It's Not About The Towel

What comes to mind when you look at this picture?  

I am sure the word "obey" is not the first word to pop into your head.  I have a feeling words like freedom, openness, majesty, and maybe even calling come to mind.  But in this picture I see the word "obey".

I asked my kids yesterday, "Why do you think you should obey mommy and daddy?" 

The answers ranged from, "because it's good to follow the rules...because you know what's best for me...because you are older and wiser and have lived longer...". My heart sank because I knew I had missed the point over the years.   

I explained that when I ask for you to pick up your dirty clothes or wet towel, it's not about the towel or the clothes.  When you obey, something is developed inside your soul, a building of character.  When you pick up your towel or dirty clothes, you are developing a heart of gratitude for the abundance of clothes you have.  You are building a character of steadfastness when you complete a difficult task that seems meaningless.  You are developing an organized spirit as you put things in their proper place.   It's not about the towel.  

As you obey, you grow in character, and ultimately you know the heart of God more, and then you know yourself better because you are taking on the character of God.  Then, your spirit is more mature and your maturity helps you grow in wisdom, and be able to obey more readily.  A robot can follow rules, but only the human mind and heart has the capacity to grow in character.  

It's a circle that keeps repeating itself as it grows more dynamic with every turn.  A more dynamic relationship with Jesus is what is cultivated.  It's not about the towel. 

As my life progresses I can see how my own character has been developed from obedience to Christ. The picture above is from several years ago while we were hiking the Inca Trail in Peru.  There was a time when I did not want to live where we live, including so many years of obedience through clenched teeth and white knuckles.  But as my character was changed, I can see that it wasn't about the city, it was about how my character was being built through obedience.  And this photo is God's faithfulness in our obedience.  His joy in our abiding and my joy in his protection through his will...not mine.  And here is where He took us.    

It is so not about the towel.  So I'll just keep having my kids pick it up.   

Four years later....

There is so much I love about this picture...

It can't be all about them.  This year something is happening within myself too.  We are exchanging our fear for excitement.  

Help Matt and Nicole Turvey bring home their baby girl from China!

Help Matt and Nicole Turvey bring home this sweet baby girl from China!

This precious girl belongs to our friends Matt and Nicole.  

They were living in Lima, Peru serving as missionaries, then they were called to come back to the states and live in Atlanta, Georgia.

They are totally normal people, if you consider being on HGTV House Hunters International "normal".  

They live life out loud.  They are brave people.  They already have three kiddos.  

Yet, they knew that God was calling them to continue to open their home to this precious girl with special needs.

We went to Peru to visit the Turvey's and they opened their home to our entire family for 10 days...which turned into a lifelong friendship.

They are God's hands and feet.

Help bring this sweet baby girl home to her family.

We are hosting a Noonday Jewelry party to raise support for their adoption.

Sunday, November 16, 2014  6-8pm

1200 Winding Creek Trail

Atlanta, GA 30328

Watch this video to see how Noonday Jewelry is made: 

http://vimeo.com/60359863

Pre Shop NOW!!  Go to:  claudiahazen.noondaycollection.com

When you satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

your night will become like the noonday sun.  -Isaiah 58:10

Homebodies

It must have been three years ago that the snow came and captured Atlanta for a week.  School was cancelled and the city shut down right after the New Year giving the city another week of holiday break.  We were all ready to gear back up for school when Tuesday rolled around and stopped everything.  We were more prepared back then.  The city and weather services had forewarned us.  No one was on the roads.  The streets were silent as the sun glistened on the snowy white covered everything.  As the week passed, we played outside so much and I saw a new trait in my kids that I had not given thought to before.  My kids were brave sledders and creative players, making the week a surprisingly pleasant experience.  That was first time I thought, "I think I would love homeschooling".  

The next year I homeschooled just one of the four kids and loved it.  We appreciated the flexibility it gave us.  The next year, we decided to homeschool them all through a hybrid program called Veritas and here we are.  So much has changed.

This week in 2014 the snow once again gripped Atlanta and we were given cause to stay home.  I have to admit....I LOVE staying home.  It taps into all that I love about centering my life on things that matter most...and I hate getting four kids in the car to go anywhere.  I have consequently raised some homebodies without really meaning to.  I admit it is a growth area of mine to venture out.

In the last few days we have cleaned out the basement and created an entire Lego room dedicated to recreating the set of the new Lego Movie (which we have not even seen yet).  We cleaned out the laundry area and made a craft room.  We have taken inventory of dress up clothes and have bagged up so many clothes to give away.  We have parted the waters of toys to designate which ones to give to those less fortunate.  We have slowed down and paid close attention to each other, giving voice to a few dreams that would have otherwise been covered up.  My favorite dream was that we give away ALL that is in our basement and create secret tunnel of walls for a hideout.  Brilliant.  I am considering it.

I seriously needed this.  I desperately needed to be cleaned out, sifted, and reordered.  I needed to listen and refocus.  I am so grateful that God knows my heart.

