this Christmas

We had a fun time last night on Christmas Eve despite my fretful, freaking out kind of nature. The only glitch wasn't too big, but it did get to me. My nephew and his family came to our house and in my efforts to see that everyone had everything they needed or wanted, I forgot to give the baby his present before they went home, so at 11:30 pm last night, after everyone had gone home, I was stressing over it. I called him this morning and apologized for my error and of course my nephew was understanding about the mix up. We couldn't meet up today but I will see to it that little Kieran gets his gift tomorrow. That's the plan.

The meal turned out well and I knew I'd fix way too much food. The ones with prior commitments ate their fill and left early to meet their other obligations. The kids played outside running around all willy nilly in the dark as kids do when allowed an extra measure of freedom because of a special event. They ran amuck and had a blast doing so. There were a few little girl shrieks and lots of laughing. Meanwhile, there was an enthusiastic Euchre match between Amy and Lane and Holly and Tony in the living room, hunting talk in the family room and girl talk at the dining room table.

When the evening drew to a close, we cleaned up the mess, put away the food and said our good nights. We lingered in the kitchen and told just one more story, said one more goodbye. Our farewells carried out to the driveway where we hugged once more, trying to stall the end of a really nice gathering. Then the cars backed out of the yard and onto the street for parts home.

I know that not everyone has smooth, drama-less, holiday parties. Emotions are often on the surface at Christmas and sometimes hearts are bruised by careless words and actions but without sounding saccharine, that didn't happen at our home last night. Family and friends came together, had fun together in ways that our unique to our circle, and went home happy. It was an uncomplicated and fun night. How I love the simplicity of it all.

Christmas day was beautiful with just our immediate family together to celebrate Christ's birthday. We have a late, big breakfast of bacon, sausage, biscuits, gravy, grits, eggs and orange sweet rolls. After we eat, and without cleaning up anything, we all go to the family room and my husband leads us in a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord for all His gifts to us. It is my most favorite few moments of the entire holiday season. There is no commotion and frantic opening of gifts until we first thank Jesus for his blessings to us. This has been our Christmas morning tradition since our daughters were just little things. After we thank the Lord, then all gift-giving chaos breaks loose. I love that part, too.

Following present-time, the little ones and the dads play with their gifts and the girls and I clean up from breakfast. Amy pitches in to help the kids enjoy their presents while Holly and I put together our traditional Christmas day lasagna for later on in the afternoon. This year we tried out a new pan made just for lasagna. It's quite large and while Holly put together all the delicious parts of the dish, I directed from right beside her. She said I was a 'back seat cooker.' We fussed about the details and had loads of fun doing so. While it's baking, we all pile into our cars to visit Byron's mom for a little bit. We head home, eat our early dinner, which turned out delicious, and then part company for the rest of the day. After a full couple of days, I crash, satisfied.

Our ways of celebrating Christmas may be lots different, or not so different, from yours, and that's OK. What we do, our traditions, work for us, as yours do for you. Sometimes they stay the same for a long time, sometimes parts of our routine ebb and flow in change, but the truth remains that they are unique to our family.

I cherish our Christmas traditions and eccentricities. It's what makes the Adams' family, the Adams' family. These are the routines that my grandchildren will remember, and, should the Lord tarry, will pass along or at least tell their children about. Family stories. Family ways. Precious memories. I thank the Lord for them.

Father, Thank you for my dear friends and family. Thank you for time to spend with them all. Thank you for a peaceful heart. Thank you for an absolutely beautiful Christmas.
I love you, Lord.

Suz

freaking out and fun

Did you ever bite off more bubblegum than you could chew? I've done it both ways, in fact, and in essence. Neither way is pleasant. That's the way I feel right now. Like my necessary requirements loom too large over my emotional resources. It's a common feeling for me when I'm having friends and family over to my house for dinner, etc.

You see, the other night, on the spur of the moment, I added several families to my dinner on Christmas Eve. Please understand, these are our dearest friends and I am looking so forward to spending this special evening with them all, but anytime I invite guests to our home, I tend to stress about the niggly details of their comfort. Where will everyone sit? Will the house be too crowded for comfort? What will the children do for fun? I don't worry about having too little food. I tend to overcompensate with the amount of it. I would simply croak over if I had to worry about having enough food AND places to sit, but I will think about the glitches and the challenges of many people in a small house and will plan and fret over how it will all work out.

I will call on my husband and daughters for help, and they will gladly assist me--but I will still stress about the final outcome. The time for the event will arrive and I will freak just one more time and then I'll be fine and will have a great time with all those at our home.

That's just the way I am. I don't like it very much, but that's how I seem to function. Freak, then fun. You know, my life would be much more relaxed and enjoyable if I could skip the freaking part. Maybe when I'm older...

So, this morning, I called out to the Lord to help me pull this all together for tomorrow night. He reminded me of a get together with Jesus at the home of Lazarus', Martha and Mary. Martha was freaking out in the kitchen about all the work to do while her sister, Mary, was focusing on the more important part of the gathering--listening to Jesus--enjoying their guests. I doubt that there were planned activities for the kids and I'll bet the kitchen was a mess. I can almost guarantee there weren't enough seats at the table for each one to have their own perfect place setting--and that's pretty much how it will be at my house on Christmas Eve. And while, I will strive to make our friends and family comfortable, I'm no Martha Stewart or Sandra Lee with gorgeous tablescapes, I can guarantee this.

What we will have here at our house, Lord willing, are tons of good food, and oceans of love for one another as we come together to celebrate our friendship and ultimately the birth of Jesus, our Savior.

I feel much better now after venting about my home entertaining insecurities. I am going to get up from here and clean out that refrigerator so I can fill it up with new food for the next couple of celebration days.

Father, thank you for helping me put this family event into perspective. Help me keep the main thing, the main thing. I love our family and friends so very much and only want them to feel comfortable and loved in our home. You are the perfect one to make this happen. Thank you for sending your perfect Son for us. Thank you for Jesus. I love you so very much.

Suz

I hope you all keep the main thing, the main thing, this Christmas. Merry Christmas to you all. It's going to be a great time. I just know it.

the season

Our church Christmas production was Sunday night and it turned out well. I was excited to be asked to be the narrator. It wasn't a difficult thing, but it was trickier than I had initially thought it would be. Who knew that reading a script with genuine emotion, in time to the music, with a spotlight in your eyes would be a challenge? Duh. I have new found respect for narrators everywhere. Thank the Lord that even with the few stumbles I had I was able to skirt the disaster of losing my place or some other public speaking train wreck.

The choir worshipped the Lord in their music and I think its the most important thing about any church program. If it's just a 'show' at church, then I'm underwhelmed, but if hearts are truly lifted in praise and in worship with the holiday music or whatever is done, it makes all the difference in the lives of those listening. Our choir worshipped and led us all in worship. It was beautiful.

Holiday programs, special events, gatherings of friends and family, special lunches with girlfriends, unharried solo shopping trips or with children, foods unique to the season, giving a little money in the Salvation Army pot at Walmart, are what make the Christmas season unique. It's a time of celebrating our Savior's birth by opening up our hearts to one another and the world. Wide open hearts full of generosity with love and giving whatever we have--a present, a little money for a good cause--open kindness--freely given--one to another.

Pastor Gary gave us a visual on Sunday morning that struck home with me. When the man with leprosy came to Jesus, he said, "If you will, I will be healed." In compassion, in generosity, Jesus said, "I will," and the man was healed.

Matthew 8:1 When Jesus came down from the hill, great crowds followed him.2 Then a man with a skin disease came to Jesus. The man bowed down before him and said, "Lord, you can heal me if you will." 3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man and said, "I will. Be healed!" And immediately the man was healed from his disease.

Our world needed a Savior. The world cried out and said, "Lord, if you will..." And the Son of God, with generosity of heart and great love and compassion, put on humanity as the baby in Mary's arms and said, "I will."

I don't know why Christmas seems different for me this year, but it does. The lights on homes and trees shine a little brighter. The poinsettias are fuller and richer red. Children are more adorable. Smiles are quicker to shine. Patience seems to be longer. People are friendlier to one another. I feel more relaxed--I feel peaceful--about it all. Maybe some of the grief of the season has eased up for me a little. Maybe it's because I'm a little older. You know, time passes, wounds become less fresh, less sharp. Or, perhaps the Lord is simply healing my poor, battered Christmastime heart. I'm not too concerned with why it's different this year, I'm just glad it is.

Father, our Savior came us us willingly, generously, freely. Thank you for sending just who we needed, at just the perfect time. You give us the best gifts of all. Help me to revel in your generosity and also give of myself in the same liberal way. I love you, Lord.

Enjoy the season, all :)
Suz

good and faithful teachers

Mrs Ruby Pribble was my Sunday School teacher at Calvary Baptist Church in Michigan when I was about ten years old. Mrs Pribble is now 81 years old. I have never forgotten my time in her class or her. A couple of years ago when we were preparing to go on a missions trip to Macedonia, I thought about her and I decided to try to find her. Through a series of mouse clicks and an email, I was soon speaking with her on the phone. My search took about an hour. Although she does not remember me from her class, it has not made any difference to either of us. We have reconnected and written several letters back and forth. I received a letter from her this morning. I will share her letter in part.

Dear Suzanne,

...Thank you for your little peek at the mission trips you have been privileged to make. What wonderful opportunities to serve the Lord. Mission trips were never heard of a few years ago. Our world has shrunk and modern technology has sped up missions goals. I wonder if God has allowed this to speed up the gospel and hasten the return of Christ. "Even so, come Lord Jesus."

