Happy Birthday, Monika!

When we were kids:
- I was happy to be the “older” sister
- I enjoyed annoying you somewhat
- I shared with you because I had to

Now that we’re all grown up:
- I wish I wasn’t older
- I don’t wish to annoy you, ever
- I am so happy for the privilege of sharing with you

Monika, on this your birthday weekend, I’m thankful for you, my one and only sister! I so appreciate your generous spirit, your willingness to serve and seeing that you are using your gifts to be a blessing. I wish you much happiness in the coming year and that God may continue to give you the desires of your heart.

From a Child's Perspective

Julene shared with us that they had talked with their kids about heaven and what it’s going to be like to never say good bye to people. The kids really liked that they would never have to say goodbye to us again. They were told that Jesus is going to come back one day to get us, to which Paeton responded with a question, “Has He started running yet?”
At first I thought that it was an odd question to ask. Then I began to see something beautiful. While I imagine Jesus floating down from heaven in majestic power, he was imagining Jesus running! Oh, sometimes I think our adult minds have lost something very special!

The Prodigal Son Suite

One of our favorite, and most passionate Contemporary Christian Music artists of the 1970’s and early 1980’s was Keith Green. Sadly, he was tragically killed in an airplane crash in 1982. However, his music lived on in our lives and we made sure our kids heard it too! One thing that we tried to teach them was, when listening to music, to listen to the words…no matter how young they were, they needed to know that the lyrics were important. So, we’d be on a road trip and they would get a verbal repeat of the words of the songs we listened to . . . it made for easy story telling. This is one of those songs. The music stirs our hearts like almost nothing else, and combined with this well known parable, it’s a song . . . more like a symphony . . . that just never grows old.
Personally, I can't read these words without hearing the pride . . . the sadness . . . the lostness . . . and the great rejoicing that is felt in the music itself, but I hope that even if you've never heard the music, the lyrics will touch your heart today.

I was done hoeing
Out in the fields for the day.
I was thinking of going,
I had to leave right away.
My life was just fading
and oh,I felt so alone.
The nearest young maiden
Was a full day’s ride from home.

My father was reading
The holy books in his room.
My heart was just bleeding,
I knew I had to go soon.
He smiled and pointed
To and old wooden chair.
I wanted to hold him
But then I just wouldn’t dare.

I said, “Father, there’s so much to know
There’s a world of things to see
And I’m ready to go make a life for myself.
If you give what is mine
I will go if I could have your blessing.
But if you won’t bless my journey,
I’m going to leave anyway.”

“Son, I’ve always tried my best for you
And if you must be leaving home
Then go with the blessing of God.”

Not too many days later,
I was well on my way,
I met a traveling stranger
Who seemed to have much to say.
He told me tales of the city
And all the women he’d had.
I asked him, “Wasn’t that sinful?”
He said, “No, it isn’t that bad!”

And then a few days later,
On an old city road,
We were drowning in laughter
And we had women to hold.
And this went on quite a long time,
My father gave me a lot.
But when my pockets were empty
My friends all left me to rot.

Then a famine hit and drained the land,
Everywhere I looked I saw starvation
And a job was not to be found.
I wandered through the city streets
Competing for the food of common beggars.
Until then I’d never known hunger
But now I wasn’t too proud.

I finally found some employment
Feeding pigs on a farm.
I wasn’t treated to kind,
I had to sleep in the barn.
I had to eat with the swine,
The bread I ate was like stone.
It didn’t take too much time
Till I was dreaming of home.

Oh the servants there are better fed;
If I could only have what my father gives them
I would truly need nothing more.
So I will go and say to him,
“I’m no longer worthy to be in your family,
Will you take me as your servant
And let me live with them.”

It didn’t’ take too long to pack my things
I left with only what I wore
And I prayed that I still had a home.

When I was near home,
In sight of the house,
My father just starred,
Dropped open his mouth.
He ran up the road
and fell to my feet
and cried, and cried.

“Father, I’ve sinned,
Having the shame.
I’m no longer worthy
To wear you name.
I’ve learned that my home
Is right where you are.
Oh father, take me.”

“Bring the best robe,
put it on my son.
Shoes for his feet,
Hurry, put them on!
This is my son
Who I thought had died;
Prepare a feast,
For my son’s alive!

I prayed and prayed,
Never heard a sound.
My son was lost –
Oh thank you, God, He’s found!
My son was dead
And he’s now alive.
Prepare a feast
For my son’s alive!

My son was dead, my son was lost,
My son’s returned in the hands of God!”

The photo is of a Statue of the Prodigal Son,
taken at Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, California
(used by permission)

Keith Green's music was digitally reproduced in 1999 by Sparrow Records (Bill Maxwell).
The Prodigal Son is one of the songs in his CD, The Ministry Years 1977-1979 and is available in Christian Book/Music Stores and at amazon.com

Will she Know Me?

