It is a small world!

 It has been a reflective few days for me.  Yesterday my sister Julie, who just died in January of this year, would have turned 76.  And tomorrow it will be two years since Ken died.  Grief is a funny thing.  At the least expected moment, suddenly there are reminders and you realize that you just don't feel "right".  That aptly describes how I was feeling on Friday.  It took me a little while to understand exactly what I had been feeling.  Thankfully, I was able to connect the feelings to the facts of the time.  I miss both my sister and Ken more at these times.  It was also a drab, cloudy and cold day on Friday, which certainly contributed to my depressed emotions.  But then, Saturday, I had one of those "you just can't make this stuff up" happen.

It has been 50 years since I graduated high school.  Wow, it is really interesting to actually put that on paper.  The top picture is my yearbook from 1972.  There are eight yearbooks from Elk Grove High School, sitting on a shelf in my bedroom closet.  Four of these are Ken's (1968-1971) and four of these are mine (1969-1972).  I recently looked at this stack and thought, "Why am I hanging on to these?  I should probably throw them out."  On Saturday I was especially glad that I did not follow through with that and toss these in the garbage.  Let me tell you a little story....

Years and years ago (think 48 or 49 years), Ken and I had a small group of  "couple" friends who we spent most Friday or Saturday evenings, enjoying games and laughter.  Some couples were just dating, some were soon to be married and some were already married.  There were a few single friends also.  

When I think back to those evenings, usually we were pretty crowded into someone's small apartment living room.  I often think back to those impromptu parties and wonder about those friends from our early years.  After a short while, we all moved to new places, new jobs and newer friends.  So we lost touch with most of this crowd.  Ken and I stayed in contact with my good friend Marie and her husband Dave.  In the last few years, Marie and I discovered that her daughter lives very close to Gwen and Tim.  Pretty surprising since this is a really large metropolitan area and Marie and Dave lived in Wisconsin since shortly after their marriage.  

Part of the reason that Ken and I lost contact with most of this group of friends, is also a big part of my faith journey.  I don't know exactly how it happened, but several of these couples were part of the Bahai faith.  They had a plan to try to persuade Ken and I to join their faith and begin meeting with them.  We received several invitations to private meetings to discuss Bahai with them, we were given material and books to read and there was a pretty big push for us to join their fellowship.  I had been raised in the Lutheran church and Ken was raised Presbyterian.   While we enjoyed this group of friends and wanted to remain in their circle, we were not interested in joining Bahai.  I am very thankful for my pastor at the time (he actually married Ken and I).  I asked to meet with him and we had a long discussion about Bahai.  He helped me to put words to my faith and not be swayed by this group.  This was the first time that my faith in Jesus was put to the test.  It was a defining moment for me and helped me to move forward confidently knowing that Jesus was my true Savior.  Unfortunately, we were basically cut out of fellowship with these "friends" after we stood our ground and rejected Bahai. 

If you are still following along, here is the REASON for this story today.  This year, I decided to actually "join" Gwen and Tim's church - Fellowship of Faith.  Recently, the church has started a Bible Reading plan on the YouVersion Bible app.  Last week, out of curiosity, I was scanning the list of people who had signed up for this Bible reading plan.  I happened upon a very unusual first name.  I have only ever known (or heard of) one person with this name.  And it was one of those friends from the story I just shared.  I actually knew this gal WAY BACK in high school.  We shared many classes together and had many mutual friends, including my friend Marie.  Ken and I and Marie and Dave attended this friends wedding, held at the Bahai Temple in Evanston.   Shortly after this, I totally lost contact with her.  After a few years, Marie also no longer had a good address for her and knew that she had been divorced.    Over the years, she was someone who would come to mind and I would wonder where she ended up.  

