Life is different than I thought it would be...

Life is different than I thought it would be...
Well, isn't that the truth! Who in the world would have predicted 2020?!?

Who in their right mind would think that we'd be staying home..no really STAYING HOME all the time.

Who could have imagined a world where I would enter a bank, a grocery store, or the hardware store wearing a mask and dodging strangers to make sure we don't come close to one another?

What kind of person would imagine that our communities, our families, our friends would be so divided and unable or unwilling to see from the point of view of the "other"?

So, life isn't as we planned. I'm not doing the thing I thought I'd do forever. I'm not snuggling my grandbabies, going to all the crowded places that I love, or having coffee with friends. The list of things I'm not doing is long...and yet.

I am able to:
→ take time to learn about and listen to the point of view of the "other"
→ consider the beauty of an evening walk or a drive with my husband
→ see my grandbabies, even if it's at a distance
→ appreciate all the ways that my needs are met
→ have long and deep conversations
→ express gratitude
→ remain hopeful
→ show compassion to people with whom I disagree
→ remember that this too shall pass...try not to miss all the amazing things about 2020.

 


  

Holiness in every day life

I'm not the first person to pen those words....not even close.
But it has taken me more than just a little while to embrace them. Like many people who respond to a calling into ministry in the church, I became completely and wholly engaged in it, and in the process I forgot that God is present in the every day of life.

Is it possible that while spending so many years trying to be holy in my work, I missed the way God weaves holiness into so many other things?
The mom who welcomes, plays with and feeds all the neighbor kids.
The woman who listens to the heartache of a stranger.
The man who cares for his ailing wife.
Work.
Rest.
Solitude.
A well prepared meal.
Needles and thread.
Standing in line.
Staples and new fabric.
Carrying heavy things.
Old things.
Rocking a crying baby.
Laughing with a friend.
Provision in the face of uncertainty.
A rambunctious two year old.
Quiet evenings with people you love.
A great glass of wine.
Noticing God's image in the faces of every other person you see.
Saying no to good things.
Saying yes to something new.
Desperate prayers.

The list goes on and on...and so little of it needs to be led or organized, recruited or staffed, an offering bag passed or announcements to be announced. I still believe that God can use the Body gathered, I'm just beginning to appreciate the effectiveness of each of us being willing to embrace the holiness of all that God calls us to in the every day.

finished another trip around the sun

I'm not even sure how to describe the last seven days of my life.  Rather than trying to write coherently I think I'll just make a list:

• Had a bit of a bug that put me in bed for a couple days (I'm all better). 
• Spent some quality time with my girls (individually).
• Got a sweet gift from my boy and am totally surprised at how old he is becoming!
• Welcomed my little brother into our home for the summer...did I mention that he is the same age as daughter #3?
• Had some amazing conversations with a couple of newer friends (I am SOOOO blessed)!
• Got to talk to an old friend (love some Delia conversation)
• Received about a billion birthday wishes on Facebook...one of the crazy benefits (maybe the only benefit) of 5 different kidmin positions since 2005.  I have made some amazing friends! 
• Learned a bit about iPhone and Android Apps from a KidMin friend who is now the CEO of r04r.com 
• Reminded (again) that God is in control and loves my kids more than I ever will (ask me about it).
• Another Tuesday full of meetings with people I respect and love...wow! Suncrest has been an amazing gift to me and my family.

I'm pretty sure that I haven't begun to scratch the surface on all that has happened during this amazing week. This is what I do know...I'm tired, excited, encouraged, challenged and determined to live through next week!

Christine

she may appreciate not having her last name mentioned here but she will know who she is!
Christine has beautiful, sparkling blue eyes and a contagious smile.  I have never seen her look frazzled!  Now that doesn't mean that she would have reason to be frazzled, just that the normal mom, wife, family, work, church and school stuff never seems to dampen that amazing spirit.
She is the only person I have ever met that would show up to do something just because you put her name on your list.  She loves kids, everyone's kids...especially the ones that are hard to love! 
I will never forget this crazy lady who lives in the frozen tundra but radiates Jesus like a roaring fire.  She has changed who I am and I will always be grateful. 

Marked

What kinds of things have "marked" you?  You know - those people, circumstances and places that change you.  Lately I've been thinking about the things in my life that have made an impression, have changed who I am, have marked me for the rest of my life.  Some of them feel like crazy, amazing blessings while others were excruciating at the time; but all of them can be used by God!  I'm reminded of a phrase I heard my friend Tina use when telling her story, "no wasted experiences."


Here are just some of the places (experiences) that I want to make sure are not wasted:

Grand Rapids - so many amazing things there!  people that I absolutely love with all of my heart, a church that saw qualities in me I didn't knew existed and a terrific place to raise my babies!
Southern California - learned that I'm probably never going to be a beach bunny but made a couple of friends that I hope to have forever.
Detroit - experienced some smoothing of some sharp edges - met Tina there.  I will never forget her.
Fargo - what's to say about Fargo...too much and not enough for this short blog!  I have some very funny stories to share over coffee :)
Chicago!  here now...hoping that God has us here for many, many years to come.  it has been less than a year but I will be forever marked by these people, this place and this time.  grace is abundant and people are real...God is good!

People and circumstances are for another time.