If you still read the printed page, the news isn't good these days. Because many of us get our news from alternate sources like the internet, newspapers are frequently closing. Whatever the source for news, the tone is largely negative. The government is spending trillions on bailout, the moral fiber continues to erode and embryos are now fair game for stem cell research with federal dollars by the stroke of a politician's pen.
Our hope and anchor amidst the turmoil must be the Lord Jesus Christ. It is easy to find ourselves downcast and troubled by the uncertainty. Psalms 3:3 is the perfect pick me up :-)
But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord, and He answered me from his holy hill. Picture a little child who is dragging his chin on the ground in disappointment or sorrow. Just as we lift their chin, look in their eyes, and reassure them it is alright, the Lord does the same for His children. Look up, look into His eyes, we have a Father's love, a Savior's redemption, the Spirit's comfort and all of eternity ahead of us for those who are redeemed.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Uplands or Lowlands?
Oswald Sanders in his book on Spiritual Leadership states that leaders can influence others toward the "uplands" or the "lowlands". We are all influencing someone whether to the upland or the lowland. As mothers and grandmothers this is part of creating a heritage. What will they remember about us? What part of us will they carry with them forever? Will it be our faith, our love, or something less noble like a habit of anger or a bitter spirit.
We cannot change everything at once but by God's grace He can help us change through His enabling power. None of us should be content to stay in the lowlands. Lift up your eyes and see the uplands ahead rich and green and begin taking one step at a time....today, not tomorrow.
Psalm 121:1-2 - I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
We cannot change everything at once but by God's grace He can help us change through His enabling power. None of us should be content to stay in the lowlands. Lift up your eyes and see the uplands ahead rich and green and begin taking one step at a time....today, not tomorrow.
Psalm 121:1-2 - I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Playing Catch Up!
The old adage, "my how time flies" proves itself true with blogging too! My daughter pointed out that I haven't updated the blog since last April and it was hard to believe, but true.
Tonight we celebrated our grandson Alex's 11th birthday. It was a great family time and he really liked his Indiana Jones cake. I must admit that request had me baffled for the last few weeks as I pondered how to do it. I had alot of fun creating it today.
The fall was a busy time as we prepared for David and Nicole's wedding. They originally had set a date of August, 2009 but decided to scale it down and get married on January 17th. The wedding was beautiful and honored God. It was a cold and snowy day - quite beautiful!
Perhaps my next entry will explore some of the emotions of a mother as she marries the last of her children and truly has an empty nest.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Water Park Lessons!
Well, even though I was anxious to "blog" again, the technology refused to cooperate. But after some login/password frustrations and a message that this blog didn't exist :-( I'm once more up and active.
Just returned from an overnight at Great Wolf Lodge with three of our grandchildren. What I learned: they are thoroughly adoreable, quite smart, fun to be with, they keep you young, and they can talk you into making a fool of yourself on a water slide!
As my son said, Mom, I couldn't never get you to go into the water...ah, but the grandkids did! I even overcame the reluctance to buy a bathing suit again - another major hurdle. Today, Alex insisted I go on the yellow water slide - he called it the small yellow slide. I had watched my daughter yesterday and it really looked like she came down quite controlled and what I would call a manageable speed. Well, at the top of the slide, I told them I thought I would just go back down and wait to catch them in the water. Alex promptly looked disappointed and said I promised I would go down. Caught!
So, down the shoot granny went. Only, somehow my descent wasn't controlled or manageable. It shot me at an amazing speed out into the center of the pool and cast me under the water quite unexpectedly. I had some trouble getting my footing - and the lifeguard seemed to be standing by when I recovered. Oh my.
But all in all it was great fun and in granny style, I'd plunge in once more to see the delight on their faces.
Just returned from an overnight at Great Wolf Lodge with three of our grandchildren. What I learned: they are thoroughly adoreable, quite smart, fun to be with, they keep you young, and they can talk you into making a fool of yourself on a water slide!
As my son said, Mom, I couldn't never get you to go into the water...ah, but the grandkids did! I even overcame the reluctance to buy a bathing suit again - another major hurdle. Today, Alex insisted I go on the yellow water slide - he called it the small yellow slide. I had watched my daughter yesterday and it really looked like she came down quite controlled and what I would call a manageable speed. Well, at the top of the slide, I told them I thought I would just go back down and wait to catch them in the water. Alex promptly looked disappointed and said I promised I would go down. Caught!
So, down the shoot granny went. Only, somehow my descent wasn't controlled or manageable. It shot me at an amazing speed out into the center of the pool and cast me under the water quite unexpectedly. I had some trouble getting my footing - and the lifeguard seemed to be standing by when I recovered. Oh my.
But all in all it was great fun and in granny style, I'd plunge in once more to see the delight on their faces.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
A Grandmother's Heart
Although I've been a grandmother for ten years now, yesterday brought a new experience and with it a new lesson of the heart. My son-in-law's grandmother passed away this week at age 94. She was a woman of faith and had shared her love with my daughter's family over the years. My grandson Alex is 10 and as the oldest of the grandchildren, he seemed to be the one most aware of the loss. He was trying to be brave but he was very sad since her death.
