***Originally posted April 2, 2009. Reposting this week as these memories are always on my mind during Holy Week, no matter when it occurs.***

April 2nd is a special day for me. It is a day that is permanently ingrained in my memory bank. This day resounds with triumph and victory and great rejoicing. April 2nd, 1980, is the day my father died. Yes, you heard me right. It is a day filled with joy and excitement. You see, my father was a Christian. In fact, he had dedicated his life to ministry and he was a pastor until his dying breath. So, April 2nd was the best day of his life, because he finally attained his earthly goal - meeting his Lord Jesus Christ. What a celebration there had to be in heaven that day!

I was twelve years old when my father died. I have never had a great memory of things in the past, but I do have a few "snapshots" of moments that I always can picture in my mind.

The day my parents told me dad had a brain tumor.
The day we learned that it had returned three years later.
Sitting at lunch with Aunt Ruth's black mascara streaming down her cheeks as the prognosis became apparant.
Being woke up in the middle of the night to head to Grandma's house so dad could go to Mayo Clinic.
Being home alone with dad when he started to choke.
Snuggling with him in his chair when he was home.

But, these are the ones that really made an impact:

Dad had gone blind, but if you placed an open bible in his hands, he would "read" it by reciting verses from memory - long, lengthy passages. He knew and had memorized his bible! He truly thought he was reading, and found great comfort and joy in doing so. Within those words were the truths of hope and everlasting life. All he needed was within his grasp.

Dad had lost all ability to speak toward the end of his illness. One night, we gathered around him to pray together before bed as we usually did. (He was able to be cared for at home). That night, miraculously, he said the Lord's Prayer with us and raised his hands and gave the blessing. What a gift that was for that was the night he died. We had been blessed with one last memory, and what a powerful one it was.

Our God is a good and gracious God. You see, dad was once asked, if he could pick and choose when he was going to die, what would he pick? He always said that he would like to die during Holy Week, so he could celebrate Easter in heaven.

My dad died the Tuesday of Holy Week, and his Celebration of Life was the day before Easter. What a celebration of Easter he had that year! God is amazing, and rewards those faithful to him. He gives us the desires of our heart, and draws us to him. I just can't imagine the joy on my dad's face to greet Jesus for the first time, be healed of all his pain, and know that we would all be reunited again, as fellow believers in Christ.

So, this is a special day for me as well. This day causes me to reflect on my memories of my father, but, more importantly, it challenges me to have a faith that is firmly rooted in God's word, in God's promises, and in God's faithfulness. My father was a witness to me, even in his death. However, this day would have an entirely different feel, and be one of intense despair and sadness, if we had not all been granted the GIFT of eternal life with Christ Jesus, due to his death and resurrection. The lifelong plan of salvation has been fulfilled through Jesus. As the song In Christ Alone reflects:

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

Will you join me today in rejoicing in this great and awesome gift that we have received? If you have not embraced this free gift of salvation, do it now. Ask Jesus to forgive you of all your sins, and come into your heart. Now is the time - This Easter season, grasp the joy and peace you can only find in Him.

I've had this button on my sidebar for a couple of months and have tried very hard to keep this family in my prayers. Andrew joined the Lord yesterday and lost a courageous fight against cancer. But his victory is in Jesus.

His life has touched me profoundly as I have a soon to be 12 year-old. Days are short, my friends. Love on your family as much as you can.

In Him,

Sarah

Ever have one of those "A-ha" moments? One of those light bulb moments where it all just comes together and you see what everyone else sees, despite years and years of thinking you were perfect? Well, maybe not perfect. But, let's admit, I know that my way has been the right way all this time. Hasn't it?

Last night, some dear friends of mine from church came over for a time of prayer. All our husbands are deacons at our church, so we try to have purposeful prayer time to cover them with God's guidance and peace as they make decisions affecting the flock. While we spend time in prayer, we also make sure we have plenty of time for chatting, laughing, sharing, and, of course, eating! So, as I was getting everything ready last night, my two children eagerly wanted to get in on the action (one was at football practice in case you think I have one child who didn't care to share his talents...) As usual, I was under a strict time frame as I hadn't built in any margin for additional help from my kiddos, so, begrudgingly, I found some jobs for them.

Job #1:
"JD, can you open these nuts and put them in this bowl?"

"No, I don't want them mixed with chocolate chips. Just in the bowl would be fine."

"No, I don't think we want to add peanut butter or butterscotch chips either. Just the nuts. That's all I want in the bowl."

"Actually, I don't particularly care for the design and seeing how high it can go in the bowl. They won't be able to scoop the nuts out with a spoon if you don't take some out."

"Yep, just put them on the table."

"No, we don't need to have a design on the table. Anywhere is fine."

