The Christmas season is upon us! What a joyous time of year! Everywhere you turn, people are busy shopping, baking, and making preparations for that very special day. The infectious excitement that children express in December is truly contagious. They come inside after a busy afternoon of playing in the snow, cheeks red and eyes full of joy. A mug of hot cocoa is all that is needed to make their day complete.
A very important tradition for most families is the cookie baking. Who doesn't love being surrounded by sugar, chocolate, and lots of sprinkles? The smell wafting through the air lets you know that Christmas Day is just around the corner.
A lot of cookie recipes involve shaping the cookie dough. It reminds me of the way that God molds us in His hands. He is always waiting, ready to reshape us after we make a mistake. His grace is truly amazing! He is always there, with open arms, ready to hold his children as long as we need Him to. When others fail us, He is more than ready to accept us just where we are at that exact moment.
I hope all of you have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year! Happy birthday, Jesus!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
The "C" word
I recently had a colonoscopy. Today I found out that the polyp that the doctor removed during the procedure was pre-cancerous. I'm in shock right now. The "C" word is like a swear word to me. So many people have to suffer through that disease and it's just not right.
I have very mixed emotions right now. I am very thankful that the doctor caught it early. I think I'm a bit whimpy to handle chemotherapy, to be honest. On the other hand, I am still scared. I am a worrier as it is. Waiting 5 years to see if there is anything going on is going to be rough. I guess I have no choice but to put it in God's loving hands. Just letting things be is hard for me. I have some control issues that have been rearing their ugly heads pretty bad lately. So many Christians say, "Let Go and Let God." I love that phrase, but relating it to my life is a challenging thing to do.
Sorry that I haven't written in awhile. Life has been a bit crazy in our household lately. The latest thing that has taken up a lot of my time is our daughter having pneumonia. That was another thing that I was having a hard time not obsessing over. Seeing her in such a vulnerable state, laying in the ER bed with an oxygen mask strapped to her face...that was not an easy time for me. And it certainly wasn't easy for her either. Poor baby. She was so miserable and so scared.
Well, hopefully my next post will be much sooner! Love to all...
I have very mixed emotions right now. I am very thankful that the doctor caught it early. I think I'm a bit whimpy to handle chemotherapy, to be honest. On the other hand, I am still scared. I am a worrier as it is. Waiting 5 years to see if there is anything going on is going to be rough. I guess I have no choice but to put it in God's loving hands. Just letting things be is hard for me. I have some control issues that have been rearing their ugly heads pretty bad lately. So many Christians say, "Let Go and Let God." I love that phrase, but relating it to my life is a challenging thing to do.
Sorry that I haven't written in awhile. Life has been a bit crazy in our household lately. The latest thing that has taken up a lot of my time is our daughter having pneumonia. That was another thing that I was having a hard time not obsessing over. Seeing her in such a vulnerable state, laying in the ER bed with an oxygen mask strapped to her face...that was not an easy time for me. And it certainly wasn't easy for her either. Poor baby. She was so miserable and so scared.
Well, hopefully my next post will be much sooner! Love to all...
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Devotional
This is an Advent devotional page that I wrote for church:
Psalm 5:11
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
Where do you find refuge? Perhaps you find it in your bed, curled under the warm blanket after a long day. You might discover refuge in the arms of your spouse. Children often find comfort cuddled in a parent’s lap.
As comforting as companionship with others can be, nothing will ever compare to the protection we receive from God. People will often disappoint you. But, the Lord is always there, ready to pick up the pieces of our shattered hearts. If we can trust in Him, we will not be let down. Can you do that? Are you willing to put all of your trust and faith in God?
If you are ready to take that step of faith, your life will be filled with so much joy. Your faith in the Lord will be your safe place to land in this world full of uncertainty. Maybe you have already taken that step. That’s wonderful! But, it never hurts to re-evaluate your relationship with God and see if there are any areas that need improvement.
A life filled with God’s shelter is a joyful life. There are so many ways to show the Lord our appreciation for His love. You could help a neighbor carry in her groceries. Helping out at a homeless shelter is another great way to show your appreciation. Helping His children is a great way to show your gratitude for all that He does for you. Another way to do this is to worship Him in church. Seeing His children gather together in His name must bring God such a sense of pride.
