Thank goodness for indoor playgrounds!

Yesterday our family had a short get together at an indoor playground. The Treehouse,Lake Zurich is truly just a video game free- playground, with climbing, running, sliding and more!  And, considering the weather (rain, rain and more rain), we were very thankful for this place!  Because of every ones very busy schedules, we planned to get there as soon as they opened, let the kids play for a couple of hours and then go to lunch together.  It is difficult to find activities that are good for a 2 year old as well as not so bad for an almost 13 year old.  Thankfully, Lia is happy to just be with our family, no matter what the activity is!  There was plenty for her to do at this place and all of the kids had a great time.  Grace ran for the entire time.  Doug and Susie had a difficult time getting her to stop to drink some water. This was a new place for all of us, and the kids all wanted to know when they could come back.

I managed to snap this photo of Doug and Gwen together!  We don't often think to take pictures like this, and I was grateful to catch a "sister/brother" shot.

After all the running, sliding and playing all of the kids were hungry.  Gwen, Susie and I were very thankful for a close by eating place that we always order from during our scrapbook weekends.
We took our "crew" (that's what it feels like when there are 11 of us) to Meat and Potato Eatery!

 When I snapped this picture, I missed Susie and me, so here is a bonus selfie of the two of us!

 Everyone chowed down on really delicious food and we all had a great time sharing stories and large amounts of various fries. Everyone went out the door with multiple carry out boxes.  So if you ever have a chance to visit this place, know that the portions are really big!

Gwen and Tim and the kids had to scoot out quickly since Zeke had a floor hockey game in the early afternoon.  Tim and Anna also had a late afternoon "Daddy and Me" event at her preschool (so Gwen also had the same event in her classroom).  Susie and Doug and Gracie were off to look for a new vehicle to tow their camper.  Ken and I were grateful to just be heading home!

I was thinking about the fact that this was just a couple of hours that we were together.  Yet, it was such a good time.  Sometimes we think that we must have big, long events to make memories.  The truth is just being together, even when it is just a short time, is so life giving.  Nothing makes this mom and grandma happier than seeing everyone having fun together.  The kids were certainly glad to see Ken feeling so much better.  After finally getting free from his PIC line and IV, and mostly able to stand and walk normally, all of the kids were glad to give Grandpa lots of hugs!

My advice today is to make those memories - even when you only have a couple of hours to spare.  Don't wait around for those big events.  Call up your friends or family and spend a couple of hours doing something fun.  Cap off the time together by sharing some snacks or a meal.  It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive.  Just be together.  Give those hugs, and share that love!

Jesus, thank you for the reminder that love is what matters.  Holy Spirit, nudge us to connect with the people around us who matter the most.  Help us to find time to share fun, laughter and love with others.   Give us hearts that are willing to find time in our schedules to make memories.  Thank you for wonderful indoor (year around) playgrounds.  Amen

When pictures on the walls makes you feel at home....

It has only been a few weeks since our painting project was completed, but it feels like it has been a long time since the house has felt like my home.  Isn't it funny how pictures on the walls make your home feel "right"?  I wanted to make good decisions about the placement of pictures and weed out things that really didn't need to be up any longer.  But, boy was this a difficult task.   I had piled everything off the walls from almost the entire house (except my scrap room and Ken's camera room) into my scrap room.  What a mess!  I couldn't really use my room at all for the totes and bags and boxes of wall stuff.  Once Ken was home from the hospital and I had a bit of time to just breathe, I started to sort and figure out what I wanted to put up right away. 

First up - the grandchildren frames. 

Susie actually created each of these frames for me and there is one for each of the grandchildren.  They are "Grandma and...." frames and I cherish each one.  It felt so good to hang those up! Nothing makes me smile more than seeing those frames every time I walk in that hallway.  

We got some new shelves that fit my scrapbook collection and allow for display of some other family photos!