"No, the decorations are fine. Simple is sometimes best."

"No, I don't think the tooth fairy will bring you a throwing knife."

"That is fine, right there. Yes, right there. On the end. Yes, there."

Job #2:
"You know how we cut the grapes apart into manageable sections? Here's the platter for them - green on one side, red on the other."

"No, you don't need to alternate every other one. Just one color per side is fine."

"Yes, I realize we can make that side extra tall, but I am thinking it would look better if it were a bit more even."

Job #3:
"You want to use the apple cutter? That's fine - I'd love for you to do that. Here's a plate. Use three of the red and three of the green."

"No, you can't slam it down on the cutting board like that...that will bruise the apples."

"That is going to bruise the apples if you keep hitting it against the cutting board. I know it is hard. I can help if you want."

"I'll help you if you need it."

"Give me that thing."

"Yes, you can alternate the colors if you want. That would be pretty. But first you have to dip them in lemon juice so they don't turn brown."

"A 2.3 on the acid scale, huh? I didn't know that."

"Yes, it does hurt if you have a hang nail."

"Run it under cold water. That should help."

"Give me that. I'll do it. You put them on the plate."

"No, we'll put the caramel in the bowl on the side."

"No, you don't need to alternate with bananas. Just the apples would be fine."

"Yes, you do make a wonderful banana and apple plate, but tonight I just want the apples."

Job #4:
"Go ahead and put the candy corn in this dish."

"Yes, you may have a few after you finish so that you don't spread your germs."

"Actually, don't put them into those holes on the side of the dish. Those are for decorations."

"Well, I'd prefer you just put them in the bowl."

"Alright, leave them that way. I am sure the ladies will love it, just like you said."

Job #5:
"The pecans should go around the outside of the cake in a circle, and then make an inner circle that alternates with the outside."

"No, I don't want a B on the cake for our last name."

"No, I don't think we need a gun on the cake made out of nuts."

"No, chocolate chips aren't necessary."

"No, I don't particularly care for candy corn on the cake."

"Just the nuts would be fine."

"Yes, it looks perfect, honey. Thanks for your help."

Outside they both went to be happy greeters and help our guests find their way into the house. Cheerfully they welcomed each of them, and made me proud to be their mom.

I learned, through this (somewhat painful at the time) process, that my ideas aren't always right, aren't always the best, and there is more than one way to decorate a carrot cake. What is important is having kids by your side who want to contribute and make a difference...may I never forget to build a margin into my day to share the joys of working together!

Through another blog site, I linked into a family who just received horrific news regarding their son, Andrew. I have read through most of the blog, and find my heart just reaching out to this family as they walk through the valley. Please join me as I lift prayers up for this family - he's about the same age as my oldest, and it makes me realize even more how life is a gift given from God, and we should live every day to the fullest -and, more importantly, to his glory!

Please join me then, today, and going forward, in praying for Andrew.


And, hug your kids a bit extra today.

I have an ongoing issue this summer with all the produce coming in...well, it's an issue every summer, but for some reason, it is particularly exasperating this year. My fridge is too small to hold everything!

I have discovered, since we made an extra conscious effort to eat healthy, that my fridge is rapidly decreasing in size. I am constantly rotating to get something out of the back, move it to the front, to find that I need the thingamabob in the back again. Ugh. With the usual big bag of beans, cucumbers, refrigerator pickles, beet pickles, milk, juice, and what-not, the leftover space is minimal. Then, I bring home spinach, watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, and pineapple from the store- what to do? I already keep apples and bananas on the counter, so my fridge space is in a constant state of rotation. Good thing I used to work in a grocery store so I know how to "face" my shelves. I seriously just want to do an "about-face" every time I open the door.

What a dilemma...but, a blessing in disguise. I'm thankful that we have refrigerator full of food, and jobs to provide the money to purchase it.

I guess the dilemma isn't so problematic after all.

My blogger friend, Karen, at Over the Backyard Fence, inspired me to think about life's little pleasures. She challenged her readers to pick six things that are not vital to your life, but make it so much sweeter and special. Here are my six, in no particular order:

1. Coffee - it is my built in security blanket. I must have a cup in my hand, or on my desk, or anyplace where I am working. When I go to the office and work for my husband, he pays me in at least one cup of coffee from the local Starbucks or Caribou or Dunn Brothers or Scooters or whatever else can meet my needs. First thing in the morning, it would be black and strong and 1/2 caff. Later on in the day, it may be a cinnamon Dulcie (sp?)latte, skinny, no whip, 1/2 caff. Whatever the java, I enjoy a good cup. The smell, the taste, the feel of a mug in my hand - all contribute to a better day. If I can sip it on the porch first thing in the morning, even better. It's always 1/2 caff though - I save the fully leaded for those rare occasions where I need a real pick me up. ;)(Note stray coffee bean on counter)

2. The front porch - (preferably with #1). I love to sit in solitude on our front porch...It's fairly decent sized, surrounded by some plants and birdfeeders. If no one in the neighborhood is mowing, it speaks to peace and relaxation. It helps me focus in on my day by sitting with my bible in the morning, and it helps me connect with my husband when we can close out the day together on the love seat...usually with two cats and a dog nearby. Front porch sitting is highly underrated, and the mere thought of time spent on the porch relaxes my brain.


