The Final Countdown

Tomorrow is the big day!  Chasing Superwoman hits the market.   Above is a picture of me, holding my first copy.  It's a great feeling, and I can't thank you enough for sharing this journey with me.

Have a great Memorial Day!

Is Better Really The Enemy of Good?

Voltaire is well known for saying, “Better is the enemy of good.”

Lately, I’ll been wrestling with this concept. 

I’ve also thought the opposite.  In fact, when I was in college, someone told me a quote that really stuck with me.  “Good is the enemy of excellent.”

So who is right?

First, let me say that Voltaire certainly had a point.  We can kill ourselves over perfection.  Perfection is exhausting.  Perfection is mind numbing.  Perfection is even paralyzing.

I would fully agree with Voltaire had he said, “Perfection is the enemy of very good.”  But that wasn’t his point.  His point (I think) is that human nature is such that we always feel like we can make it better, and better often gets in the way of good. 

It’s a fair point.  But I still can’t agree.  Not completely.

Most of us will settle for something good and miss out on something great.  Why?  Well, it’s pretty scary to give up something good.  Greatness usually involves risk.  Greatness involves uncertainty.  Greatness involves stepping out on a limb.  You know the phrase, “No guts, no glory.”

As we head into Memorial Day weekend, it’s fitting to reflect on guts and sacrifice and courage.  Would we enjoy the same freedoms today if our founders simply said, “You know, I think things are good enough the way they are?”

Are Showers Overrated?

Last week, I unexpectedly went out of town on Monday evening.  On Tuesday, at 6:00 p.m., I was still wearing the same outfit.  And no, I hadn’t showered.

When I was driving home, I called my Blonde Sister, Janie.  I’ve told Janie before, “Showers are completely overrated.  When I’m pressed for time, the shower is the first to go.”

So when I told her I hadn’t showered (or hadn’t even changed my clothes) for 24 hours, she thought I was really gross.  Janie and her husband, George, are what you call hygiene fanatics.  She exclaimed to me over the phone, “Wait until I tell George.  He has already showered three times today!”

I wasn’t impressed.  Simply put, too many showers are overrated.  Why waste water, soap, resources, and time just so you can dry out your skin and smell like a bunch of chemicals?  50 years ago, no one would even think of showering three times a day.  And no one would think my hygiene is sub-standard, just because I might skip a day here and there.  After all, working moms are pressed for time.  Most of us don’t smell bad, and I’ve never been able to find the phrase “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” anywhere in the Bible.   Didn’t Jesus even say he was more concerned with the inside of the cup, not the outside?

What do you think?  Are showers over-rated?  I dare you to try to go one day without one!  Maybe we could even have a contest on the blog with prizes (just kidding, Janie).

Wednesday Woman: Mary

Mary is probably the best known mother in the Bible.  The Blessed Mother. The Madonna.

When we think of Mary, we think about all the fancy pictures of her holding Jesus as a baby.  She’s perfectly calm.  Perfectly serene.  Perfectly dressed.

Was Mary’s life perfect?

Far from it.

Many have written about Mary’s story as it relates to two events:  1)  the birth of Jesus; and 2)  the death of Jesus.  Indeed, we could write volumes and volumes of the anticipation, emotion, and miracle of Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection – from Mary’s perspective.

But I’ll save that for another day and another blog (maybe even another book).  Today, I’d like to focus on the middle.  Not the bookends.  What was Mary’s life like in the middle -- as a single mother whose oldest son left home to declare his divinity?

How do I know Mary was a single mother?  Well, I don’t.  But the absence of Joseph in the New Testament leads most scholars to believe he was out of the picture (likely deceased) long before Jesus launched his public ministry.  We also know that Jesus was Mary’s oldest son, and that Jesus had younger brothers and sisters.

In fact, early in Jesus’ ministry, his mother and siblings tried to get him to come back home and stop all the ruckus.  They thought he had flew the coop.  (Mark 3:20-21)  At one point Jesus even seems to desert his own family.  Rather than giving them special status, he announces, “Anyone who does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."  Mark 3:35 (emphasis mine)

From Mary’s perspective – as a single mother – her oldest son, Jesus, had left her alone.  She had already lost Joseph, and Jesus was the “man” of the house.  He probably supported the family working as a carpenter.  If she lost him too, how would she manage alone? 

Mary probably didn’t understand when Jesus first left home.  And she probably felt completely and totally out of control. 

Forget the paintings of Mary as a serene and calm woman, holding Jesus without a care in the world.  She couldn’t hold a grown man in her arms.  How was she supposed to know that he needed to leave her so he could go and save the world?

I often wonder how Mary held it together during those difficult times.  Sometimes, we forget about the middle.

Tuesday Tip: Freaking Out Is Normal

I have to admit it, the last few weeks, I’ve hit the tipping point.   I’m overwhelmed.   To be perfectly honest, I’m completely and totally freaked out.

Why?

Well, to start.  I’m realizing my dream – and I don’t want to blow it.  I’ve wanted to publish a book since the third grade.  And, I’m doing it.  June 1 will be here in one short week.  I have this sick feeling in my stomach.  It’s like being 10 years old and having butterflies before my piano recital, only worse.

A year ago, I wondered when I would ever get a publishing date from Cook.  Six months ago, June 1 seemed like an eternity.  But not now.  Believe it or not, I want more time.  I’m just not ready.

There is so much more I need to do.  I had intended to visit more bookstores, join Twitter, write letters, and contact friends of friends and influencers of influencers.  Then I got busy.  Spring arrived.  The kids’ schedules got crazy.  I overcommitted and underestimated.  Things at work became more demanding than usual.

I said to Doug last week, “I just can’t do it all. There aren’t enough hours in a day.”

He replied, “I know. That’s what your book is about, remember?”

I really hate it when he's right. 

So I emailed my agent, Rachelle.  After all, she’s seen first-time authors in action before.  Maybe she could even give me some tips so I wouldn’t freak out.

Her response?  Freaking out is normal.  It’s even healthy.  In fact, she said she would be worried about me if I wasn’t freaking out.

Thank God it’s ok to freak out. 

When I look back over the important decisions in life – getting married, having kids, settling into a career – I’ve never been truly “ready.”  The unknown frankly scares me, and I freak out when I don’t have control.
Freaking out also has a way of bringing me to my knees.  After all, who needs God when you already have things under control?

Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.  2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)

Ten Ways To Help Promote Chasing Superwoman

I'm blessed with friends and family who want to help.  They don’t blog, and they know nothing about the publishing process.  But they really want to get involved in promoting Chasing Superwoman.  After all, they’ve lived this journey with me.  In addition, I’ve met lots of great bloggers and have even gotten emails from complete strangers who want to get involved.

First and foremost, you can’t believe how grateful I am for the support.  Thanks for asking.  I’m one of those people who is reluctant to ask for help, but the truth is, I really need all of you.

So, if you want to be involved, here are 10 things to consider (and please take all of this with a grain of salt – I’m a first-time author, remember?):

1.  Keep reading.  Thanks for reading.  I’ll try to put updates about my marketing activities, book signings, and other events right here on the blog. 

2.  Tell your friends.  Please tell your friends about Chasing Superwoman.  Send them a link to the blog, Amazon, or any other site (such as Scribd.com where they can read the first chapter online).

3.  Do a review on Amazon.  If you decide to buy the book on Amazon, please write a review.  Your words are powerful!

4.  Ask your local bookstore to order or stock.  Ask your local bookstore to order or stock Chasing Superwoman.   I’ll be circulating a list of stores who will carry copies, such as Borders and Family Christian Stores.  In fact, we’re doing a book-signing at Borders on July 11, from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m..  Please join us! (Columbus, Ohio – Henderson Road location.)

5.  Send me a list of your friends and influencers.  If you don’t know what to say (or don’t have the time or energy), please send me a list of your friends and contacts who may be interested in hearing more about Chasing Superwoman.

