Rachel Callahan

Babies in the Big City

March 19, 2009 Rachel Callahan I'm a Glutton for Adventure, Toddlers: The Experience

I know, this post is quite late in arriving. I got very little sleep the night before last, thanks to not being wise and drinking a large coke with a late night meal. I was so tired yesterday (and yet still drove back from Atlanta) that I fell UP two flights of stairs in two different cities. That’s right. I’m just THAT graceful.

When telling my friends Ashley and Lydia on Sunday night about my upcoming trip to Atlanta, I think I stunned them both when they realized that I had never driven anywhere over an hour away by myself. It’s just that Chris and I have always traveled together since we got married, and before that I was a child (nearly), so it’s just never happened.

So, mine and Ali’s two-and-a-half hour trip to Atlanta was destined to be a fun adventure, even though that’s really not that far away. Unless you get to experience Atlanta traffic.

I set out with many, many things to keep Ali occupied. Here you can see her modeling many of them all at once in an extremely tacky fashion:
She always wears her bracelets like that. I don’t know why. I guess it’s just more comfortable.

Barkley was coming from Charleston to meet us there for our fun girlfriend+babies trip, so she had her own travel adventures with a seven month old. One of them being trying out those nifty new seats in a Wendy’s bathroom:Of course, he promptly fell OUT of the nifty new seat right after she took that picture. Gotta love technology.

Once we got to Atlanta, there was no longer any need for entertainment. Ali has never been to Atlanta (or, come to think of it, any city bigger than Birmingham), so driving in was amazing to her. She experienced tunnels for the first time and saw trains (and even “VEWY VEWY FAST trains, Mommy!!!” – thanks, MARTA), she saw tall, tall buildings, lots of Cranky the Cranes, and got very excited when she saw LOTS AND LOTS OF BABY CARS!! (Thanks to a “Smart Car” dealership that we passed).

I tried to explain to her that we were in Atlanta. But I don’t quite think she got the concept. She kept pointing to all of the highrises saying, “There’s an Atlanta! There’s another Atlanta! There’s a tall, tall Atlanta!!”

I got to the hotel before Barkley, so I went up to the swanky front desk to check in. And then I realized that I was not going to like how this made me look. You see, Barkley’s husband made our reservations, because this trip was a gift from him to Barkley (and I got to benefit too!). So our conversation went as follows:

Front Desk Man: “What name is the room under?”

Me: “Jeremy (G). But my name is on the room also.”

Front Desk Man: “And what is your name?”

Me (as I stand there WITH MY TWO YEAR OLD and feel like a very bad person): “Rachel (C).”

Thinking quickly to save my reputation, I manage to think to say: “Please also have a set of keys for Barkley (G). SHE will be here soon, and SHE will need keys as well.”

Phew.

When we got to our room on the sixteenth floor, my-oh-my was Ali back to being thrilled with The Big City. After checking out the view for a while,

She kicked back and enjoyed the comfy chair.
And, for the first time that I remember, when I suggested it was time to take a nap, she said “stay up and play in the hotel house, please!!”

Yes, I’m lucky. She usually is quite agreeable and ready for her naps.

Then Barkley and Woods arrived, and I got to meet my adorable Godchild for the first time!! He LOVED all of Ali’s big-girl toys:

And, of course, Ali LOVED all of his toys.

They got to know each other somewhat trepidatiously. . .

But had many good bonding moments.

We shopped while we visited. The great thing about shopping with toddlers (at least mine) is that they are completely self-entertained.
One of Ali’s favorite places in the world to go is the mall. In fact, yesterday, she told me, “I NEED to go to the mall, Mommy.”

What have I done to my child??

Oh – and the great thing about shopping with babies? They are completely self-comforted:
That night, we took our kiddos to my favorite Greek Restaurant in Atlanta, Taverna Plaka, in hopes of letting them enjoy the bellydancing.

However, there is no bellydancing on Monday nights. But, of course, the food was delectable. Ali quite enjoyed hers:
And even Woods got to sample the Hummous dip:
Barkley and I then took the kids back the the hotel, put them to bed, and relaxed and talked for hours on end. We fully intended to have a picture to illustrate this. However, after many re-settings of the self-timer, running to get into position, and giggling and grimacing at the photos taken, we decided that past midnight was no time to try and get a decent picture that didn’t show greasy faces or double chins.

Not that we have double chins. It just looks like we do after midnight.

