July 22, 2009 · 6:00 am

Coming Soon!

Takle Family 5

It’s true.  We did it.  Well, Kris and I did it.  We are going to be a family of FIVE, oh, sometime in March of 2010.  And, yes, we did it on purpose.  Neither of us just felt our family was quite complete.  But, I have a feeling that this third addition will seal it for us.  Can I get an Amen?  Praise Him.

We discovered our newest, soon to be released, little person over a week ago.  We just told big brother and big sister a couple of days ago. 

Here is John Henry when we told him followed by his response:

Baby news - JH

“Are you kidding me?”

And, here is Anna, who lives in Annaville, followed by her response:

Baby news - Anna

“I want the girl kind.”

They are both excited.  We all are.  Of course, the funniest response came from BigMama:

“Ooohhh nooooooooo.”

“Oh no, BigMama?”  I asked her.

“Well, did ya want another one?”  She defended.

“Yes!”  I explained.

“Well, alright then.  If you’re happy, I’m happy for ya.  If you’re sad, then I’m sad for ya.”

She makes me laugh.  Always.

So, there you have it.  And, here I grow.

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July 21, 2009 · 6:00 am

Facing Lions?


“Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” (Daniel 6:10).

I’d imagine we’d all be praying if we were about to be thrown into a pit to be food for some hungry lions.  But, what really strikes me in this verse is Daniel prayed “just as he had done before.”  My guess is that prayer was probably routine for Daniel.  I’m not sure what he prayed.  Maybe that King Darius would change his mind.  He most likely didn’t pray for God to shut the lions’ mouths.

But, that’s what God did.  And, He made Daniel aware that He was the one saving him.  Not Darius. 

Sometimes, God doesn’t rescue us out of situations the way we think He should or the way we pray it will happen.  But, God will pull you through in a way that gives Him glory. 

You may feel like you’re in a lion’s den right now. 

Pray.  And, know that God will shut those lions’ mouths. 

Holla!

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July 20, 2009 · 7:38 am

I’ve Had Wounds.

If we’ve lived any length of time, we’ve wounded someone and been wounded by someone.  As much as I love my children, I’ve still hurt them from time to time.  I’ve become very accustomed to asking them to forgive me and acknowledging to them that I was wrong.  I instruct my children to do the same thing when they hurt one another.

“I’m sorry.  I was wrong.  Would you forgive me?”

This is a very important part of the hurt individual’s healing process.

But, sometimes, the person who hurt us doesn’t ackknowledge their wrong doing, nor do they ask for forgiveness.  And, then, we have to, on our own, choose forgiveness.

Yep.  It’s a choice.  Always.  And, it’s also an instruction from our heavenly Father.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  (Col. 3:13)  It’s just not always an EASY choice.  Especially, when we don’t feel like forgiving.  Or, we fear that if we forgive, it will seem as though what they did to us didn’t really matter.  And, let’s face it.  Some things are just much easier to forgive than others.  It’s a lot easier to forgive a friend for running late than it is to forgive a spouse for betrayal. 

But, here’s what I’ve learned from unforgiveness:

It’ll hold us captive to our wounds and what our wounds mean.  Like a prisoner.
It will cause bitterness, and bitterness can wreck our lives and the lives of others around us.

Forgiveness releases you and the person who hurt you.  It doesn’t make sin tolerable.  But, it makes us so profoundly aware of God’s mercy on us.  When we follow God’s instruction and forgive, we put ourselves in a place where He, our Healer, can mend our broken heart. 

I’ve had wounds.

And, I choose forgiveness.  Always. 

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.  Psalm 147:3

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July 16, 2009 · 6:00 am

I Need To Choose Him More.

John Henry:  Why did God make us separated?

Me:  What do you mean?

John Henry:  Why is God in heaven, and He made us on earth?  Why didn’t He make us be together?

