Giving, Instead of Giving Up for Lent

For Lent, my daughter and I decided to give encouragement, hope, and thanks instead of giving up something. We both decided to write real cards to people and send them in the mail. We bought note cards, stamps, and started looking up addresses. She has decided to do 50 for the year; I am even more ambitious, trying to do 40 just during Lent. Coming up with 40 people wasn't easy; finding all those addresses has been more difficult. In this day of cell phones, not every one can be looked up in an online phone book.  Sometimes I have thought of someone only to not remember their last name or some may have even passed away, like former teachers. Some have moved away and I have not found current addresses.

This has been a good exercise to think about people who have blessed my life. More people invested in me or my family than I had thought about. It made me grateful to realize how many people have impacted me in some way. And some of them would never have guessed it had I not specifically told them.

It also had the added blessing of making me think of how I am living my life. Am I being intentional about blessing others? What am I doing to help others? How am I sharing my life with people? It has been a good examination of my busy-ness and whether the things I am doing matter in light of investing in people. What's important? What are my real priorities? How am I using my time?

The benefit I did not expect was feedback from my notes! The first call I got shocked me and was a surprise. He not only thanked me, but said maybe he would write some himself. The second call I got shared how it was received at just the right time and how it also made a difference to her husband who had seen it on the table. Others have thanked me and have expressed surprise. My daughter has gotten some nice notes back and all those notes and calls have touched our hearts. We didn't realize how blessing someone else this way would come back to us in the ways it has. What an unexpected blessing for us!

It has been fairly easy for me to write these notes as I think about the people and the part they played in my life. Some I have not seen for a long time. Some were only in my life for a short time or at a specific time. Some have been in my life a long time and I may have taken them for granted and never told them what they mean to me. I try to write something specific in each note, something they specifically have done. Many have turned into thank you notes!

So many people give something up for Lent and I get that. Sacrificing something when Christ has done so much for us could be a good idea. But sometimes I see people giving up something so superfluous or insignificant. One of my granddaughters explained to me that you give up something for Lent that you don't want anyway. We laughed, but she didn't get it. I know others who don't get it either. So when I prepared to write my cards, I printed this out: "Many people give something up for Lent, but I wanted instead to do something positive, something that would show others how God has used them in the past. God has blessed me through YOU! I thank God for you!" I cut this out and put it in each of my cards so people wouldn't wonder why I sent a card to them out of the blue.

It has been an exercise in joy. I am so glad my daughter decided to do it, and her doing it, prompted me to do it also. Remembering and reflecting has been so good for me. It has increased the joys of my heart!

Attitude of Gratitude

Attitude of Gratitude

                Thanksgiving time puts our focus on giving thanks. And on food! Before we pray and eat our dinner, we say something we are thankful for. It’s the usual things mentioned:  family, food, home, etc… We always tease our son-in-law that he says the same thing every year, but he does it unapologetically. It’s always his wife and children. Even though we tease, it is sweet because he is genuine in being thankful for them.

                Learning to be thankful is important because as we are thankful we become more content. When we are truly thankful, we need less. We want less. Because we recognize all we have, we don’t have to focus on getting more. Cultivating an attitude of gratitude is crucial to being happy and satisfied.

                What are we thankful for? What am I thankful for? We can say family, friends, home, vehicles, food, but can we be more specific? I am particularly thankful for a warm home, a spouse who cuts, splits and carries wood for my woodstove. I don’t like winter so this is vital to me. I am thankful for my children, but this year I want to say I am thankful for my adopted children whom God has used to teach me how He has adopted me into His family. I am also extremely blessed in that I have had in-laws I have loved and do love. Our family is enriched because of them. I have a teen daughter and a young adult daughter who like to be with me and do things with me. What fun we have together! There are so many other things I take for granted each day and don’t appreciate fully. I so enjoy a cup of hot tea in the morning, and a good book or my Kindle with it make it better. I love that my dishwasher has cleaned my dirty dishes while I sleep. A hot shower wakes me up and ready to face the day. My phone keeps me connected to friends and family on Facebook and with emails and texts. I can type on my computer and the internet lets me do my banking, helps me shop, and post on my blog. I am grateful for my clothes- that I have what I need for our variety of climates.  I am thankful my husband has a job. (And I don’t!) I am blessed he provides so well for us. I love having antiques and items of beauty around me to feed my soul. My life is so good and I recognize this as I start counting my blessings.

