A story of sisters........



I took this picture this morning of Anna grabbing a handful of Ellie's hair.  Even though the lighting is not great - I love this photo!  It reminded me of another special photo.

In this photo, Ellie is the baby grabbing a handful of Lia's hair.  And this is my mom, Great Grandma Nona, holding them.  In this photo Ellie is 7 months old and Anna is 6 months old now in the picture above. 

Ellie just loves Anna.  She always wants to hold her and play with her.  And Anna just lights up when Ellie is around.  Yes, I think these sisters will always have a special bond. 

And this got me thinking about my sister Julie.  Julie is 8 years older than me and I know that I have blogged about her before.  Actually Lia and Anna are just about the same age spacing as Julie and I.  Today while I was watching Ellie and Anna together, I was remembering some special little things about Julie and I.

So here is another not so great picture, but I just had to include it today.  This is my sister Julie and I and I think this was taken 1963 Christmas when I was in 3rd grade.  Julie most likely does not know WHY this picture was the one I picked today.  So, here is the reason!  I remember a special day sometime just before school started that year.  I was going into 3rd grade.  Julie took me shopping, downtown St. Paul.  We went into all of the "Big" stores - places I had never been before.  And she picked out this skirt and vest I am wearing in this picture.  She let me try it on and then bought it for me, with her own money!  I loved that outfit.  It was so special to me.  I know that I realized that Julie was working very hard to earn her money and yet she made a choice to get this outfit for me.  Plus, it was the memory of that day that was special.  Going shopping with Julie, being downtown, having lunch out, and then getting this special surprise.  Whenever I look at this picture, I am so thankful to have had this sister time.  

 

I love that Jesus planned our families.  And I love the bond between sisters.  Even that hair pulling stage!  I learned such a valuable lesson from my sister on that shopping day.  She taught me about being generous and making sacrifices and about that special love between siblings.  Sometimes our best teachers are those that are closest to us.  I am sure that each of us has memories like this.  It may not have been a sibling, maybe it was a friend, or some other relative.  Possibly it was a teacher, a neighbor that first got our attention by showing us special favor.  This past weekend I saw a couple of videos on Facebook.  Some young guys are sort of "testing" society to see how people react.  They went to a shopping mall food court and approached various people.  They said they were hungry and asked for food.  All of the people said "no" or "sorry".  But not a single person gave them food or offered them money.  The next scene was these same young men bringing a fast food meal to a homeless man.  They just walked up to him and offered him a couple of cheeseburgers, fries and a large drink.  The homeless man accepted the meal with gratitude.  The young men left him to his meal.  At that point another young guy approached the homeless man and said he was hungry.  WITHOUT A BIT OF HESITATION, the homeless man gave him one of the burgers and offered him fries and the drink.  This story brought me to tears!  But the message is clear.  That homeless man knows exactly what it is to be hungry.  He knows what it is to have nothing.  When he has something, he is very generous and gives willingly. 

 

I don't think there is anything else to say about this.  I know that I will be considering this story in the days ahead.  And I will be looking for that person who Jesus may be directing me towards.  And I think I will call my sister!

 

Jesus, thank you for giving us examples of your very important lessons every day.  Thank you for family and friends and thank you for those young men that brought a visual reminder for all of us.  Holy Spirit, give us eyes to see and ears to hear the cries of the people around us.  Thank you for your great love and care.  Amen



Sisters are different flowers from the same garden.

 

This picture is my sister Julie, sister Karen and me taken in 1985 at the time of my dad's death. Today is all about my sister Karen.  I can't begin to express how much I have realized the loss of my sister Karen in the last several years.  I don't know if it is because of my age (nearing 60) or if it is the loss of my mom also, but over and over I have felt that I would love to talk to Karen!  And the funny thing about that is that we didn't talk all that much.  We didn't see each other very often either.   I talked with Julie, my other sister, yesterday and we had a good chat, just catching up on the family news.  At the end of that conversation, it hit me that I would love to be able to have a conversation like that with Karen.  While I am thankful for Facebook and the ability to stay somewhat in the loop with Karen's kids, it really is not the same.  In thinking back, during my growing up years, Karen seemed much more like an aunt than a sister to me because of our age difference.    When I got married, things changed, I think because I was now relating to Karen "adult to adult".  And then when Gwen was born, it was "mom to mom".  Sadly Karen and I didn't have much time to relate "grandma to grandma" since Lia was only 11 months old when Karen died. 

