So much to write about - so little time to write!

This last month has been something else.  Something else, indeed!  Although I had made the discovery of my paternal DNA, and on paper, knew my ancestors/relatives, I had not had any luck connecting with a living person on my biological father's side of the family.  That is, until last week.  Previously, I had contacted a "potential" cousin via messenger, who said that "possibly" she might have relatives that had lived in South Dakota.  And then, nothing - no further contact.  And then later, I had actually discovered my half brother's daughter on Facebook.  However, my attempts to connect with her were not good.  She refuses to believe that her grandfather would have ever done "something like that".  After a brief message interchange, she also blocked me.  So, with a "last ditch" effort, I once again, messaged all of my cousins, hoping and praying one would hear my desperate plea to just have some information.  I don't even remember including a link to my blogpost about my DNA discovery.  But I had included the link.  

That day, I actually connected with my first cousin via email and then telephone.  He was completely accepting since the fact was our shared DNA made us undeniably first cousins.  As he said, "DNA doesn't lie"!  Not only did he provide me with family details, information I could not find anywhere else and also a 5 generation family tree, but 45 pictures of my paternal family.  He actually only met my biological father twice, but he remembers him being 6'5" and having a size 16 shoe.  Needless to say, this is a lot to process.  I haven't even had time to share the pictures with Gwen and Doug yet.  Between their busy schedules and mine, there has not been time!  But watch for future blogs with pictures of my new-to-me family and ancestors!  So, what have I been up to?

We took a family visit to the local Lego Discovery Center.  When I tell you this was a "pre-planned" visit, I mean it!  This is actually the fulfillment of a 2019 Christmas present!  Than there was Covid and the lock-down and then there was Jimmy (born in 2021) and not ready for Lego's until this year.  We had so much fun as a family and all of us (well, except Ellie) loved the 4D movie!  Jimmy even left the glasses on for the entire thing!  

We concluded the day with our family favorite - Portillos.  It is really something to do an order for 11 people!   But everyone always eats all their food when we go there.  It was interesting for me to sit next to Doug and watch him eat his Maxwell Polish.  It was Ken's favorite at Portillos.  Whenever our family is together, it is these little things that pop up and remind me of all Ken is missing out on.  

After a "normal" week and time to catch my breath, this past week was Bible Boot Camp Week at Fellowship of Faith!  

This year I helped out mostly with snacks and also helped out setting up some stations.  In my last blog I talked about taking Grace to a VBS program.  Now, it was Lia, Ellie, Zeke and Anna's turn!  Bible Boot Camp is not like a traditional VBS program in some ways.  However it is EXACTLY like any VBS because the kids hear Bible stories, they sing songs that help them remember the stories, they memorize Bible verses and have a wonderful time doing it!  Bible Boot Camp is an OUTSIDE program with obstacle courses, water balloons and slip and slide, plus capture the flag.  I think this might have been the first year that severe thunderstorms brought the fun inside for most of one morning.  The leaders did an amazing job setting up an indoor obstacle course, and the kids claimed it just might have been the best ever.  Thankfully, by capture the flag time, the severe weather had passed and outside play was able to happen.  Nothing beats seeing a church full of kids and youth and young adults singing and dancing and just having a celebration.  Each day had a "service project" that was completed at home. My favorite project this year, was a "Birthday Cake in a Pan" for the local food pantry.  Each family filled a foil cake pan with a box cake mix, a can of frosting and a can of soda.  You don't need any other ingredients so anyone receiving this from the food pantry can make a cake for a special occasion.  I don't know the exact number but a guess is around 40 will be delivered to the food pantry.  This project touched every child there. What a great way to extend the love of Jesus through a celebration! 

There is something about seeing families serving and learning together that is so good.  I was not the only grandma helping out!  My friend Colleen (another grandma) and I served snacks this year.  It was also wonderful to see several grandpas come to help with Firm Base  (Gwen and Tim's ministry - click the link to learn more) current mission while their grandkids were in Bible Boot Camp.  This "Container Home" project is in support of Good Samaritan Ministries in the East St. Louis area.  

These old shipping containers are given a second chance by recycling them into homes for the many homeless people in the East St. Louis area.  Firm Base acquired these two containers which have been cleaned, painted and converted into usable space.  There is interior wiring and plumbing pre-set as well as drywall.  When this pre-finish is completed, these will be transported to Good Samaritan, where they will be set on foundations and connected to water/sewer and power.  This project has several completed homes, already occupied by people who had no where to live.  I can't think of any better way for kids to see service in action than through their friends and family.   This week, all the kids at Bible Boot Camp played, ran and shouted right by these container homes as the grandpa's worked!  And most of the youth and young adults who were helping with Bible Boot Camp had already cleaned and painted and pulled weeds around the existing container homes in East St. Louis.  This photo is from the Boulder Mission Trip in early June, 2023.