6.  Give me feedback.  Please give me your feedback about the blog, the book, or anything else.  For example, I have a friend who reads the blog every morning to help me catch typos – and I buy him lunch for every typo he catches!

7.  Join the blog tour.  My publisher will be organizing a blog tour next month.  If you’re a blogger and you want to get involved, please let me know and I’ll send you the details. 

8.  Become a Facebook Fan or a Blog Follower.  You can become a Fan right on Facebook.  And I just added a “Follower” button to my blog last week, so you can publically support and flow the blog.

9.  Suggest new material.  I’m going to keep writing.  So if you have ideas for new material, let me know.  My post later this week Are Showers Overrated? is actually at the request of my sister!

10.  Pray.  Please don’t feel like you have to do anything to support me.  But if I can ask for one thing (pretty please), I’d really appreciate your prayers.  The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16 (NLT)

Thanks for everything.  June 1 is next week!

Dangerous Women

This Friday, I’m praying the Dangerous Women Creed, from Lynne Hybels:

Dear God, please make us dangerous women.
May we be women who acknowledge our power to change, and grow,
     and be radically alive for God.
May we be healers of wounds and righters of wrongs.
May we weep with those who weep and speak for those who cannot
    speak for themselves.
May we cherish children, embrace the elderly, and empower the poor.
May we pray deeply and teach wisely.
May we be strong and gentle leaders.
May we sing songs of joy and talk down fear.
May we never hesitate to let passion push us, conviction compel us,
     and righteous anger energize us.
May we strike fear into all that is unjust and evil in the world.
May we dismantle abusive systems and silence lies with truth.
May we shine like stars in a darkened generation.
May we overflow with goodness in the name of God and by the power of Jesus.
And in that name and by that power, may we change the world.
Dear God, please make us dangerous women. Amen.


Will you join me in praying this prayer?  Any other Dangerous Women out there?

Visit Me Today At Graceful!

Today I’m guest blogging at one of my favorite blog sites, Graceful.  I was thrilled when Michelle DeRusha asked me to write about two of my favorite topics:  writing and faith.

Although Michelle lives in Nebraska (and we’ve never met in person), she’s a kindred spirit.  She’s a working mom, and she loves to write.  Like many of us, she wears many hats – mother, wife, writer, fundraiser for NPR, member of Southwood Lutheran Church.  Like many of us, she’s discovered (and writes about) the amazing grace in the experiences of everyday life. 

In addition to her daily blog, check out Michelle’s newspaper column in the Lincoln Journal Star.  (I especially love her April article called, Don’t forget people on the fringe.)

Thanks for your voice Michelle, and thanks for Graceful!

Wednesday Woman: Lydia

Some women are born with their own style. Lydia of Philippi was such a woman.

Lydia is often called the first European convert to Christianity.  And there are many reasons she deserves our admiration.  To start, Lydia was wildly successful in business. She undoubtedly represented the “new” modern woman of her day -- a business woman who enjoyed profitable trading throughout the Graeco-Roman world. Lydia was a dealer in purple cloth -- and purple dye was the most expensive and sought after dye in the Roman world. Which means Lydia had plenty of capital. As a seller of purple, expensive and even royal textiles, she was probably one of the richest and most influential women in her region.

Importantly, Lydia used her power and influence when it counted.  As a homeowner, she used her home as a refuge for the Apostles – her home was even the meeting place for the first church in Philippi. 

One of the reasons I admire Lydia is she was both cool and spiritual. And she didn’t apologize for either.

I’m not sure if Lydia was anyone’s biological mother.  But I do know that she was a spiritual mother to many.  She goes on in the book of Acts to risk her reputation (maybe even her life) for her faith.  And she did so being First-Century power woman. Not a shrinking violent!

Tuesday Tip: Buy Ready-Made Pizza Dough

Most moms can’t say no.  Given this fact, we need to to cut corners.

Have you ever signed up for something (aka you can’t say no), and the night before, you realize you’re in over your head?

I feel your pain.

Last Friday, Nick’s third grade class had a multi-cultural celebration at lunch.  Each child was asked to bring a food, to celebrate his or her heritage.  Nick wanted me to make spaghetti and meatballs, but even I thought this sounded a bit much.  So I agreed to make homemade pizza instead.

How hard could it be?  I would make the dough the night before in the bread machine, and I could bake the pizza in the morning before school.  Sounds easy.  Right?

On Thursday night at 7:30 p.m., I decided to get started.  Then, one of my neighbors came over and we started talking.  Before I knew it, I had lost track of how much flour I had put in the dough.  Oh well, I thought to myself.  No one will know the difference.

At 10:00 p.m. my dough was as hard as a rock.  It hadn’t risen.  So I freaked out and started complaining.  “I can’t do it all around here!  And I don’t have a spare moment to myself!”

Doug saw that I was about to crack.  So he ran to the store and bought more flour and yeast.  At 11:00 p.m. it was back to the drawing board.  I quickly whipped up a new batch of dough, but the bread machine started freaking out on me.  So I had to hold the pan in place –by hand -- while the dough mixed. 

The morning arrived sooner than usual.  Shelly and I met to run at 6:30 a.m., and by the time I got the kids ready for school it was time for my 8:00 a.m. conference call.  I still hadn’t showered, let alone rolled out the pizza dough.

So during, after, and in-between my next three conference calls, I made pizza.  One of my clients could hear the background noise and asked me, “What are you doing, Susan?”

“I’m making a pizza,”  I told her.  “It’s the third grade lunch multicultural celebration, and Nick needs to bring a homemade dish.”

She responded, “Haven’t you ever heard of the word no?  And if you can’t say no, just buy ready-made pizza dough.  That’s what the rest of us do.”

It’s a fair point.  I really should have bought the pizza dough.  Especially when I hit a brick wall with round two.  Sometimes, working moms just like to make life harder – and we forget to cut some obvious corners.  We want everything to be perfect, and we lose our sanity in the process!

So, my Tuesday Tip this week is simply this:  don’t try to do it all.  When in doubt, buy ready-made pizza dough!

My First Critic

Writers need to have tough skin.  After all, why write unless it’s going to spark some discussion.  Disagreement is a good thing.  Not everyone is going to like my book.  Right?

Of course.  I fully expect receiving my share of criticism.  After all, I’ve put myself out there.  I mean really out there.  But I’d be lying if I said I was fully prepared.  Rejection always hurts.

Last week, I receive the first copy of Chasing Superwoman.  No, it’s not for sale until June 1, but it’s customary to send the first copy to the author.  So when I got home from work last week and saw the package from Cook, I opened it with much anticipation and finally held the first copy in my hand.  As you know, I love firsts.

Nick immediately wanted to be the first to read it.  What a great idea, I thought to myself.  My son is going to be my first fan.  Even though Nick is only 9, he reads 3-4 books a week and keeps our local library in business. 

So Nick settled in and started to read, and I went upstairs to change my clothes.  I left Nick completely alone with the book, eager for his reaction.

About an hour later, I found Nick reading.  Another book.  So I asked him, “Nick, what did you think?”

He responded, “I didn’t really like it.”

“Did you make it past the first chapter,” I asked.

“Nope.”

“Are you going to trying reading it another time?”

“Nope.”

“Why not?”

“Mom, I’m 9 years old.  The book is for the average working mom.  I just don’t like it.”

Silence.

My first critic happens to be my own son.  Gee, I can’t wait to see who reads it next.  Yeah, I know he’s only 9, and I shouldn’t take it personally.  Plus, he’s just preparing me for the hard core critics.  Right?

Take Me Out To The Ballgame – But Don’t Throw Me Out!

It’s baseball season.  It’s that time of year when little league moms and dads start to get a little bit crazy.  I’m one of those moms, so I was sympathetic when my sister Janie told me about the recent drama at her son Joey’s high school baseball game.

