A Bedtime Story | Springfield, MO

For readers: Without sharing all of the details. We've had a small temporary change around our house and I wanted a little special something for the family. I thought a bedtime story might to do the trick. I hope you don't mind. :)

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A Bedtime Story

I didn't think to take pictures until I got inside. 

I thought you might like to see some of what I saw since you couldn't come. 

They were doing construction on the runway. Look at the really big dirt piles in the back.

This is the little truck that carries the luggage. It looks kind of like a train, huh?

The picture below is the hanger. 

(Where the planes sleep or gets worked on.)

I wish I could have gotten closer.

The fuel truck.

This lady is called a Stewardess. She is talking on a telephone and we can hear it through the speakers on the plane.

 (Kind of like when your principal calls your teacher in the class room.)

She is telling all of the people on the plane how to be safe. 

If Daddy can zoom in, you can see all of the controls on the plane's dash.

Here is a safety book with all kinds of info about the plane.

This picture made me laugh a lot and it's probably more for adults. 

It tells everyone how to leave the plane.  

(I like how they tell you to be calm but then they show pictures of stick figures running and jumping.)

I didn't get to sit next to the window but the lady next to me didn't mind me reaching over her to take a picture.

This is what the top of the clouds look like from a plane.

I ate at a place called the Grind House in the airport. It was okay.

They had a funny picture with robots painted on the wall. 

All of these TV's have a list of all of the flights. 

I don't know if you can make out the white rows but each row is a flight. 

There are a LOT of them.

OOH -Here's a plane coming in and one taking off!

WELL, Can you believe it Sophie???

It is a PURPLE plane!

Time for me to board again.  I'll go through the door on the left.

I think that's my pilot on the right.

But then it started raining and so we had to wait on the plane a while.

They had a magazine with these two picture finds in them. 

They both use the same legend.

I thought you both might like them. 

Maybe one night this week you guys can do them with Daddy. 

Probably not tonight though, I bet it's late. 

Kids if your Dad said no, it means no. You'll have plenty of time this week. 

Here is the stewardess on this flight. She's pushing a cart with drinks and snacks.

I had water but I saved the pretzels for you. 

 And remember how you could see the controls that the Pilot uses? 

When the plane starts moving, they close the door. 

A seat unfolds from the back of the door for the stewardess to sit in.

Pay no attention to her expression. She was really nice the whole time. 

The ride was kind of bumpy and sometimes that makes people look like they're focused on something.

I wanted to wait for a smiling picture but felt kind of silly spying on her. :)

There was a really cute little boy on the plane. He was around 3 or 4. He was so excited to fly. I bought a little toy plane for Jackson from the gift shop. (And something for you too don't worry.)  When we had to wait to take off, the little boy started getting restless. I thought about giving him the toy plane to distract him. 

Then I thought that maybe I should wait until he got really upset. He might be happier to see it then. So, I waited. But he never did. When the plane landed, he was so happy and telling his mom all about flying. It was really cute. I still felt the nudge to give him the plane. So I did. (Don't worry, I will get Jackson another one.)

The little boy was SO excited. But what was really cool was when his Daddy said that his son had seen the exact plane in the airport and he really, REALLY wanted one. They just couldn't get it right then. His daddy said me giving that plane to the little boy was "a God thing!"

His Daddy was right. The Lord knows the desires of our hearts, (yours too). And sometimes he will ask us to do little things that don't mean much to you and I (like sharing a little plane) in order to make someone else really happy.  

I started to cry a little. I know you're not surprised. :)

It made my heart happy. I sure hope Jackson likes his plane as much as this little boy does. 

I wish you all were here.

My suitcase didn't arrive with me at the airport. I had an hour and a half for it to come in on another plane. So I walked around for a little while. The airport here has a lot of art work on the walls to display.  So, I thought I'd take some pictures for you.

This one made me think you Ethan. It's called Dancing Turtles by Mary Alice Alday

These two pretty birds didn't have a name but they were painted by Janene Moser.

Out of the blue by Mary Alice Alday

Bob's Pear by Nancy Dornan

A Fencepost with Daisies

Common Yellow Throat Sings by Carol Snyder

I walked outside to wait. It was so nice and cool.
There were birds singing and talking everywhere. 

One was so loud he sounded like he had a microphone. It made me giggle.

Jackson would've loved it.

The sky looked just like this and I love it. It kind of looks like there is a tiny hole in the sky and heaven is pouring in.

 

Then I thought that since I had so much time, I could make your story.
But I had to come back inside because my phone was dead and I needed to charge it to get the pictures.

So, I sat at this table and typed it up.

And just enough time has passed that I can go and get my suitcase now. :)

Here's me blowing a kiss goodnight.

But it looks like I have a mustache when I let it go.

We'd better cover that back up. haha. 

 

Your mama is so silly.

