Returning to the old and familiar...

I couldn't tell you exactly when I started to use a Bible App on my phone, but I know it has been a couple of years.  I recently discovered something quite interesting.  I have really missed my old, well-used, heavy Bible!  In years past, I was known for always bringing my Bible (in its leather case that could also hold my journal) almost everywhere with me.  When I was introduced to the Bible on my phone, I really didn't think I would use it very much.  After a few months, I grew to love the ease at searching for a passage and navigating through the books quickly.  Slowly, I stopped using my "paper" Bible, until I actually had to stop and figure out where it had been stashed!  Occasionally, I  used my "old friend" when doing a devotional or to look something up.  But 99% of the time, I was using my phone Bible.  Until this...........

One of the best things about the last "school" year is that Gwen switched her women's Bible Study to Monday afternoons, when I am already at her house.  This has allowed me to participate with her group, getting to know some really awesome gals, and doing great Bible studies.  We just started a new short study, to take us to the end of the school year.  Gwen had given all of us a couple of choices of topics, and we all picked this one.  None of us knew the author, but there was something about the topic that appealed to us.  Last week we listened to the introduction video.  It was a wake up call for me, for sure!

Annie Downs, the author, talked about her own well-worn Bible and all the notes and underlines that it contains.  She even related a time when she got a new Bible and spent the time transferring all of her notes from the old book into the new one.  This was something that I had done, more than one time.  My current Bible is dated 8/11/04.  But it contains notes and underlines going back to 1988.  As I was watching Annie talk about her Bible, I suddenly had an overwhelming desire to old my own Bible and look at those notes.  I couldn't wait to get home and find my old treasured Bible.  It was one of those "moments that matter" for me.   Yes, that is my Bible under the Bible Study Book.  I have been using it since that day.  

I really didn't know how much I needed this particular study, not just to return to my Bible, but also for the content of the study!  The core message of the study is that we need to collect the moments that matter SO THAT we can persevere through hardships and when we just want to give up.  I am anxious to work through this Bible Study to gain insights and direction to just keep on, keeping on.

As Christians we are not promised that life will be easy.  What we are promised is the constant presence of Jesus with us.  The help of the Holy Spirit for what ever we face.  And the promise of eternal life with God.  I am so thankful for all of the ways that Jesus uses people - to write Bible Study guides, to make videos, to gather people together, to share their own stories, to just love one another.  

This is another prompting for you all to find a group of people to surround and support you.  There is nothing more powerful than hearing the "God stories" from friends you can count on.  And this is an encouragement for you to pick up an actual BOOK! Something that has weight and pages that you have to turn.  Hopefully it will be a Bible.  But purpose this week to find a real book to read.  Take a moment and feel the pages and even smell the book.  It will bless you!

Jesus, thank you for finding a way to draw me back to my old Bible.  Thank you for the ways you have preserved the Word through the ages.  Holy Spirit, encourage us to find those moments that matter and help us to collect them in our thoughts and in our journals!  Jesus, be with anyone that feels alone and without friends.  Give them courage and boldness to look for the lovely!  Amen

Busy days with a two year old and a new song....

For some retired people (or others that just stay at home with no children), it is often hard to figure out how to fill up their time during the day.  Let me tell you, it is not a problem when you have children around!  This winter has really seemed long and dark here in Chicagoland.  All of us were getting a bit of "cabin fever" over the last few weeks.  So this week was a wonderful break with a couple of days of almost 60 degree weather!  And we even had a couple of hours when the sun was actually out!  Amazing!  

So Grace and I actually went outside on Tuesday.  It was not the warmest day this week - but it was close to 50 which felt warm!  

Grace picked out her hat and insisted on wearing it.  You can tell that it has been really cold here!  She also insisted on wearing mittens.  She was still able to find some really interesting sticks and made a "display" of them on the door mat.  We walked up and down the street several times and she ran around the yard.  The highlight of our time outside, was a police car driving by their house.  He actually stopped and waved at Grace and she was so excited.  They live on a street that has almost no traffic so seeing any car go by is quite the cause for celebration.  It was a much needed breathe of fresh air,  hour and a half for both of us.  

Thursday's weather was not wonderful.  As a matter of fact, it was awful! While it was in the high 50's, the wind brought a weather system blowing through that came with thunder, lightening and downpour rain.  Unfortunately, the worst of the storm hit during Grace's nap time.  And the noise woke her up.  So she had a much shorter nap than usual.  It was an indoor playtime for sure.  

We played with play-dough (always a favorite).  She was delighted to figure out that she had two sizes of rolling pins.  She spent a lot of time going from one to the other, trying out different thickness of dough.  

Doug and Susie got her an easel for her birthday (one side is magnetic and one side has a chalk board) and there is paper to color or paint on also.  Right now she loves the magnet side.  Gwen and Tim and the kids gave her the Leap Frog "Fridge Phonics" and she loves to play with all the letters. This grandma does NOT however appreciate the song that goes along with each letter.  I am really tired of it.  

