Short trip to New York City - May 10-12, 2023

 I can't believe that this year, Ellie graduated from Eighth Grade!  Yep, she is a high school freshmen now!  For her 8th grade trip, Ellie picked New York City.  This was no surprise.  She loves Broadway and has ALWAYS wanted to be a fashion designer.  Now, more specifically, a Costume Designer and work on Broadway.   Gwen asked if I'd like to go with and I am always up for a trip!  

We flew out in the very early morning and hit Time Square at lunch time.  We had the great good fortune to be able to check into our Hotel before we headed out for our first packed day of sight seeing.  This was truly a God-thing since we saw the hours long line to check in later that day!  We were so blessed by this start to our trip.

No trip to New York City is complete for any "fashionista" without a stop of Mood Fabric.  I watched enough "Project Runway" to know about this store.  I was amazed at how SMALL it was and how much stuff was crammed into that small space.  Ellie picked out one cut of fabric to bring home and was delighted.  We toured Time Square (Our hotel was 1/2 block off of Time Square - great location).  

We went to the M&M store and the Hersheys store.  So many people and so much noise!  We returned to our hotel to rest and get ready for our Broadway show - Wicked.  Ellie made a dress for each show we were going to see.

On the way to the show (about 2 blocks walk) Ellie wanted to stop at this small bakery/cafe for a special treat!  She had seen a video about this place and put it on the "must do" list.  It is actually called "Bibble & Sip Cafe" but for some reason, I kept thinking about this as the "Bibity Boppity Boo" place, so it will always be that for me!  The pastries were in the shape of some Anime show that Ellie knows. 

Wicked was amazing.  It really is different to see a Broadway show - actually ON Broadway.  Needless to say, after a predawn wake up in Chicago, Airport/airplane, Uber and walking all over New York City and then a Broadway show, we were ready for bed.

Our second day was just as packed as the first.  We started the day at another must-do stop in Time Square/Broadway - the Stardust Diner.  

After seeing the waiting lines to get seated for the lunch/dinner crowds, we opted for a "Brunch" time slot. We got seated right away and were treated to these amazing singers during our meal. You know that these servers audition for every show on Broadway. If you ever get to Time Square, I highly recommend making this a must do stop.  I think it was one of my favorite parts of the trip!  From there Ellie and I went to the Museum of Broadway.  There are actual costumes from the beginning of Broadway (as well as the history of Broadway) until current.  

Gwen opted to find a quiet spot to sit instead of going with us into this museum.  I am very glad that I took Ellie.  It was really neat to see some of the behind the scenes stuff - including the sewing/design studio backstage.   Also on Ellies list of "must do" things was somewhere that is known for their giant milk shakes!  Anyone who knows Ellie, knows that this is a fitting place for Ellie to celebrate!

From there we went to another Fashion stop - The FIT Museum.  The Fashion Institute of Technology is an actual campus with students/classes happening.  The Museum houses various exhibits that change all the time.  We actually rested for a few minutes on a bench outside of some of the dorms.  I could see Ellie ending up studying Fashion design at a place like this.

We got back to our hotel with enough time for Ellie to get ready for our next Broadway Show - SIX!  This was her pick and she was very excited to see it.  We found out AFTER we actually arrived in New York that Hamilton Theater was across the street from our hotel.  We have all seen Hamilton, but it might have been fun to see it on Broadway!  It was good to see SIX however!  

The highlight of this show for Ellie, was waiting at the backstage doors to get the autographs of all of the cast.  Gwen waited with her (I walked back to the hotel since it was so close) and the wonderful cast all took photos with Ellie and signed her playbill.  For sure this was something that she will always remember.  

Our last day in New York City we took the subway to "uptown" to see the actual home of Alexander Hamilton.  It is a National Memorial, which it really neat.  I love that the kids and youth all love this musical so much when it is, in fact, history!  