We just celebrated Thanksgiving. How good the Lord has been to us. How blessed we have been as a nation, Suzanne. We may be entering a new phase of life here in our nation. The title, "Christian nation" is not deserved any longer. The killing of millions of babies and the acceptance of homosexuality have taken down great countries before our own. God never ignores sin.

Sorry. I shouldn't pursue such a sad topic, but Suzanne I'm an old lady, but you could face persecution in the next few years. Study the Bible and memorize as much as you can. It's the Word that will sustain us, come what may.

May God abundantly bless you and yours.
Lovingly,
Ruby Pribble


The Apostle Paul helped his children in the Lord with his words and wisdom in his letters to the churches. Similarly, Mrs Pribble does the same thing for me. Within only a few sentences, she encourages, she admonishes, and she instructs me wisely. She helps her daughter in the Lord with her wisdom and encouragement. What an example of our words as powerful tools and a strong help when given with much wisdom and love.

Lord Jesus, Some 46 years later, Mrs Pribble is still my teacher. Thank you for giving me a good and faithful teacher as she is. Help me to also be a good and faithful friend to those you put in my life. You give good gifts, Lord. Thank you so much. I love you.

Suz

smelling the rose petals

The day before Thanksgiving Holly brought Hannah and Summer over to my house for a visit and to help prepare for dinner the next day. Hannah has always been my sous chef when we prepare meals for the family and this day was no different. She helped chop celery and onion for the stuffing, she scrubbed sweet potatoes to bake for the pies, she peeled boiled eggs and mixed the yolks and other ingredients for the deviled eggs and pitched in wherever needed. Since Hannah and I are both a bit messy when we cook, Holly was a trooper and cleaned up behind the two messy girls. Little Summer ate potato chips, watched Spongebob and occasionally wandered into the kitchen for a hug or more snacks.

Our friend Cody stopped by to visit. He's a rambunctious 12 year old who livened us up. A little later in the afternoon, we took a break from the cooking and went on a golf cart ride around our neighborhood where we enjoyed the cool, sunshiney day and the breeze blowing through our hair. We had the excitment of a few dogs barking and chasing after us and a quickly weakening battery on the cart, but we got home safely and because the battery held up, we didn't have to walk home. It was an absolutely lovely time.

Thanksgiving day, my grandson Sid was moseying around the yard waiting for Summer to get here and he found a unique way to keep himself busy. He came into the house holding the front of his shirt up in his arms. The tail of his shirt was full of dark pink rose petals from my front yard. He liked them and decided to pick them and bring them in to me. I was a little taken aback when I saw them but when I saw how excited he was to bring them to me, I was touched. We didn't want them to go to waste so we fixed them for decorations for the dinner tables. I gathered up some small cut glass bowls and filled them with water, then Sid and I sprinkled the petals on top of the water where they floated beautifully. We set seven little bowls of floating dark pink rose petals around on the tables where they added a graceful accent to our dinner. They were very pretty and Sid was proud of his good work.

Our family showed up on time for dinner and we enjoyed ourselves immensely. It was a good day with many things to be thankful for. I am thankful for the prep day with my daughter and girls and I'm thankful for Sid's rose petal gathering. I am thankful for a delicious meal that day. I am thankful for Amy and Holly jumping in to get the final details done with dinner and all their help cleaning up afterwards. Most of all, I am thankful for peace and contentment in our home during our Thanksgiving gathering.

We know the Lord blesses us in big ways; with salvation, with protection, with heaven, but He also blesses us in small ways that are precious to my heart--lavish time spent with grandchildren, tasks successfully completed, a peaceful spirit, and time to smell the rose petals.

Thank you, Father. If you never did another good thing for me, I would still be a most blessed woman. I love you.

Suz

planning holiday meals

Next week is Thanksgiving and my family is coming to eat dinner with us; my daughters, their husbands and children, my sister and her family and my nephew and niece and their families--about 17 total. We'll cook lots of good food, eat too much and laugh a lot. That's how it usually is when we get together and I don't expect this year to be much different.

I'm mentally making up my shopping list for the meal, trying to get all the details straight in my head and before I forget anything, I will write it down. Gotta have it down on paper or I will forget something important. It's happened before.

I like planning for a get-together. I enjoy the hugeness of it all. Ten pounds of potatoes, ham and turkey, stuffing, gravy, rolls, pies and cakes. I love looking through magazines for new taste treats and watching the Food Network for something tasty and different to serve. This whole thing would be very enjoyable were it not for one special person missing--my mother.

I miss my mom a lot right now.

All the arrangements, the menu ideas, different dishes to try--that's what we did every holiday--we'd talk about and mentally prepare dish after dish beforehand. She would get so excited about some new dessert or veggie dish she'd see on television that I'd have to find the recipe for her online. She'd study it and we'd discuss how good it sounded and how we could tweak it and make it even better than the original. We did it every holiday, every year. When we couldn't discuss anything else, we could talk food. That's what we did until she died. I'd sit in the chair in her room and she'd be in her bed, and we'd watch Paula Deen or Emeril or Ina Garten and we'd cook along with them, thirty minutes at a time.

"Now, Suzy, I think if we added just a little bit more butter..."

According to my mother everything tasted better with a little more butter. Funny thing is, it usually did taste better. So, we planned, and we cooked, and we baked--if only in spirit. I can still talk a good game when it comes to food, and I daresay I can cook a little too, but the sparkle is gone right now because my cooking partner isn't here to share it with me. Maybe that sparkle will come back one day soon. I surely hope so, because when it's good, it's grand.

Here's a simple side that is different and tasty. It's one we saw on Paula Deen's cooking show and we had it for Thanksgiving a couple of years ago. Mama and I loved it. I hope you like it, too.

Pineapple Casserole
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 25 min
8 servings

1 cup sugar
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups grated sharp cheddar
2 (20-ounce) cans pineapple chunks, drained
6 tablespoons pineapple juice reserved
1 cup cracker crumbs (recommended: Ritz)
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted, plus extra for greasing pan

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease a medium-size casserole dish with butter.

In a large bowl, stir together the sugar and flour. Gradually stir in the cheese. Add the drained pineapple chunks, and stir until ingredients are well combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish.

In another medium bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, melted butter, and reserved pineapple juice, stirring with a rubber spatula until evenly blended. Spread crumb mixture on top of pineapple mixture. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown.

I miss my mother so very much right now but I plan to enjoy the rest of my family and these special days to the fullest this year. They are my joy and the lights of my life. The Lord has blessed me with the best family anywhere. The Lord is good and I appreciate his vast blessings to me.

Father, my heart is full with thanksgiving to you. I am a grateful woman. I love you.

Happy Thanksgiving, all.

Suz

heartburn

I had an endoscopy today. My gastro doc put a camera down my esophagus to my stomach to see what he could see. Personally, I didn't want to do the scope even now, but I'd put it off as long as I possibly could. I have been suffering with heartburn for ten years. Yep. Ten.

Trouble was that I'd tried recently to go off of the Prilosec and each time I'd feel terrible because of the heartburn. I was becoming concerned. At least now I know I just have chronic heartburn. Yippee. That makes me feel better.

The nurse who prepped me for the test asked me some questions about my history and when I told her how long I'd suffered with heartburn she asked me, "Why did you wait so long to check it out?" Before I could answer she said,

"Never mind. I suffered with plantar fasciatis in my feet for three years before doing anything about it. I know how so much time passed before you did anything. Women just deal with stuff on a daily basis without paying much attention to the time." I wonder how much better we might feel if we'd just go ahead and take care of our health issues as they pop up.

Another nurse set me up in the procedure room where she put my oxygen canula over my ears and the openings in my nostrils. As she hooked the tubing over my ears she said,

"Nice ears."

I laughed thinking she was making a joke.

"No, really. You have nice ears. I do this everyday and some ears are flat, some sticky-outy, but you have nice ears."

"Thank you."

It's funny what we notice about people.

My test went off rather uneventfully and without a hitch. The doc took a couple of biopsies and said they didn't look bad but we'd know for sure in a few days. I'm waiting hopefully for the official good report. Then I guess I continue with the meds.

I had a test, it came out well, and I am thankful. I guess everyone has something and mine is heartburn. Without it or with it, God is good.

Suz

finding God

We sing this beautiful chorus in church:

The more I seek you, the more I find you.
The more I find you, the more I love you.
I wanna sit at your feet, drink from the cup in your hand,
lay back against you and breathe. Feel your heartbeat.

This love is so deep, it's more than I can stand.
I melt in your peace. It's overwhelming.

When we sing this song, it's as though all the cares of the day fall away and as I do what the song says, worship follows. Seeking God. Finding him. Loving him. Sitting with him. Accepting what he gives with his own hand. Resting in him. Saturating in his love. In the midst of this worship, I melt into his perfect peace.

It doesn't get any better than this. So why do I often struggle in setting aside time from my busy day to find this peace and rest. There is nothing more important than spending time with the Lord to be strengthened and renewed and yet it seems like an indulgence. It's as though my heart wants to stop but my mind says that the time would be more productive spent running errands or doing laundry. How foolish!

There is no errand, no laundry, there is nothing so important that worship should take second place, or third or fourth place. My mind goes a million miles a minute worrying about one thing or another. A sick or brokenhearted friend. Financial woes of another friend. Trouble in a family member's household. My health. Your health. The list goes on and on...and that's the problem. There is no help for these issues in worry and fretting. There is no help for these things from trust in false gods, false doctrines, or solutions the world gives. Real help comes from trusting the Lord Jesus with all these things.

