Julie Gumm - Author

Clothing Challenge Has Begun

by //

So back in March I talked about the No New Clothing Challenge that my husband threw down. I think my response was something like “Bring it on!” Because there’s one thing this girl doesn’t do, and that’s back down from a challenge. Especially when I know that someone thinks I can’t do it.

So we started in April – we made one last trip to the thrift store on a date night and I bought 2 pairs of shorts and a shirt. Not really because I needed them but because it felt nice to have a couple new things. (We’ve just lighted on #1 cause of shopping – boredom w/ wardrobe.)

So the rules are:

  • The challenge is just for Mark and I – kids are excluded.
  • Shoes count too.
  • Purses count too.
  • We may purchase ABSOLUTELY necessary items – socks, underwear, etc. w/ agreement from the other party that they are necessary.
  • Alterations to existing clothes are allowed (making pants into shorts, cutting off sleeves, etc.) I teased last week that I was going to buy a Bedazzler 🙂 Don’t laugh – I may before the year is out.
  • Clothes are allowed as gifts but not gift cards to clothing stores.

So it’s been going rather well – yes there’s some boredom but luckily I work at home so it doesn’t matter much what I wear. I have to wonder why I care so much about what I look like and who I’m trying to impress.  Because other than dressing modestly there’s not really much God cares about.

My first “emergency” clothing issue came up a couple weeks ago when I went to Arkansas for my college professor’s retirement party. It wasn’t until 9:30 that first night that I realized I had totally forgotten pajamas. And, in an effort to pack light I didn’t really even have t-shirt and shorts or something that would substitute – it was all nice, dressier clothes.

I did have my swimsuit.

Can I just tell you something? Sleeping in a swimsuit is NOT comfortable.

I called Mark the next day and asked for a state of clothing emergency to be declared so that I could buy some pajamas. He agreed. (Thank you honey!)

The promised iphone got delivered last week (2G unlocked, bought used on ebay) and I am having loads of fun and enjoying all the useful apps. As well as the entertaining ones – I may have a Words With Friends addiction soon.

Raising Children to Change the World

by //

The international adoption journey changes you. It changes your family. And not just because you suddenly have new family members. Or because you have ties to another country that now feels partly like home.

But somehow, along the way, it is impossible to not look beyond the children whose faces stare at you from the photo on the refrigerator. And you begin to see the other faces; 143,000,000 orphans, countless single moms struggling to make ends meet, fathers desperate to provide for their families.

For Mark and I, our adoption journey changed the entire course of our lives. The things we learned and the things we saw contributed to a major shift in our lives that caused us to forge new careers and put our family onto an entirely new path.

But next comes the task of influencing that same sort of heart change in our children. How do you make your kids care more about widows than the wii?

That question has been weighing on us even since we had the chance to visit Wears Valley Ranch in March and see their Biblical Family Care model. We realized our kids were capable of so much more than we had been asking.

It was just a couple weeks later that I received an email from Julie Ferwerda asking if I’d like to participate in the blog tour of her new book “One Million Arrows: Raising Children to Change the World.”

Um, YEAH!

One Million Arrows is call to raise our kids to impact their culture, community, and world for Christ  – for them to be sharpened with education, faith and a heart for the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and then be launched into the world to save lives.

If we want our kids to discover their purpose, if we want them to live with passion for the Kingdom, then WE as parents need to be intentional in our parenting. It is not the churches job to do this, it’s not the job of the Christian school we send our kids to. It’s our job!

Julie’s book includes a whole chapter with the stories of other families, including the Tebows and the McDowell’s, and the intentional choices they made along their parenting journey.

Is it overwhelming? Definitely! Are the outcomes guaranteed? No. But all God calls us to is OUR part just King David encouraged the temple builders.

“Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged by the size of the task, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.” I Chronicles 28:20

There’s way more than one post worth of highlights so I hope to post more as I have time to delve into them even further. I highly recommend this book for any parent who wants to raise their children to make an impact on the world far outside themselves.

Links:

P.S. Check out that World Orphans mention on page 101 🙂

About the Author

Julie Ferwerda is recognized for making the Bible exciting and relevant to everyday life through her writing and speaking. Her articles are featured in many Christian magazines and websites for both adults and teens, and she frequently volunteers her time and talents to international orphan ministry. Learn more at OneMillionArrows.com.

I’m Alive, No Really!

by //

No, I have not abandoned my blog – I’ve just been on an unintentional blog hiatus I guess.  And no, it wasn’t in mourning over the dog.

Mark got back safely from his trip to Ethiopia and brought home lots of fab pictures that we’ll have to get together and share. Any time spent with the kids at Hope for the Hopeless is always wonderful time. He got to visit with one of our sponsored girls – Mary – who is incredibly dear to my heart.

We actually crossed paths somewhere in the air as I was headed to the Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit in Minneapolis – my first conference since going to work for World Orphans. It was part work and part pleasure/education as I got to attend several of the breakouts and all the keynote sessions.  The mom of my dear friend Jen was my roommate and navigator and I have to tell you that we had THE best time – lots of laughs together.

I was home for just 4 days before I left again. This time for my alma mater, John Brown University, in NW Arkansas. My journalism professor was retiring after 17 years and they organized a surprise retirement party for him. It was a blast seeing some old friends and getting to honor a man who was so instrumental in my education. I had the privilege of being his first editor when he arrived my junior year and we’ve kept in touch all these (cough, 17, cough) years.  Thank you Mr. Warner! (Remember the “No Clothes Challenge” – well I have a funny story to share in another post.)

Then of course there is all the chaos that is the end of the school year – parties, Girl Scout ceremonies, the boys Living Wax Museum. My birthday – wow I didn’t even do a birthday post or anything.

Plus we got a visit from Mark’s sister Jenny and her family all the way from England. She and Annabel were delayed a bit getting here due to the dumb volcanic ash cloud but we had great fun with them and Rob when he joined them later. The kids LOVED seeing them.

School is now officially out and we’re trying to manage the four kids and two parents who work from home. We’ve opted to try a little bit more structured of a schedule for them – still plenty of time to play. We’re two days in and Beza declared this the “most boring day ever”. I think any day where she doesn’t get to go shopping is boring somehow. They love the adventure of going to the store.

So I got lots more posts percolating and a great book review coming, hopefully tomorrow, so stay tuned.