Wonderful Wednesday

From Proverbs 30:
18 Three things are too wonderful for me;four I do not understand:19 the way of an eagle in the sky,the way of a serpent on a rock,the way of a ship on the high seas,and the way of a man with a virgin.

Last night I was up at my son and daughter-in-law's house. Carrie and I babysat my grandson, Andrew, while the rest of the family went to the community center. Andrew fell asleep while Carrie was holding him and I marvelled at how perfect he is - his little feet and hands, his perfect nose and mouth, soft hair (the little he has!), etc. He is so wonderful.
Later Jacob and Izzy came home and showered us with hugs and kisses. The love of a child - too wonderful.
So I'm starting a new blog post - "Wonderful Wednesday" and I will try each week to blog about something wonderful in my life. How about you - what is too wonderful for you to understand?

Rainy Thursday

I am so thankful for the rain today. The trees we planted, and the sod we laid, all needed the water that only God gives. Rain is always better for the plants than water from a hose. I looked out at the yard and could almost see all my plants and trees turning their "faces" into the rain and enjoying the shower.
This reminds me that I need to turn my face upward to God - and have the Holy Spirit rain down on me- renew and refresh me, God!

She's Home!

Last night I picked up my daughter from the airport. Four months sure went by fast. It makes me realize how much we need to enjoy each day God gives us and not wish for the future. So, I am going to enjoy my daughter each day that she is home before she leaves for L.A. next week - and remember how fast time really does go by. She'll be home again before I know it.

The Creativity of God as seen while landscaping

This weekend my husband and I spent most of our time working on our yard. We have now lived in this house for a year - so it was time to "decorate" our outer rooms just as we've done inside. We created a berm in our front yard and planted a hawthorn tree on it in memory of my mom. We edged the berm with pavers and covered it with mulch. We laid sod on each side of the driveway. We spread landscape fabric on a 20x50 ft. area of the back yard and covered it with wood chips. We divided the large vegetable garden from the previous owners into 4 sections, each 8 ft. square, with paths in between. Last weekend we planted 9 trees - 6 white pine, 2 australian pine and a hackberry. And in every plant and tree we saw God's handiwork. Who else could create so many vareites of plants and trees? Each leaf has a different shape and color. The newer leaves are different from the mature leaves. Even the evergreens have needles that are different in shape and texture. We also noticed that as soon as we had trees in our yard the birds came. I was so excited to see goldfinches again, just like we had at the farm. God created the birds too - with different shapes, different songs, etc. And then my husband said, "Just think of all the people who have ever lived. Every single person is different, but all made in God's image."
God is endlessly creative - He delights in His creation, and I do too!

Two Days and Counting

My daughter, Carrie, comes home in two days! She's been in Guatemala since the end of January. I can't believe how fast the time has gone by, but at the same time it feels like she's been gone forever. I am so excited to see her and to hear more about her experiences. Phone and e-mail conversations are just not the same.
Unfortunately for me, she leaves again one week later to participate in an internship at Mosaic, a church in L.A. At least when she's in California we'll be able to talk on our cell phones for free. Those international calls to Guatemala were expensive!!

Mother's Day Message

Yesterday, on Mother's Day, I listened to the Moody Church Hour on the radio and was deeply touched by the testimony of a mother who had 9 children. She talked about the importance of being a mom, of how God reminded her years ago that she was raising an eternal soul.
She quoted I Corinthians 15:58:
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (ESV)

I like how The Message says it:
Throw yourself into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for Him is a waste of time or effort.

Then this mom told about how a car crash took the lives of six of those nine children back in 1994, how God was faithful through the suffering, how grieving for six was too much so the family grieves for one each day, and how they are looking forward to seeing them again in heaven.

So, if you are a mom (or a dad), remember these things:

• Nothing you do in Christ's name - change a diaper, clean the house, make a meal, read to your child, mow the lawn, do the laundry, discipline a child, clean the toilet, pray with your family, etc. is a waste of time.
• You have the most important job in the world. Throw yourself into the job. But also remember that you do not have to do it alone. Do it in God's strength and wisdom.
• You are raising an eternal soul. Raising him/her to know the Lord is the most important part of parenting.

