Recent Happenings No. 7

Last Tuesday (Oct. 1), after running for our family (or part of it) for roughly 30 years, our refrigerator was replaced. This is a big deal. Maybe a little silly, but still a big deal. That thing ran for Mom for several years before she met and married Dad, and for them and Trissy and me until now. It's just now giving out. They built quality back then. It's like giving up an old friend :( .

Last Wednesday (Oct. 2) night, Uncle Alvin's oldest daughter and her family came down and brought us their chickens to 'babysit'. They are moving, and mom offered for us to keep the chickens until they are settled into the new house they're building. They have some pretty chickens, and they are so friendly too. I guess my cousin and her husband's eight kids have them pretty much used to anything :) .
When Trissy and I came in from church, my cousin's oldest daughter was calmly fixing peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches while the next-to-youngest little boy was sitting sleepy-eyed next to the counter. The adults were out in the night, trying to get a chicken coop and pen put up so they could deposit the chickens and get back to finish up a long list of things before my cousin's husband had to be at work in the morning. The kids were loving our country place (they currently live in the city, and are moving to the country), roaming the yard, playing with Murphy and Jack (our two cats), trying out our small basketball court, the older boys helping with the chickens. I know my cousin and her husband have taught and trained their kids well, but I was still so impressed to walk into the house (tired and, I admit ashamedly, rather cross and irritable) and find the oldest little girl calmly making everybody supper. And soon the baby was brought in for her to look after, so my cousin could help with the construction of the chicken pen. She deftly hoisted him to her back, and there he clung like a baby opposum, while she supported him with one hand and continued making sandwiches with the other. Her responsibility and calm just impressed me so much, and warmed my heart in a way I can't explain!

I snapped these pictures of a few of their chickens yesterday morning when I went out to feed them.

Wednesday (Oct. 9) afternoon we had Joy over for a little while. Wednesday is not the best day to have 'the girls', because they (at least Joy and Lela - Abigail and Piper are a little more flexible since they are home-schooled) have school 'til 3:00 and then we have church at 6:30, even if we cancel Piper's 5:00 piano lesson and Joy's and my 5:35-ish discipleship session. But Wednesday was the only day I had off work this week, and we've been wanting to have the girls come over for quite a while, so we worked hard, got the house clean, and invited them. Turns out, Joy ended up being the only one who was able to come (Trissy and I picked her up from school, then took her with us when we went to the church). Mrs. S's mother was to have surgery the next day and Abigail and Piper were going with her, and they had packing to do. So Joy came and we had a short, nice, afternoon. We made and ate corn dog muffins (only we put two 'dogs' in them, side by side, and called them "pig noses" instead!), and Mom played a game of Rummikub with us. Joy had never played but caught on quickly. We finished the game and the muffins right about time to leave for me to get to the church for Piper's piano lesson. It was a quick but very refreshing, enjoyable, and fun afternoon treat with a dear friend.

Thursday afternoon when I came in from a long day of work, Mom and Trissy had hot tea waiting for me in a china cup, and some of Mom's hoarded 'French Vanilla' creamer in a small matching pitcher (Trissy took the photo below, of her tea. She was working on some project in the sewing room).

Thursday night I stayed up late updating/preparing/working on the 365 photo blog I hope to start the first of 2014. I'm enjoying my new Nikon so much. I'm already taking lots of pictures, so set up a page for some of my favorites before the "365" challenge actually starts. The blog still has tweaking and work to be done (for instance, I'm not sure I'll keep that title... But I've got a couple more months to think about it.), but I feel very happy with the beginning results.

Biscuits and gravy last night for supper at The Grandparents'. The Grandmother's biscuits and gravy are still the best, and Friday evening is a special treat - the six of us together for a bonafide Southern home-cooked supper, and usually a movie or game or reading out loud afterwards until bed time. So thankful for these times together.

Today is, I am afraid, one of the last flip-flop days of summer. The weather is getting cooler and is so beautiful. Fall is, hands down, the most wonderful season. I'm lovin' it.
And yes, I do wear mis-matched flip-flops around the house.

I had a little free time today, and a burst of inspiration, and pulled out my things to make some more reversible flag pendants. The academy is going to be doing a "Fall Festival" fundraiser in the old part of town near the end of the month. They are renting booth spaces to craft and food sellers, and I'm thinking about renting half a booth with Niclole and her mom.

Yesterday as I left work at the restaurant, I stopped at the vacant lot next door where a family was having a yard sale. They've had about three during the time I've been working at the restaurant, and I always go over and see if they have any books. When I walked up this time, one of the ladies said with a smile, 'There's a box of books over there. They came from my husband's aunt though, and some of them look a little strange.' As I knelt and looked through them, one of the little girls (there was a whole passle of cute kids playing in the tall grass behind the lot - this one was probably about seven years old) bent down to me and asked, 'Do you want some lemonade?'
"Well, how much is it?" I asked.
She answered shyly, "Fifty cents."
'Fifty cents. Then yes, I'll take some lemonade!' I've always been charmed by the fact that there are still kids who do the old-fashioned lemonade stands, and I couldn't turn down this sweet little cutie. I chose two books - "Heidi", an old classic, and another old one that looked promising - and as I paid for them, she came back and handed me a sturdy plastic cup full of icey lemonade. And it was some of the best lemonade I think I've ever tasted!

{Note: I considered it quite providential that Jewel had just loaned me an old book called "Penrod: His Complete Story" which, so far (I just started it this morning), has proven to be quite well-written and very entertaining! The book I bought from the yard sale was not good, and left 'a bad taste in my mouth', so to speak, though I only skimmed it.}

Blueberry jelly :) . The end.

Hugs From My Father

Sunday - In Sunday School this past week, Bro. S. introduced a subject he said we're going to be looking at for the next several weeks. The past two weeks he's taught on 'honoring your parents', and it has been so good. It wasn't one of those hard, knock-you-over-the-head lessons from a parent to a bunch of children. It was delivered in such a loving and friendly way, simply like a caring, more experienced adult giving advice to some young people with less experience. Very well done, and I enjoyed and appreciated it so much - not to mention the 'food for thought' that it's given me!
This past Sunday, we started looking at the relationship between God and people. More specifically, the relationship between God and believers in Christ. And more specifically than that, the tremendous, unbelievable, undeserved, unfathomable love that God the Father has toward His children.

Then, every day this week, it seems that something has happened in relation to that subject...

Monday - I was driving back to the house after work and, as I often do, I flipped on the Christian radio station. In the time it took me to get back to the house, four songs played. And they and their order were significant.

The song playing when I turned the radio on was called "Praise You In The Storm". I just sat and listened and let it soak into me - I usually sing with the radio if I know the song, but I was so tired. Not so much physically, but emotionally. My heart has sung this song to the Lord several times over the years, always in times of acute pain. Now as I listened, I thought of Mrs. Renae and her family, and my so-far-unfailing hope that restoration will happen quickened again, and my heart wept.

"I was sure by now
God, You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away -
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say 'Amen',
and it's still raining.

And as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
'I'm with you'.
And as Your mercy falls,
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives,
and takes away.

I'll praise You in this storm,
and I will lift my hands,
for You are who You are
no matter where I am.
And every tear I've cried,
You hold in Your hand.
You've never left my side.
And though my heart is torn,
I'll praise You in this storm.

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind;
You heard my crying,
and raised me up again.
My strength is almost gone.
How can I carry on
if I can't find You?

But as the thunder rolls,
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
'I'm with you'.
And as Your mercy falls,
I'll raise my hands and praise the God who gives,
and takes away.

And I'll praise You in this storm,
and I will lift my hands,
for You are who You are
no matter where I am.
And every tear I've cried,
You hold in Your hand.
You never left my side.
And though my heart is torn,
I'll praise You in this storm.

