Another Faithful Servant Arrives Home

One of Josh's coworkers, the grandmother of 3 children I used to care for when I was doing childcare, died today. She'd had breast cancer about 2 years ago and beat it. Only two weeks ago, she was still at work but had just found out her cancer cell levels were going up again. She flew out to CA for treatment (Her sister is a dr out there.) which she had done the first time. However, Josh and his coworkers just got word today that she lost her battle with cancer and was welcomed home into our Savior's arms.

She served her Lord faithfully in her niche in the Spanish ministry.

"¡Hiciste bien, siervo bueno y fiel!" -Matthew 25:21, Nueva Version International ("Well done, good and faithful servant!" - Matthew 25:21, NIV)

E's 11th Birthday

Eleven years ago I became a mom for the first time! No matter what others say to the person with a birthday at Christmastime, how it must stink to have your birthday so close to such a big celebration, I must say that from the parents' perspective, having a baby, especially your first, at Christmastime is such a special experience. I know that I felt a special connection with Mary as I cradled my own baby in my arms that Christmas in 1998. A whole new understanding permeated the words, "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:19 NIV)

And now, 11 years later, our sweet little Christmas bundle is growing into a beautiful young woman, inside and out.

E received a mini My Little Pony from her siblings ...

... an instruction book on how to draw fairies and a Never Fairies book from her godmother ...

... and a horse latchhook from Josh and me, perfect for our craft-loving horse lover!

My parents and sister were able to come celebrate with us, too. Grammy and Grandpa gave E an art kit with all kids of art supplies in it.

E chose spaghettios, garlic bread, and mixed raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries for her birthday supper. However, most of the people in our house don't like spaghettios, so I made spaghetti, too. E and F enjoyed the spaghettios while the rest of us ate spaghetti.

E with her cake she made and decorated

Putting all 11 candles in her cake

Happy birthday, E!

(Day 355 of 365)

Metaphor

Clothed in Righteousness

(Day 348 of 365)

Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)

Light

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

(Day 325 of 365)

Looking Up

(Day 317 of 365)

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail. Isaiah 51:6

Rest In Peace

Today we buried Hannah's ashes under the gingko tree we planted in memory of Grace and her.

(Day 254 of 365)

There's no special reason that we did it today. Originally we had to wait til the weather warmed up in order to dig up the ground. Then it seemed we'd only remember to do it at times that didn't work. Both of our baby girls' remains are now laid to rest in the same place.

But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Isaiah 26:19

Marriage Monday, Take 2

It's Marriage Monday again over at Chrysalis. This month's topic is, "Girl Talk: Mothers & Daughters Talk About Love". I'm going to loosely focus on the suggested question, "What are you teaching your daughter about love and marriage?"



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My children are fairly young yet with the oldest only being 10, but I still try to insert little tidbits about love and marriage here and there in our conversations as the opportunities present themselves. If my daughters (and sons) remember nothing else as adults about what I've tried to teach them about marriage, I'd want them to know the importance of marrying a spouse who shares the same faith in God as they do and keeping the Lord foremost in their marriage.

This does not necessarily mean that they should marry a person who is the same denomination as they are (since a Catholic and a Lutheran could share more of the same beliefs than two Lutherans ... or two Catholics for that matter). What it does mean is that, when a person is dating another, they should talk about their beliefs and not shy away from them. Discover any differences. Talk about them. Are the differences merely in regard to religious tradition, or are they doctrinal? Can the differences be resolved, or will they be a stumbling block in a marriage?

Marry someone whose shared faith is as devout as yours. This encompasses not only things like how often you each attend church, but how deeply the other's faith is woven into his life. Faith affects a person's moral and ethical views and how he lives his everyday life and treats others.

There was a time when I was a teenager that I didn't think it mattered too much whether I married a person who shared my faith. In my naivete I thought I could just convert them before we married. But as I got a bit older and slightly wiser and thought about it some more, I knew that I wanted a husband who was strong in his faith. I realized that if he was just willing to convert to my faith, his foundation of faith wasn't anchored very strongly in the first place.

