dear friend on the iPhone

photo courtesy of springwise.com

The infamous letter Dear Mom on the iPhone went from zero to crazy overnight. I can admit that when I hit "share" on Facebook, I wasn't even thinking about all the great moms I know who occassionally glance to the screen every once in a while for a moment of relief. I wasn't worried about the sweet mommas who love social media because, for crying out loud, it's the most practical way for them to have a conversation with their friends. I just wasn't worried about them. I applaud them. I want to be them.

More than anything, I hit "share" because, in ministry, I encounter a handful of littles every week whose faces drop the second I even check the time on my iPhone. They've been hurt by mere ounces of technology. They really just wish Siri would hush.

But what I really loved about that letter? It's 100% transferrable.
It could just as easily have read:
Dear Dad on the iPhone
Dear Grandpa on the iPhone
Dear Brother on the iPhone
Dear Teacher on the iPhone
Dear Roommate
Dear Boss
Dear Coworker
Dear Daughter
Dear Sister
Dear Friend

I know that I, in any of those roles I fill, could stand to read it; and on some occassions, even need to say it.

What could it look like?
In the most relevant form for me (both to and from me), it might sound a little something like this:

 

Dear Friend on the iPhone,

I'd like to think that our time together is worth something, but that's not what I'm picking up from you.

I don't want to be clingy. I don't want to monopolize your attention, but out of the days or weeks or months we're apart, I'm only asking for an hour or two of your time.

I feel like if I sat across the table and sent you texts, you might be a little more into this. 

Your head is down, you're laughing at jokes over text messages.

Someone else is more deserving of your attention.

Someone else is funnier.

You would rather be somewhere else, right?

That's all I see.

That's all I hear.

Could you put it down? Put it away?

Everything you think you're missing will still be there when our hour is up.

But this hour is what we have.

 

My favorite little iPhone feature is the 'Do Not Disturb'

 

From the moment I turn it on, to the second I opt out of self-control and peek at the screen, all notifications, phone calls, emails, tweets, texts, game updates, ESPN feeds, etc are completely silenced. Zero distractions. (Since work and family emergencies are a part of reality, there's even an option to allow calls from favorites.)

 

I love a little technology.

I'm a Twitter nerd.

I like FunJump and Fruit Ninja as much as the next iUser.

So please hear me when I say, I am just as guilty.

 

Guilty, but trying to get over my iPhone.

Trying to get over myself.

 

My one little word for this year is low. I set out to lower my sense of self, and part of that has been lowering the iPhone and looking people in the eye.

 

That's where their story is. You don't want to miss it. You can't afford to.


**look back tomorrow for a family-fun, Houston giveaway!**



 



back in the saddle again.

And just like that, I think it might be better to watch Sleepless in Seattle than write.
Because no one's really missed this.
No one really needs to read anything I say.
No one will be sad if I just delete the whole thing.

But, dangit. I would miss it! I have missed it.
So just like all the tediously wonderful things (working out, getting up early, washing your hair. grin), the first time in a while is always the hardest.

In all fairness, though, I really have been writing. I really have been blogging. Just...not here.

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Sozo: To be made whole.

A while back, my sweet friend, Becky (whom you surely know by now) started writing for Sozo, an encouraging blog community for women. In November, Becky and I were chatting at her baby shower about how bad we've gotten about posting on our personal blogs. Grin. She mentioned that deadlines are what helped her stay faithful to posting for Sozo. I asked a few questions about it, and we moved on to other conversations.

By the time I got home that night, I had an email from Bre'anna, fearless and fabulous leader of the Sozo blog. She read an archived guest post I wrote for Becky and wanted to know if I was interested in joining the Sozo team. I immediately sent a text to Becky to see if she had anything to do with it (she's easily in my top 5 fans). Nope. All the Lord.

There are thirteen contributors and Sunday through Friday, we cover:

A Weekly Scripture Passage

Mommy Mondays

Tasty Tuesdays (weekly healthy recipe from our own resident nutritionist!)

Wedded Wednesdays

Thirsty Thursdays (devotional)

Female Fridays

It's such a privilege to write and walk alongside these great women! We're learning and sharing and encouraging and it is such a joy. One of my favorite things about writing for Sozo is that, from that very first email, Bre'anna made it clear that none of the daily topics were off limits for me. Not married? No kids? No big deal. I still have the opportunity to speak into those moments and how they are relevant to me and where I am. I pray there are others who can relate. 

My Sozo posts so far: 

Hey girl, what's your banner say?

On the Eve of Something Grand

Drink Deeply

Lies! All Lies!

Kept in a Safe Place

Go Ahead. Tell Me No.

