Pages

Monday, December 30, 2013

"Let's hang out a little longer!"

"Let's hang out a little longer!" said the Christmas Stockings.

Christmas Stockings.

A family tradition.
A family keepsake.
Filled with surprises of fun, sweets and love.

It is 359 days until Christmas! It is time to put away, take down and pack up Christmas... so in 300 or so days we can get it all out again....or is it?

We do the same things every Christmas. It can take weeks and months to prepare for it ...but it is gone in just a few hours...or is it?

What if we greeted all people everyday...thrilled and excited like the first time we saw our tree all lit up?

What if wrapped all the gifts of people we have been blessed with...with a hug everyday? 

What if we became that hard to buy gift....personal gifts of forgiveness, grace and mercy to the difficult ones in our lives?

What if we hang out a little longer with the stockings ....by adding surprises of fun, sweets and love to our families' days?

What if Christmas became something we do everyday? 
Let's hang out with Christmas all year!

"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" 
2 Corinthians 9:15

Monday, December 9, 2013

"Here I am!" said Grief.

"Here I am!" said Grief.

Grief.
It brings heartache.
It is often unexpected.
...and it always brings comfort.

Our community has been touched deeply by grief this past week. A friend's two youngest children died on impact when their car slid off an icy road. Another teen committed suicide. A area teacher was killed in a car accident. Tragedy all around. Many hearts are heavy in grief. Hearts are aching.

Grief is hard. It is hard to explain. It can only be experienced. It is different for everyone. Grief comes in phases and hits in waves. But God always follows grief with comfort. God will offer comfort in many ways...through others, through his word. 

Someone has said, "Grief never ends...but it changes.  It's a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith. It is the price of love" ~Author unknown~  Grief will draw us closer to God ...if we let it. That is God's desire (my added words). 

Words from a song that comforted me this week. 

"Tell your heart to beat again" 
by Phillips, Craig and Dean

"Tell your heart to beat again
Close your eyes and breathe it in
Let the shadows fall away
You’ll live to love another day
Yesterday’s a closing door
And you don’t live there anymore
So say goodbye to where you’ve been
And tell your heart to beat again

Hope is reaching from a rugged cross
Where a perfect love recaptured all the innocence that’s lost
And mercy’s calling from an empty grave
So lift your eyes to heaven
And hear your Savior say

Tell your heart to beat again
Close your eyes and breathe it in
Let the shadows fall away
You’ll live to love another day
Yesterday’s a closing door
And you don’t live there anymore
So say goodbye to where you’ve been
And tell your heart to beat again"

                                            How has your grief been comforted?
Be listening for your promised comfort for your grief today. 

"Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you."
John 16:22

Monday, December 2, 2013

"What does the hat say?"

"What does the hat say?" at Ruth Short's 80th birthday tea party.

A Vintage 1933 Tea Party.
For a special vintage 80 year old - Ruth Short.
Full of vintage memories.
...And vintage party hats.

Every year my mom faithfully polishes a family heirloom silver tea service that sits on my buffet. We never use it. She just polishes it and polishes it and polishes it...year after year after year.

When we were deciding how to celebrate her big birthday, Cassidy reminded us how she loved to play tea party with her and Kristen as little girls with play tea sets. That memory became the theme of her 80th birthday. We were going to do it...use her cherished silver tea set to celebrate her big day.

The tables were set with tea and treats and nice dishes and dainty old hankies for napkins.  

Banners of old photos telling the story of her 80 years were hung as decorations.

For her gift, we had a collection of 80 used books (she loves to read.) Family members sent us a collection of 80 words and phrases that she was remembered by.(many were very kind and some hilarious!) We made bookmarks with one of those special words/phrases on it. The books were wrapped in clear party bags so she could see the book and the word/phrase on the bookmark. She could unwrap them one by one as she read them making this a gift that lasts a LONG time. It was a mini - memory library in a basket trunk. She loved it!

Many of her friends and family who couldn't be here took part in a birthday card shower. It was a treat to hear her joy in receiving all those special cards.

That sounds like a great party. Right? 

Well...there was one more thing we needed...party hats. Not just regular paper hats...this was a tea party and mom loves dressy fancy stuff. So what else would go with her silver tea service? Vintage dress up hats! Lots of them. It was fun to collect and try on these interesting hats and decide which hat goes to who. Many were found at thrift stores and some were found tucked away in closets. Everyone enjoyed dressing up in their fancy hat for this very special lady.

There are years of love under each of these special party hats...and...it takes a lot of love to wear one! The photos that follow will finish this sweet story and say more then I could ever write. 
So here goes...."What does the hat say...to you?" Join the party and post a comment below!

Ruth(birthday girl)& Bill(husband)


   Dale(son)& Sandy(daughter-in-law)

Johanna(daughter)& Lynn(son-in-law)

Stephanie(daughter)& Gordy(son-in-law)

Eric(grandson)& Cecilia(grand daughter-in-law)

Kristen(grand daughter)& Cassidy(grand daughter)

Nick(grandson) & Nate(grandson)

Natalie (grand daughter) & Emma (great grand daughter)
Judah (great grandson)
Rick(grandson-in-law)& Lincoln (great grandson)

Mom's 80 years are full of love...even in the not so good times. 
Her love for God and family has sure been her life theme. 
SO what do the hats say to me?
"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4
What does the hat say to you?