My Daddy's Desk

Our bedroom used to be two bedrooms, but the former owner recently tore down the dividing wall and converted it to a master suite. One side has the bed and had the dressers. They moved tonight. One side has a small entertainment center, some bookshelves, and had the loveseat. That moved tonight too. The rearrangement made room for...my daddy's desk.

I'm not sure when my dad bought this desk, but I remember it as far back as Winnipeg. We moved from there in 1973. It is not fancy, but it is well made, and it is deep. On the side I'm seated at, there are three drawers to my right and four to my left. On the other side there is also a spot for a chair with bookshelves on each side. I've never seen another desk like it. Ever. Two people could sit here facing each other.

Considering how well travelled it is, it's in pretty good shape. The worn surface is my favorite part. On this side, right under where my laptop is sitting now, the finish is worn away in one 6 by 12 inch area. That is the place where my dad wrote his sermons. For years. 20 years? 30 years? He was a preacher for over 50...

That worn area and the double sided-ness of it have endeared this desk to me. Tonight it has been moved into the place where the loveseat was. I need a place to read, write, type and maintain a study center. The bedroom is the logical place - away from the hub bub of the family, allowing them free reign over the rest of the house when I'm in the homework mode.

I'll add photos to this blog post once I get the place back in order. (it's currently a bit upside down.) For now I'm going to read a bit, move in some pens and pencils, and perhaps just sit and rub the surface.

My dad would have never guessed that his baby girl would be studying for her degree in Biblical studies decades after he labored over the Word on this very surface. I'm thinking it would have made him beam ear to ear. I'm excited to tell him about it.

There's history in this desk. This feels right.

Just One in the Crowd

According to the stats on Living Proof Ministries blog, Zephaniah 3:17 was the most chosen verse for the Bible memorization program. Wow. I'm so trendy. (see here)

I have not read the long long list at that site, but what a treasure of Bible verses are listed there. Need a quick devotional? Read those precious treasures.

For the second half of January 2009 I choose to memorize:

Psalm 27: 13 & 14 NASB

I would have despaired unless I had believed

that I would see the goodness of the LORD

in the land of the living.

Wait for the LORD;

Be strong and let your heart take courage;

Yes, wait for the LORD.

Friday

It's negative 15 degrees. 9:40 am. Likely it was colder earlier.

Hot shower with the bathroom heat lamp on, extra layers of clothes, warm coffee, and about to sit in the sun drenched south facing living room.

Unfortunately I have lunch with a client at noon. I will have to emerge from our home in less than two hours.

How long does one warm the car when it's negative 15? Should I start it NOW?!?!

Thank you Lord for a warm home, for electricity and gas, and for a reliable auto. Thank you for the security of a cell phone as I venture out. Thank you that school was cancelled and the kiddos are all snug in their beds.

We are so blessed!

Emily Update

When Emily did not call when I knew she should have landed in Madrid, it got me thinking on how out of my control her travel situation is. I am used to instant communication. Being a technology savvy mom - I text. She and I are not in constant communication by any stretch, but we *could* be.

Her cell phone does not work in Spain. Her laptop was tucked away in her backpack, and I knew that it was not going to come out along the way. And so...hmmmm...I just had to wait.

She finally did call. It had taken a while to get her luggage, and then to figure out where Iberia airlines is in the Madrid terminal, having flown in on US Air and needing to recheck her luggage for the next leg. It all took time, and then she had to conquer her first ever pay phone calling card call. All those numbers and codes!

She hung up minutes later, very tired, but needing to stay awake one more hour to ensure not missing her flight to Seville. She'd call upon arrival.

I wondered why she did not call during the afternoon yesterday. By evening I was fretting a bit. By this morning I was considering calling her university. And then she called. She had had a 10 hour lay over in Madrid. I didn't quite follow why...I was too relieved to just hear her voice. She told me that in the airport she had met another American girl and they seem to have become friends. That girl is also in Seville for the semester, and as it turns out is staying in the apartment across the street from Emily. Amazing.

She is on the 7th floor of a rather "dingy" place. There is no phone, no internet and no hot water. What?!? She said that the shower is literally a smallish tub with a hand held sprayer with which to rinse with tepid water. This actually makes me smile (don't tell Emily) because Emily takes the longest steamiest showers that you can imagine. (God does indeed have a sense of humor!) But she said she LOVES the old city, the windy cobblestone streets, and the adventure that lays before her.

Thank you Lord for bringing her safely to Seville. Thank you for phone cards. And thank you for the long hot shower that is available in the next room whenever I want it. Amen.

Thinking

It feels so good to be thinking.

Class two in Introduction to New Testament tonight. The 2.5 hours just fly by. My pen is going the entire time as I soak it all in through notes. The fellow next to me has an incredible little recorder - no bigger than an ipod - through which he records the lecture, and tonight I was able to instantly transfer it to my laptop from this device. Now I have an audio recording of the lectures for review. Amazing technology. Even with the recording to review, my brain needs pen and paper - it's how I learn. I listen, I write, I learn.

I wondered if I'd regret this new step ...this journey to a Master's Degree. Too much pressure? One more thing on the schedule?

Perhaps it is too soon to evaluate, but I will anyhow. :) I am RIGHT where I need to be. God gave me a mind that needs a challenge. I have an insatiable desire to learn. And I wonder where this degree will lead me...and that excites me. It gives me hope for something new in the future: for what is God preparing me?

You know how I really know I'm in the right place? I got home tonight, put on my jammies, made a hot cup of tea, and here I am curled up under a quilt. Before I go to bed I'm going to read over the homework questions, map out my reading, and read at least a bit of it. There is NO desire for tv, no desire for a magazine or a novel...I just want to get to it! I went from work to class to home...but what I want to do in this half hour before bed is delve right in. (after checking out the blog world, of course...)

I think I'm in the right place.

You think this is cold?

The current temperature is 2 degrees. School has been cancelled for tomorrow due to dangerous cold conditions. The high tomorrow is forecast to -5 and the low at -14. That is serious cold.

However...

I grew up in Winnipeg, Canada, so I looked up their temperature today: negative 35.9 degrees Celsius. That translates to negative 32.6 F. WHEW.

