Grief

Right now my "mama heart" is grieving. Today we dropped Elise off at the airport. Within minutes she called, sobbing. She just received word that her college roommate was killed in a car accident. Giselle was such a wonderful roommate for Elise. They spent hours talking. Even when Elise was at home, she talked to Giselle. They had plans to welcome in the New Year with their friends from Trinity. Giselle was such a wise young woman...wise beyond her years. I guess she was what you would call an "old soul". She was brilliant. She had a 4.o and was to graduate in May. Her plans were to go on to get her Masters and then her Doctorate in Psychology. She had an unshakable faith and openly talked about her love for her Savior. What a hope-filled legacy she has left for her family and friends...to know that Giselle is now safely in Heaven with the One she loved and lived for! It's so hard to believe that she is gone! So full of life, and now she's gone. When our family was in Chicago for Bill's birthday, Giselle came to the hotel and babysat grandchildren so that we could go out for a birthday dinner. And then, in May, when I went up to get Elise, I spent the night in the dorms and Giselle, Elise and I talked and talked into the wee hours of the morning. I know she was a wonderful daughter and a friend to many, and she will be missed. It makes no sense...we only can trust and believe.

How About These Mergers?

I've been enjoying these last two weeks so much! It has been a nice, quiet time for family. We all agreed that this was one of most favorite Christmas times together...simply because it was so simple! We've just enjoyed playing games , reading, and basically just being "family". We bring Elise back to the airport tomorrow. We will miss her so much, but we know she is more than ready to return to her life in Chicago (and her boyfriend!). Today I received this cute email. Here are some interesting company names that would result if the following companies would merge:

Xerox and Wurlitzer: They're going to make reproductive organs

Fairchild Electronics and Honeywell Computers: New company will be called Fairwell Honeychild

Polygram records, Warner Brothers and Keebler: new company will be called Poly Warner Cracker

W.R. Grace Co., Fuller Brush Co., Mary Kay Cosmetics and Hale Business Systems: New company will be called Hale Mary Fuller Grace

3M and Goodyear: New company will be called mmmGood

John Deere and Abitibi-Price: new company will be called Deere Abi

Honeywell, Imasco, and Home Oil: New company will be called Honey I'm Home

Denison Mines, Alliance and Metal Mining: New company will be called Mine, All Mine

3M, J.C. Penney and Canadian Opera Company: New company will be called 3 Penney Opera

Knott's Berry Farm and National organization of Women: New company will be called Knott NOW!

Zippo Manufacturing, Audi, Dofasco, and Dakota Mining: New company will be called Zip Audi Do-Da

Christmas Eve

Thank you family and friends! I had an absolutely WONDERFUL birthday! Some people think having a birthday so close to Christmas must be horrible. All I can tell you is that my family and friends have always gone out of their way to make my day a special one for me. And today was no exception. Tonight was the grand finale!!! After a most delightful dinner, Elise presented me with a tiny, tiny, itty-bitty puppy! I am in love! His name is "Joey" (go figure!) and he is a Shi Tzu/Poodle. Pictures will come later. And speaking of animals, here are a few that want to bring you some Christmas joy!

How To Wrap A Cat

This video brings back Christmas memories! I tried to wrap a little kitten as a Christmas surprise for Elise. OUCH!!! I think I still have the scars! Enjoy your day!

A Partridge In A Pear Tree and A Whole Lot More!

Eight years ago, our little school in Gulfport, Mississippi, put on its traditional Christmas program. The students presented the Biblical truths found in the popular Christmas song On the First Day of Christmas. After the program, my students presented me with my Christmas gift. I still remember opening that little box! Nestled on soft cotton was the most beautiful silver charm bracelet. There were twelve charms, one for each gift given in the song. What a beautiful way to remember not only the song, but the richness of the words. I wore that bracelet well beyond the Christmas season. People that noticed it "ooohed" and "aaahed" over not only the beauty of the bracelet but the beauty of the symbolism as well.