I have wanted a way to have easy access to my scrapbooks and it was such a wonderful thing to find these shelf units that are big enough to hold the 12X12 albums.  I actually have lots of space left for all of the books that I still need to fill with pictures.  

Slowly, the home improvement work is getting done.  We still have a couple more big projects to complete (interior doors, carpet upstairs, and railings on our stairs) but it is actually starting to feel almost done.  It is interesting that I am blogging about these updates during this week.   It is actually the 41st anniversary of our moving into this house.  Ken and I closed on the house on February 17,  1978 and moved in on the 25th.  This was just before we closed on the house...

There had been a large snowstorm just a week before our closing and we had to wait for the builder to install some kind of driveway for access to the house.  The front yard was just a mud pit and there were piles of snow and dirt everywhere.  But we moved in!  

One thing is certain.  This has been a wonderful home for Ken and I and our children.  We brought both kids home from the hospital to this house.  The room that is now my scrapbook room (which is where I am currently sitting) was our nursery.  There were countless birthday parties, Christmas celebrations and everything in between.  So many memories, so much love.  While we have gotten rid of much of the interior that was here in 1978, the foundation is the same.  And it is a good, sturdy foundation.

I love the old children's Bible song The Wise Man Built His House On The Rock.  There have been many prayers going up from this house, and so many blessing have come down..  Yes, it was a good decision for us when we purchased our home so many years ago never thinking that we would still be in this house 41 years later.  Every time I open the front door, I am thankful for this house, for my family and for every one of those years.  

Pictures on the walls have helped me feel more at home in my house, but it is really the love and the memories that fill me inside these walls.  Yes I am thankful for the house and all of the stuff inside of it.  But mostly I am thankful for the blessing of my family.  And so thankful for the foundation of Jesus in my life, that has given me my own firm foundation.  

Jesus, thank you for pouring out your blessings on my family.  Help each one of us to see the importance of building our life on your strong foundation.  Holy Spirit remind us of every time we have been secure in times of trouble so that we will not fear the approach of any flood.  Give us courage and boldness to share your love Jesus.  Amen

Longing for a return to my "normal" life....

You just never know how much you will miss your "normal" routine, until you suddenly are so far out of the routine, you wonder where you are!  These past four weeks have been a whirlwind of events that included our return from Florida to a "polar Vortex", Anna's 5th birthday, Grace's 2nd birthday, Ken tearing three major muscles trying to clean up our house, getting our upstairs totally painted, Ken spending 8 days in the hospital, followed by home IV therapy that requires frequent trips to the hospital, plus multiple snow events, freezing rain, ice storms, and all around really lousy weather.  Yeah, this is a four week time period I would not want to relive!

This was my view from Ken's hospital room.  I spent quite a bit of time looking out that window.  Several times there were giant snowflakes that were floating UP due to the strong winds.  That's right!  I forgot to mention that we also had 60 mile an hour winds after an ice storm!  The very painful tear of three major muscles left Ken pretty much not able to move around and wondering when his next pain medicine was due.  Because of the serious muscle damage in his hip/buttock region, his leg swelled to a really alarming size, which compounded his walking ability.  A urinary tract infection (caused by one of his medications) had the doctors searching for the site of a blood infection (which turned into a real wild goose chase).  Needless to say, we now know that his heart is in pretty good shape, he doesn't have an infection in the area of the muscle tear, he doesn't have any lung problems and most likely the whole thing is a urinary issue!  It was a stressful, long 8 days dealing with way to many doctors.  This was the view from the waiting area on his floor, when I could manage to take a walk for a quick breather....

This was quite a learning experience for me and Ken.  We learned it is true that the medical world doesn't really care if you can afford treatment or not, and they don't take that into account when ordering tests and scans and more tests!  We found out that often times, when there are multiple doctors treating the same patient, they will not agree on

 A. what is actually wrong with the patient or 

B. how to treat the patient!  

Several times we had heard one specialty doctor say "don't do that" only to have a different specialty doctor order that exact test!   At this point we are just extremely thankful that Ken is home from the hospital, the end of the IV medication is in sight (in two days he will be done), and he is walking fine and getting around well.  The orthopedic doctor who saw Ken on the first day said "In three weeks, you will be amazed with how well you are doing and in three months you will be totally healed".  That doctor really knew what he was talking about.