Having these Container Homes right on the property of Fellowship of Faith brings the Mission Trip back home and helps shares the mission.  Seeing moms and dads and grandmas and grandpas making time to help others, will help change the world of tomorrow. 

I have seen Jesus working in so many ways during these past few months.  In just a matter of weeks, I found out more about my parentage, connected the dots to find my family, got connected with the right person, have photo's and information to fill a family tree and even more.  I have also celebrated being together with my family, enjoyed spending time with my grandkids, had time with friends, and even had some time just enjoying the outdoors (when it wasn't a heat advisory or an air quality alert).  In it all has been a great measure of peace.  I can't recall a time when I have felt more joy and more peace in just the normal day-to-day.  Every day has brought something new to me. A new understanding, a new discovery, a new thought.  New is especially good when you are approaching your 69th birthday and so many things seem old.  Someone recently asked me how I was "handling" finding out all my growing up years contained hidden untruths.  I am so thankful that Jesus is taking care of it all.  The evidence of this is that peace and joy.  I wake up each day, thankful for all the new that is ahead.  That is good advice for everyone, not just us old folks!  

Jesus, thank you for always being with me.  For your presence in my life, your peace and your joy.  Holy Spirit, remind us each day to walk forward into the new that you are bringing to us.  Keep our eyes set on you, Jesus as we share you with the world around us.  Amen

Can't believe it is already March...

Thursday we went to Gwen's house to celebrate Ellie's 11th birthday!  I really can't believe this sweet girl is 11 years old.  As you can probably see from this picture, Ken is doing extremely well.  We are, for the most part, back to our usual routines.  I haven't resumed watching Gracie yet since Ken still has multiple doctor appointments that I don't want to miss.  But hopefully within the next few weeks, we will be totally back to normal.  It was a special time today to just be with the kids and also - we got to pick up our Girl Scout Cookies!

We brought Ellie her Birthday presents and I was very happy to see her take the time to look through one of the books I had chosen for her....

I found these on the internet and they are extremely cool.  One is a book that has 26 famous and very successful people who had or have dyslexia.  The second book was 26 famous fashion designers.  Both important issues for Ellie.  Dyslexia has made it so difficult for Ellie to read, but with her hard work and hours of practice she is now a capable reader.  It is great that she can see reminders that this disability will not determine her success in life.  Ellie has certainly already shown that to our family.  I am pretty sure that she sold the most boxes of Girl Scout Cookies in her troop.  If she sets her mind to something, she is unstoppable!  She has the biggest heart and is always looking out for that person in need.  She has come up with a plan to make bags (she has already learned how to sew and owns her own sewing machine) that will be filled and given to families that are helped by Firm Base

(her dad's not for profit). Her recent birthday party included friends from church, dance, co-op, and family friends.  I have seen Ellie as a warrior, praying and caring for people since the day she was born.  It is amazing to watch those exact characteristics blossom and grow.  I can't wait to see exactly how far this young lady goes in the years ahead.  

Friday is also Doug's birthday.  Just as I wonder how it is already March, I am wondering where the last 38 years have gone since Doug was born!  This photo was taken shortly after Doug got home from the hospital at around 3 weeks old.    

I love this picture of Gwen, Ken and Doug.  Grace was at our house yesterday since Doug came over to help fix our washer and help us "cut the cable"!  Yes, we finally made the move away from cable TV after almost 40 years.  The kids have been telling us we should do this, but it was always on the bottom of the have to do list.  While Doug and Ken were busy with washer repair duty, Grace and I were looking through my files of photos of Gwen and Doug when they were little.  Every picture of Gwen that came out of the box, Grace declared that it was Anna!  Guess that is pretty good evidence that Anna looks a lot like Gwen.  

It is good to accomplish tasks that have been hanging around for a long time.  When Ken was recovering from his hospitalization, we talked about all the things that we wanted to get done once he was feeling better.  And we have managed to keep shortening the list.  One of the many follow up medical tests that Ken needed to have, was a CT scan of his liver.   That test was to determine if there was a liver abscess or if there was a potential cancerous tumor on his liver.  We are so thankful that the CT scan showed that the spot on his liver had shrunk considerably which proves it is a liver abscess.  While there are still further tests that need to be done and weeks more of antibiotics, both Ken and I could breathe a little easier after that good news.  We still need continued prayers for Ken's immune system to recover after the septic shock.  His blood counts are low which is concerning but expected.  So prayers for all blood numbers to increase would be appreciated.