 When I am thankful, I start smiling because I know how pleasing my life is. It is not perfect. I have bad days, too. I have bad moments in every day. But cultivating that attitude of thankfulness pushes out the grudges, the “poor me” feelings, the frustrations, and even anger. You can’t be truly thankful and not feel positive about life. You will see good in something if you have a grateful spirit.

An attitude of gratitude is an exercise in liking your life. It is trusting God and seeing how He has blessed you. I am thankful we have at least a day to reflect on this. Happy thanksgiving! Give thanks!

Running from Religion to Relationship

Running from Religion to Relationship

                I grew up in church. I was baptized, confirmed, went to youth group, Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, missions conferences, everything. I was comfortable at church.  I liked it. It was part of who I was. My faith was real. I believed.

                But my faith didn’t change me much. I still lived like everyone else. I did stupid things, things I am not proud of. I didn’t share my faith with anyone. No one could see much of a difference in me because of it. I was a “good” kid, which meant I didn’t get caught. I didn’t want to upset my parents. Faith didn’t change my behavior, but I was careful to not hurt anyone.

                I would have called myself a Christian, a Lutheran. But it was only skin deep. Maybe it was in my mind, but not in my heart. It wasn’t satisfying or fulfilling.

                During my teen years, I had a youth pastor who challenged us and took us to visit other churches and religious groups. It was interesting, but didn’t mean a lot to me until we went to a “Jesus People” house. I saw something different there. The people worshiped with heart, soul, and mind. They talked to God in their own words, like He was right there with them. I felt something there I had never felt before. I believe I felt God’s Spirit come over me. For the first time I knew my sins were real and they put Christ on the cross.  I knew He had died for me. I wanted to truly repent. I cried; I wept until I was completely cleansed. I was changed from the inside out. I had a new desire to read God’s Word, to share my faith, to worship wholeheartedly, and to pray continually about everything. I actually wanted to live for Him. I didn’t want to do the things I did before that I knew were wrong, and not because I was afraid of getting caught, but just because they were wrong. I had a new relationship with my Lord that was real and exciting to me. However the religion I grew up in didn’t recognize this relationship. I was forbidden by my parents to tell people I had “accepted” Jesus because I had always been a Christian. They raised me that way. They didn’t understand for a long time. But as I lived it, (not perfectly, but fairly consistently) people saw my faith was real and different. I read my Bible to get to know God and to know His will. I memorized Scripture because I wanted His Word in me, not because I wanted to know more than others. It became important to me to learn and grow as a Christian.

                Another thing that made a big difference for me was I joined Youth for Christ Campus life. I had mentors and friends who understood and wanted to grow, too. Mentors and friends kept me consistent and learning more.

                I didn’t live it perfectly. We never do. I blew it many times, but I knew God’s grace and forgiveness and love through all my trials and temptations. He was with me.

                Religion gave me a framework, a foundation for faith. Yet it alone wouldn’t have held me. It wasn’t enough. Many people I have known through the years have let their faith fall on the wayside. They no longer hold to it as they once did. The religion that got them by at home or in Sunday school ceased to be important to them. They don’t go to church. They don’t take their children to church. While they may be good people, God is not present in their lives. Faith doesn’t change them or play a part in their lives. Religion is NOT enough.

                Religion is not enough because we need relationship, too. We need to know God, His people, His church. We need to have God be a part of our lives all day, every day. We need to live His way. We have to want to be more like Jesus.

