Wednesday, September 07, 2011
La De Da, La De Da
An original song written and performed by Jeffrey Beck, inspired by Caroline Beck's 'round the house ramblings, and enjoyed by and danced to by Caroline, Charlotte, and Camille Beck. Taped by Mama.
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
You.
It seems like everywhere I turn lately, I'm reading or hearing about being true to the person I am. People whose work I read, other people whose work I read, people I respect and look up to, people I don't even know. A quote I saw on Twitter sums all of their words up well: "It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation" - Herman Melville.
The theme is the same. And it's nothing new. Be yourself. Yes, that one. The one God made you to be. The one He is making you to be. We need you. And me. And her. And him. When we tell our stories, not the stories of others, not the stories we wish were true - but our stories, it gives life to others. As quoted in this fantastic post that says all of this much better than I could, "Tell your story with all of its shadows and fog, so people can understand their own. They want a leader who’s authentic, someone trying to figure out how to follow the Lord Jesus in the joy and wreckage of life. They need you, not Moses.”
All of these people are reminding me to be the Ashley that I was made to be, not an imitation of those I look up to, not an imitation or emulation or wishing I was more like a person or people I love (or like, or know, or know of), but living out of the heart placed in me.
I know the phenomenon isn't unique to first born children, but for me I think at least in part, my tendency to imitate or harbor quiet jealousy is tied to my people-pleasing nature. Carol Kent, an author and speaker and oldest of six children, says, "I was very used to being in charge, and control came naturally to me. I was a people-pleaser and loved to do things perfectly and to be known as a competent person who 'got the job done well.'"
When I see that something works well for someone else or that someone I love has a passion for something, instinctively I think I'm drawn to it. Though not consciously, I associate the approval, success, love, or passion that another has with the same feeling for me. Sitting here I can of course objectively say that sounds ridiculous, but ridiculous or not, I can't deny reality.
Lessons like this seem to come full circle for me.
Several years ago I gave a talk to our high school kids when Jeff was working at a church in Knoxville that was about John the Baptist. The whole point was to convey that John was a light. An important one for sure, but he wasn't The Light. He was placed in a particular place for an important purpose. Instead of getting wrapped up in being unhappy with where he wasn't placed, he embraced the position he had. He embodied, at least in my mind, "Whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God." As one of my good friends and favorite teachers said, "John knew who he was. And who he wasn't".
That is it. Refreshingly simply - but much needed for me - lesson that I have been placed with a purpose in my little corner of the world.
The theme is the same. And it's nothing new. Be yourself. Yes, that one. The one God made you to be. The one He is making you to be. We need you. And me. And her. And him. When we tell our stories, not the stories of others, not the stories we wish were true - but our stories, it gives life to others. As quoted in this fantastic post that says all of this much better than I could, "Tell your story with all of its shadows and fog, so people can understand their own. They want a leader who’s authentic, someone trying to figure out how to follow the Lord Jesus in the joy and wreckage of life. They need you, not Moses.”
All of these people are reminding me to be the Ashley that I was made to be, not an imitation of those I look up to, not an imitation or emulation or wishing I was more like a person or people I love (or like, or know, or know of), but living out of the heart placed in me.
I know the phenomenon isn't unique to first born children, but for me I think at least in part, my tendency to imitate or harbor quiet jealousy is tied to my people-pleasing nature. Carol Kent, an author and speaker and oldest of six children, says, "I was very used to being in charge, and control came naturally to me. I was a people-pleaser and loved to do things perfectly and to be known as a competent person who 'got the job done well.'"
When I see that something works well for someone else or that someone I love has a passion for something, instinctively I think I'm drawn to it. Though not consciously, I associate the approval, success, love, or passion that another has with the same feeling for me. Sitting here I can of course objectively say that sounds ridiculous, but ridiculous or not, I can't deny reality.
Lessons like this seem to come full circle for me.
Several years ago I gave a talk to our high school kids when Jeff was working at a church in Knoxville that was about John the Baptist. The whole point was to convey that John was a light. An important one for sure, but he wasn't The Light. He was placed in a particular place for an important purpose. Instead of getting wrapped up in being unhappy with where he wasn't placed, he embraced the position he had. He embodied, at least in my mind, "Whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God." As one of my good friends and favorite teachers said, "John knew who he was. And who he wasn't".
That is it. Refreshingly simply - but much needed for me - lesson that I have been placed with a purpose in my little corner of the world.