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the shelter that you provide us every day of our lives. Please guide us as we encounter every new day. Help us to feel your presence in everything we do and never forget that you are our refuge. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Fall Memories
The cool autumn air reminds me of you. It takes me back to the time that I proudly carried you. I will never forget those peaceful days, full of hope and bursting with excitement as we waited for your arrival.
I remember taking naps with your brother, feeling your precious body in my womb. My hands would rub my stomach, I would look over at your brother's angelic face, and I would feel so content. Thoughts of the two of you playing together would make me grin.
After we lost you, I began my love/hate relationship with fall. I still loved the changing leaves, the pumpkin carving, and the tasty treats. But, a lump would fill my throat as I was reminded of the year that we lost you. It has been very frustrating because I have wanted so much to be able to enjoy that time of year without the emptiness in my heart.
I am thankful for the peace that the Lord is granting me as we approach the anniversary of your entrance into heaven next month. As the time gets closer, I feel like I might cry. But this time the tears would be proud tears, not sad tears. Remembering you fills me with pride and so much love. You were a gift from God. He gave us a wonderful, yet brief, gift. I will always be thankful for the time that we had with you.
I still miss you so much, but I know that you are in a very happy and safe place. I envision you running through the clouds and sliding down the rainbows. The thought that brings me the most peace is knowing that you have been enveloped in the arms of our Father.
Please know that I love you. Also, please know that I must move forward with my life. That has been a very hard realization for me, but I have so much to be here for. Tomorrow your sister has karate class. Your brother will be in the Homecoming Parade. We are preparing for your sister's birthday party. Can you believe that she will be nine years old already? There are so many things to look forward to in this life that I have been blessed with. I can't keep looking behind and focusing on what could have been. I know that you are where you are supposed to be and I will see you again someday. Until then, have fun with your cousin and let your Great-Grandma know that we miss her.
I remember taking naps with your brother, feeling your precious body in my womb. My hands would rub my stomach, I would look over at your brother's angelic face, and I would feel so content. Thoughts of the two of you playing together would make me grin.
After we lost you, I began my love/hate relationship with fall. I still loved the changing leaves, the pumpkin carving, and the tasty treats. But, a lump would fill my throat as I was reminded of the year that we lost you. It has been very frustrating because I have wanted so much to be able to enjoy that time of year without the emptiness in my heart.
I am thankful for the peace that the Lord is granting me as we approach the anniversary of your entrance into heaven next month. As the time gets closer, I feel like I might cry. But this time the tears would be proud tears, not sad tears. Remembering you fills me with pride and so much love. You were a gift from God. He gave us a wonderful, yet brief, gift. I will always be thankful for the time that we had with you.
I still miss you so much, but I know that you are in a very happy and safe place. I envision you running through the clouds and sliding down the rainbows. The thought that brings me the most peace is knowing that you have been enveloped in the arms of our Father.
Please know that I love you. Also, please know that I must move forward with my life. That has been a very hard realization for me, but I have so much to be here for. Tomorrow your sister has karate class. Your brother will be in the Homecoming Parade. We are preparing for your sister's birthday party. Can you believe that she will be nine years old already? There are so many things to look forward to in this life that I have been blessed with. I can't keep looking behind and focusing on what could have been. I know that you are where you are supposed to be and I will see you again someday. Until then, have fun with your cousin and let your Great-Grandma know that we miss her.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
First Day Of School
Today is our son's first day of high school. I am feeling quite ancient today. I hope that he has a wonderful day and that our daughter has an amazing first day of 3rd grade!
Last night I was reminiscing about my high school days. It really hit me how different things are now! Here are a few of the differences that I was thinking about:
1. The clothes.
Wow, do the high school girls wear their clothes tight these days! To make sure that these ladies wear their clothes as tight as is humanly possible, the clothing industry has come up with "jeggings." Have you heard of these yet? Apparently, they are a combination of jeans and leggings. And they are TIGHT. OK, I admit to wearing incredibly short shorts when I was in high school. I even wore tight jeans. But, at least I wore a baggy shirt most of the time. Today's girls wear tight clothes from top to bottom.
Also, kids "these days" don't roll their jeans anymore, like we used to. Back in the day, everything was rolled. We rolled our jeans so tight that there was no longer circulation in any of our legs. We also rolled the sleeves of our shirts. Why? I have no idea. Someone decided it was cool, so we all followed. You will not catch any high schoolers wearing "Bill Cosby" sweaters anymore, either. My brother and I had a lot of those crazy-patterned sweaters. We were cool like that.
