What I Should Have Said

Have you ever wished you could take back something you said?  Something you really didn't think through before it escaped from your mouth?  Well I have.  Too many times actually.

It is no secret that 2014 has been a year full of celebrations for this Burtis family.  Namely Drew's graduation from college (with high honor) and his wedding to a godly, funny, cute girl our whole family adores.  We are so very grateful for each accomplishment and event.

In the midst of all this joy, I got a message from a friend saying, "Great job raising Drew.  You must be so proud."  To be honest while I liked hearing it, I felt uncomfortable.  My knee jerk response was, "Well let's not forget he was a compliant child.  He made it easy for us."

For the rest of the day I was troubled and couldn't put my finger on why.  I asked God about it in prayer.  Immediately my mind went to the text exchange.  I imagined Him asking me, "Why did you respond that way?"

Well, we all know it wouldn't be humble to say, "I know!  Isn't he awesome?"  Instead, I guess I was embarassed and chose a form of false humility.

Why is it so hard for us to take a compliment without making an excuse?  I think I felt guilty somehow.  Who was I to think I raised a great kid and could take the credit?   

Many years ago, my favorite Bible study teacher said once (and I remember like it was yesterday), "When you are given a compliment, don't answer: 'To God be the glory' or 'It's all because of Jesus' or 'It's not me, it's God.'"  She said, "When you are a believer speaking to another believer, that is already established.  Of course everything is about God and to His credit.  But you can receive an encouragement with grace.  Simply say, 'Thank you so much. That means a lot to me.'"

If I could go back and change my response to that text I would.  Again, not to elevate myself or any parenting success but because it was kind of her to notice and what I said wasn't altogether true.  We had sweat and trained and prayed our way to these celebrations.  It wasn't a cake walk.

Probably the biggest shock to Scott and me in relation to raising kids is that each one requires a different strategy.  Easy(ier) children could tempt us to say yes all the time.  They are so good, why not?  They delight us with their obedience and we want to please them right back.  But the truth is parenting takes day in and day out tireless effort even when you have a child who responds well to your discipline and training. 
 
I checked this with my husband to see if I was crazy (I have to do this often).  I said, "We did hard work raising Drew (and the other two), didn't we?  Even though he turned out good and wasn't strong willed, we still had to work for that, right?"

He agreed and probably thought we were done talking about it.  Silly man.  Because I can rarely let a thing die so quickly, I went on.

"While we did say yes to a lot of things, we also did the hard work of saying no, didn't we?"

When he wanted to spend hours playing video games, we said no.
When he wanted to listen to music that was not God-honoring, we said no.
When he begged for a cell phone earlier than we were comfortable with, we said no. 
When he wanted to watch movies that were not appropriate, we said no.
When he considered dating in high school, we said no.
When he wanted to sleepover at a friend's house that we didn't feel was a good influence, we said no.

If you asked him, we said no in ways that seemed unnecessary or unfair.

Like when after a busy week that consisted of no measurable family time and he wanted to go out with friends, we said no.
When we learned that he (as a jr in high school) procrastinated working on a term paper and we had a 3-snowdays-in-a-row winter storm and he wanted to play outside with his siblings and friends, we said no.
When he was 19, away at college and wanted a smartphone but had no income to pay for it or compelling reason (need), we said no. 
When he was 20 and wanted to take his 21-year-old girlfriend (now wife) on a 15 hour road trip to visit newlywed friends for a week, we said no. (for so many reasons)

And we made him do things he didn't want to do.

We insisted he read a missionary biography every summer.
We made him do household and outdoor chores.
When a teacher told us he was trying to fit in with "cool kids" by letting his grades slip, we made him switch his seat (remove the influence) or we would make sure it happened. Because he had a job, he paid for his own cell phone and gas for the car.
We went to church as a family every Sunday his whole life.
He was expected to get up early EVERY Sunday morning since he was a pre-teen to help his Dad run sound for the early service.

All those no's weren't easy or popular, but we believe they attributed in part to the man our son is today and the choices he makes for his family.

Like anything we endeavor that yields positive results, we can expect hard work and consistency as part of our effort.  And we can enjoy success!  Then it's our responsibility to share any wisdom gained with those coming behind us.

So I guess I write all this today to encourage you Moms (and Dads).

1.  If you've done the hard work of parenting and are are given a compliment, receive it with grace and gratitude.

2.  If you've done the hard work of parenting and your child didn't turn out quite as you hoped, your answer when asked can be, "This isn't how he was raised. We are praying that he will return to God and live according to His Word."  There is no shame in that.

