Truthportraits

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2010-04-28T06:51:00.001-07:00

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on multi-tasking and silence

2010-03-08T16:42:00.000-08:00

First...on silence, my silence. Those of you awaiting blog notifications, thank you for your patience. I'll explain: On December 15th, Bear and I dove head first into a dream we've had in our hearts for over a decade. God has opened a door to create a lakeside retreat/mentoring home in Branson, MO!

Along with dear friends old and new whom God has surrounded us with, I've spent countless hours researching, studying, selecting colors, praying over furniture choices...designing each room with spiritual rest and renewal in mind. Here's a picture of Lake Taneycomo. More pictures and a website to come :-).

Second on multi-tasking, or lack thereof.

For years I've been intentionally simplifying, living less thickly, with fewer overlapping responsibilities...it helps build up a margin of strength to call upon in full seasons like this one. As a discipline, over the years I have been choosing to multi-task less but this is different.

With this dream taking flight, we've called upon the margin built up in 2009 and now that reservoir is running low. I'm somewhat weary emotionally and mentally from thousands of decisions big and small. In such a season, out of necessity (not from intentional discipline) I find myself less able to multi-task

So while pouring my creativity into designing the retreat home, I seem unable to simultaneously write or blog, let alone twitter...Seems that when it comes to creativity, I'm mono-focused, especially when committed to a complex project.

Rest Inn Rivendell will open this month and the website should launch next month. I so look forward to sharing the dream with you. We know that many will encounter God in this home, emerge from seasons of sadness, have their faith and vision renewed, and I believe writers will be released within the home as well. The entire home is devoted to Jesus' invitation from Mark 6.31: "Come with me by yourself to a quiet place and get some rest."

If you'd like to receive updates on Rest Inn Rivendell or join our prayer team, simply email me at alicia@truthportraits.com.

So, thank you for your patient waiting on this lost blogger :-). I should be writing more soon.

mouth math

2009-11-30T16:24:00.000-08:00

As Bear, Keona, and Louie headed off for kid's church, Jonathan and I hobbled (I'm still in a shockingly large boot because of my broken foot) into the Realife building this past Sunday for the tween's service.

As usual, we sat in the back row reserved for staff. Each week they kindly allow us to camp there because they know that the music and the videos and the energy are sometimes too much for Jonathan. He may jump around for joy during worship or cover his ears when the music cranks up or shout out something sincere that's somehow slightly off cue. In the back row, we enjoy the service in a space where Jonathan can be himself without drawing attention to himself. It's always a special time for us to share.

The speaker this week quoted a word of wisdom he received early on from a pastor: "Make sure your words are always plus signs." He was speaking of how our words need to add something to each environment and aptly used Caleb as an example of someone whose words added something and drew people toward the promised land.

Jonathan--a sleeping math genuis--was intrigued, "So plus words add, minus words takes away, what do multplication words do?"

"Hmmn. Perhaps that's when our words multiply how many people are walking with Jesus," I offered.

"And division?" Jonathan wondered.

"Divisive words are those that cause unnecessary conflict between people," I suggested.

Then we both sat there and thought...about mouth math.

And perhaps is would be wise for me, and for us, to think a bit more. So I invite you to along with me think through all the words you spoke today. Did our words add truth? subtract esteem? multiply the faithful? divide the family?

Mouth math...that for better or for worse, is not easily erased.

Louie's gift

2009-10-27T17:50:00.000-07:00

Today wasn't my best day. I'm fighting some sort of cough, sinus, sleepless, tiring...head cold. A quieter person by wiring, today requests sounded like demands and talking sounded like shouting...I'm looking forward to a healthier moment in the near future.

So tonight, Louie and I began our cuddle-time ritual. He chooses a book while I prepare his milk. I tuck him in, read the book in high drama, and we pray together. Then we're supposed to "close eyes an sleep!"

Louie, however, missed his normal cue. Instead he got up and pulled up a big blanket. Struggling to get it open he explained, "Mommy sicky. I tuck you," then he patiently wrestled with the thick quilt to get all the corners smoothed around his coughing Mommy.

As he took the top of the blanket and pulled it up over my neck, he concluded, "it's cold and the dogs are going poop."

I was laughing internally, crying externally. Not sure how it's all related but I heard one message clearly: I am loved.

(and I'm grateful the dogs are outside...)

air-time on the radio

2009-10-23T14:54:00.000-07:00

A radio interview. A call-in. A comment that temporarily stunned me.