I feel like I have had sort of an extended "lent" this year.  Most years during Lent, I make very intentional decisions to do a specific devotional, or fast from something specific.  Generally I have used the 40 days of lent as a personal time of reflection and prayer.  Because of Ken's illness, it feels like that set aside time started in January for me.  I have found it hard to focus and pray and very difficult to do my Bible studies. Yet for me, it as been a time of such dependence on Jesus every minute of the day and night.  On Ash Wednesday, I was lamenting that I didn't have any "program" planned for lent this year.  I realized that the entire 2020 was a drawing closer to Jesus.  When you are going through a difficult time, you have to rely on the ever presence of Jesus.  As I sat in the waiting room, walked the halls of the hospital, sat in the ICU, talked to doctors and nurses, argued with insurance people, tended to Ken's needs, relayed information to the kids, signed tons of paperwork, made so many decisions, - every day - every hour - every minute, I knew that Jesus was there with me.  And Jesus has been with Ken every second of this "adventure".  More than once I found the words of Psalm 23 going through my head....

"Even though I walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil, for you are with me."

This time has sure enough been in the valley of the shadow of death.  Being in ICU, death was all around us.  And Ken's condition was that serious.  But I loved that I had the reminder that I was walking THROUGH the valley, and not camped out or living in that valley.  And mostly that Jesus was there with me.  I don't think there is anything more comforting than that.  I am so thankful for the Bible and these verses hidden in my memory for the Holy Spirit to bring to life when I most need them.  I strongly encourage you to choose some scriptures that speak to you, and set them to memory.  You just never know when you will most need them.  Lent is a good time to begin to memorize scripture.  Why not start today?

Jesus, thank you for your promises which are always true.  You are always with us, in good times and in the challenges.  Holy Spirit, thank you for bringing into my thoughts you Scriptures when I most needed them.  Remind us all of your steadfast love and care, even when we seem to have forgotten you.  Thank you Jesus for doctors, hospitals, medicines but also thank you that YOU are the healer.  Amen

A creative idea - much closer to home!

To round out the busy week that Ken and I had, last night we went to a ministry kick off of a new not-for-profit called Firm Base.  After just posting about the creative ideas that Jesus gives to His followers to help them use their gifts and talents, it was so fitting to hear about Firm Base.

This ministry is the "creative idea" of my son-in-law, Tim Johnson.  Over the last almost twenty years, I have watched both Tim and Gwen go through some really tough periods of growth and change.  But through it all, they knew that as a team - as a family - they were called to serve Jesus.  I have written many posts about the sacrificial work they are doing with the youth in their local church.  I can attest to the many, many hours that they spend each week just being there for the youth and young adults that Jesus has brought into their path.   And the seed of this ministry was sown many, years ago.  I remember hearing Gwen talk about Tim being able to use his gifts of construction and home repair and car repair to help other people.  Gwen actually had drawn the logo in one of her journals many years before Firm Base came into reality.

It has taken hours and hours of work for Tim, and the team that he has brought together, to give Firm Base it's own firm base.  He has filed reams of paperwork and worked with government agencies to make this an official ministry.  And soon (hopefully) the last necessary document will arrive from the State of Illinois so that Firm Base can begin to receive monetary donations.  Every creative idea requires foot work to make it happen.  And these dedicated people have gone the distance to bring Tim's dream into reality.   

They began their kick off last night with prayer.  And prayer is the number one needed item to make Firm Base all that Jesus wants it to be.  Of course there will be other needs as the ministry begins to serve their community.  It blessed me to hear the team talking about making an impact on the clients they serve - not only meeting their physical needs, but also being there to minister to them.  Tim has a dream to help empower people by giving them hands on training to do repairs for themselves.  It reminded me of the saying  "If you give a man a fish he eats for a day, but if you teach a man to fish he will eat for a lifetime".  

Tim is marathon runner.  He and Gwen have a wall full of race medals.  

I have watched them train for these races.  Seen the determination and shear will to complete these long  distances.  I am convinced that Firm Base will succeed because it was born of that creative idea, sown by the Holy Spirit, brought from dream to reality by Tim, Gwen, Michael and Jason.    I love that their Firm Base badges are hanging on this rack.  They are determined to run this race also!

Won't you take a minute and click on that link above that will take you to their web page.  They are also on Facebook and you can follow them there. If you know someone who needs a ministry like this, please let them know.  Or, if you or someone you know would like to help out in some way, give them a call.  If you have any questions about Tim or the team - or anything else, let me know.   Most of all, won't you join me in praying for this new ministry - for Gwen and Tim and their family also as they step into this new level of ministry.   I could not be more proud of them!

Jesus, thank you again for the plan and purpose you have for each of us.  Thank you Holy Spirit, for giving each of us that seed creative idea that helps us to use our gifts and talents.  Jesus, pour out your blessings on Firm Base and all that are involved.  Make those connections that are needed to bring those who need help into contact with the helpers you are providing.