In all my life, my greatest gift has been faith and salvation in Jesus Christ the Lord.  And in our marriage,  in our family – parenting – life work… we are humbled at the mercy of God… the greatest gift — the greatest joy — is walking with Him and knowing our children walk in Truth.   That they, too learn to walk in faith is answer to prayers — many prayers for each of them from birth.  Answered prayer, each having received the gift of salvation in the Lord Jesus.  The baptisms pictured below are of four of our children… to the Praise and Glory of God.

samuel josiah

Wes had the privilege and joy of baptizing them this past summer at the Believer’s conference north of Deer Lake in Eastern Washington.  The first photo is Samuel (was 18 at the time) and then Stephen (15) and then Joseph (13) and then Naomi (12)

We have no greater joy than that our children walk in Truth.
3John – 4

 
stephen joshua

It was a tender time of repentance, of commitment to the Lord Jesus and obedience to walk in His ways.

 
joseph elisha

 
naomi anna-noëlle

Of all the wonderful things that happened in this past year, surely this event is the very best one.  It’s numbered in the entries as #20, but it’s number one… number one of my memories, number one of my hopes and prayers and number one of my goals in parenting our children.

Truly, I have *no greater* joy than that my children walk in Truth.

I attempted to remember that when our family hosted our annual backyard party.  As the cars and vans began to drive down the lane and the friends began to gather, I thought back on the different years — the many years all these friends have gathered.  And yet– and yet, again this year, the crowd didn’t look just the same.  For it was truly was a different crowd — some old friends, some new, some older, many changes, some were missing.  The crowd was different bcz time had passed, events had happened — births and deaths, trials and successes, gains and losses — much had transpired in each family over the previous year.   I stood on our back porch step and looked out at the crowd — some, I’ve now known for decades… some, I had just met that night.

Every year it’s amazing to experience the sweet friendships — budding friendships  — old friends and new.  And that’s why we do it… and that’s why we look forward to it.

I remembered what my daddy had said so long ago — and were he to have lived to see these days, he’d likely still be saying the same thing.  Well, on that day I tried to make a mental image I wouldn’t forget.  I try to remember it all, even now, as I write this.  Funny thing is, just glancing at the crowd pictured below I think of many changes [even since I began to write this entry a few days ago!]  in their lives or things have already changed in the last several months — and will some more — maybe a lot more — before the next annual backyard party coming up in July.

Well, many happy birthdays were celebrated.  A couple were celebrated without the ‘birthday boy’ or ‘birthday girl’ present.  Both Kathryn and Timothy were in Africa (and Timothy just had his second birthday celebration the last baby turned 7 and the first baby turned 29.   In between were all the other wonderful birthdays of our own children (and many other wonderful birthdays as well!!) — 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22, 27… which actually means that some of those have already or will shortly be one higher.  Again, I marvel: I never thought I would be this old (and feel this young!!).    Truly, no kidding around, I marvel that my ‘baby’ will soon be thirty — bcz I find myself thinking:  didn’t *I* just turn thirty!?!  I mean it sort of seems like it was recent – I know, I know.. it was soooo long ago that I simply cannot remember it.

So, anyway, now I find I further understand people’s comments such as: age is a state of mind or you’re as young as you feel or you’re only as old as you feel, or I’m not getting old, I’m getting better, or whatever.  I know I probably used to think those comments were sort of silly, I’m sure.   I probably thought they were the sort of “positive mental attitude” stuff that “old people” say to console themselves — you know, that condescending attitude most many young people have toward anyone 20 years older than themselves.

Okay.  I repent.  I wish I had known then what I know now.

I don’t feel old.  I do feel better.  I know I’m not as young as I was — but I sure don’t feel older.   But I do have to admit: when I stop and attempt to recount but a few hundred of the thousands of things that have happened — well, my goodness, I’ve got to be older!  I marvel at how much has occurred, how many things we’ve done in such a short time!!  I’m sure glad I got to live this long.  Wow.  What if it’s double this?!??!!!!!

So I resolve not to listen to young people’s ignorant comments and respond in kind.  I want to grow older gracefully.   I hope I’ll remember how these days feel and how those days felt.  I don’t want to become an impatient, bitter, crotchety old woman waving my cane at the little whippersnappers and yelling:  just wait, your time’s coming!

 

We were trying to go all organic.  But somewhere along the way, in a few places we abandoned fighting with organic resources and headed to off war armed with some chemicals.  And, by the way, I did that with my roses, too.  I decided the kinder, gentler way was just not going to work this year and so I went to the Co-op and got some Ortho Rose spray…. and voilà! the pesky aphids and molds went away. 

That big garden was a whole bunch of hard work — but it was great for so many reasons.  I think one of the most profitable aspects of that garden — and any garden, for that matter, is the great benefit of studied quiet.  It takes a lot of time to do a lot of work — or a lot of weeding — and both are pretty incredible incentives to think on Scripture.  So, it’s probably one of the most important activities I spend time doing each day — kind of a quiet time, study time, praise and worship time all rolled into one. O, the sermons that come from the garden.  How instructive are the plants and weeds… the soil, seeds and water.  How inspirational is the diligent work.

I loved that it was sunny a lot.  I loved that the garden was hard work and the days were sometimes exhausting.  I loved that we got sunburned.  I love that we got so dirty.  I love that we had water fights.  I love that we learned about so much stuff that didn’t work very well.  I love that the children were always working alongside us and we all had the great satisfaction when something did work out real well!

