Hypothesis: Unless June Cleaver Rescues Me, I’ll be Melting Down by February

by Susanne Dietze

I am so not joking with that title. Gah, January is Science Fair Month.

Everybody’s kids have school projects, right? And there are three types of parents: those who don’t help kids with their projects, those that do help, and those who HELP, if you know what I mean. Most of us won’t admit to being the parent who pebble-tech’d a display board for our kids’ second-grade dolphin report (it wasn’t me, honest!) but we’re nevertheless involved, happy to lend some guidance while our kids put in the work. 

You know, just like the Cleavers would, if the Beaver had Science Fair.

"Beaver, I think you've got the right idea with your hypothesis, research, and plan. Let me know when you boys are done with your science fair projects, and I'll bring you cookies."

Ha. Double ha. Experience has taught me Science Fair is a parent family project if I ever saw one. If I could write our district’s Science Fair Guidelines to be an accurate representation of what Science Fair requires, they’d read like this:

1. Parents Families should begin scouring the internet months in advance to research an age-appropriate project—the more “life or death” the application of the project, the better.
2. Budget for the necessary materials. This learning experience could cost you as much as an Xbox.
3. Study Pottery Barn catalogs for ideas for decorating the Display Board.
4. Pick a day when the whole family is well-rested and fed so they have plenty of stamina and grace to execute the experiment, ‘cuz honey, you’re gonna need it.

Number 4 on the list is especially true, because Science Fair has a way of straining things between everyone, even husbands and wives.

My friend Suzanne (jokingly) says Science Fair actually leads to divorce, but my husband and I insist we won't succumb to frustration caused by our kids’ school projects.

"We never argue about Science Fair!"

We're deluding ourselves, of course. These sorts of big projects, where kids can have grand ideas and grades hinge and time pressures constrain us, have a way of exposing pre-existing fractures in any relationship. Hence Suzanne and her divorce comment. And yes, in our house, we get tired and frustrated when things don't work, which leads to grumbling and--

Anyway....

Later, after we've apologized, we notice how Science Fair has aged us. 

I look in the mirror. Sigh. “Did I have that wrinkle at Christmas?”

Sad, pitying look from my husband. “Let it go, dear."

Science Fair is supposed to bring us together.

"Science Fair last year sure was swell!"

Yet we finally got the clue and accepted a few facts about ourselves. We are not perfect. We all have buttons, we all have weaknesses, and we don't always compose ourselves as righteously as we wish. If we're aware of these potential issues, we can work on them.

"Oh my, this project is a little more stressful than we anticipated! Now we're all grumpy. And I still have to cook a pot roast for dinner!"

We also accepted a few facts about Science Fair. It is not an event a child can do with a parental pat on the back and supervision. And we should just buckle up, because things never go smoothly.

The first year my son did Science Fair, he wanted to do a project on plants. Citing her own opinions on plant projects, the teacher nixed it at the last minute and told him he needed to come up with a new project by the next day. So yeah, it was a cranky night as I helped him pick a new project that required materials we already had at home because we were out of time to buy anything new.

"Gee, Mom. We wanted to do a Science Fair project on flesh-eating bacteria grown in a petri dish. You're so mean for saying no! But of course we respect you and we won't talk back!"

The second year, my son picked a project requiring dirt—something we had in our yard for free! But lo, our loam was not loamy enough, so we had to buy dirt from a bulk yard.

Guess what was lurking around our his dirt experiment! A black widow spider! My kid was bit on the thigh. Cue the stifled scream! Oh, the cost of science fair, to both pocketbook and health (physical for him, mental for me).

"Aww, tetanus shots weren't part of my Science Fair plan of action."

It turned out that both years, my son found Life or Death Applications for his projects (not related to spider bites) and oh goodness, he placed at the school level and moved on to the County competition.

What an honor! We were so proud of him. I went along on each of The Big Days, of course. Looking around the convention center at the other projects made by kids from around the county was fun, exciting, and educational to this Non-Sciency Mom.

It was quite clear, however, that no child arrived on his or her own, and I don’t mean they took the bus.

"These projects are amazing! Say, did your mom pebble-tech your display board?"