(I've been known to say that for much lesser offenses like bodily function noises, public sassing, or even a son calling his date hot on facebook. Generally anything they do that embarasses me.)

3.  Lastly, be empowered.  Parenting is not easy.  Kids and culture can wear us down. Keep in front of you the kind of adult(s) you want to leave your home one day, and make the necessary decisions (one by one) that will get them there.  Even if no one else is doing it.  Even if they resist.  YOU are the parent and you know best.

Always use the Bible as your guide.  There is no greater wisdom for parents written anywhere.

How can a young man keep his way pure?  By living according to your Word.  
Psalm 119:9

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace... 2 Timothy 2:22

Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it.  Proverbs 22:6

Train yourself to be godly.  1 Timothy 4:7  Then train your children to be godly.

***One last thing, while it's never too late to get back in the driver's seat, training kids into adults starts when they are like this..... 

When Open Houses Aren't That Fun

So it's been about a month since I wrote last.  I hope you are well.  We've been plenty occupied with volleyball games and school activities.

Tonight was our last Open House.  Sniff.  Nah, I'm not that sad.  These haven't always been my favorite event to go to.  I mean don't get me wrong, it is fun trying to jam our 20-something years since high school bodies into those how shall I say... desks. Obviously.  Then there's the issue of trying to find each class.  Maybe you've heard I'm a little directionally challenged.

For years back in Syracuse at Faith Heritage at least there was the camaraderie of the same (mostly) parents year after year, friends.  Not so much in the bigger public school.   It can be a stressful way to spend your evening if you're me.

Last year was the worst.  It was the day I realized I can no longer leave the house without these.

Allow me to illustrate.  First of all, I was alone.  I'm sure Scott had some important and unavoidable excuse that kept him away, but I'll be jiggered if I can remember what it was.  I tried to talk myself out of going.  I mean, really, how many of these do I have to attend?

You guessed it, all of them apparently.  My conscience kicked in because I don't want to be THAT Mom who skips Open House.  And truth be told, I did want to meet Ally's teachers.  I've got to admit though that I was nervous about trying to find my way around the still unfamiliar school.

So I pull up where all the cool parents who've known each other since their kids were little chatted excitedly.  I tried not to give off the newbie vibe as I made my way in the front door.  Just inside was a table manned by students.  I approached casually, with phony confidence.  They handed me Ally's schedule and a map of the school.  Check.

I proceeded to the auditorium to hear the plan for the night.  Follow your child's schedule, cram yourself into tiny desk, listen to teacher's hopes and dreams for your student, then go to the next class.  All between loud bells and within 2-3 minutes.  Check.  Been there, done that.  (Well, either at our old, familiar school or with Scott's company, ahem I mean, guidance.)  Come to find out -this would make a significant difference.

Next I attempted what all Type A personalities would.  I half-listened to the principal while trying to get a jumpstart on my route to the first two classes.  I reached for my Dollar Store readers.  Oh no!  Not in my purse.  That's when I realized I had a major problem. 

Look at that print.  What person over the age of 25 could read that?  The schedule was no better. 

The first and most logical solution was that I should go home.  I tried, right?  Who would expect me to navigate my way around an unfamiliar school where I didn't know anyone?  Then I heard my own voice to my kids when we moved here and I sent them off on their first day.  Stinks when you have to suck it up and do what you expected of your much younger and seemingly more insecure kids.

So I found my resolve.  If nothing else, I am a problem solver.  What I did next I knew would horrify Ally if she ever found out, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

I went back out to the table of students, pushed the papers with tiny print in front of them, and asked them to circle the classrooms I need to go to, write the numbers BIGGER on the map, and tell me which order I would need to visit them.

They looked at me for a solid minute then I could see it in their eyes.  "Ally Burtis's mom doesn't know how to read."

Believe it or not, it went uphill from there.  The kids helped me out and I survived.  The next day I bought an extra pair of readers to be kept in my purse.  For the rest of my life I presume.

Tonight, however, was way better.  In fact, it was the best Open House ever.  No small desks, no bells, no schedules.  Just go visit the teachers you want to.  Scott was with me.  Ally came too.  The teachers love her.  They seem very young too incidentally. Thirty minutes in and out.  Yes!  And I didn't embarass my daughter.  Come to think of it, I didn't need glasses either. Win win!

Still, I guess I'm a little sad.  Because in case I didn't mention, it was our last one.