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Devotional Diva

I honestly could not even tell you when my Twittership (Twitter + friendship) with Renee started. All I know is, she was tweetin' things and bloggin' things and before I knew it, I was hooked. This girl is good. And this girl writes truth. She has been such an encouragement and inspiration. When I thought I didn't have two words worth saying about dating and relationships, she gave me an outlet to talk about my perspective and experience (or lack thereof) in the hardest post I've written. When she added monthy columnists to her blog, now webzine, I shamelessly asked to be included. Wink. 

Along with three other girls who cover devotionals, health & wellness, and relationships, I'm her events girl. My first post on President Obama's inauguration quickly created some heat, but I don't scare that easily. More current event/pop culture posts to come!

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The Lord has been sweet to open doors for me to get my writing itch relieved in this season. I'm so grateful. But this is home.

This is where we started. 

And I've been so neglectful. 

This first one's out of the way and more are coming soon!

COMING SOON!

A family-fun Houston giveaway and a review of Shauna Niequist's upcoming book! Stay tuned.

it's still the new year: low

photo credit: marthastewart.com

I like to do laundry. Mmhmm...weird. Yes. That's been established. When times are busy, as they have been, I end up with mountains of clothes that eat my room. When I finally get around to washing, I blow through those piles as fast as I can. But when I have my way, I do it once a week. It's not just laundry. It's reliving the seven days behind and letting go so I'm ready for the seven days ahead. It's not just washing clothes, it's a cleansing of sorts. The water starts running. Bubbles form. I throw the clothes in, shut the door, Jesus and I talk during the spin cycle. Every little, insignificant thing I held onto for seven days...down the drain.

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are some of my absolute favorite days. Don't read too much into that. I know there's nothing inherently spiritual about December 31 or January 1. My reasons for loving New Year's are much like my reasons for loving laundry. I love to process. I like sitting in pajamas, curled up with a puppy in my lap, thinking back on the good days, best days, hard days, and miserable days of the year behind. In the very next moment, I have no glimmer of an idea what is coming. It's cozy and adventurous. It's comfortable and risky.

It's safe; and yet, it's not safe at all.

Last year, the verse the Lord kept taking me to was Isaiah 61:3b

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the LORD

for the display of His splendor.

Believe me. When I say He took me to it, I mean He would not let me leave it. It was in my new favorite songs. It was the theme verse of our church kiddos' summer week of choir musical. It was in books I read. It was the loudest whisper I heard from Him. It was the tune that lulled me into rest for a whole year. 

Inspired by Katie's One Little Word post, this year I asked God for a word. Just one little word. 

He answered. The word is tiny. The word is packed. The word is...

low.

I want to lower my spending. 

Being a "grown up" has a reputation for being no fun. For anyone. I have a problem with that. I like to have fun. I don't like to be stressed. Lower spending, extravagant giving, and a little bit of margin will, in my opinion, make things a lot more fun. I might even stop hating "bills" day. 

I want to go to sleep when the sun gets low. 

I have nothing against being a grandma--no problem with it whatsoever. I want to live days well. I want to live days with a lot of energy and full attention. Plus, I really like sleep. So I'll go to bed early. Two birds. One little, low stone. 

I want to see a lower number on the scale.

When is this not part of the list? Honestly. But Memorial Park is around the corner. And the gym is literally right down the stairs from work. And I have no excuses. And I'm ready.

I want to lower my voice. 

I'm a quiet personal in general, and I haven't gotten any louder, audibly. I can feel, though, that my personality has gotten louder than I like. I've been pushing to be heard. I've been straining to be favored. I've been speaking my mind before I'm certain it's actually...well, my mind. Lower my voice, Lord, the heard and the unheard.

I want to lower my view of self.

There is no more uncomfortable moment than when someone brags about how humble you are. For one, that's an oxymoron to oblivion. No humble person wants to be bragged about. But it's most uncomfortable when you know it's just not true. Pride has so many dangerous forms: insecurity, demanding attention, jealousy, belittling. None of them are good. All of them are hurtful. Healing needs to come. 

"God sets Himself against the proud and haughty,

but gives grace [continually] to the lowly

(those who are humble enough to receive it)." 

James 4:6 (AMP) 

Please, Father. Give me grace.

"But with the humble (those who are lowly,

who have been pruned or chiseled by trial [...])

are skillful and godly wisdom and soundness."

Proverbs 11:2 (AMP)

Yes, Jesus. Bring wisdom and soundness.

"He gives His undeserved favor to the low,

the humble, and the afflicted."

Proverbs 3:34 (AMP)

You are generous. I am undeserving.

"For God sets Himself against the proud

(the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)--

[and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them],

but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble.

Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation]

under the mighty hand of God, 

that in due time He may exalt you."

1 Peter 5:5-6

I want to be made low. 

Happy New Year's to you and yours. Happier laundering. 

Any new resolutions, goals, or "one little words" to share? I'd love to hear them!