Dorothy, my praying friend

I love listening to Dorothy pray over her list!

The righteous flourish like the palm tree

    and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

 

They are planted in the house of the Lord;

    they flourish in the courts of our God.

 

They still bear fruit in old age;

    they are ever full of sap and green,

 

to declare that the Lord is upright;

    he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Psalm 92:12-15

Dorothy is leaving soon to winter in Florida.  Her presence will be sorely missed by all who attend our Wednesday morning prayer group.  At the age of 97 years, our Midwest winter is hard on the body, so we reluctantly give her up to the warmer climate.

I want to be like Dorothy!  Study her in the picture above.  See that she's talking to God by voice, mind and by using her hands.  She is connected in prayer! 

Notice, on her lap is a prayer list which she prays over not only on Wednesday morning, but every day of the week.  Recently she asked us, "When can you take a prayer request off of your list?", and then commented, "I just can't stop praying for for things until they're answered."  She is tenacious in prayer!

Something you can't see, or hear, is how Dorothy breaks out in scripture while praying.  Her favorite and most recited is Psalms 91:1-2, He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.  She knows the Word!

Also unnoticed in this picture is the old-fashioned, aluminum hair clip curler, right by her glasses, still holding a curl in place!  Sometimes I tell her it's there and other days I just let it go.  I love this especially because it shows that Dorothy comes to the Throne of Mercy just as she is!  She is humble!

Dorothy, we will miss you over the winter!  You talk often of your church family in Florida and I'm sure they are awaiting your arrival.  Often you pray for them over the summer, so I am assured you pray for us over the winter! See you next Spring if the Lord wills!

P.S. Dorothy was my 3 year old Sunday School teacher!

Sneaking Around Corners

After living in the present, going day by day it's time to reflect...

Oh, my, how did the last year just vanish?  Right into thin air...gone!  Today is the day for remembering, the day I'm ready to recall all God's been up to in our lives since my last blog.  That last blog was difficult as I tried to make sense of our grandson's leukemia and saying "goodbye" to our daughter and her family as they moved to North Dakota.  But, with over a year behind us, full and overflowing with God's goodness, mercy and provisions, I feel the need to write again!  Here's what's been on my mind.

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."  Matthew 6:24

1950's Toy Periscope

Let's go back now, way back, to childhood days in the 1950's.  This was the time before children had shelves of toys, or bins of toys, or myriads of stuffed animals hanging in huge mesh wall-to-wall hammock-like holders.

Toys were simpler for the most part, although many children I know today still love the plain old cardboard box which becomes anything their heart and imagination desires!

I remember the girlish fun my sister and I enjoyed with the Toy Periscope, a very simple cardboard box with a few mirrors.  We tiptoed around the house, peering around corners of a wall, imagining to be spies, watching an unsuspecting brother or mom in the kitchen.  I'm sure our laughter revealed us and our antics, although in our minds we were super spies, stealth and quiet! 

And don't we sometimes think we are adult super spies?  Peering around corners, imagining what tomorrow will hold, or next week...or even "into infinity and beyond" as another well loved toy declares with gusto! 

I'm done with looking into the future, I don't need to know anything other than, Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

As Elyse Fitzpatrick shared at Revive '13, "...everything that comes to us comes from the nail scarred hands of Jesus.  He suffered for us according to His glory."  I'm in His hands, He knows, He cares, He loves, He paid the price and I am secure right there, in this moment, no need to worry about what lies ahead.

As an update, Everett has completed his intensive treatment phase and we praise God for His grace and healing mercy.  Also, for such generous love shown to our daughter's family through many of you, their church, family, friends, neighbors, hospital staff and even unknown people.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Our daughter, Lesli, and her family are happily together again!  After Dad went ahead in January of '12 to find employment in North Dakota, Lesli and the boys followed in November.  I had the opportunity to visit when baby Isaac was born in March and can report all is very well.  They have settled into life, found a wonderful church, brought home a puppy, Lily, and everyone is thriving.

It's good to be back here at Laughing at Winter!!



Where to Turn

 When Grandparents receive the unthinkable phone call…

Our call came on Monday morning, “Mom, we think E.C. has leukemia.”  Within 24 hours their diagnosis was confirmed.  And so began another family journey that we are praying will build our faith, draw us closer to Christ and make us more like Him!

So, where do we turn when the unthinkable happens?  It’s the time to reach deep, into the Word and even song.  This morning these words kept running through my head…

Have thine own way, Lord,

Have thine own way,

Hold or my being absolute sway.

Fill with Thy Spirit,

Till all shall see,

Christ only, always, living in me.

And my prayer for E.C...

