The Day Sara Made it Snow

Will Someone Please Turn UP the Heat?

I am COLD! What a rude shock it was to return from Arizona to temperatures dipping below zero degrees.  Add Wyoming wind to that and... well, there just isn't enough hot chocolate!

I don't know where all of my readers are from but I know some are from the North and some are from the South, many others are from other countries. I'm wondering what kind of weather you are all experiencing at this time.  Comments, anyone?

For now, I think I'll relive some more of the warmth from last week...

Cordelia and Grandpa...it does not get any sweeter than that.

Doesn't that look nice? 

I don't know why they look so serious but when I look at this photograph I am 

happy remembering that I got to go out to lunch with just my two sons that day... a rare event!

I love my daughter-in-law. 

She has a happy spirit and

a tinkly laugh.

It was perfect weather as we hiked, enjoying time by a river.

I think these guys look kind of silly wearing little helmets but they entertained me.

Arizona knows how to do some spectacular sunsets.

All Together

It didn't last long enough, but for a time Mike and I had all three of our adult children, both of our children-in-law (that's a term, isn't it?) and our two granddaughters all together in one place. It was wonderful. One of my favorite Arizona memories from this trip will be the day we all went for a walk enjoying some desert nature.

Ben and Sara came were there from North Carolina.

It was so great to get to spend time with them.

Cordelia was pretty happy to see Uncle Ben.

Can you see the adoration in her face?

Elise was happy to have Sara tote her around because Sara knew the trick. It looks awkward but Elise wants to be held facing outward so she can see where she is going.

We were walking around a Riparian Reserve so the bird-watching was fabulous.

I think this is a Blue Heron. Am I right? I love his beard!

I wonder if others in this reserve thought Maria and Eric were some sort of celebrities. Don't they look like a movie-star family?

 

Oh yes, I got time with the little girls as well.

I just felt so happy that day!

This guy was one of the locals.

Mike is standing on his tippy toes to be as tall as Sam.  

Pitiful really.

We made friends with some geese (groupies) who kept following us.

Ben showed Cordelia what to do with this perfect tree.

Arizona has its own beauty.

While I looked at this group of people I thought back to Mike and me at 15 years old, meeting in our little high school. I don't think I was capable then of imagining the joy of looking together at our children and grandchildren. I am so grateful for these moments, happy to share them with Mike.

I love my people!

Beautiful

...by Mercy Me

I hope that song plays over in your head today...and I hope you believe it.

Sunny Arizona

I am blogging from my phone in sunny Arizona! It is snowing and cold at home so I am feeling pretty lucky! What a great time we have had! All of our children and grandchildren were here at my mother-in-law's home. When I get home to download onto my computer I will have more photos, but here are a few from my phone... Mike and Sam and all the others have already flown home and I will soon follow. I can't wait to tell you more about it all but right now I am going to just enjoy the moment.

Looking Back - Me

And to wrap up my "looking back" series, this is my class from 1st grade.

Can you tell which one is me?

Looking Back - Mike

Remember this young pastor?  This was taken the day Mike was ordained in June of 1989.

He is likely tired in this photo, but what a great smile! He had just finished seminary, we were in the middle of moving to Harlowton, Montana and he'd had a busy morning visiting with friends and relatives who had attended his ordination ceremony.  It was a very happy day.

Looking Back - Maria

Now this one is charming, don't you think?  Maria was such a fun girl! I loved watching her.

Can you see the creative spirit already sparkling in her eyes? No? Well, admittedly she looks like she was feeling a bit self-conscious, but she was likely also planning her next play or party or parade or tv interview.  That girl was always directing and organizing! She was a delightful little girl and it makes me all warm and happy to think of her childhood as well.

Looking Back - Ben

I'm still looking through my rear-view mirror today.

This picture is Ben and it is a pretty typical vision of his childhood.  He was always doing something.  I'm not sure what this scene was, a boat, a train, a race car?  I don't remember but it captured Ben's spirit for sure. He was all about fun!