3. Scented candles - I would love if you could walk into my home and instantly be met with the homey scents of vanilla, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice. While my house doesn't smell like that on a day in and day out basis, I love to tickle the olfactory lobe whenever possible. When my candles burn, it exudes warmth and homeyness, and seems to bring out the homemaker in me even more. The stronger the smell, the better, at least in my book.

4. Bubble baths - although I only take them in winter, my bubble bath is a way of warming myself to the inner core. It is my reward at the end of a day when I have been clothed in massive layers, socks, slippers, flannel, and whatever else I can to keep our house temp low and my body temp high. At the end of the day, I can sit in my super hot bath water, with a great book (see #5), and relax the day away.

5. A good read - nothing, nothing, nothing can top a good book, especially if I have #1, #3, #4, and #6 along with it in the winter, or #1, #2, #3, and #6 in the summer! (Notice a trend here of my favorite things?) I love fiction, non fiction, anything but science fiction and fantasy. I can get lost in a book, sometimes so much that I can't sleep because the characters dance in my head and come to life. Sometimes I read until late in the night because I can't put my book down. What a gift to be able to story tell with that type of intensity and ability. Books are a treasure, and life would not be the same without them.

6. Quiet and solitude - this little pleasure may seem strange, but with three kids, and all of them "talkers", I have found that when I do have peace and quiet, I rejuvenate and get energized. My husband will come home and turn on the radio, while I can work the entire afternoon in silence. It speaks peace to me, and gives me a break from the constant influx of activity and stimulation that seems to flow at an extremely high level around here. While it may not happen often, I relish the time it comes and envelopes me in its presence.

Life's simple pleasures - I can do without, but life seems to be just a little bit (or a lot!) better with these few things. As I type, I realize I have so many more than six. How blessed I am to have more to choose from! How about you? What would you pick as your six simple treasures? Let me know if you post them on your blog, so I can make sure and visit you!

Until then, enjoy, and have a wonderful day!

It's almost 8 AM, and for once in my life, I have accomplished more before 8:00 then I usually do by, say, 10:00. :) Summer just begs me to roll my lazy bum out of bed and get a jump start on the day. We've been doing it fairly well the past month, simply because circumstances have dictated it to be so. Like spraying the weeds around the edge of the garden before the inevitable SD wind kicks in for the day. Or, watering the plants in the morning before the inevitable sun blisters the heck out of the special little seedlings. Or, wanting to enjoy a brief moment of glory out in God's creation before those inevitable little pesky gnats show up for the day to buzz around your ears and drive you insane. You know, those things. They'll get you out of bed in the morning.

As you can see, sometimes life just necessitates an early start. When there is a task at hand, and I can see that it needs to be done right away in order to make the day run smoothly, it's much easier for me to throw off the covers and hit the ground walking (certainly not running), albeit slowly, particularly before the coffee kicks in. (And, easier is a stretch, because I am NOT a morning person, not one single bone. The desire is there, but it is often squelched by the night person who is certainly the dominant one in this relationship.)

So, please tell me, why is it that God's Word doesn't haul me out of bed the same way? The criteria remain the same - certainly, if it is done right away it DOES help my day run smoothly. If I don't get into the Word right away in the morning, the whole day is often times gone before I even stop to catch my breath, let alone spend time with my maker. (And I don't mean COFFEEmaker - I always seem to find time for him.)

I reflected on this whole concept this morning as this has been a continual struggle for me. I am busy. Super busy. Not the running around "I have to be in town and go a lot of places" type of busy, but more of a "there's always one more thing to do on my to do list" type. It's never going to all get done, but each day is going to be packed chock full of whatever is the latest and hottest burning fire, followed in a nice and neat pecking order of "other important must be accomplished tasks". I know this and don't see it changing in the near future, but yet I continue to put on the back burner the one thing that can give me the most peace and the most power.

It's time for a change. It's time for a commitment. I know God doesn't care how I come to him, but just that I do. It may be at the end of my day, throughout my day, or in spite of my day, but coming to him is necessary, vital, and essential to living and breathing. A relationship cannot develop or grow without a commitment by both parties to be there for each other, and I'm letting God down. Sporadic time with my Savior is no longer acceptable.