After taking the tour and seeing the home, we decided we were hot and tired and rather than walk the mile back to the subway, we Ubered to Central Park.  We had thought about going to the MET, but that day was "Youth" day at the Museum and (it seemed like) all of the high schools in New York had brought the teens to the museum!  It was crowded.  So, instead we just took a walking tour of a small section of Central Park.  

We saw fountains and ponds, and lots of people.  It was fun to see the horse drawn carriages and so many bicycles everywhere.  We opted to walk back to our hotel after a stop at a "real" New York Pizza place.  We Ubered back to the airport for our late evening flight back to Chicago.  

We crammed a lot of stuff into three days in New York City.  It was a trip to remember for sure.  One of my favorite memories is this.....

While we were waiting for our Uber to take us to the airport, Ellie was sad to not have one of the special Macaroons from the "Bibity Bopity Boo" cafe.  We did not have the time (or the feet) to walk the five blocks - so I Door Dashed one to us in the lobby of the Hotel so Ellie could finish the trip with this!  So worth it!  

There is something about these experiences with the grandkids that stay with you.  Getting them  things is okay - but these shared experiences will not be forgotten.  I love that Gwen and the kids want to include me on these adventures and I am very grateful.   Ken and I had visited New York City but I had several things left on my "want to do sometime" list.  And this trip satisfied several of those!  Its amazing how much you can do in three days, when you plan well.  There were many God moments on this trip.  We sailed through TSA in Chicago and a very nice TSA Agent let Ellie's gallon size bag of liquids through with just a warning to not do it again.  We had seats together on all  flights - again really unexpected with the planes totally sold out both ways.  Our room was ready at noon when check in time was 4:00pm.  Totally unheard of.  And the hotel was really nice and we felt comfortable and safe.  We took the subway and walked through a section of New York that might not have been exactly the best.  But it was daytime and again, we felt safe walking.  Even our Uber drivers were kind and respectful and also didn't make me close my eyes during the drive!  Each of these things may just be a small thing to some people.  Sometimes, you just have stop and realize the favor you felt while having fun.  

Jesus, thank you for time spent with those we love.  Thank you for your hand of protection while we travel.  Holy Spirit, keep us mindful of the ways we are covered and surrounded by you, even when we are outside of our normal activities.  Thank you Jesus for provision to travel and experience the world.  Thank you Jesus for family times like these.  Amen

Another catch up blog - Easter to the beginning of May

Easter seems like a very long time ago to me - but I realized that I have never updated my blog!  So, I have decided that today is the day to do just that!  Here are a couple of pictures of all of us on Easter.  I love these pictures so much!  It is quite crowded around the dinner table these days. But it is just so good to be together.  I truly cherish these moments.

I especially love this "cousin" picture of Grace, Anna and Ellie.  These girls just love to be together and have so much fun. 

It was a beautiful day and the kids spent most of it outside.  We all took a walk in the "woods" on Gwen and Tim's property.  They have managed to clear a pretty good path into the woods which was still a bit "mucky" after so much rain.  Part of their 10 acres is wetlands, so the path pretty much loops back around towards their house once you reach that point.  There were lots of downed trees from a recent ice/wind storm so there will be some big bonfires in the future!  The kids (even Jimmy) loved the trampoline and I was remembering how insistent Ken was that we locate and purchase this one.  It was May of 2020 - the height of Covid - and everyone was looking for outdoor stuff for the kids to do at home.  We searched and searched and finally found this one.  Ken was so happy to see just how delighted the kids were and it has sure gotten a lot of use over the last 3 years!  

A couple of weeks after Easter, was the Youth Spring Retreat.  I have watched the kids during these retreats for many years since Gwen and Tim are leaders for these events.  This year, was just Anna and Grandma (and Sunny and Chandler of course).  Anna and I had a wonderful time.  We played board games,  we played cards, we went out to breakfast, we went shopping and sadly, I also shared COVID with her. 

