michellesingleton.com // Confessions of the Preacher’s Wife

In an effort to preserve family interaction, we have a rule in our house:  No watching TV during dinner!  However, there is an exception to this rule.  During the Olympics, our TV is always on.  

Both Rob and I both suffer from Olympic addiction.  Yes, the late night coverage is killing me.  I have bags under my tired eyes from staying up much too late watching “one more event.” 

Rob, too, is showing signs of addiction.  Last night, we had the privilege of eating with just one of our children, Juliana.  Nathan was visiting my parents.  The exception rule was in effect.  Our TV was tuned in to Beijing 2008.

During the meal, Rob kept winking at Juliana as he scooted his chair closer to hers ~ inch by inch until he was practically sitting in her seat.  All the while Juliana and I were laughing at his attempt to get close to his princess daughter. 

Juliana and I were adoring Rob’s antics but I sensed frustration.  Finally Rob reported, “All this work and I still can’t get a good view of the TV.”

Juliana was shocked, “Daddy, you weren’t trying to get close to me afterall.”

Rob, looking a bit sheepish, hung his head.

Juliana and I laughed as we said at the same time, “Boys will be boys!” 

No matter their age! 

Enjoy your boys today!

Nathan takes after Rob — they are both avid readers.  Rarely can either one of them be found without a book in hand.   And Nathan has learned a few of Rob’s reading tricks.  One of them, not yet mastered, set Nathan up for a lesson I hope he won’t ever forget.

Rob absolutely loves to read in the bathtub.  I’m not kidding.  For him, it makes the time spent lost in his books rather divine.  Nathan tried it out for himself and guess what?  Like father like son.

Tuesdays are Library Days.  Happy Days for the Singletons.  As tradition holds, last Tuesday we headed to the Union County Library.  Nathan heaved his stack of books on the counter.  The head librarian began to inspect his books, placing the first eight in the return bin.  The last book caused her to hesitate. 

She took her glasses from her neck chain and held them to her eyes for a closer look.  “This book is damaged.  It is damp and I see mold.”

While I never saw the mold, the cover of the book was in fact a bit damp.

“Wait here,” she told Nathan. 

While she was gone I asked Nathan about the book.  At first, he couldn’t remember ~ go figure ~ then he admitted to finishing the book while he took his bath.

“That will be $22.00 to replace the book,” the librarian informed my son. 

Nathan look at me.  I smiled and said, “Son, I’m glad you’ve got some money saved up.” 

The librarian looked as shocked as Nathan, but I insisted that he take his own money to pay for the book.  As she took Nathan’s cash, she instructed Nathan to complete the Damaged Book Paperwork — four forms in all.

The quiet drive home was not like our usual cheerful trip home in anticipation of a few good reads.  Both kids were reserved and didn’t want to talk. 

But what a lesson for my son.  I explained that it is always important to treat things that belong to others with the utmost of care ~ and to return them in perfect condition.  And by all means, keep books dry! 

I hope Nathan learned his lesson.

Yesterday, I talked with someone who was serious doom and gloom.  The price of gas was killing her.  The economy robbed her joy.  Nothing ever went right for her.  She is a self proclaimed loser.  She has no friends.  People are out to get her.  She is a victim.  And frankly, I was feeling a bit depressed after our short conversation.

Later on, I ran into a friend at Harris Teeter.  Her life had presented her with many challenges:  tragic loss of her parents when she was in high school, her 3 year old son already had 2 open heart surgeries with another one planned, her husband lost his job and money had been tight for the past year.  But she has encouraged him to pursue his dream of starting his own business.  She is thankful for her friends.  She is happy.  Always smiling.  She is a victor!  And I was walking on sunshine after my even shorter conversation with her.

Such a contrast!  One woman was ruled by her emotions.  The other chose her emotions. 

Emotions are how you feel, not who you are.  My second friend had figured this out.  She chose joy,  even though she had many opportunities to choose otherwise.  She made a decision to conquer, to win.  Nothing would rob her joy.

I heard a pastor once say that the best way to help the doom and gloom folks is not to become one of them!  Very wise advise.

May we all choose joy!

Michelle

Everyone is talking about the 2008 Olympic Opening Ceremony ~ Spectacular!  From the 2008 drummers rattling the stadium with their beating drums to the acrobats dangling on ropes from the rooftop to the parade of the Olympians entering the stadium ~ it was Grand!

But the ceremony’s final moment, the dramatic lighting of the caldron by gymnast Li Ning and the following light show passionately shouted, “The flame is burning!” 

For 16 days the torch that has been carried all around the world will burn.  If the flame is on, the games are still on! 

What are you passionate about?  Does the world see your flame?  Is your flame burning for Christ? 

As Rob and I watched this first-rate ceremony with our kids, we were moved to a call of excellence.  The bar was raised.  We were challenged to do the same.  In all we do, in word or deed, with an audience or without, our lives should represent Christ with spectacular grandiosity! 

