A Community Not a Cause

~ Jenni at 100 Cups of Coffee ~ Leave a comment

We have had many good conversations about our plans for bringing our kids’ home.  Questions are asked…”you know there will be a lot of mouths to feed?!”  “Have you really thought through the finances of this endeavor?”  John Franklin will tell you–yes indeed we have.   

We have…but to be honest, when we started this journey, we quickly discovered that adoption costs much more than having a child naturally.  Though the cost is great—we saw so many parallels to God’s heart for us and felt nudged to proceed in faith that He would provide.  We had considered the cost of adding two children to our home but had planned to do extensive fund-raising through applications of grants, etc.  While we have applied for grants and have explored other governmental resources, the speed at which our adoption is taking place is creating a challenge in securing the resources and allowing us to be eligible for most adoption grants.


Up to this point, we have been hesitant in making a public appeal for adoption support. We have had a concern that some would see this as just another cause or special project. Or that it might place a strain on our friendship or strange pressure to give.  This story is intimate for us and I didn’t want to cheapen it by inviting people to “like” it on Facebook!

But as we’ve come closer to the reality of this adoption, my mind has changed. While I never want our kiddos to feel like they are a “cause,” I DO want them to know there is a community of people who believe in them and their bright future. I want our little ones to know from day one that they are not alone. Not only will they have a family, but tons of friends, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, encouragers, and mentors, to be with them in every step of their life journeys.  

We look forward to telling them the stories of a friend who had twin boys and was willing to pass on their clothes so that Joshua and J will be clothed for years to come!  Or of  mattresses shared by friends who were moving or had a spare in their attic.  Or of strong men that came to our house and in what felt a little like extreme home make-over, moved beds to different rooms so that the kiddos would have the perfect place to sleep at night.  I look forward to sharing the stories of those in our “tribe” who have prayed for them before we knew their names.  And I look forward to sharing about the dozens or even hundreds of friends who were willing to sacrifice some of their own resources to bring our little boy and girl home.   

We want our all of our children to know that life is best lived in loving community and relationship.  I can’t think of a better way to model this for them than by including friends and family to join us on our journey–to get a better glimpse of the body of Christ in action. 



May You Be a Blessing and May You Be Blessed!

Jenni and Chris




The Defining Power of Love

~ Jenni at 100 Cups of Coffee ~ 1 Comment

We are the midst of a major overhaul of our home.  Rooms are shifting around, clothes are being given away if too small, and we have generously received some wonderful new clothes to replace the old.  There is nothing that feels normal about our current state of life–but it is a wonderful chaos.

In the midst of unloading I went through Kylee’s room.  Hers is the most “hoarded” room of the house.  With more things pink, frilly, and impossibly difficult to throw away; because they are either beautiful–she is the keeper of beauty in our home–or lovely hand-made creations.  So I HATE helping her purge because it is painful for us both.  I decided to go through a few things the other day while Kylee was gone and stumbled on a journal that she had written in Kindergarten.  This was what the entry said…





It struck me.  Almost knocked me over.  This 6 year old child who wrote very little throughout the entire book had such a clear clear understanding of who loved her.  Embracing that truth gave her permission to believe that she was lovable.  She loved herself!  And I will go as far as to say that I believe this also will translate, (if it hasn’t already) to a better understanding of the love of a Heavenly Father.  Wow. Amazing.

Now journey with me 7,368.3(ish) miles to Uganda.  Here there are two children that we don’t know but already love, they are waiting for a forever home.  Adoption is one answer to a tragically difficult question.  Right now it is controversial, it can be unethical, and we kept getting tangled in the logistics of the process–wanting not to do more harm than good.  We silenced our internal “nudges” and kept living life.  3 months, 6 months, and 1 year went by.   The nudges became more and more undeniable.  Then we took the very big step of proceeding…with caution…but in faith.  Trusting that what He had begun would be done as prayerfully and ethically as we could possibly navigate.