Joey is in 11th grade.  Simply put, he’s a stud.  In fact, he’s such a stud that he’s on his way to breaking my husband’s high school baseball records.

(Yeah, Doug was really that good in his day.  I’m not allowed to embarrass him on the blog, but let’s just say he still holds several baseball records at our high school alma mater.)

Joey was getting ready to score, headed for home base.  The catcher was standing in the way, so Joey gave it his all and leaped over the catcher.  Unfortunately, the ump called him out.

But that’s not the end of the story.  Next, the opposing team’s parents started to go wild, complaining that Joey didn’t slide into home base.  (Apparently, it’s a high school rule that a player has to slide into home when the catcher is standing in play.)  The umpire caved under pressure and threw Joey out of the game!

Joey has never missed a game in his life.  He was blazing mad as he headed into the dugout.  Then my brother-in-law, George, started to spar with the first base coach.  Pretty soon, George had called the coach an “idiot” and dad and son were both thrown out of the game.  Together.

More bad news.  Joey’s team lost in 10 innings (Joey was the relief pitcher and third man in in the batting order).  But he had to stand out, unable to help his team escape defeat.

Sometimes life isn’t fair.  Which means that baseball isn’t fair.  I’m still routing for Joey to beat Doug’s record.  You can do it Joey!

For all you baseball fans out there, have a great weekend!

Why I Love Firsts

There’s something special about firsts.

I’ll never forget my first teacher.  My first piano recital.  My first date.  My first boyfriend.  My first kiss.  My first job.  My first car.  The first semester of college.  My first apartment.  My first husband (just kidding).

With kids, those memorable “firsts” more than multiply.  I can still remember vividly the first time we found out I was pregnant with Nick.  The first time I gave birth.  The first time he slept through the night.  The first steps.  The first words.  The first babysitter.  The first day of school.

One of the reasons I’ve loved writing a book is because I’ve been able to capture – and relive -- so many firsts.  Through writing, it’s like recreating certain moments for the first time.  Again and again.  And the moments I wish I could freeze in time – I simply put them on paper instead.  Someday, when I’m long gone, my children and grandchildren can read about these moments.  They too can relive each first. 

The other thing I’ve loved about writing is this:  it’s opened the door to more firsts.  I remember when I first decided to write a book.  I confided in a few friends and colleagues.  I remember sitting in an airport and writing the first chapter.  I’ll never forget the first time I heard back from my agent.  The first time we sent my book proposal to publishers.  The first time I heard that a publisher was interested.  And the first time I heard the good news – that Chasing Superwoman would be published.

I’m preparing myself for yet another first.  On June 1, my first book will hit the market.  The great thing about firsts?  You never know what to expect – you prepare as best you can, pray like mad, and (last but not least) ride the wave and have fun. 

Has it been a long time since you’ve had a first?  If so, it may be time to take action.  Sure, it takes some guts to take that first step, but I’ll take fear over regret any day!

This is my command--be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."  Joshua 1:9 (NLT)

Wednesday Woman: Eve

This week, I’d like to focus on the first mother of all:  Eve.

Eve is known most for being the first woman to sin.  Would any of us have done any better?  After all, nobody’s perfect.  Besides, I can’t imagine the pressure of going first.

Eve was the first woman to live with a man. Forget courting. The first arranged marriage was by necessity -- Adam was the only game in town. Sure, it was probably pure bliss at first, even love at first sight. But after the Fall, the honeymoon was over. I mean really over. Who knows if she was still in love with him. The habits she previously found endearing -- like the way he talked in his sleep or cracked his knuckles -- probably became nasty and annoying. Talk about being out of options. Like it or not, it was time for her and Adam to populate the earth. Together.

Eve was likewise the first woman to give birth. The first to experience the excruciating pains of childbirth. Without drugs. The first to nurse a baby. The first to hold twin boys in her arms. The first to beg God that they’d sleep through the night.

Can you imagine being the first mother?  No one to call for help, no one to show you the ropes, no one to babysit or tell you, “Don’t worry, he’ll outgrow this stage.”

So, before we throw Eve under the bus, let’s give her some credit for going first!  After all, the women who went before us paved the way for generations to come.

Tuesday Tip: Family Meeting Worth The Effort

I've never been very good at discipline.  And I’ve never been a big fan of too many rules.  But lately, the kids have been especially unruly.  Call it Spring Fever, but sometimes I feel like I’m talking to the wall.  Are my kids even listening?  Something had to be done, so Doug called a family meeting.

At first I was skeptical.  Would the kids even take us seriously?  As parents, we’ve been guilty of not following through with chores, charts, and consequences.  Would this be any different?

To start, the kids were stone quiet.  Their eyes were wide open as we started the meeting, and you could hear a pin drop as everyone took turns talking.  By the end of the meeting, Abby was giving everyone orders and repeating the messages loud and clear.  No more trash on the floor.  Don’t forget to brush your teeth.  Make your bed.  Don’t scream Mom’s name at the top of your lungs.  Clean your plate.  Say thank you and please.

Two weeks have since passed, and we probably need to have another family meeting.  But I’ll have to say, we’ve also seen improvement.  The kids have been much more intentional about doing their chores and homework.  Reminders have been less frequent.  Attitudes are more positive. 

Sometimes we all need to regroup, and I’ll have to say – the family meeting was worth the effort.  Have you tried a family meeting and, if so, has it worked?  How do you keep your kids’ attention and teach them to stay on course, especially when they have Spring Fever?

Can We Have It All?

For most women, by the time we complete our education and settle into a career, we’re smack dab in the middle of our childbearing years. Like it or not, our biological clocks are ticking. It’s been almost 10 years since I first became pregnant with Nick, but I vividly remember asking myself, can I be an excellent lawyer and an excellent mother?  After all, I had grown up in a traditional home where my devout Christian mother stayed at home. Could I work full time and show the same devotion to my own children?

Ten years later (and three children later), I’m still asking the same questions. Yes, I have a demanding career. And yes, I make sacrifices every day at home and at work. I’ve made mistakes along the way and don’t pretend to have a formula, but at the end of the day I’m completely and totally passionate about my children and my work.

People often ask me, “How do you do it?”

My response? I pray a lot and maintain a sense of humor. Some days, I either have to laugh or cry. Knowing that God is in control -- not me -- gives me the courage to laugh, even when my days don’t go as planned. Like when my cell phone rings in the pediatrician’s office. I forget when it’s my turn to bring preschool snacks. A client calls in the middle of my family dinner. I’m working late and I miss bedtime prayers. I’m up in the middle of the night with a sick kid, and the next day I can’t stay awake at my desk.

Most working mothers can relate -- which is why I decided to write a book about the difficult yet rewarding journey of being a working mother while striving to live a life of faith. Chasing Superwoman doesn’t give the answers -- in fact, it probably presents more questions than answers. But I’m privileged to wrestle with the tough issues, like can we really have it all?

Do you struggle with these same questions?  What does it really mean to have it all, anyway?

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. - Philippians 4:13

The Power Of A Mother

Do happy moms make happy kids? 

According to a recent report from the University of Bristol, happy mothers – regardless of financial status – make better parents and have happier children.  In other words, if Mom is happy, everyone’s happy.

Does this really surprise us?  After all, common sense tells us that the mother often sets the temperature for the rest of the family.  Mothers have a tremendous influence – and tremendous power that we shouldn’t take for granted.  Of course, this doesn’t mean that our kids don’t see us struggle.  And it doesn’t mean that life has to be perfect – that we have to be perfect -- for our children to be happy.  But it does mean that mothers (and fathers) have a huge responsibility in setting a positive environment for our children.

As a mother of three young children, I ask myself, Do my kids see me as happy and content?  Do they know how happy I am to be a mother – to be their mother?

Mother’s Day is a good time to remind our children how much we love them – and how happy we are to have them!

As you enjoy Mother’s Day this weekend, remember that you have an incredible, God-given power to influence your children.  Yes, motherhood is both a blessing and a responsibility.  Happy Mother's Day!

