LOVE

From our family to yours!  Happy Valentine's Day!

May you love extravagantly!  And may you ENJOY loving one another today!

A Story About Kidnapped Parents

When I was 5 years old my sister Leslie and I shared a room.  We cozied up in our bunk beds every night whispering stories or complaints to one another about how unfair it was that we had to go to bed at such an early hour.  In the summer of that year, our bedtime of 8pm seemed especially cruel – afterall, the sun was still out and as all children know, there should be playing instead of sleeping when the sun was out!

Over the summer months we became quite masterful at prolonging the inevitable bedtime.  We would ask for stories, get up for a drink of water, and on especially creative nights we would get up to ask my parents deep questions about life – you know, like why was it that Stephanie across the street was allowed to ride her bike outside until 8:30pm but we were relegated to our bunk beds at 8:00pm?

During one of these summer nights we had gone through our litany of bed time excuses only to surrender to the inevitable and try to go to sleep.  I was almost dreaming of tomorrow’s bike rides and the ice cream truck when I heard Leslie calling my name in a distressed voice.

“Paige…Paige!”

“What is it, Les?”  I asked with annoyance.

“I think mom and dad have been kidnapped or something.”

“What?”  I asked as I started to awaken from my sleepy state.

“I said, I think mom and dad have been kidnapped.  They aren’t here.”

As I sat up in my bunk bed Leslie began to explain to me as only a 3 year old can that she had gotten up to ask one last time for a glass of water only to find that my parents were nowhere in our house.  I asked if she had checked the kitchen.  She had.  The bedroom?  Check.  I went down the list of every room in the house only to discover that according to Leslie they were nowhere to be found.

Perhaps they were kidnapped I decided…but I told her that I would check it out first.

As the two of us ventured into each room, Leslie began to cry and I began to worry.  Who would have kidnapped them I wondered?  And would they be able to escape? 

I tried my best to be brave for Leslie, and told her that I would call the operator.  (I guess it dates me a bit at the realization that 911 was nonexistent at the time – but I had learned in kindergarten that when there is an emergency it was best to dial 0 and talk to the operator!)

So, standing in my parent’s bedroom I walked to the phone and dialed 0 with confidence knowing that the operator was always available to help.

As soon as I heard the voice say, “Operator.”  I went into full story mode trying my best to explain that my parents had been kidnapped and we did not know what to do.  I then took a deep breath prepared to receive wisdom and comfort from the all-wise operator.

 “Stop playing on the phone, little girl.  This line is meant for real emergencies.” The operator spat out these words and immediately hung up the phone.  I was shocked as I held the receiver in my hand listening to the dial tone.  I didn’t know what to do – hadn’t my teacher said that the operator was always able to help in times of trouble? 

Leslie looked up at me with tears in her big blue eyes and I knew I had to try one more time.  This time I would be brave and make sure the operator knew this was a real emergency.  So, as I heard the word, “Operator.”  I launched into the most confident speech any 5-year old could make about the fact that her parents had been kidnapped.

To my relief this was a different operator and she asked me several questions – all of which I was proud to have the answers to…

Address: 8505 Louisville Drive

Phone Number: 792-0773

Parent’s Names: Jackie and Linda White

She asked me a few other things and then explained that I would now be speaking to the police who would ask me a few other questions.  The police officer asked me the same type of questions and then explained that everything would be okay – that they would do their best to find my kidnapped parents.

The police officer then asked if I knew my neighbors and when I said that I did, he told me to go over to their house and wait for a few minutes until a police officer could get there.  I hung up the phone, put my hand on Leslie’s shoulder and told her to go put on her robe and pack a few things because we were going next door.

Leslie and I went to our room and pulled out a suitcase.  We packed our favorite dolls and some crackers.  We put on our new robes and house shoes and prepared ourselves for the trip next door to the Addling’s house.

As we stepped out our front door I realized that it was still light outside, and then I noticed familiar voices and laughter.  Could it be?  Was that my father’s voice?  How had he escaped the kidnappers already?  We turned from the front door to the driveway and were amazed to see that sitting in lawn chairs were my parents talking with the neighbors!  They were alive!  They were not kidnapped!

My parents needless to say were a bit surprised to see Leslie and I dressed in our best night attire carrying a suitcase.  Leslie screamed and started yelling – “you’re alive!  You’re alive!”  As my dad picked her up he started to laugh and say that of course he was alive – what were we up to now?  We started to explain that we thought they had been kidnapped, and in the midst of the story I commented that the police were coming to help us find them.

My parents laughed about our story, but then my dad halted and asked, “Did you really call the police?”  “Yes I did!”  I proudly boasted, “And they are on their way.”

