Attention Mike M and Tamara J:

I'm not much of a cell phone user.

I mean, I have one, but it's not on very often. If you want to get a hold of me, dialing my cell number isn't likely to help you achieve your goal. You can leave a message, but I probably won't notice it until next Thursday or the following Sunday.

Additionally, my phone is an example of embarrassingly archaic technology. It's not a flip phone. It has no internet capabilities, nor a snazzy text keyboard. It doesn't even have a camera. *gasp*

It is utilitarian.

And that is all.

See?


(I heard your embarrassed, ill-concealed titter just now, but I forgive you.)

A number of times, Tobias has loudly decried it as a sham of coolness. (Oh, well. For decades, I've been anti-cool. I'm the gal who used to cut the Guess labels off of her stylish overalls back in high school, remember?)

Anyway, when I do notice that I have a message, I will listen to it.

Yesterday I had two messages. (I don't think that's ever happened before.)

One was for Mike M. (Full last name withheld to protect his identity.)

Mike, if you are reading this, you owe a lot of people a lot of money and they want it NOW. They are threatening legal action. Apparently, you had my cell phone number before I did...

...and didn't pay your phone bill.

Would you mind calling all these businesses you bilked and informing them about your change of phone number?

(Yeah...didn't think so.)

The second message was for Tamara J. Amazingly, her troubles are even worse than those of Mike M. Whoever was threatening legal action against her in the past is now making good on their threats.

Tamara, apparently you are now a defendant in a court case. (They gave the case number, but I declined to write it down.) The man said you had 48 hours to contact him on your own accord or a warrant would be issued for your arrest. He seemed to know where you work. Too bad he doesn't know your real phone number...

Is It Enough?

The other night I was feeling uneasy about how I'm living my life.

I've been here for 36 years now and although I have a good family life and a right relationship with God (which are the two most important things to me), I haven't really accomplished much else.

I haven't distinguished myself.

I'm just me.

Now this is not some feeble attempt on my part to get the comment section full of nice encouraging sentiments from you, my friends. I'm just being honest that I sometimes wonder if I'm doing everything that I should be doing. Am I being a good steward of all that God has granted me?

For example, am I, as a mom, investing in my kids as I should? Am I helping them develop their God given talents to honor Him? Am I teaching them the value of hard work? (I think I'm doing pretty poorly on that one.) Am I giving them the tools they need to lead a successful life? What risks should I let them take and what things should I protect them from?

Tobias will legally be an adult in less than three years and Delaney isn't far behind. I have so little time left being their full-time mom. Soon they will be responsible for themselves. Have I done what I should to prepare them for that?

Anyway, Jeff and I prayed about this a few nights ago, asking God for wisdom and guidance. In the morning, I sat down for my morning time of prayer and study and was greatly encouraged by the following verses:

"I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not one of those who treats the grace of God as meaningless." Galatians 2:20b-21a

This reassured me because I know that while I live this earthly life I can and should trust in Christ because He loves me so perfectly and powerfully. Also, I know that I do greatly value His grace.

While I'm trusting in Him and valuing His grace then I can't help but live the way I ought to. No, my life won't be perfect and yes, I will sin and botch situations, but if I am trusting in Him and valuing His grace then that's pretty much all that He wants from me.

He'll bring things together in His time and through His ways.

Thank God I don't have to be my own god. :)