Alumni Board

This is a picture of the Alumni Board for Trinity Christian College. I'm the one on the left in pink. I'm also the OLDEST member! One month from today I will travel back to Chicago for a board meeting. The same weekend, Trinity will be holding a dedication for the new gymnasium. When I attended TCC, the gym was brand new! I still remember attending the first basketball game that was played there. Back then, we thought our gym was on the cutting edge. Alas, it pales in comparison to the new one.

Over the summer I had a phone interview with someone that put the old gym to good use. He practically lived there! I never knew "B" very well during our shared time at TCC, but I sure do remember his agility on the b-ball court. I had heard that B was recently appointed to be the director of the Juvenile Department of Justice for the state of Illinois. What an accomplishment! I wanted to share his story with the Trinity family, so I wrote this brief article that will soon be published. I think the story of B's journey is such a beautiful testimony to the providence of God. Hope you enjoy it.

Mr. Arthur D. Bishop

A Disheveled Old Man and God’s Divine Plan

When Trinity Christian College celebrated its 50th anniversary, Dr. Daniel Diephouse wrote a book entitled, At the Heart of Community. This book eloquently depicts the unfolding of the decades as seen through the eyes of the students and faculty. In the chapter on diversity, Dr. Diephouse writes, “The measure of a community is reflected in the way in which it respects those who don’t look like the group, who don’t live the way it lives, who because of personal and ethnic reasons see the world in different ways.”

I attended Trinity during the early 1970’s. At that time, there were those that dared to enter our fairly sheltered little community and they didn’t, as Dr. Diephouse wrote, “look like the group”. A friend of mine laughingly recalls her Trinity experience. “I am an Episcopalian. In the 70’s at Trinity, THAT was diversity!” I recently had the joy of interviewing one of those who dared…who dared to enter a predominately white campus and who dared to show us what diversity was all about.

I began the interview with this simple question: Arthur Bishop, how in the world did you end up at Trinity Christian College? This was his answer…

“If you asked me back in 1971 how I ended up at Trinity, my answer would have been completely different from the answer I am able to give you today.”

In 1971, Arthur Bishop was an athletic standout; a star player on the Von Steuben High School basketball team. Despite his popularity on the court, however, few of his family members were ever in the stands to cheer him on. “My biological mother died when I was four. I never knew my dad. My aunt raised my siblings and me.” And so, in 1971, when it was time to make a decision about college, it was made without the help of family support.

Unbeknownst to Bishop, there was someone that was regularly attending his games – someone that Bishop had never met – and this silent observer was keenly interested in the future of this outstanding, young athlete. His name was Ed Erickson. Ed’s son, Terry, was the athletic director at Trinity. Ed had quite a well-developed youth ministry in Arthur’s neighborhood, and he tried his best to invest his time into the lives of the young men he mentored.

“He was an old, disheveled white guy. One day he asked me if he could take me over to Trinity. Back in the day, I seldom traveled much beyond the neighborhood. We only traveled for about 45 minutes in that rickety, old car of his, but it seemed like Ed was taking me to a whole ‘nother country!

I remember being so impressed with the state-of-the-art gym. I also remember thinking that everything looked so green and sprawled out and open! And so, with very little concern as to the details of my decision, I signed up for Trinity. Back then I would have told you I ended up at Trinity because of basketball. Today I can tell you that I attended Trinity Christian College as a result of God’s divine plan.”

Arthur always had an inner calling to help others. It was this desire that helped him make the decision to major in sociology. And while he excelled on the court – TCC defeated both Calvin and Hope when he was playing! – off of the court it was a different story. He will never forget the day he and his friends stopped by a store in Palos Heights for some juice. The nervous store owner was certain the guys were up to no good and called the police. As the ball players innocently paid for their drinks and exited the store, they found themselves surrounded by Palos Heights police officers. Their guns were drawn! Coach Erikson was called to the scene, and the players returned to campus. What added insult to injury was when the store owner sent over a case of pop to the gym in an effort to pacify the situation. Art can laugh about the incident today, but it sent a clear message to him and to his friends about their place in a predominately white community.

When asked about his time spent at Trinity, Bishop smiles. “If it got too bad, we could always jump in a car and drive back home. And Coach was a person I could vent to; during the frustrating times when I wanted to give up, he was a person who seemed to understand where I was coming from. But overall, I enjoyed the comradeship of the team, the times we spent on the bus going to games…yeah, those are some good memories.”

Arthur graduated from Trinity in 1975 and earned his M.A. in Human Services Administration from Spertus College in Chicago. On January 1, 2011, Arthur was appointed by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn to be the Director of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice.

“This job I have today…well, some people told me that it’s kind of like trying to turn around a battleship in the middle of a bathtub! But my approach has always been to do the best I can in the job I have at the moment. I believe that God will direct my path if I’m being a good steward at what He has planned, and that’s how I approach everything I do. This title means nothing. It can be taken away in a heartbeat. What matters is that I do my work heartily, as unto the Lord! He is the One I want to glorify. It may not have looked like it at the time, but when I was at Trinity, I watched. I observed. I listened. The principles I learned at Trinity have served me well. So has the Christian foundation that I received from my aunt. God has blessed me with the gift of ministry and the gift of counseling. I have always wanted to help those, who for whatever reason, found themselves helpless. It has given me great joy to serve my Savior in the field of social work. Like I said earlier, God has a divine plan!”

Ants in My Pants...Literally!!!!!!!

Do NOT Even Begin To Feel Sorry For This Dead Ant!!!!

Hi Mom!!!

After not writing on this blog in, well,...forever!...I'm pretty sure that you are probably my only remaining reader. Sigh...

Summer has been so hectic! Even my "off" days have been busy! Take today, for example. Today I HAD to go to the doctor. I emphasize "HAD" because I didn't go because I was sick (for which I am very thankful!). I went because I can't get my prescriptions filled unless I make an appearance every so often. Because the appointment was at 9:20, and because David had to have a ride to work at 11, poor David had to tag along to my appointment. I finished up at 10:30 and we had just enough time to get him a breakfast from Chick-Fil-A. No sooner did we pull out of the parking lot, when David's lid flew off his drink and spilled all over the floor. The floor of the car that I am borrowing for the week!!!!! I shot into the Dollar Store to buy a roll of paper towels. Only one check out lane open and there I was, looking for all the world like I was the most exasperated woman on planet Earth!!!!!! The lady with the over-loaded cart took pity on me and let me go in front of her...how nice was that!!! I met David,unwrapped the roll and began blotting up the soggy mess. The good thing? He made it to work on time. The bad thing? It set in motion a horrible headache that I can't seem to shake.