Then came Katrina. She stole a lot. My bracelet was just one of the things that were "whooshed" away to who-knows-where. Weeks after the storm, a friend of mine came with me to the site of where our home once stood. As we walked around, kicking through the old debris, my friend let out a whoop! Beneath old leaves and encrusted dirt was my silver charm bracelet!

What a delightfully concrete illustration of grace. What once was lost, was now found! Amazing!

Below is an explanation of the symbolism found on my bracelet...

On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on December 25, the first day of Christmas. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge that feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, recalling the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered you under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but you would not have it so . . . ." (Luke 13:34)


On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Two Turtle Doves

The Old and New Testaments, which together bear witness to God's self-revelation in history and the creation of a people to tell the Story of God to the world.


On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Three French Hens

The Three Theological Virtues: 1) Faith, 2) Hope, and 3) Love (1 Corinthians 13:13)


On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Four Calling Birds

The Four Gospels: 1) Matthew, 2) Mark, 3) Luke, and 4) John, which proclaim the Good News of God's reconciliation of the world to Himself in Jesus Christ.


On the 5th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Five Gold Rings

The first Five Books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch: 1) Genesis, 2) Exodus, 3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, and 5) Deuteronomy, which gives the history of humanity's sinful failure and God's response of grace in the creation of a people to be a light to the world.


On the 6th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Six Geese A-laying

The six days of creation that confesses God as Creator and Sustainer of the world (Genesis 1).


On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Seven Swans A-swimming

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1) prophecy, 2) ministry, 3) teaching, 4) exhortation, 5) giving, 6) leading, and 7) compassion (Romans 12:6-8; cf. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11)


On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Eight Maids A-milking

The eight Beatitudes: 1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, 2) those who mourn, 3) the meek, 4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 5) the merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the peacemakers, 8) those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. (Matthew 5:3-10)


On the 9th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Nine Ladies Dancing

The nine Fruit of the Holy Spirit: 1) love, 2) joy, 3) peace, 4) patience, 5) kindness,6) generosity, 7) faithfulness, 8) gentleness, and 9) self-control. (Galatians 5:22)


On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Ten Lords A-leaping

The ten commandments: 1) You shall have no other gods before me; 2) Do not make an idol; 3) Do not take God's name in vain; 4) Remember the Sabbath Day; 5) Honor your father and mother; 6) Do not murder; 7) Do not commit adultery; 8) Do not steal; 9) Do not bear false witness; 10) Do not covet. (Exodus 20:1-17)


On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Eleven Pipers Piping

The eleven Faithful Apostles: 1) Simon Peter, 2) Andrew, 3) James, 4) John, 5) Philip, 6) Bartholomew, 7) Matthew, 8) Thomas, 9) James bar Alphaeus, 10) Simon the Zealot, 11) Judas bar James. (Luke 6:14-16). The list does not include the twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus to the religious leaders and the Romans.


On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Twelve Drummers Drumming

The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles' Creed: 1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell [the grave]. 5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 6) He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8) the holy catholic Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body, 12) and life everlasting.

Wishing each of you a grace-filled day!

Expecting!

This morning the house is so quiet. I love this time of day. It's my private time to "ponder". I thought about the upcoming days. Such a busy time of year. Seems the whole world is "expecting". Expecting what? Presents? Family time? Lots of food? As I thought about the word "expecting", this hymn came to mind. Love the old hymns! So full of theology.

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.


Jesus, whether the world realizes it or not, You truly ARE the hope of all the Earth! May You be my dear desire.

Looking For The Perfect Gift

This was written on one of the Christmas cards we received:

If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator;
If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist;
If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist;
If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer;
But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.

Thank You, God, for giving us the perfect gift.

Rules For Writers

Someone sent this to me today...I LOVE it! (And for those of you that never cared for grammar and don't find this funny, email me and I'll try to explain...)

Rules for Writers

1. Verbs HAS to agree with their subjects.

2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.

3. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction.

4. It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.

5. Avoid cliches like the plague. (They're old hat.)

6. Be more or less specific.

8. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually) unnecessary.

9. Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.

10. No sentence fragments.

11. Don't use no double negatives.

12. Proffered carefully to see if you any words out.