By the next morning, the kids were much more comfortable with each other, discussing the pros and cons of Pampers:

Ali enjoyed some reading and eating time by the window before Woods came and joined her for my attempted photo shoot:

And then did a bit of swirling in front of mirrors.
As I told you yesterday, we ended up staying an extra day after finding out that Chris had to come to Atlanta for a business meeting. So we got another hotel, of which I have already shared our adventures.

However, as I mentioned in that post, Ali got her nap really late, which was in part on purpose so that we could eat with Daddy when he arrived. She actually didn’t wake up from her nap until 7:30 pm (Atlanta time), and Daddy arrived at 9:00pm Atlanta time. We went to our favorite wing place that is no longer in Birmingham, Wing Stop. What time did Ali get to bed, you ask? Latest ever, by far (unless Gramamma and Pop have kept her up later and I just don’t know): 11:00pm.

And since she only slept till 9am, she was pretty dazed on the way home. In fact, I think she might have been seeing things when we were almost home. She kept pointing at cars and saying, “There’s Gramamma, Mommy! There’s Nick and Papa and Nana, Mommy! There’s Pop and JC, Mommy!.”

So I’m going to try and get her back to normal schedule over the next couple of days. We’ll see how that goes.

Speaking of which, since it’s almost 6pm as I write this, I should probably go wake her from her nap.

So I leave you with these:

Most odd “the next new thing” I saw being hocked in Atlanta: Electric Cigarettes. I have no idea what these are supposed to be.
Most ridiculous price tag I saw in Atlanta: Has to go to a baby dress. Because baby dresses should NEVER EVER have this price on them:

A Saint Patty’s Day Parade O’ Pictures

March 18, 2009 Rachel Callahan I would NEVER take too many pictures. . ., Toddlers: The Experience, Wordless Wednesday - as IF I could be wordless.

I STILL have more to tell you about our trip to Atlanta, but for now, I bring you the play-by-play of an extraordinarily adventurous pursuit: a Photo Shoot of a 7 month old and a 2 year old.

I bring you, Ali and Woods:

Woods started out too interested for Ali’s taste:

WAAY too interested:
So of course she strongarmed him in a typical two-year-old fashion:

Which made him say, “ooooh. Pretty Bracelet.”
Nope, she didn’t like that either.
So of course, hold it out of baby’s reach! He giggles evilly with glee at his success in getting under her skin:
And goes for it again. And gets another strongarm:
Since that wasn’t working out for her, she tried to “let me be your friend – will you sit still then?!?” approach:(I love that picture. They look like a little old couple, grumpy at the world.)

So she thought and she thought and she thought. . .. . .and she prayed. . .

Discussing their thoughts:

“Can you believe this woman?!?! SO snobby!!”

First picture of them both looking AND smiling. It’s a miracle!!

Ali busts out laughing. Woods takes this as an opportunity to make his move. . .
Oh yeah. Hand on the girl’s back: achieved.
She’s flattered. He’s proud.

OOH!! I see!!! You just put the bracelet on the other hand!!!

Trying the hand holding approach again, since it worked last time:

Not this time.

Resorting to The Ultimate Strongarm.
(I promise, no babies were injured, or really even discouraged from their mission, in this photo shoot.)

Maybe I can fool her into thinking that I’m asleep. . .

“We need to talk. This just isn’t working.”

Now everyone’s awkward.

Please? Just one more chance?
And then, finally then, I got the picture I was after:

When it Rains, it Pours Creamer and Coke.

March 17, 2009 Rachel Callahan I embarrass myself just for your amusement., I'm a Glutton for Adventure, Just My Luck

I’ve got some absolutely adorable pictures to show you of our fun this weekend, but first I’m going to tell you about my last two hours. Because it’s my blog and I want to.

First, the background: So as coincidence would have it, while I was over here in Atlanta having good girlfriend times with my friend Barkley, Chris found out that he actually had to come to Atlanta tomorrow for work – something he has to do every 6 months or so. I was SUPPOSED to head back today, but for a lot of reasons, we decided it would be less stress and hassle and more fun for us to just get a room and me and Ali and Chris all stay in Atlanta tonight as well.

By the time all of this was decided, we were already checked out of the hotel we were staying in and out shopping with Bark and Woods. So Chris booked a room at a hotel a couple of miles away and emailed me directions. He got a two bedroom suite because he’s sweet (and I’m corny, I know) so that Ali could nap and I didn’t have to sit quietly in a dark room.

