God's Day Off

The past few years, I have always thought I should not ask the Lord for anything on November 24th.  Instead, I would just thank Him.  This year I put the idea into practice.  On Wed. I was wondering how I would be able to make it through a whole day without asking the Lord for anything. "Maybe I should just do it for half of the day." I thought.  But Thanksgiving day came and I woke up with nothing but thanks and praise in my prayer time.

I read some of the Psalms where the author is praising and thanking the Lord for His goodness, His love, and kindness.  Normally, I would pray "Lord, please help me through this day.  I know it's going to be a long day, so I ask for the strength to get the work done in a way that is glorifying to You."  But that morning my prayers went something like this: "Thank You Lord for how You will help me through today.  Thank You that I am able to go to work and be a blessing to those around me.  I thank You for my family and I thank You for how You will be with Janel and Daniel as they are away from home this year."  

On my eighteen minute drive home from work around 7:20 p.m., I was still full of thanksgiving and praise to the Lord.  I was amazed at how He had helped me at work and that my co-worker who normally acts quite rude to me was somewhat nice to me.  I was a bit surprised that I had (almost) made it through a whole day of not asking anything from the Lord. I was almost in tears because of how gracious the Lord had been to me. 

I had no idea how much I ask for things until I didn't ask for anything for a whole day.  When I realized this, I felt like a needy person.  I was humbled.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Music for my Life

One time my (then) 15 year old cousin mentioned the following question, while we were playing a round of Bible Trivia:

"Wouldn't it be neat if there was background music for our lives?"  

I have thought of Rebecca's rhetorical question over the past few months.  If there were background music for my life - the happy times, the hardships, the questioning times, the quiet times, the waiting times, the exciting times, the funny times - there would be quite (may I repeat: quite) a variety!

There would be Classical (full orchestra and piano, very little Strauss please!), Celtic, hymns, Nickel Creek, Ohio State marching band, The Kings Brass, Appalachian Bible College choral, northern and southern songs from the Civil War, some songs from the 1940's - 1970's,  patriotic marches, the Boston Pops orchestra, the theme song from The Walton's, and soundtracks from Gods and Generals, Fiddler on the Roof,  Pride and Prejudice, Little Woman (by Thomas Newman), Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story,  Man from Snowy River,  Return to Snowy River, The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian, and Ladies in Lavender (one of my all time favorite soundtracks!).

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I hope you all have a blessed day!  There is SO much to be thankful for!  This year will be a bit different for my family; my sister, her husband and 18 month old daughter moved to Panama (the country) last week.  Because they will be gone for three - six months, we had our Thanksgiving meal last Sunday.  I am glad we had it last Sunday because I have to work on Thanksgiving day at the nursing home, in the kitchen.  Mom, dad and I talked it over and decided that mom will eat with her mom (she's in an assisted living) and dad will come and eat with me (when I'm done serving the residents).  It will not be a 'traditional' Thanksgiving for us, but that's OK.  It is good to move out of 'tradition' every now and then and be different.  (Insert song "Tradition" from Fiddler on the Roof: " . . . how did this tradition get started? I will tell you:  I don't know.")

 

I am thankful that I live where I can see the sun set and the moon rise. (Insert hymn This Is my Father's World and For the Beauty of The Earth) I'm thankful there is color in the world.  I'm thankful for my parents, my sister and her lovely little family.  I'm thankful I can hear.  I'm thankful for music.  I am thankful for the hard times in my life that make me grow. (Insert hymn Day by Day and It Is Well) I am thankful I grew up and live on a farm. (Insert Flight of The Bubble Bees) I'm thankful I can feel things; like my niece's little hand in mine when we pray. 

I am thankful that I am saved by a King who loves me so much, He died and rose again for me.  I'm thankful that He loves me too much to leave me alone.  I am thankful He had promised to meet all my needs, according to His riches in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19)  I am thankful that He has a plan for my life.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

(Insert hymn Count Your Many Blessings and Come Ye Thankful People)

Joy of my life

I would like to introduce you to the Joy of my life.  She is less than three feet tall, weighs less than 35 pounds and is eighteen months old.  

