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Month of May in 2015 Devo and My Own Book Coming Soon!

The 2015 Daily Wisdom for Women devotional by Barbour Publishing will be out in stores soon. I wrote the month of May!

My first solo book by a publisher, also by Barbour will be released in 2015 (I don't have the date yet). The title isWhen Jesus Speaks to a Woman's Heart. I can't wait to see it!

If you want a copy of either for a discount let me know. They don't pay me much to write but I do get the books a lot cheaper and am happy to pass that along to you! : )

October's Column in Boomers Living Magazine

Photo by Trevor Lee @trevlee on Instagram

Gotta Love A Man’s World

Tree Climbers

by Shelley R. Lee

If you have kids of any age you have been their first responder in a number of situations to be sure. I’m not sure if having four sons increases the rate and frequency of these incidents, but judging from the way people look at me when I tell some of my stories I’m thinking it does.

One day when my four boys were all school age I heard a faint but urgent “Mommmm!” coming from the little woods next to our house. The gully, as they called it, was a boys haven, laden with scrap wood, rusty nails, and Dad’s missing tools. An utter dream. Unless of course you find yourself dangling by your ankle from a tree screaming at the top of your lungs which is the state in which I found Wes after I tore out of the house in search of the frantic cry that could barely be heard from the house.

Standing under his struggling little frame and big tears, I could give him just enough slack to loosen the rope around his ankle and then he fell down onto my shoulders. On other days their panicked runs to the back door with a trail of dripping blood behind them may have been less scary than this one. Wes had gone out to the gully alone to move a part of the zip line landing to help his brother who was afraid to go down the zip line. Yes, there was a zip line. Excuse me, but I feel like you’re giving me that look I was talking about.

Well anyway, we had a good talk afterward, again (just in case you were judging me), about safety and thinking a few steps ahead of yourself.

Now all in their 20’s three of them are into extreme hammacking, slack lining and climbing things that the average person would naturally avoid with the use of common sense. I’m sure glad I had those safety talks with them.

But all mishaps aside, fall is a such a great time to hang out in the woods, but maybe you’re like me and prefer a simple hike with less potential for being a first responder.

Shelley R. Lee, previously the lone woman in a rambunctious  family of four 20-something boys is happy to also have a daughter-in-law these days. Author of three books, numerous articles and book contributions, she resides in northwest Ohio with her husband of 28 years, David, a wrestling coach, of course. 

August's Column in Boomer's Magazine

Some of my guys practicing their knife throwing skills on
a roadside stop for tea with an ocean view.

Gotta Love a Man’s World

Guy’s Road Trip

by Shelley R. Lee

At home in Ohio, an urgent phone call from my husband, Dave, seven states away stranded with three of our sons jolted me out my happy place. I was done with work and awaiting my flight to spring vacation in San Francisco where I would meet them later the next day. “Shell, can you look up repair garages around here, we’re in Rock Springs, Utah…my reception is horrible. Maybe we need a rental…I don’t know, pretty sure we blew the transmission.”

These guys love a road trip and most of their adventures end up with a story something like this. We often travel with the title of our vehicle, and if you saw our fleet you would understand. But this journey was the first time we actually had to scrap the old beater in the middle of the country.

When I called that nearest repair garage and explained the situation a kind man talked slowly to another guy who we later learned was his brother. His voice echoed across the room, “Oh yeah, I saw those guys pulled over at the exit. I’ll go back and pick ‘em up.” Sort of a small town, apparently.

The nearest car rental was in Salt Lake City, over an hour away. One of the brother repairmen offered to take them the next day, and meanwhile directed them to the only motel in town for the night. My men decided to do what they usually do for a night’s sleep on the road, use the van as their room, usually with Dave sleeping on the roof. I should mention here that the van was locked inside a chain-link gated yard, There was probably a dog. It seems like there would be a dog. 

Their next night’s sleep was in a stunning 2012 Subaru Outback where they stopped late at night in pure exhaustion at a park in San Francisco. When the sun came up they realized they were at the Palace of Fine Arts, the Subaru windows were all fogged up and the neighbors in this upscale neighborhood were getting concerned.

Our time together at Alcatraz, the walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, and all of our wanderings in this spectacular city were great, but in retrospect, not as entertaining as all the travel antics. I hate to admit it though, because I typically whine quite loudly and get thoroughly depressed when I see the rental bills. But hey, we saved a boatload on hotels those three nights I wasn’t with them.