Now that you’re caught up, here’s the bullet points of my last two hours:

Tired. Achy. Back hurting and blisters on feet. About to leave the mall to go to new hotel. Hours past when naptime should have started. But fun was definitely had!!
Stroller won’t fold down! Completely locked up – no idea why. Managed to cram it in the back fully open on at least the 15th try and rearrange of all luggage. Wow it’s huge.
Finally leave. Leave key off of keyring for valet. Hate valeting, but it’s Atlanta – there’s not a parking lot in the city that you can not valet or pay huge bucks to park in.
Start off. After a mile, realize it’s the wrong road. U-Turn on six lane Atlanta road. Get on right road by doing illegal left turn. Realize going wrong direction on right road. U-Turn on four lane Atlanta road. Finally – right road AND right direction.
Get to new hotel. It’s actually NOT a highrise. Didn’t know there were any of those in Atlanta. In fact, there is a parking space right at entrance, no valet, no bellhop. No problem – see cart in hallway. Rather do it myself anyway.
Go in, to sign in, and desk guy tells me which room we’re in, the hands me a map and tells me to drive around the building and go up huge Mount Rushmore of stairs.
Okay maybe he didn’t say Mount Rushmore part, but it was.
I ask, naturally, where the elevator is.
He looks at me with “you’re a spoiled brat” written all over his face. “I’m sorry ma’am, we don’t have elevators here.”
Moment of panic. How is a mother supposed to unload a car, carry 57 bags of luggage (I did mention it was a girl trip, right?) and toddler up Mount Rushmore of stairs? I certainly don’t want to leave toddler in the car or the room alone. WAY too paranoid for that. Thanks to the fact that my toddler has a propensity for locking herself into hotel rooms.
Drive around to room. Sitting in car, staring at Mount Rushmore and trying to figure out what to do. Scary looking foreign man in parking lot. Staring at me. Meanly. Will wait till he walks around building to get out. Especially not leaving Ali ANYWHERE now.
Manage to lug Ali and 56 bags (left one in car) up Mount Rushmore. Whimpering a bit at the effort, but feeling spoiled for whimpering.
Get up there. Nice room.
Set up pack and play for naptime. Must have a coke for naptime.
Where is vending? Doesn’t show on map. Call to find out where ice and vending is. It’s in the lobby. Nice. Back to lobby.
Ali and I go down and around to the lobby. Buy 3 (extraordinarily overpriced) cokes, ask where ice is.
There is no ice.
I clarify: No ice machine?
Get the spoiled girl look again. There’s a fridge and freezer in your room.
But there’s no ice in it – I looked before I came.
I know. That’s just how we’re set up. But the guy in the kitchen over there can give you some.
Walk to kitchen – it’s the scary foreign guy. Nice. He gives me ice. Still a bit glary.
On way out, I go ahead and steal creamers and sugar (to help make up for the extraordinarily overpriced cokes) from breakfast bar for the huge amounts of coffee I plan to consume.
Trouble carrying 3 (extraordinarily overpriced) cokes, huge bag of ice, coffee cup full of creamer and coffee cup full of sugar while holding toddler’s hand on way back to room.
Hand coffee cup full of creamers to toddler, ask her to carry it carefully.
She immediately tips cup slightly and a creamer falls out, of which she immediately steps on and sprays everywhere.
Get back to car, get a bag out of car to put stuff in to make it up Mount Rushmore.
Drop an (extraordinarily overpriced) coke, which starts spraying all over parking lot.
It’s a well moisturized parking lot.
Get up to room, PUT TODDLER TO BED.

ahhhhhh.

The Moral of this story: Just because you have an Irish last name, you don’t automatically get the luck of the Irish on St. Patty’s day. Nope, St. Patrick must know that I’m a poser. I need a Greek holiday.

Giveaway Jubilee Winners!!!

March 17, 2009 Rachel Callahan Giveaways and Contests

Well, the anniversary is over, and the party deco is put up. . . (sigh). . .

Which means that it’s time to announce the winners!!!

(drumroll)

Mabel’s Labels Giveaway:

MoziEsmé

Ted Dekker Books:

susan1215

Doodlebug Designs Custom Blog Design:

The Wade’s

Earthborn Studios Pottery Set:

Beth

Cahaba Clay Works Pottery Lessons:

Jennifer

GLCarter Designed Earrings and Bracelet: **FIRST CLAIM FIRST SERVE – be sure to comment and say whether you want the Earrings or Bracelet**:

Carol

cpullum

Congratulations to you all!!! I’m in Atlanta right now, so when I get home and settled in (Tuesday night or Wednesday), I’ll email the winners to give you the rest of the details!

