Orange

Our teaching Pastor, Scott, just finished a 4 week series on the color ORANGE. I know what you're asking, what does Orange stand for.

Orange is two combined influences coming together to form one influence.

What makes the color orange? Red and Yellow, right? For purposes of this series, Red represents the home/family and yellow represents the church.

It's our journey to try to change a generation of young people to follow God. Did you know that 80% of kids, when they turn 18, turn AWAY from God. How sad is that? That's a horrible statistic. Is it just the parents responsiblity, NO. It's the entire church working with the parents. When a child is baptized, the entire congregation is asked, Will you support this family and this child and help them grow with God. And typically, the congregation answers yes. That holds the church, that holds YOU responsible to helping to change a generation.

Why am I writing about this today you ask? Well, yesterday was the final message and it hit home for Chris and I.

http://www.sonrisechurch.info/campus-messages/fort-wayne-campus/

Yesterday, we were told to imagine the end for our children. Imagine them graduating from high school and entering college. Imagine them sitting in their dorm room after you've said goodbye. What do you expect of them? How do you want them to act?

Create a rhythm. This is where Chris and I really need to work. We aren't perfect parents, we're not a perfect family. The concept doesn't exsist. If we don't take the time now for Matthew, he'll be a statistic.

Israel, remember this! The Lord and the Lord alone- is our God. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Never forget these commands that I am giving you today. Teach them to your children. Repeat them when you are at home and when you are away, when you are resting and when you are working. Tie them on your arms and wear them on your foreheads as a reminder. Write them on the door posts of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Did you see what the scripture said about our children. OUR children. Teach them...Repeat them when you are at home and when you are away, when you are resting and when you are working. Impress upon them these commands. Create a rhythm with your child. Take the opportunities to talk to your child about the Lord.

Chris and I, we took for granted the fact that Matthew was in a christian school. We left the responsiblity up to the school to make sure Matthew was feed the scripture. It wasn't just their job to do this.

In order for Matthew to overcome the statistics and for that 80% to be lowered, parents have to create a rhythm with their children. They have to take the time to talk to their children.

Chris and I, we took this to heart. We've started the wheels in motion. Yesterday, we took the time over dinner to talk about God. We talked about morals and what God expects from us.

It felt good. It felt right. I felt like we were making good choices as parents. Yes, Matthew knows that you should Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul. and with all your strength. He knows this. He knows that prayer is important. We've made sure that he has gone to church and that he was baptized. I don't think Chris and I have done a bad job on making sure Matthew has been "feed" the scripture but we have fallen short. We've tried to lead by example but as parents tend to do, but we've not always made the best choices.

I feel blessed to have found a church in Fort Wayne that fulfills my needs not only as a christian but also as a parent. I feel blessed to know that I have a support system in my church to help make sure that Matthew stays on the right path. I feel blessed that I am a child of God and that no matter what obstacles in parenting I may endure, God will always be there to help me keep on the right path.

While this series was only 4 weeks, it will be remembered as a way to live our life.

Two combined influences, Red and Yellow, to create one influence, ORANGE. I can live Orange, my family can live Orange. We can live Orange for Matthew.

Geese, Geese Everywhere

Finally, I've found a place to get rid of all my outdated bread and rolls....the LAKE!!! Near the zoo is a park called Franke Park. At Franke Park, there is a lake that backs up to the zoo. And in the lake are ducks, geese, fish, yada yada yada.

Today was the first day in several days that has been dry, sunny, and warmer. What better thing to do then go feed the geese after school. So, we did.

It was so fun to watch all the geese. They kept getting closer and closer. We did find out though that they prefer bread that has been soaked in the lake rather than dropped on the ground. I'm not sure what that is about but Matthew had a wonderful time trying to throw bread out to the geese further away.

It's fun moments like this that Matthew will remember. I'm liking Fort Wayne....

A Special Mother's Day

Mother's Day. Every year this "hallmark holiday" comes around and every year, I have mixed emotions on the subject. Personally, in my heart of hearts, isn't every day a mother's day? Aren't we mother's 24/7, 365? So, ok, there's a day set aside to make sure that you are treated a little sweeter and spoiled a little more but honestly, shouldn't this be the case the remaining 364 days of the year?

Every mother's day since Matthew was born, Chris and I have been together. Every mother's day Chris has done his part in making that day a little more special. I've gotten necklaces, bracelets, dinner out, ice cream treats. You name it, he's probably done it. And while I thank him for every single sweet moment he's given me on mother's day, I have to say that THIS Mother's Day was my favorite.

Call me sappy but sometimes it's the simple things that happen that you don't expect that make it a day to remember. Let me elaborate....

I woke up to the traditional Mother's Day greeting. Coffee was brewed and happy eyes said good morning when I entered the kitchen. Breakfast wasn't prepared because I had told the two men in my life, I didn't want a special breakfast, just coffee.