After the worst of the rainstorm was over, we did go outside.  It was a very short trip, to say the least.  The wind had actually blown the patio screen door right off of the house!  So I needed to go out to retrieve it before it was ruined.  The wind was nearly blowing Grace away.  She could hardly stand up.  Even the dogs didn't want to be outside.  

It is on these kind of days that I realize just how hard this winter has been for me, spiritually.  I feel really shaken and dry.  But then I hear a new song on the radio that speaks directly to me.  It touches my heart and makes me feel like things are going to be okay.  The song is Prize Worth Fighting For by Jamie Kimmett.  I love the chorus...

When every day is just another struggle

And every choice is an act of war

Gotta pray, gotta press on

to the prize worth fighting for

When it feels like I'll never make it

When my heart's crying out for more

Gotta pray, gotta press on

To the prize worth fighting for.  

The entire song made me stop and realize that no matter what 2019 has been like for me, it is so true.  The love of Jesus is my reward.  And because of His promises, I can stay strong and keep fighting on.  And I will win the race because of the unfailing grace of Jesus.    Praying this song blesses many of you who might be in the place of struggle as me.  I am so thankful for new Christian artists who faithfully create new music to bless us all.  

Jesus, thank you for music that speaks to us on so many levels. Holy Spirit, keep our ears open to hear you through the music around us.  Thank you Jesus, for inspiring musicians to create new songs that convey your heart to the world.  Thank you for the joy and wonder of two year olds as they explore their world.  Holy Spirit, keep our hearts open to experience that same joy and wonder of your creation.  Amen

Having a "sleep over" with the grand kids!

I am extremely thankful that Gwen and Tim are volunteer youth leaders at their church!  Not just because it warms my heart to see them serving Jesus in this capacity, but also because their times away at retreat give me a chance to stay with the grand kids.  Except now that Lia is actually IN the youth program, I only have three of the kids to enjoy.  Anna was just delighted that I was having a sleep over at their house.  There is something fun about being there without the parents.  It really gives you a glimpse  at what their life is like, on a day to day basis.  

I was especially excited to have the chance to get to see Zeke play "No Ice Hockey". He only has one more game left in the season after this one.  This is his first year playing floor hockey, and after watching him play, I see a lot more hockey in his future.   This is no surprise since Tim plays ICE hockey and has even played on adult leagues!  These kids are only six to eight years old and it was amazing to see them play.   During the game that I watched, the coaches did a great job of letting the kids all play different positions.  Zeke played offense, defense, and center and actually scored a goal!  This was especially memorable since the team they were playing against is the number one team in the league (mostly older boys who have all played for a long time) and they have not had a goal scored against them ALL SEASON!  You can be sure that this grandma was cheering from the sidelines!

Besides Zeke's game, all three of the kids worked together on this 500 piece puzzle.  It was especially fun since it is a camper puzzle and these guys just love camping.  They talked about keeping this puzzle by coating it and framing it to hang in their camper.  Here is all three kids helping put in the last piece of the puzzle.

And with the finished puzzle!  It was so much fun to watch the kids helping each other out and working together on this project.  Such a fun way to spend a couple of rainy, cold and windy days!

(Not complaining about the weather - at least it was not snowing!)

As part of the fun "sleep over" time, Anna and Ellie wanted to "do my nails!"  So, as any good grandma would do, I allowed them to paint my nails.  Anna, at five years old, is just getting used to using nail polish.  She told me that it would be okay since "I don't paint on your skin anymore!"  And she did a really good job on my left foot!

Ellie is an old hand at doing nails, and she painted my right toes.  She also insisted on putting on a top coat and making sure that my nails were totally dry before I could leave the "Salon" (the bathroom). 

Besides these fun activities, there were games played and forts built and of course the extra long bath (that apparently only happens when grandma is there for a sleep over).  There were books read and prayers, prayed.  Zeke brought me "The book without pictures" to read to the kids.  Of course we were all laughing by the end.  The best part about that book was that Ellie wanted to read it to us all again!  So we all listened to it again and laughed some more.  Ellie has dyslexia and had a difficult time learning to read.  So her willingness to read a book, out loud, to more than one person, with no pictures, is really amazing.  Thanks to Gwen's perseverance, Ellie's hard work, and a good reading program, Ellie is reading at grade level now!   Anna asked for a "Little Blue Truck" book.  And then Ellie offered to read a story to Anna in bed.  Again, so amazing.  

Ellie and Anna helped set the table for our last dinner together, before Gwen, Tim and Lia got home.  She reminded me that we should pray before our meal.  Anna immediately said that she wanted to pray.  Her simple prayer was for all the people on the  "treat" (retreat) to get home safe, and then we prayed our family meal prayer "Come Lord Jesus".  