That's my resolution and declaration, written right here in black and white. I will start each and every day with my Father. It may be through a brief prayer, an indepth bible reading, a bible study with friends or my husband, or listening to praise music. But, today is a new day, and each and every one will start with Him. I don't think he'll care how I do it, but will just rejoice that I do. It's the least I can do, especially when I think of what he did for me.

Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the anme of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised!
Psalm 113: 1-3

And, for the record, I am trying to feed my kids this drug every day as well.

(No, this isn't my parenting post for the day - but it sure fits!)

More later...

I wish I could afford to buy all organic foods....but I will feed my family the best I can within our budget.

I wish I could raise a cow on grass in my back yard...but I will keep an eye out for good prices on grass fed beef.

I wish I could bake all day...but I will make smart choices with using whole grains and flavorful ingredients.

I wish I could raise chickens...but I will buy omega 3 eggs as an alternative.

I wish I could eliminate trans fats and high fructose corn syrup from the foods that we love...but I will stop buying products with them in because they are so damaging to our health.

I wish I could memorize all the different ways MSG is disguised in foods...but I will make a copy of my list and keep it in my purse to help me remember and avoid it at all costs.

I wish french fries didn't taste so good...but I will avoid eating them at any time.

I wish our health care system would recognize supplements and antioxidants as a way to prevent disease and thus, reimburse for them...but I will take them anyway and pay for them out of my own pocket.

I wish that mass farming and production would not be lowering the nutritional value of our soils by overplanting, not rotating crops, and overusing pesticides...but I will take care to improve my garden by not doing the same.

I wish that I could say all these things and not be considered a freak or a fanatic...but I will continue to value my body (and my family's) as God's temple, and do everything I can to preserve and honor it.

So much to say, and so little time to say it. I haven't even been able to blog about the nutrition seminar from last weekend, the xPo from this week, and now need to add a wonderful parenting seminar to my list of things to share. The days are full and flying by, but mark my words, one of these days, I am going to be able to sit down and type - a lot. But, since tonight is not that night, I leave you with this thought...

Parenting is hard, consistent work...kind of like your marriage. Yes, hard work for both. BUT, what a reward is gained from putting in the time and effort. I LOVE to be with my hubby, and I LOVE to be with my kids. I am blessed to be able to say both.

Until next time -(which hopefully will be coming very, very soon....)

Blessings to you all!

My friend, Joyce, at Mom's Musings has been so kind as to bestow a sisterhood award to my humble little blogsite. When I started this blog, I wanted it to be a way to keep track of things in life, jot down some memories, and provide a creative outlet for me as well. I have found it to be so much more than that, because I have met some amazing, special women over the internet and learned so much in a short amount of time. I feel drawn to those who appear to have the same beliefs that I do, and strive to better themselves through the grace and love of Jesus Christ. Goodness knows, we can't do it on our own!

So, I, too, want to pass on the award to some of you who I feel a certain kinship with - a sisterhood, so to speak (how appropriate!) I read a fair amount of blogs, but these are some that have become near and dear to me over the past months. I am sure if I would do this list again in a few months, I will have many more friends to choose from as I am finding more and more women who love the Lord! Anyway, to all of you, thanks for sharing a bit of your life with me, and drawing me in to your world!

The rules:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate up to 10 blogs which show great attitude and/or gratitude!
3. Be sure to link your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Remember to link the person from whom you received your award.

So here are my self-proclaimed cyber sisters:

1. Bonnie at Simple Beauty - she has a great flair for keeping life uncomplicated and real. I enjoy her reflections and insight, and find it amazing that she is on the other side of the world from me!
2. Tiffany at Hillside Hollow is a mom like me, homeschooling, and trying to better her world. She loves her kids, and inspires me to keep on track.
3. Angie at Simple Thyme Primitives is so creative and it is fun to see all that she does and the process she follows. She has a great, upbeat attitude and I always look forward to her positive attitude.
4. Grasp the Love is Missy's blog - I know Missy through church, and her blog is very straight forward, sharing her highs and lows as a Christian woman. She has a great story to share and works hard to live her life for Jesus.
5. I haven't been following Karen for very long, but I do gravitate back to her blog now that I have found it. We share a love of books, and I have really enjoyed getting to know her better through her entries. I can see her being my friend and sharing ideas "over the backyard fence".
6. My next friend, Amy, is perpetual joy on two legs. This girl is on fire for the Lord and you will see that as you read her posts. But, what I like about Amy is that she is real, and shares her joys and her struggles. She always puts a smile on my face and challenges me to see life as a cup half full, rather than half empty.
7. A recent find is Barbara at Beyond Still Waters. When Barbara posts, I get myself a cup of coffee, and make sure I have some quiet time planned, because I am guaranteed to get a devotional thought upon which to ponder and reflect. I don't want to rush through her entries, because they are profound and filled with God's Word. They are a light in a dark world. Thank you, Barbara.
8. Ahhh, Chris...I love reading her blog for so many reasons. We met up when we were both working on The Love Dare at the same time (and I think we still are!) She always posts fun ideas, and shares her Christian walk at the same time. Plus, you can really relate to her blog title...Wash, Fold, Put Away...And Repeat...
9. My ninth nominee is Jen at A Good Cup of Coffee. Doesn't that say it all? Coffee at the Cabin meets A Good Cup of Coffee - a match made in heaven, right? Personally, I'm amazed at how much this woman can fit into her week! But, she loves the Lord and I enjoy having "coffee" with her whenever possible.
10. Last, but not least, is Sandra, who I read faithfully as well. She has so many great ideas, links to fabulous finds, and is a real mom who faces unique challenges every day, being the wife of a military husband. If you haven't checked out her blog, do yourself a favor and see what I mean.