Please be sure to comment here and thank all of the wonderful sponsors of this giveaway!! Thanks for celebrating with me!

When Did We Start Talking in Paragraphs?? And Stuff.

March 16, 2009 Rachel Callahan I'm a Glutton for Adventure, Toddlers: The Experience

This is how I have been greeted the last few mornings when I go to get Ali out of bed:

“Hey Mommy! Hold KittyMonkey. Ali will hold DoggyBear. Mommy Sit down (pointing to chair) – get comfy. Ali is going to do flips. Mommy can watch Ali do flips.”

When I ask her, much later, if she’s ready to get out of bed and go read books in Mommy’s room (what USED to be our morning routine):

“Mommy go get ready. Ali wants to stay in bed and do flips.”

The funny thing is, she usually doesn’t do any flips. She just talks about it. A LOT.

In case you missed her flips on B-Sides, here’s what “flips” are (and excuse the warm-up session of the first 15 seconds or so – you can’t just do flips with no warm-up!):

In other news, Ali and I are setting out for The Big City (Atlanta) today to meet up with my precious friend Barkley and her baby Woods (who live in Charleston – MUCH too far away from us for my liking!!).

We will be having a Grand Adventure, seeing as how the last time I drove in Atlanta was the first year Chris and I were married (2001), and he about lost his young wife to a complete driving panic attack. But I am a wise, sage 27 years old now, instead of the young, inexperienced 19 that I was then.

But say a prayer just in case.

And, to keep you busy until I get the chance to tell you about this adventure, here are mine and Chris’ top 5 Atlanta adventures:

. . .And The Crazies Descended Upon Atlanta – when we experienced the craziness of Dragon*Con QUITE accidentally. This adventure would be in the top 5 anyway, but it is number ONE because of the crazie comments on it. The “crazies” found my post and posted it on their forums and message boards, and so thousands descended upon my blog, identified themselves in my pictures, gave their opinions (mostly good but a few very, very bad) of my post, and in general “made” the post.
In Which We Had a Jack Bauer-Like Adventure – Our adventures conning our way up onto the roof of a 700 foot Atlanta highrise.
A Taste of Greek ~~Culture~~ Adventure – our first experience with TRUE Greek culture which included, of course, bellydancing. Oh it was fun.
Not-So-Hotlanta – shopping, more bellydancing (this time introducing Chris’ Aunt and Uncle to it), and trying on outlandish clothes in Atlanta.
Football (Finally) – my first thankfully air-conditioned WITH CUPHOLDERS football game. Ah. . . I could get used to that.

So enjoy our adventures above while Ali and I set off to have new ones.

Hmmm. . . should I take her bellydancing. . .? On the roof on a “tall tall building” (as she calls them). . . ? Or should I take her to Dragon*Con. . .?

Windshield Wiper Mania

March 15, 2009 Rachel Callahan "Deep" Thoughts by Rachel

It has been a very dreary, rainy weekend. You know, to finish out the Triumvirate of Weather – what with the snow two weekends ago and 80 degrees last weekend.

All of this rain has gotten me thinking a lot about windshield wipers. I guess I can’t really help thinking about them, since when I’m in the car I’m continuously tinkering with them. I can’t ever get them to the exact right speed.

I really dislike them in general, because the back and forth motion makes my eyes very sleepy. But I also can’t stand to have water on the windshield. So I want them on a speed that takes care of all water, but has no extra rotations in it.

However, Chris is a much more sparing wiper user. He will let the windshield get completely covered in little droplets before using them. I will be sitting in the passenger seat, DYING to reach over and hit the wiper knob. I have to remind myself over and over, “Don’t do it. It’s ok if I can’t see – I’m not driving. He knows what he’s doing. Don’t do it.”

He’ll put up with a fair amount passenger seat driving from me because he has a tendency to not pay attention to where he’s going, especially if I’m in the car with him and we’re wrapped up in conversation. He will completely miss exits or turns that he takes on a daily basis if he’s in the middle of a conversation with me. Who knows WHERE we would end up if I didn’t pipe up.

