In the Midst

Stormy Weather...

2012-01-23T20:48:00.000-08:00

Perhaps I was counting my weather blessings a little too soon this year. From October on, I've been praying for the ice and snow to stay away. And until this past week, there hasn't even been a threat of snow in any forecast. Each day that brought me closer to spring without a snow threat was much appreciated.

But all that came to an end last week. Starting last Tuesday, the Puget Sound area of Washington state got hammered with snow...then freezing rain...then an ice storm...then more snow. Let me just say, it was a scene from my worst nightmare... made all the more horrendous when we lost power for three and a half days.

I know that not everyone shared my feelings. My husband thought it was "an adventure," and loved it. My son thought it was great! Not me. I felt trapped...and I was.

Heavy snow hit first and then came the ice. Everything outside was coated in a thick jacket of it. Before long, trees and ice-coated branches were snapping and falling everywhere. It sounded like we were in the middle of a gun battle as the trees buckled under the weight of the ice and crashed around us. Our roads were blocked with fallen trees and our yard was littered with branches.

Fortunately, we have a gas fireplace which keeps our living room toasty warm. My husband hung sheets of plastic over the doorways to keep the heat in. Of course, that made for frosty sleeping since our bedrooms are upstairs...outside the heated zone. We snuggled down under extra blankets for warmth, and I must say we slept really well!

The hardest part of being without power was how quickly it got dark in the evening. By 4:00 the light was fading in the house and before we knew it, it was dark and we were left with only candlelight and flashlights...tough to read a book by!

I am rather proud of myself for some of my creative solutions to life-without-power. It was hard to find a way to stand our flashlights up on end. Then one day, inspiration hit! I won't tell you where I was when got my brilliant idea. You might be able to figure it out...

I also found a new use for the little battery operated votives that were left over from my daughter's wedding last spring...

Yep...runway lights into a pitch black powder room with no windows! They gave just enough light to let you see where you were going...pun intended!

With the power back on, and most of the snow gone, life is looking better again. And I think I'll just need to double my prayers for no snow for the rest of the winter.

But before I go, I want to give a huge shout-out to those awesome utility workers who worked round the clock to restore power to thousand upon thousands of people's homes. As a matter of fact, they are still working at it. They are definitely my snow heroes!

Music to Think By

2012-01-14T16:11:00.000-08:00

This afternoon I was repacking my Christmas decoration boxes and had the time to listen to some music. I don't do that very often unless I'm driving somewhere.

But I put on some Chris Sligh and worked my way through the boxes. You may not remember that Chris was the tenth place finisher on season six of American Idol.

His album, "The Anatomy of Broken" has some pretty powerful songs on it. And this is one of my favorites even though nearly every time I listen to it, it convicts me about how I'm living out my faith...or perhaps more accurately...not living it out.

Give a listen...

Only You Can Save

A Lesson from 2011

2012-01-12T21:47:00.000-08:00

I'm not one for making New Year's resolutions. But I do like to stop a moment and reflect on the year that I have just bid goodbye. As always, there were many challenges faced, but equally as many joys embraced. That's the nice thing about life...it usually balances itself out in one way or another. Sometimes, it just takes longer than other times.

As I look over my shoulder at 2011, I know that it will be remembered as a year of extreme changes; even more so than usual. Some changes were difficult, like the total upheaval and change of my work life. But others were wonderful, like the expansion of our family through the birth of our first grandchild, Ella, and the addition of our son-in-law, Joel.

Through all of the changes in the past year, God has been impressing one very important lesson on my heart. He gave me this truth several months ago, and it rings truer today than they did when He first spoke it to me.

My lesson from 2011? "God should be my first resource, not my last resort." When faced with struggles, I should go to Him first, rather than waiting until after I have failed at all my feeble attempts. After all, He is always there, He is always able, and He will always do what is best for me.

So, whatever challenges await me in 2012, I'm choosing to meet them with God as my first resource of strength and power. It really can't get any better than that.

A Little Sage Advice for the New Year

2012-01-02T18:56:00.000-08:00

If 2012 is anything like the past couple of years, there will be no shortage of change. With that being the case, I think I'll venture into the next twelve months embracing a little sage advice that my friend, Missy, passed on to me a few months back.

Actually, Missy was sharing the wisdom of none other than Christopher Robin to his good friend, Pooh, in a simple little pep talk that instills confidence in facing whatever may come.

“Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

I think I'll have plenty of opportunities to test those words in the coming year. I hope I prove them to be true!

God With Us

2011-12-24T10:51:00.000-08:00

On this Christmas Eve, I'd like to share the words of John MacArthur from his devotional book, "Truth for Today," because they so perfectly sum up what we have to rejoice in at this Christmas time.

"For there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord." Luke 1:45

"Isaiah 7:14 says, 'The Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.' That virgin's name was Mary.

The name Immanuel, however, is the key to this verse--and the heart of the Christmas story. It is a Hebrew name that means literally,'God with us.' It is a promise of incarnate deity, a prophecy that God Himself would appear as a human infant, Immanuel, 'God with us.' This baby who was to be born would be God Himself in human form.

If we could condense all the truth of Christmas into only three words, these would be the words: 'God with us.' We tend to focus our attention at Christmas on the infancy of Christ. The greater truth of the holiday is His deity. More astonishing than a baby in a manger is the truth that this promised baby is the omnipotent Creator of the heavens and the earth!"

May you find joy and peace in this wonderful truth that the Creator of all heaven and earth is with us this Christmas season and every other day. Rejoice! God is with us!

The Spirit of Christmases Past

2011-12-19T21:56:00.000-08:00

I received a wonderful Christmas gift this evening. I had just pulled the first batch of Christmas cookies out of the oven and was reaching for the second cookie sheet when my phone rang.

If I'm being honest here, I have to admit, that for a brief moment, I was irritated at the interruption. But then I heard the voice on the other end of the line say, "Hello, Laura? This is your Uncle Dan!" and every bit of irritation melted. I was overjoyed to hear his voice! He was just calling to say a quick "hello" and to wish us a Merry Christmas in lieu of sending out Christmas cards.

My Uncle Dan is my dad's younger brother. He and his wife, Pat, are the last of that generation in our family. We don't see each other very often anymore. The large, extended family get-togethers have pretty much ceased as our own families have become "extended."

But hearing his voice tonight on the phone took me back to the Christmases of my childhood. In that brief conversation, I was reminded of Christmas dinner at my grandparents' house with all the aunts, uncles and cousins. I was a child again surrounded by my mom and dad and sisters. It was such a sweet moment.

This fleeting memory lasted only for the short duration of the phone call. But it was a gift! I'm so glad that my Uncle Dan and Aunt Pat chose to connect through a Christmas conversation rather than through a Christmas card. Their words were sweeter poetry than anything Hallmark could have composed.

Vacation!

2011-12-02T20:32:00.000-08:00

I decided I'd better do a little something about my recent vacation to Southern California before I totally forget what I did there! Tomorrow it will be two weeks since I returned from a wonderful week-long visit with my daughter, Elizabeth. And while I could go on and on about it, I think that I'll let a few pictures tell the story!

The first of several trips to Starbucks...like old times! However, I learned that not everyone who frequents Starbucks in California is nice. Yes, there is a story behind that!

A little cheap entertainment and relaxation! When was the last time YOU did a jigsaw puzzle? It's been years for me and I loved every minute and every stiff neck that resulted from it.

So this was "Burger No. 1" after church on Sunday at the "famous" In- N-Out Burgers. Delicious burgers; wimpy fries!

This was "Burger No. 2"...mind you, that's half an order...from a cute little restaurant in Claremont. By the way, there is no picture of "Burger No. 3" since it was from a McDonald's outside an outlet mall...not really photo-worthy. :)

Surprise! A free trip to Disneyland, courtesy of Elizabeth's wonderful neighbor, Mike, who works there and shared his Friends and Family passes with us. Yep, it is still the happiest place on earth...especially when you walk in for free!

What can make the happiest place on earth even better? Decorate it for Christmas, of course. This was only the third day that the park had been all decked out for the holidays.

My first trip to California Adventure...also free! We rode the Mickey ferris wheel but got short changed on our ride. Oh well...did I mention it was free?

The nice lady who took this picture for us didn't quite get the concept. We wanted the castle right behind us. You'll have to use your imagination...

Waiting for the Christmas parade for a VERY long time while sitting on a VERY hard curb. But it was worth it, just to feel the Disney magic again.

And finally, a little crafty relaxation at home, making a Christmas wreath for the door. Truthfully, those were some of my favorite times, just being with Elizabeth in her own home. That and the dozen or so trips to Target and various other shopping expeditions. What can I say...it was the perfect vacation!

A Thanksgiving Thought

2011-11-27T21:40:00.000-08:00

With the Thanksgiving weekend rapidly coming to a close, I'd like to leave you with a final thought about thankfulness. I have heard this expressed in a number of different ways, and it always reminds me of how much I take for granted and how often I fail to give thanks.

"If God were to remove everything from your life, that you failed to thank Him for today, what would remain?"

Food for thought, and a little reminder to "give thanks with a grateful heart" this holiday season.

Flying High!

2011-11-22T20:37:00.000-08:00

I'm not much of a traveler. The fact that I flew down to visit my daughter last week was very exciting for me. It's actually been three years since I've been on an airplane. Before that? About fifteen years. So flying isn't something I get to do very often.

Last Saturday, flying home from California, I had a window seat...and I took full advantage of it. As the plane gained altitude, I peered out that small window and almost laughed at the ridiculousness of what I saw. Outside the window...BELOW me...were the fluffiest, white clouds. Yeah, that's right, BELOW me! It was a carpet of white, rather than the normal ceiling of white that I'm used to looking at.

Mountaintops peeking through the clouds.

Brilliant blue skies above the white clouds.

I was flying...along with a bunch of other people inside this giant bullet of a plane. And everyone just seemed to take it for granted! As we crossed over the vapor trail of another jet, I thought about all the amazing things we do in these modern times, without ever giving them a second thought. It's a little embarrassing how numb we seem to have become to the wonders of our age.

But on Saturday, I was taking in the thrill of it all! Flying! Perhaps not soaring as gracefully as the birds that we were sharing the skies with, but it was pretty cool, nonetheless!

Homes Sweet Homes

2011-11-18T12:17:00.000-08:00

This past week has been wonderful! I've had the chance to visit my daughter, Elizabeth, in California while her husband was out of town. I know that I'm second-best and she's delighted to have her hubby back (after all, they are newlyweds!), but we've had a fantastic time together!

This is the first time I've been able to see Elizabeth in her own home. Until now, she has either lived in shared dorm rooms, apartments, nanny quarters, or in a flat in St. Petersburg, Russia. But now, as a new wife, she's finally had the chance to set up a home that is warm and inviting and reflects both herself and her husband, Joel.

As a mother, it's fun to see how your grown children establish their own homes. Their individual styles and tastes are evident in every piece of furniture, every piece of artwork on the walls, and in the books on the bookshelves. In a strange way, it feels familiar, yet so very different! It's all so new and just waiting to be filled with memories.

I remember feeling the same way when my son and daughter-in-law were married and I visited their first home together. It was a sweet experience to see the next generation taking shape right before my eyes!

So, this week has been delightful. Elizabeth and I have done so many things that I'll need to report on in coming posts. But for now, I'm soaking up my last few hours in this newly established home, so filled with love. And tomorrow morning, bright and early, I fly back to my own home that is packed full of years of memories that led up this this wonderful week.

Thank You for Your Service!

2011-11-11T18:46:00.000-08:00

First, I'd like to say that I didn't forget, I just didn't get to my blog to recognize the fact that yesterday was the Marine Corps' 236th birthday! As the wife and daughter of Marine Corps veterans, November 10 never passes without a "Happy Birthday" shoutout from me!

Photo Courtesy of Google Images

But today is Veterans' Day and I would like to say "thank you" to the men and women of all branches of the service who have served this country at great cost to themselves and their families. May we never take for granted the freedoms that we enjoy, for they were purchased at great cost and sacrifice.

So to these countless men and women, I want to express my gratitude and recognize your service to the United States of America and to her people.

Communion

2011-11-06T20:25:00.000-08:00

Today was Communion Sunday at church. With the autumn sun streaming through the windows, I watched as the ushers approached, stopping at each row to offer the elements to those of us waiting to be served. With a mediative heart, I thought of the countless times I have shared this special moment with my Lord.

In my mind, I could see my dad's hands offering the Communion plate and cup to the congregation as he served as usher to our church for so many years.

I remembered a beautiful Sunday morning, sitting on the beach with fellow college students with whom I had just shared a wonderful weekend retreat. We passed paper cups and whole loaves of bread to one another as we sat on driftwood logs and re-committed ourselves to God's service.

I thought of the first time for both of my children that I was able to help them partake of Communion because they understood what the elements meant and desired to take part in this most sacred ceremony.

There have been times when I taken Commumion while my heart was breaking and other times when it was bursting with overflowing joy.

So many different Sundays, so many different people with whom I have shared the sacraments. And always...always, God has met me in those moments. Sweet communion, God's richest blessing for which I am so thankful.

Inspiration in a Can

2011-10-30T21:42:00.000-07:00

It's probably hard to believe, but sometimes the life of a blogger isn't as glamorous as you may think. You're going along fine with one post idea popping into your head after another. You can hardly wait to write the next inspiring post. Then BAM! You run right into it...THE WALL. Writer's block extraordinaire! And that, dear friends, is where I have been for the past couple of weeks, staring down a blank computer screen. The well of ideas had run dry.

But this afternoon, inspiration hit and you'll never guess where I found it. My kitchen cupboard. I know. Crazy, huh? But as I opened my cupboard door to find something for lunch, inspiration was staring me in the face in its bright blue can. How could I have missed it? There it was. A can of...

I'm ignoring those gagging sounds that I'm sure some of you are making (my immediate family included) because I LOVE this stuff! And I'm not ashamed to admit it. Aside from its delicious, overly salty flavor (even the 25% less sodium variety) Spam is packed full of wonderful childhood memories for me.

When I was growing up, my family was always on a tight budget. Seven people on a single teacher's salary meant that my mother had to be pretty creative when it came to meals. And she was real pro when it came to stretching a meal so there was enough for all of us because, trust me, we never had two cans of Spam at one meal! Maybe it helped that not all of my siblings were as found of this mysterious meat product as I was.

When Mom served Spam for dinner, she would slice it and fry it up. Or if she was feeling really elegant she'd take the whole loaf, score the top of it in a diamond pattern and insert whole cloves at the point of each diamond and bake it, as if it were a cute little ham. Classy and delicious!

We'd have fried Spam sandwiches or Spam and cheddar cheese sandwiches. But my all time favorite recipe was, and still is, Spam spread sandwiches. To make this delightful concoction, my mother would take a can of Spam and put it through her meat grinder along with some dill pickles and hard boiled eggs. Then this was all mixed up with a generous helping of mayonnaise and spread on the whitest bread you could find. Yum...makes my mouth water just thinking about it!

So this afternoon, when that brilliant blue can caught my eye, I knew what I had to do. I put the eggs on to boil, pried that piece of meat from its can and set about making a bowlful of Spam spread. Unfortunately, I don't have a meat grinder like my mother's, so I have to settle for a chunkier version of her spread. But the flavor was all there!