I lift my eyes unto the hills;
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord -
the Maker of Heaven and Earth.
The Maker of Heaven and Earth!

And I'll praise You in this storm,
and I will lift my hands,
for You are who You are
no matter where I am.
And every tear I've cried,
You hold in Your hand.
You never left my side.
And though my heart is torn,
I will praise You in this storm!"

"Praise You In The Storm" was followed by a song called "Every Good Thing". It was a bouncy song, yet the words spoke to me like a gentle rebuke; an admonishing to take time to think of what the Lord has given - all the beautiful treasures He's scattered around me - not just mourn the ones He's taken. To not let the ones that aren't in my posession at the moment swell so they block out the view of the many ones that are.

"I tend to be busier than I should be.
And I tend to think that time is going to wait for me.
Sometimes I forget, and take for granted
that it's a beautiful life we live.
I don't want to miss the moments like this -
this is a beautiful life You give!

You're the reason for every good thing, every heartbeat,
every day we get to breathe.
You're the reason for anything that lasts, every second chance,
every laugh. Life is so sweet!
You're the reason for every good thing.

There will be days that give me more than I can take,
but I know that You always make beauty from my heartache.
I don't want to forget or take for granted
that it's a beautiful life we live.
I'm not going to miss the moments like this -
this is a beautiful life You give!

You're the reason for every good thing, every heartbeat,
every day we get to breathe.
You're the reason for anything that lasts, every second chance,
every laugh. Life is so sweet!
You're the reason for every good thing.

It's our family, it's our friends,
it's the feeling that I get when I see my children smile.
You're the reason for this life, everything we love;
it's You alive in us.
You're alive in us.

You're the reason for every good thing, every heartbeat,
every day we get to breathe.
You're the reason for anything that lasts, every second chance,
every laugh. Life is so sweet!
You're the reason for every good thing.

You are here in every moment,
And I know that You're the reason for
every good thing."

Next was a lilting, 'fluffy' song, the kind where the words don't really matter all that much, it's just light and happy and maybe silly or even down right ridiculous, but it leaves you with a smile and a light heart. "One Drop" is the name of this one, and it has been used as the promotional song for an organization that digs water wells in Africa, I believe.

"I need you and
you need me.
Left alone
we will never be who we could be.

So take my hand and
don't forget that
we can do anything together.

Just one drop of your love,
a single ray of sun,
just one thing to change the world.
It's just you
and me.
Starting with a dream,
and giving it all we've got,
only takes one drop.

Come with me now.
Look and see how
there's an ocean overflowing with our hopes.
So let's jump in and take a swim -
it's you and me forever.

Just one drop of your love,
a single ray of sun,
just one thing to change the world.
It's just you
and me.
Starting with a dream,
and giving it all we've got,
only takes one drop.

I need you and you need me -
we can do anything together."

The next and last song was "Remind Me Who I Am". Just before I turned on the radio, I had been thinking of that song and - though I know - I asked the Lord that He would just remind me who I am: one of His, one He loves.

"When I lose my way and I forget my name,
remind me who I am.
In the mirror all I see is who I don't want to be.
Remind me who I am.

In the loneliest places
when I can't remember what grace is.

Tell me, once again,
who I am to You.
Tell me, lest I forget
who I am to You, that I belong to You.

When my heart is like a stone, and I'm running far from home,
remind me who I am.
When I can't receive Your love, afraid I'll never be enough,
remind me who I am.

If I'm Your beloved,
can You help me believe it?

Tell me, once again,
who I am to You.
Tell me, lest I forget
who I am to You, that I belong to You.

I'm the one You love.
I'm the one You love.
That will be enough!
I'm the one You love!

Tell me, once again,
who I am to You.
Tell me, lest I forget
who I am to You, that I belong to You.
To You."

With the first song, the Lord got my attention. With the second, He gently rebuked me. With the third, He made me smile. With the last, He signed the message.
And I sat in my car in my yard for a few minutes before getting out, feeling hugged and truly loved.

Tuesday - Tuesday began as kindof a rough day - little things adding up to make for a stressful morning. But then I got to work with Autumn at the restaurant, which is always refreshing. I love it when we're scheduled to work together. Once during the morning, when we weren't very busy, I just stopped and stood and looked out one of the big side windows at the blue sky and white summer clouds and the slow small-town traffic, and breathed in with contentment. And it felt like the Lord touched me deep inside. You know how when you touch your finger in the center of a small puddle of water, it makes happy ripples float out from the touch, gently covering the entire surface with movement? That's how it felt.
Then music practice later that afternoon was really nice. Nothing extreme, just comfortable, smooth, really relaxed and easy. And after practice, during a parking-lot visit with one of the others, I was paid one of the highest (and most convicting) compliments I've ever received. The whole way back to the house, I was keenly aware of the working of the Lord in this situation - His gentle power that answers prayers and changes hearts and hears and responds to the tortured cries of the broken-hearted and wraps them softly in joy.

Wednesday - It was Joy's birthday and I canceled piano lessons with Piper and took Joy, Piper, and Abigail for ice cream at McDonald's before church. Piper got an ice cream cone, Abigail got a chocolate-dipped ice cream cone, and Joy and I got the blueberry/pomegranate smoothies McD's has been having this summer. We sat at a little booth table beside a big window looking out on the fenced-in play area with it's towering play set, and visited and made silly jokes at each other. We laughed when Abigail's chocolate shell on her ice cream began melting and left smudges on her nose as she'd try to lick the ice cream inside, the girls made fun of me for taking so long to sip my [freezing cold] smoothie, we discussed Joy's new nail art and Piper's new oxfords and dainty bow necklace, we made observations about the people driving by outside leaving the drive-thru, and Joy, Piper and I watched Abigail when she went outside to try to climb to the top of the play set, even though she is really too old for that.
The place was pretty much empty; there was only one other man at a table across the room and we must have given him an amusing time with our banter. We weren't rudely loud, but we were obviously enjoying being together. I looked at the pretty laughing faces of my three young friends and felt a great privilege and responsibility. It was as if the Lord reminded my heart that He had given them to me, as friends, and also as young hearts to influence.

Thursday - Thursday afternoon, about fifteen minutes before I was supposed to get off, a big white truck pulled in. It looked familiar, and any time a familiar vehicle pulls in, I automatically freeze and stare until I can figure out if it is someone I know, or only a look-alike.
But it wasn't a look-alike this time. The truck stopped at the speaker and when my co-worker answered, the voice said, 'I'm here to pick up a call-in for Dennis.'
Bro. Dennis. Here. We were pretty busy and I scurried to finish serving the people who were waiting, hoping I could finish in time to be the one to take him his food. But I was a little scared too. What would I say to him? Would it be awkward? Would he be coldly polite, take his food, and leave? Would I be able to somehow convey the truth that we missed him so much at church?
The timing wasn't perfect, but it somehow worked out that the other girl was busy or something, so I did get to wait on him.
When I came to the window, I was caught just a little off guard, because when he saw me, he greeted me just like he would have in the old days! - with that big grin and a "Hey!" - like he knew I worked there, but had forgotten, and was surprised to see me, but as friendly and as like the old Bro. Dennis as ever! I responded similarly as he handed me his money. After putting it in the register, I went and got his drink, then hurried back to the window with it, leaving the other girl to go to the kitchen for the food. I was focused and wasn't even thinking of how inconsiderate I probably seemed to her. I hope she didn't think me rude. Back at the window, I handed Bro. Dennis his drink, mentioning that I'd never seen him there before, but that maybe he had come at times I wasn't working. He said he actually prefers this restaurant's food to the other 'fast-food' places in town, he just forgets to call it in usually, and doesn't have enough time to sit and wait for it to be fixed. After a few more moments of unimportant (but so special, simply for it's ordinary-ness) conversation, he said good-bye and drove away, and I closed the window and wanted to burst into both laughter and sobs at the same time. But then I got the same feeling I get when some friend is watching me, and I turn to look and see who it is. Only this time, I knew Who it was, and I felt like He was smiling at me - compassionate of my flustered insignificance, but lovingly and powerfully active in His part of the situation.