Sunday, September 04, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Best. Advice. Ever
After Camille was born I had more people than I can count ask me, "How do you handle a baby and two active little girls." My stock answer was always, "I just take it one moment at a time." This says what I was trying to convey much more beautifully than my words did.
Just do the next thing.
Pick up the dishes. Type the email. Read the book, Give the bath. Pick up the sock. Chop the onion. Pour the goldfish. Kiss the head. Tie the shoe. Review the contract. Make the lunch.
It is so true that for any of us -- no matter our lot in life -- the entirety of a day or week or hour even can be far too daunting. The next thing, though, just might be possible.
(via Ann Voskamp)
Just do the next thing.
Pick up the dishes. Type the email. Read the book, Give the bath. Pick up the sock. Chop the onion. Pour the goldfish. Kiss the head. Tie the shoe. Review the contract. Make the lunch.
It is so true that for any of us -- no matter our lot in life -- the entirety of a day or week or hour even can be far too daunting. The next thing, though, just might be possible.
(via Ann Voskamp)
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
The Things They Say
Caroline and Charlotte say things on a regular basis that totally crack me up. I don't know whether anyone else would laugh, but they more than entertain me. A couple of recent examples for you:
I was putting Charlotte to bed a few nights ago and while I was rubbing her back for a few moments, she grabbed my hand and looked at me and said, "Mama, we need to find a new park." I replied, "Why Charlotte?" She said, "We need find a candy park and a purple park."
I really had to keep my laughter in until I left her room. I suppose to her 2 1/2 year old mind, the only thing better than a regular park would be a park made of candy and a park completely decked out in your favorite color.
Today when we were driving home from school and work, Caroline asked me what the word "jealous" means. I tried explaining it the best I could by saying that it means that you want something that someone else has. She said, "Oh, of course, like I am jealous of fairies because of the portals!" I wasn't sure what to say to that, so I just said, "Well, I suppose that's right, but can you tell me more about what you mean?" She said, "Well, you know how fairies have portals in certain secret places to get to the fairy places? Well, I want to find those. Can we find one? Oh! Or . . . WE could make one!"
And yesterday afternoon when Caroline was eating an orange, she spit out a seed and was horrified. She said, "Uhh! A nut! What is a nut doing in my orange!"
I'm sure I've said it at least five million times, but I love these girls. They make my day.
I was putting Charlotte to bed a few nights ago and while I was rubbing her back for a few moments, she grabbed my hand and looked at me and said, "Mama, we need to find a new park." I replied, "Why Charlotte?" She said, "We need find a candy park and a purple park."
I really had to keep my laughter in until I left her room. I suppose to her 2 1/2 year old mind, the only thing better than a regular park would be a park made of candy and a park completely decked out in your favorite color.
And if you are on Facebook, you probably read this one, but the other night Charlotte came up to me and said, "Mama, you is my best friend, right?" I was so touched that I quickly replied, "Oh Charlotte! You are my best friend too!" Her face lit up and she said, "I not to go bed soon now, okay?"
Well played Charlotte.
Today when we were driving home from school and work, Caroline asked me what the word "jealous" means. I tried explaining it the best I could by saying that it means that you want something that someone else has. She said, "Oh, of course, like I am jealous of fairies because of the portals!" I wasn't sure what to say to that, so I just said, "Well, I suppose that's right, but can you tell me more about what you mean?" She said, "Well, you know how fairies have portals in certain secret places to get to the fairy places? Well, I want to find those. Can we find one? Oh! Or . . . WE could make one!"
And yesterday afternoon when Caroline was eating an orange, she spit out a seed and was horrified. She said, "Uhh! A nut! What is a nut doing in my orange!"
I'm sure I've said it at least five million times, but I love these girls. They make my day.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Quick Dinner
A couple of days ago our evening got a little crazy and I didn't have much time to cook dinner. I opened the fridge, hoping and praying that something would magically appear that I could put on the table for my family.
It didn't.
But I did find a can of refrigerated crescent rolls. So I decided to put together some crescent roll sandwiches and they were actually good! I just unrolled the crescent rolls, separated them, and rolled each one up with a piece of turkey and swiss cheese, baked them for about 11 or 12 minutes, and served them to the girls with apples (or in Camille's case, applesauce).
When there is a non-tested dinner that makes all three of my girls happy, it is a major success in my book, so I thought I'd share this simple quick dinner!
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