For me personally, there were many lessons learned.  I learned that I really miss seeing the grandkids every week.  With our two week vacation just prior to all of this, it has been a LONG time since I got to spend the day with the kids.  

We did make it to Anna's 5th birthday and Grace's 2nd birthday, but it is not the same as being with the kids while watching them.  

Anna and Grace are almost exactly three years apart- Anna's birthday is January 30 and Grace is February 1.  Seeing them play together at Anna's party just reminded me of the special cousin connection that they will have in the coming years. 

Additionally I was reminded, again, how thankful I am for Gwen and Tim and Doug and Susie.  Because we live close by, there were many hospital visits, lots of phone calls and text messages, and so much care and concern for both Ken and I.  It was such a blessing to have them around to be a sounding board as decisions needed to be made. 

My praying small group kept me held up in prayer, when I was just exhausted and unable to even know what to pray.  They were checking in with me, sending me encouraging words, and letting me know that I was not alone during this stressful time.  They kept Ken covered in prayer when I didn't even know what he needed!  I truly learned that this group of ladies are not just my friends, they are also my support and helpmates. If you don't have a close, small group I encourage you to find one soon.   Like right now!  Because you never know what tomorrow will bring. 

Which is, in fact, the biggest and most important lesson that Ken and I learned from this last month.  While it is good to make plans and look ahead into the future, it is also important to stay in the present day and appreciate all that it has for you.  Things can change on a dime and you just don't know when a sickness or injury or job loss or some other event might just change your normal routine. 

Last week, very near to our home, a senseless tragedy happened.  A lone gunman walked into his long time place of employment and opened fire on his coworkers and on the law enforcement  who responded to the event.  There were deaths and many were injured.  For so many families in this community, their normal was shattered that day.  The nation has rallied to this community and prayers and support have come from all over the country.  It was a wake up call for many who live their lives feeling as if nothing can touch them.  It is a false sense of security. 

I am so thankful that my security comes from Jesus and knowing who I am in Him.  No matter what happens to shake my normal, to rattle those in the community around me, I know that Jesus is on the throne and He is in control.  Whatever the storm, whatever the event, God has got this. Jesus warned us in Matthew 6:34, to not look ahead at tomorrow, but to stay focused on today.  And I can assure you, in the last four weeks, every day has had enough to worry about!  And knowing that God is in control, has given us great comfort.

Today I actually returned to my old "normal", meeting with my small group. It was a wonderful thing to actually get hugs from my dear friends.  My heart and spirit were filled to overflowing with thanksgiving.  Not only for these warrior women and their prayers, but mostly for the God that can not be shaken, who helps us walk through whatever comes our way.    Thankful for today.

Jesus, thank you for being so near to us when we most need you.  Holy Spirit, remind us to stand with those who have experienced a day that has changed their normal forever.  Keep us mindful of those closest to us and give us sensitive hearts to bring your comfort and peace in times of trouble.  Thank you Jesus for loving us.  Amen

January travel to (slightly) warmer places...

Sometimes those last minute trips just work out.  This was one of those times!  We got an incredible deal on some air fare and decided to leave snowy, cold Chicago and travel to warm, sunny Florida.  Well, it was certainly warmer - but it was COLD for Florida.   We saw more than a few winter coats walking the streets!  One weatherman actually said that they might break some records with low temperatures in the 30's.    We did escape the first real snowstorm of the season, with more than 6 inches of snow and really cold temperatures.  That brought a smile to Ken's face!