Click here to read my overdue response to a caller's statement regarding why I respect Atheists.

cuddle sandwich

2009-10-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

At night, I'm often wonderfully sandwiched between Jonathan (age 12) and Keona (age 6) for cuddle-time before the kids drift off to sleep. Thought you'd like to listen in on our "conversation":

Jonathan: "I know, we need a huge battery and tall metal post to put out during storms. Then when lightning strikes, the battery can collect the energy."

Keona: "A boy pushed me in recess today and called me a name!"

Jonathan: "And why didn't God give us two breathing holes? This way we could drink water and still breathe."

Keona: "He called me lady!"

Jonathan: "Guess I'll ask God later."

Keona: "When I get to heaven, I'd like to ask God why he didn't give us magic."

Jonathan: "What? Magic? God doesn't need magic. God is all powerful. If there wasn't God, there wouldn't be anything."

Keona: "Yes, but I still think it would be fun to go 'poof' and have a pink horse."

Jonathan: "Listen, isn't the rain beautiful??"

Keona: "I'm going to paint my truck rainbow."

(pause)

Jonathan: "Mom, can you rub my back?"

Keona: "Mommy, can you scratch my head?"

(longer pause)

All in whispers: "luv you....."

on tickets

2009-10-06T18:45:00.000-07:00

(Tonight's conversation with Jonathan after a poor choice resulting in the loss of screen time tomorrow.)

Jona: "But Mom, I didn't remember that it was wrong!! Please, give me another chance."

Alicia: "Jona, do you remember when I got my one and only speeding ticket? I didn't mean to speed, but I was still breaking the law. After the policeman gave me a ticket you said, 'Thank God he stopped us. God used him to save our lives because we could have had an accident.' The policeman gave me a ticket now to save us from an accident later. Daddy and I are giving you a ticket now to help prevent an accident later."

Jona: "But I had plans for my screen time tomorrow."

Alicia: "Yep, I had plans for that $125 too. You know we're doing the right thing, Jona."

Jona: "Yeah. I do. It's just hard."

(Thank you Mr. Policeman, for stopping me, for not letting me off easy, for giving me a life-lesson in the presence of my son.)

where (oh where) has alicia been?

2009-09-22T17:48:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,

I'm in the middle of the Fall speaking run which started with Alaska (mentoring workshop, rally, and Sunday Service in Fairbanks), Arizona (district women's retreat in Prescott) , and Tennessee (Leadership Consecration services in Memphis), and will end with Texas (CFNI women's retreat), Tennessee (attending MOPS convention and being interviewed on the Brian Mason Show), Louisiana (Bethany World Prayer Center, Healing Place, and New Iberia), and Illinois (Leadership gathering at Covenant United Church of Christ).

God's presence has been both thick and refreshing. And...I'm starting to feel a little weary around the edges from the travel. I certainly appreciate your prayers.

Kate (amazing webmaster) and I are re-dreaming the website and hope to apply a face lift both visually and structurally over the next month. If you have any ideas, please let me know!

Also, I just posted a discussion topic at our facebook group about what kind of messages group members would like to receive as part of truthportraits tribe.

Below is an email from my publisher about Finding an Unseen God. The grace of God!

Peace to you all---alicia

"Some neat news from my side: We've recently chosen your book for submission to a few annual book awards: the Christianity Today Book Awards and the ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) Christian Book Awards. In addition, we've submitted the cover to be considered for an ECPA cover award. The awards are months away, but we're super excited that they could lead to wider readership and recognition of your book. And I'm also personally pleased that of the 25 or so new nonfiction books we did last year, yours was chosen by our team to be among the 2 or 3 we could recommend for each award.--Jeff"

a dangerous crossing

2009-09-14T13:01:00.000-07:00

Hello friends!

Fall is a season of harvest, fullness, and transition. Here at home, we're finding a rhythm with schooling, watching the trees release their leaves...and I'm at the airport each weekend flying out to share with amazing men and women.

I'll be blogging less through the Fall, but hope to check in now and then to share with you some of the messages I'm preparing. Last week in Arizona, we dove into Anonymous: Jesus' Hidden Years and Yours. This weekend, I'll be with an incredible congregation for a consecration service in Memphis. You can read my thoughts about the forming message here.

Peace,
alicia

like a skunk and a pig...

