funny stuff

most of you know my youngest, delaney kate... lately, before bedtime, we've been getting some random, hilarious questions and i just have to write them down before i forget them :)

dkc: "mom, do octopuses have eyes?"
mom: "um, yes i believe they do."
dkc: (laying on her back, looking up at me) "well, when they lay down do their eyes go like this..." (shifting her little beady eyes back and forth, side to side)
mom: "honey, i'm not sure. i'll have to check on that."

dkc: "mom, how do they make shirts? and glass things?"
mom: "well, first they make the fabric and then sew the shirts together. glass things are harder to explain..."

(conversation after discussing the year 1985...)
dkc: "mom, did you have metal back then?"
mom: "metal, as in what you build stuff with?"
dkc: "yeah."
mom: "yeah. we had metal."

dkc: "mom, do we have blood in our eyelids?"
mom: "yes, honey, we do."
dkc: (while tugging at her eyelid...) "well, i can't feel it."

these are the most random questions in the world but i love how the mind of a child works - so inquisitive, everything is fresh and new, and i love that delaney is so eager to know more about her world. i just pray i have some fairly decent answers to give her in response :)

i can't wait to see what God has in store for delaney - and makenna, too, of course. she'll be my next post :) i sure love my girls - they are awesome.

let's be real

i have been struggling lately with detecting inauthenticity... how do you KNOW if someone is the "real deal"? what IS truth? is it what they SAY? or is it what they DO? do we dismiss actions that are seemingly offensive as simply being an unfortunate by-product of our fleshly sin nature and shower them with undeserved grace? or do we demand from each other, as believers, a certain degree of honesty and reality? i have been challenged lately, in my own personal walk with Jesus, to be exactly who i say i am and who i portray myself to be in public as well as in private. are we the Christ-followers others expect us to be in our own living rooms, in our own kitchens, in our cars? what is the basis of your friendship with Christ? is it anchored in the immutable Word of God or in the pages of the latest self-help book? how sweet is your fellowship with Him? (please realize that these questions are more for my own reflection than the conviction of others...) how TRUE is your WORD... do you worship in spirit and in TRUTH? are you a sheep or a goat? will He know me on that blessed day or turn and say "depart from me..."?

where am i in my relationship with Jesus?... is He the axis upon which my whole world rotates or simply a safety net in times of trials and tribulations? do i love Him like i say and sing that i do? do i love people with an intense affection and give myself completely in the service of others? i have come to realize lately that i truly am an unconditionally beloved daughter of my Abba Father... but what do i do with that knowledge? how do i LIVE IT OUT? let's attempt to hold each other to a higher standard - to extend mercy where mercy is due but CHALLENGE each other to live authentically and truthfully in the light of His glory and grace. He deserves ALL of us. every part of our hearts and our minds. ALL of it.

going home!!

i am so excited - i just booked our flights to colorado and houston in june - about 5 weeks from now! the first leg of our trip will be in grand junction, co where my paternal grandparents live and we are having our myers family reunion. it's kind of a bittersweet gathering though... my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer not too long ago and we will be seeing him for what will probably be one of the last times. he is a wonderful man who has been an amazing grandfather - so many laughs over the years! and thankfully, he and my grandmother, through my dad's influence and our many prayers over the years, both accepted Christ a few years ago so we KNOW we will see them again! what a tremendous blessing! :) so we look forward to seeing them next month and soaking up the fellowship with them...

then we will be flying from denver to houston for a little over a week's visit back home!! i already have numerous lunch/dinner plans set up with sweet friends and family members - we are so anxious to see everyone again!!! while God has blessed us graciously with a wonderful circle of friends here in valparaiso, there truly is no place like home :) the comfort of being with someone who has known you since you were a 16 yr. old twerp (or longer!) and still has love for you is priceless!! we are so anxious to hit some of our favorite hot spots (chick-fil-a, saltgrass, los cucos - any REAL tex mex!!) and just chill... i am soooo ready for a vacay! these past few weeks have been long and emotional - God has been stretching me and refining me - but i am grateful for it and a different person because of it! i have grown to love and appreciate my sweet husband (with whom i will celebrate 12 fabulous years of marriage in a week!!) who has been a rock of support for me - and reminded how blessed i am to have my two sweet daughters who keep me on my toes, keep me laughing and keep me praying for patience and sanity :) i can't wait to spend time with them, too!

so if you are reading this and we have not yet made lunch or dinner plans, email me!! jenifer_crane@hotmail.com i love y'all!! :)