:. like a child .:

"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me."

~ 1 Corinthians 13:11

When I was a child:

• I thought trees created the wind with their swaying. I still really like this theory; it's very lovely to think of trees that way. (I'm not completely convinced scientists and/or meteorologists have it right.)



• I thought people in "the olden days" lived in a black and white world, since all photographic evidence pointed to that. I always felt very sorry for people who lived before "color".



• I was very confused about "which side of the family" I was on: my mom's side, or my dad's. I heard my mom use that expression once, and I was pretty worried I wouldn't be on my mom's side. (sorry, dad.)



• I thought grown-ups knew everything.



• I thought the world was a safe and happy place.



• I always hoped if I was really, really good, an angel would appear to me and tell me some big news. (Yes, just like Mary . . . only not that news.)

Now that I've 'put away childish things', I wonder how silly my thinking still looks to the One "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge"?

Yes, I'm just smart enough to know I still have a lot to learn.

:. lavish love .:

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given."

~ Isaiah 9:2,6

"He will save his people from their sins."

~ Matthew 1:21

May you receive with joy the Gift the Father has given.

O come let us adore Him!

*painting: "Nativity" by Brian Kershisnik

:. a word from ben stein* .:

"My confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a crèche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK.

Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says . Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards.

Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein"

*this email has been forwarded many times over the past several years. Right on, Mr. Stein.

:. i'm just mad about saffron .:

So the other day I was going to make a yummy dinner using basmati rice. The recipe called for a smidgen of saffron, of which I had none. Normally I substitute like mad when a recipe calls for an ingredient I don't have, but this time I decided saffron sounded too lovely to use a stand-in.

(Say it: 'saffron'. Something that melodic is bound to make a tasty dish.)

Not so fast!
Saffron happens to run $17.75 for a small jar at my local grocers. That's a fortune to someone used to paying 79 cents for all their spice needs.

Turns out, saffron is the world's most expensive spice, and with good reason! And I quote:

"Saffron is harvested from the fall-flowering plant Crocus sativus. Each purple crocus flower produces three stigmas, which are hand-picked from the blossom, dried, and permitted to ferment slightly to produce saffron. It is estimated that it takes some 14,000 stigmas to produce only one ounce of saffron threads. The labor-intensive process makes the cost of these bright red threads soar upwards of $50 per quarter-ounce."

So no, I didn't buy saffron.

I used cinnamon instead.

And yes, it was quite tasty.

:. gentlemen rules .:

For quite some time now, etiquette-minded Katie has been taking it upon herself to teach our little guys all the "Gentlemen Rules". Look out, ladies! Not only will the Brothers Hulling bowl you over with their dashing good looks, but their impeccable manners will make you positively swoon!
The best part? Now that they understand some of the basic rules, they are very adept at adding their own to the list. They are always popping out with a new Gentlemen Rule.

Here's just a sampling (some originated with Katie, others are pure Gavin or Liam):

• Gentlemen always say 'please' and 'thank you'.
• Gentlemen always say 'excuse me' when they toot.
• Gentlemen never push their brothers.
• Gentlemen always cuddle their grandma.
• Gentlemen always tell mommy if they have to go potty.
• Gentlemen never touch their poopy bottom.
• Gentlemen don't whine.
• Gentlemen always give their mommy kisses.
• Gentlemen never play with their Elmo underwear.
• Gentlemen always buy flowers for ladies they love.
• Gentlemen can cry.

And so it goes. There are many, many more Gentleman Rules, of course. And the older they get, some rules won't apply, and new rules will be added.

There's a lot to learn in life, isn't there?

:. give thanks .:

"Be joyful always; pray continually;

give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

~ 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 ~

Thank You, God, for wrapping your arms around us when we heard the word 'Parkinsons'.

Thank You for comforting us through the initial shock, when we could hardly breathe.

Thank You for leading us to caring people who can help us through the fog of dealing with a debilitating disease.

Thank You that right now . . . for this day . . . the symptoms are manageable.

Thank You, God, for holding Chris' and Katie's hearts in your hand when they miscarried.

Thank You for growing and softening them through the pain, and knitting them closer together because of it.

Thank You that You have cushioned the blow with time, and have given them a new miracle in which to rejoice.

Thank You that Your plan and purposes are perfect.

Thank You, God, for giving Josh and Emily the heart and the vision to recover Gavin.

Thank You that you have a wonderful plan for Gavin's life, a plan that includes him having been autistic once upon a time.

Thank You for all the caring people You have brought alongside of them, people who lovingly give of their time to work one-on-one with our Gav.

Thank You for ALL those fabulous Hulling boys . . . such a joy in every way.

Thank You, God, for seeing my family through sickness and health, through good times and lean.

Thank You for your provision and grace, and your new-morning mercy.

In everything, we give thanks.

:. spitting and touching and healing .:

In Mark 8, starting at v. 22, there's a very interesting story about a blind man. It says that friends brought the man to Jesus and "begged Him to touch him."
So what does Jesus do? He takes him by the hand and leads him outside the village (touching going on, but no healing . . . and why do they need to go on a walk first????)

Naturally, the next thing Jesus does is SPIT on his eyes (really, Jesus?) and put His hands on him . . . (touching, touching).
And, voila! The man's sight is . . . only partially restored. Oh, how disappointing!

