The Chair: Time to get out of yours!

That's the theme for our weekend. We don't normally select themes for our family weekends but this is a special one! This weekend is Disciple Now for the youth of our church.

What is Disciple Now? It is a weekend where the youth are hosted by families within our church - to get them out of their usual environment. Technology is removed - no cell phones, no iPods, no television, no video games. Beginning Friday evening, they are immersed in worship and Bible study. Saturday afternoon is the heart of the weekend as the students are led in a service project within our community. Some projects are for people within our church family. About half of the projects are performed at homes or organizations not connected to our church. They'll return to the church after dinner for another group worship session, followed by a more personal study time in our home. Sunday, we'll all attend church together.

This year, Bud and I have the privilege to host nine ninth grade boys. Shayne, a returning college student, is also here as their study leader. This afternoon, they are at the home of a single mom to help restore order to her yard as well as to complete some home maintenance projects for her. I'm back at my house getting dinner ready for these man-boys (and, yes, that is an accurate description of them!) who are sure to be starving when they return!

And we do sneak a little "play" into our time. The boys sat around a late-night fire to roast marshmallows and played football in our backyard until almost midnight last night. (I probably owe our neighbors an apology for that!) Tonight, we'll have a build-your-own ice cream sundae party. (Shhh! They don't know about it yet!)

Do you know what I've enjoyed most so far this weekend? Listening to the prayers of ninth grade man-boys who love Jesus!

And from a "mom's" perspective...

I stand in awe as I watch the food I've prepared be devoured in no time flat! Where do they put it?!

And with that, I'm heading back to the kitchen.

Going To Court.

For jury duty that is.

Be back soon! (I hope.)

The 44th on January 20, 2009

That's right... 44.

It's a number you're hearing a lot about today.

It's a very special day, of course.

Momentous.

Historic.

There's going to be official celebrations, parades, parties, and balls. And probably chocolate cake.

Much fanfare.

Oh, I'm certain there will be naysayers.

Those who say it can't be. Shouldn't be.

No matter your view...

Your stand...

Your beliefs...

Today is the day.

That's right!

Today is...

MY 44th BIRTHDAY!

Hello!

I'm still here and I've got good excuses for being MIA. You know, like two tons of Christmas decorations that are still sitting in a pile waiting to be packed into the attic.

I promise to resume my regular blogging very soon. Probably tomorrow.

And if I don't, you can just jerk a knot in my tail.

Yep, that would be a Granny-ism. What does it really mean and where did that saying come from? Who knows. But it's fun to say and it makes my kiddos look at me funny when I say it. Try it - you'll love the puzzled expressions the saying invokes!

I can only imagine!

I am back from Ohio. And Granny's funeral. It was a time of conflicting emotions.

Sadness... over the loss of Granny and all that she meant to us.

Concern... for my grandfather.

Relief... Granny's pain and suffering has ended.

And even joy. Seriously - JOY!

Because we know that Granny is in heaven. More than several times I've caught myself smiling as I've wondered what she's doing up there. I can only imagine! The whole family took great pleasure in knowing Granny would have been delighted with the gorgeous snowstorm that hit the night before and the day of her funeral. Not a blustery snowstorm. Rather, a deep, quiet snow. Huge flakes drifting down from the sky and blanketing everything. Muffling all the sounds. During her life, she was known to call people during a snow to say, "Have you looked outside? Isn't it beautiful? I'm just sitting here enjoying God's beautiful creation!" (And for those of us not living in the area: "I sure wish you could see it!")

I wish each of you could have known Granny. To that end, I plan to occasionally share some of my memories of Granny with you. And some "Granny-isms."

Thank you to all of you who prayed for me and my family. Your prayers were so tangible to us. We felt wrapped up in them!

("I Can Only Imagine" performed by Mercy Me)

In Memory of Granny

We received word yesterday afternoon that my Granny had been taken to the hospital. Her condition declined rapidly over the day, including a massive heart attack at some point, and she went to be with the Lord at 2:30 this morning. Having survived with bad health and severe pain for several years, I am certain she is rejoicing in her new, perfect body.

My parents have been here in Texas since right before Christmas. They left early this morning to return to Ohio to help my grandfather with preparations for the funeral. I will be leaving tomorrow morning to go to Ohio as well.

Please pray for my grandfather during this time of great loss. After more than 64 years of marriage and many years of being my grandmother's caregiver, he's lost his wife, best friend and his "job."

Also remember my parents and their siblings. My aunt and uncle had just made it to Florida this past weekend only to now have to make travel plans to get back to Ohio.

I'm going to miss my Granny.

For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. For we live by believing and not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.
(2 Cor. 5:1-8 NLT)

Sabbath Blessings 2009

And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. (Hebrews 10: 19-25 NLT)