Preparing For The Last First Day

Here we are again.  Labor Day has passed and school is starting up again.  This school year is different again here in the Burtis house.  Our oldest son is now done with school forever.  Drew has married, moved away and begun his adult life.  Scott just drove our Ben back to the mountains to start his second year of college.  Ally will begin her senior year of high school this morning. It's impossible not to wonder, where did the time go?

I heard a good answer to that question recently in regards to the season of parenting - the days are long but the years are short.  Ain't that the truth?

I can easily remember the long days of nursing babies for what seemed like neverending hours. The countless nights of interrupted rest wondering when my crier would ever sleep through til morning.  The days, weeks, and months of battling with a strong willed child.  The endless days of sports practices and nights eating dinner from a drive thru.   Man, that went fast.

This September of 2014 is even a little more emotional than usual because it is Ally's last first day of school and the first of many more lasts for her and her parents.

Here she is getting on a school bus for the first time.  I mean seriously.

And now. Give me strength.

We've been busy this week getting ready.  She's already started volleyball, earned her driver's license, had senior pictures taken and picked out clothes for the first day.

I've bought lunch snacks, hung the Back to School flag outside and located the book that I have read the night before every first day of school since Drew went to Kindergarten.  Last night I read it for the last time....to my baby girl.  I offered to read it in her room but she declined saying, "it is tradition to read it on your bed."  (Yay!) There were less bodies on the bed but when we all three prayed and committed this year to God, the room was full enough.

I also worked on this in her room.  These are old hospital closets my dad gave me years ago that I painted to surprise Ally one summer while she was away at camp. I figure if I write it all down it will cut back  on reminding (or as the rest of the family puts it, nagging).  Chalkboards, lists, colored chalk.  Could I have missed a calling to be a homeschool mom?  No.  Probably not.

In an effort not to dwell on the potential sadness all these changes can bring and as a last hurrah/farewell to summer, we travelled out to spend last weekend with our newlywed kids in Elkhart, Indiana.  This was our first opportunity to spend extended time as a new family of six.

We had a glorious weekend.  It could not have been more enjoyable for Scott and me. (Except for the disgusting humidity.  Thank God Drew and Brittany have air conditioning. Without it things could have gone a lot differently.)

While together I hoped to have two family meetings (a.k.a. intentional conversations over dinner) allowing the rest to emerge naturally out of the ebb and flow of our ever-changing family dynamic.

The first was to present them with the familar, often-asked, "What are you learning about God from your quiet times spent reading His Word and praying?" 

Because they never disappoint, the kids initially responded in their usual sassy fashion, a quick eye roll, a mock putting on of imaginary seatbelts, glancing at their pretend watches - preparing for a looooooong conversation.  This is not their first rodeo.

Spurred on by some recently heard sermons, this time I upped the ante and probed deeper.
"What have you repented of lately?"
"Based on what you are reading how is God asking you to change?"
"How are you growing in Christlikeness?"

These are important things to discuss. How else can we really know how closely our kids are (or aren't) walking with the Lord?  With discussions like these comes the accountability within families which is a must. This is also a good reason to insist on regular, not occasional family dinners with everyone present.

Eventually, because intimacy takes time, the most honest, real, vulnerable answers were revealed and rich conversation followed.  There may or may not have been some croaking by an unnamed party or two as we shared the good, the bad and the ugly. 

The second round of questions (saved for our last meal together) was planned in advance by all but one of us.  Why you ask?  Because if I had sprung the questions on them without warning I would have gotten simple, probably even dumb answers, not at all what I was looking for.  And after chastising them I'd get the deer-in-headlights look that screams, "Seriously Mom, I don't know what to say. I haven't thought about it."  Nope, I couldn't take any chances so I prepped them before we ever left home.

I asked my sons and daughter-in-law to think about and be willing to share with Ally advice for her senior year.

• What would help her
• What she should focus on
• What she should ignore or not get sucked into
• What they regretted
• What they would do differently (knowing what they know now)

It started out lighthearted, the boys shared some of their favorite and ridiculous high school memories (that they can laugh at now).  Again, after awhile they went deeper.

I was surprised when one of them said he wished he had not traded weeks of youth group every winter to play basketball.  (Shocked, I was to hear this.)  He recognizes now the importance of Christian friends and staying close to them year round, not just around the sports calendar.  He wishes he had chosen different school friends to spend the majority of his time with as well.  The kind that would last.

Another regrets choosing to be a spectator in school rather than a player when it came to getting to know new kids.  Perhaps he missed opportunities to share his faith and wasted time. If he could go back, he would use his voice and words to share the hope of the Gospel with friends.