We quietly, confidentially started the process…knowing it would likely be a lengthy one…only to be expedited by a Power much greater than our own.  With wonderful fall plans of weddings and anniversary trips on the books…we instead will be headed to Uganda.

We are incredibly excited and overwhelmed by what all of this means…but most of all we are thrilled to know that two little ones might learn what Kylee already has–that they are deeply loved.

I hope you will grab a cup of coffee with me as we walk through this next chapter of life together!

May You Be a Blessing and May You Be Blessed!

Jenni


I am FILTHY RICH.

~ Jenni at 100 Cups of Coffee ~ 6 Comments

Wow…never thought I would utter those words out loud never mind for the world to read.  For that matter I was raised under the impression I was not at all well off and often worried about money–about ends meeting.  Money was the source of guilt and confusion.  I felt guilty spending it and never felt like there was enough of it.  Truly rich people were seen on Life Styles of the Rich and Famous, or MTV Cribs.  Donald Trump…now that guy is rich.  Me?  Not so much.

Reality check and perspective switch.  The more my eyes have been opened to the poverty of this world the more I have started to become aware of my own wealth.  I mean this in every sense of the monetary word.  I am FILTHY rich.  Like me, you and everyone else who is able to read this on their lap top computer is FILTHY rich too!

Now I am about to step on toes because we don’t like to be painted with that brush…we don’t want to be poor but we don’t like to be considered RICH.   That reference has it’s own stigmas to entertain. So take a deep breath and sit back in your discomfort as we discuss something I cannot shake.  I have been uncomfortable (by myself) for too long in this…might as well bring some friends along with me!  This subject causes me to lose sleep at night and is something I must address in my own life so that I can make sense of the madness.  To walk through this is uncomfortable and I have had a little more time than you to digest the issue…so I will try to be tactful…but I am discovering that there is a reason we woke up on this part of the planet.  I want to figure out more of what this reason is and what I am going to do about it.  You might find the answer (for you) too in the process.  I am absolutely sure my journey does and will not look like your journey…each response is unique and as individual as your fingerprint.  Yet, I will venture to say full life entails finding an answer to these questions.  “We are just blessed,” DOESN’T CUT IT.   

Wealth has consumed my thoughts, conversations, dreams and nightmares.  Every book I open speaks of this message, my quiet times are filled with questions and dialog–what does all this mean–what do I do with this information–how do I live here but ache for those there?  Below are my writings and ramblings in response to something that recently was jumping off the page from Luke.  

“Watch out!  Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”   Luke 12:15
 
What does man or woman’s life consist of?  Important question to ask of one surrounded by her own comforts, possessions, and a culture obsessed with comforts and possessions.  What am I about?  Who am I about?  What does my life consist of?  
 
Then the next verses flow so beautifully telling the story of a man whose crop produced so abundantly, he had no place to store it all.  He decided to tear down his barns and build BIGGER ones.  He follows it by:  “I will say to myself, ‘You have plenty of good things laid up for many years.  Take life easy, eat drink and be merry.’”  This is the epitome of the American way/dream.  Work hard, save, collect, store up riches, build bigger, better, more. It is counter-cultural to think any other way.  This is the “goal” of so many people that I know (present company included until recently)…and yet—the Word is saying:  this is not life.  More strongly it explains…this is a life that does not acknowledge the very gift it has been given.  In the parable life is to be more than “storing things up for himself…”  life is about being “rich toward God.”  So what does this look like?  I do think it starts with giving.  But is there more?  I cannot help but think about Matthew 25.  Whatever you do for the least of these you do for me…would not this be considered being “rich” toward God?  What other ways might I learn that life does not consist of abundance of possessions?  How else might I be rich toward God?  Teach me.
 
Beautifully the next section leads the reader to the question of needs.  (And wants.)  12:22-31.  Do not worry you say about what we will eat, drink, and wear.  Look at how the Creator takes care of the needs of creation—will He not take care of us?
 
