Qualification

Lately I've been thinking a lot about people in dire circumstances. You know, the people who are holding the signs on the side of the road that say "Will work for food", or the people who are living in poverty and feel like there's no way out. This has come to the forefront of my mind mostly because of my job. I work for Latin America ChildCare. It's a sponsorship program that provides schooling, clothing, meals, and the gospel of Jesus Christ to children in Latin American countries, who otherwise would have no hope. My coworkers and I were talking the other day, and they were sharing stories with me of the different schools and children that are touched by the generous sponsors that support these children. One school in particular broke my heart. It's a school in Bolivia that is right outside of a prison. In Bolivia, if a parent goes to prison and no other family member will step up and take care of them, the family, mainly children, go to prison with the convicted family member. These prisons are not like what we see in the US. They are dirty and ridden with crime and violence. There are stories of parents "selling" their children to guards for food in exchange for sexual favors. These children leave the prison everyday to go attend "The Freedom School". Here they learn reading, writing, and arithmetic. They learn about the love of Christ, and how there is hope in Him.

Not only were these stories of Bolivian children on my mind, but there was something else burdening my spirit. While I was at my desk one day, a young girl came to the front doors asking for help in a rental deposit. Her and her 3 month old daughter and boyfriend were living in the hotel across the street. She began to tell me that they had moved from Baltimore and her boyfriend's aunt had kicked them out. He had gotten a job, but all their money was going to pay for the hotel. I told her that we didn't have any type of resources for her, but I gave her number after number to call in order to receive help. Two weeks later, I see this girl walking down the street and into the hotel again. My spirit was immediately grieved for this girl. I don't know her story, and if what she told me was true, but I knew that she needed help. I called around Springfield to see if there was any help for her, and found a few places that could help. I'm praying that God will bring her into my path again so that I can give her the information that I found.

I say all of this because sometimes as Christians, we think we have to qualify people before we will give them help. Take for example the Bolivian children. These are innocent children who have been born into poverty by no fault of their own. They are living in these situations because of something someone else has done. Many of us would write a check right now knowing their situation. However, how many of us would help the girl that came to my office? We would say things like "Well, she needs to get a job", or "It's her own life choices that have brought her to where she is", or even still "I don't know what she's going to do with that money. She might go and buy drugs with it". So many of us are quick to judge and place qualifications on people before we will help them.

Jesus didn't qualify anyone!!! He reached out to the hurting, broken-hearted, lonely, poor, and sinful people of His day without ever condemning or judging. He didn't come to this earth to do that. He came to seek and save the lost. Where would many of us be without the grace and loving kindness of the Father? Psalm 113: 7-8 says this, "He picks up the poor from out of the dirt, rescues the wretched who've been thrown our with the trash, seats them among the honored guests, a place of honor among the brightest and best. " (The Message) Just like a hospital is for the sick and not those who are well, so is Christ for the broken-hearted and those in need.

I write this blog today to encourage you to look at your life and see if you are qualifying people. Next time you see that person standing on the side of the road, my prayer is that you don't qualify them, but you instead see their need and do what you can to reach out.

Spring Is In The Air!!

For the past few days, we've been having amazing weather here in Springfield. I don't know what it is about this spring, but I'm ready for warmer weather now than I think I've ever been in my life. Maybe it could be the extremely cold weather we had this winter. Wind chills in the negatives don't really appeal to most people. Maybe it could be the fact that we had snow at least four times this winter, and the snow stayed around for weeks because it wasn't warm enough to melt. Maybe it's the fact that I'm getting cabin fever, and I'm ready to be outside. Whatever the reason for this spring anticipation, here are some of the reasons I'm ready for blue skies and warmer weather:

-Opening the windows and letting the breeze blow in, leading to fresh air

-Not having to wear a heavy and binding winter coat

-Easter, which lends itself to new Easter outfits

-Walking through fresh green grass barefoot

-Flowers starting to bloom

-Sitting outside at a restaurant

-Wearing sundresses and sandals

-Picnics at the park

-Going to the park

-Sunshine that gives me vitamin D

-Getting some sun on my white skin

-Riding bikes

-"Glee" comes back in April :)

-Grilling outside

-Drinking my morning coffee on the back porch

-Reading my books on the back porch

-Daylight Savings Time which means more sunshine and longer days

What are some of the things that you are looking forward to this spring?

The Break

I'm hesitant to even start blogging about what has happened to me over the last couple of days because I don't want to put the cart before the horse, but I've been advised that I will want to look back and see where I came from and see my beginnings, so here it goes...

Every little girl has a dream. Some dream of being a mother and a wife. Some dream of being ballerina or a princess. I've always dreamed of being on stage. While others are terrified at being up in front of people, that is where I am most comfortable. I'm in my element and feel quite at home when I'm on the stage singing. I've always wanted to be in the music industry, but as a girl who grew up with little resources to do so, I've never known how to get started. You hear of people picking up their life and moving to Los Angeles hoping to get their big break. You hear of parents selling all they have to help their child become the next big star. I didn't have either. I'm a home grown singer who loves to do just that, sing. I grew up on stage at church and singing in various groups in high school and college, yet I've always wanted something more. However, I never knew how to get started, until this weekend happened, but let me start at the beginning.