The Lord does not play games with our needs. He doesn't hide, making us work to find Him. When we seek Him, we find Him. When we find Him, we love Him. The Lord is easy to be found. Refreshment for our weary minds and hearts is there for the receiving.

Oh Father, I want to lay back against you and breathe. I want to feel your heartbeat. Help me melt in your overwhelming peace. I love you so much.

Suz

handprints

Hannah straightened out my desk on Saturday night for me. Granted, it was a hot mess when she started. There’s lots o’stuff on it that shouldn’t be and I take full responsibility for it. It’s my desk and my mess, but she’s a lot like her Aunt Amy. She’s a little neatnik and she wanted to help her old Suzy---and, she helped. She didn’t throw anything away. She just straightened and rearranged. Right now I can’t find anything but give me a few days and I'll be back in the middle of my personal mess and bliss will reign once more. I've been watching too many episodes of Clean House!

~~~~~~~~~~
Hannah and Summer signed their autographs on the white board by my desk while they were at my house Saturday night. I looked at them this morning and thought of their sweet smiling faces and how much I love them. These signatures reminded me of the time Byron and I went to visit my Grandpa Bryant and Velma when Amy was a toddler. After we returned home, Velma wrote me a note and told me how she had found Amy’s tiny handprints on her mirrored chiffrobe after we left and that it reminded her of us and little Amy. I took it as a nice thing and found it endearing.

I think Velma was saying that there is something special about a baby’s telltale signs around a house, especially when no babies live there. Those tiny handprints speak of all she has to learn and all she has to give to the world. They tell of a heart eager to explore and touch and feel everything around her. Those little open hands tell of the hunger each of us had at one time to reach out to the possibilities of life, take hold of them, make them our own and ultimately leave our personal impact behind.

We leave handprints of a different kind wherever we go even now. Our mark on the world and the people around us remains long after we’ve exited the scene. Are we friendly and open to new people and new experiences or are we rushed and rude and just want to go home and hide from the world? Will those I come in contact with think positively about my mark on our encounter or will they be very glad I’ve decided to move along and leave them alone. I wonder what kind of handprint I left yesterday. What kind will I leave today?

Lord, we can leave good marks or we can leave bad ones. Help me leave handprints that are thought of kindly and fondly remembered. I love you, Father.

Suz

my granddaughter, Hannah

We have two delightful granddaughters and one energetic grandson. Summer Rose and Hannah Rose Loftin and Sid Baker.

Sunday, October 26, 2008, our granddaughter, Hannah, turned 13! I can barely type these words without my mouth falling open. Our first grandbaby, 13 years old. Now, don't get me wrong. She doesn't look like a baby but no matter how grown up she becomes, she will always be my "baby grand."

I remember when Holly told me she was expecting her and how I was overwhelmed with emotion. How could my baby be having a baby? That in itself was mindboggling. As we followed Holly's pregnancy, I remember when Hannah was, according to the pregnancy book, the size of a pinto bean. Our very own little pinto bean. It was an exciting time.

As Hannah grew within her mother's womb, I spoke to her everytime I saw her. I bent down to Holly's belly, held it and said, "Hi Hannah. It's me, Grammy. I love you. I can't wait to see you and hold you." I didn't care that the same pregnancy book said she couldn't hear me. I told her anyway. Declaring my love for her cemented something strong, if not in her, then it did within my heart.

Maybe those feelings of connectedness are common across the board for all grandmothers. My experience with my own grandmothers was sketchy. They were too old, too sick or too far away in distant lands like Georgia and Tennessee for me to have much of a relationship with either of them. So I'm flying by the seat of my pants here in my efforts to grandmother my precious grandkids. All I know is that I feel a unique bond with my grandgirl, Hannah. She humors her old Suzy in a noncondescending way. She asks me questions and then listens to my answers. She continues our conversations with insightful questions and thinks about answers and solutions. Don't get me wrong. We're not talking rocket science here. We're talking about ideals and friendships and experiences. My experiences and her middle school experiences. She's an intelligent girl with a tender heart, much 13 yr old wisdom, who loves Jesus and loves me, too. What more could a grandmother ask for?

I've said it many times but I'll say it again. The Lord has certainly blessed me with more good things than I could ever imagine--with friends, with family, with grandchildren.

Happy Birthday, Hannah. I love you, honey.

Suzy

storytelling and potpourri

I love stories. True stories. Fun stories. I love to hear them and I love to tell them. I've been known to embellish true life events to make them just a little bit better than they really are to make a more interesting story. When Pastor Derek asked me to be the storyteller for our pumpkin patch again this year, I gladly accepted.

It was a beautiful day to be outside. The skies were clear. Cool breezes blew. We had pumpkins and we had a story. It doesn't get much better than this. The kids were excited to be doing a special thing and I was excited to interact with them and make their day a little more fun.

As they filed into the pavilion for the story, I thought about how it was when I went to school and how everyone looked alike. We were all Caucasian, some Catholic, some Baptist, some southerners, some yankees, but we were basically similar in appearance and economic circumstances, etc. This is what some people think heaven is going to be like. Gobs and gobs of people just like themselves. I believe they are going to be quite surprised.

I think heaven will be more like it was today. The children were a gorgeous blend of boys and girls of Asian, Hispanic, African-American, and Caucasian descent, and they were all eager to hear the story and have some fun. I thought of the children I've met on our missions trips--about how they all look different than I do but each one is beautiful in his or her own unique way--from the ruddy-cheeked Quechuan children of Ayacucho, Peru to the brownest youngsters in Gabon, Africa.

The USA is called a melting pot and that's not a bad thing for our country, but I thought of heaven and how it's going to be so much better than a melting pot. A melting pot cooks ingredients down until it's a conglomeration of the pieces and parts that were added to it. Heaven will be more like a potpourri. A potpourri of humanity. Individually beautiful ingredients that come together to make a new thing--a sweet savor. It will be a delicate blend of all those saved by the grace of God and it will send up a sweet aroma in testimony of His goodness and mercy.

Heaven is going to be grand and I can't wait to go there. For now though I'll be content with my small portion of potpourri here on earth. The Lord is so good to me.

Suz

our trip to Dominican Republic

Our missions trip to CIMA del Rey in Dominican Republic was a good one. The team worked really hard pouring concrete, painting, tearing out old construction, plumbing and installing electrical stuff and cleaning up. It was a hard trip in many ways, too. I thought because I lived in Florida that the heat wouldn't bother me. It bothered me.

The facilities are located on a hill that is surrounded by many beautiful mountains so air doesn't circulate easily. It's still, a lot. (Come, breeze, come.) I don't think I've ever been as hot in my life as I was there. Add to the mix spotty power service and the nights could be really long and hot with not even a fan. It got so hot that I gave in and opened our windows to the bedroom despite having no screens on them. Thank the Lord no creatures came in. And there were a few creatures there.

We drank gallon after gallon of water that was sometimes even cool. We didn't dare become dehydrated. With that type labor going on, heat stroke could have been right around the corner. Our food was prepared by Martha and her sisters-in-law and it was tasty. A few new things to try but mostly familiar. We also shared what food items we brought from home to supplement our meals. A bite or two of the packaged Rice Krispy treats that I had with me brought squeals of joy from a couple of the younger ones there. We took breaks to allow the occasional breeze to cool us down.

Sunday night at the local church's service we were loved on and made to feel welcome. On Wednesday, when we went to the weekly outreach service behind the village elementary school, approx. 350 children of all ages sang and played games and heard the story of Maria, Jose', and their son, Jesus. At the end of the service, Pastor Pedro had us line up two by two to make a tunnel through which the children would pass. As they came through we laid hands on them, prayed for each one and then gave them a sweet treat as they exited the prayer tunnel. At least, that's the way it was supposed to work. The kids were so excited about the sweet, it was not single file through the line...it got a little pushy as they moved quickly to receive their candy. Then it poured down rain and we were praying for excited, sweet-treat loving, wet children. We had a blast! We were a mess, but we also enjoyed every minute of it. The love that Pastor Pedro has for the youth in this village and all of Santo Domingo is gigantic...kind of like his heart.

I guess if there's any one thing about a missions trip that's consistent for me, it's the way we slip easily into the appreciation for small things. That cool breeze at just the right moment. A fresh bottle of water when thirst is greatest. Electricity. Hot water for a shower. A shower. Playing down at the river with the friends you worked with all day and having so much fun that they hear the group's laughter all the way back at the main building on the hill. Sharing a bag of cashews, instant oatmeal, a Crystal Light tea packet, a friend bandaging your boo-boo, or doctoring your eye when there's a piece of trash in it. A sister praying for you when you hurt. A brother or sister surrendering more of himself or herself to the Lord during the morning devotions and the others surrounding him or her with prayer, love and encouragement.

Parts of this trip were difficult for me. I struggled with some of the inconveniences. Did I mention I was hot? My energy wasn't where I'd have liked it to be and my body hurt, a lot, BUT the Lord met with us so tenderly in our morning devotions and on Thursday night when Pastor Pedro brought some young people to minister to us with fun and prayer that I can call this trip a definite success. Those hot nights brought awake time--time to read my Bible with my batteried booklight--time to pray. There are so many areas in which I can grow. I'm sure some of them should already be completed and they are not, but the Lord lovingly reveals them to me then helps me work on them--like contentment and peace.

Help me listen and learn, Lord. Listen. Learn. Thank you for this learning trip for me, Father. I love you.

Suz

A Post for Aunt Wanda

Dear Aunt Wanda

We are safe and sound here in Dominican Republic. There's lots of work to do and we are working hard on it. This is a beautiful facility with soft green mountains all around us. The river down at the bottom of our hill flows fast but it's not deep. We all went down on my birthday and swam and played after work. It was a blast!