Jesus puts His hands on the guy's eyes again (more touching) . . . and this time, this time, he can see.
Awesome, Jesus!! Restoring sight to the blind!!


Here's the kicker: two chapters later, He heals another blind guy with one word.

I've been thinking about this for two days. . . .wondering why.
Why does God sometimes choose to take us on an arduous path in order to work in our lives, when other times it's as simple as a word spoken to us?
Why do we sometimes (almost) feel like God is spitting on us, instead of helping us?
Why are we blind in the first place?

Of course, I have no answer as to why. Jesus knows us inside and out; He knows exactly what we need (and don't need). Perhaps He knows that sometimes we need to be taken on a longer road to give our hearts time to catch up. Perhaps He heals differently to remind His followers that He is GOD, and we dare not try to put Him in our small boxes.
But one thing I am sure of is that when we ask for His help, Jesus will take hold of our hand.

The final word on the blind man? When at last his eyes were opened, we are told "he saw everything clearly."

That is what Jesus desires for each of us.

:. 'X' .:

· So, our furnace decided today to be like the church at Laodicea: 'neither hot nor cold'. Well, actually, it's cold . . . but I definitely want to spew something out of my mouth.
Aaah, life. At least it's a mild day.

· Overheard at Hobby Lobby this morning:
"I heard there's going to be a shortage of waffles. It's going to be hard to find Eggos for the next six months or so."
(seriously.)

· Speaking of Hobby Lobby, they have the WORST, tightest, most horrible parking lot in the land.
Period.

· On my way there, though, I did that thing where you pull up to a 4-way stop at the EXACT moment as someone else. Technically, the car to the right has the right-of-way, but this being Iowa (and no one knowing that rule), you BOTH wave the other person on . . . also at the EXACT same moment. So you both start to accelerate . . . at the EXACT same moment. So you both hit the brakes and wave the other person on AGAIN . . . at the EXACT same moment.
What a comedy!
I call that the Four-Way Samba.

· And finally . . .
Last night I suddenly remembered that when I was 10 years old, I decided to write a sci-fi screenplay. (you heard me.) It was going to be good and scary, let me tell you! Something about creatures taking over the world . . . and they were only known as 'X'.
OOOOOO, CREEPY!!!

Looks like I was about 45 years early . . . and 2 letters off.

:. oh, lambie! .:

Well, he did it again. Lambie went AWOL the other day. For a few hours, he was nowhere to be found! You would think Liam would be very upset, but that wasn't the case. Seems he has a new way of looking at the idea of LostLambie. Not long ago he told mommy, "If NewLambie gets lost, that's okay! Grandma will buy me another one!"

Now you have to understand, I waited a long time to replace OldLambie. A very good learning experience, I thought to myself. (That, and I kept thinking he'd turn up.)

So it's not as if I rushed out the minute Lambie disappeared and found another. But I guess the lesson Liam learned was: Grandma Is Someone I Can Always Depend On.

Hhhhmmm . . . that doesn't sound so bad when I put it like that!

For the record, NewLambie was finally discovered hiding in a shoebox in the coat closet.

He was duly laundered and returned to his rightful owner just in time for bed.

* Wanted Poster courtesy of Uncle Dave. I'm keeping it close at hand . . . I have a feeling it won't be the last time we need it!

:. miscellany .:

[There is NO WAY to top this post . . . OR this post so I'm not even going to try. But you know how it is: ideas just keep swirling around your brain, screaming for expression. So what follows are unimportant, unrelated thoughts that simply don't warrant an entire post of their own. And it gives Katie something to read at work.]

**********

I read yesterday that they are recalling millions of umbrella strollers because children have been getting their fingertips cut off. Yes, it seems when the stroller is being unfolded, if kids put their fingers in the locking mechanism, there is a danger of them losing a fingertip.

Well, duh! Hey kids! Keep your hands to yourself till mummy gets the stroller open!

**********
Guilty Pleasures:

Dove Chocolates

TMZ

mmmm . . . . how 'bout eating Dove Chocolates while watching TMZ???

**********

Pretty excited for a new little munchkin to join the fam. (I think Glinda was the last person to use those exact words.) Chris and Kate, I hope you enjoy to the max this most wonderful time in your life. Kids are the BEST!!! Praying for the next six months to be an amazing time of preparation and FUN!!! EEEEEEEEE!!

**********

An old friend whom I hadn't seen in years showed up at my doorstep unexpectedly yesterday. She only had a half hour to spare, and we hugged/talked non-stop/hugged for 30 minutes straight.

How lovely to pick up as if we had spoken yesterday.

How lovely that she's back in my life.

**********

I wonder why we allow people to slip so easily in and out of our lives? How is it that another human being can so easily be taken for granted? When will I learn how precious are the people God has placed in close proximity to my heart?

**********

As we were raking last weekend, Benny claimed to remember me once saying that I LOVED to rake leaves.

26 leaf bags later, I begged to differ.

**********

Okay, I admit it: we've been watching the new TV series 'V'. It's not bad, if you like sci-fi. Interesting how the 'visitors' have taken on human form.

[****SPOILER ALERT! They're actually lizard-like creatures, up to no good! END SPOILER ALERT!***]

They are all beautiful humans; not a plug-ugly among them. Their thought is they would be more easily trusted and accepted if they were nice to look at.

Pssssh, yeah, like we'd fall for THAT!

