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I’ve decided I’m either a flying snob or Nazi. I can’t decide which one yet, but after traveling countless hours through nearly every major airport in the country and across a few continents air travel has become quite routine. I even have the little spiel the flight attendant’s make at the beginning of each flight memorized.

My husband pointed out today as we were making our way through the airport that I lack emotional intelligence when it comes to flying. Decoded what he’s saying is that when it comes to air travel my compassion goes out the window.

Why? It’s just something I’ve done my whole life. Seriously. I went on my first flight at 6 months and had a passport by my first birthday. Let’s just say I’ve been around the block a time or two.

It’s not new to me anymore. I could probably do it in my sleep, so I lack compassion when people bumble through lines, give evil glares to families with kids, and cut in front of you as you’re waiting to get on the plane.

(Seriously people…they call families with young children at a special time for a reason. If you don’t want to be bothered with kids just wait like the good airline attendant asked you instead of trying to rush past me while I’m folding up my stroller–got it? Thanks.)

Obviously, now of these should be an excuse for me to not be compassionate….I’m working on it. But airports seem to bring out the worst in me.

So all day today as we were flying from Louisville to San Diego (with a pit stop in Phoenix) I kept thinking of all the travel tips I could share. So why not?

Now, please…don’t be offended. Some of these may seem very obvious, but many of these are things I see in people each time I fly.

1. Don’t be afraid. Flying is safer than driving in a car. So if you fear your plane is going to come crashing down just remember you’re more likely to die in a car accident than to die in a plane crash.
2. Be prepared. Know which airline you’re flying, how much luggage you can check (and for what price), what is considered a carry-on, TSA’s rules for carrying liquids,  and where to find gate/departure changes. Oh…and yes, you do have to take your shoes off when going through security and no your carry-on will not fit through the security conveyor belt standing up (saw that one today).
3. Listen to the airline attendants. They will tell you when you need to board over the loud speaker. You don’t need to crowd the counter–leave it open for people who are trying to get stand-by flights, gate check tickets for their strollers, or other questions. And please, wait until your section is called before boarding the plane. This is one of the things I love about Southwest is that they are not afraid to tell someone it’s not their turn and to go back and wait. (Can you tell I’m a stickler for following rules?)
4. Follow the carry-on rules. Please, please, please. I hate it when I see someone with a carry-on suitcase, purse, and three shopping bags. What do these people not understand about the two-limit rule? Be considerate of other passengers and consolidate or check bags. You’ve only got the space underneath the seat in front of you and a bit of overhead space to share.
5. Don’t fear the airport transfer or layover. After traveling both in national and international airports I’m convinced that all airports are pretty much the same. Just follow the signs to the next terminal and be aware that in some of the larger airports (say Dallas/Ft. Worth or Atlanta) you may have to take a tram to get to your next terminal. Prepare yourself by looking in the back of the airline magazine in your seat pocket to see the layout of your arriving airport. You’ll find these for most major airports. If not ask a flight attendant before landing, most are on the same flight rotations and familiar with the airports they fly into. Even international airports are easy…I’ve yet to be in one where the signs aren’t in English.
6. Be nice to people traveling with children. I have flown with my son about six times since he was born and each time we get nasty looks from other travelers as if we’re just trying to make their life more difficult by traveling with kids. We already know it’s hard to travel with kids. I mean…we’re the ones carrying the extra bags, juggling slings or strollers with sippy cups, and holding the crying (or overly active) child. We know it’s hard, because we’re the ones doing it. So be kind. Offer a helping hand…and for Pete’s sake leave the evil eyes at home. (Not all people at airports have the “evil eyes” there are plenty of mom’s and grandma’s, businessmen missing their kids, and other parents traveling that are more than willing to give you a hand or at least compassionate eyes that say, “I’ve been there too.”)

Alright…so what do you think? Am I a flying snob? What tips do you have for flying?

Come back tomorrow as I share tips I’ve learned traveling with young children.

Today I’m leaving the hot and humid streets of “The Ville” for something a little more breezy. And breathable. San Diego.