Her Own Style

My first-grader, Anna, has her own style.  Let’s just say she makes her own fashion choices (with little input from Mom).

Doug was picking Anna up at school, and one of the teachers – a teacher we had never met before -- stopped him.

“Hey, we were all talking about Anna the other day -- the way she dresses.  Anyway, we all decided that her mother must have been a big hippy or something.”

Doug just laughed and said, “Her mother is a lawyer.  She isn’t exactly the hippy type.”

I had a good laugh as well.  Anna went through a phase when she would only wear her headbands “bandana style” – the Cheech and Chong look, but on a first grader. One of my friends told me that Anna is just on the cutting edge of fashion, apparently Paris Hilton has also embraced bandana style.

I could stress out over it.  And I know people are talking about me behind my back -- What kind of mother would let her daughter dress like a hippy?  Doesn’t her mother ever wash her clothes?

But, frankly, I really don’t care.  On the list of things I have to worry about in life, this is close to dead last.  Besides, Anna’s style is growing on me.  I even have a few “hippy” shirts of my own.

Isn’t it better to be less focused on appearances and more focused on things like character and determination? 

There are some battles that just aren’t worth fighting!

Wednesday Woman: Hagar

When we hear about the Matriarchs of the Bible, no one ever talks about Hagar.  After all, she was single and homeless.  Not exactly the kind of woman society emulates.

But there was much more to Hagar.  She was a strong woman – even a strong mother.

So, what’s her story?

In short, she was a slave who got kicked out of Abraham’s house because her son, Ishmael, was illegitimate.  Even though Abraham was Ishmael’s biological father, Abraham couldn’t raise Ishmael under the same roof with his wife, Sarah, and his promised son Isaac.

Hagar – a mere maidservant -- wasn’t welcome anymore.

The only problem? She was a single mom, and she had a son to take care of.  And she had no where to go.  It’s not like she had her own income, her own resources, or her own property.  Hagar was truly alone.  She headed into the desert with no food or water.  Probably without hope.

Hagar might have died in the desert, along with her son.  But God saw her pain.  He reached down and sent an angel to comfort her, and miraculously provided a well.  He also gave her a promise:

Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.” Genesis 21:17-18

Did Hagar mock God?  Did she tell him that he had already done enough damage?  Or, did she persevere and determine not to give up, even though life didn’t turn out as planned?

You guessed it, Hagar didn’t give up.  And her son went on to survive and build a strong nation.

Lots of mothers in our generation can relate to Hagar.  Mothers who feel like they’re in the middle of the desert.  Mothers who go to bed at night thinking, How am I going to survive, let alone support my children?  Does God even see my pain?

When the going gets tough, remember the story of Hagar.  Even though Hagar was ready to give up, she didn’t.  And, more importantly, God didn’t give up on Hagar.

Tuesday Tip – Green Shakes Give Energy!

Working moms need energy.  Which is why I recently added green shakes to my diet.

I learned a few things when I was laid up at the spa in Utah.  What did I learn?  To start, I learned how to make yummy green shakes.  And you can’t even taste the spinach.

My sisters, Mona and Janie, dragged me to a cooking class the morning after my tooth extraction.  I really wasn’t that excited – given that I was unable to chew or digest food, the last thing I wanted to do was go to a cooking class – but I was getting a little tired of the four walls of my hotel room.  When we arrived at the class, I was pleasantly surprised to see green shakes on the menu.  This is how I know God has a sense of humor.  He dragged me all the way to Utah, just to teach me how to make the perfect drink right when I needed it the most.

Needless to say, it hit the spot.  Never mind that I hadn’t eaten anything in 24 hours.  This was pure heaven (not to mention the secondary but equally fabulous health benefits).

Here’s the recipe, as best as I can remember (and, yes, I’ve been making them on a regular basis – even Abby thinks they are delicious).

• 1/3 spinach (as you get brave, you can more spinach as well as parsley, mint, or anything green and leafy)
• 2/3 frozen fruit (I’ve found that bananas, pineapple, and mango work best with spinach)
• apple cider (or apple juice)
• a dash of real vanilla extract (this is the secret ingredient)

Put the spinach in first and add the other ingredients in order.  Enjoy!

Are you brave enough to try a green shake?

May Is Mother’s Month

There are lots of reasons to be happy it’s May.  Spring is here.  The flowers are in bloom.  Nights are shorter.  Days are longer.  I can finally run outside without my jacket.  Swimming pools will soon open.  Camping season is around the corner.  School is almost out for the summer.

As important, May is mother’s month.  We celebrate Mother’s Day on May 9.  And whether you’re a mother or not, we all have women in our lives to celebrate.  Women who take care of us, encourage us, and need our support.  Especially our mothers.

This May, I’d like to write about some of the strong mothers in the Bible – mothers we often don’t hear about.  Mothers who made a difference in the lives of their children.  Some of them were single and homeless.  Many of them worked hard to provide for their families.  No, we won’t be able to talk about all of them in May, but we’ll at least get started.  May is a good time to pay respects to their legacy.

But before we turn to the mothers of the Bible, give some thought to the women you plan to honor this Mother’s Day.  What will you do to celebrate their legacy?  (You still have plenty of lead time – you have a whole week to get that card in the mail or buy that special gift!) 

Let’s face it, we wouldn’t be here but for the women who went before us.

Happy Birthday Mom!

There's no better way to finish April than to celebrate my mother – today is her birthday!

She’s the best mom and grandma in the world.  Here are 10 reasons to prove it:

1.  She kicks my butt in aerobics (no joke).
2.  Whenever I’m out with her, people refer to her as my “sister.”
3.  With 5 daughters and 14 grandchildren, she never plays favorites.
4.  She runs circles around my kids and refuses to age.
5.  I have never heard her say an unkind word in my entire life.
6.  She knows the way to my heart is through my stomach.
7.  She never complains about the trials and tribulations of life.
8.  She always tells me, “you’re just right the way you are.”
9.  She’s always in a good mood.
10.  She loves God even more than she loves me!

Happy Birthday Mom!

A Moment Of Silence

A couple of weeks ago, I found myself sitting in my driveway at midnight on a Friday night, completely alone.  It was one of those moments of silence.

The night certainly didn’t start out that way.  After getting home from work early – and realizing it was going to be a long-anticipated warm weekend in Ohio – we decided to celebrate.  One thing led to another, the kids wanted to build a bonfire, and the next thing we knew, we were roasting marshmallows with the neighbors in our driveway.  (It’s called urban camping -- we have to be creative.)

At about 10:00 p.m., Doug looked at me like, I was just trying to sit outside and enjoy the weather, did you have to turn it into a party?  But deep down, I knew he was having fun.  Even Doug likes our neighbors. He turned in by 10:30 p.m., but the rest of us were still going strong – a few more neighbors even came over.  I put my kids to bed and came back outside to enjoy the fresh air. 

As midnight approached, my neighbors said their goodbyes and told me I should just go to bed.  Gosh, you’ve had a long day Susan, you should really turn in.  We don’t want to keep you up.

Everyone left, and it was just me sitting in the driveway.  And it was silent.

Did I go inside right away?  Of course not. Silence is something that I’ve learned to appreciate – I’ve even learned to covet.  As I looked into the fire, I had time to think without interruption.  In a matter of 10 minutes, my spirit was renewed, my head was clear, and I was ready for the weekend.

Whether or not you prefer “background noise” or walk around with an IPod strapped to your head, we all need some peace and quiet once in awhile.

When’s the last time you had a moment of silence?

Plan B: Doing Nothing

I'm not very good at doing nothing.  I can work, take care of kids, exercise, and juggle a pretty full social schedule.  But I can’t do nothing.

Why do I hate doing nothing?  I’m not sure.  Maybe I have an inflated view of my time.  Maybe I forget that, while time is precious, eternity is forever.  Maybe I’m just a stressed-out maxed-out person who is unable to relax.

