Reflections on Gettysburg

The girls and I spent the first semester of the school year studying the Civil War. Three times we scheduled a trip to Gettysburg and three times we had to cancel. It is one thing to read about an event in history, but quite another to actually see the place it happened. Finally, we arrived in Gettysburg on a gorgeous, sunny spring day.

Fred's desire for the trip was to buy a CD for the auto tour and drive around the park listening to the chronology of the three day battle. I was hoping to see the newly remodeled visitor's center and see what all the talk was about the Cyclorama--a 360 degree painting of Pickett's charge that will immerse you in the scene. The girls wanted to swim in the hotel pool and not have me make this trip into a school lesson (although, of course, it was). For each of us, Gettysburg did not disappoint!

Arriving in the town, you feel as if it was 1863 again. Of course, there is an outlet mall on the highway going in and fast food restaurants line up on either side of the main road on the outskirts. But the town has been preserved in many ways to reflect the time of the war. Our tour book tells us even the farmland surrounding the town is very much the same as it was over a hundred years ago. It is an idyllic setting, tranquil and lovely. Delicate, tender green shoots of early spring intermingled with the purple soft flowers of redbud trees. The rolling, peaceful countryside is a sharp contrast to the savage and bloody three days on these fields long ago. It is hard to imagine the booming of cannons and the smoke of the rifles when all we heard this day was the singing of birds. Even when other people were around, most spoke in hushed tones. The place commands a solemn reverence.

Part of this quote written by Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain in 1889 hangs on a wall as you exit the Civil War Museum. Many pause to read it: "In great deeds something abides. On great fields something stays. Forms change and pass; bodies disappear, but spirits linger, to consecrate ground for the vision-place of souls. And reverent men and women from afar, and generations that know us not and that we know not of, heart-drawn to see where and by whom great things were suffered and done for them, shall come to this deathless field, to ponder and dream, and lo! the shadow of a mighty presence shall wrap them in its bosom, and the power of the vision pass into their souls."

Abraham Lincoln says in his Gettysburg Address, "...that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom..." Did these men die in vain? What was it all about anyway? Visiting Gettysburg causes you ponder.

At the Eternal Light Peace Memorial is another quote by Lincoln. It says, "With firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right." Honorable men act on what they believe is right. There were honorable men on both sides of this great war.

What I Thought of Gettysburg

Liana is the guest writer today. She is writing about our recent trip to a famous battlefield of the Civil War. She also took the photographs.

We were in Gettysburg for two days. I thought that the tour was interesting. My two favorite stops on the tour were Devil's Den and the Pennsylvania Monument. Devil's Den is a big rock formation. It was fun to climb on the rocks and go through the cracks to find an opening. I liked going up the stairs in the monument and looking down on the battlefield. I thought the monument was very beautiful. We bought the tour CD at the Visitor's Center. The tour told us to drive to a certain spot and then turn the tape on and hear what happened there.

After the tour was over were went to Friendly's. I got macaroni and cheese, french fries, lemonade and a very yummy Oreo sundae. It was my first trip there and I didn't know what to expect. The drink and sundae came with the meal! After that we drove home. It was a wonderful trip. I can't wait to go next year.

Time

Spring has come again! I love the soft green of the trees. This is the view from my kitchen window. In the foreground is the pine that was our Christmas tree years ago. It was damaged in a winter storm and had to be staked. But it seems to have recovered well. I don't want to lose it. It marks time and our years together as a family. I have another tree, a flowering hawthorne, that was planted on my oldest son's birthday in March of 1996.

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Continuing with the theme of being still...I've discovered one reason "time flies" is because we are so busy. Every day is packed with schedules, tasks, errands, commitments, daily chores, events, interruptions, etc., etc.. It's a marathon to complete it all and a race to finish before nightfall, only to get up the next day and run again.

We need to SLOW DOWN! I wish someone would tell me how! Our daily Bible reading brought us to Psalm 90 today, a prayer of Moses. I remember studying this Psalm when I was in Women's Bible Study at church years ago. The class was on Using Time Wisely. Oh, yes, Time Management. I failed that lesson. I picture time as a wild stallion I daily try to lasso and tame.

What new insights did I find in Psalm 90 today? Our lives are compared to grass that flourishes in the morning and in the evening it fades and withers. Life is short! But we know that.

Verse 9: "We bring our years to an end like a sigh." The day will surely come.

Verse 10: "The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty..." If only I knew I had seventy years! Would I be satisfied? No, I would ask for eighty. Life is a precious gift.

Verse 12: "So teach us to number our days that we present to you a heart of wisdom." We need to learn how to live out our days wisely.

Verse 14: "Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days." Time with our heavenly Father each day.

Verse 15: "Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil." Life is good if the good days outnumber the bad.

Verse 16: "Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children." Yes!

Verse 17: "Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands." This is our prayer too.

The notes in my Bible on this last verse give another interpretation: "Give permanence to the work of our hands." Isn't that what makes life worthwhile? That something we've done will be lasting? What in this world lasts forever? Only the souls of people. So our priorities should always be people.

I still haven't figured out how to get through my day without rushing and all the frustration that comes with that. But without an earnest prayer for God's help, I will accomplish nothing of lasting value. As we read through the Old Testament, I am thinking about the emphasis on the Sabbath day of rest. Is this where I'm missing the mark? Did God foresee our tendency to rush about and overlook the essence of life?

Number one brother

My brother was in town! Well, not exactly, but he was in our state for the first time in about 25 years! He had a business trip about an hour and a half from our home, so we drove out to see him today.

We have been to his state of North Carolina many times to visit him, but it was great to have him come up north. His hotel wasn't far from Hershey, so we decided to spend the afternoon there.

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As my brother Jim said, even though we hadn't seen each other for about three years, it was as if no time had passed. I guess that's how siblings are who grow up together and share so much. We caught up on family events, shared laughs over our crazy childhood, and just enjoyed being together. Jim and Fred get along so well and it was interesting to observe all they have in common.

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By the way, this Chocolate World in Hershey is not worth the drive unless you are also seeing the other attractions in that town. (Zoo America is great!) But it was fun to walk around and hang out with Jim. Later we had good Italian food at a little restaurant near his hotel. He will go back to North Carolina tomorrow.

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Next week my number three brother and his family are coming up from Georgia! We can't wait to see them.

Be still

A friend of mine asked why I haven't been writing much. I've been too busy! But it's not the writing that takes much time. I haven't had time to THINK! I've been stumbling along through my days, doing one task after another and not finding meaning or joy in anything I do.

This morning when the girls and I read our daily devotion, the scripture was Psalm 46:10. "Be still and know that I am God." Instead of proceeding with our work, I thought it would be a good time to talk about how important this is. Then we each went to our separate work areas and we took out our prayer journals and had five minutes of peace and listening for God. This post is what I learned in my five minutes of being still.