When I finally remembered to actually ask Gwen if she knew this person from the Bible plan, she said "Of course, why?"  I gave her a quick back story and she proceeded to text this gal's daughter - who happens to be someone that Gwen knows well.  She asked if her mother had happened to attend Elk Grove High School, which was certainly an odd question coming out of the blue.  When the answer was yes, I was just amazed.  Here this "lost" friend from 50 years ago, is actually attending the same church as me.  As a matter of fact, her family is actually a part of my new small group "Table Dinner".  I had been at a dinner with her, talked briefly with her about her grandkids, but never realized who she was!  

What an amazing story of just how small our world really is.  When I messaged Marie that I had found Lalin, she was so surprised and asked me to forward her information so they could connect.  

The best part of this story for me is that I found her through a Bible reading plan.  I thought that I had lost her because of her decision to be a part of Bahai.  But God is faithful!  What a wonderful reminder that Jesus is drawing people to himself.  I can't wait to spend some time catching up with her and hearing her journey to knowing more about Jesus.  Wow, am I thankful that she is doing this Bible Plan with me!

Isn't it amazing who personal Jesus is?  This connection didn't just happen.  Jesus is in it for sure!  Last night I was considering this - that Jesus would care so much that he would bring this person back into my life after almost 50 years.  More than that, Jesus reminded me of this very important part of my faith journey, one that I had not remembered or even thought about.  Thanks to this event, my first adult decision to follow Jesus will now be included in my book.  I am looking forward to connecting more with my long lost friend in the weeks ahead!

Jesus, I am totally humbled that you would care about me and this small event in my life.  Thank you for using everything in our life to draw us even closer to you.  Holy Spirit, thank you for bringing me to Fellowship of Faith.  Continue to bless those that developed the YouVersion Bible app that has made Your word accessible to so many.  Thank you Jesus, for being with me as I grieve Julie and Ken.  Holy Spirit, comfort all who mourn.  Thank you Jesus for your plans and purposes for each of us.  Amen

Behind the scenes (for a really long time)...

I have been doing this blog since May, 2013. There are, in fact 842 blog posts that have been read an astonishing 74.1 million times, by people in more than 26 countries.  I never expected that people would read these posts and I never expected to see this blog still happening in 2022.  I have never really shared exactly how and why this blog even came into being.  So, I think it is finally time to share a deeper view into the last more than 9 years.  It is time to finally admit to the world (and myself,) "I am a writer". 

Several years before the beginning of this blog, I had thought about, talked about and considered writing.  While not that unusual, it was really out of my "wheelhouse" - not something that I had ever thought I would do.  In the 1990's and early 2000's I had spent time creating curriculum for children's programing that had proved to be quite successful.  One of my pastors at the time, had encouraged me to try to get some of this material published.  However, during that season of my life, I had neither the time or the money to do that.  I love to read and have spent much time with a book in my hands.  Many a night I didn't get enough sleep because I just couldn't put that book down!  Some of my earliest memories are at a public library.  I had my own library card at 6 years old!  Something that was not common in 1960.  While I loved books, I really didn't consider writing one.  

Soon after my mom died in 2011, I had a very vivid dream in which my mom appeared.  She gave me a golden tray with a pen on it and she said "You must write it".  This was the first dream I had about my mom since her death and it was very real.  I had been kicking around the idea of starting a blog (which was very popular in 2012) but I just couldn't arrive at a catchy name for my blog.  After several months of trying to figure out a name, Gwen told me "Just start the blog under your own name!  Who cares what it is called!"  So, I obediently set out as a new blogger.  In those early years, Google was sharing blogs opening across many platforms and I suddenly had readers from all over the world.  It was an encouragement to continue to put my thoughts, my ideas - my life into these blogs.  They became a diary of sorts, that I knew would be passed on to my grandchildren and that seemed like enough reason to continue  to write them. 

