Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

It's snowing in Chicago today!  Really the first snow of the season.  I was just thinking yesterday that it would really feel a bit more like Christmas if there were some snow.  Now I am the first one to say that I hate to drive in the snow.  But it really does make it "seasonal"!  The picture above is one of the first memories I have of "winter".  It's from that same time in Aberdeen, South Dakota that I have been blogging about.  That's my brother Greg and I am 4 years old.  I've come to realize that, for me, lots of important stuff happened in those years when I was between 3 and 6 years old.  When I saw this photo I was remembering the snow.  We had LOTS of snow!  If you notice, I am wearing really big and ugly boots (my brothers hand me downs).  But they kept my feet warm and dry.  I remember that this same winter I learned to ice skate in the ditch next to the highway that was just a couple of doors away from our house.

Everyone talks about the years of the "big snows".  And there are always different years for different people.  In Chicago, there was a BIG snow in February 1967 (which was before either Ken and his family or my family moved here.)  For me one of those "big snow" year memories was the winter of 1978-79.  That year we had snowstorm after snowstorm after snowstorm.  It seemed to snow every week.  And the snow piled up and up and UP!  I especially remember this year because I was pregnant with Gwen and I shoveled lots of snow that winter.  Our neighbor across the street would always run out and insist on finishing up the shoveling if he saw me out there.  Ken was working 45 miles away and was gone from home more than 12 hours a day.  So clearing the drive was left to me!  At one point we had to shovel the roof because of the weight of the snow!   And our small yard had so much snow that I could no longer throw the snow on the pile.  All you could see of our house was the snow and the second floor windows.  Yep, that was WAY TO MUCH SNOW!

When I look out the window today I am so thankful that Jesus has washed my sins away and now I am "white as snow". I love Psalm 51- especially verse 7 -  "Cleanse me with hyssop and  I will be clean, wash me and I will be whiter than snow"  And I was thinking about those really ugly boots I have on in that picture.  Isn't that just like the ways that we try to cover up our sins?  We find things to hide behind and think that our sins are hidden from Jesus. Sometimes the cover ups make us feel warm and safe, but that is always a lie.  The only way we have to be free of our sins is by the blood of Jesus.  And then our sins are not covered up or hidden.......... they are TAKEN AWAY! Yes, I love the way snow reminds me of the best gift I have ever been given - Jesus.  So today, the snow is really making me feel "Christmas-y"  Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Jesus, thank you for your plan to bring us not only forgiveness of our sins, but also FREEDOM from our sins.  Holy Spirit, what an amazing gift you give us as you draw us to Jesus.  Thank you for Christmas, for snow and for your great love.  Amen

Today I am thinking once again about my mom.......

I guess it is kind of strange that I always remember December 7, 1941 - Pearl Harbor Day - since I wasn't born until 1954!  But the reason I remember this day is because I listened to my mom talk about the impact this day had on her life.  The photo above is the picture that my dad had with him during the war.  My mom always said that she wasn't very fond of that shot, but my dad liked it.  Well, here is the story she told about December 7, 1941......

It was a bitter cold day in Watertown, South Dakota.  My mom and dad had some good friends over for Sunday dinner.  After dinner, while mom and her friend were cleaning up the dishes, the men decided to take a ride and get a beer.  When they were gone for a very long time, the women became very worried.   My mom talked about the decision they made for one of them to go out and look for those "darn men"!  (My sister Karen was needing to go to bed so my mom stayed at home while her friend got her coat on to start the search.)  When she got outside, there were the men sitting in the car at the curb.  They had never left the house.  As soon as they got in the car and turned on the radio they heard the first reports on the bombing.  So the rest of the night was spent glued to the radio, listening to the news reports.  Mom always said that she never imagined the effect that day would have on her life.  Another interesting point.. my mom said that she really didn't know anything about Hawaii other than that it was a pacific island.  She said that although they had very good world history, she had never really learned about it. 

For my mom it was one of those "life altering" days, when you seem to remember everything about the date.  I don't know why I was so impressed by these stories that my mom told me.  But I know that I was one of the few kids in my middle school history class who knew what happened on December 7, 1941.  