In November of 2009, Ryan and I went on a cruise with his department at work. The department had hired an outside guy to come in and be the MC/Comedian for our events on the cruise. During the course of the week, I got to know this guy and we had several talks about music and what he's done in the industry. I was fascinated because I've never been around someone who knew the in's and out's of the music industry. After hearing me sing several nights at the karaoke bar, he knew that I could sing, and asked me what I was doing with my music. I told him nothing really because I've never known how to get started. He gave me some tips, which I took, and at the end of the cruise, we became Facebook friends and went our separate ways.

This weekend, while Ryan and I were in Branson at a conference, this gentleman was there again, and we reconnected over a soy chai latte and a perrier. :) He again asked me what I was doing with my music, and again, I told him nothing because I wasn't sure how to get started. It's all so overwhelming when you don't have connections and know people. I had so many questions like, "What songs do I put on my demo reel?", "Who do I send the reel to?", "Am I past my prime?", etc. Honestly, I had a dream for myself, but I didn't know what to do with it.

At the end of the conference, he comes up to me and drops the bomb. He tells me that he's connected with a guy at the conference who works with acts in Branson and owns a studio. He says that he is going to sit down with me and put my demo reel together, and the cost is all on him. He sees it as an investment and is going to help me with my career. We go on talking about what he sees me doing and what my target demographic will be. He tells me it's going to be hard work, but has complete faith in me. I tell him that I'm not necessarily looking to be the next Amy Grant, but I want to have a career, and if I can get paid to do what I love, singing, then I'll do what it takes.

So, I'm excited. This guy is completely legit, and has incredible credentials. He's written and helped launch the careers of some big names. He knows the business and has incredible connections. He's not just some guy off the street who says he's in the business, but really just wants to take advantage of me. He's investing his own money in me, which says a lot. I may not be the next Amy Grant, Twila Paris, Whitney Houston, etc, but I want to see how far this can take me. If it just takes me to a demo reel, there will be a little disappointment because I've wanted this for awhile, but if it takes me the Dove Awards, BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!!!

Stay Tuned......

Article for the MOPS Newsletter

I was asked to write an article for the MOPS newsletter that is distributed at the MOPS group that I attend bi-monthly. At first, I didn't know what I would write about, and then I got some inspiration based on what I've been dealing with lately. Here's the finished product:

One of the most difficult decisions for moms is if they should return to work after having a baby. I grappled with that same question when I had my daughter three and a half years ago. I had always told myself that I would be a working mom. I’m not the stay-at-home type that likes to spend hours on end wiping snotty noses, changing poopy diapers, or sit on the floor playing with Winnie-the-Pooh figures. I’m a go-getter, and like to be involved in something that challenges me. Now, don’t get me wrong, motherhood is an extreme challenge, but it’s not the challenge I am constantly seeking. Yet, here I was sitting at home, doing the exact thing I had told myself for years that I wouldn’t do. Why was I doing it? Honestly, I was doing it a little out of necessity and a little out of guilt. I knew that my new baby needed me, her mommy. I also knew that if I went back to work, I would sit in my office feeling guilty that someone else was “raising” my child. I had been listening to too much Dr. Laura, and had heard her say so many times that women need to be their child’s mom, and that’s it. Yet, I was dissatisfied. Of course it was satisfying to see my daughter take her first steps and hear her first words, but the monotony of the day-to-day drove me nuts. How could I do this for 5, 10, maybe 12 years, depending on how many children my husband and I had? That’s when I decided that I needed to switch it up. When my husband and I moved here almost a year ago, I decided it was time to go back to work, at least part time. I knew my daughter, who is now three and a half, would be fine in preschool. It got her interacting with people other than me for eight hours a day, seven days a week. She needed it, and I needed. I wasn’t going to let Dr. Laura or other moms dictate how I was going to feel about this decision. Now that my daughter is three, we are trying to decide when to have another child, and I find myself in a similar situation. If I have another child, I will have to stop working, and for a little while, give up my desire to have a career. It’s a terribly hard decision, and frankly, I don’t know if I’m willing to go back to that yet, but I do know this, no matter what we decide, working or not working, my child will grow up to be wonderful human being who contributes greatly to society. He or she is not going to grow up scarred because his/her mom didn’t stay home with them as a child. Many of us grew up with working moms, and we turned out fine. So here’s to you working mom, stop feeling guilty!!!

The Tip Conundrum

I'm merely minutes away from getting my hair done, and trust me, it desperately needs it.  It's been almost four months since I've had it cut and colored, and right about now, I'm feeling like an overgrown dog.  Sitting here thinking about the gloriousness of sitting in that chair completely relaxed has got me thinking about what I'm going to tip my hair stylist.  That got me thinking about this whole tipping thing.  It's not the first time I've thought about it, but it's the first time I've blogged about it.  