I got home, only to find that the bathroom had been taken over by ANTS!!!! Not sweet, little unassuming ants, but flesh eating FIRE ANTS!!!! They bite, they hurt, and they leave behind these horrible infected bumps. Today I even turned black and blue from the bites on my thumb...that's a first! Anyway, I got out the spray. While it did exterminate the pesky creatures, it left a horrible smell behind that has saturated not only the bathroom, but the bedroom as well! I had some laundry sorted in piles on the floor and when I put the whites in the wash, I noticed ants were crawling over the clothes. I shook them out outside, all the while getting bit again! I washed the load, only to take them out of the wash and discover THE ANTS WERE STILL ALIVE!!!! And biting!!! Did I mention that I have a horrible headache?

I have always found writing to be rather therapeutic...and this post hasn't let me down; it has helped immensely to be able to rant and rave about those %*&# ants!

Let's Hear It For Chick-Fil-A!!!!!!!

Let's hear it for Chock-Fil-A!!! While all Southerners are familiar with this chain, it has just recently been making appearances north of the Mason-Dixon Line! Our daughter, Elise, grew up on sweet tea and chicken nuggets. When she was 15 she got her first job at a Chick-Fil-A, and she has worked for them ever since! She has worked for Chick-Fil-As in Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas. Imagine her delight when she saw that they were planning to open a Chick-Fil-A not far from Trinity Christian College in Chicago.

Elise just came back from spending a few days at the company headquarters in Atlanta. She had a grand time finding out more about this company that she has grown to love. They are training her to be the Director of Marketing at her store. She does the coolest things! She has to make deliveries to the White Sox. She was treated to box seats at the Chicago Fire (their soccer team). She also plans the activities for children's night. Tomorrow I think any children that go to Chick-Fil-A in their pajamas (for dinner)will get a free kid's meal! She said that even the cow (their mascot) will be in his p.j.s! For Father's Day she planned a Daddy/Daughter Night that was a huge success...complete with roses and limo rides!

Now a Chick-Fil-A has opened in downtown Chicago, and it is taking the Windy City by storm! Here is a recent newscaster's story about his love for this special restaurant...

Bob Sirott's One More Thing About My New Favorite Restaurant: MyFoxCHICAGO.com

Wishing you A Shay Day!

A friend of mine sent this story to me a few weeks ago. I enjoyed learning about Shay, and I know you will also...

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:
‘When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?’

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. ‘I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.’

Then he told the following story:

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, ‘Do you think they’ll let me play?’ I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, ‘We’re losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we’ll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.’

Shay struggled over to the team’s bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay’s team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay’s team scored again.

Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn’t even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay’s life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman’s head, out of reach of all team mates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, ‘Shay, run to first! Run to first!’

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, ‘Run to second, run to second!’ Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.

B y the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher’s intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman’s head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, ‘Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay’. Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, ‘Run to third!

Shay, run to third!’

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, ‘Shay, run home! Run home!’ Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.

‘That day’, said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, ‘the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world’.


Shay didn’t make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the ‘natural order of things. So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice. Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?

A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it’s least fortunate amongst them.
-Posted in honor of my very own Shay-

A Fun Trip To The Salon

This picture by the Associated Press caught my eye recently. These are women from Saudi Arabia and they are looking at cars. They can own a car in their homeland, but they are not allowed to drive. Apparently, there are recent uprisings by the women, who feel that the clerics should take another look at the Koran. Since women in a few other Islamic countries are allowed to drive, they feel they should be allowed, too. This picture and the article picqued my curiosity because of the women I teach. One has obtained her license, bought a Lexus, and is driving all over Houston! The other one is in the process...she begins her driving instructions soon, and she can't wait.

I find their lifestyle intriguing. I'm learning that I don't like their coffee (it's more of an herbal drink - no coffee beans used). I just learned this the other day...Islamic men can not wear gold - only the women. The men wear silver. I knew that they prayed five times a day, but I didn't know that the times change a little bit everyday. The times are based on the position of the sun. One of the prayer times comes around 1:30, right in the middle of one of my classes. My student feels comfortable enough to pray while I am in the house with her. We simply stop the class, pray, and begin again. I've decided to pray at the same time. While she is praying to Allah and kneeling on the floor, I am sitting at the dining room table praying to God. They have a special clock in their home that calls them to prayer at the correct times. You would think that I would be used to the sound by now, but it always sort of startles me!

Another thing I'm learning is the importance of a woman's hair. It really is their crowning glory - so much so, that other men are not allowed to see it. This fact caused a little dilemma for me last week. My student wanted to go to the salon for a haicut and color. She hadn't been to a salon for three years, so this was a big deal! I had no idea how to find a salon where I could guarantee it would be a "man-free" environment. I did a "google" search, but came up empty handed. Then I called an Islamic bookstore and asked if they could help me. Cha-ching! They were able to point me in the right direction!

We went yesterday. What fun! We were escorted to a little room that had a door they could lock and blinds they could close. In the privacy of the room, my friend could "unwrap". After two hours, she looked like a new woman! She wanted her bangs to be cut like mine (I thought that was so cute!), but her husband would allow only a little cut off the ends. Her hair is waist-length and so very lovely! I wanted to take a picture, but she said, "No! Thank you!" I guess they have to be covered up in the pictures.

Once she was correctly wrapped up (which seemed like such a shame to me, because it looked so nice after it was blown dry and flat ironed!), we got back into the car and drove home. We had the baby, Abdullah, with us. When she got out of the car, she thanked me and then said, in very broken English, "Baby go home with you! Bye, Abdullah!" I'm glad we can have so much fun together, despite the fact that most of the time we don't understand each other!

