Category: Daily Musings

Posted in Daily Musings, Healthy Living, Marriage

Eating clean and getting lean

Posted on by jenschuyler
            It’s been a good weekend so far.  Started with 2nd man canceling our workout yesterday morning (whew!).  I’m not happy that it was because he was feeling under the weather, however, I was thinking we were going to have to install handicap railing in our bathroom if my legs didn’t recover soon.  Just having a small child brush up against them was excruciating.  I’m thinking it’s a good thing to ease into this workout thing.  Not to mention that he now has me on a clean eating plan I need time to learn about..  This is the idea that we should eat foods that are as close to their natural state as possible.  That’s right…I have to break off my evil friendship with Little Debbie.  She’s a chemical filled nightmare that will outlive a nuclear war apparently.  So far, she’s been working underground and hiding out around my midsection….and lower section….oh, and upper section too.
            I’m actually on board with the 2nd man on this idea, but admittedly it was with some arm twisting reluctance.  I cried in his office when he first informed me that he wanted us to try to go this direction.  “you mean I have to go back to school to learn how to feed my family again?”  It’s not that I’m unwilling to help my family be as nutritious as possible, but it does take a substantial amount of time to learn how to cook everything….again….in a healthy way. 
After the initial tears I took a deep breath and said, “ok, I’m willing to try.”  Three reasons why. 1. I’m bummed because nobody’s coming for the holidays this year, and we have nowhere to go.  Guess it’s the perfect time to try to get healthy and learn to cook since there’s not much reason to cook up all of the junk food I was so looking forward to.  2.  I spotted a horrendous picture of myself on the photo wall at church….lets just say I could use some change. And 3. I really do want to be healthy and it kind of gives me a sense of Proverbs 31 (if you know what I mean).  In a nutshell….couldn’t hurt, might help. 
This should be interesting trying to be all “clean” in the youth ministry.  Already, this weekend, we’ve been to a youth rally that served Frito chili pie and brownies.  Not sure there was anything clean about any of that.  Tonight we have a teen service at church and GAP night afterwards.  GAP meaning “Games And Pizza”.  Guess I’d better eat my clean tuna and veggies before we leave for church.  I’m hoping the satisfaction of being healthy will outweigh the smell of that pizza in my car when I go to pick it up.  Ooooh I may need some prayer on this one. 
Posted in Daily Musings

Diary of a Wimpy Mom

Posted on by jenschuyler
     Last night, we had driven separately to church and home because of schedule conflicts.  The children had driven with 2nd man’s mom (who lives in a small cottage behind our house).  I’m so glad I had let them do this.  Namely, because of the scene 2nd man pulled up to in front of the house. 
The truck door was open wide with radio blaring and headlights pointed at the garage door.  I was dancing some odd native looking jig around the driveway.  “You don’t even have to explain what’s going on, I bet I can guess,” states 2nd man confidently.  He was right….spider!…..big one!     
Now, some think this is a silly fear and probably roll their eyes at people like me who are so scared of spiders.  However, I have only learned the longer I live that there is reason to fear.  I really blame it on my mother (just kidding Mom, you tried to guide me right. I just like to throw that in there for added false guilt).  Actually, when I was small (in Ohio) my mother did try to protect me.  A show came on TV that she told me not to watch.  She was going next door to a neighbor’s house and I was to watch something else or do something else.  Well, of course, I chose wrong and watched “The Kingdom of the Spiders” with William Shatner.  I don’t even remember all of it except they were in Oklahoma and tarantulas were taking over the town.  I remember certain scenes like a little girl on a swing set covered in spiders ahhhhh.  Let me tell ya, I couldn’t even go in the bathroom without fear for months.  I was scared they’d come crawling under the door and trap me. 
As I grew up, I realized this was probably a senseless fear.  Then…we moved to Oklahoma.  One of the first kids we met in the youth department was missing the top part of his outer ear.  I wondered what had happened.  Well, guess what, a spider had bitten him.  It was then that I learned Oklahoma is a Brown Recluse haven, not to mention the Black Widows.  I had really only feared big wooly spiders up until then.  That’s when I learned that the ones to fear were small and their venom was flesh eating. I’ve actually been told that tarantulas (which are out here too.) aren’t actually dangerous, they just have a painful bite.  Ya well, I’m not into pain, so the fear persists.
Anyway, let me take you back to last night.  When I had pulled up in the driveway, I thought I saw something hanging on the garage door that looked leggy.  “Oh it’s probably just some twig or leaf stuck from the blustering wind today,” I said to myself.  Then it fell off of the door and started crawling.  Well, I had to make sure so I got out of the car, but then something in my body wouldn’t allow me to get too close.  So as my mind was fighting my body, it came off like the little jig I described earlier. 
2nd man however, saved the day.  He walked up and tried to shoo it into the flowerbed.  “Oh no,” I said, “I have to come out here and work tomorrow, he needs to be dead.”  So 2nd man reluctantly complied and gave him the final blow…..my hero!
Now, here’s the real kicker of the night.  Remember I said the radio was blaring?  Well, I had been listening to Dennis Rainy’s wife, Barbara, discuss a new book she’d written.  Guess what the subject was. Ok I’ll tell ya. “ Modeling courage in front of your children.”  No kidding.  2nd man had a heyday with that one.  Truly, I deserved it. Oh, here is to the moments when God saves your children from you.  I just hung my head in shame and…well… lack of courage.
Posted in Associate/Youth Pastor's Wife, Daily Musings, Parenting