I love last part of the passage:  “Do not be afraid little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” 12:32  My friend Sarah who goes to Africa every few months works with women. Some who have been trafficked, some who are working as prostitutes, some who have so many babies they cannot feed themselves, some who are diseased, sick, dying. She recently said, “growing up white and in the western world is the equivalent to winning the lottery.” Wow. I cannot tell you how many times those words have pervaded my dreams and nightmares.  The lottery.  Our best day is RICHES in the light of the rest of the world.  We live as kings and queens.  We have a car.  A house that doesn’t leak.  Food daily.  Healthcare.  Over a billion people live on less than a one dollar a day.  Even if you only use public transportation you are likely in the top 15% of the wealthiest people on the planet.   Oh my stars it goes on and on.   (References are from Radical but can be googled just about anywhere.  Radical…another purchase that both turned my stomach and kept me riveted until the very last page.) 
 
So in reading this passage I cannot help but be touched by these words:  “Your father is PLEASED to GIVE YOU THE KINGDOM.”  Really?  I am not worthy of winning the lottery…I did nothing to deserve it.  Yet He is pleased to give it to me?  So now the real question surfaces: What am I going to do with the winnings that I have received?  Am I going to store them up?  Build larger barns?  Am I going to attempt to find life in the abundance of my possessions?  
 
I also like that He says, “do not be afraid, little flock…”  Money makes us feel safe.  Comfortable.  How awesome to consider that He gently recognizes how scary it is to tithe.  He understands it would be scary to down size…or give more away than we are comfortable giving.  Does winning the lottery actually call us to live with less?  What does this look like?  Does it mean sacrificing “wants” or conveniences that give ME comfort to provide basic needs for those who are without?   I (eeek) think that it does.  It has been projected by UNICEF that between 2000-2020 that 68 million Africans will die of AIDS.  In the US there have been only a handful of reported cases of death due to AIDS since the early 1990s.  Here in the Western World HIV is considered a chronic illness but not a life-threatening disease.  Jackpot–once again I win.  I need these reminders to give perspective when I start to think about the actual daily sacrifices (like soy lattes, dinners out, $ in our savings account, kids’ activities, vacations, land, square footage)  to make this an easier pill to swallow. I am given the opportunity to live with less lottery winnings so that others might live and not die.  

“Do not be afraid little flock.”  Translation:  “Jenni, little lamb…I love you and these words I am about to say are hard to hear cause it is scary to not be comfortable:  “sell your possessions and give to the poor.” Luke 12:33 Not easy words to read never mind act upon.  Gently I can almost hear Him say, “my little lambs…trust…do not fear…this is where life begins.  Life begins by letting go of the lottery…”    

Because let’s face it friends…we are FILTHY RICH.  

May You Be a Blessing and May You Be Blessed,

Jenni 






Where is Ty Pennington When I Need Him?

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There once was a house that resembled my life.  On the outside it was big and beautiful.  The house had a fantastic floor plan, spacious bedrooms and a big back yard for the kids to run and play.  The house to most would be a wonderful place to live and raise a family.  What was not visible from the outside was that there were areas where the paint was beginning to chip.  If one ventured inside she would catch a glimpse of the carpet stains and recognize the downstairs heat had not worked in two winters.  The house over the past 17 years had experienced the normal wear and tear and the owners had not done an awesome job of maintenance.  One day the owners noticed that it was not simply the carpets that needed to be cleaned, the yard could use some attention, the basketball goal was shattered, and the dryer was truly on the fritz.   On that day the owners became overwhelmed by the circumstances and problems because slow and simple maintenance had been ignored and now there was much work to be done.  Now every complication became a tyranny of the urgent…what needed to be fixed the fastest and what could be ignored?  Where is Ty Pennington when I need him?