Everything is relative...

Cookin'

Having an insatiable appetite for Buffalo Wings, tonight I made this recipe from the Pioneer Woman. If you haven't seen her cooking blog, YOU are MISSING OUT. She takes so many photos as she is cooking that it is really hard to mess up. This is the second time I've made these wings. On a cold cold Wisconsin night (currently 5 degrees) it's good to be warmed by dinner.

And since the prep is a bit putzier than I'm used to, I brought my laptop into the kitchen, set it on the counter, and let Joyce Meyer preach at me. I was listening to "Habits that will change your Life, part 5" (podcast) and it is EXCELLENT. She really gets to the meat of things, telling us how much energy it takes to fight the Holy Spirit's nudging, and that we NEVER win so we might as well just GIVE IN. I especially heard her tell of the habit of forgiving people for small grievances. I've felt the weight of unforgiveness, and I can SEE the weight of it in others. (sometimes it's easier to see it in others...just gotta remember to apply it to me) You can listen to Joyce here. Today's radio show is on forgiveness...haven't listened to it yet. *** Once on her site, you'll have to go onto radio podcasts to figure out how to listen to back episodes. You need not have an ipod... just download an itunes player on your computer, and load the podcasts there. (this is not a complete discussion...sorry)

PS Ha...just did a spell check and spelled it u-n-f-o-r-g-i-v-e-m-e-s-s. Hmmmm. You trying to tell me something, God?

*** Have listened to today's radio show now. WHEW. It is such an applicable message on forgiveness. How easy it is to hold small grievances within us. To be so easily annoyed, and then hold on to it ...LISTEN here. (1/13/09 broadcast: The Benefit of Forgiving Others, Part 2)

And she's off!

A last Starbucks with mom...




And into the line for security. Adios Emily! Dios te bendiga!!

Mixed Emotions

Our 19 year old daughter Emily is flying to Spain today. She'll fly into Madrid, and catch a connecting flight to Seville.

I am full of mixed emotions. I am so excited for her to have this opportunity. What an incredible experience - the chance of a lifetime. And yet... Tears are just under the surface. I'm a bit apprehensive about her flights and safety, and am beginning to realize that four months is a pretty long time. When she was going to her college campus, three hours away, that was one thing. She and I are both independent, so we touched base now and then but we made the separation pretty well. But this separation - I can't go for an overnight if something comes up. And if she's sick...well...she's on her own!

Thankfully I know that her Heavenly Father speaks Spanish fluently, and is as fully cognizant of her every move there as He is here. She is in His very capable hands, and that comforts this mother's heart.

A Moment in the Nursing Home

This video is...bumbling. My sister in law is filming for the first time (ever) on her little digital camera, and we are at my dad's nursing home, in the atrium. The first song doesn't work, and I can't find the chords to the second one...and yet...there is something sweet about this few minutes. (hang tight through that first minute!!)

My brother is 17 years older than I am, and we've become quite close, especially in the past 7 years as my parents have deteriorated and have needed to be moved into progressively more care. My mom is in heaven now, and my dad lives about 5 minutes from our home. There is NOTHING on earth he enjoys more than his children and grandchildren.

Although amateur, this video is precious to me, and will be even more so someday. My brother nuzzling me, our instant harmony, and the smile my dad gives the camera right in the middle.

Sweet, everyday moments.

Taking Down Christmas Decor...

Boxing Up Christmas

The wrappings are opened,

the cookies are gone,

the celebration has come to an end.

I'm here with my coffee,

my Bible, my pen

here to meet with my Friend.

He is not over

the Reason remains

He is born, He is risen, He's here.

We'll walk hand in hand

as we watch and we pray

and enter this sparkling New Year.

Friendship

Two of my SAMBS (Saturday a.m. Bible Study) gals just left. At 12:15 pm. We begin at 7:30 each Saturday, and usually end about 9 am. But today these two lingered, so I made some bacon, toast and eggs, and we sat eating, laughing, sharing, crying, griping, and laughing some more.

Part of me is thinking I HAVE SO STINKING MUCH TO DO TODAY...THERE IS NOT TIME FOR THIS. And part of me is feeling like they blessed my socks off.

These 6 gals are my sisters. We truly love each other warts and all. In fact I have not brushed my hair or changed out of my jammies yet...I do brush my teeth for study...

What a gift. To heck with the schedule. We need each other.

First Class!

Yeah. I loved it.

We discussed Revelation 3, and then our professor pointed out how we had been spoon fed some of our interpretations. He took us into a Bible Dictionary to study on the history and geography of the city of Laodicea and then went over how to analyze Scripture with the who, what, how, when, kind of questions. (Kay Arthur would have been proud!)

We discussed the importance of context, and he stressed again and again to read the text and study the text and only then, much later, to read the notes in those study Bibles we all have. He wants us to think it through for ourselves. (This is also a mantra of Precepts...the way I've been trained...I think I'm way ahead in that respect!)

Biblical Theology v. Historical Theology v. Systematic Theology v. Practical Theology. Yet another discussion of definitions.

And we ended with the beginning of a two week discussion on the religious backdrop of the New Testament in the first century. He talked a lot about gnosticism.

Homework? Only 3 chapters of one of the books. Plus questions. We have to email him the answers to 5 questions before the next class. That doesn't sound so bad, does it?

Well, here's the first (just the first of five) question:

1. How would you counteract or support the idea that God is transcendent from the Scriptures? How would you counteract or support the idea that God is impassible from the Scriptures? Where do you see either of these two concepts expressed inappropriately in church? Are there any appropriate expressions of these?

WHEW. He said our Question Assignments will be wrestling, thinking kind of assignments...he wants to see that we are thinking, not just reading and memorizing.

Sigh...no flash cards?

Oh...we're also supposed to read Mark. I have the feeling the discussion of the historical context of Mark will require some flashcards.

About 45 students. Most of them are "auditing" the class. I knew two people which amazed me.

I love being back in school! Especially since I'm studying a topic that excites me in a way that no college class ever excited me in my undergrad. I'm ready to do my reading right now...but...I best sleep since I have to work tomorrow...