 I had no idea that I had somehow (finally) gotten Covid.  I was diagnosed on the  Monday following the retreat and Anna was positive later that day.  Thankfully I was given Paxlovid and I never had very many symptoms.  I actually thought I had a sinus infection, which would have been pretty common for me in this springtime- everything is blooming - season.  I had a really sore throat but assumed it was from the sinus drainage.  I was pretty surprised to be Covid positive.  Later in the week, I made another trip to the doctor since I had developed Pink Eye, which is the most common symptom of this strain of Covid.  I never had a fever and never really felt bad at all.  So I am very grateful.  Anna never really had any symptoms and the worst part for her was having to stay in her room!  Being isolated was hard for her, but it sure worked since no one else in the family got Covid.  

Fortunately, I was out of quarantine and feeling fine to be able to watch Grace and Jimmy while Doug and Susie took a long awaited getaway. They were gone 6 days and I split the time with Susie's mom and dad.  Grace and Jimmy are used to Grandma and Yia-yia and Papa watching them, so it was a smooth few days.  

The weather was pretty nice and we were able to be outside.  Jimmy loves bubbles but mostly wanted to open the containers and spill them everywhere.  We finally discovered some small flat bowls with big blowers that Jimmy was able to use.  He spent most of the time shouting, "I did it!" every time bubbles actually appeared.  Grace was using a really large bubble blower and making these HUGE bubble tubes that were so neat.  Certainly a fun few hours.  The next day was a bit rainy so we mostly stayed inside.  We broke out the paints (which is always a hit with the kids).  Jimmy spent most of the time playing in the water for his water colors, but he did do some actual painting.  Grace was painting an actual canvas picture with "real" (acrylic) paints.  She was so happy!

All in all, it was a good few days spent with Grace and Jimmy. Doug and Susie returned home looking well rested and with evidence of time spent in the sun.  

This has been a busy few weeks and Spring has really arrived - finally.  In the last few days I have put away the snow blower and gotten out the lawn mower.  I did a bit of clean up and cut the grass.  I took care of some weed removal and cleaned the patio of winter debris.  Finally, I put up the screen enclosure on the back patio.  

My timehop app reminded me that Ken and I had first put up this enclosure in 2018.  I decided last fall, while I was taking down the canvas and screen, that I would need to replace them.  After 5 years, I am not surprised that they had weathered.  So this year the frame is 6 years old but the fabrics are new!  I have already been enjoying sitting outside and listening to the birds chirping.  

I am so thankful that these weeks have been filled with family time and springtime weather.  I have had a bit of unsettling news that I am trying to digest, and I am not quite ready to share on this platform.  I have been leaning into the great news of Easter - that because Jesus is alive, I can walk with confidence into the future.  That has given me a large amount of peace as I sort out details and facts from the past and think about what may be ahead for me.  For right now, I am so thankful that the sun is shining.  I am thankful that I have weathered Covid with few issues.  And I am forever grateful for friends and family who are willing to walk with me on a journey I never planned to take!  This blog has always been about truth telling, and I promise you all that I will share more about this in a future blog.  Please pray for me as I move through the next few weeks, making sense out of this unexpected news.  

Jesus, thank you for family and times together.  Holy Spirit, give me peace as I walk through these next weeks.  Help me to focus on what is most important.  Give me eyes to see the truth and words to share all that this means for the future.  Thank you for sunlight and flowers and the wonderful smells of springtime. Thank you Jesus for the hope we have because of your sacrifice for us.  Amen  

 

Thursday and Friday...... but Sunday is coming!

 Moving on in Holy Week, Maundy Thursday is another unique experience at my church.  Fellowship of Faith gathers everyone together for a Communion meal in their coffee house space.  Family tables are set and everyone crams into a really small space.  This year there were over 240 people gathered.  The most special part of this event is that it is also the First Communion time for many young people.  This year, it was Anna's turn!  

The kids have to stand up and tell their church, why they want to begin communing.  It is a very big deal to hold a microphone and speak your belief out in front of a big crowd.  This year there were 10 kids standing together! 

I was so proud of Anna!  She was able to speak exactly what she wanted to say, in spite of being really afraid!  