As I looked in the local paper today, I saw in an article that in the entire Chicago area there are 3 survivors of the Pearl Harbor attacks still alive.  They had a ceremony to honor them.  They are all in their 90's.  It is important that we keep on telling these stories so that we don't forgot the impact of the events of that day.  So, I am telling my mom's story from that day.   I want to honor these survivors as well as all those who died that day and those who survived the attack but are now dead. 

Thank you Jesus for your divine protection on that day that saved so many men.  Thank you for newspapers and history books that help us to understand and remember the events that have shaped our country and the world.  Holy Spirit, bring to our minds the testimonies and recountings that will bless future generations.  Help us to remember YOUR story.  Your Kingdom is increasing and your Glory will fill all the earth!  Thank you Jesus!

Getting in the Christmas mood! Wonderful!

It has been a great couple of days.  It seems that the Christmas spirit has finally landed, full force in my heart.  It started on Thursday.....

I was going to wait to post a picture of this bulletin board when it was totally finished, but I just couldn't wait to share.  These cute little green hands represent my favorite little three year olds at work.  The red hand on the right is "Ms. Lyn"!  I love how the glitter names look like a garland wrapping around the tree.  I love how excited the kids were to see their hands making up the tree.  Really, how can you NOT get into Christmas with so much "cuteness" all around??? Wonderful

 

Then, on Thursday night, a good friend invited me to her church Women's Christmas program.  It was so much fun to get dressed up and be with adults!  And to be with my good friends!  And to eat a marvelous meal!  And to see a great program! AND to get to sing Christmas carols!  Wonderful.

 

Then, today I had the day off.  Enough said.  Wonderful.

 

I actually did some Christmas shopping.  The stores were crazy busy, the people were bustling around, and the Christmas music was playing.  Wonderful.

 

I got to have lunch with Ken.  Something that we don't often do.  Wonderful.

 

Then, the capper of the day...Ken and I went to an amazing program at Gwen and Tim's church.  It was a Christmas concert featuring the youth from their Fuse Ministry.  In addition to getting to hold and hug my very precious grandchildren, I got to hear Gwen sing.  And then we heard some really wonderful Christmas music.  I think I have to give this a DOUBLE wonderful!

 

I am so thankful for the current path that Jesus has revealed for me.  I realized today that I have been sort of stuck in a rut for the last 2 or 3 years.  Nobody likes change - especially me.  And it is not comfortable as the change is happening.  Things feel like they are shaking.  In the past, I know my reaction was to turn around and run back to the familiar.  Or to freeze and hide my head.  So I am thankful that with the help of Jesus and the encouragement of family and friends, this time I am walking forward.  Today, for the first time, I feel calm and stable.  And I feel very "Christmas-y"! 

 

So my encouragement to all of you out there is to press on!  Walk on!  Keep on - Keeping on!  Don't run away from change - run into the change.  The faster you run, the sooner the change will be over! 

 

Jesus, thank you for all that you do for me every day.  Thank you for who you are and all that you did on the cross.  Thank you for your love and care and your blessing.  Holy Spirit, thank you for speaking louder when I wasn't listening, for giving bigger signs when I wasn't seeing.  Thank you for my work "little ones" and those sweet green hands on the bulletin board.  Thank you for Gwen and Tim and the way that they live their faith in You.  Bless Fellowship of Faith and the Fuse Ministry.  Amen

 

 



Feeling a bit like the weather today.... Gray, dark and rainy

So today I have been feeling like the weather outside - a little bit "un-sunny" and sort of grey.  And there is really no good reason for my flat emotional state today.  So tonight I am going to do a short list of some very GOOD things that have happened in my life in the last week or so........

1.  There is a sweet little boy who is transitioning (moving up age-wise to a new place with new teachers) into the room I am mostly working in.  Today he actually played by himself and ASKED to put his blanket away at 10:00am.  It is a really good feeling to know that I have had a part in helping him adjust.

2.  Really loving the Christmas music playing in my car and in stores.  Yep, this lifts my spirits!

3. I LOVE MY NEW CHRISTMAS TREE!  Just looking at this tree makes me smile!
I know that we got some mixed reviews about our choice of a white tree, but we love it!

4. On Sunday we got a new battery in my car.  I suppose this might sound like an odd "good thing" but for me it means being able to trust that my car will start this winter!  Given the fact that my car has 107,000 miles on it, this is really important.  So, yes, this is a good thing.