The idea that there was more to the writing than a blog, never left me.  I started to feel that the story I needed to write was about my grandparents - my mother's parents.  Because I really didn't have much information about them or their early life, it seemed to me that it would be a fictional story based on their life.  So I sat down at my computer and suddenly the pages were filled with words.  When I closed my computer that first day, I had no idea where it would lead me.  The next time I opened that document, I was stunned to read the words that I had written. And the outline of this story just flooded my mind.  However, it just seemed like some kind of silly thing.  Really, who actually writes a book? Certainly not me.  I wrote a few pages, here and there.  I would open the document, read a few pages, write a couple paragraphs and then close the document.  Gwen has never stopped encouraging me to keep on writing. I certainly needed that encouragement.  

Last Thursday I was invited to dinner by my distant cousin Dave Anderson and his wife, Carolyn.  He and I connected several years ago through a family Facebook group.  Due to Covid it has been years since we have talked.  At our dinner, Dave was excited to share with me that he had been thinking that possibly I should write a book about our common family - my dad's parents!  He had no idea that I was currently writing about my mom's parents.  

So, here we are now in 2022.  I have the first part of a three part book, mostly written.  I have begun writing part two and part three.  In the last few weeks, additional book ideas have more or less fallen into my lap.  I have begun to get serious about writing, joining some writing groups and registering for conferences.  I have been thinking about who might read the book I am writing.  I have been considering what should be added and subtracted from the words already on the pages.  Not many people know that I have been writing a book.  Very few know the story line of these writings.  But it seems very real to me, all of a sudden.  Now, you all know!

Behind this entire writing project is the sure knowledge that Jesus is in it all.  It was a prompting from the Holy Spirit, that even had me considering writing this blog.  I knew that I wanted to share the amazing way that Jesus was living and active in and through me.  The very idea and story line of this book was a revelation of the Holy Spirit.  One thing is certain, for reasons that I can't understand, I am a writer.  Over the next few weeks, months and (most likely) years, I will need to keep reminding myself, I am a writer!  

Jesus, thank you for your plans and purposes for each of us that you have had since before we were born.  Holy Spirit, help us to be open to the ways you choose to use us, even when they seem so out of possibility.  Jesus, you are a God of the impossible!  Thank you for continuing to provide the nudges that we need to fulfill your plans for us.  Give us courage to walk out these plans without fearing what people will think.  Thank you for your love and care for each of us.  Amen

Sunny, warm family time, reflections on the past year and looking ahead!

 We all got together at an incredible park, half way between the Johnson and Rowley homes.  We have great difficulty finding a time that everyone is available to be together.  So this day was a special treat to help me celebrate my recent birthday.  This park was extra special with something for every age from Jimmy all the way through the adults.  We had a short break to have some snacks and the kids all enjoyed a special treat of freeze pops that Doug and Susie provided.  It was over 80 degrees so that was a welcome cooling and hydrating snack!  The kids climbed, ran, played tag, and all of them (except Jimmy) went down a really cool long metal slide placed into the side of a big hill.  These times together, are especially good when the kids leave tired and ready for the ride home.  

These last two years have really gone by quickly.  At times it feels like a very long time since Ken died.  But then there are those days that it seems like he was just here.  One of the things that happened in the last weeks was an unexpected needed repair to my home.  The ceiling drywall in Ken's camera room cracked in several places and began to fall.  It was open to the attic in several places.  Thanks to Doug's quick actions, everything was moved out of the room.  I was able to get a local handyman to come within a few hours.  Apparently, when my house was built in 1977, they used nails instead of screws to hang the drywall.  And after years, it just dries out and the nails give way and the longer span of drywall begins to fail.  This handyman was able to support the ceiling with temporary bracing and came back two days later to make the permanent repairs.  I am incredibly thankful that we have mostly cleared out and stored all of Ken's camera equipment so nothing was damaged. The two years seemed more real after these repairs were made. 

Last week I shared some Instagram posts that I wrote as a special writing project.  I am making an effort to write every day in this next year.  I have a large project that I have been working on for several years and I would like to complete it by this time next year.  I don't want to stop blogging, so I will be (hopefully) posting a bit more regularly that I have been. Blogging has seemed overwhelming in the last few months.  All of a sudden, it doesn't seem quite as daunting to me!  So get ready for more words from me!

