Thankful Friday :-) Hannah

Tonight we are celebrating my sweet niece, Hannah's, graduation from Baylor.  I am fortunate to have my nephew, Benjamin, and three other neices - Sarah, Jenny and Kamryn.  But . . . today I especially want to celebrate Hannah.

Hannah is full of LIFE!

She has endless energy.

She is always laughing.

She is a great photographer.

She is CREATIVE.

She loves her friends.

She is the embodiment of FUN.

She loves Jesus and she reflects Him well.

I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for her as she enters this new phase of her life.  It is a privilege and a joy to be Hannah's aunt.  I love you Hannah!!


Also - today is Alan's birthday (love that man of mine) and my nephew Benjamin's birthday.  What a great day!

There is a post I have been wanting to write since last Monday when I was traveling - so I'm shooting for next Monday!  With all the wedding festivities - squeezing in blog updates is challenging!  So stay tuned in for that post.

Thankful Thursday - Jenny Malone!!!

Before I even get to Jenny - I have to say how thankful I am for SPRING!  It is inching its way here - leaves, blooms and slightly warmer temps at a time.  We have had several really beautiful days and it is so fun to see all the bulbs popping up - tulips, daffodils and other beautiful flowers that I don't happen to know the name of!  Quincy and I have been taking some long walks and it is really nice.  After a long, cold snowy winter (I love that too!) the spring is all the more glorious.  Love it!!


Now - I am patiently waiting for my friend, Jenny Malone, to get here!! I haven't seen Jenny in 14 years and I am so excited to see her!!  Jenny and I met when we both lived in Columbus, Ohio.  I was a Bible Study Fellowship leader and Jenny was in my group.  We really connected and ended up becoming very good friends.  We spent a lot of time together and did more than one project.  We loved on each others kids and talked a lot about our faith.  Jenny has a very deep and genuine faith.  It was such a privilege to walk beside her on that journey.  She ended up moving to Reno NV and then a year or so later, I moved to TX.  It has been way too long and I am going to enjoy every minute of it.  Right now - I'm guessing she is stuck in Chicago traffic (sorry Jenny!!)  


Friendships that are entwined with the Lord as the center are one of life's greatest gifts.  Those kind of friendship survive the test of distance and time.  Those bonds are not easily broken.  God uses those kind of friendships to sharpen us - challenge us and to encourage us.  They are a pure delight.


So thankful for Jenny Malone today and for all that she has meant in my life and continues to mean.  I love you Jenny!

Monday Musings - Teachers

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week.  That has got me thinking about so many things.  I love teachers - I have been a teacher and now my daughters are both teachers in their own ways.   

Heather teaches kindergarten in Tyler TX.  She is an incredible teacher and I love to watch her with her students.  She is dedicated to her job and to each individual child.  She is giving them a great start to their education and plenty of reasons to love school.

Ashley teaches teenagers at church.  She is also a wonderful teacher and she is making an eternal difference in these kids lives as she teaches them the truths of the gospel.  She loves her students and invests in their lives in so many ways.

I had a lot of wonderful teachers growing up.  I still remember my kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Schoonover.  I loved her.  She was a little older lady with her hair in a gray bun.  She was kind and she started my love for school.  My 4th grade teacher was Mrs. Neal and I absolutely loved her.  That was my favorite grade of elementary school and she was a big part of that.  I had an English teacher in Jr High named Mrs. Johnson that I thought was really cool.  Then there came High School.  I had so many great High School teachers.  Four stand out in my mind -  Mr. Johnson who taught History - Ms. Pope who taught Government - Senora Burger who taught Spanish and my favorite - Mrs. Hinton who taught Senior English.  All of these teachers imprinted my life in numerous ways.  It is really because of them that I became a High School teacher myself.  They made learning fun and interesting.  They were all tough - but I really loved that.  As long as a teacher was good -- I was willing to work really hard.  

I loved teaching High School.  I taught Business and Psychology.  I loved my students - even the difficult ones (maybe especially the difficult ones!).  I also did Young Life where I worked with High School students and then Youth Ministry.  That love for teaching was deeply embedded in my soul I find that I am always teaching something.

I believe that teaching is a calling on a person's life - at least the good teachers!  There is a passion that drives you to be the best teacher that you can be.  There is a supernatural love that you have for your students.  There is that desire to make an eternal investment in their lives.

So - to all the teachers in my life and to all those out there teaching now - I salute you!  You make a difference every single day and I , for one, am deeply indebted to you!

