My Junior Ranger

Jacob is taking the Junior Ranger program at the park for the next few Fridays. Not only does he get to hike for five hours straight, but two friends are doing the program as well so he will enjoy reconnecting with them!

Outside my window this afternoon-

One of the most active tornado weather days in Colorado in a long time. This tornado was on the ground and seemed stationary for about twenty minutes. Several more tornados came from this cell- and many, many funnel clouds as well.

Thankfully no reports of injury or property damage have been reported as of yet.

Job Update

Brian went to work all last week and is planning to be there on Monday. The manager who is trying to have him fired will be back on Wednesday (he was gone last week). Brian is finishing up his resume and will give it to a couple of recruiters that were recommended by friends. We're still not sure of what the job situation is like in our area- hopefully it's not as dismal as it was last year at this time.

We are praying that he can still work at his current job until he finds another one. However, they were firing people last week, so we keep hoping and praying.

In the meantime, I am reading up on preparing your house to sell and trying to get to a few home projects that have needed attention.

Like making slipcovers. I made the pattern last year, the mock-up last week and hopefully the actual slipcovers this week.

House Projects

Remember this photo taken back in December?

We finally got the siding repaired today. Six months later. I wonder what it will be like on these windy days without hearing the Tyvek blowing around loudly.

More siding to be repaired tomorrow. Then on to painting.

Just a note to myself...

I find it amazing that we as a nation will fight other nations for our national liberty, and that we as a people will if necessary, fight one another for the freedom of those within our borders, but when it comes to the living out of our Christianity, we will give up our liberty without a fight.

We’ll go to the wall and square off against any enemy who threatens to take away our national freedom, but we’ll not be nearly so passionate as Christians under grace to fight for our rightful liberty. Let enough legalists come aboard and we will virtually give them command of the ship. Peace at any price leads to slavery.

If Patrick Henry had the courage to say “Give me liberty or give me death,” then the Christian ought to have the courage to say, “Give me freedom because of Christ.” Bondage is bondage, whether it is political or spiritual. Give me the liberty that He won at Calvary or I am still enslaved. To live in slavery is to nullify the grace of God.

Grace brings a freedom to enjoy the rights and privileges of being out from under slavery and allowing others such freedom. Its freedom to experience and enjoy a new kind of power that only Christ could bring. It is a freedom to become all that He meant me to be, regardless of how He leads others. That freedom is then released to others so they can be who they are meant to be ­ different from me!

God isn’t stamping out little cookie-cutter Christians across the world so that we all think alike and look alike and sound alike and act alike. God is pleased with variety.

Freedom to be who we are is nothing short of magnificent. It is freedom to make choices, freedom to know His will, freedom to walk in it, freedom to obey His leading me in my life and you in your life.

It is a liberty you will have to fight for. Why? Because the ranks of Christianity are full of those who compare and would love to control and manipulate you so you will become as miserable as they are. “Misery loves company” is the legalists’ unspoken motto.

The one place on earth where we would most expect to be set free is, in fact, the very place we are most likely to be placed into slavery: the church. Surely, that must grieve our God.”

Chuck Swindoll (The Grace Awakening)

Quote from the comments section in "Amy's Humble Musings" (link to her blog in my link section).

About a year and a half ago, I prayed a prayer similar to one my mother prayed many years ago. The answer to my mother's prayer was a move across the country from Michigan to California. It was a hard move, leaving friends and family, but it was very good for our family.

The answer to my prayer has come in the form of a job loss. While Brian has not been fired as of today, it could come at any time (my first question to him on the phone is "Are you still employed?"). It is an uncertain time (should we go ahead and schedule surgery, knowing we won't have insurance past this month?) but my prayer is that this, too, will be very good for our family.

Interview with Debra!

Debra is married to my oldest step-brother, Del, and together they are the parents of four wonderful, beautiful, brilliant children. One of the best parts of belonging to this blended family is the joy of being related to such a super person as Debra. Even though Deb is a busy wife and mother, she willingly agreed to answer my questions so I could learn more about her. So, without further ado, here is Debra!