She held back for a while but when she spoke, our darling Brittany brought out the big guns.  She had given this some thought.  (Have I mentioned that she is not only Drew's gift - but mine too?) She gave Ally a charge that only a young woman not too far removed from high school could give.  She shared stories, relationships, regrets, and her heartfelt concern that Ally live wiser and pay close attention to the fact that her future that still lies ahead will trump high school experiences.

I'm not sure when or how the idea came to initiate this chat just days before Ally starts this final year of school, but I can tell you it is consistent with a goal Scott and I have long shared to relentlessly put godly Christian examples before our kids to guide and influence.  For example, books we had them read, music they listened to, concerts attended, missions conferences, sharing meals in our home with missionaries  and listening to testimonies and stories from many other dynamic Christians.  Potential heroes we hoped.

As Scott and I sat back and let it play, suddenly I realized that because they have been out on their own for a while it's their time to speak up.

The three big kids  - ok ok, young adults - volleyed back and forth all sorts of their own time and hard-won wisdom for Ally to consider.  They didn't just focus on the negative (mistakes and regrets) but also the positive, giving her practical ideas on how to finish high school well with good motives, intentionally and God-focused so that she would not share their regrets.

I believe they sent a strong you can do it message.

And glory hallelujah - someone even said, "Listen to your parents - they have your best interest in mind"!  I didn't plant that either, I swear.

In summary, their message was to not wait until you are older to give God every area of your life.  Start now.  Put Him first in everything, read His Word, grow by being obedient to it, love others and avoid worldliness and high school drama. There is a much bigger picture at stake that you can't see yet. 

I'm so thankful to God for that and so much more.  I'm thankful that Ally has so much support behind her as she begins what could be a time when the enemy of her soul will pull out all the stops to distract her from God's will for her life.

I think she knows this now and feels the weight of the love and concern for her and the intensity of the advice, urging her to learn from what they've learned.

Makes me wonder if I would have made better choices had I heard even half of this from people who cared enough about me to be honest and open about their experiences.  I'm so glad that God is a God of second chances, always inviting us to come back and try again.  New mercies every morning. Remember, it is not who we were or have been, it's who we are becoming - how Christ is being formed in us.

Witnessing this exchange between our children makes me less sad about the fact that they are indeed growing up and out.  Instead, I'm grateful and excited for who they are becoming, how we now interact with each other and how they will influence the world around them for God's glory. 

I can't help but remember what they were like when they were little (so cute!) so the lesson for me is to only be sad for a moment.  Then shift to celebrating and encouraging them into the natural process of maturing (not too quickly) into a Christlike adult, prepared for the future He has planned for them.

If we can send our kids courageously into their schools year after year, we can courageously embrace their growing up.  We can do it!

I saw this quote on a blog I love the other day "September 1st is the new January 1st". 

So whether this is your kids' first day of kindergarten or 12th grade or even college, why not take this opportunity of a new beginning to remind them that the Christian life isn't just for when they are older?  With effort and intention they can have God's blessing on their own lives right now.

Here's my not so little girl in front of the flag one last time on this - her final first day of high school - go get 'em Ally!

Keeping It Simple

As I was thinking about the blog this morning and what I could write for you to read that would be valuable, the thought came, 'keep it simple'.

While I was away in the beautiful Adironacks, I sat in on fourteen hours of Bible teaching, read two books and enjoyed several important, life-giving conversations.  That's a lot of listening.  Listening is receiving.  Much of the best of the content came through simple yet powerful statements or questions.

As I furiously and excitedly (in my usual nerd-like fashion) took pages of notes (the older I get the less I trust my memory), I hoped for the opportunity to share them with someone else because of what it was stirring up in me.  So here goes.  I am praying that they speak to you today and you receive something meaningful. (Quotes are in bold.  The rest are my comments.)

The Bible is the Voice of God.  I mean seriously.  We know this.  But do we know this?  Wouldn't we all like to hear the voice of God?  We can.  We have no excuse not to.  All we have to do is pick up His Word and read it.

Give God's Word your full attention.  It's the only book that matters.

Every time we are in God's Word we are getting a better picture of who God is.  This means we can better describe Him to others.  So good!

Nothing in the Christian life works without God's Word.  Could this be why we are exhausted from trying to 'work it out' ourselves with no results?

Stop viewing yourself as the focus of life.  We exist for the Glory of God.  Ouch.  I wonder if we should change our common statement for ourselves and wish for others from, "I'm looking forward to what God has for me" to "I am eager for God to show me how I can best serve Him with my life."

