In the stars . . .

If you don't already know, my grandfather, Papa Frank, passed away yesterday morning. He just celebrated his 90th birthday last month and we are so grateful we could make it home to NY to be there with him. He died in his sleep and he lived each day just as he pleased. It was very peaceful.

Last night Tovah had a Fall Festival at her school, so we decided it would be best to wait until tonight to tell the girls about Papa's passing. When we pulled into the driveway after the festival, Tovah got out and looked at the stars. She told us the stars looked like they were shining extra brightly tonight and it reminded her of Heaven. Remember, we haven't told her anything yet. She is so in tune with things. Please keep the girls in your prayers. They were so very close to Papa and spent time with him every day until we moved. This won't be easy and it is hard for me to look in their eyes and know that I will cause them pain by telling them. I know it will break Tovah's heart, but I also know that she has such a good sense of Heaven and God's will for all of us. I read in a book this morning that this life is not the last painting. I am at peace knowing that Papa is surrounded by beauty and love.

My Favorite Place

I wrote this many, many years ago, but thought it appropriate to post in memory of Papa.

I always sat on that desert brown carpet, wall-to-wall, still bearing vacuum tracks, in my grandparents’ living room. Behind me a coffee table supported my pillow from which I would occasionally pull out embroidered beads when no one was looking. The coffee table matched the end tables that held matching lamps with fringed shades. The elaborately detailed sofa, ornate yet worn, supported Nana on one end; her legs extended to the coffee table in front of her. Her feet rested atop another beaded pillow, which I had not yet gotten a hold of. Papa’s form embedded itself in the burlap, muddy brown chair near the spindled entryway of the kitchen. I remember the plastic tree that hugged the far corner, which was decorated with little white lights at Christmas. It bore no sign of dust. Dust dare not collect there. We all sat in our respective places, eyes fixed upon the television beneath the bow window overlooking the street full of autumn leaves. Mesmerized by shows of cops and robbers, and the one about a lawyer whose name Nana never could pronounce, there we sat – enthralled, speaking only during the commercial breaks to once again be silenced by the program’s return.

Though we existed within that room full of antique furniture and television drama, the commercials became the biggest blessing. It was then we came together – then when my grandparents told stories of days past; of their restaurant, laundry, and old cars and how Nana once drag-raced my uncle…and won! Here is where my history was created. Here is where I grew up a little more every afternoon. Here is where I lived and loved the most. Here is where I became who I am today. And here is where I now sit, on my spot on the desert rug. No more vacuum tracks. A little bit of dust has collected on the tree. The pillow does not support Nana’s feet and the burlap chair is bare. I hold the beaded pillow in my hand, suppressing old desires to pull off the embroidery. I lift the coffee table to unveil years of beads collected. One by one I sew them back on. I dust off the plastic green leaves in the corner of the room and plug in the vacuum.

On the television, a drama portrays a police chase, and I lie down in front on the vacuum tracks, place my hand on the beaded pillow…and begin to cry.

I love you, Papa . . . and I'm so grateful for your part in my life.

