Family

Excellent Christmas!

I have to admit that this past week, spent with my family, was the best ever.  It doesn’t completely make sense, knowing that Mom and Dad were both sick about half the time, Ross got really sick, and my last night and day, I was sick.  On top of that, my grandma isn’t doin’ so great and I didn’t get together with my old friends like I was supposed to.  And, I lost at Cranium-you know this is huge for me to admit.  It wasn’t my fault though.  My brother, Dave, and I don’t think alike enough to do well on a team together. 

But…

Img_5470-we had some great conversations!

-the EAGLES beat the COWBOYS!!!  (my dad had to drag himself out of bed on Christmas Day for
that one, because he was sick)

-i got almost everything on my wish list (superficial and unsuperficial!)

-i got to hang out with Todd and Tiffany twice (don’t get to see them much)

-i got to see my grandma (pray with her, for probably the last time)

-i confirmed that i am doing the right thing by not spending money on cable…because there still isn’t hardly anything worth watching on that most of the time

–Robert told me that I looked better than when he saw me at Thanksgiving

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-He looked so adorable and teenage-like in his little American Eagle outfit (i can’t believe i love this kid
 more now than i did 11 years ago when he was born)

-Robbie (the cat) didn’t hiss at me the whole time I was there…just some of the time

**Side story-Stephanie, back when she was just dating Dave, ended up with a cute little kitten and decided to be smooth and named the cat, "Robert David Burton III"-Dave is a Jr, while my dad is a Sr.  Initially she thought the cat was a male, but later found out it was a female.  Later, when they were married and had their first baby, they named him…you guessed it!-Robert David Burton III.  My friends kept asking why they named the baby after the cat. 🙂Img_5411

–Ryder laughed hysterically when I gave him an eskimo kiss one night (this is him with his Uncle Todd)

–Ross asked me to stay with him because of the "noises" in the house-so precImg_5345ious

-he also had a priceless look on his face when he opened the stack of books I gave him for Christmas

 

-With tears in his eyes, my dad said, "…And i’m just so proud of all my kids.  They’re all married to great spouses…"  We also had tears in our eyes and completely cracked up.  (If you don’t get it, read it again and think about it…I’m not married yet.  Perhaps he was speaking in faith🙂

-$50 in gift cards to Caribou 🙂

-I found out that Dave, Steph and the family are staying in Chicago!  I’m so glad they’re not moving to Texas.Img_5488

-Robert got this cup-stacking game and we all had fun trying to figure it out

A long time ago I had the opportunity to learn that Christmas wasn’t all about getting presents, and it’s not even all about giving presents either.  I feel like a broken record to say that Christmas is all about Jesus, but it’s true.  It’s even more than that though…It’s about Who Jesus is, What He came to do, How he came to do it and the Power that He brought into this world for people to change!  I think that was it for me this Christmas.  One of the things I really wanted for Christmas was for God to show me the things He’s doing, not only in my life, but in the lives of my family members.  He did that for me this week, and it was fabulous!….the best Christmas ever!

Geno’s

As a native to Philadelphia, I’m ashamed to say that I had never been to Geno’s or Pat’s.  It  doesn’t make sense, really, but it’s the truth.  Geno’s and Pat’s are the two cheese steak rivals in South Philly.  They’re located kitty-corner to each other, and open 24 hours a day.  The guy who started Pat’s, back in 1930, actually created the first Philly cheese steak…just because he wanted something other than his regular hot dog for lunch!  Dsc02946

The other night my brother, Todd, and his wife, Tiffany, treated me to Geno’s.  Here’s a picture of the place…bright, huh?  Ya really can’t miss it!  The verdict on the sandwich?…best cheese steak I ever had (even better than mom’s!).  I still haven’t had Pat’s, so I’ll have to try to check them out the next time I’m home to compare.

Knight Rider

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So the other night, when I was with my family, my sister-in-law was taking the baby up to bed when, without thinking, I said, "’Night Ryder!"  I laughed and then said it again.  Hah!  I crack myself up.  I think he should name his first car "Kit".

Family Mission Statement

Tonight I arrived safely on Bosworth Lane, in Northfield, Illinois.  This is where one of my favorite families resides.  I got to take the dog for a walk, read several pages of a new book, hug on my 2 oldest nephews and enjoy my youngest laugh hard at me for the first time.  I got to see my brother and his wife.  It was a great night.

I’ve gotta admit one of my favorite things about tonight was reading something new that was stated in several places throughout the house (in the bathroom, in the kitchen…). 

It was the Burton Family Mission Statement, which states:

We are a family.  We are the Burtons.  We will live our lives to make Jesus smile.

If these are the people that I have to spend my week with, then maybe God wants to show me something about mission.  :0)  …because this family is on a mission.  What mission?  Well, its stated clearly in its mission statement, "to live [their] lives to make Jesus smile."  Certainly, this is a worthwhile mission.

I’ve got a few questions about that. What will that look like this week?  And how can I be a part of this great mission?  Can I steal that and tack it onto my own life mission statement? (To become better and to help others become better.)  It could now be:  To become better at making Jesus smile and to also help others become better at making Jesus smile.  Perhaps I will tweak that, but it will do for the moment.

I remember the first time I ever learned about such a thing.  It was as a student leader in my high school youth group.  I had an amazing youth pastor who taught us a thing or two about leading.  It’s hard to forget those times when he would walk us through writing and rewriting our mission statements and goals.  Sounds of "Failing to plan is planning to fail" run through my head even now!  I’m glad that at the age of 15 God wasn’t complete in writing my mission on my heart.  He has since expanded my heart beyond myself and my own desires.  I like that. 

If you have a family, it might be cool to write a mission statement together. It builds ownership.  Once we’ve got a goal in mind, we can always take anything we want to do back to the goal.  If something doesn’t somehow help to meet the goal, then it needs to be evaluated for what it’s worth in your life, or the life of your family.  Inspiration is running through my veins as I write.  I might even do this in my class. 

What’s your mission statement?

Palmolive Dish Soap

Tonight I came home from church and I had to wash some dishes.  As I was washing this bowl, I thought of my brother, Todd.  He’s the brother that I look like.  🙂  I was wondering what made him pop into my head and then I took a big whiff of the palmolive dish soap that I was using and realized right away that was it.  Dsc01519

Todd’s 5 years older than me, and he’s the one that ‘trained’ me in washing dishes.  My parents have said for years that they’ve had a dishwasher…and then they’d point to me:)   Hahhahahahaah!  Hilarious!  But before I was their dishwasher, Todd was…Dave was before him.  I guess it used to be just Dave, then Dave and Todd, then Todd and me, and then it was just me!  I think it’s still me when I go home, although it sounds like their getting more willing to allow me to cook at family events now.

At any rate, Todd’s dishwashing legacy has been left in my life through the smell of one green, palmolive dish soap.  So, Toddy, I’m thinkin’ of you tonight!  And I love ya!  :0)