As I sat with him through the funeral, he listened intently to his Uncle's message of her faith and the blessed hope of heaven. When he shared about her coaxing them to vist and prolonging their exit with just "one more hug" Alex could hold it in no longer and buried his head in my shoulder and cried. The grief overcame him again at the end as we walked to the lobby. Afterwards, I drove him to a friend's house where his sister and brother were staying. Along the way we stopped for a milkshake at McDonalds and I pulled the car into a parking spot and asked him to move to the front seat so we could talk. I explained to him that often when I wanted to talk to his Uncle David I would take him to McDonalds and we would park and talk, explaining that I would carry on the tradition with him :-)
I tried to console him, read Psalm 18, and shared my experience of loss at 10 years old when Shiner died, a friend who lived with my grandparents and was like a grandfather to me. My heart hurt for Alex in a way it never has before. But then, his heart has never hurt quite that badly either. The burden I carried continued throughout the day after leaving him and even today brought tears to my eyes when I paused to think about it. As I prayed for him, I asked the Lord to lift his burden and heal his heart.
The whole experience caught me off guard a bit. I've been very concerned for other reasons over the years, such as health concerns, but this was very different. It was a heartache I felt because he hurt - just like it is with my children. So, now I understand a new facet of grandparenting - that shared pain when hearts are entertwined is unavoidable. And given the nature of life, it isn't a solo event.
As I sat with him through the funeral, he listened intently to his Uncle's message of her faith and the blessed hope of heaven. When he shared about her coaxing them to vist and prolonging their exit with just "one more hug" Alex could hold it in no longer and buried his head in my shoulder and cried. The grief overcame him again at the end as we walked to the lobby. Afterwards, I drove him to a friend's house where his sister and brother were staying. Along the way we stopped for a milkshake at McDonalds and I pulled the car into a parking spot and asked him to move to the front seat so we could talk. I explained to him that often when I wanted to talk to his Uncle David I would take him to McDonalds and we would park and talk, explaining that I would carry on the tradition with him :-)
I tried to console him, read Psalm 18, and shared my experience of loss at 10 years old when Shiner died, a friend who lived with my grandparents and was like a grandfather to me. My heart hurt for Alex in a way it never has before. But then, his heart has never hurt quite that badly either. The burden I carried continued throughout the day after leaving him and even today brought tears to my eyes when I paused to think about it. As I prayed for him, I asked the Lord to lift his burden and heal his heart.
The whole experience caught me off guard a bit. I've been very concerned for other reasons over the years, such as health concerns, but this was very different. It was a heartache I felt because he hurt - just like it is with my children. So, now I understand a new facet of grandparenting - that shared pain when hearts are entertwined is unavoidable. And given the nature of life, it isn't a solo event.
Monday, February 18, 2008
The Value of Mentors
I've been blessed over the years to know godly women who are further along in this journey. I've learned so much from them about life and faith. Ellen entered my life in 1982 shortly after the death of my first husband. I attended a Bible Study and only slightly knew the woman who invited me. That evening I met Ellen. She had recently retired and often said that when she went home that night the Lord spoke to her heart that he had given her two daughters (the other "daughter" was a friend who attended with me).
Over the years she taught me much about the Bible, was willing to be transparent about her own struggles and victories, and she held me accountable for my actions and attitudes. But first and foremost she loved me unconditionally and became a mother to me (mine had died suddenly when I was 19). We shared many times together over a cup of tea, spent countless hours on the telephone, and corresponded through snail mail and later email. What a gift she gave me over the years as she prayed for me and for our family.
Last year Ellen's health worsened and she moved out of state to live with her daughter. After a further decline in her health she was transferred to an assisted living/nursing home. We had a long conversation recently and when I commented on her cheerfulness, she said, "I have a life of ease." :-) She will be 89 in June and is still pressing on in her journey.
One of Ellen's favorite quotes is: My blessings are more than my miseries!
Over the years she taught me much about the Bible, was willing to be transparent about her own struggles and victories, and she held me accountable for my actions and attitudes. But first and foremost she loved me unconditionally and became a mother to me (mine had died suddenly when I was 19). We shared many times together over a cup of tea, spent countless hours on the telephone, and corresponded through snail mail and later email. What a gift she gave me over the years as she prayed for me and for our family.
Last year Ellen's health worsened and she moved out of state to live with her daughter. After a further decline in her health she was transferred to an assisted living/nursing home. We had a long conversation recently and when I commented on her cheerfulness, she said, "I have a life of ease." :-) She will be 89 in June and is still pressing on in her journey.
One of Ellen's favorite quotes is: My blessings are more than my miseries!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Quick and Easy Pita Pizza
Today after church I made one of our favorites for lunch, Pita Pizza. If you are looking for a tasty, quick, healthy, and economical alternative to pizza, these are great and kids love it too!
Heat oven to 350 degrees while preparing pizzas
I use a round stone to cook the pizzas, but a cookie sheet works fine too
Place the pita bottom side up on the pan; I use Aladdin's brand (small pitas 100 calories each)
Spread pizza sauce generously on pitas (1 can makes 4 - 6 pizzas)
Sprinkle pizza seasoning on each pizza (optional)
Add real bacon bits, pepperoni, mushrooms, sausage, onions, or bananna peppers (pizzas are good plain too)
Top with shredded mozarella cheese
Bake for 10 - 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and pizzas are slightly brown
Cut each into 4 slices with a pizza cutter and enjoy!
Heat oven to 350 degrees while preparing pizzas
I use a round stone to cook the pizzas, but a cookie sheet works fine too
Place the pita bottom side up on the pan; I use Aladdin's brand (small pitas 100 calories each)
Spread pizza sauce generously on pitas (1 can makes 4 - 6 pizzas)
Sprinkle pizza seasoning on each pizza (optional)
Add real bacon bits, pepperoni, mushrooms, sausage, onions, or bananna peppers (pizzas are good plain too)
Top with shredded mozarella cheese
Bake for 10 - 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and pizzas are slightly brown
Cut each into 4 slices with a pizza cutter and enjoy!
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