Let it snow!

Acclimate or Accommodate

It happened again.  I was sitting across a lovely dinner table at my friend Katie's house.  She is an artist by trade, married to an artist, and lives in a beautifully crafted home that glows in peace and glorious smells from her always active kitchen.  She asked me and my rather large family over for dinner on a Sunday evening, which really never happens when you have four kids.  As we chatted over her delicious BBQ sandwiches, the conversation turned to our kids...as it almost always does when you have at least one.  We talked of fun things like "firsts"and the "what ifs", then she asked the question.  The question I have heard over and over again in the past year,  "How far do you push your kids? When you know what they are capable of, how far do you push and when do you stop pushing and accommodate their short comings?"

This is a question that has come across countless conversations in the past year.  I could almost complete the sentence word for word as it came out of Katie's mouth.

I have wrestled with this question a million times over the past seven years.

Since my eleven year old son was three, we have covered countless territories in seeking to understand his academic and emotional needs.  We've changed schools four times.  FOUR!

How much do we push him? What are realistic goals for him?

I sadly confess that I yelled at my then five year old boy because he could not complete his work.  My frustration peaked daily as I tried to understand why he couldn't do what I asked him to do.  He couldn't follow simple two-step instructions, or focus on anything for more than thirty seconds.

I spent several years asking him to acclimate to his surroundings, to rise up and step up to the plate.  My asking turned into heartbreak as I started to realize he could not do what other kids could do.  So, after testing and trials,  I accommodated him. We tried to fill the gap.

We changed schools, we even homeschooled, now we hybrid school.  And here we are again.

Meetings with teachers and counselors tell me that he struggles with anxiety.  No learning disability, no dyslexia.  No plan for a kid like him.  They wish me the best and send me on my way.

It's up to me.

Again, I ask, "How far do I push him? When do I step in and accommodate? How do I wean him off the accommodations? He can't go to college with me by his side!"

I have heard so many moms ask these same questions.  Would you share with me some stories of a child, or even a relationship, that you have had where you have walked that line to acclimate or accommodate?

Peruvian Adventure Highlights

Words can't even explain the gravity of our trip to Peru.  This was a dream of mine being realized.  More than anything, the joy of traveling with my family to see lands uncharted and discover more of who God is through people we don't even know…that makes my heart full! We must thank our gracious friends who hosted our energetic family for just over a week…the Turvey Family.  Nicole just became my new best friend and Matt, well…we call him "SuperMatteo" because he drove us around all week in his 15 passenger van and managed to not get us killed in Peruvian traffic.  The Turvey family took the plunge to invest their lives full time in serving the people of Peru for two years.  We were able to meet so many of the people they were connected with over the short time they were there in Lima.  Our kids will never be the same, and we are so grateful for that.  God is at work all over this world, and we are grateful that we got to see more of who God is through the eyes of some new Peruvian friends.  Here are a few highlights:

La Molina

Nueva Vida (New Life) Children's home 

Raising the roof with Marta and her boys!

A church near Atlanta, GA donated 40 new bibles for the staff at New Life

This is Nahum.  He stole my heart.  His story will unfold on the pages of this blog for many years to come.  

San Cristobal, Lima.

The coolest people I know! Nicole and Matt Turvey

Sunset near San Cristobal

The Incan Ruins in the middle of the city of Lima.

Photo Title:  Old Meets New

My sweet friend and her gift for touching souls.  This photo is from a special needs orphanage near downtown Lima.

We visited the factory of Krochet Kids Peru.   For more information on their amazing company visit 

www.krochetkids.org 

Krochet Kids Peru Headquarters

Products from Krochet Kids.  Handmande and absolutely beautiful! 

Winter beanies made from Alpaca wool are super soft.

Blake Goodfellow gave our kids a lesson in micro finance and mentoring.  We are so grateful to have been introduced to Krochet Kids! 

Jills ponders all these things in her heart wearing her new Krochet Kids hat. 

Jill makes a friend in the childcare school that Krochet Kids provides for their employee's children. 

Watching a dump truck unload on a squatter village below near Lima. 

This will be a memory that will last a lifetime.  Janie was hurt playing soccer and immediately all the little girls came to pray for her.  In an instant, one girl gave her a treasure from her pocket (a silver button) and offered it to Janie in hopes that it would help her feel better.  While these girls have nothing, they still give all they have away.  God is at work in these little lives!

Todd with our new friend from the Nueva Esperanza school…might also be called Brazos Abiertos? 

They are doing nightly work there!!  

Most importantly, our beautiful hosts kept us smiling with their genuine love for one another and their servant hearts.  Thank you Turvey Family!

A few folks were asking about my slides from a presentation I did recently.  Here you go! I compiled my information from the list of resources listed in the last slide.  Thanks so much to everyone for your continued encouragement!   Blessings as you explore the world of Parenting with a Why!