I will exalt you, my God the King;
    I will praise your name for ever and ever.
 Every day I will praise you
    and extol your name for ever and ever.

 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    his greatness no one can fathom.
 One generation commends your works to another;
    they tell of your mighty acts.
 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
 They tell of the power of your awesome works—
    and I will proclaim your great deeds.
 They celebrate your abundant goodness
    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

 The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and rich in love.

 The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.

 All your works praise you, Lord;
    your faithful people extol you.
 They tell of the glory of your kingdom
    and speak of your might,
 so that all people may know of your mighty acts
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises
    and faithful in all he does.
 The Lord upholds all who fall
    and lifts up all who are bowed down.  
The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food at the proper time.
 You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.
 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.
 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
    he hears their cry and saves them.  
The Lord watches over all who love him,
    but all the wicked he will destroy. 

My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
    Let every creature praise his holy name
    for ever and ever.    Psalms 145

Happy 9th Birthday, Dear E.C!  Grandpa and Grandma love you!  XO XO

Smaller Barns

“This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.  And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”  Romans 12:18-19

These verses, part of an excellent sermon this morning from our pulpit, prompted me to reflect on our own 2010 adventure in downsizing. 

My Viking and I agreed long ago, before our children were out of the house, that our retirement years would not include a permanent house in the south, living each day only to bowl, golf, play cribbage, shop or hunt for shells.  Neither could we see ourselves dusting off our hands from childrearing.  We were excitedly anticipating years as grandparents, helping to train the next generation.

Viking man is an orderly man!  When our children were very young he established weekly family meetings which continued for years.  From those early meetings the planning part morphed into a yearly get-away weekend for the two of us, spent casting a vision for five years ahead.  Eventually, those evolved into the development of 10 year goals. 

Our 30’s, 40’s and 50’s included many family, spiritual, career, and life enriching goals.  However, for years we just couldn’t envision our 60’s, not until they were upon us!  Then it became clear to us, our 60’s would be years of downsizing, letting go and instead of setting goals we would listen more to the Spirit about direction for our lives.  Loud and clear to us was a vision to live simply, in preparation for whatever lay ahead.

Moving into a smaller, more manageable house was one big item on this list and we assumed it would be in our later 60’s rather than earlier.  But, when a cute little ranch went on the market we knew it was meant for us, and so began the process of downsizing from our turn-of-the-century Four Square, into a two bedroom with no basement and a little patch of grass to mow.

God's provision of a new, smaller home!

Downsizing was not easy!  I never foresaw this move as one of the most difficult times in our 40 years of marriage.  But, once we began to give things away and hire an estate sale planner, the excitement grew with thoughts of living with less stuff and less responsibility for our things.

During this change in our life, one Sunday God brought a guest preacher to stand in our pulpit, a missionary to Egypt.  His topic was living with less.  I still remember one point so clearly, “All the stuff we have now is ‘kindling’, and it will be here today and eventually burned up.”  From that moment on, when stumped on deciding what to let go of, we would ask each other, “This is ‘kindling’, and can we let it go now or later?”

Living with less feels so good!  But God had another lesson for us yesterday.  We invited a couple over for breakfast; their life story caused us to wonder how much less we could really live on!  These new friends, our age, had given up their house and almost all earthly possessions.  Their story is one of truly living by Faith, moment by moment.  The hours spent with them were an encouragement to seek God and “soak” in His love.  They were a picture of faith-filled contentment found in Christ alone, not trusting in the things of this world. 

What a blessing to see this brother and sister ‘rich toward God’, not storing up things for themselves.  

 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:20-21

Comatose Intentionality

"Each of us, every day, is standing under a Niagra of blessings...."

~Doug Wilson

One emerging buzz word these days is Intentionality!  I hear it especially from mothers raising young children who have dedicated their lives to avoid “chance" philosophies, “momentary" lapses in quality time and "lack" of character training.  They want to be intentional in their mothering, not haphazardly raising the next generation…right on Girls! 

Intentionality!  It’s a fabulous word, used to set a standard for those in the trenches of any complex stage of life.  The word connotes being awake, aware and attentive.

Even at my stage of life, over 60, intentionality can be used to spur me on to being a better me, better wife, friend, mother, more godly and Christ like.  Contemplating how to apply intentionality into my life, I thought back to a conversation with my dear Viking.  For some reason we were on the subject of sleep, those hours when we are completely unintentional and comatose.  

He was amazed at how out of control we are every night as we lay in bed, sleeping away, unaware of our surroundings and lost in dream land.  I’m reminded him how often I find him passed out in a chair on the weekends, in his office kingsize lazyboy, in front of a golf game on TV or outside on the porch…Viking man is comatose frequently.   We came to the conclusion that much of our life is spent being unaware of all the wonderful blessings, full protection and invisible defense hovering over us at all times. 