Once my sandwich was made, there was one thing I needed to do before I could take a bite. I sent a picture text to my sister, Martha! Her response? "I'm jealous." Yup, good taste runs in our family!

So, sometime if you're up for it, why not try out this delicious recipe for yourself. Just remember three things and you'll be fine. Don't skimp on the mayo, don't use that healthy wheat bread and don't read the ingredients on the side of the can!

Enjoy the Ride...Again

2011-10-15T20:29:00.000-07:00

This past week I experienced two things that I love. The first was reading a post by another blogger that really nails it for me. The second was experiencing one of those moments that only God could have orchestrated. And the really cool thing was that it was really all part of one amazingly encouraging experience. Here's how it all played out.

Since I have a new position at work, I'm going to be moving to another work space in a different building eventually. So I was taking a few minutes at the end of one day to sort through files and papers that have collected over the years. In the middle of some files I came across a copy of a post from a blog I follow. I had printed it out at home and had brought it to work to share with a friend because it had really inspired me at the time. The interesting thing is that this post was dated August 18, 2009. Obviously, I need to clean my desk more often...or maybe not.

You see, as I read through the post again, now over two years later, I realized that this page held the exact words that I needed to hear during this time of transition and stress in my life. Sarah, from Life in the Parsonage had no idea when she was writing about the experiences of her life in August, 2009, that her post would speak so profoundly to me, two years later. But God knew.

There, in an unlikely corner of my desk, I found God's words of assurance and encouragement to me, penned by a blogger friend I have never met! I love that about blogs and I love that about Him!

With that in mind, take a couple of minutes to read Sarah's post, Enjoy the Ride. Because this may be the exact moment in your life that you need to read it!

A Prayer for the Journey

2011-10-10T20:07:00.000-07:00

O Christ, do not give me tasks equal to my powers,
but give me powers equal to my tasks,
for I want to be stretched by things too great for me.
I want to grow through the greatness of my tasks,
but I shall need Your help
for the growing.

E. Stanley Jones

What Are You Seeing?

2011-10-08T20:26:00.000-07:00

You just never know where you might stumble across words of wisdom. It could be on a billboard, a refrigerator magnet, a popsicle stick or in a fortune cookie. Or in my case, I found some food for thought on my calendar when I went to scribble in an upcoming engagement so I wouldn't forget it.

It's already October, and I just now noticed that each month has a pithy saying printed in the corner of each month's page. These are the words that got me thinking today:

"What we see depends mainly on what we look for."

The veracity of that statement runs deep. How often is the truth skewed because we are looking at it through a filter of our own making? And how often do we miss beauty and joy because we are blinded by a lens of negativity or distrust? To see the truth, we need to be objective and aware of how we are looking at things. And that's not always easy.

Sometimes it's easier to see the bad than it is to see the good. But maybe that's because we have fallen into the habit of only looking for the bad. What would happen if we changed our focus and starting looking for the good in people or in situations? I can't help but think that our vision would improve immensely as well as our attitudes.

So, my goal is to be more aware of how I look at people and circumstances and to try and focus on the good before the bad. Oh, I'm also going to go back and read the sayings on the past nine months of my calendar!

Words of Wisdom

2011-09-30T21:35:00.000-07:00

I've said before that I'm not a fan of Dr. Seuss. But the good gentleman nailed it with the following statement:

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

I'm trying to take that to heart tonight. Today was my last day in my old job, working with the team that I've been a part of for over four years. Layoffs and cutbacks go into effect on Monday, and my old job is gone.

I was blessed to have shared the last few years with coworkers who became friends and then family. It wasn't my choice to leave, but sometimes that's how life plays out. So I'll try on the smile...but I'll probably keep a tissue handy for a while.

Then on Monday, a new adventure begins. Do you have some words of wisdom for that, Dr. Seuss?

The Service of One

2011-09-26T18:42:00.000-07:00

My nephew, Kevin, left today for the Peace Corps. For the next 27 months his life will be all about helping the less fortunate in Africa. It will certainly not be easy, but he is excited about this opportunity.

My own children and their spouses have served others in Haiti, Russia, Ukraine and here in the United States after hurricane Katrina, working to make a difference.

So what prompts someone to choose a path that requires self sacrifice, uncertainty, even physical discomfort? It comes from a belief that change happens one person at a time, and a willingness to be that one person. Without that, nothing happens.

Whether it is overseas or in our own communities, countless individuals selflessly work to help the disadvantaged, the poor, the elderly, the lonely, the abandoned, the hopeless. And for the most part, they do it without fanfare, recognition, or monetary reward. They do it, simply to make a difference.

So, I'd just like to say "thank you" to Kevin and to all those individuals who sacrifice to make this a better world.

She's Home

2011-09-25T12:50:00.000-07:00

I read last night on the blog, Gitzen Girl, that Sara Frankl a.k.a. Gitz, died peacefully yesterday with her mother and brother at her side. She is home.

She was an incredible young woman who used her nearly unbearble circumstances to bring glory to Christ and to live a life of joy and victory rather than one of bitterness and defeat.

I thought of her today at church during worship as we sang the following words:

"And I will worship You in the beauty of holiness.
And I will worship You for the things You've done in me.
And when my life's complete, I'll lay my crown at Your feet,
And I will worship You, on bended knee."

I know that Sara is now worshipping her Savior in complete joy!

For a glimpse of the beauty and strength of this incredible young woman, take a moment to read this post from her blog written nearly a year ago.

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Psalm 116:15

Beautiful Berries!

2011-09-24T19:30:00.000-07:00

Ah, what a wonderful Saturday! It was warm and sunny and I got TONS of stuff done that I've needed to do! Nothing feels better than being able to check items off of that never-ending To-Do list.

One of the things I finally managed to get to was picking some of the blackberries that grow in the area. Obviously, I wasn't the first neighbor to get out there with my bowl, because most of the easily accessible berries had already been accessed!

After challenging an army of sharp, thorny branches, I wound up with a sizable bowlful of beautiful blackberries. This is the only time during the year that we are thankful for these ubiquitous plants. The rest of the year, they are a major pain. Although, come to think of it, the scratches on my hands and arms, attest to the fact that they were pretty painful today also!

So the question is, what am I going to do with these little beauties? In the thick of the "berry battle" I was pretty sure that a cobbler was in order. But once I got them in the house and washed up, I decided to freeze them. That way, they can add their deliciousness to some fruit smoothies this fall!

Gitz

2011-09-16T21:05:00.000-07:00

I have been sitting here with tears streaming down my face for someone I have never met. Yet if you look to the right of this post, you will find a link to her blog "Gitz," where I just read that she is going home to be with our Lord.

I wish I could have known her in person, but through her courageous, sweet, funny and inspirational blog, she has touched my life. Her name is Sara Frankl, "Gitz" and she is a young woman who has lived with a debilitating illness for years. Unable to leave her home and in constant pain, she chose not to give in to those circumstances. Instead she has been an inspiration to so many who found her blog and have been encouraged by her life.

I "borrowed" the lovely green "Choose Joy" button from her blog because it was such a necessary reminder for me in my life. I have a choice. I can choose joy in my life!

Tonight, I have spent quite some time reading her words. And on the tab on Sara's blog that explains about chronic illness, I found the words that seem to sum up so much of who she is. It is those words that I leave with you along with an encouragement to spend some time with Gitz because you will be touched and and inspired by this courageous young woman.

"I love what I have instead of yearning for what I lack. I choose to be happy, and I am. It really is that simple, people. Start every day by being thankful and celebrate your life instead of devaluing it." Sara Frankl

The Last Ones

2011-09-15T21:07:00.000-07:00

I had to make a Costco run tonight. On my way home I drove past our Borders store and noticed that this was the last day of their liquidation sale. Everything in the store was 90 percent off. So I decided I'd stop by for one final visit.

I walked into the vast, blank space where empty bookshelves stood looking quite forlorn. Some tables had a few books scattered on them. As I glanced at the titles, I wondered what made these poor, unwanted volumes the last to be chosen. And I felt inexplicably sad.

Then suddenly, I was back in seventh grade gym class, standing with another girl, waiting to be the final, reluctant choice of a team captain for some sports team. Arrgghh...I should have bought one of those books!

Answer the Question

2011-09-08T20:37:00.000-07:00

I just completed answering seven reference check questions about a friend of mine who is interviewing for a new job. The first six questions were pretty standard: How did I know the candidate and for how long; describe the candidate's management and leadership style; comment on their people-to-people skills, etc. Pretty basic stuff.

And while the last question was also pretty standard, it got me thinking. The question was: Anything else you would like to say about this candidate?

That leaves a pretty wide open forum for all sorts of comments. I started wondering how the people I know would answer that question about me if they were really being honest. I'd like to think that their comments would all be positively glowing, but let's be real...I'm not always positively glowing.

It's easy to think that I don't really have any control over what people say about me, but that's just not true. If others answer that question honestly, then I have complete control because it all boils down to what they hear me say and see me do. And if I live my life with integrity and love in those two arenas, then all is good.

So, every now and then, I think it might be a good idea to stop and consider how that question would be answered about me. After all, I never know when I might need a good reference!

P.S. I gave my friend a glowing reference which was richly deserved!

A Lesson from a Feathered Friend

2011-09-05T20:09:00.000-07:00

My husband and I returned from a wonderful, sunny walk this morning and I decided to water the plants in our courtyard before it got too warm. I grabbed my watering can and made my way over to one of the windowboxes when suddenly, I saw a tiny little yellow bird just sitting on the ground. It startled me and I expected it to fly away. But it didn't. It sat there, absolutely still, with just its eyes moving back and forth.

I called to my husband to come out and see the bird. We figured that sometime before we had returned from our walk, it must have flown into the window and was now completely dazed. I quietly went into the house so I wouldn't cause the bird any more trauma and checked on it several times from an upstairs window. The poor little thing sat there, perfectly still, for the longest time and I began to fear that it wouldn't survive.

A bit later in the morning, I went outside again, and to my delight, the bird was gone. I called to my husband that the bird was gone and told him that I hoped a cat hadn't been in the courtyard. He reassured me that the bird had just been dazed and needed to rest before it could fly away.

Sometimes, our lives are like that. Difficult, painful circumstances often hit us unexpectedly, leaving us feeling dazed and unable to move forward. In those times, remember that it's okay to take some time to rest and recoup. Allow yourself a season of healing when there's been pain. Then, just like my little feathered friend, when the time is right, you'll have the strength to move on.

Grandma's Day

2011-08-31T20:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a red letter day for me. It was my first all-day babysitting gig for my granddaughter, Ella. I'd like to pretend that it was due to my great skill that she didn't cry or fuss at all. But the truth is, I was probably just lucky...because she didn't cry or fuss at all!

I'd also like to say that when I got home, I was ready to clean my house, go for a walk and do a little gardening before bed. But again the truth is, I was tired! God knows what He's doing when He gives us our children when we're younger!

But I'm up for it again, whenever the opportunity arises! How could I say "no" to a sweetheart who smiles at you from behind her pacifier when she wakes up from her nap...which only lasted five minutes?

Sorry for this faint cell phone picture! She deserves better :)

The next time she fell asleep, I decided it was best just to hold her on my lap. At least, it was best for Grandma!

Fashion Sense and Nonsense

2011-08-29T09:52:00.000-07:00

I've spent the last few days with my sisters on our annual Whistler B.C. vacation trip. And this year we have had the good fortune of enjoying gorgeous sunny days in the upper 70's and low 80's. It's been great weather for hikes around the lakes, lazy walks along the "Village Stroll" and plenty of time for people watching... always one of my favorite pastimes.

One of the most entertaining things about people-watching is the endless variety of fashion choices that are on display. Whistler seems to draw quite the international set, which no doubt adds to some of the, shall we say, interesting choices.

Perhaps its due to the warm weather this year, or the fact that with most folks on vacation, they go into the "What-happens-at-Whistler-stays-at-Whistler" mode, but the revealing necklines and short shorts have certainly been in abundance. Either that or the Annual Hookers Conference has been meeting this weekend. Okay...moving on.

Sometimes when I look at the combinations of clothing that some people are wearing, I have to stop and wonder, "Did you actually look in the mirror and think 'Yes! I'm lookin' good now'?" Then again, maybe they are looking at me with those same thoughts.

I do know that there will be a few people going home with some really interesting tan lines. One woman was wearing a pair of long leggings with an open weave design going down the outside of her legs. I'm sure she ended up sporting some very unique leg art by the end of the day.

It's hard to even begin to capture the plethora of fashion choices that have been paraded up and down the streets of Whistler this weekend. Let's just say that there is never a dull moment. And the number one fashion accessory? The camera, of course!

A Riddle

2011-08-22T20:49:00.000-07:00

I have a riddle for you: "When does a couch become an anchor?"

Before I give you the answer, I want to share a little background and then a conversation that I recently had with my daughter, Elizabeth.

The summer before Elizabeth's senior year of college, she went overseas to serve in an orphanage in Ukraine. It was during those hot summer days, surrounded by so many broken and abandoned children, that God laid claim to her heart and she has never been able to forget the poor and hurting of this world.

In the months and years that have followed, Elizabeth has tried different paths for her life. But it seems that whenever she begins to settle into the "expected" path of a job, home, family etc. God steps in and reminds her of another path; a path that He seems to have chosen for her. A path that is more costly and possibly painful yet one that leads to peace.

As recent newlyweds, she and her husband, Joel, moved to southern California in May. This move hasn't come without some emotional struggles for Elizabeth. Leaving behind family and friends hasn't been easy. It's been difficult to feel settled.

Okay, enough with the background. Now, on to the conversation.

Several days ago, I was talking with Elizabeth on the phone, and she told me that for some reason, ever since she and Joel moved into their little apartment, it had become really important to her to have a couch. Their apartment is furnished with the few belongings they were able to pack into a small moving unit and some purchases from their favorite local Ikea store. But she felt that if only she could have a couch, she would feel more settled. A couch had come to represent a home and a future.

Yet, Elizabeth said that when she and Joel talk about what their future might hold, there is always the possibility of them being called to serve the Lord overseas again, or perhaps in a poor area of the United States. So, while having a couch might help her feel settled, it could also be...you guessed it...an anchor. An anchor that would, at least symbolically, hold them back from feeling free to go where God might be calling them.

It was with tears that Elizabeth explained how she had given up her desire for a couch so she could have the freedom to do what God calls them to do. And in that decision, she found peace.

Now, for the really cool part! Right after releasing her desire for a couch, Elizabeth got a phone call from her friend, Karen. It seems that Karen is going to be moving into a house to live with a family for a couple of years and is putting her furniture in storage. And she wanted to know if Elizabeth and Joel might want to use...her couch for a couple of years!! Don't tell me that our God doesn't love to pour out good things on His children!

So here's the question I'll leave with you (and with me). What is the "anchor" in your life that is keeping you from wholeheartedly saying "Yes!" to whatever God is asking of you? He can be trusted with it, for He longs to give us good things.

Sharpening

2011-08-20T12:04:00.000-07:00

There are lots of changes going on in my life right now that will continue over the next several months. While I survived the layoff at my work, my specific job is going away and I'm being moved to a new position. New responsibilities, new people, new location, new challenges. Not my favorite thing in the world.