The church asked various people to prepare bread for this event.  Different breads were on each table.  Pastor read the Bible passages from that first night when Jesus instituted Communion, and then the oldest person at each table, serves the bread and wine (juice).  

Since I am usually the oldest one present, I get to serve the communion meal. It is a tremendous honor to have been able to give all four of my grandchildren their first communion, gving Anna her first this year.  

I've been thinking a great deal about Spiritual Heritage and leaving a Spiritual legacy.  Events such as these, cement the importance of celebrating these special times.  Gwen and Tim have done an amazing job sharing their own faith with their children.  

Watching Lia, Ellie, Zeke and Anna each walk their own faith journey has given me great joy.  My family has been blessed with a long and deep spiritual heritage and this night was a step into the future legacy.  As I was driving home after this night, I was reflecting on my own first Communion and thinking about what my parents and grandparents (and great grandparents) might have experienced.  Even though this spanned over 200 years (yes I actually stopped and figured that out) each of us heard the same words from the Bible.  Some heard them in German or Swedish, but they were the same words.  What a powerful connection to our past and to our future.  

And then Friday.  Good Friday.  As a kid I couldn't understand why we call this day good.  Sitting in a very dark church, listening to the words spoken and remembering my own thoughts the night before, I was imaging my past generations hearing these same words.  Feeling these same feelings.  I had invited an old friend to attend church with me, something I am not very good at doing!  After the service, we were talking about losing our siblings and parents.  This service gives you a time to reflect on each of the times you have lost a loved one.  Again, knowing that Sunday is coming does change your perspective.  But it is easy to resonate with the disciples and their feelings that Jesus was gone.  They really did not understand the plan.  Trying to imagine all of these events of Holy Week, as a participant rather than an observer, brings a new and better understanding.  Just before I sat down to write this blog, I saw a post about crucifixion.  I knew that it was a terrible way to die.  I knew that there were very few places that it was used as punishment.  However, this morning I learned that the word "Excruciating" actually is derived from the Latin word to torture or torment on a cross.  So using that word excruciating for any other painful thing, seems wrong to me.  Again, I don't think I will ever think about Good Friday the same way again. 

Jesus, thank you for your death on the cross.  You knew exactly what the father was asking of you, yet you allowed yourself to be crucified.  Holy Spirit, give us all courage to grow in understanding of this foundational event.  Help us remember that, although death is a part of our lives, Sunday is coming.  Thank you Jesus for loving us and wanting us to know you - in your life, in your death and in your resurrection!  Amen 

Palm Sunday - beginning of an amazing week!

What a wonderful way to celebrate Palm Sunday!  My church does this amazing thing that they call "Pilgrimage" ever Palm Sunday.  All people are encouraged to walk to church on that day.  Because many live (literally) miles away from church, there are meet up points to walk together from various homes.  The Rock and Boulder (children and youth) walk together and this year, I walked with them.  It was a "brisk" 28 degrees so hats, gloves and cold weather gear was necessary!  Around 65 of us walked together for 2.5 miles, reminding us of all the faithful people in Jesus' day, who walked miles up to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover.  I believe over 200 people walked to church that day!

We stopped several times along the way to hear the Psalms read, which are actually songs that the people would sing as they walked together in their own pilgrimage to Passover.  I can not fully describe what it felt like to be welcomed into the church parking lot to screams of "Hosanna, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" This was accompanied by waving of palm branches and even a real donkey!  The worship service that followed was a true celebration, including flags waving all around the church.  I managed to snap photos of both Ellie and Zeke with flags!

My perspective on Palm Sunday was forever altered when Pastor Dave shared that this was really an insurrection - a rebellion by the Jewish people against the Roman oppressors. I saw this event in a totally new way, and it made sense to me now that the people thought Jesus would be the one to lead a takeover of the Roman government.  There were millions of Jews and a relatively small number of Roman Soldiers.  I was reminded of how often, I am dissapointed when things do not work out the way I thought they should.  It certainly helped me understand better how we get to Thursday night.  