Friday night will be spent researching Alexander the Great, the Roman Empire, Gnosticism and Koine Greek. Woo hoo.

Good night!

Words words words

Still working on the master bedroom. Since getting the door on the wall, we've added some pillows to match the comforter, and now some words.

Peel-off/stick-on stickers. So simple. So lovely.



-

Back to School

Class starts tomorrow. Introduction to the New Testament. It's my FIRST class towards my Master's degree. I am so excited.

The three required texts are stacked, with a notebook, (a fun one, of course) and a brand new pack of Pilot Easy Touch pens in five fabulous colors. The Precepts logo you see is on my Precepts Inductive Bible Study book bag which I'll pack up for class. (this isn't Precepts, but I love the bag!)

I'm ready!

Practicing...

The new song I blogged about a few posts ago has stuck with me. I found the chords for it, and am practicing to sing it at church on Sunday. I just videoed myself...well...all you get to see is a bit of guitar...but you can hear the song, grace-style.

Still needs some tweaking, and my Sony Cyber shot is not a video camera...but with all those caveats...here I am...

I really LOVE this song.

If you listen carefully you'll hear Boomer - especially at one point when he came right up to me and shook - adding percussion with his jingling collar. Ha.

Miracles

Those of you who don't know me IRL are going to think I'm bragging. Those of you who know me IRL, especially for more than a couple years, are going to know that I simply stand amazed.

Our 19 year old, Emily, the writer of the infamous list, went to TCX last week. There she decided that she really wants to work at a Christian camp for summer 2009 so that she can grow in her faith. (!!!) So she is busy filling out detailed applications.

She just told me, "One of them asked who I considered to be my role model. I wrote a page about how I admire and want to be like my mom."

Do I hear gasps? Oh...maybe those are mine. I am speechless. (I can still type) I asked her for a copy, and she laughed as she said no, but it touches me that she even told me about it. Pocket of Joy. Huge huge pocket of joy. Thank you Lord!

Miracles really do happen. Watch expectantly.

There's a wave that's crashing over me...

A friend came over on the 2nd, needing a warm hug and a listening ear. She called from work and asked if I had time. What an honor.

During our discussion, she brought up the song "Whatever You're Doing" by Sanctus Real and explained how it had ministered to her. We downloaded it on Itunes right then and there, and listened to it together.

It sort of turned me upside down.

It depicts the human condition...needing to come clean before God. And it depicts hope...when God asks me to make changes, I trust that He is up to something heavenly.

But the line that I most relate to is the line in my title. In the last few days, a wave of God is truly crashing over me...and all I can do is surrender.

It's time for healing
time to move on
It's time to fix what's been broken too long

Time to make right
what has been wrong
It's time to find my way to where I belong

There's a wave that's crashing over me
And all I can do is surrender

(Chorus)

Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but somehow there's peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
but I'm giving in to something Heavenly

Time for a milestone
Time to begin again
Reevaluate who I really am
Am I doing everything to follow Your will
Or just climbing aimlessly over these hills

So show me what it is You want from me
I give everything
I surrender...To...(Chorus)

Time to face up
Clean this old house
Time to breathe in and let everything out
That I've wanted to say for so many years
Time to release all my held back tears

Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but I believe

You're up to something bigger than me
Larger than life
something Heavenly

Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but now I can see

This is something bigger than me
Larger than life
something Heavenly Something Heavenly

It's time to face up
Clean this old house
Time to breathe in and let everything out

Brownie Report

Well, the wedding was lovely. And the desserts were divine. Pictured is just one of three tables covered with home baked treats. Even after 260 guests had their fill, there was plenty of dessert left.

I'm exhausted. And I still smell brownies in the air.

The Will of God

Romans 12:1-2 (NASB95)
1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

I've read those verses dozens of times. I memorized them in grade school and again in high school. And yet God just pointed out something new to me.

The definition of God's will is right there. I had never noticed it defined so succinctly.

"...the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

I knew that "perfect" likely meant "complete" in the Greek. Here's what I found:

Téleios can be used in a relative or absolute sense (Matt. 5:48; 19:21). God’s perfection is absolute; man’s is relative. The téleios is one who has attained moral maturity, the goal for which he was intended, namely, to be a man obedient in Christ.

Synonym: ártios (739), fitted, complete, perfect; plé̄rēs (4134), complete, full; mestós (3324), full; ámemptos (273), irreproachable, blameless; áptaistos (679), not stumbling, without transgression; holóklēros (3648), entire, whole. Téleios is not to be confused with anamártētos (361), without sin or sinless.

Zodhiates, Spiros: The Complete Word Study Dictionary : New Testament. electronic ed. Chattanooga, TN : AMG Publishers, 2000, c1992, c1993, S. G5046

And so...I'm using the logical part of my self now (fighting emotion):
Who would not want to be exactly in line with God's will, no matter how seemingly attractive the alternatives ...?

God's will: good, acceptable, complete.

It's Time

Joshua 3:5 (NASB95)
Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”

Do you ever struggle with not wanting to do what God is telling you to do? I find the grey areas to be the toughest. Often times the "big" "clear" boundary lines don't trip me up as much as the little ones. (I'm not at all sure that God differentiates big and little, but I have the feeling we humans can all relate...)

I am ready to see God work in awesome ways, and yet I'm feeling stuck. I am spiritually lethargic. And the only way to move out and move on is to further consecrate myself. And it's going to be painful.

Zechariah 13:9 (NASB95)
“And I will bring the third part through the fire, Refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ And they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ”

I'm already in the fire, and there's no choice but to submit. What I value most is the crystal clear connection to God which can only be the result of complete obedience. I've been pleading my case long enough. Now it's time to yield. To submit. To obey.

Sigh.

Today's color is chocolate.

The first batch of brownies is in the oven, and the house smells of chocolate.

