I"m baaaaaaaa-aack!

Good morning!

Of course, by the time I get this posted, it'll be afternoon! Either way...here

go! I had the most gorgeous, charming post ready for you to read...and I hit publish, and nothing happened....so I explored again how to publish, and thought I was pushing the right button, and my gorgeous, charming post disappeared! I supposed that was not what I was supposed to say to you!

It has been a long time since I wrote on here. Almost every detail of our lives have changed since I last wrote. Including, but not limited to our location on the planet.

I began seminary this past January. I could write here about that experience, and fill many day's worth of posts! OR, I could write about what it's like to sell our home within two weeks of listing it. OR I could write about what it's like to dis-assemble our home of twenty years, sell a lot of our stuff, and move eight hours away from our precious older girls, and family--friends we've known for our entire married life, a ministry I loved, and a church that we all loved...what is that like? OR, I could write about moving to a new community where I know no one that isn't either kin to me, or kin to someone I'm kin to. OR I could write about being in transition, for all of it: new careers, new friends, new church, new everything! Who knows? You'll just have to tune in and see!

I know these things: God is God! God is Faithful and He is Mighty to Save! I know He is my strength in times of weakness, my refuge in uncertain times, and my God, the object of my worship. I love to serve Him, and talk about Him and His Word. I love His people, and the people that don't know Him yet, but desperately need the message of love and mercy and grace that the gospel offers. I am excited to see how God writes the next chapters of our life. So, stay tuned...it's better than reality TV, and better for your soul! Bless you for reading...and commenting!

Comedy of Study

Ice. Snow. No School. That's the day ahead. What a gift it is for me. What a hardship it is for others. For some, it probably means overtime. For many, a chance to sit in by the fire and sip a warm drink.

That would be me: sit in, by the fire, or at my kitchen table, or at my basement table and study. This has become my new normal. Study. Read, write and study some more. Write and study and re-write some more.

I recently embarked a journey that will affect the rest of my life. Seminary. A.W Tozer Theological Seminary. I am a new student. Very new--new to the world of turning in papers and assignments on-line, and making plane and cab reservations as part of my educational experience!

The first week, as I discovered the actual process of things, I had to change my flights...that was an expensive ordeal. However, it could not be avoided, unless I wanted to catch a train in the middle of the night, ride two hours, then catch a bus for the next hour, and hope to make my out-going flight on time.--I was only a little stressed trying to work all that out.

God, in his wisdom, gave me a husband that plans trips in his sleep, so he was a huge blessing, and helped keep me calm and focused during that whole process!

Lesson learned: do not make travel arrangements too far in advance, I may NOT have all details.

I get to use something called a moodle. (Holly is emphatic that this is NOT real) This is a web-site that I get assignments, submit homework, post to something called forums, and I think I even get my grades there.

So, the first week: the first assignment is to take some surveys and assessments, then write 1000 words, and post on a forum. There will be several forum discussions throughout the semester, I am supposed to jump in and post when ever, with something intelligent to say.

So, I go try to get on the first forum. nothing. I go to a different place and try. nothing. Thank God that one of the students was very persistent, she couldn't get 'on' either! It was an I/T problem at the school...which is fine, but when we were expressing concern, they couldn't tell it from their end. This persistent student, took a picture of her screen, sent it to them, and they were able to fix the problem! Oh, technology, how wonderful and horrible you are!

And,so, after a week delay, the whole class was able to receive the forum prompt and have a discussion. Plus, we also received an extension on the first assignment due date. Not certain I added anything intelligent, but I did post...to make certain that I could.

I did get somewhat stressed when I was not able to get to the right discussion...it was good to know that I was doing it right, the problem was on the other end. And I'm so thankful for Ms. Persistent.

This week, I had my first 1000 words ready, and wanted to be able to send it. The paper was written with front matter (title page and table of contents) and body. Ok, no problem. I read the over 300 page book, to know how to site sources and present the paper in acceptable form.

The problem about this paper: I kept re-writing it, for one thing...which is not a big deal...that's what writers do. The problem was numbering the pages, in Microsoft word. OH yeah, can't be done, unless you know the 'secret'...(or, perhaps took the time to actually read the 900 page book about how to use their programs--I'm just kidding, I don't even know if a book exists) this program is not user friendly for old women like me.