Thursday was also the first day of school at the academy. I cannot describe the pleasure it gave me that afternoon when I got there to work the after-school program, to sit in the foyer again and watch the students coming through to go to their waiting rides. The familiar faces back again from last year, the new faces and names to learn, teachers and students calling good-byes to each other, the busy bustling, little people dragging their huge bookbags down the hall, the festive spirit of the end of the first day of school.

Also Thursday evening, Dad's brother and his family (who pastor's a church and live about an hour north of us) came to visit and we decided to go out to eat. We don't eat out much, so we cruised through town, considering the options. One place we tried was closed, but the Japanese restaurant was right next door. As we pulled through the big parking-lot the two places share (in my uncle's big out-of-town church van), I spotted a gold Ford Explorer leaving the Japanese place. Trissy saw it too, and we exclaimed, 'There's Law!' and somehow then we were all waving and calling, and Law waved back in a casual, friendly way (though he obviously didn't recognize the van), then just for good measure, our uncle (who is loves a good joke) beeped the horn as the two vehicles passed each other, and Law turned to look back with a mixture of curiosity and amusement on his face. Something about the whole episode was just so comical that we kept laughing for a good few minutes afterwards!

Friday - Friday was a long day. It was tiring and had been pretty difficult in spots.
That night, I went up with Mom to help her help The Grandparents get in bed and settled for the night. The Grandmother had made a new apron that morning and ;wanted me to see it, telling me it was on the back of the couch in the den (her little sewing room is right off the den). So when they were in bed and Mom was just doing a couple more things, I went on down through the den, to go out the garage and go ahead and get in the car and wait for her. I stopped of course to look at the new apron. The Grandmother loves to make aprons, and I'd seen just about every variation on every pattern she could come up with over the years so, I must admit, I unfolded it more out of duty than out of genuine interest (in my defense though, I was so tired that nothing much was likely to spark my interest other than my comfortable bed with the covers pulled back). But when I unfolded and spread it out, I exclaimed in genuine admiration! It was a full-length apron, double sided and top-stitched. There was a pocket on each side and trim that matched the pretty fabric (a deep bright blue with white daisies on it). I was so proud for her that I spoke aloud, even though the room was empty, "Wow! I'm impressed! I am really impressed!"
After admiring her work a few moments more, I went on outside and through the lighted garage. And stopped in the big garage-door opening, struck almost physically by the sight. Spread in the sky before me was an amazing panorama. One of the pecan trees in the pasture was an ink-black delicate filigree against the glorious sky. The sky was a backdrop of crystal glitter and soft blue-green swirls on an expanse of dusky navy blue. It was unbelievable! I think I've only seen anything that stunning in images of the northern lights. I'd automatically lifted my eyes when the garage light was behind me and the dusky darkness of the evening was ahead of me, and being hit with that amazing view was like walking through a silent hallway, opening a door, and Handel's "Messiah" bursting out from hundreds of voices inside an expansive auditorium. Few times in my life have I ever wanted a good camera so bad as at that moment.
And when the words I'd just uttered a few seconds before went through my head again in this instance, I was so overwhelmed that I began to weep, because the very sky seemed to boom, "I LOVE YOU."

Saturday - At some point during the day, I came across this verse: Malachi 3:10. I do not remember the context of when or where I saw it, but it speaks for itself:

"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

Sunday - Sunday night then in our 'small-group' meeting, when it came time for prayer requests or praise reports afterwards, I mentioned how it had been a difficult week in some ways, but also how it seemed like the Lord had sent me a special something each day to just remind me that He was in control and cared about me and loved me. How, as the week progressed, I began waking up in the morning with a feeling of anticipation, thinking, 'I wonder what it will be today!'

Note: I did not get to write this post immediately, while the events were still fresh on my mind. I jotted down notes about the first days and so was able to compose them, but all I have for Saturday is "Malachi 3:10", and no notes for Sunday. But each day of this week, there was some special 'something' that happened to me that felt like a 'hug' from my heavenly Father. As the week went on, I would wake up in the morning eagerly wondering, "What's it going to be today?"
I hate it that I didn't get to record those things with all the details, but I'm thankful for what there is, and the principle is preserved. What a special week it was!

My Beautiful People

This is a sort of prose 'poem' I composed off the top of my head this afternoon. I was thinking about how beautiful people are, how detailed and exquisite God's craftsmanship is, and how it blesses me to look at it, and I just started writing about (some of) the beautiful people I know. I wrote about some of them as they are now, and about some of them as I have known them and as I know they can be again.

{Aug. 10th Note: I have edited and added to how it was originally; below is the edited version. And I will most likely continue to add to it in coming weeks - I know many beautiful people :) ! There is not necessarily a particular order, though I have tended to edit related people to be in groups. The paragraphs mostly just flowed from pictures of people I love that popped randomly into my mind's vision.}

"My Beautiful People"

I love how people are so beautiful.

I love Mrs. S's hair, flecked with a bare sprinkle of silver,
how it falls in a dark wing above her forehead.
I love how her words are always soft
but always significant.
How she tilts her head
and makes everyone who talks to her feel like
they are special.

I love how Austin's grin is worth a million dollars.
I love the little wrinkles at the corners of his eyes
and how he is one of the greatest examples of humility and undemonstrative compassion I have ever known.
How his eyes are sometimes contented green,
sometimes quiet caramel,
and sometimes snapping black.
How his thick hair is that dark gold color,
and how he absently plays with that lock in the front when he's thinking.

I love how Ava's brilliant deep blue eyes fill up half her face
and how her huge smile fills the other half.
How she braids a strand of her hair away from her face sometimes,
and how she ducks her head and does this awkward sort of dance up to you
when she wants a hug.
I love how perfect she is for Austin.
I love how understanding she is,
how easy to talk to,
and how she's the one I think of when I have a desire to do something really wacky or childish,
knowing she'd understand perfectly
and would probably do it with me.

I love how Bro. Dennis's laugh fills him up
and fills the room up
and fills the listeners up
so that they want to laugh too, even if they don't know what's going on.
I love his caramel eyes
and brown hair
and sideburns.
How he's so square and stocky.
I love how he cocks his head and glares at you with his eyebrows way up, when you've done something without thinking and he wants to call your attention to it, but in a teasing way.
I love how he thinks about everything, analyzing it until it's broken down and he can look at all it's parts
and then show them to someone else in a way that they can understand it.

I love how gentle-faced
and dignified Mrs. Carrie is.
How slim and tall she stands,
and how she can get from one spot to another quickly, but never appears to be hurrying.
How quietly elegant her style is.
I love her silky hair
and how it falls to her shoulders with gentle waves towards the bottom.
I love her dark-honey eyes
that observe keenly,
and speak volumes if you have the eyes to listen.

I love Oliver's passion,
his dreamer's heart.
How his grin could light up a dungeon
and how his black eyes squint when he is really smiling,
or get big when he's passionately trying to describe or get a point across.
How his black hair and tan skin make him look great in white.

I love Toby's humility,
his resilience,
and his quiet passion for the spread of the Gospel.
I love his blue eyes and dark blond hair,
his kind smile,
and the way he coins phrases or starts using already-invented ones in such a way that use of the expression seems to spread and become part of the every-day vocabulary of most who know him.
I love how devoted he is to Lindy,
how respectful he is of her,
and yet how they goof off and tease each other almost like siblings might.

