Come to the table.....

Last Saturday we celebrated Grace!  She was an amazing champ for her birthday.  She got passed from one person to the next, with everyone wanting a turn to hold and love on her.  She smiled and loved her way through the day.  She just beamed as everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to her.  And then she dug into the cake.  She didn't smash it, as some kids have been known to.  She rather daintily stuck one finger into the cake and ate it finger full by finger full.  She was in no hurry to stop.  Doug and Susie finally called a halt to the cake eating after several minutes.  The highlight of the party was an unexpected one.  After cake and presents and pinata for the kids, some of the party goers were gathered in the living room.  Grace was intrigued by the strings from the pinata.  And with her adoring fans watching, (unfortunately none of us with a video running) Grace took 7 or 8 steps across the room to get to her mom, who was holding those strings.  We tried to get her to do this again with videos running, but alas, she was having none of it.  But mark my words, it was an accomplishment.   And for the crowd of Grace lovers, it was a wonderful and treasured moment. 

This week I have been listening to a song that has really been speaking to me.  It is Come to the Table by Sidewalk Prophets.    It is interesting how a song can immediately grab your attention and this song did that on the opening lines for me......

We all start on the outside, the outside looking in

This is where grace begins

We were hungry, we were thirsty with nothing left to give

Oh the shape we were in

Just when all hope was lost, love opened the door for us.

I have been in two very different places with this song - both meaningful to me for very different reasons.  ***Side note - isn't it amazing how one song can speak to so many people, in so many different ways? 

Starting off with Grace and her birthday.  Her name couldn't be more perfect for her.  I have blogged about this before.  After Lucas' death, our family suddenly found ourselves in a world we never imagined.  It was a hard, difficult couple of years for me, and I can only imagine just how much harder it was for Doug and Susie.  Then, just as this song says, love opened the door for us - where Grace begins - when our sweet little Grace was born.  On Saturday, at her party, it was little Grace that drew everyone to the table to celebrate not only her birthday, but the love that has filled our family since her birth. It was Jesus who was the giver of hope for us during those dark days.  He continued to call out to us to come to Him, no matter what shape we were in, Jesus kept that door open for us to sit down at the table with Him.

The second reason that this song has been on my heart is that opening line.  Being outside and looking in.   Many years ago I struggled with this exact thought.  I felt like I was never invited to be on the inside.  I would see a wonderful banquet/party happening - but I would be looking through a window and never welcomed inside.  It was such a cold place to be.  This song would have been so helpful THEN!  Thankfully, the Holy Spirit managed to find me in that place, and show me that ALL are welcome at that party.  I just love how clearly the song expresses that invitation to all of us, no matter what is in our past.  No matter where we are right now.  I love the line in the song that says...

Come meet this motley crew of misfits, these liars and these thieves

There's no one un -welcomed here - no

The chorus of the song says it all.  Just come to the table. Come join the sinners, you have been redeemed.  Take your place beside the Savior, sit down and be set free.   

Just come to the table.  

Jesus, thank you for the invitation you give to ALL!  Holy Spirit, reach out right now to anyone who feels on the outside of this amazing party.  Thank you for your grace and mercy that finds us in those hard places.  Thank you Jesus for providing the table of  Communion so that we can enter into your presence more fully each time we come to the table.  Thank you for family, for birthdays and for your love.   Amen

When each day is worth celebrating!

Saturday we got to spend the day at Doug and Susie's house with Gwen and Tim and the kids.  Of course baby Grace was the highlight of the day.  It is so much fun to watch the kids experience their new cousin, up close and personal.  Lia, at almost 11, is quite good at handling the baby.  She is always anxious for a turn to hold that baby.  Ellie's fascination with everything about Grace is so interesting to watch.  She spent some time just looking at Grace's tiny fingernails.  I am sure that Ellie was imagining painting them at some point in the future!  This picture about sums up Zeke and Grace.  I was saying that Zeke looks positively angelic while holding Grace!  He would sit like this for a very long time (if there weren't many, many other people waiting for a turn to hold Grace).  And then there is Anna.  Well, Anna doesn't quite know what to make of this new baby in our family.  She is very used to being the littlest.  She really doesn't like it when Gwen holds Grace and she makes it very clear that she is not really ready to be anywhere near her.  Pretty typical for a three year old!

There was something so special and so bitter sweet about having our grandchildren together with us.  In this picture, Ellie is holding Lucas Bear, who wears a shirt that says "I'm gonna be a big brother".  No matter what the occasion or event, we will always be missing Lucas.

And today I was reflecting on just how perfect the name Grace is!  I was a bit surprised when this name showed up as a possible contender, before she was  born!  I love this name and never thought that I would see it used in our family.  Grace is such an amazing thing.  It can mean......