I started to write down what has been on my mind. I realized I've been stressed about many things and many people. A job for Fred. A job for me? The Census Bureau called again. Damien's house in the midst of negotiations. My friend Bridget in Peru. An old friend suffering with pancreatic cancer. My niece. After each entry on my page, I wrote a brief plea to God. Whispers of scripture came to my mind, bits and pieces that I later looked up and reflected upon.

"I do not involve myself in great matters, or in things too difficult for me. Surely I have composed and quieted my soul." Psalm 131.

"In quietness and trust is your strength." Isaiah 30:15.

"The Lord your God is in your midst, a might one who will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love." Zephaniah 3:17.

We all started our school day with a better attitude. Another translation of Psalm 46:10 says, "Cease striving, and know that I am God." I need to cease striving with everyone around me and not try to solve problems that are beyond my ability. I need to take five minutes to rest in God's presence and listen for his wisdom to guide my day. In stillness we find our bearings.

Easter gifts

The Gifts of Loved Ones!

The cross, the grave, the skies

"Christ the Lord is risen today! Alleluia!"

What would Easter be without singing that song in the congregation of the people? It never fails to stir me. What a gorgeous Easter morning! The warmest Easter I remember. The early spring flowers are blooming; it's sunny and bright. During the service we see Damien and Gretchen across the sea of people. Last night was supposed to be their BIG night! Damien was proposing! As we left the sanctuary we hurried over to the door they would soon exit. Damien gave me an affirmative sign that all went well and I got to hug my soon-to-be daughter-in-law. What a joyous morning!

While we sang the old hymn, one of the lines struck me. "Ours the cross, the grave, the skies..." It's the story of our lives, isn't it?

The cross: "For we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings." II Corinthians 1:5. "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed." I Peter 4:12, 13. "We are heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." Romans 8:17.

The grave: "It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment." Hebrews 9:27. Death. The certainty of it hangs over every human being on this planet. Jesus knew his ministry would ultimately lead to his death. Death is not a "passing" or a "crossing over." It should not be glamorized. It is ugly and causes horrific suffering for people who lose a loved one. It was not God's original plan. Death is the enemy. But...

The skies: The glorious message of Easter is that Jesus conquered death! We suffer in this life, as did Jesus. We die, and so did Jesus. We are raised from the dead, as our Lord rose! That is the great news. That is our hope. That is how we can endure the suffering of this life. And when our death comes in this world, Jesus promised, "I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:3.

"If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless...if we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are people most to be pitied." I Corinthians 15:17-19. If Christianity is just a nice idea to get us through this life, we are miserable and misled people. If Jesus was just a good teacher or one of many prophets, we are hopeless. But scripture says, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:18. This is our hope! This is the promise we live and breathe. We do not grieve in our suffering as those who have no hope. We do not fear death as those who have no savior. We know one day God will wipe away every tear, and death shall be no more. There shall be no mourning, nor crying, nor pain, for the former things will have passed away.

In the meantime, even in the midst of carrying our crosses--whatever they may be, God's gifts abound. We see glimpses of his glory and know in the end, all the wrongs will be made right.

Happy Easter!

Ordinary days

What a glorious weekend! Spring came a few days early with temperatures in the 70's. I don't remember my son Nick ever having a birthday when it was warm outside, so this was a first for him. Friday night we met a local park in the evening and had a fun time eating pizza and playing with his two babies. We attempted a walk on the trails but too many little ones made that impossible. We all went home when the sun melted into the horizon.

I had forewarned the girls that on Saturday we would be cleaning the house--long overdue. They finally had a break from 4-H, our usual Saturday excursion, so clean we did! Then we headed outside to help Fred pick up sticks in the yard from the hurricane-like storm we had last weekend. He also needed help in the shed doing some cutting on his table saw. Deja vu! The last time he was in the wood shed, he slipped and broke his leg! I was very much aware of how a serene afternoon can turn ugly.

Then it was time to clean the guinea pig cage! The girls had been looking forward to this. Since it was warm, we planned to let the little critters graze in the fresh green grass while we sprayed down the bottom of the cage. Of course, we put the wire top over the guinea pigs while they were out in the yard since we always have hawks flying overhead who would just love a rodent dinner. The girls enjoyed watching their pets' excitement over the new scents and tastes outdoors. Anyone who thinks animals can't experience joy hasn't seen these little animals.

Sunday was Anthony's birthday. He came over with his wife and their new baby--a boxer. Everyone relaxed in the warm spring air by playing several games of bocce ball. As they came up on the deck for dinner, I took this picture. What an ordinary family doing such ordinary things. We sat outside drinking coffee until the light left the sky.

Spring is not really here, no matter what the calendar says. Today it is chilly and rainy and dreary. Normal for this time of year in the Northeast. We got a taste of spring though. A hint, a glimpse of what will soon be coming. The gift of ordinary days. Days of joy and hope.

Spring resolution

There probably comes a time in every older person's life when the doctor gives an ultimatum. Do this-- or this will happen. Stop smoking, start exercising, lose weight, etc. Well, it happened to Fred. He was told he is "fat and out-of-shape" and must start eating right and getting some exercise. Fred protested to the doctor, "But I had a broken leg for four months!" No excuse.

For the record, Fred does not look overweight at all and he is so strong and active. But the doctor must have given him a dire warning (that he did not share with me) because he has immediately changed his diet and we also got a treadmill and have been using it faithfully. I too need to do some weight-bearing exercise with my old bones. So we have a new resolution this spring to become healthier.

With the urging of my soon-to-be daughter-in-law, I have been reading about nutrition and a different way of looking at the food we buy. Stacia gave me Barbara Kingsolver's book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle about the author's year of exclusively living off the fruits, vegetables and animals she raised on her farm and what she bought from local farmers. It is a fascinating book and I have learned a lot. Adding to this knowledge, one of my sons recommended a DVD called Food, Inc., and it was very eye-opening about the way food is produced in this country. As I watched it, I made a list of companies we will boycott from now on.

Our environment is killing us. From the pollution in the air and the water, to our furniture and carpeting, to our food we put into our bodies every day. Some things we cannot control, but we do have a say in what we eat and we can make better choices.

Since my Christmas "angel" warned me about eating too much sugar more than a year ago, I have really cut back. (By the way, if anyone remembers that story, this woman with stage 4 ovarian cancer diagnosed two years ago is doing quite well.) But what else? I have been gluten-free for about three years now. Unfortunately I have only half-heartedly tried to make any other lifestyle changes. It's time!

Fred recently went to a wellness seminar and told me about some wacky ideas for diets. I don't go for the fads. Here is my food philosophy: God created many good foods on this planet for us to eat. If we stick with those--meaning God-created, not man-created--and eat those foods as close as possible to the natural form, we'll be doing well. Stacia also gave me a cookbook called The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters. Simple food. That's key to me. I am simplifying our meals. So what are we eating?