Can we say fish tacos,  please? (I love them.)

Coats in the evening.

Temperatures that don’t go above 80 degrees. (At least this week.)

And can I get an “Amen!” for non-existent humidity in San Diego? It’s always funny to hear San Diegans talk about the “horrible humidity.”

After growing up in the south, I’m like “What humidity?” Humidity is when you walk outside and need a shower or you can’t breathe because the air is so heavy.

So I’m going to enjoy the change in weather…for sure.

But the real reason we’re heading back west is for my brother-in-law’s wedding and to see this guy look super cute:

He’ll be in this for 10 minutes + pictures. I won’t even tell you what the whole get-up (suit, shoes, socks) cost for a toddler. Just know it’s going up for consignment when we get home.

But, really, isn’t he adorable?

Frizzy hair. Non-existent naptime. Tired. Slightly overwhelmed.

That’s us.

I’m really good at keeping my emotions in check, which is just a nice way of saying I keep everything bottled up. But it’s got to come out sometime…and today it did.

It’s never just one thing, but a million little things that have been twirling around my mind until its a cosmic explosion out my eyeballs. And today it happened at a very convenient time. I was sitting in the car as my husband gave hugs to our son, looking at the clock knowing I was going to be late for class (I teach a workout class for mom’s at the seminary), and then–of course, Joe had to look at me with his puppy dog eyes and ask “What’s wrong?”

And the well sprung forth.

“I’m overwhelmed.”

With what? I mean my life seems pretty simple….even I think it’s pretty simple. At least most of the time.

But now, I invite you to a million little things…

I’m tired…even though I got more sleep last night than I have in a long time.

Sometimes I wish prepackaged food was better for you, because as much as I like cooking from scratch doing it every day for nearly every meal is overwhelming. Even if it is cheaper.

Oh…and all that cooking means lots of dishes. If you could see my kitchen you’d wonder where I can even put the dishes. It’s small. So small that my fridge can’t open all the way.

We were talking about saving to buy a house while we’re here. Now we’re thinking maybe it’s not best. I at least want to move to a first floor apartment if we don’t, because I am not looking forward to carrying a newborn up and down the stairs with a toddler bumbling behind me in the winter (or summer for that matter).

But moving downstairs would require some downsizing, because we’d lose a major walk-in closet.

I’m tired of it being so freaking hot outside. I grew up in hot and humid climates…South Carolina, Virgina, southern Japan, but I spent the last 6 years living in San Diego. Let’s just say I got spoiled.

Oh…did I mention that my 20-month-old son thinks he’s ready to forgo his daily nap? Yeah, I’m not.

I’m tired of being in charge, having to know the answers to where the keys, wallet, socks, a book, tape, and blah-blah-blah is…taking care of everybody. I need a break.

I’m tired of keeping everything together.

I’m tired of dirty floors and stinky trash.

And could the laundry stop multiplying, please?

Some days I forget to read my Bible.

I’m at that stage of pregnancy where you can’t really tell I’m pregnant, it just looks like I’m just getting chubby. Yes, I’m a bit self-conscious about that especially when I pass by a skinny mom with her 3 kids trailing behind her. Of course, she looks adorably cute and I am bum in my gym clothes.

Why couldn’t I have gotten the skinny gene? Or at least a little more impulse control when it comes to food.  Do you ever feel like that? When you’re at some party with lots of yummy treats and there are those women who are like, “I’ll just eat one…gotta watch my calories.” And then they really do only eat one. Honey…I will eat the cake and the cookie and that little fried thing. My calories probably went out the window some time around lunch. Well, if I can’t be skinny I might as well enjoy it!

Can we talk about hair for a moment? Mine needs a change…like bad and it’s driving me crazy. I cut it really short last summer. It went from the middle of my back to above my shoulders. It hasn’t seen scissors since, so it’s all one length. But when my curly hair is long the curls end up only at the bottom…which looks kind of funny. Like cocker spaniel ears. So I wear it up all the time. It’s heavy and gives me headaches.