We went to a children's outreach meeting in the village yesterday afternoon and visited with the children and played with them while the church's members told them about Jesus. It poured down raining on us right at the end but it was so much fun to be there that nobody minded at all.

We will finish our work this afternoon and spend a day of rest before coming home on Saturday. Please hug and kiss Kayla and Aunt Margaret for me.

I love you all.

Suzy

faith in the days of old

Psalm 44:1...O God, we have heard with our ears, Our fathers have told us the work that You did in their days, In the days of old...

My mother-in-law, Gladys, is a woman of strong faith and I was blessed with her as my spiritual mother when I married Byron. Many years ago, as we worked in the nursery, cutting plants for sale to other foliage nurseries, she often told us stories of things the Lord had done for her or her children or her mother. She told us of the old days in her church when revivals lasted weeks upon end. She told how the Lord moved powerfully in the services, how he healed the sick and changed lives for the better--for His purposes.

3.For by their own sword they did not possess the land, And their own arm did not save them, But Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence, For You favored them.

She told us how the Lord delivered her mother from the depression that severely affected her life. She told of Byron's dad's immediate deliverance from an addiction to nicotine so severe that when he quit smoking, the nicotine seeped from his body and stained his clothing. She told of answer after answer to prayer in her life, in her family's lives. When there was a need, they called on Him.

4.You are my King, O God...6.For I will not trust in my bow, Nor will my sword save me. 7.But You have saved us from our adversaries...

She did not trust in her own power or in her own ways. Her family had few earthly resources. There was no money for doctors or hospitals. Many times there was hardly enough food in the house. There were no friends that could help them out of their need and they had no strength of their own. It was the Lord who met their financial needs. It was the Lord who healed them. It was the Lord who rescued them. It was Christ who met their deepest emotional and spritiual needs each and every time they called on Him.

8.In God we have boasted all day long, And we will give thanks to Your name forever...

And, it is our Heavenly Father, whom she praises for all her rescues and for keeping her daily, even now. We learn from her what the Lord has done through the years and our faith is bolstered. We learn from our spiritual fathers and mothers about the faithfulness of God and we are strengthened.

We tell how the Lord meets our needs now; how He sends extra work to meet financial needs, how he eases the suffering of an elderly aunt, how he brings peace in the middle of emotional turmoil, how he heals our child in the middle of the night, and how the Holy Spirit comforts us in time of grief. When we tell of the goodness of God, of the immediateness of the Lord, others are shored up in their faith.

But, for the Lord...

O Father, thank you for our fathers and mothers who tell us of your works, of your help, of your deliverance. It strengthens us and builds our faith. Thank you for your nearness, for your close ear, for your permeating presence. You are the air we breathe. But for you, I would die. I love you so, so much.

Suz

perfection

I think I'm a perfectionist. You may look at my car, my house, my clothing, or even me and question whether or not it's so, and I completely understand why those doubts might enter your mind. Before now, even I had never seriously entertained the idea, but lately it's been pretty evident to me. In fact, I think my daughter was close to right when she declared, "Mom, we're perfectionists. We're just not very good at it." But I started thinking about it and I decided that perfectionism isn't necessarily in the execution of being perfect. It's in the desire to be perfect. Every 't' crossed. Every 'i' dotted. No mistakes. No gaffs. No stumbles. Nothing out of order. To have everything just so--and keep it that way. It's a tall order. It's an order that will burden down even the most sincere and energetic soul. It's an impossible task.

I started noticing myself being bothered by crooked couch cushions, books lying messily on a table, the towel in the bathroom hanging askew or a throw carelessly tossed on the chair. Now these are not a big deal to most people but the urge to keep them and other little things perfectly in order was running me ragged--and I don't run so much anymore. I couldn't sit down for even 15 minutes without seeing 'just one more' thing to pick up and put away immediately. One might assume that because I was jumping around picking up stuff that everything was neat all the time in our house but that isn't the case. The three of us are pretty messy people. I couldn't keep up with it all. The only reward was a tired and cranky woman who dared anyone to lay anything down in the house. Not exactly a recipe for a "Home, Sweet Home."

This quest for the perfect physical everything, no matter what it is, leads to feeling guilty and feeling like a failure. Ask me. I know. Truth is, guilt and failure are often my companions because there's ALWAYS something I didn't do perfectly. I never saw it before as clearly as I do now. I'm learning that I although I will never be errorless, gaffless, goofless, and totally on top of each minute area of my life, that it's OK. No one is totally 100% in every place in her life. We all have weaknesses and vulnerabilities and we all need room to breathe. I need room to be me.

When I set aside these futile efforts of frustration and rather seek a more perfect walk with the Father, then I am refreshed and not guilty. I will succeed and not fail. I could straighten cushions and towels for 10 years and all I'd have for my efforts would be raggedy cushions and towels because they will surely pass away, but if I use that same 10 years of time with Jesus to grow in grace and peace and trust in Him, He will not only bless me but He will use me to bless others. He's like that. He wants us to be perfect in Him.

Psalm 103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust....17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children- 18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

I trust the Lord's righteousness. He made me. He knows my frame--my weaknesses, my frailties, of which there are many. He has compassion on me because of them. When I 'seek first' the Lord himself, He promises everything else I need will be added to me. Looking beyond the cushions, past the towels, around anything blocking our view to the Lord is true perfection.

Father, Thank you for your word which always directs me in the way I should go. I love you for your understanding and your patience with me in all my quirks and humanity. You're so good to me.

Suz

Aunt Wanda's birthday

Today, September 23, 2008, is my dear Aunt Wanda Williams' eightieth birthday. Yes, eighty years old today! What a great thing to happen. She has been in my life since before I was ever born. There are many old photos of Aunt Wanda and Uncle Bill with my dad and mother when Mama was expecting me. At picnics, on boats, dressed up on Easter, and on road trips. I was there, but I was hidden behind large maternity tops.

I was the first child of the group that would become my siblings and cousins so I also got all four adults as my first playmates. As much as it pains me to say it, I was pretty spoiled. When Mama went back to work after my birth, it was Aunt Wanda who cared for me. Except for my mother herself, I couldn't have had anyone who loved me more than Aunt Wanda did to take care of me every day.

We have always had a special relationship, Aunt Wanda and me. As the only available kid for a while, I was the one who got to spend the night at her house the most. I went to church with her. She took me on train trips to Tennessee to visit Grandma and bus trips to Indiana to visit Uncle Bill's family. When Grandpa died, I rode in the car with Aunt Wanda and Uncle Bill to his funeral instead of with my mom and dad.

When it's good, it's a special relationship between an aunt and niece. It's close but not smothering. It's respectful but not fearful. It's fun, sometimes silly, and always friendly. She has always listened to what I had to say without ever putting me down or making fun of me. There has never been one time in my life when I wasn't glad, happy, and excited to see my Aunt Wanda.

To think of her is to smile. Period.

I love my Aunt Wanda. Her life has not been an easy one and the last several years have been some of the most painful in her long life. She has helped more people than I can count, family or not. As a young girl, I watched her serve the Lord faithfully. It is she who is my example of a life of sacrifice and giving to others. She's the sprinkles on the cake and the glitter on the hat but she's not just the fluff. She's also the beef in the stew. There's no one like her and I'm one fortunate woman to have her in my life. God has blessed me for nearly 56 years with her so far and I'm looking forward to many more.

Happy Birthday, Aunt Wanda. I hope this is a great day for you. Having you with me surely makes it a great day for me!

I love you.
Suzy

critical things

It's been a good weekend. Byron and I went to a marriage conference at our church with Dr Mark and Alison Rutland. We've been to their conference twice before many years ago and learned a lot. At this conference some things were the same, some were different and some of the same things had light shined on them. The Lord is good to me like that. He's always on target with where I am at the moment and gives me help just when I need it most.

At the conference I learned (once again) that I need to express admiration for my husband. As much as we females need care and love, males need admiration. I can honestly say there are many things I admire about my husband. He's a strong Christian man. He's hardworking and a good breadwinner. He's fun. He's supportive of my dreams. He's a good friend to his buddies. He's a good dad. He loves me.

But I have been very critical lately. Everything gets on my last nerve. It seems I'm the only one who knows how to drive, how to eat, how to breathe, even how to chew gum. Not very nice, huh?

No, it's not.

Trouble is, it's hard to sneak admiration in between griping about his driving and the way he chews his gum. Something about it just doesn't ring true when it's sandwiched in like that. I've been bad about it lately and I'm not proud of it.

That's when the the Lord enlightens me again. That's when He shines His light on it for me and gives me a chance to do better now. He leads me to look beyond the small things and cherish again the husband He gave me in my youth, to keep our love from growing cold and stale. He allows me to see it and change it before it seems unfixable.

So, by God's grace, and with His help, I will focus on my dear one's strengths, of which there are many. I will let him know of all the things he does right as opposed to the unimportant things that I let irritate me. The Bible says it best and I want my example to be the best of all;

1 Cor 13:4-8
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Thank you, Lord, for the insight and the desire to change what needs changing. I love you.

Suz

chords

In the music that is my life
God plays the richest chords
on my heart.

Suz

vapors, flowers and a moment

We sang a song in worship on Sunday that spoke of dancing around the throne of God when we get to heaven. It's a beautiful song and, as we sang, I thought of a girl I know with a physical handicap. My first thought was, "She'd never be able to do it. She can barely stand without her walker, let alone dance freely."

