When Bill and I were dating he had a 64 Chevelle convertible. It was so sweet! We would drive around with his big shepherd-wolf dog and play Boston as loud as we could....good times!
After we got married and started having children, both of us had to give up "things"..I sold off some cherished antiques and then Bill had to sell his wonderful car. The things we do for our children, and they don't even know!!
Many years later , on Mother's day, Bill called me to help unload groceries. I was SO angry at the children that they wouldn't do it so I went huffing out to the driveway.....with the kids following me (I figured that they felt a little guilty and were reconsidering helping bring in the groceries). When I got to the driveway I saw a cute little red convertible and Boston was playing really loud! Bill said to me," hop into your car, honey!" I, (for once) was speechless! The kids had helped him to fix the car (it was a wreck) and Bill custom painted it a beautiful candy apple tangerine and red. Then Justin painted flames on it! WOW!!!
The biggest thing for me was that I was back in the moment. Time ceased. As we were in that car I had just stepped back in time twenty eight years....all the worries and stress of life (with teens) just dissapeared! It was so special...I thought it was so romantic of Bill to bring back our beginning and to make it a family project!!!
I told Bill, " I don't care if you even sell the car, because no one could take that moment from me"!!!!!
We have had alot of fun with it and it's been a blessing again and again..I got the same car as my present for Mother's day the next year (because one of the boys banged it up.. the next year the same thing... another boy, another accident...another Mother's day gift! Each year I get another custom paint job because of all the accidents. Is this what they mean when it's said it's a gift that keeps on giving????
This Mother's day I don't know what to expect. So far, my convertible is still in one piece... but how do you top a gift like a precious memory, with a whole lot of love packed in?????
Monday, January 10, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
"Rock on"
When I was younger, I thought that I would be a rock star (along with working in the peace corps after I was Miss America).........hmmmmmmmmmmm a little idealistic???
My dreams for singing in a rock band were dashed, because I can't sing in tune..in fact when my husband and children play guitars and sing and I join in, Bill has had the nerve to suggest that I lip sync (which makes me sing louder)! The NERVE!!!And there was an issue of my body (uh-hum) and talent with Miss America......anyway,back to the subject.
I have always had a facination with rocks, though, and at one time I heard a message that fit my love of rocks! I heard that when Jesus was put in the tomb, the rock that was rolled in front of it was immovable...it was also guarded by Roman Centurians to make sure NO ONE could come and take Jesus's body (because He claimed that in three days He would rise again). Well, day three came and there He wasn't. Jesus was gone!!! The women that tried to tend to Jesus discovered that the stone was rolled away and an angel was sitting on the rock and said to the women.."why are you looking for the living among the dead"??"Jesus is risen, just as He said". The teaching went on and said what immovable rock is in your life? Is it fear, anger, poverty,a health issue???? Jesus moved the big stone and He will also move our stones that seem immovable!
I began collecting rocks. I would take the kids up North and go to Lake Superior and search for the "perfect" rocks. I prefer ones that I can easily carry. I also like ones that are smooth (even though they are so hard they almost feel like velvet). Generally, I search for heart shaped rocks or rocks with a cross in them. Every time we go to Lake Superior, I bring a ton of rocks home, and hand them out to people that have big immovable "rocks" in their life. After I give them a rock, I tell them how Jesus STILL moves the rock away, and does what we can't do!
At church one day, I was the "prayer leader" for a women's event...as I was going to church I grabbed two rocks to bring with me..wasn't sure why. I had them on my open Bible and there they sat. I was praying for the event with a couple of other women, and was preparing to leave the prayer room, when, the emcee for the event rushed into the room, sat down and said she needed prayer.She was very upset and said she didn't think she would be able to get through this event because her heart was so heavy. Elizabeth didn't go into any details just said she would be walking with a friend through a terrible tragedy.
We prayed together, and one prayer was that God would give her strength to do what she couldn't do on her own and that He would surprise her with hilarious joy! I then handed her a rock and explained about the immovable "rocks" in our life. She was very appreciative and as she was walking out the door she said that she would be giving her rock to her friend the next day. I just laughed and said to Elizabeth,"that's why I brought two"!!! I gave her the other rock I had and she went off to the event!
As Elizabeth was speaking she made a mistake with words that cracked her and EVERYONE in the santuary up. It really set the tone for the program and everyone was joyful!!!