Little Munchkin was born at home.  She came a week or so earlier than we expected.   I was having a very bad day at college because I found out I had to re-write a whole paper.  I called home to vent a little bit.  But mom did not answer.  So I called my pregnant sister,Janel.  The phone rang and rang; no one answered.  I resorted to emailing both mom and Janel.  Then my phone rang.  "Has Daniel (Janel's husband) called you?" Mom asked.  Mom ended up telling me the news that Natasha Marie had arrived.  One would think that a first time Aunt would be smiling from ear to ear with delight.  I was the opposite.  Not that I wasn't happy - I was! However, I still had about two weeks of college left before someone could make the six hour drive down to bring me home for the summer.  I sat on my bed and cried.  After I got off the phone, I looked at my roommate and said "I'm an Aunt!"  She smiled and said "Would you like to go out for dinner?"  Roommates know just what to do when you've had a rough day!  (Love you, Julie!)

I made it home a few weeks later, and saw my little niece when the new, young family arrived at church.  I had happy tears in my eyes, which made everything blurry.  "What do you think of her?"  Janel asked.  I cannot remember exactly what I said but it was something along the lines of "I can't see her." 

Natasha has grown a lot since that first day I met her. 

This little girly loves books and shoes.  Let me re-phrase that:  She loves books and is obsessed with shoes!

If your shoes are setting around, they may walk off without you.

How can you not love a face like that?

She melts my heart.

I love you Natasha Marie.  So much! <3

When Clothes Speak

I'm sure there are girls out there who, like myself, do not have a brother, but wish they did.  One of the reasons I longed for a brother was to have him advise me on what clothes to wear and how to wear them in a manner that will help men keep a pure mind and heart.  I found this article tonight and would encourage my fellow brother-less friends out there to read it.  (Even if you do have a brother, it would be interesting to see if his thoughts blend or clash with the article.)  Years ago I came across Alex and Brett Harris' wonderful modesty survey results; it has been a tremendous help to me! 
So if you have nothing to do for the next two hours, I suggest you hop over to the above sights and read with an open mind.

Death: a part of Life

My great Aunt passed away last week; the funeral was this week.  I was not very close to Aunt Isabelle at all.  But because she was my Grandpa's sister, it made me think about Grandpa.  He died two years ago, in January, just a little over three months after my Aunt died, who I was very close to.  I don't understand death.
I work at a nursing home, in the kitchen, so I don't get to know the residents like the nurses do.  But I still get sad when I clock in and find out we have one less mouth to feed.  What makes the heart stop beating?  I can understand if a person has cancer, like my Grandpa.  But what about Aunt Isabelle?  Yes she was 91 years old, but she didn't have cancer. What caused her heart to stop beating?  Mom always says that death is a part of life.  But I still don't understand it.

I have gone to funerals ever since I can remember.  I have been to more funerals than weddings.  I've been to more weddings than baby showers.  In my mind that says the worlds population is dying off faster than they can get married and have children.  (This could be a real problem, you know.)
But then maybe I understand why some people are not getting married.  I felt such loss after my Aunt died of Cystic Fibrosis, and left behind a devoted and loving husband and three daughters.  And I still see the emptiness my Grandma feels, after a husband of over 50 years is no longer with her. 

Why spend so much time getting to know someone and then they die?  I thought after my Aunt died.  Why put someone through so much hurt and pain?  I really struggled with thoughts like that after my loved ones passed on.  But over the years, I've realized that it's easier to go through life building relationships, instead of avoiding then.  Why did God create Eve if He thought Adam was fine by himself?  "The LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a helper suitable for him.' " Genesis 2: 18  And then there is the advice of Solomon: "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work; If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" Ecclesiastes 4:9-10  Solomon also says: "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17  Yes, it is better to have friendships, than to walk the road of life alone.  And yes, death is a part of life.  But God is there, in the happy times and the sad times; there are lessons to be learned in both.

There was a poem in Aunt Isabelle's remembrance card and I really like it:

Miss Me - But Let Me Go

When I come to the end of the road and the sun has set for me,

I want no rites in a gloom-filled room.

 Why cry for a soul set free? 

Miss me a little - but not too long

And not with your head bowed low.

Remember the love that we once shared.

Miss me - but let me go.

For this is a journey that we all must take, and each must go alone.

It's all a part of the Master's plan, a step on the road to home.

When you are lonely and sick of heart, go to the friends that we know.

And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds.

Miss me - but let me go.