I’m glad we planted a lot of corn. A few times.  I’m glad we planted lots of beans, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, onions, squash, green beans, lettuce — and flowers! — I’m so thankful our friend had presence of mind to plant a bunch of flowers at the ends of each row!  Isn’t that sweet?!?!  I am really looking forward to that aspect!!

You know what we didn’t plant enough of?  Yes!  Zucchini!  Ha!  ‘Bet you never heard any gardener say that!! 

So… we have the seeds, we have the dreams, we have the enthusiasm and we have the garden tilled.  All we need now is patience to wait for the sunny days!!

 

I first opened a Facebook account when Kathryn was in Uganda a couple of years ago.  It was a very simple way for us to communicate as the internet connection wasn’t always reliable and leaving notes for her there was a quick and simple process for her to use when internet time was at a premium. We also benefitted as a family bcz we could see “her life” and feel like we were in close touch. 

Well, such has been the case over the last year for Timothy in Ghana and for when Kathryn went back to Uganda.  In addition to writing notes to them (and our other children), which I try to do each day, I’m able to see photos they post or comments from others that are soooo encouraging to me.  It’s such a blessing to my heart to see the many who are praying right alongside me in many places.   It’s been sweet to read the notes and see all the loving encouragement — I cannot adequately express my gratitude for the tremendous support our children have or have had!   How lavish the Lord has been to give us a glimpse of His care — and to show us, often in photographs, what He’s doing in remote places!  We sure see it — and, more importantly, Timothy sees it — the encouragement Kathryn saw before, during and after her mission’s trips.

Another unforeseen benefit has been the great blessing of reuniting with old — and I do mean old!! ;o) — friends.  I wonder if I would have ever sought out some of the old friends I have been able to reconnect with.    Interestingly, it’s like the Lord is answering questions for me… or giving me answers to questions I never thought to ask — sort of showing me (as Paul Harvey might say) the reeeeeeest. of. the. story.

It’s been refreshing, encouraging, and instructive to me on so many levels.  There are downsides — yes, there are downsides to Facebook.  Just like there are downsides to the whole Internet — and I’m not even referring to the obvious potentials for internet sewage to be pumped into homes across the world.  I’m referring simply to the downsides of too much time reading “good things” and other downsides to websites… our website… to blogs… to this blog.  But there is good — there’s potential for a whole lotta good — when discretion is applied.

So, especially during my fiftieth year… it’s sure been fun to see old faces. The reflection in the mirror is not alone. )

Facebook.  Don’t say I recommended you ought to get an account.  I’m just sayin.

You know why it means so much to me?  It’s so meaningful or so significant to me because I love the Lord — I love His marvelous plan for marriage — I love that HE was at the center of this movie and I love that the gospel was clearly presented in an age when people are trying to make the gospel or salvation real easy and real common.

If the gospel or salvation was real easy and real common, then Jesus wouldn’t have paid the great price He paid and God’s perfect standard would be pretty casual — even petty.  But the price Jesus paid was anything but casual and light — it truly was beyond description.  God’s perfect will and standard can be met by no man for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.– it’s only through faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning death and resurrection that we can come before the Holy Lord God — receive forgiveness of sins and life eternal.  Men leading huge ‘congregations’ in mega ‘churches’ all over the world aren’t telling the whole truth and people are going to hell bcz they duped into believing a counterfeit — a false gospel — not the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Lord.

I love that the movie, Fireproof, clearly presents the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ — and makes no apology or excuse.  How I love that!!

I marvel at how scripted life seems to be.  I mean, for example, it was interesting to me that the characters in the movie, Caleb and Katherine would say things that I (and you, no doubt) have heard people say. I’m talking about people who are married – or, rather, people who are unhappily married.  They all seem to say similar things – things like: s/he doesn’t understand me; s/he doesn’t listen to me; s/he doesn’t care about me; I’m not the same person I was when we got married… I never loved you… We’re not the same people anymore…. and on and on the similar comments go — on and on the script goes.  The enemy has such common ways of deceiving people and feeding them lies.

But – Fireproof – or the methods presented in this movie can change lives — change directions of marriages.  This movie – or the following of the ideas, principles, etc., etc. in this movie can — or I dare say — will change lives — will change marriages.

I love what’s happening bcz of this movie and His Word.   The men and women who are taking a long hard look at where they’re at – the state of their lives, marriages, and homes.  In this day of foolishness in our nation – in this day of evil and blasphemy — in this day of arrogance against God, I love that a movie was playing in “mainstream theaters” and people are being given the opportunity to see the Truth.  Whew!  Love it.

I love being married (but, I already told you that a bunch of times over the years).  I love having been married a long time. I love hearing people’s great reactions to this movie — and I pray many, many more will see this movie, buy the DVD, buy the Love Dare Journal and begin the Love Dare and journey the path of restoring marriage, fortifying marriage, strengthening marriage or affirming marriage.  Whatever needs to happen in each home, I pray the LORD will work on behalf of all whose hearts are turned to Him and turned to reading His Word and obeying the Lord in word and in deed.  I pray men and women will be healed – that men and women will have freedom from addictions that are destroying their lives, their marriages, their homes.  I pray many will turn to the LORD and be free from the bonds of sin and penalty of death and separation from God.

Here are some “Love Dare” sites and journaling blogs
The official Love Dare Journal
The 40 day Love Dare blog
Love Dare Journals – BH publishing

So… I’m so glad for the blessing of marriage… and so thankful to my husband… my dear companion all these years.