I love Lindy's powder-blue eyes.
How healthy and gentle her face is.
I love how she's so powerful,
but so lady-like.
How she bends over backwards to make
the others in the situation feel comfortable.

I love Mrs. Renae's deep brown hair
and how it has red-ish highlights.
I love how when she's laughing,
her left eye squints just a little bit.
I love how she rejoices in life like a child might.
How she worships the Lord like no one else is watching,
or like the whole world is.
How she dresses so classy,
and modestly too.

I love how deep 'my brown-eyed boy's eyes are,
and how deep his voice is,
though he is so young.
I love how his hair is such a rich dark brown -
almost black.
How great he looks in dark teal.
How polite he is.
How, when he laughs, it's a squeak deep in his throat;
how it contrasts with his speaking voice.
I love how he gets in 'beast mode' when there's a job to do -
how his focus narrows so that he gives his best to do his part.

I love Piper's freckles,
her round-ish face,
her piercing eyes,
that are so wise.
I love her meek and quiet spirit,
her calm sensibility.
How she stands at an angle and looks at the ground ahead of you and sort of leans toward you with her near arm out just a little, when she wants a hug.
How when she wears her glasses,
she looks even cuter. And sortof scholarly.
How she is the perfect size to hug and prop my cheek on the top of her head,
but how she will probably end up taller than I am.

I love how Abigail is so brown and healthy-looking
from all the time she spends outside.
How she sometimes sweeps a little of her hair away from her face on either side in a sortof vintage style.
How she closes her eyes and then sweeps her head to face you and opens them dramatically when she's making a point.
I love how she blinks and sniffs at the same time,
how it wrinkles her nose and shows off her freckles
and her lovely eyelashes at the same time,
but how she doesn't even know she's doing it.
I love how she's always got a pun or corny joke to share.
How her giggle sounds light and free and pure.

I love Law's eyes; that amazing summer-forest color - a patch of sky, a few leaves, a glimpse of loamy earth.
How his light brown hair sweeps across his forehead like his mom's does.
I love how tall and broad-shouldered he's getting to be,
how brown he is from working outside in the sun all the time.
I love how when he smiles it lights up his whole being,
how his eyes get big and round and excited.
How fun-loving he is,
and yet, how responsible
and serious he can be when it counts.
I love how the joy of the Lord seems to fill him up
and pour out of him to bless and admonish others in his life.

I love Archer's sharp brown eyes, one of only two pairs I've ever known that could truly be said to 'twinkle',
how he smirks when he finds something amusing,
making that slight dimple come out in his cheek.
How he rocks back on the chair legs when he laughs, his chuckles starting as a squeak in his throat, his eyes squinting, and his nose wrinkling up.
How carefully and yet unknowingly he lifts a wing of dark almost-black hair away from his eyes with his fingertips, or rakes his hand through the top and pats it down.
His biting sarcasm that he then softens with a smirk and a twinkle as he cuts his eyes slyly at the victim.
His heart for service,
and how he doesn't back down from his decision unless presented with what he considers intelligent, compelling reasons.

I love how Julia's so pert, almost sassy,
in the way she teases her friends;
how her rude comments (that probably no one else could get away with) are her way of showing her friendship,
and how she hurries to assure you she was joking, even though you already knew she was.
How frank and honest you can count on her to be.
I love how naturally scrunchy/curly her blond hair is.
I love how she's the queen of crazy faces,
how she can make this bug-eyed stare and hold it long after you've given up staring back and are doubled over laughing.
I love those brilliant blue eyes of hers,
how she uses them with her fine blond eyebrows and
how she tilts and moves her head to be so expressive.
I love how she and Autumn (not being related at all) can be such close friends that they're like sisters.

I love Autumn's naturally scrunchy light brown hair,
her almond-shaped dark brown eyes,
how her smile shows how straight and white and perfect her teeth are,
and makes her dimples come out.
I love how she's not very tall,
but is so athletic
and sturdy.
How she doesn't brag,
but her talents just randomly come out when they're needed
and everyone thinks, "Wow."

I love Camille's strength,
not only physically,
but inside too.
How tall she is.
How thick and rich her brown hair is
and how it can get so long so fast.
I love how bright her green eyes are
and how clear and bright her complexion is
when she doesn't wear make up
and her hair is up out of her face.
How she seems so brusque
and almost tough,
but is really such a softie.

I love Bro. Mike's gray-ish hair
and short goatee
and slightly pointed ears
that earned him the nick-name, The Garden Gnome.
I love his kind blue eyes,
his short stocky build,
and how he believes in hard work
and in doing your best.
His wise,
calm,
loving,
understanding spirit.

I love Landon's good-natured spirit.
How he is the image of country-boy charm,
with his work boots, faded jeans, worn t-shirt (or button-up with the sleeves rolled up), and white-and-blue ball cap.
How that white-and-blue cap is almost as much a part of him as his name is!
How round his brown eyes are
and how high his eyebrows get when he's telling about one of the adventures that seem to constantly seek him out.
The air of hospitality,
kindness,
gladness,
and friendliness
that is part of his character.

I love how courageous Bro. Earl is,
how he can narrow his vision so that he can focus on the job at hand, and shut out the rest of life's difficulties for the time being.
I love how he always has a complement,
a joke,
or a pleasant remark
for whoever he runs into.
I love how he's so squarely built,
how he stays in shape even though his job is not one that requires much physical activity.
How his style is both relaxed and yet classic.
How he always has time to talk,
and how he will tell you if he doesn't have the answer,
but will try to help you find it.
How he's a preacher, a pastor, but he's just a regular guy too,
he's not hight-and-mighty,
he's humble,
and willing to learn.
I love his teal-blue eyes
and dark-gold hair like Austin's.

I love Mrs. Shannen's nod -
the way she bobs her head and smiles Bro. Dennis' grin when she agrees with something.
The way she says, "Goot!" instead of "Good!",
that would sound annoying on anyone else,
but is part of her.
How her short hair flips out just a little.
Her gentle spirit
and meekness.
How she's so motherly,
so kind,
how she keeps on going,
even when the going is tough.

I love the way Russell dances (almost litterally) through life,
using his flambuoyant tendency toward the dramatic (singing, acting, dancing, etc.)
to entertain us,
to put smiles on our faces,
to lighten the heaviness that life sometimes is.
How his striking blue eyes contrast with his brown hair,
and how they squint and disappear when he grins.
How he'll pull out the 'grandma voice' when he's talking to little kids,
or the Scottish accent when he's ordering at a restaurant.
How he gets so serious and technical when there's a job to do,
rushing around on his long legs like a grasshopper.
How his eyebrows raise and wiggle,
and his eyes sparkle when he's goofing off.
I love how he's joyful even when his life's hard.

I love Trent's sense of humor when you get to know him a little bit,
but how he's just an ordinary teenager otherwise.
How 'dressing up' is, for him, a white button-up shirt, unfaded jeans, and boots.
How thick and rich his blond hair is,
how quiet and observant his eyes are,
how slender he is,
and how tall he's getting to be.

I love Aron's strength, both of body
and of character.
How protective he is of his wife and child,
how he serves them
and guides them.
I love how he is such a hard worker
and such a loyal friend.
How his jet-black hair and dark eyes and deep tan skin are so striking, and
how his laugh is so powerful, but
so boyish and freeing.

I love Henley's sensitivity to people,
her down-to-earth outlook
and kind heart;
the way she draws others in, making them at home.
I love how her long, straight, dark-blond hair has natural bright-gold highlights in it.
Her big blue eyes.
How patient she is,
always trying to see the positive in a situation,
how she respects her husband Aron,
and protects her little son.
How she has chosen to stay at home and serve her family,
instead of trying to make 'her' place out in the world.