Tomorrow is the wedding of a dear friends' daughter. The mother of the bride is one of the 7 gals in my Saturday a.m. Bible study (SamBs). Four of us, including the bride's mom, have met together for a good ten years to study the Word weekly. Maybe 15 years. Who knows. The first of our offspring (the seven of us have 19 kids!) is getting married tomorrow. (One other is married and has even provided us with two grandchildren to admire, but she was married before her mom was in SamBs)

ANYHOW...SamBs is baking for the wedding. Evidently it is trendy to have a variety of tea party sized desserts from which the guests choose. This wedding party will have a small layered Tiramisu at the head table, for traditional photos, and the 260 guests will have platters of small desserts.

I'm queen of the glazed brownies. 250 of them. I'll be dreaming in chocolate tonight.

Let's Start Memorizing

Beth Moore is heading up a Bible Memory challenge here.

Even if you don't want to sign up (why wouldn't you?) you can read the comments and thousands of verses chosen for memory. What a treasure trove.

On the 1st and 15th we'll each sign in on her blog with a verse. So, if all goes by plan, I'll have at least 24 verses or passsages committed to memory by 12/31/09. That's a good and attainable goal.

The first verse I've chosen is Zephaniah 3:17 in the New International Version:

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."

Do you have written goals or resolutions this year?

Happy New Year!

Words

I'm finishing out my 2008 journal this morning. The sun is drenching the living room. Boomer is snoring. Hub is at the health club. Kids are sleeping. Laptop is warm on my lap. Books and pens and markers and stickers are splayed all around me.

A delicious start to the day and end to the year.

It will be short lived, as soon I need to step into gear to get ready to welcome in 2009 with about 20 friends. Games and laughter planned for this evening. Cleaning and a bit of de-Christmasing planned for today.

I dug out some stickers to put on the inside cover of the 2009 journal. A simple word in inch high thick stickers: HOPE. My very favorite word.

In the process I came across a package of stickers of words. Such LOVELY words. The package, still sealed, is entitled "Life's Journey Words."

The package holds:

always

journey

inspire

memories

friend

remember

happy

hope

cherish

dream

love

believe

grow

moments

joy

thoughts

celebrate

future

sweetness

delight

There's my gift of words to you this morning. May God grant you the opportunity to use them all as you describe 2009.

Ice Lanterns

Look at these. They are SO GORGEOUS!

Memorization

I've spent hours on the blogroll today/tonight. I'm thinking I should actually do a bit of picking up around here soon...

Should I feel guilty? No more than if I had been in a great book.

I've looked at some amazing photos, read some amazing stories, journaled a bit, read some more...it's been an absolute delight. My hub is out running the young two around since the old two have two of our three cars out of town, and the third child is not allowed to drive the remaining car - a company car. Thus an evening A*L*O*N*E which is so rare it's automatically exquisite.

I've read an amazing quote about Bible memorization here. That quote by John Piper is so convicting! I need to memorize!

And so I'm going to participate in her MMM in January. I'll have to think on what passage I'll choose... but I'm going to commit to it.

Why is it that I find Scripture memory so difficult and yet songs stick in my head like glue?

We Have this Moment Today

The following song was sung recently at a funeral I attended. I remembered it fondly from 15 years ago when it was part of a musical production we did at church.

It seems appropriate as we anticipate a new year.

May we all appreciate all we have, and live each moment to its fullest. Amen.


Hold tight to the sound of the music of living-
Happy songs from the laughter of children at play;
Hold my hand as we run through the sweet fragrant meadows,
Making mem'ries of what was today.

CHORUS:
For we have this moment to hold in our hands,
And to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand;
Yesterday's gone, and tomorrow may never come,
But we have this moment, today

Tiny voice that I hear is my little girl calling
For Daddy to hear just what she has to say;
And my little son running there down the hillside,
May never be quite like today.

Tender words, gentle touch, and a good cup of coffee,
And someone that loves me and wants me to stay;
Hold them near while they're here, and don't wait for tomorrow
To look back and wish for today.

Take the blue of the sky and the green of the forest,
The gold and the brown of the freshly-mown hay,
Add the pale shades of spring and the circus of autumn,
And weave you a lovely today.

- Lyrics by Gloria Gaither. Music by William J. Gaither. © 1975 William J. Gaither.

Resolutions

As previously written, I found my list of 2008 resolutions. They're good. They're relevant. They are my goals ...perhaps for life? I am going to recycle them, some almost word for word!

1. Continue to find encouragement and challenge in the Bible, day by day.

2. Pray more consistently and methodically. Intercede for my husband and our children in particular.

3. Look for pockets of joy, and record them. Jan Karon calls them "Patches of Godlight." Live expectantly. Watch for the blessings.

4. Eat gently. Slower eating. Less eating. Healthful eating. Thoughtful eating. Enough said.

5. Exercise. Daily walking, gentle weight lifting (8 Minutes Each Morning plan) and stretching.

6. Take the time to read good books. Keep a record.

7. Create. Write, knit, make cards and quilt. Again, make the time.

8. Nest. Keep organizing, purging, and finding the place for everything...(and put everything in its place!) Home is so where my heart is, and God has created me to find such joy in the slightest improvements here. It fills me.

9. Buy less, give more away...simpler....gentler... SIMPLIFY our finances so there is more to share...

10. Encourage. Correspond more -- birthday cards, thank you cards, thinking of you cards...

11. Be purposefully hospitable. Game nights. Fun times. Spur of the moment...

Blogiversary

As Diane and I sat at Borders yesterday for our annual ceremonial unwrapping of the new year's journals, we both wondered if we had exchanged 2008 new year's goals and resolutions. Generally we do so that we can keep one another accountable and pray for one another. Obviously the accountability failed this year since neither of us could recall a list...

Well, I just found mine. It's on my first day of blogging on December 26th, 2007.

So...I missed my blogiversary. Sorry. We missed an opportunity for cake.

As I continue to review the year, I will reread this year of blogs. I need to print it as well...a definite piece of grace history. My 2008 journal is full to exploding too - I guess there are a lot of words in me that just need to escape!

Today will be retrospective as I look back over 2008. The new journal will be begun with new goals, ambitions and a prayer list as I also look forward to what God will do in 2009.

Sounds like a good day for the couch, my Bible, my journals, a sharp pencil...and a laptop.

Changes

So, what do you think of the new blog look? Some of the older posts might be hard to read...I'm scrolling back as I have time... to change colors to be more readable.