Thank you, all my blogger friends, for making my day just a little better. I am excited to share the sisterhood of Christ with all of you!

Just wanted to take a quick moment and wish all my friends a very blessed Easter. My plan for tomorrow is to celebrate the joy of my Lord's Resurrection throughout the entire day. Tomorrow will be filled with the amazing truth of His Word, the excitement of singing "Hallelujah" over and over, and the awe of God's love for each and every one of us. We will be spending the day together as a family, along with some extended family, so I am not sure I will be hopping on the computer at all tomorrow. (No Easter bunny pun intended...)

Until next time, may God bless each and every one of you. I pray each of you will take the time to reflect on this special gift, which is far beyond human understanding. Praise the Lord for his wonderful gift of salvation. Praise the Lord!

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said." Matthew 28:5-6

Happy Easter!

I am excited to head to church tonight...I like the somberness of the Good Friday church service. I love the fact that the focus tonight is on the death of Christ and the importance of this HUGE sacrifice. That may sound crass and dark, but, by focusing on the agony, the pain, and the torture that my Lord Jesus Christ endured, I am much more able to see the contrast on Easter morning. I am able to partially feel and suffer along with Christ as he took my sins upon his shoulders and, with all finality, cast them into the depths of the ocean, never to be seen again.

Today, I dwell on the depth of this sacrifice, the pain, the agony, the doom, and the despair. Today, I thank and praise my Lord for bearing my sins and the sins of all mankind. Today, I reflect on the awesomeness of this pain. Today, I ponder how horrible it would be to lose a child. Today, I inwardly reflect on the blackness of my soul.

Today, I want to feel the burden, for soon it will be removed, never to return.

Today, I ponder his great suffering.

Thank you, Lord Jesus.

As usual, today was a busy day. I managed to find a bit of time to continue the process of re-establishing all the programs on my computer. I was able to successfully load back on my Microsoft Office components, restart my Outlook program for email, and load on our office software to be able to again work from home. Next, I will start transferring files and pictures...I'm excited about once again being able to view and share pictures!

This day was also full with the responsibilities of teaching my kiddos, a VBS meeting, and a "coffee chat" with some fellow homeschoolers. During this chat, I was convicted of something that has been bothering me as of late. My oldest child, age 11, seems to be at the age when anything and everything can innocently become a volatile situation. What may start out as a basic request or question can, amazingly, all of a sudden become a source of contention and frustration. JD seems to be, at time, fighting and struggling with all types of emotions and I truly thing he just doesn't quite know what to do with all he is feeling. There are great days when everything just runs so smoothly, and then we have days where we start out on the wrong foot and it all goes downhill from there.

Today, I thought it would be fun for JD to share the adventure of math with his brother JT. Through an activity called "Marshmallow math", both of them were to work together to solve a number of area and volume problems based on different geometric shapes and a marshmallow ruler. I thought this would be quite fun for them both, and certainly an opportunity to work together and share the camradarie.

Of course, I was wrong. Problem one was that I waited untl about 4pm in the afternoon to do this activity. Nothing good school-wise happens after 3:30pm in this house, at least for the oldest. His brain is done, turned off, and onto other much more *important* things by that time. When he saw that the activity was four pages long, he hit the ceiling and went into full fledged melt down. Bottom line, the work ethic was not to my standard, and I needed to remove him from the situation to calm down and regroup. JT was instructed to complete the activity independently and JD would return to work on it when he was in a better mindset and had his emotions under control. Needless to say, the outburst just came out of nowhere which I think is typical of this age group.