I love how Joy is so tall,
how I hug her and it's more comfortable for her arms to be around my shoulders while my arms are around her waist, even though I'm ten years older.
I love how her eyes are the color of dark copper
and her hair is just a little darker than that.
I love how she calls herself my long-lost sister because we're so much alike that it's uncanny sometimes.
How she lights up when she's telling me about something that stood out to her in her Bible reading.

I love Justice's confidence,
how his voice has such a low pitch that, if you're not used to it, it almost makes you want to plug your ears to lessen how much it makes the room vibrate.
I love how his Irish blood comes out
in his stocky form,
curly brown hair,
bright blue eyes,
pale freckled skin,
and passionate nature.
I love how tender-hearted he is toward things of God;
how he has a heart for young people,
and how he has such a gift as a teacher.

I love Noel's curly black hair.
I love how she looks up to Justice, her husband.
How she defaults to him in any decision.
I love her child-like simplicity,
and how she tries to make the best of a hard situation.
What a grateful spirit she has
and how matter-of-fact she is.
How she's willing to serve wherever she can,
and how quick she is to point out other's talents and strengths.
I love how she tucks her chin, cocks her head, raises her eyebrows, and looks at her listeners from the tops of her eyes when she's making a point.
I love how she leans her head back and giggles.

I love how Trissy's hair is so straight
and fine
and long
and golden in the sun.
I love that she doesn't wear make up,
but is still attractive.
I love how she makes that self-deprecating smirk
and shrugs when she does or says something that everyone except she thought was funny and they all laugh.

Recent Happenings No. 6

So, time for another "Recent Happenings" post. One of those posts full of random little things and events that are too small to each get their own, but which I'd like to remember.

Last Wednesday, after months of talking about wanting to do it, we (Mom, Trissy, and I) finally made muffins and took them by the UPS store where Archer works in the 'big town' about 45 minutes north of us. He always loved our muffins whenever we'd take them to the Thursday night college Bible study, and it would be an excuse to get to see him again (Trissy and I had only seen him once since he left in January, and Mom had not seen him at all). He was on the job, so we only got about 5 minutes to stand and talk, but we'd told him we were coming, and he had been looking forward to it and was expecting us.

Friday, Abigail, Piper, and Joy came over to the house for the afternoon. We'd invited Lela too, but she had somewhere else she already had to be and couldn't come this time. That was disappointing, but we had fun with the other three! We made headbands using t-shirt scraps and these instructions I found on Pinterest, then we made bread and, while it was in the oven, went for a walk in the woods and played with our two kittens, "Murphy" and "Fin".

When the bread came out, we had hot PB and J sandwiches with home-made jam and played a partial game of Skip-Bo until it was time for me to take them back to meet their folks in town. It was a very nice afternoon, and hopefully we can do it again before four months have passed! The last time we had Joy and Lela over (we'd invited Abigail and Piper, but they couldn't come that time) was in February.

While the girls were at the house and we were working on our headbands, of course we talked alot about hand-made crafts in general. Somehow the wooden pig cutting boards that Bro. S. makes came into the conversation. I'd heard about them before - he uses one of his grandfather's cutting boards as a pattern (his mother has the original from 48 years ago), and makes them for the 'hope chests' of girls in his family. When Piper first was telling me the story, I told her to be sure and tell him that if he ever started making them to sell, that I wanted one. Friday when it came back up, I mentioned again that I wanted one if he ever sold them.
Well, Sunday morning as Trissy and I walked down the street beside the church building, headed to the gym building for Sunday School, the S. family's van pulled up beside us on their way to Sunday School. Bro. S. leaned out the window and called good morning to us, then said, 'Oh, I think we have something for y'all.' and held out a pig cutting board! I felt like one very special young person!
That evening when I tried to pay him for it, he wouldn't let me.

We had a Fifth Sunday/Fourth of July church picnic Sunday evening at the local reservoir/lake. It was such a nice time! We reserved one of the pavillions near the swimming area, and everybody took lawn chairs and food to share, and someone hooked up a couple of ice cream freezers to their truck battery and made home-made ice cream! "Doc" (one of the men of the church who's a doctor) had his boat, and took little bunches of the young people tubing on the lake. Someone thought to take the church's portable volleyball net, and there were volleyball and softball games going on sporadically throughout the evening. They'd also taken several folding tables and chairs and these were set up under the trees near the pavillion. It was just a great time of fellowship and being together.

I had a wonderful time, and even got a bonus - getting to cross two things off of my Bucket List: 1) Jump into a pool or lake with every-day clothes on, and 2) Ride a motorcycle.
After we'd all eaten, Ava, Trissy, Piper, Joy, Abigail and I walked down to the lake because Doc was going to take them out tubing again. Neither Trissy nor I had thought to take swim outfits, so we weren't going to get in the water, but we could ride in the boat. Neither one of us had ever been tubing or even seen it done, and it was alot of fun racing across the water with the wind whipping our faces and the four girls bumping along behind us. Only Joy seemed confident (her grandparents have a house by a lake in a near-by state, and they go there alot, so she has been tubing many times); the other three were just hanging on and trying not to fly off when Doc would swing into a curve. But they all fell off at least once, except Abigail, who somehow managed to keep her grip. A couple of times when Doc slowed down and went back to pick up someone who'd fallen off, he asked if we wanted to try it. The girls had been trying to talk us into it since we first went down to the water. But since we only had our regular clothes, we'd declined each time. I just didn't want to have to spend the rest of the evening up at the pavillion looking like a 'drowned rat', as Mom would say. But I really really was hating to miss it! Eventually, Doc said we'd be going in in about ten minutes. Joy had fallen off fairly close to shore and when we went back to pick her up, Law was swimming out. Ava, Piper, and Abigail were tired and decided to get in the boat, but Law and Joy were going to ride the last few minutes. Doc could tell I really wanted to try it and offered again, and the girls were encouraging me to just do it. My spirit of adventure was up, and I was beginning to be afraid that if I didn't take the opportunity, I'd always kindof regret it. When Trissy, with her sensibility and strong sense of propriety and decorum, seemed to think it was alright and urged me to go ahead, that made up my mind. I handed Trissy my glasses, kicked off my flip-flops into the bottom of the boat, Ava gave me the life jacket she'd had on, and I jumped in! The water was warm and comfortable. Half-way to the 'float', I realized I still had my watch on, so I hastily pulled it off and struggled back to hand it up to Trissy. My only discomfort was embarassment at my slowness and lack of elegant swimming skills (I can stay afloat, and painstakingly make my way from one point to another, but I'm no pro, and certainly not very graceful).
Law and Joy showed me how to hoist myself up and where to hang on, and after checking to make sure we were ready, Doc started off. It was deliciously fun, and I managed to not fall off! On my first time too! And when the time was up and we went back to shore, it actually didn't take a very long time for my clothes to dry, at least somewhat.

And then later, one of the men of the church (the same man who drove the bus and cooked for us on our mission trip to Chicago last month) was giving rides on his motorcycle, and I got to do that too!
So that's two items crossed off my Bucket List in one day :) , just a fun 'bonus' added to the blessing of the already-greatly-enjoyable evening with my church family and friends.

Mom's really beginning to get anxious about getting Trissy's and my dresses made for Toby and Lindy's wedding. It's only about a month and a week away, and we needed to get them started, but Mom still had some questions about the pattern. So, she asked Lindy to come over Tuesday evening to talk about details. And after all that was settled, Lindy just stayed for a while to visit. She hadn't been to the house in quite a while, and even though we see her at church all the time, she's just one of those friends that is easy to want to share life with. We went outside in the back yard so she could see our two kittens (Lindy loves kittens), and we just sat in the grass, getting to do alot of catching up and just talking about life. It was so nice.