So while I try to focus on my gratitude over still having a job, I'm struggling with what lies ahead. And a large part of that struggle comes from having to leave my current coworkers and having to move to a new location where I'll be working closely with different people.

I know these people, and some of them I'm happy to be working with. But there are others who would not be on my list of "Top Ten People to Spend Nine Hours a Day With." Yet I believe with all my heart that God has orchestrated this move, so I can trust that it is for the best.

My good friend and coworker, Rene, has been very kind in listening to me voice my concerns and struggles, and she is quick to offer encouragement. She graciously reminds me that God is putting me with people where I can perhaps be a positive, encouraging influence and share His love. That's good. I really like that. I want to help them.

But somewhere in the back of my mind, I keep hearing a small voice that says, "Or maybe, those people that you are not so keen on being with, are there for YOU. Maybe this is an opportunity to purify and change YOU."

It's amazing how much nicer it is to see ourselves as the ones who offer help rather than the ones who need the help. But God loves us too much to let us off the hook when He sees areas in our lives that need to be chiseled and burned away until we reflect Him rather than ourselves.

Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." That goes for women too. And I have a feeling that this woman is about to experience some extreme sharpening. To God be the glory!

The Gift of Hospitality

2011-08-10T20:12:00.000-07:00

We received a wonderful gift this past week. My husband and I had the great fortune to visit our dear friends, Paul and Martha, in their home, nestled in the mountains near St Maries (pronounced St Marys), Idaho. And while we were there, they gave us a most precious gift...the gift of hospitality.

If you are fortunate enough to know someone who is blessed with the true spirit of hospitality, you understand what a treasure it is. Because time spent in their presence leaves you feeling like royalty. And for five days, that's what we were - royalty.

From the moment we stepped into Paul and Martha's home, my husband and I were pampered. We were fed delicious food that they had spent days preparing in advance so they would have the time to spend with us instead of working.

We slept in a pillow-soft bed in a our own room with windows that opened wide to the starlit sky. Every morning we sipped coffee out on a deck that looked through giant trees and down to a glorious, lake filled valley. We watched hummingbirds feeding so close we could have touched them.

If we simply wanted to read, we were free to simply read. If we needed a little nap, our bed was ready and waiting. We shared morning devotions at a sunny breakfast table. We lifted each other up in prayer. And we laughed together!

And all of this was made possible because Paul and Martha truly have the gift of hospitality. Now in retirement, they are blessed to be living on the side of a beautiful mountain. And it is their greatest joy to be able to share this special retreat with people who need a time of refreshment, a time of renewal and peace.

So, to our dear friends, thank you for a much needed respite from a stressful life. This post is a tribute to you!

Morning coffee on the deck

The first sunset, with a sliver of a moon!

Looking through the pine forest

Dutch Baby for breakfast. Yum!

Friends enjoying the beautiful mountains

A Sad Story

2011-08-05T20:46:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite movies is "You've Got Mail." It's a kind of David and Goliath story that pits the future of "The Shop Around the Corner," a small neighborhood bookstore, against the arrival of the big, bad Fox Books chainstore. Unfortunately, in this story, David loses. The giant bookstore puts the beloved "Shop Around the Corner" out of business.

That movie was made in 1998. Ironically, 13 years later it is the giant bookstore chains that are fighting for their survival and losing the battle to the Amazon.coms of the world. And that makes me feel just as sad as I did when Kathleen Kelly walked out of her beloved "Shop Around the Corner" for the last time.

I love bookstores. I love to browse through row after row of books. I'll pluck a few random volumes from the shelves and take them to a quiet corner where I can sit down and read a few pages to see if they will capture my interest. Looking at the covers of the books is like taking a mini tour through an art gallery.

I nearly always end up in the children's book section for at least a short while. I feel a sense of joy as I look at the stories just waiting to become a child's favorite. And I reminisce about the books that were my favorites or my children's favorites. It is a sweet time.

Recently I received word that my local Borders Bookstore would begin their liquidation sale. Sadly I planned a trip to the store. I didin't go with the anticipation that I was going to score some sweet deals on books. I went for the memories. I went because I don't want to let go of the experience of a real live bookstore. It doesn't matter which bookstore it is. It doesn't matter if it is large or small. What matters is that it is an actual place that brings me joy and pleasure in a way that I will never experience from browsing for books online.

I don't like to think of the rows of empty shelves that once housed classics and bestsellers alike. I don't like to imagine the echoes of thousands of stories bouncing off the bare walls of an abandoned bookstore. I don't want to shop for my books online. I want my shop around the corner back.

Hungering After the Good Stuff

2011-07-26T22:09:00.000-07:00

Last week our son called and asked us if we wanted to Skype with them so we could see our five and a half month old granddaughter, Ella, eating rice cereal for only the second time. It took us all of five seconds to fly up the stairs and turn on the computer so we could sign on to Skype.

When we finally got linked up, Ella was already wearing a layer of rice cereal around her mouth and she was going to town! It was hilarious to watch as her mom filled the spoon with cereal and Ella lunged toward it with her mouth open, eager for the next bite. Then there was some substantial lip-smacking as the good stuff went down.

With tears of laughter, we watched this scene play out over and over again. She was filling up on the good stuff! Then suddenly, Ella took one more bite and did a funny little shivery-gag thing and was done. She had reached her limit.

The next day, I was thinking about how excited Ella was when she was eating that cereal. It was good and she ate until she was filled. And it reminded me how God calls us to feed on His Word. The Bible is God's food for our souls. I long to hunger after the "good stuff" that fills and nourishes me spiritually. And the neat thing is, no matter how much I "eat" I will never be overfilled! There is always room for more of God's Word in my life.

"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled." Matt. 5:6

Remembering

2011-07-23T19:30:00.000-07:00

It was five years ago today that dad went Home. It was a release from a body and mind that had held him prisoner. But thankfully, that is not how I remember him.

In my mind, he will always be the man who cherished and honored his beloved bride of 45 years. The loving dad who was proud beyond measure of his five daughers. The grandpa who was crazy about his seven grandchildren.

He was a leader; a man of great integrity, intelligence, wit and humor. He always stood firm in his beliefs, even if that meant that he stood alone.

His legacy to me was an example of a life well lived. Today, as I remember him, I know how blessed I was to have him as, not only that example, but also as my dad.

My handsome dad.

Lo-Tech and Lovin' It!

2011-07-20T21:22:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we take things for granted. We just get so used to having them that we don't even realize how important they are.

A couple of weeks ago, I suddenly recognized one of those oft-taken-for-granted items in my life. Its size and simplicity made it easy to overlook until I realized that I would be lost without it! What is it?

The Post-it note!

Before expressing my deep gratitude for these simple little notes, a bit of background from the ever-popular Wikipedia:

"A Post-it note is a piece of stationery with a re-adherable strip of adhesive on the back, designed for temporarily attaching notes to documents and other surfaces. Although now available in a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes, Post-it notes are most commonly a 3-inch (76 mm) square, canary yellow in color."

Truly, I don't know what I would do without these multicolored wonders. First of all, there are no on/off switches to worry about or batteries to recharge. I don't have to worry if there is enough memory because, hey, they basically ARE my memory! I have little reminder notes stuck on my desk, my glasses case, my lunch bag, my car keys...and occasionally on the back of my hand.

I know that there are scores of fancy techie devices designed to help us get organized. But for me, a few simple scraps of paper bring order to my life (is that as pathetic as it sounds?).

So here's to that marvelous little invention! Three cheers for the indispensible Post-It note!

The Fine Line

2011-07-17T19:59:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I took a class at work called "Surviving a Layoff" in preparation for the impending layoffs. One of the things that stuck with me was a statement by the instructor. She said that should you receive a layoff notice, expect your coworkers to be sympathetic and supportive for about two weeks. After that, you'll notice that they have moved on with their lives. It won't be that they don't care, but it's just the way that we survive and keep functioning.

That wasn't a surprising statement to me since I have experienced this with the death of both of my parents. People are there to offer love, support, condolences for a short time after the loss, but then they have to get on with life even though you remain in this shattered place of deep grief. They are not being cruel. It is simply how life works.

Last week, I witnessed this again. Even though it has only been a few days since the layoffs, I have seen several examples of people who retained their jobs, who are eager to just move on. It's not that they are cruel...or even unsympathetic...but for them, what lies ahead is what matters, not what has been.

Personally, I can't let go quite that quickly. I need to grieve. I want to be available to grieve with those who have lost so much. I want them to know that they matter and will not be forgotten the moment they walk out the door.

It's a fine line that we walk when it comes to letting go and moving ahead. I want to be sensitive and caring about what has been. I want to acknowledge that while change may be inevitable, it is also painful and requires a time for healing. I don't think that's not too much to ask.

Grateful and Brokenhearted

2011-07-14T19:09:00.000-07:00

It's an odd combination of emotions that I'm feeling right now. This week we had layoffs at my work and 150 people lost their jobs. My heart and prayers go out to these coworkers and friends whose lives have been drastically changed.

I am very fortunate in that I still have a job. I am so deeply grateful for God's provision in this. I've believed all along that He is in contol and that belief would not have changed even if I had lost my job.

But tonight I'm struggling with battling emotions. Because while I still have a job, it is not the same position that I have held for several years within a wonderful group of coworkers who feel like my family. So along with the sincere gratitude that I feel, I am brokenhearted. We have gone through so much together. As a pastor of mine used to say, "We have tangled our heartstrings." I know that God put these wonderful people in my life and I have been blessed beyond measure through their friendship and support.

But in a few weeks, I'll move to another group of coworkers who are also all starting over. I know there will be challenges and struggles but also new opportunties. And I'm grateful for that. But just for a little while, I can't help but feel brokenhearted.

Reverting Back

2011-07-11T19:28:00.000-07:00

It's weird. Now that I have a granddaughter (check out the previous post), I feel like I'm going backwards in time. I find myself doing things that I thought I had given up for good.

Example: Once again, I check for diaper coupons in the ads that come in the mail. I used to have a regular stash of coupons even though I used cloth diapers on my kids for the most part (and I didn't have a diaper service!) Now, I try to keep an eye out for them to either pass on to my kids or use to use to buy a box of gold...I mean diapers...to give to them. The problem this time around is remembering to get the coupons to them before they expire. Yeah, I'm not so great at that.

This past weekend, I hit the garage sales for the first time in a very long time! GARAGE SALE signs used to act as a magnet for me. But I figured that this was the way to find cheap children's books and toys. And SCORE! I found both! I also found and bought a second waffle iron which was not on my "to buy" list, but it goes so well with my first waffle iron that I bought at a garage sale nearly 25 years ago. I figured it was time for a back-up iron.

I also bought a stroller this weekend from my niece, Sarah, for $30. It's a great stroller. However, it took a little while for Sarah to take me through the training session on how to use it. I can now open and close this little buggy with one hand! And as long as I can remember that anything that is "red" on the stroller means it is meant to DO something, I'll be alright. But if I'm being honest here, I kind of miss the simplicity of my little umbrella stroller that required no training for me to be able to push my kids in it.

When I go shopping these days, I once again make a quick sweep through the baby section. I haven't bothered with that area of the store for years. My daughter-in-law has told me that Ella doesn't need any clothes right now. But somehow that didn't stop me from buying her two pairs of sandals over the weekend. Well, technically, sandals ARE NOT clothes!

But what really makes me feel like I've gone back in time is the amount of baby equipment that is spread out around my house...and aside from the aforementioned stroller...I haven't bought any of it! Thanks to family and friends, I have a Pack-N-Play bed, a baby swing, a high chair and a BIG Exersaucer toy. And these are all decorating various rooms of my house.

Of course, there is one thing that reminds me that I'm not really reverting back to days gone by. And that's the fact that "my baby" goes home at night. And I admit that I don't miss getting up in the middle of the night. Oh, wait a minute. I DO get up in the middle of the night. But now it's because I have to go to the bathroom! Hmm, maybe I am reverting back...

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures!

2011-07-10T13:14:00.000-07:00

I've had a great week with family coming for the Fourth of July and my daughter visiting from California. I could write about it, but this is one of those times where a picture...or pictures are worth a thousand words! And it's funny how having a baby around brings out the cameras!

God Bless America!

2011-07-04T07:15:00.000-07:00

This Fourth of July, take a moment to consider the many blessings, we enjoy as citizens of the United States of America. For when we take these blessings for granted, we trivialize the great struggles and sacrifices endured by the generations of Americans who went before us.

So for a few minutes today, be deliberate in thinking about what we are celebrating. It's more than just barbecues and fireworks. It's the celebration of a freedom dream that started over 200 years ago and lives on today. May we never lose sight of that dream or lose the heart to defend it.

God bless America!

Happy Fourth of July!

Summertime

2011-07-01T18:53:00.000-07:00

Well, I did it. I finally hauled out the little bistro table and chairs for our courtyard, all the while saying to myself, "I believe, I believe!" Yep, I'm choosing to believe that the sun, that is forecast for the next several days, is just the beginning of the summer weather that we are craving. After all, it's July 1, for crying out loud!

Last weekend, I went so far as to buy a new table cloth for the picnic table. Now, I just need to get myself over to the nursery and find a few more plants to brighten the place up. Because, darn it...I'm READY for summer! And if the weather people are right, we are even going to have a sunny Fourth of July!

You can be thankful that you can't hear me right now, because I'm doing a mighty fine rendition of "Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer!" I figure it can't hurt...

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T12:04:00.000-07:00

On Father's Day, I always think of my dad. He was a man of great intelligence, integrity and humor. But it was his family that was always most important to him. He cherished his wife and five daughters. Next month, it will be five years since we lost him, and I miss him so much. So, today, I honor him.

On Father's Day, I always think of my husband, Bud. He is a man of strong convictions who loves his God, his country and his family...especially his new granddaughter! He has a tender heart that is easily touched by the blessings in his life as well as the hurting of this world. I love him so much and have been privileged to raise two incredible children with him. So today I honor him.

And today, for the first time on Father's Day, I think of my son, David. A dad of only four months, his life was completely changed by the arrival of sweet Ella! I love to watch the two of them together...they are totally smitten with each other!

So today I honor him. Like his grandfather and father before him, he is a man of integrity who loves and serves his God, and cherishes his wife and daughter. And he knows how to make us laugh! I could not be more proud!

Happy Father's Day!

Walking Companions

2011-06-18T08:56:00.000-07:00

Nearly every day on my way to work, I drive by two women who are out doing their morning walk together. One wears a bright fluorescent yellow safety vest and the other wears a bright fluorescent orange safety vest. And regardless of the weather, they are out there pounding the pavement at about 6:15 in the morning.

Over the past year my admiration for these women has grown as I have watched them plod on through the darkness in pouring rain, and freezing snow, bundled up to the max. And to be honest, there have been a few times that, due to the weather, I've thought it might of been wiser to just take the morning off.

But yesterday morning was beautiful with glorious blue skies and early morning sun. So when I spotted the walkers it made me smile because I knew they were soaking up the beauty. Actually, I envied them that they had the time to be out there taking this early morning walk instead of on their way to work.

And it made me think...not for the first time...what makes them get up and out there every morning regardless of the weather. Last winter when it was literally freezing and slippery outside, what possessed each of them to climb out of a warm bed, pile on the layers of clothes and those vests and head out into the dark, cold morning? Was it the desire for exercise? Maybe. But I'm a walker and I know that when it's really nasty outside, I choose my elliptical or...just being honest here..my couch.

