My "Good", My "Bad" & My "Funny" July 27th

My "Good", My "Bad" and My "Funny"

We have a tradition in our family. It’s called, “Your Good, Your Bad and Your Funny”. It came about because I was frustrated at dinnertime when I’d ask the kids about their day I’d get the perfunctory, “Fine” “O.K.” We weren’t creating any connecting conversations. So now at dinnertime or bedtime I ask, “What was your, “Good”, your “Bad” and your “Funny”. This generates some pretty good conversations and we all learn a lot about each other's lives. I was laying in bed last night asking my kids and one of them asked me, “Mom, what was your ‘good’ your ‘bad’ and your ‘funny’.

I’ve been thinking back on my week and here goes.

My Good

I have many goods, I've taken pictures of some of my favorite 'goods' from this week. Aren't these priceless moments?! My other good was an evening at Girls' Camp.

I was asked months ago to be on the camp committee. I told them I couldn’t because I’d either be in China, or home from China, but busy attaching with my new little guy. They asked if I would just be on the planning committee, even if I couldn’t come to camp itself. As we began with our vision statement, theme and scripture we asked ourselves, 'What do these young women, ages 12-18 need. What does their future hold, and what can we give them to take them through life?' As we talked we felt that these were good, righteous, intelligent, capable, beautiful girls. But even though they made good choices and lived good lives, they would still face many hard things in their lives. Whether it was divorce, infertility, health challenges, economic difficulties, difficulties with their children, being single, depression, or abuse most of them would have hard things. We felt if during those hard times, they could find the strength of God, through Christ’s atonement they could do all things. We chose as our scripture,

Phillipians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

I was in charge of the music and wanted a song that would set this theme in their mind and hearts. I searched and searched but couldn’t find one. My Mom is a composer so I asked her if she’d write me a song. She said if I would do the words, she’d help with the music. I had never written a song, but it was a blessing to write this song together with her. My dear friend Kerilyn with her amazing voice recorded it.

This past week was Girl’s camp and I was sad to be missing it. On Tuesday evening I decided to leave Seth with Derek (he was totally fine despite my stressing about it) and go to camp for their special evening fireside. At the end all 400 girls sang ‘my song’ “He Strengthens Me”. (I’ll put the words at the end of the blog and you can listen by clicking the link of the right). It was so powerful to be up in the mountains, surrounded by trees and hearing all these beautiful young women declaring their faith that “I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me.” It renewed my own faith that I can too. This was definitely a ‘good’ for the week.

My “Bad”

I feel really bad about Nicholas having to go back to living in an orphanage. I know it’s only temporary, and I know Dr. Li has asked for him to get special care, but I just hate it. He needs to be with a foster family than can give him the one on one that he needs.

My “Funny”

I was on a walk with Becca and Seth around the back sidewalk and Becca and I were talking,

“I don’t really like our house”, she said. I was surprised. I think our house and yard are fabulous. “Why not?”

“I don’t know. I just don’t like them.” I was rather perturbed.

“Well, if you don’t like our house I think you’re spoiled and ungrateful”

“I still don’t like it”

“Well, when you grow up you can live in the kind of house you think is perfect”.

“Oh, when I grow up I’m not living in a house. When I grow up I’m going to be a princess and I’ll live in a castle!”

You just keep right on dreaming princess!

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He Strenghthens Me

Text by Cyndie Dobson

I yearn to change my worldly heart

But doubts of self choke out my faith in Him

I try, and fail, I’m not enough

With contrite heart seek pow’r beyond my own

The winds that blow and storms that rage

Leave me trembling for relief

You reach for me with outstretched hand

“Help Thou My Unbelief”

The change begins within so small and soft and still

But looking back the change has come

And I am strong

CHORUS

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

His pow’r enables me with strength beyond my own

And then he takes me past the narrowness I see

I can do all things through Christ my Lord

He strengthens me.

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I cling to words from long ago

And prophets for my day who lead the way

Through prayer I seek the Father’s will

And faith to go and do what He has shown

I push through mists that cloud my view

Shunning voices from the world

I yearn to set my burdens down and let Him carry me

The pow’r begins to grow I stand thru wind & storms.

“My Christ, My Lord, You’ve strengthened me”

And I am strong

CHORUS

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

His pow’r enables me with strength beyond my own

And then he takes me past the narrowness I see

I can do all things through Christ my Lord

He strengthens me.