Yes, this year Holy Week took on a whole new meaning for me.  Reading through the last chapters of the Book of John in the Bible felt new and fresh to me.  Even though I know what is just a week away, the words on the pages seemed present to me.  I am so thankful for this set-apart time to really enter into a world changing event.  

Jesus, thank you for making sure that 2000 years later, we have your words to guide us.  The Bible is an incredible gift for us.  Holy Spirit, remind us that we can all learn and grow, no matter how old we are.  Thank you for community, for family and friends.  Thank you for gifted leadership that bring the Bible stories to life in new ways.  Amen

 

So much has changed in the last three years!

 Three years ago, our world changed.  We were locked down. Kept in our houses.  Fear was so great that at any time, our family could be hit with this "mystery virus".  Ken and I were mostly at home anyway, since he was not doing well physically.  The long stint in the ICU in January/February  2020 had left us shaken.  And  knowing that his health was compromised, we were thinking that our lives would never look the same.  And that was most certianly true.  

During one of my recent times watching Grace and Jimmy, I captured this photo of Jimmy "cooking" his play food!

He is quite the kiddo!  His vocabulary, at 22 months, is unbelievable and matched only by his climbing abilities.  He can scale a table faster than anything.  But on this day, I was especially thinking about all that has changed in three years.  It will always be sad to remember that Ken never got to know his little "namesake" (James Kenneth Rowley).  Jimmy is so much like Doug and I know Ken would have appreciated seeing Doug trying to "wrangle" Jimmy into his booster chair. Jimmy is one determined kid and if he doesn't want to do it, there is no getting it done.  These kids who were born or lived during the pandemic, are a different breed.   It is as if God has gifted them an added dose of stamina and vitality to survive and thrive.  It will be amazing to watch just what they accomplish in the future.  As hard as it was on the adults to get through this world changing event, it was even harder on the kids.

At first three years ago,  I was mostly worried for the kids.  They all had jobs and families and I tried to imagine how difficult this situation would be for them.  Doug and Susie had a preschooler and were trying to work from home, while keeping a three year old busy.  Gwen and Tim had a slightly better situation because they were already homeschooling the kids.  Tim was able to work from home and didn't have a long commute.  Gwen's job was another story.  Church workers were faced with an almost impossible situation.  Would church have to stop?  What exactly was going to happen.  Nobody really knew.  

That first year, 2020,  Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter passed in a cold, sterile fashion.  Reality hit us all, realizing that we were seperated from our families at a time when we were so used to being together.  There were no new spring dresses.  No Easter Egg hunts, No family dinner.  In my heart I was already grieving these times, since I just had an inner "knowing" that Ken's time was short.  No one knew just how long this was going to last.  

After Ken had several very challenging hospital visits and doctor appointments that I was not allowed to attend, I had sort of reached my limit.  Thankfully, the kids recognized this and stepped in.  Finally, in early May, we "celebrated" Easter with the kids.  

Gwen and Tim had managed to sell their home and buy a new one, in the midst of this pandemic.  It was truely a God thing!  I can't tell you how grateful I was to see those grandkids again!  

And here we are, three years later.  Ken has been gone for two and half of those three years.  The kids have grown and changed and of course, we have added Jimmy to our family.  These have been years of adjustments for me.  No longer married, but widowed.  No longer we but me.  Family times together are now cherished in a way that feels different than three years ago.  I just took those times for granted.  But now, each time I am with the kids, I feel the thankfulness and joy of being together.  I love to have the kids sit by me or run up to give me hugs.  I even appreciate the dogs joyful greeting when I get to their house.  Sitting across the table from friends just sharing and laughing together, is the sweetest thing.  Gathering together with my church family has a new meaning, after a time of just watching on a screen.  Being with my adult children brings me such joy and peace.  My life is truly blessed.  

Recently someone asked me how long I plan on seeing my grandkids every week.  At first, I couldn't quite understand the question!  Being with my kids and grandkids is a privilege not a burden.  Caring for Grace and Jimmy one day a week and spending a day with Anna, Zeke, Ellie and Lia fills my heart and my spirit in ways nothing else would.  My answer to that question was - "A very long time hopefully!' Looking ahead three years, I am sure there will be many changes.  But it is with great hope, faith and trust that I walk out into the future.  

