Grand Canyon

Yesterday we spent most of the day at the Grand Canyon. We said so many times, "pictures can't do it justice." What an amazing display of God's grandeur! We had fun walking around the South Rim, and the boys even participated in a "Junior Ranger" program. They filled out several pages of a booklet about the Grand Canyon and the wide variety of wildlife that exists there. They even had a little swearing in ceremony and earned certificates and badges.

As part of their Junior Ranger program, they had to attend a program by a park ranger. The one we chose described the geology of the Canyon and what makes it so unique. The ranger said that in most cases where a canyon was formed by shifting rocks, they all shifted at different times to make the landscape uneven. What is unique about the Grand Canyon is that it is flat - meaning all the rocks shifted at the same time.

Now, I started reading through the One Year Chronological Bible this month, so I recently read the account of creation. When I heard the park ranger describing this whole process, I was particularly struck by it. I thought of God saying, "Let the seas be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear," and the Canyon rising up in all of its majesty. What a sight that must have been!

I understand that time and erosion have played a part in the Canyon's shape as it is today. But sometimes I think we minimize God's power when we explain everything away in scientific terms. The bottom line is, no matter how He chose to form it, the Grand Canyon is a magnificent testament of how awesome God is.

Route 66

Last night we had hoped to make it to Amarillo, Texas, but as we realized we wouldn't get there until midnight we booked a hotel in a city called Clinton, Oklahoma. When we stopped for dinner, the McDonald's had a big map of Oklahoma. Just by chance I noticed that Clinton had an attraction called the "Oklahoma Route 66 Museum."

Turns out the museum was a block away from our hotel, so we decided to visit it this morning. Ever since we first started talking about the possibility of driving to Arizona, the boys have been excited about driving on the old Route 66. (Amazing how Disney can make kids interested in history with their movies like Cars, don't you think?)

We walked in and were greeted by two women who worked there and were thrilled to see our boys. I don't think they get a lot of visitors this time of year. Then we walked through the museum, which I thought was a treasure. Each room represented a decade of American history when Route 66 was the main road from Chicago to Los Angeles. There were vintage cars, gas pumps, a replica of a 50's diner, and all sorts of memorabilia from American culture. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there, and the boys found a few souvenirs to bring along with them. :-)

Both women who were working there commented on how well behaved our boys were. Later, one of them noticed Lars' Youth Haven sweatshirt and asked him about it. When he explained about what Youth Haven does for kids in need, she said, "I knew the minute I saw your family that you were believers." The two of them then proceeded to tell Lars about their church.

It was a total God thing for me - first, that we even found that place, but second, that we had a chance to meet those two women. I don't know what it was about our family that made the one woman aware that we are believers, but I am grateful that she saw Jesus in us. I hope everyone we encounter on this trip will, too.

Gateway Arch in St. Louis

Yesterday began the first day of our family trip to Arizona. This year we decided to drive out and stop along the way at a few scenic spots we thought the boys might enjoy. We arrived in St. Louis, Missouri, last night and let the boys go swimming in the hotel before bed. They haven't been swimming in an indoor pool since they took swimming lessons at the YMCA a couple of summers ago, so they thought it was great.

This morning we got up and went to visit the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. We took a tram ride all the way to the top of the Arch, 630 feet in the air. From inside, you can look down and see the city of St. Louis on one side and the Mississippi River on the other side. (Looking down on the Mississippi made me think of Huckleberry Finn!) The boys loved it, of course, and were amazed at how small everything looked from that height.

After we came back down, we went through a museum that told more about the Arch, but primarily focused on the westward expansion of the pioneers. The Arch is considered to be a symbol of the gateway to the west, a monument to Thomas Jefferson for the Louisiana Purchase that opened up the west to settlers. It was a very impressive museum. We saw a real covered wagon, buffalo, and several other animals and artifacts from back during those times. There was a replica of a room in a sod house - even a stagecoach that we stood in front of while a kind museum worker took our picture.

I have to say, while most of me says, "Thank goodness we don't have to live like that anymore!" a part of me wonders what it would have been like to live simply like that. I know they worked extremely hard; I don't mean simple in that regard. But here I am, driving across Oklahoma, typing my blog on a laptop while the boys watch a DVD in the back seat. I just wonder what it would have been like to live in the days when the simple things were all that mattered, and technology hadn't yet made life so fast-paced and demanding. Although, I must say I prefer these driving conditions to the stagecoach!

The rest of the day we've been on the road, making our way across the country and noticing the change in terrain (and temperature - it's now up to 44 degrees!). I wonder what the people must have thought who first made that journey westward. I wonder what it looked like before highways and big cities. I bet God's original design was a lot better than what man has come up with.

So far, the trip has gone amazingly well and the boys have done great. If anyone has struggled with anything, it has been me because I dread hotels. I am thankful for a husband who is understanding and a God who gives me strength. I don't want to make my kids afraid of things or deny them these kinds of opportunities. So I am praying for His peace for the next 3 nights!

Tomorrow we are going to try to visit one of the Route 66 Museums here in Oklahoma, since the boys have been fascinated with that (due to the movie Cars). Then we are heading to Flagstaff and plan to go see the Grand Canyon the next day. I'll try to keep you updated, which shouldn't be too difficult since I can type in the car (thanks, Lars).