1. Only organic milk and yogurt.
2. No more nutrition-less bread that is full of preservatives. Liana and Fred love store-bought potato bread. No more of that! I am making homemade, whole-grain bread every other day in my bread machine. Liana, who would never eat whole grain bread before, likes this! (Thank you, Dominic.)
3. Less meat because I am looking for organic, free-range meat and it is expensive.
4. More beans, more vegetables, more fruits. This spring we will find local farmers selling produce and buy from them. And of course, we are planning our own garden.
5. Whole grain pasta for Fred and the girls. Arielle and Liana protested at first, but now they eat it.
6. No more plain white Korean rice that we all love. I've been making brown.

Those are my small steps for now. We have a long ways to go but maybe it is not good to overwhelm my family all at once. And walk, walk, walk on that treadmill. I love it! Books on tape are my motivation. I'm happy to spend half an hour listening to a good story.

Here they are

Best vacation EVER

Arielle came up with the title for this post. We traveled to Lancaster to see another show at the Sight and Sound Theatre--Joseph this time. I highly recommend it! The best scene was when Joseph was reunited with his brothers. What a lesson in forgiveness we can learn from this.

After the show the girls swam in the hotel pool and we shopped at the outlet malls and then had a nice dinner. The next morning we saw the reproduction of the Tabernacle at the Mennonite Information Center. This was our third time to hear the presentation and we still learned a lot.

All this was fun for the girls, but none of these activities made it the "Best Vacation Ever." But on our way home we stopped at a huge pet store and they finally got their guinea pigs! This store had the youngest and most well-cared for guinea pigs that we have seen. The girls immediately saw the ones they wanted. They were both SO EXCITED!

Guinea pigs require time to adjust to a new environment, so they need to stay in their cage undisturbed for a couple of days, even though the girls can hardly stand to just let them be. Right now Arielle and Liana are sitting quietly in a half-darkened room hoping their little pets will come out of hiding. They really are very cute creatures. And gentle. Neither of the guinea pigs made any attempt to bite when they were handled. Arielle wanted me to tell the names. Hers is Sunshine, aka Sunny, and Liana's is Poppy.

Knowing this was a momentous occasion, I took the first picture before we even left the store. I know all you readers are anxiously awaiting more photos!

Called to shine

Once a year our church has a mission-focused week packed with speakers and activities and a major fund-raising project. Last year we raised $50,000 for a hospital in the Congo. This year we hope to raise $30,000 to build a community center, school, and home for a traveling missionary in northern Thailand.

We begin our week with a parade of flags from many nations, and once again Arielle was eager to participate. Last year she carried the China flag, but this time the flag of Honduras. That was meaningful to her since my niece recently took a trip to that country. After the flags, some people from a Burmese church in the city spoke and performed some songs. It was very emotional to see these former refugees sharing their faith and their hope, even though their lives right now are so difficult.

The theme for the week is "A Community Called to Shine." Our speaker Sunday was Dwight Robertson from Colorado. He's written a book called You are God's Plan A (and there is no plan b). He is a dynamic guy and he challenged us to join the laborers in the field, not in a foreign country, but in our own daily circumstances. We've heard that before, of course. But how exactly do we go about doing it?

Dwight made some interesting observations from Matthew 9, small words we could easily overlook by our familiarity with the verses. How did Jesus reach out to people? "Getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city." Note: his own city. And people came to him with their needs. "As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man..." He SAW a man. That man turned out to be Matthew, an unpopular character, but Jesus took notice of him. Look at the legacy Matthew left behind--the gospel of Matthew we're reading today, all because Jesus stopped to talk to him.

In the same chapter, Jesus is walking along and a woman who wanted very much to remain anonymous reached out to touch the fringe of his garment. She believed that to do so would heal her. "Jesus turned, and seeing her, he said..." Jesus SAW her, one of many faces in the crowd, but he stopped what he was doing for this woman. Later on we read, "And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him..." Jesus ministers to them also. Then, "As they were going away..." someone else with a need was brought to him.

Jesus was always on his way somewhere or leaving one place for another and this is where much of his ministry took place. What kind of people do we meet "on the way?" We're always on the go, aren't we? There is the sullen cashier in our local food store, the busy waiter at the restaurant, the silent librarian when we return our books, the bored young woman at the bank.

Dwight had us cover our eyes with our hands. (Yes, silly gestures but it helped us remember his message.) Often we go about our tasks with our eyes covered. I know I do. I want to get my errands done with the least amount of interaction with people. Dwight said to uncover our eyes and SEE people, notice people. He had us hold up our hands, palms out--STOP. Then we tapped our wrist. Give a little time. SEE-STOP-GIVE TIME. Jesus modeled The Plan for us.

So many people who cross our paths our invisible to us, and I admit sometime I feel invisible too. Nobody gives the time of day to older women. But we need to notice people, care about people, and give them a little time. That might be an encouraging word, or at the very least, a smile. We need to let them know they are not invisible. It's so simple, but sometimes so difficult. I'm going to make an effort to try this. When God sees we are willing to care for his people, we open the door for him to work. He will bring those with needs to intersect our lives.

The end of Matthew 9 says, "When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few, therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'"

God's Plan A is us, his laborers. Dwight describes it this way: "Laborers are ordinary people who deeply love God and actively love others. They seek to live a life of love...every moment of every day."

Guinea pig dreams

We have ancient pets. Our outdoor cat of 18 years had some sort of accident a year ago and we had to bring him inside. He was crippled and appeared to be dying. Today he is thriving in his retirement home in the laundry room. Fred has some salt-water fish he transferred to a smaller tank, also in the laundry room, when he dismantled his big 50 gallon tank we had in the living room. Most of the fish had died but the survivors remain today. They have lived well beyond their life expectancy.

Now we don't wish harm on our old pets, but Fred and I were eager to be pet-less. No more responsibility of caring for animals. We can go away and not have to worry about who will feed them. No more cat litter on the floor. No more frozen brine shrimp unthawing on the kitchen countertop. Suddenly I find out Fred and the girls have been talking. He has agreed to guinea pigs! When I questioned him about this decision, he said it will be good for teaching the girls to be responsible. And that they need a pet to care for and love. He had pets growing up,he reasoned. (So did I--every kind imaginable.) I made it clear these will not be MY guinea pigs.

I think back on the gerbil and the rat that my boys brought home for the summer from their school. The gerbil ran on a squeaky wheel all night and kept us awake. The rat was very stinky. Then there was Marissa's pet rabbit that she begged for but quickly got bored with. I cleaned up rabbit pellets for years after she took it to her mother's house. So I'm thinking, guinea pigs? I know nothing about them.

The girls checked out books from the library to learn about their future pets. They discuss guinea pigs endlessly. They've written lists of possible names. They debate the best colors. Today in school Liana wrote a story about the day her guinea pig arrives home. We visited two pet stores and watched the guinea pigs for awhile. They are cute little creatures, I admit. The books say they are gentle and seldom ever bite. Last night the girls were fighting over who will buy the toys and such, and for example, if Liana bought a brush for her pet with her own money, would Arielle have to ask permission to use it on her pet? Important issues to settle. Fred was angry over their squabbling and told them he is re-thinking the whole idea. Liana sobbed at the dinner table at the thought she might not have her guinea pig after all.

