Who's Hungry??

I love baking cookies.  Oatmeal chocolate chip to be exact.  It's a recipe from my Aunt Rhoda and has been a food group all its own in our family.  Once when my nephew was a little boy and at our house I asked him if he wanted a cookie.

He replied, "What kind of cookie?"

"Chocolate chip!" I answered, since that is the only kind of cookie there really is.

"What kind of chocolate chip?" was his immediate comeback.  He was already wise beyond his years.  He knew there was only one kind of chocolate chip cookie really worth eating.  And I'm happy to say I did not disappoint!

I know this recipe by heart, but occasionally I have messed it up, especially when there are other people around and I get distracted.  There are two different ingredients that I have left out at different times...vanilla and salt.  Now when I think of cookies I don't think of them as salty, but it seems to me that vanilla would be a vitally necessary ingredient!  So, so wrong!  When I have left out vanilla the taste is altered very little, and no one would ever know I messed up.  However, only one time have I ever left out the salt!  The entire batch had to be thrown out.  They were completely horrible!!

I was so surprised because, again, when I think of ingredients that go into cookies, vanilla goes along with the others much more than salt.  That reminds me that God calls us the salt of the world.  Do we fit in?  Not really.  Are we on the most popular list of what makes this world interesting or exciting?  Not so much.

However, God sees us as absolutely essential to the world even now in its fallen state.  The world will never recognize our worth, but God knows that we offer a flavor without which the world would be an intolerable place.

I don't know about you, but that really encourages me.  The world doesn't have to understand our worth or realize what we offer.  We make a real difference just by being in the mix as we love and pursue God letting His life flow through ours!

TWINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep, that's what I said!  Megan and Greg are expecting twins in March!  It all seems quite unreal, and everyone in the family is very excited.  There is quite the debate between Bria and Emmy and Tre and Tru as to whether they will be boys or girls or one of each!  They all want to be in the majority between boys and girls when the final count is in.  Oskar is quite pleased that there are two babies in Mommy's belly and has learned their temporary names very well.  Not sure if I have permission to share those, however.  :)  At this point he quite sure they are boys...we shall see!

As for Jon and I, we are just thrilled and delighted whatever the combination, of course.  We are praying often for healthy babies and mommy, and we appreciate your prayers as well!  Also, we would love to hear your best tips if you're experienced in twins because this is all new to all of us. Hopefully, we can be a help and not just be in the way.  I'd appreciate tips on how to do that well, also.

Today football season started for the Melby household.  First games were in Arlington, NE and we rode out there on the motorcycle.  It was beautiful day, and both the boys won their game!  All the fresh air makes me feel like I could sleep for a week, but I don't suppose that can happen...:)

School started this week for both the Holthe's and the Melby's, and everyone seems to be off to a great start.  Emmy especially is excited with how things have started out!  The only hiccup so far is commemorated with a bruise on Bria's hip, but she's a tough kid...she can handle it!  :)

Stay tuned for further updates and check out the Devotions 1-10 page when you have time. Blessings to all!

A New Page

There's a new page listed above the posts named Devotions 1-10.  These are the first ten devotions in my book "Fringes of His Ways".  I plan on eventually getting all the devotions on my blog posting ten per page.  I hope they can help you in your search for the God who loves you so much. Many blessings....

Yancey

We've decided that we have an alpaca.  Why, you ask?  Why not?  He's smaller than a llama, and really pretty cute.  His name is Yancey.  If you'd like to see him, you may wait a long time...he's very shy.  Our kids haven't seen him yet, so they're considering having us committed.  Of course, they'll have to catch us first, and I don't think Yancey will let them take us without a fight.  He is very fond of us.  From now on anything that goes wrong (especially in the back yard) is Yancey's fault, but he's worth it.  After all, who else do you know who has an alpaca?

LIVING ON PURPOSE

I need to be more deliberate, Lord, in the use of my time.

So much can be wasted away on things that may seem important

at the time, but in the end they are meaningless.

Purpose.