At my place on the kitchen table sat a card Matthew had made at school. Here's what it said:


Hats off to MOM by: Matthew Allen Johnson-Ebert

My mom wears many hats in our family. My Mom is a teacher. She taught me how to play video games.

My mom is a cook. I love it when she makes taco's.

My mom is a nurse. She always makes me feel better when she cures my scars.

My mom is a magician. She can always find lost things. Once she found my belt.

My mom is a sanitation worker. When she sees my room she says, "Clean your room Matthew!".

My mom is a chauffeur. She drives me to Washington DC.

My mom is the best mother ever!


How sweet is that? Outta the mouths of babes, right? I felt content with my wonderful card that clearly Matthew had taken at least a few minutes to think about. Then the most unusual thing happened.

I have no idea where it came from and the minute it happened, I didn't question. Matthew came over and sat on my lap. He just sat there. Just like he used to when he was younger. He sat on my lap. For a moment, I held my breath. I couldn't believe it. What on earth brought this on? But this was no time to question. If this was only going to last a moment, I'd better savor the flavor. Oddly enough, it lasted more than a mere moment. Matthew sat on my lap and we had a conversation about how much he loved me and how much he misses me when I'm gone and how much he's going to miss me when he's at his father's this summer. I just rubbed his hair and kissed the top of his head- still in shock. Oh how I've missed these little intimate moments that mom's share with their children. And even though our "moment" only lasted a few minutes, it was wonderful! I couldn't wait to go upstairs and tell Chris what had happened. The look on Chris' face when I shared the story with him, priceless. He knows that moments like that are few and far between and he knew regardless of what else was in store for my mother's day, it was already complete.

I'd been given the greatest gift. It wasn't store bought, it wasn't a trip to somewhere special, it wasn't dinner out...it was a few minutes of pure bliss from the innocence of a child. A few minutes that I will treasure always because Matthew took the time to share his love with me.


And for those of you who are curious, yes, I did get a little package. Matthew picked me out a charm for my necklace. It's a beautiful heart that says MOM on the inside. According to Chris, Matthew picked this out all by himself because he knew I would just love it. I'm truly blessed, aren't I?

Do they really have to grow up?

I can remember that cold Monday in January when I woke up early and headed into the hospital to be enduced. I can remember everything about that day. I remember everyone who was there with me. I remember the contractions. I remember the sounds. I remember the look in my parents eyes when they met their grandson for the first time. Most importantly, I remember the feeling that washed over me when I held Matthew for the first time. Becoming a mother always scared me but in that instant, I "felt" like a mom. I felt the importance of my role in his life.

I look back over the years as Matthew has grown and there are moments that I miss. I miss when I would walk into a room and his eyes would light up. I miss being able to buy the "cute" outfits at the store and everyone ooing and ahhing over how adorable he was. I miss how no boo-boo was healed until Mommy kissed it.

But replaced with those moments are new memories and new beginnings. My favorite Matthew isn't a little boy anymore, he's growing up and is becoming a young man. I'm excited to see all these changes but at the same time, my heart hurts. I miss the young toddler who would crawl up on the couch and cuddle under the security blanket with me.

The fact that Matthew is growing up was shockingly evident this morning. It breaks my heart but the time has come that Matthew has been told the truth about the tooth fairy. Last night, Matthew lost yet another tooth and of course, set it out for the tooth fairy. To his surprise this morning, the tooth was still there. You could just see the questioning in his eyes. In our defense, we should have had a conversation with him before bedtime but Chris and I didn't really think about it until after the fact. Truth of the matter is, the kids Matthew plays with all know that the tooth fairy, the easter bunny and santa are all make believe. Matthew, being a true kid at heart, still believes but has started questioning. Chris and I would much rather him hear the truth from us rather than friends. So first thing this morning, Chris went up to have his man-to-man talk with Matthew. I myself, was a chicken and stayed downstairs. I just couldn't bring myself to look the little guy in the eyes and know that part of his childhood was being shattered.

After what seemed like an eternity, Chris came downstairs and told me, "It's done". And with that, my heart sank.

Several moments later, Matthew appeared. He was quiet, and for those of you who know Matthew, he's never that quiet. I stepped up to my mom duties and gave him a hug and told him that my mom and dad did the same thing for me until I grew up and that he would do the same for his kids when it was time. And with that, the conversation was over and off he went to gather his thoughts on the subject.

It breaks my heart that he's growing up. But the fact that he handled this experience as well as he did, makes me see that he's growing into a wonderful young man. And that, well, that reminds me that there are still so many wonderful moments to be shared. Moments that only a mom would treasure. Gone are the days where his hand fits into mine but here are the days where a hug here and there means so much more. More because they aren't always asked for but they are always given...because I'm the mom.