Through all this, I have realized that I am doing him no favors by assisting him with certain school activities when he is perfectly capable of doing it on his own. While he may try and fail, he at least is in a safe situation, and we can use it as a learning activity for working harder and more thoroughly in the future. I have done this particularly with history, where I have been reading the text to him to make sure he is spending enough time and effort on the content rather than allowing him to do it independently, as he was not grasping the information he needed to. He is a smart kiddo, but fails to take the time to prepare and "inwardly digest" the material due to his tendency to just "get it done". He may just have to learn that he will end up redoing a unit and lose that much time if he fails to do the work to the standards that have been set. He is at that age where he claims to just be making silly mistakes, or "I didn't read that" or "I didn't understand.." It's time, I believe, to call a spade a spade, and work on these study skills that will only help him in the long run. The challenge will now be to balance his difficulties in writing and spelling with his lack of concern for being thorough and complete. Now is as good of time as ever to establish the boundaries, expectations, and consequences, so we can finish the school year strong. It's going to be a tough road, but I am sure it will be worth it.

Anyway, I am excited to have just one day of school left this week, and then a wonderful Easter weekend ahead of us. I am hoping to now go check out some of the blogs that I have been unable to stop by as this whole transition has been taking place. By the way, my aunt's procedure all turned out well, in fact, there were no heart issues after all the tests and procedures were completed. A false positive echo, a negative angiogram, and a number of symptoms culminated into a variety of preconceived notions in regards to a diagnosis that ended up being unfounded. She is heart healthy and now will pursue different options in order to determine the cause of her issues. But, we are thankful it appears there is nothing life threatening.

Off to organize the Resurrection eggs for tomorrow's activities...if you want some great ideas and the details of these eggs, head over to my friend Chris's blog to get the details!

Until next time...

We've had all three in the past 24 hours. The Lord blanketed the area with a beautiful cover of white over the past day. If a snowstorm like this hits in December, we stay home. When it hits in April, we shrug it off, and figure we'll go anywhere we need to. Half of the 6 to 8 inches we received is already melted, and the other half is well on its way to disappearing. The sun is out, and with all its power and glory, it is blindingly bright against the fresh white canvas.

I am the only one inside at the moment, and enjoying some silence and solitude. Brad has ventured out to visit with his brother for a bit, and the kiddos are outside for one last adventure in the snow. I have a bit of a cold, nothing serious, but enough to make me want to curl up on the couch and take a good nap. The temptation is strong, but I am going to resist in order to finish working on the office and hopefully check this room off my list for good. With any bit of luck, my computer is scheduled to arrive tomorrow, and I promised myself I wouldn't open it if the office and school room wasn't organized and clean. so, that's pretty good motivation for me as I am tired of sharing! :)

Like I said, I am enjoying the quiet, and have no music or anything playing in the background. I find, as I am getting older, that these types of quiet moments are few and far between, but I love to not fill them with any "noise". I pray I can become better about sitting still during these moments of solitude in order to hear God's voice. I am often too busy moving from one thing to the next that I don't take the time to reflect and "Be still and know that He is God." Our pastor noted today that often times we pray for guidance but never stop long enough to actually listen to what God has to say. We are so busy moving on and taking care of problems on our own that we don't necessarily follow God's direction. I was quite convicted of this as times of peace and rest are few and far between, often from my own doing. My prayer is that I can look and listen for God's direction, before I act and speak of my own accord.

Off to spend some quiet time with him BEFORE I resume the organization 101. Have a great day in Him!

April 2nd is a special day for me. It is a day that is permanently ingrained in my memory bank. This day resounds with triumph and victory and great rejoicing. April 2nd, 1980, is the day my father died. Yes, you heard me right. It is a day filled with joy and excitement. You see, my father was a Christian. In fact, he had dedicated his life to ministry and he was a pastor until his dying breath. So, April 2nd was the best day of his life, because he finally attained his earthly goal - meeting his Lord Jesus Christ. What a celebration there had to be in heaven that day!

I was twelve years old when my father died. I have never had a great memory of things in the past, but I do have a few "snapshots" of moments that I always can picture in my mind.

The day my parents told me dad had a brain tumor.
The day we learned that it had returned three years later.
Sitting at lunch with Aunt Ruth's black mascara streaming down her cheeks as the prognosis became apparant.
Being woke up in the middle of the night to head to Grandma's house so dad could go to Mayo Clinic.
Being home alone with dad when he started to choke.
Snuggling with him in his chair when he was home.

But, these are the ones that really made an impact:

Dad had gone blind, but if you placed an open bible in his hands, he would "read" it by reciting verses from memory - long, lengthy passages. He knew and had memorized his bible! He truly thought he was reading, and found great comfort and joy in doing so. Within those words were the truths of hope and everlasting life. All he needed was within his grasp.

