective when she's allowed to live with an Amish family for a time and absorb their culture.

Carol Brazo wrote of Bender's book, "Many books provide enjoyment.  This book nourished deep places inside me."  

When you love a particular author and they suggest a book they love -- you just go right out and buy the book, yes?  So, I did.  And I've read 2 times a year ever since.

I've been accused of being boring, ridiculas and well, obsessed with the Amish.  I, however, am pretty sure I am none of these things.

The author writes of the Amish, "No distinction was made between the sacred and the everyday...their life was all one piece.  It was all sacred and all ordinary."

I told Billy once, "What if we (and our children for that matter) are just...ordinary"?  A question I think about often.  I, like many, many of you, crave a life of meaning.

This little gem can be read in a couple of hours.  And provide you with an awesome dose of soul nourishment to boot!  It's out of print, so plan to buy used.

That my ordinary life is sacred -- and therefore wrought with meaning...is well...words I longed to hear way back then, in 1997, as well as right now, today.

Blessings my friends.

{13 Great Books in 2013} - The Way of the Wild at Heart

The day my son turned 13, I was at the pediatrician's office.

Me, "Something's wrong.  He's got ADD, ADHD, he eats too many carbs, he can't sleep, he smells...and whatever it is...it's affecting HIS BRAIN.  He's disorganized, tired, and WAAAAAAY TO SARCASTIC."

Doctor smiles and speaks slowly.  "Shanna, this is what puberty looks like in boys".

???????

I let this absorb for about 3 seconds -- then shake my head NO (after all, I've had 3 daughters already go through this).  "I think it's something serious," I say.  "Something with initials".

For once (or maybe for the dozenth time), it appeared my mommy instincts were malfunctioning.

Still, I checked in with vision therapists, counselors, pastors, football coaches and dietitians.  I tried chore charts, positive reinforcements, negative reinforcements -- for both my son AND myself.

Billy and I had countless hours of conversation.

Billy, "The path our son follows to become a man, will be different than that of our girls."

Me, "Fine. What's the path then?  Just explain to me what the path looks like?"

Sometimes, it's really the parents that need the counseling, yes?

Insert:  Prayer.  Lots of prayer.

It had been on my mind for awhile to read this book.

I'm a big fan of John and Stasi Eldredge and the books that they write.

The Way of the Wild Heart is EXCELLENT and I'd recommend it for anyone with a husband or son (or boyfriend for that matter).  It was an answer to prayer for me as it really did lay out a clear path for the masculine journey.  I so clearly saw my son, and breathed a sigh of relief that he was actually only in the beginning of stage 2 (out of 5).  He wasn't crazy, and neither was I.

It affirmed some big decisions we had recently made on his behalf  (no, we didn't put him in military school). And gave us some general guidelines for the next couple of years.

I also so clearly saw the journey my husband has made, and appreciated him all the more for it.

Basically, this book helped me fall back in love with my teenage son -- and deeper in love with his father.  I bet you'll love it too!

{13 Great Books in 2013} - A Thousand Gifts

I've always preferred to live in the right side of my brain.  

I love music.  LOVE music.  TEACHING music is my job, but listening to music, BREATHING it  -- is a source of LIFE for me.  God speaks to me in it.  

And so it's been with art, and the pursuit of beautiful things in general.  I find God there.

When we were in college, Billy would spend a lazy Saturday slamming a volleyball in the direction of someone's face.  I'd lay in the grass -- writing in a journal, drawing, reading.

I love reading, written words -- writing.

Then, I was young, days old even, in my faith.  I should have been reading John.  Yes, the book of John would have been right.  And James.  All those letters from Paul.  But, instead, I poured over the book of Isaiah.  

"Through the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed." says the Lord who has compassion on you."  Isaiah 54:10

 "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands...This will be for the Lord's renown."  Isaiah 55:12-13

 "Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.  See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the people, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.  Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn."  Isaiah 60:1-3

(Insert long sigh here) 

I remember the day (sitting in a chapel service) I read, "The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic.  The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars.  The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning.  The voice of the Lord shakes deserts."  Psalms 29.  I leaned over, wide eyed, and whispered to Billy, "The Bible is God's actual words.  Technically, we should probably die when we read them."  He acted like this wasn't news to him.

A few weeks ago, a young student asked to play Shout to the North.  "Have you ever heard of it Miss Shanna"?  I smile.  "It's an oldie, but a goldie," I say, "I'm sure I can put my hands on it."

Today, I had a 4 hour round trip drive to make.  Before heading out, I grabbed an old CD that literally had to have the dust washed off...Passion, The Road to One Day.  It's old, but I find I still  love it all -- lyrics that go down so deep they awaken...desire -- if it's not to deep to say so....

(Holy Roar)Can you hear it?  The song of the Redeemed.  A pursuit of passion for the one who set us free.  Crying out for more.  Listen to our song -- it's turning into a holy roar. 

(Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble)Did you feel the people tremble?  Did you hear the singers roar?  When the lost began to sing of Jesus Christ the saving one?

Dancers who dance upon injustice.

(Jesus, Lover of my Soul)Jesus, Lover of my Soul - All consuming fire is in your gaze.  History itself belongs to you.

(Salvation)Salvation, spring up from the ground.  Lord rend the Heavens and come down.  Seek the lost and heal the lame.  Jesus bring glory to your name.

We've heard of your great fame, father, cause all to shout your name.

(Shout to the North)Rise up women of the truth.  Stand and sing to broken hearts.  Who can know the healing power of our glorious King of love.
Rise up church with broken wings.  Fill this place with songs again of our God who reigns on high.  

And so it went for me today.

Maybe it's the reason I love this book so much.  So.  Much.