I have to believe that the reason for the success of this daily routine is a commitment to their friend and walking companion. Somewhere along the line, they must have agreed to do this thing together and to hold each other accountable.

So when that alarm goes off in the wee small hours of the morning, signalling that it's time to get up, the fact that someone else is waiting for them, ready to face the elements together, has to motivate and encourage them to do it. They are willing to keep going through the darkness and cold. And then when they get a beautiful morning like yesterday, they get to share the beauty with their friend!

These thoughts ran through my mind as I drove past the women yesterday and it made me feel good. Then I heard God saying to me, "Laura, I'm your walking companion. I've made a commitment to be there for you on every one of those dark, cold mornings. Together, we'll make it through. And together, we'll rejoice on the bright sunny days! The only question is, how committed are you to Me?"

You see, it just doesn't cut it in a relationship if the commitment is only one-sided. I know that God is committed and He will be there for me when that early morning alarm goes off. The question is, will I get up, put on my walking shoes and meet Him or, simply turn over, pull the covers over my head and remain where I am?

"Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the earth." Matthew 28:20

A Friday Night Thought...

2011-06-17T21:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I learned that layoff notices will be going out at my work starting the week of July 11. Around 185 people will lose their jobs. There's a part of me that wants to yell, "It's not fair! It's not suppose to be this way!"

Tonight, I read this quote from an email my husband had sent to me the other day.

"Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference."

In the coming days of pain and upheaval for so many people, I want to make the difference. What are the circumstances of your life that are not the way they are "supposed to be" but where you have the power to make the difference?

Lordy, Lordy, It's Been Forty!

2011-06-15T20:55:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, this little gem arrived in my mailbox! After a brief moment of confusion followed by a slightly longer moment of denial, I realized what I was looking at. This was the invitation to my forty year high school reunion! That noise you heard was me choking on the word "forty."

I'm not good with math, so until this arrived in the mail, I could almost convince myself that it really hasn't been forty years since I graduated from high school. But this changes everything. That big 4-0 printed on the postcard makes it pretty hard to deny. It was a very long time ago that I cheered along with my classmates, "We are the Vikings, the mighty, mighty Vikings. Everywhere we go-o, people want to know-o, who we are. So we tell them. We are the Vikings...." Wow! There's a blast from the past.

Then tonight I had another blast from the past when Sally, one of our cheerleaders, called to talk to me about the reunion. Let me just say right here that never...I repeat...never did Sally ever call me while we were in high school. Not that she wasn't a nice girl, it's just that we didn't quite hang out in the same circles. Go ahead and guess which group I belonged to: popular-had-a-boyfriend-since-first-grade girls or quiet-shy-always-blushing girls. Yeah...

But tonight, Sally and I were practically BFFs. At least we were once she figured out that I wasn't the Laura that she thought she had called but another Laura whom she insisted she remembers. And she probably does; we didn't have a very big graduating class.

Anyway, we chatted and chatted and chatted. I kept waiting for her to get to the part where she asked me to volunteer for something. But she never did. She just wanted to invite me to the reunion. And you know something, I think she would actually be pleased if I did show up.

Still, I don't plan on going to the reunion. I did attend my twenty year reunion and had a fairly good time. But I remember thinking then, "I don't need to do this again." And that was twenty years ago!

So, in August, when those members of the Class of 1971 gather for our forty year reunion, I hope they have a wonderful time together. I'll be picturing them fondly...all looking like their senior pictures in our yearbook!

Lessons from My Garden

2011-06-12T20:11:00.000-07:00

I love yards with beautifully manicured lawns and gorgeous flower gardens. I love them... I just don't have one because, truthfully, I hate yard work. Maybe it was all those summers growing up when my sisters and I spent hours weeding flower beds before we could go play. All I know is that I would be very happy if I could afford to pay someone to come and weed my gardens. That, however, is not going to happen.

So over the past couple of weekends, I have made an effort to spend a little time getting to know the weeds that have overtaken a very large flower bed in our front yard. And while this weeding project is still a work in progress, I have gleaned a few lessons from my garden.

First, my stiff joints and sore muscles have been reminding me that I'm not as young as I used to be. It's been hard to acknowledge that I'm really not as strong as I once was and that there are definite limitations as to what I can and cannot do. To admit this to myself is a bit frightening. To admit it to others is humbling. I realize that I don't want to move into this stage of life where I occasionally need help. I much prefer being the one able to give help.

When I first approached this rather overwhelming weeding project, I knew that there was no way that I would come close to getting that bed cleaned out in one morning. So I decided that I would only work for an hour and I would focus my efforts along the front edge of the flower bed. With my gardening gloves, trowel and kneeling pad, I set to work pulling out the enemy weeds.

I hadn't been at it for very long when I noticed that I was having a hard time sticking with my original plan. Sure I pulled weeds from along the front of the flower bed, but there were a whole lot of them a little further back in the garden that seemed to be calling to me. Suddenly, I realized that I was in the middle of a classic case of "scope creep."

I had never heard of "scope creep" until a couple of years ago when I started working on a few projects at work. The idea is that when you start a project, you set the parameters and the limitations that will define what the scope of the project will include. However, if you aren't vigilant, it is very easy for other things to creep into the project that weren't part of its original scope. It's a sneaky thing, and a sure fired way to sabotage a project.

And there I was, allowing "scope creep" to derail my plans for my morning of weeding, making my limited time less effective than it should have been. My time in the garden showed me the value of discipline and focus in accomplishing my goals.

My garden taught me one more lesson: If you are making progress, it doesn't matter if anyone else can see it.

Did I mention that this is a VERY large flower bed with LOTS of weeds in it? I worked hard for the hour that I had allotted to spend in my garden. At the end of that time, I stepped back to admire my work and it was clear to me that I had made a difference!

However, someone driving by my yard, would only see a garden that still needed a lot of work. There are still lots of weeds in it. But because I knew what it looked like before I started working, I was able to see how much better it is now.

My garden taught me not to become discouraged if others can't see the progress that I'm making in my life. They don't see the big picture...the before and after shots. But I know the changes that have come through hard work and that encourages me to continue working until all the weeds are gone.

Random Act of Kindness

2011-06-10T20:13:00.000-07:00

I just got home from Costco where I was the recipient of a random act of kindness. I know! With their giant carts that take up half an aisle and their congestion-causing free sample stands, patience and kindness aren't always at the forefront of people's minds when they are shopping there. Or maybe that statement just reveals something less than stellar about myself...hmmm.

Anyway, it's Friday, I'm tired and once again, a little bit grumpy. But after dinner I made a quick dash to Costco to pick up a couple of things that I needed for tomorrow. Since it was still dinner time, the number of shoppers was waning so I was able to get my shopping done pretty quickly.

As I pushed my giant cart through the parking lot, I heard another cart approaching over my left shoulder. When I stopped to load my purchases into the trunk of my car, a woman went past me, stopping at her car which was parked a couple spaces beyond me and right next to the cart corral.

I had just reached up to pull down my trunk lid when suddenly, there was the woman, reaching for my cart. I looked at her and she said, "I'll take it. I'm parked right next to the carts." I'm sure that my surprise was written all over my face as I thanked her. "You're very welcome," she said. "Have a wonderful weekend!"
With that she retraced her steps, heading back to her car and the cart corral.

I have no idea what prompted this woman to go out of her way and come back to my car just to save me a trip to return my cart. We hadn't spoken, or even made eye contact. But somewhere in her heart there was a spark of kindness that she heeded. It was unexpected and certainly unmerited but so very much appreciated. I can only hope that she felt as good on her way home from the big box store as I did!

Here Comes the Sun!

2011-06-08T19:56:00.000-07:00

It was here. It really was. And I was ready with my shades!

Now what happened to that ol' sun?

Foreign Object Sighting

2011-06-03T21:02:00.000-07:00

A foreign object was sighted in our area today. People headed outside to get a better look at it. Folks left work early and traffic clogged the highways as residents sought out views of this unusual sighting.

No one knew how long this was going to be visible and people were giddy at the opportunity to witness this phenomenon. But after a while everyone seemed to relax a bit when it became apparent that this was not going to fade away quickly.

As a matter of fact, according to the weatherman, we can expect to see this object for several days. We're no longer doing the rain dance because the experts have identified that foreign object as the sun that went missing months ago!

So we'll be soaking up the rays over the next few days! And I guarantee that a lot of people are going to return to work on Monday sporting sunburns...without a single word of complaint!

Blessed by Text

2011-06-02T20:11:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's the smallest things that bless our lives. I had a tough day today. Work was frustrating. It rained when I headed out on my walk. The library was closed when I got there to get some new books. I received an email from a friend with some very disappointing news.

Nothing major. Just a lot of little bits of yuck. Then my phone buzzed, alerting me to the arrival of a text. There on the glowing screen were three little words from my daughter. They said, "Love you, momhead (her nickname for me).

I couldn't have asked for a sweeter blessing! God knew just what I needed and my daughter delivered it! The two of them are quite a pair :)

Object Lessons

2011-06-01T20:58:00.000-07:00

Lately, God has been using my commute to and from work to teach me things I need to learn, or remind me of important things I already know but need to remember. It's been good.

There has been a darkness in my life for the past few months, both physically and emotionally. The weather in the Pacific Northwest has refused to let go of the gray, wet of winter. Here we are on the first day of June and it is pouring rain outside after another day of heavy overcast skies. After a while, it takes an emotional toll.

For the past several months, there has been a gray cloud at my work as well we wait to hear who is going to be layed off from their jobs. We are looking at possibly 200 people being let go. The uncertainty and distrust is also taking an emotional toll.

So last week as I was driving to work on another rainy, gray morning, the heaviness that I felt was almost palpable. With my windshield wipers going full blast, I looked out the window at the road ahead and felt like crying. It's been hard for so long. And I truly try to look for the positive in the middle of all of the negative. Sometimes I'm successful. That morning...not so much.

But as I continued down the road, I noticed that there was a lightening of the clouds ahead. And eventually, I could even see some pale blue on the far horizon. The weather was changing. I was still in the rain, but the road ahead promised blue skies.

With rain still splattering my windshield, I felt God reminding me that there will always be dark days. It's the way life is. But during those times, I need to keep moving. For a while, I may have to travel through clouds with no sign of the rain letting up. Or, I might have a glimpse of brighter skies ahead while it's still raining where I am. But I need to keep going. There will come a time when the clouds are in my rear view mirror and I'm under glorious, blue skies. Because, that too, is the way life is.

So, tonight as I type this with the rain pouring outside my window, and the threat of losing my job as real as it's ever been, I'm choosing to keep moving forward. And when I finally chase down those blues skies, I'll appreciate them even more because of the dark journey that I've been on for so long.

A Memorial Day Thank You

2011-05-30T09:35:00.000-07:00

I grew up in the Viet Nam war era. I remember seeing videos on the evening news of our servicemen in the jungles and rice paddies of Southeast Asia and pictures of body bags on the front page of the newspaper.

Young men's futures were determined by how high or low their draft number was. And as in all of the wars in this nation's history, so many of those young men never came home.

Today, as I hung our American flag, I thought of those individuals who have given the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms that are mine. Their lives were cut short and their family's lives were changed forever.

As a citizen, I am grateful for the freedoms I enjoy that were purchased by their sacrifices. As a nation, I hope we take a moment today to remember them.

Finding Blessings

2011-05-24T20:52:00.000-07:00

I woke up grumpy this morning. Not enough sleep, aching joints and a weariness I couldn't shake. As I got ready for work, all of the small inconveniences seemed like major obstacles. It was a grim start to the day.

But on my way to work, I decided that I was going to look for the good...the positive in my day and see if I could shake the bad mood I was in.

It wasn't long before I noticed the early morning blue sky breaking through a layer of gray overcast. I felt my heart lighten as mile by mile, a glorious azure sky poured its early mornng rays across the horizon. Something settled within me.

I couldn't suppress a smile when I saw a goose standing along the side of the road. As I got closer, I watched it move protectively closer to one fuzzy little gossling. Mother and baby, the perfect pair.

As I pulled into the parking lot at work, it was 6:30 a.m., the time that a local radio station always plays the national anthem in honor of our men and women who serve in the military. Today it was a beautiful a cappella version with rich, tight harmonies. I swallowed the lump in my throat as the song finished and I offered a silent prayer of thanks.

There was nothing extraordinary about my work day except that I was able to accomplish a couple of things that left me with a very satisified feeling.

Late in the afternoon, I enjoyed sharing baby pictures with a coworker who is a first time mom to a sweet little seven-month old girl. I "oohed" and "aahed" over her darling daughter and she returned the favor while looking at pictures of my precious granddaughter. Quite simply, babies are the best!

Finally, it was time to head home. Driving along a rather narrow, neighborhood street, I noticed a person up ahead carrying two large objects that appeared to be either heavy or at the very least, awkward. When I finally pulled along side, I saw that it was an elderly man carrying a kitchen chair in one arm and pulling a hand truck with the other along the rutted shoulder of the road. My heart clenched as I drove past. I kept looking in my rear view mirror at this man walking with his uneven gait. All I could think of was my dad.

Quickly I pulled into the parking lot of an old Catholic church, turned my car around and headed back the way I had come. When I got to the man, I rolled my window down and asked him if I could give him a ride somewhere. He obviously was tired but didn't want to impose. He told me that he only had four or five more blocks to go...down to the church where I had turned my car around...and he could probably make it.

I insisted on helping him and we loaded the chair in the back of my little Ford Focus and the hand truck in the back seat. As he climbed into the passenger seat in his well-worn work clothes, he smiled and said "Wouldn't you know, the Good Samaritan who stops, is the one with the smallest car!"

We drove the few blocks to the church where he appeared to be the groundskeeper and he explained that some people had been helping him move, but the chair had gotten mixed up with his things and he needed to return it and the hand truck to the church. He had been walking for over a mile and a half from the U Haul store, carrying those two items.

I wanted to cry. I wanted to throw my arms around his neck and hug him. In his old work clothes, with his unflagging determination, I saw my own dad. The bent posture and slightly uneven gait couldn't completely hide the tireless strength that had once been his.

I helped him unload the items from my car and carry them to the basement of the church. As we walked back up the driveway, I told him he should rest. He smiled at me and raised his hand and said, "Or have a celebratory glass of wine!"

I pulled away from the church feeling the sweetest sense of joy wash over me! In a day that had started out so grim, I'd found many blessings. But this, was by far the best!

My New Favorite

2011-05-22T18:58:00.000-07:00

This is my new favorite song. I cried the first time I heard it. But really, it is a song of such reassurance and peace. I hope it blesses and comforts you as it has me.

Splotches

2011-05-20T09:59:00.000-07:00

I think the spring pollens are doing a number on me. Yesterday afternoon I started developing red, itchy splotches on my body. I was at work which meant it wasn't a suitable place to just start scratching away. As the day progressed, so did the splotches.

When I got up this morning and noticed that these lovely little red patches had continued to multiply during the night, I decided that today needed to be a vacation day. I would have called in sick to work, but I don't really feel bad...just red and itchy. So instead, I chose a vacation day to reduce the guilt I'd feel about running errands or heading to Starbucks for awhile. I'm okay with strangers looking at my splotches.

