Sunday, July 26, 2015

In Search Of...



Moms of young ones, I need you.  More specifically, I need you on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday this coming fall.

An idea popped into my head this weekend, and I think I may just act on it.   My husband will be gone and traveling for school and work on those three evenings beginning in September, and I am really hoping and dreaming up a close-knit scripture or verse study group for young moms for one night a week.  I am tired.  You are tired.  The time for a devotion only happens here and there (for me) once school begins.  I am looking for any young mom who is in need of encouragement, verse memorization, and some friendship.


Here is the gist: one gal provides the locale, while the others bring their bible, food, and yes- even the kids (although, optional).  We can rotate houses every week, and have light appetizers or a full-on potluck.

Yes, there will be interruptions, and diapers, and the occasional 'mommy, mommy- Jake took my dinosaur.'  But, moms- we will have laughter and learning and prayer, and FOOD, and maybe some wine ;)


My only request is that if you host, then you pick the scripture/ topic for the night.  That way we all have a chance to share our views, experiences, etc...   It is all about encouraging each other and walking with God together.  If you are interested, please private message me on Facebook.  If you know someone who would be, share my blog with them.  We would tentatively start in the 2nd week of September.... I will have to go with whichever evening fits a majority.  Oh! You don't have to come every week....that is unrealistic to expect.  So no pressure here!  I hope to hear from you friends!

PS- if you are reading this, and are either not a young mom, or too far away- please consider starting something of your own! (Think: 'Grandma Group', 'Forty-somethings'... You get it. God will bless whatever you do in His name!

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Mimi



Mimi, my mom, has been on a journey.  Last year at this time, she really didn't know if she would be alive right now.  We planned a beach trip to Cape May about 8 months ago, and literally, she did not know if she would be present for that trip.  We just got back this weekend, and she made it!

The last few months have been nothing short of a miracle for our family.  My mom went to Johns Hopkins to get surgery on her cancerous tumor, which was located on her pancreas.  Prayers from near and far were heard.  Fast forward to today, and she no longer has cancer, but she also has no pancreas, gall bladder, spline.  She is thin and diabetic, but, she is alive.  Better put- she is living.

We are all embracing moments a little more these days, knowing that my mom could have been gone by now.  On February 3, she turned 62 years old, and along with our family, her best friend since childhood, Saundra, joined us for the evening.  We had a delayed Easter celebration, and mom even did her yearly tradition of egg hunt and prizes for the grandbabies.  Mothers Day was a sweet one, with a picnic on the porch and kids playing in the yard.  Any given visit on any day of the week is really miraculous, and we no longer take that for granted.

Tragic circumstances can do one of two things: 1) create a "Woe is me" attitude which beckons for empathy from others & festers a bitterness towards life or 2) stir up gratitude that has always been felt but never properly expressed, therefore seeing everyday events as the miracles that they truly are.

My family is so very thankful to have had a rich, memory-filled vacation with Mimi- healthy & joyful.  It is an incredible thing to be with the ones you love and to also realize how invaluable each member is... Especially when you know how close you came to being without them.



Ecclesiastes 3

A time for everything

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:
        a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
    a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
    a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
    a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
    a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
    a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
    a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Tom, Jimmy, & Adam



Castaway has long been a favorite movie of mine... Actually, I think you really cannot go wrong with Tom Hanks.  If you aren't familiar with the plot, it goes a little like this: Parcel delivery company worker (Hanks) goes on a flight to deliver packages abroad, but a freak plane accident over the ocean finds him the lone survivor floating on a mostly deflated raft.  He eventually washes ashore a tiny island, and has to learn survival skills in order to stay alive.  Four years go by... yes, FOUR, and still he has not been found, and in fact, presumed dead. This desperate man goes to desperate measures to find someone to help him.  He finally sets sail on his handmade log raft, and a large cargo vessel spots him.  He is brought back to the USA safely to return to life as he once knew it. Whew! What a journey.