The saga continues. Pictures will follow if our family expands.

Not again!

We are in the midst of another blizzard. It has been snowing all day but the weather people are saying it is going to get even worse tonight. Enough snow!

I'm not tired of winter. I really like spending time inside with the wood in the stove burning and the girls' projects and school work scattered on their desks. But I wasn't happy to hear about more snow and more shoveling.

This morning a friend of mine sent me a youtube link to Katrina Kenison and her video, "The Gift of an Ordinary Day." I tried to paste it here so you could just click on it, but it wouldn't work, so you can try to find it. We old moms will get teary-eyed watching it. So...because of this video today, our adventure in the snow was a little different than it might have been. Thanks, Helen.

We did a few hours of school and then the principal (Fred) said school was out for the day. Hurray! The girls started suiting up for playing in the snow. I reluctantly went out and shoveled the deck and then tried to go back inside. Fred said, "Aren't you going to play with us?" Arielle said, "Mom, we want you to stay outside with us." I really wanted a cup of hot tea and peace and quiet, but because of that video I decided not to miss an "ordinary day" and pass up this opportunity to be with Fred and the girls.

The snow was great for rolling balls, and we rolled and rolled until they got so big they were too heavy to move. We laughed and fell and got wet and played in this beautiful snow. We made the biggest snowman ever! Then we made two more snowmen. We searched the yard for adornments to bring them to life. This one in the picture has bamboo hair. We had great fun together as a family. Isn't this what life is about? Just an ordinary day turned into something very special. It is a precious gift.

We're still reading

Fred and I are very diligent about our Bible reading this year. I realize, though, that if you try to read through the Bible in a year, there won't be much time for in-depth study. I work hard just to complete the five chapters (usually) each day. We finished Genesis and Exodus and all the drama there. We found some troubling ideas, objectionable customs, loathsome people, and even words of God we wrestle with and struggle to understand. I have to remind myself of the cultural gap between people today and those who lived thousands of years ago. But I also always keep in mind that these words are still the inspired Word of God. I have to pray and ask for wisdom and discernment to learn from them.

I think we also need to read the Old Testament with an eye on Jesus. The words and the stories all point to him. When we read of warnings and threats, we better understand God's demand for holiness and how our sin separates us from him. The atoning animal sacrifices that are abhorrent to us today are a foreshadow of God sacrificing his son on the cross to take away our sins. The multitude of laws, that people could never fully obey, were fulfilled in Christ. He alone lived the perfect life God required and became victor over sin and death. We read about Moses and how he interceded for the people, praying for them and telling them what God had to say. We better understand how Jesus is our intercessor who reveals God to us. Jesus said to his disciples, "If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. (John 14:7)

One of the major themes of the Old Testament is what God repeats over and over, "I will be their God and they shall be my people." The promises made to Abraham were fulfilled in Jesus. Those promises become our promises. Through Jesus, we become God's children, along with all the privileges and responsibilities. We are able to speak directly to the unapproachable God of the Old Testament because of what Jesus has done for us.

It is encouraging to me to read the Old Testament and the failings of flawed humans. Those people were imperfect--just like me. But God used sinful people to achieve his purposes, and he can use even me. Through these characters we can learn lessons of wise choices and guard against foolish ones. We become more aware of the consequences of our actions, the immediate ones and also the far-reaching ones.

As we read, we must use caution not to create God in our own image. God is not our very best idea of a god. We shouldn't say, "Well, if I were God, I would do this and not allow that." God is who he is. So as we read these stories, we might not like some things God does. Isn't it enough to acknowledge that since we are not gods, it is just possible that some things are beyond our understanding? A child does not understand everything her father does, and in fact, is not capable of doing so.

The God of the New Testament is also the God of the Old. He is Jesus. Jesus says, "Whoever has seen me has seen the father." (John 14:9) But, as C. S. Lewis cautions, "He's wild, you know. Not like a tame lion." God is powerful, merciful, and faithful, but he is not tame, predictable, or controllable." He says, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways." Isaiah 55:8.

We press onward...

The day after

It's sunny, Fred fixed the snow blower and Liana stopped coughing. What more could we ask for? We shoveled out one final time and then enjoyed the rest of the day. The snow is beautiful, isn't it? Yesterday I kept thinking, when will it ever end? Yet this morning I went outside in my robe and snow boots to capture the beauty of the colors and breathe in the crisp air.

Snow and more snow

It's Tuesday afternoon. We wait for more snow. We had a blizzard Saturday. I measured 16 inches of snow in our backyard. As much, or more, is coming in the next couple of hours. I don't think my arms and shoulders have recovered yet from hours of shoveling over the weekend. But I'm not complaining. I am thankful Fred and I are healthy and strong enough to shovel snow.

We did our preparation for cozy family time. Fred brought in stacks of firewood to feed the stove tomorrow. I returned library books that will be due in the next few days knowing we can't get out. I took Liana to the doctor to check on a nagging cough. There is nothing scarier than having a very sick child and being stranded. It happened when Arielle was a baby. But Liana is fine, the doctor said. Then shopping. People always act like they won't get to a store for a week when there is a storm coming. But really, don't we just want good snack food when we're cozy in our homes with the snow flying? The girls chose some board games and videos and we settled in for fun.

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***It's now Wednesday evening. We've had no cozy time today. Fred and I are exhausted. The snow is very heavy and we got out early in the morning to get a jump on the shoveling. I helped the girls with their lessons and then we shoveled the rest of the day. The snow blower broke, and we know we will still be shoveling in the morning because it is still snowing! It's been snowing for over 24 hours and, for awhile, our weather forcasters said it was snowing 2 inches an hour. Fred and I would clear an area and then turn around and start again. If we'd just waited until the storm was over, it would have been even harder to remove all this snow.

Liana is still coughing. We let the girls go outside briefly, but I don't think Liana is fine like the doctor said. I'm worried out her. This was a difficult day.

Lessons from Corrie

A friend of mine and my mother have both been passing along books to me about the Holocaust, some fiction, some autobiographies. It seems several have been published recently. Why now, I'm not sure. Even Arielle has become interested in this time period and has read several books written for children her age. A week or so ago I remembered the classic, The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. I read this many, many years ago. I decided I would like to read it again and ordered it from the library.

The book is now filled with scraps of paper marking pages I want to return to--to remember and to ponder. I realize I am not just reading about the ten Booms, I am learning about God through the faith of Corrie and the rest of her family. As Corrie's sister Betsie says, "Tell people what we have learned here. We must tell them that there is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still. They will listen to us, Corrie, because we have been here."

For those who don't know, Corrie ten Boom was a Dutch woman who, along with her father, the town's reputable watchmaker, and her sister, hid Jews in their home after the Germans invaded Holland. The book tells of remarkable faith, miracles, courage, and tragedy.