Josh and I have talked and expressed gratitude to each other many times over how blessed we are that God brought us together and that we do share the same faith. I honestly do no know how we would have gotten through the events of the past two years without holding the other up and encouraging each other without our shared faith in God and his eternal promises. Whether one of us is at a weak point and the other is strong, we are both clinging to our Father with white knuckles through tears, or we are celebrating an occasion with joy, we are joined in a marriage rooted in Christ. It is he who binds us together.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiates 4:12b

Make God the third and most important strand in the cord of your marriage.

Rainbows

The sun was shining at suppertime while it was raining, so I thought I'd look outside and see if there was a rainbow. There sure was!

Taken from our backyard

It was absolutely gorgeous!

I walked a few houses over where there is a wide open area to see the rainbow even better. I could see the full rainbow from end to end. If only I could fit it all in one picture!

See the double rainbow faintly above the main one?

The rainbow was really bright for quite a while before it faded.

Then S and I had to leave to attend his 3K preschool orientation. While we were gone, another rainbow appeared, and Josh took some more pictures from our backyard.

Another double rainbow

Such bright, vibrant colors!

(Day 231 of 365)

I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.
Genesis 9:11, 16

And a very happy anniversary to Josh's grandparents who are celebrating their 61st anniversary today!

Marriage Monday, Take 1

I enjoy reading Chrysalis' Marriage Monday series of blog posts as well as those of the other women who participate in this meme.

I've never participated in any meme before, so my participation in this week's Marriage Monday is a first in two respects. The Marriage Monday topic for this week is open. Here goes ...



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I love my husband! I suppose that's not a very unique phrase coming from a married woman. I would hope that all wives could truthfully say the same of their spouse.

I like spending time with my husband! Would as many wives also be able to truthfully utter that phrase? If my ears and deductive abilities don't mislead me, I sadly doubt it.

My husband Josh was recently away at a conference for a week (Mon-Fri). The conference was close enough that he could drive to it, but far enough from our home that he needed to stay overnight. In the 12 years that we've been married, this was the longest we've ever been apart. Neither of us liked it. We missed each other. We talked on the phone one night and chatted online 2 other nights.

While Josh was gone, I happened to post on my Facebook status that he was away for the week and I missed him. Then, on the day he was coming home, I updated my status to say I was excited about it. I received a comment from a friend saying something to the effect of being more excited when her husband was leaving for a few days than when he was coming home. I don't know this person well enough to be familiar with her marriage or to know for sure if she was joking, but I certainly hope she was. If not, I feel sad for her and her husband.

This friend's comments aren't uncommon either. Yes, I understand the need to be alone once in a while, but the way this and similar comments are often phrased imply that the wife (I'm saying wife because that's who I usually hear the comments from.) doesn't like being with her spouse. I know that the comments are most likely tossed off jokingly or sarcastically and meant to get a laugh, but this is your spouse you're talking about. Even if the speaker is only joking, how would your husband feel if he heard you? How would you feel if your spouse said the same about you? Didn't you marry this person to be with him, spend time with him?

Maybe I'm naive and just don't get it. Maybe the fact that Josh and I spent our college summers apart when we were dating because we lived 2000 miles away from each other had some bearing on wanting to spend time with each other in our marriage. No, we don't do everything together, but we enjoy being with each other. We enjoy spending time together, even if it's just grocery shopping or running to the hardware store. (Notice it's enjoying the time together, not going to the hardware store itself, per se.) ;) We've both thought that it would even be nice to work together someday.

It hurts my heart to hear someone say they would rather spend time without their spouse than with them. I feel so sorry for that couple. One of the reasons God created marriage was for companionship (Genesis 2:18). I love my husband and can't imagine living life without him. I would never want to give the impression that I don't like being with him. He is God's best earthly gift to me.

I love my husband. I like spending time with my husband. I am blessed!

Merry Christmas!

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11

Wishing you and yours a very blessed Christmas!