I am learning so much from my grandchildren.  Each time I see them, I am amazed at the people they are becoming.  They have a confidence that is unlike any past generation.  They believe that they can change the world for the better and I believe that they will.  Some may see this as the darkest time in the history of the United States.  But I am encouraged by the courage and boldness that I see in the youth today.  They see the problems around us, but they are also seeing ways that they can solve some of those issues.  I am so proud of the Christ followers they are!

It has been three long years since that first "lock-down" of the pandemic.  Yes, some things have been changed forever.  But Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  Having Jesus in my life has been the key to seeing me through the changes.  Jesus gives me the courage to face whatever is ahead.  And Jesus is the peace that passes understanding when there seemingly is no peace around us.  I was thinking this week about this line from the 23rd Psalm -

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.

These three years have felt like a valley - far from the mountain top.  And the shadow of death seemed to loom around us.  We heard daily reports about the number of deaths from Covid-19.  Fear, discouragment and doubt were in every home.  The smiles and laughter were hidden from view by the masks we had to wear.  But, see the good news in that passage!  We are walking THROUGH the valley.  We did not have to stay there forever.  It was truly a season.  We have walked through it and now are on the other side.  There is no better news than that!  

Jesus, thank you so much for sending the Holy Spirit who is with us and in us!  Thank you for the peace that fills us in times of trouble.  Keep our eyes focused on you, as we continue to walk forward.  Give us courage and boldness as we face the future.  Thank you for hugs and smiles and time together. Amen

Knowing your identity

 As usual, our family has been busy over the last few weeks.  I am always surprised when I look at a calendar and realize just how fast time seems to be slippling by.  Here it is, already almost the middle of March and almost spring.  However, a glance out my window this morning says Spring is far, far away after a nighttime snowfall.  It did feel much more "spring-like" a few weeks ago when our family got together for a weekend at Great Wolf Lodge, thanks to a generous Christmas gift from Doug and Susie.  If you have never been to an indoor waterpark resort, geared for children, you will not appreciate just how wonderful these places can be.  

The first picture, taken on our arrival to the park, did not include Tim. He was working and joined us a few hours later.  So I had to include the bottom picture as proof that he really was there!  Recently, I saw a post from an unhappy person, complaining that Great Wolf Lodge was overcrowded with kids!  EXACTLY!  Its wonderful to have a place where kids can just have fun.  Even Jimmy, not yet two years old, had an incredibly great time.  There were slides and pools just right for him.  We even had ajoining rooms so that we could relax and have dinner at our leisure.  It actually snowed the night we were there, which made the warm water and air temperature even better.  Fun was had by every member of the family.  

Before we knew it, it was Ellie's 14th birthday and Doug's 41st birthday.  This shared birthday is always memorable.  Ellie was born a few weeks before her due date and being on Doug's birthday was unexpected!  

I is always difficult to find exactly the right gift for a teenager.  Thankfully Ellie made an Amazon wish list, so this Grandma was successful at finding things.

This dress and purse brought a smie to Ellie's face.  The funny thing about this dress is that I had an almost identical dress, way back in 1969 or 1970!  It was even almost the same pattern.  It sure is funny how fashion comes and goes and then comes back.  I haven't gotten to celebrate Doug's birthday yet (coming later today), but his gift came off of an Amazon wish list also!  What did we do before Amazon?

Around Anna's birthday, Gwen mentioned that I had never made Anna a blanket!  In thinking back on this, I realized that I needed to correct that oversight!  So I let Anna pick out the yarn that she wanted for her special blanket.  

She asked for the blanket to have her name on it, so this is the result!  I have made "name" blankets for Grace and Jimmy and Anna wanted something similar!  This blanket turned out to have a very special connection to the prophetic word I had for Anna before she was born.  The colors, the decoration and her name make this exactly the right blanket for her today! That is a story for another time.