**********

Lately I've been trying hard to 'see' the soul of a person, not just the shell that houses that soul. I really would love to see with God's eyes rather than man's.

Wonder how many 'lizards' are lurking under a beautiful exterior?

And vice-versa, of course.

:. nine out of ten .:

I love reading in the gospels about all the miracles Jesus performed: the blind see, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life. I find myself wondering what happened to these people down the road. Did they follow Jesus all of their days, or did the miraculous become something they took for granted?

What became of blind Bartimaeus, whom Jesus healed with a single word? Mark tells us he 'received his sight and followed Jesus along the road'. How far? For how long? Where was he when Jesus was crucified? What about ten years later? Was he still following Jesus?

What about the demon-possessed guy who spent his days wailing, naked, in the cemetery? Jesus freed the man from his torment, and the next thing you know he was 'dressed and in his right mind'. He begged Jesus to let him go with Him, but Jesus wanted him rather to go tell his family how much the Lord had done for him. The last we hear of that guy, he was going from city to city, amazing people with his story. Did he spend the rest of his life telling others what the Savior had done for him? Did he ever forget what he had once been?

What about the little girl who had died, but Jesus took her by the hand and gave her life back to her with the lovely words, "Talitha koum"? [Aramaic for 'Little girl, arise'.] She was twelve when that happened; was she living in devotion and service to the One True God when she was 24, or 60, or once again on her deathbed? What about her parents? Did they spend their days telling everyone who would listen what Jesus had done for them?

It's easy to think, 'oh, if they experienced that firsthand, then surely they went on to follow Jesus the rest of their lives'.

But wait. How many times has Jesus touched you? healed you? provided for you? given you life? helped you see? helped you walk? given you strength? Do you spend every day of your life in gratitude to God? Or has the miraculous become common-place? Has the hand of God in your life become something you take for granted?

There's another story that always gets me. Ten lepers came to Jesus, begging for mercy. He told them to go show themselves to the priests, "and as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him."

Nine out of ten didn't bother.

Which am I?

:. ansel liam .:

Here's what happens when you hand a 2-year old a camera:

He snapped 3 dozen pictures in the space of about 5 minutes, most of them of Lambie.

Nice job, photog!

:. pet peeves .:

• I hate when I make a detailed shopping list . . . and then leave it on my kitchen counter.

• I hate when people have loud cell phone conversations in public places.

• I hate it even more when the person having the loud conversation is a woman, striding through a store/mall/whathaveyou wearing high heels: YAK YAK CLACK CLACK YAK CLACK YAK CLACK CLACK YAK.

• I hate it when the last person in a check-out line rushes over when a new clerk announces she can help whoever is next. I don't think this is what Jesus had in mind when He said, 'the last shall be first'.

• I don't mind at all when people have strong opinions. I just hate it when they think I am somehow a lesser human being if my opinions don't happen to coincide with theirs.

• I hate it when people think that stay-at-home moms are vapid, brainless women who could never make it in the 'real' world.

• I hate it when people think that working moms don't love their kids quite as much as stay-at-home moms.

• I hate when my favorite TV shows are preempted by a presidential speech or Cyclone basketball.

• I hate when someone offers advice when I haven't asked for it. Unasked for advice is really just veiled criticism.

• I hate when I fall into any of the above categories. (although for the record, I've never preempted a television show in my life.)

:. 10 • 20 • 2007 .:

There were so many wonderful things about that day:

The way that God Himself brought two people together.

The assemblage of family, and friends from different circles, all gathered into one spot as witnesses.

Those beautiful little flower girls, enjoying their role to the max . . . twirling and smiling.

The dapper little ring bearer, carrying the ring pillow AND his mickey spoon.

The drop-dead gorgeous bride, shining like the sun.

The drop-dead handsome groom, with tears in his eyes as he beheld his bride.

That song. Oh, that song.

The F-16 fly-over.

The solemnity . . . the fun . . . the beauty.

And then there was the weather.
It was one of the wettest Octobers on record. The ten days prior to the 20th were rainy and cold. The sun? Nowhere in sight.
And then came the forecast. This is what it looked like on Wednesday:

And the forecast only improved as the week went on. As a matter of fact, it got up to around 80 degrees Saturday. EIGHTY degrees.

God cracks me up.I'm quite certain He made sure it was rainy, stormy, wet, damp, cloudy, dark, etc, JUST SO He could show His sovereignty and power over creation. JUST SO He could reveal to Chris and Kate (and anyone else watching) just how much He loves them as He shined down on their day. JUST SO He would be glorified.

Yes, it was a grand day, indeed.

[reprinted from November 3, 2007]

Happy, happy anniversary, Chris and Katie!