I think I probably didn't always stop to enjoy the moment enough at the time, but I am so grateful for these photos to take me back for a longer look.

Looking Back - Sam

I know, it's all about the New Year right now.  However, I was looking through old albums and thought it might be fun to look backward just for a few days.

Anyone know this handsome little boy?  I will give you a hint... he is now about 6'4" tall!  Yep! That's Sam.  Wasn't he cute? I think he was about 5 years old at the time he was on that soccer team. It makes me smile to think of watching his little games.

At the end of that season the coaches asked us parents what to put on the trophies (we all paid for them ourselves). One parent said, "Put 1st place!" So, they did.  It wasn't true; I'm not sure they even won a game.  5 year olds don't always get that whole win/lose thing anyway and they all loved receiving a first place trophy! What a sweet time.

One Thing Remains

by Kristian Stanfill

One Thing Remains

Your love never fails, never gives up

Never runs out on me

Higher than the mountains that I face

Stronger than the power of the grave

Constant in the trial and the change

One thing remains

On and on and on and on it goes

It overwhelms and satisfies my soul

And I never, ever, have to be afraid

One thing remains

Your love never fails, never gives up

Never runs out on me

In death, in life

I'm confident and covered by the power of Your great love

My debt is paid

There's nothing that can separate my heart from Your great love

Les Miserables - Movie Review

Mike and I recently went to see Les Miserables.  I even learned how to pronounce it!

This movie was so very different from "Parental Guidance" in nature, but actually I think both had a lot to say about forgiveness. Les Miserables is a very dark movie, though.  I mean that quite literally.  There are actually only a few scenes shot during a time of sunshine. The following trailer comes early in the movie and it gives you a sense of the hopelessness many of the characters felt.

One thing I really enjoyed was the singing!  It is quite beautiful.   The characters were not singing to a soundtrack; that was obvious. The whole movie felt a bit like watching a major play production, but with really, really good seats.

This trailer will give you an idea of some of the majesty of the film.  I would definitely use the word "gritty" to describe most of the scenes. At first it is difficult to imagine this film has any potential to be uplifting, but it really is in a way. It shows characters who are in the most miserable situations, who have been abused and mistreated. It shows good people resorting to theft and prostitution to survive. I  know, that still doesn't sound very uplifting.

The thing is, at the end of the film you realize you have seen depictions of people who are remarkable in their ability to let go of hatred.  Someone else may get something totally different from this movie, but to me, that was the central theme. And how important is that!? Even in our ordinary lives it is so easy to cling to hatred of those who have hurt us. Yet, that hatred just continues your own pain.

So, yes, I recommend this film.  You need to know that it is very, very long.  Mike said the guy in the seat on the other side of him kept sighing. You need to know that a lot of it is difficult to watch, emotionally wrenching and downright grimy.  You need to be in the right mood for it when you go. Afterward, though, I think it is one that you will be thinking about for awhile.  You'll get your money's worth and love wins out in the end...just as it should.

From Pastor Mike - The Freeing Word

 The following is a sermon Mike wrote based on Mark 7:24-37.  So, in my husband's words...

The first time I saw Rich he was sitting next to a window overlooking downtown St. Paul.  Rich was a patient at the Ramsey County Hospital Psychiatric Ward.  He was 23 years old.  He had a severe case of acne and he had a slight quiver to his movements.

Rich was an addict.  He told me he chain smoked cigarettes, drank 3 pots of coffee a day, smoked marijuana when he could and drank alcohol to excess.

Rich came to the hospital when someone became concerned about his behavior. He said he wasn't doing anything bu the cops threw him down, handcuffed him and took him to the hospital.

Rich told me, "I didn't have any problems until I started drinking. I drank my first beer when I was 12 years old and I immediately knew that I had a problem with alcohol."

Rich said he suffered from schizophrenia.  He said, "It isn't good when I start drinking heavily.  Sometimes I hear voices from cars or radios.  Sometimes I wake up and wonder if I just dreamed something or if it really happened."