I’ve been working on my 2008 scrapbook album. Last night I was working on the the “Good Bye” page, the dreaded day when we packed a family load of suitcases onto the truck and headed for the airport.

The last time I held her she was about 11 weeks old. The photo

reminded me of another photo taken about 30 years earlier

and I just had to check it out.

Yes … the woman has matured, but the baby looks very much the same. Makes me feel somewhat connected . . . like I kind of “know” her. By what my daughter tells me about her, she is so much like the baby I raised. Blue eyes that slit into the brightest smiles, content, easy going, and the cutest rolls on her arms and legs.

But when I step off that plane and reach my arms out to her . . . will she feel that familiar safety in me? Will she just “know” that I’m her Grammy?

Will she be blowing out her first candle and taking her first steps, all the while sensing my pride and joy in her? The way that only a Grammy can feel because she’s seeing it all for the second time.

Prayer for our Nations

Today, as our country to the south - the home of two of our beloved grandchildren - is celebrating the inauguration of a new president, I am reminded of what is says in
1 Timothy 2: 1-2
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."

Yesterday I received a forward of Billy Graham's well spoken prayer that commentator, Paul Harvey, aired on his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story.' It reminds me of how God is seeking hearts that humble themselves before Him to pray and seek His face and turn from their wicked ways, allowing God to hear from heaven and heal our land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!' (Billy Graham)

I pray that God would reveal Himself and grant wisdom to this new President as he leads a country that has so much power and influence in our world. I pray that, what we have lost as North American nations, would become important again. May we truly put OUR TRUST IN GOD.

Happy Birthday, Kari!

Kari, although you've only been a part of our family for 2 1/2 years, I can hardly imagine life without you. Partly because I always knew that one day Ben would have a special someone by his side and partly because I knew that our family wasn't complete until you came.

I always appreciate your enthusiasm that you put into everything you do and your laughter and cheery dispostion that accompanies you into the house. I appreciate the fact that we can learn things from each other. What I love most about you is the smile you put into Ben's face and the fact that I know that you stand by his side to encourage and pray for him.

Kari, you are one of my three beautiful girls, with definite similarities but special differences as well. You are unique, but you blend in beautifully. Thank you for being who you are. I pray God will bless you on your special day and in this coming year.
Love, Mom (and Dad)

Packing for a Weekend (or week)

Now this is easy! The collage that Julene had on her closet had about 11 pieces of clothing on it, a purse, sunglasses, sandals and flip flops. The only things missing were underwear and pj’s.

The basic wardrobe:
a long sleeved (thermal or waffle) shirt
2 pairs of pants – jeans & tan, cotton
1 skirt
1 dress
2 shirts – one patterned, one plain
1 pretty sleeveless top
1 cute sweater
1 jacket
bathing suit
underwear and pj’s

The idea is that you should be able to mix and match all these items of clothing, ( every top goes with every bottom) that is what makes less = more. A cami for layering, jewelry, scarves and belts will add variety as well.
Now all of this should fit into a carry on size bag. My daughter told me that she used this as a guide when they had to leave their house because of smoke. (their whole town was engulfed in smoke because of burning rice fields and lack of rain) They ended up being away for 6 weeks and she did fine with this wardrobe.
I was somewhat hesitant about this, but I decided to make this “visual” and choose a winter and a summer “collage” for my weekend get-a-away bag.

The above collage gives you a pretty good visual of 9 items of clothing that would work to create at least as many combinations. Instead of a long sleeved waffle shirt, I chose an extra Tshirt.
The swim suit is missing and the jacket, which I would be wearing - the jacket, that is!

In this winter collage, I omitted the dress and added another sweater. Again, 9 items and probably even more options. I added a scarf that ties together the browns and blue/grey colors.

I'm a "little sweater" person, but if you're a blazer/jacket person, take that.

And just to reassure you, your own personal style will totally come through here . . . whether it’s a cluster of bright colors that mix well or neutral colors, doesn’t matter. . . as long as it’s you. This also goes for any style . . . it doesn’t matter if it’s designer or not, a shirt is a shirt.
For traveling, if you don’t mind being casual, wear your bulkier items, such as runners/sneakers (if you must take them) comfortable pants and hoody or light weight jacket.
Keep your toiletries to travel size containers, in a zip lock bag. If you’re staying in a hotel, you don’t need to take shampoo or hair dryer. Choose your make-up carefully and try to stay pretty basic and realistic of what you will need.

With more airlines charging for checked luggage, it's helpful to know that you can carry your belongings with you. No fear of lost luggage and a speedy get-a-way once you arrive. Don't worry about what you may have forgotten, if you are travelling anywhere where there are people, chances are that you can buy what you need. Enjoy your trip!

