Cattle Ranch Wisdom

This past week President Cook (Warner Pacific College) shared many inspiring words during all the different events celebrating her inauguration. During chapel last week she shared about her wise & loving Dad with the students. Her Dad is a cattle rancher in Enterprise, Oregon. She told us how he would often say,

"The trouble with living sacrifices is their tendency to get off the the alter!"

That made me laugh, I mean isn't that the truth!?! Out of all the many important things President Cook shared in the past week, this is the one that God used to grab my attention. Zing! I was convicted, just like that!

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.
Romans 12:1-3

Just right!

I was reading Proverbs 30:7+ this morning and I was struck by the part that says,

"...Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God."

Not too much, not too little...just right! I love it! It can be the same way with timing too, have you noticed? God's timing and our timing seldom seems to match up. Never too soon, never too late...just right!

We are ever so dependant on Him!

Signs of Fall

Ah,signs of the fall season...shorter days, school supplies, and for the first time EVER in this Proehl family: Football!

Yep, T.Michael once again hurls us into something completely new, all-consuming and wonderful! My friend Cynthia told me she heard on the radio when Dr. Laura told someone strongly that, "No sane parent would ever allow their child to play in a contact sport!"

Well, I always suspected it, and this just confirms it...Dave & I are not sane. (Kind of lets the pressure off, you know?:-)

Little Treasures

Night Stands I call them. Little holders of light and treasures.

A long time ago Grandma Proehl shared with me about taking the time to look around at our lives and write about it -- take a snapshot in time. She was so great at it, sometimes she would write a letter and describe her day, her surroundings, what was going on at that moment. In that same spirit of remembering, I offer these fun little snapshots of the things that found a "place of honor" in the kids' rooms.

T.Micheal's treasures include the super-cool pinewood derby car he and Dad made in the cub scouts last year -- complete with storm trooper driver! Also included are books, a pencil/tracing paper picture (given by a girl), sports box Kleenex, a battery-less flashlight, a lego star ship and lego person and some magnetic shapes that he loves to make into different things.

McKenzie's treasures include silly string, a 3-D light-up Angel, several stuffed animals, sequins, jewelry, a red flashlight, a letter from Grandma Domon, several folded up school papers (recently pulled from pockets), little painted rocks and the Nutshell Library collection by Maurice Sendak.

One Tough Sandwich

I've been in a bit of a funk lately. You may have seen it. I don't talk about it much because it's hard to explain, and (sigh) I'm afraid there's really nothing you can do, I just have to keep moving forward. It's about a sandwich. No, not a real sandwich. More of a symbolic one.

You see, I had this awesome vacation last week. Got to travel, see friends, walk in the sun, visit Mickey Mouse -- it was great! Truly the kids, Dave and I had a great time together. (See Dave's Facebook for photos)

So why the funk? Well, on both sides of that great week of vacation, I mean literally two days before and two days after, I found out someone in my life died. It's not like they were super-close to me, but they were both young (one age 22, one age 8yrs)and beautiful, and I feel so sad for both families. In both cases I have family members to comfort and encourage. That makes for one tough sandwich.

Looking on the bright side, I'm encouraged too. Things like this make you look life in the face, and think about what you're doing. Is this really how I want to be spending my time? I'm thankful for my family, my health, and the opportunities God has brought my way.

this old house

Okay, clearly our house is doing better than this one! But my goodness, what a season! Lately we've been hit with a "one-two" punch of repairs -- I know it's part of life but, "Come on!" (If you've ever watched A.D., you'll know the tone used:-)

Let's see...the roof, the dryer, the washer, the TV, the clutch in Dave's care, the bathroom fan, the electrical wiring...you get the idea!

Dave had a good insight on all this though, he said it's because this is the longest we've ever lived in one place. Now that idea I like, it's kind of like saying we're experiencing some stability! Dave got to live in his childhood home until college, and I always thought that was so lucky! I wonder if his parents ever felt this way?!

Momma Bear

My great Friend-of-Faith MP has shown me by example what a God-fearing woman does when life throws you a curve! You may remember me mention her in a previous blog or two, but I always referred to her as one of my "KB Friends."

Like so many of us these days, she has been job-hunting lately and it has been a real eye-opener for me, seeing how she has tackled this whole burden from beginning to...job.

First, a long time before she needed a new job, she asked for prayer for wisdom about it. Then she sought wise counsel -- her husband, parents, Mother-in-law, KB Friends (including me!) She did the hard work,you know--following up on leads, applying, interviewing...then before long she was offered two really good jobs!

How does one decide between good and good? They were both really great opportunities, one even included some "status" in the community. But how to decide?

Now, Jen, you might ask, where does the whole "Momma Bear" blog title come into play? Good question! The important detail I haven't mentioned yet is that my friend has two amazing middle-school age boys at home, and what I have really learned from her through this whole thing is how to make big decisions in light of putting family first.

In the end it wasn't about which job she wanted most, or about status. In the end it came down to what the boys needed (in having a parent available to them in the afternoons, even though they're "old enough" to be on their own) and which job would keep her closer to home. Things like that. I mean this lady was like a Momma Bear protecting her cubs -- and nothing, I mean nothing was going to get in the way of her protecting those boys.