I need to have purpose in the time that I call my own,

especially at this stage of my life when I have

more free time and soon, much more free time.

I need a plan.

Living life on purpose, that is the ideal you seek.  It is a worthy goal.  The pace of life today makes it nearly impossible for you, for anyone, to feel like they are in control of their time and activities.  There is a constant demand for your involvement everywhere you turn.  Add to that the onslaught of media, noise, technology, and entertainment, and there is almost no space left in your life and heart for that which brings peace and helps you know purpose.  I understand.

Even though many of these demands are unique to this era, I am still the same God who reigns over all and I have not changed.  It is still My plan for you to walk with Me in a powerful, life-changing relationship that bears fruit and spills over into rivers of living water for others.  All of this requires a heart that truly desires this relationship and a mind that is disciplined to stay focused.  This is a relationship that lives and breathes and is constantly nourished by My Spirit.  You, My child, will have to actively choose to listen and be sensitive to My voice while tuning out the countless distractions clamoring for your attention. 

As you walk by My Spirit moment by moment you will see purpose  and kingdom living unfold before you.  This life does not promote itself or vie for the attention of the masses.  It quietly invades your day and helps you see with new eyes, hear with new ears, and carry My life into the tailor-made spaces that you inhabit.  The purpose becomes a path of discovery that leads you to see My grace everywhere you look.  You begin to see people the way I see them and love them with My love.  You see My gifts in the everyday moments that fill your day, and in the giving of thanks your heart is raised to the heavenly places where you are truly seated with Me.

Your vantage point changes everything.  You must remember that you are placed in Me, secure, safe, protected, kept, and loved.  The only true vision you have is through My eyes; the only wisdom or understanding you can possess is from My heart; the only way you can hear the cries of the world around you is through My ears.  It is from here that you can pray with power and effectiveness.  It is from here only that you can evaluate whether you are living life well or being consumed by the culture around you.

Sit here with Me.  Be still.  And know that only I am the God who changes everything and everyone I touch. Live life on purpose with Me.

Hebrews 13:8; John 7:38; John 15:26; Galatians 5:22-26;

Ephesians 2:4-10; Psalm 46:10

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW

I've been struggling, Lord, to live as You would live.

I have been unable to get a grip on the reality of Your life in me

as my righteousness.

I've been living at the mercy of my feelings, and they can be relentless.

I know better in my head, but still wait for revelation from You

as to the reality of my life in the here and now.

You, My child, have been confused and that has led you to walk in ways that were never meant for you.  I established a covenant with Israel of old that promised them blessings abundant, primarily the blessing that I would be their God.  The condition of receiving these blessings was their obedience.  They were to listen to My voice and obey My commands.  Their faithfulness guaranteed that My blessing would follow, for, of course, I would be faithful to keep My part of the covenant.  They failed.  Miserably.  And every person ever born will also fail to hear My voice and give Me obedience.  Mankind is a fallen race and can never relate to Me in the way I created them to.  Yet that is still My heart's desire...an intimate relationship and communion with them.  Sin made that impossible.

Therefore, I sent My Son to die for all your sins and pay the penalty, clearing the way for a new covenant.  As a born again child of Mine you are a participant and beneficiary of that covenant.  It is My covenant not only with all believers, but with you personally.  Look at My word in Deuteronomy.

  "Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him." 

 Compare that to Jeremiah and Ezekiel.

 "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."  "And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances."

Do you see the difference?  In the old covenant man was to keep My commandments and thereby walk with Me and fear Me.  In the new covenant I, Myself, move into man writing My ways on a new heart and thereby causing him to obey.  The old way hinges on man's effort and ability to work up enough motivation and discipline to obey Me.  The new way rests on My Spirit giving man a new heart that longs to please Me and love Me and providing My very own power to follow through into obedience.

You, however, must choose which way you will live.  If you try hard enough I can guarantee that you will fail.  Every time.  If you relinquish your own efforts, knowing that they are futile, and choose instead to place all your faith in My promise to work all things I desire in you, I can guarantee a life lived, really lived, in the Spirit.  It will be a life of peace, victory over sin, comfort in all circumstances, wholeness, and holiness.  You will live the life you have dreamed of, humbly dependent and laying down your life in order to know Me.  And it will be effortless and full of joy...both yours and Mine.