On the eve of looming disaster for Holland and for Corrie and her family, Corrie was going to bed one night. "Childhood scenes rushed back to me out of the night, strangely close and urgent. Today I know that such memories are the key not to the past, but to the future. I know that the experiences of our lives, when we let God use them, become the mysterious and perfect preparation for the work He will give us to do. I didn't know then--nor, indeed, that there was any new future to prepare for in a life as humdrum and predictable as mine. I only knew, as I lay in my bed that certain moments from long ago stood out in focus against the blur of years. Oddly sharp and near they were, as though they were not yet finished, as though they had something more to say."

One of Corrie's memories was when she first started school as a little girl. She did not want to go. In fact, she refused to go. Her sisters and her brother ended up leaving her behind when they headed off that morning. Her mother told her to hurry or she would have to cross the street alone. Her father intervened, "Of course she's not going alone!...Corrie is going with me."

Corrie writes, "And with that he took my hat from its peg, wrapped my hand in his, and led me from the room. My hand in Father's!" She recalls happy times with her father. Then, "But this time he was taking me where I didn't want to go! There was a railing along the bottom five steps: I grabbed it with my free hand and held on. Skilled watchmaker's fingers closed over mine and gently unwound them. Howling and struggling, I was led away from the world I knew into a bigger, stranger, harder one..."

That's enough for me to ponder this day.

Birthday Soup

Liana turns 10! Here is her favorite soup and appropriate for her birthday. The Chinese eat it in hope of a long life. I like it because it is quick and easy.

Longevity Soup

4 tsp. cornstarch
2 T. water
1 T. sesame oil
2 quarts of chicken broth
3 T. soy sauce
2 eggs, beaten
1 lb. thin spaghetti noodles, cooked and drained
1/2 pound cooked ham sliced in thin strips
4 green onions, chopped

Combine cornstarch, water and sesame oil in a small bowl.
Bring broth and soy sauce to a boil in large pan and then stir in the cornstarch mixture. Cook and stir until slightly thickened.

Reduce heat to low. Pour eggs into hot soup in a thin stream, stirring all the time. Cook briefly and remove from heat. Add ham, cooked noodles and green onions. Serve in big soup bowls. Practice eating those slippery noodles with chopsticks!

Faithful God

I wonder if most moms are like me--children's birthdays bring back memories of their baby days. Two of my children have birthdays coming in the next few days. Liana will be 10 and I have been thinking about that chubby baby who screamed for two hours when she first met her new mother. My second son Dominic has been on my mind too, especially after church yesterday when we sang that old classic hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness."

I am reluctant to admit it, but I never liked that hymn. I love the message and the scripture it refers to that comes from the book of Lamentations. But the song is slow and seems to drag. But maybe it has never been my favorite because I always associate it with the night before my son was born.

I had gone to a Bible study that evening with the guilt-ridden aunt of my derelict first husband. When I was pregnant with Dominic, my husband left me and my first son behind because he didn't want the responsibility of a family. I had to return to my parents' house to live. It was not a good situation. My mother had a baby of her own and my dad resented having to support me when my deadbeat husband should have been doing that job. My husband's family tried to help out as they could. They were a good family and were dismayed over their wayward son. So that's why I was in a church basement with Aunt Rocky when the group closed with the hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." I was in labor but hadn't told anyone. I was alone, afraid, forsaken.

Later that night I could not sleep because of the pain, and I stayed up suffering alone in the dark. In the morning my mother took me to the hospital. I labored alone among strangers, gave birth alone, and two days later went back to my parents' home where it was clear I had to soon move out and be forever alone--in my mind. When you're young you think life is over when any adversity comes along. I was very frightened. Where would I go from here? How could I support myself and my two little ones?

The next few years were more difficult than anything I could have imagined or anything I've ever experienced since. It wasn't just hard for me, but for my children too. They were fatherless, and often motherless, since I worked so much. Many times they were left alone with near strangers. But our God is a faithful God. Jesus promised his disciples when they were afraid and alone, "I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you." (John 14:18) God never failed to provide all we ever needed.

Dominic, the baby born that incredibly lonely night, grew to be a fine man. All during his childhood he had an unusual blessing on his life. Everything he touched turned to gold-- really. He excelled at every venture. Illnesses were miraculously healed. When doors were shut to him, new ones opened. Difficulties quickly turned around. He was "lucky". He would find money; he would win contests--from writing essays to racing Pinewood Derby cars, to guessing jelly beans in a jar. Even now, Dominic is doing great things in his career. The work he does is changing the world. God has always had a plan and a purpose for his life and continues to lead him. God is faithful to him.

God has been faithful to me too. I would need a book to tell of his kindness, mercy and gentleness to me throughout my entire life. "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23) Why do we worry? What exactly has God promised? "I will be their God, and they shall be my people...and I will be a father to you and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty." (II Corinthians 6:16, 18) Dominic and I were both deprived of having an earthly father who loved us. But our heavenly father always takes good care of us.

God has also promised, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) I have changed my mind about that hymn. Instead of a reminder of a night of despair, I will remember with gratefulness how God led me through that dark valley. I will remember his blessings on each member of our large family. God takes trouble and tragedy and hardship and turns it to healing and hope and joy.

"But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning. GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS." (Lamentations 3:21-23)

Creation groaning

Scripture tells us all of creation is groaning, waiting for redemption. I haven't been able to write. There are no words for the sorrow all around us. The earthquake and the people and their stories and the pictures we see from Haiti are heart wrenching. Also last week I ran into my former neighbor whose son died in Afghanistan last year. She told me of a single day of joy she experienced last month, the first in almost a year. But then she turned once more to tears as she reminded me the anniversary of Marc's death was approaching. I had not forgotten.

On Sunday we learned a 12-year-old boy from our church was killed in a sledding accident. I think of my neighbor and another good friend who have lost children and I know the oceans of tears this family will shed for the rest of their lives. Will the suffering in this world ever end? My own life is insignificant and shallow next to these people and their despair. How can I write about trivia? How do we pray? What can we do?

"Comfort, oh comfort my people," says our Lord in Isaiah 40:1. On the news we see pictures of food and supplies stacked on the tarmac in Haiti. Are there not enough people to distribute it? I wish I could join a team and go there. I read that our governor came back on a plane with 53 orphans who will stay with foster families until they are adopted. Sign us up. We will care for a child. I know my frustration of being helpless to help is felt all around us here in the land of plenty.

We have learned more about the 12-year-old's death. At the hospital the nurses removed his boots and found a piece of paper with a scripture written on it. He apparently had tucked this into his boot before going sledding that day. This paper was given to his parents when they arrived at the hospital. Their only son's last gift to them.

Here is the scripture: "Count it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds. Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4)

Tower of Babel

It is Day 12 and I have continued with my reading! That might not sound like much, but reading the Bible in a year is a major undertaking and I hope I will succeed.