                Religion has its function, but if you are stuck there and it isn’t satisfying, run from it. Run from the emptiness to relationship. Look for Jesus, instead of what religion demands and expects. Let grace fill you instead of judgment. God’s love is real and offered to you. Leave the parts of religion behind that keep you from God. While God has standards and laws that we must follow, His Spirit will lead you and help you to follow his ways. Run to Him; run forward to relationship, a relationship with Jesus. It will be the most important race you will ever run!

               

Roles We Live

Roles We Live

I am a stay at home wife and mother, homeschooling my 6th and last child. I cook, clean, do laundry, pay bills, buy groceries, plan meals, do holidays, and more. I bake bread and caramel rolls. I buy gifts. Sometimes I sew. I made the curtains. I decorate the house. I send in rebates. I plan the school year, homeschool, test, send in the forms for the state, and all the rest of the things that go with homeschooling. I help keep the homeschool coop going. That's some of what I do. I also volunteer, mostly with politics. I babysit my grandchildren and a neighbor child. Life isn't boring, but it's busy lots of the time.

My husband works full-time. He works long hours and provides well for us. He fixes our cars and motorcycles and anything in our house that needs it. He builds anything I ask for. He does the heavy lifting I can't do. He eats what I cook. He massages my neck. He prays with me every morning before he goes to work. He does jobs I don't like. He built me a camper. He cuts wood so we can burn wood and not propane. He helps with the grandchildren when they are here.  He drives when we go on vacation. My husband is very busy, but not too busy for us.

We live with our traditional roles and we like them. I don't have to change tires; my husband doesn't have to make the bed. We don't feel cheated or stuck in traditional roles. We choose it. I am free to do so many things that my friends who have full-time jobs can not do. They have schedules to be kept, hours that belong to someone else. I have so many more hours with my children; I am blessed by this choice.

I have had to live on less than those who have two full-time incomes. We don't have the financial security that two jobs would have provided, but that only means I have had the opportunity to be creative in supplying our needs and desires. It hasn't been a bad thing for us.

When President Obama recently commented about full-time stay-at-home moms, "We don't want that." I was shocked and outraged. To take my life's calling and degrade it by seeing it as lessening my economic impact was frustrating, maddening. My job is important, too. I am raising the next generation, impacting the one after that, too. I am volunteering where others cannot. I take pride in who I am and what I have done. I enjoy my 'traditional' roles and I will teach other young women that it is a good thing that they can take pride in. They can be anything they want to be, even a stay-at-home wife and a mother. It's their choice and their calling; however they do it.

A Day Without My Phone

A Day Without My Phone

Yesterday I hurriedly got ready for church and grabbed everything I needed for the day. We were not only going to church, but to a house showing with our son, a political rally, shopping, and back to church for a celebration. I brought extra clothes and shoes. I grabbed treats for my grandchildren. I had my Bible, and my book. I got a water bottle.  I made sure I had a warmer jacket in the car. I thought I had everything I needed until we got about halfway there. I didn’t have my phone.

Now I am notorious for putting my phone in the wrong pocket or bag so when I said that I had forgotten it, someone always calls it so I can find it. My husband’s phone rang and rang to no avail. We didn’t hear mine. I really didn’t have it. Since we were 15 miles from home, we were not going back for it. I could get along without it for a day. Right?

I borrowed my husband’s phone to let my son know I didn’t have mine and if he needed to contact us, he should contact his dad. We got to church and we didn’t know whether to save seats for my son and family. My daughter texted my daughter-in-law to see if they were coming to church. When church got over, there was a lunch afterwards. I had to check my daughter’s phone to check the time to see if we had time to eat before the showing. Then we needed the address for the house showing. Again I used my husband’s phone. I don’t wear a watch anymore so I use my phone for the time and so I didn’t know the time all day.

We got to the political rally and I couldn’t take pictures, facebook it, or tweet about it without my phone.  Fortunately others took pictures and sent them to me later.

During the church service, a former worship leader mentioned he used to be in a band. I so wanted to look him up, but no phone, no internet.

After the service, we decided to go eat. I couldn’t look up the hours of the restaurant, coupons, specials, or anything. We chose a restaurant that I had a printed coupon for.