Today in church, we sang  Revelation Song It was such a great worshipful experience, one that I much needed.  I will most likely have this song on repeat over the next few weeks. Being in this place of worship is a great place to begin a new year for me and a good place to end this blog. Join me in worship by clicking on the song.  

Jesus, we are filled with wonder at your name. You are the breath and the living water that sustains us.  Thank you for family times and wonderful times of worship.  Holy Spirit, help us to stay in this place of worship as we go into a new week.  Amen

Going from zero to sixty in just a short time!

 I've certainly had one of those seasons where I was "less busy" than at other times of my life.  Covid certainly had a part in this.  But that wasn't ALL of the reason that I seemed to be treading water - just staying exactly where I had been.  Some of it related to the season since Ken's death.  Again, it was expected that there would be time to adjust. Then, as I mentioned in my last blog, I did a 31day prayer focus journal.  I am here to tell you that when you pray, things happen.  When you expand your prayers to include the world, you are thrust into the world.  When you pray for people near to you, people you have lost contact with, or people you see every day, prayers are answered.  

I visited Uganda in 2004 at the same time as I was in Kenya.  Since then, there was always a place in my heart for the people of Uganda.  I included Uganda in my prayers for the nations of the world, during this 31 day prayer focus.  I should not be surprised that right in the middle of those 31 days, I was approached to be on the board of a Ministry called Sunbeams Uganda.  This followed closely with the answered prayers that reconnected me to my friend in Kenya.  It was clear that Jesus is doing something here!  So over the last few weeks, there has been much learning on my part.  I have been captivated by getting to know and understand the heart and the vision of this ministry to bring real change to a small village in Uganda. I have spent hours networking with various organizations and also meeting some wonderful new friends that also share a connection to Uganda.  Sunbeams Uganda has already brought clean water to the village by digging a well.  The next focus is to help the village build a primary school so that their young children don't have to walk 4.5 Kilometers each way to the closest school.  To get a look at some of the faces of the children in this small village, click on this link SunbeamsUganda.org.  It is a bit of a daunting task to consider the amount of dollars necessary to make these big changes for a small village.  But Jesus said to "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Luke 13:16) These pictures are from my visit to Uganda in 2004.  

I noticed these two boys while I was speaking to the children.  They couldn't understand why I would want to take their picture!  This photo always comes to mind, anytime I am thinking about Uganda.  It was if Jesus was saying to me that he was connecting Chicago, USA with the children of Uganda. And now, years later, I have been presented with another opportunity to bring the love of Jesus, as well as practical help to the children of Uganda.  So, for now, I am just holding on tight as my not so long ago somewhat dull life, has now transformed into a rapidly developing, fast moving, calendar filling adventure.  

For years I was quite content to sit in the back pew of church and pray for those "special" ones who decided to be bold and actually GO and serve.  Not everybody has to travel around the world to do what Jesus is asking of them.  There are so many opportunities, even in our neighborhoods, our churches, and with so many other organizations.  And, as I have just been reminded so clearly, prayers really matter and things happen when we pray.  My encouragement to you, no matter where you are, no matter what season of your life, be open to making a difference for someone else. Come and join me on this wild ride!

Jesus, thank you for your plans for us.  You know exactly what we need in every season of our life.  You bring opportunities to us and connect us to others when you know the time is right.  Thank you for your plan and purpose for every child.  Holy Spirit, keep us all open to the new things that you might be placing in our path.  Give us courage and boldness to reach out and take those risks that are placed before us.  Thank you for answered prayers, for reconnection with old friends and wisdom to know how to move ahead.  

This week went "swimmingly"...