Some kids definitely have inquisitive, scientific minds and Science Fair sparks them on to grand thoughts and greater things. That's worth investment, isn't it? Your kid is interested in geology or chemistry, so of course you want to encourage her. Give her the tools and set her free to grow and learn and become.

But of course I can’t help thinking about the way of the world, the competition of it all and whether I help my kids too much or too little compared to everybody else. And maybe I need to stop comparing and trust I'm doing what my kids need so they can learn while feeling supported, guided, and safe.

After all, we all just want our kids to learn something.

"Thanks for your help, Mom. I love you. PS, you're pretty, a fabulous writer, and I love your tuna casserole more than I let on."

And as far as our relationships go in this house, we're more prepared this year. We'll say a prayer that this brings us closer rather than provides an opportunity for discord to grow.

Meanwhile, we forge ahead. Today is Science Fair Experiment Day at my house. Prayers are appreciated as we (er, I mean, our son, with our help) execute the experiments.

Questions for the Day:

What sort of parent are you when it comes to helping? Are you hands-off, a gentle guide, or do you run the show? Do big projects like this bring your family together or initiate arguments?

"Leave it to Beaver" photos from wikipedia.com except final photo, http://timstvshowcase.com/beaver.html

 ***

Susanne Dietze has written love stories since she was in high school, casting her friends in the starring roles. Today, she writes in the hope that her historical romances will encourage and entertain others to the glory of God. Married to a pastor and the mom of two, Susanne loves fancy-schmancy tea parties, travel, and spending time with family and friends. She won first place in the Historical category of the 2011-2012 Phoenix Rattler, and her work has finaled in the Genesis, Gotcha!, and Touched By Love Contests. Susanne is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of The Steve Laube Agency. You can visit her on her website, www.susannedietze.com.

Jeremiah 33:3 Scripture Pic

Crystal Draper watching the sunrise on January 9, 2013.
Taken on grid road about 10 miles east of Francis , Saskatchewan, Canada

Here's the story before this photo...

I was driving my daughter, Crystal, to the Regina airport after a wonderful Christmas visit. As we pulled out of the driveway, the cloudy sky allowed only a sliver of pink on the horizon. Not 10 minutes later, Crystal cranked around to look out the back window. Her ooh and ahh caught my attention, and I glanced back. That's all it took before I braked and pulled over.

The sun rises in degrees so the sky is never the same from one moment to the next. The best dawns are those with some type of cloud cover for the rays to reflect off, yet only on special days will you see a full-fledged sunrise like this one. I suppose there are people who can tell the science behind it. I can't. I just know that sometimes God's greeting takes my breath away, like it did Crystal's that January morning.

As soon as the van stopped, she was out and running across the road to take her photo. I was right behind her, and took the photo you see above. Seconds later, I took another one, yet as I lowered my camera, the colours had already begun to fade. By the time we were back on the road, it was over.

‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, 

and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ Jeremiah 33:3

Mystery of the Heart by Jillian Kent...and a Giveaway!

by Susanne Dietze

I love a good Regency-set romance, and Jillian Kent has delivered lots of heart, spunk, and intrigue in her first two books in the Ravensmoore Chronicles.

This last book, however, may be my favorite.
 
From the start, Mystery of the Heart is packed with action. Kent weaves together plot threads I never would have imagined in a Regency-set story, including African voudon tribes, Bedlam, a club of Legend Seekers, and the “Spear of Destiny,” the fabled spear that lanced the side of Christ while he hung on the Cross--which is rumored to possess mystical powers.

The characters are not that typical, either. Lady Mercy Grayson is a most shocking Regency miss: to answer God’s call, she’s been disguising herself as a man so she can study medicine in Edinburgh. But then she’s discovered, and while trying to flee her pursuer, she ends up with a terrible choice. She can compromise her reputation and pass herself as a man for a while longer, pretending to be the valet of English adventurer, Lord Eden (and sharing his room), aboard a ship full of frightening practitioners of voodoo. Or she can die at the hands of a mysterious band of men, then and there.