When we got home, I immediately went in and found my phone. It was sitting on the bed where I left it. I had only one missed call. (from my husband when he was checking to see if I really had left it!) There were a few Facebook notifications, new tweets, but nothing earth shattering that I couldn’t miss.  I had survived a whole day without my phone! Sure glad my daughter and  my husband had theirs!

Grandparenting

I never dreamed about being a grandparent. I always wanted to be a wife and a mom, but I never thought about what it would truly be like to be a grandparent. Once when my children were younger, and there were only five then, they told me they would each have five and I would have 25 grandchildren. They joked about how I would have to line them all up in sleeping bags across my library floor when they all slept over. That was the only thought I had about it. I never thought about it in reality.

My first grandson was born when my youngest was almost seven months old. I was so busy with my own baby, it was hard to truly grandparent. I had my own baby to hold. She was a month early, so tiny and petite, so unexpected. She was my gift, my precious one. I was so enraptured by her that I am sure I didn't totally get the whole experience of first time grandparenting.

My grandchildren continued to arrive  almost every year after that. If there was a break for a year, I got two the next year. I have fifteen age twelve and under. I have ten granddaughters and five grandsons. Two of my grandsons were born this year. I am truly blessed with lots of little ones. Six of them call me Grandma and nine of them call me Oma.

They all seem to love to come and visit and we do lots of things with them. I usually have special snacks for them and do meals they like. I try to make it special for them. But the best thing I did for them was to have my last two children. My younger two daughters are the real reason they love to come to Grandma's. They love their Auntie Mandy and their Naynay.

Naynay is closest to their age and she plays with them. They adore her. They nag her, call to her, beg her, and generally just want to be with her. They love her and she is great with them. They often look for her first when they get here. Mandy reads to them and plays with them, too.

I never thought what it would be like to be a grandparent so I didn't know how much fun it could be. Or how exhausting it could be because there are so many. One weekend in April, we had ten of them overnight. Ten under eight years old! I am not sure if we would have had as much fun if I wouldn't have had my younger daughters here to help and make it fun. We divide the duties, the activities, and sometimes the kids. We work together to make it work. We help the kids get along and enjoy each other. It is a great team effort!

Grandparenting is so different for us than it was for my parents or my grandparents. All of them were basically retired as they grand-parented our children. They had more leisure time and were more able to be there at different times. They had less commitments than we do. And they were not still parenting at the same time. I still need to be a parent first to my girls at home, especially as I am still homeschooling one. Sometimes that presents a conflict in my time with my married children and grandchildren. I haven't always figured it all out and I know I haven't done it all right. I want to be there for all of them, but the balance is hard at times. It is hard to prioritize when I love them all. I try to say yes as often as I can to babysitting, but once in a while I just have to say no. I try hard to make it work.

Our grandparenting may not be excellent, but we love all of them and are glad to know them as well as we do. We are blessed to get to spend time with them often. We are glad to be part of their lives. We are particularly blessed to have two daughters at home who love the kids and show it so well. They have made being a grandparent so much easier. I have to admit sometimes I get jealous when some of the kids come and I never see them because they are so busy with their aunts. But truly I recognize how God knew best when he blessed us with our last two unplanned children because only He could have known how they would bless the nest generation, too.

Being a grandparent is fun, rewarding, and sometimes tiring. It is truly a joy to see your children parent and it is another chance to love on little ones. I didn't dream about it. I didn't plan for it. But it is here and I am glad to share this time with Grandpa (Opa) and the aunts at home. It is another joy God has put in my heart.

Hospitality

Hospitality is something I was taught and something we lived as I grew up. My mom wasn't a fantastic cook and didn't do it all perfectly from an entertainment stand point, but she was always welcoming. She made simple meals, but wasn't afraid to share them. My dad would call home and say that he was bringing a salesman home for lunch and she never got flustered(at least that I could see!) She would just set another place. Sometimes it was just soup or a simple sandwich. There wasn't always dessert, maybe just some store bought cookies. Yet she served with a smile and offered what she had.