Dad had lost all ability to speak toward the end of his illness. One night, we gathered around him to pray together before bed as we usually did. (He was able to be cared for at home). That night, miraculously, he said the Lord's Prayer with us and raised his hands and gave the blessing. What a gift that was for that was the night he died. We had been blessed with one last memory, and what a powerful one it was.

Our God is a good and gracious God. You see, dad was once asked, if he could pick and choose when he was going to die, what would he pick? He always said that he would like to die during Holy Week, so he could celebrate Easter in heaven.

My dad died the Tuesday of Holy Week, and his Celebration of Life was the day before Easter. What a celebration of Easter he had that year! God is amazing, and rewards those faithful to him. He gives us the desires of our heart, and draws us to him. I just can't imagine the joy on my dad's face to greet Jesus for the first time, be healed of all his pain, and know that we would all be reunited again, as fellow believers in Christ.

So, this is a special day for me as well. This day causes me to reflect on my memories of my father, but, more importantly, it challenges me to have a faith that is firmly rooted in God's word, in God's promises, and in God's faithfulness. My father was a witness to me, even in his death. However, this day would have an entirely different feel, and be one of intense despair and sadness, if we had not all been granted the GIFT of eternal life with Christ Jesus, due to his death and resurrection. The lifelong plan of salvation has been fulfilled through Jesus. As the song In Christ Alone reflects:

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

Will you join me today in rejoicing in this great and awesome gift that we have received? If you have not embraced this free gift of salvation, do it now. Ask Jesus to forgive you of all your sins, and come into your heart. Now is the time - This Easter season, grasp the joy and peace you can only find in Him.

Thank you Lord Jesus.

Do you ever feel like things just hit you one after another? Like once you start the snowball, it's hard to stop the momentum from carrying you away? Once the sadness hits, or the frustration, you can immediately fall into a "poor me" cycle, and fail to see the joy and beauty all aound?

Seems like some days are like that. Satan wants to hit us when we're down. We have the joy of Jesus in our hearts, but often times we feel the weight of the world on our shoulders. Praise the Lord that Jesus has overcome the world by his death and resurrection. Now, it is our role to CHOOSE joy. It is a choice to make. We can wallow in the depths of our despair, or we can cry out to Jesus to uplift and uphold us.

We are not struggling with life threatening issues...we are simply being hit with the day to day mundane items of life which afflict us all. But, I am choosing joy today. I am choosing to find the good in the bad. I am rejoicing in health, happiness, having enough, wanting for little, the love of family, forgiveness, freedoms unlimited, choices, opportunities, peace, and plenty. I am standing on the promises of God, my Savior. He is consistent, never changing, all-knowing, and ever faithful. He is our rock, our strength, our everything. I love the verse in II Corinthians 2:20-22, where Paul states, "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ...He annointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guranteeing what is to come." In this crazy economy, and with all the harm the world is seeking to put on our children, we can be assured of this...The deposit of the Holy Spirit will not go unredeemed. This is something we can bank on.

Now that is security in an unsecure world.

Praise the Lord for that!

As I close, please join me in fervently praying for little Stellan and his family as they travel through this journey, moment by moment. They are a witness to many despite the burdens they are bearing at the present time. May God continue to bless and keep them in his care, and all of you as well.

Hopefully this works, because you can't get a simpler, more matter of fact, child's view than this...In anticipation of Easter, just take one short moment to view this clip...



Have a great day in the Lord!

Anyone out there watch Seinfeld?

I get a huge kick out of many an episode, but one that comes to mind today is the one where Jerry and his girlfriend are all lovey dovey in how they talk to each other and it drives George and Elaine crazy. "You're my schmoopie", "No, you're MY schmoopie..." and on and on ad nauseum.

Brad and I couldn't be further from that scene. We are NOT lovey talkers or whatever you want to call them.

We have "pet" names for each other. Real exciting. I'm "nug" and he's "spousie" or "spouse". Very creative. I realize I rarely call him by his first name though. That's kind of weird.

So, I should call today Random Thoughts with Sarah. I'm full of them today. I'm thinking back to high school and the dreaded Valentine carnation purchase. I went to a Christian high school and some group in the school would have a fundraiser every year on Valentine's Day. You would order and purchase $1 carnations in different colors (each color would mean something) to give to your friends, sweetheart, or whoever. Then, they would be delivered in first or second period, so it was very exciting to see who you would get flowers from, and, conversely, really sad when you wouldn't get them from someone you liked.

Looking back, I realize how much I hated that day. I hated the worry and wondering about whether or not I was going to get ANY flowers, let alone from a special someone. I worried about other people that wouldn't be getting any, and how they would feel. I worried about the reaction I would get in response to giving a flower to a special person. Oh, the angst of high school.

Don't make me go back ------ aaaaaaaarrrrrrggggggghhhhhhhhh!

