Flip. Flop.

If you look closely you will see the infamous flip flop and the fishing line!

Nothing is ever dull here at the Ferris house.  This week was no different.  Monday was a horrible, awful, terrible, I’m-so-glad-it’s-over kind of a day.  More of the same frustrations we’ve had ever since we decided to follow God’s call to Rochester….things breaking and puppies eating things they shouldn’t.   It was also a week where Brad got to come back to stay with us a few days.  So while it started out icky, it’s really been a good week.  On Wednesday evening,   Neil came in from the outdoors to announce to us that his flip flop was on the roof.   So we ask him the obvious question, “How did your flip flop get up on the roof?”  Simple answer, “I was trying to flip it off my foot into the garage.”  Oh the things teenagers will do for fun.

Brad and I both were thinking Neil meant his flip flop was on the little overhang above the front porch.  Brad instructs Neil to take his fishing rod and “hook” his shoe and pull it down.  So after supper Neil, thinking this was a great idea, returns outdoors to hook his flip flop.  Several minutes go by and Neil returns very upset at this point.  Not only is his flip flop now on the roof, but his fishing lure is stuck as well.  It was at this point I decide maybe I should go out and assess the situation.   Once outside I realize that Neil’s flip flop is actually on the top of our two story house and his fishing lure is now stuck tight, too.  Not really knowing what to do at this point, I ask him what in the world possessed him to do this foolish thing.  He really couldn’t give me any logical reason why.  Just got that sheepish, boyish grin all males have when they are in a situation as this one.

Neil was in the driveway by the sidewalk.  The garage was his target.  Can you see the flip flop on the roof above the set of windows on the left?

So we got Brad and for the next half hour Brad, Neil and I provided passersby and our neighbors with free entertainment.  I don’t think any of the America’s Got Talent acts could have outdone us.  Howard, Sharon, and Howie wouldn’t have buzzed us with our exciting and dangerous feat and America most definitely would have voted us on through to the semi-finals!  Neil tried flipping the lure loose.  When that didn’t work, Brad and I took the screen out of the second story window just under the location of the stuck fishing lure.  Using another six foot fishing pole, we hung out of the window by our waists trying to reach up towards the roof and snag Neil’s fishing line and flip it up and off.  Thankfully no one driving by was injured in the process of gawking at us, but several cars went by very, very slowly.  Thankfully Brad or I didn’t fall out of the window.  Finally realizing that we lacked the resources, we gave up and cut the line.  So now there is not only a flip flop on the roof, but a fishing bait as well.

The window Brad and I were handing out of.  Oh so close but oh so very far away!

This has been a tough lesson for our teenager as these were his favorite shoes.  However, the more I think about this little event, there’s a lesson/reminder for all of us.  We’re all like Neil, aren’t we?  We all do things periodically that at the time seem like a harmless, fun, great idea – FLIPing our shoe into the garage.  In the end however, we –FLOP and end up on the roof.  A, if I knew then what I know now, moment.  Just another great reminder that we cannot be wise in our own eyes and need to be grounded and rooted in God’s word to gain the wisdom and discernment for life’s decisions.  We need to prayerfully consider our choices first before we “Flip our shoe” into the garage.  Only with Godly wisdom can we ensure we won’t FLOP on the roof or worse. 

As I said earlier, nothing is ever dull here.  God uses these daily adventures to illustrate important truths and lessons to me and my family.  I share this particular one to encourage you in your personal relationship with God.  May the flip flop on our roof be a visual reminder for you of our need for Scripture.  We need Scripture to guide our thoughts, because our thoughts or lack of them determine our actions.  I encourage you to read your Bible daily, spend some time in prayer with God, and some time in worship to God.   It is only through this special time that we gain the wisdom we need to make better choices; choices that honor God.  Proverbs 3:13-26; 4:4-13 are scriptures that talk about gaining Godly wisdom.  There are many more in the book of Proverbs and the rest of Scripture.  If you have a favorite one that has been an encouragement to you and your family, please feel free to share them with me.  While this is the first flip flop on the roof, I have a feeling it won’t be the last!