Mother's Day

Craig and I are planning to go to the cabin this weekend. So I called my kids to see if they wanted to have supper with me tonight and they said they could. So Aaron and I made up a menu. This morning Carrie called me to wish me a happy Mother's Day - it turns out that today is Mother's day in Guatemala. It is a much bigger holiday there. A lot of women don't go to work today. The schools put on programs for moms and then the kids are released for the rest of the day. I think it's pretty cool that we are planning to celebrate tonight, not knowing that it is Mother's Day where Carrie is. I can't wait to spend time with my kids - and grandkids. I just wish Carrie was here too!

My Favorite Song

I just love it when this song comes on KTIS radio. I think Lincoln Brewster sings it.

Everlasting God

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
Wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
Wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
Our God You reign forever
Our Hope our strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting GodThe everlasting God
You do not faint You won't grow weary
You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
The everlasting God
The everlasting

Thoughts About Spring

Last night I cut the grass. It's the first time I've cut the grass at our "new" house. I realized that it's not really new any more. We have now lived in Hanover for one year. I can't believe how fast this year has gone. Last year at this time I was still adjusting to a new job, moving in to the new house, saying good bye to the old one (where we had lived for 25 years!), getting ready for an estate sale, planning my daughter's graduation open house, trying to help her get ready to leave for Indianapolis for the summer, and fighting a kidney infection. It was quite a spring.

This spring I am adjusting to having Craig gone duing the week, learning how to take care of the yard by myself, planning for my daughter's homecoming from Guatemala and geting her ready to leave for L.A. for the summer. Life is always full of changes.

Spring is a time of hope. Nature reminds us that: we can have a "do over" - we can make a fresh start, we will grow even after a time of feeling dormant, and that just as God clothes the flowers and trees with beauty He will take care of us and make us beautiful. If only we let Him.

Enjoy the spring - the beauty God has created, the knowldege that growth/beauty comes from trials (winter in Minnesota), the promise that you can "do over" or grow, the realization that you are beautiful, the hope of eternal life.

Spring means being at the cabin

This weekend Craig and I met at the cabin. He drove his semi because he was loaded for Grafton, ND. I went up after work on Friday. The weather wasn't the best - it was cloudy and windy - but it was just good to be up there again. The trees are just beginning to bud out, the ice is off the lake, and anticipation of summer is in the air. The store owners are getting ready for the sumer tourists and "weekenders."
Craig spent a majority of the time at his shop, doing the little things to his truck that needed to be done - and one big job: changing oil. I cleaned the cabin, read a book, and just relaxed. Sunday night we both took off - I went south, Craig went north. And another week begins.

Here are some of the staff at WVR who were in Wastebasket Revue with me. We sure had fun - but it was a lot of work, and a lot of time.

Daniel

At New Joy Church the pastor has been preaching from the book of Daniel and I have been learning so much. Last week he spoke about Daniel being thrown in the lion's den. He talked about how consistent Daniel was - in his prayer life, in his public life. He didn't change just because his situation changed. And God took care of Daniel. He didn't make Daniel's life easy. He didn't remove tough situations. But He did take care of Daniel in each situation. He was always with Daniel, because Daniel always looked to Him for all his needs. Daniel didn't just exist - he didn't just survive his life in captivity. He thrived! Daniel distinguished himself because he possessed an extraordinary spirit. (Daniel 6:3) I am learning:
I need to be consistent in my private life and my public life. I need to have a standard appointment with God each day. I need to share my faith with everyone around me.
I need to be quiet like Daniel was - no complaining, no grumbling .
I need to guard against pride. I need to recognize it whenever, wherever it shows up in my life and confess it and change it.
I need to keep learning God's Word, and praying and obeying so that I can help my spirit to grow.

May Day

May 1st has arrived. It's spring! I spent a couple of hours outside today when I got home from work. I watered trees. I pulled weeds. I dug in our garden. It felt so good to be outside. It smelled good too. I marveled at God's handiwork in nature. I enjoyed visiting with our neighbors. And I wonder - would I enjoy spring as much if I hadn't had to endure the winter?