That's when the Lord checked me and then gave me an image I will never forget. I saw an open place--a throneroom. At the right side just out of my vision was the throne. I didn't see Him but I knew he was sitting there. In front of Him was a young woman dressed in a simple knee length white dress who danced for joy before Him. With arms wide, a big smile on her face and eyes closed, she twirled gleefully as her long dark hair swung around her. She was finally free to do what most of us can do any old time.

I was completely absorbed in her worship when I saw it. Just off to her left, pushed to the side, discarded, was the walker she had used for so many years on earth. Tears welled up in my eyes at what I'd been shown. I felt many emotions right then. My heart overflowed with happiness to see her so free and unbound from her earthly bonds, but at the same time I was checked for forgetting that in Heaven we will all be whole.

Sometimes I get tangled up in the daily grind, the details, the places to go and the people to see. I wrestle with plans and heartache and disappointment. I struggle with relationship and aches and pains and grief. I forget and the Lord gently and kindly reminds me that as His children our earthly life with its joys, its complicated days, and tearful nights is but a vapor, a quickly fading flower, only a moment in eternity.

Thank you, Lord for reminding me. I love you.

Suz

colonoscopy

I had a colonoscopy today. I worried about it quite a lot before it actually happened even though I tried not to. Thought I might die or find out horrible news of colon cancer even though that had not been my doctor's concern. At the very least I imagined unimaginable pain from the procedure. (imagined unimaginable?)

While I was IV'd, blood pressured and prepped for this presupposed torture I worried a little more. I kissed my husband goodbye at the waiting room and they wheeled me down to the endoscopy waiting room. I waited for nearly an hour until my doctor came to procedure me. I was a huge baby this morning and I needed the comfort of one who cares for me like no one else.

That's when I prayed. I asked the Lord to stay right with me. To protect me. To keep me safe and to allow me to have a good report. And He helped me so much. Once I put myself into his dear hands for this thing, He calmed me as only He can do.

My report:

There was a bit of discomfort. No real pain. There was also a good medical report. No polyps. No cancer. And, I lived through it.

I've been thinking about why I let myself sink so deep into the worry pit and I've come up with a couple of reasons; I had the CT scan fiasco a couple of weeks ago where my vein blew and all the contrast went into my hand and it hurt something awful. Then, my sweet Aunt Wanda was very sick and just got home after a week long stay in the hospital. She was often in a lot of pain and we spent much time considering medical things for her to help her get well. I think I had medical overload. (Aunt Wanda is recuperating at home. Please pray for her quick and complete recovery.)

Worry. It will drive you crazy. Allow it and it will suck every bit of joy and peace of mind you have right down the useless drain.

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" Matthew 7:11

Our Father loves to comfort us. It's one of His best things. When I asked today, He gave. He's like that.

I love you, Lord.

Suz

small things

My friend Rose sent me this email today. It touched my heart and I thought you may be blessed by it, too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Good evening my dear friend.

I wanted to tell you about what I would term a 'miracle'. It started last Wednesday and came to a head on Friday.

Wednesday, my sister, Paulette, and I took my dad back to the hearing aid center so that he could tell them whether or not he would keep the hearing aids that he was trying out. There was no doubt that he can hear somewhat better using the new hearing aids, however, they are not very cost effective and knowing my dad's history of being cheap...ahhhhhh, frugal, I was prepared to go into the doctors office checkbook in hand.

When he found out how much the hearing aids were going to cost, he immediately went into lockdown. I asked the doctor to step out of the room and I told her to just make a bill out for what my dad had expected to pay and my husband and I would pick up the balance. My dad still had a difficult time writing the check but after some assistance he signed the check. I'm just glad we were able to help.

While we were setting up for his next appointment in 90 days, he keep saying to me "I want to talk to you when we get out of here."

He suspected that I had written a check for the difference of the hearing aids, and I didn't want to argue with him so I kept telling him I didn't have time to discuss things right now, that I needed to get back to work. I said this in a teasing way.

When we left the building, he said, "You wrote a check in there, didn't you?" I told him, "Yes."

Suzanne, he looked so upset, and so I said a fast prayer for God's strength and this is what came out of my mouth:

"This isn't just for you, Daddy. This is for all of us. We miss you. We want you to be part of our lives. You have your health, Dad, and, even more, you are very blessed."

He looked at me and after a moment said, "Well, I don't know about my health (laughing), but I know that I am very blessed."

I answered, "We are all blessed. Welcome to our world."

He smiled and he was truly happy. (But not with having to write such a large check!) :)

On Friday, Louie, Amy, Louis and I met Dad and Paulette at a restaurant for lunch in Keller because we needed to pick up some parts from them. When everyone first got out of their cars, Dad greeted everyone with a big smile and a hug and was actually able to know what everyone was saying to him. The look on their faces was priceless.

But that isn't the best part.

When we were waiting for our meal, for the first time in many years, Dad actually had a conversation with his grandkids. Somehow the conversation got around to buildings or something like that and....get ready...my dad suddenly started singing a song from the movie Oklahoma!!! It was absolutely incredible. I looked at him and he looked at me and we both had tears in our eyes. I don't know when I have loved my dad more than that moment. I will never, ever forget the look we exchanged from across the table.

I realize it was a simple, everyday occurrence for many people to have lunch and have a conversation with those people that they love, but for me it was a dream come true. To witness the joy that my dad brought to my family and himself...it was priceless.

Thanks for listening.

And Suzanne, yes, God is very, very good.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What a beautiful story! The Lord shows us that it is the small thing that can harm or bless us. The little foxes spoil the vine, but it's the meal and oil for one last loaf of bread, a cup of water given in His name, the widow's mite, kindness shown to the stranger who may be Jesus or an angel, and it is the time spent with family and friends that can show us His love in action.

I'm happy for you and your Dad and your family, Rose. I know it's good to have him back. I love you.

Suz

the next mess--with a side of tears and misery

Did you ever clearly see someone younger about to make a mistake? Did you try to warn him? Did you give him good advice while there was still a chance to change his mind and did he ignore you and plunge ahead to certain disaster anyway?

It happens over and over again.

Then disaster strikes and he cries because his life is in a mess.

And you, kindhearted and compassionate person that you are, want to help him out of the dilemma so the tears will dry and the sun will once again shine on his young face and all will be right with the world.

Momentarily. Until the next crisis--and the next poor decision.

And the next mess is served up--with a side of tears and misery.

You want to help again, but this time the Lord says, "No."

And you hurt for the young one and you cry for the consequences he must now face.

"Lord, I don't want him to hurt."

"Sometimes it's harder to do nothing," He says.

It is harder to do nothing--to let the reaping commence. It's frustrating. He didn't listen when given sound advice. He stubbornly chose the wrong fork in the road because he KNEW better than someone older--someone wiser--than himself.

And the Lord says to you, "...why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? Matt 7:3

Is this how the Lord feels when I ignore His voice over and over again? He alone knows what's best for me in every situation, but do I always ask His best for me? When he sees the impending heartache payday for my decision, does the Lord hurt for me in the same way I hurt for my young friend? Does He allow me to reap my harvest of pain so I will learn to listen more closely to Him the next time?

Oh, me.

Forgive me, Father. Help me to hear your voice--and do it.

Suz

nature things

The rain is trying to stop, the sun is trying to shine and Byron is out in his workshop. Life is getting back to normal after TS Faye. I fixed his lunch and took it out there and decided to sit with him while he ate. As we talked and enjoyed the relatively dry weather we had a tiny visitor come in the shop to pay a visit. A hummingbird flew into the building, checked out the red rope hanging from the open garage door and flew out again. Not believing her eyes, she flew back in, flitted around the rope and then back out. Never to again return.

I sat there with my mouth open surprised at what I'd seen.

"Has that ever happened in here before?"

"Nope."

"Wow."

I had to smile. I love "nature things" and this was a genuine treat for me. I love the frogs' chorus after the storm. The lizards all over my window screens. The dragon flies meandering around my yard. The lone fly that keeps buzzing my face. OK, maybe I don't love ALL nature things, but you know what I mean.

From our front porch I have often seen hawks soar overhead and heard their screaming as they hunt for tiny animals (or maybe chihuahuas) for lunch. We often hear large Pileated woodpeckers call like chimpanzees in the jungle and Byron and I like to watch the little bats that come out at dusk and snarf down as many as 10,000 mosquitoes each and every night. Go, bats, go.

Occasionally we have a gang of wild turkeys mosey down our driveway and across our small road and I have played peek-a-boo around a tree in our yard with a raccoon late at night. The most exciting thing we've seen was a black bear lumbering along the street and down into a wooded area. What a night!

When I see something special like this I feel like the Lord just gave me a treat. You know, like that small, simply great, sweet that you've been hungry for? Well, for me the treat is an out-of-the-ordinary nature thing.

Thank you, Father. The little hummingbird present you gave me today was just what I've always wanted. I love you.

Suz

osmosis

I love Florida sunsets. Each one is unique and striking to see. I think the way I like to best see one is when it first starts and it's still pretty light outside. I like to put on my sunglasses and look at it closely. The glasses may dull the tropical colors but what is left is what I enjoy--the detail of it all. The glasses let me see the sunbeams of light slipping through the cracks and openings in the clouds. The rays are well-defined and if I were high enough up there, I imagine I would be able to slide right down to earth on one. Like a huge beam-of-light slide.

