Out Live Your Life:Book Review

The new book that has come out by Max Lucado is, Out Live Your Life.  That is a pretty bold title. I was intrigued by the challenge in the title as well.

He talks about “regular folks like us” to get out of our comfort zones and start getting more involved on how we can change the world. How to become more sensitive to worldly brokeness. To come together as a team. He states in Chapter 5, “No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.” I love that statement, because it holds so much truth on to how, if we all work together, a lot more can become accomplished in our communities, nation and world.

In Chapter 7, he states, “Let’s look at the hurting until we hurt with them.” We are to “bear each other’s pain.”, right?

Over all, Out Live Your Life, is definitely a challenge. Going that extra mile, opening your heart, lending your hand to strangers. God can and will use you. Max asks, “How can we prepare ourselves? Simple. Imitate the disciples. Linger long and often in the presence of Christ. Meditate on his grace. Ponder his love. Memorize his words. Gaze into his face. Talk to him. Courage comes as we live with Jesus.” 

This book is such an encouragement. If you read it, I hope that what Max has written will become contagious and you will see his passion and desire for us regular folks to get up and out live our lives.

My National TV Debut

So, over the summer, I received an email from my lovely sister-in-law, which she had forwarded an email from a friend of hers that has worked as an Executive Producer for various talk shows. The current one she is with is The Nate Berkus Show. He is an Interior Designer, you may have seen him on Oprah quite a few times.

The email had asked if she knew of any families that have kids that completely destroy the house. And my SIL automatically thought of me. (so sweet)

The producers had asked  me to send pictures of what kind of damage the kids have made to the house and other objects, including themselves. They were in luck, because just the day before, Jesters 2 & 3 had cut their own hair, cut up their pillow and sheets and took a bat to my back tailight of the van. So, I had pictures of that damage already. I took other pictures of marked up walls, broken blinds and a nice slit into our brown leather couch. I sent them to the producers and 20 minutes later, my phone rang and I was talking to one of the associate producers.

She asked questions of all the damaged goods, she even spoke with a couple of the kids. The phone calls continued for about 2-3 weeks, along with emailing and signing various release forms. I had to keep quiet about this, that was hard for me to do, because I was so excited that this was happening! (I did tell a few people though, shhhhh…)

Then the producers had sent me a FlipCam. They wanted me to film my story of when Jester 3 tore up the last letter that my dad wrote to me before he died. I was 15 when he passed away, so, of course, I had cherished the letter  for many, many years. I had kept the letter in my Bible. I had my neighbor tape me telling my story in different ways and in different settings. I also had my good friend, Dana do that as well. Then, I sent the FlipCam back to them. I was really hoping that we would get to fly out to NYC where the show is taking place, or have Nate himself come out to the house and fix a few of the damages for us, but, no such luck. I assume they had found other kids across the country that have done worse damage to their own house than my own kids.

Tomorrow, Thursday September 23 is when the show will be aired. I’m not exactly sure which setting they will show of my story, since I had done about 30 different takes of it! I’m a little nervous, yet, its funny to me that this has happened. So, Nashville friends, you can watch it at 10:00 a.m,  WZTV FOX  17. For other friends, check out your local listing here.

 This will be a good laugh, and hope you all enjoy the ‘Kicking Out Kidtastrophies’ show!

Brotherly Advice

I took Jesters 2 & 3 (the twins) out to lunch at Moe’s earlier today. And this is how our their lunch conversation went:

In the middle of eating our burrito and cheese quesadillas.

Jester 3: “Mommy, I need to go poop.”

Mommy: “No. You can wait until we are finished eating. We are almost done.”

Jester 2: “Just hold it in. Like this. (he places his hand under his bottom) You just have to push it back in. Try it.”

(Jester 3 places his hand under his bottom, has a very perplexed look on his face.)

Jester 3: “There! I did it!” (proceeds to give jester 2 a ‘thumbs up’.)

Jester 2: “See, it was easy, wasn’t it?”

Jester 3:“Yeah, thanks, Andrew. I don’t have to go poop anymore.”

Jester 2:“You’re welcome.”

I know that they will always be there for each other and give great brotherly advice.

Meet Max Lucado

 

Sunday September 12 at 7:30, Max Lucado will be at the Barnes and Noble in Cool Springs, TN to sign a copy of his new book, Out Live Your Life. 

 There is a pre-event sign up at the store. Space is limited. For more details go here.

I am in the middle of reading this book, I highly recommend it! I will be posting a review about it soon.

So, come to Barnes and Noble Sunday night, buy Max’s book, meet him and get it signed by him to! You don’t want to miss out on this opportunity!

Public Service Announcement

A few nights ago, my neighbor, was hit by a car while standing on the median/sidewalk to cross the street. It was late at night, she was walking home from a local restaurant. She decided to walk home because she had had a couple of drinks and didn’t want to drive and put herself at risk or anyone else.

The lady who hit her was TEXTING while DRIVING. Remember why my neighbor decided to walk home?

Because she was DRINKING and didn’t want to DRIVE home.

I think its fair to say that drinking and texting is almost the same. You’re not focused, you swerve, you’re not paying attention. You’re putting yourself and others at risk. Really, any kind of distraction while behind the wheel is dangerous to you and others.

My neighbor is lucky to be alive. She has multiple internal and external injuries. She has a long road of recovery ahead of her.

 I had heard somewhere that, “it only takes a second for an eternal heartache.”  Don’t let that heartache be your loved ones or somebody else’s loved ones.

 So, will you join me and sign the No Phone Zone  pledge?