I love you a lot and your Daddy does too! So roll over and give him a big hug and a kiss and tell him how wonderful he is. Then give him another smooch and hug from me. Then give him another one because it's funny. It's Daddy's turn now.... haha

I'll pray that the hole in heaven is washing over you while you sleep, giving you good dreams and tucking you in. Maybe you can dream about a rock star yellow throat (bird) with a microphone. He's having a concert on a purple jet filled with a bunch of dancing turtles. ...but, you can finish the story while you sleep.

I love you all a lot.

Good night.

P.S. I don't know if I can make another story while I am away. If I can, I will. Your daddy will be glad to show you this one again though but maybe another night. I love you some (LOTS) more. 

I Gave Facebook The Boot!

So Sunday, I finally deactivated my Facebook account. No warning. No shout out. I've had enough. Click, click, Kick! Whew!

I haven't missed it.

Of course the first thing that I wanted to do when I deactivated it, was post about FINALLY doing it! I let that confirm my decision.

I wish that I had of done it sooner!

When my sister in law first asked me to set up a Facebook account a few years ago, I thought she was crazy. I thought Facebookers were crazy. What on earth is the point of the program? I gave it a good go and then deactivated my account finding it pretty useless.

Until I remembered that there was someone that I was trying to find. That story is for another day but I thought maybe he would be looking for me too. So, I reactivated it. (Yes, you can do that.)

Then somehow I seemed to get the hang of it. Maybe it was by practice...?!  **insert gasp**

If I bought tomatoes you knew about it. You were able to witness [in.real.time] just how cute my kids are because I was always posting pictures. Before I knew it, I couldn't put it down.

Even though I thought it was ridiculous.

Last year, I deleted the app on my phone so that I wasn't tempted to press the button. -Not that I needed Facebook that badly but it was a mindless activity. My thumb was clicking the button when I wasn't even trying to read it. I would go to look up a contact and find myself on Facebook anyway. grrrr.

So the app went.

I thought again about ditching Facebook altogether but by this point, I was helping out with our church page(s). I've also started leading some studies on my own. How else would I get the word out? After all, wasn't this important? **insert light-hearted sarcasm here**

So, I made myself some rules, like "I will only do this once a day" or "only on this day of the week". I even scheduled posts so that I wouldn't have to log on but then something would have to get cancelled or suddenly posted and the ball was back in my court. -Of course it wasn't in my "allowed time".

[Brief insert with regard to scheduling: This reminds me of the verse: Matthew 6:34  "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Isn't that the truth?!]

Anyway, I became pretty good at not reading the news feeds and not commenting or liking everything that I saw but then a little voice started pestering me. "You know your friends think you're stuck up because you don't comment on their posts or like their things..." Seriously???

Seriously.

Or when I did post; I felt like I couldn't articulate what should've been a quick reply. I either spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to put it out there or I was irritated by what I should've said instead. For me, is just became the Devil's Playground. If I wasn't frustrated by something related to Facebook, I was wasting completely perfect, coveted time to be living instead.

Then I started noticing that on the days that I didn't have Facebook, there was a greater sense of peace. At night, I didn't feel as tired or agitated.

[Another Insert: This also makes me think about studies that talk about the different nutritional values in food. Now forgive me but I am terrible with remembering cites and it's been a while since I've heard it but- Maybe it was Jamie Oliver, Joyce Meyer or Lysa Terkeurst or someone else altogether that said when we rush through eating we aren't satisfied because there is more to eating than just filling our bellies. AND that when we eat "junk" instead of real food we're also unsatisfied. 

Fast Food, Junk Food, Man Made food are all substitutes with little or no nutritional value. So, we're still left craving the real thing. Our obesity stems from not satisfying what we really desire so we continue to consume... if we continue to fill the void with junk, we just get bigger and hungrier. Not satisfied. 

Just pause and let that sink in for a moment.

I just can't help but think that the same thing applies to Facebook (Social Media) and relationships. It seems mindless. Harmless. Fast. I think it was designed as a message tool. -A way to get to know and reach out or reconnect. Yet it is quickly becoming a substitute for the actual connection instead of just a means to establish it. Social Media is man made collection of relationships. Godly relationships have so much more to offer and there is so much more to friendship than only seeing what people share and commenting on it. But this is taking the tangent in another direction and so I will wrap up this bunny trail by saying next-

I have simply found myself craving tangible instead of visible. Real Books and handwritten letters. -Picked flowers and not pictures of them. A real kiss and a hug not my usual xoxo. I will no longer take a substitute!]

So, I started thinking about deactivating again and how that might hinder my methods to share anything. Facebook clearly has value there but when we become ruled by "our" plans and agendas or the means to obtain them; aren't we also taking back control and/or saying that God isn't capable?

BAM!-That is when I decided it was over.