In any event, I have never – in my entire life - planned to do nothing.  So, when I was laid up at a spa in Utah, doing nothing caught me completely off guard.

In short, I don’t know how to do nothing! 

Could it be that God was trying to teach me something about doing nothing?  After all, isn’t God the one who tells us, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) (emphasis mine)

Being still is not my nature.  Plan A was supposed to involve lots of activity – hiking, biking, running, and even writing.  From my perspective, my toothache was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

But Plan B forced me to be still.  Plan B forced me to do nothing.  Maybe (just maybe) I was at the right place at the right time.

I learned a few things from doing nothing.   Doing nothing forces you to rest.  It forces you to slow down.  And it forces you appreciate the fact that most days, you don’t have to do nothing – you can do something.

Have you ever learned anything from doing nothing?

Tuesday Tip: Don’t Ignore A Toothache

Do you ever tend to ignore a problem, just because you don’t want to deal with it?  If you’re like me, you don’t have “time” to deal with the little things in life – like a toothache.

My tooth (the one just extracted in Utah) had been bothering me – on and off -- for almost 7 years!  But, like usual, I put off dealing with it because I had more important things to do.

That’s right, almost 7 years ago I had a root canal, and my dentist told me, “This tooth is really on the brink, you should go and see a specialist.”  In fact, I was just at the dentist last month and I told my dentist that my unruly tooth was acting up again.

Why didn’t I just deal with it?  I had a myriad of excuses.  I don’t have time.  I hate going to the dentist.  It’s really not that bad.  Maybe it will go away. I can live with it.

Of course, it didn’t go away.  It escalated.  Nothing like waiting for a full-blown crisis to take action.  After all, why take care of today what you can put off until tomorrow?

Could I have saved my tooth if I had been proactive?  I’ll never know.  Going forward, I just have to learn from my mistakes.  When the warning signs are present – like here, when my body is telling me something is wrong – I really can’t sweep it under the carpet just because I’d rather do better things with my time.

Do you find that you put off those “little things” in life that seem unimportant and even annoying?  If so, you may want to act now.  Maybe you can nip it in the bud.  Maybe you can avoid a full-blown crisis.

My Tuesday Tip for the week is simply this:  Don’t ignore a toothache!

The IPod Generation

Everywhere you go, people are wearing IPods.  Running.  Walking.  Biking.  In elevators and grocery stores.  On airplanes and on subways.  The IPod Generation is here to stay.

I tried wearing my IPod a few times in the grocery store.  I’m not saying I’ll never do it again, but overall I can’t say I enjoyed the experience.  I was even more distracted than usual.  I forgot more than a couple of things on my list.  It took me longer to get my shopping done.  I was less considerate of other shoppers.  Yes, I even think I was more annoying than usual (even though I didn’t have the kids tagging along).

So why is everyone around me (especially those who are 10 years younger than I) wearing their IPods 24-7?  Is life really more exciting with a permanent headset?

I have a few theories about this IPod Generation. 

They like noise.  They’re used to it.  And they feel incomplete – even lonely – without it. I can’t count the number of times that I enter a room and turn off the TV because no one is watching it.  In fact, no one even realizes that it’s on – let alone that they’re watching some trashy program that any decent mother would object to.  It’s a culture of constant video and audio stimulation -- a culture that thrives on background noise.

Call me old-fashioned, but what ever happened to peace and quiet?  I actually like to talk to my family without distraction. I like to greet the people in the grocery store.  And I like to be able to hear myself think.

Don’t get me wrong, I really don’t have anything against the people around me who walk around with IPods.  They’re certainly not as annoying as some of the folks in my generation who talk at the top of their lungs in public with a cell phone strapped to their heads.  At least the IPod-wearers are quiet and relatively polite.

But doesn’t it make you wonder, how do you hear yourself think when it’s always noisy?

Blog Envy

I confess, I have blog envy.  Whenever I visit other blog sites, I realize how far I have to go.  My margins are off.  I’m always catching my own typos.  I still can’t figure out how to post images that look cool or edit HTML.  And the last thing I have time for in my daily routine is to devote more time to blogging.  Most days, I’m lucky to find 15 extra minutes in my schedule to check my posts and visit other blog sites.

I was having coffee with a friend who likewise suffers from blog envy.  Like me, she’s relatively new at blogging.  She’s not a writer, but she decided to launch a blog for her business.  She was pretty excited about the whole thing – until she started visiting other sites.  Then the insecurity set it.  Gee, my blog looks really frumpy.  Maybe I shouldn’t have started blogging in the first place.

If you struggle with envy, you’re not alone.  Admitting it is one thing, tackling it is another. 

My friend and I decided we needed to confront our blog envy by asking ourselves a few questions, like why are we really blogging in the first place?  Sure, it’s great to connect with others, but once blogging becomes a chore – or a contest – it takes out all the fun.  Of course, this doesn’t mean that we aren’t blogging for legitimate business purposes – like building a fan base or promoting a message.  But it does mean that we set our own goals to define success.

So I’ve tried to set some personal blogging goals. 

• Write about my passions. 
• Keep a focus. 
• Don’t compare. 
• Don’t worry about what other people think.
• It’s not quantity but quality.
• It’s not about looking over your shoulder -- it’s about looking ahead. 

As important, I’m determined to keep having fun.  Have you ever noticed that envy has a nasty way of sucking the joy right out of us?

Too Much Lemonade – More On Plan B

Is God really looking out for my best interest, or is he a cruel cosmic giant who wants to see how far he can push me?  Yeah, I know I’ve written that we should just make lemonade out of lemons when things don’t go as planned, but I’ve had enough of Plan B this month.  And I’m not talking about a birthday cake falling over in the trunk of my car.
What am I talking about?  Here’s the short version (details will follow in blogs to come).

Plan A
Plan A was supposed to be the perfect spa weekend with my sisters in the mountains of Utah.  We haven’t had a sisters-only weekend in over 10 years!  And when Amy (my middle sister) turned 50, she planned an all-inclusive spa getaway at a fabulous price.  We’d been looking forward to this trip for weeks.  Hiking.  Biking.  Mountains.  Exercise classes.  Gourmet health food.

I planned to exercise, eat well, enjoy nature, and even have time to write!  Plus, I would be with my four best friends in the world – my four big sisters – what could go wrong?

Plan A Plan B
Enter Plan B.  Life is full of the unexpected.  On the departing flight, an old root canal started acting up.  After landing and spending a few days with Amy in Vegas, it didn’t get better – it got worse.  It’s mind over matter, I told myself.  I can get through this, and I’m not going to let a sore tooth ruin my weekend. 

As we drove to the spa in Utah, the pain became excruciating.  I kid you not, the pain of a abscess tooth is akin to the pains of childbirth.  Four mother hens (aka older sisters) took over and insisted that I see a dentist.  I couldn’t stop thinking --this isn’t happening to me.  Not here.  Not now. This isn’t what I had in mind, God.  What happened to Plan A?

Plan B was in full motion.  My first day at the spa was spent in the dentist chair, not the mountains.  After having my tooth pulled, I wasn’t hiking or biking.  I was on my back.  I wasn’t eating or drinking.  I was icing.  And after becoming completely and totally nauseated from the codeine, I was lucky to keep a little water down.

Sometimes, it’s pretty tough to make lemonade out of lemons.  A failed birthday cake is one thing, but who can find the silver lining in a tooth extraction?
Do you ever find yourself asking God, Can’t we just ditch Plan B?

Happy With Your Work?

Are you happy with your work?  Most of us our so busy with our daily routines that we need to stop and ask - do I enjoy my chosen profession?  Do I like getting up in the morning and facing my day?

