So, my friend Michael has a recurring post on his blog called “Things I Think.”  It has been long running and is even developing into a book.

 

Of course, I would look silly if I just copied him. So, I thought I’d do a post on the things I never thought I would have thought.  😉  See how clever I can be!

 

Shall we?

 

1. I truly never thought I would be so happy “just” being mom. Right up until the time I met Steve and got married, even up until the time our oldest boy was born, I never pictured myself as being dominated by being mom. I always wanted to have kids, but it was never a huge drive, and I always thought motherhood would be an addition.  It’s not.  It has utterly changed who I am. I am astounded by my kids continually…they are amazing little souls. As our curate Kim Thomas says, they are wonderful little image bearers.

 

2. I never thought I would do anything other than radio. I worked in radio in some form or fashion for around 13 years. Those were formative years…through college and my early adult years. I always assumed that I would be involved in radio in some way. Then I found myself not doing so well in that career after moving to Nashville. There were moments when that was overwhelming and an enormous identity crisis. Then that went away and I found out there were other things I was better at doing.

 

3. I never thought my first attempt at making tamales would be so time consuming and so rewarding. They are sitting on the stove top right now. They just finished steaming. I tested one because I’m taking them to Biblestudy tonight, and I couldn’t poison the group. They’re really good. And the smell really good. And it’s hard to eat just one.

 

4. I never thought I would hear that a neighbor was being evicted from their house and have it be part of the normal activity of life. The trouble that so many are facing, and how near that trouble is to almost all of us, is frightening. I guess part of it is simply growing up and being aware of the struggles of others, but I can’t get past the thought that those kids will always remember this as the Christmas when they got kicked out of their house.

 

5. I never thought I would love having a little girl this much. It is hard to get anything done because she is simply delightful and I want to lay around on the floor and giggle and talk to her. There’s not much more I’d like to do.

 

6. I never thought I would be thinking this seriously about homeschooling. Again, just never crossed my mind before kids. Now, I am getting excited about the possibility, although it is still just a possibility. Working out my thinking on that still, and praying with Steve about what our plan is.

 

7. I never thought I would think about going to a church other than Calvary Chapel. I spent most of my early Christian adulthood in Calvary Chapel…Albuquerque, Santa Barbara and here in Nashville. I had some fantastic times there and made some lifelong friends. I learned a lot and especially in Santa Barbara I was cared for with great patience.  When I went to Regent I began to read authors that were not on the accepted list that often in Calvary. I found out that there were some I could both disagree and agree with, and it didn’t kill me. Now, the church we are part of here is similar in some ways to Calvary. The Village Chapel is non-denominational and casual in some ways. Jim teaches verse by verse through books of the Bible. There are some differences though….there is more liturgy. We meet in a Catholic school building 😉  Jim likes to read some of those same authors that surprised me at Regent. I’m thankful for the foundation Calvary gave me….wizened by the fact that there are great shortcomings in that movement….and thankful for the place we are now.

 

8. I never thought it would be so difficult to come up with ten things I never thought.

 

9. I never thought I would use a tv show as filler for a blog….but I am hooked on ManTracker. He’s awesome. And the last episode I saw was in Dolores, CO…watching it made me think of my dad.

 

10. I never thought I would see my mother become so frail. Today and yesterday when I talked with her she knew me, she was engaged and it was like I was talking with my mother of long ago. Dementia seems to do that…to give us those times of her being clear, however there is that knowledge that the moment will not last long. I am amazed by how many walk through this journey of watching a loved one, or a respected one, have their mind fade away before their body is done living. Gordon Fee is another that breaks my heart…he is struggling with Alzheimers.

 

There ya go. 10 things I never thought I would have thought. Whew…not sure I can do that every week 😉