Shelley R. Lee, previously the lone woman in a lively family of four twenty-something boys is happy to also have a daughter-in-law these days. Author of three books, numerous articles and book contributions, she resides in northwest Ohio with her husband of 28 years, David, a wrestling coach, of course. 

This Boomers edition online: http://www.frontporchpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/BT-Aug2014FINALFINAL.pdf 

Hidden Parts and Life's Ledges

Recently I've been shaken up by someone I care a lot about suddenly wanting to leave their spouse. Then I'm told it's not sudden, it's been bubbling up for quite some time. But it's sudden and shocking to almost everyone who knows them. I get how hard marriage is, make no mistake there. I tend to be more frank about this than my husband, Dave, used to prefer, and I guess I wasn't always comfortable with it either.  But I think we're both becoming more open about our struggles, realizing that there are others who need to know they're not alone.

All of this has me thinking a lot about the hidden parts of me that I don't realize have some level of control over me. I'm talking about the dark and injured parts that are hidden away in my soul. They have the potential to be incredibly destructive to me and those I love if I don't care for them.

If I don't take the time to think, search myself, process, pray, and feed myself with truth and love I will suffer and in turn, those I love may suffer as well. If I don't get some light shining into those dark places I can't expect to make progress. Here's the thing:  I am the only one who can do this work - no one can do it for me and I can't do this work for anyone else.

I know, this post is no funny, light-hearted bit with a slight spiritual emphasis, but it's been brewing in me for weeks. I feel compelled to share it with you with the hopes that fewer of us will be jumping off the ledges of life anytime soon.

Maybe this encouragement will help you muster the courage to face something instead of running from it, uncover something instead of bury it, maybe you'll talk to a trusted friend, find a good counselor, or call someone you've wanted to be your mentor.

We were meant for growth, beauty, freedom, truth, and love. When I give those things to myself somehow I end up seeing that God's been offering them all along. Then, I can begin to bring those things to others. It's weird how that works.

Some great reads over the past several months on this subject:
Psalm 139 (God, I love King David!)
Defining Decade, Why Your Twenties Matter, by Meg Jay
Daring Greatly, by Brene Brown, PhD
You're The One You've Been Waiting For, by Richard C. Schwartz
Immortal Diamond, by Richard Rohr
Jeremiah 33

An Anniversary Card Split Four Ways

My brothers David & Ray & I, my parents's Gloria and Ray Maurer.

    This past weekend my entire family met in Florida to celebrate my parents' 50th anniversary. My two brothers, their wives, my husband Dave and I and the 11 grandchildren. It was great! Spring is a nice time for the beach and we enjoyed it.
    Along with my parents' milestone, my brother Ray and his wife Katrina, have their 25th coming soon. My son Mitch and his wife Liz, celebrated their 2nd anniversary today, and of course there was Mother's Day. There were a lot of greeting cards getting passed around.
    The card for Mitch and Liz was sent with Dave down the hall to Trev, Wes, and Dexter's room for signatures. Dave, you may recall is on pain medication... The card came back with a very nice Mother's Day note to me from Trevor. Wes wrote a sweet Mother's Day note to Grandma. Upon discovering the comical error the boys decided to see if they could get Mitch to sign his own Anniversary card, which they did. He actually read the card and questioned them so they told him it doubled as a Mother's Day card for Grandma.
    When Mitch gave their anniversary card to Liz to sign I couldn't let it go on, and we all had a good laugh.
    The family enjoyed this story at our Mother's Day lunch the next day.  I ripped the card into pieces giving each person their note written on the greeting card for four. Never mind that one of my Mother's Day notes said "appy Anniversa" on the other side of it.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and the Iron Skillet

    About two weeks after I returned from the beauty that is California I was diagnosed with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. It comes from a tick bite and the spots give it away before the fever just in case you're wondering!
    A few days after I was in ER for that and still moving pretty slowly, my husband was in the same ER with a shoulder injury from wrestling. He has a high pain tolerance and was writhing with this thing. They were about to send him home with a pain medication that we knew didn't work that well for him. So, I walked down the hall to the nurses station and explained. Turned out they were giving him one of the strongest they could.
    "Can the dosage be increased?" I asked..."No, he's at the highest."
    Thinking about this for a moment I asked the nurse, "Do you have...an iron skillet?"
    From down the hall we heard Dave, "I heard that!"
    It has taken about a month to recover from the spotted fever even thought the spots still linger. But Dave is still dealing with his issue, we ended up in a Florida ER this past weekend with it.
    The good news? One more ER visit this month and we'll get frequent flyer hats.
    The better news: I appreciate my health a lot these days, and having to rest a lot helped me get more of my writing contract done. It's nearing completion.
    I am grateful for much, ER and all!