This is the crowning jewel of My redemption, the mystery hidden from all the ages of time.  Not just that sins are forgiven and heaven awaits, but that I would live in you and through you even in this life and show Myself to the world as you live in it.  I wait for you.  Trust Me.

Deuteronomy 8:6; Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:27



Freedom

It's Memorial Day, a day when we are all reminded of how expensive our freedom is.  It has cost the lives of millions of men and women over the centuries, and it continues to be costly today.

In terms of our salvation we know that freedom for us meant Christ's death on the cross...the ultimate price paid by the sinless Son of God.  There is another level of freedom we are meant to enjoy as God's beloved children.  We should be living lives that are free from the entangling grip of sin tripping us up in our daily lives.  We know how we should live, so we redouble our efforts and try harder.  We hopefully come to learn that our own efforts are worthless and we need to depend on Christ's life in us to live as we should. 

There is an example in the history of Israel of this kind of daily challenge to trust the Lord.  As the people were being led to their new promised land they were fully aware of the promises that God had set before them of a land of freedom and provision far greater than they had ever known.  Yet as soon as they experienced hardships of needing water and craving familiar foods, they're first reaction was to say, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt?"  They actually preferred to return to lives of slavery and bondage rather than adapt to changes in their appetites and comforts.

Are we so different?  We like what we like, and we want what we want.    We proclaim that we will follow Christ as He leads us into freedom, but when we are made uncomfortable we have a real decision to make.  It requires a strong faith that God's way is higher than ours and true surrender of our own agendas to follow Christ into all He has purchased for us.  We will only be able to lay ourselves aside moment by moment if we remember how great His love for us really is.

Now Available--Email subscription

I hope you've all had a nice Memorial Day weekend!  Ours has been fun...seeing family, friends, and sleeping in, too!  There is a box on the right hand side of this home page where you can enter your email address to receive email notifications whenever I've posted something new here.  I hope that will be convenient for you; I know it's hard to keep up without reminders. 

Blessings on all!

To Move or Not to Move

Do you like to know the plan?  Are you uncomfortable with uncertainty and not knowing what to expect from day to day?  Me too.  Part of my reading this morning was Numbers 9 where the Bible tells about the tabernacle, when completed, was filled with God's glory.  By day the tabernacle was covered by the cloud, and by night by the appearance of fire.

 As long as the cloud and fire remained over the tabernacle, the camp stayed in place.  If, when morning came, the cloud had lifted, they broke camp and moved where the cloud led them.  That sounds very nice and all, but can you imagine living this way?  They never knew how long they would stay in one place...overnight, a few days, months, or a year or more.  Not much room for planning ahead or putting down roots.  You wouldn't be getting too attached to your surroundings. 

I'm not saying that we need to live that radical a lifestyle, but can we aspire to be open to God's leading day by day, moment by moment?  Can we begin to agree with Him not to move ahead without His direction, and to not hesitate when He shows the way?  Let's seek His heart and mind about how He would have us live every day, every hour, every minute.  He has had lots of practice and will be faithful to lead.

Arise, Shine

One of the passages I read this morning was Isaiah 60, and it starts with this verse..."Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you."  The words that grab my attention are arise and shine.

Arise...get up, stand firm, meet the situation, open your eyes, open your ears, take stock of your resources, determine your position. 
Shine...praise Him, trust Him, leave all your cares with Him, depend fully on His life, give freely, give fully, rejoice, give thanks, pray always, love others, bless others, reach out.

This is how we are to live.  We are to arise and shine.  Every day.  All day.  In every circumstance.  In every joy.  In every pain.  In every trial.  In every temptation.  In every sorrow.  In every blessing.  In every victory.  In every answered prayer.  In every uncertainty.  In every disappointment.  In every dream.