Ironically, no matter how hard it was to follow my rules or schedules. Simply turning it off was SO much easier to manage. Just like when I quit smoking! I tried the patches and pills and lozenges. Yes, I even tried rules because for some strange reason I seem to like them. -But none of the modifications worked. I finally quit smoking when I went cold turkey over 5 years ago. I just had to cut it off. The same was true with Facebook.

It's just like the verse states in Matthew 5:30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away.  It is easier to cut it off and throw it away than it is to try to ignore the Band-Aid. You'll just keep picking at it.

Please do not interpret this as saying that Facebook is a sin. This post is about how it caused me to stumble. I was always stooping to it. I needed to cut it off. You can replace the word "Facebook" with any habit that you or I have.

I didn't give a warning. I just followed the instructions. I did happen to have a lot of alternate contact information for my friends. You might want to collect some of it first if you're also considering the boot. 

It has only been a week but I am SO relieved! At first my thumb tried to wander into email or safari but when there was nothing there we moved on. Now even my thumb seems to be happily adjusting. 

After I deactivated the account, I saw two other comments on similar stories that I also wanted to include. 

The first was a reference to an old saying in this blog. "If Satan can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy." I'd like to add that if you're not busy doing the devil will keep you so distracted with something that you're not listening to God or yourself or the peace and quiet.

The second comment was from this post. "The internet age may try to sell you something different, but don’t ever forget that viral is closely associated with sickness — and focusing on numbers can make you nauseated." WOW! What a great statement! What numbers have you been watching? 

And with that, I will end with a scripture! Psalm 34:14 says Seek Peace and Pursue it! Sometimes the decisions that we make aren't about "Good" or "Bad". It's about whether or not you have peace or is it bearing fruit?  You and I can do hard things and have peace so don't confuse "easy" with peaceful. There is a difference. Pursue peace in whatever form that comes! For me, I seldom had peace with this subject. It always bothered me. Maybe it was simply my motives in approaching it...?

If you disagree and think that I should've continued sharing my posts, I do thank you. Let me suggest instead that maybe you'll be the one to share them? -Or even better, maybe this is an opportunity for you to share how God is working in your own life. I'm certain that he will bless you for it. :)

Many Blessings to you and yours!

P.S. The original picture was borrowed from: http://getkickinlife.blogspot.com/ and then tweaked a little.


**Update 12/5/15 - I made it a year and a half and ended up reactivating it so that I could use the groups in study. haha.

Consumption | Notes

So for a while now I've been feeling like I should give up alcohol. I have simply been reluctant.  I've never tolerated liquor well so that wasn't an issue for me. I was always a beer girl. I genuinely like it for the taste. -ice.cold.beer. on a hot summer day? Yes, please.

For most of my drinking life a couple of beers here and there or at a special event was enough. However, the summer before I became pregnant with Sophie. Work was intense. I'd just come home in the evening and think that I just needed something to take the edge off. "To unwind". The next thing I knew I was happier drinking than eating. It became easy for me to consume a six pack a night all by myself. I'd stumble to bed. Pass out and then repeat the same pattern the next day.

Thankfully, I became pregnant with Miss Priss and I had to cut that off. As it turns out I had developed a wheat allergy between Ethan and Sophie and most beer contains wheat. After Sophie, I became more aware of my sensitivity to it.  The wheat free brands are pretty disgusting. So, that made it easier to reduce the amount of beer that I consumed but I missed it. I guess that the depth of my grievance over it should've been a sign that I had some sort of problem. -Even if I didn't show all of the signs.

Instead- and as ridiculous as this sounds; I forced myself to find a wine I liked instead.  It actually took a lot of practice. I tried many that I didn't like in order to find ones that I did... As it turns out, I only seem to like French ones. Before I knew it I had a new staple. I didn't drink every day or anything like that but when I needed to unwind, I had a new "go to"...

Somewhere in there, I was getting the idea that God might not want me to drink something or at sometimes but it's kind of easy to shrug that off when we want to justify our own behaviors and habits. Just as I started to document some of these little things I thought that God was telling me; I finally found a set of wine glasses that I really liked. -and I DO have a thing for pretty dishes! Of course it's only fun to have them if I use them. So, I hung onto my new habit just a little bit longer.

Now here it is years later. I've carried these notes around various places. I have finally compiled them last year thinking that if I put them on the blog, the next time that I was tempted, I could pull up the list and remind myself.... Boy was I surprised at how much my notes added up to! I never published them on the blog because it was just a list and I felt like I needed to offer something more with it but I just wasn't sure what that was... In hindsight, maybe the post was missing my struggle.

So, instead I made a few rules to "only have a glass or two" or "only at family dinner". Only to regret and grieve over it again later... 

Then it started keeping me up at night...

It's a funny thing; I've wrestled with admitting it because I didn't want to talk about it. I've decided recently that I really need to move forward. God has shown me so many times that my obedience won't always make sense but he is faithful to help me understand it later. Last night, I refused a glass of wine like so many times before and instead of talking about God, I simply said it's been keeping me up at night.