I'm working on the Scrabble tiles...since they had a white background they looked funny here...but I'm working on it.

Thanks Diane - my blog coach!

TCX

Our 19 year old daughter headed to Minneapolis today to attend Twin Cities Xperience. I am so excited for her. At the link you can view the schedule, and the speakers, etc.

Four nights, and parts of five days, exposed to 1500 Christian college students and loads of seminars and worship times.

As I recap the highlights of 2008, Emily's growth is high on my list. Our daughter's heart is returning to us, and blooming for her heavenly Father. She is maturing and coming back to her roots. God is faithful.

Pray with me for these 1500 kids, won't you?

knit wits

On a whim I stopped at The Yarn House yesterday on my way home from lunch with a friend. Had never been there - a converted old house stuffed to the gills with all things woolly. The owner, Shirley, has worked there for 40 years. She was a bit puttery and a tad confuddled now and then, but she knew her knitting.

While there, a customer came in in a tizzy - rather rude at first - sort of burst in the door, interrupting our conversation as she asked for help. Woman in her late 60's who I'm guessing needs more human interaction! So I wandered into the book room and became totally overwhelmed with options. Ms. Rude had a scarf in her hands that intrigued me, and was yakking away about needing another ball of such and such in order to finish the scarf. She just kept talking, and said she uses up all her odds and ends on these diagonally knit scarves.

Knowing that I have a treasure trove of expensive wools in my basement, I ventured to ask her about the scarf, and she sweetened right up and told me step by step. As I wrote it down she was patient and kind - obviously pleased with the mentor role.

Years ago a co-worker's mom passed away and she brought me a huge box of cool wools - her mom had been a weaver, buying a skein of two of whatever grabbed her. While I admire and pet them often, there's not really enough of any one kind to make anything substantial. I have a few ideas now, including diagonal scarves.

I purchased some lovely birch tree needles, hand made in Rhode Island, and two sets of rustic needles hand made in the back room. When I asked where the short stubby needles had been made, and why, she explained that the old man sleeping in the back room had made them for her to get onto an airplane. Once he made an unobtrusive enough pair to not be considered a weapon, she knew he was onto something, and now he sells them in the shop. They are funny, but so quaint that I had to have a pair. He was about 120 years old, and very sound asleep against a file cabinet. The Yarn House visit was a bit surreal.

I stayed up too late last night knitting. Watched TWO movies (I don't recall the last time I watched a whole movie...) - Wall-E and To Catch a Thief. A completely different sort of evening for me. I love the scarf, it's super simple, and I have plans for about 102 more... :D I really can be easily amused...

Delightful

Christmas Day 2008 was delightful.

The hour and a half of coffee sipping, journaling and reading the Word was a key to its success. By the time the kids began to appear I was ready and smiling. The candles were lit, the Christmas playlist crooning, the tree and other decor alight, the sun was streaming in, and mom and dad were finished with their respective quiet hours. A very good start.

Highlights include:

• hub reading the Christmas story out of Matthew
• sharing an oplatki for the first time - a new tradition
• leisurely present opening - stretched out before and after breakfast, for over two hours.
• staying in our jammies all day
• six of us enjoying one another's company, and the traditions we share
• appreciative children
• my bald hub donning a visor that came complete with a head of hair - the hit gift of the day
• a family game of Apples to Apples
• Guitar Hero Rock Band - complete with dad on the bass and mom singing lead... all six of us rocking together
• Scrabble with the oldest after dinner - he and mom's favorite game
• the movie "Christmas Vacation" (currently being enjoyed while mom blogs and reads)
• four deer trotting through the yard
• Grandpa's visit for the traditional Chinese take out dinner
• guitar and carols
• the fireplace aglow (still a treat having waited 23 years to move to a home with a fireplace)
• reading a book on knitting - inspiration to create - relaxed perusal
• the youngest entertaining us with odd facts from his new Guinness Records 2009 book
• fresh hot coffee throughout the day
• a rousing game of Kerplunk with our 19 year old and her boyfriend

We've had a picture perfect day, which is a minor miracle to a mom of four - aging from 13 to 21. It makes all the preparation worthwhile and rewarding.

Happy Birthday Jesus. Thank you for inviting us to your eternal party.

Not a Creature was stirring...other than mom...

The day began well, before the others awoke...


Sitting in my spot, staring out the window at the snow laden woods, writing in my moleskine journal,


feet up, savoring the Word.


The food was ready to pop in the oven, made late Christmas Eve: overnight egg casserole and overnight caramel rolls;

and the table set for our traditional family breakfast.


The sunlight streamed in the windows, illuminating the tree.



The promise of an excellent day.

Let it Snow

It might be my fault.

I have been so guilt ridden that I thought I should just come out with it: I prayed for snow.

Here's what I'm seeing out my living room window today. Sipping coffee in my spot on the couch is really wondrous most mornings - God provides the artwork...

A few months ago when I was poking about at TJMaxx I came upon a set of aluminum snow shoes. And I thought...wow...that was actually on my list: rent snowshoes for my hub and I for Christmas day. At 69.99 I thought it might be ok to buy them.

Of course he would likely get tired snowshoe-ing with me on his back, so next I had to find a second pair. While TJMaxx is one of my very favorite stores because there is no apparent rhyme or reason to what is in stock, it's not a great store in which to find a second one of anything. When you call ahead, you basically have to hope that the clerk is willing to dig through a lot of stuff to see if what you're looking for is there. It's not like they have a snow shoe section. (they were under the hat rack, if you're wondering)

A second pair was located. An hour drive, but it was worth it.

And then I prayed for snow.

God and I musta been on a super close wave length that day, cuz we're breaking records here in Milwaukee. I thought we had a lot last year, but this is totally ridiculous. We will indeed have a very white Christmas, and we will indeed have the opportunity to try out and become experts at snowshowing.

So, fellow Milwaukeeans, I'm sorry...I think it's my fault.

But it really is beautiful from our kitchen patio door. Tomorrow we'll hop right out this door and head to the woods - on snow shoes!

Merry Christmas!