As you might expect, the middle of July was plenty warm.  It was perfect for some swimming.  Anyone who knows me well, will know that I love to swim.  The water, being in the water, being by the water, listening to the water, walking by the water, is my happy place.  It was an incredible blessing for me when Gwen and Tim got a swimming pool.  I have been able to swim more than any other summer.  Now that their kids are older, it is especially fun for me.  This past week, Gwen and Lia were off at the National  Youth Gathering from their church.  Tim was home for this one, so I was just needed during one day to be with the younger three kids.  While the day started off raining and storming, the sun came out in the afternoon and we had a wonderful couple hours in the pool. These kids swim like fish and they spend a lot of time underwater! I managed to snap one picture while they were (mostly) above the water!

During my regular time with Grace and Jimmy, I set up their small "splash pad/pool" in the backyard.  This is the perfect size for Jimmy since you can walk right into it (a wading pool has to be "stepped" into and most times little ones fall or step on the sides and let the water out).  

As you can see, Grace brought over her small slide and it made a perfect splashdown in the small collection of water in the middle of this splash pad.  Needless to say, it provided lots of cooling fun for Grace and even kept Jimmy mostly occupied for over an hour.  I put my feet in the water spray and enjoyed just sitting in a chair, watching them splash around.  

Another way this week went so well, was an unexpected email I received.  During the month of July, I am doing a 31 day intensive focused prayer program.  Part of the program includes spending time each day praying for countries around the world.  I began the program praying for any county that I had a personal connection to.  As I have blogged in the past, I met and befriended a very special Kenyan woman named Lucy in 2004 when I visited Kenya on a Mission Trip.  I lost touch with her somewhere around 2013 when her ministry really expanded.  She is a radio host, founder and leader of a large Ministry, has an orphanage that she founded and oversees.  I have continued to follow her (from the internet) by watching some of the weekly Facebook events that she posts.  Most of the time, they are not in English so I don't understand much of what is said.  But for me, it is so good to see just how far the Lord has taken her and her family.  After just a week of praying for Lucy, I got an exciting email.  Lucy was trying to connect with me and had lost my contact phone number.  We have exchanged emails over the last week and I am certain I will be speaking with her soon.  Isn't prayer amazing?  Jesus can really do seemingly impossible things for us, if we just ask.  So for me, this 31 day prayer program has taken on a whole new feeling.  I am much more connected to my prayers, to Jesus and my faith has grown.  I am believing to see many miracles from this 31 days!  I am sure you will hear more about it in the weeks to come.  

Spending this July swimming, being with the grandkids, helping out my kids, being outside in the sunshine, and concentrating on prayer, has made this a truly wonderful summer.  I have been working on my 2019 scrapbooking.  As of now, I have only printed pictures up to Easter.  It has been sort of bittersweet to actually "see" from the photos, how Ken's illness was progressing.  Hindsight  tells me I should have been more aware, but I also know that we were just praying for his health to settle down.  I am just so thankful for all of the photos I have as well as all of the places and people we visited.  My encouragement to everyone is to stop the busyness and see those friends.  Go to those places on your bucket lists.  Plan those trips, in spite of the gas prices.  Take the time and GO SWIMMING!

Jesus, thank you for the sunshine and the warm weather.  Holy Spirit, remind us that people are more important than things.  Keep our focus on you, Jesus.  Remind us to pray when we lose sight of your plan.  Give us all the ability to have fun.   Remind us to live each moment knowing your provision for us, and your plan for our life.  Thank you Jesus for summer days filled with laughter.  Amen

 

Fourth of July marching by.....share your story!

Doug and Susie invited me to their local Fourth of July parade again this year.  Ken and I came to this parade two years (prior to Covid).  This was my second "solo" year and It was as much fun as always.  This hour long parade provided a LARGE amount of candy for Grace and Jimmy loved the entire thing.  He didn't even flinch when the fire trucks came by.  He was just enthralled with everything passing by. 

We had quite the set up perfect for watching the action.  The "grands" in the back row! We all appreciated the "Freeze Pops" that were passed out - even Jimmy!  It was hot but there was a great breeze.   My favorite part of the entire day was Grace proclaiming "This is the BEST day ever!"  