I went to law school to pursue truth and justice.  Sure, I don’t always fulfill that mission in my daily grind, but most days I actually like being a lawyer.  And I’m not alone.  According to a recent survey, lawyers are a pretty happy bunch.  That’s right, according to an American Bar Foundation study featured in Law360, 70 percent of lawyers report feeling moderately or very satisfied with their career path.

Ok, I can already hear the lawyer jokes out there.  Bring them on!  I’m blessed to be part of a profession that I actually enjoy.  And I would also argue that lawyers do much more good in our society than we receive credit for.  We defend the law and preserve rights to life, liberty and justice.  Sure, we’ve gotten a bad rap for some valid reasons, but I still believe that law is a noble, desirable profession.

Off my lawyer soapbox.   Being a lawyer certainly isn’t for everyone (and even I would admit that the world would be a very scary place with more lawyers).  But I do think we can learn something from the 70 percent of lawyers out there who are relatively happy.

Whether we work full time, part time, or inside or outside of our homes – work is a vital part of life.  Work is about being productive, being needed, and contributing to something bigger than ourselves.

So, I ask you, what are you working for?

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. – Colossians 3:23

Making Lemonade Out Of Lemons

Have you ever made lemonade out of lemons?

That’s exactly what I did with Nick’s birthday cake.  In response to Friday’s contest, the correct answer is D!  (Congrats to Allison Poor for the first to post the correct answer!)That’s right, I put the top of the cake back on and served it to my guests.  And everyone loved it!

No, it didn’t look appetizing.  Yes, I was tempted to throw it away (or pawn it off on the guy in the parking lot).  But I didn’t.  I just couldn’t.  So I wiped my mounting tears, proudly carried the cake (messy fingers and all) into the restaurant and never looked back.  And it wasn’t just good cake.  It was great cake – a special recipe from the Dominican Republic, made by a dear friend. 

Plus, I learned yet another lesson in perseverance.  Lots of days, I feel a lot like that cake -- I’m barely holding it together, the middle is about to fall out, and if I hit another bump in the road I know I’m going to crack.  Then I start second guessing myself just because things don’t look pretty on the outside.  Why didn’t I plan in advance?  Did I really think I was going to be able to pull this off?  I’m spreading myself way too thin. 

One thing’s for sure.  I couldn’t go back and re-make the cake.  It was time for Plan B.  In fact, I’m firmly convinced that half of life is accepting where we’re at and moving on to Plan B.  And we certainly don’t have to act like everything is fine. 

Besides, Plan B usually has its own benefits.  I bonded with a few of those parents at Nick’s birthday party – yeah, we even had a few good laughs.  Would we have had as much fun if I walked in with a perfect birthday cake, totally put together?  I think not.  I’m probably forever tagged as the crazed mom with the messy birthday cake, but I’d rather be authentic than put on a show.  They got to see the real me.

And the real me is known to make lemonade out of lemons!  Have you ever discovered the benefits (and the humor) in Plan B?

For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. –Jeremiah 29:11

Cake, Anyone? (Part 2) – Win A Starbucks Gift Card!

How did Nick’s birthday cake turn out?  Did the cake get the best of me, or did I get the best of the cake? 
Be the first to answer the question below correctly, and you’ll win that Starbucks card!

QUESTION:  What happened with Nick’s birthday cake?

a.  I had to throw it away.  The cake was all over the back of my car.  Even I couldn’t save it.  The restaurant offered to give us all free dessert, and everyone was happy.

b.  I gave it to a guy in the parking lot.  After Doug went in the restaurant, some guy in the parking lot came over to help me.  I told him I couldn’t bear to throw the cake away, so he offered to take it off my hands.  Then, I ran to the grocery story and bought a new cake.

c.  I ate it.  Even though I couldn’t feed the cake to Nick and his friends, I decided to just leave it in the back of my car.  And when we got home, I ate it (along with some help from the kids)!  It was delicious, even though Doug wouldn’t take a bite.  At the party, the restaurant provided a new cake – at a steep price!

d.  I served it at the party.  Once Doug went inside the restaurant, I put the top of the cake back on with my bare hands.  It really didn’t look that bad after all.  I took it in the restaurant (messy hands and all) and got a few stares and laughs.  But I didn’t care.  The kids all loved it, and even the parents wanted to try it – it was the best cake we’d had in a long time (even Doug liked it)!

THE RULES:

• You must post the correct answer on the blog (Facebook and email responses don’t count).
• You must post on or before Saturday, April 17 at 11:59 p.m.
• You cannot change your answer.
• I can amend the rules at all times.
• The winner will likely be announced on Monday, April 19.

Any questions?

Cake, Anyone? (Part 1)

Things didn’t go as planned with Nick’s birthday cake.  Let’s just say it’s a cake I’ll never forget.

To start, I had completely forgotten to plan a cake for his 9th birthday party.  So when a friend insisted on making it the day before, I gladly agreed.

Problem #1?  The cake was leaning to one side when she brought it over my house.  It wasn’t in a box, and I still had to transport it to the restaurant.  I could see the disappointment in Nick’s face, but I had to play it cool.  My, this cake looks absolutely wonderful.  And I’m sure it will taste even better.

Inside, I was thinking, This cake is a disaster. How am I ever going to move it – let alone take it on a bumpy car ride?

Of course, we were running late to the party.  I put the cake in the hatchback and told Nick to watch it carefully.  (Looking back, I don’t know why I told him to watch it.  It’s not like he could do anything to stop the inevitable.)  So, as I drove, Nick gave me the painful play by play.  The cake was leaning.  The cake was drooping.  The cake was falling apart.  “Pull over Mom!  You’ve got to do something.  We’re going to have to get a new cake!”  I tried to ignore him and kept driving.

When we got to the restaurant, I opened the hatch.  It was worse than I thought.  The top layer of the cake had slid off completely, and the middle had cracked.  I wanted to cry.  But I couldn’t.  I put on my happy face.  The cake is wonderful.  Things are fine.

Fortunately, Doug met me in the parking lot.  When he saw the cake, he was speechless (and, he was smart enough not to make any jokes).  He handed me a box of Kleenexes from inside his car – like that was supposed to solve things – and I told him to please go inside.  “We’re already late.  Go inside now.  Greet the other parents.  Make sure Nick is happy.  I’ll deal with the cake.”

Did the cake get the best of me, or did I get the best of the cake?  You’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out. 

Besides, before I finish the cake story, I have to stop and ask.  Do you ever feel like, no matter how hard you try to hold it together, things are falling apart?  And isn’t it painful when you have to act like everything is fine – when you have to stay strong and put on a happy face?

The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. – 1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT)

Men, Children, And Airplanes

Who behaves worse on airplanes?  Middle-aged men, or children?
Based on my recent experience, the guys win out.

I usually blend in with the business travelers.  But not on my recent family vacation.  As much as I love my children, I completely dread traveling with them on airplanes.  Yes, I’ve had my share of trauma and drama.  And I’m usually prepared for just about anything.  But even I was not prepared for the tantrums mantrums on our last flight.

Before boarding (and pre-selecting our seats online), the airline mysteriously re-arranged everything.  Out of five seats, only two were next to each other.  Doug tried his hardest to put me with Abby, but Abby wanted to sit with “Daddy” (her hero) so I was home free!  That’s right, I actually got to sit by myself.  I can pretend like I don’t know my children if they misbehave, I thought to myself.

I was still surrounded by children.  A little girl behind me looked about three years old, and she was screaming after being separated from her older sister.  A women in the aisle across from me was nursing a fussy baby.  Been there.  Done that.

The guy next to me  -- who I’ll call Rude Guy -- apparently didn’t know I was a mother.  Rude Guy was talking on his cell phone at the top of his lungs,

“Charlie, I’m on the flight from Hell.  Every kid headed to Disney is on this flight.  Thank God I’m not sitting next to one of them.”

Just then, Nick started yelling at me across the aisle for some chewing gum.  Sure, he blew my cover, but at least Rude Guy was on notice.  He’d better stop the trash talking or he would have to deal with Mama Bear.