5.  We got the siding on our house repaired.  I mentioned that a piece of siding blew off in a recent wind storm.  We called a local "handyman" service and had a wonderful experience.  They called back right away.  They came out, assessed the job, and came back the next day and did the work.  All for $200.  And he gave us a quote for the replacement of all the siding and the windows.  So a really good thing. 

6.  Tonight I was thinking about another favorite ornament on my tree. 

This little "choirboy" ornament was also one of my mom's favorites.  She had a set of 6 of these bell ornaments.  They were actually a gift to her from her Aunt Anna.  She treasured these and they were always on the very top of our tree.  I remember being very careful when hanging them on the tree.  I don't remember a Christmas that they were not on my mom's tree - again until she gifted one to me!  I believe that she gave each of my siblings one also.  At any rate, this ornament makes me smile. 

Suddenly I don't feel so grey and dark anymore.  It really does pay to think about the good things.  It does lift your spirits! 

Jesus, thank you for reminding me of some of the good things happening for me right now.   Help me to stay focused on the positive.  Holy Spirit, I am especially thankful for your presence in my life that helps to bring me from sad to glad pretty quickly.  Jesus, shine your light and love on anyone who might be feeling a bit "grey" today.  Thank you that you are always ready to turn our frowns upside down!  Amen

Night of interesting dreams.....after my last post!

I didn't really expect to have a night filled with amazing and interesting dreams, but that sure was the case last night!  I posted a picture of a church from Aberdeen, South Dakota.  Well, in addition to being the first church where I attended Sunday school, it was also the church at which my sister Karen and brother-in-law Roy, were married!  My family's time in Aberdeen was actually very short - only about 2 1/2 years.  I started Kindergarten there.  And my mom also always talked about her "most crazy busy time ever".  This was the last 4 months we lived in Aberdeen.  In those 4 months my sister Julie got confirmed, my brother Jerry graduated from High School, and my sister Karen got married.  PLUS we were preparing to move and our house was for sale! So we had a constant parade of visitors for the various, aforementioned activities, including many aunts and uncles.  Since I was just 5 years old, I don't remember a lot of this time, but apparently there were some buried memories from that time.....

So last night I had a dream that started in the narthex of that church.  I was standing there just looking into the sanctuary.  Suddenly, it was filled with light and there was a dramatic hush that filled the building.  As I looked up, the ceiling was filled with angels and there was singing - beautiful singing in every corner.  At some point in this "dream" I realized that this had actually happened!  When I woke from this dream, I was remembering the very day this happened.  My mom was a leader for my brother Greg's boy scout troop. There was a "blue and gold" banquet that was being held in the church basement.  We were at the church before the event so that my mom could set up.  I had wandered upstairs and was standing looking into the sanctuary.  And that is when I saw and experienced this.......   Now here is the funny thing about this.  At my sister's wedding, I was the flower girl.  I had a really great dress that had a "hoop" in the skirt so that it stood out.  I loved that dress.  But when it came time for me to walk down the aisle during the rehearsal, I froze and refused to walk down.  I had always just assumed that I just got scared (I was only 5) but actually, I was remembering seeing those angels. 

Yes, there was something so special about that church.  After I heard the story of Easter for the first time at Sunday School in that church, at 4 years old, I had an amazing dream.  I was walking with Jesus in a beautiful garden.  There was a winding path that we were walking on, and there were flowers all around.   Jesus held my hand and told me that the story of Easter was true.  Every part of the story.  That he was alive and he was real.  If I close my eyes, I can still feel him holding my hand.  That dream influenced the rest of my life.  And now, I remember this amazing time of hearing and seeing the angels.   I am so thankful for that church and these memories. 

Jesus, thank you for speaking to us in dreams and visions.  I love that you speak to children and open their spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear things that adults may miss.  Holy Spirit, give us all increased and clearer vision and better hearing so that we don't miss this kind of amazing moments.  Jesus, thank you for reminding me of that amazing time. Holy Spirit, remind everyone of those special moments of seeing and hearing they may have experienced.   Continue to bless that church and all who worship there.  Amen

Added another of my favorite Christmas ornaments.  I made these angels as part of my Children's Ministry program in 1994.  My mom helped assemble them.  Special angel memory!

Where my memories took me today.......