P.S. As to my trip to Indonesia, I'd only have to double the (summer) amount and I'd have lots! I won't be needing any sweaters and I'll need to keep in mind that women should not wear sleeveless tops in public. We'd be fine with one suitcase for the two of us, but of course we will take advantage of every pound we can take. The less clothes, the more Honey Nut Cheerios, peanut butter, honey, chocolate chips, whole wheat flour, nuts, bacon bits . . . (Yeah!!!)

A Look at My Wardrobe

When I was visiting Julene in Indonesia, I noticed an interesting little collage of pictures taped to her closet door. She told me that it was a guide on what to pack for a weekend trip and she added that it really works well.
I’ve been thinking that it might be good to revisit that little chart and see how it lines up with my attempts of trying to pack smart.
However, before posting about packing, I think we need to look at our closets and see if it’s even possible to make it so easy! I will tell you what I have discovered more recently and how that helps me shop more wisely. It may take a few years to build up this kind of a wardrobe, but it’s worth being patient and getting at it one season at a time.
The basic idea is not to buy anything unless it goes with a number of things you already have and like! Pick a few basic colors that you like to work with. What works well is to pick some neutral colored pants and skirts, eventually getting to where you have a cluster of colors that go together. When you buy a top it has to fit into one or two of the clusters and match with every bottom in that cluster. I made some piles to give you the general idea.


If you feel that your closet is just one big mish mash of stuff – there’s lots there, but it's hard to put things together – it’s a good idea to begin by sorting according to color or coordinating colors and only items that you actually wear. Take out anything you haven’t worn for a year or two and pack it up for a consignment store or charity. (don’t let it sit around and be clutter)

De-cluttering your closet will make you feel much better! You look at it and know that you can wear whatever is in there, instead of feeling like you don't know where to begin.

Once you know what you have (or don’t have) you can make a list of items you need to complete a color scheme. If you have a pair of black pants (a good basic) and a grey skirt, for example, then see how many tops and sweaters you have that go with those two items, throw in a pair of jeans, and you’ll find that with about 9 pieces of clothing you can come up with at least 18 outfits.
Now, when you go shopping, you know exactly what you’re looking for and you won’t be buying something just because ‘it’s cute and goes with jeans’. (well, every once in a while a girl’s just got to, but as a rule, try not to) Then when you get home, check to see how many things your item of clothing goes with…the more the better, because it enlarges your choices. Take note of different combinations, have a “try on” day, and it will help you know that you really have more than you thought. This could be a fun thing to do with a friend whom you trust to give you some honest feedback and ideas.
Don’t we all like to get something new for every season – hey, I think “back to school shopping” is the best invention and I still fall for it. But I’m learning that it’s a good idea to get into this cycle, if you will, at the end of every season when the sales are on. Right now is a good time to round up your next fall/winter wardrobe. And to keep you from ending up where you started . . . once your closet feels ‘comfortable’ and you do go and buy something new, make sure you also get rid of something old.
Now we’re ready to look at that packing chart.

Leaving on a Jet Plane Soon

I am getting giddy with excitement about a trip that is finally in the works! I began by going on line, but the calendar was not co-operating, there was a lot of reading and guess-work going on, so I decided to call the a travel agency in Vancouver that caters to people traveling to Asia. It so happened that the same agent who arranged the trip for us in 2007, answered the phone and he remembered me! Maybe he remembered me because I have such a difficult time understanding him and I ask the same questions over and over. It’s funny, you get a bit of an idea of what it’s like being a foreigner, just talking to him.

I have to say that I do have a lot of empathy for people having to learn a second language as adults. I have done some part time ESL teaching to Korean moms who are here to have their kids get an English education and I don’t think that I could make the sacrifices that they do, the humbling of oneself to try to understand a different way of life, shopping, getting around, schooling, etc.
I say this partly so that you know that I am not posting this to make fun of a travel agent who is making himself vulnerable, but again, to say that I don’t think I could be so brave.
Here he is, having to talk to people on the phone, emailing and making arrangements, all with a very strong accent and limited English writing experience. I know he understands everything very well but, the problem is, I don’t.

The good thing is that this travel agent is good at what he does and so friendly and eager to please, one really can’t go wrong…
But, to show you just some of the fun I’ve had with this, here’s a copy of one piece of correspondence from last time. He writes just like he talks, and he talks pretty fast, so put on your best listening ear.

HELL ANNELIESE.

I GOT 1 GOOD NEW AND 1 NOT VERY GOOD NEW TODAY..
hopefully u may understand what i try to explian you.

the good new is... The fare cad 1488 for your itneary have been extend untill 30jun. i think the fare a little bit more then before but still be ok
i think..
however.. the eve airways prom this fare but use for the lower class
then before the one i got for you.

the one i get for you during that period of sale is L CLS. now this fare
they change to Z Cls. ( the same as deluxe ecom but the clas is much
lower the L cls).
that is mean... class is not applied for this fare..

the seat is still the same but the cls is different.. which mean.. still not good on your day of travelling
what i do is as below.