2.The hair.
When I was in high school, there seemed to be a competition going on for which girl had the highest hair. If I would have measured mine, I bet it would have been a good 5 inches off my head. Yep, it was all about the teasing and proper application of Aqua Net hairspray. Our hair was unhealthy as can be, but boy, was it BIG! Today's girls have such nice hair. It is so pretty and shiny, thanks to the flat iron. Now, girls know that aerosol spray is horrible for the environment and use much better products. They also know that there is no reason to tease your hair to make it super-high. What were we thinking?!?
Now, on to the boys' hair. When I was in high school, there were two haircuts for boys. They were: the feathered hair and the spiked hair. Most boys had one or the other. A few of the "wild" boys had long hair. Today's high school boys ALL have long hair. There is a whole lot of hair flippin' going on! It doesn't matter if you are a "nerd," a "jock," or a "rocker;" if you are a boy you have long hair. Period.
3. Technology and lingo.
Almost every teen you see walking around has some sort of cord hanging from him or her. If it's not ear buds for their iPod, then it is the charger for their Nintendo DS. Most teens have cell phones now, too. If we wanted to talk to someone, we had to wait until we got home from school and used the phone with a cord (gasp!) Don't get me wrong, I think the new technology is great, but it is so overwhelming and confusing to me.
Texting is the most popular form of communication among teenagers now. Everywhere you look, you see fingers flying on the little keyboards. What I think is funny (and sometimes annoying) is how teens also talk using "text-speak." It's all about LOLing and ROFLOL. Most of them I won't mention because they are not G-rated. Ugh. Here's the one that I made up: WDWNTSEWS. It is: Why Do We Need To Shorten Everything We Say? Slow down and enjoy the conversation! I remember coming home from school and calling my friends right away. Today's teens don't even have to wait that long because of cell phones. We also had to answer every call, not knowing who was on the other end. Caller ID has eliminated that, too.
I guess I better get used to all the changes. I don't see technology slowing down anytime soon. Someday, I'll be more comfortable with all this. I think.
Last night I was reminiscing about my high school days. It really hit me how different things are now! Here are a few of the differences that I was thinking about:
1. The clothes.
Wow, do the high school girls wear their clothes tight these days! To make sure that these ladies wear their clothes as tight as is humanly possible, the clothing industry has come up with "jeggings." Have you heard of these yet? Apparently, they are a combination of jeans and leggings. And they are TIGHT. OK, I admit to wearing incredibly short shorts when I was in high school. I even wore tight jeans. But, at least I wore a baggy shirt most of the time. Today's girls wear tight clothes from top to bottom.
Also, kids "these days" don't roll their jeans anymore, like we used to. Back in the day, everything was rolled. We rolled our jeans so tight that there was no longer circulation in any of our legs. We also rolled the sleeves of our shirts. Why? I have no idea. Someone decided it was cool, so we all followed. You will not catch any high schoolers wearing "Bill Cosby" sweaters anymore, either. My brother and I had a lot of those crazy-patterned sweaters. We were cool like that.
2.The hair.
When I was in high school, there seemed to be a competition going on for which girl had the highest hair. If I would have measured mine, I bet it would have been a good 5 inches off my head. Yep, it was all about the teasing and proper application of Aqua Net hairspray. Our hair was unhealthy as can be, but boy, was it BIG! Today's girls have such nice hair. It is so pretty and shiny, thanks to the flat iron. Now, girls know that aerosol spray is horrible for the environment and use much better products. They also know that there is no reason to tease your hair to make it super-high. What were we thinking?!?
Now, on to the boys' hair. When I was in high school, there were two haircuts for boys. They were: the feathered hair and the spiked hair. Most boys had one or the other. A few of the "wild" boys had long hair. Today's high school boys ALL have long hair. There is a whole lot of hair flippin' going on! It doesn't matter if you are a "nerd," a "jock," or a "rocker;" if you are a boy you have long hair. Period.
3. Technology and lingo.
Almost every teen you see walking around has some sort of cord hanging from him or her. If it's not ear buds for their iPod, then it is the charger for their Nintendo DS. Most teens have cell phones now, too. If we wanted to talk to someone, we had to wait until we got home from school and used the phone with a cord (gasp!) Don't get me wrong, I think the new technology is great, but it is so overwhelming and confusing to me.