There is an online e-card waiting for you at CrossCards! Crosscards.com is a Christian website designed to provide the online faith-based audience with great looking e-cards with unique messages of God's love, inspiration, encouragement and fun! Visit the following web address within the next 30 days to view it!http://www.crosscards.com/lp/crosswalkchristmas.aspx

Inspired

Can you even believe that the Tour of Homes has over 900 participants? That's 3 a day to view between now and when I decorate for Christmas 2009!!

One of the homes REALLY inspired me (#5 Mary (Megardengal) when I saw a set of doors used as a headboard on a bed. We desperately needed a new headboard, and I knew that we had some old solid wood doors in the basement. And so, although I had 12 guests coming for a turkey dinner, on Saturday I had my hub drag a bi fold door up just to audition it as a headboard. Hours later, it was dusted, oiled and hung...

Today I bought it a wreath.

It's spectacular. And it was free! Since it was stained to match our dark woodwork, it fits in perfectly, and it's just different enough to be interesting. I'm really excited about it...this photo does not do it justice, but you can get the idea.

I'm not exactly speeding through those homes on tour, but I have completed three projects as a result of the 10 homes visited thus far. Our kitchen window decor was inspired by something similar, as were the the jingle bells hanging from the chandelier, and also the headboard.

Fun little details added from items I already had in the house. Fa-la-la-la-la!

Wise Words

Having just received a very lovely email video, entitled "Hot ChocolateHL.pps" I want to include the adorable graphic along with some very wise words. I saw no credits on the video - whoever created it did a lovely job - thank you!





The happiest people don't have the best of everything. The just make the best of everything they have!
Live Simply...
Love Generously...
Care Deeply...
Speak Kindly...
And leave the rest to God.

Remember, the richest person is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least.

Such a lovely reminder for this time of year. Good night

2008 Christmas Tour of Homes

To see the other homes on tour, click on the logo above or HERE. You'll see the hostess' home (Boo Mama) followed by a LONG LONG list of links for other decor tours.

Welcome to our Wisconsin home. This is our second year in this home, and our first "tour."

When you enter our front door, you are in a spacious foyer. The wall directly in front of you holds the chalkboard. The doorway to the living room is pictured to the left, and the coffee bar is the doorway to the right. We love to add personalized greetings to the chalkboard.

The coffee bar is behind pocket doors which are always open. You can grab a cup, and make the coffee right there. The snowman mugs are perfect for cocoa.



Two double bookshelves line the foyer wall next to the living room doorway. The baskets above are lit each night by a ropelight which recesses into the top of the book case. For the holidays we nestled our village into two small shelves of one of the bookcases.

At the corner of the bookshelves is a 4 foot tree, covered with snowmen. Before snowmen were all the rage I began collecting them, and they have multiplied. Smiling snowmen are tucked onto shelves throughout the house. The snowman lamp is always on to welcome you in from the cold.

Across the foyer from the wall of bookshelves is an open staircase to the lower level. This red tin punch mirror is adorned with a hand needlepoint wreath ornament that I made my mother in junior high. She treasured it, and it hung on her dressing mirror year round.


The doorway to the left of the snowman lamp takes you into the kitchen. Greenery on the plate rack holds "teacups and gingerbread" ornaments. All kitchen themed ornaments hang here.


Adding these lights and ornaments above the kitchen sink makes clean up a little more fun. And our dear neighbors actually moved their tree in front of their family room window so that I could see it out my kitchen window. Can you see it in the distance? It's a cheery scene.

Our kitchen Advent Candle is lit each Sunday. This candelabra is more than 15 years old, and is one of many family traditions that we have maintained with our four children.


The living room and dining room are one long room. One end is flanked with a three part china cabinet. The two end units are pictured below. The center unit has frosted, beveled glass doors, and that is where the "Happy Birthday Jesus" is hanging. The Christmas china, on the top shelf of one unit, was a wedding gift some 24 years ago...





The creche, on the bottom shelf, belonged to my husband's grandmother. His father brought back various animals for the scene, hand carved from olive wood, when he traveled to Bethlehem.


The dining room table is often aglow with candle light.


Jingling Bells hang from the chandelier.


Our fireplace is two sided - the mantle on the dining room side holds a large hand painted nativity set.


The tree is always the center of attention. Each of the four kids have an ornament collection in addition to our family ones. Frasier firs are my favorite, but their thin branches are weighed down by December 25!



The tiny plastic nativity scene was purchased when our youngest was 2. (1997) We spent many hours looking for those animals and that baby over the years. This plastic set was well enjoyed by Jake's little hands.

The family room is snowman headquarters. And of course the stockings are hung by that chimney with care.



This Charles Wysocki print is entitled "Pie for the Parson." It was a gift to my father, a retired minister, from a couple in his church - given in 1993. I love commemorating his 50 plus years of ministry with it.

Thank you for visiting! Merry Christmas!

Decadence

If you've been reading here long, you might know that I love a good cup of coffee. Love. We have a great coffee maker that grinds the beans and everything. However, it does take a bit of work to clean out the grinder area, refill, etc etc. I often just opt for a cup of nescafe instant, unless we're having guests.

Until now. I've bought myself a wee gift. I'll have to blame Rush Limbaugh.

While traveling to a client lunch with my boss, we heard Rush raving about the Keurig individual coffee system. Raving. My boss was instantly intrigued. We stopped at a local store, where he purchased one, along with the individual coffee cups. Later I bought one, at SUBSTANTIAL savings, at Sam's Club. The one I bought is pictured here.

You never touch the filters, or the coffee. It is simplicity defined. It's pricier - about 40 cents a cup if you don't get the coffee cups on sale, but I am fine with 2 cups from each pod - the second cup is weaker but still good. My husband can have regular. I can have flavored. Anna had hot chocolate this morning. At the press of a button. In 30 seconds. It's absolute convenience.

My husband, accountant that he is, was balking. So I just ordered him a single cup keurig filter - he can (and will) putter with refilling it with his coffee. I also ordered the spinning rack to hold the k cups - one for me and one for my boss. (Christmas gift for the man who has EVERYTHING)

The kids can make the regular hot chocolate packets. Without a pod inserted, it simply fills the cup with very hot water. Hot chocolate and tea will likely be made like this.