And then, last week, I snapped this photo of my "Grand-dogs" while I was at Gwen's house.

Chandler and Sunny are almost always as glad to see me as the kids are!  And I love seeing them.  They are surely part of our family.  Chandler is getting older now and is much less likely to stray very far from home.  Sunny, on the other hand, is young and new to the family.  Additionally, because of being rescued out of a really bad situation, her behavior is still unpredicable.  Gwen and Tim immediately bought a tracker tag for Sunny's collar so that she could be found quickly if she got away.  Chandler wears a name tag with information in case he ever ventured away.  These tags are evidence that Chandler and Sunny are part of our family - it is their identity. 

Today, as I was preparing to write this blog, Gwen sent me this photo on a text. Apparently, Tim discovered this in the bottom of a box of "stuff" in their garage.  Gwen had no idea it was even there.

If you squint really hard at the picture, you will see that this is the tag that Sheba, the dog Ken and I bought before Gwen was born, wore on her collar. 

She had no idea that I was going to be writing this blog and including informtion about Chandler and Sunny and their tags.  But it is a reminder that our identity is not lost, no matter how many years pass.  Sheba was part of my family and that was her identity.  Here is a bonus photo or Sheba and me taken in 1978, shortly after Ken and I got her.

Additionally, it is certainly evidence to me, that God is in the writing of this blog!  He knew that today - exactly - I would want that picture, of that tag.  Isn't it amazing to be a part of God's familly?

Knowing and celebrating our idenities is so important!  Every time my family is together, it represents an acknowledgment of our belonging.  Our birthdays, our names, our family - this is all one part of who we are.  Knowing your identity in Christ is even more important than all of those.  When we are following Jesus, our identity shapes how we live our life and what is important to us.  If we forget WHOSE we are, we can be confused about WHO we are.  And I was realized today, that it is because of knowing that my identity is in Jesus, that I was called to even be sharing these blogs.  I may not be a "professional" writer or have a degree in Literature, but Jesus has told me to write, so I write!  And that is part of my identity.  Celebrate your identity today.

Jesus, thank you for bringing me into your family.  Holy Spirit, remind us that we belong and we are not alone.  Give us courage and boldness to be and do the things that you put before us.  Help us see and follow your direction.  Give us peace when we step out into places that seem scary.  Give us assurance that you are with us.  Thank you for caring about the small things!  Amen

When you miss an important anniversary....

Sometime in the last week, I realized that I had completely missed one of the biggest anniversary dates of my life.  I can tell you exactly when this picture was taken.  I remember that evening with clarity.  Ken and I had come from our first ever (and only) closing on the purchase of our new home. We moved in two days later.  My parents had taken us out to dinner to celebrate and my mom snapped this photo of Ken and I.  Our closing had been delayed on our new construction home because of a huge blizzard.  Originally we were supposed to close and move in by January 15th.  The date was continually moved back, due to weather delays.  I can't imagine what we were thinking when we signed the contract to buy our house in October of 1977 and it was a slab in the ground.  Given the weather and general issues that always happen, now I can see that it was a miracle that we were able to get in when we did. 

This is what our house looked like the day we moved in.  The date was February 16, 1978.  That was 45 years ago.  I have lived in this same house for 45 years.  

Here I am standing on the front porch, a couple of months later.  We still didn't have backfill or grass or a sidewalk or a driveway.  But we had a house!  Ken and I were so young back then!  I was 23 and Ken was 25 when we bought our home.   It doesn't seem possible to say, I have lived in the same house for 45 years!!!  I never imagined that I would be one of those people that never moved.  But, here I am.  And I am so grateful for the provision of the Lord of this very house.  Our parents thought that we might be making a mistake to buy this home.  It was in a very small and not well known town and also very "far away" from everything.  As a matter of fact, my dad said it wasn't even really a suburb of Chicago!  And, 45 years ago, I guess that was true.  While the town is still "small-ish" with a population around 15,000, one town that has a shared border with ours is the well known giant of Naperville (population 149,000) and clearly a suburb of Chicago.  So it was a tiny, rural town 45 years ago, it is not that now!  I have never been sorry that we made this purchase. 