Snowy Spring Break

    

   There are so many good little stories I want to share with you! I signed a little book contract back in March that I've been working on (yayy!) but it has kept me so busy, I feel really behind on my blog. So, here come a few of the best I've got lately. I hope you enjoy them.

    My last post was written after a beautiful day and a half at Yosemite at the start of spring break. The very next morning I woke up in my freezing cold 'heated' tent cabin after a night of what I thought was really loud rain.

    Preparing to meet my son Trevor for breakfast I slipped on my flip flops to head to the community restroom. When I cracked open my cabin door I was shocked to discover it was actually three inches of snow that had plopped on the canvas roof all night.       

    My husband Dave, and sons Wes and Dexter, arrived the next day and the same snowy scene reoccurred each morning at Yosemite. It was the most snow they had all winter long. Gorgeous, and of course after this winter I hated it with unparalleled passion.

    The photo here is in the valley where the snow mostly melted by mid-day. The location we would hike 12 miles a couple days later...not the case -- NOT melted. That hike took us through trails with 10 inches of snow for long stretches.

    I have to be honest with you. I cried. "What are we doing in the snow on spring break?!" Horrible.

Trevor gave me a consoling hug doing all he could to encourage me (and stop the tears, they're way too scary!).

    That was a day of polar opposites. Raging beautiful scenery and ugly, raging melt downs (Yes, a meltdown at 30 degrees -- I like to defy possibility). We left Yosemite two days early opting to drive three hours further west to the beach.

    The beach! Now we're talkin. Driving Highway 1 along the coast was like a fantasy I now liken to unicorns and purple penguins. Unbelievable.

    God is real, people. He sees my discouragement and wants to give me joy. I am so thankful!!

    

One of our stops along Hwy 1 - Dave on a carved tree stump chair...made for a giant.

    

    

Twisting Tall

After the worst Ohio winter since the Blizzard of '78 I am so thankful to be enjoying spring break at Yosemite. It's beautiful here! 

On a walk this morning my son told me that these trees are black oaks. In a crowd of trees they bend and twist between their taller, straight competitors, to find the light they need to grow. They let branches in the shadows die off that are pulling away energy they need to grow and live.

It's a perfect life metaphor from God's handiwork. I've been thinking a lot about that today. I need to be like the black oak.

Springish

    This winter in northwest Ohio has really been something and it's not even February yet!
    To attempt to explain this photo (on one level anyway), there have been several days in a row of  lots of snow and below zero temps. The other day: -37 with wind chill (are we in Alaska?!!). So naturally, yesterday when we hit a high of +28, the fifty degree swing felt like spring. The snow and wind didn't let up though and everything was cancelled which left everyone home.
    I am prone to a bad attitude when life doesn't go my way which is most of the time. This, combined with cabin fever called for creative solutions to keep me going. And there you have it.
    If I could remember that all of life is this way, calling for creative solutions, I would be in the hot tub more often (even if my face is freezing!).
    Happy wintering everyone, wherever you find yourself.
   

Flat-backed Wise Men and Hope

A wise man or two have been flat-backed in the bustle of the advent season, but the nativity remains intact under the tree. The center white candle on the advent wreath was lit today. The Christmas goodies were fair game at breakfast, which for us this year came closer to lunch time. I know it's a different season in life when I have to wake up my children so I can still say, "It's Christmas morning!" I love it.


This year is even more unusual -we are holding off our usual Christmas morning for two extra days until our oldest son, Trevor, gets home. It has really changed my focus this year.

I find myself thanking God for my family, for my loyal, hard-working husband. For each of my sons, and the wonderful young ladies they have brought into my life. For my daughter who I'll see in eternity. For my good friends, and my family members. The Thank-You-God list goes on for pages.

Of course, intermingled with the blessings of life are the hardships and challenges, a list that feels much longer sometimes than the thank you one. And here is where my focus shifted this year. Along with turning worries into prayers more than I have previously, I realize as solid as ever, that without Hope I have nothing.