We started our trip with a visit to Ken's sisters.  It was wonderful to see them since we have not seen them for several years.  We had time to visit and also time to explore around Marco Island and see some amazing sunsets.

We moved on to Miami Beach. We took the Tamiami Trail which takes you through the Everglades.  It was worth the small amount of extra time for the drive with a view.   Ken has always wanted to photograph the Art Deco area of Miami Beach.  Little did we know, the weekend we decided to visit was the "Art Deco Festival" weekend!  Even though it was chilly, the beach was amazing.

We ate at lots of outdoor cafes and walked and walked and walked. We had one day of rain but we managed to still enjoy ourselves.  We never made it into the Atlantic Ocean - it was just very cold, but we enjoyed walking the beach.  It was a nice few days, but it was very crowded.  I don't think I would ever go back, however Ken said he would!

Leaving Miami, we drove up to Venice, Florida taking mostly the back roads.  We saw lots of interesting fields of crops - some we never could identify.  It sort of looked like clumps of really tall plants with some grain looking things of the top?  And there were lots of Orange Groves filled with soon to be harvested oranges.  Also lots of cows and horses.  It was a nice change from traveling the interstate.  

The beaches of Venice and Nokomis are Ken's favorite part of Florida.  He spent lots of time here from the time he was really small, when his grandparents retired to Nokomis.  Ken remembers the area when it was much less crowded and much less developed.  Most of Casey Key is covered with houses now.  And the entire area is built up.  From the Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico, we walked the beaches!

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 We took time to drive by the house that Ken's grandparents owned in Nokomis.  I am sure that the current owners wondered why we were driving by slowly and stopping for pictures.

Vacations are interesting. You can visit brand new locations or revisit areas that hold fond memories.  The one thing that you can not control is the weather.  You can always expect that you will have some bad weather.  For us, it was bitter sweet visiting Marco since Ken's dad has died.  We had many good memories of visiting him each year that he lived there.  While it was fun visiting Miami Beach for the first time, it is also nice to RE-VISIT beaches that have been a part of family pictures for years and years.  We have a picture of Ken on Nokomis beach when he was only a couple years old. While it was nice to see Grandma and Grandpa Bakers house, it was certainly a reminder of the passage of time.  

Reflecting on the last week, I am missing my own siblings.  I am also thinking about visiting some of my childhood favorite places.  I guess that means Ken and I will have to plan a trip to South Dakota and Minnesota sometime in the future!

Being by water is for sure my happy place.  And we have certainly been by water on this trip. Usually I am able to spend time just reading, praying and listening.  This trip has been a bit different and I haven't really had that time.  But the one thing that has been coming to mind, over and over, is that I need to do a better job putting words onto a page in this blog.  It is already the 21st of January and this is my first blog of the year.  I will be making time to share more regularly so hopefully I will   get inspiration for the time ahead.   For now, I am just very thankful for this time away and for the warmer weather.  It has felt like such a blessing to be here.

Some things I have learned on this trip...

*Sometimes the cheapest rental car is not the fastest!  But I am thankful for the car!

*Hotels in Miami don't have heat in their rooms?  At least they provided small heaters!

*Always make sure you get breakfast with your hotel room.. There was  a small bakery close by!

*January is cold in Florida.  But the water is still beautiful!

*Don't take a room facing a pool and bar in Miami! However it was nice to have a covered patio in the rain!

*Earplugs don't drown out the very loud music at 3am!  The hotel comped our room night!

Jesus, I know that you are always with me.  Thank you for reminding me that your love surrounds and protects us.  Holy Spirit, help us all to appreciate times away from our regular routines.  Jesus help us all to step away from our day to day things and to spend time with you even when we are at home. Thank you for memories and reminders of the past and also for those new experiences that become treasured memories.  And thank you for helping me see the bright side of some odd travel experiences.   Amen

Thinking about the 2018 Christmas season...