Ken had always thought of our house as a "starter" home.  It is small with only 1200 square feet.  We certainly had a few years, when Gwen and Doug were in their teenage years, that our house felt very small.  But it was a short time.  Soon enough, they were out of the house and it was just us again.  Ken's dream home would have had a three car garage and a basement.  It would have not had an HOA to deal with.  I suppose there were times that I thought about how it might have been good to move.  But financially, it just wasn't possible for us.  We had chosen to refinance our mortgage several times to pay off medical debt and also to shorten the term of our mortgage.  When our mortgage was finally paid off, we took an equity loan to upgrade siding, windows, doors, floors and roof.  I can't tell you the peace of mind that I have now, as a widow, to live in a relatively upgraded home, without any debt.  I am thankful for this every single day.  

I suppose that some would say that I have a much bigger house than is necessary for me right now.  But these walls are home.  And more than that, I couldn't live anywhere else as ecomonically  as I can right here.  I know that there will be a time in the future when it will make sense for me to move.  But, right now, that is not the case. 

I have written about the clearing out that has happened since Ken has died. Ken had found ways to fill up every space (A very overstuffed garage and two storage sheds plus two attics and two closets).  With my kids help, we have mostly taken care of all of that.   I can now park in my clear garage. My attics are empty.  Most of my closets are pretty clear.  I have very little clutter around and try to get rid of more than I acquire.  It is certainly an ongoing process.  But getting rid of "stuff" has also brought me a wonderful feeling of freedom.   So, thankfully, I can say that I do not have 45 years of junk in this house.  I think this is one benefit of living in a small square footage home. 

So, if you have been seeing people suggest clearing out your home of "stuff", I strongly urge you to consider doing this.  It doesn't matter how old you are.  If you live in the United States, you most likely have too many things.  There are so many ways to accomplish this.   Some people are doing a space at a time.  Some do a bag at a time.  Some people choose a specific thing to downsize - like a book or DVD collection.  Do you really need to hang on to boxes for things that you may not even use anymore?  Or that may already be thrown out?    Having fewer things to take care, to clean, to move from place to place will give you more than just physical space.  It will give you mental and spiritual space as well.  

Many of my friends are now facing clearing out their parents belongings after their death.  This is never fun and never something that you want to do.  Take my word for it, your kids will not want your silver, your fine china or your matched glassware.  They just will not.   Make sure you give your kids those items that you want them to have NOW!  Let them have a chance to say no to things now, and then you decide what to do with them.  I have taken my own advice and sent a lot of items to the resale shop. And I have more to do.

Over the past few weeks, my Pastor has been preaching about Jesus'  "Last Will and Testament" from John chapter 14.  There has been a challenge to think about not just the "stuff" - the monetary amount- that we leave our families when we die, but also the WORDS we leave.  What do we want to give, as an inheritance to our children and grandchildren.  What do we want to leave to our future generations.  I don't think I have ever thought about this.  So, in the next weeks and months, I am going to be putting on paper a Spiritual "Last Will and Testament" for my family.  

Ending this "Anniversary memory" blog, asking you to consider clearing out your living space of stuff so ultimatly someone else doesn't have to do it.  And asking you to join me on the path of considering exactly what kinds of words of encouragement we leave for our loved ones.  Both of these things will help us have peace and calm in the future.  A fitting gift for a 45th anniversary.

Jesus, thank you for providing exactly what we need.  Your plans and purposes for us are far beyond what we could ever think or imagine.  Holy Spirit, keep our hearts thankful, even when we don't fully understand.  Give us eyes to recognize all the ways we have been held close to you, even when the path hasn't seemed clear.  Give us courage to let go of objects that are weighing us down.  Jesus  help us have hearts to share and give away from the bounty that you have given to us.  Thank you for loving us and drawing us closer to you.  Amen