Here's the thing, I couldn't have picked a better day to take off. Finally, we are supposed to hit 70 degrees! It's a BIG thing! We have been stuck in a cold, gray, cloudy existence for months now. I know that I shouldn't be complaining considering what those poor folks in the Midwest are going through and my heart and prayers go out to them. But the gloom has really started to get to everyone.

So, I took an antihistamine and spent a little time sitting in the sun on my deck reading my devotions. And now I'm about to haul my splotchy-red self out to the grocery store. Even that sounds like a good time considering that the brilliant sun is shining down on me!

Splotches. Who'd have ever thought that they could be a blessing in disguise?

Recipes and Memories

2011-05-14T19:56:00.000-07:00

As I typed the title for this post, I couldn't help but think that it sounds a bit like a sentimental country song. I can almost hear Miranda Lambert singing it as a sequel to her hit, "The House That Built Me." And that's okay, because sometimes the lyrics to country music touch the soul in a very real way. So feel free, Miranda... put it in a song!

Not long ago, I was looking for my recipe for banana bread. I'm not one of those organized people who has all of her recipes in a nice binder or recipe card file. Nope. I DO have a recipe box that holds some of my recipes, but there's no rhyme or reason as to why those specific recipes are in there. The rest of them are in two large tattered file folders. But here's where I get REALLY organized. One folder holds recipes for main dishes and the other holds recipes for desserts and drinks. I know...pretty impressive.

Anyway, as I sat on the couch leafing through one recipe after another...many of which I confess were put in there with good intentions, but have never actually been made...I started thinking about all the years that I have made these dishes for my family. Some became traditions that were served for every holiday. Others were made for our everyday meals. And then there are those that my kids now tell me they couldn't stand. Hey, maybe I'll pull a few of those out and invite them over for dinner! :-)

Most of my recipes aren't written on pretty recipe cards. The majority of them are on scraps of paper such as the back side of a math test that my math-professor-dad had given to his students! And the ones prepared most often are now food stained and splattered. But you know what? That makes them even more special to me. These little slips of paper record my family's history in a very unique and special way.

As I sorted through my overflowing folder, I came across some recipes that were written in my mother's own handwriting. My heart always clenches when I see her handwriting and it doesn't seem like nearly twenty years since she left us. When I look at her flowing penmanship I can almost see her hand writing those words.

It was my mother's banana bread recipe that I was looking for, and while it is in my handwriting, I wrote it down as she dictated it to me. To be completely accurate, this was my grandmother's recipe. My maternal grandmother often came over to our house to help my mom clean. And I have fond memories of walking into the house after school and smelling the sweet scent of banana bread that grandma had baked, cooling on the counter. I just made a loaf tonight and it's cooling on my counter right now.

Over the years, I have passed this recipe on to my daughter and daughter-in-law and now I'd love to pass it on to you. So, if you have a hankering for some delicious banana bread, I hope you will give it a try. I'd be honored to include you in my recipes and memories! And let me know how you like it.

MY MOM'S BEST BANANA BREAD RECIPE
Preheat oven to 350 degreees

1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar, mixed brown and white
1 egg
2 cups flour
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 or 3 ripe bananas, cut up

Grease and flour a loaf pan. Mix all ingredients with an electric mixer. Pour batter into the pan and bake for the first half an hour at 350 degrees. Turn the oven down to 300 degrees for the last half an hour. Use a toothpick to test if it is down by inserting the toothpick in the highest part of the loaf. It should come out clean. If it doesn't, bake a while longer and test again. Let cool in the pan on a cooling rack for 10 minutes then loosen by running a knife around the edge of the pan and tipping the loaf out on to the cooling rack. Yield: one loaf.

(My daughter's friend, Jamie, gave us a tip that we always do now. Before baking sprinkle some brown sugar on the top and gently press it into the batter. It makes a delicious crunchy...if messy...topping!)

I wanted to include a picture of my lovely banana bread loaf, but Blogger wouldn't cooperate! :-(

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T07:55:00.000-07:00

To my beautiful daughter-in-law, and first time mom, Monika, "Happy Mother's Day!" Ya done good!

Oh, that hair! :-)

Puppy love!

Mother and daughter... both, absolutely beautiful!

Good Things Come in Small Packages?

2011-05-04T20:50:00.000-07:00

So a little while ago, I succumbed to a moment of weakness and dialed the 800 number for one of the shopping networks. Truly, I don't make a habit of this. It's only the third time ever.

My virgin foray into TV shopping land was to buy a leopard print Snuggie for my daughter who was trying to survive the winter in St. Petersburg, Russia. Two things to understand about Russia...it's VERY cold there and the Russian people seem to love all-things-animal-print. So, when I saw the shopping network offering a blanket in an animal print, I couldn't resist!

Of course, mailing the Snuggie to Elizabeth meant that she had risk her life to claim it from some hostile postal workers in the post office in St Petersburg, but that's a story for another time, and for her blog.

My second experience with ordering from a TV shopping network involved a set of queen size sheets. It sure sounded like a good deal to begin with, but after all the taxes, and shipping and handling were added on, I could have run over to Target and gotten it for nearly the same price. And I wouldn't have had a cardboard box to dispose of.

Actually, a cardboard box is the reason for this post. My most recent purchase from TV land arrived a few days after I had placed my order. The box was delivered while I was at work and my husband had brought it into the house for me. There it sat, in the hallway, waiting for me to open it. So I did.

However, as I cut through the tape on the box, I was slightly puzzled. What all had they put inside? When I opened the flaps on the box, I found this:

Well, that's a lovely envelope. All cushy and colorful...and rather large. Although not nearly as large as the box that it came in. And as I tore open the flap on the envelope I couldn't help but recognize the ridiculousness of this situation. Because, you see, the item that I had ordered was...

an eyebrow pencil. Go ahead, scroll back up there and look at the size of that first box. Really? Whatever happened to the "go green" thing. I think that half of an entire tree must have been sacrificed just to send me a little make up.

The make up is okay, so I guess that good things do come in small packages. It's just that the small packages come in bigger packages, that come in BIG packages! I guess it's just the American way. Sad.

Rainbow Reminder

2011-05-01T20:00:00.000-07:00

I know that I've said it before, but for me, the hardest part of being a parent is the letting go. And this story is a reminder that when we put our children into the care of an almighty, loving God, we really can let go and be at peace. So let's back up a few months.

Last summer, when my daughter and my now son-in-law got engaged, the plan was to settle in this area after the wedding. But plans are made to be changed...which they did. After only a short while of enjoying the prospect of them making their home here, southern California became the new area of post-wedding residency due to a job down there.

I won't even touch on the emotions that flooded my heart with this change in plans...I'd have to go get my Kleenex box to write about that. But there was another major concern that set my heart palpitating and that was the actual MOVE.

Suddenly, not only was a wedding being planned but also within a matter of days following that event, they would have to find a place to live in another state, find a "cheap" method to physically move there, pack up all their belongings, and drive their cars caravan-style to this new, still unknown home. My blood pressure shot up every time I even thought about it all!

Okay, here's where the mother part comes in. It wasn't my problem. I knew that. It was up to them to make these arrangements and not me. Did I mention that I knew that? But after nearly 25 years of being there to help your child it's hard to just step back and wait for them to take care of all the details. But that's what I did, except for one thing. I prayed! I prayed like crazy!

Every time I started to stress over the move, I prayed. When I panicked at the thought of them trying to find a place to live, I prayed. When I worried over how they were going to get their stuff down there, I prayed. If I pictured my little girl driving all alone in her car to southern California and it made me want to cry, I prayed. Maybe you get the picture by now, for months, this whole move was covered in prayer.

The events of the past week are a testimony to God's faithfulness and His answers to our prayers. First, Elizabeth and Joel were able to find a small U Haul container that they could afford and were able to pack all of their belongings in it. Suddenly, no one was going to have to drive a U Haul truck and figure out how to get two cars down there.

Then on Monday, they found an apartment online and a friend of theirs who lives in that area checked it out. She came back with a glowing report! It fit within their budget, was in a gated community, even had a refrigerator ( I know, I know...sounds weird but apparently you landlords in CA charge extra for a refrigerator!) and it also had a dishwasher! Now, they just needed to be approved to rent it. After filling out all the necessary forms, we held our breath...and prayed.

Wednesday was packing day and by noon, everything was in that big orange box and it all fit! Still no word on the apartment. But come Thursday morning, Elizabeth, along with her friend Jamie (no driving alone, yes! ) and Joel with their friend, Bentley set off in two cars for Californina. Suddenly, late that day I received a text that they had gotten the apartment! After spending the night at Joel's parents' house in northern California, they were ready for the last leg of the journey.

Friday night at 7:52 p.m. I received a text from Elizabeth that said "Made it!" And I began praying prayers of gratefulness and joy! Then at 8:08 p.m., I looked out my window and this is what I saw!

God had sent me the most beautiful rainbow reminder that He is faithful! With tears streaming down my face, I was reminded that, with prayer, I am never really letting go of my children, I'm just placing them in the care of our loving God who cares for them even more than I do. And to that, all I can say is "Amen!"

Life in a Box

2011-04-30T22:25:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I could fit all my possessions in one box...even a fairly large box! But this week, my daughter and new son-in-law worked feverishly to get to that point.

Last Saturday, a lovely orange box was deposited in our driveway in preparation for "the big move." Joel and Elizabeth are starting out their married life in Southern California which meant that there was a whole lot of packing, sorting and throwing out stuff to do in order to fit all of their possessions in this box. Actually, Elizabeth had to do the sorting and throwing out since as Joel puts it, he "likes to travel light."

But they did it!

After a few busy and stressful days, the stuff of a lifetime was sorted into "toss" and "take" piles as they prepared for this momentous journey. At one point, I did hear Joel say...I think maybe to himself..."I have to get used to the fact that there is no more traveling light." What a smart young man my daughter married!

By Wednesday around noon, their lives fit into that big orange box...okay, and two cars. And this morning, they walked into their first home together, a little one bedroom apartment in California. How exciting! Now it's time to start living outside the box!

Thirty Years Together

2011-04-25T05:47:00.000-07:00

Bud,

Thirty years ago today you slipped a simple gold ring on my finger and it has never left my hand since that day. With the following words, I also gave you a simple gold ring:

"Bud, I love you and want to be your wife. I look forward to the years ahead and will try to make your life happier and more complete by sharing with you both the good and the bad. I will seek to build our marriage upon Christ's example of marriage to the church by honoring and respecting you. And with our Lord's help, I will try to always bring honesty, sensitivity and a sense of humor to our relationship. As a pledge that I will faithfully keep these vows, I give you this ring."

Thirty years. Two rings. A love that has grown deeper with each passing year. When I look back over our life together, I realize how abundantly blessed we have been. And while I cherish what has been, I look forward to what lies ahead...with you.

I love you,
Laura

Easter Morning; A New Story!

2011-04-24T09:40:00.000-07:00

Luke 24: 1-6

"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them,"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!"

A new story began that day. Christ conquered death and made a way for sinful people to be reconciled with a holy God. A new story of new life that continues today! Alleluia!

Good Friday

2011-04-22T04:38:00.000-07:00

Luke 23:44-46 says:

"It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the nineth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.' When he had said this, he breathed his last."

But the story continues...stay tuned.

Transformation

2011-04-20T17:40:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how great friends and family, and a few hours of hard work can transform a reception hall and church!

The blank slate

The bride looking a little excited!

What great friends to brave the heights!

Making puff balls for the ceiling

Starting to take shape

Waiting for some food and guests.

J and E for the bride and groom :)

Wish the stained glass windows showed up better!

The altar...where the important business took place

The wedding toast!

Thanks to everyone who gave so much to make this day special. You blessed us beyond measure!

In The Blink of an Eye

2011-04-17T11:23:00.000-07:00

Dear Elizabeth,

You did it! Yesterday your dream came true as you married your best friend and love. And I've never seen you so radiant, you simply glowed! The love and joy on your face, as you looked at Joel, was heart stopping.

Watching you standing there, the most gorgeous bride, my heart nearly burst with love for the beautiful woman you have become. But your beauty doesn't simply come from a stunning gown or stylish hair, it comes from the very heart of who you are.

I am so grateful to have had the joy of watching my delightful little girl grow into this precious woman whose heart is, and always has been for others. You have never been just about yourself.

One day when you were about four or five, you were watching a bird out of our dining room window. After quite a while, you came to me in the kitchen and asked in the most serious voice, "Mommy, do birds wonder?" In amazement, I realized what a sensitive soul you had.

That same sensitivity has guided you through all the relationships of your life. I know that I could ask any one of the scores of friends that you have had over the years, and they would all say that they have benefited from your giving, caring heart. You have always offered love to others without counting the cost to yourself.

But sometimes that love has cost you deeply and has changed you forever. When God called you to go to Ukraine to serve the children in one of the orphanages there, you had no idea just how much it would cost you. But you returned with a broken heart over the hopelessness and despair for the future of those children.

Today, your heart remains broken. However, you have allowed that pain to change the direction of your life and are now committed to making a difference as God leads you in the future.

Elizabeth, while your heart is beautiful, your humor is over the top! No one can spend much time with you without being sucked into your totally wacky, off the wall, unpredictable sense of humor. After all, your cousins used to take you along on their vacations as their entertainment!

Your sweet appearance is deceptive, so no one expects the zaniness that you can't keep inside for very long. Thank you for so much joy and laughter over the years!

Yesterday, all of these things and so much more, flooded my thoughts as I looked at you on your wedding day. It seems like all those years went by in the blink of an eye, bringing you to this special, sacred day. A sentimental part of me wishes that I could go back to the time when I was the center of your universe and had all the answers to your questions.

But the future is so exciting! These lyrics from the song "Follow Love" describe you and the path ahead so perfectly:

"I've got a heart that's full of dreams
and a little bit of crazy.
I can feel it pulling me to somewhere I have never been.
I'm packing up and leaving home,
To travel into the great unknown.
It's time, I have to go.

So, here's goodbye here's so long,
I must go and follow love.
I feel my heart moving on,
I must go and follow love.
Carry on while I'm gone.
This is what I've been dreaming of.
I miss you so.
But I must go, go and follow love."

So go, dear girl. Follow those dreams with your wonderful new husband. But never forget that I'm here cheering you on and always will be.

All my love,
Mom

Life Moves On

2011-04-12T20:02:00.000-07:00

The past couple of months have been a bit of an emotional roller coaster ride for me. I look at my life and realize how crazy it's been. But, for the most part, it's been crazy in the sweetest possible way.

It was just two months ago yesterday that I became a grandma. That special title has yet to fully sink in. However, I am nearly giddy every time I get to hold my sweet little girl. Ella. My granddaughter. Ella. My baby's baby (warning: this is where the emotions kick in!). My heart melts every time I hear my son, David, talk about "his daughter." And I blink back tears when I see the darling look of concentration on her face when he starts talking to her and she immediately focuses her attention on her daddy. Her daddy; my son. Life moves on.

Today, my daughter and I picked up her wedding dress and veil and I watched as the hairdresser did a "dry run" hairdo. When she pinned the veil into Elizabeth's gorgeous, thick hair I realized again that this is really happening. My baby is getting married in four days. In four days, my daughter will be Joel's wife. Once again life moves on.