A few days ago I read Genesis 11 about the Tower of Babel. The tower was being built after the flood, after God had told people to scatter and populate the earth. The people say, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth."

The commentary in my Bible says, "This episode is significantly more important than its length suggests." (It is only nine verses long.) "It presents a unified humanity using all its resources to establish a city that is the antithesis of what God intended when he created the world. The tower is a symbol of human autonomy, and the city builders see themselves as determining and establishing their own destiny...The Babel enterprise is all about human independence and self-sufficiency apart from God. The builders believe that they have no need of God. Their technology and social unity give them confidence in their own ability..."

For those who don't know the end of the story, God confused their language, so they couldn't understand each other. Then he sent them on their way and they settled in other lands.

Now I was thinking about this story and remembering the huge structure in Dubai that is being built. And then, to my surprise, I found an article about it in the Sunday paper. The Dubai Burj Khalifa has been completed and is now the world's tallest building at 2,717 feet. Interestingly, people from other countries came to Dubai to build it. These people, Pakistani, Bengali, Indian and Chinese, have protested against human and civil rights violations while they worked on the tower. The article goes on to say that 85% of the population of Dubai is from somewhere else in the world.

So what does this all mean? One tower being built long ago by people who spoke the same language and didn't want to spread out as God wanted them to do. The Tower of Babel was most likely in Babylon, now Iraq. Not too far away is the tower in Dubai, built by people who had spread out to other lands, but then converged in this city of many languages to build. But human nature hasn't changed--the rebellion toward God and the desire to be independent from him. People are still very much impressed by their own technology and they still want to make a name for themselves.

"The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in the loftiness of your dwelling place, who say in your heart, 'who will bring me down to earth?' Though you build high like the eagle, though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord." Obadiah 1:3,4.

What do you think?

Facebook

I am witnessing first hand how destructive facebook can be. I've never been a fan of this social networking idea and only opened an account because all my kids were sending me a "friend request." I have nothing on my facebook page except a picture my daughter-in-law sent there (not sure how that works) and there are no comments except the initial one when someone found me there. Arielle would like to have her own page and I'm sure I would have loved it as a girl her age. But she doesn't need another thing to encourage her to spend more time on the computer, and now after what has happened with my other kids, I don't see her having one in the near future.

After a phone call from one son and an e-mail from another directing me to check out the action on facebook, I realized I needed to see what was going on. I read a string of comments on one person's page. This person had a video clip and asked what others thought of it. Others made it clear they didn't like it. So then she defended herself and it went on and on and got ugly. These are family members and they are all adults! They were saying things they would never have said in person. I can only imagine how it goes with high schoolers and their facebook interactions.
While I was reading, a screen popped up and an old friend of mine wanted to talk to me. That was distracting! I tried to respond to her, but I don't think I did it right. So she might think I didn't want to talk to her, which I do, but not right at that moment. So maybe I offended her. Later as I skimmed other friends and their pages, it all just looked so superficial to me. People have said that about e-mail, but at least e-mail is personal. How about people connecting to other people with phone calls? Or dropping by for a visit? I admit I too often neglect this important human interaction. Then there wouldn't be nasty words among family and friends.

Can someone fill me in on what is so great about facebook? I just can't see it. Maybe I'm too old-fashioned. Will we eventually have a whole generation of people who can only communicate with brief comments sent through cyberspace?

You can also tell me your thoughts on blogs. Maybe they are just as bad, I don't know.

New Year Project

Fred and I have decided to work through one of those Read-Through-The-Bible in a year schedules. Our pastor posted a few different ones on his blog and we chose one and diligently began reading. Fred is even more serious than I am, and I will see him with his Bible open and it will remind me that I haven't done my reading for the day yet. So far, we read two or three chapters in Genesis, one in Psalms, and one or two in Matthew each day. A nice balance of scripture.

Here is the link: www.esv.org/biblereadingplans We are doing the first one on the list, but as you can see, there are many different ones. You can even hear them rather than read them. You can also sign up to have the passage delivered to your e-mail box so you don't have to go on the website each day. Of course, you don't have to use this version of the Bible. The idea is just to read!

I have an ESV Study Bible and sometimes I get caught up in the commentary and it takes me a long time to finish a chapter. The study Bible gives the historical context, which I find fascinating. It is even more meaningful to do this daily reading with a friend. With Fred and I both reading the same passages each day, we have been discussing ideas that we find interesting or puzzling or inspiring.

Let me know if you choose to do our plan and then I can talk about what we read with you too!

Best Christmas

My good friend Helen wrote this story:

I have been blessed by the goodness of God's love throughout my life. I have had the special blessing of loving parents and a father in particular who always tried to make Christmas special for his daughters. I have enjoyed many special Christmases, so finding the best was a difficult assignment. I can remember only a few that were not so good and really remember one truly outstanding Christmas.

It was Christmas 2002; I spent the previous Christmas anxiously worrying about the health and welfare of my unknown daughter as she waited for me in China. 2002 found me at home with my youngest daughter for almost 8 weeks and settling into a pattern, we were now a family of three! My eldest daughter and I had waited, prayed and thought so often about this baby who would complete our little family that having her home for that first Christmas made the lights brighter, the ornaments shinier, our smiles broader and our hearts fuller. I remember wrapping gifts late that Christmas Eve with my mother at my side and rejoicing with the angels because my baby was finally home.

The Best New Year's Eve Ever

We woke to snow again! I can't remember it ever snowing here three times in the month of December. Even though it was supposed to warm up later, we all trekked outside to shovel the couple of inches on the deck and driveway. It was hovering at the freezing mark, perfect for packing snow. So we had a brief snowball fight and then the girls wanted to roll balls across the grass and make a snowman. We worked for quite awhile and made Frostina, Frosty's wife. The girls then wanted to make a whole snow family, so we stayed outside another hour or so and made two more snow people, plus a snow dog. It was so pleasant to play outdoors because no one was cold even though were were on our hands and knees digging and sculpting.

I guess it wouldn't take much to make this the Best New Year's Eve Ever. I have had a lot of unpleasant ones. When I was a child, New Year's Eve meant the day before one of the worst days of the year--New Year's Day. My dad was most irritable and demanding on that day and there was no escaping him. Then, of course, January 2nd came and that meant back to school with nothing to look forward to for a long, long time. Later on, I spent many lonely nights babysitting on New Year's Eve watching other people on TV having fun. In high school there were parties when people hooked up and kissed at the strike of midnight, but that never seemed to happen to me.

But this day is enjoyable with Fred and the girls. A couple of years ago we started our own family traditions for New Year's Eve, but this year was especially fun because the girls are older. Fred came home after our snow adventure and we began a board game marathon. We played Monopoly, 10 Days in Europe, 10 Days in Asia, Scotland Yard, and Apples to Apples. The girls are formidable opponents now! Then it was time for our seafood fest. We rarely have seafood because it is expensive, but we splurge on New Year's Eve. Fred hauled up the clam steamer from the basement where it stays the whole year until this special night. We boiled up shrimp and baked some scallops and also steamed a couple of crab legs. Everyone dug into his or her favorite.