Father's Day Tribute

Tomorrow is Father's Day. It brings back many memories of my father. It's hard to believe that he has been in heaven for ten years. In honor of Father's Day, I would like to share just a few of the things that make me smile when I recall my dad and his life.

I tried to scan some pictures. I didn't do a very good job. Someone is going to have to teach me how to do this so that it looks nicer. Anyway, I'll share the pictures with you, along with a few of my memories.

These are pictures from the early 20's, when my dad was just just a little guy. The bottom one is his birth announcement. I have the envelope that it was mailed in, complete with a 2 cent stamp! I love the picture with his mother. My dad was her first son, and he was named "Albert", after his father. While growing up, he was called "Junior". I always thought he was "Albert Rodenhouse", but my father ALWAYS wrote his full name as "Albert M. Rodenhouse". I learned this the hard way when I made out my wedding invitations and left the all-important "M" out of his name. His response when I showed him my invitations? "They look nice, but you spelled my name wrong!"

I like these pictures because they remind me of how much he loved his family. When David was a baby, we traveled to Florida. That's a picture of my dad just being relaxed and being a good grandpa as he feeds David a bottle. The rest of the family spent the day at Disney, but he stayed home and took care of his grandson. I also love the fact that he is in his "jumpsuit". For some reason, my dad went through a long phase in his life when he wore jumpsuits! It was kind of a strange "phenomonon" that he went through because my dad was know for being quite a stylish dresser.The next picture was taken at our home in Biloxi. We lived about 14 hours from his place in Florida, but he always went out of his way to drive over to our home on the way to Florida and again on the way back to Michigan. In this picture he is celebrating with Laura on her 16th birthday. The bottom picture was taken at the Marco Island Country Club. It was Dad's 75th birthday and he treated us to a wonderful dinner at the club where he loved to golf.

I like these pictures because they remind me of dad's love for stories and people. An example of this would be the stories dad liked to tell about his uncle. My dad's uncle lived a fascinating life. Uncle Gerrit not only attended the famed Julliard School of Music, but he also managed to marry the governor's daughter from the Island of St. Maarten. In 1993, my dad and his brother visited the island and toured the family home. This is a picture of him with Emilio, one of the people that worked for Uncle Gerrit. Emilio was able to share many new stories with my dad. Seeing him with Emilio reminds me of my dad's love for people of all ethnicities and backgrounds. A great memory I have is of the times he spent with Mr. Waites at our cottage. I guess today most people would call Mr. Waites "African-American". I loved to see those two together. I often was with my dad at the cottage when he and Mr. Waites would work together in getting the cottage ready to "open up" for the summer. There were always so many leaves to rake and twigs to pick up and flowers to plant! In the middle of the day, they would take a break for lunch. Dad told me that Mr. Waites was pretty surprised the first time dad invited him inside to have lunch together. I also like this saying that he learned from Mr. Waites: It's not a matter of skin, but a matter of sin. It's not a matter of race, but a matter of grace. They loved to talk about the things of God with each other. I especially loved it when I got to have lunch with them and dad would ask Mr. Waites to say the blessing. That man could pray! But so could my dad. In fact, the family joke has always been my mom reminding my dad not to pray so long before a Sunday dinner...she didn't want the food to get cold!

My dad was a man of many interests. He loved collecting cars and coins and glassware. Whatever he collected, he went after the best! His cars often won the trophy for "Best of Show". He became so knowledgeable about glassware that he was asked to speak at conventions! I love the story about the day he saw an ad in the paper for a specific car that he always wanted to add to his collection. I think it belonged to the Kellogg family.(Or some really well-known, wealthy family.) Anyway, he drove many hours to see the car. When he arrived at the "mansion", the groundskeeper told dad that Mrs. Kellogg could not be disturbed because she was having devotions. My dad asked if he could see the car. He was escorted to a huge warehouse/garage that housed all the cars ever owned by the family! They were all on blocks and in pristine condition. Finally, my dad got to meet Mrs. Kellogg. My dad shared with her that he also began everyday with devotions. This was the beginning of quite a lengthy conversation. Finally my dad was able to bet around to asking about the car, only to have her say, Oh, the car is not for sale. I was only curious if it would generate any interest. If I do ever sell the car, however, I want it to go to a man of your caliber. Several years later he received a call that the car was his if he was still interested. Once again he drove the distance and thought for certain he would have another visit with Mrs. Kellogg. He was told that she was too emotionally upset about the car leaving, so he proceeded to get the car into the trailer. As he pulled away, he saw her looking out of the window. I didn't do the story justice. If my dad told it, you would have been mesmerized!

I learned many things from my dad. Because of him, I love to write. My dad wrote a lot. Especially Bible studies and sermons. He also wrote many, many letters to me over the years...especially when I was in college. I remember one of the very first letters he wrote to me in college was all about not "gulping at life". He advised me to savor the seconds and not to be in such a rush.

He loved a good story, a good joke, and a good quote. when I was in high school, he had this quote from David Livingston written in the front of his Bible: Lord, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. Sever any ties but the ties that bind me to your service and to your heart.

From him I received my love for public speaking. My dad spoke a lot. He even used to preach! It always made me very proud to see my dad in front of an audience.

My dad instilled in me at a very early age my love for God and a desire to bring honor and glory to Him. That's really what my dad was all about. And while he loved his family and the things of this earth, it was evident to all that heaven was his home. He had a close relationship with his heavenly Father. I love the fact that the last word I ever heard my dad say was, "Amen". He was confined to a hospital bed for the last weeks of his life. The last few days of his life he spent in what looked like a "sleep state". His eyes were closed and he no longer spoke. Our pastor came to visit maybe a day or two before dad's death. He read the Bible and prayed. At the end of the prayer, dad raised his hands and said, "Amen!". We were all surprised to hear him say anything!

It brings me great comfort to know that my dad is with the Lord. I know he is enjoying heaven. I know he is enjoying the music of heaven and I know he is enjoying being in the presence of the One he lived for!

My dad left me a great legacy. I'm thankful that he was my dad. Thanks for letting me share just a few of my memories.