Take a moment to appreciate a teacher that you know this week!

Thankful Thursday

I'm not getting to this until Friday morning  - but I am still just as thankful!  

My sweet friend in laws (Heather's husbands parents!) live in Tuscaloosa.  Seeing those pictures of all the devastation, I am so grateful that they are okay.  At this very moment they are ministering to some students from the University of Alabama.  Dan is a pastor, so I know that they have had people in their congregation that have also been impacted.  Three of our students from Arlington, TX are at Alabama and they are also all okay.  With so much loss of life and destruction of property, I am very grateful.  I am also so deeply saddened for all of those that did not get such good news.  I am praying that people will know the God of all Comfort in a profound way.  I'm also praying for my dear friends Dan and Julie and they minister to their community.  They are amazing people and servants of Jesus.  

This is Alan and I with Julie and Dan after the wedding last year.  We love them!

I am thankful for the opportunity to get back to Hamilton Elementary this week!  I had really missed being there while I was out of town.  I got to paint the kindergarten bathroom this week and I think it is one of my favorite projects so far.  One of the teachers told me yesterday that suddenly, all of her students need to go to the bathroom so they can see the painting.  Here is what is looks like.

One fish, two fish

Red fish, blue fish

Fanciful Fish

Circus Fish!

Thin Fish!

I seriously think I have more fun than just about anyone I know.  Of course, part of that is that like my Mom, I think almost anything is fun!  Seeing the children at Hamilton smile and laugh at the painting is such a gift.  I will be forever thankful that the Lord orchestrated this opportunity.  


So today - we can be thankful for the most basic of things - such as safety, shelter, food, water, clothing and all the extras that most of us have when so many have just lost everything.  We can also be thankful for the opportunities that the Lord gives us to enjoy life, be creative and bless others.  Life is always a mix of sorrow and of joy.  Let's be mindful of both.

Monday Musings - New Life

We are Easter people - that is if you know Jesus.  It is all about the resurrection!  Without it, we are people with no hope.  Because of it -- we have hope beyond hope.  


I journeyed back from TX last Wednesday and was able to be here in Chicago for Easter.  We had some pretty decent (maybe spring is coming soon) weather.  The service was a wonderful celebration.  We opened up our home to anyone who didn't have family to spend Easter with and we ended up with a great crowd - 61 for lunch!  It was so much fun and such a beautiful picture of the body of Christ.  I looked around the house and was truly just in awe of the amazing people that the Lord has put in our life over the last 8 months. People were everywhere - and I could not have been happier.

What does the resurrection mean in our lives?
*It means that we serve a Living God - not someone that is dead and buried with a tombstone marker.  He lives!
*It means that all our sin, all our shame was nailed to the cross on that Friday.  We do not have to carry it.
*It means that when I am willing to die to something in my life, the power of the resurrection will bring something new and better into my life.
*It means that hurt, anger, bitterness, suffering and injustice have been conquered.  While these things cause us pain and frustration in this world, ultimately - they are defeated.
*It means that the power that God used to raise Jesus is the same power that He offers me in my life - to live a life that honors Him.


As believers, we should - above all else - be people of HOPE. 

We have a God that loved us so much that He allowed His Son Jesus to die on the cross in our place.  

But . . . He didn't leave Him there.  He Rose - just as He said He would.  Good news indeed.

Thankful Thursday - What a week!

I have had a great last week in Texas.  All my focus and energies were on the wedding.  It is 4 weeks from Sunday!  Here are just some of the sweet blessings I experienced in the past week that I am so very thankful for!

*12 1/2 hours in the car with my very dear friend Kay, traveling from Colorado to TX.  We finally got to do some catching up!!
*6 full days at Ashley's house
*hours and hours of great conversation and laughing with James and Ashley
*Heather came up for a wedding shower - sweet time with her!
*Wedding shower in Arlington - such an incredible blessing.  These friends have known me longer than any of my friends and they have helped me raise my girls in so many ways.  It was a time of sweet fellowship.  Ashley loves these women and she felt so loved and cared for by them.  A truly special time.
*Wedding shower in Keller - it was fun to meet some more of Ashley's friends in Keller.  They put together a sweet shower and we had a lot of fun.
* We met with our favorite florist in the world - Tracie Alexander.  She did the flowers at Heather's wedding too.  She is not just our florist - she is a treasured family friend!
*Lunch with some close friends in Arlington and my Mom!  She came up for the shower and I got to spend some extra time with her.  Loved it!
*Appreciating each and every gift -- We had so much fun looking through everything and looking over the list as to who gave what - just plain fun and so humbling that people are so very gracious and kind.
*There is not much that means more than other people loving your children.  Heather's wedding - and now Ashley's wedding reminds us that we have such a wonderful group of friends who love us in such tangible ways.
*I made my 15 hour drive back just fine. Quincy was my co-pilot.  He doesn't complain about my driving and he is always smiling.  Perfect :-)


