What A Difference A Year Makes

As the first month of summer vacation comes to a close, I've found myself basking in joy. Literally. This summer is so much better than last. Allow me to explain.

Last Summer:
-Working full-time as temporary District Sales Manager while the 'real DSM' was recovering from surgery. I was up at 6:30 working till 11 at night every day.
-Engine blew in our Blazer on business road-trip
-My Pacifica needed $2500 worth of repairs
-Back-to-back visits from in-laws
-Overbooked social calendar
-Lousy weather
-Bored son
-Feeling of impending doom (i.e. Adam was going to start kindergarten)
-Social pressure which really made me hate myself, my kids and my husband
-Felt like I was running out of time
-Nearly nightly panic attacks

This Summer:
-Working part-time as assistant DSM for 3 districts. I keep myself on a strict work schedule. I don't allow it to interfere with my home life.
-Hardly any social commitments
-Gorgeous weather
-Pacifica running very well. Woody is our "funky but useful" replacement to the blown Blazer.
-Happy son (okay he hates the homework I make him do)
-Great things happening at church
-Enjoying every minute I spend with my kids and my husband

Job 1:21 in The Message translation puts it perfectly: "God gives, God takes. God's name be ever blessed."

So many times people cite this verse in an effort to comfort someone. As in God gave a loved one life and God has taken it away. But I also interpret it to mean that God allowed turmoil and now God has removed it. Praise God!

You can tell me anything so long as it's the truth. We don't have a lot of rules in our house, but one that is sure and steady is telling the truth. Adam knows he can tell us anything but we expect the truth. Truth-telling was something both of our parents instilled in us and we hope to instill it in our children as well. And it's something we expect from friends, coworkers and family. If I ask you a question, I want to hear the truth. I don't want your version of the truth, I don't want what you think I'll believe to be the truth. I want the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. And if I ask you the same question more than once it might just be because I already know the truth but your answer didn't have any in it. I don't like confrontation any more than the next person, but when we forego the truth in an effort to save face or avoid a confrontation, we're driving a wedge between us and the other person. I prefer to deal with a difficult truthful situation than an easy dishonest one. Likewise, I don't care much for secrecy. This is something else we've taught Adam. Keeping secrets (other than presents and surprise parties) is dangerous. I lump 'sneaking around' into secrecy.