:. life rules .:

1. never throw away the instructions to your waffle maker.
2. never judge, because whatever measure you use to judge others will be the one God uses on you. Yikes! Do you really always meet your own standards? (not to mention God's?)
3. always try to think of yourself as "Plank-Eye", and the other guy as "Speck". Then when you think you need to remove the dust mote from someone else's life, you'll realize you have a log that needs some attention. (and let's be honest: sometimes the log in our own eye is more like an entire forest. We might be fooling others, but we can never fool the One who matters.)
4. always be ready to forgive. "If you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins". (these aren't my words, Jesus said that.) Again, yikes!
5. never forget just how much you've been forgiven by God. Really helps with rule number 4.
6. never buy sheets with a thread count of less than 250.
7. life is much nicer with a canary.
8. if you're over the age of 18, please stop using your crappy childhood as an excuse to be a crappy adult. We all have baggage, but it doesn't have to be carry-on. Check it at the door and start living in a way that reflects who you really want to be.
9. never prepare your prize-winning 'manicotti with meat and ricotta filling' for a vegetarian. Trust me, you'll be sorry you did.
10. when inviting dinner guests, always ask beforehand if they're vegetarian.
11. 'whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.' (I love that; it's from Ecclesiastics. Such a great life rule.)
12. always choose your words carefully. (see post below.) And then just shut your mouth, if that is the better option.
13. as much as you are able, drive a car with heated seats.
14. as much as possible, snuggle a child in your lap.
15. as often as you can, talk face-to-face with a friend.
16. contrary to popular opinion, you should never buy lemonade from a kid with a lemonade stand. The last time I did, the cup was dirty and there was grass floating in it. Yuck. Oh yeah, and they never have the correct change.

:. snarky .:

Our church did something pretty cool last month: we all did a corporate fast for the month of September. The idea was for everyone to give up something (think Lent) in order to hear from God and be unified in our thinking and direction.

People gave up caffeine, web browsing, beer and the like, and after careful thought, I decided to give up sarcasm. (Go ahead and laugh, Josh Johnson!)

You have to understand, sarcasm is my favorite form of humor. I resort to it all the time, and usually it comes out as quite witty, at least in my opinion. (Which is probably the reason Chandler is my favorite 'Friend'.) So giving up a favored form of speech for a month was harder than it might sound.

I was amazed at how often I would open my mouth to say something, then have to immediately shut it again as I realized the words I was about to speak came under the heading of sarcastic.

And as I thought about it throughout the month, I realized more and more just how snarky my humor can be. I've long held the opinion that if you have to say, "Just kidding!" after a comment, then you probably shouldn't have said it in the first place. So even in my sarcasm, I try never to hurt a person's feelings. But, face it, snarky is snarky, no matter how you cut it, and I realized that many things I mean as a joke come out sounding all wrong. [So if I've ever hurt you in some weak attempt at being funny, I ask your forgiveness.]

Here's a bit of wisdom from the book of James*, said much better than I ever could:

A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!

It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.

This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!

And then there's this, from Ephesians:

Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.

With those guidelines, I may never be able to open my mouth again.

*Bible passages are from The Message.

:. it's back .:

Just got the lab results, and my Grave's Disease is rearing its ugly head once again.
DANG.
And why did Robert Graves have to be the first to identify the disease? Why couldn't it have been Robert Twinkle?
I'd love to say I have Twinkle Disease.

dang.

:. things i've learned .:

I've learned some things in my trips around the block. In honor of my natal anniversary, here are a few:

1. you don't have to worry about what people think of you, because they aren't.

2. he who has God, plus many things, has nothing more than he who has God alone. (I wish I had said that, but it was C.S. Lewis.)

3. because I believe the above statement, I know we would all be better off with less 'things'. And more God, of course.

4. now and then I like to contemplate the difference between then and now.

5. sometimes life is hard, but it's never the end of the world. Unless, of course, it's the end of the world.

6. if it were the end of the world, it would be too late to do all those things you've put off doing.

7. we tend to forget that this life is only a drop in the ocean compared to eternity. that's why we worry more about the status of our bank account than the status of our soul.

8. we all take way too many things for granted, including people we love.

9. we have NO IDEA of the depth of God's love for His children.

10. nor do we have ANY IDEA how holy God is, either. (We tend to think He's like us, only bigger. Wrong.)

11. we often confuse the patience of God with acquiescence. Big mistake.

12. life was never meant to be a bed of roses. (We got kicked out of the garden, remember?) It's actually more of a crucible; a place to refine us into the people we were meant to be.

13. it's futile to run from God. He fills heaven and earth . . . where are you going to hide? Better to stop running and submit. You're guaranteed a much happier ending.

14. there is no such thing as greener grass. That is simply an illusion created when we look through eyes of discontent.

15. Dorothy was right, there really is no place like home.

And just for the record: If I were a tree, I'd have 54 rings. I wonder how much girth that is in the arboreal world?

:. proud as can be .:

Department Press Release

Barbara Carlton named "Woman of the Year in Agriculture"

TALLAHASSEE – Think back to the popular 1960s television show "The Big Valley." Ranch matriarch Victoria Barkley, played by legendary actress Miss Barbara Stanwyck, rides her horse in from the range, manages the family ranch, raises successful children and, all the while, conducts herself as a prim, proper and charming lady. If you thought that could only happen in Hollywood, think again.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced that another "Barbara," Mrs. Barbara Carlton, has been selected to receive the "Woman of the Year in Agriculture" award for 2001.
"The name Carlton is legendary in Florida's agricultural history," Bronson said. "Barbara has carried on the proud tradition of her family name, and is certainly one of the hardest-working women in agriculture."

I don't know why I'm just finding out about this now.

:. unbound and unharmed .:

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into a blazing furnace because they refused to bow down and worship an idol. They were given the opportunity to lay aside their belief in the One True God and live; they chose otherwise. They trusted their God to save them, but even more impressive than their faith was their refusal to compromise "even if He does not."