{Zig-zags courtesy of Jones Design Company}

S.O.A.P. Journaling - Ephesians 4

My S.O.A.P. Journal entry from this week's mentoring/discipleship session with Joy:

Date: Mar. 6, 2013
Passage: Ephesians 4


Scripture:
"... put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. ... putting away lying, ... Be ye angry and sin not: ... Neither give place to the devil. ... steal no more: ... Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, ... " verses 22-30

Observation:
I love how the apostle Paul's books are all full of practical in instruction on how to live a Christian life. Especially the book of Ephesians.

Application:
If we are truly new creatures in Christ, there are lifestyle changes that will naturally occur. And others, that we may have to work on changing. No lying. Do not let your anger control you or cause you to sin. Do not allow the devil to talk you into something your conscience is cautioning you against. Do not steal - things, money, attention, time, or anything else. Speak only good, kind, graceful, spiritual things. And do not grieve the holy Spirit of God.

Prayer:
"Oh Father help me to 'put off the old man' - my old self that is so corrupt - and be renewed by Your Spirit. Help me to be no liar, to not sin when I am angry, to not give in to the devil, to not steal, to only speak good things, and above all, to not grieve the Holy Spirit of God."

Sunday, Mar. 3, 2013

I miss Archer. It's just that simple. I miss him alot.
Every Sunday I think it will be okay, that all the other wonderful people the Lord has blessed me with at Victory Rd. will fill my heart and thoughts.
I try not to talk about it much. I don't want people to misunderstand and get the wrong idea about how I feel about him. But my college friends at Victory Rd. are like family to me - almost literally. I've never had such a large set of close, wonderful friends my own age like I have had the past four years in this group. I've always wished I had more brothers and sisters, especially brothers, and especially brothers my age, or older. This group has done much to fill that void. I love all the guys. Each one holds a special unique place in my heart. But Archer and Austin are different somehow. I don't love them more than I love the others, but I love them differently. I feel toward them like I always imagined I'd feel towards my real brother if I had one. Of all the guys, these two are closest to being my 'brothers'.
So, I miss my brother. It's similar to how I felt 2009-2010 when Austin was gone on that almost-a-year-long mission trip to a country hostile to the Gospel. But, he was gone on a mission trip, which made it more bearable. And the plan was for him to be back in a few months. We e-mailed him back and forth all the time. And we Skyped him nearly every Sunday morning before church. When he came back, things fell back into the old comfortable familiarity, and life felt 'right' again.
Archer's just gone.

This morning was really good and really hard, both. Austin played acoustic guitar for the music service, and it was bringing back memories of the couple of months last year (or was it the year before?) when he was playing acoustic and Archer played bass. But no one could ever hear the bass, and Archer wouldn't turn it up or play louder, so finally Bro. Dennis recruited Law to play bass, put Archer on acoustic, and Austin on electric. Perfect. Bro. Dennis even said, 'Why haven't we done this before?'
But then those thoughts also brought back the pain of the fact that Bro. Dennis isn't the music minister anymore. And one of the songs we sang this morning was one Mrs. Renae always sang so wonderfully. I was in the choir of course, and it was so hard to get through that one.
And after church I heard someone discussing the progress of the fix-up work on the house Bro. Mike's family lived in, in preparation for Bro. Nick and Lydia and their family to move in.

Victory Rd.'s face is changing. Trent, one of the younger boys in the youth group, plays acoustic guitar with us on Wednesday nights in Archer's place. He's a nice kid, and a talented guitarist. Bro. Nick's family is settling in and becoming a part of us. In preparation for moving on to wherever the Lord will have him and Noel go, Justice stepped down as teacher of our college Sunday School class, it was put on hold until a new teacher could be found, and the members have scattered into other classes for the time being. In fact, our first Sunday to go to different classes was Bro. Mike's family's and Archer's last one at Victory Rd (Jan. 13).

So my little corner of the world at Victory Rd. now looks very different from what it did a year ago - that time being a sample of what I consider some of the best, most wonderful, and most 'growing' times of my life.
And gradually, I think I'm painfully getting used to it. But it almost seems like getting used to an amputation. I've never had an amputation, and I in no way pretend to understand that actual, physical type of pain. Yet, I almost feel like I've gone through something similar. I keep functioning, but parts of my life are gone. The scar is healing over, but there are blank empty spots where vital parts used to be, and sometimes I find myself cruelly and suddenly re-awakened to the fact that they aren't there anymore. Like that song Mrs. Renae used to sing. It was so unexpected, and I nearly lost control of my emotions, right there in the choir in front of everybody. Or seeing Austin playing his heart out and looking over, and there being only an empty space of carpet where Archer used to stand and do the same. Or asking Bro. Dennis a question and, in his answer, realizing I hadn't heard his voice speaking directly to me in literally months, when I used to be the constant brunt of his good-natured wit and jokes. Or hearing someone say something mildly critical of Bro. Mike's family, and thinking how unfair and inconsiderate it was.

And yet life moves on anyway, and there are good things happening too.
1) Aron's cousin's husband recently realized he feels like the Lord is leading him to preach, and Bro. Earl had him preach the morning sermon today. He spoke on leadership, the Old-Testament transition from Elijah to Elisha, and did very well for his first sermon!
2) Law is constantly surprising me with how he is growing in his Christian walk. It's almost as if, around the first of the year, a switch was flipped, and since then it's been slow, steady, constant progress. Watching his attitude and peace and growth has been the single greatest encouragement to me during these recent hard times of change. Oh how I praise the Lord! I think I understand a little of how the apostle John felt when he wrote, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 1:4) Oh how thankful! Oh how thankful I am!!
3) There are four babies being added to the church in the fall, three of them coming to families among our college group. Aron and Henley, Aron's cousin and her husband, and Justice and Noel. Praise the Lord!
4) My JV kids on Wednesday nights are such a blessing. Some are just silly and don't seem to care really. Yet I'm glad they are at church instead of off getting into mischief. Many of them though, truly seem to desire to learn and grow more. As time has come along, my thought of, "What am I doing here?!" at the first of the school year when the class started, has changed to, "These kids have so much potential - Lord, help me help them!" The questions they ask, the things they remember, their searching longing, and the discussions we have during small-group time, and Ava and Ashlyn's support as my 'assistant group leaders' have been such blessings.
5) I'm enjoying my Wednesday-afternoon weekly discipleship sessions with Joy so much. She is such a sweet girl with so much potential. We've only had three so far (we missed one week since we started), but I have great hopes for the future. How I pray that the Lord would use these times to grow us both!
6) Tuesday night music practices are again one of the highlights of my week. No, Archer is not there anymore, but the others still are, and the young man who has taken his place is willing, talented, good-natured, and brings his own unique 'flavor' to the group. I try not to think of him as 'Archer's replacement' (just as I try not to think of Bro. Nick's family as 'Bro. Mike's family's replacement'), but as himself. When I do that, I really enjoy the new dynamics. The way some of the other members of the group have pulled together, stepped up, taken up the slack, and bravely kept on and not given up has been such a blessing and encouragement. Things threatened to fall apart there for a couple of weeks - I mean, Archer was our leader! - but various members have shifted responsibilities so they could take a little of his, we've 'kept our chin up', so to speak, and I think we're settling in to a 'new normal'.
7) And all the dear people who have not left. My merciful heavenly Friend has seen fit to leave to me so many of my precious earthly friends. Justice and Noel are still here, for the time being - they feel the Lord may soon be directing them to a different place of service. Austin and Ava are still here, for the time being - Austin is seeking a full-time music ministry position. Toby and Lindy are still here, for the time being - after their wedding this summer, they will probably end up as missionaries in a Latin country; a mutual love for missions and Spanish-speaking people are probably their biggest passions. Aron and Henley and little Timothy are still here. Aron's cousin and her family. Autumn, Julia and her parents, Law, Abigail, Piper, and Bro. and Mrs. S., Nicole and her husband and parents and little brother, Bro. Earl and Mrs. Shannen, my 'brown-eyed boy', Simon, Joy, and their parents, Bro. Dennis and Mrs. Carrie and little Maxwell, and so many others.