 

I love this picture of Karen and her friend (sorry, but I don't know her name) and my mom and I.  It was taken in the summer of 1955 before I was a year old.   When I look at this picture of Karen, I think about all the movies and stories I have read about being a teenager in the 1950's.   What a different time it was than the 1970's when I was a teenager.  My mom often said that she raised kids in so many different "generations"  - the 50's and the 60's and the 70's.  What a wide time span and interesting changing lifestyles.  Let's face it, by the time I was in high school, there wasn't a dress code!  Very different than the 50's.  I remember my sister Julie setting her hair in rollers.....EVERY NIGHT... before going to bed.   I had long straight hair all through high school. I didn't own a curling iron until long after I was married.  I think Karen set her hair in pin curls.   Yep, we had very different  experiences growing up.  But we are still sisters. Just as my post title today says.... sister are different flowers from the same garden! 

 

My sister Karen had an amazing singing voice.  I always wished that I could sing like her.   When I realized that Gwen had that same musical, wonderful voice, I was so pleased.   And I believe that Karen and Gwen had a special connection since Karen was Gwen's Godmother.   And this is part of how amazing a spiritual heritage is in a family.  These special gifts that are sown into generations of a family and then "bloom" in future children.  I think of our grandmother, Nora Larson Toensing, who had such an amazing voice that when she sang in church in the summer, people could hear her miles away, as her voice carried on the breezes through the open windows and doors of the church.   Yes, I believe that Jesus has a plan and destiny for our family and this is just one way of seeing the fulfillment of that.  I love that our family "garden" has seeds that have been sown by Jesus and only he knows exactly what that garden in full bloom will look like.  Yes, sisters are different flowers in the same garden, but we share so much that has been lovingly placed in that garden.  We share a destiny and our lives are woven together, connected not only by the past, but by the future.  

 

Jesus,  thank you.  I love that you take moments and memories and help us see beyond our own thoughts and feelings to see from your perspective.   Holy Spirit, thank you for using this blog to help me gain a better understanding of how you work in our families.  Help us all to continue to go deeper into you and to see with your eyes.  Thank you for my family.  Amen

 

A new meaning to "family"......

 

April, 2007

 

Yesterday I confess, I wasn't feeling very well.  In fact I had a high temperature and spent part of the day in bed.  I feared that I was getting one of those really nasty things that have been going around at work.  This would be bad, on so many levels.  I need to spend Monday with Gwen, helping her with the kids.  I need to be at work on Tuesday.  You know, all of those regular, normal things.   I was really feeling in a funk.  And then my phone rang.

 

When I glanced at the display I couldn't believe it.  My friend from Kenya, Lucy was calling me.   I haven't talked to her in quite some time.  With the recent death of her sister-in-law she has been on my mind and in my prayers.   I am always so thankful for Facebook.  I can stay in touch with what is happening in her ministry and I always know what her prayer needs are.  It was so good to hear her voice.  As usual, we had a bit of a phone connection problem.  But who can complain when you are talking half a world away!  As I was waiting for her call back, I was thinking how amazing it is that she would call me.  Lucy was quite clear.  The purpose of her call was to make sure that I knew the details about the death of her sister-in-law Florence.  She said "you are family to us".  That took my breath away.   Since the first time I met her, I realized that there is something quite special about Lucy.  She commands attention where ever she is.  Her radio program, aired live on Sunday mornings, is listened to by Kenyans around the world. Her crusades bring thousands together to hear the Word of the Lord.  Her ministry "Prayers Beyond Boundaries" focuses on sharing Jesus with the people of Kenya.  The goal is not just to change the people, but to change Kenya.  She is a mover and a shaker, that is for sure.  What a blessing it is that she calls me family. 

I am so thankful for my family.  And today I am thankful for my "family".  All of those that have become my family through our connection with Jesus.  I am so thankful for the many, many friends that I have on Facebook - some that I have never met face to face - that pray for me and share their concerns and joys with me.  And I am incredibly grateful that a chance meeting brought Lucy and I together in 2004.  I love the picture above from April, 2007.  Ken and I had the privilege of hosting Lucy and her husband Lameck and Hope-Lyn in our home.  They met our kids and we had a great dinner.  It was a great family time.  And then Lucy visited again in August, 2008. 

Yesterday I blogged about sisters.  And Lucy is indeed my sister.  And just as I miss my sister Julie, I also miss this special sister-in-the Lord, Lucy.  And it was such a pick me up to actually talk to her yesterday.   Yes, my definition of family has changed a little today.   And I feel blessed.