Favorite author(s) : Way too many “favorite” books to list. My favorite authors are George MacDonald and CS Lewis.

Favorite Hymn: O For A Thousand Tongues (Since He has broken the power of cancelled sin & has been actively setting this prisoner of sin free; & since I believe His blood can make the foulest clean, I can’t help but ask for 10,000 tongues to express my praise to/for Him! Interestingly, I didn’t start painting, drawing, writing songs or stories, until I became a Christian…surely, He is responding to my petition! May He add to me thousands more tongues, and might I be found praising Him w/ each one.)

Favorite Food: Thai – very spicy red curry absolute favorite; also Mediterranean – salads, avocados, nuts etc; and last but not least, I love all kinds of fruit w/ walnuts, yogurt, and cottage cheese.

Tell me about your family (mother, father, etc.) Where did you grow up? I was born in Amsterdam, NY, & I grew up in a little town called Broadalbin, NY (Upstate NY, near Albany). I’m the youngest of four children (I have two sisters, 12 & 10 yrs older than I, & one brother, 7 yrs older than I). My oldest sister was born w/ autism/childhood schizophrenia.

My dad traveled w/ a construction crew building bridges etc, so before I was born my family moved every few years. They decided to stay put when they moved to NY (the beauty of Upstate NY reminded them of their own birthplace [Ridgeley, WVa]) and my dad decided to make a go of self-employment. He began by buying a mobile home park. (He kept that mobile home park until not too terribly long ago.) He bought several other properties and also a corner gas station. It was just a gas station, earth floor and all! He built a building (w/ a real floor) and added a mini-mart. The business grew and expanded quite rapidly and Dad became a true land & business developer – he discovered he had energy, smarts, & passion for developing the potential value of properties/businesses. My mom, older sister & brother all had a hand in the business from early on. I was very small so just hung out w/ the customers all day until I was old enough to add my hand to the actual carrying on of the place. I liked people and very much enjoyed talking to the locals who frequented the coffee shop - added when Dad expanded the minimart (yep, coffee shops existed before Starbucks ).



Did you take any special trips or vacations as a child? Not as a child so much, other than an occasional trip to Florida, and every holiday we made our way to my parents’ families’ homes in WVa/MD. But once my other siblings were not at home any more, I traveled w/ my parents to Paris, France, and went on a couple of really nice cruises; one throughout the Caribbean down as far as Caracas, Venezuela; the other to various ports in Mexico & the Bahamas. As a teenager, I went with some friends to Portugal.

Did you like school? I guess I did. I didn’t dislike it. It wasn’t difficult for me. I never really thought about whether I liked it or not. I know that I very much disliked going to and from school on the school bus…rough stuff and chaotic.

What was your favorite subject in school? Worst subject? I liked reading and math. Didn’t really care for science or computers, though I really like science now.

What did you want to be when you grew up? Totally depended on who or what I had been exposed to on any given day. For a long time I wanted to be a veterinarian. Everyone in my family loved animals, so we were always caring for little creatures…yes, all kinds of creatures. J Later, I wanted to be someone who helped families dealing w/ a mentally ill family member. Somewhere in there I thought about being a missionary, a nurse, a professor, a pastor. I always had in mind that I wanted to be a mom.

How would you describe your personality? Instinctively quiet, but very interested in, and many times, energized by, people, so compelled to be social. I am fatigued by long periods of social interaction (at least those in which I am required to talk), so though I enjoy them for a time, I am very grateful for quiet, alone, replenishing time soon afterward.

Do you have any hobbies? I really enjoy painting (esp like to paint faces or to depict some biblical interaction). Many consider running one of my hobbies, but since it is a very regular part of my life, I don’t consider it a hobby. Running races may be another hobby. I do like to do a few races/yr, and enjoy training for them. I also enjoy writing short stories, making up songs, drawing, photography, reading…. Del tells me the last thing I need is another hobby. (He’s kidding…in reality he does everything in his power to support & encourage me in every one of them!)


