Monthly Archives: May 2010

May 24, 2010 · 9:09 pm

Who Knows What the Tide Will Bring.

Kris and I watch the movie Cast Away most every time it comes on television.  I’m not sure why.  There is practically little to no dialogue during the first half of the movie.  Come to think of it… Maybe, we like there is little to no dialogue.  Once you have three children, silence is bliss.

Anyway, we were watching recently and I heard Tom Hanks’ character say:

“I have to keep breathing.  Because, tomorrow the sun will rise, and who knows what the tide will bring.”

Many have inquired about my little surgery and biopsies and whathaveyou.  It was all good, friends.  All good.  I was never really fearful, but there is always an awareness of the fragility of life when our lives are stopped head on with major interruptions and more doctor’s appointments that we care to attend to. 

But, I am a wife.  I am a mother.  And, most importantly, I am a follower of Christ.  I have continue to walk in truth.  I have to keep pressing toward the mark no matter what is staring me in the face. 

While our current situation may look grim or seem hopeless, we have to keep breathing.  We have to keep praying.  We have to keep trusting in our Father who loves us more than we can fathom.  Because, tomorrow the sun will rise, and who knows what God will do.

Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.  Psalm 30:5

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May 18, 2010 · 6:00 pm

Because They Need A Savior.

I worry about my oldest.  I carefully watch over his heart.  I try to guard him from anything that may bring him discomfort on any level. 

He’s my sensitive one.  He’s the one who will forgo something he wants so someone else can have the something he or she wants.    

So, I can worry.  And, I guard him intensely. 

Which pretty much means I don’t trust my Heavenly Father with him. 

My sweet friend, Kim Heinecke, reminded me that if I could protect my children from everything, they wouldn’t need a Savior.

Whoa. 

I recognize my need for a Savior.  So, I seek Him with everything that is within me.  I want John Henry to seek Him that way, too.  I know He loves Jesus.  But, it is also my job to make sure he sees his need for Him.

So, our latest conversation went something like this:

“John Henry, you are going to have to trust God with this.  Let’s pray about it.”

This might be his first lesson in really seeing the faithfulness of God.  And, I pray it’s the beginning of John Henry recognizing how much he needs the Savior.

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May 17, 2010 · 6:00 am

An Era Has Ended.

Actually, a near century has ended when you consider the sisterhood of Big Mama and Aunt Kate.  Aunt Kate passed away on Thursday.  The kids and I were blessed to spend time Mother’s Day weekend with her.

And, I’m beginning to think that Aunt Kate’s sassiness was inherited by my five year old.  I’m not sure, but I think had Anna been a teenager post the crash of ’29, she would have cut her hair short, smoked a cigarette, and looked down a well in the month of May in hopes of seeing her true love’s reflection.  Just like Aunt Kate did.  Hence, my great task of parenting her intentionally.

Of course, I did dip snuff with Aunt Kate when I was a young one.  Well, I’d put a tissue down my blouse like she did and she’d give me a red Dixie cup to spit in.  Okay, to spit my cocoa in.  Nonetheless, her personality was contagious enough to want to mimic.

And while I’ll miss her always telling me, “Love ya, babe,” no one will miss her like Big Mama.  Orphaned at very young ages and raised by their eldest siblings, they endured a Depression together, times of war together, good times, and trying times.  Big Mama married one Edward Goss.  Aunt Kate married his brother, Van.  They never closed their eyes to sleep without one calling the other to say, “Goodnight, sweet dreams, I love you.”  Ever.

On the day Aunt Kate died, she called, “Callie Mae!”  Big Mama made her way to her side.  Aunt Kate didn’t say a word, but Big Mama just knew what she wanted to say.

“Goodnight, sweet dreams, I love you.”

A sisterhood that lasted 91 years.  I really can’t imagine.

You’ll be missed, Aunt Kate.  I love ya, babe.

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May 6, 2010 · 6:00 am

Who Am I?

My dad is in town visiting this week.  And really, his timing was certainly ordained by God.  For real.    Anyhoo, we were sitting outside on my patio a couple of nights ago watching my two oldest play, while dad held Jett.  (A job he didn’t mind being tasked with at all.)  John Henry and Anna began to sing, “I Am A Friend of God.” 

They sang these lyrics:

Who am I that you are mindful of me
That you hear me, when I call
Is it true that you are thinking of me
How you love me, it’s amazing

I turned to my father, and I said, “Isn’t it truly amazing that He really is mindful of us?  Isn’t that the most beautiful scripture?”

That the Creator of the universe thinks about me. 

He thinks about you.

How can we not fall in love with Him even more every time the sun rises?

 3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honor.  Psalm 8:3-5

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May 5, 2010 · 6:00 am

He Knew.

Do I miss blogging every single day?  Well, of course, I do.  The unfortunate part in it all is that I’ve had a lot to write about, and my time has not accommodated my fingers on a keyboard.  Except for the teeny, tiny keyboard on my iPhone, of course. 

I hardly know how to compile all of these thoughts in my head in an orderly, coherent fashion.  I’ll start with this.  It’s been a roller coaster couple of weeks.  After birthin’ that sweet boy of mine, I was due for my yearly pap smear.  Ahem, pardon me, men friends and readers.  It wasn’t my best performance.  Okay, it wasn’t the news I was looking for.  So, I went in for a little more haven’t I had enough goin’ on up there these past few weeks extensive, hmmm, exploration?  I hoped and prayed that this would put an end to the exploration of the wild, blue yonder.  Alas, it did not.  Again, not the results I was looking for. 

So, here I sit awaiting a little outpatient surgery to investigate the matter further.  I’ve heard the “C” word.  I’ve heard hysterectomy.  I’ve heard it could be absolutely nothing to worry my pretty, little salon-maintained, blonde head over. 

But you know what?  I am okay.  As a matter of fact, I’m even thankful.  Thankful that had I faced this one year ago today, Kris and I would probably not have had the opportunity to pursue, if you will, having the beautiful, little boy who has my heart on a string. 

But, God knew one year ago what I would be facing today.  And, He knew Jett Takle before he was formed in my womb. 

He knew.

He knows the number of hairs on my head.  He knows what my tomorrow looks like. 

He knows.

And, that is the amazement of it all. 

So, no matter what tomorrow looks like for me. 

No matter what the future holds. 

He holds it in His hand. 

And, I am okay.

Besides, He gave me this March 22, 2010.

And, if that’s not a testament to the sovereignty of God….well, it just is.

Because, He knew.

….But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.  Matthew 10:29

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