And this I respect and admire very much.

PS. Alyssa, thanks for the great advice you left on my last post! You Rock Chica!

wisdom

James 1:5 says “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives gorgeously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” I was reading in the Prayer Devotional Bible about wisdom and one of their little tutorials said wisdom “…is not so much knowing what to do, as how to be. “ So today I’m asking God for wisdom for a particular situation. There is something that has me stumped, and I need to know how to be with it. Hmmm….things to ponder

Livin' the high life!

Hey, long time no blog...and I miss you! But that's because I'm lovin' my new job and enjoying this season with the kids. T.Michael's done with baseball tryouts, and eagerly waits for the practices to begin! McKenzie is learning some fun choreography to go with the songs from some of the old classic musicals in her NW Children's Theater class -- and when you add all of that together it equals time with people and less time with computers, for now anyway. I call it "Livin' the high life!"

For fun I've included a photo of the kids with my niece Jessica at her Washougal Equestrian Team event. Jessica we're so proud of you!

Slumdog Millionaire

This "Apathy" picture is from www.ministrylive.org

From the moment I heard about the movie Slumdog Millionaire I knew I was going to see it. After consistently praying for people in India the last several years, my heart is solidly theirs -- funny how God does that in us.

After almost throwing up and walking out several times, I decided to stay --and came out of that theater a different person. Devastated, motivated, changed forever.

People have already asked if I can "recommend" this movie to them...I don't know about that. All I know is that children should absolutely NOT be allowed near this movie -- that much I can strongly recommend.

I got the job!

Yes! Thank you for all your prayers and references! I start tomorrow -- I'll keep you "posted!" ...get it? "posted" (lol)

Returning to the workforce

...so tomorrow I get to interview for a job. Wow, it has been such a long time! I've been working at home for so long -- will I remember how to talk to adults?!

Proehl's enjoy some snow!

full house

This is not a joke, I promise! The other day I was upstairs by the youth room at church. I was already talking to my friends Jill V. and Jen B. and Jill S., when my other friend named Jill B. walked up to join us. Just then someone walked by and said, "Look! It's three Jill's and two Jen's -- a full house!"

Don't make me get the claw!

So last week I had surgery, and Dave did a great job of taking care of me and the kids. Talk about super Dad! I'm thankful to report that I'm back at home and starting to look and feel a lot better. In fact,

recuperating from surgery has taken on a whole new twist since the Hurley's loaned me "the claw!" Now instead of staring and weeping at the phone or remote I just dropped on the floor I can simply grab it -- oh the power of being self-sufficient again! My favorite claw moment was when Dave was sitting by me, peacefully watching TV, when he was suddenly startled by THE CLAW! Dun dun dun!

cool church radio

Okay, so I know Dave doesn't have red hair! But other than that I can't get over the likeness of this picture and my handsome fella as he records radio with his buddies!

It's called Cool Church Radio -- it's on KPAM AM 860, 7am on Sundays. It's so...fun! Really! Dave makes me laugh anyway, but some of the things he says on this program! "Oh my!"

But seriously friends, in the same way you always come to me shaking your head as if to say, "Can't you control what Dave says?" I reply to you, same as always,

"Why do y'all keep giving him the mic?!?"

All Grace

With great fondness I remember the "always full" baby bottles that my little sisters and I played with, faithfully feeding those baby dolls. Do you remember those? They would appear to empty when you tilted them, then magically refill when you set them upright again. For a five-year old it was truly amazing!

In this great book I'm reading (Kitchen Table Counseling, by Muriel L. Cook & Shelly Cook Volkhardt)they use this type of "magic bottle" in a great illustration on grace.

...And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

After reading 2 Corinthians 9:8 the authors use a mental picture:

"Think of God's grace as if it were in a bottle. Every time something happens and you think I can't take this, I want you to take that bottle of God's grace and pour it out on that situation saying, 'I have enough grace for this.' But when you stand the bottle back up, picture it full. God has promised that His grace would be abundant, more than enough. It will take time to break the cycle of responding the way you have, but if you face it with the truth of the "All All" verse, you will put into practice a godly perspective on your circumstances."

For a forty-three year old it is truly amazing!

Beautiful Autumn Colors

So, for fun, let's list those things that turn red in the fall:

the apples...

the leaves...

my HAIR?!

(Yikes! I forgot that when you cover over blond highlights with brown color it turns and interesting shade of ... autumn red let's call it.)

What a Handsome Guy!

Here's my handsome fella at a wedding earlier this fall!

These Are Generous Times!

In the midst of this season of "Economic Hardship" that everyone talks about we got to witness a piece of refreshing news.

We went out to eat at Sayler's Old Country Kitchen (we finally got around to using the gift certificates that T.Michael won for us in the "Abundant Life Cruise In" last summer!) -- and we thought that was lucky enough. But then when we got to the restaurant, we noticed a news crew & asked what was going on.

It turns out that earlier that day a young waitress was serving a family that comes in fairly regularly (so they've gotten to know each other) and these generous people offered to pay her college tuition! Wow!

These are generous times!