But for my one cup of coffee each morning, and maybe a decaf at night...I'm going to splurge. Bed, Bath & Beyond gives me 20% off coupons weekly, and they sell the pods. So I figure if I can get 1.5 cups out of each pod, each cup is less than a quarter. The pod is tiny - way less waste than a Starbucks cup.

I had my first (and second) cup in the last two hours. I love the ease and the freshness.

Bye Bye Nescafe!

Full Throttle

Christmas is a busy and wonderful season in our home. The days are flying by, but all is quite well. I did miss doing an Advent posting, so must do two today...but I'm forgiving myself as I've had QUITE a month thus far.

• Thanksgiving was, of course, only two weeks ago. We had a picture perfect, heart filled Thanksgiving. The best of my life. My brother, his wife, my dad, we six, and two co workers shared warm fellowship and delectable bird at our dining room table. The evening was filled with our music. Truly, the only word was magical.
• The next day I drove two hours north to sing at a funeral. The first of two funerals that were necessarily squeezed into this full two weeks. My friend's dad - I had to be there for her.
• Saturday we began to decorate in earnest.
• Sunday I drove to Minneapolis for my brother's concert where he sang the bass solos in the Messiah. He told me that my fitting that 12 hour round trip excursion into my season was the best gift he had ever received from a sibling. Is that not worth while? Investing in relationship.
• Monday I drove home, stopping at a central Wisconsin hospital for work. Listened to an amazing and edifying book on CD the whole way, along with The Messiah. Amazing.
• Monday night our worship team practiced in our living room, 45 minutes after I got home!
• Worked all week.
• Friday the 5th was "Dickens of a Christmas," where our quintet sang, some with guitar and much a cappella, for 1.5 hours in our downtown village square. Afterward we enjoyed food and fellowship at the local pizza pub.
• Saturday the 6th we had 20 neighbors over in the evening. Anna, our 16 year old, came through BIG TIME and worked side by side with me all day. She cleaned and I decorated. I kept the hors d'oeuvres simple, and had asked the neighbors to bring something sweet. We truly worked like crazy all day. I kept telling myself that what needed to get done would get done - because I had not procrastinated - there had not been time to do more preparation. By the time the first neighbor arrived, the house was fully clean and decorated. It was SUCH a push, but for me the push is necessary... I am now able to enjoy our Christmas setting all month - and that major job of decorating and deep cleaning was done by the first week end due to that deadline.
• Sunday was full with music practice after church. Later, a friend and I attended a "Messiah Sing a Long," a fabulous experience. A full community orchestra, some amazing soloists, and we - the congregation - seated by vocal part and standing to sing the choral sections. LOVED THAT.
• Sunday night my husband and I and the two youngest spent time with my dad at his nursing home.
• Monday was blessedly a day OFF work. Breathe. Read. Write. Pray.
• Monday night - worship practice.
• Tuesday night - a snow storm cancelled a dinner with friends - worked late to get caught up. Managed to get 330 cards mailed from work - part of the client relations part of my job.
• Wednesday evening - a funeral of a dear 64 year old friend. Lingered at the church, getting caught up with many friends. Very difficult loss, but a celebratory and honoring funeral.
• Thursday evening- led our church's women's Christmas celebration. Sang some carols and shared a brief devotional. Enjoyed warm fellowship.
• Friday - 8 am to 1:30 am...at work or at my bosses home...hostessing the Christmas dinner. 54 people at his home. Catered meal and then a gambling casino with black jack, craps, and poker. Each person received $500 (fake) dollars in chips to play with, and received raffle tickets according to their winnings. WHAT a blast. WHAT an incredible amount of work. I've decided that hosting a party in someone ELSE's home on someone else's behalf is nerve wracking. I wanted everything to be perfect. Thankfully he has a housekeeper who did all the cleaning and had Christmas decor up. I supervised the moving of furniture by a couple young co workers, followed by the table and chair rental set up. Mid afternoon the caterers arrived and began prepping, and also set the tables with rented linens and dishes. I added the "extras" to the tables, and arranged all the centerpieces which became prizes later for the casino night. The hardest part of the evening was figuring out who sat where and with whom - office politics you know. I dressed and readied at his house, and the guests began arriving at 6:30. (The host wisely did not make his return from work until 5:30 pm - he missed all the hard parts!! ) I had previously made 3 large containers of my frozen Christmas slush which was the drink of the night, (spiked or not) and had hired a bartender who arrived right before dinner. She also served wine, beer, soda and limited mixed drinks. WHAT a production. I'm pleased to report a COMPLETE success. I was busy the entire evening, orchestrating the movement of people and chairs and activities. "Mr. Blackjack" began arriving during dinner, and they set up a full casino in the lower level while the party supped on the main floor. I must say, this party WAS a challenge for me, and today I'm still in my jammies at noon, sipping coffee, dozing and recapping the last few weeks in my mind.

I'm very very content. Yes, it's been a blurrrrrr at times, but it's what I want to do at this time of year. The only stressful time, where I really wondered HOW we were going to pull it off , was last Saturday with the neighbors coming and the house not ready. Otherwise it has all moved like clockwork and has been so gratifying and FUN. I am SO thankful for good health and stamina and such a full roster of friends and family. Although I'm completely spent today, I was able to sleep in a bit, and here I am staring at the tree, listening to Boomer snore, and blogging. I hope to post a few dozen Christmas cards today, but if I don't, I don't...

THIS is what the season is to me. It is a challenge, and it is a hustle and a bustle. My goal is to prioritize people. No one else on our block would have hosted the party - hospitality seems to be such a lost art. The neighbors lingered and so enjoyed one another's company. I felt so privileged to facilitate that, and that satisfaction outweighs that day's exhaustion.

Our home is warm and glowing, drawing us to stay in and sip warm beverages. The work of decorating creates that inviting atmosphere, and entertaining is simpler for the month of activity. Some might scale back for simplicity, and that is perfectly right for them, but to create beauty fills me more than it depletes me. It's how I'm wired., and draws me to home.