How did you meet Del? He traveled w/ his family on a ministry team…the team came to my church in NY when we were 14 and 15 years old. We met and began a friendship. We didn’t stay in close contact, but a couple years later I worked at a camp in Michigan; Del lived on these particular campgrounds in the summertime. Our friendship deepened that summer. Again, we didn’t continue frequent communication, but a couple years later we ended up literally bumping into each other at the University post office on the first day of classes (this was in Virginia). Del’s dad died very soon after we arrived at college, so Del returned home for a while. When he returned, we dated quite seriously but at the end of his sophomore, my junior year, he transferred to a college closer to his family. We again J didn’t stay in close communication, but then a couple years later, Del called my parents to try to find out where I was. When he reached me, we discovered that both of us had been accepted into graduate programs in the Chicago area. We finally clued in to the fact that it was clearly “meant to be”, chose a weekend at the peak of the Fall season in Michigan (yes, in the middle of our graduate work), & were married! That was 1994. And I am more sure than ever that it was, indeed, meant to be. Del is an off the charts incredible husband!


You wrote a ministry pamphlet about your struggles with bulimia. Do you know what led to your developing bulimia? Isolation, poorly developed self-control, & desire for selfish pleasure w/out consequences How were you able to overcome this eating disorder? God filled me w/ strong desire for another way. (The way of JESUS; freedom to follow Him in every way He was asking me to follow Him.) The actual process of overcoming bulimia involved prayer, completely cutting out all “trigger” foods, incorporating regular exercise into my daily routine, memorizing Scripture, & learning to tell myself NO.

How has motherhood been different than you thought it would be or surprising in any way? I think maybe I thought that w/ motherhood came wed w/ selflessness, maturity, wisdom, patience, self-control...I learned quickly that one does not receive these virtues through simple induction into motherhood.

What has been your favorite aspect of motherhood so far? Listening to the kids when their interactions are sweet or funny; I love to hear them laugh, watch them play, read, love; watching them learn, grow, develop, mature; just being w/ them.

What has been your most challenging aspect of motherhood so far? Exercising self-control over my own mouth.

How did you and Del come to the decision to homeschool your children? It was really a given for us; there are not any schools nearby that we feel would/could properly educate them; we feel like God has given us the primary responsibility for their training while they are in our home...it would be difficult for us to train them if they were away from us all day five days a week.


Since Del speaks and writes about marriage and relationships in the ministry you're both involved in, do you feel that people are watching you more closely to see if you both practice what you preach? We don't pretend that we have it all together; we're brutally honest w/ those who look at us like we're some kind of perfect couple who have marriage and family issues neatly packaged and figured out once and for all. We don't minister out of perfection. We minister out of what we have, and what we have is sometimes wonderful and sometimes it is a very big mess. So...in answer to your question, if they watch us close up and personal, I have no doubt that they will be at least mildly, probably more like wildly, at times, disgusted and disappointed...but they can't say we didn't tell them that we are still in process.

I have heard that it can be difficult for those in ministry to develop close friendships due to their role as a leader. Have you and Del found this to be true? Not at all; we are very sincerely grateful for many incredible friendships.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of being involved in ministry? Seeing people become more of who they were made to be

Since you have attended lots of marriage conferences, can you tell what you think has been the most helpful advice you have heard? Focus on what you like/love about your spouse.

What has God been teaching you recently? How willing and able He is to do more than I ask or imagine

Do you have any words of wisdom for mothers of young children? Pray, and remember that God did not randomly select you to be mother to these children. You were fitted together w/ your children purposely for their good as well as for yours. They will have the greatest opportunity of knowing & loving God, and becoming all of who He made them to be through your being their mother. God will efficiently use your time with them whether you are acting w/ them in accordance w/ all of your strengths or whether you are acting w/ them in accordance w/ all of your weaknesses. He has given you these particular children b/c they are the children most perfectly suited for helping you become better, helping you become more, helping you become beautiful as a child of God!