I like to imagine that those beautiful beams are God's love pouring down from heaven to earth to me and that I can bathe in those dramatic rays and soak His love through my skin and muscle and bone. I imagine that it goes straight through to my heart; straight through to the real me in His full power and majesty. The Lord has all this love and I want it. I need it.

It's like osmosis.

Spiritual osmosis.

In nature, osmosis is when a high water potential moves through a semipermeable membrane to a low water potential. "Water is sometimes called "the perfect solvent," and living tissue (for example, a human being's cell walls) is the best example of a semipermeable membrane. Osmosis has a number of life-preserving functions: it assists plants in receiving water, it helps in the preservation of fruit and meat, and is even used in kidney dialysis." (Answers.com)

Spiritually, the Lord has a high Living Water potential. I, human being Suzanne, have a low Living Water potential. The Lord moves his living water through my skin, bone and muscle to my heart--to my spirit. This osmosis action balances out my Living Water levels.

I become more like Him and it happens without any input of my energy. The Lord gives, I receive. I am gifted His Living Water--His love--His eternal life.

Natural osmosis releases energy and can be made to do physical work like moving a rock with a tree root. When I receive Living Water from the Lord, a spiritual work takes place, I receive eternal life and I work to let others know of this precious gift.

John 4:10..."If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."...14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." 15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty..."

Are you thirsty? Depleted? Would you like to stand under the fountain of Living Water the Lord provides for us all? Do you need an infusion of God's Holy Spirit? Dear one, look to heaven. Our Father makes spiritual osmosis abundant and freely available to anyone who asks. The Lord offers. Receive. You will never regret it.

Father, I love your artwork in our spectacular sunsets. Your creativity takes my breath away. Thank you, Lord for using natural things to teach us spiritual truths. What a great God you are! I love you.

Suz

suffering

It's been a tough week.

I've been having some pain in my side and stomach so I went to the doc. She ordered a CT scan with contrast. While I was having the scan, my vein collapsed sending the iodine contrast into my hand rather than through my vein. It hurt like nothing I've ever had hurt. I yelled rather loudly for them to stop the test and called on Jesus to help me.

More than once.

Did I mention loudly?

The top of my hand swelled up like a goose egg but the radiologist said my hand would be back to normal by 2pm or 3 pm that same day.

It wasn't.

So I went to my primary care doc. He called his radiologist colleague who said to wrap it and hold it above my heart. He wrapped it and I bought Popeye's chicken for supper. My hand stayed swollen until the next morning.

While my hand was hurting so bad that I cried I thought of those who are chronically ill and hurt badly all the time. My CT test results showed I have a light case of diverticulitis and a kidney stone, but I'm on antibiotics and I should feel better soon. I am tired and my body hurts tonight but I don't have cancer and my severe pain was short-lived.

And Jesus did help me.

My hand is back to normal and by His grace I'll feel better soon.

Lord Jesus, thank you for helping me the other day during my crisis. I was scared and hurting and you rescued me. Please touch the one who suffers daily with constant pain and disease and ease her suffering. Ease his suffering. Let them feel your presence in the midst of their hurt. You made us, Father. You are our healer. We depend upon you. Your word says ...for I am the LORD that healeth thee. Exodus 15:26 and we believe your Word.

Thank you, Lord. Thank you for your loving touch.

Suz

too much fun

Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged...Proverbs 17:6

Summer and Hannah came home with Kayla and me yesterday after a little school shopping with their mom and me. As we were on our way home, Summer said,

"Suzy, I had too much fun today!"

It surprised me to hear a 7 yr old say it at all, nevermind her saying it so matter of factly.

"You did? How did you have too much fun, Summer?"

"Suzy, I just had too too much fun today! Too much fun."

"Summer, HOW did you have too much fun? Tell me about it."

She was smiling and thoughtful going over the day in her mind. She wasn't being silly at all when she told me about her "too much fun-day."

"First, we went to Isabelle's house to play. We put sparkly eye shadow on and looked pretty. Then we went to Sonny's for lunch with you and Kayla and it was good. Then we went shopping and I got two new shorts and tops for school. Then we went to Publix and you bought me Mentos. Now I'm coming over to your house and we're having dinner. I just had too much fun today. I just had too much fun."

Spending time with her best friend prettying themselves up. Simple, good food for lunch with good company. A couple new school outfits at great sale prices. A small treat at the grocery store from your grandmother. Relaxing at your Suzy's house watching tv before dinner. Spending time with family and more good food. No fireworks, no theme parks, no extravagant gifts, no big crowds. It was pretty simple, huh?

Some of my best-ever life experiences have been the least expensive and the least complicated and some of the simplest yet best lessons I've ever learned have been at the hand of my children and grandchildren The Lord is good to me and I am grateful.

The life of the godly is full of light and joy...Proverbs 13:9

I had too much fun, too.

Suz

beach trip

What a great time we had this weekend! Sixteen of us went to Daytona Beach for short time of r&r and we had a blast. We played in the pool. Some walked the beach. Most slipped repeatedly down the water slide (exciting photos to come). We relaxed and even rested some. It was a fun time with my family.

We all went out together to a seafood restaurant called Inlet Harbor for supper on Saturday night. After our meal we stepped outside on the patio and heard live music, so of course we headed right that way. The kids hopped on the dance floor to have a little fun and with a little pleading Byron agreed and he and I made our way out there, too. We've been boogying down a little lately and we are really bad at it. I'm not just being modest. We're really awful but I'll bet you no one has any more fun than we do. Byron said if we're going to keep doing this we're going to have to practice at home. My gut feeling is that we'll probably just be awful at it and continue to have fun. Hannah, Alexandra, Cody and Sid all had fun to the music. Summer said she liked going to the party and would like to go there again. That child is a girl after my own heart.

There was one night I just couldn't sleep though. Don't know why. It just happens sometimes. I'd already stayed up till midnight watching Iron Chef America. (It was an amazing Barrundi fish battle with the challenger, Chef Pagano, but Bobbie Flay won hands down.) So, here it was 2:30 am and I'm wide awake. I couldn't turn the tv on. It would disturb Byron and Kayla. I couldn't turn the light on to read. Same reason. I couldn't go outside and sit on the bench outside our room. The burglars would get me.

So I did what anyone else would do in that situation. I got a bottle of water, a bag of chips, my notebook and pen and went to the bathroom so I could have light and wrote down ideas for my blogs. I got 6 pages of ideas out of the bargain. Not a bad deal. When my eyes started getting heavy I took it as my cue to put everything away and make my way to the bed and it still took me nearly 30 more minutes to doze off.

We left the next morning after sleeping in a little bit and headed for Cracker Barrel and then home. I was very tired after our short beach trip. I'm not sure if it was the dancing or the waterslide that finally did me in. No matter. It was all fun and I'd love to do it again next year.

I love my family and I love the Lord for letting me have them in my life.

Suz

broken dolls and broken people

Every doll I ever had as a kid ended up looking like a tortured war victim. First came the obligatory bath, followed by the hair brushing and/or haircut. When the hair was sufficiently bushy and uncontrollable or completely whacked off, out came the ball point pen to draw on blue lipstick or earrings or a necklace and bracelet.

All the cute clothes she'd had when she was new--gone. I don't know where. They were just gone. The end result was always totally and completely ugly.

Mud fence ugly.

Yes, it was that bad. Always. With no exceptions.

My poor doll--the one that had been cherished and tenderly looked after only months before--was then summarily relegated to the bottom of the toy box never to be thought of or seen again until some future cleaning day when she would be discarded forever. There was no other way out.

Cold, huh? Heartless, right? You betcha.

Like my pitiful broken dolls, it happens all the time in the real world, too. Real live human beings beaten down by others, or circumstances or their own choices and they don't have the strength within themselves to get up. They don't have it within them to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and try one more time to get off those pills or the booze. There is no energy or resolve to try one more time to get off the street and into a regular home where they can live safely without the fear of being robbed, beaten or worse.

I know many broken people. Some are family. Some are people I see as I drive through town. Some beg for money. Some sit there dejected and sad. Some busy themselves with shopping carts filled with their stuff. Their whole lives crammed into a metal basket on wheels.

Sometimes the brokenness is inward. Fear grips. Personal lives are a mess. Relationships have soured so badly it doesn't seem like they can ever be sweet again. Finances are such that it will be only days before choices are which bill to put a little money on or whether to eat or buy medicine. Hope is thready and thin. There seems to be no where to turn. It's the bottom of the toy box.

Micah 7:1
What misery is mine! I feel like the fruit picker after the harvest who can find nothing to eat. Not a cluster of grapes or a single fig can be found to satisfy my hunger.

Nothing on earth satisfies this gut hunger. This hunger for a real life, for peace of mind and heart doesn't begin and end with an 8-5 job. These dear, broken ones' misery is so all encompassing it seems as though there is no end. This misery isn't only of physical need. This misery and emptiness is caused by the absence of Jesus. He is the fixer of broken people. Regardless of why or how a person gets there, the Lord helps all those who call on Him.

Psalms 40:1-2
I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.

Do you know any frightened, broken ones? Are you broken outwardly or is your brokenness hidden? The Lord will help you. He will make you whole. Call on Him.

We can trust Him. He promised.

Suz

worship on Sunday

During worship on Sunday, I began thanking the Lord, one by one, for my family. I pictured each one individually, thought about their good qualities, and thanked God for them. I took pleasure in each one. Byron's loving faithfulness, Amy's tenderheartedness, Holly's encouraging heart, their husbands, my grandchildren, my aunts, nieces, nephews, etc. Well, you get the picture.

I was "calling the roll" of my family, when the choir began singing, Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord. When they got to the line, "I want to see you, I want to see you," the Lord spoke to my heart and asked me,

"Do you see what I see?

Without waiting for my answer He said, "Open your eyes and see."

