MyLeslieNotebook

A few weeks ago, we took a trip to Indianapolis to visit my sister-in-law and her family. She has a 2-year-old boy who completely adores my kids. Like a good mom who loves a great surprise, she didn't tell him we were coming. They were innocently waiting in the front yard when we pulled up. When my daughter hopped out of the car, his face lit up when he realized it was her. Because he loves her. Because she loves him. Because they enjoy each other's presence.  Your face lights up, too. When you see that long-lost friend. When you find the shirt you wanted and realize it's on sale. When you find a bra that really, really fits. When someone is kind to you for no reason at all.  But did you know that God's face lights up, too?  I came across this verse a few weeks ago: "For they did not take the land by their sword--their arm did not bring them victory--but by Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You were pleased with them," (Psal...

I was never made to fit in. I was always by far the shortest in my class. (By many inches.) I was a child of the 80s, when big curly hair was perfect. Mine was thin and stick straight. (Thank you, perms, for seeing me through those rough years.) I went to college where I knew a total of one person before I started. I remember being in middle school and not being part of the cool-girls crowd. And it became my identity; I wasn't "normal." And I loved it. Weirdo. I really had no choice; my parents are totally abnormal, too. Weirdos. They still get up 30 minutes-- 30 minutes!! --early every single morning so that they can just drink coffee and hang out with each other. They sit on the back porch, watch the birds, plan the day ahead, reflect on the day behind, and get their attentions focused on what really matters. I mean, who sacrifices sleep for such a silly thing? (Crazy talk, right? May have something to do with the fact that they just celebrated their 40th anniversar...

Genuine. Real. Authentic.  It's what we want in friends, in guys, in pretty much anyone we spend time with.  It's what we want for ourselves. We want to be real. Genuine. Authentic. Let me rephrase that: It's what we SAY we want. But I bet you've spent days where you got to the end and think, "I did not like me today." You were real. Genuine. Authentic. And horrible. We can call it honesty or hormones or a bad day. But every single morning we choose  to have a certain attitude. We choose  how we're going to treat others. We choose  what to say. And when we choose to be our genuine, real, authentic self, we are often not the people we want to be. Right? Amen? I'm not talking about other people. I'm talking about YOU.  Is the real you the person you want to be in 5 years ? This thought struck me last week. I had the ultimate pleasure and honor of spending 11 days--in very close quarters--on a road trip with 5 people I cherish. The...