I had my computer savvy friend, my daughter with the comm. degree (who has written a zillion research papers in recent years) and our church's administrator ALL take look. No one knew the secret, apparently. My desire for the paper was NO page number on title page. ii on the Table of Contents. Begin body with page 1. Easy on a typewriter. OR, if I was turning in hard copy, I could just make two documents...NOT, this paper is ONE document, uploaded to moodle. (love that--)

So, remember the Ms. persistent student I mentioned--the one that helped fix the forum problem? Well, she is, of course in this class with me, pursuing this master's program while pursuing another masters at the same time. She finished her two undergrad degrees last spring. And, did I mention that she's one year younger than me, climbs mountains, on foot and on her bike...and loves to sit in her back yard with her chickens..I do not know. But, I think I really like her--funny and smart.

I was stressing about those page numbers, and thought, well, she said she'd help me along, maybe she knows how to number pages. (I mean, logic tells me, if she did two degrees at once, and she's pursuing two master's at once, she probably knows how to number pages)...and, of course, she did.

Graciously she sent me to a blog--something about turtlemeat....and there it was: the secret. The secret, I will share with you, (the website is detailed so if you really need this info, go there) is to divide the paper in to sections...numbering each section.

Who knew? Well, Ms. Persistent did. And, probably the writer of the program, to that person, this is very logical. To me, very complicated! Oh, horrible, wonderful technology.

And, so, yes, I am a student. Loving it. And, the things I've share above have been my biggest challenges so far!

Here's something pretty cool...one of those 'inside jokes' between me and God. I teach Sunday school and a Bible study at the assisted living facility. I had the inspired idea to keep those two lessons to the same general place in scripture. That way, I'm preparing once, but the lessons can take different 'slants'. This past week end, I got the scripture reading and research done and was ready. I am taking a theology course, and started reading for it. To my delight, the theologian spoke directly to the material I had just prepared. How cool is that? I LOVE that about God--giving me just what I need, when I need it.

And, so, the ice and the weather are hardships for many, but for me: there's food in the house, it's warm in here, and I need to study. I consider the ice and the weather a gift from a loving Father. The fact that I have a gorgeous view of gently falling snow outside, and bright red geraniums blooming inside is another gift.

And, today I know, as always: God is Good!

God is good! This is the theme of one of the classes I'm taking. It is the first line in a favorite childhood prayer I used to say at bedtime. These three words are quickly becoming where my mind goes, as I get older and find more and more things that are wearing out on this body of mine.

God is good! This is a basic truth. If we would stay mindful of these words, of this truth, our lives would be transformed.

We had a children's minister at our church that thankfully had been a cheerleader in her younger years. She would literally lead the congregation in a sort of sing song cheer. She would say: God is Good! Our response was: All the Time! And she would repeat: God is Good!

Yes, God is good, all the time, and all the time, God is good. This makes my day. Especially on days when bad news just doesn't stop coming, or there's not quite enough in the bank to cover the bills, or there just isn't enough to go around...OR, when the kids are home from school sick, and there's a gazillion things to catch up on....you see, these are all short term. Good news does come, kids get well, finances can change with the wind...and well...the to do list will get shorter...stop adding to it!

God is good. His word says it, and He's proven Himself faithful over and over.

I am now officially a seminary student. My first 'assignment', due the first official day of class is complete. My next assignment due 2 weeks: 1000 words. If you know me, you know that I can speak 1000 words in about 5 minutes, so you say, this should NOT be a problem. However, keep in mind, writing is hard work. There is a lot to consider, rhythm, use of certain words and the direction things should go--many choices to make. And so, while 1000 words sounds like a little thing, (and, according to what I wrote in the previous paragraph it really is a little thing) it will take some time to put all my thoughts together and edit them down, so that they won't be difficult to follow! (and, if you know me, you know that sometimes talking with me is like following a bouncing ball--according to a dear friend!)