How easy it is to live in the pit of our own making.  We forget how blessed we are and wallow in self-pity or despair while the Lord waits for us to step into the life He has provided in His Son.  In Him we can indeed arise and shine in every situation we face.  Trust all that God has provided and rely upon Him.

I'm Back!

It's been a long time since I published a post, and I think the time has come for me to pick this back up.  I hope that these posts will be helpful and encourage you to seek the Lord more fully, and I hope that your input here will help me as well. 

We, all of us who love the Lord, are family.  We share His life, His Spirit, and His heart for the world around us.  I tend to forget sometimes that we are supposed to depend on and help each other, and I go day to day making it on my own.  Isolation is one of Satan's more effective weapons.  It's my hope that we can come together here in this small way and support and help each other as we live the lives He has called us to.

Check in from time to time and share encouragement, insight, and hopefully some laughter, too.  Here's wishing you a great start to a great week!  Many blessings!

MY LIFE OR YOURS

How do I know, Lord?  What are You saying?  How can I hear You more clearly?  Why do I ask the same things over and over?

 

You hear My voice, and then go your way.  You know My presence, and then fail to stay and partake fully of My life.  I am not just the lyric of a song or a satisfying thought you enjoy in the quiet moment.  I AM the only source of life to your soul.  I AM the next breath you take.  I AM the manna which is your only nourishment.  To be distracted from Me is to fall back on your own short resources and find them completely depleted within minutes.  The next temptation is all that is necessary to throw you headlong into chaos and defeat. 

Without Me you can do nothing.  Sounds familiar, does it not???  You know these truths, yet you rush ahead into your day and interaction thinking that knowing is enough.  Knowing truth in itself only creates arrogance and judgment.  Living in truth, practicing truth is what brings humility, dependence, and healing to your heart.  Only then are you a vessel that I can use to work outwardly into the lives of others.  The road you and I take together may be filled with people and activity, or it may be quiet and solitary.  That choice is Mine.  Whether many or few are ever influenced or touched is My sovereign choice, so give that absolutely no thought.

Live your life with the desire to please Me alone, and I will make provision for anything beyond that.  Love those in your small circle with fervent sacrifice and unwavering loyalty that always points them to Me so that they will be able to show My love to the world they encounter.  Let Me be forever the spring of every peace, comfort, gladness, and hope that grows in your heart.  Be fully assured of My unwavering purpose to have a living, vibrant relationship with you.  Exchange your self-life and all it entails for My life which abides in you by My Holy Spirit.  My life is the only life worth living, and I AM fully available to you at all times.

Purpose, vision, and creativity are found in Me.  I authored all that exists, and I am eternally unchanging, sustaining and creating forever wonders beyond your discovery or imagination.  Allow Me time and space and My life will always create beauty in everything I touch.  That is especially true of My dwelling place, your heart and life.  New life, living waters, streams of refreshing, beauty, peace, order, creativity, hope, gladness, rest, light, grace, mercy, pardon, and every good and wonderful thing you can think of come from Me and can be poured out through you, changing both you and the world around you in the process.

How will you respond?  How will you choose to relate to those around you and the world you inhabit?  Will you do your best, or will you let Me do My best?  I can do no less.

Acts 17:28a; John 15:4-6; 1 Corinthians 8:1-2; 1 Peter 1:22-23;

1 Corinthians 4:5-10; Hebrews 6:10-12; 2 Timothy 1:14; 1 Timothy 4:14-16;

Psalm 27:4; James 1:16-27

Little Things

I've been thinking a lot about obedience, Lord. It's the little things that You bring to my attention. I mean LITTLE things. Things that I can't begin to imagine make a difference, and yet You point them out to me and ask, "What are you going to do about that?" The only answer I can give You is that I will obey, but what troubles me is how much am I missing? I get so usesd to living my life and thinking my thoughts that I wonder if I'm listening to Your voice. How many little tings am I missing? I don't want to miss any, but I can be so blind and deaf that I probably run right over You, Holy Spirit, as you speak softly to my heart. Open my ears, clear my vision, make my heart tender to Your EVERY word.