I know this will sound really condemning. I just don't know how to word it as I mull it over. This morning, I thought about Peter. God asked him 3 times if he loved him. (How many times must he ask me to put down booze?) And Peter was the same one to deny him. Here I am telling people that my change is because of sleep instead of God. I wonder if all of this time, it's been such a struggle because I just haven't been truthful about the work that God is doing in this area. I just wasn't ready to admit that God wanted me to let it go. So, in all of my other excuses, I couldn't fight it successfully because I wasn't open about it. Of course I am still trying to figure this out and so my answer would also be pretty loaded... My reference to sleep just sounded... simpler.

Thankfully, just this morning I see the verse in James 5:16 that says if we confess our sins to God and to others and pray over each other then we can be healed. I just feel ready to admit this current weakness. I feel strong enough to say, I just don't have all of the answers. This is where I am and what I am figuring out and won't you pray with me!? Please and thank you.  Here are some of those nifty little notes below.  (This is one of the many reasons that I support journaling. It's easy to shrug one or two off but seeing them all together makes a completely different statement.)


The List

• I feel a lot of conviction about being a leader. I frequently run across verses, articles, books about leadership. I am not sure where all that applies. Maybe it's only in my role of motherhood or my position at work, in the church or just alongside a friend.  It doesn't matter where; I am starting to really pay attention to all of those promptings. So you will see a few references to leadership in here. The first is, Proverbs 31:4 “It is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer.” The commentary says that "Leaders have better things to do than anesthetize themselves with alcohol.
• 1 Peter 5:8 says "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."  "Buzzing or Drunkenness" is not sober-minded. I would also like to add that in some forms of alcohol, I have found myself foggy headed for days after. -Not drunk but just unable to think clearly or concentrate. I believe that to be related to food allergies or chemical properties in some alcohol. (Also consider sobriety in terms of drugs use and even from a lack of sleep. )
• Is what I am doing a stumbling block to anyone else? Is it confusing to others?
• Some alcohol interferes with my sleep. It might have helped me pass out at first but it will not keep me asleep and I usually wake up feeling unrested.
• Being drunk weakens your defenses and affects your decisions. It makes us less reliable.
• Romans 12:1 "Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice".
• I also had a note by Judges 13 about Sampson being a Nazarite (Man of God). He was not to have alcohol or fermented drink. I am not sure that I could articulate this well and nor am I sure how long I've had a note about Sampson in chapter 13. Yet just this week a homework assignment led me to  answer this question. "Read Judges 16:51-21 - What resulted from Sampson's lack of self discipline?" My answer was that he lost his power and gift.  Immediately this area of my life came to mind. My lack of discipline with alcohol and or any/sin and this blog as my gift. Imagine my surprise when I came back to add it only to see a comment about Sampson already noted...  Maybe there is more to this.
• Proverbs 23 has several verses see "saying 16" and "saying 19". I had a note about "Disciples don't drink." But that is not from that verse or commentary. I am not sure why I had it there.
• If I drink too much alcohol, I feel puffy and bloated.
• Ephesians 5:18 says "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery" My commentary on that verse says "Paul contrasts getting drunk with wine, which produces a temporary "high," to being filled with the spirit, which produces lasting joy. Getting drunk is associated with the old way of life and its selfish desires. In Christ we have better joy, higher and longer lasting, to cure our depression, monotony or tension. I love this part; We should not be concerned with how much of the Holy Spirit we have but how much of us the Holy Spirit has."
• This is a big one- Feeling like I have to repent after!  If I wasn't doing anything wrong, why would I feel so much conviction about repentance? -Granted a lot of that might be about my motives or timing that led me to drinking.
• I have found myself disappointed to listen to other people that were drunk. Not even necessarily because they were violent or foul. It just wasn't the same or as attractive as listening to someone who was sober or themselves. I don't ever want my children to feel that way about me EVER.
• Recently following my own rules, I got wasted on 2 glasses of wine. -To the point that I don't even remember most of the evening. It wasn't intentional. I actually don't enjoy being drunk. This is just a reminder that we can't rely on rules or our plans or intentions.
• Health benefits. Moderation of alcohol. Paul to Timothy about being careful about not drinking too much. In his location there was poor water quality. Red Wine was believed to help clear out intestinal issues.  Even now, wine is believed to certain benefits if it is consumed within moderation (regarding cardiovascular, cancer and aging benefits.) I do understand that there are occasional pros...
• Matthew 6:33 says to "Seek ye first the kingdom of God..." Do you know how many times after a bad day, I would go to the fridge and open the door only to hear that verse whispered to my heart? The same is true for binging on chocolate or shopping when I needed a pick me up! God has the strength to meet all of our needs if we just go to HIM first.
• My sudden embarrassment about the idea of being caught in a picture with a beer in my hand or a glass of wine.  Especially, then posted to Facebook or something. There was a time when none of those things mattered to me but somehow it has become a new awareness....
• Psalm 4:7 says You have put gladness in my heart, more than when their grain and new wine abound. True!
• Romans 14  is a great chapter. If you're confused about sin and why some can do this and why some can't do that, read this passage.
• Choosing not to do what you feel led to do becomes disobedience and that makes you less sensitive to the holy spirit.

