The Bultema’s – Summer 2013
Hey Friends –
What one word would you use to describe your week?
My word – crazy. 🙂
I am trying to soak in every last minute with my nutty gang. (Don’t believe they’re nutty? See pic above!)
Our crazy days have been filled biking, hanging out at the fair, going to the drive-in, enjoying ice cream, and trying to wrap up our list of 100 Summer Fun Ideas.
At the same time, I am faced with some pretty ginormous writing deadlines.
We are filming 7 sessions of Red Hot Faith in front of a live audience September 18 & 19. Yikes! My super early mornings and late nights are filled with editing, timing, rewriting and praying like crazy!
I decided I wanted to lean 100% on God during this crazy season, and not run to my old comforts and habits – like Diet Coke.
Not that Diet Coke is a bad thing, right?
But let’s just say I’ve been known to consume it in excessive amounts.
You know when you drive through the local party stores’ drive through window to pick up a cold 2 liter, you’re at the “danger zone.”
And then when friends start sending you all their diet coke coupons, it might be time to “lay off the bottle” for a bit, if you know what I mean.
I’ve learned the best way to quit my “addictive tendencies” is with the help of my college aged son Jake. He’s always more than ready to help his mama out, especially when there is cash involved.
Jake & his Mama
My deal with Jake: Starting August 1, let’s see who can go the longest without drinking Diet Coke. The first one to drink a Diet Coke has to pay the other one $300.
(You should know this bet is very unfair. Jake doesn’t even like Diet Coke, nor does he have $300).
But it’s my bet, my rules, and probably my $300 lost.
But one can hope, right?
Until someone gave me a gift card for On the Border. How can you eat chips and salsa with water? Is that even legal?
Thus the reason I sent Jake this text…
Our poor waitress. The girls are screaming, “No, Mom, don’t drink the Diet Coke. No! You can do it, Mom. Don’t drink it!” Me, to the nice waitress, ignoring the high-pitched girls, “Never mind them. PLEASE just bring me a Diet Coke.”
Oh my. Just another day with the Bultema’s. :/
Bet Update: I am pleased to share except the Diet Coke I delighted in drank at On the Border, I have made it the other 13 days Diet Coke free.
(Except I did have 2 Diet Pepsi’s at the Drive In last night. But Diet Coke & Diet Pepsi are not the same thing, right? And I was at a double feature of Planes & Smurfs 2 and I didn’t get home until 2 AM & I had 6 kids by myself. You’d drink 2 cold caffeinated beverages too, right?!)
The point of this post (and I do have one, promise) –
In case your days are feeling a bit crazy, or you’re wrestling with trying to let go of an area of your life that’s not God’s best for you, I just wanted you to know you are not alone.
We are all works in progress.
But the good news is that God does His best work when we are completely and utterly dependent on Him. And that’s where I am today. How ’bout you?
My Memory verses this week:
Psalm 61:1-2
My soul finds rest in (Diet Coke, NO!) God alone;
my salvation comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress,
I will never be shaken.Â
What’s new with you this week, friend? What one word would you use to describe your week? How can I pray for YOU?
Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*. I thank God for YOU!
Sweet blessings,
 
This is hilarious. Why would you even make such a stupid bet? Just give him the money and get on with it!! Now I am thirsty.
JJ, you crack me up. And as always, you are right. 🙂 xoxo
“Christmas” in Tennessee sums up my week. Working on finishing up the vocals for my upcoming Christmas CD. Enjoyed reading your update and your diet coke challenge. Blessings to you Cindy with your enormous project ahead of you!
Cindy, boy can I identify! Yes Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi are different {a given} and God is speaking to me seriously about some serious issues. Me and Diet Coke have fasted before……enjoy the last days of summer!
If ever I craved a Diet Coke…
I’m feeling the crazy. But it ends tomorrow evening until I get my first round of edits from the publisher.
Thanks for the giggle!
Our family finds ourselves drawn into drama on several levels.
My 3 also monitor my (fountain) diet Coke consumption. I’ll NEVER tell them of this bet! 😀
I am stealing your memory verse (sans the strikeout 🙂 ) for friends in my small (1500) hometown who endured a 14 hour hostage situation on Tues. ending with one dead, another not doing well, and a 3rd with memories only God can remove.
Thanks much for lightening it up for me this week! 🙂
I would totally have made that bet with you. But it’s just as unfair. I HATE Diet Coke. Coffee, however…
I just read Psalm 63 this morning and this verse really struck me, especially for addictions of any kind: “You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.”