They were tightly bound and thrown into a furnace so hot, the unlucky guards assigned to toss them in perished. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? They walked around in the fire "unbound and unharmed". A fourth man, whom, in the pagan king's words, "looks like a son of the gods", accompanied them on their stroll through the flames.

The king immediately ordered them out of the furnace, and in utter amazement found "the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them."

If you are in the furnace today, don't give up hope. He is with you! He is with you! He is able to see you through the affliction, unbound and unharmed. Trust Him! You will come through the fire drenched with the fragrant aroma of Christ.

:. odds and ends OR just to give katie something to read .:

I realized this morning that our cool weather has taken away my favorite summer past time: complaining about the heat and humidity. Not that I'm complaining about not being able to complain! This summer has been wonderful.

The smell of chicken stewing first thing in the morning is nauseating. HOWEVER. Chicken quesadillas for lunch with my girls is worth it.

A guy walked past my house last night, talking loudly to himself in what sounded like Russian. Not sure if he was using Berlitz . . . or if he is some sort of spy who didn't know the Cold War has ended. (or has it?!)

Here's something you never want to see: a HAZMAT crew at your local Mexican restaurant. (and they weren't having lunch.)

Something else you never want to see: someone's worldly belongings piled on the curb. (Obviously an eviction.) Just saw that the other day.

Oh, and I've decided to get a motorbike and take a little trip. Say, from John O'Groats to the Road of Bones. Anyone want to come along?

:. long-lost lambie .:

What does it feel like to lose your closest friend? Just ask Liam.

Lambie was last seen two weeks ago, in the car headed down to the Farmer's Market. He wasn't allowed to leave the car, but somehow he disappeared, and hasn't been seen since.

Naturally the car was searched front to rear . . . no Lambie.

The house was searched top to bottom . . . no Lambie.

Mommy thinks perhaps brother chucked him into the shrubbery in the backyard. Maybe he'll show up this fall when the landscape is bare.

At any rate, since a guy can't go very long without his Lambie, New Lambie arrived yesterday.
It shouldn't take long for Liam to get him drooly, dirty and gnarly. In other words, JUST RIGHT.

Happy days are here again.

:. a glance in the mirror .:

I had a metaphorical look in the mirror this morning. Not sure I like what I saw.

I was tooling along on the freeway, headed to the western reaches of our fair city. As I checked my speed, so as to keep it at 60(ish), the thought suddenly struck me: I don't drive the speed limit because it's the law, I drive the speed limit because I don't want to get a ticket.

There is a huge difference between the two.

I wonder how many other things I do, not out of love, or obedience, or because it's right, but simply out of fear of the consequences?
I hope my actions flow from a love for God, and a desire to obey Him.
I hope I do things for the right reasons.
It's really hard to know for sure.

I told you I'm not sure I like what I saw.

:. defining moments .:

Dateline did a look back at Woodstock last night. Hard to believe it's been 40 years. (Funny how these 'important' anniversaries sneak up on you.) It was an interesting show. They interviewed a handful of people who were there, complete with actual video and/or stills of them at Woodstock. Each one said basically the same thing: "Woodstock was a defining moment for me."

One guy, a seminary student, decided he did not want to become a priest. Another man decided to 'come out'. Yet another decided to go to Canada to avoid being drafted. Defining moments all.
While I think it's sad that something as trivial as a rock concert should become a defining moment in someone's life, that's not what this post is about.
The show got me thinking about defining moments in my own life; what they were, and how I've changed because of them.
So, here, in chronological order, are my Defining Moments:

1. April 24, 1973 - the day I asked God to take control of my life. (How silly of the clay to think they know more than the Potter.)
2. February 7, 1976 - the day I said 'I do'. (Nothing defines you quite as much as linking your hopes and dreams to another person, till death you do part.)
3. September 4, 1978 - the day my heart decided to go walking around outside my body. (well, Emily didn't actually start walking for another 10 months, but you know what I mean.)
4. March 4, 1981 - the day our family felt complete. (Little did I realize then just how much joy my Katie would bring.)
5. August 2, 1997 - the day Emily said 'I do'. (I hadn't realized how wonderful it would be to have a son.)
6. October 5, 2004 - the day my precious Gavin entered the world. (Grandchildren, the most beautiful of God's inventions.)
7. March 24, 2007 - the day my precious Liam entered the world. (None of us knew what a treat we were in for.)
8. October 20, 2007 - the day Katie said 'I do'. (Another amazing son added to our family. And by this time, I expected no less from God.)
9. July 23, 2009 - the day my precious Tate entered the world. (Oh, my heart overflows!)
10. August 10, 2009 - the day that is before me. (Because, really, every day is important. Every day offers us a chance to define our life, our goals, our purpose.)

:. safe .:

Credit for this stunning photo goes to Julia Hulling.

She totally captured this daddy's love for his little guy.

Thanks, Julie.

:. i could be an ad man .:

Printed on the bag of cotton balls I just picked up at Target:

100% cotton

all natural

Puffy fluffs

: i see God .:

Here is a simple fact: anything good and perfect begins with God.

Is there beauty on this earth? It had its genesis in the Holy One.

Is there truth? He is the Truth.

Love? Yes, God is love.

I see God in every newborn baby.

I see God in the eyes of a mommy tending to her children.

I see God in the love between a husband and wife. Between mother and daughter. Between friends.

I see God in the highest mountain and the tiniest raindrop.
I see God in the birds of the air and the lilies of the field.