I am so glad you heard Me. And I am so glad you obeyed. You are feeling the effects of obedience. It brings the blessings of tenderness and awareness to another level. You long more for intimacy and nearness, and you realize how very much I care about the way you live. You are excited to know that I will speak to you, and you can know what I am directing you to do. Hearing My voice often requires obedience in some very small thing. When I lay before you the choice to obey or to please yourself, there is much more at stake than the immediate options before you. If you choose to please yourself (or be true to yourself, as you might describe it), you diminish your ability to hear My voice. You have quenched Me, the Holy Spirit. The more you persist in this path, the fainter My voice will seem and the less you will sense My presence, power, and peace. This is all by design. Feeling far from Me is intended to bring you running to find where you have gone wrong. When you honestly seek Me I may again put a choice before you. On and on it goes.

The cycle breaks, however, when you recognize My voice and choose to obey. Then you hear Me more clearly and know My presence better as a real, active force within you. I do care about the many LITTLE things that you face every day, and if you will listen and obey moment by moment My voice will be clearer and stronger. Our intimacy will deepen, and your prayers will have more power because they will be according to My will for you and the world around you.

If you are walking in obedience you do not need to fear that you will not hear My heart. I will make My ways known to you and direct your path. You may not see far ahead, but you will have light step by step with your hand in Mine. Do not look for the bigger arena to practice obedience. Listen for My quiet voice in the moment where you stand and obey THAT. I will determine the impact and scope of your life as you stay quietly and firmly near My heart and walk with Me. It will be a life far beyond all that you can think or dream because it will be My life in you.

Psalm 119:1-3; 1 Peter 1:22; Ephesians 4:25-32; Jeremiah 29:13; Romans 6:12-13;
John 14:21, 23-26; John 15:7-11

We had a very nice Easter weekend with our family here on Saturday. We colored eggs, cooked food, hunted for eggs, and just enjoyed each other. I hope yours was wonderful, also. We've had cooler weather this last week, but some much needed rain and still very nice. We planted a lilac bush tonight and put out a pot of flowers by the front door. We have some smaller pots to fill another day. Thought for the day Spring. It brings new life, new growth, the miracle of resurrection recreated each year before our eyes. My heart is stirred fresh to seek the Lord in a way that allows Him to do new things in me. I feel the longing; I bring it to Him; I want Him to have His way. I have felt this before, but I lack direction. I don't seem to come away with a plan. Perhaps that is because plan is not what Jesus is after; He wants relationship. With me. I need Him. Fresh. New. Resurrection. What will it lead to? I have no idea, but it will be awesome. Give Him full access and let Him lead the way knowing that He does all things well. He will fulfill His purpose for my good and His glory. Thank You, Jesus!!!

Communion and Grace

We're getting new carpet tomorrow! When we started the building project a year and a half ago, Jon told me when we were done we could get new carpet OR wait till Logan died. Since both have happened, it's now time. We will finish clearing the room today, and can't help thinking of Logan...what a great dog she was!! Lots of great memories.
We took communion at church this morning and while we were encouraged to be completely silent and reflective, which is fine, I kept thinking of His words "do this in remembrance of Me". You know when we gather for a funeral or visitation, there is a lot of remembering going on. What would it be like to remember Jesus after He was "gone" with others who knew Him firsthand? Can you imagine the stories? The joy He brought? The laughter of shared friendships? The overwhelming desire to love and treasure each other the way He had loved and treasured them? We need fresh eyes to see Him present and alive and the source of all.

Thought for the day

My attention has been arrested lately by God's answer when Moses asked, "Who shall I say has sent me?" God answers, "Say, 'I Am has sent me. I Am is His name.'" What a powerful name! He is eternal, forever past, forever future, all-powerful, all-knowing, creator of heavens and earth and life. He holds all of creation and time in His hand, yet when asked His name, He says simply, "I Am". Right here. Right now. In this moment and in this place. In the realization of every need, every joy, every heartache, every pain, every tear, every gift...."I Am". How can we feel alone? How can we feel abandoned? How can He not be everything we could ever need? It's been a kind of adventure to just pick an ordinary moment, stop, and realize "I Am" really is present. It is amazing. All is wonder. All is grace.