One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp

My real love affair with books isn't in the book itself -- or in reading in general.  It comes when I've been praying.  Asking the Lord about the many mysterious events that have accumulated to be this thing I call my life.  Praying -- asking for my children, their needs, their futures...their hearts.  Praying for Billy, my best friend.  Praying for my old friends -- and my new ones -- in times they've been called upon by the Lord to be brave.  Just...praying.  

And, it's in those moments that I open the pages of someone else's experience and God decides to meet me there.  To answer my questions -- my prayers.  Giving me the gift of clarity.  Yes, it's that moment that I adore.  I love finding God in books.

My journals the past few months have been filled with questions about joy.  God, show me what true joy is.  He answered me here...in Ann's book.

"Joy is always possible because there is always, always something to be thankful for." 

Thankful for 5 healthy kids.  Thankful for work.  Thankful for money to pay for the bills and take care of our family.  Who wouldn't be?

But the book begged me to go to the deep places.  What about when your husband loses his job?  What about uncertainty?  Not knowing if the bills will be paid?  And what quite frankly if they are not?

What about the times you were so sure of direction, only to be unsure, really unsure in just months time?

What about when father's die early in car crashes, leaving mothers to travel the roads of crazy grief -- watching someone's soul literally shatter like glass?   When families, your own family, hurts so deeply there are no words.

God whispered, "Shanna, can you be thankful for all of that?"

When the child you love more than you love your own life says 'I hate you'.  When you scream it back and momentarily hate yourself.  When you are exhausted and sleep never comes.  Can you give thanks for that?  

Thanks for hard things.

Jesus did.  And miracles happened.

While reading the book, I watched friends take children back to the hospital when cancer relapsed.  Friends called to be brave.  Braver than me.  Brave in helping children do the deep healing.  And have hope.  And give thanks.

I contemplated Ecclesiastes 7:14

"When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider God has made the one as well as the other."

And this is what makes Him God, and not me.   

Ann's poetic language may not be for some, but it allowed me to indulge in the right side of my neural world -- and I loved every minute of it.

This word was deeply healing to me.  I know, KNOW, you'd love it too!

"Stir up our hearts oh God...Open our spirits to all you are..." (Salvation, Charlie Hall) 

P.S. 

If you need something shorter than a book, check out Ann's blog.  Here's a great one!

How to have the PERFECT Family Fun Day...

Sleep until 11:30 am - with no place to go, no feeling like anything really needs to be done.  And, you don't really care if it does need to be done --  you're no amateur at this.  You are quick to realize routines and responsibilities will come soon enough.  "Days off" are a rarity.

Perfect husband asks, "What can we do today all together"?  He knows he's speaking you're love language.

It's tempting to reply, "How's about we strip the curling wallpaper in the front bathroom"?  But, you don't think that's what he's got in mind.  Besides, the words of your grandmother ring true in your head, "Those things will be there long after I'm gone.  Let's visit".  Who cares about wallpaper?  (Admittedly, you do, but it isn't urgent...not today.)

You wander out into the living room.  Amazingly enough, all 5 kids are HOME and after you deliberately use the 3 magic words, Shopping/Movie/Food, they are all whole heartedly invested in to the trip.  Awesome.

Suddenly, you remember that above mentioned Grandmother sent $200 as a family Christmas gift.  Even better, the day will be FREE.

Family of 7 takes the Denver Mall by storm -- specifically Forever 21 -- where everyone will happily spend gift card after gift card (even mom gets a sweater and 2 scarves).

Next, head to The Movie Tavern to see Parental Guidance.  You allow yourself to be convinced by the 5 children that this is a "chick flick" and switch to Jack Reacher.

Order bugers, fries, pizza's, popcorn and Monte Cristos -- and 7 waters (because even when it's on Grandma, you all recognize $3.50 for a soda is a rip off).

Leave and discover the Hot Sign is on.  Doughnuts follow.

Head home listening to Adventures in Oddessy.

Everyone offers a hearty "Thanks Mom".

Smiles all around.

Sigh.

Every mom of a large family, or perhaps just every mom, lives for the days, because they are rare, when all her family -- all 7 members -- are happy, delighted AT THE SAME TIME.

I am thankful for such days.

Happy New Year's Everyone!!!

Politically Correct

My family isn't good at "political correctness".  Not because we aren't concerned with others feelings -- mostly just because we're ignorant.  :)

Ben recently got in trouble at school for calling another child a name.  A racial slur.  Certainly NOT something Billy and I condone, but  the comment, in "our day", would not have gotten us detention as it did Ben.  Beat up maybe, but not detention.

Mom and dad try to explain the seriousness of flippant speech, etc.

Ben, "Mom, I just think people in public school are too sensitive!  I mean, really, the kid wasn't actually Mexican!"

Liz, "Ben, if you were an adult, you'd be arrested for that".

Mom, "Liz, you don't get arrested for calling people names."

Liz, "Yes, you do."

Parents decide to leave it at that.

Today, Victoria asks, "What does getting your G.E.D. mean?"

Mom, "It's a test.  It stands for Graduation Equivalency Diploma or General Education Development...something like that."

Victoria, "Oh, I thought is stood for General Education Deficiency".  Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Parents decide to leave it at that.

This evening, addressing Christmas cards and gifts for our trash men and mail carrier, I say, "I don't know how to address this to the trash men.  What should I call them"?

In the words of my sister, if you don't like being called a Maid -- go to college to be something else.  She applys the same reason to trash men.  Still, I struggled.  I even googled it.

Ben to the rescue, "How's about 'Official Sanitation Control Officers'.  Unless they are "Sanitation Control Generals -- then we're in trouble"?

We went with that.

Happy Holidays Merry Christmas Everyone!

:) Shanna