Author Archives: Nannette

About Nannette

Wife to The Sweetheart, Mom to the Fantastic Six, Nana to six of the cutest littles on the planet, Author, The Daniel Fast, A Devotional. UPCI ministers.

Husband in Training…

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There are always those times in your life that you look forward to with anticipation. And there are others that come up out of the blue and blow you away. Surprises are great if they are well intended and meaningful and if the recipient prospers from the shock, revelation, or bombshell.

Such was the case with me back in the early 80’s. It was Christmas, which is always a happy time! I wasn’t expecting any elaborate presents because we were still young-marrieds with a toddler. We weren’t exactly rolling in the dough, so to speak.

The entire family was over, both sides, the Elkins’ and the Miller’s. We were all close and had gotten together to watch Kyle open some of his gifts and we were probably exchanging gifts among ourselves.

Now the rage in those days was to have a microwave. These suckers were huge and took up half of your kitchen counter space but who cared? It was a MICROWAVE! And everybody had to have one! Well I did not have one and sure did not expect to get one because they were not $59.95 at Walmart like you can get one today.

Everyone had suddenly become real quiet and whispering as The Sweetheart came up the stairs carrying a huge box beautifully wrapped with a gorgeous bow on top.

He was smiling, ear to ear, and when he does that his eyes disappear. He was sure proud of himself. Whatever was in that box he knew he was going to be King of the Castle for weeks, if not months, to come.

He sat it down in front of me, pulled up a chair and told me to sit down and open it. Everyone gathered around with their cameras.

Pause. If my whole life were not in storage I know I have this picture somewhere.

And I hate it that I cannot dig it out. But hopefully you will get the full effect.

Unpause.

With sheer delight I tear off the paper and see a microwave box; I am beside myself! I can’t believe it. I jump up to give him a kiss, unsure of how in the world he has been able to afford one. Then I notice everyone is laughing and giggling.

I sit back down to open the box. Yes, there is a microwave in there. My brain is working…it’s a microwave, why are they laughing, what is so funny?

The Sweetheart and some of the others reach in to pull it out and then I realize why the laughter…I have been had.

This microwave is not new.

By then everyone is laughing louder. The Sweetheart, though, is not. He is watching me. I am beginning to catch on.

This is my mother’s OLD MICROWAVE!!!

Who got a NEW MICROWAVE for Christmas?? My mother!

Who got an OLD MICROWAVE for Christmas?? ME!

Suddenly I don’t think this is so funny. And suddenly The Sweetheart doesn’t either.

At first I am shocked and my face probably shows it. It’s hard to have a practical joke played on you and not show a reaction on your face. I think I did have a few things to say, knowing me it was, “Un-bee-LEEEVE-ABLE!!!”

But I am in a difficult position. I can either throw a fit and pout and make him look bad or I can go along with the joke.

So, I realize he thought he was doing something nice even though it was not such a great way to do it.

He had only been in Husband Training for a few short years. He knows better now.

Of course I forgave him.

And of course I used the microwave.

I lovingly prepared him all the frozen TV dinners he wanted in that NEW microwave.

For months…

Is Your Drama Your Mama?

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Forget what hurt you but never forget what it taught you.

Why is letting go so hard to do? I think it is because we have a need to nurture. We want to fix things and put it all back together again.

Other times we are afraid. If we don’t try to fix it, who will? We want to be in control, oh my, we have to be in control!

I have been so guilty of this lately. I say I am praying about it and giving it to God and yet I pick it right back up and lament over it again and again. A friend asked me recently if it was rooted in Christ selflessness.

Wow! What a thought! Was I thinking of myself or what God wanted? Was I willing to let it go if it was for the Kingdom or was I too selfish and just had to keep it for myself?

At times when exhaustion has set in, we have just worn ourselves to a “frazzle” and can barely hold on but yet we just can’t quite let go. The enemy loves it when we are in that situation. He thinks he has us! We have so much pent up anxiety we don’t know what to do! That is when the Lord is waiting, patiently, wooing us to let it go! “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 NIV

Of course there are some that refuse to release because they enjoy having something to talk about. The drama is their mama! They love to air it on social media and their day is not complete unless there is a “Woe is me!” in there somewhere.

God is not pleased when our days and weeks are filled with negativity. We bring ourselves down and others around us! Not only that, but our friends, coworkers and family never know what to expect from us. One minute we are up and the next minute we are biting their heads off! Yet we are their “Christian example”.

Our Facebook and Twitter status reads something like this:

“God is Love!”

“Ugh. My life is one big headache.”