I opened my eyes and I believe I saw us as He sees us--as a Father proud of His children. In the same way as I was recounting the blessings of my children, He let me see us--His sons and daughters--and how He takes pleasure in us. I saw His light and beauty in each choir member singing His praises. Eyes closed, smiles, hands raised. Then, in my mind's eye I saw behind me and beside me, His children with upturned faces and raised hands, praising the Lord for His goodness, His beauty and His majesty.

I was aware of our human frailties but each time I thought of our humanity I was checked in my spirit. The Lord said,

"See Me in her. See Me in him."

I saw everything good. I saw worship.

The Lord of all takes pleasure in us, His children. He takes pleasure in our worship. What an awesome thing!

2 Cor 6:18 "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

Thank you, Father. Thank you.

Suz

what I did on my summer vacation

It was such a big trip--14 days away from home. Traveling from Vancouver, BC, to the Inside Passage, stopping at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, then boarding a train to stop at Mt McKinley, Denali Park, to Fairbanks and home. I've never been away from home for that many days in a row before. I guess I can't say that anymore, can I? Once I got home, spoke to my girls and family, saw my pups, and got over this cold, I knew I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

The zipline was a hoot and I was terrible at it. Everyone else in the group sailed straight down the line to the next landing. Not me. I clinched so tightly to the harness assembly at the top of the line that I turned myself to the far right each and every time I zipped. Then, when it came time to slow down before landing, I usually braked too hard and stopped short so the poor boy guide would have to help me pull myself clumsily up to the landing. Except for the time I didn't brake hard enough. I plowed into him. I'm a big girl. Him, not so much. Knocked him into the padded tree behind him. We had a good laugh each time it was my turn to land. Some of us laughed more than others.

The ATV adventure was amazing. Byron and I got a two-seater Rhino so I didn't have to drive. It's a good thing, too, because I'd have turned around for sure at the first sign of water. It was a cold, drizzly day and we dressed warmly but it didn't mean much when we hit the creek and crossed it with water up to our wheel tops. Talk about a rush! We were in a natural gravel pit with rushing streams running through it and gorgeous snow topped mountains all around. There were 11 vehicles that included 2 guides, one in the back and the other in front. One by one, over hill over dale, we went flying over the rough terrain and upstream through the water, laughing and, some of us, screaming all the way. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

This trip was an adventure in so many ways. The time away, the distance, and going with a group of people that, for the most part, were related to one another but not to us. When we started planning this trip, my daughter asked me, "Are you sure about going on a two week trip with these people?" She knows very well how I need my alone time. But, this was a lovely trip. There was no emotional "claustrophobia" at all. We were free to participate or go it alone. It was easy and fun to be with one another. One of the things I liked most about it was that there were all ages in our group from little Noah, Ava and Peyton to Helen and Voline and Mr and Mrs Mooty. We were truly community.

As I think about the fun things we did and the beauty we saw--the awe-inspiring majestic mountains, the tremendous glaciers, the delicate beauty of the ever-present flowers, the wildlife, and the warmth of the Alaskan people--I am humbly grateful to have had this experience. This trip was not a little thing for me. It was big. A big, good thing. I'm a blessed woman.

Thank you, Father. I had a great time!

Suz

coming home from our Alaskan adventure

We've had a great trip. Period. No pain. No drama. We saw lots of interesting things like whale's tails, ice bergs, bald eagles and glaciers. Felt lots of cold and rain. Had 18-22 hours of daylight, lots of laughs with dear friends and dessert at least twice a day. Ziplined, atv'd, and gold panned--which I must say, were a total BLAST! Took too many photos of probably all the wrong things--(I've never claimed to be a photographer).

And I missed home. It wasn't too bad until about day 6 and we were getting ready to hit the train for parts north towards Fairbanks, but that day was kinda hard. Missed my kids, grandkids, friends and the pups.

But, we made it. Home. A lovely place with lovely people. And I am grateful to the Lord for it and them. Period.

Will write more and show a few pics shortly.

I missed you guys.

Suz

trips

I am suspending my blog for a couple weeks while we go adventuring around the world...ok, to Alaska. But that's pretty far away, right?

We have a couple of adventures planned: a zipline trip through the rainforest canopy and an ATV adventure with the group. It should be fun. I don't know what else we will do but I'm hoping for a little R&R.

Take care, everyone.

God is good. All the time.

Love,
Suz

the last puzzle piece

In the movie "Jerry McGuire," Tom Cruise tells Rene Zellweger, "You complete me." He's really making points with her by saying this to her because the need to feel complete is so great in each of us. He is saying that whatever is lacking in his life, she satisfies that lack. My guess is that she believes if she completes him, then he will do the same for her. This makes for a good movie scene but we in the real world know that one human being cannot do this in entirety for another human being.

We may fit together well with our best friend, personality-wise and we may even go together like hand in glove with our spouse, but, the truth is, deep down we know there are gaps and empty spaces that no other human being will ever be able to supply.

We all know people who have tried to fill this void with bad relationship choices, multiple marriages, and even having children or pets to try to replace what's missing for them, and nothing--no one--except Jesus, will fit the bill.

Keith Green sings a song about Jesus supplying exactly what he needed when he was unsaved. He sings, "I was so lost and you showed the way, 'cause you are the way. I was lied to but you told the truth, 'cause you are the truth. I was dying and you gave me Life, 'cause you are the Life. How I love you 'cause you gave your life for me." Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life.

In Isaiah 61:1-3 the prophet announces good tidings to those who need them most. The Lord sent him to "bind the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to those held captive, open the prison to the bound, comfort those who mourn, give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness that ultimately the Lord would be glorified."

There is an emptiness, a vacuum, in each of us that only the Lord Jesus fills perfectly. In each instance, Jesus is the last puzzle piece. He gives us our much needed freedom, joy, beauty and comfort. No friend, spouse, child, pet, not even a teacher or pastor will, or can, do it all for us. As much as each one of these mean to us, they won't meet our need. The cross supplied our necessity for a Savior and He alone meets our every need, daily. No other person will fill that emptiness. Jesus fits exactly and only He completes the picture. Only He truly completes us.

Father, Help me to always look to you to fill the voids in my life. Whatever my need; comfort, joy, beauty, or praise for my heaviness...whatever the need...remind me to always look to you and to trust you to fill it. Thank you Lord for supplying these empty spaces, these gaps. Thank you, thank you.

Suz

our chickens coming home to roost

Aunt Margaret may be coming home next week! She's been gone since April 21 and it seems like forever. She actually lives in Tennessee and Florida and now it's our turn again and I'm glad. We all miss her so much when she's up there going to doctor's appts and visiting with her children. She lives with Aunt Wanda down here and they take care of one another and keep each other company. It's a good arrangement. Now, if only Aunt Polly could come...

My sister Kathy and her family are moving down here from Pennsylvania to help with the business and be closer to us all. They should be here either Sunday night or Monday. This makes me very happy. I've missed her since she moved to PA back in the 70s. I think this will be a very good thing.

I'm not everyone's mother, but sometimes it feels like it. I often feel like a mother hen gathering her chicks to protect them. If everyone is home, then everything will be OK and if it's not OK, then we'll get through it together.

I remember when our girls, Amy and Holly, were young and we'd have bad weather. I couldn't rest until they were under our roof...close enough to touch...so I'd really know they were OK. I've said more than once to my then teens, "It's going to storm. I want you home!" Some of my fondest memories are during hurricanes or winter storms when we were relegated to the house because of conditions outside.

One Christmas we had such cold weather the power company did rolling blackouts, cutting power to specific areas for a while, then to others for a while to save power. I had stocked up with food and supplies, and Byron had more than enough wood stockpiled for the fireplace so we had nourishment and warmth. We had company staying with us that weekend so the house was full of people who couldn't go anywhere, so we had entertainment, too. The house was a disaster but we were full and warm and with all of us going through this together we had a blast! As long as my family was close by, I was content.

It's a little different now with both girls having families of their own, but still good. I love having everyone over within arm's reach, but I also love knowing they are nestled in their own cozy homes, spending time with their own little brood. There is contentment and continuity in family coming together, whether it's coming back home from a long time away or coming over for dinner at Mom's or knowing your children are together in their own nests.

My family is good to me. They allow me to gather them up under my wings and hold them close. Each and every one in his or her own unique way is a great blessing from God--from my husband to my two daughters and their families to my aunts, cousins and extended family.

As I yearn to gather my chicks, so does the Lord want even more to gather us and protect us. There is a certain amount of protection for my chicks at my house, but how much more contentment and protection are under the wings of Jesus.

Luke 13:34 How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me.

There are real storms out there. Physical, emotional and natural hurricanes, tornadoes, and bitter cold storms.

2Samuel 22:3 My God is my rock, in whom I find protection...

Let Him gather us. Let Him protect us. No one can do it better.

Suz

brilliant moments and ordinary days

Summer vacation, my birthday, Christmas, and even the first day of school were the best days of the year for me as a young girl. These special days brought unique traditions for each one.

Summer vacation meant we'd be out of school to play with friends and some years we'd go to visit family in Tennessee or Georgia. My birthday meant Mama would bake a yummy, homemade cake for our family just because it was my day--and I might even get a present, too. The first day of school was exciting because I'd see all the friends I'd missed over the summer and there were all those neat, new, school supplies to use. Christmas meant family, food, presents for everyone and Jesus' birthday.