The dryer has squeaked for 6 months on and off but now the noise is so deafening that when laundry is placed in the dryer and one stands near it for a few seconds it will cause your ears to ring.  A few weeks ago I drove out of my garage and could hear the dryer noise (with windows up) from the car.  For those of you who are meticulous about home maintenance please refrain from judgement…please do not throw stones at this glass house.   Tonight in a fit of defeat, prayer and pure sadness I sensed I should go and place my hands on the dryer.  Knowing that she was doing her best to function but she was also so very broken;  I stood in the laundry room hands on the dryer until they grew hot…feel free to judge here…I was judging myself!  

But in that ever so loud and deafening moment I heard a still small voice:  “this is how loud and chaotic life is when it is not well maintained with me.  I can bring calm in the presence of the noise if one slows down long enough to listen…but do you see why it is difficult to hear My voice?”  

A holy moment in the laundry room led me to a sweet revelation:  I cannot intimately hear from a God that I am constantly tuning out with the busyness of this life.  There are millions of distractions that keep me fixing and fluttering from thing to thing–all the while the deafening dryer is screaming in my ears and God’s voice is drowned out.  

Every day there is something fresh and new from Him…His voice.  Where is the wonder in that?  Have I been shuffling myself and family from thing to thing for so long that I am not stopping to slow down…to fix the MOST broken thing?  Our hearts were designed for more than the lawn, baseball games, Wii, iPhones, facebook, tennis lessons, soccer, college football, ballet performances, trips to the gym, carpool, a 9-5 job that we love, or even service at church.  

The deafening dryer that I was cursing moments before now reminded me that my heart (like my home) must be maintained.  I must cultivate time to rejuvenate, to make space livable for my God.  If I am distracted there is little room for Him to make my heart His home.  

May You Be a Blessing and May You Be Blessed.

Jenni 

Silence My New BFF

~ Jenni at 100 Cups of Coffee ~ 1 Comment

Silence.  True silence can be deafening.  

In the midst of the year 2013, which I am now lovingly referring to as my season of obscurity…Silence has been my guide.  

ob·scu·ri·ty

/əbˈskyo͝oritē/

 

Noun
  1. The state of being unknown, inconspicuous, or unimportant.
  2. The quality of being difficult to understand.


That pretty much sums it up. “Unknown, inconspicuous, difficult to understand.”  

I write (publicly) when I am inspired.  I write daily out of necessity; as a part of my personal therapy. 

Today I realized that if there are precious people who have somehow stumbled upon my words but do not know me incredibly well or live far away–you might not know of the circumstances of my silence.  (And have probably wondered why I have appeared to stop writing.)  

January 2013 unfolds as follows:  unexpected death of dear family friend leads to unexpected trip to Indiana, which then is immediately followed by family vacation, followed by personal illness, followed by work, followed by more illness, followed by some life altering changes in vocation and long term family plan (I am not pregnant), followed by more illness, followed by a trip to the dentist where he informed me that my dental scans indicted I was stressed.  Duh.  (And how humiliating!)  Followed by more soul-searching, trips to my therapist, a solitude retreat, and foot surgery.  All wrapping up my year so far as officially a season of OBSCURITY.

At first, being a closet introvert, I found myself embracing the quiet, listening, being still and soaking in truth.  I found myself enjoying 3 of my favorite indoor sports:  reading, writing, and knitting!  The slowness and silence also provided a lot of loud lessons that I had previously been drowning out in the busyness and chaos of my daily life.  Awesome.       

Here I am mid-April…the lessons that I am learning and the old chains that are breaking are welcomed though extremely painful.  The quiet is sometimes too revealing…I am internalizing much and processing and changing as best I can.  At times the pace is not fast enough.  At times I wonder if I am truly surrendering to the process?

I share all of this with great humility.  I am seeking direction from the ultimate Voice in my life who has never steered me wrong and I am prayerfully listening.  The Voice becomes loudest in the presence of Silence. 

At times I have been angry–the life changes were not in my 5 or 10 year plan.  At times I have been hopeful–knowing that I want to do nothing apart from Him.  At times my eyes have been opened so wide to my issues that I have wanted to squeeze them shut and pretend that I didn’t see truth.  But here’s the thing: Truth pushes me to change.  And change is my favorite.  I never want to stay the same. 