My dad hurried inside to make a phone call, just as a police car pulled onto our street.

Becoming Paige…

I used to love telling this story when I was a little girl.  I thought it made me sound brave, although I understand now why it made people laugh and light up with joy!  And although it’s cute that two little girls would make assumptions about their parent’s being kidnapped – I’ve started to wonder how often do I make false assumptions about my life.  How often do I go by what I see when the truth of a situation is right outside the front door?

Sometimes I like the comfort and the confines of the house I make in my life – even if the reality or assumptions inside of that house aren’t ideal.  I’m trying to step outside my house more this year – look at situations from a different vantage point…and allow the Lord to walk me out the front door where I can see His truth rather than just my reality.

A Story About...

I’ve always known that I was a story teller.

I knew it when I was 13 years-old and I convinced my entire bus one morning on the way to school that Vanna White was my aunt (my maiden name was Paige White). I think I had a whole bit in there about the correct way to turn the vowels and that I was being coached to one day take her place…

I knew it the first time I preached…stories are how I know God and so this is what I communicated (I also quickly realized that stories can be LONG and that I must work on cutting down the details the next time I preached ).

And I know I am a story teller because I find myself telling Selah stories constantly – stories about my life, stories about what her life might be like, and stories about Jesus.

I used to think perhaps I should be more theological in the way that I think or teach or talk. Perhaps stories were childish and for yesteryears, but when it dawned on me that Jesus was the master story-teller, I decided that it was good company to be in…

So, I’ve decided that I’m going to actually work on my story-telling. Not fictional stories – no, I love telling stories that have happened to me in the past. I love these stories because when I reflect on them I always see lessons or God’s grace or just ridiculous moments that I can grow from…

That’s why I’m excited to let you know that from here on out, I’m committed to sharing with you one of my stories every Tuesday. Some will be about faraway places – like the time I jumped in the Indian ocean or walked through a bamboo forest in Maui. Others may be embarrassing – like the time I mooned two boats full of high school boys. And others may be simple – like the time I went on a date with Jesus and He told me to go to The Disney Store.

Whatever the story – I want to find God’s fingerprints on my life – afterall, it’s stopping and reflecting on how He is here and what He is doing that helps us to become who we are…and since this blog is called Becoming Paige, I want to invite you each and every Tuesday to join me as I reflect on how His hand in my stories have molded me and ARE molding me into becoming Paige…becoming His.

And I want to invite you to begin reminiscing on your own stories. How have they and how are they helping you to become who you know you were meant to be?

Where I Am - Rambling Edition

Where I Am: Sitting on my couch, watching the snow blow off my roof and straining my ears for Selah's cries.  She is resting at the moment, but is sick - I'm guessing the flu - bad cough, constant fever for the last 24 hours, and the most pathetic "I'm really sick, Mom" whimper.  Those little watery eyes just make my heart break, and it is amazing how all that seems to matter is holding her.  Yes, the house is a crazy mess and yes, I have so much reading and studying that I should do...but my job today is to hold her - I have to admit that I love that job today...wow!  I really am one of those moms!  Well, maybe not fully one of THOSE moms...but that is another issue.

What I Am Watching: Honestly, I'm a little bit embarrassed to let you know, but in my job today of holding Selah I just finished watching a little made for TV movie - Revenge of the Bridesmaids...sad, I know!  But on a more sophisticated note, I would also like to recommend The King's Speech.  This is the only movie I've seen in a real live movie theater in the last two months and I loved it!  First of all, I love Great Britain...and I secretly love the royals - don't all girls really?  Didn't you ever secretly wish that you met an undercover prince and could become royal yourself?  Yep...me too.  So anyways, I highly recommend this film - the acting was fabulous...I learned a little bit of interesting history...and the story about the common man helping a reluctant hero find his courage and voice was inspiring!

What I am Reading: This happens to be a picture of my bedside table at the moment...

Why yes, there are seven books on my nightstand!  And why yes, I also happen to be in the middle of another 3-4 books at work.  I think this is a problem - a real problem...I also think it is a sign that I'm just not incredibly excited about any of these books right now...although they are all good books and I enjoy each of them whenever I pick one of them up...

Here is my highlight of the top 3:
Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers - I actually AM reading this book right now - I just love Francine Rivers!  And I gave my mom this book as a gift for Christmas.  She finished the book and handed it over to me to read - I define this book truly as the gift that keeps on giving!