I wonder if at times we appear comatose to God, even in our intentionality.  Even when we are wide awake and trying to be intentional in our life, are we really blinded and in a sleepy state, unaware of God’s grace and mercy being poured out on us.  I pray not. 

Thankfully, the Lord is intentional even when we are comatose.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?

 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

 He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

 The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
 the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

 The Lord will keep you from all harm —
    he will watch over your life;
 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

Psalm 121

Partners on the Way Down

Lessons from my husband

I married a Viking!  Arne Paulsen, my gentle, giant Viking.  He is a man with Norwegian blood running through his veins, like men who long ago advanced and conquered much of the northern hemisphere. 

Similar to his ancestors, Arne’s pursuit of adventure overcomes him every so often.  His 50^th birthday was celebrated with a drive of a lifetime in a Winston Cup car; his 60th took him to Mount Antero, in Colorado, and this year for number 61 he returned to tackle Mt. Missouri.  

These Colorado trips are taken with a group of men from church and while driving home each shares what they learned on the climb.  Arne arrived home last Sunday night just after eleven O’clock and was so pumped that we stayed up until two! He did all the talking and I just listened, with burst of unrestrained laughter.

There was no laughter though as he told of the two things he learned on the mountain this year, I sat and soaked in his wisdom.

First, Arne learned that, “We all need a partner!”  Last year he climbed alone and the “big” bear paws he discovered brought a quick end to the adventure.  This year he had a partner, Rich, who walked with Arne and “had fellowship, one with another.”  I John 1:7  We need each other, none of us is meant to do life alone.  We are a body who function together and when one is cut off it brings death in many ways.

Rich and Arne, Mt. Missouri, 7-21-12

Second, Arne learned that, “It’s almost as hard coming down as it is going up!”  He told the guys, “I’m on the downside of life and in my younger days I assumed life would be easier with the kids gone, with retirement around the corner and my youthful ‘stupid ambition’ under more control of the Holy Spirit…but I was wrong.” 

So true in both of these lessons!  And when both are combined…

We all need Partners on the Way Down!

Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Raggedy Hair, Raggedy Heart

The Gray Haired Lady

Chapter 2

Has something like this ever happened to you?  I had waited way too long, until my hair was at that I-need-a-cut-NOW stage.  Thinking I could get an appointment in a few days, I called Hair Illusions only to find out Janice was booked for over a week!  Reluctantly, I took the first appointment that worked for us both and resigned myself to just looking raggedy! 

With a few days to go before my haircut the phone rang…it was my daughter.  “Mom, I called Janice to see if I could get in for a cut before our “date-night” on Friday and she’s booked!”  I fell right into her thoughts…”Oh”, I said, “I have an appointment on Thursday, you can have it.”  “Well, that’s what I was wondering”, she replied.  “And, since you won’t be going and I will, I could use a sitter…” 

Our plans, man’s plans, women’s plans…they’re fragile, ever changing with every whiff and whim!   However, when God has a plan and sets a date…it happens, it’s written in ink and every detail to accomplish His plan is perfect!

It was a Divine Appointment for the Gray Haired Lady and I to cross paths that day and I’m ever so thankful.

As we left off in chapter one, the Gray Haired Lady and I had exchanged smiles in the parking lot at Revive Our Hearts and I told my friend, Debbie, that I had to meet that woman. 

Debbie and I found our way into the recording studio and picked up our name badges.  Earlier that morning, we decided to sit near the middle section to avoid going away with sore necks from looking either right or left the whole day.  Debbie grabbed my book bag and plopped our stuff on two chairs in the middle, perfect, no stiff neck tomorrow I thought to myself.

These recording days are now like a little reunion as we meet and chat with women who are becoming new friends.  Like most women, there is always much catching up needed as events in our lives are ever changing.  Ellie, from New York and another Nancy and I connected quickly and chatted a bit…then I found my saved seat.

 

Heading for my chair I knew what God’s plans were for my day.  In front of me and over one seat sat the Gray Haired Lady…all by herself!  Eagerly, I seated myself and began telling the story!  “……I knew when our eyes met in the parking lot, and even told my friend that, ‘Today I have to meet that gray haired lady right there!’” 

The gracious, aged woman responded with a soft voice and strikingly peaceful blue eyes, “Well aren’t you sweet.”  At that moment I thanked God for His Divine Appointments in my life!  This was perfectly arranged and on His calendar, not one minute late or one minute early!  The Gray Haired Lady was about to minister to my raggedy heart, just when it was needed.

…and my haircut is tomorrow.