On Saturday I got another email with the same friendly greeting!

Run, Baby, Run

One day when I was in the mall I passed one of those kiosks that sell those Tshirts that you'd rather not read what they say. One that caught my eye said, "I feel a sin coming on!" Now, I guess this was supposed to be funny, or some odd kind of flirting, but I was struck by the fact that the word "sin" was used. In an age when people do not want to use that word, it seems to be okay to use it in a mock fashion.
So what does one do about it? I mean - If one takes the comment seriously, it can be very honest! At what point do we stop, call it what it is and get out?

When my granddaughter was just over a year old, she loved opening my kitchen cupboards and taking - no - chucking things out. I let her open any cupboard except for the one under the sink, with the trash, dish soaps etc.


I reminded her, "No, Natalie, not that one." I could tell she knew... but she still liked to open the door and have a look. She'd repeatedly close it and then open it, just to make sure the trash hadn't moved. I couldn't understand.

Or do I? Even though she was very cute about it, it reminded me of our human nature. Do we treat sin in the same way? Do we open the door? Even when we know? Or do we, when we feel a sin coming, run . . . as Joseph did.

Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of him . . . And though she spoke to him day after day, he refused (her) or to even be with her. One day he went into the house to attend to his duties and non of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak ... but he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. Genesis 39:6-12

Winter Faith

I am mulling over some of what I heard at church yesterday and some of what I read this morning and trying to reconcile it all with present circumstances in the lives of loved ones. I have (again) come to the realization that I’m not able to reconcile anything since I’m not God. His ways don’t always make sense…

Max Lucado in his book Come Thirsty quotes a Rabbi Kushner in his disturbing conclusion of Job, saying that he was “forced to choose between a good God who is not totally powerful, or a powerful God who is not totally good.” It would be so easy to come to that conclusion when we are in the midst of something that we know only God can fix, but He doesn’t.

In order to point us to God's ultimate sovereignty, Lucado goes on to remind us of Joseph who was sold into slavery by his brothers and how God used it for good in the end, Lazarus whom Jesus allowed to face death in order that the Son of God may be glorified and even our Lord Jesus who prayed in Gethsemane, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering from me. Yet I want your will, not mine.” God did not spare his Son. And if He did not spare His Son, should we not be able to also trust Him to give us what is best in all things? (Mathew 7:11)

We want things to be for our own benefit, while God desires His glory. Not an easy pill to swallow. . . but once we do and trust Him to take us through the fire, we will learn things we never do when everything goes well.

I love the title of a book that Max Lucado refers to: Grace Grows Best in Winter by Margaret Clarkson. She wrote:
The sovereignty of God is the one impregnable rock to which the suffering human heart must cling. The circumstances surrounding our lives are no accident: they may be the work of evil, but that evil is held firmly within the mighty hand of our sovereign God . . . . all evil is subject to Him, and evil cannot touch His children unless He permits it. God is the Lord of human history and the personal history of every member of his redeemed family.”

In the same way that we know the snow will melt and spring will come, I want to believe that one day we will see and understand all that God has allowed, or not allowed, in order to grow us and glorify His Name. May our baby steps of faith allow us to experience some of God’s glory here on earth as well.

Funny Snowman

He began to look up like he was checking to see if more snow was coming. The real Papa said, "He's a proud snowman, that papa snowman!"As the day wore on, I realized that's not really true, he's just willing to bend over backwards for you, just like the real Papa.

My Song

I have often wondered and in some way asked God why He didn’t bless me with a beautiful singing voice. If I could have chosen my gift - that’s the one! Or would it be? To be honest, there are times that I have come to see why I have not been blessed with something that I, with my vain aspirations, would not have handled correctly. Yet, even knowing that, I still keep wishing that I could sing to my heart’s content and have it sound beautiful.
I was driving home one day, just recently, listening to a song that ended up changing my perspective and (hopefully) giving me a new direction.

Life of Worship

As I live each new day
I want my life to say
How I love you, my Lord
And long to praise your name.
I want my life to be
Just like I sing this song
Bringing glory to Your Name,
Powerful and Strong.
May my life be my worship
My life be my song.
May I praise you, my Savior
All the day long.
From the sun in its rising
To the night when it falls
May my life be my worship
My life be my song.
jon bauer copyright 2003,2004

I’m thankful for artists who have been inspired to write and sing truth that speaks to my heart.

If my LIFE can be a song, I don’t want to miss a note or a beat. May I be ever more aware of the music that is being written, using the gift He has chosen to give me. This is what I wish to be reminded of throughout this coming year.