"There will always be someone..."

~

Sunday night edit: So, at our Sunday night college supper after church, Justice told us that he and Noel are going to be sticking around for a while. The Sunday School class is going to start up again, and he's going to teach it. He (and Noel said the same thing later) said that it just seems like the Lord keeps closing doors that they thought they might be supposed to go through, and so they'll just stay on here until they feel they have a clear calling to go somewhere else. They're planning to buy a house, and he's planning on finishing up school.
So, we get to keep them a little longer.
Wow. Oh how thankful I am! My Lord is so merciful!

After everyone else had left (the supper was held in the church's fellowship hall this week), it was just Aron and Henley, Toby and Lindy, and Trissy and me left, and we had a good conversation standing, 'on our way out the door', for about half an hour. We talked about the difficulties of trying to sell hand-made crafts in this area, mission trip preparations, concern over Randy, who seems to be going through a strange rough spell, missing Bro. Dennis teaching our college Sunday School class, gladness that Justice is planning to start it back up again, missing Bro. Mike, etc.

It had been Trissy's and my turn to cook, and as we were all getting ready to leave, Aron told Trissy he would take our big tote basket full of food and dishes out to my car for us. I already had it, but must have missed his offer - I'd just remembered we needed to turn off the lights before we left - and hurriedly swung back around to go flip the switch in the hallway. Aron grabbed my jacket sleeve to slow me down as Trissy called to get my attention. As I laughingly handed the big basket over, Aron grinned and said, "Kyrie, you have two speeds: 'fast' and 'wide open'!"

I love my friends so much! It was a hard day, but the Lord blessed me with this nice evening - I'm so thankful for His kindness.

S.O.A.P. Journaling - Hebrews 13

My S.O.A.P. Journal entry from this week's mentoring/discipleship session with Joy:

Date: Feb. 27, 2013
Passage: Hebrews 13
Title: "'... as bound with them ...'"

Scripture:
"Let brotherly love continue. ... Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body." verses 1 and 3

Observation:
Brotherly love - love for our Christian family - is the strongest evidence that we belong to Christ. If we truly love each other, we ourselves hurt when those we love hurt. And what stronger bond of love do we - as followers of Christ - have, than when we are suffering for His name?!

Application:
Many times, I forget about other Christians who are suffering for their faith. believers in most of the rest of the world truly suffer persecution - they are shunned by society and sometimes by their own family, physically abused or even killed, separated from their families and other Christians, tortured... But I must not forget them! I must pray for and remember them, as much as if I myself were suffering too.

Prayer:
"Father help my brothers and sisters that are suffering because of their belief in You. Give them courage, strength, peace, hope, love for their enemies, and joy in their salvation. Help me to remember them, as if I were suffering with them. help me not to take for granted my life of freedom. Help me be prepared if the time ever comes when I must suffer for Your name."

S.O.A.P. Journaling - John 16

My S.O.A.P. Journal entry from this week's mentoring/discipleship session with Joy:

Date: Feb. 13, 2013
Passage: John 16
Title: "Present Sorrow, Future Joy"

Scripture:
"But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. ... I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. ... A little while, and ye shall not see Me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see Me, because I go to the Father. ... And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." verses 6, 12, 16, and 22

Observation:
Jesus was getting ready to go to Jerusalem to be crucified, and was preparing His disciples for His departure. Evidently, they were pretty shocked and heartbroken and the thought of Him leaving them, because He speaks in a very comforting and admonishing way to them in this chapter.

Application:
With the recent changes in my life where people I love have left me, these verses touched and comforted me in a very special way. I can empathize with the disciples in verse 6 - sorrow has filled my heart as well, as some of my dearest friends have moved away. I thank the Lord for His kindness in not giving me more than I can bear right now (verse 12), and I am filled with hope and gladness and anticipation at the promises of verses 16 and 22. What a time to look forward to - when joy is here to stay!

Prayer:
"Help me to remember You are always with me and therefore I will never be alone or friendless. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on that future joy, instead of this present sorrow."

Mentoring Joy

One of the things on my Bucket List is to mentor a younger person, preferably a teenager.
Several months ago, Oct. 24th to be exact (when Bro. Mike was phasing himself out as Youth Director and Justice was filling in until a new Youth Pastor was found), Justice announced to the youth group one Wednesday night, the possibility of implementing a mentoring program between the older youth and/or college youth, and the younger youth. After announcements, as we walked to the house where we have our Junior High class on Wednesday nights, Piper and I were talking about it.
Piper: 'Are you going to do the discipleship thing?'
Me: 'I don't know, I didn't even know about it until tonight! I hope so; I'd love to! One of the things on my 'bucket list' is to mentor a younger person.'
Piper: 'Well, I think you've probably already been doing alot of that without realizing it.'
I melted on the inside.

But it got me thinking, and later praying. I really did want to do it. But each person I thought of 'mentoring', seemed to have something that wouldn't quite let it work out. So I just kept praying about it.
Eventually, several things began happening that caused Joy to come to mind. I began praying specifically about doing it with her. I had no idea where I would squeeze it into my schedule, but I knew that this desire was in my heart, and if the Lord had put it there and wanted me to mentor her, He would work out details.

I prayed about it for several weeks, then asked Dad and Mom what they thought about it. They said it would be fine, and that maybe it would work out for her mom to drop her off at the church after school on Wednesdays, and I could just go early, and we could have our meetings before church.

Next step was to mention it to her parents. I spoke with her mom at church the next Sunday, and she seemed to like the idea. She said she'd speak with Bro. Blake about it. I didn't hear anything from them saying we couldn't, so I decided to start actually planning lessons. I knew Autumn was going through a book with Lindsay, and Julia was doing the same book with Lela. But when I checked the library at the church, they were out. So, I decided that until they got some in and I could read it, we'd use the S.O.A.P. Journal idea, with a different chapter of the Bible to study each week. I made a list of some of the chapters that had (in various ways and for various reasons) been brought especially to my attention in recent weeks.

It turned out to be fine for Joy's mother to drop her off at the church when they left VRCA. We agreed to meet at the church on Wednesday evenings at 4:00, so we'd have plenty of time to do our journals, talk about them, have a prayer time, and still have time to eat supper before church started at 6:30.

Last Wednesday was our first meeting, and I was a little nervous. I'd never done anything like this before, and I wanted it to work well and for Joy to enjoy it. We're good friends already, so we have a good foundation. But I want this to be a time for us both to grow.
It went really well! She was already there when I arrived, Rip-Stiking with Nicole's little brother in the gym. There was a folding table and two chairs against one wall, so we sat there. We read the chapter (1 Thessalonians 5 - chock full of good stuff!), did our journaling, then shared what we'd gleaned from it.

My entry:

"

Date: Feb. 6, 2013
Passage: 1 Thessalonians 5
Title: 'Children of Light'

Scripture:
'Ye are the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.' verses 5, 6, & 8

Observation:
The apostle Paul was writing another letter to another one of his churches. He doesn't seem to be reprimanding much in this letter - more like just exhorting, encouraging, and reminding them of things they needed to keep in mind as they went through their ordinary lives. I like how he seems to be stressing basic Christian living in everyday life, and an active spirit towards being Godly.

Application:
This is a good reminder, and certainly a challenge to be aware of how I am living - do I live as a child of Light? I not only want to avoid darkness, I want to display Light!

