“Integrity is what you do…

…when no one is looking”. I can’t tell you who said this-heck-I even googled it (or as my mom says, “goggled” it). I have heard this my whole life-however-I have not adhered to it my whole life. Who doesn’t try to get away with the little things once in awhile?

Here are a few examples, embarrassingly enough, where I have been a woman of less than integrity and where God has knocked me down a peg or two:

“I just go 4 miles over the speed limit. Everyone else does.” Bam! Speeding ticket.

“Of course I didn’t stuff my bra, Mom. Those are kleenexes for later.” Bam! Grounded and forced to write 6 inches out of the dictionary.

“She forgot to charge me for the stuff at the bottom of my cart. It’s a big corporation, it won’t matter to them.” Bam! Convicted and went back to pay for my “free” stuff.

“They left it behind-guess it’s mine now.” Bam! Convicted and they asked for it later, which was awkward.

I hated being less than honest-and worse-I hated being caught. I felt like I had to weave more and more webs to cover up what I had done.

I decided long ago when I was humiliated for another lie, to no longer live that way. Black is black and white is white-even if the world seems to think there are 50 shades of grey.

Here’s what God says about integrity:

“In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality.” Proverbs 12:28 (I’d like to have a long life.)

“The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.” Proverbs 10:9 (I want to be secure in who I am.)

Of course I still screw up constantly and make a thousand mistakes on a daily basis. But, above all, I want to make my dad and my Dad proud. This is what is promised me if I do:

“In my integrity, you uphold me and set me in your presence forever.” Psalm 41:12 (That sounds pretty awesome.)

“May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.” Psalm 25:21

Ever since I decided to live a black and white life, I don’t have to wonder what I need to cover up, who I’ve told what or what I’ve omitted from which conversation.

It’s so simple. It’s so freeing. Why didn’t I do this years ago?

The Green Tureen

Grandpa has decided to downsize, following the loss of his second wife. My parents flew out to help him pack up what he needed, sell things he didn’t need and clean the house he would be eventually selling.

And I reaped a few of the downsizing benefits..

Knowing my affinity for serving dishes and all things party related, Mom set aside a few things for me to enjoy. I fell in love with this immediately.

The Green Tureen sits proudly on my gigantic dining room table-mainly because I can’t bear the thought of hiding it away behind some cabinet door.

I may have to throw a soup and bread party just so that I can utilize its awesomeness. This must be honored and enjoyed by more than just me and the cats.

The platter that the Green Tureen sits on will be a conversational piece all on its own if the Tureen isn’t up for the event. I can picture cheeses, fruits, vegetables all gracing its beautiful green surface.

These are the only markings on the dish. I wish I knew more-how old it was, who made it, etc. For now, it remains a beautiful and glorious mystery that is begging to be useful.

Who wants to come over for some soup tonight?

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?

Even though my parents are going through one of the most challenging times in their life (“an opportunity for growth” they say), they are putting it all behind them to come visit Biceps and I.

Well, us and the rest of the siblings. But, I believe it’s mainly about us.

I have big plans concerning big amounts of food to keep my dad fueled and big, delicious desserts to force my mom to stay awake past 8pm.

I am so excited to see their smiling faces. The end.

Happy Father’s Day

I have the best dad in the world. You may argue with me, but you’d be wrong. Dead wrong. (Alright, you can have the best dad, too. This isn’t worth arguing over.)

Today, I would like to say thank you to the man that raised me, protected me and provided for me. And, I would like to honor all of those other dad’s out there that are diligently doing the same.

Thank you Dad, for playing with us kids and always pretending to be “hit” and then pretending to be “hurt” and then pretending to “die”.

Honestly, I really thought we had conquered Goliath-you were that good of an actor. Now, I know you were just humble enough to let a sassy 6 year old in pigtails take you down.

Thank you Dad, for giving us shoulder rides all over Europe when we were little and then all over Kansas when we were really too big to be given shoulder rides.

You have always taken a lot on your shoulders as the man of our house. And, you’ve never let us down.

Thank you Dad, for idolizing the right men-God, Jesus and MacGyver. I know MacGyver is the only reason you carried your Swiss Army knife wherever you went and the reason behind the enormous amount of duct tape found in our house.

You had your priorities straight.

Thank you Dad, for laughing at appropriate times and at the most inappropriate things. Like when Grandma toots or when I show off by burping my name.

And thank you Dad for loving us all the same (although I have a feeling that I’m your favorite girl) and for teaching us unconditional love. I’m sorry about keeping you up at night when I’d go on a date with the that kid with the mohawk or the one way too old for me-but because of you, I knew exactly how to defend myself if need be. Thank goodness it never came to that…

Thank you for accepting Biceps immediately because you knew he was the right one for your baby girl. You were right about that and about so many other things.

You aren’t perfect, but you are perfectly my dad and I love you and I am so proud of you. Happy Father’s Day.