The earth is His, and all that is in it.
He is present among the children of men.

Open your eyes.

:. welcome to the world! .:

Thought I'd share a few early pics of Tate. I didn't take many with my dinosaur of a camera; I leave the real photography to the mad skills of Uncle Chris and his professional equipment.
These are pretty sweet, though!


And of course, after all that love, there's nothing like a little snack in front of the tv.

The Hulling Brothers Three . . . . be still my heart.

:. my daddy is a wino (and other gavinisms) .:

No, Josh hasn't started carrying around a bottle of Boone's Farm Apple in a paper bag (not to my knowledge, anyway). This post is about something waaay better than that.

I have a wonderful children's book called Daddies, in which a little boy pretends that he and his daddy are different animals. The illustrations are quite colorful and the prose is a very sing-song rhyme. (It was also translated from Slovenian. Really.)

When Gavin 'reads' the book, my favorite page sounds like this:

"My daddy is a wino,

we wallow in the swamp.

We make the whole world tremble

when we stomp, stomp, stomp!"

It gets me every time.

And then there's this. Yesterday, during Gav's Special Day With Grandma, he climbed up on my bed and said:

"Once upon a time there was one little Me on grandma's big bed!"

And if you know that lately he prefers to be called 'Me' rather than Gavin, you realize that is hilarious, indeed.

The boy is going to be a story-teller.

Anyway, just killing time here, waiting for baby to arrive. He seems to be a laid-back fellow, keeping a leisurely pace. That's okay. Probably exactly what a third child needs to be.

:. my new best friend .:

So I was at the grocery store this morning, and as Georgia was bagging my groceries, she asked if I wanted to drive up for them. I told her I made a vow long ago to always push my groceries out myself. I said it's the only exercise I get.
The lovely Sudanese girl checking me out turned and said, "Really? You look like you work out everyday!"

Naturally, I didn't say anything for a few seconds, because:
A) I didn't think I heard her correctly, and
B) If I had heard correctly, I didn't think she could possibly be talking to me.

I finally laughed and said, "You're too kind."
To which she replied that she was very serious.

We're going out for coffee next week.

:. thought for the day .:

"God is God. If He is God, He is worthy of my worship and my service. I will find rest nowhere but in His will, and that will is infinitely, immeasurably, unspeakably beyond my largest notion of what He is up to."

~ Elisabeth Elliot ~

:. loves .:

I've heard this is good for the soul, so here goes:

My Current Loves

1. I love my little boys, no doubt about it!


2. I love the way Gavin likes to cuddle on my lap.


3. I love it when Gavin sings. He has perfect pitch . . . and a voice like an angel. You should hear him sing worship songs. OH.MY.HEART.


4. I love the way he sings 'Danke Schön' with Aunt Katie.


5. I love it when Liam sings like Bono. Hilarious.


6. I love everything that comes out of Liam's mouth.


7. I love his response when you say the words 'garden monkey' to him.


8. I love the way both boys say "fink" instead of "think". (I know, I know, that's one reason Gav goes to speech therapy twice a week. It's just DANG adorable!)


9. I love that both boys use the expression 'Oh my PEAS!!' So great.


10. I love it that every night when it's time to get jammies on, Liam has to do a few laps around the house NAKED.


11. I love all the moochies and hugs Gavin gives.


12. I LOVE my Special Time With Grandma days. LOVE them.


13. I love that Aunt Katie is teaching the boys the Gentlemen Do's and Don'ts.


14. I love that BROVER is coming any day!!


15. I love that my kids enjoy hanging out with Benny and me.


16. I love that my kids love each other.


17. I love that my kids love their Savior.


18. I love having a husband who walks with God.


19. I love having 33 years of marriage behind us. I think we've made it through all the hard stuff!


20. I love all the beautiful things Benny has made for me with his mad woodworking skills.


21. I love learning new things. Like where the country of Cabinda is located, or which country lays claim to Easter Island. (thanks, shower curtain map of the world!)


22. I love birds. No secret here. If you've ever held one in your hands, you know they are one of the softest creatures on earth. And most of them sing nicely.


23. I love history. I like hearing what has gone on before.


24. I love biography. I like hearing how people became who they are, and how decisions they made in the past took them to a particular future.


25. I love when the Spirit of God lights up your soul with truth.


26. I love that I don't have to be perfect to follow Christ.


27. I love knowing God pours out His grace on anyone who asks.

:. wow .:

What a beautiful day! 77 degrees, in the middle of the day, in the middle of July, in the middle of Iowa. Normally in July, I wouldn't leave the comfort of conditioned air unless absolutely necessary, but it's windows wide open today! So it seemed like a very good day to go for a stroll.

BRILLIANT blue sky, not a cloud in sight. The sun was bright, yes, but a COOOOOL breeze evened everything out.

For the first couple of blocks.

By 38th Street, I was starting to . . . 'glisten'.

I HATE to sweat. HATE.IT. I know some people who love it, but honestly? I get really crabby when I'm sweaty and hot. And no one likes to see that.

And since I'm being honest here, I might as well tell you that before I'd even walked one block, my legs started to hurt. I suppose that means I need to exercise a bit more.

Hmmm . . . . maybe when the thermometer is sitting at 50.

:. crowned .:

I had long been told that being a grandma is the greatest joy in life. I absolutely LOVED raising my girls, so I had no doubts that I would enjoy my grandchildren when the time came. Little did I realize that "enjoy them" would be the understatement of the century.