Valentine's Day to me is a high expectation, low return holiday. I remember many a day in my high school and college years of having grandiose ideas about how the day would play out, only to have it dashed with disappointing realities. I grew to dread the holiday, picking up hours where I worked to avoid the possibility of spending the evening alone while EVERYONE else in the world was celebrating their love. Oh, the warped perception of youth.

From early on in my married life, Brad and I didn't do much to celebrate Valentine's Day - we went with the motto that every day is Valentine's Day, and we didn't need a special day to proclaim our love. (Plus, we had NO money so the thought of him purchasing flowers or something like that would have caused a huge fight most likely!) As we've matured in our marriage, we find though that we do need to take time out and make a special point of doing things together, because it is easy to have days and weeks go by without any couple time. That is an ongoing commitment we have to one another - and we both have to work at finding the undivided time.

So, I have no grandiose ideas for V-day. I don't have a gift yet or even a card for my dh. I have nothing for my kids. I am planning on making cookies with them, which will be complete with pink frosting and sprinkles, a rare treat around here. But, I am searching my brain for some ideas of something special to do to make it memorable. I think I want to teach my kids that love is for each and every day of the year, and not something to be officially observed on February 14th. But, I do want to recognize that it is a day to share together.

So, what are you planning on doing? Are you spending time alone with your spouse? Cooking a special meal? I'm interested to hear...maybe I'll get some ideas too!

Now, I leave you with this - what an amazing gift of love we have from our heavenly Father, who loves us each day the same, no questions asked. No lack of carnations, or flowery cards, or nights alone can separate us from the love that is there for the taking.

Grasp the love, and cling tightly my friends.

Blessings to all of you...

As Dennis Rainey said this week in one of his sessions from his Family Life Today radio program, "If you aren't actively working on your marriage, you're losing ground." Brad and I had a discussion about that because marriage IS hard work. But, there are many days that you don't want to do the work - not spend the time with your spouse, do what you want to do, not put the other one first...you know the feeling. And, let's face it, who wants marriage to be "work"? Who wants to refer to it that way?

When we were discussing this, Brad initially said that he didn't think you would actually lose ground if you weren't actively working on your marriage. So, as we talked about it, we decided that if you are invested in your marriage, then you are doing the things you should be doing to improve and continue to grow your marriage...things like putting the other person first, looking out for the needs of your spouse, showing love and/or respect. And, if you are doing these things, you are moving in the right direction. Marriage is a dynamic process and always in need of work. It never reaches the goal of perfection.

But, as I said before, no one wants to think of marriage as work. My prayer is that you see the time you spend with your spouse as one of joy. I pray that you don't see yourself having to WORK at your marriage, but instead see it as a calling from God to do his bidding, to follow in the design he intends. Wouldn't it be great if it could be second nature to leave our selfishness behind and eagerly look to serve the other? Love that is unconditional will do this, despite the circumstances. But, as I am really learning in The Love Dare, it can't be done on our own. We have to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit to truly carry out this challenge. Spend time in the Word. Spend time with your spouse. Take the time to invest in your marriage, and explore your relationship.

Be in the Word. We know we cannot change others, only the power of Christ can do that. But, we can be assured that Christ is our Lord and Savior, and his example to us of perfect love is amazing. Strive to follow in his footsteps and choose to love, respect, and honor your mate as Christ intends. What a blessed gift we have received in the marriage covenant. May it always be honored and cherished.

I admit, as soon as Brad found out that I was doing the love dare challenge, it seemed to cause me to slack a bit. The excitement of doing all these things for him without his knowledge was no longer as strong, and I needed to take a step back and analyze why I was doing this. Was it for the thrill of his recognition? Was it to look good in his eyes? Or, was it to truly grow and be a better wife? Unfortunately, all of these things may have been true. But, ultimately, the last question is the most important. I do desire a stronger, more intimate marriage. I do know that it won't happen overnight. Some days are easier than others. It is VERY difficult to put the other person first when everything within you screams to do it your way. It is a huge lesson in personal sacrifice, and a humbling experience in how selfish you are as an individual. It is a dare to become stronger in the Word, and become a better person, spouse, and mother.

It is a challenge that I cannot do without the Holy Spirit in me.

So, I am trying. By God's power, I am trying. May I ever be his faithful servant, imperfect as I am.

I'm on Day 16, Love Intercedes, and I'll probably be there for a few days. I have some things to get right in my heart before I feel I can move on effectively. Thank goodness I don't need to do it on my own.

But, I'm blessed to be a part of this journey. I'm blessed to have a patient husband. I'm blessed to love the Lord and blessed that He loves me more. Despite everything. Praise the Lord.

(Love)always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. I Corinthians 13:7