Last night we were sharing our day’s stories around the dinner table ~ one of my favorite pastimes.  Rob’s and the kids’ stories were very entertaining.  I was beyond tired and already having a hard time keeping my eyes open so my disclaimer for this post is that sheer exhaustion was preventing me from thinking straight.

Suddenly, without warning, I suffered a brain flash to my drive into work.  I was sitting at the stoplight in downtown Matthews and I glanced to my right. 

The driver of the car next to mine was just a goin’ to town, diggin real deep with great enthusiasm ~ picking his nose!  I tried not to look but I couldn’t help myself.  I never saw him flick, just pick.  The nose picker went nonstop for three minutes.  (I’ve timed the light more than once.)

This was all I could think to share.  Such a disappointing story for a pastor’s wife!  But Rob and the kids were rolling on the floor and their contagious laughter lead to more nose picking stories.  Yuck!

Silly family fun and belly laughs!  Something I love to come home to. 

And if you drive a white car and were at the stoplight in Matthews at 7:15am Wednesday morning, thanks for the laugh!

Love and Laughter,

Michelle

One of my most favorite hours with Rob was actually last week.  We were underwater — scuba diving — one of the most beautiful caribbean dives I’ve experienced. 

The Domenicans call the dive site “Cavernera” which means cavern.  The coral reef has grown in such a configuration that it formed channels or caverns.  We were only down about 45 feet below the surface as we swam through the coral caverns.  The clear Caribbean water allowed the sun’s light to shine down through the reef causing a sparkling of light throughout the underwater channels. 

It was absolutely beautiful — such an amazing expression of God’s handiwork!  And underwater wonderland. 

David wrote in Psalm 19:1 (NIV)  The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

I wonder what David would have written had he seen God’s underwater creation.

His creation displays His majesty and glory!  May God bless you with a view of His Glory!

Michelle 

Juliana proved that she is one smart girl.  After winning 2 rounds of Hide-N-Seek, a fellow hider told Juliana that he would give her $2.00 if she told him her hiding spot.  She happily divulged her secret.

“Juliana, you didn’t take the boy’s money, did you?”  I asked.

“Of course I did, Mom!  I made the most of a good opportunity!”

Still not sure she should have taken the money, but I do approve her decision to “make the most of a good opportunity.”

Once again, I am inspired by my daughter to follow her example — to make the most of good opportunities.  God’s Word challenges me to do the same.  

“Each day is God’s gift. It’s all you get in exchange for the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one! Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily!”  Ecclesiastes 9:7 (MSG)

Carpe deim!

Michelle

Like every mother, I treasure time with my children.  My kids are so much fun to be around.  I genuinely enjoy their company. 

A special treat for me is when I get my kids one-on-one.  Experiencing their individual uniqueness in the absence of the other sibling gives me an inside view of the person they are becoming.  [And of course, I never miss the picking and teasing and on-going hassles that creep up among brothers and sisters.]  There is something to be said for undivided attention.

Due to the events of the week-end, I had the priviledge of some one-on-one time with Nathan.  We went hiking.  As we approached the trail head, Nathan asked me, “So Mom, how are you really doing?”  Such a grown-up start to our journey through the woods.

As we made our way down the trail, we talked about my job, soccer camp, favorite breakfasts (Nathan loves scrambled eggs, sausage and donuts) and friendships.  We shared our coping methods for handling daily challenges, disappointments and frustrations.  Nathan told me when he has something to “sort out,” he goes for a walk — alone — to think clearly and to talk to God.  All this as we caught frogs ~ five total! 

We heard a snap in the woods.  Ssshhh!  No more than 15 feet away was a most adorable fawn staring right at us.  We stared back.  For nearly 3 minutes we were still and silent.  Finally, the little guy bolted off.

“Mom, that was a gift from God!  Not everyday do you get to see such a young deer.”  I agreed. 

And not everyday do I get to hike with my son, Nathan, whose name means “gift from God.”    

Today was another day I’ll cherish forever as once again I was reminded that I truly am the luckiest mom in the world!

May God bless you with a Woodland Surprise!

Michelle

My romantic husband planned a Scuba Diving Trip to the Carribbean to celebrate our 10 year Anniversary.  Only when it came around to the actual 10th year, we found ourselves committed to church activities, finances were tight and time was at a premium.  So we celebrated our anniversary at a special restaurant in Charlotte.  I was just as happy.  Any time alone with Rob is my favorite time.

But Rob is a man of his word.  And he never forgot his original plan.  About a month ago, he announced that he had planned a special trip to the Domenican Republic to celebrate our 10th anniversary.  I reminded him that we had now been married 13 years.

Then he told me that 10 years was a landmark date for him.  “I never  forgot how I wanted to take you away to celebrate our 10th year.  This trip is for the 10 (plus 3) most wonderful years of my life.  I hope you think it was worth the wait.”

Am I ever glad God had been teaching me to wait.  Had I not allow God to work on my W.I.Y.S., I could have easily ruined what Rob and God had in store for me this week with my impatient self.  But, God has shown me over and over that Rob was definitely worth the wait………gotta pack……..Bon Voyage!