I had a special surprise for the girls for the rest of the evening. Months ago I ordered Celtic Thunder's second DVD and we cuddled up on the couch next to the twinkling of the tree lights and watched the concert of our favorite group. Each of us was ready to drop off to sleep but we turned on New Year's Rockin' Eve about 11:45 to see the ball drop. Instead, we were thoroughly disgusted with Jennifer Lopez's quasi-nude performance. Enough of that.

What a glorious, blessed year it has been. HAPPY NEW YEAR, FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

Chrissy's Story

My daughter-in-law Chrissy wrote this story.

My most memorable Christmas to date took place when I was between the ages of 10 or 12. My mom could never afford to buy us presents for anything, Christmas included. But my Nan (who is my Mom's Mom) always had gifts for us. She asked me what I wanted for Christmas that year, and without hesitation I told her I'd like a gold cross necklace. I still think to this day, and almost immediately thought that day as a little girl, "What in the world made me ask her for that?" I mean we were not raised in a Christian home, and we certainly didn't go to church. But either way, I was proud of myself for that brief moment. I don't think I fully understood at the time why I felt so proud, but I do now. Christmas day came, and we went to my Nanny's for dinner and gifts. I still remember when I opened the little box and saw this simple, but stunning little gold cross necklace that was now my own. I remember wearing it almost every day, but eventually, being a little girl, I lost my cross necklace, but never lost my love for the Lord. That out of all the Christmases I've had and can remember is the one I always think of when I go back through my Christmas memories. It brings tears to my eyes to think how God reached out his hand to me when I never knew him.

Christmas Long Ago: My Story

My family lived briefly in a small logging town in Utah called Panguitch. We lived in a tiny green trailer-- Mom, Dad, and four children. My new little brother Shane had just been born in November the year of that memorable Christmas. Having no washer or dryer, my mother washed out his diapers by hand and hung them outside in the icy air to dry. I remember her bringing them inside, stiff and frozen.

I was seven and in second grade when we lived in Panguitch. I walked to and from school alone down the main street in town and looked into store windows on my way. Once, around Halloween, I bought wax teeth and big red wax lips in one of those stores.

That Christmas was snowy and cold. We were having a holiday party at my school. Each child drew a name, and we had to buy that classmate a gift--limit 50 cents. I don't remember the child who received my gift or even what I brought to share. Thinking back, I know it must have been a hardship for my parents to buy one more gift during a very difficult season in their lives.

I still have two of the four gifts I received for Christmas that year. A boy in my class gave me a treasure--a picture book filled with stories and poems about Christmas. It had the words to The Twelve Days of Christmas in it, and a poem about "Jesus, our brother, kind and good." There was a story about two girls taking a penny walk at Christmas. I'd never heard of a penny walk before and wanted to try it. You flip a penny at every corner while you're walking. If heads, you turn right, if tails, you go left. Oh, how many times I read that book through the years!

I also still have a doll that was mailed to me from my grandmother in California. It was a Terry Lee doll and she could walk and turn her head. I named her Sandra. My mother later told me she had two dollars apiece to spend on each of her children that Christmas. The winter in Utah was bitter cold but girls were required to wear dresses to school no matter what the weather. My mother bought me red tights. I was thrilled to have them and remember playing hopscotch on the blacktop at school while I was wearing them. Also, Christmas morning, hanging on our small blue spruce tree, I found a tiny, stuffed dog named Topper. I think the name was inspired by a TV show I had watched.

The images in my mind of our time in Panguitch are still vivid. My mother always made Christmas special, and that year was no exception. By the next holiday, we would be living in a real house and the first Christmas there was magical. But I will hold that story for another time.

Stacia's Memorable Christmas

My son Dominic's fiancee sent me this story:

One of my favorite Christmases was when I was about 7 years old. I remember this Christmas very well because my family was all together at my grandparents' house. All my aunts and uncles were there, exchanging gifts and laughing together. There was a coffee table with a bowl of walnuts in it and a nutcracker, and everyone ate walnuts out of the shell. There were Christmas songs playing on the radio. Suddenly we heard a knock on the door and a jolly "ho ho ho!" We had a special visitor--Santa Claus! He came down the stairs in a red suit holding a big red bag of toys for us kids. I would find out later that it was my Uncle Greg dressed up, but of course it was Santa to us. There were many wonderful toys in the bag, but the best one of all was too big to be wrapped. All the adults got kind of hushed and Santa said he had a special present for me. Then he went behind a door and came out wheeling a bright green scooter with tassels on the handle bars. I shrieked with delight--a scooter was every child's dream! This one was sleek and shiny and very fashionable. Santa then wheeled out a new bike for my brother, and he was thrilled, too. We couldn't stop talking about our new wheels. When we got home that night my dad brought them down to the basement and we rode around and around in circles until we were tired. I rode that scooter for years until I finally parted with it at a garage sale. I think my brother still has his bike up in the attic.

My Favorite Christmas

Here is Arielle's story:

I love Christmas time. Christmas is the time when baby Jesus was born. Lots of people get excited about the gifts and other stuff and they forget about what Christmas is really about. At our house we try to not forget the true meaning of Christmas, but we sometimes forget.

Every year we go to our church for a Christmas concert. It is amazing to see all the singers and hear the music. I always look forward to the concert. On Christmas Eve our church has a play of the nativity for the kids. One of my favorite Christmases was the year when my mom and dad bought me a Felicity American Girl doll. I play with her, but I am careful to keep her hair looking nice. Every morning on Christmas I wake up, get my sister, and we both go into my mom and dad's room to wake them up. When they are awake, we open presents in the living room.

All my big brothers and my big sister come over for dinner. Before dinner we all sit down in a circle in the living room and take turns opening more gifts. I love it when all the family gets together. At dinner it is always crazy when all the plates of food are passing from person to person and everyone is talking all at once. That was the best Christmas I can remember.

A Christmas to Remember

The girls had a creative writing assignment about a favorite or memorable Christmas from the past. I told them I would also write a story. So over the next couple of days, I will post them all. Readers! Please contribute!

Here is Liana's story: She was thinking of the Christmas when she was two but added some more recent details.

The countdown until Christmas has started. Soon it will be Christmas, the best time of the year. The best part was the family that would come. Even a two-year-old like me would not just care about the gifts. But I'm not saying that I don't want any presents. Christmas Eve is coming and that means the wonderful Christmas Eve concert. I'm strolling now through the house, my eyes gazing at the Christmas tree. Oh, what a beautiful tradition it is! Just lining up to Christmas is great! Going to the mall and getting the chocolate samples is awesome. On Christmas morning I got a doll house with furniture in it. It was sure a Christmas to remember.