As a new student, I have much reading to do. MUCH. The topics I am reading about are God, and the calling He has on my life. Since these are both important to me, I will step up and read and write what ever I'm assigned. I'm eager to learn! This experience has taught me a lot already about waiting on God. And, as this week has proven, He can work anything out (like travel/accommodations details, and, did I mention that my computer was continually 'blue screening') God is good. He has brought me this far, these details and this day are no surprise to Him...and if He cares about the number of hairs on my head, then I think He's got the whole travel/computer things that concern me taken care of, as well. Truly blessed: that's me!

Double blessing...

On this date fifteen years ago, we were anticipating the New Year, not having a clue how much our lives were getting ready for a huge change over the next few days. Our home was completely decorated, down to the kitchen rugs, for Christmas. Each room had it's own themed Christmas tree, 8 in all. It wasn't time to face taking everything 'down' yet...so we were enjoying the holiday season, and completely enjoying the atmosphere for a few more days.

Back then, the days immediately following Christmas were for nesting, de-cluttering, setting goals for the year, reviewing our household budget and getting tax information in order before officially heading back to work and school after the holidays.

Our girls, now 11 and 9,could do things for themselves--they were definitely out of the constant care phase of their lives. Which is why the events of the next few days would be especially fun, an shocking at the same time.

By the 8th of January that year, 1996, I had a few decorations put away, but there had been a lot of snow, the girls had been home, and I was just hanging out with them.
The 8th day of January, 1996 changed our lives forever! The girls and I were organizing things in our family room in our basement, when the phone rang. We had gone through pre-adoption classes a year before. We had planned to adopt a three year old potty-trained child, who ever this child was, we didn't know! But, we knew that God did, and He was planning and orchestrating exactly the child that would become ours!

So, imagine my surprise when I answered the phone to hear the news that available to our family were newborn twin baby girls. They had been born two days previous, and I would be able to pick them up at the hospital on the 1oth. I was amazed.

First of all, newborns are rare for adoption. Second of all, they were girls, a perfect fit for the older girls who were quickly outgrowing the doll baby stage. My husband and I prayed and were completely at peace with saying absolutely YES!!! We would be happy to step through this door of opportunity.

And so, that year, the 9th of January was spent packing up 8 Christmas trees and tons of decorations. The 10th was spent driving to get these two precious baby girls, that have grown in to beautiful young girls! We were so blessed back then, and feel doubly blessed today!

Only in God's economy can I explain how we could have been praying for a 3-year old potty trained child that would be a right fit for our family, and received TWO beautiful, perfectly healthy, baby girls instead. It doesn't mean we had to have specifically the three year old...it does mean that "If you delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart."--Psalm 37 tells us.

Yes, Lord, the desire of our hearts was for You to be honored and glorified in our lives...our prayer continues to be for your blessing on our family, but make us a blessing to others.

"Sew"--A Needle Pulling Thread

Needles and thread. Fabric, tape measures and patterns. Buttons, zippers and snaps. Scissors, pins and seam guides. Shiny, sharp, dangerous, fun, these tools have always been a source of great fascination for me. By being familiar with them and their uses, I learned, at an early age about making clothes, for myself and for others.



My grandma, AnnaBelle, taught me everything I knew about sewing. I remember being 4 or 5, sitting next to her while she used her sewing machine. Fascinated by the whirring sound it made, only when she pressed her foot on the pedal that was on the floor. Watching as the thread mysteriously disappeared through the fabric, only to come up and make a real stitch because there was thread underneath the surface as well, from something called a bobbin. Fun to say and fun to consider, sometimes a challenge to fill: the bobbin!



When fabric shopping, she and I would begin looking at the fabric immediately to the left as we walked in to a fabric store, and gradually make our way through the entire store. This could take hours. Neither of us wanting to miss anything, and neither of us in much of a hurry, as we were completely enjoying this escape to our own dream world!



Touching, each bolt of fabric, and discussing how we would use it, what it could become, whether we actually ever did it or not wasn't important, we were discussing dreams and ideas and things that 'could be'--or no, this would not work at all! There was comfort in knowing that there was no one that cared but us.

On these shopping excursions, textures were always important to consider. Corduroy, or sear-sucker, it didn't matter, except we should consider the season for which we'd be using the garment, corduroy does not work in summer, nor sear-sucker in winter. No visit to a fabric store would be complete, however, without another hour or so with the stacks of pattern books. This was the place I learned about lines of the garment the difference is that there are classic lines and lines that 'date' the garment, and when you are sewing within a budget, you must know and consider the difference.