When I talked to Rich, I realized he was a man imprisoned. Sure, he was in a psychiatric ward with bars and locked doors, but his prison seemed deeper that that. He was a prisoner looking to be free from addiction and mental illness.

In our gospel reading for today Jesus encounters two people in prison, a woman who had a child with an unclean spirit and a man who was deaf with a speech impediment. In both cases, Jesus speaks a freeing word and people ARE set free.

The demon or unclean spirit was cast out and in the deaf man's silent world he could suddenly hear the sound of his own voice. The actions of Jesus reflected the words of Isaiah 35. The eyes see, the ears hear and the lame leap, the speechless sing for joy.

The healing ministry of Jesus was like Jesus going to a prison, opening the lock on the door and speaking the words, "You may go now.  You are free!"

At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus traveled back to his home town, went to the synagogue, opened the scriptures and read from Isaiah that he has come "to bring release to the captives."

As humans we can become imprisoned by so many things, some of our own making, some we don't understand, some we have inherited from ancestors or from birth and sometimes it is others who imprison us with their actions.

As for Rich who was in the psychiatric hospital in St. Paul, I prayed for him be he didn't become immediately healed.  I talked with the chaplain on that floor. He said we are not Jesus but prayer is a good thing.  He encouraged me to keep praying for people.  He said he has seen many people become better through prayer, talk therapy and medicine.  He told me not to give up hope in Jesus who speaks the freeing word.

Sin is another power that can enslave us. We say that sometimes in our confession.. "We confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves."

At the  beginning of every worship service I appreciate the time of confessing and forgiveness.  It is a time to be set free so we can turn our focus to the worship of God and to be strengthened by God for our journey through this life.

Jesus died on a cross to set us free from the power of sin.  I like the word REDEMPTION. It's a word that is sometimes used in the Bible to speak of slaves being set free for a price, through the death of Jesus. We are set free. We are no longer in sin's power. The door is opened. We have received God's forgiveness.

Martin Luther often felt deep remorse for his sinfulness. He felt like he deserved to die by the gallows, run through by a sword or burned at the stake for his sinfulness. He knew he had offended God with his sin but as he read the Bible he knew God didn't want him imprisoned by sin but rather set free by Christ. He wrote, "This is wonderful news to believe that salvation lies outside ourselves. I am justified and acceptable to God although there are within me sin and unrighteousness. Yet I must look elsewhere (to Christ) and see no sin. This is wonderful not to see what I see, not to feel what I feel. Before my eyes I used to see a gallows or a sword or a fire. But now, through Christ, I can say there is no gallows, no sword, or fire. This is what the forgiveness of sins is like."

I believe the ministry of "the freeing word" is something that Jesus passed on to the church. Jesus told his disciples, "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them..." And so we make confession and forgiveness and Holy Communion key components of our worship services.

And all of us, as Christians, have many opportunities to speak freeing words to one another, like...
"I forgive you."
"I'm sorry."
"I love you."
"Peace be with you." The sharing of the peace is more than a handshake and a phrase. It's a time for us to say, "I hold nothing against you. I want God's peace in your life."

It's so easy to be negative with someone, to hold a grudge, to keep people down when you've got them down. But we set ourselves free when we are able to speak a freeing word to others.

Finally, I want you to hear a word from a former teacher, Gerhard Forde. He asked our seminary class, "Now that Christ has set you free, what are you going to do?"

The ways we live out our lives before God is to serve in and beyond the congregation. Now that Christ has set you free, what are you going to do? We need ushers, readers, greeters, communion servers, fellowship servers, teachers, helping at the rescue mission, serving comfort food and so on.

Are you already serving on or beyond the congregation? Well, take somebody with you.  Be a mentor. Be a teacher, a discipler. The book of James reminds us that the works we do are a response to the faith we have.

Hear and do the word.

You are free!

Go.

Serve the Lord this week.


