Winter celebrations - January and February birthdays- leaving a Spiritual Legacy!

 Yesterday our family celebrated Grace's sixth birthday with a party at the Ball Factory!  This place was made for fun for those under 12 years old.  Us older folks had fun watching the sliding, ball shooting, climbing and driving fun of all the little ones.  Even Jimmy (and Doug) had fun exploring all of the activities.  

It was so much fun and I am sure that the parents took home some very tired kids.  These winter birthday's make it hard to have large groups in your home, so finding an indoor activity with a party room is surely the way to go!

Anna's birthday is actually January 30th.  It's hard to believe that she is nine years old! Her party was going to be an ice skating party on their lake, but sadly (or gladly depending on your perspective) it has been so warm that the lake was not frozen.  However, there was a week of snow and cold and blowing before her party, which was changed to an indoor roller skating party.  Sadly, I had to miss that party because of the snow/ice conditions that made driving impossible for me.  However - I did get to spend the actual day of her birthday with her!

I also got to be with Grace on her actual birthday - February 1st.  It was a school day for her so I saw her for a few minutes before her bus came. 

 And then I got to stay for dinner and celebrate with Doug, Susie and Jimmy.  So thankful for that time with Grace.

I am so thankful to be able to be with the kids on their special days.  So many of my friends are far away from their children and grandchildren.  Every time I drive away from a time with my family, I am filled with gratitude for the chance I have to be with them.  I really don't take this for granted.

Today I happened to be glancing at my emails and found a notification from Ancestry.com that I had a new "hint" in my family tree.  I only occasionally look at the DNA site, so it had been some time since I checked it out.  The new hint was about my great-great-grandmother with a confirmation about her death date/burial information.  I was so surprised when I looked at it and it was in the County that Doug and Susie actually live in!  In fact, the Lutheran Church and Cemetery is about 45 minutes from my house.  As soon as I can, I will be making a trip to that cemetery to see if I can actually find her grave.  And to add to my fascination with this information, this two times great grandmother of mine is not directly connected to the three times great grandfather of mine, who was buried very close to my current church (about 50 minutes from my house).  My mother never had any idea that so many of her relatives lived and died in the Chicago area.  And I am finding this information all because of a DNA test that I did several years ago.  I wish my mom could have known this information.  She would have been pleased to know that we did have roots in Illinois.  

My current writing project is about the Spiritual Heritage that we have through the prayers and life experiences of our past ancestors.  Both of these long ago ancestors of mine, Martha Larson and Lars Rokne were buried at Lutheran Church graveyards.  Both were members of the Lutheran Church.  Lars Rokne was actually the Music director and teacher at his church.  Sadly, the church and graveyard of his final resting place was torn down/moved in the early 1900's.  He died in 1856.  So I was never able to get any further information or see his grave.  But now I will be able to pay my respects at the grave of my great great grandmother Martha who died in 1904.  It brings reality to the concept of a Spiritual Heritage.  These two people made a choice to keep Jesus as an important part of their life.  And while this may seem like an unusual idea, make it a point to pray for your future generations.  Ask Jesus to continue to bring blessings on your family.  Seek the Holy Spirit's guidance as to how to pray.  Leave a Spiritual legacy that will bless your family in the future.  

At church we are doing a series on the Gospel of John.  Each week Pastor Dave has been unpacking things from each chapter.  Beginning at around chapter 13,  he is calling this the "Last Will and Testament" of Jesus.  The final things that Jesus wanted to leave with his disciples.  Last fall when Pastor Dave announced that he would be preaching on the book of John all through the school year, I was not particularly excited.  If there is any one book of the Bible that I have studied and studied, read and re-read over the years, it is John.   I have done at least three very in-depth Bible studies on that book.  What an eye-opening year this has been for me.  I have learned things every week and have really gone so much deeper into John than I could have imagined.  After today's service I was thinking about learning new things no matter HOW old you are.  I am certainly getting older - but I am also continuing to learn new things.   So thankful for the chance to learn and grow! And so thankful for this Spiritual legacy that Jesus left for us.  

Jesus, thank you for knowing how much we would need your words of direction in our lives.  Thank you for the inspiration that John was given to pen these words so that we have them over two thousand years later.  Holy Spirit, guide our prayers for our friends, our families and our generations.  Give us the words to say to those younger than us, to pass on all that you have done for us.  Help us have courage and boldness to share our testimony and to stand firm under tough circumstances.  Thank you for placing us in families, in churches and in communities that need your light.  Help us shine in the darkness!  Amen

A time to remember......

You know how sometimes the strangest things make you remember something from the past - and usually there is no reason for the connection?  Well, I had one of those moments today.  I was really enjoying spending time with my little, almost 20 month old nanny boy.  We had been at the public library for story time.  The story time was wonderful.  Michael really entered into the event - sitting quietly on my lap for the stories, standing and singing and clapping with the songs, he followed all the directions.  It was just an amazing time.  I really love having the chance to spend time seeing the world through his eyes.  Shortly after returning home from the library, it was nap time.  I don't know what it was about this morning, but this picture just popped into my mind....

 

This picture was taken in the summer of 1983.  Doug and Gwen are sitting on the lap of "Great Grandma Baker" (Ken's maternal grandmother).   I think that there is something about Michael that reminded me of Doug in this picture. Doug was about 18 months old and Gwen was about 4 1/2.  I know that over and over on this blog I have talked about how important pictures are for me.  This is one of those "important" pictures. Grandma Baker was a very special person in Ken's life.  As a matter of fact, I remember when we were first dating, that Ken talked over and over about his Grandma.  For me this was really something.  Remember that I barely have any real memories of my grandparents.  And when I listened to Ken talk about Grandma Baker, it was like all the stories I had read about grandparents.  Grandma was there to be with Ken when his mom was in the hospital.  Often Ken would be sent to spend summers with his grandparents, who lived in Florida.  And it was Grandma Baker's recipes that Ken always asked me to make. (And that is still true today - Chicken Paprikash and Filled Raisin Cookies).  I remember when Ken's Grandpa Baker died in 1976, he expressed concern that Grandma would be around to see our kids.  I loved that she got to see and get to know both Gwen and Doug.  She said over and over how much Doug reminded her of Kenny.  Although this was only the second time she had ever been with Gwen and the first time with Doug, they both loved her.  And, once again, it is the generational shift that is on my mind. 

 

I am so thankful that I got to have Grandma Baker in my life.   However, tonight I am also sort of sad.  Grandma Baker did not have any religious background at all.  She never went to church.  Her family never went to church.  Apparently when her mother had come from Protestant Ireland, they were escaping from the pressure of religion and religious conflict.  And they walked away from the church.  And there was a very real void in her life.  When Grandpa died, I remember that it was very dark and cold and sad for her.  She did not have the promise and the assurance of eternal life. For all the great things that she did for her family, she did not leave a spiritual legacy.    All of this affirms to me, how important it is that I am able to share my faith with my children and grandchildren.  I am so thankful that Jesus is a part of my life and I have been able to pass on a strong spiritual heritage. 

 

Jesus, thank you for reminding me of special people and special times in our lives.  But Jesus, thank you for also reminding me of what is really important to pass on to our children and grandchildren.  Holy Spirit, bless all those grandparents and parents reading this blog.  Draw them into a deeper relationship with Jesus and strengthen their resolve to leave a wonderful spiritual legacy.  Jesus, thank you for Michael!  Pour out your blessings on him and his entire family.   Amen