When we started building our house 25 years ago, I wanted our home to be an open home that would share that same hospitality. I prayed that we would always be welcoming when the house was done. Yet God does have a sense of humor sometimes, and the stipulation of when it was done was not heard. I cooked on the woodstove before we got our stove. And I had overnight  guests before I had all the walls in. But we tried to love and welcome people and they kept coming.

We have had people live with us at different times. We have had guests for extended visits. We have babysat, done daycare, and hosted classes and Bible Studies. We do many family gatherings and celebrate holidays at our home. We have had one person and we have had 80 plus people. Our home is a house well lived in and is never perfect; nor are we.

Last week my niece's son called my son and told him he was coming for a visit from out of state. He was bringing his wife whom we had not met with. My son told them the could stay with us! And this is not the first time my adult children have invited people to our house instead of theirs.

My nephew sent me a Facebook message confirming that it was ok to come and asked for my phone number. I sent it back and asked them when they would be coming. He told me around noon so I told him to come for lunch. When I gave them my phone number, I asked him to call on his way so I would know when to expect them. The next day was the appointed day and I got up and started to prepare for them. I vacuumed and picked up around the house. I started bread rising and planned on making soup, salad, and apple bread. I had plenty of time so I thought I would shower after I vacuumed. As  I finished, my dog barked. But she barks at airplanes and not always at cars so I finished. I looked up and Nathan was at the door! I ran into the bedroom, and after yelling, "Come in!", I said, "You are early! It isn't noon!" How hospitable of me! I told them to take a seat and asked my daughter to see if they wanted something to drink. I took my shower, got dressed and then came out to meet his wife. It was a lovely start to our visit! While we talked, I cooked and made lunch, since I wasn't ready. They were gracious guests. I hadn't scared them away...

I often tell guests that they are only guests once, then they join the family and should help themselves. Some feel at home immediately and help themselves. Others take longer. While Nathan had not even been in my home for about 5 years, apparently he felt comfortable there. When he  and his wife got back after visiting my son and family, he came up and got himself a glass of milk and the next morning , he took some extra bread for the road. I felt blessed that he felt comfortable enough to get what he needed. I was glad that my home was a place he felt he could be at home in.

As we have opened our home to others, we have learned much. We have learned about those who came to us, but we also learned about ourselves. Some guests we have enjoyed more than others. Some were difficult. We had to learn to be gracious even when we didn't feel like it. We had to learn to put aside our own interests and care for those with us. Sometimes we had to stand up for ourselves, but not often. Most people have just enjoyed being in our home, eating what we make, and staying with us. Many come back again and again.

God gave us the gift of our home. We have been blessed by it. We had hoped to use it for Him someday, but any day is a good day to share what He has given us and we try. Sometimes we get worn out, but it is only a season, for a time. We make the best of it. And on the quiet days, we just enjoy it ourselves. We are grateful for our home and feel privileged to share it.

Hospitality starts in the heart. It comes from a grateful spirit willing to share what you have. It isn't entertaining, and it isn't perfect. Anyone can do it. It might mean sharing soup or potato pancakes as I once did to a young man who had never had them before. It might mean some of the kids sleep on the floor in sleeping bags.  Mostly it's just being welcoming, letting others into your family and home. The Bible tells us to "practice hospitality." We may never get it perfectly, but we all can keep practicing!

The Story Keeper Book Review

I was privileged to be a part of a sister circle that got to read The Story Keeper this past summer before it was published. Each circle had 5 sisters and there were over 20 circles. We each had the book for up to 2 weeks. Most of us read it much more quickly than that! As we read, we jotted notes and underlined all over the book. It became quite well used by the time we were done. I was the 2nd in our circle so only got to read one person's comments. However we all became Facebook friends and have emailed each other, too. It has been fun to be a part of a group that shares a love of books like we do.  I really enjoyed being in the Sister Circles and hope to do it again.  Below is my review of The Story Keeper that I have put on several sites.

The Story Keeper Book Review

The Story Keeper by Lisa Wingate is an intriguing story within a story. The past and the present are woven together and the relationships are intertwined in unexpected ways.