This morning, I was drinking my coffee out of my brand new "photo mug" that I received from the kids for Christmas, and reflecting back on the last few weeks.  I love that this new mug has all 6 of our grandchildren pictured.  It is such a good way to begin each day, looking at these sweet faces!

Needless to say, it was not exactly the holiday that Ken and I had expected.  We had arranged to celebrate our "family" Christmas on the Saturday before Christmas.  We have found that having the day away from the holiday actually makes for a more restful and fun celebration.  Unfortunately, Ken was not feeling well on the Friday before that and ended up in the ER after some serious stomach pain.  After a series of tests, it was determined that he has some stomach ulcers and inflammation most likely caused by a course of antibiotics he had been taking over the last few weeks.  After an overnight in the hospital and a slightly uncomfortable test, we begged to be released to still make it to Gwen and Tim's in time for our Christmas.  Thankfully he was quickly released and we got to our celebration by early afternoon. We are also thankful that the new medicine to reduce his stomach acid has given him total freedom from any stomach pain.    The thought of missing being with our family made both Ken and I especially grateful for the time spent together. 

It was a wonderful, crazy and fun day.  Tim made a wonderful ham dinner (which Ken ate with no problems!)   The kids had so much fun opening presents and as usual, there was lots of laughing and just being silly. 

I love this picture of the kids together!  Grace had a wonderful time with the older kids. She pushed her shopping cart around and around the room.  It is hard to believe that soon she will be two years old.  Lia has made the move away from the "toys" to much more grown up things.  Her gifts included clothes and slippers and tickets to see "Hamilton"!  She had to immediately text her friends with the exciting news.  Yes, it is clear that she will be 13 in a few months, as we have moved into the "teenage" years.  Ellie got her long awaited "Calico Critters" (which included a zillion little tiny pieces of "stuff").  Anna loved all of her Shoppie dolls and especially liked the Backpack set (that included a water bottle, lunch box and pencil case).  Zeke was all about Pokemon (no surprise there) but also loved a roller coaster game that is really quite amazing.  We all had so much fun doing a science experiment taken from a book given to the older kids by Doug and Susie.  Lets just say that balloons, string, tape and lots of very odd noises accompanied this.  Doug managed to find a way to make really loud noises during the experiment.  Needless to say, Ken was able to catch a nap (after a sleepless couple of nights) and the noise didn't bother him (or Chandler) at all!  

The kids were running around, the adults were laughing like crazy and these two slept on!  I guess when you finally relax pain free, you can sleep through anything!  What a wonderful family time together.  One that we will remember always.  

The rest of our Christmas was really low key.  Ken and I mostly just stayed home and watched some movies.  We did go to Gwen and Tim's church for Christmas Eve candlelight service.  Gwen sang and played flute, so we joined Tim and the kids for this late night service.  We ended up getting home around midnight.  For a change the weather cooperated and the night was clear and relatively warm for Chicago (30 degrees).   A wonderful way to remember the reason for the season!

Christmas Day was another quiet day for us.  We did decide to go to see a movie in the afternoon and really enjoyed "Mary Poppins Returns".  So nice to go the movies and come away with a smile and feeling good.  

On the day after Christmas, Ken and I were shopping for a few sale items for next year.  I found really nice stuffed animals for our Operation Christmas Child boxes, reduced to $1.50 each.  I got to talking to a lady behind us in the checkout line about this great sale.  She had never heard of the Operation Christmas Child boxes and was greatly interested.  I gave her all the information and she  said that she would be doing this next year with her Girl Scout troop and her own children.  Passing on information about this ministry was one of the highlights of my holiday.  I love that our participation in honor of Lucas, may bring others into the joy of touching children around the world.  This year my boxes went to Rwanda, Africa, and I pray for those little boys who will soon receive our boxes.  

Christmas is about receiving and giving.  It all started when God gave us an incredible gift through the birth of Jesus.  And it is all about our receiving that wonderful gift when we grow to know and love Jesus as our Savior.  I love that our family finds so much joy in being together - in sharing love and laughter. That is what the season is really all about.  Giving and receiving warm hugs.