I admit.  John Henry’s question caught me by surprise.  Let’s see.  How do I answer this so a six-year old can comprehend?  I could take him back to the garden.  Of course, I risk losing him with that story.  So, I just explained it this way instead:

Had God made us in heaven with Him, we would have no choice but to pursue Him.  {How could we not pursue Him if we saw Him face to face?}  God wants us to CHOOSE Him.  So, here on earth, we have the choice to pursue Him.  We may not see Him, but His Spirit is here with us and inside of us. 

Our conversation continued.  And, I was suddenly overwhelmed by a God who wants more than anything for me to always choose Him. 

Come close to God, and God will come close to you.  James 4:8a

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July 15, 2009 · 6:00 am

Thank you, Journey. I Couldn’t Have Said It Better Myself.

Kris and I work into our schedule a weekly date night, unless he is flying all week trying to buy momma a new pair of shoes, of course.  We love date nights.  We talk.  I laugh a lot.  He holds my hand.  And, from time to time, I discover something about him I’d never known before.  I like that. 

We don’t’ really use this time to discuss our stuff.  You know, our “issues”.  Those are usually reserved for times after we put the kids to bed in our living room.  We like for date nights to be about enjoying each other and that occasional new discovery.  Not me pointing out to Kris how I need him to do this more or that less, thus, making the date night about me and not each other.  Read me?

I feel like I know Kris pretty well.  Of course, there was this recent moment where I watched the third installment of Pirates of the Caribbean for the one-hundreth and seventy-ninth time.  After the credits rolled, my friend pointed out that Will Turner and Elizabeth Swan had a son.  How did I miss that?  How did Kris miss that?  So, I called Kris to let him in on the little secret, and he said, “I know.” 

How could he not have shared that with me?  It’s like I don’t even know him.

You see?  Always room for discovery.

Kris Takle, I get the joy of rediscovering you.   I’m forever yours, faithfully.

Now, let’s end this blog before the lines get even cornier.

What’s your idea of a perfect date night?

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July 14, 2009 · 6:00 am

Breakfast And Flip Flops Are Always A Good Choice.

I nearly lost my Thin Addictives biscuits I’ve grown, yes, addicted to the other morning while watching The Today Show.  During a food segment, poor Matt Lauer and his gang had to taste a rather large hamburger. 

That’s just disgusting at 8:00 AM.

DE-SCUSS-TING.

That’s day food.  Not mornin’ food.  I can’t even think of eating day food until at least 10:30, when I’m usually ready for lunch but force myself to wait at least another 15 minutes.  Of course, I can eat mornin’ food at any time of the day.  Even dinner.  Why is that?  Why is a pot roast nas-stay in the mornings but eggs and bacon perfection for dinner?  And, why are flip flops comfortable year around?

I’m not one of those who can skip the most important meal of the day:  mornin’ food.  However, I don’t consume large mornin’ food portions.  Unless you take me to a breakfast buffet, then game on.

What’s your mornin’ food ritual?  Are you eating a breakfast of champions?

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July 13, 2009 · 6:00 am

Maude And Ethel.

This weekend, I enjoyed a movie with a really fun date – my Mom.  She’s even more fun because she buys my ticket.  She would’ve even bought my Junior Mints, but I didn’t really want to indulge.  Swear.  I snuck in my own water, too, because I’m a rebel.  I know, the streets, they fear me.

Movie?  The Proposal. 

Laughs?  Many.

But, what accounted for most of the hilarity were the two elderly women who sat beside me.  When (let’s call them Maude and Ethel) first entered the theater, I saw them in search for two free seats.  Mom and I had commandeered the best seats in the house.  My purse was resting on the seat to my left leaving only one free seat.  And, we all know the unspoken rule that there is always a seat between you and a stranger. 

I began to feel a little compassion for Maude and Ethel, so I broke the unspoken rule and removed my purse. 

“You can both sit here,” I told them, feeling pretty good about my overt sweetness.  Okay, perhaps “overt sweetness” is a stretch.  But, I did break the skip a seat rule.  And, that’s somethin’.

Right before the movie began I heard Maude and Ethel just a gibberin’ back and forth.  A gibber here.  A snicker there.  And, they weren’t ashamed of their vocal volume.  I leaned over to Mom, and told her, “Ya know, you try to do a good deed, then BAM – Maude and Ethel just won’t pipe down. 