Silence is forcing change.  Therefore I have concluded, Silence is my friend. 

Silence can be your friend too.  Sometimes she barges in uninvited, other times she is illusive and a little shy.  Invite her over…she will change your life too.  

Oh and thank you to my friend Jeff (http://goinswriter.com/) who in my season of obscurity has encouraged me to never stop writing.  

May You Be Silent and May You Be Blessed! 

Jenni 




  






What IS Beautiful?

~ Jenni at 100 Cups of Coffee ~ 3 Comments

Re-Post…as a reminder to LOVE the SKIN You are IN! 

What IS Beautiful?


The word itself evokes so many images, so many definitions…and sadly, SO much distortion.  Women have such a skewed perspective on the subject and it is worth settling in and really getting to the HEART of the matter.  So grab a cup of coffee, take a deep breath and “sip” on this…

When a baby girl is born her mother looks at that precious child and sees beauty.  Crushed nose, bug eyes, stork bites, red face, and wrinkled fingers do not alter the beauty that her mother finds.  Her father sheds tears at the sight before him.  This little girl is BEAUTIFUL.  She grows up to the tender age of 5 or 6 and her little snaggled toothed self with freckles and a cowlick continue to scream BEAUTY to all those around her.

So what HAPPENS?  When does the shift occur?  The deception of this world slowly creeps in.  The outside voices begin to penetrate the TRUTH that has held her together for those first few tender years of life. 

The outside voices say—

“What are those ugly dots on your face?”
“Your legs are too long, too short, too big, too small.”
“Your cheeks are FAT!”
“Your hair is too frizzy, too flat, too poofy, too short.”
“Your teeth are not straight.”
“Your glasses make you look like you have 4 eyes.”
“Your nose, lips, forehead or chin are too big, small, or long.”

Some of the voices are NOT audible, they are merely suggested.  They are magazines and television shows with images of gaunt (not to mention air brushed) women wearing elegant colorful dresses, with fun, flirty shoes and dating “hot” boys.  Each picture sends the message:  “You are NOT enough…you are NOT beautiful…in fact, you are ugly.”  

The voices that had so loudly spoken to us before that made us secure, not question, and even comfortable in our own skin, are drowned out by the world’s  messages around us.  (Sadly even those that we loved and trusted can become the voice that breaks our spirit and causes us to believe that we have somehow lost our beauty.)  The deceivers, in the many forms they take, then lead so many precious pre-teens and teens in to a downward spiral of body image issues, self-loathing, and a general sense of DISCONTENT.  It is a slow progression that takes place over long periods of time…but unfortunately, those same voices can linger in to our 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s…some of us will actually live out all of our days shaped, molded and haunted by those voices.  The messages sent may change, but our question remains the same:  Do you think I am beautiful?  We live confused about what beauty truly is—and it steals the joy from our daily lives. 

 We look to the mirror or a scale to measure our self worth.  We look to those around us to tell us we are beautiful.  Through outward actions and inward thoughts we ask over and over again, “Do you think I am beautiful?”  We listen to voices that were NEVER intended to speak truth over our lives.  So where does it end?  Where does a new definition of beauty begin? 

It starts with a fresh voice, new vision, a friend sharing a cup of coffee and saying:   “Honestly girl, you are BEAUTIFUL!  You are not just beautiful, but you are SMOKIN’ HOT!” 

As a personal trainer I want to start by saying beauty is SO much deeper and so much more than a six pack.  Beauty is so much more than being thin or even dare I say healthy and fit.  I have met plenty of trainers that might externally have the perfect physique but they are missing an inner peace and an inner beauty.  Beauty is more than big boobs, a rockin’ hair cut, and a great pair of pink pumps.  Society and this culture have REALLY done a number on women. External beauty has become our obsession and it is not only a complete fallacy, it is a lot like chasing a shadow of what society determines is “beautiful” at that moment in time. Janine and I are both constantly striving to realign women with the truth on this matter.  