Finding Grace

John Piper has a wonderful blog post today on living life with a child that has disabilities. It is beautiful and helpful and insightful and uplifting. I encourage all readers to find his blog and read it. Meanwhile, here is a touching interview of parents living the with the challenges and adventures that life with disabilities brings.

Wrestling With An Angel from Brian Patton on Vimeo.

Bill and I concur with these parents. This road that we are on - this adventure of life with disability - is one which we would NEVER have chosen for ourselves. It was graciously given to us by the God we love and live for. In His wisdom, He blessed us with David. Has it been easy? No. Has it brought tears, and frustration, and anxiety? Yes. But it has also been a tool to bring us into the presence of God, and He has blessed us beyond measure.

God's Mercies in Disguise

Today was a glorious day in Texas! I love the weather here in the Spring...before we get clobbered by the heat and humidity!

I greeted the day by reading the somber news about Dave Wilkerson. He was killed in a car accident on Wednesday afternoon. For those of you who have never heard of him, he is probably best known for a book he wrote entitled The Cross and the Switchblade. It is his story of working with gangs and drug addicts in the inner-city of New York City.

He also wrote a blog. I went to his blog today and was moved by his last entry...

To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights—and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, “I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain.”

Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail—his love prevails. Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world.

I was also moved by the destruction and devastation of the severe weather in the South East. Tornadoes ripped through many Southern towns and hundreds are homeless tonight. It brings me right back to many of the emotions I felt after we lost our home. I hope many of you will join me in praying for these people. I'm so thankful that I know the God Who gives hope inspite of devastation and brings renewal and healing despite the circumstances of this life. Dave Wilkerson's words seem from his blog are so very appropriate for all that suffer and hurt...especially those suffering right now as a result of the tornadoes.

Recently I have heard a song played on the radio and the words have captured my heart. This song seems especially appropriate to me tonight as I ponder all the sadness that these last two days have brought to so many. This song is sung by Laura Story and if you have never heard it, I hope you will take time to listen to this You Tube version and if you are someone hurting, I pray the words bring you comfort and peace.



We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?

What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?

And what if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?


'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can't satisfy?

And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?

Lessons From Good Friday Still Sound Good on Tuesday

I remember in 2008 the feeling I had when I began this blog...so many doubts that I had to overcome. So many questions. What in the world will I write about? What if my writing stinks? What will people think when they see all of my grammatical errors? I vividly recall the feeling of just plugging my nose and diving in...diving in to this unknown world of blogging.

I took some time out of the pond that I jumped into, and todayas I stand here, holding my breath, ready to leap back in, I feel riddled by those same questions. Once again, I find myself needing to just take the plunge! So, here I go......

These past weeks have been very busy. I don't spend much time on the computer or on Facebook. I eat, work, sleep and try my best to keep things "together" for David and me. Needless to say, we miss Bill tremendously.

Since my last I've had many new adventures. My precious student, Kholoud, had a baby boy! Her husband called to tell me that she wanted to talk to me on the phone. Talking on the phone is very difficult for my ESL students. Kholoud managed three words, "I miss you!"

I have another new student from Saudi Arabia. Her name is Norah. She is 19 and a newly-wed. She doesn't want grammar lessons; she only wants English conversations. She's a lot of fun and I am always amazed that we can fill up a two hour lesson by just talking! She wants me to show her different places in Houston. How fun is THAT??!! Last week I introduced her to TJ Maxx! In public she is covered head to toe, but underneath her "protective gear" she is very stylish. She has a beautiful laugh and I'm enjoying my time with her immensely. She just completed her studies to get an American driver's license. In her homeland women are not allowed to drive, so she is thrilled with her new-found freedom!

This year, our Easter season hit me in a very profound way. From Maundy Thursday to Ressurrection Sunday, I found myself so close to my Saviour's side. He taught me so many things and opened up my heart and eyes to receive new lessons about the depth of His love. Never have I been so in awe of His atonement for my sins.

For some reason, I was mesmerized by these three words Jesus spoke on the cross - It is finished. They keep resonating in my mind. They have been a precious love letter to me - almost as if He had said the other three words we all love to hear - I love you!

Here is my little story entitled, It Is Finished....

This is a phot of me when I was, oh, maybe three or four. I was naughty! (Even to this day, I can't get this little girl turned around - as evidenced in this photo!) I screamed when my mother tried to wash my hair or brush my hair or do anything to my hair. This was probably the last picture of me with long hair...the rest of my childhood my hair was VERY short. I was a climber. I could climb up to the top of the stove in order to reach the top cupboards where the cookies and treats were hidden. One time, I found my older sister's red lipstick and redesigned my mother's white sofa! I was awful!

I distinctly remember not liking the crust on my bread. I spent many hours sitting alone in my chair at the kitchen table simply because I was not allowed to get up until I finished ALL of my bread.

One day, I launched a plan! I would hide my crust under my plate. When mom asked me if I was finished, I said, "Yup! See? All gone!"

And what she did next astonished me! She lifted up my plate to reveal what I had not finished!

It wasn't until years later that I thought of that story and realized how silly my attempts were at hiding that crust. My plate must have been suspended in air and teetering atop all of that crust. And equally as silly was the thought that I could pull the wool over my mom's eyes.

Not so with Jesus. He was given an assignment and He finshed it...completely. He did what I couldn't do for myself. He lived a perfect life and died for my sins so that I can have a relationship with a holy God.

I often wrestle with my sins. I wresle with the horribleness and the shame of the things I have done. Last Friday, it was as if Jesus said directly to me, "It is finished. Joyce, it's done. It's paid for. Now live joyfully in my grace and love!"

This is the Greek form of "It is finished". It was also a term used by accountants. If something was paid for, the word "Tetelestai" was written on the bill of sale. So Jesus actually just said one word.

It's not said as a phrase of defeat. Jesus isn't saying, "That's done. I'm finished. I've been defeated." No, it was a triumphant shout of victory that Jesus whispered during His last moments before death. The work that He came to do - the job given to Him when God asked "Who will go?" and Jesus willingly replied "Send me!" - that job was accomplished. What depth of love! And because of His accomplished work on the cross, we have the hope of eternity. Never in heaven will we hear the words, "It is finshed"! Never will God say to His children, "Ok, you've enjoyed your time here for the last 834,096,254 years, but now it's finished!" No, His children stay with Him forever...all because of the finshed, completed work of Jesus. A work that I could never complete. And that's just a glimpse at of some of the things I've been pondering...

