Two Occasions...

Sorry I hadn't posted in a few days. While the blog was silent, we had a couple of nice events in the Turner household.

1. Colston turned 11 months old today.

He isn't walking yet, but took his first lunge on two legs the other night. Colston's a much pickier eater than Addy was at this age. He is pretty skeptical of whatever you give him- always making a "that's disgusting" face on the first bite of everything. So far, he's a big fan of sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and most fruit. He also ate a few bites of a chicken nugget for the first time yesterday.

2. We made our first visit to a park since we moved to Raleigh.
It's around the corner from our house and has lots of things to jump, climb, swing and slide on.

And Pending:
We're making our first trek to the Carolina coast this weekend with some friends. Will update you when we get back.

Don't Want Them To Grow Up?

Do what we did. Box your child up in a glass table.




With reduced feeding a little luck you can retard your child's physical development and keep them cuddly longer.

Ok, maybe not, but watching Colston (almost 11 mos) explore lately has reminded Jen and me that he's quickly scooting out of the infant stage and towards toddlerhood. He's much more curious than our first child (Addy) and seems most interested in what he isn't supposed to have.

Usually Jen and I are able to watch our children's tendencies and assign credit or blame to one of us. In this case, we're having to travel down the family tree a bit. Although I'm sure Jen and I gave our folks plenty of fits, we were actually the more compliant kids in our households. Looks like Colston- whose middle name (Matthew) is in honor of both of his uncles- got some of their rascality too.

And we couldn't be happier about it.

(*Note: All stunts in this post were performed by a resilient baby under the close supervision of his over-protective and more experienced older sister. Adults should NOT attmept to crawl through end tables. Seriously. You aren't as small as you used to be. Attempting this maneuver as a grown person will just get you stuck in the table. Save yourself the humiliation.)

That's Enough...

If our culture has a favorite word, it might be the word: MORE.

More food, more money, more square footage, more cup holders, more channels, more memory, more features. Yes, I'll take them all please!

More isn't always a bad thing, but lately I've found myself missing the word "enough".    Most of the time I only say "enough" because I can't afford or justify more.  Whatever happened to my ability to be content with some, but not all that I could have?  And should we even begin an honest discussion on wants vs. needs?

Why am I asking these questions?  Because I am (hopefully appropriately) alarmed by Jesus' assertion that money and stuff are constantly competing with God for my soul- and that only one of the two can really win.

So, I'm trying to build the practice of "enough" into my life as a safety valve.  Just because I can afford something doesn't mean I have to.  One small example in my personal life is my computer bag.  When I got a new computer last fall, I quickly started searching for a new bag to go with it.  You know- to protect the investment.  And to make me look hip- and not too businessy or geeky.  (Which I realize is a lot to ask from a computer bag.) I narrowed the options and was about to order my first choice when I stopped to pack for a trip.  There inside my suitcase was an old, tired messenger bag.  I took this as more than a coincidence.  Here was an opportunity to say "enough".  I could afford a new bag and justify it.  But I didn't have to have it.   One neoprene laptop sleeve and 5 months later, my computer is doing fine.  My hip factor is unchanged.  But my soul feels the tiniest bit freer.

"Enough" is growing on me.  A couple of weeks ago we bought a car.  After we settled on the model we wanted, we had to decide on the trim level.  Although we planned on buying the base version (which has almost every option you could have added to a car 10 years ago), I found myself wondering if we "needed" to move up a trim level or two.  More was raising it's ugly head- and I was cooperating.  Then my wife stepped in.  She said "enough" and we went home with the base model.  Since this was her vehicle, I'm glad she made the call.  As her husband, I want to provide her with more.  Maybe "enough"- and the blessings it brings- is more important sometimes.

So, how about you?

Ever notice the constant pull of "more" in your life?

What- if anything- do you do with that?

Do you intentionally use the practice of "enough"?  If so, when/how?

Use the comments feature and share your perspective.

When Conformity Is Rebellion

Yesterday we turned in a vehicle that we've been leasing for the past three years. Start to finish it was a great experience. In fact, we all got a bit teary as we said goodbye to the car that had carried our family safely so many times.