Real Sex by Lauren Winner - Sorry everyone, this is not some steamy book that is addressing my sex life...in fact, the subtitle is "the naked truth about chastity."  And I'm reading it to prepare for our upcoming relationship series at zoe.  Here is what I have realized - I CANNOT - repeat CANNOT communicate the same reasoning behind remaining chaste to our college students that I was told growing up.  For one, they've heard it before & a large majority of them are having sex.  I'm realizing as I talk to girls (Christian girls who love God and yet who are very sexually active) that they need something more in order for them to make a decision to wait until marriage to have sex.  I don't have time to tell you what I think they need to hear (wouldn't that be a good blog though!)...let's discuss that one later...but that is the purpose of this book - I'm trying to see new sides to this truth...because I love those girls I talk to...and they need truth about sex...

Just Do Something - Terri Reed gave me this book & I like parts of it (LOVE parts of it actually), but I also have to stop this book often and debate in my head and heart a mix/mash of sermons I've heard over the years - you know...those sermons where I can climb a mountain and conquer the world and must find my purpose today...those sermons that I believed for so long...because this book basically says - STOP trying to find the magic purpose and just go do something.  I see truth in both camps...so that is why this small book still sits atop the night stand.

Wow, this has gotten so long and I've only covered 2 items...so, I'll just go ahead and sign off.  But, since I started off as one of those moms I guess I'll also conclude as one of those moms with 2 snapshots of my precious one!

  

What I Am Laughing At:  Josh taught Selah a new trick & it is her favorite thing to do now!

Learning New Tricks from Josh Allen on Vimeo.

What I Am Smiling At: From my birthday party!

A List - Birthday Edition

1. Tomorrow is my birthday
2.  I love birthdays (especially mine).
3.  I will be 32 years old
4.  Not sure how I feel about this number.
5.  31 was a good year, but a hard year.
6.  The good parts mostly centered around this cute face.

 

7.  The hard parts centered around realizing that I’m really an adult and sometimes there are hard parts to an adult life.

 8.  But this list is really about my birthday so we should not dwell on hard things.
 9.  Instead we should dwell on fun things like this crazy face!

10.  Do you make crazy faces too?  I’m realizing that Selah basically copies my face. 
11.  So this must be what I look like…a lot.
12.  Speaking of fun things – I love my brown boots.

 13.  Do you remember when I blogged about shoes and promised to highlight a pair every week?
14.  I lied.
15.  So these brown boots are my peace offering.
16.  I wear them as often as possible.
17.   I bought them when I was in Baltimore with my dearest friend, Wendy.

18.  While I was visiting, Wendy and I both got massages.
19.   Our massages were given to us by a man named Juan. 
20.   It was the most painful hour of my life.
21.   It was the most painful hour of Wendy’s life too.
22.  But afterwards we laughed about it.
23.  And then we drank large quantities of Starbucks Caramel Machiatos.
24.  And then we ate French Toast.

25.  And then we laughed some more about Juan.
26.  Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned with Juan.
27.  Even in moments of pain…so long as there are people you love…and lots of laughter…the pain is put into perspective.
28.  And French toast always helps as well. 
29.  As do fabulous boots.

New Year...New Gifts! (141-159)

The last couple of months have been sprinkled with both laughter and tears in my life. Laughter in celebrating with family and watching my wee one grow. But also tears as I’ve talked and listened and watched some of my dearest friends go through the unfair parts of life. It has been a season of a heavy heart…it has been a winter season in many ways…and yet today I am aware more than ever before that God is good. And although the trees appear bare and the cold seems harsh – He is here.

He is here in the prayers of friends.

He is here in the laughter of my child.

He is here in the quiet and in the tears.

He is here.

And for that, I am thankful – and I want to continue to count my gifts…

141. The wonder of lights

142. Crawling cuties

143. Discovery through her eyes…the joy of bath toys…new textures…and puppies

144. Time to breathe

145. Time to reflect

146. A chance to start over in a sense…the beginning of a new year

147. Seeing young women make good and healthy decisions

148. Soft Sand in between my toes

149. Capturing moments through my camera

150. Unbelievable sunsets

151. Reconnecting with old friends

152. The smiles of new love

153. Remembering why he is so perfect for me

154. Family date nights…even if they are just to get a cup of coffee & dream about the future

155. Baby Passport Pictures

156. New revelation from His Word…His calling to COME

157. His whispers that my friend will be okay – through DVD clips, unexpected text messages, and surprising visits – all reminders to my heart alone that He is in control.

158. Rediscovering the treasure I have in my forever friends

So many more gifts that I have discovered in the last month…but I will wait til next Monday to share more. Until then I will end with the joy I found last night as my sweet Selah was introduced to macaroni…

159. The gift of cheese

Smile

Some days you just need to meditate on those gifts from God that make us smile...

 Like my sweet Selah!  She loves her Gigi & I love her!

And little Pey-Pey...isn't her smile contagious!

That is all!  Just needed a fresh look on the blog & I wanted to smile!