2009-09-08T14:34:00.000-07:00

Keona titled her latest 1st grade masterpiece, MY SMELLY DOG:

"My dog Toser smells like a trash can and a skunk and a pig and it looks like a hairy cat and has a big Tongue.

i love my dog Tozer.

He has a big nose and a big head and smell."

my newest devotional book!!!

2009-09-07T16:38:00.000-07:00

Intimate Conversations just released this week!

Here's a link to a description and 4 chapter excerpt.

I'm unpacking from my recent trip to Alaska--hope to write more tomorrow...

q&a: "Is God a liar?"

2009-08-25T16:35:00.000-07:00

I just posted my unedited response to a gut-honest question I received via email at conversant life.

love-blind to the stares

2009-08-21T14:55:00.001-07:00

I recently responded to a question on conversantlife.com about how parents feel when others perceive their children as rebellious or atypical.

survey: if Jesus were sleeping in the boat...

2009-08-17T18:13:00.001-07:00

If you have a few minutes, click on over to conversantlife.com for a quick question. I've been meditating on a passage in Mark for several days and I'd like to add your thoughts to my musings :-).

prescription for pain

2009-08-10T16:05:00.001-07:00

"Mommy," my 6-year-old called, "my tummy hurts so bad. The only thing that will make it feel better is more cuddle-time with you."

I could hear the tears in Keona's voice so I knew this wasn't a stay-up-and-talk-instead-of-sleep ploy. Baby girl has had a tummy ache for several days.

So I laid down to cuddle with my dear daughter. She placed her head near my heart and wrapped us in her blanket.

"I wonder why cuddling with you is the only thing that makes me feel better when I'm hurting?" she sniffed between tears.

Before I could answer, she said, "I think it's because I love you so, so, so much."

Then I was the one crying.

Even in her pain, my daughter speaks words that heal others.

Love--what a force.

books, tomatoes, blankets, and chickens

2009-08-07T17:20:00.000-07:00

A few snapshots for you on the home front:

Keona has been writing books for around a year now. She comes into my office, asks for several sheets of paper from the copier, folds them into a book, and sits down at the table to write. Her books are fabulous, filled with pictures and occasional words and lots of heart. Her newest book is titled, "Worshiping God wherever you are." She asked me to "publish around 100 copies to begin with" and has already "sold" 2 copies to Auntie Wawa and 1 to Miss Christie (for an unspecified price :-).

Jonathan walked into the house a few days ago with a smile on his face, a bucket of garden tomatoes in his hands, and this refrain on his lips: "money, money, money, money." His master plan? To sell the tomatoes and put the money in savings. Our 12 year is discovering the connection between work and future dreams.

Dear baby Louie--who calls his blanket a "tuck-you" and the chicken coop a "chickie poop"--is fascinated by our newest addition of 13 baby chicks. I sat reading a book with a watchful eye on Louie while he interacted with the chicks last night. He brought out his sister's cash register and kept pressing one of the buttons as he smiled and leaned into the box. Barry caught on immediately: "That ding-ding sounds just like the bird's cheeps! He's trying to communicate with them." When the chicks didn't recipricate, Louie attempted something else. He went over to the animal bucket and kept trying to introduce them to plastic animals. First a cow, then a sheep, followed by a giraffe...

And now...all of us are about to cuddle on the floor of the living room for our Friday night tradition of movies, pizza, and popcorn. (and alka seltzer...)

atheism...and peace of mind

2009-08-03T17:39:00.000-07:00

This may be my last post on conversantlife.com. Not because of today's post (hopefully) but because the opportunity was originated by my publisher for the first three month's release of Finding an Unseen God.

It's a post that may be especially helpful for understanding how some Atheists find "peace" in their belief system. You can read it by clicking HERE.

mini-van treasure

2009-08-03T14:50:00.001-07:00

We took one more summer fun day this weekend and drove down to Silver Dollar City. Here are my favorite memories:

Louie's enormous light brown eyes staring in awe at Bob and Larry during the VeggieTale "invention of silliness" show.
Jonathan's arm around Keona on the rides that were too small for him, but barely just right for her.
Daddy's somewhat green--but smiling--face on that swirly, twirly, lose-your-cookies ride that he went on for the love of his kids.
Mommy remembering why she hasn't visited that hamburger chain in YEARS.
Keona in the back of the van on the way home with her eyes closed and her hands gently raised, smiling in her own private moment as she listened to Hillsong's worship music.

faith. family. fun.

treasures.

five minutes of friendship

2009-07-31T10:42:00.000-07:00

Wednesday night we met a delightful boy with dancing blue eyes and multiple special needs. My blog about the encounter can be read at conversantlife.com by clicking HERE.

chasing horses

2009-07-22T10:35:00.001-07:00

I took a blog-break for the two weeks we spent as a family in Texas. Today as I sat down to write, the theme of wandering was strongly on my heart. For some reason, I'm unable to post the blog here but you can read it at conversantlife.com.

typing from Texas

2009-07-16T15:17:00.000-07:00

While friends are watching our 4 dogs and 2 cats at home...the Chole clan has been on the road in Texas.