Beautiful is a timely word of encouragement.  Beautiful is a thoughtful note or email to a hurting friend.  Beautiful is seeing those around you as more important than yourself.  Beautiful is a song sung from the heart…on or off key!  Beautiful is a long belly laugh.  Beautiful is a vulnerable cry after hearing sad news.  Beautiful is confidence and security.  Beautiful is the ability to lavish others with words of affirmation—knowing that you yourself may not have those same attributes.  Beautiful is the opposite of obsession…it is contentment. 

What does a beautiful body look like?  A beautiful body is found in a woman who is comfortable in her own skin.  A beautiful body is much more thankful for the way her body moves than how much she weighs.   A beautiful body is wrapped around a 70-year-old women wrinkled with time wrestling on the floor or running around the park with her grandchildren!   A beautiful body is covering a tired and sweaty 41-year-old woman who just finished her first 5k.  A beautiful body is one that adorns a bikini for the first summer in a long time only to share her curves and her stretch marks knowing that they gave her 3 beautiful children.  A beautiful body is one that has been worked hard and her muscles reflect her effort and discipline. 

I am reminded of an old folktale that I heard many years ago.  It is a story of an antique shop that carried all kinds of ornamental glass, and wooden treasures.  There was China and crystal and Venetician glass, all items that held great value intertwined with just old junk that families dropped off unable to part with or throw away.  One night a mischievous thief broke in to the store.   Instead of stealing anything, he just exchanged the tags on the merchandise inside.  The items that were most expensive he replaced with a tag of the least expensive item.  Once all the tags were switched he left.  The next day as customers came and went they purchased the China paying pennies for it, not realizing the gem that was in their hand.  Other customers paid high dollar believing that they were receiving an antique treasure when in fact they were paying for an overpriced piece of JUNK!   

The same is true for the world in which we live today.  In this world the BEAUTY tags have been SWITCHED!  We have foolishly bought in to our culture’s overpricing of external beauty, a beauty that fades, a beauty that is never fully satisfied or attained.  We have walked down the isles and have been duped in to believing that the right make-up, jewelry, clothes, highlights, or “look” would set us a part and send a message to the world that we are beautiful.  We have even chosen more toxic routes like eating too little or exercising too much or have altered our hair, skin, or body in hopes to feel more beautiful and please others.  In doing this we bypassed the gem sitting on the shelf marked “unconditional love”…”generosity”…”kindness”…”contentment” and went straight for the big ticket items believing that they would not only bring us happiness but they were more valuable.  We have ALL done this in some form along the way…I know I have!    My encouragement is to take a long look in the mirror before we make our next purchase.  Try it on…does it ooze of the deception of this world—or does it shine with an ever-lasting quality?   Be certain that the investment that you are making is one that will last!

Why as women do we look at one another’s weaknesses and flaws instead of pointing out our strengths and gifts?  Truly beautiful women do this…but they are rare.  I also hope to tackle the messages we are sending our children and those around us by having our own distorted sense of beauty.  How can we change this?   I will end with this loving reminder…YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!  You are not just beautiful but you are SMOKIN’ HOT!

May You Be a Blessing and May You Be Blessed,

Jenni 





I Do Not Love Well…

~ Jenni at 100 Cups of Coffee ~ Leave a comment

Love is a choice.  Love is messy.  

Love hurts.  Love is action.  Love is service.  

Love is long-lasting…eternal.  

Love pushes through your crap.  (And loves you despite it.)   

Love sees with fresh eyes.  Love is unconditional.    

Love is sacrifice.  Love is not self-seeking.   

Loving myself is easy.  Loving others is not.

Love is something I do poorly every day of my life.

On this day built around LOVE, unfortunately I am only reminded of how inadequate I truly am.  