The main character, Jen Gibbs, is a new editor for a major publishing house. She finds an old manuscript on her desk that captures her attention. Not only does the story grab hold of her, but the connection to her past scares her a bit. She ends up going back to more than she bargained for. She learns more than she expects. And she finds more than she dreamed of. It’s a journey filled with emotion, mystery, and hope.

The Story Keeper is filled with nuggets of truth, quotes you’ll want to keep. The stories are captivating and will give you an appreciation of all that life is.

 

 

Dreaming on Daisies Book Review

Dreaming on Daisies Book Review

While this book is the  4^th in the Love Blossoms in Oregon series, it could be read alone. However you will want to read the whole series so you can meet and get to know the varied characters in the story. Each character adds depth and personality to the story and makes you feel like you know the whole community.

I just finished reading Dreaming on Daisies by Miralee Ferrel. It is a story about a family that has its foundation in lies and secrets. Each member has their own resulting wounds and pain. Bitterness and pride get in the way of healing. This book touched me in ways it might not touch others because I have had some experience with feelings of abandonment as a couple of the characters in the book do. Mine was not the same as theirs,  but made me sensitive to their situations all the same. I could relate to their feelings. I could feel their pain and misunderstanding.

Things change in the book as a virtual stranger ends up living on the ranch and helping out,  and an unexpected romance develops with neither person sure they can trust enough to love. Conflicts arise, tempers flare, confrontations occur, and eventually through God’s grace,  healing begins in the way each of them needs.

Forgiveness is the catalyst for change and it made me think of those situations in which I need to forgive also. It is a moving story that will make you feel deeply. Sometimes I got frustrated with the characters just as I would if the person were real. And I rejoiced when they got it right! It was a good book, but you should read the whole series! It is a fun read and you will enjoy the whole community if you read them all.

Peter Gives Me Hope

I have heard the story of Peter, one of Jesus' disciples, many times. He always seemed bigger than life to me. I thought of him as impulsive, brash, and even too outspoken. I knew Jesus loved him and chose him. I knew after Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension, that he became a real leader in the church. But it always irritated me that he denied Christ after Jesus told him that he would. Why wasn't he on guard? Why wasn't he more loyal?

We recently went to the Passion Play in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and I saw a retelling of Jesus' last days on earth. I saw Peter deny Jesus three times and then look at Jesus and weep. He had said he wouldn't do it, that he would even die for him, but he then denied him. Just a few days ago in my Bible reading, I reread the story and felt all those feelings all over again. How could he do it? I know he loved Jesus and followed Him. Were the circumstances too much that he could not stand with Jesus?

I don't know all that Peter felt, but as I thought about this, I was eventually relieved by the story. Peter gives me hope. He, who knew Jesus personally, and was His friend and disciple, failed Jesus. And Jesus, who knew he would do it, forgave him. He, not only forgave him, but still used him mightily in building His church. He trusted him again. He found a purpose for him.

Now I could say that I have never denied him like Peter did, and that would be true. But to say I have never denied him would not be true. Every time I have failed to give God credit for what He has done, or I have not admitted I am a Christian, or shared His love with someone, I have denied Him. When I don't have time to pray or read His word, but call Him Lord, I am denying Him. I, too, am guilty.

But Peter gives me hope. If Jesus forgave him, he will forgive me, too. If Jesus was ready to use Peter in ministering to others, He can use me, too. I know He doesn't just give up on us, even if we sometimes give up on Him. He desires us to come back into relationship with Him and He wants us to be fulfilled in life. He is willing to pour into us, making us more than what we thought we could be.

I am thankful that God's Word doesn't just tell success stories. It tells of real people with real problems, with real sins in their lives. And it tells how God changes them, works in and through them. Some of the heroes in the Bible were at first failures. God, in them, made a difference.

Peter is one of those people. He failed God, denying Jesus, but went on to make a difference in the church and the world. We, too, despite our failures in our walk with God, can be used by Him. Peter gives me hope.