I looked forward to each of these great days with much anticipation because they were the highlights of my year. Between each one of them were many regular days of getting up, eating, dressing, chores and going to school. You know, the ordinary days. Real life days of the commonplace.

Oswald Chambers writes, "Has the Lord ever asked you--'Wilt thou lay down thy life for My sake?' It is far easier to die than to lay down the life day in and day out with a sense of high calling. We are not made for brilliant moments but we have to walk in the light of them in ordinary ways...For thirty-three years Jesus laid out His life to do the will of His Father...If I am a friend of Jesus, I have deliberately and carefully to lay down my life for Him. "

What brilliant moments have you had in your life with the Lord? The miracle beside your dad's hospital bed? A long lost child come home? Finances supplied at just the right time from an unexpected place? The Lord directing your path so clearly there is no room for error and then making the way for it to come to pass? A successful missions trip? An eagerly anticipated project begun and completed? A quiet, tender moment with Jesus just when you needed it most? What blessings! What miracles! What brilliant moments in our spiritual history--in our lives with Christ!

Then comes Monday morning and it's time for work, or school, or housecleaning and taking care of the children. Our lives happen one day at a time. Not a holiday at a time, or a birthday or an event, but moment by moment, one day at a time. It's the way we do anything, really. Inch by inch--step by step...one foot after another. It's how we serve the Lord too. One thought, one prayer, one need, one blessing.

When we look at the lives of the great people we know in the Lord--our mothers, fathers, pastors, sisters and brothers in the Lord--we see years of faithfulness, deeds done, and prayers answered yet they were all done day by day. Not one of them lived a whole season at once. Sometimes life is exciting but it is the everyday walk with Jesus that adds up to this successful life for God. The Lord doesn't ask for us to slay dragons or perform superhuman heroic deeds. He says walk with him.

Micah 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Walking humbly with the Lord--how beautiful!

Father, help me simmer down and walk humbly with you daily--between the special times and brilliant moments.

Suz

a sneaky kid and no hiding

I was a sneaky kid. I remember the time I stole a nickel from the corner of an unoccupied desk in my first grade class. As I passed the desk on my way out the door to go home for the day, it sat there glaring at me, screaming, "Take me, take me." I quickly scooped it into my palm and kept walking. Then I held it tightly in my hand with my arm close to my body until I reached home, where I put it in an old play purse to conceal it further so I could bring it into the house without my mother's knowledge. It didn't work. She noticed. After much cross examination and punishment with a switch (which seemed to go on for hours), I was taken to school the next morning to return it to my teacher with tears and many mumbled apologies.

As an older child, on family dinner days, I was the Master Food Sneaker. While Mom and Aunt Wanda busied themselves with the final details of our gorgeous meal, I'd pass through the kitchen on the pretext of getting a drink of water or saying hello. While they put the rolls into the oven or set the table, I'd snitch one of the best pieces of ham or beef, the crusty bottom. Hungry girl, great bite of well-seasoned meat bursting with flavor--stolen waters never tasted so sweet.

I'm not so sneaky anymore. Not fast enough. Actually, now that I'm the cook, it's not sneaking, it's taste testing. Anyway...when I realized how utterly open we are to the Lord's sight, how nothing is hidden, I saw that it freed us to be who we really are. We don't have to hide or try to "get away with it." whatever it is, because it wouldn't work anyway. Our heavenly Father knows! We may as well ask for His help, for His forgiveness, and go on.

Hebrews 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him...14...we have a great high priest...Jesus the Son of God...16 Let us then approach the throne of grace...so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

The Lord knows our innermost sneakiness even if no one else does. He knows us better than we know ourselves and still completely loves us and He still makes a way for us to receive mercy and grace. He not only provides mercy and grace, He seeks us out to give them to us.

He seeks us. He pursues us even in our deceitful, unlovable state. The God of all heaven and earth, of everything, sees us in the bright light of His glory, warts and all, and pursues us--He pursues me. How wonderful is that!

Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Lord, thank you for the bright light of your glory that shines on my life and for loving me and providing for me anyway. I love you with all my heart.

Suz

my snuggling pup

Blue is our 9 year old chihuahua and he has issues. He's on meds so he won't have seizures and the medication he takes causes his liver not to function well. He's been known to have back problems and has needed more meds and bedrest on occasion. His fear makes him an aggressive little dog. If you happen to encounter him, don't turn away or he'll bite your ankles.

He comes when we call and is affectionate with us, but throughout the 6 years we've had him, he's been standoffish about staying too close for too long. When he sits near me, he'll stay relaxed until I touch him or speak to him. If that happens, he's outta there! That is, until yesterday.

We had a thunderstorm at our house with lots of lightning and booming going on. He came to me on the couch a couple of times as a trial run. He let me pet him a minute but soon jumped off the couch and paced around the house trying to feel safe somewhere--anywhere. Then he jumped up once more. I petted him calmly and told him I'd take care of him--something I've done a hundred other times--and surprise of all surprises, he stayed. After about 30 sec his little body relaxed and he snuggled down with me. Oh, it wasn't the usual snuggle. This was a "get my nose in her arm pit, bone loosening, snuggle down and trust her" event. I could not believe what I was experiencing! It was amazing and completely out of the norm for this little guy. When the next thunder boom happened, he didn't move to run away, but buried his little nose even deeper into safety. I relished his closeness and dependence upon me.

Like my sweet pup, there've been times I've run from pillar to post trying to find safety. I've searched to find a calm place where my heart can settle down, a place where I can regroup and regain my perspective on the truth of what's going on. As I was always there for little Blue, the truth is, that no matter what's going on, Jesus is waiting for us, for me, to seek Him out for that safe place. He is the calm in the middle of the storm. I can snuggle down into Him all the more whether it's crazy outside or it's crazy inside.

I knew all along Blue would feel safe with me if he'd only let himself relax into my arms, and the Lord knows the same about us. As Blue surrendered to my care and protection letting me provide comfort for him, so can we also snuggle down and let the Lord comfort and mother us. I believe the Lord takes pure joy in our dependence upon Him, as I did my little pup's.

Lord, help me surrender to YOUR care and protection. When it's crazy everywhere, outside and in, let me relax into your arms in utter dependence upon you. I love you, Father.

Suz

good friends and warm moments

I've been reading The Sacred Romance, Drawing Closer to the Heart of God, by Brent Curtis and John Eldredge and it is a deeply moving book. Although only halfway through it, I've come to tears several times because of how closely I've identified with much of what is written.

My favorite passage at the moment is this, "The story that is the Sacred Romance begins not with God alone, the Author at his desk, but God in relationship, intimacy beyond our wildest imagination, heroic intimacy. The Trinity is at the center of the universe; perfect relationship is the heart of all reality. Think of your best moments of love or friendship or creative partnership, the best times with family or friends around the dinner table, your richest conversations, the acts of simple kindness that sometimes seem like the only things that make life worth living. Like the shimmer of sunlight on a lake, these are reflections of the love that flows among the Trinity. We long for intimacy because we are made in the image of perfect intimacy."

I had some of these warm, intimate moments this past week with my friend, Rosemary. We've known one another since we were in 3rd grade so there are no illusions, no facades, and no charades with us. We laughed about past experiences with our other longtime best friend Alice, and we cried together for the grief we felt at the loss of family. We ate together and we shopped together. We marveled at how much we don't know and then talked of the beauty of the Lord and how He's changing us both. We reminisced and we planned future visits. It was a good week.

Good times with family and friends--what gifts from God! I am truly blessed.

Thank you, Lord. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Suz

good medicine

Pastor Gary told a couple of husband-wife jokes Sunday during his first Family Month sermon last Sunday. They were really funny so I thought I'd share two I know.

Joke #1
A husband wasn't feeling well so his wife took him to the Dr. After the examination, the doc excused the husband and spoke to the wife alone. "Your husband is sick and very fragile right now. He needs extremely tender care and generous amounts of pampering if he is to survive. You must see to it his sheets are the softest cotton and they are changed every day. He must be bathed by you every evening with the utmost gentleness and then dressed in the most comfortable pj's money can buy. His meals must be homemade gourmet feasts of only his very favorite foods and it must be for all three meals, each and every day. You must run interference for him in the daily affairs of life. He must never be stressed even the tiniest bit. If you fail in even one of these areas, in either his peace of mind or his bodily comfort, your dear husband will not survive."

The wife left the Dr's office solemnly, thinking over all she'd been told and walked out to meet her husband in the waiting room. When he saw her, he asked, "What did the doctor say?" The wife looked at her husband with a tear in her eye and said, "The doctor said you're gonna die."

Joke #2
Even though Grandpa and Grandma were deaf as posts, their family came together to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. There was food, family, and fun all day and even with their hearing loss, they seemed to enjoy the long day's festivities. After everyone had hugged and said their goodbyes, and the last family member went home, Grandpa and Grandma sat in their rocking chairs on the porch, rocking rhythmically, watching the sun go down. Grandpa looked over at Grandma with her plump body, her shining white hair and the deep, smile lines all over her face. He reached over lovingly, patted her hand and said, "I love you." Grandma looked over at the old man she'd been with for all those years with his bib overalls and white hair and wrinkles and reached over and patted Grandpa's hand and said, "I'm tired of you, too."

OK, they're not nice but they ARE funny!

Sometimes we just need a good laugh. Sometimes I just need a good laugh. A cheerful heart is good medicine. Prov 17:22

Above all, God is good.

Suz