I know, I’m just that distracting. :)

So I have this habit of always being aware of where we’re going and how to get there when he’s driving, because I often save us from detours.

However, I think telling him when and how to use windshield wipers would cross the threshold of my allowable backseat driving input.

So I will keep reminding myself that as long as he can see, then I don’t have to.

We just might miss a turn or two.

Survey Saturday – Movies

March 14, 2009 Rachel Callahan Survey Says. . .

Okay, so I’m going through a difficult phase.

Or maybe “High Maintenance” is a better way to describe it.

My husband, being high in mercy that he is, calls it a “particular phase”.

I’m not usually terribly opinionated about where to eat or what to watch, but the last few times we’ve gotten a movie or gone to the movies (which isn’t that often), I’ve had an aversion to any and all movies that weren’t comedies.

I just can’t get excited about them. I don’t know why – I used to like dramas and actions and stories and so on. But lately, that part of my brain seems to be shut off.

A great comedy we watched recently because of this was Ghost Town. It was a brilliantly quirky and surprisingly clean movie (although bit of language) – we loved it!!

We had never heard of it, but I was desperate to find a comedy, and unlike me, the movie industry is NOT going through a “particular” comedy phase. So, thanks to my phase, we watched a brilliant, yet terribly underadvertised movie.

Tonight, we watched The Devil Wears Prada. Also a fun movie.

However, as you can imagine, it was not my sweet husband’s first choice.

So, survey question for today:

1. What genre of movies do you like to watch right now? Ever get stuck in a “particular phase”?

2. What good movies have you seen lately?? And don’t just stick with comedies. . . I promised my husband that this was the LAST time I would insist on a comedy. So I need some good movie suggestions for our next movie – maybe if I start to get excited about them now, it will be easier to swallow later.

Just Like Her Daddy, THOROUGH and Through

March 13, 2009 Rachel Callahan Newsflash, Parent of the Year, Toddlers: The Experience

A couple of announcements really quickly, then onto the post:

I got a real surprise this morning when I pulled up the computer and saw MY picture over at 5 Minute s for Mom!!! Thank you SOO much to Janice for featuring me in their Say it Forward post this week!!! I really appreciate all of their kind words, and am truly honored!!!

This weekend is your last chance to enter all of the blogoversary jubilee giveaways!!!

All contests close on Monday.

Don’t pass up your chance to win one of over $500 worth of prizes – Mabel’s Labels, Ted Dekker Books, A Custom Blog Design, Handmade, Designer Pottery, Six Weeks of Pottery Lessons, A Gorgeous Bracelet or Earrings!!

This is also your last chance to get your extra entries by linking up your baby tips or by letting me know here that you’re a subscriber, follower, or that you tweeted or blogged about the contests!!

You remember when I was so excited that I finally found one personality trait of mine that Ali had?

Yeah, well that was pretty much the only one. It’s really a great thing that she’s like her Daddy, because after all, I think he’s pretty much perfect, but it’s still nice to see yourself in your child EVERY once in a while.

Of course if she WERE like me, I might not like what I see at all. Anyway, I digress.

Yesterday, I learned yet another trait of her Daddy’s that she has. I mean, I guess I already knew she had it, but yesterday I learned that it was dangerous.

Thoroughness.

Her Daddy does everything thoroughly, perfectly, and meticulously. I am all about accuracy myself, but accuracy with speed. So sometimes I just might cut a corner here or there in the name of doing things in the most efficient way possible.

Chris? Never.

Ali is like Chris.

We were at work for a few minutes yesterday. Everyone at work has something in their cubicle that Ali likes to play with.

(Which is why she is the ONLY person in the WORLD that starts squealing “WE’RE AT WORK!!! YAAAAAY!!!” as soon as the office comes into view.)

Bonnie has a heart that hangs on her wall. Every time we go to work, Bonnie gets down the heart for Ali, and Ali carries it around with her the whole time, then hands it back to Bonnie to hang on the wall.

Yesterday, however, Bonnie was at lunch when it was time to go.

So as I was finishing up, I told Ali to take the heart and put it in Bonnie’s cube. I assumed that she knew what I meant was “Please take the heart and put it on Bonnie’s desk so that Bonnie can hang it on the wall when she gets back from lunch.”

However, that is not at all what Ali heard.

I finished up what I’m doing and walk around the cubicle wall to find this horrifying scene:
Yes. Ali climbed up on the chair, got the 2 inch T-Pin out of the wall, and was pinning the heart back onto the wall. EXACTLY where it came from.