It's hard to explain, really. We've all heard grandparents say how fun grandkids are . . . and then add, "because you always send them back to their parents". (Implying, I guess, that they're only fun for awhile.)
While it's true that g.parents are usually free of the pressure of raising the g.kids 24/7, the joy they bring goes far beyond the fact that we aren't responsible for all the weighty aspects of their upbringing.

To me, the greatest joy comes from the humbling and awe-inspiring realization that these children are my heritage.

I was blessed with two very wonderful daughters. I am doubly blessed that my girls have grown into godly, amazing women (both of whom have married godly, amazing men. Quadruply blessed??) Knowing that my kids are living in obedience to their Savior is enough to let me die a happy woman.

And then along came the grandchildren.

How overwhelming the knowledge that our diligence in raising our own children has resulted in them raising their children 'in the nurture and admonition of the Lord'.
How exciting to know that our grandchildren will likely serve their generation according to the will of God.
When you're in the middle of raising kids, you don't really stop to think of the impact your parenting will have on future generations. (You're usually more worried about simply having the energy and wisdom to make it through the day.) For me, it really didn't hit me until Gavin was born, the great import of the years spent raising kids.

As usual, God says it best:

"Children's children are a crown to the aged." (Proverbs 17:6)

And while I don't exactly feel 'aged' just yet, I do agree that my grandkids are the icing on the cake of a very blessed life.

I received a forward awhile back, quotes from kids giving their definitions of grandma. One little boy said,

"A grandma is someone who is always waiting at the door for you to come over . . . because she doesn't have anything else to do."

mmmmm . . . . I love that.

[Ed. note: speaking of grandkids, we are currently taking bets on when Hulling Brother #3 will arrive. Winner gets to name him!!]

:. vogue, january 1935 .:

I knew it! Canaries are always in style.

:. independent thinking .:

Here's a little exchange Gavin and I had today:

Gavin: "I like the Yankees."
Me: "You do!?? Daddy likes the Cardinals."
Gavin: "I don't."

End of story.

:. you learn something new every day .:

So, Benny and I found ourselves somewhere in the vicinity of Snookies last night. (You heard me.) We were stopped at a stoplight, and on the sidewalk next to us a woman was walking her pet. After doing a classic double-take, I rolled down my window and asked her what the animal's name was.
"This is Pippin . . . but I call her Pipsqueak." Pipsqueak looked something like this:Yes, Pippin was a horse. A miniature horse. I said, "So, it's okay to keep her in the city?"
To which she replied, "Yes. She's a service animal in-training."
Who knew?
Here's the official text from the Guide Horse Foundation:

The Guide Horse Foundation was founded in 1999 as an experimental program to access the abilities of miniature horses as assistance animals. There is a critical shortage of guide animals for the blind and guide horses are an appropriate assistance animal for thousands of visually impaired people in the USA.

In early experiments, Guide Horses have shown great promise as a mobility option, and people who have tried Guide Horses report that the Guide Horses perform exceptionally well at keeping their person safe. These friendly horses provide an experimental alternative mobility option for blind people. People who have tried Guide Horses report that the horses demonstrate excellent judgment and are not easily distracted by crowds and people.

Guide horses are not for everyone, but there is a strong demand for Guide Horses among blind horse lovers, those who are allergic to dogs, and those who want a guide animal with a longer lifespan.

Cool.

:. scarred .:

I'm not a People magazine-type of person. I don't really care which celebrities are sleeping with whom, or who just went into rehab. And I certainly hadn't planned on posting about Michael Jackson. But a recent headline on Drudge jumped out at me, compelling me to blog.

It seems the people performing the autopsy on Jackson noted that without makeup, there was significant scarring on his face. That doesn't come as any great surprise, given all the plastic surgery. But I was struck by how that statement sums up the human condition.

We are afraid to show the world who we really are, so we carefully construct masks that keep everyone at a safe distance. Many of us have deep hurts, but we cover our scars with makeup; we don't want to appear weak or needy. Or we are simply afraid that we won't "measure up" to some standard or other that we have set.

Wendell Berry speaks of the "bloodied and the bewildered", a good description of many in our world. No one gets through life without some heartache, and where there is suffering, there will be scars. When will we learn to be transparent with our hurts? On the other hand, when will we learn to help those in need rather than judge them? (or worse, turn our backs on them?)

We are told to 'weep with those who weep'. We are told to 'bear one another's burdens'.
Let's be willing to remove the makeup, take off the mask, and be REAL with one another.

:. tenderized .:

Awhile back, my little Katie bought me a meat tenderizer. For years I had used the handle of my heaviest knife to pound out a nice cutlet, so that was a thoughtful little surprise, indeed. My new heavy-duty mallet is a wonder!

I've been thinking lately about trials . . . and about suffering . . . and about all the hurts in this world. I have come to realize that repeated trials pound our hard, selfish hearts into something tender, something malleable.

Anyone with even a smidgen of human kindness will feel badly for someone facing cancer. A tenderized heart will go beyond feeling badly; a tenderized heart will understand the fear, will feel the 'aloneness' of the sufferer.

If you've never experienced the death of a loved one, you can still understand the pain of someone facing that loss. But once you've been there yourself, you never forget how much it hurts to have part of your heart torn away.

