Monthly Archives: August 2009

Weathering the Storm

We have a saying in our house: “Heikkas don’t quit.” In fact, we have it written on our Heikka Family Creed, a document we’ve put together that lists our family values and things that are important to us. We’ve had our creed taped to the kids’ bedroom doors since they were about four and six, and both of them have it memorized.

A constant reminder about not quitting has been helpful when our kids have gotten discouraged with homework, sports, or any challenge they’ve faced. It’s been great to be able to talk to them about the fact that all good things are worth the hard work, and that just because something is difficult doesn’t mean you should give up.

Continue Reading »

Serving An Unchanging God

Awhile back I was really frustrated with my husband. We were outside in the yard and I honestly cannot remember what I was mad at him about (I’m sure it was huge at the time, but probably petty in the big scheme of things) but I said, “You know you are a lot like God.” He looked at me and I could tell he was kind of puffed up at the thought of being like God. I said, “Yeah, you are a lot like God because you never change!” We laugh at this moment now, but at that point I was not laughing.

Continue Reading »

Seize the Day

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16

I often find myself in the whirl of days wishing time would pass more quickly. When summer comes, the weather will be nicer and it will be easier to get outside and exercise. When fall comes, we’ll get on a better schedule and I’ll get more done. When the kids get older, I can spend more time in ministry. When the week is over and it is the weekend, I’ll feel more rested. Before I know it, I’m wishing my time away.

Continue Reading »

An encouraging word

“I used to be pretty,” I thought as I caught my reflection in the cafe mirror. Hair that hadn’t been tended since that morning, puffy eyes, the area around my mouth showing the beginning of “parenthesis” (as the drug company ad calls them). I’m trying not to go into this aging process kicking and screaming or visiting plastic surgeons, but I’m not wearing each little line as a badge of honor, either.

I packed up my computer and headed over to the Christian bookstore to pick up a couple of gifts.

I was concentrating on the task at hand when a woman said something as I entered the store.

Continue Reading »

Grammy in the Road

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9 NIV

“You have got to be kidding me,” my husband vented his frustration with the car in front of us doing a snail’s pace. We pulled up to the stoplight, and I read the tag GRAMMY*. “Well, it’s a grandma,” I explained to him. “Yeah, well she needs to at least go the speed limit,” he responded.

I sat back listening to the music, just happy we weren’t late for church, but I could feel my husband getting more and more frustrated with poor ole’ Grams.

Continue Reading »

Holding On

Yesterday my husband took our youngest daughter on a special trip to the park. She shook her little body in excitement as she moved closer to the swings. My husband gave me the play by play of events since I’d been on a walk with our two older girls. He told me how he hoisted our toddler up and into the bucket swing and commenced with a strong push. She flailed her arms in the air yelling for him to stop.

“Daddy, I don’t have a hold. Too high. Too high.”

My husband immediately stopped the swing in order to comfort her and help her set her hands just right, clasping them to the two chains.

Continue Reading »

A Morning Prayer

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

My Thesaurus and my Bible are always at my desk. For years, I had considered myself to be a speaker rather than a writer; however, since learning that they go hand in hand – writing assignments are on my focus list everyday. I can’t imagine writing without the help of a Thesaurus. My English teachers would be proud!! LOL

As I thought about this verse I decided to look up the word trust, and the following synonyms were listed: believe in, place confidence in, confide in, depend upon, put faith in, be convinced, and esteem.

Continue Reading »

Ready, Set, Balance?

Many of us struggle with balancing family, careers, and ministries. We struggle with hearing the voice of God and fulfilling the call we feel we have on our lives. How do we really know what we should be doing, and if it’s God’s timing?

For years, I’ve asked similar questions trying to balance what I felt were my primary vocations in life. A stay-at-home, homeschooling mom and wife, pursuing a writing career. But just when I’d get my “plates” spinning and balancing on the pole of “life,” one “plate” would demand more of my attention, then another and another, and before I knew it I’d be running around trying to keep the plates spinning.

Continue Reading »