Costumes and Bumpers

Posted on by jenschuyler
     Another big weekend has come and gone.  We spent Friday setting up and Saturday hosting a Fall Festival in our family life center.  I know some people have differing opinions over this.  However, we believe that, just as we celebrate Christmas, which has pagan backgrounds, we might as well redeem other days for the Lord as well.  So, the youth in our church host this event, allowing kids from the entire town to dress in fun (no scary) costumes and come have fun.   We give each person who comes in the door a tract and an invitation to come to our church.  Boy that sounded like a big disclaimer huh ?
     Anyway, it was a busy, but fun time.  Our own kids really enjoyed it.  Well, they mostly enjoyed getting there early so they could have the inflatable games to themselves.  I had a Minnie Mouse, a Spiderman and a very modest Wonder Woman.  Had to make a special skirt to lengthen Wonder Woman’s costume.  The real wonder is that anyone recognized who she was supposed to be by the end of it. 
     Minnie Mouse had a wardrobe malfunction in the moon bounce.  Stepped on her dress and ripped it right down the middle.  Thankfully, we have a plastic tub of extra clothing we take to camps and we were able to fix her right up…disaster averted. 
      I took pictures of them all before we even left the house, because, sure enough, the mask was thrown off of spider man, the gloves came off of Minnie, and Wonder Woman had to get comfortable in order to play at all. 
      All in all, the teens did a fantastic job of setting up, running the show and even cleaning up afterwards.  We received tons of compliments on them; A shining moment on their behalf. 
Car Update:
     On the way to the Fall Festival Saturday evening a couple more moments in car history occurred.  You see, since writing about my car a few weeks ago, something new has happened every week.  Our friend Bubba has taken care of a couple of them graciously.  However, Saturday was something else.  I pulled up in the drive thru of a fast food joint to order dinner for the kids, only to find that all of the power windows, except mine, worked.  So, I had to do the redneck thing and open my door to order.  Then I had to open the door to pay and get the food too.  I contemplated pulling up so that my daughter in the back seat could pay and get the food, but this could send her into panic and spilled drinks. 
     After that I had to make a quick stop at the store.  When I came out and put my items in the trunk, the bumper fell off onto my feet… again.  This time it broke into pieces.  This sent me into one of my imaginations.  The thought that came up was of an episode of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” in which a wife kept locking her husband out of doors and cars until he would do some funny little dance.  “Come on!” he kept saying and then, finally, he’d do the dance.   I kind of feel like God is doing this to me.  Like He’s saying, “do your grateful dance Jenny” as he flicks the bumper off of my car.  “Come on!” I shout and then have to try to remind myself to be grateful.  Of course we Baptists don’t dance, but I have a little tribute for the Lord right now fully innocent with only arms that I think He understands.  One day I will be all grown up in this area of gratitude.  Can’t promise it will be this side of Heaven though. 
Posted in Daily Musings

Bubba fixed my car!!!