The Old Man on Ash Wednesday

My friend Jean posted this on Facebook. What a beautiful story. And one worthy of sharing with all of you! Enjoy!
Second Office on the Right: The Old Man on Ash Wednesday: "Tonight I attended the Ash Wednesday service at the local Episcopal church. It was sparsely attended, and I brought the average age in..."

A Wonderful Lord's Day!

I've not been on here lately, have I? It's been pretty busy around here since Bill left! We made it through our first week apart and, while it has not been fun, we both made it! Bill and I have been apart before. I thought the worst was after Katrina. It was the summer of 2007. We finally were all living together again under the same roof when Bill was laid off! No work in Houston, so he worked in Louisiana for a few months. It was yucky, but at least he was only six hours away.

Lest this whole post turns into a sob fest, let me share how God strengthened Bill and I at church today. Bill drove to Green Bay and attended an OP church. They read from the Heidelberg Catechism and it was the very thing Bill (and I!!) needed to be reminded of the fact that we still have a loving heavenly Father and He is still in control. Isn't this richly soul-satisfying:

Q & A 26
Q. What do you believe when you say,
"I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth"?

A. That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who out of nothing created heaven and earth
and everything in them,^1
who still upholds and rules them
by his eternal counsel and providence,^2
is my God and Father
because of Christ his Son.^3

I trust him so much that I do not doubt
he will provide
whatever I need
for body and soul,^4
and he will turn to my good
whatever adversity he sends me
in this sad world.^5

He is able to do this because he is almighty God;^6
he desires to do this because he is a faithful Father.^7

^1 Gen. 1 & 2; Ex. 20:11; Ps. 33:6; Isa. 44:24; Acts 4:24; 14:15
^2 Ps. 104; Matt. 6:30; 10:29; Eph. 1:11
^3 John 1:12-13; Rom. 8:15-16; Gal. 4:4-7; Eph. 1:5
^4 Ps. 55:22; Matt. 6:25-26; Luke 12:22-31
^5 Rom. 8:28
^6 Gen. 18:14; Rom. 8:31-39
^7 Matt. 7:9-11


It is so appropriate to read after the Japan disaster also...who still upholds and rules them
by his eternal counsel and providence.

Disasters in nature, disasters in life...both are the result of living in a fallen world and both can make us bitter or make us better. "The same boiling water that softens carrots, makes eggs harden!"

Speaking of Japan, the pictures are such a reminder of Katrina. The force of water is incomprehensible. To see buildings and boats and bridges swept away as if they were paper boggles the mind. I have one Japanese family that I work with and I went, unannounced, to her home on Friday. I just wanted to give her a hug. I just wanted her to know that she was in my thoughts and prayers. As we hugged at the entrance to her home, she told me she had just received word that her family was all accounted for. What joyful news!

This week is Spring Break. Hallelujah!!!!! I will be working with my language students in the mornings, but I have "vacation time" in the afternoons. David and I are looking forward to the arrival of Tommy and Elise from Chicago.

That's my update...time to get ready for tomorrow!

One Year Ago

Seldom do I remember where I was exactly a year ago. Today I do. Our whole family gathered in Chicago for Bill's Big Birthday Bash! Here are a few pictures from that weekend:

The brave hearts that ventured downtown.

Squinting into the camera because the sun was sooooo bright!


Even "Gramsy Girl" made it down for the big weekend!

Bill with his "quiver full"

Bill with his "handful"!!!

Tonight, Bill is in Chicago once again...this time without me! (SNIFF) He made it to Memphis,TN

last night and pulled into the parking lot of Trinity about 3:30 this afternoon. He is staying overnight with Elise, will go to church with her in the morning, and then head out to northern Wisconsin.

Tonight he met Tommy's parents. Tommy is Elise's boyfriend. They had a fun time together at a Mexican restaurant. I just talked to them and Bill and Elise are watching a movie together in her apartment.

David and I made it through our second day without the man we love. We got up early and took our puppy in for his first haircut. Then we treated ourselves to a five dollar movie! We saw "The Adjustment Bureau" with Matt Damon. (Who, by the way, always reminds me of my high school sweetheart!) It was a very interesting movie but I'm still not sure if I liked it or not. It was enjoyable to watch, but I strongly disagreed with the premise. It was an attempt to look at the concept of "free will", but it was a very humanistic take on the subject. Anyway, it was a fun day out for David and I and we had an interesting discussion about it on the way home.

For those of you who are praying for us during this time, I thank you. Without Him, I couldn't do any of this. I'm trying to take just one day at a time and live in the reality of God's unfailing love. The verse from our wedding has always meant so much to me...even more now! May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O God, even as we put our hope in You. Psalm 33:22

Mr. Wonderful

Mr. Wonderful left this morning for his 1,300 mile (2,087 km) trek to a little shipyard in Wisconsin. I kept hoping and praying that a job would open up here in Houston. I felt very much like Abraham...walking up Mt. Moriah...knowing what had to be done, and trusting that God would provide the Lamb. Well, I kept looking in "the bushes" for the ram (so to speak) but never found anything. So, even though it doesn't feel like it or make any sense to me, I trust this is God's best for us at this time.

After a tearful goodbye, I had my quiet time. I read over Luke 12 and I Thessalonians 5...both passages are beautiful reminders of the way God meets all the needs that we have.

And then, in my little devotion for the day, God reminded me to live close to Him! How comforting to know that I am in the constant presence of One Who has promised to never leave me. I think my song today will be, "No, Never Alone". Haven't thought about that little song in forever!!!

Okay friends, a new adventure begins! And, as always, I'll keep you posted on how this journey is going....

Please Pray

My wonderful husband leaves tomorrow for Wisconsin. It is for an indefinate period of time. Right now I am very sad and I can't stand the thought of being apart again. But I also applaud his strength...he doesn't want to go either, but it is a sacrifice he is willing to make for his family. I'll write more about it when I can be a bit more positive...right now I'm feeling pretty awful, so just bear with me. I do ask for prayers - that God will protect us and uphold us while we our apart.