I hate tipping.  It's not so much the fact of giving someone something extra that I think they deserve.  It's the obligation to tip.  Let me say this, I don't mind tipping servers at a restaurant because I go to a restaurant and pay for the food.  I don't necessarily pay for the service.  Therefore, I think a tip is warranted.  If the server did I good job, I have no problem giving them a tip.  I was a server once, and I made $2.13 an hour.  I relied on tips to pay the bills.  I don't think though, that the patron should be responsible for almost completely compensating the server's pay.  That should be the job of the establishment. 

Then there's the obligatory tip for people like a masseuse, a door man, a bell hop, a nail artist, and said hair stylist.  My feelings are that I'm already paying for the service.  I'm paying to have a massage.  I'm paying to stay at that hotel.  I'm paying to get my nails done. I'm paying to have my hair cut.  Why should I tip when I'm already paying for the service.  Don't get me wrong, I tip these people, and I feel like I tip them fairly.  However, I feel that I'm obligated to tip even though I'm already shelling out sometimes hundreds of dollars to have this service provided to me.  I don't understand how our society has gotten out of control about who we should tip.  There's even a tip jar on the counter of our favorite coffee shops.  

I'll keep tipping, even if it is a little begrudgingly.  Maybe I should change my outlook on it and be a cheerful giver.  Isn't that what God has asked us to do? It says in His word that "God loves a cheerful giver".  I guess then I should look at my heart and change my attitude on it.  

"Lord, help me to be a cheerful giver today when I tag on that extra dollar amount to my hair cut."  Amen. 

:)

Haven't Blogged in Awhile

I decided to visit my blog today and noticed that I haven't blogged since April.  What is wrong with me?  I guess I haven't had much to blog about, but I'm going to try and be more diligent about it.  

Let me start by saying that the holidays are here, and I'm eagerly anticipating them.  We are staying in Springfield for Thanksgiving, but heading to Seattle for Christmas.  What is it about the holidays that puts a smile on most people's faces.  For me, it's this:

-Eating until you have to unbutton your pants

-Having leftover turkey for weeks after the big event

-Listening to Bing Crosby sing "White Christmas"

-Watching "White Christmas"

-Watching "A Christmas Story" over and over again on TNT

-Watching "Christmas Vacation"  (am I seeing a trend here)

-Putting up the Christmas decorations

-Scoping out the shopping deals 

-Getting up at 5 am on Black Friday and braving the crowds

-Putting up the Christmas tree and having Alyza help

-Traveling to Seattle to spend time with family

-Being with family on Thanksgiving

-People being in great moods because of the holidays

-Seeing Alyza's face when she opens her gifts

-Drinking Tea Tang

-Smelling cookies baking in the oven

-Eating cookies right from the oven

-Pumpkin Spice Lattes

-Having to bundle up to go outside

-The many Christmas parties and programs 

-Celebrating the birth of my Savior, Jesus

I could keep going and going.  What do you like about the holidays?

Another Name Change

As I've been reading some of my standard blogs today, I have found that, yet again, I need to change the name of my blog.  At first, it was alysononehotmamma.blogspot.com.  I chose that name because that's where I was in life.  I had just had a baby and I was defining myself.  It was a hard time in my life because we had just moved from Florida where my husband was in youth ministry and I was a middle school teacher.  I loved my students and the friends we had there, and we moved to a place where I was no longer doing what I loved.  Don't get me wrong; I loved youth ministry at the time, but it wasn't my job.  It was Ryan's.  I was just a mom.  I know that some would say "You aren't JUST a mom!", but at the time, that's what I felt like.   

Then I changed my url to notyourtypicalpastorswife.blogspot.com.  As a pastor's wife, I felt that I was called to be exactly that- "not your typical pastors wife".  I know that may sound stupid, but I wanted to break the mold.  I wanted people to know me by who I was, Alyson, not by what "title", if you will, that I held.  I wanted to be different, not for the sake of being different, but to make a change in people's lives.  I wanted them to see Alyson before they saw that I was a pastor's wife. 

Well, now my husband and I aren't in church ministry so I'm no longer a pastor's wife.  Therefore, the change to my url became necessary.  I'm in a place right now that I have had to redefine who I am, in a way.  We aren't pastors anymore.  We get to enjoy church as congregants.  We don't have to be at every function.   We have our weekends and nights free to do what we want.  It's a different feeling, and it's refreshing.  Our ministry is something totally different now, and it's very exciting.  Yet, during this transition,  I've found myself struggling a little with what my role is right now.  I'm no longer a worship leader or pastor's wife.  I'm a mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, and co-worker.   It's a very strange place to be in, but I'm finding that I'm relying on God to truly tell me who I am in Him.   I'm Alyson-His daughter that He created for His glory.  Thus, the new url name change.  Yes, it's simple and doesn't have a lot of spunk to it, but it's who I am.  I am Alyson Moore, and very happy to be that.