We share a love for beautiful fabric, and a unique conversational trait with each other--describing in detail color and texture and designs because we know it will interest the other. She's described everything from her friend's wall paper to the floral pattern of her new love seat, to the color and fabric of her new blouse. And, if we re-do a room in our home, she wants to hear every detail, colors we've used, or even thought about, types of curtains, and the upholstery fabric choices--down to the last tassel on a pillow.





AnnaBelle could construct clothing items without use of a paper pattern. She probably used a pattern for this, but I remember a medium blue velvet swing coat she made herself in the late 60's that was exquisite...it had large self-fabric covered buttons and was lined with soft shiny same-color satin. I loved sitting in her dining room watching her create as much as I loved nosing through the fabric stores with her. I can still smell her perfume and the steam from the iron she used to make the seams perfectly crisp...hearing the ice in her lemon tea clink as she'd take a drink...and hearing her laugh when it looked good and came together well, or stand at the ironing board and almost whine I could just cry when it didn't turn out so good.


Of course, she made most of my clothes, beautiful things, until about the time I began Jr. High. By the time I started High school, she had moved over 1,000 miles away. I began sewing for myself, a little before she moved. But I kept sewing more and more until, I loved it so much that, sewing was all I wanted to do (ask my sister!).


Finally, I'm certain as a peace-keeping measure for our household, I was only allowed to sew during the summer. If I sewed during school months, I'm pretty sure I would not have done any home work, or perhaps felt it necessary to attend school at all. I enjoyed it so much, and found such satisfaction in the process that I would dream of designing and making clothing of all kinds, evening gowns, to skirts and blouses, purses to suits, I loved all things fabric.


Probably so I wouldn't stayed holed up in our home my entire high school years, I was encouraged to get a part time job. So my first job was a checker at a grocery store, forcing me to become face to face with complete strangers and their daily food choices. (hmmmm....I see another topic to write about in that sentence!)

This job was good for me and my love for all things fabric because soon I had saved up enough money to purchase a really good sewing machine. A Kenmore, my very own, and it cost just over $700, a lot of money in 1978. Grandma coached me through that purchase through many phone conversations and continued to talk me through difficult projects and garments that I made over the next many years.

By sewing I learned valuable life lessons, grandma taught me: if the seam isn't straight, then rip it out--don't be afraid of this--always take your time, and make it right. Another lesson was about being as conservative as possible when planning and laying out the pattern pieces on the uncut fabric--measure and re-pin as many times as needed.


Both valuable lessons: one having to do with the overall appearance of the garment, the other having to do with keeping the costs low.


Lessons or not, I still have such an appreciation for beautiful fabrics and textures! I am so thankful that I was greatly loved and wonderfully influenced by such an accomplished seamstress!--AnnaBelle!

Eleven NOT Seven

Cooking a new recipe may not be a great thing to try on Christmas day, but the risk was worth the outcome. It turned out delicious even considering that I am such an novice cook. Due to my cooking experiment, I needed to wake up and get busy at 5am. Yes, on Christmas morning.



It's a good thing I love to get up early each day. On this Christmas morning gave me much time to read the Christmas story (go ahead, read it--Luke 1-2--I love Mary's prayer in Luke 1) and pray over the day. There was also time for me to think and plan all the details for the day.


A Merry Little Christmas--our family around the dining room table and a snow covered neighborhood in view through our windows. The Lord has greatly blessed our family and He blessed our table this Christmas, as well--that we were able to have all our kids and grand kids around it together...never to be taken for granted again, ever.