Update 10/2/14

• A few weeks after this post, I asked God why on earth I needed to stop drinking, if I didn't believe that I had a real problem. Immediately, I received my most convicting thought. What if none of this is really about me? What if one of my children ends up struggling with a true problem in this area when they are older. Not necessarily because I drank but because they were exposed to it, they developed their own relationship with it too early on. I thought of my children and their response to it and to me when I drink. Immediately, I felt my decision complete itself and the desire to drink left me. I can tell you that since that moment, I have no longer grieved any part of this. Having the right conviction in my heart took me off the fence and put all of me on one side of that decision.

Update 8/26/2015 - I am proud to say that as of 7/21/2015 I have been sober for one year and counting!

This is all that I have for now. All of my posts are subject to more editing so there may be more to this later. Thank you for being a part of my journey. I hope it also speaks to you. :)

Beige or White

This morning while I was in the shower, I pulled back the curtain and started scrubbing the edge where you step over into it. I was surprised to see how dirty it had gotten. It seems that the dust and humidity united into a film over the tile. It has been easy to not notice the accumulation, since the tile is beige. It blended right in and it's not at eye level. It wasn't until I started scrubbing that I was able to see how much lighter the true color of the tile really was. I was more surprised to see that there were even flecks of white.

As I watched the subtle transformation, it reminded me of the discovery of our sins. Like dust, we seldom see the sin around us. It often blends right in to our every day.  In fact before we come to Christ there are usually so many things that we never truly even see as sin or even an offense. The thing is so common to us in media, society, in our own thoughts, amongst our peers and to the world that 'it' might seem like dust on beige. The offenses aren't always dirty enough to be an obvious contrast.

In our willingness to either look at God or deal with our "big sin" we often become more aware of some of the smaller offenses. We become able to see how much we are still so covered with sin, but God reveals it in a way that we are able to see the purity and beauty that we are truly made with underneath. It encourages us to to go deeper and to dig more. It makes us less afraid to look at some of the old stuff while we're discovering the new. 

And just like that film developed on the ledge, our hearts are susceptible in the same way. While it is God that purifies; our obedience is the application. When God prompts us, if we turn away, a similar film develops and our hearts also become hardened. Where as if we allow him to work, we begin to see or we can continue the restoration.

While I want to say that nothing feels as good as being clean, I'd rather say nothing feels as refreshing as being visible. Exposed. Being able to stand before God all flaws and gifts together in one offering.

In Psalm 51 David began feeling the consequences of his sin with Bathsheba.  David prayed and asked God to give him a pure heart. He repented of the sins that he knew that he had committed but prayed for a deeper restoration. It wasn't just lip service, he desired the change. What do you ask for when you pray? Is it to change your circumstance or to change you? Is it to fix the problem or reveal God?

Or what about our pool of faith? How many of us step in every day but instead of seeing a difference it too seems dull or beige. Having faith is not so much about scrubbing ourselves to be clean. But in order to see a transformation, there is a willingness and a discipline and a desire that must be applied.

If you struggle with any of those three, take a moment to talk to God about that. Read David's prayer and offer a similar one of your own. Ask God to help you change your heart. In time, you too might find yourself having devotion, even in mundane little tasks like scrubbing the shower. No books or pens necessary.

Blessings to you friend!

The Art Of Service

I work in a service environment and love to discuss good and bad examples of service. This is an example of wonderful service that I received recently when my van needed new tires. I shared it in my office and so I documented all of the details and then recapped the experience noting specific acts. I also created a devotional piece for myself and this blog. You may be bored to tears with the details that I have noted. However, I think you must suffer through them in order for the point to come together. -At least I hope that it does. I may or may not add more to it. It is a long read though so go refill your coffee first... 

The details of a recent service experience:

A couple of weeks ago, I woke to a flat. I have special tires on my van, called Run flats. Because of this, a special machine is needed to work with these tires. There are only a limited number of dealerships that have the machine. I ended up having to go to Casey Honda in Newport News for service. If you're not familiar with the area it's not really far but it's "over the bridge" which is a common reference for me that might as well mean "on the other side of the world".  I had some other work that I also needed to get done and so I took a book to read in preparation for my long visit. 

I park the van and walk in side and a lady greets & directs me to a man that will help me check in my van for the appointment. His name is Don Matol.