Great little inspirational thought I found on Pinterest this week.  I found it appropriate.

Whose shoes? My shoes.

How many pairs of shoes do you own?  Do you know?  Can you even begin to count them?  I have to confess that I am not a collector of shoes.  I have exactly nine pair of shoes which is the most shoes I’ve had in many, many years.   Usually, I have only four pair of shoes – tennis shoes, sandals, white church shoes and black church shoes.  There are an endless number of types of shoes:  shoes for running, walking, dancing, soccer, baseball, bowling, ballet, golf, and basketball.  There are clogs, water shoes, flip flops, boots, pumps, flats, heels, slippers, boots, moccasins, Mary Janes, Oxfords, penny loafers, rain boots, etc…   There are shoes that match any color outfit of the rainbow.  Shoes can slip on, tie on, Velcro on, strap on, or buckle.  There are shoes that light up, shoes with bedazzles, and even platform shoes to make you taller.  I love the itty bitty shoes you can find for infants.  They are just plain adorable.

Even young children love shoes.  They love to slide their little feet inside their older siblings’ or parents’ shoes and take a walk.  They stagger forward as they struggle to lift those heavy shoes, toddling on the verge of collapsing and even at times wiping out.  It’s hilarious to see our children trying to fill these huge shoes with their little feet; we laugh at the absurdity of them trying to walk in gigantic shoes.  Somewhere I think I have pictures of each of our children at a young age trying to walk in Brad’s bulky tennis shoes.  It reminds me of the saying, “You have big shoes to fill”.  It is an idiom that means someone has to meet high expectations about something/someone that came before.  It can be meant as a compliment or forewarning depending on its context.

The truth of the matter is, as God’s children we are not called to fill someone else’s shoes.  He calls us to walk in our own shoes and follow Jesus.  God has created each of us with unique spiritual gifts, skills, abilities, personalities, and experiences that make us who we are.  The only person we are to imitate or even to try to follow after is His son, Jesus.  It is not hilarious for us to try and slip our feet into someone else’s shoes; it’s absurd.  We toddle on the verge of collapsing and struggle to even lift these bulky shoes, and sometimes we wipe out.  It’s not funny; it’s frustrating.

1 Samuel 17 gives the account of David and Goliath.  David is just a shepherd boy and his father sends him to check up on his older brothers who are serving in King Saul’s army.  While there, he hears Goliath’s challenge and begins asking questions.  David's older brother get upset with him and rebukes him.  Eventually King Saul hears about David and summons him.  David accepts the challenge to defend God and Israel, but King Saul is skeptical that this young man can succeed.  He couldn’t see how David could defeat the giant when his mighty warriors wouldn’t even attempt to fight Goliath.  King Saul has David try on his own armor -- a bronze helmet and a coat of armor.  David puts on the armor and tries it out.  He basically tries to walk in King Saul’s shoes and do it his way, but after a few steps David realizes it is too cumbersome.  He tells the king he can’t use his armor because he is not used to them; he can’t fill King Saul’s shoes because they are too big and bulky.

This is the part I love….David takes off the armor and starts to walk in his own shoes.  He was comfortable with who he was and how God had made him.  He knew he couldn’t be like King Saul, he had to be himself.  So he collects five smooth stones from a stream and then with the power of God, his sling, and stones, David, the shepherd boy, defeats the giant!   Israel had warriors with armor and weapons and skill and experience and this little shepherd boy did what they could not.  Not because he tried to be like them or fill their shoes, but because was himself.  David trusted in God and used his gifts and abilities and past experiences to defeat Goliath.

I challenge you today to walk in your own God given and shaped shoes.  Stop trying to fill someone else’s shoes.  That is not what God intended.  He has a plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11) and wants to use you to build His kingdom.  He’s created you with a specific purpose, a purpose different than everyone else.  He’s shaped you to fulfill that purpose and has given you what you need to succeed.  It may not be a great voice like your friend in the choir, but he’s given you something and no matter how big or small it is, we are responsible to be obedient and use it while we follow God’s plan for our lives.  At the end of time, God’s opinion is the only one that matters.  We’ll be accountable to Him for our walk.  So if anyone ever tells you that you have big shoes to fill, smile politely and gently remind them that you are not called to fill someone else’s shoes.  God has called you to walk in your own.  I think you’ll find that your own shoes fit and feel better anyway. 