When I think about how quickly my children became adults, I'm grateful for those fleeting years that I had with them... for the joys, the struggles, the lessons that were taught and learned. And I'd like to say, that if you are in the early stages of this wonderful journey, drink deeply of this moment and savor it... for life moves on.

What's In a Name?

2011-04-09T19:17:00.000-07:00

What's in a name? Well, for me, it's a lot more than just a collection of letters. I discovered this nearly 30 years ago when my husband and I got married. I was surprised to realize how difficult it was for me to give up my maiden name and take on a new last name. It wasn't that I didn't want to share my husband's last name. But that name simply wasn't me!

I had spent the first 28 years of my life as part of a family with a strong, proud history and my last name was my badge of belonging. In giving up the name, I felt like I was losing my identity. I have never been into the whole hyphenated name thing, so that wasn't an option and it just seemed too complicated to have different last names in one family. So I changed my name and over time, my identity has encompassed both names and families which leads me to the purpose of this post.

Next week, my daughter gets married and is changing her name. No big deal, right? Except for me, it kind of is. Maybe it's part of that whole identity thing again just mutating into a different form. She's part of "us" and if you change her name, then she isn't anymore. Well, I know that's ridiculous! But I am struggling with this.

And to make it harder, she doesn't have the slightest problem with changing her name. What? How can she be my daughter? She's suppose to feel all sentimental about her family history, and losing her identity blah, blah, blah. Nope, apparently not even a lick of regret. Just excitement. I mean, that sounds so well adjusted and everything.

So, next Saturday when my son, who is doing the marrying, presents "Mr. and Mrs. ______" to the congregation, I'll probably be the only one muttering her "real" last name under my breath. :-)

200!

2011-04-07T21:17:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, November 30, 2008, my daughter coaxed me into writing a blog! That was my first post and this is my 200th post!

Pretty exciting? Probably not for anyone but me. But I have come to thoroughly enjoy the creative process of putting my thoughts, feelings and experiences out there into the great unknown, wondering if anyone is reading them, and trying to pretend that it doesn't REALLY matter if they are or not. That it's the creative process that counts!

Well, that's a lie. It does matter to me. While I do enjoy the writing, I also enjoy the feedback from friends and strangers alike. It feels wonderful to feel connected to the world... on my own terms... through the written word.

It matters to me that I might offer a word of help or encouragement, or a moment of laughter to another person. It matters to me that, in return, I get to call complete strangers "friend" as I get to know them through their writing.

It's a wonderful thing, this world of blogging. It keeps my heart and mind seeking and searching for the next idea that I want to share. Which leaves me wondering, what will post number 201 be about? Stay tuned...

In Training!

2011-04-02T19:06:00.000-07:00

Exactly two weeks from right now, my daughter will be a married woman. And I will be walking around in three and a half inch heels that I bought with such confidence last summer and now look at with trepidation. At least I hope I will be walking in them.

Here's the problem. I was so taken with these expensive, high heels which match my wedding outfit perfectly, that I went back to the store three times before I could justify to myself that I really did need to buy them. Finally, after spending a bundle on gas driving back and forth to the mall, I spent another bundle on the shoes which have sat in their box for months now, just waiting for the big day. They really are cute (you can take a peek here). But they're also really high...at least for a flats-lover like me.

Nothing shouts "stylish" like
a pair of high-water sweats
and heels!

So with only two weeks to go till the wedding, I can no longer put off the inevitable. It is time to go into training (queue the Rocky theme here)! That's why I am sitting at my computer wearing my sweat pants and heels. And so far, they feel great! But I'm just a tiny bit apprehensive about how they'll feel when I actually stand up and start walking...assuming I can stand in them and walk.

I would just like to be able to walk up, and back down the aisle of the church with some class. If I can keep my ankles from wobbling and the shoes on my feet for that short time, I'll be happy. After that, it's all good because I've got Plan B which comes in the form of a pair of nice comfy flats I plan on slipping into on the way to the reception.

But who knows, maybe after two weeks of high heel training, I may discover that heels are the new me. I may even get so good at walking in them that I can wear them if I have to go job hunting in the near future. But don't worry, I promise that the sweat pants won't be part of that ensemble!

A Good Reminder...

2011-04-01T23:33:00.000-07:00

I love this song. It helps put those irritating joy-stealers of everyday life into perspective!

God's Sovereignty

2011-03-27T19:24:00.000-07:00

These days, I have to keep reminding myself that the executives at my workplace may be making decisions about who they will layoff in the next few months, but they are not in control of MY life. I frequently have to remind myself of that, because it doesn't always feel that way. That's the funny thing about feelings...they often lie.

It doesn't matter how safe and secure I might feel or how at risk and vulnerable my job seems, God is sovereign and He is in control of what will happen in the days ahead. He is in control. No one else. Just God.

But since my feelings like to mess with what I know to be true, it's wonderful when God brings me a reminder of His faithfulness and power. He did that for me today when I read this blog by Pastor Ray Noah. If you're like me and sometimes struggle with concerns about what lies ahead, take a moment to read these wonderful words of assurance.

God is sovereign. He is in control. And no decision made behind closed doors has the power to change the path that He has lovingly set before me. And the best part? He's promised to walk that entire path with me. I won't be going it alone.

Dancing With The Who...And I Don't Mean The Band!

2011-03-22T19:19:00.000-07:00

This won't take long. I promise.

I admit that I used to be a fan of "Dancing with the Stars." In the early seasons, I even had a couple of friends who faithfully came over to my house to watch with me. I also admit to having actually voted for Mario Lopez in season three. C'mon, I loved those dimples and the guy can dance!

But for the last several seasons the use of the term "stars" has been pretty questionable. And when they began advertising for this season, I found myself saying "Who?" with nearly every name they threw out there.

So last night I thought I'd watch just long enough to find out who these people were. However, when I discovered that one of them was a Disney character...okay, was on the Disney channel, I figured I could move on. Which I did.

Instead, I spent a lovely hour and a half watching the Masterpiece Theatre's presentation of Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility." And for some reason, it didn't bother me a bit that I didn't know who any of the stars were in that show. Go figure!

The Grandma Secret

2011-03-19T21:21:00.000-07:00

I experienced the grandma secret first hand today. For years all of my friends who already have grandchildren have been telling me that being a grandparent is even better than being a parent.
I figured I'd just have to wait and find out for myself. And today was the day.

My husband and I did our first official babysitting for Ella. I had told our son that if he and our daughter-in-law wanted to go on a date, we would be more than willing, yes, even excited to come babysit Ella. So they took the plunge and left her in our care so they could take in a movie.

When we arrived, they both apologized, saying that Ella had been fussy all morning. She was in bed, and they were hoping she would go to sleep since she hadn't napped all day. A little confession here...I was hoping she wouldn't go right to sleep. Afterall, we hadn't come over just to have our precious girl sleep away the hours in her bedroom, out of sight.

I needn't have worried. Just as they were getting ready to leave, Ella started crying and my daughter-in-law gave me the nod to go ahead and pick her up. She didn't have to tell me twice.

After sending Mom and Dad off to the movies, I settled into a little grandma time. In a matter of minutes, I had Ella soothed and dozing on my lap. She would drift off to sleep for a moment and then startle herself awake. Finally, she settled into a deep sleep, with me mezmerized by every expression on her face.

That's when I understood the grandma secret. As I sat there with her stretched out on my lap, I took in every detail about her sweet face. I was bewitched by her mouth with its lower lip outlined with a thin crust of dried milk and her upper lip meeting in delicate matching peaks. Her eyes would glide behind lightly veined lids as she watched some unknown sleeping scene. I loved how her feathered brows would be drawn down into deep furrows of concentration only to relax again the next moment. And then there would be a soft, stuttering sigh as she settled once more into peacful sleep.

I watched all of this play out over and over again for an hour and a half, and not once did I think that I should get up and try to get a load of clothes done or pay a bill, or start a meal. Of course, I wasn't at my own house, but even if I had been, those thoughts would never have entered my mind. Why? Because I'm the grandma, and I know that those things can wait. I know that they must wait because my time with this precious child is limited. She will go in and out of my days like a butterfly, here for the moment, then off again before I know it.

So that's the grandma secret. When I'm with my grand daughter, I'm allowed to give her all of me and not feel one ounce of guilt. Let the dishes pile up and dinner be late, Ella gets my time and I won't be rushed.

Laughter

2011-03-18T19:40:00.000-07:00

I was straightening up my desk a bit before leaving work this afternoon. As I sorted through the stack of paper scraps where I have written down inspirational sayings and Bible verses to help me through my day, I came across one that made me smile...not an easy thing to do these days as layoff preparations are at the forefront of everyone's mind.

It's from a little book called "Everyday Hope" by Debora M. Coty and it goes like this:

"Laughter is to hope as nonstick cooking spray is to a shiny new muffin tin: It keeps the goo from sticking."

Somedays, it feels like we are drowning in goo. So three cheers for those moments of laughter that keep hope alive! May they remind us that there is life beyond the goo!

Just Hanging Out with Beth Moore!

2011-03-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was really all about weddings for my daughter, Elizabeth. After having her own bridal shower in the afternoon, Elizabeth hosted the bachelorette party for her best friend, Katie, who is getting married this Sunday. It was a quick switch from bride-to-be to maid-of-honor, but she pulled it off just fine. As a matter of fact, the evening turned out to be even more special than she could have planned!

Since the girls for the bachelorette party were coming from different areas, they were all going to meet up at a Starbucks in downtown Tacoma before heading off to the restaurant. At 5:57 p.m. (I just checked my phone) I was blogging when I received a text from Elizabeth that said "We are talking to Beth Moore right now." I responded back "What? MY Beth Moore?" I didn't believe her until by phone buzzed again, and there was a picture of Elizabeth and friends with Beth's arm around her!

For those of you who don't know who Beth Moore is, let me explain. She is one of the most dynamic Bible teachers around. She has a heart for women's ministry, and has written a ton of wonderful Bible studies that usually include a video component so you really get to know Beth. And what a joy that is! Beth is an absolute on-fire Christian who loves the Lord with all of her heart...and is an absolute hoot! She is a Southern gal who loves fashion, big hair and all of her "Siestas." After having done numerous Beth Moore Bible studies over the years, I feel like I know her personally (hence the "MY Beth Moore" comment!).

And on this particular weekend, Beth was holding a Christian women's conference at the Tacoma Dome. After the event, Beth and her gang just happened to be hanging out at Starbucks when they saw Elizabeth and her gang walk in. When they saw Katie sporting her little bachelorette veil and sash, they had to make their acquaintance! Check out Beth's account on her blog. (Be sure and scroll all the way to the end of the post to see the picture of Beth with all the girls.)

I guess I sound a little starstruck here! But the truth is, in the world of women's ministries, Beth Moore is a rock star in my book! Not to mention the fact that Beth was lucky enough to make the acquaintance of my daughter and her fabulous friends! I'm pretty sure that Beth would agree with the last statement. She's just that sweet!

Here's to the Bride-to-Be!

2011-03-13T16:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was bridal-shower-day at my house! My daughter-in-law, Monika, hosted an absolutely lovely, fun family shower for my daughter Elizabeth. While small and intimate, the aunts, cousins and a couple of next generation babies managed to celebrate the upcoming nuptials with plenty of food, and laughter. We even managed to lose our stick-in-the-mud-no-shower-games reputation and became fully involved in a couple of fun games.

Monika and Elizabeth digging in!

Elizabeth with Aunt Martha and Niece Ella :-)

When it was finally time for gifts, Elizabeth did an excellent job of making her way through tissue paper, gift bags and a ribbon here and there. And the pile of housewares that appeared, had me picturing her setting up her own home. Soon!

Next step...THE WEDDING!

Elizabeth in veil number one...a story for another day!

In Control

2011-03-12T19:20:00.000-08:00

I was having a difficult time in my quiet time yesterday morning. Life is on edge these days.

I work for a public agency that needed a tax vote to pass last month in order to continue operating at our current level. It failed. And now we face extensive service cuts and layoffs sometime between now and October. It's a very real possibility that I will lose my job along with the necessary health benefits my family needs.

I believe that God is true to His word and will never leave us or forsake us. I also believe what Scripture says about the trials that we will face in this life. As Christians, we shouldn't look to be spared from pain and struggles, rather we should expect them to come to us. But in the midst of those trials, God has promised to be faithful to us. Some days, these promises are easier for me to step out on than others.

Yesterday, I was battling anxiety about the future. I prayed for peace-- for some very clear sign that God was still in control of my life and the lives of those I love.

As I got up to finish getting ready for work, I turned on the morning news and headed into the kitchen to fix breakfast. That's when I heard the alert for "breaking news" and heard what had happened in Japan.

I felt my stomach drop as I tried to take in the tragedy that was unfolding on the television. Complete and utter devastation. Suddenly I felt the apprehension rise, as in my mind, my town, my home were superimposed over those images of destruction. I live along the San Andreas fault, and we are always hearing, "It's not a matter of if, but when the big one will hit."

With my mind already in a dark place, this added darkness was almost more than I could bear. I didn't want to deal any more; I simply wanted to pull the covers over my head and hide out. But I knew that wasn't an option. I had responsibilities. I had to keep going. So I got in my car and headed to work.

I had only gone a couple of miles when the sun started to come up. All week long, we had been battered by heavy rain and strong winds, but this morning, the skies were clear. As I headed up the hill, a bright light to my left caught my eye. I turned my head to look, and there was the most glorious pink and orange sunrise! Tall fir trees stood in dark silhouette against the color drenched sky.

And that's when I heard God speak to my heart, telling me,"Laura, I am still in control. I made the sun rise this morning, just like every morning since the beginning of creation. And no matter what is going on in your life, or in this world, it is under my control." With grateful tears stinging my eyes, I turned my face toward the road ahead and kept going.

I know that I will still have moments of fear and apprehension. I know that this world will continue to spin to its seemingly devastating conclusion just as Scripture has foretold. But I also know that none of it will happen outside of the Creator's control. None of it. And having trusted my life to the One who controls it all, I'll keep going "in the midst of everyday trials and triumphs."

Report Card Day!

2011-03-09T19:44:00.000-08:00

Today was report card day for me on two fronts. First, I went to the dentist and second, I had my performance review at work.

Before I go any further with this, let me just explain something about me (this is where my friend, Missy, is gong to laugh). When I was in school...all the way through school...I was all about getting good grades. I was a shy kid, so nobody noticed me. I stunk at sports so nobody noticed me. I was an average musician, so nobody noticed me. But when it came to my grades, I made it happen. Not that I'm brilliant or anything, I just worked really, really hard at getting good grades because that's where I found an identity.

Well, today, I realized that I'm still kinda into "good grades," even if it's only from the dentist's office. You see, all my life, I've had to listen to hygienists scrape away at the plaque build-up on my teeth while they quickly swoosh away the blood that flows freely from my injured gums. It's embarassing and upsetting seeing as how I'm a faithful flosser/brusher. It's not like I ignore dental hygiene, it's just that my mouth is a breeding place for plaque apparently.

But during the past few years, I've really taken this problem seriously. A couple of years ago I went out and bought an electric toothbrush when the hygienist suggested it could help. Last year I started using those little brushes they make for braces, to massage and work my gums so they wouldn't bleed. I mean, I'm putting in the time!

