Not quite the December I expected....

I am sure that I am not the only one reflecting on the last few weeks and saying, "This is NOT what I was expecting!"   This has been an unusual lead up to Christmas for me this year.  As a matter of fact, here it is December 29th and my living room is still filled with unopened presents under my tree. 

 Our family celebration has been delayed until January 1st, because of illness.  I know that we are not the only family experiencing the re-scheduling nightmare of trying to find a time that works for everyone.  Thankfully, as of this moment, everyone is healthy and it looks like our celebration will actually happen next Monday.  All of the grandkids have had great Christmas celebrations with their immediate families.  Grace and Jimmy actually got to celebrate with Susie's family also.  Gwen and Tim and kids will celebrate with Tim's family tomorrow.  So, not what we were expecting, but thankful all of the sickness seems to have ended.

The hardest, unexpected thing of the last few weeks was the death of an old friend.  While we had not been close the last few years, there were years that I spent hours and hours every week with her.  Kay Fick and her husband Rich Fick had a ministry, Cyrus Ministries International, that I was a part of from 1991-2014.  During those years, we worshiped and prayed together, laughed together, cried together, learned together and supported each other.  In 2004, I had the privilege of traveling to Kenya and Uganda with Rich and Kay.  In the later years, when the ministry moved to Big Rock, IL, I would often be called on to lead the meetings when Rich and Kay traveled out of the country.  I accompanied Kay many times, when she was called to speak and lead at Women's retreats. Many, many people came to Big Rock for prayer and ministry.  There were many nights of worship, led by Kay on her guitar.  I am sure that I spent more time with Kay during those years than anyone except my family.  Our kids are the same ages and they spent time together as teenagers.  Yes, we had a very close relationship.  Rich passed away very suddenly in 2019, a loss that I think I am still processing.  Kay's rather quick illness and death will be something that again, takes me a long time to fully work through.  

I found these pictures taken during our Africa trip. The first picture of  me, Rich and Kay was taken in a home in western Kenya.  Kay and I often laughed about this picture.  We had both had a really difficult time sitting for this photo.  The pastor who owned this home, insisted that we sit for this picture.  What you can NOT tell from the photo is that way it smelled in this house!  They had just coated the walls, inside and out with cow dung to help waterproof the walls and roof.  It was  a very, very pungent aroma to be sure!  

The next photo is Kay and I with the Women's board of Cyrus Ministries Kenya.  These women were so kind to us and although we couldn't speak their language and they didn't speak English, they understood prayer!  Kay was a prayer warrior and intercessor like none other.  When you had a need, she was in prayer for you.  With certainty, I can say that the presence of Jesus flowed through Kay wherever she was and whatever the circumstance.  

This next photo was taken in Uganda. I was thankful to have Kay by my side on this trip.  It was a life changing experience for me, for sure.  

 The service to celebrate her life was wonderful and her kids shared her life and testimony with poise and grace.  The service ended with Silent Night which was Kay's favorite Christmas Carol.  It also included verses, including this one, that were special to Kay....

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.   Romans 13:15 

I am truly sorry that I didn't get a chance to actually tell her how much she meant to me.  I understand that this is something that is often said, but let me assure you, it is true!   If there is someone that has touched your life in some way, someone that has made an impact on you, TELL THEM NOW!  Don't wait until tomorrow.  Write a note, send a text or email, send a card.  Whatever.  Just don't let time and busyness get in the way. You will never be sorry that you did this.  Let's all make this happen before 2024 begins.  We will all be blessed in this.

Jesus, thank you for the hope that we have in you.  Thank you for restoring health to all who are sick this season.  Give us grace and peace when our plans change.  Holy Spirit, bring to mind those people that we need to acknowledge in the days ahead.  Give us courage and boldness to step out and share our feelings, even when it is difficult.  Thank you Jesus for the joy that fills this season remembering your birth on earth.  Keep us in that joy, even in difficult seasons.  Amen 

Advent - Waiting for Christmas

 This week at Doug and Susie's house, I noticed their Nativity set on the dining room table.  Grace had set it up, all by herself.  At first I wondered about the placement of the figures.  But when I asked her why they were like this she said, "Well, they all want to see Jesus!  They are circled around him so that they can all get close to him! The angel wants to pray for him.  The kings want to be able to give him their gifts!"   I don't know if there is a better way to set up a Nativity!

Advent is such a wonderful time and it really is all about wanting to see Jesus and get closer to him.  Grace has the best idea.  I love that sometimes the kids understand the story better than we do.  

Grace had a really busy time last weekend.  First, Grace and I went to see "Elf, the Musical".  It was an extra special treat since Grace got to spend the night with me after the play.

Even though we got home way after Grace's bedtime, I had promised her an ice cream treat.  So, before bed she got her treat.

I got her home in the morning on Sunday.  Susie and Grace had tickets to another play that day!  Grace is one very blessed six year old that saw two live performances in one weekend.  Susie and Grace went to the Paramount Theater and saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  

Because Doug was out of town, I stayed with Jimmy.  It is always fun to see exactly what Jimmy will decide to play with.  On this day I took out the play dough.  He had extra fun when he discovered the scissors.

After that, he decided he wanted to play with his "computer" which is (wisely) kept on top of the refrigerator.  

At two and half he is still a bit rough with these electronic toys.  But he is getting the hang of using the pen that comes with this.  He mostly just wants to turn it off and on and put the pen in and out of the holder.  But to him, its great fun.  We ended the day, celebrating Susie's birthday (which is really in a week).  We had her favorite, Olive Garden, which is also a special treat for me!

I have had two different Christmas gatherings yesterday.  The first was with my prayer group.  I have been meeting with some of these ladies since 2013.  We have picked up a few new gals in the last years.  We don't live in the same town or go to the same church, but these friends represent so much prayer power! We are all different ages, single, married and widowed.  Kid's at home or grown and married.  Some of us have no grandchildren, some have several and one of us has 20 grandkids!  We are not the same in many ways, but we all love Jesus and know that prayer works.

We have supported each other through some very difficult times of sickness and death.  We have rejoiced with weddings of children, new grandbabies and new opportunities.  Our text prayer chain is long and detailed.  But we have seen some marvelous answers to prayer as well as powerful testimonies of God's provision.  Our times together, face to face have become less frequent than in the past.  But we have kept the strong connection that comes when you join together in prayer.  It was a wonderful time of catching up, hearing some amazing stories of family miracles and testimonies and also praying for each other.  

After this great breakfast with friends, I went immediately to an afternoon gathering of another amazing group of prayer loving friends.  I didn't think to snap a photo at this gathering, sadly.  On my way home I was singing along (loudly) to some radio Christmas carols and feeling so happy and so blessed.  I actually got stuck in a really long traffic jam caused by an accident and had a quite significant delay in getting home.  But it just didn't matter to me yesterday.  I  was drawing up close to Jesus, just like the figures in Grace's nativity, while singing about that very story.  Like so many things, it is all about your perspective.  

If you don't already, I would greatly encourage you to find an Advent devotional that will help you to see Jesus and get closer to him.  The carols and songs of Christmas are a great way to do this also.  Don't worry about whether or not your voice is "good".  Just turn that music up and sing your heart out.  You will be blessed!

Jesus, thank you for the messages we get from children.  Thank you for their pure hearts that "tell it like it is".  Give us all the courage to set aside time to focus on you, Jesus.  Thank you for time spent with our families and friends during this season.  Holy Spirit, remind us that our prayers matter.  Amen