True Beauty

I did it. I signed on the line and became an Independent Beauty Consultant with Mary Kay. I never, ever thought I would be a Mary Kay lady. In fact, when my friend first asked me to consider it, I thought there was no way I would ever do it. I am not an outgoing person by nature, so the thought of going to someone else's house and trying on makeup with a bunch of women I don't know is not at all appealing to me.

What I have enjoyed are the skincare classes and makeovers I have done for my family and friends. It's just plain fun to spend some time with other women I care about and do something "girlie" for a change! And it's in those moments that I am learning more about true beauty.

I hope none of my girlfriends will hate me for talking about them, but on Monday evening some of us got together for a makeover party. As I looked around the table, I saw such beautiful women - from the inside out.

First there was Shelle. She is always cheerful, always looking at the positive side of things. Her laugh is contagious, and she is so fun to be with. Shelle has an amazing heart and is absolutely fantastic with the Youth Haven kids. She left her warm, comfortable home in Arizona just before winter to follow God's calling to our Michigan Ranch. True beauty indeed.

Next to her was Heather, the encourager. She is always ready to offer a word, a hug, or whatever is needed to brighten someone's day. Her home is always open, and her heart even more so. Heather has a tenderness for people in need, and a willingness to do whatever she needs to in order to help. She, too, is a truly beautiful person.

Abi works at everything she does with all her heart, and I know it is because she does it for the Lord. She is committed to excellence and happy to do whatever is asked of her - a true servant. She has an incredible love for children that is evident in the way she tells me their stories. I have even seen it in brief interactions with my two boys. Again, true beauty.

Then there was Carrie. Carrie has a sweet, quiet spirit and an open heart to the Lord's leading. She is faithful, compassionate, and a terrific mentor for the teens who work with her in our kitchen. She patiently endures the heat of the summer and is committed to serving the children to the best of her ability. Carrie is an example of true beauty.

Joy is a sweetheart, bubbly and energetic. She relates to the girls she works with in a very special way and loves each one of them as if they were her own. Her eyes are always focused on the Lord, even through tough times, and she freely offers encouragement to others. Joy loves to worship, and I know God is pleased with His beautiful daughter.

Jen radiates God's love to those around her. Like Joy, she has a passion for worship. Jen is eager to help whenever she sees a need, and she has poured herself into so many children - mine included. Her love for the Lord and desire to show others the love of Christ are evident in everything she does. Yes, true beauty.

I haven't gotten to know Amanda quite as well as the others, but I see in her a strong desire to make her life matter in the lives of others. She has invested so much in the lives of the kids at Youth Haven, all while working on her college degree. She is a sweet young lady with a big heart, and a lot of fun to hang out with. And she is truly beautiful.

I look at each one of these ladies, and they are examples to me in so many ways. We had a lot of fun that evening, and everyone looked amazing at the end of our time together. But it wasn't the makeup that made them beautiful. It was their love for Christ that gave each one of them a beauty that no amount of cosmetics can produce. Maybe I'm not a good salesperson for saying so, but it's the truth!

No More Dirty Laundry

Yesterday morning we turned the Today Show on while we were getting ready for the day. I watched as they interviewed a doctor who was talking about the death of John Travolta's son. She was talking about seizure disorders, but she didn't personally know the family and wasn't there at the time of their son's death. She kept saying things like, "We can assume..." and "I would suppose..."

I wondered why our society is so obsessed with listening to the media talk about another family's tragedy like that - not reporting facts, just talking about it and making guesses as to what might have happened.

Then another segment came on, which was supposed to teach you how to get out of your car if it was suddenly, accidentally submerged in water. Only they began the segment by playing a frantic 911 call from a woman who experienced that very thing and couldn't get out. Then they told us that she had drowned, and I realized I had just listened to the last panicked moments of a woman's life.

Why? Why do people want to see and hear these things?

When I asked Lars that question, he played me this song by Don Henley:

I make my living off the evening news
Just give me something, something I can use
People love it when you lose, they love dirty laundry

Well, I could've been an actor, but I wound up here
I just have to look good, I don't have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear, give us dirty laundry

Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em all around

We got the bubbleheaded bleach-blonde, comes on at 5
She can tell you about the plane crash with a gleam in her eye
It's interesting when people die, give us dirty laundry

Can we film the operation? Is the head dead yet?
You know the boys in the newsroom got a running bet
Get the widow on the set, we need dirty laundry

You don't really need to find out what's going on
You don't really want to know just how far it's gone
Just leave well enough alone, keep your dirty laundry

Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're stiff, kick 'em all around

Dirty little secrets, dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybody's pie
Love to cut you down to size, we love dirty laundry

We can do the innuendo, we can dance and sing
When it's said and done, we haven't told you a thing
We all know that crap is king, give us dirty laundry

Wow. Did he ever get that right!

Now listen to what the apostle Paul tells us to do in Philippians 4:8:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.

What I saw and heard yesterday morning definitely did not fall into any of those categories. I hadn't really made a New Year's resolution yet, but I think Philippians 4:8 is a good one. Yes, that is my commitment for 2009. No more dirty laundry. Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, I will think about those things.