Don greets me and locates my appointment in the system. I actually have a list of things that I wanted them to work on during service. I noted most of them when making the appointment. It looks like he has them all in the system but I want to discuss them so that I can be sure that my questions are answered. He understands and we walk through the list. I start with my flat tire. All of my tires actually need to be replaced but they have some strange wear marks and because of their uniqueness, I want to know how to NOT have this issue again.

He walks me over to another car and discusses a similar issue on the tires. My problem is most likely alignment. As we turn away, a lady brings my van around and I indicate that it's coming through the shop. He happily replies and welcomes the idea of showing me another more personal explanation. He asks the lady to turn the wheel so that all of my tread is displayed. He says "Oh, yes. This is an issue with alignment." My wear bars are showing. The outer tread is bald. The inner tread is thin but not like it's outer row.

We look at the other tires and confirm that all 4 need to be replaced and we return to the desk and the next question. I need an oil change and I ask about a transmission flush. He communicates with me about how if it's needed it would show up as a service reminder in my dash and that most likely it wasn't needed yet. He explains the service code that it would give me. I'm still trying to process. I guess my face is puzzled. To which he replies, come here and let me show you. We return to the vehicle.

Evidently, if you hold down a button on my dash it will tell you the service coming due. He shows me where the code appears.  My transmission service is coming due it's not needed just yet. My oil service is due and so he shows me how it would appear. We return to the desk and he shows me a chart on the counter where I was standing and he explains what service I can expect for each code.

I ask where I can get a copy of that list. He explains that it is in my manual. He says, "Actually, there are 3 manuals for this vehicle. This particular article can be found in the Service History Guide." I bought my van used and had to order manuals. I only have two. I didn't know that there was a third one. I guess, I said that out loud and he said, "No problem. I will be glad to print you one from the internet." (I love that he was willing to print it and didn't just tell me to go home and do it myself.) I need to remember to order that book though.

We go through some other things on my list and he says, "I know that you're getting a lot done but while your vehicle is here; I'd really like to make sure that there are no recalls or updates due." I know that I have one recall but I don't think that the part is even available yet. He looks through the system and finds the details. He assured me that they have already checked hundreds of vehicles for this recall and haven't found one van with the actual problem. Just the same, they will look at mine while it's in. 

He explains that he also finds an update that he needs to complete as well. Being a verbal thinker, I utter the word "update" trying again, to process. He explains that just like computers that run windows and have software patches, this vehicle has a computer and will also need software updates occasionally. The update and recall are both free.  It never really occurred to me that a car with a computer would have an update but it makes sense...

We go through a few more of my questions. He explains and discusses each one with just as much attention. By the end of the list he says, "We have a lot of work to do and this is going to take some time". I assure him that I am in no hurry. I have a book and a plan. I did ask if his expectation of "a long time" meant by 6:00pm or 9:00 pm. He said "Oh no, our service department closes at 5:30.  If your vehicle isn't ready by then, we're going to have to give you another vehicle." (I think that he called it something else.) "But we're going to try really hard to get your vehicle finished."

I was weirded out about the loaner car thing. He must be joking. I sweep the thought aside as he assures me that he has a lot of guys and the schedule is not as busy as it had been. Maybe with a group effort, they would be able to complete all work.

I go outside to read my book, thinking about how different this experience has been verses what I see at other automotive shops. Even the competitor to this place shows a disdain for having customers. I realize it's most likely and attitude about the work but the attitude transfers to the customer.  If the work performed is anything like the attention that I have received walking in the door, then I will have to make it a point to come back to Casey, no matter how hard that might be.

I continue outside and my husband appears. Instead of my book, it looks like I'll be shopping instead. The time passes quickly. I return to the dealership at just before 5:30 and he replies, 'You are just on time". He says "My team worked so hard. They really did and they did a great job but we just weren't able to finish. I'm really sorry but we're going to have to get you that car."

I am seriously shocked. He apologized for having to give me a car. I am thinking, I had so many plans this weekend and I am so thankful that I am not out a vehicle. I can't believe their going to give me a car. I'm not a CEO... or in a suit or anyone of a particular status. I'm just me and they still want to give me a car. He says that he needs to finish something else really quick and then get back to me. I go inside.

We meet at the counter and he introduces me. The lady (Vera) says, I see that you have an Odyssey. Would you like a car or another van? I'm shocked again. Really? A van? "Of course, I'd love a van. I have 3 kids..." I was picturing all of us in a CRX... and shuddering. "A van! YES PLEASE!" Don leaves me and assures me that he will be in touch on Monday.

As I exchange information with Vera, the same lady (Candie) that brought my van into the service bay asks me if I'd like the replacement van parked aside mine for switching the car seats or if I'd like it out front and just carry the car seats through. I don't know why I am shocked that she would ask me how I would like my car brought to me but I am. -Although it doesn't matter. Whatever is easiest.  I told her that I could carry seats through. She explains how we will do this before she departs.