Yesterday I took down all of our Christmas decorations.  They are still sitting in the garage, awaiting a time to return them to the attic.  We had a light dusting of snow the other night, which made it a little bitter sweet to see the decorations go away.  It actually looked a bit more "Christmasy" than it has for the last month.  But no complaints for me about the lack of shovelable snow!   Today it is pouring rain.  I was thinking about how much snow we would have if the temperature was just a few degrees colder.  So I am feeling very thankful that we are starting the New Year on the warm side.

I am ending this year feeling so thankful and happy, content and ready to contemplate the new year ahead.  Yes, 2018 has been a good year filled with family, friends and fun.  Looking forward to all that Jesus has in store for us in 2019.  

Jesus, thank you for giving us reminders to appreciate each day together.  Holy Spirit, help us all to reflect on the year just past while also nudging us to keep our eyes on Jesus.  Give us courage and boldness to continue to share the kindness and generosity of Christmas all year long.  Give us eyes to see needs around us, and hands willing to do the service.  Keep our feet moving forward into your plans for us. Thank you for love, laughter and fun.  Amen

Christmas lessons from an almost two year old...

Yesterday was one of those "almost" warm days with the temperatures in the high 30's.  So Grace and I went outside for some much needed fresh air and sunshine.  We took a long walk around their subdivision (about a mile).  Grace happily riding in the stroller and commenting on every bird that we saw.  When we got back to their house, I let Grace "play" in the front yard.  She did not want to go inside, even though her cheeks were quite rosy and I knew that she had to be getting cold.  No matter the weather, Grace loves it outside. This is a good thing since both her mom and dad spend hours outdoors!

Grace and I had played inside for most of the day.  She has her own Nativity set and we spent some time looking at each figure and talking about the Christmas story. 

Every time I tried to remove the "unusual" figure from the scene, Grace would protest and immediately return the ducky back right in front of baby Jesus.  I found it interesting that she always used the baby sign for bird when we were talking about the angel!  It took this grandma several minutes to figure out that she was thinking that if it has wings, it must be a bird!  Really not such a bad thought.  After I realized what she was saying, I told her it was not a bird, it was an angel!  Poor Grace then decided I would be happier if she called the angel a butterfly and she switched to that sign! Gotta love baby sign.  At least she quit saying "cheep, cheep" for the angel!

 Later, we were looking at their Christmas tree.  Doug and Susie have thoughtfully put many unbreakable ornaments near the bottom of the tree so that Grace can look at them.  She is very gentle and will spend a long time looking at each ornament and also the lights which "twinkle" on and off.  I didn't notice the picture of Lucas in the background when I took this picture.  I so love that Lucas is part of our family Christmas.

Watching Grace with the Christmas tree and thinking back on our day together gave me time to reflect on what I had learned that day from Grace.  Almost any parent will tell you that they are always learning things from their children.  This Grandma is no exception to that!

First - I learned that everyone needs some fresh air and sunshine.  Even if it seems cold, it is good to get out and breathe in the crisp air.  You don't need to rush inside either!  There just might be a birdy flying by or a car passing that you need to see.  It is good to slow down.

Second -  I learned that sometimes you have to actually touch something to know what it is.  Grace needed to touch those ornaments - to feel the beard on the nutcracker ornament - to feel the glitter around the ball - to pretend to blow into the saxophone.   Yes, sometimes looking without touching just doesn't cut it!

Third - And most importantly, I was reminded that EVERYONE has a place at the manger.  Jesus welcomes ALL to come and adore him.  That little rubber ducky that Grace insisted belonged with her Nativity was a great reminder for me.  It doesn't matter who you are, what you look like, what your family is like, you are always invited into the Christmas story.  That is one of the greatest wonders of Christmas.  Jesus came as a baby for ALL humanity.  Not just for the Jews, and not just for those of us already kneeling before him.  What a tremendous gift.  The best gift ever!