 

Jesus, thank you so much for Lucy, and the way that you make us family.  Holy Spirit, thank you for knowing exactly what we need.  Jesus thank you for your provision in all things.  For restored health, for home, for family.   Bless Lucy and all of her family.  Jesus, be the provision for that family in their time of need.   Thank you for my family and for enlarging my perspective of family. Help us all to see those around us with your eyes, Jesus.   Amen



Sisters...... a special bond

The top picture is my sister Julie holding me as a newborn.  The bottom picture is Lia holding Anna.  I thought about this picture of Julie and I shortly after Anna was born.  In the top picture, Julie was going to be 8 in just a couple of weeks.  And Lia will be 8 in May.  So the age spacing is just about the same. 

Now, granted, Lia has another sister, much closer in age (Ellie) and I am sure that they will have a close relationship.  But I can't help but think about Lia and Anna and how they may relate as they get older. 

My sister Julie and I shared a room for about 7 years, when I was in grade school.  This meant that Julie was in high school and college.  Needless to say, this was not a very good arrangement.  I was just telling someone that I remember going to sleep to Elvis singing.  And then there are the stories of my disturbed sleep when Julie was in college.  She was up all hours carving teeth out of clay! She was going to college to be a Dental Hygienist.  I remember the long, long hours of sleeping with the lights on.  I was 12 when Julie got married and I was very sad that she was leaving home. 

Yes, Julie and I still have a close relationship.  As I have said, the distance makes it difficult to stay in touch.  I know that this sister bond in something very different.  I love looking at my grandchildren and thinking about their relationships in the future.  It is so wonderful to see how close they are now.  I love watching them play together.  And I love how much they  care about each other.  I am so grateful for the opportunity to watch my grandchildren grow.  The perspective is just amazing.  I think when your own children are young you are simply so busy that you don't have time to consider these things.  But with your grandchildren, you have time to ponder and wonder and look to the future.  It is a real gift.  Tonight I am thinking about sisters, but I am celebrating being a grandma!

Jesus, thank you for this reminder of family, generations and all that is important. Holy Spirit, thank you for showing me how important it is to be a grandma.  Thank you for my sister Julie and that sister bond that we share.  Continue to build a close relationship between Lia, Ellie, Zeke and Anna.  Thank you for family and all that you intended to do in us and through us in our family.  Amen

Day 24 - Thankful for a crazy shopping trip!

I just love how the Holy Spirit will remind you of things, if you just stop and ask!  Last night I had one of those nights where I wasn't sleeping very well and I seemed to go from one dream to another.  At one point I woke up and was remembering a day that was very special to me...... November 23, 1973..... 40 years ago. 

Here's what happened on that day.  My mom, my two sisters (Karen and Julie) and I went shopping for my wedding.  We took all the kids with us... that included Amy, Nancy, Susan, Elise and Chris.  And we went SHOPPING - to Woodfield Mall - on Black Friday - FOR WEDDING STUFF!  Okay, were we totally crazy?????? I think so.  But in spite of the crowds, in spite of having all the kids with us, we found what we needed.  Julie chose the bridesmaid dresses from Penneys. Done.  Then we found my veil. Done. We went into one store and found the flower girl dresses. Done.  My sister Karen's mother-in-law Hazel, was an amazing seamstress and she had volunteered to make dresses for Amy and Nancy.  So, we went into the fabric store and found exactly the fabric that I wanted.  Done.  It was a God-thing for sure.  Looking back, I can't believe that we actually thought this was a good idea.  But Karen and Julie were both visiting from out of town and it seemed like the logical thing to do at the time.  I remember, years later, my mom and I talking about this and sort of shaking our heads at how nuts we were to even attempt something like this on Black Friday at Woodfield Mall.  But it must have been the right thing to do since everything turned out so great. 

I just had to include this photo of my niece Susan and I.  Hazel had enough fabric left to make an adorable little matching dress for Susan.  I was so thrilled when I saw that.

So, 40 years ago we had a wonderful Black Friday shopping experience that had nothing to do with Black Friday.  I am so thankful for my family and all of these memories.  And I am thankful for these pictures that help me remember this shopping day, oh so well!  

 

Jesus, thank you for my family - for my sisters and my nieces.  I am so thankful for all of the times, like this memory, that I have had with them.   Holy Spirit, thank you for reminding me in my dreams about that day 40 years ago. Speak to all of us in our dreams if we are not listening when we are awake!  Jesus, bless Julie, Elise, Chris, Amy, Nancy and Susan. And also my sister-in-law Thoralee!   Amen