Knowing that our turn in deadline was approaching, we went out and got a replacement vehicle last week. Here's a pic:

Yes, we got a van. A Honda Odyssey to be exact.
The first two friends I mentioned this to gave me same reaction:

"Oh you finally caved and got a van, huh? Welcome to soccer-mom-world."

Honestly, there was a touch of either condescension or pity in their tone of voice. I was a bit irritated.

Then it hit me- they think we're conforming. I think we're rebelling.

When we leased our last vehicle, vans were the norm for young families. My wife chose an SUV then precisely because she didn't want to live the stereotype. (And because someone with one small child doesn't really need a van.)

Based solely on my own keen powers of observation, I'd say the tides have turned. Most young moms bemoan the van and choose.....the SUV. Ergo...the SUV is now the new soccer mom vehicle. For what it is worth, I think Honda's research may agree with this. The theme of the Odyssey's brochure is "The Van Is Back". They know that vans are no longer the go-to family vehicle.

Which leads me to how much I love my wife. This go round she once again had the choice of a van or suv. Why did she choose the van? Because it was more practical for her with 2 young kids, and we want to be able to haul our friends and family around with us without rearranging our car seats every time.

The SUV was the "I'm better than that other thing (van)" statement in some folk's minds. Jen chose what worked for her- even though many of her peers are making the opposite choice.

Sounds like rebellion to me.

In a van of all places.

Who knew?

Where Do You Blog?

Tonight I'm trying something new, blogging on the toilet.

Not like that- potty minds. Geesh. Are we still in middle school?

I'm sitting on the CLOSED lid, capturing some thoughts while Addy practices "swimming" and decides whether or not she'll throw a fit when it is time to wash.


How about you? Where do you blog or catch up on your computer time?

(Note: If "at work" is your answer, and your boss doesn't pay you to blog/surf- feel free to use a pseudonym.)

My Office (Today)

Lots of my friends outside of Raleigh are kind enough to ask me how things are going with my new job and church community.

One of the questions I get asked the most often is...Do you have an office?

The answer to the question the way it is being asked is no. We don't have dedicated office space @ Connections. As a result, I'm free to work wherever I wish. So far, I'm kind of bouncing around between Bruegger's Bagels (my usual morning hang- big thanks to Nick the manager & the rest of the crew who treat me so kindly), Panera, Caribou Coffee & Bear Rock Cafe. Bottom line is I'll work pretty much anywhere there has a decent free wi-fi connection and a good atmosphere.

I'm getting the chance to meet people (like Dave- who I run into a few times a week- always in a different spot) and absorb the local vibe. So far, I've learned a couple of tricks to make the mobile office thing a bit easier:

1. In ear headphones- the kind that block out noise- are a must.
2. Grab a seat near an outlet- the battery life indicator on your laptop is overestimating.
3. If you are on your mobile phone and people are staring at you, you are talking too loud. (Who me?)
4. Know what to take with you when you hit the restroom. My iphone and laptop go with me. Everything else stays on the table.

This afternoon, I won't be found at any of my usual haunts. I'm on the apartment patio, enjoying the blue skies and warm weather.



Ok- back to work.

Blessed On Both Sides

Last weekend four of our friends from Lexington made the trek to Raleigh to hang out with us. That sentence probably isn't descriptive enough. Our friends left Lexington around 10pm on Friday and drove straight through to NC. They were in town less than 36 hours and had to bunk in a hotel because our apartment was full up. We savored each moment we had with them. They made us feel loved. As we said goodbye, I had this sense that my friends had done for me what that Barnabas guy in the Bible did for the folks around him.

But that wasn't the best part. The best part was that seeing our old friends head home didn't leave us homesick. We really are loving our new church community and feel lucky that so many people have embraced us so warmly. Just last night Jen was out for the first time with a lady I knew she'd hit it off with. They went to dinner around 6:30pm and came back around midnight. Tonight she's out to coffee with another gal who is so sweet and down to earth. Today I had lunch with a great family who has been as hospitable to me as anyone I've ever known. (Of course, feeding me enchiladas with tomatillo sauce is an easy way to my heart.)

Our old friends don't leave us homesick. Our new friends aren't "replacing" our old ones.

We truly are blessed on both sides.