Jesus, thank you so much for giving up your place in heaven to walk with us here on earth. Help us to all approach Christmas with the wonder of a toddler.  Help us slow down and breathe in your love.  Give us the grace to use all of our senses - to look, touch, listen, to taste each part of the holiday.  Remind us to be thoughtful in our responses to others, who might be seeing in ways that are different than ours.  Holy Spirit, provide those open doors for everyone to enter into the gift of Christmas.  Jesus, keep our hearts open to every little ducky that might want a place at your manger.  Amen

When a scent brings back memories.... and Operation Christmas Child boxes fulfilling a destiny

This is not the exact picture I was looking for, but it will do.  I think this was taken in the fall of 1994 (Gwen would probably know).  When I stated writing this blog I was actually looking for a different picture of my mom and me, but this one will serve the purpose.  I had one of those really strange experiences this past week.  I put a new "Shower Gel" in the shower and it was one of those seasonal scents that are not really a specific fragrance.  As soon as the hot water hit that shower gel, I was "smelling" my mom!  I can't tell you exactly what about this fragrance it is, but standing there in the shower, I was suddenly missing my mom.  I am always thinking about her around this time of year, since for almost 20 years she would come and stay with us over the Thanksgiving holiday.  We had so much fun and I have so many great memories of being with her during those visits.  As a matter of fact, every time I put up my Christmas tree I think about her.  We always put our tree up while she was visiting so that she had a small part of our Christmas celebrations.  I was just NOT expecting to suddenly be hit with this.

It is funny how these waves of missing just seem to hit at unexpected times.  And it is the littlest things that can trigger the sadness and grief.  Our family is always missing Lucas especially during November.  I am so thankful that we have found a way to not only remember Lucas but also to celebrate his life through Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts.   

Each year we fill boxes with toys and goodies for children around the world.  I always do my boxes for boys around the same age as Lucas would be.  It is easy to think about the little ones who will find joy and hope in these simple gifts.  The best part of these boxes is that the children also hear about Jesus.  As I am filling each box,  it feels like I am helping to fulfill a bit of the destiny that Jesus had planned for Lucas.  In this small thing, children far away are hearing the Gospel message.  Even before Lucas was born, I felt that his destiny was as an evangelist who would carry the Gospel to the world in unusual ways.  So even though his life was only 10 days here on earth, Jesus has given us a way to see Lucas' destiny and his legacy to be carried out.  So many of the Operation Christmas Child stories show that in many cases, whole areas are transformed through these boxes.  Churches are built and lives are changed.  I am so thankful for this meaningful way to honor Lucas.  If you haven't heard of this great ministry of Samaritan's Purse, check out Operation Christmas Child.  Even though this years collection has ended, it is not too late!  You can pack a box "on line"! 

Yes, the missing is hard.  But when you can celebrate the memories and also honor your loved ones through helping others, the pain is lessened.  I am so thankful that our hope is found in Jesus.  The Christmas season is a wonderful time to reflect on God's great rescue plan to bring us all back into fellowship with him.  The season of Advent in the church is a time of waiting and preparing.  It's a great time to stop and reflect on the miracle of Christmas.  I recently saw this idea posted on line and I think it is a great one.  The Gospel of Luke has 24 chapters.  Just enough to read one chapter a day.  When you complete this during Advent, you will have read the story of Jesus' life.  I challenge you to join me and read one chapter of Luke each day.  You can read two today to catch up!  It will surely be a Christmas blessing for you.

Jesus, thank you for speaking your destiny for each of us.  Holy Spirit reach out to those who are having a hard time during this season.  Bring your comfort and peace to them.  Give us all insight into ways that we can honor and remember those who have died.  Jesus, bless all of those millions of Operation Christmas Child boxes and bring each one to exactly the right little boy or girl.  Thank you for your great rescue plan.  Amen