Hope that God has a plan for every baffling thing (of which there is no shortage...I think I mentioned that).

Hope that eternity will be beyond my wildest imaginations and dreams.

Hope that my life here will make an eternal difference for others.

Hope for ongoing personal growth, and authentic, rich relationships.

This Hope, the eternal kind, is what I celebrate at Christmastime. Eternal life and redemption right now, are only possible through the Savior Christ who came as a babe for the likes of you and I.


That's it. Hope. Without it I shrivel and die.

Merry Christmas. Truly.
With Hope Eternal,
Shelley

I Spy

Fall and Christmas are colliding at my house this weekend like an I Spy page.

I look forward to this time each year - it feels good to cast off the rotting pumpkins and bring on the lights that brighten up my shorter days.

This year though as I reflected on this scene on my counter top and the melding of the seasons it was a sobering metaphor. Fallen, decaying things are layered in with the redeemed and twinkling. Somehow this is beautiful. I made a nice photo of it (if I do say so myself), and God, well, He really shows off in this department.

This Christmas season I am going to make a point of looking for it.

Homemade Cat Door

So this kitty, Jak Jak's his name, found a quarter sized tear in the screen and made his own cat door that worked really nicely for him (it's shaped a lot like a large hole...right there). It turns out that his ingenious handiwork only got him part way in this case. He needed someone bigger to open the door, preferably someone with thumbs, to get him out from between the doors.

It hit me (sort of hard) that no matter how much I work, how hard I try, and even finish a project (that may or may not be as innovative as the cat's door) there are so many things that I cannot accomplish all alone. I need help.

Mitch and Endo on flooring day one.

We spent the month of September tearing out a wall between two rooms, painting, tiling, and putting down wood flooring on most of the first floor. The wall part required a professional who knew how to remove a load bearing wall and put it all back together nicely (thanks John Light!). The paint required patience and input from paint pros and Home Depot. The tile required my husband's help with cutting (Thanks Dave!). But the biggest part of the project was the flooring which ended up being a 12 day adventure that a good friend (thanks Endo!!)  and our sons helped us with. We could not have done it alone.

I got to thinking how many ways this is like life.  We weren't meant to do this life alone. I can only get so far by myself. In my job. In my family. In my relationships. Even in my faith. To get past my efforts, my hole in the screen, and through the door requires the hands of others. Sometimes the hand of God.
Most of the time, both.

I'm thankful for the help and this space!

Dizzying Spin of Life

Somewhere in this northwestern sky the Big Dipper
will be close to pouring out.

Almost there. Almost to the time of year when the Big Dipper sets at the perfect angle in the sky, as if it's pouring out deliciousness.

Another summer season passes by, faster than the last as always. Life, I've noticed, does not stop its urgent and tiring demands, the world does not stop spinning for me to get caught up.

It is dizzying.

But tonight I sit and watch my view of the miracle of galaxies and get my balance back.



God spins it all in perfect timing, beyond even the beginning of my comprehension. Why do I struggle to accept that He will do the same in my own whirling world too?

Sideways Rain and Sleep-in Saturday after Half Dome Crazy Climb

 Thunder boomed suddenly and skies opened up this morning at roughly...5:21 a.m. I know this mostly because the dogs were freaking out and banging on my door to be let in for comfort to their panicked selves.
   No efforts to calm them were fruitful. They wanted to try nearly every room in the house and whined in every location. Even the cat was crying for our attention.
   Somewhere around 6 a.m. when my husband had the dogs and cat calmed in the guest room I heard the water alarm in the basement. Barely conscious I plodded down to find the corner of the basement beginning to flood. Rain continued in sheets, and at 7 a.m. the sump pumps were starting to catch up, keeping the flood out in the yard. Dave babysat the pumps while I dropped back to bed only to be awaken again at 8 a.m. by the dogs who had been left outside and had something to say about it. I looked outside, bleary eyed. Sideways rain greeted me at the front window, wet dogs at the back door.
   Thank God this all gave way to the dogs being as exhausted as me and I got a much needed sleep-in Saturday. Good thing too, as this week was a busy back to work week which followed a crazy fun vacation week out west to see our oldest son, Trevor, who works at Yosemite National Park.

Me on top of the Half Dome, Yosemite Valley below.