That being said, I thank God for the humor He sent my way this morning. He knew I needed to lighten up.

David told me that he applied for a job yesterday.

"What kind of job?"

"A stocker."

"Soccer?" replied his VERY deaf mother.

And David, without skipping a beat, replied, "Yup! They took one look at my resume, saw that I played soccer in the third grade, and they signed me up for the Brazilian National Team!"

Number 26

Today is my sister Nancy's birthday. She is in Florida with my mom and other sister, Karen. (sniff) Somewhere along the line, we have gotten in the habit of buying each other strange cards featuring three sisters. We then assign each other the appropriate "match-up" to the stranger in the picture. So, in honor of our twisted ritual, I send these pictures to you, Nancy. Have a wonderful day! You are loved...so very much!

Nancy, you are the one in the middle, wearing the more daring "v-neck" as Karen points it out for the camera and I try to plead with you to not go out in public with such revealing apparel!!!

You and I showing off our new scarves!


Hmm...who's who in this one???

There's nothing like the real thing!!! Didn't we have fun???

Lounging on Harv's boat!

Abba

Abba. Scripture tells us that Abba is Aramaic for Father. Jesus instructs us to call God Abba. Just think about that for a minute. What a closeness we are allowed to have with our God. We are His children, and He delights in being our Father.

When I am down in the dumps, I have a tendency to forget that God is my heavenly Father. I act more like an orphan. I start getting all anxious about how I am ever going to handle the "junk" of life...and I forget. I forget that I'm not alone. I forget that I belong to Someone. I am a child of the King!!!

When I start to remind myself of WHO I belong to, my heart calms down. No need to worry. My Father is going to take care of me. He always has, and He always will.

Life has been pretty difficult lately and I've needed to be reminded of my Father's love for me over and over and over. Maybe someone reading this today feels the same way. If you do, I hope you enjoy this story and I hope that it will remind you of this fact: if you know that Jesus is your Savior, then God is your Father. We never have to act like an orphan. We never have to ask, "Who's my daddy?"

A seminary professor was vacationing with his wife in Gatlinburg , TN. One morning, they were eating breakfast at a little restaurant, hoping to enjoy a quiet, family meal. While they were waiting for their food, they noticed a distinguished looking, white-haired man moving from table to table, visiting with the guests. The professor leaned over and whispered to his wife, 'I hope he doesn't come over here.' But sure enough, the man did come over to their table.

'Where are you folks from?' he asked in a friendly voice.

' Oklahoma ,' they answered.

'Great to have you here in Tennessee ,' the stranger said... 'What do you do for a living?'

'I teach at a seminary,' he replied.

'Oh, so you teach preachers how to preach, do you? Well, I've got a really great story for you.' And with that, the gentleman pulled up a chair and sat down at the table with the couple.

The professor groaned and thought to himself, 'Great .. Just what I need ... another preacher story!'

The man started, 'See that mountain over there? (pointing out the restaurant window). Not far from the base of that mountain, there was a boy born to an unwed mother. He had a hard time growing up, because every place he went, he was always asked the same question, 'Hey boy, Who's your daddy?' Whether he was at school, in the grocery store or drug store, people would ask the same question, 'Who's your daddy?'

He would hide at recess and lunch time from other students. He would avoid going in to stores because that question hurt him so bad. 'When he was about 12 years old, a new preacher came to his church. He would always go in late and slip out early to avoid hearing the question, 'Who's your daddy?'

But one day, the new preacher said the benediction so fast that he got caught and had to walk out with the crowd. Just about the time he got to the back door, the new preacher, not knowing anything about him, put his hand on his shoulder and asked him, 'Son, who's your daddy?'

The whole church got deathly quiet. He could feel every eye in the church looking at him Now everyone would finally know the answer to the question, 'Who's your daddy?'

'This new preacher, though, sensed the situation around him and using discernment that only the Holy Spirit could give, said the following to that scared little boy. 'Wait a minute! I know who you are! I see the family resemblance now, You are a child of God.'

With that he patted the boy on his shoulder and said, 'Boy, you've got a great inheritance. Go and claim it.'

The boy smiled for the first time in a long time and walked out the door a changed person. He was never the same again. Whenever anybody asked him, 'Who's your Daddy?' he'd just tell them , 'I'm a Child of God.''

The distinguished gentleman got up from the table and said, 'Isn't that a great story?' The professor responded that it really was a great story!

As the man turned to leave, he said, 'You know, if that new preacher hadn't told me that I was one of God's children, I probably never would have amounted to anything!' And he walked away. The seminary professor and his wife were stunned. He called the waitress over and asked her, 'Do you know who that man was -- the one who just left that was sitting at our table?'

The waitress grinned and said, 'Of course. Everybody here knows him. That's Ben Hooper. He's governor of Tennessee.'

Choosing To Believe

I have had a week full of welcome and unwelcome surprises.

This is a picture of my MOST welcome surprise!!! This is Jean and her beautiful family. Jean was a student from my very first class that I ever taught in my whole life...I was squeaky clean out of college when I taught her in 6th grade. I also had her for 7th grade and 8th grade...poor child!!! That class was and forever will be very near and dear to my heart. We had so much fun together! When they were in 8th grade, our big goal for the year was to have a class play. This was uncharted territory for Calvin Christian, but I think we blazed a pretty awesome trail! We performed "Cheaper By the Dozen" and each and every student contributed and helped in some way. Jean was the mother of the whole brood and carried off her part with a confident spirit that belied her tender age of thirteen.

Jean and I have kept in touch over the years, but imagine how high my heart leapt when she told me she was coming to Houston!!! We had dinner together on Monday night, and closed the place down! It was thrilling to listen to her life story and marvel at God's faithfulness and unfailing love. Jean now lives in Tuscon with her five (!) children, and I can't believe her oldest is in her first year of college. It was wonderful to see her again after 30 some years!

Because of my late evening out on Monday, I wasn't quite ready to face Tuesday. I was thinking up all sorts of excuses in my head of ways I could get out of working. But, I pushed the thoughts aside and valiantly, albeit sleepily, ventured out to conquer the day. Despite my contrary spirit, I was happily blessed by each student. I just love those little "joys" in life that God sprinkles unexpectedly in my path!