Posted on by jenschuyler

     Bubba fixed my car!!!!  I never, ever in my life thought I’d call someone Bubba.  Then, I moved to Oklahoma.  Sounds so sterotypical for Oklahoma to have a pickup truck and a friend named Bubba.  However, knowing him and loving him as we do in our family, Bro. Andy just doesn’t always fit.  He’s our song leader, church secretary’s husband, son of the former pastor, and the most servant hearted person I’ve ever met.  He just showed up at my door one day last week and asked if he could take a look at my car for a while.  When he brought it back, all the noises were gone……all the noises.  Yep, it wasn’t snow tires after all.  (Which made me have to go back to the person who bought the tires and confess my half-hearted thanks all this time.)  I felt like I was driving a new car.  Aside from the crack across the windshield, hail pocked body, and the turn signal that went out again, I was flying high.  Those things I can imagine away, I just hold my chin up and imagine I’m in a sleek, black…..well something new.  But, all the noises used to kind of hamper my fantasy – not so anymore!  Thank you Bubba!

Posted in Associate/Youth Pastor's Wife, Daily Musings, Parenting

2nd man, TV Repair man and all of those Advancing men

Posted on by jenschuyler

I was so excited about starting this blog.  Now I’m finding myself hushing my kids out of the room to figure out homeschool stuff on their own so I can think of something witty to say…………crickets……..chirp…….I got nothin, ‘cept  3 neglected kids. 
     So here’s my day.  2nd man’s been hurt by someone’s words so he’s in a bit of a funk.  Not that he’s not allowed to be.  I just dread days that are like that.  I find myself unmotivated and wishing there were some magic words I could say to help.  He doesn’t get this way often.  As a matter of fact he awes and inspires me with how he can handle people.  I’m usually the “funky” one.  (hope that’s ok for a minister’s  wife to say).  He is amazing how he can talk me off of a ledge in a matter of minutes.  God knew I needed him.  However, I know God knows what he (2nd man) needs too.  I just sometimes wonder how I can fit that need.  Soooooo, I find myself utterly distracted by this thought process today.
    On top of that the TV repair man had to come today.  Our shiny wonderful flat panel TV has been messing up.  Thankfully, it’s something the company (which will remain unnamed) knew about and the fix was free.  Something called a capaciter went out (which puts thoughts in my head of Doc in “Back to the future” who says Marty! it’s the flux capaciter!”).  I know I know random thoughts are abounding in this head of mine.
    Tonight 2nd man is going to a Men’s Advance.  The men at the host church claim that men should not retreat, so they purposely call it an “advance.”  I’ve always found that creative and funny.  Anyway, last weekend I was away on a ladies retreat (seems we’re not as spiritual), and he did all sorts of fun things with the kids.  I heard talk of a tent, a movie, a walk, the library, two parks and hot dogs.   blink.. blink.  I don’t think I have it in me.  I think Mcdonalds and Hobby Lobby are the extent of our fun tonight.  Maybe if I slip some benadryl in their drinks I may even get a bubble bath with a favorite book…now that’s a retreat!