So, when I showed up today for my dental appointment and discovered that I had a new hygienist, I wondered what new gadget she was going to recommend. But to my surprise and absolute disbelief, she did her little gum test thing and then told me that she wished everyone's mouth was as good as mine. What? Did I hear her correctly? When I confessed that I struggle with plaque, she told me that I was doing a great job! And when the dentist came in, she gave a glowing report about my mouth to him. I couldn't believe it! I floated out of that office with healthy gums, shiny teeth and a giant "A" on my mental dental report card!

Then, I headed to the office. Today was PERFORMANCE EVALUATION DAY. It wasn't a surprise or anything. My boss and I have been working on it for several weeks and it was on our calendars to meet at 11:30 this morning. But still, this is a new boss. You may remember that about six months ago I shared that my boss had been laid off and our work group had been taken over by another group. So the past months have not been easy, but I have worked hard to develop a good working relationship with my new boss and to move forward.

There really weren't any surprises in my review, since I had basically written it myself, and my boss had simply put it into the official format. But in a couple of places, she had added her own observations and comments, and they were positive. That made me feel really good, because I work hard to be a good employee and this has been a really, really difficult year. For one thing, she said I've shown "tenacity." Tenacity! I like that. No one has ever said that I have tenacity before. No one. And the rest of her comments were very complimentary as well.

When I walked out of her office I felt appreciated and like we had a better understanding of each other. It hasn't been easy due to our situation, so it was very positive. It kind of felt like I had just gotten straight A's!

Peace

2011-03-06T19:14:00.000-08:00

Peace. Some days it's hard to find. Some nights it's even harder to find. But God has promised us His peace when we turn to Him.

Tonight it is His peace that I yearn for, because none other will do. Tonight, I will take Him at His word.

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27

Why Am I Here?

2011-03-05T20:55:00.000-08:00

"Why am I here?" It's a deep question and one that all of us will ask at some point in our lives. Some try to avoid it... quickly brushing past it, but the truth is, one day each of us will find ourselves standing in front of an open cupboard or refrigerator, with a bewildered look on our face asking "Why am I here?"

I used to think that I knew where I was going in my life. No more. These days, I turn up in a room and can't for the life of me figure out why I went in there. I try the old retrace-your-footsteps-trick and sometimes, I when I get back to where I started, inspiration hits and I remember why I went into the other room. Other times, I just get back where I started and can't remember why I was going into that room.

The absolute worst time for this little mind game is when I'm trying to make my grocery list. I'm a planner. So every Thursday night, I make a weekly menu and from that, I make my grocery list. A little aside here, but when my kids were still had home, I used to drive them crazy every Thursday asking them "What do you want for dinner this week?" They hated it and I hated the fact that they never, ever gave me any ideas.

Now, what was I saying? Oh yeah. So I make my grocery list from the ingredients that I'll need for the dinners I've planned for that week. That means I pull out my recipes, that come spilling out of a dilapidated old file folder, in order to figure out what I need to buy. Do I still have a jar of spaghetti sauce in the cupboard (don't judge me... yes, Prego and I are good friends)? I think so, but I'd better go check.

And there I am. Standing in front of the cupboard asking, "Why I am here?" I wait a few seconds... rearrange a couple of items in on the shelf before admitting defeat and heading back to my menu to figure out why I went into the kitchen. Soup? Tuna? Oh, that's right, spaghetti sauce! Then it's back to the kitchen again.

Some nights it takes me a really long time to finish my grocery list. But the good news is, I'm getting my exercise like the doctors are always harping about!

Framily

2011-03-02T20:31:00.000-08:00

Dear Paul and Martha,
Can you believe that it's been ten years since we began this wonderful friendship journey? Who could have imagined that a night spent ferrying a group of senior citizens to the ballgame would have cemented this friendship we have now shared for a decade! But what a joy!

Tonight, I stopped by to give you my love...and a picture of us...while you finished packing up your home in preparation for a new chapter in your lives. And I couldn't help but think of all the wonderful times we have shared over the years. So much laughter, so much love, so much support. There have been barbecues and birthdays, movie nights and Valentine dinners.

But most important of all there has been fellowship...deep, deep fellowship that has brought comfort in difficult times, joy in happy times, and communion in a shared faith. And nothing is more treasured than that.

I'm not sure when it happened, but somewhere along the way you went from being friends to family. So, that means that once you are settled in your new home in quiet Idaho, we will be claiming the guest room from time to time. Or would that be the "family room?"

Either way, we aren't saying goodbye, just "see you in a while." And have the coffee brewing when we get there, okay!

Go Ahead and Laugh!

2011-02-27T12:02:00.000-08:00

You have my permission. Go ahead and laugh at what I'm about to share with you. I know it's ridiculous and speaks volumes about what a dinosaur I am when it comes to technology (something I have admitted here several times before), but I am so thrilled because I am sitting at Starbucks, sipping my free birthday caramel macchiato and typing this blog on my laptop! Did you catch that? I'm at Starbucks, and I'm using their free wifi, which means I figured out how to do it all by myself!

For years now, I have watched all these computer savvy people typing away on their laptops and so wished that I could do the same. Then, Starbucks finally started offering free wifi and I knew I had to do it!

So I'd ask my husband, son and daughter just how I would go about signing onto the internet from the cozy confines of a coffee shop. The answer was always vague...something about clicking on a little icon at the bottom of my screen and then selecting the right icon for the connection. Really? Come on, people, I need precise, step-by-step, concrete directions preferably WITH diagrams.

Finally, I realized that wasn't going to happen. So, today after church, with my free birthday drink coupon burning a hole in my pocket, I gathered up my computer, my coupon, and my courage and headed for the nearest Starbucks. I decided that if I couldn't figure out how to connect, at least I could look at pictures of grand baby, Ella that are saved on my laptop. Who knows, someone might look over my shoulder and ooh and aah at what a beautiful baby she is...and she is.

But I did it! I'm in Starbucks and I'm typing a post! It's one small step for Laura, but one giant leap for...well, I don't know how to finish that, but I'm feeling mighty proud of myself! So go ahead...laugh. It's okay. I'm laughing too and it feels good.

By the way, you too can get a free birthday coupon from Starbucks. Just make sure that you register your gift cards at Starbucks.com and then they'll send you a coupon on your birthday along with other perks. That's kind of a techie thing to know, don't you think? Okay. Maybe not...

God's Perspective

2011-02-25T20:33:00.000-08:00

There are times when life just doesn't make sense. In those times, try looking at things from a different angle, a different perspective. And in the times when life seems especially dark, trust in God's perspective, for He sees the whole picture and it all makes sense.

Music...Then and Now

2011-02-24T21:18:00.000-08:00

I have no idea why this thought popped into my head this morning when I was in the shower, but I suddenly remembered the stereo that my parents bought when my sisters and I were in elementary school. Weird, I know! But thinking about it brought back such sweet, familiar feelings.

When my parents finally sprung for a stereo it was a BIG thing...in more ways than one. First, we didn't have a lot of extra money, so when they went out and bought it, it was a really big deal. This was an investment.

I was too young to really understand anything about this new purchase until they brought it home. However, I do remember how excited Dad was. He was throwing around terms like "mono," "stereo," "AM," and "FM" which meant absolutely nothing to us. My parents had also bought a very few albums so they'd have some music to play. Dad was so proud of how the music sounded coming out of that wonderful machine.

But, like I said before, this was a BIG thing in more ways than one..because IT was BIG. We're talking a full fledged piece of furniture that took up an entire wall. My dad was a lover of fine furniture, so it had to look good as well as sound good!

Yep, it was at least this big but wasn't such a contemporary style

But, as far as my sisters and I were concerned, the best part of this stereo was...the box it came in! For days, that box was the most marvelous toy. First, it started out as a playhouse. We cut doors and windows and hung curtains. There was a table with dishes and several baby dolls were napping in it at any given time.

When playing house lost its allure after several days, the box was tipped on its end and it became a rocketship. And from there, it was flopped back on its side once again and we simply rolled in it like a giant drum from a clothes dryer. Finally, our parents had enough of it filling up whatever room it was in, and it was carted out to the trash. But not before making many wonderful memories!

Yet, we loved the music that stereo played as well as the box it came in. We knew all the words to musicals like "My Fair Lady," "Camelot," and "The Sound of Music." We sang along with the folk sounds of "The New Christy Minstrels" and "The Brothers Four." And every Sunday morning, we listened to Tennessee Ernie Ford singing the good old hymns as we got ready for church.

But best of all, were the annual Christmas albums that Dad would pick up on his way home from work every December. Oddly enough, these were produced by Firestone Tires and Good Year Tires and they were wonderful compilations of different artists performing the classic Christmas carols. There have never been any Christmas albums quite like those.

It makes me a little sad when I think of how we get our music today. Sure, with headphones, you can listen to music while you are walking, talking, reading; in your bed, the office or at school. You can stick your little music machine in your pocket, your purse, or wear it on your arm.

Is she sure she's not getting her blood pressure taken?

But think about it. What can you do with the packaging that it comes in? Oh that's right...you can get a trip to the emergency room to stitch up the deep gash in your hand from the plastic clamshell package it came in!

A Friends Bouquet

2011-02-16T20:04:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, my friends at work threw me a surprise "Grandma Shower!" I thought my days of being the guest of honor at a shower of any kind were long since gone. But they managed to pull this off without me having the slightest hint that anything was up. And that wasn't easy since it was all set up and ready to go last Friday...the day Ella decided to arrive! So it was postponed and kept a secret for a few more days. It was so much fun and wonderfully thoughtful of each of them.

The decorations were wonderful. This was just one wall. Like my tiara?

What a great cake...even though it had to be frozen so it would keep!

Last night I sat down to write thank you notes for all of the wonderful gifts I had received. And I started thinking about each of these friends who had gone out of their way to make this very special event in my life even more special.

As I wrote each card, I thought about the "friendship history" that I have with each of these women. Some I worked with when I first started at my place of employment. Others I work with now. All have shared joyful and painful times with me. And each one has offered strength and love in her own unique way...a way that no one else could.

With every thank you card that I wrote, I realized how each friendship is unique and special to me, just like each flower in a mixed bouquet. And when I look at them all together, I see a "friends bouquet." And it is absolutely beautiful!

Ella Enchanting - Part Two

2011-02-12T19:35:00.000-08:00

Okay, so what kind of grandma would I be if I didn't brag just a little bit more about my precious granddaughter...and...post a picture of me holding her? That would be pretty lame.

So, after my second visit with Ella, I can tell you that she is even more beautiful in the light of day than she was in the soft light of evening! She has a full head of lovely dark hair, huge eyes, which unfortunately are very hard to catch open in a picture, and the sweetest little mouth. Her neck is incredibly strong and she holds her head up and looks around. I guess that means she is also very inquisitive and therefore, very intelligent!

I really don't know what else to say except that she is perfect. Yep, that pretty much sums it up! Perfect! So, now to the pictures. :-)

Ella and Grandma :-)

So sweet!

Look at that head of hair!

I know! Isn't she beautiful?!

Ella Enchanting!

2011-02-12T07:53:00.000-08:00

We're in love! Our little princess has arrived and she IS enchanting! While she took her sweet time making her appearance yesterday, she's worth every minute of waiting-room time that we spent in anticipation of her arrival.

Finally, at about 11:30 last night, Ella made her grand entrance into this big old world. Weighing in at 8 lbs, 12 oz and 19 and 1/2 inches long, she's a pudge-ball of sweetness. With ten family members stuffed into that hospital room, all wanting their moment with her, it was tough to get much hands-on time. But that will come later! For now, I have picutres...

By the way, I'm gonna rock this grandma thing! :)

Sweet dreams in Mama's arms! Ella is the spitting-image of her mom.

Proud Daddy!

Whistling Wizard

2011-02-08T19:20:00.000-08:00

Tonight I had a taste of what it's going to feel like when we finally get the call. The "call" meaning our son, David, is calling to tell us that our daughter-in-law, Monika, is in labor. Her due date is a week from today.

So tonight, I was at physical therapy, doing exercises for my whimpy knee when suddenly I heard the "Whistling Wizard" loud and clear from the cell phone next to me. That is David's ring on my cell phone. So when I heard the wizard whistling, my heart skipped a beat. The only problem was that I had put my phone on vibrate before I started my session.

Still, it took me a minute to realize that the cell phone I was hearing was in the woman's purse next to me instead of my own. Okay, brief moment of disappointment. But at least I've had my first taste of what it's going to feel like when the call comes. So, Mr. Wizard, anytime you want to start whistling is fine with me!

Happy Birthday!

2011-02-04T04:18:00.000-08:00

I would like to wish my husband, Bud, a very happy birthday! Did I just hear the whole blog-o-sphere send up a little birthday cheer?

It's wonderful to barely be in your fifties, isn't it, honey? *wink, wink* I hope you have a wonderful day... the birthday cake is waiting for you. Yum! Hugs and birthday kisses :)

A Little Bit of Panic!

2011-01-28T22:47:00.000-08:00

Last night was the first, of possibly many nights to come, where I lost sleep over my daughter's upcoming wedding. For some reason, I woke up in the middle of the night and my mind started churning out lists of things that suddenly needed immediate attention! My gosh, what have we been doing the past seven months? This wedding is only two and a half months away. Did you hear that? Two and a half months!

How do people pull together all of the details for an occasion like this? It certainly wasn't as complicated back when my husband and I tied the knot. We managed to get guests to our wedding by simply sending out an invitation. Nobody needed to get a reminder in the mail to "save the date."
And once we got the church booked, we were good. There was no search for the perfect "venue" for the reception.   No catering calls or need for DJs to keep the reception moving along. All we needed was a fellowship hall at the church, a cake, some mixed nuts (and I'm not referring to any of the guests), some pastel mints and we called it good.

But last night I started trying to figure out just how we were going to manage to get the church decorated, hold a wedding rehearsal, have a rehearsal dinner and decorate an entire reception hall all in an hour and a half. Okay...so there's a little more time than that, but in the darkness of night, it didn't feel like it.

And then there are all of the special details that need to be tended to for the reception. My daughter would kill me if I divulged details at this point, but last night the list seemed overwhelming. So much to remember; so easy to forget. The ironic thing is that my daughter has been doing a great job taking care of all these things. But what kind of mother would I be if I didn't worry myself sick over things that aren't my reponsibility in the first place.  And I'm very, very good mother!

I don't know.  I'm sure that, somehow, everything will come together just fine.  Brides...and mothers of the brides have been pulling off these events for years.  I may just need to stock up on a few sleeping aids to help me sleep like a baby. Baby? Wait a minute, I have a grandbaby coming any day now! Aw heck. I might as well just plan on worrying my way through the nights for the next two and a half months. Really, it's not that long.

Ordinary Heroes

2011-01-25T19:37:00.000-08:00

Ordinary heros. Perhaps that sentence is an oxymoron. We tend to think of a hero as someone who is larger than life, beyond the ordinary. But actually, the Merriam-Webster dictionary says that a hero is simply someone of great strength and ability. And recently, I've been sharing my space with people of great strength who are an inspiration to me.