“This is love:  not that we love God but that he loved us.”   
1 John 4:10

Love for me, is not possible without God’s love.  I find it too easy to choose myself.  Somehow His selfless Spirit starts to nudge me to do things out of my character and nature.  Then, and only then do I find myself loving in a more pure way…the way I was designed to love.   

Remind me on this Valentine’s day of how to truly love.  








Cockerham Family Christmas Card 2012

~ Jenni at 100 Cups of Coffee ~ 2 Comments
Merry Christmas! 
            

Once again our Christmas card is green…

No matter whether we are saving trees or money…let me tell you I do love holding your cards in my hands…so thank you for sending your lovely letters our way!  

Here’s a quick digital download of 2012…

My little bro graduated from UNC                Kylee danced!
and 
made 
his 
way 
to 
UVA
to
begin 
med 
school
                                               

In May we welcomed a new member to our family…                                  

In October we took a life-altering trip that started in London…

and landed in Uganda…
                                                       

                                 

Watoto left an impression the size of Africa on our hearts!  

The kids dressed up…
One Nature Fairy, Will Turner, and a last minute change turned our “Pumpkin Pirate” in to a “tough” Brown Ninja…

This year provided laughter…



required some real effort…                

                               and expanded our world view!                   


2012 took us on some incredible adventures and allowed us to see the world with new eyes.   It filled us with a strong desire to invest more and more in things that really matter.

So whether we run, laugh, dress up, travel, or lift and load thousands of boxes, we hope to see this world not as our oyster but as a beautiful place filled with beautiful people.  People we hope to know.  People we hope to befriend.  We hope to inspire others to invest in relationships too.  So whether they love people close or far away…their lives and relationships would effect change.   

We don’t begin to pretend to know all that this means and we are pretty sure it is going to be messy.  It is only His grace that makes us worthy.   But by His grace we hope 2013 will be filled with more of Him and less of us. 

This green card is about to turn super FANCY…or weird!?!  Close your eyes and picture opening a Hallmark card that sings to you…press PLAY on the utube video…
(or if it is just too weird, scroll down!)


“It’s funny how it takes a holiday
To show us how the world could truly change
If we all took the time to really care
There’d be a little more of heaven everywhere.”
Heaven Everywhere–Francesca Battistelli
May this holiday find you ready for a New Year with New Beginnings, New Relationships, and New Opportunities to make a difference in this world and in the lives of those around you!

You are a Blessing and we are Blessed to call You FRIEND!

Love,
The Cockerhams 

An Unusual Christmas Wish

~ Jenni at 100 Cups of Coffee ~ Leave a comment

Recently I read that America’s greatest fear is inconvenience.  We want it our way, fast, hot and now.  We don’t want to wait, so now there are two lines at the drive through.  We want to get all of our groceries, garden needs, and clothing items in one quick stop.  In many ways we have achieved a very convenient way to live…we have grown accustomed to it and cannot imagine life without it.  

I think a better translation to all of this is that we want to be comfortable.  We want there to be an ease of life.  There is enough pain and discomfort in the world and so by our very nature when possible, we choose comfort.  Though quite understandable–ironically, it is in our discomfort that we grow.   On a run yesterday, I was reminded how uncomfortable running can be.  When I run I learn much about enduring, about pushing past my pain; about discipline and mental strength.  All these attributes surface in a few short miles while I endure discomfort.   

In our discomfort we also realize that this world is not about us.