Holidays are interesting when you have lost your spouse.  Even though it has almost been two years, I was surprised to be missing Ken on this day.  I would not have expected this, but because this was something Ken loved so much, I really felt it. 

 

 2018

2019

The passage of time really is odd.  In some ways it seems like these almost two years have flown by.  But in other ways it has really seemed like a long time.  The thing about grief is that it sneaks up on you.  You know that certain days will be hard but then, out of the blue, the missing hits you.  I am so thankful for my family.  Being with the kids, being included in these activities, really helps. I have been making plans to visit some of Ken's favorite spots. There is always joy when I find that perfect "photo" spot and think, "Ken would love this".  There are so many favorite spots, it will be a busy summer! 

I've just started a new Bible/prayer study that is 31 days of prayer.  While I always journal, it is really good to try something new and have a new direction for my quiet time.  I have also been motivated to begin writing again.  I have been working for years on a book, but it has spent a lot of time "on the back shelf".  I am so thankful for this burst of inspiration and am hopeful that it will continue.  My friend recently gifted me this table decoration.  It has become an inspiration for me. 

I have begun to realize that everyone has a story to tell.  Unfortunately Ken's story was much too short.  He used photography to show his inner thoughts to those around him.  He loved order and beauty.  For a long time, different architecture was his passion.  Bridges, barns, buildings and towers filled his frames.  But as he got more and more unwell physically, he turned to flowers and all living things of nature.  The solid, never changing buildings had sort of dissolved into drab, fallen down barns or ancient ruins which then led him to the growing, colorful, alive plants.  It was as if he was desperately trying to hold on to the life that he knew, deep inside, was being cut short.  So I have taken "Embrace your Story" to heart and begun writing in earnest.  All of us have a story.  A testimony of how God has been with us - even if we didn't think He was.  Our children and grandchildren need to know our stories.  The people around us need to know our story.  The world needs to hear our story.  Take this phrase to heart, Embrace Your Story.  And then share it.

Jesus, you have told us that people will know who you are through our testimony.  Holy Spirit, give us courage and boldness to share the good and the bad times.  Thank you for family and friends. Provide opportunities for us to reach out to those around us.  Open our eyes to the needs of our community, our nation and our world.  Thank you for times of celebration.  Amen

A whirlwind week with the kids - being a missionary to my own family!

 I spent last week with Ellie, Zeke and Anna while Gwen, Tim and Lia were on their yearly mission trip.  It was a super fun, busy, and yet very relaxing week for me. While I am actually spending the week as a fill in for mom and dad, I always feel as if it is my own mission trip.  I have a daily reminder to pray for the students and adults who are with Gwen and Tim and I love knowing exactly what they are doing each day.  The kids take the prayer time we have each day very seriously and some very specific prayers were shared.  I especially know that these times with my grandchildren are precious.  So many memories are made.  The time actually flies by and I can't believe when we come to the end of the 8 days.  

Over the eight days we visited 4 playgrounds, 1 skatepark, 3 stores, 5 fast food restaurants, 1 breakfast restaurant, a nail salon, an outdoor dance program and art show,  and 1 bowling alley and the favorite ice cream place - the TeePee. We also played so many rounds of Hues and Clues and also Disney Trivia.  Ellie had three dance practices and we all swam every day but the last day (which was a very cool 72 degrees).  There were so many crafts, thanks to the daily gifts that Gwen prepared for the kids.  We did beading (which was much harder than you might think), decorated bird feeders, magic art (which was really magic), did some detective decoding, made some origami animals, did some fashion designing, and colored some sun catchers.   I tried to get these photo collages with pictures from each day and they are pretty close. Here is the fist Saturday.

And then Sunday.  After church we stopped at the store and picked up some treats for the week.  And we also played lots of games. On Monday we went out for ice cream and we also visited the Dollar Tree for some treats. Tuesday and Wednesday were HOT! I was so thankful for their pool and we spent lots of time in the water.  