So what do I do? Dye it, chop it off, layer it? I don’t know…maybe I should take a vote.

Being a seminary student’s wife isn’t all that fun. People ooh and aah because they think you’re extra special…you know, being a future pastor’s wife or missionary seems kind of glamorous, important even. But when you’re husband works 40 hours a week so you can have food to eat, a place to live, and health insurance and then spends the rest of his time with school work…it kind of means you don’t see him a lot and the bulk of child-rearing (and everything else) falls on you. (Kind of like how people see military wives…I’ve seen the inside of that one too and lots of sacrifice, not so much glamor.) But us wives band together and we remind ourselves it’s just a season.

After class when I told my husband all this his response was,

Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42

Many things, many anxieties…but am I doing the one thing? Life is easy when everything fits in its perfect time slot and all has a place the one thing is easy. But when the four walls come down and the wind picks up the pieces scattering them, then the one thing that’s necessary because so much harder.

Even then…it’s still the One thing.

How about you?

Another thing I want to work on this week is our grocery budget. Early in the year I decided to give away whatever was leftover in each week’s budget. I did very well for a few months keeping track, but eventually starting rolling over what was left to the next week’s budget. Later I switched from my regular grocery store to Aldi and cut a 1/4 of my cost, but instead of saving that and keeping up the frugality I just bought more which eventually lead to more and more relaxed spending (ie, going over budget).

Now there’s nothing wrong with buying food (obviously) or increasing your budget when you need to or spurlging here and there. The problem for me was that my original intention was to give what was left over to those in need and instead I hoarded it and bought more than we needed or things we were fine without. I was intending to give, but instead was selfish…for me, that shows a heart problem.

If I want to live intentionally and be like Jesus, then I just need to…you know, be like Jesus (sometimes I think we make this more complicated than it really is). He definitely seemed more action. Purposeful action dependent on the Father, but definitely active.

I don’t think Jesus stood around saying, “Father now do you really want me to go talk to that person? Really…um, sure. Just let me finish this first. I don’t know. Maybe I should think about it a little more. I’ll just do it tomorrow.”

If Jesus had an “I’ll just do it tomorrow” mentality, how different would his ministry have been?

So that’s my goal. To be intentional, not put things off for tomorrow that can be done today, to listen to the Father, and respond in obedience.

What are you putting off for tomorrow that can be done today?

This morning I shared how I didn’t attempt the intentionality that I aimed for when I wrote When Guilt is a Good Thing. I said I wanted to change. To be a woman who radically lives the faith she believes. To change the world. To know Christ.

And then…I failed. High aspirations to a few passing thoughts.

My husband left a comment, or rather just a link, to this morning’s post.

W. Clement Stone, who built an insurance empire worth hundreds of millions dollars, would make all his employees recite the phrase, “Do it now!” again and again at the start of each workday. Whenever you feel the tendency towards laziness taking over and you remember something you should be doing, stop and say out loud, “Do it now! Do it now! Do it now!”

I often set this text as my screen saver. There is a tremendous cost in putting things off because you will mentally revisit them again and again, which can add up to an enormous amount of wasted time. Thinking and planning are important, but action is far more important. You don’t get paid for your thoughts and plans — you only get paid for your results.

When in doubt, act boldly, as if it were impossible to fail.

In essence, it is.

- Steve Pavlina

It’s true. I’m wasting more time thinking and reminding myself to think than acting. It’s not like these are hard, life-altering tasks. Most of them are quite small and would really take little effort. So why not?

Why not spare a few minutes of my life to impact someone else’s? To take the first step to change the world—to affect the life of another for good. To live with God in the forefront rather than on the shelf. Really…what is there to lose?

What are you mentally revisiting these days? Why not take action with me?

I’m just going to be honest. (Again.)

You know that post I wrote on Monday? The one where I said I was going to get off by butt and start being more intentional about the faith-in-action stuff? The one with the list of things I’d already tried being intentional at and kinda…um…failed?