God is redemptive by nature. He is obviously not afraid of our failures...He would never entrust such precious lives to us if His confidence was in us. His confidence is in Himself, and so ought ours to be. Pray for your kids, do the best you can (recognizing that sometimes the best you can is not going to win you mother of the year award), and stake your claim in God's eager readiness and unequaled power to redeem, save, renew, & remake your children and you according to the pattern of person He has, from before time began, had in mind to help your children and you become!

The Things Kids Say...

Jacob was reading this label the other day and said, "Look, Mom! This nasal spray removes pollens, politicians and irritants!"

If I ever have a politician in my nose, I'll know just what to use!

Hiking in the Park

Left for home just in time, missing a big thunderstorm that hit as we were driving home.

Summer Reading and Inspiration

We checked out several craft/sewing books from the library (well, we do this year-round actually) and found some fun ideas in them for this summer.

The Martha Stewart book detailed the beautiful paper flowers featured in the "Weddings" video we watched (and were fascinated by). The girls are interested in getting some crepe paper and trying these.

Lots of great ideas and inspiration from "Weekend Sewing". I still need to finish the quilt I started last summer from Heather Ross fabric (Heather Ross is the author of this book).

This dress is adorable and looks very easy to make. If I use fabric I already have, will this violate my stated goal of only working on unfinished projects this summer?

This was an interesting book on the English language.

I started this book last night. It's written by several women about their experiences being a grandmother. One of my deepest desires is to be a grandmother someday. I am enjoying this book!

Interview with Dad!

This weekend I was able to ask my Dad a few questions (lots, actually) about his life. There are many more questions I could ask and I think it might be a good idea to keep a list of future questions that pop into my head. I think in some ways it's hard to interview people close to you because you already know so much about them that you can overlook obvious and important questions. Despite my interviewing shortcomings, here is part of our interview.


My Dad, Robert (Bob), is the seventh of nine children born to Hosmer and Ella Belle. He was born at home in Caladonia, Michigan a really long time ago :). He married my mother, Clarice, after they both graduated from Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music and together they had two children. Four years after my mother's death, Dad married Judy (also widowed) and within a few years they moved their blended family to Canada where my Dad currently pastors a church in the Toronto area. Dad and Judy are enjoying being grandparents and are looking forward to retirement sometime soon.


Starting with the easy questions:

Favorite Book (other than the Bible): "Called and Committed" , read in the summer of 1979 and "Brendan" by Fredrick Buechner. "Brendan" is a historical fiction book that was a requirement for a church history class. I appreciate Buechner's premise in his writing that your life is a story and has a plot which shows God's work in your life through the years.

Favorite Movie: Tender Mercies and O Brother Where Art Thou

Favorite Song: Great is Thy Faithfulness


Special Bible Verse: Philippians 3:13-14- Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Favorite Food: Anything from Cracker Barrel, green beans and meat loaf.

Favorite Place on Earth: The Brooklyn Tabernacle in Brooklyn, New York.


A Place You've Never Been to But Want to Go: England- to see the countryside and see where our family originated.

Memorable Present as a child: A marionette puppet that had its own stage. As an adult, a leather coat given by mom (Clarice).

In what ways do you resemble your parents? Like my father, I am introverted and quiet in groups of people. Like my mother, I enjoy laughter, good food and going out.


Memories of Grandparents? I only knew my maternal Grandfather. He had a good sense of humor and liked to tease. He kept ginger snaps in the cupboard and the kids would take them (and he knew it!). He was a widower for a long time and a retired farmer. He lived in a log cabin and raised corn, beans, cattle and hogs. Whenever we would visit him, we would arrive late at night and would have to wake him up so he could let us in. It was always an adventure to stay at his house.

Early Memories: Locking brothers and sisters in the outhouse. Since none of them thought I was tall enough to reach the outside lock ( I was three or four), I never got blamed for it. I also remember getting bitten on the face by a mother dog when I went to the neighbor's house to look at their puppies. I had to get a tetanus shot after that. I also remember a car crash that happened right outside our house while we were playing outside. I remember street dances, ox roasts and fireworks in the park in Caladonia.