After a lovely dinner, the beautiful host sat us down and shared her heart.  She shared her newest thoughts about the Christmas story.  And Mary.  She shared of Mary’s disgrace.  Who believes a little teenage girl who says that she will be carrying the Son of God in her belly for 9 months?  She shared of the public and private humiliation she must have endured.  Babies out of wedlock were not only disgraceful–they were unlawful.  For a time, a she experienced a broken relationship with her fiance.  The host spoke  of Mary’s discomfort.  Can you imagine giving birth in a barn?  Without your mother…with only a teenage boy as your nurse maid?   She did not live a comfortable life.  A carpenter’s wife.  She also experienced major changes of direction, not only with the obvious birth of an unexpected baby, but also with an quick uprooting move to Egypt when her child was very young.  My precious friend reminded us that Mary accepted disgrace and discomfort…she traded them as God’s will and portion for her life.  She shared that Mary’s courageous response was, “Never mind what people think of me…I will glorify the Lord.”  (not a direct quote–but her general sentiments!  Luke 1:39-55)

On that cozy couch last night I was reminded, God really shows up in the discomfort. 

I want Mary’s heart.  May I accept…or (eeeek) welcome the discomfort of this life…knowing it is where He dwells…it is where great things are birthed.  

Thank you Aliene for reminding us to shift our perspective.  Thank you for having Mary’s heart, for being willing to endure discomfort and disgrace for the glory of God.  Thank you for using your gifts to remind each woman that she is a treasure.  
(http://treasuredministries.com/) 

Over the next few days as this year quickly moves to a close…might we dare whisper a new prayer for 2013…God may I move away from the things that bring me most comfort…so that I might better see and know your heart?  

May You Be a Blessing and May You Be Blessed!

Jenni 



Don’t Go Christmas Cookie Crazy…

~ Jenni at 100 Cups of Coffee ~ Leave a comment

I keep reading that the average American gains anywhere from 1-7 pounds between Christmas and New Years.  (Some reports were as many as 12 pounds!)  We are not surprised, since this time of year is filled with holiday food, festivities, parties, and treat traditions.  With our schedules full of evenings out–we are eating at home less.  Parties are not the time to be impolite and talk about our food preferences.  But with two Christmas parties back to back this week, I was reminded that I should NOT throw caution to the wind and accept my “feasting fate” for the holidays.  


I am all or nothing.  So if I feel slight failure I am tempted to cave in on all occasions.  Pass the eggnog and the fudge.  


Waking up this morning I was reminded that I have been given 3-5 daily opportunities to make a good choice.  I may not be able to control what is served at the parties I attend…but I can control what goes in to my mouth while I am there and more importantly what I eat the rest of the day!

So here are 5 suggestions that might help you better cruise through Christmas cookie cravings…

1.  DRINK LOTS OF WATER.  Blah blah.  No seriously…please don’t make me go in to all of the health benefits of drinking water.  Last year a friend gave me a super cute plastic Christmas cup with a straw.  I take it everywhere.  Do whatever it takes.  Just do it.  

2.  KEEP STOCKED.  What are your favorite healthy “fast foods?”  Keep them on hand, in your car, and in your fridge.   Carrots, celery, peppers and hummus.  Almonds, apples, peanut butter.  Kale and spinach for a quick salad or smoothie.  Get as close to nature as possible and eat loads of “nutrient rich” foods through the month.  You don’t have to prepare a masterful meal each night–just be sure when you do grab something quick, it is healthy.  

3.  FIBER IS YOUR FRIEND.  Along with staying hydrated, fiber keeps you fuller, and keeps everything moving nicely through your system.  So instead of something easily processed, be intentional about popping something full of fiber in your mouth.  

4.  FOCUS on the FESTIVITIES…not the FOOD.  Why are you celebrating?   Focus on your co-workers, neighbors, the people that you are with.  The family you never see.  Think creatively how you can make that time more memorable and not solely surrounded by food.   

5.  FORGIVE AND MOVE ON.  If you mess up…get over it…don’t start constantly using the drive thru, or dumping trash in your grocery cart because you had a rough meal.   Between now and New Years you have 63 meals to eat.  (Even more if you eat mini-meals throughout the day.)  Are you going to let 3-7 holiday meals mess up your month???   

Food is NOT your enemy.  Food is NOT your friend.  Food is fuel. 

May we spend the next 63 meals living this out and enjoy the real reason for the season.  

May You Be a Blessing and May You Be Blessed!

Jenni