I love Christmas music!  I mean I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Christmas music.  I've been listening to an old CD that has a mish/mash of music (everything from the Messiah to Alvin and the Chipmunks) and then I heard a version of Oh Little Town of Bethlehem and I was suddenly back in this church pictured above.  This is the first church that I remember and I went to my first Sunday School class in this church.  Needless to say, the building wasn't this big at that time.  It was also a bit crowded and my class was held on the stairs!  And we learned Oh Little Town of Bethlehem for the Sunday School Christmas program.  I was 4 years old.  I don't remember the program, but I do remember learning this song. It is still a favorite of mine today. 

While I have always been convinced of the importance of teaching children, I am now beginning to understand in a much bigger way, just how important it is.  Each of these memories and thoughts that I have been sharing in this blog have been triggered by the Holy Spirit. Today I started to put two and two together and got four.  Part of the reason that I have been sharing all of these memories is to remind me that the things I learned as a child, have influenced and directed my life.  That might sound sort of simplistic, but think about this!  Doesn't it change how you might view the importance of the Sunday School program in your church - no matter what age you are? And how about all of those children in your extended family?  Doesn't it make you want to make sure that you share your stories and testimony with them so that they can be blessed by them? 

I've been thinking about the people in my past who gave of their time to be my teachers, leaders, adult guides.  I am so thankful.  I am thankful for my church that knows the value of Sunday School for children.  I am so thankful for my family roots and the heritage of church attendance that made this memory possible for me. 

If you have a child in your life - a grandchild, a neighbor child, a friends child or grandchild, a child in your church, a niece or nephew, a cousins child, I encourage you today to invest in that child.  Sing a Christmas song with them.  Teach it to them.  Give them a CD of Christmas music.  Talk to them about your own favorite songs.  Make a memory with them.  And make a memory for yourself.

Jesus, thank you for music.  Holy Spirit, thank you for today's reminder. Continue to stir up our memories as we hear the music of the Christmas season.  Thank you so much for the people who spend time with the children today. Bless the teachers, the leaders, the parents, the grandparents, the friends, who are investing in this generation. Give us all the joy and wonder of children this Christmas season. 

First of my favorite Christmas ornaments - and their stories

Every time I touch this very fragile Christmas ornament, I think of all the hands that have touched this piece.  I remember well my mom talking about this particular ornament because it was one that was ALWAYS on her Christmas tree - all her life (until she gifted it to me!).  This beaded ornament came from Germany.  It was brought over with my great grandmother and great grandfather when they immigrated to the United States in 1870.  They arrived on a boat after a not so wonderful journey.  Somewhere on the Atlantic ocean, one of their children died.  They only came with a few trunks and household items.  Among those items, was this ornament.  I remember my mom getting so emotional every Christmas as she hung this on our tree. 

For me this piece of the history of my family is priceless.  I know that many people have family heirlooms that they treasure.  Mine just happens to only be used one time a year - Christmas.  My mom often talked about her family Christmas traditions.  They would go to church on Christmas Eve.  That service was always the children's Christmas program.  When the family returned home, they would put up the Christmas tree.  Mom would talk about, when they lived in Bemidji Minnesota, it was so cold that they would put their wool socks on the stove before they left for church.  And when they returned home after the service they would put on the now very warm socks to thaw out their feet.  Of course they WALKED to church - even at night!!  Mom remembered when they had actual candles on the tree instead of lights and they would only be lit two times each year.  On Christmas eve and on Christmas. 

I am so blessed to have this ornament and the story that goes with it.  I am sharing this story here, so that it doesn't get lost or forgotten.  I make sure that this ornament is hanging in a spot on my tree in a spot that I can see it every day.  I need to be reminded of the incredible ways my family has seen the provision of the Jesus.  This beaded ornament is a symbol of the grace and joy that was poured out on my great grandparents as they started a new life in America.  It is a symbol of their ties to Germany - their home.  I imagine the home sickness they must have felt.  Missing their mothers and fathers.   And I love that this bit of glass and beads must have made them feel a bit closer to their roots and connected to their family. 

Jesus, thank you for your provision for my family. Thank you for this precious family heirloom.  Holy Spirit, I love that you remind me of all the stories that I have heard about this ornament.  Thank you for providing this blog so that I can share these wonderful memories.  Holy Spirit, continue to bring to our minds the stories and memories that help us to grasp the depth of your provision for us through out our generations.  Jesus, thank you so much!    Amen