*Unmerited divine assistance given humans
*a special favor
*disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency
*a pleasing appearance or effect
*the quality or state of being considerate or thoughtful
*a short prayer at a meal asking a blessing or giving thanks.


Yes, Grace is our "rainbow baby".  A rainbow baby is one that joins a family after the loss of a child.  Looking at the possible definitions of grace, I believe that she is named exactly right!  She does represent God's special favor to our family.  She certainly has a pleasing appearance.  So far she has been a calm and peaceful baby.  And we are certainly seeking God's blessings and giving thanks for her!  She fits this all so well!

Today I heard an older song "Your Grace Finds Me" by Matt Redman.  

I was struck by the very first line of the song.... "It's there in the newborn cry".  The entire song spoke to me.  Yes, I believe that our precious little Grace was born for such a time as this.  Our world needs more grace.  Just as the song says, it is for the entire world.  

There is a plan and destiny for Grace.  She will have an impact on all those around her.  She was born because of the great grace of Jesus.  I can't wait to watch as the love and grace and mercy of Jesus is spread around by our sweet Grace.  And just for good measure, here is a picture of Grace.

I believe that we can all get a new perspective on our world, just by listening to this song.  I encourage you to spend the five minutes it takes and stop and listen.  I certainly needed this reminder today and I know that many of you also need this.

Jesus, thank you for the reminder of your great grace.  What a wonderful and perfect gift you have given to our family in sweet Grace.  Holy Spirit, help us all to remember that God's grace is for the entire world.  Give us your perspective on those around us.  Amen

Grace in the unexpected..........

I did not expect to be home tonight, sitting at my computer, blogging.  There is a speaker at a church fairly close to my house, and I have been anticipating hearing him for several weeks.  So, in spite of the "Severe Weather Warning" for a wind chill advisory, I set off for the meeting.  However, when I finally arrived at this church, there was an all out traffic jam.  The very small parking lot was full and every street was filled with cars parked on both sides.  I drove around for several minutes and then decided that I would have a very long walk (in the very cold) if I even could find a place to park.  So I turned around and headed for home.  On the way home, all I could think about was there MUST be a reason that I was missing this speaker!

Isn't it interesting how easily we get distracted when things don't go as we had planned?  Yes, I was very distracted and disappointed on my way home.  But, thankfully I had on my favorite Christian Radio station and there it was.....a great song about grace.  In all situations.  Grace.  So I took a couple of deep breathes, and gave myself some grace.  And then came home to my nice warm house.
And this project.........

 I've been working on this cross stitch for a long time.  And as I am nearing the completion of this project, all I can see are all of the "not perfect" parts of this piece.  It is NOT turning out exactly as I had imagined.   Yet another area where I need to give myself a bit of grace.  But I am hoping when this is completed, all of those imperfections will make this a special, one of a kind piece.

This week marked the beginning of the Lenten Season.   I have marked this time in many different ways over the past years.  When my children were young we always did a daily devotion.  One year I did a very intensive Bible study that actually took a bit of time each day to complete.  I remember a year that everyone in my church was challenged to commit to ADD minutes of Bible reading rather than giving something up.  Today I saw a Facebook "Lenten Challenge" that was interesting.  Someone had taken a large black garbage bag and attached a card with this challenge.... each day during lent, find something in your closet or cupboard that you don't need and/or use and put it into that bag.  At the end of the Lenten season you will have a large bag of items to donate to someone else.  Remember that one man's trash in another man's treasure! As an added bonus you will gain a closet that has been cleared of unused items and more organized cupboards!  Additionally, each day you can pray for the people who will benefit from these items when they land in the resale shop.  Now this is a challenge I can sink my teeth into!

  I added some items to my bag tonight, remembering to pray for the people who might want these "treasures"!  It is a good way to keep our focus on Jesus.... on His great sacrifice for us.  These items that I am donating really don't qualify as a sacrifice to me.  Like most of us in the United States, my family is very blessed.  As I said, I came home to a warm and dry house on this cold day.  I have a closet and cupboards filled with many more items than I really need.  I am sure I will be adding prayers of thankfulness to those prayers over each item.

So along with showing some extra grace to yourself  (and others) when your plans don't turn out as your expected, you can join me in this Lenten challenge.  

Jesus, thank you so much for music that speaks to me.  Thank you for grace in those times of disappointment and distraction.  Holy Spirit help us to keep our focus on Jesus during this time Lent.  And remind us how blessed we are, in spite of those unexpected things!  Amen

Grandma Lyn instead of Miss Lyn and grace to begin again!