Samuel's Special Day

Spectacular Spiderman Cake!

Today is Samuel's special day. Samuel is now four years old! We celebrated last night with Spiderman Cake and chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream while Brad was back in town, a gift in itself! Sam was pleased to wear his new St. Louis Cardinal t-shirt with his favorite player’s number, #23 – David Freese, while playing catch with his new baseball glove and wiffle balls.  Spiderman PJs and a Lightening McQueen shirt rounded off the night.  He was so happy!  Oh...to be four again, you know?!  It was a great night.

Each child has a unique story. Sam is no different. All our children are miracles, but Sam is even more so to me. We knew we wanted another little blessing from God and had it all planned out. Our other three pregnancies were aided with some low dosage fertility medication. All three very planned out. Baby #4 would be no different. We were in control, right? Our niece was going to be born early December and we wanted to wait so she could just be the center of our family’s affections. We wanted to get through the school year and into the summer so if I had any complications the first trimester as in previous pregnancies then it would be during our summer break. I had an appointment all set up in January to discuss our plan with our Dr. and so we went through the holidays enjoying the time with our families and meeting our new niece. We were praying about our family and adding a special baby but in the context of our plan for our family.

Right before Christmas I just didn’t feel right and even told Brad I thought I was pregnant. He laughed me out of town!!  There was no way that could happen to us he told me.  Well, a few days later I took a test and guess what?  We were expecting.  We were amazed at what God had done for us with no help from anyone but God!  He loves to give good gifts to his children.  What a Christmas present that year! We were reminded again of who is in control and once again....it wasn't us. So the first of January instead of talking to the Dr. about a plan for another baby, I went for blood work and our prenatal care visits started. 


I remember singing in the Christmas program early in December that year wearing a black maternity top since it was the only black top I had and the dress code was all black. How funny to think back that I was wearing a maternity top but was unaware I was expecting! God has humor I’m telling you.

His eyes say it all!

Samuel's name has special meaning and kind of tells his story.  Samuel comes from the Old Testament account of Hannah and her desire for a child.  I love this story and can relate to her deep yearning to be a mama.  I can imagine the urgency and deep desire flooding through her fervent prayers to God as she prayed for a child. When we first decided we were ready to have a family, we prayed for a child and it was several years before we realized we had to have fertility medication and were able to have Neil. Each of our pregnancies was a higher risk due to various complications and usually it required some bed rest along the way. We prayed a lot before, during, and even now for each child.  Hannah's story was one I could relate to and I love how the Bible has special meaning for the names given a child.  God heard Hannah's prayers and gave her a son, Samuel.  Samuel means, God heard. God heard our prayers for a child just as He did Hannah's prayers, and in His own special way, He blessed us with our Samuel in His timing and in His plan for our family. I have to admit, it was much better than our ol' plan anyway! The Isaac part came from the story of Abraham and Sarah when God told them they were going to have a baby. Sarah laughed…just like Brad did when I first told him I thought we were expecting. So we put those names together and waited for our Samuel Isaac to arrive.

Samuel Isaac Ferris
August 11, 2008

Fast forward to present time....Samuel is such a blessing! He brings a lot of laughter to our home! At dinner last night he was pumped up about presents and was so excited he couldn't get the words out when he talked.  He looked at me and said, "Mom, I'm ready to eat my presents now!"  He stopped just a second and we all started howling.  He takes his little hand and lightly bonks his forehead and says, "No, I mean I'm ready to OPEN my presents now!"  I'm telling you all that life without him would be dull.    These last four years have been a gift. I look forward to many more birthdays with our little guy!  Celebrating Samuel's special day today with gratefulness for God's gift to our family!