It is the dearly-bought difference between sympathy and empathy.

The Bible tells us that "the Father of mercies and God of all comfort" will comfort us in our afflictions. Out of love for His child, yes, but also "so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction."
As we persevere under trials, we begin to look more and more like the One who suffered for us all.

As long as we are on this earth, there will be trials.
It actually gives me comfort just to know there is a purpose for our suffering.

:. beauty .:

"May the beauty of the Lord our God rest upon us."

Psalm 90:17

This verse jumped out at me the other day, and I can't stop thinking about it. What is beauty, anyway? And what does it look like to have the beauty of our GOD covering us?

Obviously, our culture has a twisted view of beauty. How many women are 5'8" and only weigh 102? How many men carry around a six-pack (that doesn't say 'Bud Light')?

We buy rogaine to turn back baldness, slim-fast to fight the battle of the bulge, cosmetics by the gallon, and don't forget the Spanx, ladies!

In other eras, and other cultures, curves have been/are actually 'in'. (Why, oh, why couldn't I have been born when Botticelli was painting?!?!)

So, what does God's 'beauty' look like?

To get an idea of that, first consider what God Himself looks like: holy, perfect, eternal. He is Life and Truth and Love. He is Comforter, Father and Savior.

To be covered in His beauty would be to know peace; to be filled with love; to experience joy. His beauty resting on us would soften our hard hearts; it would turn our eyes away from self; it would enable us to hear the cries of the wounded.

His beauty is everlasting. His beauty isn't subject to the world's shifting standards.

I think of Moses, who spoke to God face-to-face "as a man speaks with his friend". He always came away from those conversations literally glowing.

The beauty of our God resting on us would make us different.

:. return to ordinary .:

Well, mommy and daddy are home, which means Gavin and Liam are where they belong. I know the boys had a good time at grandma's house, and then at Uncle Chris and Aunt Katie's. There is no doubt in my mind that they enjoyed themselves.

But oh my PEAS! did they miss their mom and dad! You may have read elsewhere that Gavin regressed as the week went on. It absolutely broke my heart to watch him slipping into autistic behavior, knowing I really couldn't do much about it. We cuddled, we reassured, we hugged, we sang. But we couldn't BE mommy and daddy. He knew where he belonged.

I've decided 'ordinary' is good. Routine is fine. There is comfort in the dailiness of life. So often we're not content with the small things in life; we want excitement and adventure. That certainly has its place, especially in the life of a Christ-follower (who is oftentimes called to step out of that so called 'comfort zone').

But in reality, isn't life mostly made up of ordinary, small, routine events? And aren't we called to be content wherever we find ourselves?

"Who despises the day of small things?"

Zechariah 4:10

I think we need to remind ourselves where we really belong.

:. if frankenstein were your father .:

you would never have trouble with bullies.

(of course, you wouldn't have any friends, either.)

Happy Father's Day to all you daddies out there!

Friday in Ames!!!

Katie and Chris here, filling in for mom. We had the absolute PLEASURE of having those boys today, as mom and pop were at the Parkinson's Conference ("Those who shake it together, MAKE it together!" We HOPE that's the theme for the conference).
Our morning started off early...thunder and lightning at 5:30 awoke us, so we were able to have conversations about thunder. Unka Chwis had to go to work, so Gav, Liam, and I headed to Cafe Diem for a morning muffin!

Yum!!

Gavin was sure hyper after his 16oz iced caramel latte! Kidding! It was Liam's.
Next, Katie had the BRILLIANT idea of walking just a couple yards down Burnett Ave to Ames' local FIRE STATION!!! I just KNEW the boys were going to go CRAZY when they were able to see a FIRE TRUCK UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL!!!!!

Welll...maybe not CRAZY...maybe...frightened beyond belief? Fireman Eric was SO nice and he even let the boys climb up on to the truck!!

Puttin' out fires!!!
yay. (can't you see the excitement in his eyes??)

Touchin' the hoses!!!
yay.

Fire Engine 1!! Good job, Mr. Gavin!!
Fireman Eric told us we could stop by anytime we're out on a walk. Maybe next time, we can mentally prepare ourselves for Fire Engine 1!

Making silly faces on the couch!

And of course, spending an hour at Target going up and down the toy aisle is NOTHING short of amazing!!!

(Em, just so you know, your boys are wonderful. They would pull out a toy, and put it back exactly where they found it when they were done. They didn't whine "I want this! I want that!" They were content as clams just looking. Good job, Mommy)

Next, we made a trip to Ames' local pet shop! Home of Howie Buckets!!! There he is, licking Liam's hand!

Bunnies!

And kitties!

Next, we got to sit out in the morning sun and watch the Ames trains! Never before have I been excited to hear that bell and see the gates drop! We were so close to an actual Thomas!!

...killin time until the next train. Ooh! A black bug! He died after Liam picked him up. Of fright? Or the fact that his internal organs were crushed... I guess I SHOULD have said, "Killin Time By Killin Bugs"

Summertime Love

Smile for the camera!

And joy to my heart, Uncle Chris got off work early, and we went out shopping for new soccer cleats!

Liam found some good ones!

In about 20 minutes, we'll be off to meet up with Gramma and Crappa at The Q'Doba for dinner!! Tomorrow morning, the plan is to head to the farmer's market and prepare for Mommy and Daddy's return! We miss you guys!