   As is the norm, my kids get me into some things I wouldn't necessarily choose myself. This time: hiking the half dome! This is the mile high hunk of granite that the North Face brand logo is in the shape of. We hiked the rounded part (which puts us in the saner category theoretically). The top 800 foot ascent is nothing but cables to pull your self up on at over a 60 degree angle. What an accomplishment this was, mentally even more than physically. In the end it was about a 20 mile day, one which water and pizza have never tasted so good. It was great to spend this day with Trevor's friends Tim and Sydney too.
   Dave and I were reminded of that big day with each step in the proceeding days of our California stay. Dave, Trevor, and I also saw Tuolumne Meadows in our rental convertible, we floated down the Merced River until Trevor's raft blew a hole, and we ate at the beautiful Ahwahnee Hotel. Dave and I rode mules on rocky trails with our new friend, Sydney, as one of our guides. It was awesome!
   Our flight home was out of Las Vegas, but before the flight we managed to eat dinner at the 107 story revolving Stratosphere, see the famous Bellagio fountains, and Hoover Dam. When we returned home we had our 6th wedding of 8 this summer, and Cedar Point with the kids last Sunday. What a great and full week of vacation!
   I guess today's sideways rain and Saturday sleep-in was just what I needed. Thank God the dogs are still sleeping.

Brokeness and Light

   

    All the stuff in my life is broken or in the process of breaking.  I know this theoretically means that these things were at one time whole.  I'm not sure. All I know is that I feel like I'm always on the fixing end. Maybe it's because I try to be frugal and own a lot of old things, but I get discouraged trying to keep up in this broken world.  Or maybe it's because kittens are rescued at my house and then they reproduce.  OK, that's just a side issue that's compounding things.

    I bought a hot tub from a friend that I can't get running. I was about to replace the plug when my husband pulled in with a replacement outdoor heater that had stopped working after two uses, and now needed assembled...again. Meanwhile, my hot tub fix didn't work. In discouragement I set down my screwdriver and walked to the river toward the sunset.

    Somehow when little things like this bother me I am reminded of the bigger things that are broken.  Relationships, and hearts, trust, and dreams, and I have to guard against self implosion. 

    But thank God, the beauty of the sun, a light that we cannot extinguish reminded me that not everything is completely broken.  There is hope and warmth, literal light in the darkness. And of course this too is a small thing that reminds me of a bigger thing - God's eternal hope, redemption, and love that absolutely cannot be extinguished. I can lay my head on my pillow and welcome sweet dreams on this note.

   

A Place for You

About a month ago we realized that our 'kitten' Eva’s belly was getting unusually large. She either had a massive tumor that kicked and squirmed or she was pregnant. This past Monday Eva, not quite a year old herself, had a load of kittens.

Eva in the linen closet

When I realized she was in labor I went out of my way to see this happen, I mean it's not every day that you can see kittens born. I was also concerned for her safety.  She was afraid and had disappeared when I left the room briefly.  I finally found her inside a stack of blankets in the linen closet. Her water had broken by now. I threw the blankets in the wash and put her on a towel in a laundry basket next to me while I worked on my laptop all morning (pretty slowly).

Sitting beside her I fended off Bruce, the 19.4-pound ruler of Lee cats, who was way too curious and making Eva angry. At one point in labor she jumped out of the basket and went after him. He got smacked a couple times.

Eva had six kittens that day and was completely exhausted. I was in awe (and put it on YouTube).

I had been thinking a few days earlier just how many cats there are in the world (that's overwhelming...), millions and millions I'm sure, and many of them unwanted. And to think that every one of these kittens is God's handiwork.  And even though cats are not valued highly by most, God knows every one.  Every cat  hiding in my woods waiting to pounce on the little ladies (and did).  Every cat in the world.  I know, this sounds a little silly, but  that’s just the cats.  He knows every other species too.  That’s how big He is. 

That's pretty big.

Recently I began reading Charles Martin books (fiction) and love his work.  So much so, that the first book I read, Thunder and Rain, I thought, “That’s the sort of thing I’d like to write. But he already did it.”  Who needs my writing?  There are thousands and thousands of writers better than me. I felt really small and inadequate regarding my writing for many weeks.

The other morning God brought both of the above thoughts back to my mind while I sat and admired His spring work outside.  If God has purpose for each of his creatures, tiny and unwanted, and all, He certainly has a place for my writing.  It was like God was saying, “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.” 

I don't know if that makes sense to anyone else, but I'm hoping it does.  At least to maybe the one person I was supposed to write it for.  God has a purpose for each of our abilities and places in life.  No one can be the influence that you can. No one but you.