Well, at the end I told you to ask me if Friday (today) if I’ve taken the time to put these things in action. Or at least thought about them.

I’ll just save you the time and tell you I haven’t. At least not more than a passing thought. Our pastor even preached about living more missional lives on Sunday. I did get to talk about it with my community group some and we hashed out how we’re doing (or, actually, not doing) in this area.

So…I think where I’m landing is to set some goals to work toward. I’ll let you know when I get those.

Right now, I’ve got a little man in an Incredible Hulk shirt asking for breakfast.

And the close-up:

This post is linked to 5 Minutes for Mom’s Wordless Wednesday.

I really aim to  be honest and authentic on my blog while maintaining discretion when needed, but can I be honest about something?

Sometimes I don’t finish reading posts that I know will make me feel guilty. I’m not talking about blogs that are telling me I’m not being a wife or mother correctly, or that I need to organize my kitchen this way and pray x,y, and z to be a good Christian.

I’m talking about posts that take faith and make it hit the road. That see the Gospel and the disconnect in our American Christian culture and boldly confront it with action and change.

I love Kristen’s blog (of We are that Family). I love her heart. I love how she challenges her readers. I love how her trip to Africa wasn’t just a trip, but a lifestyle change.

But here’s where I’m getting honest.

Yesterday, when her post There are hungry orphans in Africa. showed up in my Google Reader I got a little uneasy. After I read her warning,

[Warning: There is a faith-put-into-action opportunity at the end of this post. PLEASE do not miss it!]

I closed the tab.

Just being honest. There was a warning. I left. I wasn’t in the “faith-put-into-action” mood. Which really means I wasn’t in the be-like-Jesus mood. I was in the (and still pretty much am) I-want-to-fill-comfortable-and-I-like-my-stuff mood.

Obviously, there are some issues that God is bringing to the surface (they’ve been there awhile) and starting to deal with. It’s like the mini-jungle that half of our garden is…God’s pulling up the weeds and saying, “Let’s till this thing and get something good growing.”

It’s a good guilt. It’s a realization that I’m not doing what I should be, that my heart is not in the place it should be, and that I love stuff more than I love God *gulp* and the people desperate for him.

My hesitation with these things has always been the same…once I open my big mouth and say I’m going to live counter-cultural, reject the American dream, and truly be Jesus to the poor, orphaned, widowed, and helpless there’s no going back. That’s not a declaration you can just  worm your way out of.

That’s the type of thing people hold you to. That’s the k ind of thing that when you stop people point their finger and say, “That’s why I don’t believe in God, because of Christians that are hypocrites.” I don’t want to be an out-spoken hypocrite. I’m already a quiet one. My faith preaches something my life doesn’t.

I’ve tried before and had good intentions, but…

• I don’t write my Compassion child, Pamela, nearly enough. Her picture hangs on our wall as  a reminder to pray and I still don’t.
• I still haven’t submitted my application to the local pregnancy center. It’s been 6 months. But I’m pregnant, right? I mean…how can one pregnant woman help another?
• We have a Voice of the Martyrs map by our dining room table to remind us to pray for the persecuted church when we eat. We haven’t in months. I want to take it down, but I feel guilty.
• At the beginning of the year, I decided that each week whatever money I had left over from the weekly grocery budget I’d spend at Samaritan’s Purse buying formula for infants. That hasn’t happened either.
• Oh…and I’m slightly avoiding finishing the last few chapters of David Platt’s Radical.

But I want all this to change. I want to be the person who doesn’t just believe what she says she believes, but radically lives it. I want to change the world. I want to know Christ.

So this week I’m recommitting myself to these things and I want (and need) you to help keep my accountable. Ask me Friday if I’ve taken the time to put these things in action. If I’ve been giving…praying…submitting an application…rooting out the sin in my own heart.

Ask me.

I want to change.

Oh…and I did read Kristen’s post today and I’m planning a trip to buy some formula today. And you should too.

What about you? Is there something you want to change?

Let’s be Jesus together.

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