 My life is the autobiography of Christ.  This is going to take some examination.  Is that how I live?  Do others see His likeness in me?

Cultivate a spiritual awareness until it takes over your life.  Sit with this one a while.  We have all the power here - how much of Jesus do we want?  We can have as much as we want.

The presence of evil will never undo or destroy the work of God.   In light of today's world events, this is the greatest time to proclaim Christ.  That is good news.

There is no such thing as private sin.  To be a follower of Jesus means we live in community and our sins have repercussions.  Our choices matter to others.  This is not a curse.  It's a gift - to live in such a way that it helps others to live well too.

Stop making excuses for your condition.  Call sin sin.  Sin multiplies when you make excuses for it.  Own your sin.  You can't get victory over that which you don't own.

 Love Jesus more than anything. 

Peace comes through acceptance of - not removal of - suffering.  Not easy, but true.  Suffering builds character too.  We can't remove it all (or beg God to) and think we are going to grow.

God wants us to reach out to Him.  He allows in His wisdom things to happen so we will.  What a beautiful way to look at the hard, painful things that come into our lives.

The Christian life is an intentional life.  It is focused on a relationship with Jesus - becoming Christlike.  This statement is so huge to me.  It's going to become the main theme beneath the questions I periodically ask my kids.  In what ways are you becoming more Christlike?  How is God asking you to change?  What verses are you applying to your life?  Because without transformation into God's character - what's the point?  THIS is what it's all about.

We have erased holiness from the Christian life.  Our fellowship with the Father is defined by holiness.  Ask these questions:  Who are we trying to be like?  Christ?  The world?  Everyone else?  More excellent questions for my kids (and myself).

None of us are naturally usable to God.  We all require preparation.  How are you and I being prepared to do ministry?

Everyone needs discipleship from older, wiser followers.  We need to ask "How do you study?  How do you grow?, etc."  We have no business trying to live this life on our own when we have others we can ask to show us the best way.  I like the way Andy Stanley puts it, "Wisdom is not learning from our mistakes - that's experience.  Wisdom is learning from other people's mistakes."  And not just their mistakes - their successes too.
_____________________

From two women I spent time with:

God would not lead you through a dark valley if there wasn't something of great value waiting for you on the other side.  Good motivation to wait patiently and expectantly.

We have chosen (for our family) to live according to the standards set by God in His Word so that we can enjoy the blessing of God on our lives.   Honestly, friends, when I heard this I thought, "That's the perfect mission statement.  Following Christ isn't about rule keeping. We don't have to over explain.  It's simple - we're living God's way so that He will bless us."  Boom.

And that was just the first week.  HA!  All of these statements (and so many more) made an impact on me.  They gave me occasion for confession, repentance, motivation to change AND also encouragement to continue putting my hope and faith in Jesus because He is so good.  So worth it.  And because His love for me is so big.  Not to mention also because there are younger ones coming behind me who need to know these things.

I so hope you found something here to challenge you, encourage you, cause you to make some intentional decisions for your life and the well being of your family as well.  I know there's a lot here, but even if we grabbed a few of these simple statments and gave them attention in our lives I wonder what would happen. 

What do you say we make this a conversation instead of me doing all the talking?  (I bet you're thinking, I thought she'd never think of that.)  How about for fun you copy and paste something above that most resonated with you and post it in the comment section?

It's Good To Be Home

So, assuming you read this blog regularly, follow me on Instagram, am friends with me on Facebook or are just a plain old-fashioned real live person I talk to face to face, you might know that I left home for two weeks in August.  

I try to do it every year with my family's company but this year was different.  I was invited by some girlfriends to share a cabin at one of my favorite places on earth, the Word of Life Family Campground.  This was our 2nd annual trip because last year we decided if something is very fun or a good idea, it should become a tradition.  I couldn't turn them down.  I didn't want to.  God always meets me up in the Adirondacks and I knew He was calling me to come spend some time alone with Him.  I was not about to miss that.  (Please notice I have a great husband who is never selfish when it comes to letting me go when I need to.)

After I made those plans months ago, some new friends offered us a free stay in their year-round camper just a few feet from that cabin.  Well, yeah,  If one's good, two is better, right?  This was the week I really wanted to be there anyway, because it would lead up to a very important event (Ben's graduation from Word of Life Bible Institute) and his subsequent homecoming (he will be home for just over two weeks - woohoo!) which required him to be picked up.

