I mentioned last week that I was going to start sharing some of the hard parts of my story.  It seems as though this decision has opened me up to some of those old wounds, and now they seem as fresh as the day they were created.  Maybe this is good.  Maybe it will make the writing better.  More vivid.

So while I was aware that writing about some of these things would be difficult, I didn’t realize the toll it was going to take on me emotionally, to be quite honest.  Also, had I known, I might have kept putting it off.  So needless to say I had a couple rough days last week.  It seemed like everything set me off.  Every emotional sensor in my body seemed to go off all the time.

Good times.

I was going to just write a whole bunch of posts and just post them one after another, but since things are going the way they are, I think even though I may go ahead and write them all now, I’m only going to post them once a week.  On Monday.  That way we only have to deal with it once a week.  And while it may seem like it’s drawing the whole process out longer, I think it will be better for me, and for the blog.  Because, really, who wants to read a heavy story every time they come to this blog.  I, for one, do not.

Starting next week we’ll have start the process.  And since today is a holiday, I didn’t really want to start my day off with kind of a bummer post.  I’m too busy doing my spring cleaning.

And, yes.  I’m well aware that it’s September.

Happy Labor Day everyone!!!

Yesterday my parents celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary.  I think that’s pretty darn cool.  A while back my brothers and sister and I decided that we were going to throw my parents a surprise anniversary party.  At their house in the building they have that they rent out.

Somehow we pulled it off without them knowing.  I have no idea how.

It was fun going through old pictures to set out for centerpieces, looking for old pictures of my parents and trying to organize it all without somehow spilling the beans.  But it was worth it all.  I think my brother had to tell my parents that we were having some friends over for them to celebrate, but I don’t think that they were expecting close to 100 people just wanting to celebrate with them and for them.

It’s nice to be surrounded by people who love you.

Seriously, folks, I can’t stress this enough.  Love on each other.  Get to know each other.  Be there for each other.

Because maybe 35 years down the road there will be a party waiting for you.

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!  Love you!!!

So I’m sick.  I’ve got a horrible cold, which involves a lot of loud mouth breathing.  It’s kind of disgusting.  I started writing a cold-medicine induced post for today, and it didn’t turn out so well.  I’m giving up for now. So here’s what I want from you:

If you write a blog, share with me your favorite post.  Post it in a link in the comments.   Make sure you share yours and make sure you read the others that everyone else has posted.

If you don’t have a blog, share withe me the favorite thing you’ve read in the last week or so.  Thanks for all your help.  Hopefully by Wednesday I’ll be feeling well enough to have a coherent post!

This is a post by my friend, Judy.  She blogs about subjects near and dear to my heart, like compromising or selling out by some of the food we eat and choices we make, here.  So naturally it fit that she write a post for us here at The Esau Project.  I hope you enjoy her thoughts! Don’t forget to go check out her blog!!

They are all gone.

We had four blooming, regally rising broccoli plants growing in our garden. I confess that I didn’t know exactly where the official broccoli end would come from, but I was ready for it. I would walk by the plants as often as I could in child-like anticipation. Early on, I began noticing worms gnawing on the leaves. I would pick them off and kill them, but it seemed that the more I squished, the more would return.

A few days ago, I walked by the broccoli stalks and was horrified. Worms covered the plants and they had eaten every leaf. I felt sick. I had watched these plants grow, yet I had watched their slow decent and it was entirely my fault. I hadn’t taken care of what was right in front of me.

In John 10:10, Jesus says that “The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy…” Too often, I think that the Thief of our hearts comes only in one fell swoop, taking all that I hold dear. But after observing my halfway battle with the broccoli worms, I realize that it’s in little ways. I can think of numerous times that I have walked by the broccoli , seen one or two vandals, and walked away because I didn’t feel like dealing with it that day. I tend to respond the same way in my day-to-day life. I keep feelings inside. I will swallow a lie or two, because the truth seems too hard to take. I see an opportunity that I can take with my children, and then remember that I “need” to check my Facebook. It’s lame and extremely dangerous. Moments are stolen everyday because we don’t see them for what they are. . . until it’s too late.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Every moment is the right moment to make a difference, to make a change, to throw out certain beliefs that keep you from your freedom in Christ. In my opinion, it is very rare for things to be “too late.” That is the blessedness and joy of our life in Christ. Yes, there may have been time wasted, but it doesn’t mean that it must stay that way. Things can change, by the love of Christ. By the power of the spirit, we can learn to live in whole new ways. We can discover an amazing love springing from the Father that created us. And, By being open with those in our community, we could find ourselves surrounded with compassionate and understanding people who are traveling on the same pathways.

The only way that things will never change is if you never take a step in a different direction. It is not convenient or easy and it will take time to live in a new way but as Jesus finished His sentence, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

And, next year, I will be the one eating broccoli.