My first "joy" came from my Arabian student. She joyfully told me how she talked on the phone to her parents and told them all about me. She told them I was very beautiful (!) and that I was very nice. My travel time to my next student is about 30 minutes. During my drive time, I thanked God for His blessing of encouragement. I marveled at how He allowed me to teach someone from Saudi Arabia. I also found myself amazed that my name was spoken in Arabic and that I was described to her family so far away. Simply amazing!

My next student is new to me. We have only had a few lessons. She is from Columbia and is jaw-dropping gorgeous! She has two precious sons who are 4 and 5 years old. At these early stages of their time in the U.S., they are still figuring a lot of things out. During these weeks, I am more than just a language teacher. I help them walk through the puzzling maze of adjustment. I grocery shop with them, help them find different stores or shopping centers. I have even gone to the doctor with them! Well, Tuesday was one of those special "new moments" with Caterine. Her husband is out of town and it was her oldest son's birthday. She is used to having many friends and family members to share "fiestas" with...but here, in this new country, it would only be the three of them - not even her husband would be able to celebrate. In an almost tearful question, she asked if I could sing with them, eat cake, and open the presents. Those Latinos sure know how to party! I LOVE the way they celebrate! Even the way they sing "Happy Birthday" is much more exciting than our version. I was so thankful I could be there and help them ease through a day that might have seemed a little lonely.

Okay, so those were my welcome events...yesterday held the unwelcome events. I won't linger long on these. Suffice it to say that yesterday gave new meaning to the saying, "When it rains, it pours"! The final jolt came when I got a call from Bill telling me his radiator was shot and he was stuck on the highway. After all the fun of finding a tow truck and hearing the total cost to repair the car, we drove home exhausted and in silence. As we turned into our subdivision, Bill said, "I assume this is blog worthy?" Yes, dear, it is! What a day!

Finally I was able to do a little quiet time reading. I was encouraged by this question: Is Romans 8:28 still in the Bible? Good question to ponder. Helps me keep things in perspective!

Max Lucado reminds us, “It all works out in the end. If it hasn’t worked out yet, then it’s not the end.” So...it isn't the end...except for when it comes to this post!

Thank you, Father, for the challenges as well as the joys that You send. Both are allowed by You and both will shape my character. My prayer is that I will always remember that I am Your child. Forgive me for the many times I act more like an orphan!

Let's Pay Teachers to Babysit

A friend of mine, and a fellow teacher from my days in Mississippi, sent me this article. When I read the title, the hairs on the back of my head began to tingle a bit. Few things rile me more than the deplorable state of our educational system. And jumbled up in that mess is the horrible salaries teachers make. There is always some wise guy who brings up the issue of teachers only working 180 days out of the year. Well, to proverbial "Mr. Wiseguy" out there, I humbly submit this article. I think it presents things from an interesting perspective.

Are you sick of high paid teachers? Teachers’ hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work 9 or 10 months a year! It’s time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do - baby sit! We can get that for less than minimum wage.



That’s right. Let’s give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked; not any of that silly planning time, or any time they spend before or after school. That would be $19.50 a day (7:45 to 3:00 PM with 45 min. off for lunch and plan — that equals 6 1/2 hours).



Each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children.



Now how many do they teach in day…maybe 30? So that’s $19.50 x 30 = $585.00 a day. However, remember they only work 180 days a year!!! I am not going to pay them for any vacations.



LET’S SEE…. That’s $585 X 180= $105,300 per year. (Hold on! My calculator needs new batteries).



What about those special education teachers and the ones with Master’s degrees? Well, we could pay them minimum wage ($7.75), and just to be fair, round it off to $8.00 an hour. That would be $8 X 6 1/2 hours X 30 children

X 180 days = $280,800 per year.



Wait a minute — there’s something wrong here! There sure is!



The average teacher’s salary (nation wide) is $50,000. $50,000/180 days = $277.77/per day/30 students=$9.25/6.5 hours = $1.42 per hour per student–a very inexpensive baby-sitter and they even EDUCATE your kids!)

WHAT A DEAL!!!!

Gotch Day

I have posted here before about adoption. It is a topic very dear to my heart. I marvel at the courage of birthmothers...what a tremendously difficult decision it must be to give a child up for adoption. I also marvel that in this day of all-too-easy-abortions, the story of adoption continues.

Yesterday, I met via Facebook, a family that just adopted. I tried and tried to find a way to post their "Gotcha Day" video here on my blog. ("Gotch Day" is what adoptive parents call the day when the child is actually place in their arms.) Well, for some reason, I just couldn't figure it out! Frustrating!!!! I did, however, figure out a way to post their blog, where you can view their heart-warming video. I hope you all take a few minutes out of your day to visit their blog and follow their story...it will put a smile on your face. It will also put a smile in your heart!

http://flitterbugsblog.blogspot.com

UPDATE!!!! I figured it out!!!!!!!!

Did you know....

While talking with a friend of mine last week, he shared some staggering statistics that, I must admit, never crossed my mind. Maybe they never crossed your mind either. And then yesterday, another friend sent me this video on the same topic. I'm curious...how do these facts make you feel? I found them to be rather staggering and a bit unsettling (or maybe it was the music!!!!!).

Do You Text and Drive?

Very sad, but a message that needs to be shared...

Retirement Home Talent Show

A friend sent this to me and I thought it was priceless! Somehow, I can't quite envision this happening at the Holland Home!!

An Interesting Path

Travelers, there is no path; paths are made by walking.

Antonio Mechado

This morning I was washing my face...well, I take that back. It was more like I was splashing myself awake. I'm going to be honest here. I'm not a morning girl. Every ounce of me wishes that I was. I wish I was that strong, self-disciplined woman that wakes with the sun, walks/exercises, gets in a good hour of quiet time, sits at the table enjoying coffee while catching up on the recent news.

Oh, how I wish I could proudly declare that I was that kind of woman. I'm not. I never have been. I can burn the midnight oil with the best of them, but, alas, a morning person I am not.