 

On Thursday we all had a pedicure.  Gwen had tried to get me in for a pedicure before this week but they were booked!  So I decided to take all of the younger kids - including Zeke!  It was his first experience and he loved it.  He said his feet felt really good.  It was only Anna's second or third time for an actual pedicure experience so it was lots of fun. We visited the "Big park" (as the kids call it) and the Skate Park before having our pedicure and finished it off with Culvers for lunch.

On Friday we ate breakfast at a restaurant, visited another playground (my favorite). Eating breakfast out was Ken's favorite thing to do and we had started taking each of the kids out by themselves for a special treat. Sadly because of Covid and then Ken's sickness, Anna never got a turn.  But this reminds me of those special times. In the afternoon we went bowling.  I USED to be a really good bowler.  Sigh.  I never came close to 100.  Zeke was pleased to win both games and both Ellie and Anna did really well.  It reminded me how much I miss bowling!

Our last day together started off watching Ellie dance in an outdoor performance for the local Art Fair in Grayslake.  The Spotlight group shared some of the recital dances. It was a wonderfully cool 72 degrees and actually nice to sit in the sun and watch the show.  Ellie did such a wonderful job and I am always so impressed by the quality of these performances.  This studio is amazing.   After the show we stopped at Burger King for lunch and the kids got crowns!

One of the last things I did was help Anna hang her bird feeder on one of the many trees in their backyard.  She was delighted that a bird found the feeder and was eating some of the seed.  I was enjoying the cool breezes in their sunroom when Gwen, Tim and Lia got home.  I was sad to leave, but also glad to be home.  

The kids have all grown up so much.  I had as much fun as the kids at all of these activities.  It was so neat to hear the kids play "Concentration" in the back seat of the car.  And I learned about a new finger game called "Sticks".  (This game actually has a math component so the kids are adding and subtracting while they play! It is really cool).  We had many great conversations and I am amazed at the depth of their thinking, the creativity of their ideas and just how thoughtful and kind they are.  I am so proud of them.  

On Sunday morning I had the opportunity to teach in the Rock Kids program.  There were 10 younger kids (3yrs -Kindergarten) and we were teaching the story of Ruth.  Now this is usually a very hard story for kids to really understand.  But this curriculum is just fantastic.  The kids were "gleaning" yellow feathers from the ground after the "harvesters" had left some of the feathers for the "Ruths" to pick up.  From this story the kids learned that God gives us hope even in bad situations.  We talked about kindness and caring.  And the kids made a basket to put some "wheat" in.  So much fun.  

It is a wonderful thing to feel like a missionary.  Being able to bring the message of the Gospel to those around you.  When I was adding the bird seed to Anna's birdfeeder, I was thinking about all of the seeds that I had been able to sow into Ellie, Zeke and Anna during this week.  What a blessing to be also have sown some seeds to those kids in Rock.  More importantly, I heard the message loud and clear.  There is hope in Jesus. In every circumstance. We all need this message today.   So much more happens during a mission trip than just whatever activities are planned.  Relationships are built.  Stories are shared.  And then people learn about Jesus.  It really is a time of being the hands and feet and the "skin" of the Gospel.  I was so blessed to be a small part in this mission time in my family.  So, so blessed.  

I ended the week filled with hope for the future.  When you see children and youth so on fire to serve Jesus and to share and care for others, your hope for future of our country soars.  I encourage you to look around and find the ones that are marching out into the darkness around us with the light of Jesus.  The world doesn't look as bad or as hopeless then.  I don't think there is anything that shines brighter than a faith-filled child.  Be like them!  Let your light shine!

Jesus, thank you for filling me with hope and joy and peace.  Holy Spirit, remind all of the children and youth and adults touched by this past weeks mission experience that Jesus loves them.  Keep them close during these next weeks as they go back to their normal life.  Jesus give us courage and boldness to shine our light into the darkness around us.  Thank you Jesus for your love.  Amen