WHILE STANDING ON A CHAIR.

A PIN.

TWO INCHES LONG.

So naturally, instead of saving my child from impending doom, I took pictures.
While standing close enough to stop any catastrophe, of course.
(if you’re wondering about the strange stickers on her arm, that’s the special treat she gets from TIM – hole reinforcers.)

Task completed.
Thank goodness she has her father’s carefulness to go with his thoroughness.

The Next Mary Kay.

March 12, 2009 Rachel Callahan Toddlers: The Experience, Utter Silliness

Ali scored a set of makeup, or as she calls it, “hakeup”, as a party favor at Amy Beth’s birthday party. And as I’ve mentioned several times, she already loved playing with (but not touching) my makeup, so this was a truly awe-inspiring moment for her.

And I do believe that she has just about applied every last bit of that hakeup to her face. And by face, I do mean ALL of her face.

Notice the big chunk in her left eyebrow:
Take note of her upper lip, chin, cheek, and eyebrow:
Her methods for putting it on:
And, in case you were wanting to borrow some tricks from her, she made an instructional video just for you:

What IS The Rock?

March 11, 2009 Rachel Callahan On a more serious note. . ., Thoughts about Faith

God has definitely been working on me in regards to where my security lies.

Like everyone right now, the economy is definitely effecting us, as I wrote about a while back. I haven’t continued to write about it because there is just no value in that. However, there IS value in sharing what I’m learning from God through it.

I am a numbers girl. I have an accounting degree, keep the books for two companies, and love budgets enough to put it down as a “hobby” on a questionnaire (however I never would, seeing as how that would brand me as a complete and utter geek), (which I am, but still).

So naturally, a lot of my focus is on financial planning. I plan and I budget and I logicize and I scrimp and I save and I pay off. . . all because I want so badly to build my house on the rock and feel completely secure and never have to worry again.

Then when things that I can’t control cut into my perfect little plan, my house of cards come tumbling down.

As much as I would like to secure my own future, all of this energy is being wasted. I am building on the wrong Rock.

In Matthew 7, Jesus says:

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Jesus was making the point that we are to build our futures based on Him and His Word, not the things of this earth. My security, my Rock, needs to be Him, not all of my own planning and budgeting and working to make things work out “just so”.

If I’m panicking because things aren’t going like I planned, then I need a whole new foundation, a whole new set of tools, and a whole new blueprint. I need to focus on my relationship with Christ, and let him take care of the details.

Psalm 127 says:

“Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.

In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to those he loves.”

I can waste all the time in the world budgeting my resources and obsessing over my budget, but it’s not going to do me any good if I’m not choosing to put the Lord first in my life and completely rest in His care.
In Matthew 6, Jesus says:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

I am going to admit it – I stink at this. I’m good at not worrying if things look pretty good, but when things look bad, I panic. When things get outside of my little box of control, I DO. NOT. LIKE. IT.

But that’s when it becomes all too obvious where my focus is: when the worthless things I care for are threatened. And as much as I hate it, that’s healthy. It’s good for them to be threatened so that I can realize how out of whack my priorities are and get them back in line. I don’t want to lose focus on what matters!!

We studied the Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man (Luke 16:19-31) Tuesday in Bible Study, and it really nailed down what God has been putting on my heart. The thing is that it never says that the Rich man was cruel to Lazarus, or was irreverent, or broke any laws. It didn’t say he was dishonest, haughty or proud. It didn’t say he was a bad man at all, in fact, from the description given (or more from what wasn’t said), he probably would have been referred to as a virtuous man.

So what was his crime? Why did he go to hell? Because he didn’t follow God and make God a priority. He was completely focused on earthly comfort and made no preparation for eternity. Even though he was giving to the poor (Lazarus), his good deeds didn’t, couldn’t, and wouldn’t save him.

Now I know that I am saved. I am a child of God and have a relationship with Jesus Christ. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t get off focus sometimes. A lot of times. I start to try to control things on my own and trust in my own ways. I try to build up “my” life here without regard to what God wants for me. I depend on myself instead of God, even though God is SO much more dependable than me.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 says:

“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it.

But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.

If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”

I want to build with God’s tools, God’s building materials, and with God as my Rock. I want my work to be worth something. I want to make a difference. And I want to quit worrying about how I’m going to make my own life work out the way I want it to.