And so I roll my grouchy old body out of bed at the last second, splash water on my face to wake up, try my best to look presentable, and head out the door. I leave the house by 7:30 in order to reach the town of Sugarland by 8:00. Enroute, I either listen to praise music and talk to God, or I have a Beth Moore Bible study via DVD, or a combination of all three. I don't drink coffee (never have!), and I'm usually never hungry when I first wake up, so I grab a big glass of ice water that stays in the car with me all day long and gets replenished from time to time.

My first student is a young married mother of three. She is from Saudi Arabia. She is living here for one year while her husband manages a petroleum project here in Houston for his country. He speaks English. She does not. She has only been in the States since Christmas. In the few weeks that I have taught her, she has learned a lot! Her progress is amazing. I mean, how does someone that normally reads and writes from right to left suddenly change gears? How does our alphabet make any sense to her? Her alphabet doesn't make any sense to me! But there we sit, from 8 - 10, and we have fun together.

Starting Thursday, I add another student. She is from Columbia. She doesn't speak any English. So we'll start from scratch, learning the alphabet, learning our long and short vowels, learning the sounds of our consonants, etc. etc.

I digress! Back to this morning, as I splashed water on my face...I thought about the interesting path God has chosen for me. It's certainly not one that I would have chosen for myself. I have no earthly idea why, but this morning my mind (which LOVES to travel about on its own and is known to wander about quite aimlessly!) thought about Norma Potts and high school study hall. We both had just broken up with our boyfriends and thought our lives were over (at the tender age of 16!!!). I distinctly remember writing her a note during study hall that said "Just think, Norma...ten years from now we will both be married and living happily ever after!"

Well, it was a nice thought. But ten years after I wrote that note, I wasn't married. Either was Norma!

So why am I writing all of this? I guess it's to remind myself that God has a plan - a path - and it might not seem like such a wonderful path while I'm on it, but as I look back, I realize that it's not only a good path, it's a GREAT path!!!

I mean, who ever thought I would still be teaching? Not me! I was ready to hang up the towel long ago! And never, in my wildest dreams, would I think I would share my mornings with a young, pregnant woman from a far-away land. Or that I would spend my Thursdays with a 12 year old from Japan. Or have the joy of listening to countless stories from people that have lived all over the world. Or have the blessing of helping a 48 year old woman return to college to fulfill her dream of teaching. And who could have ever thought up the idea of moving me from Michigan to Mississippi? And now Houston! Not me! I'm the one that made permanent marks on I65 by digging in my heels when I had to move to Mississippi.

Once again, I find myself holding on tightly to the knowledge that God has a plan - and reminding myself that my job is to trust and to obey. Once again I find myself at a crossroads on this path called "life". Once again, I feel the path changing. Once again I'm being asked to venture out into the "unknown". But I'm not fretting. I'm trusting. And I sorta' can't wait to find out where His path will lead to next. I can only say this because of the One who is leading me. He's never failed me yet! And I know that He never will.

How about your path? Ponder today all the delightful twists and turns you have taken, that you would have never in a million years chosen to take. Think of how God has used those detours to mold and shape your character. Yes, indeed! God always has the perfect path - custom-made - for each one of us!

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 16:11

Oh WOW!!!

I've been cleaning. It is mind boggling how much "stuff" I am able to hoard! There is a new show on OWN (Oprah's new network) where a man helps people discover the "why" behind all their stuff. I guess it's rather convicting...it has me cleaning out things that I should have gone through five years ago!

One of the bags I went through was full of mud-encrusted jewelry that I salvaged from the aftermath of Katrina. Even with all the dirt, it was very apparent what was the "good stuff". The chains were broken and knotted, but they glistened and proudly showed off that they were, indeed, gold!

The pieces were of no sentimental value to me, so I had Bill go to the "Gold Store" to see if they would buy the gold. They did!!! He just came home with $83.00!

WOW!! Once again, I know this will be filed away for a good illustration at one of my talks or in my book...but that's for another day. Right now I have to clean some more!

In Memory

On January 7, I wrote a good bye to our sweet dog, Gracie. I know many people can't relate to the loss of a family pet. "They're just dogs!" is what I'm sure many people think. For us, Gracie was a part of our family and she taught us so much about unconditional love. She was always there to greet each one of us whenever we came home...always so happy to see us!

Well, over the last few weeks, we have received a few things in memory of Gracie. The first thing to come was a card. It was signed by all of the staff of the Vet Hospital. And not just their signatures...most of them wrote a special little note to us about our sweet dog. They also enclosed a poem.

Then a package arrived. I carefully unwrapped the delicate piece from the protection of bubble wrap. The clinic sent us a plaster impression of Gracie's paw. It is a precious keepsake.

And then yesterday, another card came. This one stated that our vet made a contribution in Gracie's name. It is to a Christian Vet Society that provides medical help to animals throughout the world. That just made my heart smile. It's so Gracie...that gesture just captured the essence of the type of dog she was...she was always so ready and willing to give of herself. I like the thought of knowing that in some small way, she is still reaching out and helping others through this ministry.

Some people may read this and think all of this talk about a dog is rather "stupid". I disagree. I'm thankful to a God that created such a vast array of animals. And I'm thankful for the one He sent our way. And I'm thankful for all the love she poured into us for so many years.

Hummingbird

A friend of mine sent me this video. I found it charming! Now I want my own hummingbird!

This is my third video that I posted today...can you tell that all my classes were canceled and that I am stuck in the house because of the icy roads????? Houston had over 300 accidents today because of the ice.

Adopted For Life

I just "accidentally" ran across this free download offer. I say "accidentally" in quotation marks because I know it was no accident. I have many friends dealing with different aspects of adoption. I hope you can access this free audiobook download of "Adopted For Life" and that it will be a blessing to you as you travel the road of adoption.
http://christianaudio.com/free

Weather Update

Yesterday I posted about the hysteria that Houston is experiencing because of the weather. This video will give my Northern readers a little insight into the South's tolerance of cold weather. By the way, we did not get any snow, but we did have an ice storm and it closed EVERYTHING...I even got an email from my grocery store that it would be closed until tomorrow. Gotta love the Southern Experience!

Funny� Snow in � The Blogs at HowStuffWorks
Houston