Blizzard

What were you doing during the blizzard of 2009? Many people will have stories to tell in the years to come. I have a story of the blizzard of 1996 that brought us 30.7 inches of snow. I was stranded in a hotel in Philadelphia where I had gone for a chiropractic seminar. The highways and the airport were closed and no one could leave the city. The hotel had no restaurant so my fellow classmates and I had to venture out on foot and try to find some place that would sell us something to eat. We found a convenience store with a line of people wrapped around the building. But we bought food and then stuffed the containers in the snow below our window at the hotel so nothing would spoil and we could later heat our meals in the one microwave in the lobby.

This blizzard was mild by comparison, but I hope we will all remember it with a smile and with gratitude for a special weekend. The four of us were home together, gladly stranded and unable to go anywhere. Fortunately, we had no obligations like many others did, so we watched the storm arrive with an increasingly dense, dark gray sky as the light snow began and then quickly turned to a furious, relentless storm.

The girls couldn't wait to go outside and were delighted when the lawn was quickly blanketed in white. Fred and I did a quick shoveling after a few inches of snow accumulated, then retreated indoors for snacks, hot drinks, and movies by the fire. Is there anything better? At dusk we decided to shovel again even though the storm was still blasting through the area. I pushed all the snow from our wooden deck and then started on the driveway. Fred said to leave it be, that he would get out the snow blower in the morning. But I didn't want to quit. I felt like I could shovel forever. The falling snow was beautiful, magical somehow. The outdoor Christmas lights switched on and cast a colorful glow on our yard. I walked up the road in front of the house for a picture and then called the girls to come and see. Liana spent most of her time digging a big hole in the mound we had shoveled and then sat in it for quite awhile, transfixed by her own imaginary world. Arielle piled high a huge mountain of snow to make a fort. No one wanted to come inside.

Sometime in the middle of the night the Nor'easter left us to head further north. More shoveling awaited us. In the bright, cold sunshine we cleared at least another six inches. This time, our work was more drudgery than fantasy. The girls bickered and threw snowballs at each other. Fred and I just wanted to get done. The magic was gone. But I will always remember the snowfalll that evening when we were caught up in a winter wonderland.

Looking for Christmas

Christmas is coming way too quickly and we are going through the motions doing all the same actitivies we do every year to get ready. I'm enjoying them all! But I notice with each thing we do, we try to capture that essence of Christmas--something fulfilling, nostalgic, meaningful. Deep in our hearts is a wistful longing for the excitement and magic we experienced as a child. Or if not that, then something we can't name, something elusive, something we can't quite grasp.

Fred and the girls and I have been shopping at the mall and had a fun time trying to hide gifts from each other and not give away secrets. We went to the tree farm on the coldest, windiest day of the season (again!) and froze as we rode out to the fields in a hay wagon driven by two big horses. We cut the most beautiful tree we've ever had. It is 7 feet tall, full and lush. Fred placed thousands of lights on it and the girls hung our ornaments, each one attached to a memory.

My friend had a ladies' Christmas party in her 180-year-old country home, fully adorned in Christmas finery. We snacked and talked and sang carols, and listened to a dramatization of Jesus' birth. On Sunday we attended the concert at our church and heard a full orchestra and choir presenting glorious music. If you can't find Christmas there, where would you? We're building traditions and the girls are forming their own warm and fuzzy feelings about the season.

It struck me that when I'm looking for Christmas, I'm really looking for Jesus--a touch, a word, a connection to Him. It's His birthday, after all. He is not elusive. He's at the mall and the farm, in our homes and churches. He is in our hearts. Maybe I need to just stop and talk to Him, slow down and listen for His voice.

Why do we love the trappings of Christmas? Our huge tree reminds me of life, the rich full life God has given me here on earth and the hope of eternal life. I love the tiny, twinkling lights on the tree. They shine like the stars forever and ever. I love to sing the old carols. We'll one day join choirs of angels singing praises to God. We so enjoy giving gifts to our children, just as God loved us so much that He gave us His son.

All these things are glimpses of what can't be fully realized now. They are a hint of the future, the promise of what is to come. We cling to our little earthly traditions and long for heaven.

At the concert we heard a beautiful song that was unfamiliar to me. I found the words on the web, but could not find any site to post here so you could hear it. It's called, "All the World Was Waiting." I don't know who wrote it. If you find it, let me know. I want to hear it again.

All the world was waiting, for the promised One,

Prophets through the ages claimed that He would come,

Would He be a warrior, or a conquering King?

Could he be the one who'd save us from our sin and suffering?

All the world was waiting on the night that you were born,

God of life eternal, in a fragile form,

Shepherds gathered closer, gazing at your face,

Wondering how this helpless child could save a fallen human race.

All the world was waiting, as you became a man,

Truth was in your teaching, healing in your hand,

Though your heart was sinless, you laid down your life,

To pay the debt that only perfect love could satisfy.

Now the world is waiting, for another day,

When your Sovereign hand will turn the final page,

And all will be accomplished, our trials and tears will end,

And those who've longed to see you will never wait again.

On aging

A friend of mine sent me some great thoughts on getting old from Max Lucado. It's always bothered me that we are supposed to buy into the idea of making ourselves look younger than we really are. Why? What's wrong with looking our age? I'm all for keeping healthy, but don't you think our culture goes a little too far in promoting youthfulness? To all of my friends who are my age--we've traded our looks for the great wisdom we've acquired! I think it's far more valuable.

"How precious are your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!" Psalm 139:17.

Aging is a universal condition. But the way we try to hide it, you would think it was a plague!
There are girdles which compact the middle-age spread for both sexes. There are hair transplants, wigs, toupees, and hair pieces. Dentures bring youth to the mouth, wrinkle cream brings youth to the face, and the color in a bottle brings youth to the hair. All to hide what everyone already knows--we're getting older.

Just when the truth about life sinks in, God's truth starts to surface. He takes us by the hand and dares us not to sweep the facts under the rug but to confront them with him at our side.

Aging? A necessary process to pass on to a better world.
Death? Merely a brief passage, a tunnel.
Self? Designed and created for a purpose, purchased by God himself.

There, was that so bad?

Let it snow!

Finally! A free weekend. Nothing at all planned, but snow was in the forecast. The girls were hopping with excitement. They were out the door when the first few flakes began to stick to the grass.

It was a warm snow, coming up from the South. It fell wet and heavy, pulling down our bamboo and breaking a huge branch from the lilac tree. But it frosted the trees with ice and was so beautiful. The snow was great for packing and the girls made the first snowman of the season.

Inside, Fred made a fire in the wood stove and we ate snacks and watched silly Christmas movies all afternoon-- Elf and Christmas with the Kranks. We also watched parts of The Santa Clause series AGAIN. Highly recommended!

Fred's leg is healing. He has to be reminded to be cautious because he tends to overdo. I am making an effort to massage it well every night and that has helped a lot with the swelling. Our hands have healing in them. I believe it and scripture supports it.

Our wonderful weekend is ending. Fred prayed at dinner, "Thank you, Lord, for allowing us to see another winter and another snowfall." We are grateful. Another season upon us and we are here to celebrate it!