Just then, I heard a man several rows behind me start yelling,  “Did you see that?  She assaulted me.”

I turned around to see what happened.  An overweight woman was trying to lift her baggage in the already-jammed overhead compartment.  And she was struggling.  Instead of getting up to help her (or moving out of his coveted aisle seat) self-absorbed Crazy Guy was scolding her.  She sarcastically apologized under her breath as she reached over him,

“I didn’t mean to assault you!”

“Well, you assaulted me with your big belly,”  Crazy Guy replied.

At this point, my blood was starting to boil.  I would have laid into him myself, but a few other passengers stepped in.

Yes, I’ve seen a lot of bad behavior on airplanes (and have a few stories of my own), but at the end of this flight I was more embarrassed for Rude Guy and Crazy Guy than for the children.

What’s worse on airplanes, badly behaved men, or annoying children?

My Mother’s Sauce

I never set out to write a cookbook.  In fact, I never set out to cook.  But guess what’s going to appear as an appendix in Chasing Superwoman?


That’s right, I’m publishing a recipe – none other than my mother’s sauce!

Some secrets are just too good to keep.  I’ll have to admit, I’m pretty excited to share such a deep and personal part of my life (and my stomach) with anyone who chooses to read the book!

For those of you who are interested in the writing process, this wasn’t in the original plans.  But when you’re writing a book, plans tend to change.  A couple of days before the book went to print, one of the editors asked me for the recipe given that I talk at length about my favorite foods (and in particular making sauce) in the book.  If you know me well, you know that food is an integral part of my family and spiritual life.  I had never written (or seen) the recipe on paper.  So after writing it down, we just decided to add it to the book.


What’s the recipe?  Of course, I can’t tell you.  Not yet.  If you’re hungry you’ll just have to wait!

Life is full of irony.  I’m publishing the recipe for my mother’s sauce (which is her mother’s sauce) in a book about a working mom, where I explain that I wasn’t Grandma’s favorite -- I simply wasn’t domestic enough.  And she never lived long enough to see me cook!  So, Grandma is probably looking down from heaven smiling (and even laughing).

See Grandma, I finally learned how to find my way around in the kitchen.  You taught me something after all!  

Sometimes, when we set out on an adventure (like writing a book) we finish with a surprise ending.  Have you ever set out to do one thing, and it ends up with an unexpected twist?

Twas The Night Before Vacation

Twas the night before vacation, and all through the house, nothing was packed because Susan was out.  Out working, that is. 

Why is it so hard to get everything done right before vacation?  Many of us have just taken time off of work (or are just returning from Spring Break).  Sure, we're thankful for the time off, but the night before vacation is always a blur.

To start, it’s always impossible to wrap things up at work.  When I told Doug I had scheduled a deposition three hours away the day before vacation, he looked at me like I was crazy.  Why do you always put yourself through this madness?

The answer is easy.  I’m trying to squeeze everything I possibly can into my schedule before I head out on vacation.  Theoretically, it’s supposed to make my life easier when I return home.  And I can enjoy myself more on vacation knowing that I’ve wrapped up the loose ends.

The only problem?  Ends don’t wrap very easily.  Instead, they unravel. 

I got home later than expected and didn’t even have time to eat dinner.  (When I skip meals, you know it’s serious.)  Nick didn’t have a swimsuit that fit.  Anna didn’t have anything to wear (those are her words) and Abby couldn’t find her backpack.  And we had to get to bed at a decent time so we could wake up at 4:00 a.m. to catch an early flight. 

Yes, we made it.  Yes, I forgot to pack a few things.  And yes, I’d do it all over again – including skipping dinner – just to get out of town with my family and make memories for years to come (and blogs to come).

Now that I’m back in the office, I can’t say my mad rush before vacation made my life any easier. 

What’s worse, the night before vacation or the stack of work that is waiting upon your return? 

I’ll take the night before any day.  Happy Monday!

The Correct Answer Is D!

That's right, I only became addicted to coffee after I had Abby.  Sure, I've always liked coffee, but I  could go without it for days until I became a working mother of three children.  I can still remember how utterly and completely exhausted I was when her ear infections started!

Don't be discouraged.  No one guessed it!  This was a tough one.  We'll have another contest this Friday (I still need to give away that Starbucks card)!

Friday Starbucks Gift Card Give Away!

In celebration of my return to coffee this week, you can win a Starbucks gift card today.  You just need to do two things:  1)  answer the question below correctly; and 2) follow the rules!

THE QUESTION:

1.  When did Susan become completely and totally addicted to coffee, and why?

a.  During law school.  I became a coffee addict studying for late night exams (and, as important, hanging out with Shelly in coffee shops instead of the library).

b.  During my first two years at the Firm.  Billable hours first drove my constant need for caffeine.

c.  After I had my first child, Nick.  Those of you who know Nick know that he never slept through the night.  It was only through coffee that I could stay awake during the day!

d.  After I had my third child, Abby.  Although Abby was a good sleeper at first, Nick and Anna still continued to wake me up at night.  Then Abby's ear infections started, and I couldn't live without coffee.

e.  None of the above.  I am not addicted to coffee.  And the fact that I gave it up for Lent proves it!

THE RULES:

• You must post the correct answer ON THE BLOG.  Facebook and email responses do not count.
• You must post the correct answer on or before Saturday, April 10 at 11:59 p.m.
• The first two people to timely post the correct answer win a Starbucks gift card (winners will likely be announced on April 11).
• Any and all ties, contest issues, and rule violations will be resolved at the sole discretion of Susan.
• This contest does not create a legal or binding contract.

Any questions?

The Oldest Sister

Is it true that the oldest sibling has it the hardest?  Just ask my oldest sister, Mona.

Mona is a self-admitted, textbook firstborn.  She’s organized, responsible, and goal-oriented.  Her house is always clean, she’s rarely late, and at work she’s always asked to take on more responsibility – even though she insists she doesn’t want to be in charge. Like it or not, firstborns are born leaders.

Looking back, we all admit that Mona probably had it the hardest growing up.  Try being the oldest of five daughters with a strict, old-fashioned father.  You’re going to grow up fast.  You’re going to make waves.  You’re going to pave the way (and extend the curfew) for younger siblings who will thank you for years to come.

Mona is also quite a catch, so she had lots of boyfriends in her youth.  And back in the early 70’s drive-in movies were the rage.  Did my parents allow her dates to take her to the drive in?  Yes, but only under one condition.  She had to take all four of her younger sisters with her!  Thanks to Mona and her boyfriends, I went on more dates before age five than most girls will before they graduate from high school.

Was Mona allowed to stay out late?  Not exactly.  When she was a senior in high school, her curfew was extended to 10:30 p.m.  Given that her boyfriend didn’t have a car (and Friday night football games are known to last past 10:00 p.m.), she often had to leave the game early and run several miles home (literally on foot) to greet my father, who would be standing at the door watching the clock.

When, at age 19, Mona married Dave, we were all a little worried.  I can still remember my outspoken Grandmother proclaiming, Why didn’t they at least graduate from college first? They had no money and no education – just two young kids in love, looking for some independence.  (We all knew Dave was the one when he agreed multiple times to take us all to the drive-in – even Grandma liked him.) 

The good news?  Mona gracefully paved the way for the rest of us. The first to break my father into boyfriends.  The first to get married.  The first to graduate from college.  The first to have kids.  The first to have grandchildren.  And now, the first to retire.  (Mona, I know you’re going to hit the ground running with a second career, but please do the rest of us a favor and take some time off!  You don’t have to go first anymore.)

Any firstborns out there?  Yes, us younger siblings don’t always understand what you’ve endured, but we can’t imagine life without you.  Thanks for going first!

Confessions Of A Rule Breaker

I’ve never been very good at following rules. After all, rules are made to be broken, aren’t they?