Favorite music/entertainment as a teen? Everly Brothers, Righteous Brothers, Beach Boys, Sam Cook, Gunsmoke (TV), I Love Lucy, Westerns on TV.


What jobs did you hold as a younger man? In high school I gave piano lessons and did some babysitting. I also worked as a junior counselor at Dorion Bible Camp in Canada. At seventeen, I worked as a stock clerk at Woolworth's in downtown Grand Rapids. After a year or so at that job, I worked at Merill Lynch sending out bills for stock purchases. Both jobs helped put me through Bible School. One summer I traveled in singing groups and in my second and third years I was the director at a Bible conference/teen ranch in New Hampshire during the summer.

When did you know you wanted to be a pastor? As a teen-ager I knew I wanted to do something in Christian service. For a time in high school I took business classes and briefly considered a career in business, but I always felt a calling towards ministry.

When did you learn to play piano? I took lessons in the eighth grade from our church pianist. At the time, I didn't appreciate all the emphasis on correct fingering and technique as it seemed too academic and not creative enough. I can and do read music, but I often play using chord structure and by ear.


What attracted you to mom? Her smile. I liked her upbeat, natural ways. I thought she was beautiful and had a sweet manner.

When did you know she was the one? After a Youth for Christ rally I took her back to her dorm and gave her a good night kiss. I realized then that I really cared for her.


An important goal you have fulfilled? Completing my seminary education. I began working on it while pastoring in California, taking classes on weekends and on breaks. When we moved to Colorado, I continued on at Denver Seminary. Seminary education gave me confidence that I was trained in and had a wider exposure to theology.


What are you looking forward to in retirement? More time for travel, writing and reading. I hope to complete a project I have been working on which is looking at a Biblical evaluation of burial versus cremation.

Any Advice? Come to terms with your life, your past (including hurts, disappointments, deprivations, losses) and accept it as God's working in your life. When you are comfortable with yourself (and your past), you can move forward in confidence to what God has for you.


Thanks, Dad! Now I'll need to think of the rest of the questions I forgot to ask!

Sorry I haven't posted for awhile...

My dearest children gave me the flu.

I hope to put up my latest interview this weekend.

Stay tuned!

In Honor of Mother's Day

From a local magazine:


Things Mom would never say:

- "How on earth can you see the TV sitting so far back?"

-"Yeah, I used to skip school a lot, too."

-"Just leave all the lights on- it makes the house look more cheery."

- "Let me smell that shirt- Yeah, it's good for another week."

-"Go ahead and keep that stray dog, honey. I'll be glad to feed and walk him every day."

-"Well, if Timmy's mom says it's OK, that's good enough for me."

- "The curfew is just a general time to shoot for. It's not like I'm running a prison around here."

- "I don't have a tissue with me...just use your sleeve."

Spring

The GI Joes can now move their combat operations outside.

The bunnies can eat fresh grass and frolic.

The trees are leafing.

And the children keep on growing up much too quickly.

The past several days have been filled with various children contracting a stomach flu/virus and the joy that illness of this type brings.

It is even more delightful when one has a home inspection during this time and the home needs to look "normal" or even "nice". "Normal" during the stomach flu does not pass muster when one's home needs to look like a million bucks so the bank will agree to refinance one's loan at a happier interest rate.

I can't imagine trying to sell one's home during a bout of stomach flu.
Oh my.

Congratulations Joe and Jenny!

Joe and Jenny welcomed their first child last night- a little boy weighing 6 pounds, 15 ounces and 20 inches long. They haven't settled on a name yet- hopefully we'll hear about that soon.

Edited to add: the baby's name is Elias David :)

The Guest Room/Office

Before- getting ready to paint so things are just a little more messy than usual (sadly, just a little).

Paint samples on the wall.

And after. The wall color isn't showing up too well in this picture.

Hannah is looking forward to creating some art work for the walls in this room.

Hopefully, this will impress our appraisal inspector (for our re-fi) and make our home worth LOTS of money :).

Happy Birthday Jackson! And Cute Ethan pictures, too!

I love this picture!

Cute Ethan!