Prayer:
'Lord help me display Light! I want to be wise and 'sober'. I want to have my armor on and be prepared to defend myself and/or others against obstacles or attacks from children of the night. Thank You'

"

After we were finished, we had a good bit of time still before supper and church. I took my supper (I'd taken it with me) to the fellowship hall in the front and ate there, then went back into the gym. By this time, more kids had arrived, and there were Rip-Stiks and basketballs moving energetically. Bro. Nick came through on his way to the youth room. He saw me, and stopped to ask if I would be interested in participating in a mentoring program he hoped to start doing in the youth group! I laughed and told him I'd certainly be open to it, and that I had started with Joy that very evening! He seemed surprised, but pleased, so we'll see where this whole thing goes!

Isn't it funny sometimes how God works things?!

A Super 'Superbowl' Sunday

This past Sunday was probably the most enjoyable one I've had in several months. After all I've struggled with the past few months, it was just a really good day. The hardest part was the youth music group playing for the music part of the service, and it being the first time for us to play on Sunday without Archer.

The church has been doing a series of 'mission Sundays', highlighting different countries Victory Rd. members have taken mission trips to in the past couple of years. This Sunday was Nicaragua, and there was going to be a meal fund-raiser after church for the next Nicaragua trip, coming up this summer. The youth music group led the music service, and Bro. Earl had Bro. Nick preach, since the majority of the church hadn't heard him since he's been here as youth pastor, replacing Bro. Mike. There was a little pain there too, though, thinking of Bro. Mike's family being 'replaced'. But I try not to let myself think about that, and in that way especially. Bro. Nick and his wife, Lydia, and two little girls are such a sweet young family and have seemed to fit right in. He and Lydia are about Austin's age actually, so they have almost seemed to form a link, blending us who used to be the 'college group' (but are fast growing too old to be 'college' anymore) into the positions and roles in the church usually thought of as adult ones, that we have been trying to help fill.

Anyway, since it was going to be a somewhat irregular Sunday, with a meal after the morning service and our 'evening' service being moved up to the afternoon right after lunch, I suppose Bro. Earl thought this would be a good time to have Bro. Nick preach in front of the whole church for the first time.
I don't know if he was nervous, or was afraid to go too long, or what, but he preached a very fitting - and very short - sermon. When we went back up onto the platform to play for the closing hymn, Law caught my eye and with an amused quirk at the corners of his mouth whispered, "Ten minutes." So it had been even shorter than I realized! But Bro. Nick had packed alot into that little bit of time, speaking on 'unity in a church', in a serious but compassionate manner.

Lunch afterward in the gym was delicious and enjoyable, and the money raised went to those who hope to go on this summer's mission trip to Nicaragua. Trissy and I sat with Lindy to eat and it was nice to 'catch up' - we seem to be going in different directions alot at church, and she's one of our closest friends. The little visit was nice.
Somehow people seem to gather in random groups along the rows of tables whenever there is a meal. I don't know why, but those who usually hang around each other at other times, seem to break up and branch out and spend time visiting with others, or smaller groups among ourselves, when we eat together. And that seems appropriate somehow, to be building relationships and nourishing our souls as we nourish our bodies.

After the afternoon service, we all dispersed to our respective residences. But there was going to be a 'Superbowl party' for the youth later in the evening. I'm not into football at all myself (I didn't even know when the Superbowl was, much less who was playing, and I didn't care either), but I wanted to go, for the fellowship and friendship with the other people there. Besides, Bro. Nick had asked Trissy and me if we were coming to help with, in his words, "crowd control" :) . At the time, I wondered how many kids he was expecting to show up, and how unruly he was expecting them to be! I hoped our kids would show him that his fears were unfounded.

In the end, basically no one watched the game, which I though was both funny and appropriate; but we had a great time just spending good time together! The 'party' was held in the fellowship hall across the street from the church, attached to the gym. Someone had fixed hotdogs, and everybody that came was asked to bring a snack or desert or something. Austin's aunt was there with her daughter and her daughter's friend (who both come to Victory Rd. alot, and also went with us to Strength To Stand), and she was teaching Ava how to make sausage balls and bread pudding in the kitchen where some of the adults and older youth were gathered talking and snacking.

As people got their hotdogs, they would come and go, sit in the chairs facing the screen that had been hung to project the game onto, or wander around talking to each other, but hardly anyone was actually paying attention to the game.
I sat for a few minutes, but there was no one to talk to near me, so I went back to the kitchen and stood eating and listening to Lydia, Trissy, and Ava discuss the practice of healthy, economical menu and grocery shopping ideas. I watched a couple of different ladies spread more food on the already-crowded cabinet, and chatted with Nicole and her mom.
I noticed some of the young people were beginning to migrate to the gym in the back, so when I finished my hotdog, I wandered back to see what they were doing.
Somebody had gotten the roller skates out of the long wooden foot locker against the wall. A couple of brave beginners were trying their wings as a couple of veterans and daredevils were flying around the big room. There were two or three just wandering around chatting, and a few kids on Rip-Stiks cruising in and out doing circles and figure-eights among the slower ones. It was a fun, energetic, wholesome picture.
For the rest of the evening I pretty much stayed in the gym. And what a wonderful time!

A few of the little individual incidents and special moments:

-Tasting Piper's pumpkin bread/cake and Ava's sausage balls (both so yummy!)
-Abigail and another of the teenage girls teasing me that Piper would be offended if I didn't take one of her brownies too
-Getting used to roller skates again (instead of roller blades)
-Being around, talking to, and building a stronger friendship with Joy
-Law and young Dolan finding a couple of sheets somewhere and tying them on as capes as they whizzed around the gym on roller skates and Rip-Stiks
-People sharing their Rip-Stiks with whoever wanted to ride at the moment
-Nicole's mom roller skating
-Trissy taking pictures for me
-Everyone (who was in the gym at the moment) pausing and gathering for a minute so Lydia could take our picture:

What a crazy bunch :) ! And how I love every one of them!
-Brave Lindsay trying to learn how to roller skate, Law stopping to try to help her, then calling me over, saying, "Kyrie, show Lindsay how to roller skate" when it wasn't working
-Playing ping-pong with Piper, then later Autumn
-Standing with Piper, waiting on Trissy to get her roller skates tied, while Law did figure-eights around us on a Rip-Stik
-Nicole's Southern, 'country' husband learning to Rip-Stik with cowboy boots on - 'I've always done everything else with boots on!'
-Law taking my place at ping-pong with Autumn when I was tired, me teasingly asking if I could give him my paddle and ball and have his Rip-Stick, then correcting myself and saying, 'Well, not have of course, just use' and him responding seriously, 'You can actually take it and keep it at your house - I don't really have anywhere to ride it at mine'. (!) I didn't of course, but it gave me such a good feeling that he would offer.
-Bro. Nick and Lydia's 3-year-old and another little girl sitting side by side on a skateboard by the wall, watching the action and singling Joy out to cheer for, calling, "Go Joy!" at the top of their tiny lungs as she circled the gym on her Rip-Stik
-Various people playing frisbee and basketball among everything else
-The game of Spoons going on in the fellowship hall in the front, with those who weren't in the gym
-Toby and Lindy 'racing' on their Rip-Stiks
-Sweet Piper trying to learn how to Rip-Stik, and me trying to teach her when I was just beginning to get the hang of it myself, running sideways in front of her as she held my hands for balance saying, "You better not let go Kyrie!"
-Playing ping-pong with my 'brown-eyed boy', then with Abigail as the evening went on and most of the younger teenagers had gone
-Trissy and Lydia calmly sitting and talking in chairs against the wall; easy-going, fun-loving Lydia with her baby in her arms and her foot propped on a skateboard
-Piper bringing Abigail and me each a glass of water as we played our game of ping-pong
-The fun still going on (though at a slower pace) as Trissy and I said goodnight and headed for our house