Brotherly Kindness

I have really felt a calling lately to help others. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been blessed with a great job, particularly in economic times such as they are. This has really hit home in Janesville, where the effects of GM closing are being felt as two more affiliated businesses are closing down as well. This has brought many new students to Blackhawk for retraining and a fresh start from all different backgrounds and walks of life. It really has been tremendous to watch how the college has responded.
The message at church yesterday was so inspiring. I'm praying that God will show me someone every day that He can use me to bless. I am open to giving of my time and resources and I hope this will inspire all of you to do the same, whenever and however you can, to help others.
Our youth group raised $1500 in love offerings to support their local ministry, P.A.C.K. (Practicing Acts of Christian Kindness). They used the money to buy bouquets of flowers and gas cards, then proceeded to drive around town in the church van and stop where they felt God leading. In one story, they came across a young mother sitting in her car at a gas pump, searching through her purse. One of the youth approached her and knocked on her window. When she rolled it down, the youth gave her flowers and a gas card and said she just wanted her to know that God loves her and they were here to help brighten her day. The woman, with tears in her eyes, thanked the youth and told her that she was searching through her purse for her money and couldn't find it. She had left it at home.
Another woman was walking her dog when the church van pulled up and a few teens got out approaching the woman with flowers. Before they even got to her, she was weeping. She said God is so good. She proceeded to tell them that as she was walking her dog, she was praying for God to show her He cared. She had recently moved here from Arizona and left friends and her church home. She was feeling lonely and then a van of teenagers pulls up and brings her flowers saying "We just want you to know that God loves you." The best part is that the side of the van says our church name, Faith Community Church, the very same name of the woman's church in Arizona! The youth are now giving of their own money so that they might continue this ministry.
Please take some time and ask God to put you in the path of people you can serve. Read Romans 12:9-13.
One more quick story. Some of you may have heard me tell this after my accident while attending Nazareth. I was hit by a car coming out into traffic. My air bag deployed and my body was thrown into the steering column. My knees were jammed under the wheel and I was choking from the dust. I was able to open the car door to get some air when a man came up along side the car and asked me if I was alright. I told him I could not move my legs. He picked me up out of my car and carried me across two lanes of traffic. He set me down on the grass while two nursing students who happened to be driving by stopped to help. When I turned to thank him, he was gone. I have always called him my angel and I really believe we can all be that for others. In Hebrews 13:2, it says "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it."
There is a beautiful song titled, The 21st Time. I would encourage you to listen to the words and watch this short video.

The darnest things . . .

We were admiring the fall leaves changing as we drove to school this morning. Alaina noticed one particular tree that was still very green. I told her that was a pine tree. She asked, "Do pineapples grow on it?" Too funny!
After a brief lesson about where pine cones come from, we continued on our way, rather amused!

The "Keeto" Bite

We went to dinner with friends the other night on the river. It was such nice weather that we decided to eat out on the deck. Unfortunately our dinner took an hour to get to the table, so we were outside well into the dark. During that time, it appears that a mosquito had a party on Alaina's nose. We found it the next morning. She calls it her "keeto" bite!

Tovah's Baptism

Below are the pictures from Tovah's baptism today. It was such a special day for her. She could not contain her excitement and joy, and she certainly didn't have to! My camera didn't take the greatest pictures, but the church video taped the service, so we'll have that too. When she was asked to share her statement of faith and why she wanted to be baptized, she said "I love Jesus and I want to follow Him!" We are so proud of her decision.

Tovah's Baptism

Who doesn't love cookies?

My sister-in-law has started an online blog and joined with an online shopping service to promote her new cookie business. I've tried her peanut butter shortbread cookies, and they were melt-in-your mouth good! Think of her for holiday gift-giving. I know I will!!!
Blog: Cookies by Kristin
Web Store: Etsy.com

Fruit of the Spirit

Every Sunday after church I am so inspired to act or react to the message but I rarely know what direction to seek. I believe God wants me to share His word, so here goes!

We have been talking about virtues through our recent series called "Virtuous Reality". This week, we were focusing on self-control. Now I know this topic speaks to all of us! Our pastor illustrated the idea of self-control with a driving story and how he got stuck at not one, but two railroad tracks in the same day. His wife reminded him not to "go loosing his religion" just because a train was holding him up. Perhaps God stopped them so they wouldn't be somewhere else. We just never know why we are put where we are when we are, but we have to trust that it's right where we need to be at that moment. We got into Galatians 5:19-21 discussing the temptations. Pastor made two observations: 1. You are on the list and 2. You're not in good company! Read it, you'll see! Self-control is when we "get a grip" on ourselves. See, we can't control temptation, we can only control how we will respond to it. With sin, the Holy Spirit comes to help us see things the way God sees them. This is why when we're deep in sin, we start to feel guilty or ashamed. We are seeing what God sees.

Only God can set us free from the confines of sin. Then we can portray the true fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22). We can embody what love, gentleness, kindness, goodness, and so on, look like and shine a light of hope in this world.