And, they didn’t for the entire movie.

It was like going to a movie with my late Great Aunt Mabel.  Great Aunt Mabel was loud and followed up every statement with “I ain’t got no reason to lie,” which made me think she was really always lying.

But, this isn’t about Great Aunt Mabel.  No.  This story is about Maude and Ethel.

So, Maude and Ethel commented, sighed, and even groaned the entire movie.  The groaning was even more evident when Ryan Reynolds’ bare skin covered the screen.  And, when Sandra Bullock stood up in her Christian Louboutins without grabbing hold to something for balance, Maude shouted, “Ooohhh, I could never do that.”

In the end, I heard Ethel say, “Oh my gosh, I’m cryin!”

And, I was crying, too.  From laughing so terribly hard.  ‘Cause between Betty White and Maude and Ethel, you’ll have your mascara running in no time.  Thank goodness Maude brought her handkerchief.

So, yes.  I say go see the movie.  And, if you can take Maude and Ethel with you, it’ll make it all the more entertaining.

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July 10, 2009 · 6:00 am

No Animals Were Hurt In This Blog.

Meet Jake and Michel.

Michel Jake wp

I’m including Jake’s pic, because he, too, had a casualty in this story.

My friend, Michel, has no shame.  As a matter of fact, when I asked her permission to post her story, and *gasp* these pics, she responded:

“You know I have no shame.  And will do anything for my 15 seconds.  Kinda pathetic.  And, yet, e’ry time I pass a mirror I laugh.”

Well, every time I viewed these pics yesterday, I laughed.  Hard.

When Michel’s husband, Jake, fell asleep last night, she thought it a good idea to cut up one of his t-shirts.  Into strips.

Then, tie them in her hair.

Michel - before wp

Not quite sure what she was expecting.  And, I doubt what she got was the result she was looking for.

At least, I hope not.

The next morning, she removed Jake’s shredded t-shirt from her hair.

And, this, THIS is what she saw.

Michel - after wp

Oh.

My.

Word.

I know she makes her momma proud.

Thanks for the laugh, Michel.  You’re a good sport with terrible hair.

Have a good weekend, and please, have your pets spayed or neutered.

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July 9, 2009 · 6:00 am

Thankyousokindly, John Henry.

JH - self photog

Photograph taken by.  Yep.  John Henry.

I don’t allow my children to say “Shut up.”  Naturally.  However, I say “Shut up” when I’m surprised.  You know, like when someone says, “I just won a $10 million lottery,” and I respond “Shut. Up!”  Yeah, that “Shut up.” 

So, John Henry overheard a conversation much like the one above a couple of days ago….except, no one won a lottery else he would have chartered a jet plane to Bahamas and taken me.  I’m sure of it. 

The conversation concluded:

Me:  “Shut. Up!”

John Henry:  “Mom, careful with your words.”

Ouch.

A reminder that:

1) I need to model for my children what I’m trying to teach them.

And.

2) I need to always be careful with my words.

Always.

Our words shape our world.

Truly.

They really do.

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July 8, 2009 · 7:26 am

He Will Build You A House.

When I was pregnant with John Henry, I remember feeling homeless.  I wasn’t out on the street.  My parents let me live with them and consume all of their popsicles.  When John Henry’s dad walked out, I felt I had lost my protection, my security, my shelter, and my provision.

I called my dad, who was out of the country, and shared my thoughts with him.  And, I’ll never forget his response.

“Darlin’, when I get home, I’m going to build you a house.”

And, so he did. 

He called our very good friend and builder, Doug Wesley.  Three months later, a house was built.

I spent my first night in that house built with love the day I brought John Henry home from the hospital.  What I saw the moment I walked in is another blog.  But, what I felt was protection, security, shelter, and provision.

Just like my earthly father provided these things for me, our Heavenly Father will do so much more.  He will build you a house of safety, provision, security, forgiveness, hope, love, refuge….

Find your rest in Him.  Trust in Him.  He will build you a house.

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust him.  Psalm 91:1-2

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