It doesn't stop here though.....years later I found out that the woman Elizabeth gave the other rock to had just lost her son tragically in the Taylor University van
accident. She stood next to her heartbroken friend at the funeral,and held onto the stone that I gave her and her friend had hers in her hand. She now keeps it in her living room on a little table to continually remind her that "He still moves stones"...even when it's not the outcome that anyone would fathom....His grace is sufficient!
If you need a stone grab one for you and a bunch for anyone that comes along your path and needs a reminder that God is there....and He does what we can't do! There's nothing magic about it...it's just good to grab one and feel the rock and remind ourselves of God's love!!!
It may sound silly to you, but I have gotten comfort from these rocks and I bet you will, too!
ROCK ON PEOPLE!!!!
My dreams for singing in a rock band were dashed, because I can't sing in tune..in fact when my husband and children play guitars and sing and I join in, Bill has had the nerve to suggest that I lip sync (which makes me sing louder)! The NERVE!!!And there was an issue of my body (uh-hum) and talent with Miss America......anyway,back to the subject.
I have always had a facination with rocks, though, and at one time I heard a message that fit my love of rocks! I heard that when Jesus was put in the tomb, the rock that was rolled in front of it was immovable...it was also guarded by Roman Centurians to make sure NO ONE could come and take Jesus's body (because He claimed that in three days He would rise again). Well, day three came and there He wasn't. Jesus was gone!!! The women that tried to tend to Jesus discovered that the stone was rolled away and an angel was sitting on the rock and said to the women.."why are you looking for the living among the dead"??"Jesus is risen, just as He said". The teaching went on and said what immovable rock is in your life? Is it fear, anger, poverty,a health issue???? Jesus moved the big stone and He will also move our stones that seem immovable!
I began collecting rocks. I would take the kids up North and go to Lake Superior and search for the "perfect" rocks. I prefer ones that I can easily carry. I also like ones that are smooth (even though they are so hard they almost feel like velvet). Generally, I search for heart shaped rocks or rocks with a cross in them. Every time we go to Lake Superior, I bring a ton of rocks home, and hand them out to people that have big immovable "rocks" in their life. After I give them a rock, I tell them how Jesus STILL moves the rock away, and does what we can't do!
At church one day, I was the "prayer leader" for a women's event...as I was going to church I grabbed two rocks to bring with me..wasn't sure why. I had them on my open Bible and there they sat. I was praying for the event with a couple of other women, and was preparing to leave the prayer room, when, the emcee for the event rushed into the room, sat down and said she needed prayer.She was very upset and said she didn't think she would be able to get through this event because her heart was so heavy. Elizabeth didn't go into any details just said she would be walking with a friend through a terrible tragedy.
We prayed together, and one prayer was that God would give her strength to do what she couldn't do on her own and that He would surprise her with hilarious joy! I then handed her a rock and explained about the immovable "rocks" in our life. She was very appreciative and as she was walking out the door she said that she would be giving her rock to her friend the next day. I just laughed and said to Elizabeth,"that's why I brought two"!!! I gave her the other rock I had and she went off to the event!
As Elizabeth was speaking she made a mistake with words that cracked her and EVERYONE in the santuary up. It really set the tone for the program and everyone was joyful!!!
It doesn't stop here though.....years later I found out that the woman Elizabeth gave the other rock to had just lost her son tragically in the Taylor University van
accident. She stood next to her heartbroken friend at the funeral,and held onto the stone that I gave her and her friend had hers in her hand. She now keeps it in her living room on a little table to continually remind her that "He still moves stones"...even when it's not the outcome that anyone would fathom....His grace is sufficient!
If you need a stone grab one for you and a bunch for anyone that comes along your path and needs a reminder that God is there....and He does what we can't do! There's nothing magic about it...it's just good to grab one and feel the rock and remind ourselves of God's love!!!
It may sound silly to you, but I have gotten comfort from these rocks and I bet you will, too!
ROCK ON PEOPLE!!!!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
He plays!!!