Candie is back in a moment. While my documents are printing at the counter, Candie and I return to the bay to get my seats. The van is still on a lift. I think to myself; didn't she just offer to park the rental beside it? Gosh, she clearly could have done that. All of my tires are on but man that would have been a lot of work for her. I am surprised that she even offered that. This was so much easier for them. I'm glad that I didn't request the first option. As we wait for my van to come down, she leans over and says beamingly, "The van you're taking home this weekend is new. It only has 86 miles on it."

my.heart.heart.palpitates. 

I thought she must be kidding. I say to myself, maybe she said 86 thousand miles... -but wait, that's not new. She said new. "Are you serious?" I ask. She was serious.

I finalize the details with the two ladies. They are just as accommodating and friendly as Don. I get in the van and no lie, I feel like what people say that they feel when they leave Disney World. I must be releasing endorphins in massive quantities. I can't wait to tell somebody! Actually, I can't wait to tell a couple of somebodies.

I call my network of good listeners; I listen to myself and think of the details. Underneath, I think to myself, I bet they gave you a van so that you'd want the new one instead of the old one. I am actually not interested in another van right this minute but seriously, even if that was a sales gimmick, no one has EVER really acted like a shortage of something, was an opportunity to provide such unexpected results. -At least not at a car dealership. And Kudos to them! I've had a good experience car shopping here before. If I was to buy a car, this might very well be the place that I buy that next one!

I think about Don's demeanor the entire time that I am there. Even if this was "just a job" and this was how he was supposed to perform- he never let on if his heart wasn't in agreement. Even if he was annoyed by my 6th question or if he cringed at the thought of having so much work to do in so little time; he gave me the genuine impression that he wanted to meet every need that I had no matter how long it took. He wanted not just my van, but my needs serviced as well! Even if they had nothing to do with the van. There was something extra... It was refreshing! (What's that? Customer service?)

While telling my mother, she explains that when I was young, that was the way that service was supposed to be. You would lose your job if you didn't provide (what I described) every time. I think to myself, how sad is it that our society has just accepted the fact that the person on the other side of the counter or phone is most likely not even going to want to deal with you. Why have we lowered our standards?

******

Intro:  I really wanted to learn something from this experience but also share it with others. Not just the awesomeness of the "Casey Honda" but what about my convictions?  How could I apply this in my own service at work and in my church or among peers and family?

I read this story at work and then highlighted things that he did throughout our appointment. If you've caught anything I've missed, please share it! In fact if you have any significant service experience that you'd like to share, I'd like to hear it that too!

His Example:

• Review the problem. Is that all of the details, issues?
• He teaches me something and gives not one but two examples. -Repeat it, if necessary.
• Move – Don’t tell them. Show them.
• Don’t wait for them to ask questions. Read their language.
• If they’re defensive, check your tone.
• If they look puzzled, ask the question for them.
• If they are frustrated, assure them.
• Be empathetic. If you were on the other side of the counter, what would you want to happen?
• Don’t fix this visit, fix the next two visits.
• Updates
• Maintenance
• Inventory
• Settings
• Other errors or notifications
• Don’t tell them to do it. Do it for them. (Like printing the manual.)
• Ask them even more questions.
• Explain what you’re doing. Most of the time they like it.
• Don’t underestimate the time. – Tell them if it will take all weekend!
• Have a back up plan if it does.
• Schedule work for a later date if necessary.
• Check your attitude.
• Greeting "You’re right on time."
• "Let me do it."
• He spoke for the team.
• He didn’t say, oh I can’t do that or that’s someone else’s job.
• In fact he fluffed them up. “My team worked hard.”
• Think about who you would give your best service to and then treat everyone like that. Is that the President of the company, your mother, your idol?
• You don’t have to tell them how complicated the steps are for you.  Let them discover it. (Like how hard it would've been to bring my van back to me.)
• Is their shortage your opportunity to sell them on something? – or blow their mind?
• Apologize if necessary.
• Thank Them. 

The devotional piece in how it applies to my family or personal ministry...

1. What about where I should lead within my own community. If I review the list of Don's actions do I go through even half of those steps in my spare time, with family, my children in ministry? -Even if it's in my free time or if I am not getting paid?

2. Am I again so focused on the work of the customer, I forget about the service of the mentor. Who is along side me that I need to be giving just as much attention to?

3. And yes, even in my own ministry... I think about how I couldn't wait to tell someone about my experience. Don't I want to be so "in alignment" with God that I can't help but meet the personal needs of those who are near me. Don't I want others to be so excited that they come back to hear about him again. To be taught... about my Savior? Don't I want them to come back to church although they might find the commute an inconvenience? Is what my church offers worth the commute or extra time that would be lost to them?

4. Matthew 5 says that our light is to expand. -To touch others. -To be contagious. For the way that I perceived Don, is the way that I left feeling. How do I represent my God to others?