*Ok for those who are shocked, I’m kidding about the benadryl 🙂

Posted in Associate/Youth Pastor's Wife, Daily Musings, Life Lessons

My Car

Posted on by jenschuyler
     I love my car; it’s a blessing.  Although, it may not have seemed so as I stood in the Walmart parking lot holding my bumper in my hands today.  My 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass (without an original part in its engine I might add) is a blessing reminder to me.  It is constantly reminding me of God’s goodness and provision, as well as, I assume, His desire to keep me humble.
    Our relationship started in April 2003.  It was actually one of the worst times for a Youth pastor and his wife.  We were having to bury one of our former teens who had chosen to go astray.  Ministry, youth ministry in particular often comes with the pressure of wondering if you’re really making any difference in anyone’s life for the sake of Christ.  Teens aren’t the most forthcoming with thanks and appreciation.  So this was definitely a time of sorrow and reflection.  But one bright shiny spot on that gloomy day was with the arrival of two more of our former teens who were in town for the funeral.  They were now married and themselves in the ministry.  Stopping by the office to share their great news of being able to purchase a new vehicle they pulled my husband aside.  They felt like God wanted them to donate their former car to someone.  They had prayed about perhaps a missionary, but the car isn’t one that would probably be very good for long distance travel.  Knowing that we had been sharing one car for several years, they felt like God was telling them to give the car to us.  Yes, that’s right GIVE it to us…free of charge!  What a blessing.  I was overcome with emotion and gratitude.  It was as if God was giving a little confirmation that someone was listening and all was not for naught. 
      The car itself was ok, at best, to look at, maroon with some scratches and dents, the interior was ripped and worn, and the carpet stained.  I didn’t care so much.  It was for use in town and really freed up my time for errands, meeting people, and grocery runs.  As time went on the tires were showing wear and a hail storm really took the best of the body.  Only having covered it with liability insurance, we didn’t bother to fix any of this. 
     As the years have passed, I’ve been able to loan it to friends who needed transportation for one reason or another for a week here or there.   I was even able to use it as a blessing for a family to borrow when they were in a time of crisis.  Six months later they returned it with new tires!  Only thing is, I think they’re snow tires, because now, when I’m driving, the tires are so loud it sounds like an airplane getting ready for takeoff.  I sometimes even imagine myself taking off as I drive down the highway stretch to church. The other day my mother thought I was sitting next to the washing machine while on the phone with her, “no Mom, I said, I’m driving in my car.”  
     The windshield has been cracked from an ice storm and the back turn signal somehow shorts out every couple of months, and has to be changed.  The radiator leaks and the window tint is peeling.  With all this wrong I sometimes feel like it’s a thorn in my side like what Paul had.  I’ve even asked God to remove it on a couple of occasions (ok probably more than three times) but, He has not.  So, I choose to look on the bright side and be thankful to have a car at all. 
         I was in one of these thankful moods just recently and was trying to fix it up a little.  I took it to the car wash and got it cleaned inside and out… well, as clean as it could get. 
I was even excited this morning when I realized my power window was working again (sometimes it gets in a stubborn mood and won’t budge).  That’s when I had to go to Walmart.  After loading groceries, I shut my trunk and the bumper fell off right onto my foot.    I looked around to see if anyone else saw, sure enough a lady was heading my way trying not to snicker.  I just laughed and quickly shoved it into the trunk like that was supposed to happen.  The same woman was parked next to me and tried to shimmy her cart through by my open door.  I moved it a little and replied “I don’t think the door will come off” (insert hesitant laugh).  At least it brought a smile to her day (another blessing). Actually it even brought a smile to me as I laughed hysterically, singing “I am blessed” all the way home.
    The best part was when I left the parking lot and was behind a very new, shiny black mustang.  The license plate read “idsrvit” .  My first thought was “Oh how cocky.”  Then I thought maybe I should get the same plate.  I mean really it’s as if God’s grace and mercy have been extremely abundant in all areas of my life except this poor little Cutlass.  I haven’t received a quarter of what I deserve in this life.  The wonderful husband and children I have, the great church and church family.  Why, salvation alone is reason enough to know I haven’t gotten what I really deserve.  Then I get in my little junkster and think, “ I deserve it.”  Truth be told I deserve even worse.  So, as I putter down the boulevard in my little cutlass that you can hear coming (and you’ll hear me coming, you may even hear me stopping) don’t feel sorry for me.  I am blessed. And I drive a blessing reminder.