Last night was a gift to my boss. He has a huge 12,000 sqaure foot home, but when he was married they were never able to pull off such a shindig, and now, divorced, he certainly doesn't do it on his own. He was choked up as he told me what that party, that huge house full of laughter and happy memories, meant to him. I am so honored to spend myself on PEOPLE. Happy memories. I can rest in January! :)

I am in the Word in the Word each morning due to the flexibility of my job, to stay connected to the Lord during this, His season. He is the source of my energy as surely as the electricity lights up the Christmas tree. I'm finally old enough to realize that without Him I can do nothing. (John 15:5) Singing is another time commitment, but our songs are all about HIM. It was exciting to bring Christian carols to a secular setting last week end. And of course at church God is honored by our efforts and the congregation is blessed. What is Christmas without music? How INCREDIBLE to experience Handel's Messiah live with the orchestra, even if sight reading the choral parts was a bit daunting. That afternoon was a Christmas gift I gave to myself.

I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13:6

The women's gathering was so intimate, filled each of us up. My friend's home was warm and literally glowing with Christmas, the perfect backdrop as the women shared happy memories and we focused on Him. Relationships grew.

This is an amazing December. I feel so blessed to be so blessed. My organizational gifts are being stretched and used. It blesses me to use the voice He gave me. I've nurtured a love for His Word, and am honored to be invited to share that as well. We've celebrated the Advent candle and readings each week as a family too- our children are content and anticipating THEIR time of attention in their weeks of Christmas break. Joey and Emily will be home for a month soon -we have a lot of celebrating left to do!

This year I feel that I am right where God wants me, doing just what He has called me to do, and I stand amazed as I recap it all in type. I'm living in my sweet spot. It's been a blessed month, and it's only the 13th! No regrets.

December is full. To the brim. But not overflowing. It is my heart that is overflowing.

Blogging

Our oldest daughter Emily, age 19, is reading the advent blog daily, along with her roommate and her boyfriend. This SO THRILLS MY HEART that that blog is priority these days. I'll try to post here too now and then, but likely I won't be back here consistently until after Christmas.

WHEW

Just wrote the preceding blog. Next I began my list for today, and also went to itunes to download today's podcasts. I follow three podcasts: Joyce Meyer's, Living on the Edge, and Kay Arthur.

I download them daily (or so) and then listen on the treadmill and in the car. (my ipod plugs into the car stereo system)

As they were downloading, I noticed Kay Arthurs' title from yesterday: Surpassing Peace for the Righteous. I clicked on it, so that I'd be listening to it in the background as I work on my menu and to do list...

Guesss what passage Kay is teaching? ISAIAH 26.

WHEW. God is definitely keeping me in that passage.

Perfect Peace

My dear buddy Margo just called. When schedules allow, we pray together at 7:30 am on Friday mornings. Margo is a mentor in my life, and was one of my Bible study leaders when I was a young mom. Margo and I have history.

She asked if she could recite her "piece" to me over the phone. She has been asked to be Elizabeth on Sunday, to recite some of what Elizabeth may have been thinking, based on Luke 1, and then light the second advent candle. Margo wrote the recitation herself.

Tears ran down my face as I listened to what Margo had written. The story of Elizabeth and Zechariah gives me such hope, as I've written before, and Margo's way with words and her passion for the Truth touched my heart.

Margo's (Elizabeth's) introduction included, "I'm here to tell you that you can have peace in the midst of heartache and pain. You can have peace when your world is turned upside down. And you can have peace when you're waiting with anticipation and hope for what God will do in the future."

THAT is exactly what God has been teaching me through Luke 1.

Yesterday I landed on the verse in Isaiah

Is 26:3 “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You.

This verse so encouraged me, and I tentatively chose it as the theme verse for the fall 2009 retreat I've been asked to lead for our church. How to experience God's peace in fallen world. And today Margo, as Elizabeth, recited that verse to me - the only verse cited in the 3 minute narrative prepared for this coming Sunday.

And so, first thing on a cold and crisp Friday morning in December, God has warmed my heart and whispered in my ear, "Grace, you're on the right track." When God brings thoughts to me as I study His word and talk to Him, and then they are reinforced from another direction, it is a very personal "hug" experience for me. I LOVE it when that happens. God shows me that He orchestrates details right down to what verse I am reading to prove that He is indeed the artist designing the tapestry of my life. Generally I see the underside - a seemingly unrelated mish mash of colored thread. But once in a while, a pocket of joy, He allows me to see the pattern.

At this moment in time I am in perfect peace, because I trust in Him.

Thank you Lord.

My Personality

Yup...that's me. I took this test about 6 years ago and got about the same results. Extrovert/Introvert is a pretty close run, as is Thinker/Feeler.

These tests always amaze me.

Cardinals

My mom loved cardinals. And now I do. I can't help it - I think it's genetic. When a bright red bird arrives on my bird feeder I drop everything. They mesmerize me. A couple mornings ago a small female was on the feeder - must have been a 2008 nestling.

Today at The Clinic (there on business) I wandered into the art gallery on the first floor where there are always interesting displays of (expensive) local art. Today there were a lot of gift items for the holidays mixed in with the art.

I spotted cardinals. In birch trees. I LOVE birch trees. And so this plate came home with me. There is something about it that simply makes me smile. When I have more time I'll do a cardinal display around it on a shelf for the holidays.

I think it's time to put more black sunflower seeds in the feeder...baked, of course. I really do love those cardinals...

Driving

On Friday I drove to Two Rivers, Wisconsin to sing at a friends' dad's funeral. Four hours in the car, alone.
On Sunday I drove to Minneapolis to hear my oldest brother sing two of the bass solos in The Messiah. 1.5 hours with Joey, our oldest son in the car, and then 4 hours alone.
On Monday I drove from Minneapolis to Marshfield, WI, and then home. About 8 hours of driving in the car alone.

AND I LOVED IT.

The CD player held The Messiah - the full 2 CD set, and also Beth Moore's book Get Out of that Pit. What a great great book that is.

Even though I put a whole lot of miles on this week end, I feel as though I worshipped for the majority of them. I actually feel refreshed.