5. What about my role as a mother...? Just this morning when my son was disappointed in a change of plans, instead of my focus trying to be only how to break the news in the most loving tone, and offering an apology; I thought of my service experience, and how might I be able to offer him something else that I could do instead to show that he really did matter to me. 

6. Don listened and then he did something. He never offered me advice or told me what I should be doing. What if we only looked for needs to meet and then met the need. Then we offered a printed service guide (Bible) and a good prayer. -And then we let ONLY the Holy Spirit be their council (when possible). Should the least thing that we do be praying and/or directing them to the Holy Spirit? 

Supporting verses:

Ephesians 6:5-7 - Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.

Philippians 2:1-4 - Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Romans 12:10 -  Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

******

Customer Service is an Art. You can be creative. You can express yourself and how that translates in a variety of ways. 

How Art and Service might be alike:

1. You have the opportunity to leave an impression on someone.
2. You might even inspire them!
3. You can be as creative as you want to be.
4. You should take your time to do good work because your finished product reflects you!
5. Sometimes you have to get your hands messy.
6. Sometimes the best art/service comes from a happy accident.
7. You can never have enough tools to perform your work.
8. It's interactive. If you put nothing into it, you will have offered nothing or not have a finished product.

A little or much...

On two different occasions over the weekend, other people reported Ethan appearing with money. The amounts were small but it's been a while since he has earned any allowance. He has been known to save money and hold out for a while but both instances struck me as odd. -All the more so once they happened back to back. 

I didn't want to accuse him of anything since he hadn't been caught actually doing anything wrong. But I also didn't want to turn a blind eye if this was something bigger. As I prayed about how to approach him, one of my own similar experiences as a child came to mind. On Monday, I decided that after dinner that evening I would ask him.

I genuinely believe that he didn't take it but he's at an age where he's trying out different things. I am really not sure that I could tell if he were lying. So, after he told me that the money was his, I told Ethan about my own experience. 

I explained to him that my grandmother always had one dollar bills in her purse. When I was his age, I began sneaking some of them from her. Every day she would go into the den with a book and lie down, eventually drifting to sleep. A few of those times, I slipped into her room and went to her purse to remove one or two of the paper bills. They were only a dollar and so I didn't think that they would really amount to much. I told myself that she might not even notice or care.

If she did know, I don't ever recall her confronting me.  I know that she would have given me anything that I wanted. Yet, I wonder how much it did or would've hurt her just because I didn't feel that I could ask.

To go on further, I will never forget the day that I got married. After the ceremony, when we returned home, she led me to my bedroom and closed the door. When the noise from the other side was silenced, she leaned in close to tell me how proud she was of Colin and of me and then slipped me an envelope with a twenty-five hundred dollars.

It might not seem so significant here on a blog or even to a young boy but my grandmother didn't work away from the home. My grandfather provided for their needs. While he gave her money and didn't withhold things from her; I knew that she had saved her change and extra dollars over the years in order to give me a significant gift that came exclusively from what was hers. 

The years that passed from my childhood to marriage were many and I know that I didn't take money from her more than a handful of times. Even so, as I repeat the story I wondered how much longer she might have had to save those extra dollars to make up for the ones that I got away with as a child. -Only to later give them to me anyway...

I wanted Ethan to connect to this story. When his face went pale and the outer edges of his eyes started turning red, I knew that he understood what my heart was trying to say. It really didn't matter what he did or didn't do. He got the point and that was all that mattered.

I continued with Ethan that just as she loved me, the rest of the family loved him too. While some things might not seem like much to us, to others it can make all the difference. If he had a need, we'd all be glad to try to help him out. We expected him to ask us first and wouldn't tolerate any kind taking for his own.

Throughout that night and the next day, I couldn't stop thinking about that story. While it was still touched me, I asked God what other significance that it could have right now. Then I thought about how even as adults, we still sometimes focus on trying to get just a little bit more for ourselves. Maybe it’s still in the form of a dollar here or there. Maybe it’s only in 5 minutes more or an hour. Maybe it’s even in a secret pleasure or covet that we just want to participate in without anyone knowing.

Just like it would have hurt my Grandmother for me to not ask her for things that I wanted or needed- In so many ways, I think of how that compares to our relationship with our Heavenly Father. He already gave us the most important thing that he had and yet we still struggle with or avoid asking for the little... Then we often try to get it for ourselves another way. 

Or what about the fact that he did give us more than most of us would ever want to pay and we still act as if it's nothing...

While some things seem to take a while to come together; we also mature in different ways. In our walk with Christ, we often discover that he gives us so much more than we ever thought he could. But it's often not until we're willing to see what he can do, that we are able to understand the significance of what's already been done. SUDDENLY- we realize just how far away we are.  It is then that we wonder why we ever waited so long to come to him...

Ephesians 3:20-21 - Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.