Then there is It's a Wonderful Life. That one takes the top spot on my list.  Again, if unfamiliar with the story, here it goes: George Bailey (played by Jimmy Stewart) finds himself married with children, running a not-so-successful loan business/bank with his very forgetful uncle who misplaces a large sum of money.  This was it.  George saw no way out and was about to end his life by jumping into a river, when an angel is sent on mission to save George's life.  He takes George through a tour of his town & how different it would be if George never existed.  It seems every part of George's life has touched so many others for the better, and without him, everyone is worse off.  Clarence the angel saved George from doing the irreversible and unthinkable.  George regains immense gratitude for his family, community, and own life.  By the end of the film, he is running downtown shouting "Merry Christmas!" to anyone who will hear him.

Do you see a parallel in these two movies?  Both men in need of help.  Not just anyone, but someone who can do them a HUGE favor.  Both men take drastic measures to make things better, and in the end, both are saved.  I love a good redemption story.  Triumph after trial is just so fulfilling to witness.

There is another story not unlike the above movies that everyone needs to hear about....except, it happened.  Hollywood has yet to come up with a better plot. Here it is: a man made in a perfect, beautiful garden is in close relationship with his Creator.  He even names all of the animals sent to make his world enjoyable, even fun.  He is given a woman as a helper, and his only instruction is to stay away from a particular tree, which bears fruit of knowledge of good and evil.  A devious serpent tempts the man into eating a forbidden apple from that tree.  Guess what? He is alienated from his Creator. His legacy becomes all of mankind's tragedy.  His actions have led us all on a path of disparity.  His choice doomed all people to be far away from God while making mindless, selfish, sinful choices. Then, enters Jesus.

His life, His choices, His legacy changed it all.  We all have hope because of this Man who went to extreme circumstances-  a criminal's death, and a cruel one at that, to bring us back to God.  We need to just accept the offer, the help so freely given.


The parallel, I hope, is now obvious between all 3 stories.  Fallen human in search of  help, exasperated by trying to get it right and merely surviving, finds a Savior when least expecting, and is brought safely home to live a life of purpose.

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Love Goes the Extra Mile


1 John 3:18
"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."

I just happened to get a haircut recently while sitting next to an elderly woman, who was getting her hair cut by her granddaughter.  An interesting conversation topic came up.  We women were talking about how men don't usually know where to find things in the house, or what to do when wives are away from home (in certain situations).  Then, an awkward moment of silence arose after an exchange between the elderly woman and her granddaughter.

It went something like this: 

Grandma: (proudly) "I made Grandpa his lunch before I came here... Been making his lunch for 40 years."

Granddaughter: (snidely) "Grandma- and do YOU get lunch made for you?  Will he have a sandwich ready when YOU get home?"

Ouch. Good point, honey, but that's a terrible approach to love.  

That poor Grandma was ridiculed by her very trendy and outspoken granddaughter in front of the whole salon.  That smart Grandma also knows a thing or two about love which desperately needs to be passed to our younger generations.

How do you stay married for 40+ years?  It doesn't depend on lunch, and who is making it.  It does, however, depend on love in action.  If we are always hoping for an even exchange in the end, then it isn't really called love...it would be more like a deal.  

I love blessing my husband.  It has everything to do with my love languages...if you haven't read the book, you should (The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman). Without expecting a single 'thank you' in return, I enjoy doing little things that will create joy for Tim.  Some of my more routine things are: buying a treat for him from the impulse items at the check-out (usually jerky or gum), taking out the trash, or making breakfast.  As for the Grandma I mentioned from the hair salon, I understand the satisfaction she gets out of giving to her husband.  There is no expectation. Period. 

Another way to see it is mentioned in the book of Colossians:
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." Colossians  3:23-24

So, I would love for this particular blog to be a sounding board of comments on Facebook.  What do you do that blesses your spouse?  Big or small, let us encourage each other with ideas.  We can learn from each other. Way to go, Grandma!