Texting is the most popular form of communication among teenagers now. Everywhere you look, you see fingers flying on the little keyboards. What I think is funny (and sometimes annoying) is how teens also talk using "text-speak." It's all about LOLing and ROFLOL. Most of them I won't mention because they are not G-rated. Ugh. Here's the one that I made up: WDWNTSEWS. It is: Why Do We Need To Shorten Everything We Say? Slow down and enjoy the conversation! I remember coming home from school and calling my friends right away. Today's teens don't even have to wait that long because of cell phones. We also had to answer every call, not knowing who was on the other end. Caller ID has eliminated that, too.
I guess I better get used to all the changes. I don't see technology slowing down anytime soon. Someday, I'll be more comfortable with all this. I think.
Friday, August 13, 2010
The Calm After The Storm
As I glance outside my window, I spot some small droplets of rain falling from the sky. A little while ago, there was a heavy rain that poured from the clouds with a vengeance. I always enjoy the end of a rainfall, the moment when you notice how quiet it has become. The air has a crisp, clean smell that overtakes the senses. The grass looks clean and the birds convene and restart their merry melodies. The best part is when you get to see the many beautiful colors of a rainbow. A rainbow reminds me that the storm has passed and life will continue on.
The calm after the storm also reminds me of my journey here on Earth and my relationship with my Heavenly Father. The peace that the end of a storm brings is the same peace the Lord promises after the storms we deal with in life. There will always be those "Aha!" moments when our Father holds us in His arms and we can feel His protection. We might even realize why we had to go through this difficult time. The lessons learned can hit us hard, much like the pelting rain we just got through.
There have been many storms that I have dealt with, both as a child and as an adult. Some of them have been relentless and mighty. Others have been like rain with a gentle breeze. Occasionally, there were slight sprinkles that passed quickly. It doesn't matter what the size has been because the outcome remains the same. God comforts me through His word and by bringing my loved ones around me. He always shows me what I have waiting for me on the other side. The amazing rainbows in my life! He has provided me with a husband who loves me unconditionally. He reminds me that I have two beautiful children who are so very special. I also have a handful of loving family members and an outpouring of friends, both old and new.
The rainbow has been a constant reminder of our son, who was stillborn eleven years ago. I like to imagine him sliding down the rainbow, with a big grin and a hearty wave aimed at me. It helps me remember how loved he is by our Father and how happy he is in heaven.
What are your rainbows, friends? What lessons have you learned after the storms in your life? Sometimes it is good to reflect on those rainbows. For me, it is often what helps me get through a rough day. Remembering how very blessed I am gives me that extra push along the path that I am on. I don't want to stop so long and focus on the storms, like I tend to do. I am ready to focus on the beautiful rainbows, the many colors and textures in my life, and the bounty of family and friends.
The calm after the storm also reminds me of my journey here on Earth and my relationship with my Heavenly Father. The peace that the end of a storm brings is the same peace the Lord promises after the storms we deal with in life. There will always be those "Aha!" moments when our Father holds us in His arms and we can feel His protection. We might even realize why we had to go through this difficult time. The lessons learned can hit us hard, much like the pelting rain we just got through.
There have been many storms that I have dealt with, both as a child and as an adult. Some of them have been relentless and mighty. Others have been like rain with a gentle breeze. Occasionally, there were slight sprinkles that passed quickly. It doesn't matter what the size has been because the outcome remains the same. God comforts me through His word and by bringing my loved ones around me. He always shows me what I have waiting for me on the other side. The amazing rainbows in my life! He has provided me with a husband who loves me unconditionally. He reminds me that I have two beautiful children who are so very special. I also have a handful of loving family members and an outpouring of friends, both old and new.
The rainbow has been a constant reminder of our son, who was stillborn eleven years ago. I like to imagine him sliding down the rainbow, with a big grin and a hearty wave aimed at me. It helps me remember how loved he is by our Father and how happy he is in heaven.
What are your rainbows, friends? What lessons have you learned after the storms in your life? Sometimes it is good to reflect on those rainbows. For me, it is often what helps me get through a rough day. Remembering how very blessed I am gives me that extra push along the path that I am on. I don't want to stop so long and focus on the storms, like I tend to do. I am ready to focus on the beautiful rainbows, the many colors and textures in my life, and the bounty of family and friends.
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