Unfortunately, Scott and Ally couldn't join me for the first ten days because of work and volleyball commitments.  They did come for the last five.

In the meantime, I spent the first week juggling time and meals with my friends, my mother who was also vacationing nearby and Ben, of course. We went to the beach, appreciated the beautiful Adirondack landscape, found fun places to eat and even watched a movie outside on movie night.  It was fun and relaxing.  That's how I envisioned the first week to be.

The middle four days were to be my alone time and I planned how I would spend so much time by myself.  I declared them my own personal spiritual retreat. 

I came asking God for three things.  Not three things you'd ask a genie for after rubbing his lamp but three things that I was wrestling with.  Three things that were bogging me down and keeping me from experiencing peace and contentment.  I needed the One who knows and loves me best to speak to me, to reveal what's been going on in my heart that up to that point was frustrating me.  

I brought my Bible, old journals to read, books and new journals to write in.  I planned to listen to great preaching, pray, read, listen, walk and wait. I knew it would take my focused attention, cleared schedule and hours of solitude to get me in a place where I could receive and I was prepared to stay in God's face until He addressed my three requests.  I was not disappointed.

As usual, just as continually promised in His Word, He shows up when we diligently seek Him and in many ways like through the Scriptures I was reading, the messages being preached and even the gift of time with a spiritual mentor of mine.  You may remember I went to visit her at her camp last summer too.  (You can read about that here.)

She asked me what the three things I was asking God for were.  As I spilled my heart out on her beautiful screened patio, she managed to carefully pick up the random pieces and wisely put them in order in a way I couldn't do on my own.  She deciphered the puzzle and God used her to set me free. She gave me permission to make some hard decisions for my own well being.

He released me from wrong thinking, mangled emotions, lies I was treating as truth, and He wrapped me in a warm blanket of His love and attentiveness.  I found what I was desperately looking for and hopefully came back changed. 

Can I just stop a moment and encourage you to go directly to God and ask Him for what you need?  Don't hold back. He wants you to come to Him because He has the answers you're looking for. He loves you and is here to help. Don't wait another minute!

By the time Ally and Scott arrived, I was ready for them.  We had a good few days together.  We even climbed Mt. Severence.  I can't believe we have been camping in Schroon Lake for more than 10 years and never have.  It was worth all the huffing and puffing to get to the top and see that glorious view. 

While it was wonderful to have the four of us reunited, we all missed our other two.  So we FaceTimed Drew and Brittany one night which was super fun.  We loved seeing their happy faces, watching them interact (she's showing a new sassy side that I particularly enjoy) and listening to them giggle.  I noticed when we were about to hang up that Drew had pretty much monopolized the conversation.  The camera was always on him with occasional glimpses of Brittany.  He even took us on a tour of his garage where he showed off some new purchases like a hose that shrinks when not in use.  It was the cutest thing. (Drew, not the hose.)

I'm getting to the best part - about ten minutes or less after we ended the call, I got a text from my sweet, funny daughter-in-law that went something like this:  "Not that we don't love Drew's company, but maybe next time we can just have a girls only FaceTime."  Does she know how to speak my language or what?

By the end of the weekend, I was ready to come home.  Because no matter how much you need to get away - and should - there's no place like home.  Or your king-sized bed.  Or your shower.  Or carpet under your feet.  Or your favorite comfy couch on which to sit and pray in the morning.  Or your husband and daughter saying, "We're so glad you're home." And it's always good to bring home a college boy and all his stinky summer camp laundry.

I have so much more to tell you about that happened while I was gone (stuff that will benefit you, not just this family drivel), but for today, I just wanted to say hi and I missed you and bore you with some pictures of the main event.

Another happy milestone in the Burtis family. We seem to have had more than our fair share in 2014. I know I may have said or written this when Drew stood in this very spot - but it's a tremendous gift to have God write part of a parent's story (He changed my life for good at the BI in 1987) into their children's stories.  He's done it again and I am overwhelmed.

I like to joke that when you attend the WOLBI, because the only curriculum is the Bible, you get it pumped through your veins for a year.  (Who wouldn't want that?) Students are also simultaneously given all kinds of opportunities to serve the Lord (snow camp, sports, open air evangelism, singing, drama, summer camp, mission trips and so much more).

It's the best foundation for any one of us before we become adults and have to figure out how to live as a grown up out in the real world.  I'm so very grateful that my sons have had this experience and that next Fall it will be our daughter's turn.  Two down...one to go!

Thanks for indulging me.