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

“This job is so boring and the guy beside me literally stinks. I don’t think he ever showers! Seriously?!”

“DEPRESSED….so DEPRESSED!!!”

“Jesus, Jesus, Oh what a wonderful child! Jesus, Jesus, so lowly, meek and mild!”

These are the things that bring everyone down! Little annoyances that we let consume us and then they come to define us. We become known as “Debbie Downer” and no one wants to be around us! We need to let those little things go!

And then the ultimate… forgiveness. We all know the Bible says if we do not forgive we cannot be forgiven. Yes, it really does say that! “But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Mark 11:26. So why do we hold on to such pain? Because of that old sinful nature within us. Religion won’t get it; this is why we must have RELATIONSHIP!

We must keep that old man under subjection daily. It is so much better to let go of things that would build up and take root in our hearts and cause even more pain if we would allow them to stay and grow. It’s not worth it!

You will have less stress in your life, much better physical and mental health if you forgive and forget. “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.” Proverbs 17:9 NLT

You can start to heal when you let go of hurts from your past and forgive those who have harmed you and then forgive yourself for your mistakes.

Time is short. Revenge is not ours to give and neither is judgment. Choose peace.

A Visit to the President

“Something someone told you about yourself that you’ll never forget (good or bad)”.

A Visit to The President

“I touch the future. I teach.” ~ Christa McAuliffe

When you are nine years old you are easily intimidated, easily impressed and very easily captivated. I was a typical fourth grader growing up in the 1970’s. Neil Armstrong had just taken his infamous walk on the moon the summer before on my actual birthday, July 20, 1969. Richard Nixon was President and the Beatles had just broken up.

I loved all things “girly”, still collected Barbies, but didn’t actually play with them. We read The Boxcar Children, Pippi Longstocking, and The Bobbsey Twins, and found library books by looking in the card catalogue.

Our class looked forward to the Bookmobile visiting the school once a week or so, that was such a treat! I can still see it pulling up the driveway of the old Smithville school. I remember climbing up the steps and can even smell the timeworn books and the inside of the old bus. The librarian would stamp the card in the back of the book with the date that it was due back…and then slip the card back in the pocket of the book. It didn’t matter if you had a stack of twenty books, she could fly through them in no time!

I adored hair ribbons of all kinds and had long, beautiful, golden-rod hair. I idolized my big sister’s clothes, she was the “coolest”.

Convinced all boys had cooties, I was only friendly enough to get by. I loved tether-ball and hop-scotch at recess but despised dodge ball and the creep that made it up. He should be shot. In the buttocks.

My teacher, Mrs. Berzens, was elegant and beautiful. She usually wore her hair pulled back in a gorgeous barrette, (except in this class picture of course). To me she just walked on air. I think at that young age every little girl wants to be a teacher. One of my best friends in the class, Beth, grows up and actually accomplishes it! Mrs. Berzens did make school something to look forward to every day. I loved it.

One day as we were sitting quietly writing our spelling words, Mrs. Berzens comes and tells me that I was wanted in the principal’s office. What? The principal’s office?! Me?! I had never done anything wrong in school in my life! I was the quietest little girl in the entire class. Really I was! I always did my work and never talked back to the teacher.

Mrs. Berzens assured me I was not in trouble, he just wanted to talk to me. Everything was just fine and to go ahead.

The President! I was going to see The President! My legs felt like Jell-O and my tummy was full of butterflies. I had passed him in the hallway and he had nodded at me before and even said, “Hello!” But I had never spoken to him face-to-face!

I made my way down the hall to Mr. Brinson’s office. I wasn’t afraid of him; he was a very kind man. Everyone loved and respected him. You knew he meant business but he was always fair.

The secretary took me right in and I sat down across from The President. He folded his hands and leaned forward and cleared his throat.

I thought I might throw up.

“Nannette, do you know why I have called you in here today?”

“No sir, Mr. President. I mean, no sir, Mr. Brinson.”

“Well, I have invited you here to honor you for your hard work and dedication. I would like to thank you for your four years of excellent academic accomplishment.”

And then he handed me the most beautiful certificate I had ever seen! It even had a big, gold embossed seal on it! Well, when you are nine it doesn’t take much to impress you.

I walked back to class as if I was walking on air. I had seen The President! Five whole minutes. I hadn’t just seen him, I had talked with him!

A kind man, a wonderful teacher, a good school and a lasting impression on a little girl.

No, I didn’t grow up to be a teacher, but I did keep some of those good values that were instilled in me from wonderful influences that shaped my life in those early years.

Memories are a wonderful thing.

Author Archives: Nannette

About Nannette