Laughter is a gift we enjoy when we are all together. Before one bite of food had been eaten, we laughed until we cried. On holidays, we 'toast' the occasion with sparkling grape juice. Today, I asked my husband if he was ready to toast...and he told me to go ahead and say it for Christmas. This surprised me but I raised my glass for the occasion, and encouraged everyone else to do the same. As I raised my glass, I said these words: "This Christmas as we think about 2007, we should look forward to all the..." and, that is as far as I got. My daughters were, by this time looking at me like I had said something they did not understand, and so I stopped talking. The kids started laughing, then I started laughing...then we cried because we were laughing so hard. We decided I had had enough Christmas banana punch. (and not one drop of alcohol was involved) Why I said 2007, and NOT 2011 is beyond me. I can only say that they do rhyme...perhaps that is why the word seven came out of my mouth instead of eleven. At any rate, and for what ever reason to give us laughter. Much laughter--the best gift of all!



Board games this evening, and now Christmas movies. Only the movies we haven't seen this season.


Truly, a Merry Little Christmas. During this time of year, we hear a song that has a lyric that goes something like: 'Why can't every day be like Christmas?' Good question.

I'm looking forward to putting away all the decorations and preparing for the new experiences 2011 holds. I don't know what they are and yet I'm certain I will not be disappointed. I never am. There is always something new to think about, consider, experience, or plan!

I hope you had a Merry Little Christmas, yourself--I also hope that YOU will embrace the fact that the God of the universe has had this year of your life in mind before you were born, every detail, and you can rest knowing that nothing that is happening to you, or will happen to you is a surprise to Him. He loves you, unconditionally, and He's excited to see how you will bring glory and honor back to His name through each new experience, while you wait for His return!

And, while "2007" for me must have been a really good year, my hope is that you will be blessed beyond measure in 2011!

Over Forty Years of Slumber Parties...hmmmmm...

An oxymoron, I love that word. Oxymoron: slumber party. I have always loved slumber parties. I was allowed to host my first slumber party when I was 8 or 9. This party was the beginning of my love for gathering friends together in order to celebrate. Today, I love women's retreats, attending, planning and packing for them, but most of all creating an environment to celebrate friendships--a time to let your hair down.

As I think back to that very first slumber party, I'm amazed that my mom took the risk. I remember who was there, and I remember LOTS of running--all night long--all over our house,. We did not run in or to my parent's room--it was strictly off limits--not to mention the fact that my mom was probably in there, praying for quiet and repenting for allowing such an event to even take place.

The next slumber party was much more drama-filled. This is what happens when 8-10 thirteen year olds, overloaded on sugar and sleep deprived try to make sense of their lives. My birthday is in the summer, and so, my party was always in the summer. All of us were sitting n the front porch of my house in the dark...trying to scare each other. My Grandma Sisk was sitting inside our living room with my mom. They could hear us through the screen, and my sweet innocent Grandma made a noise that made all of us scream and run in to the house in lightening speed! This was the year my friends got on the roof of our house, and I thought my mom was going to have a stroke as she prepared breakfast, thinking that this would cause our roof to leak.

When I was in eighth grade, I got to have a slumber party with only two friends. One of the girls was from out of town, and the three of us had become close the previous summer at church camp. On the first night, peanut butter and jelly became smeared all over everything in our living room, including our hair and sleeping bags. The next day my dad almost had a stroke because the three of us took a very long walk and we hadn't told anyone where we were going. Consider, this was before cell phones and beepers. My parents spent 2-3 hours looking for us. Oh my, when they did find us, glass packs on my dad's pick up were revved up. This sound was always in proportion with how agitated he might be over a certain event. This event registered: off the charts.

Through the years, slumber parties were always here. The year our oldest hosted 18 of her closest friends, also measured: off the charts! This party proved to be fun for everyone--except the parents, this party also was the time when our precious family vacation videos were 'taped' over to make way for pre-teen girls to be silly and take videos of their own made up game shows...hilarity rules, and has for many years. I remember thinking, as I was shaking from lack of sleep while preparing breakfast, I am too old for this! But, truth be told, the twins have also hosted slumber parties. I figured at some point, I have been hosting slumber parties for 40 years.

Why am I writing about slumber parties? I don't know, except I'm contemplating one coming up. Tonight, three of our girls are having a sleep over, at our oldest daughter's home. Next week, I get to meet a good friend from out of town. We haven't seen each other in a couple of years. We have much talking and laughing to do! We won't be climbing on to the roof, or running all night long, or smearing pbj all over the place, or trying to scare each other. But we will laugh and talk MUCH. And, this time: truly slumber.