This is what I came home with tonight!  Painting by Ellie!  I simply adore this picture.  I spent the day with my little sweeties as Grandma Lyn instead of my work life -Miss Lyn! When I asked her what this was a picture of she said "sort of a rainbow.  And grandpa likes rainbows".  I don't really SEE a rainbow, but if she says this is a rainbow, then it's a rainbow!  You can't see it in the picture, but there is one spot that Ellie left a hand print.  Really special.  I had a great day with Ellie and Zeke while Gwen had some appointments.  Lia was in school all day.  After Gwen got home we went to "Pick up" at Lia's school and she was so glad to see us.  It was great to see her school.  The day went much to fast.  Ellie also told me that I needed to go camping with her next summer.  I told her my idea of camping was a hotel and we didn't have a tent.  She told me that I could borrow a tent from the "other grandpa".  Ah, I don't think so Ellie!  I love being a grandma!  But there will not be any camping for this grandma!

On the way home, I decided to stop off at KFC for a quick dinner.  Well, it was anything but quick.  I spent 21 minutes in the drive through.  The short version of the story is that the person who took my order never "entered" it into computer.  The person at the window must have had a bad day.  At one point she said "why don't you just pull around that corner and go somewhere else."  I was not amused.   At least the chicken was okay when I finally got home.  That reminded me that sometimes you need to wait a while for the rewards.

Today I realized that I have had sort of a down first 15 days of January.  But I am remembering that someone said this would be a "roller coaster" year.  That means that in the next couple of days I am bound to start up that next hill to a higher place.  I have not done very well on my journaling.  I have missed more than a couple of days already.  And I am behind on my devotional.  But the best news is that I AM STILL OKAY!  There is grace and these things are not required.  So I will just say, tomorrow is another day!  And begin again.   Isn't that wonderful?  So don't be so hard on yourself.  If you haven't accomplished those resolutions you made on December 31, just say, tomorrow is another day! 

Jesus, help us all to be easier on ourselves.  Help us to have grace to accept what we haven't done and courage to begin again.  Help us also to forgive ourselves for the things that we may have done in error.  Jesus thank you that you ALWAYS forgive us when we ask.   Holy Spirit, thank you for family, for grandchildren and special days of fun.  Remind us to spend time with the people we love.  Amen

Halloween from the past.....in the world, but not OF the world

This is one of my favorite pictures of my kids - mostly because it is so "natural" of them both.  I have to smile when I look at it.  I love the "junk" on the freezer behind Gwen and the kids art work hanging on the drapes.  Who would think that I would be missing those things?   And, when I look at Doug, all I can think is - on no, not that shirt!  He insisted on wearing that particular shirt, over and over and over - even after it was really small on him.  I don't know what it was about that shirt, but he loved it. 

These pumpkins were from a place that we STILL refer to as the "humble pumpkin patch".  Needless to say, it is no longer a farm since the suburban spread has taken over and the road is now lined with stores and houses.  But that spot was and will always be to us, the humble pumpkin patch.  Going to pick out pumpkins was a favorite event for me.  I think it is because I never did this as a child.  As a matter of fact, there are no pictures of me at Halloween and I really only remember trick or treating after I was in 1st Grade.  I remember one particular Halloween when we lived in Minnesota.  We went to about 3 houses - trudging through several inches of snow in our snowsuits.  And while I know that some people will cringe, my family did dress up and go trick or treating.  But I have to say that there were many years that we also had "Halloween Alternatives" at our church.  These were good times filled with great activities. 

You know, this is one of those times when there is a fine line between being IN the world and not OF the world.  I am happy that my children have chosen to become an influence to their peers and have remained friends with people that may not know Jesus.  Because, really, how else will these people ever get to know who Jesus is if they never get to experience his love through us?  I mean, really, didn't Jesus eat with all those "untouchable" people?  And go places that he was not supposed to (by religious teaching)?  So I am proud and very humbled by the grace that my children walk in, as they are out in the world.  And they are there because that is where Jesus has called them to be.  I am remembering that now as I am in a workplace that is filled with so many who do not know about Jesus.  I am so grateful that the Holy Spirit has promised to be that living water that flows out of us. 

So tonight, as I am passing out candy to the sweet young ones who come to my door, I will be greeting them with a smile and praying a blessing upon them. 

Jesus, thank you for your promises to us, to be with us and act through us.  Thank you for my children and the many, many lessons I have learned through them and the examples that they are to the world.  Holy Spirit, bless all of the children who have visited my home tonight.  Touch them with the knowledge of Jesus and the love of the Father.  Thank you for your great plan for the world, to show forth your glory!  Amen