What Was I Thinking

How long have I been blind? How could I not see this sooner? I've wasted years thinking that I need to find what You want me to do and be...the bigger plan for my life. I'm finding that You've been doing Your work all along without my awareness, and, unfortunately, without my enjoyment.

It is good to have you here. I have always been working in your life, bringing you to the life I have for you. Now it is time that you know it and cooperate with Me. Your life is no longer yours. It has belonged to Me for quite some time now, and that is why there are things that seem to go against your grain. You have failed to apply the truth that you have been crucified with Me and your life is no longer your own. You no longer have a right to your own preferences, plans, or personality. Your place is to be an empty vessel for Me to form, fill, and flow through.
Every moment comes to you from Me and is a gift, a grace of My love. Open your eyes to see the gift and your hands to receive the life and grace moment by moment. It is when you enter the moment, see My hand, receive My gift with thanksgiving and the miracle of My life in yours becomes a reality that bears fruit and results in joy. Learn to let everything I bring into your daily grind be an opportunity to see Me, thank Me, and commune with Me. Trust that each moment is the best of My sovereign plan and purpose for your life and My glory. Trust. Me.
Let go of your grip. I hold it all in My hand. Everything is grace and life as you receive it from Me. Let Me fill your life with Mine and just give thanks and rejoice. When things are hard, hold My hand, feel the nail prints, and see your name inscribed on My palm. Enter My rest and trust My love.

This Book, That Book

Hmmm. I've been rolling this around for a while now. Let's see if I can put it into words. If you know me well, you know that I love to read. And that I love to read books that challenge me, stretch me, lead me to God, and make me think.
What I've been thinking lately is that pursuing that sort of reading is a two-edged sword. I have been greatly encouraged and helped by SO many wonderful authors and books, but something is becoming more clear to me. God speaks to different people along different lines. If you are William Wilberforce or Abraham Lincoln the highest expression of your faith is to abolish slavery. A Dawson Trotman finds memorizing Scripture to be the bedrock of sustaining a walk with God. Mother Teresa finds God closest in giving herself away to the neediest she can find. The faith of Smith Wigglesworth finds expression in being an instrument of healing, while Joni Eareckson Tada extols the value of suffering with joy. Andrew Murray's works are often based on the truth of living in union with Christ. Ann Voskamp writes that giving thanks is the secret that undergirds all prayer and joy in this life. Hannah Whitall Smith sums up the happy Christian life in two words, surrender and trust. There are others whose entire focus is on worship and music as the gateway to His presence. Some minister to many through their powerful call to serious discipleship, while others use humor to show the face of God. E.M. Bounds brings all of life under the canopy of prayer at all times for all people. John Eldredge tells us to follow our heart in order to find our life, while others tell us we must lay our own plans and agendas aside in order to follow and obey God. Evangelism, tithing, fasting, church participation, and the list of topics and seeming contradictions goes on and on.
The truth is none of them are wrong, and each view has its followers. God has wired us each differently, making us each a unique individual. He, alone, knows our heart and how to reach it. He has made us each in His image, but how large and multi-faceted is His image? We will never know Him from every side, and He always has more of Himself to share with us. So, while reading all these things may be helpful and eye-opening, it can also pull us off track.
I am more convinced than ever that what is best is to focus simply on the Word of God and on Him, Himself. Spending time in His Word and in prayer with Him will open the "secret" that our own heart needs to see to fulfill His purpose in our lives. We may think that what we find is the key for everyone, but it probably isn't. It may well be helpful to some, but not one of us can stand in the place of God in someone else's life and tell them "here's what you need to do". That's His job, and if we will take time with Him He will be faithful to do it.
Because God is so multi-faceted it takes all of us to even begin to show the world Who He is. They will see in each of us only a small piece and part of the whole, but let us be true to Him in the way that He has led us. And let us allow each other to follow Christ as He has revealed Himself to us. There is much to learn while still living authentically as God's child and handiwork.