One day, when the children were small,. I was cleaning...AGAIN!!!! Does that give you a clue as to how I was feeling?? I was slaming cupboard doors as I was putting away dishes, and sighing loudly (all to no avail). As I was getting angrier and angrier (hearing their laughter in the other room) and feeling sorry for poor me, the neighbor lady (a grandma ) stopped by and took in very quickly what was going on. She came up to me in the kitchen and very gently looked at me and told me of how her and her husband were always working when they were younger and never took the time to laugh and play with their children. Meanwhile, the kids and Bill were getting louder and laughing nonstop! I was still irritated, but the neighbor lady said.. "Oh, it's so good to hear him playing with your children. See how much fun they are having"?Don't ever take that away from them!!!
At first I thought How dare she!! HUMPF!!!!
Now, I look at the wisdom and am so thankful for her timely visit!
I admit I still feel sorry for myself at times when they are having fun and I'm not....but I know it's my choice to join in and enjoy them or be a grump that no one in their right minds would want to be around! I'm so grateful that Bill is such a good "Daddy" and he enjoys and plays with his children!!! I am also grateful that Bill has taught me how to lighten up and enjoy our family and how to have fun!!!
Ps.127 says "Children are a gift from the Lord: they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like sharp arrows in a warrior's hands.
How happy is the man whose quiver is full of them!
He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates".
At first I thought How dare she!! HUMPF!!!!
Now, I look at the wisdom and am so thankful for her timely visit!
I admit I still feel sorry for myself at times when they are having fun and I'm not....but I know it's my choice to join in and enjoy them or be a grump that no one in their right minds would want to be around! I'm so grateful that Bill is such a good "Daddy" and he enjoys and plays with his children!!! I am also grateful that Bill has taught me how to lighten up and enjoy our family and how to have fun!!!
Ps.127 says "Children are a gift from the Lord: they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like sharp arrows in a warrior's hands.
How happy is the man whose quiver is full of them!
He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates".
"I" problem
Our Pastor recently had a message on humbleness and love.....very good and a bit convicting! Pastor Phillip talked about how Jesus stepped down from heaven and His throne and came to earth humbly as a babe. Jesus set aside His rights and "stepped down" to earth and served. The pastor challenged us to all be humble, not demand our "rights", and to love and in turn serve.
After hearing this, I was reminded of a time in Bill's and my marriage when I was feeling overworked and underappreciated.
I decided to let my feelings be known and wrote him a letter (I thought it was a masterpiece and that I would see immediate results).I guess I did, just NOT the way I would ever imagine!
After Bill read my letter, I could see him deep in thought. After a couple of hours he handed me a letter. It was mine!!!! EXCEPT that he had taken the time to read it and "correct" it. Every I,ME MINE and MY was circled in red.....(which was basically the whole letter)!!!
I immediately saw the problem.IT WAS ME!!
Without a word I was corrected by my husband in a loving way about how I had made everything about me. He did later tell me he loved and appeciated me, but I realized that I was focusing so much on me that I was expecting to be served rather than "step down" and serve in love.Now, I don't mean be a floormat, or not have a voice.I'm talking about being the wind beneath my husband's and children's wings. When my priorities in life are correct, there's JOY and freedom!
Phil.2 vs.3-11
"Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.
Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing, he took the
humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross. Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
A great lesson in life is that you can be right , or you can be reconciled....choose reconciliation!!!!! So much better!!!!!
After hearing this, I was reminded of a time in Bill's and my marriage when I was feeling overworked and underappreciated.
I decided to let my feelings be known and wrote him a letter (I thought it was a masterpiece and that I would see immediate results).I guess I did, just NOT the way I would ever imagine!
After Bill read my letter, I could see him deep in thought. After a couple of hours he handed me a letter. It was mine!!!! EXCEPT that he had taken the time to read it and "correct" it. Every I,ME MINE and MY was circled in red.....(which was basically the whole letter)!!!
I immediately saw the problem.IT WAS ME!!
Without a word I was corrected by my husband in a loving way about how I had made everything about me. He did later tell me he loved and appeciated me, but I realized that I was focusing so much on me that I was expecting to be served rather than "step down" and serve in love.Now, I don't mean be a floormat, or not have a voice.I'm talking about being the wind beneath my husband's and children's wings. When my priorities in life are correct, there's JOY and freedom!
Phil.2 vs.3-11
"Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.
Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing, he took the
humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross. Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
A great lesson in life is that you can be right , or you can be reconciled....choose reconciliation!!!!! So much better!!!!!
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