Tasteful cat birth video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSMQXOeX6Tk

Also note: I am currently accepting adoption applications : ) and one kitten from another cat is ready now!

Hope Resurrected

     Nothing sounds the trumpet of spring more than new life.  And I know it's early, but Zelda, the roadside stray I picked up while running last year, had four sweet babies. Zelda, you may have heard, has kangaroo hopping skills and is seriously the friendliest cat I've ever known (so...if you you need a furry Easter gift I can hook you up!). This one (pictured at left) comes with a bold M on her forehead.
    In other pet news from the zoo, my good friend Tracey was taking care of our crew last weekend while we were away.  She texted me with concern over our 5 year old dog who acts 10.  Zoey would not get off the couch at 1pm to go outside, Tracey reported.  My response:  Zoey likes to lounge all day, no worries there.  Zoey also knows that she's not allowed on the couch, additionally, she knows that you don't know!
    What a dog! Zoey is smarter than she lets on.
    Yesterday, the animals followed me around  outside while I put the chairs around the fire ring on my beach.  If that isn't exciting!  I don't even care if I sit out there in a snow flurry at this point I tell ya, spring is coming!
    There are birds that I haven't heard since the fall, and the ground is getting softer.  The sun has come over to the other side of the house and it doesn't set until a whopping 6:30 these days.
    I know each of these things are small but when I up-righted my rickety wind blow pathway arch, all I could think is that hope is resurrected!  Hope for spring, a time we traditionally celebrate the resurrection that changed everything.
    In so many ways, I am thankful.
   

Listen to the Sign

    The sign said STOP, so I did.
    This is not usually my habit when I'm out for a run.  However, when I took a stretch break I was taking a photo and accidentally switched to video mode.  This shut off my music (I recently discovered that these two things cannot run at the same time).  It was suddenly and beautifully quiet on this mild winter day of blue skies.
    A few cars were coming, which usually means I start running again.  I'm not sure why exactly I do this, I guess I feel stupid just standing there concerned about people's wonderings about me.  But, I looked up and saw the stop sign and felt I should obey it.
    I just stood there on the side of the road listening to a few distant birds chirping, a gentle breeze, and the gentle hum of the highway traffic half a mile away.  I waved at passersby and let them wonder.
    I realized how few times in life that I actually just stop.  Stop and think.  Stop and listen to what's around me.  Stop and be still.  Just stop.
    These were good moments today.  I think God was reminding me to slow down and enjoy life more, experience it rather than rush through it.  It was refreshing to focus on what is good, true, and beautiful around me, to calm my anxiety over the things that are not. It's so freeing to just stop and breathe.

Fear?

Me during the Thanksgiving family photo shoot on the roof.

    On Thanksgiving day my son Trevor had this great idea to get a family photo on the roof. I've been game for many an adventure when my boys invite me along - after all, one's children have unparalleled persuasive powers.
    So while the extended Lee family finished the holiday meal preparations in the kitchen our crew headed to the peak of the house.  Getting up the ladder was no issue, nor was the slight porch roof.  It was the 10/12 pitch on the front side that was  surprisingly a little scary with asphalt granules rolling around under the tread of my shoes...and hands (excellent to excessive exfoliator).
     Not everyone opted for the roof.  Mitch and Liz are in the open window and I don't blame them!  Getting the photo (seen in my Christmas blog just prior to this one) was the easy part (thanks to Wes' girlfriend Chelsey who did the clicking).  Getting down from the roof was the really scary part.  I chose to take my time with three sons and my husband surrounding me (and suggesting my every next move).  I tried backwards walking which the boys make look easy.  No go.  I tried on my belly.  Truly a flop. Sitting and taking small crab steps worked best.  This process took so much effort that by the time I reached the easy ladder descent I got a cramp in the arch of my foot!  We all had to laugh.  Oh my gosh, it was an adventure!
    There was healthy fear (the kind that saves your life), and associated fear -like when Trevor got too close to the edge I feared losing another child (not really irrational but a little displaced).  Thankfully I didn't have panicky fear, but it all got me thinking about the role of fear in my life.  So, I've been looking up a lot of verses on fear, and a healthy fear of God. I have a feeling that some upcoming blog posts will address this topic.
    In the meantime, I'm afraid I'm going to miss out on a 75% off post Christmas sale so I better get going. Let's talk about retail fears some other time.