Mark 7:24-37 RSV

24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house, and would not have any one know it; yet he could not be hid. 25 But immediately a woman, whose little daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoeni'cian by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, "Let the children first be fed, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." 28 But she answered him, "Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." 29 And he said to her, "For this saying you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter." 30 And she went home, and found the child lying in bed, and the demon gone. 31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decap'olis. 32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech; and they besought him to lay his hand upon him. 33 And taking him aside from the multitude privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue; 34 and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Eph'phatha," that is, "Be opened." 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 And he charged them to tell no one; but the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well; he even makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak."

I love...

Some things I love about my life...
I love that I got to marry one of the good guys.
I love that I got to be a mom to some really unique and wonderful people.
I love that I was raised in the church.
I love that I have lived in some unique places, from small towns to large cities.
I love that my Mom has always been a loving role model.
I love that I got to be an RN. Why doesn't everyone want to be a nurse?
I love getting to know two sweet little granddaughters.
I love that I have always felt loved.

I take none of this for granted.


(photo from March 2012)

Parental Guidance Movie Review

Mike has been more busy than normal during the week between Christmas and New Year's Day.  Often that week is a lot less busy, no committee meetings and such.  This year he had two funerals added to the mix. You can't help but feel more compassion and empathy when someone has to deal with the death of a loved one on Christmas Day.

People always tell me how much comfort Mike delivers with his funeral sermons.  I've long told him that was something he's really good at. He seems to know the right things to say, or not say, in each situation. It takes a lot out of him, though. He'll probably shake his head when he reads this post but the truth is, he picks up the burdens of others and helps carry it for awhile. He lightens their load a bit, but it increases his load.  That is his job and he didn't complain, but I noticed.

After such a week, though, I think it is my duty to help lighten HIS load.  Sometimes he just needs to get out of his own head.  He needs to laugh. So.... we went to see Parental Guidance.

On our way home from a movie Mike and I often rate them.  This time, he asked me to rate the movie on the way there.  This seemed like a movie where there would be no big surprises.  I gave it a 3 I think (on a scale of 1-5), before I saw it.  After the movie, though, I had to up my vote to something over a 4.  Why? Did this movie have delightful surprises or a deeper hidden message than expected?  Nope, not really.

I think I gave this movie a high score because it "hit the spot".  You know, when you are craving a potato chip, a candy bar does not hit the spot. Well, I think we were craving light-hearted fun and this movie hit that spot.  Bette Midler and Billy Crystal seemed to be having fun filming this movie and that fun spirit leaked right off the screen and oozed onto us.  That was just what we needed!

So, yes, I am recommending this movie, but only if you are in the mood for such a thing. It isn't life-changing or deep but it will make you smile and on your way home, you will feel a little less burdened.  That was worth the cost of the ticket!

Happy 2013!

Happy New Year!

So, I want to hear your New Year's Resolutions.  Do you even do that?  I've gone through the whole "exercise everyday" and "get more organized" types of resolutions.  I usually stick with them for a week or two.  This year, I am going to use a fortune cookie to determine my one and only resolution.  Remember Mike's fun fortune cookie from last summer?  No? Read about it here.

No, I am not getting the terrace haircut, but I likely will get my hair cut this year. That's beside the point, though.  I just intend to let myself loosen up a bit.  I'm not sure what that entails, but I want to live more creatively. Maybe I will start with the front door.

(photo from Google Images)

Or maybe I will finally begin learning to play the clarinet. Perhaps I will just do a few things differently from my normal...shop at a different grocery store on occasion, wear a color I've avoided or buy false eyelashes. Any suggestions? Anyone want to join me?

Now, what about you? I hope you will leave comments and tell me if you've made any resolutions.

Mixing It Up a Bit

I was rushing around, hurrying to get out the door and head to church.  I had set out two pairs of earrings earlier in the morning, undecided as to which pair I would be wearing.

Both pairs were actually made by my Grandma Rose.  She always wore dangling earrings and when I wear them, I like thinking of her.  She was so creative, always making things.  That is why our Etsy store, Wyoming Rose Boutique, was named after her.