On Friday night, my husband and I spent the evening with some friends from church. One of the women has a disease that, for the past few years, has been stealing her eyesight. It is quite likely that eventually she will be completely blind. So, on Friday, I asked her what she sees when she looks at me. My friend began to explain that, depending on the light, she mostly only sees outlines and shadows and light. She can no longer make out features clearly. I was stunned. While I knew that she was losing her eyesight, I didn't realize how bad it had become. Yet this friend of mine goes through her day with a graciousness and optimisim that I would find difficult to muster. I'm sure she has her moments of fear and loss, but her courage in facing her everday challenges inspires me. In my life, she is an ordinary hero.

I have a sister who has been in an emotionally abusive relationship for many years. But over two years ago, she decided that she wanted out. Unfortunately, it wasn't as easy as simply saying she was done. The manipulation and control that she had been under for so long, made it extremely difficult to just walk away. So she fought her way out. She sought counseling, she read and educated herself on the subject, she had many failed attempts to get out, but she didn't give up. This past fall, she put an end to a 22-year relationship that had stolen her joy and self esteem for too long. With the help of family and friends, she is starting over and her future is now filled with optimism. In my life, she is an ordinary hero.

I have a friend who went through a horrendous year last year. Along with caring for elderly parents whose needs are great and a constant demand on her time, she experienced the loss of a child. Not through death, but through the actions of that child who betrayed her love and shattered her heart. She finally had to turn her back and say "no more" because to do otherwise would only have contributed further to that child's downward decline. But as a mother, that decision was heartbreaking. Yet today, she chooses to see hope for better days in 2011. In my life, she is an ordinary hero.

These are not the only people of great strength in my life. I am fortunate to be surrounded by many others. Some are heroic in how they exhibit integrity, forgiveness, compassion or a determination to simply keep going in difficult situations. They are the blessings that encourage and inspire me each and every day, when I take the time to notice them. You might want to take a moment to recognize the heroes in your life too. I'm sure they are there, living ordinary lives in heroic ways.

David

2011-01-22T23:39:00.000-08:00

I hear you talk about taking childbirth classes. I read your blog where you give excellent advice about parenting, gleaned from observations from your years in children's ministry, and you speak about the kind of parent you want to be. I see the nursery that you and Monika have been working on for months now, ready and waiting for little Ella. You plan and prepare for the extra expenses a baby will bring.

And I know you are ready. As ready as any first-time parent can be. Because in a matter of a few weeks...maybe days...your life will be transformed.

That's when it will be hard for me to believe that this little guy, who first transformed my life, is a...

DAD!

Choices

2011-01-13T18:37:00.000-08:00

I heard this on the radio yesterday and have spent a lot of time thinking about it.

"Pain is inevitable; misery is optional."

It was shared by a woman, who while facing another difficult chemo treatment, heard this saying and decided to choose joy. And it changed her life.

These words are empowering and true.They are a reminder that no matter what we are facing, we have options. And those options come in the form of how we choose to face the pain and trials of life. It's my desire to start making better choices because I'd much rather live with joy than in misery.

A Triple Dose of MRIs

2011-01-12T21:01:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had an MRI. Well, to be accurate, I had three MRIs. It's what happens when you start getting old(er) and all the joints in your body start to protest for no discernible reason. Hence, the MRIs. One for each shoulder and one for my knee.

I've had an MRI before, but it was several years ago. I don't remember it being any big deal. A bit noisy but they let me listen to music and tucked me in all snug while the monster machine did its magic.

Fortunately, I'm not claustrophobic. But when the technician said it would take about an hour and a half, it did give me a moment's pause. The technician wasn't a bad guy, but he really wasn't all that warm and fuzzy either. He whipped through his instructions on how to undress/dress and then position myself on the MRI machine for the first go round. As he handed me a tiny pair of earplugs, he said the first two sessions on my shoulders would each take 20 minutes and that I had to remain absolutely still. I quickly shoved the earplugs in my ears and off we went.

Did I mention that I'm not claustrophobic? Because I did have to remind myself of that, as I was slowly fed into the tiny cannon-like opening where the ceiling was only a few inches from my nose. All I'm saying is it would have been an tight squeeze for Cyrano de Bergerac. So I figured it was best to just close my eyes and think of other things. Which I did until the first explosion happened.

Okay, it wasn't really an explosion, it only sounded and felt like it in my right ear. My first reaction was to reach up and push that tiny little earplug in farther...which of course, I couldn't do. Remember, I had to "remain absolutely still." The first explosion was followed by the incessant pounding of a jackhammer (or maybe it was a machine gun being fired) and then some obnoxiously loud clicking noises. After that, there was a lull.

That's when I knew I needed a distraction if I was going to get through this thing. Think about something else. Focus. But all I could focus on was how dang cold my feet were. Somehow during the technician's instructions on undressing I missed the fact that I could have left my socks on! Oh well, a little late to be worry about that.

What else could I think about? Bible verses! I've been memorizing Bible verses since I was a little girl. What an excellent time to review them in my head. Wait a minute! I know that I know more than four Bible verses! I won prizes in Sunday School for scripture memorization. C'mon, think! Panic...you see with my family history, it's not good when you start forgetting things that you've always known. I mean, was I even going to remember how to get home once this was over?

That's about when my little bed gave a jerk and suddenly moved a bit. And then the noise began all over again. This same cycle when on for twenty minutes during which time I fought the urge to cough, sneeze, scratch and hiccup. Why my throat began to close up while I was in there, I'll never know, but I swear, that for awhile, I couldn't swallow or breathe.

At one point, I heard the technicians voice come through a little speaker asking if I was okay. When I told him, yes, he immediately said that I had about 11 minutes to go and then he was gone and I was left to pass those 11 minutes as best I could.

When the first MRI was finally over, the technician came in all business-like and shifted things around on the machine to start on my other shoulder. That's when he told me that they don't usually schedule so many of these at one time because people have a hard time staying still for that long. Couldn't he have told me that after the last MRI instead of after the first one when I still had two more to go?

So we repeated the process on the second shoulder. But this time when I came out of the machine, I was deaf. No kidding. When Mr. Technician started talking to me, I could barely hear him over the ringing in my ears. That lasted all last night and into this morning. It's finally gotten better, although I still hear a humming in my ears when everything else is quiet.

During the third MRI, which was on my left knee, I was so cold that I could barely keep from shivering. The only thing that kept me still was the fear that I would mess up the MRI and they would have to do it over and then they'd charge me for another one. I'd already freaked myself out over how much all of this is going cost. I finally just resigned myself to living retirement on the streets.

So now I wait. I'm hoping that the MRIs will reveal something minor and easy to fix in both my shoulders and my knee. So far, anti-inflammatories and physical therapy haven't done it. I moan and groan and hobble around and think that I'm too young for all of this. And now, thanks to the MRIs I'm also going to need a hearing aid!

Stress Be Gone! Time for a Little R&R!

2011-01-08T19:40:00.000-08:00

I got a text from my daughter today that said, "I have my slippers on and I'm lying under a big blanket on the couch. I plan to stay like this most of the day and I'm REALLY excited about it." I texted back my enthustastic support!

It seems like lately, life has gotten crazy, and trying to find a little down time has become nearly impossible. Between increased stress at work and at home, I felt like I barely made it through the holidays. That's why I determined to take a couple of extra days off over the New Year's weekend. The thought of a few unscheduled days was what got me through some otherwise stressful times.

But it wasn't easy. It's hard to say "no." It's hard to not feel guilty about needing and taking some time for yourself. But I realized, that in the long run, everyone around me would benefit if I could just carve out a little down time for me.

I needed some time to not only rest my body, but also my mind. For too long now, my mind has been racing and stressing over all of the things that I'm responsible for, even when I can't to do anything about them...like in the middle of the night. What a waste of my energy!

Yesterday, my sister sent me this quote, "The greatest weapon against stress, is our ability to choose one thought over another." I loved that and it immediately reminded me of one of my favorite scriptures. Philippians 4:8 says "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things." It really is all about mind control, in the most positive sense.

I don't know how my life became this never-ending series of responsibilities. When did I lose the ability to simply rest; to immerse myself in the beauty of the moment without worrying about the next thing on my to-do list? I long for a slower-paced life where I take the time to cherish those things that are precious to me. It's up to me. No one can do it for me.

So, I'm working on getting better at choosing the thoughts that bring peace and rest. Combine those thoughts with a little guilt-free time reading on my couch while sipping a cup of coffee and life looks a whole lot better. You might want to give it a try too.

All Boxed Up and Ready to Simplify

2011-01-04T18:55:00.000-08:00

I took a day of vacation today and used a big part of it to take down and box up my Christmas decorations. I usually like to leave my decorations up just until New Years and then I want it all gone and my house back to normal.

But I was a bit slow to getting the packing done this year. However, as I was putting all of the decorations back in their boxes and bringing out my "normal" things, I suddenly was overwhelmed with the desire to clean out my house. I've been feeling it lately... an almost suffocating feeling of too much stuff!

So while I am not one to make New Years resolutions, this year, I really do hope to make some serious progress at cleaning out closets, drawers, boxes and any place else that is harboring stuff that I no longer need or want.

I feel almost giddy at the thought getting out from under all of this stuff. Not only am I ready to let go of things, but I'm ready to release some "traditions" that no longer have meaning for me or bring me joy. Instead, they fall into the category of "one more thing I have to do." Who needs that?

So, while I won't be renting a dumpster for my driveway (although I could probably fill one!), I am going to start doing little projects that will clean out and free up spaces in my house. I'm feeling more optimistic just thinking about it!

A New Year Ahead

2011-01-03T19:29:00.000-08:00

This morning, I was reading in the new devotional book that I bought on New Years Day. As I flipped through the 365 writings that I will eventually read throughout this year, I paused long enough to wonder what this year will hold.

We never know what events we will face as we start the journey into a new year. Looking back at what my life was like last year at this time, reminds me that change awaits me at every turn in the coming days. That thought brings a mixture of anticipation and apprehension because this past year has had some wonderful, joyful moments. Most recently, however, it has had its times of struggle and deep pain.

As I walk through the next 362 days, I expect to embrace joys as well as face struggles just as I have in years gone by. And by the time I have finish reading the final writing in my devotional for 2011, I'll have added one more chapter to my life. And it will have been as unique as each one that came before it.

In My Mother's Shoes

2011-01-02T11:20:00.000-08:00

The older I get, the more like my mother I become...especially in the area of shoes. My mother loved shoes!

Mom never bought cheap shoes because she knew the value of spending a little more and getting good quality. And she always got her money's worth out of them. Mom kept her good shoes in their boxes. The shelf in her closet was stacked with rows of boxes that housed her best shoes.

Wedding shoes!

Over the past few years, I've begun a love affair with shoes that would make my mother proud! The problem is, I like my shoes to be cute, but I also want them to be comfortable. And that's not always an easy combination for me since I have very narrow, boney feet.

I think I made an exception to my rule when I bought a pair of three-inch heels to wear to my daughter's upcoming wedding, but they were just too cute to pass up and they match my outfit perfectly!

I know lots of women think I'm being unreasonable in my shoe-buying demands since they are more than willing to sacrifice comfort for fashion. But I usually hold out for shoes that I can actually walk in. So that means that when I find a pair of shoes that I like and they actually fit (and they're on sale because as I've said before, I'm cheap), I better buy them or I'll end up regretting it.

So yesterday, my sister, Linda, and I hit the mall for a little post-Christmas shopping and I found TWO pairs of shoes that were cute, comfortable AND on sale. The first pair I was actually looking for. I've kind of re-thought the idea of walking around in three-inch heels all night long at my daughter's wedding and I've been on the lookout for a pair of comfortable flats that I can slip on for the reception. Yesterday, I found them...cute little black flats with bows on the toes that will be perfect for my tired feet. The second pair that I bought was totally an impulse buy. But I could just hear my mother say that they were such good deals...

Anyway, these shoes were made for walking and as I walk into a new year, I need to be walking away from all shoe stores for a while!

"Smart" or "Chicken"

2010-12-30T07:24:00.000-08:00

Well, here I am at my computer on a weekday morning when I normally would be at work. I'll get to that in a minute.

But for the moment, I'm just imagining what retirement will be like. Get up. Brew a cup of coffee that I can sip while catching the morning news. Check my email. Decide how I want to spend the rest of my day. Oh well, a girl can dream, even if it's not likely to happen for a long time!

The truth is, I'm at home waiting out the icy roads. We had a couple of inches of snow in my little town yesterday. And as much as driving in that freaked me out, I was a big girl and drove to work.

But then we had freezing rain baptize our house last night. And with temperatures nosediving into the 20s, I decided to take the weatherman's advice and stay put until a little later in the morning.

So here I am, having a leisurely morning before tackling the roads again and heading into the office. And I'm working hard to convince myself that it's because I'm "smart" instead of "chicken" that I'll be making this later commute. Right. I'll keep working on that one.

But in the meantime, I've already gotten two loads of laundry done and I'm lovin' that!

Destinations

2010-12-28T19:59:00.000-08:00

Do you ever hear a song on the radio that's played over and over again without ever really listening to the lyrics? And then, for some reason, a part of it registers with you and you realize what it's saying. That happened to me this Christmas.

One of the local radio stations was playing the song "Believe" from the Polar Express. I wasn't really paying much attention, when all of a sudden a line jumped out at me. It's a simple phrase but I absolutely love it and haven't stopped thinking about it. Are you ready? Here it is:

"Destinations, are where we begin again."

I know! It's deep. It's visionary. It's true! Life isn't just one long journey. Instead, it's a series of experiences, destinations, that we inhabit for a specific time and then begin again.

Think about a time when your life was consumed by a particular experience or person or a series of events. In those moments, it seemed like that was what your life would always be about. But eventually, life moved you past it. You reached the destination and then it was time for a new start.

I love the thought that, what we often think of as the end...the arrival...is really just the next beginning. We reach our destination. And then we pack our bags for the next chapter that's waiting to unfold.

Good Tiding of Great Joy!

2010-12-25T12:47:00.000-08:00

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2: 10-11.

So many years ago, the angel brought this message of salvation and hope to a group of lowly shepherds. The same message is ours today. May you know the great joy of these good tidings as we celebrate the birth of Christ today.

The Christmas Message and Facebook

2010-12-19T11:48:00.000-08:00

I'm not on Facebook. Nor do I have a Twitter account. I've never posted anything on YouTube. In fact, attempting to write a blog continues to be a technological challenge for me (as you can see by the fact that I couldn't get the video below to fit correctly!).

I have resigned myself to the fact that technology is here to stay and will continue to impact even more areas of our lives. But the truth is, I will always be riding on the last float in this technological parade, casting a longing glance over my shoulder at how things used to be.

That being said, I was so moved and impressed by this YouTube video that I found posted on Jessica's blog, at Muthering Heights and Other Senseless Sensibility, that I had to share it here.

While the church continues to debate the topic of how to remain relevant in an ever-changing world, I just want to offer the reminder that no matter how it is presented, whether from an angelic host, writings on a papyrus scroll or posted on Facebook, the message of the gospel is and always will be relevant and it does not change.

The world was in need of a Savior. And God in his boundless love offered his son, Jesus to come into this world as a baby and to die on the cross to save his people from their sins. That is the unchanging message.

But there is also an unchanging question. Do you know Him personally as your Savior? If not, now is the time accept God's offer of salvation. Then after you do, please post it on Facebook.