A year ago I strongly felt that precious Keona needed to participate in a day camp called Kids for the Nations. She LOVED it! For five days she was surrounded by children who love Jesus from all over the world. On the last day, she wept and was only consoled by the hope of returning next year.

Jonathan also participated in the program and he spent the week in the midst of an incredible group of pre-teens who valued him and went the extra mile to encourage and befriend him--what a difference Jesus makes. Jonathan's counselor, Jamal, was an exceptional young man and only once did Jonathan get to a point where he couldn't participate in the program.

Louie was invited to join in the pre-school program here on the campus. The songs, crafts, walks...Louie loved being with kids his own age each morning. And of course he is thrilled to wake up each morning to the smell of Granny making breakfast!

It's been a beautiful trip, but not a stress free zone. Like all families, traveling together makes for fabulous memories and challenging moments. For one, Louie has experienced a nap-deficit :-). For another, I wish I had $1 for every time Barry, myself, or my mom has said, "Shhhhh!" to our trio (My kids are definitely used to living in country.)

The hardest spots for me personally though are the painful moments for Jonathan when he is interacting with others who don't quite grasp his unique strengths and needs. Even yesterday, a family just stared with that look. It's a look of distance, of doubt, of rejection.

It's a look I wish I could shield my son from forever.

I can only imagine how Jonathan's Heavenly Father must feel.

nine woes...last one...for now

2009-07-10T09:53:00.000-07:00

The last of the Nine Woes series is up at conversant life (click here). This one asks if we will bend toward other generations or sacrifice souls on the altar of our uniqueness and criticism.

conversantlife.com blog #8

2009-07-02T20:24:00.000-07:00

This conversantlife blog addresses our tendency to justify unfaithfulness to the gathered people of God...to go from dessert to dessert to dessert and rarely stick around for the main meal (let alone the clean up). You can read it here.

(Have a wonderful July 4th!)

on visitors, web searches, and blogs

2009-06-26T10:52:00.000-07:00

Today marks the 26th anniversary of Jesus interrupting my existence! I wrote about it briefly in a conversant life blog here.

Curiously, today our family received visitors from a group seeking to convert us to their faith. I was upstairs preparing for a radio interview when I saw Barry talking with a couple further down the driveway.

Barry relayed later that our precious eldest eyed them cautiously for a few minutes then said without any malice (or self-editing) in his heart, "Excuse me. I think it's rude to just show up and talk like this when you weren't invited."

Not sure we've ever used the word "evangelism" in conversation with Jonathan...but we have emphasized the words "respect" and "love" when discussing what it means to share faith...(Seems like he was listening. )

Then I was searching for an image to post with the conversantlife.com blog and typed in "art + salvation." Do you know what it pulled up? Nope, not a cross. Dozens of images from Terminator.

So...

I'll keep in mind the image of what the cross suddenly meant to me back on June 26th, 1983.
I'll keep in mind what the cross means today to my honest children.
And I'll keep in mind what the cross will mean on the day this home vanishes and another appears.

underwater

2009-06-22T15:08:00.000-07:00

My children have provided wonderful, thought-full moments all of their lives. Here are some of their recent gifts:

Keona
"Wow, you mean that when I do things that please God and no one sees, I have treasure in heaven?! That means God has presents waiting for me!!! I LOVE presents!"

Louie
(On Father's Day while in the car)
"Happee-to, Happee-to, Happee-to Daddee." (clapping)

Jona
"Mom, it's easier for me to swim under water. On top, I feel like I'm drowning."

As I've watched my eldest struggle socially this summer (Asperger kids often wrestle to understand interpersonsal scripts--it's like a foreign language to them), I've thought back to Jonathan's words.

Underwater...all the noise is muted.
Underwater...there are fewer distractions.
Underwater...he can be himself and no one judges him.
Underwater...our special son emerges with insight for those who live most of life on the surface.