Come Lord Jesus, and be our guest.

And let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen

I couldn't help but reflect on that simple prayer.  My mom had always said that prayer with her family before eating, and she carried it on with my family.  I taught it to my children and now they have taught it to their kids.  Such a simple little prayer, yet so meaningful.  Inviting Jesus to be with us at our table.  And then asking for God's blessing over our food and the time together.  

I had one of those sudden moments, remembering my own childhood, saying that prayer with my parents and siblings.  And then remembering my own kids as small children, sitting in our kitchen together, praying that prayer.  Such a warm and wonderful feeling of Spiritual connections across multiple generations.  All through a simple table prayer.  

We ended our special time together, all cuddled on the coach watching a movie.  It was such a wonderful end to a special couple of days.  

Jesus, thank you for simple prayers that speak through the years.  Holy Spirit, thank you for reminders of our Spiritual heritage.  Help us remember that even simple prayers can last for generations and impact into the future.  Jesus, thank you for children, for fun and for laughter.  Amen

Weekend away with the kids.....

We spent the last couple of days with all the kids (and grandkids also) at one of our favorite places - Timber Ridge Lodge.  This fun time is for me one of the best times of the year.... we get so much fun crammed into just a couple of days.  This place is a business gold mine, since they have really thought out family get-aways.   The rooms are all 1 or 2 bedroom suite rooms that also have a pull out couch.  There is a large dining table and an (almost) full size kitchen.  We discovered that they don't have an oven - only a stove top.  So no frozen pizza  for the kids.  But they do have a microwave also.  The highlight is the indoor water park that is really perfect for kids preteen and younger.  The toddler area is perfect for really young ones and there is also a lazy river.  Ken especially liked the "adults only" hot tub!  There is also an indoor/outdoor hot tub that kids are allowed to use.

I snapped this picture of Lia, Ellie, Anna and I and you can tell by our squints that the sun was very bright!  You can also see the snow in the background!  It is interesting to be outside yet still warm in the water, even when it is snowing!  

We got to spend lots of time together, eating, playing games and laughing! I confess that I participated in a game with the kids that had something to do with sushi (?) but I sure didn't understand the rules or even how the game was played. I just kept saving any random cards and discarding whatever was left.  The kids had a great time and I think Tim won.  It was still a fun filled time - even if Grandma was very confused.  I love this photo of the five kids together, watching a quick video before heading off to bed.

After the kids were in bed, the adults spent time playing a rousing game of Trivial Pursuit.  The guys managed to eek out a win, even though the girls were close behind. I was happy to actually answer one question correctly.

Hours pass quickly during water park fun, with hardly a break to grab something to eat or drink.  Lia took Anna on the tube slide over and over again.  As fast as they came zooming down, they were headed back up the stairs for another run.  

  

What a wonderful time we all had!  We were especially thankful that Ken was feeling great and able to enjoy the time.  Just a few weeks ago, it seemed unlikely that this event would even happen.  It is really a miracle that we were blessed to have this chance to be together. 

By the end of the day, we all felt a bit like Grace, who fell asleep on Susie's lap.  She insisted she  wanted to go back into the water, but could hardly keep her eyes open.  In spite of all the noise and commotion going on around her, she managed to catch a short nap.

This trip to the water park has become a yearly event for our family.  It is one of those "traditions" that the kids just beg to continue.  Just for fun, here is a picture from our first ever trip to Timber Ridge in 2011.  Lia was 4 and Ellie was a month shy of 2.  You can't quite see Grace's swim suit in the very first picture of this blog (because of her floaty) - but she is wearing the same suit that Ellie has on in this photo!  Gotta love those hand me down clothes!  Not only the clothes get recycled, so do the events!

Bonus picture of Grace with her suit more visible! Almost exactly the same age as Ellie was above!

I am just so thankful today, sitting here looking back on this years trip, but also thinking of all of the years of fun we have had.  I am thankful for digital photos and ways to easily find pictures when you want to.  I am so thankful for the medicine and doctors to help us stay healthy and active, so that we can enjoy our grandchildren.  

We have had our share of worries and concerns in 2019.   This weekend has reminded me that spending time doing what you love is the most important thing.  Being with the people that matter to you, sharing love - yep that is the best.  Just writing this blog as brought me so much joy.  Joy and love can sure cancel out worry and concern.  This trip was just what Ken and I needed.  We are going into March feeling much less worried and far less concerned and much more joyful and so, so loved!  I'd say that was a really good couple of days!

Jesus, thank you so much for times of fun and laughter.  Holy Spirit, help us remember when we are worried and concerned that you are always with us.  Give us grace and courage to let our families know when we need more hugs and more time together.  Keep us watchful of others so that we can share your love and bring joy to others.  Amen