As usual, my heart is torn between Texas and Chicago.  It feels good to be home and I'm looking forward to seeing my friends here and being in my church, but there is always a part of my heart back in Texas with my family and friends.  I'm thankful for the many ways that we have to communicate these days!  There is no better place to be than in the center of God's will and I truly believe that is where I am.  


What are you thankful for today?  Take a moment to make a list of some specific things that you are thankful for in the last week.  I guarantee you that it will make you smile.

Monday Musings - Walking - Even when your feet hurt

I prayed this morning asking God what He wanted me to say today.  When He answered me, I said, "Really?"  Well, I asked, so here it is.

"But now says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel,
'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are Mine!
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
Nor will the flame burn you.
For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I have given Egypt as your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your place.
Since you are precious in My sight,
Since you are honored and I love you . . .
Do not fear, for I am with you."
Isaiah 43:1-5

Have you ever walked a difficult journey with someone you love?  Maybe even someone that you don't know all that well?  I imagine, like me, you have.  I think it is an amazing privilege to walk along side of someone who is on a hard journey.  It is also very hard sometimes!  It can be draining and emotionally exhausting.  But, I truly believe that we are called to walk - even when our feet hurt!

I have a long line of these experiences and I believe that each one in some way prepares me for the next one.  I have had the privilege of standing by students who found out they were pregnant; a friend whose baby died of cancer at the age of 1; a student who contracted meningitis and died within 48 hours; a student's Mom who died of cancer; my dear friend  who died of cancer; students with broken hearts; friends going through divorce; beautiful young women with scars from abuse . . . the list goes on. 

I read Mary Beth Chapman's book, "Choosing to SEE" this week.  Wow - truly a gut wrenching, powerfully honest account of dealing with tragedy.  So many unanswered questions and yet choosing to rest in the arms of our Heavenly Father and believing in His goodness.  I highly recommend it.

When you are walking this kind of journey with someone, it is very challenging to your own faith.  You are asked a lot of questions that you certainly do not have the answers for - many that will only be answered on the other side of this existence.  You listen a lot - and talk much less.  It is also a challenge to empathize (essential) but to not stay there.  I believe God uses us to help others move ahead - one baby step at a time.  You pray and you plead with God on this friend's behalf.  You struggle for the right words to say and count on the Holy Spirit to give you the right words.  He is faithful to do that.

I'm spending time right now with a sweet young girl who has experienced some major trauma in the last few years.  I did not know her before - a God thing brought us together.  I have listened to her, cried with her and offered encouragement and comfort.  I feel very inadequate most of the time and yet I believe that God brought us together for a purpose.  One thing that I am finding really interesting is the picture that God is giving me of this sweet girl's future.  I have such a clear picture of her being happy, healed and whole - married to a wonderful believing man and I have even pictured her with a child playing with her in the front yard.  I picture her laughing and praising God for how very far she has come and how faithful He has been through the process.  I see her looking back with amazement and awe.  I share this with her often.  I believe it with all my heart.  I'm so proud of her for embarking on this very painful journey of hope and healing.  I am privileged to walk with her.

Is there a cost to this kind of ministry?  YES  Would I do it again? YES  Any thing that this costs me is but a pale shadow of what is it costing the one that is hurting.  On days I feel drained and heavy hearted, I remember that.

We have a choice.  We do not have to walk beside people in pain.  God will provide for them, but we really miss out by not participating in this process.  God allows me to grow and to mature when I choose to step into this messy process.  He challenges me to put feet to my faith and trust Him with the outcome.  It has a lot of ups and downs.  Carrying one anothers burdens can be hard but we are instructed to do so.

Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

Have you been avoiding sharing in another's pain?  Are you drained from walking along side someone going through a difficult journey?  Are you bearing a heavy load in your own life?

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden if light.

Matthew 11:28-30

It is easy to become heavy with others struggles on top of our own.  It is always good to go through the process of telling God and turning those things over to Him.  He alone is the answer and He alone can bear all the burdens, hurts and heartaches of this world.  We are called to be ministers of reconciliation - even when our feet hurt.