P.S. If I have given you a book to read, I still want you to read it. If it doesn't resonate with you, put it down till another time. God has much to show you.

Father, Caregiver, Babysitter

Babysitting!! So much fun! Greg and Megan were gone Friday morning till Saturday evening to Kansas City for her work, and we went to babysit with Oskar. It went really well. We all had a good time, and it was hard to tell who was more tired this morning, Oskar or us. He was happy to see his mommy and daddy last night, but had never fussed for us a bit. I just needed to get his food to him quickly enough when he got into his high chair :)

Just a couple of weeks ago we got to stay with Bria and Emmy while Kelli and Jon were in Iowa City for her surgery. Also a wonderful experience, though completely different. We got them to and from school, to a library activity, and Grandpa Jon and Daddy Jon took Bria to her very first art showing in a gallery in Davenport! How exciting for her!!!

It's soon time to have Tre and Tru overnight again...it's been a while. They were here last Saturday and just hung out, played computer, and played with the remote control truck while Jon, Tabbi, and I reorganized the basement. It's always fun to have them here!

It's hard to imagine sometimes that our "little girls" are now mommies, but it is SUCH a blessing to watch. We are so thankful to be a part of all three girls' lives. Megan just had a birthday and we have several others coming soon, so we're hoping to get everyone together for a meal maybe in Des Moines....still in the works.

Thought for the day

God is my Father (Caregiver, Babysitter), and He is the best. Trust me, He has His hands full. What I am most keenly aware of is that His mercies are new every morning. I am awed by His grace, provision, protection, and presence in our lives. We could go day to day, week to week, year to year without realizing how He has had His hand in our lives. I never want to do that. I don't know that I ever go on even a short road trip without realizing and appreciating that I returned home safely and that it could have been very different. It's the same with the kids and with Jon at work. Every time they arrive safely I remember that God's hand was in it. It's not something I've trained myself to do, it is just there. I am so grateful. I want that to spread to every area of my life. I want to never take anything for granted, but receive EVERYTHING, moment by moment, from His hand of mercy and grace. You are my Father and the Caregiver in every aspect of my life, and I want to realize that more and more each day. Give me that kind of heart, Lord, in all things.

One Week To Go

Christmas is one week away. We are getting closer to being ready. Tabbi took over pretzel detail, and today I wrapped most of the gifts...waiting for one more mail delivery to finish up. I've gotten the peanut blossoms and cinnamon rolls done, so most of everything else will have to wait.

It's been a little tougher getting ready this year. We are still trying to recover our energy since Mom's funeral. The fatigue didn't hit me till about a week later, and now I'm starting to function better again. We've had a few other bumps in the road to deal with the last week. One night just as we were getting ready to go to bed we discovered the floor in the middle room of the basement was wet, and there was water coming in the window of the computer room, as well. Our new roof, the 45-year one, was leaking less than a year after being completed. We still don't know the measures taken solved the problem...we won't know till we have another rain or melting snow on the roof. Two nights later we found that our furnace had stopped working. Fortunately, that was fixed the next morning...needed a new ignitor. Tonight Jon's dad was taken to the ER with a TIA and severe bladder infection.

In better news, Oskar had tubes put in his ears on Tuesday and got along great. It seems he already feels and hears better. So thankful for that.


Thought for the day

Life is fragile. We've become keenly aware how quickly and drastically life can change. We value those we love highly, and want them each to know it. We want to never miss an opportunity to tell them and show them that we love them. At the same time, we place them in God's hands for His purposes and will to be worked out in them for their good and His glory. Jesus, we trust You and love you above all.

My Mom

My mom passed into her next life almost two weeks ago on Monday, December 5. Her condition changed very quickly and she mercifully went home in just a few days. We were each able to say goodbye in our own ways, and it is a blessing to know that she is with Dad and Jesus. If they celebrate Christmas there, that would be the place to be!!
So Merry Christmas, Dad and Mom, we love you!