While the book contains elements that may make some readers of Christian fiction uncomfortable (mention of voodoo or relics, perhaps) it is made crystal clear by the author multiple times that Christ alone has the power to heal and save. Some readers may also wish to know that Lord Eden is in a state of undress while Lady Mercy tends to his wounds, but there is nothing salacious in the scene. Er, make that scenes. He needs a bit of help, you understand.

I enjoyed the fresh plot twists, Kent’s extensive knowledge of Regency London, and the sparkling romance between Lady Mercy and the agnostic Lord Eden. They are quick-witted, interesting characters who must re-examine their beliefs when they face the dangers of villains who’d do anything to possess the Holy Lance…and keep Lady Mercy as a prize, as well.

It is not necessary to have read the previous books in the Ravensmoore Chronicles, although fans of those books will delight at seeing the characters appear here.

Author Jillian Kent!

If this book sounds like your cup of tea, head over to my personal blog, Tea and a Good Book, where Jillian is graciously giving away a copy of Mystery of the Heart!

I received a galley copy of this book from the publisher for purposes of review. A positive review was neither promised nor expected.

 ***

Susanne Dietze has written love stories since she was in high school, casting her friends in the starring roles. Today, she writes in the hope that her historical romances will encourage and entertain others to the glory of God. Married to a pastor and the mom of two, Susanne loves fancy-schmancy tea parties, travel, and spending time with family and friends. She won first place in the Historical category of the 2011-2012 Phoenix Rattler, and her work has finaled in the Genesis, Gotcha!, and Touched By Love Contests. Susanne is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of The Steve Laube Agency. You can visit her on her website, www.susannedietze.com.

Our Heavenly Editor

by Niki Turner

At the start of 2013, I, as do many others, started seeking the Lord's direction and guidance for the coming year. He gave me three words: release, accept, and engage. Releasing was relatively easy, with the aid of a New Year's Eve bonfire and some index cards. With my Type A personality, engage tends to be exciting, and comes somewhat naturally most of the time. But I keep tripping over the whole idea of accepting.

You see, I don't want to accept things I don't like. I'd rather fight and struggle and resist until my faith is worn down to the bare nubbins, or simply live in a perpetual state of denial. What I'm learning (slowly) is that until we learn the art of accepting, we can't receive help, and without help, we're stuck making excuses.

From a writing standpoint, I'm reminded of this principle frequently. I edit copy for a small-town weekly newspaper. Over the past decade or so, I've come to the conclusion that there are two kinds of writers... writers who think they can, and writers who think they can't. Surprisingly, it's the writers who think they can't who are the easiest to work with. Why? Because they are open to suggestions and willing to make changes to improve their work. What they produce initially might not be perfect, but because they are willing to accept the fact they aren't "all that," it's easy to help them improve.

Which leads me to believe the same is true in our relationship with our heavenly editor, the Holy Spirit. When we practice acceptance—of ourselves, of others, of situations—we open a dialogue through which the Spirit of the Living God can work with us, direct us, correct us, and guide us into excellence.

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for
"God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble."
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 

1 Peter 5:5-7 NKJV

For me personally, that means less time spent rebuking things in prayer, and more time spent asking "how can I make the best of this situation as it stands?" 

I see this principle in practice in the fifth chapter of John, when Jesus comes upon the crippled man at the pool of Bethesda. Now, before you read, realize that we are ALL, in some way, the crippled man, the individual who is unable to move forward, unable to change his situation...

"Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie — the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.  One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"
"Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."
Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk."  At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

John 5:2-9 NIV

The question Jesus asked of the crippled man is the question I think He is asking us all in whatever hindering situation we find ourselves... "Do you want to get well?" Unfortunately, the invalid's response, an excuse, is all too often our response, as well.

What was Jesus' answer? He told the crippled man to suck it up, or more literally, to pick it up and move on. For that invalid, picking up his mat, which represented all his excuses, all his weaknesses, all his shortcomings and failures and inability (talk about an identity crisis!) was a tangible statement of acceptance... not just accepting his weaknesses, but more importantly, accepting God's supernatural assistance. From that point of acceptance, he got up and walked away.

What is it you need to accept, in order to receive God's help?

 Niki Turner is a writer, former pastor's wife, mother of four, and grandmother of two.