Fortunately, I serve a very patient and gracious God.  Which is why I really didn’t have a guilt trip over the fact that I broke my “no-coffee” rule during Lent.  That’s right.  After I had the nerve to post my coffee fast on the blog (with my friends and family cheering me on), I slipped up during the 40 days of Lent.  And I didn’t even feel guilty about it!

It was one of those weak moments.  It was also premeditated.  I had to wake up at 4:00 a.m. to drive out of town, and I told myself the night before, I am going to have a cup of coffee tomorrow.  Sure, I could have prayed for strength.  I could have driven right by the Starbucks.  But I didn’t.  Instead, I thanked God for that cup of coffee as I savored each sip.

I don’t think a cup of coffee has ever tasted better.  I felt like King David eating the consecrated bread from the temple.  When the Pharisees scolded Jesus’ disciples for picking wheat on the Sabbath, Jesus made it clear that he was more interested in our inward character than our outward appearances.  Sure, we can appear to be “holy” if we’re going through the motions and acting “religious” but Jesus explained that even King David justifiably broke the rules:

Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?  In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat.  And he also gave some to his companions.

Then he said to them, The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.  So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.  - Mark 2: 25-28

In other words, the rules are made for my benefit, not God’s.  I don’t think God really cares if I broke my made-up rule of no coffee during Lent.  Yes, it was an exercise in discipline for my benefit, not his.  I do think God cares about the state of my heart, and I’m more than grateful that he has brought me into a relationship with him through his risen Son.

Besides, I could never follow all the rules.  Thank God I don’t have to!

(Remember, for all you coffee lovers out there, we’ll have a Starbucks gift-card prize on Friday’s blog – details to follow!)

Easter Bunny Drama

I had completely underestimated the Easter Bunny.  He really isn’t that scary, is he (or she)? Isn’t he supposed to be furry and nice?  With all that candy and fun, who would have thought the Easter Bunny would rain terror in the hearts of my girls?

A couple of weeks ago, Anna mentioned to me that she thought the Easter Bunny was pretty creepy. I brushed it off, thinking she would get over it.  I almost came out and told her, Mom is the Easter Bunny, but in a moment of weakness, I decided to hold out.  After all, this is probably the last year before she figures it out on her own.  And I didn’t want her to ruin it for Abby.

The night before Easter, the tension started to build.  At 6:00 p.m. Abby announced that she saw the Easter Bunny in our dining room.  Then, Anna found a plastic egg under a chair in our living room – certainly, it didn’t get there by itself!  The Easter Bunny was already sneaking around, and it wasn’t even night time.

Anna and Abby were in tears, and they begged me to let them go to bed right away.  I took them up around 7:30 p.m. and they started in with the questions.  Is the Easter Bunny already in our house?  Will he come to our room?  What if Nick doesn’t get in bed soon – will he ruin our chance to get candy?  How big is the Easter Bunny?  Does he drive a car?

In response, I just said, “I don’t know, what do you think?”  As much as I love the magic and games, I really try not to lie to my children any more than I have to (especially not on major Christian holidays).  They pleaded with me to sleep with them, and to calm them down I finally convinced them I would guard their bedroom door, just to make sure the Easter Bunny didn’t barge in.

Anna and Abby barely made it through the night.  Between playing Easter Bunny and checking on them in between, I was completely exhausted from all the drama.

As much as I love Easter, I’m glad Easter Bunny drama is over – at least for another year.  I’ll have to admit, there’s something about a sneaky, overgrown, human-like bunny that just isn’t right.

It’s Monday, Thank God For Coffee!

It’s Monday, and Easter is over.  Back to the daily grind.  The good news?  I’m back on coffee.  And I’m loving every minute of it. 

Last week, I met a woman at a business meeting who announced she had given up Starbucks for Lent.  After the meeting, I approached her and said, I feel your pain!  We instantly bonded.  We talked about the addiction, the withdrawal headaches, the constant temptation.  We both missed the aroma, the boost, and even the employees who make our coffee and greet us every morning.

She explained to me that she gave up Starbucks to be more intentional about her life – to break her routine.  Every morning, without even thinking about it, she would robotically drop $3.  Morning coffee had become a ritual, something she needed to function.  Could she live without it?

I realize coffee is a luxury.  And I enjoy it now more than ever.  (In fact, in celebration of my return to coffee, I’m going give away a Starbucks gift card on the blog this Friday!)  Yes, coffee is back in my routine with a bang (and a buzz).  But like my new friend who gave up Starbucks for Lent, I want to be intentional about my routines.

As you settle into your routines this week, give some thought to being intentional.  Do you control your routines, or do your routines control you?

Why Did He Do it?

Prior to his death, Jesus had a handful of followers.  Maybe a couple hundred at best.  He had been rejected by the religious leaders, the powerful, and the elite.  And on Good Friday, his only followers outright deserted him. 

That’s right, on Good Friday, Jesus’ disciples were running scared.  One of his closet friends – Simon Peter – even denied Jesus publicly not once, but three times.  And when Jesus asked his disciples to watch and pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, they instead fell asleep.  And worse yet, one of his own betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver.

Can you imagine what it would be like to have every person you know – every close friend and family member – abandon you prior to your death?

Most of us have at least someone in this world we can count on.  Someone who will never reject us or betray us.  Someone who stands by us, even when no one else will – a parent, spouse, friend, sister, brother, son, or daughter.

But not Jesus.  Jesus went to the cross alone.  And not only was Jesus completely deserted, he was facing a brutal, painful death. This would have been reason alone to back out and say, “enough is enough.”

So why did he do it?  Why not call it quits, throw in the towel, and beam up to heaven?  Surely, if he was God, he could have stopped the pain and torture.  He could have called a legion of angels to rescue him, or rained fire from heaven on his accusers.

But instead he chose to stick it out – even willingly. 

Why?  He did it for you and for me.  It wasn’t suffering for the sake of suffering.  It was suffering – the ultimate sacrifice of giving one’s life -- for your sake and mine.

Why would God allow his only Son to pay the ultimate price for nothing?  In considering who Jesus is, consider this – his death is meaningless unless it served a greater purpose.  Could that greater purpose be to bring you back to God?

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. – John 15:13

Is The New Testament Reliable?

Today is Maundy Thursday.  Christians all over the world celebrate the Last Supper – Jesus’ final meal with his disciples before his death.  But how do we know about the details of the Last Supper? 

For that matter, where am I getting all the information about the last week of Jesus’ life?  All week, I’ve been writing about Jesus.  How do I know the stories are even true?

Everything I know about Jesus (and everything I’ve written) is based on the New Testament.  And regardless of whether you believe the New Testament is inspired by God, it’s fair to examine its authenticity as a reliable, historical text.

How does the New Testament stack up next to other ancient manuscripts?

To start, it’s important to consider both the number of copies and the number of years between composition and the earliest surviving copy.  (The more copies the better; the fewer years between composition and copy the better.)

Importantly, we have 24,000 copies of the New Testament – with the earliest complete copy dating 280 years after original composition.  As for individual books of the New Testament, some of the copies date much earlier (for example, parts from the Gospel of John date 35 years after original composition).

How does the New Testament compare to its literary peers?  Well, we have 10 copies of Julius Caesar’s Gallic Wars, the earliest of which dates 950 years after original composition.  Likewise, we have 27 copies of Livy’s The History of Rome, the earliest of which dates 300 years after original composition.  And most scholars would agree that both the Gallic Wars and The History of Rome are reliable, historical documents.

There are many other reasons to rely on the authenticity of the New Testament – such as the fact that it was drafted by eyewitnesses (or by their disciples) soon after the events described therein.  It also doesn’t sugar coat history – the authors include detail that is embarrassing and even disturbing.

But the best judge of the New Testament is probably you – have you read the New Testament?  What were your conclusions?

(Special thanks to Pr. Eric Waters for his recent article in the Cornerstone from which I borrowed much of this content.)