Anyway...  just as I was leaving the bathroom I glanced in the mirror as I was tucking my hair behind my ears.  What I saw made me chuckle at myself.  I had picked up one earring from each pair.  Of course, I had to get my camera.  That seems pretty dumb but any blogger who tries to post daily knows that EVERYTHING seems like a potential post.  

There once was a time when I would not have even considered putting such a weird photo of myself on the fireplace mantel, much less on the internet.  Oh well, pride isn't always a good thing so maybe this is progress.  The point is, I was wearing a mismatched pair of earrings and I'd nearly headed off to church that way.  

A few minutes later, just before I pulled out of the driveway, I realized I still had NOT TAKEN OFF THE MISMATCHED PAIR! I was running late so I just took them out and headed on down the road.

THEN, I thought about a new fad I've seen many times now... mismatched but coordinating socks.  Have you seen that?  You can even buy a pair of mismatched socks!  Now, that is a fashion statement that seems kind of sensible to me.  We all lose socks, right? Well, now you can just pair up the left-over singles.  It is practical AND cool.


Well, I asked myself, "Why not?"  I put on the mismatched earrings and went on in to church.  I have to say, I did feel kind of cool all morning.  As far as I know, only one person even noticed but I'm hoping it will catch on.

Carry Me to the Cross

Carry Me to the Cross

Kutless

When the path is daunting 

And every step exhausting 

I'm not alone, I'm not alone, no, no

I feel You draw me closer 

All these burdens on my shoulder 

I'm not alone, I'm not alone 

You pull me from this place 

(Chorus)

Hallelujah!

You carry me every day 

You carry me all the way 

Hallelujah!

You carry me to the 

You carry me to the cross 

How Your love has moved me

To the foot of all Your glory 

I'm not alone, I'm not alone, I'm not alone 

Chorus 

All of these cities you have built 

And every cathedral you have filled 

To all of creation you gave life with your hands 

And with those hands you comfort me 

You lift me up from my knees 

And carry me 

You carry me 

Chorus

The cross 

You carry me to the 

You carry me to the cross

I Am With You Always

I had a problem at work yesterday. You know I like to wear a cross to work every day.  Yesterday, though, it just wasn't hanging right. Every time I looked down, my cross necklace was stuck awkwardly to my name badge.  

This cross is from Africa and I love it.  It was a gift from a friend of mine who travels to many countries and she often brings me crosses from those countries.  Isn't that sweet? This necklace, however, has a lot of metal in it.  My name tag has a magnet.  You see my problem?  I was kind of annoyed by it, actually.

Later, when I went by a mirror, I noticed that necklace clinging to my "Susan, RN" tag yet again.  Suddenly, I realized that maybe this was kind of neat.  It can't be bad to have the cross clinging to your name, can it?  I decided to think of it as Jesus staying close to me, even when I'm not paying attention.  Cool, huh?

Matthew 28:20b New Living Translation (©2007)  ...and be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

The Show Must Go On!

There are times when a blogger, such as myself, messes around too long and suddenly discovers they have run out of time to do a proper daily post.  At such times as these said blogger has a few options.

1. Just skip it and hope no one notices.
2. Rerun a post from the archives.
3. Show photos of  cute little granddaughters.

Still Hanging on to That Christmas Glow

Before I go any further, I think I need to have you go read my daughter, Maria's, post from before Christmas.  I just read the rest of it myself today.  When you read it, you'll see that I was COMMANDED to refrain from reading the last half of the blog before Christmas.

Go ahead and hop on over to it... I'll wait.

Yes, that above is my gift from Cordelia.  I LOVE it!  You may think it is a tin but Cordelia correctly identified it as a drum.  I didn't even know if I could drum but it turns out that I am just fine at it... at least with my tin/drum I am good.  I have another idea for it as well.  I think that I will write down cool little things Cordelia says or does and put them in the tin.  I kind of got that idea from her mother.  Read here about one of the best gifts I ever received.

Now, I leave you with the last of the photos from our Christmas Day.