sunrise thoughts 09 October 2015

We were all so excited... we would be the first class to attend the newly built public high school in town. It was brand, spanking new. It was big & fancy. It was totally cool. But, it was too small for the number of students who lived in the area by the time it was ready to occupy! The area where we lived had grown so fast that all the plans of top architects & contractors turned out to be wrong. And, what was to be a school with plenty of room for growth ended up having to adopt TWO SHIFTS for their students. The first shift (mine) attended school from 7am to 12noon. The second shift attended from 12:30pm to 5:30pm.

A Living Legacy

A great-grandmother holds a baby.
And, the memory of her -
her works & deeds
will live on...

My mind is full as I write this in the wee hours of the night. I can't sleep. And, I'm perfectly fine with that. My heart is full & overflowing. Certain things happen in life and, they just feel right... and you're filled with joy. 

Last week a young woman gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby. She desired a life for her child that she could not provide - security, provision and love. She made the decision to relinquish her child to the care of parents who would give her baby what she could not. By what I believe is & was God's provision, that infant was placed into the loving home of some of our dearest friends. The world has become a better place as this family has grown & welcomed this child. And, lives will never be the same - but be greatly enriched - for anyone touched by this story.

I Dance Before the LORD!

I dance before the LORD -- in my home, in my heart... even though...

I was born & raised in the Anderson, Indiana Church of God movement -- not denomination - LOL! The movement began in the early 1900's, out of the Wesleyan Holiness Movement. We reach our hands to every blood washed one. We believe in the Trinity. We believe in salvation & sanctification. We take of the bread & the cup. We wash feet!! But, WE DO NOT DANCE!  

Since my younger days being raised in the Appalachian foothills, I was told that WE DO NOT DANCE! My parents were fine with me whirling about at home - singing, clapping and celebrating. However, that was NOT to be taken outside of the home -- even into the backyard, for that matter. Can you imagine the issues my father - the pastor of that little country ChoG - faced when (unbeknownst to him & my mom) I appeared on the stage of the local elementary school enthusiastically dancing to the latest secular tunes as our community-wide PTO assembly began. Needless to say, I received a little talking to when I got home. And unfortunately, my father received several calls & notes about my serious infarction!

I continued to be a rebel with the dancing -- not understanding in my heart what the problem was if I was just dancing out of joy. In college, my roommates & I hosted an illegal off-campus dance at a local State Park out-building. We raised enough money to send all of us girls to Florida for our Spring Break. (That trip might have been a little outside of my parents' view of appropriate, as well!)

Since those days, my church movement has made leaps & bounds (figuratively) in the area of dance. I cherish the sight of little ones waving palm branches & spinning about in sheer joy. I'm incredibly blessed by our youth dancing to the latest from Mary Mary, Toby Mac & other artists. However, I still haven't quite been won over to watching middle-aged women (like myself) dressed in unattractive smock-type dresses with sashes over their shoulders leaping about the church platform to music. Just give me a little Ballet Magnificat! & I'm a happy camper :)

And so... I continue to dance before the Lord...

KARAR...
I dance before the LORD

with all my might... 2 Samuel 6:14

MACHOL... 

He has turned my mourning

into dancing... Psalm 30:11

I took this photo in Sept of 2013 when the haze
over the fields from the harvest of the soybeans
filtered the setting sun just perfectly.
It always reminded me of dancing before the Lord!

I'm posting this on the Wednesday of Holy Week. In this week, we reflect upon the last words spoken by our Lord in those final days as the cross drew near. We think about whether WE would have been the one to deny knowing the Lord. We bow in awe as we consider the great sacrifice paid for OUR sins. And, on Easter morning, we joyously celebrate the power over the grave & over death which comes through our Lord, Jesus Christ. I can't think of a better reason to dance! 

This Sunday I'll be saying, "He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!!" ... and I'll be dancing!

#JoyDare No. 2490 dancing

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today... 

A Chapter Closed - A Lake-side Cottage

Cabin Number 8 -
beside a yellow lake :)

A lakeside cottage... that does sound so much nicer than a cabin by a lake. But, truth be told, it was a cabin and not a cottage. It was anything but glamorous. Yet, it was enchantingly wonderful! That little cabin (about the size of a lawn mower shed - as I'd described it to friends) was filled with memories woven into the fabric of my very being... memories from when I was a young girl playing in the sand on the shore... memories woven into my mother from childhood into the age of being a grandparent... and her mother... to aunts, uncles, and more! That cabin was a huge part of many lives over the almost 100 years since it had been built along that little yellow lake.

And, a huge, important chapter of my life closed the day I handed that humble cabin over to my cousin, her husband and their 2 daughters. The chapter was full... 

• I'd driven there with my husband (the LOML) and our firstborn when she was barely 4 months old. 
• I'd rowed our boat along the shore of the lake with both of the children (relunctantly strapped tightly into life jackets because their mom loved them so much). 
• I'd attended the Campmeetings sponsored by the church ministry which owned the land and saved crafts made by the children in their day classes while I was attending Bible studies & lectures. 
• We'd taken pictures of the children at "the climbing tree" from the time they were infants until they were into their teens.



the climbing tree

• I'd taken the kids there in the summer for a few days in the week to have "Daddy" drive up & join us on Friday nights after work for the weekend.
• I'd begun friendships there... that will be with me in heaven. 

The memories from that place spill out of me... more than I can write and certainly more than you would want to read. Those memories are so very special. They make me happy & somewhat sad at the same time.

A chapter of my life closed when that place was no longer mine.

the LOML & I
in our little living room

My cousin's family loves that place, as I do. Her mom & my mom are sisters who shared many memories there, including a childhood memory of living there for a summer & fall while they & their missionary parents were back in the states from Egypt on furlough. We had played there together when we were little children. She loves keeping up on family heritage information. She will love & take care of that place. Her girls will make memories there of times in their little cabin by the lake.  

soccer practice as
the children got older

It was a tough chapter to close. We were no longer using the cabin as the children got older. Some of you will understand that... there's a season in all parents' lives when the schedules of the kids rival the schedule of the family. No matter how much you value family time, there comes a day when you know that a season has ended for your family. The time before giving the cabin to my cousin was such a time.

sunrise from the kitchen

There will always be an aching in my soul when I think of no longer owning that place - where I walked along the lakeside as the sun was rising, where I tucked the kids into beds nestled along the slanted roof of the attic loft, where I fell asleep listening to soft music I played for the children as they slept, where I entertained friends for lake days with their children...

fun with friends

There will always be an aching in my soul. Yet, there will always been a deep sense of gratitude & joy that God allowed me to be the caretaker of that family "cottage" for so many years. My life is richer and the lives of my children are richer for having owned & used that cabin. I believe that the lives of my friends & family who joined us there for fun little get-always will be richer for the experience.

For everything there is a season,

A time for every activity under heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die.

A time to plant and a time to harvest.

A time to kill and a time to heal.

A time to tear down and a time to build up.

A time to cry and a time to laugh.

A time to grieve and a time to dance.

A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.

A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

A time to search and a time to quit searching.

A time to keep and a time to throw away.

A time to tear and a time to mend.

A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

A time to love and a time to hate.

A time for war and a time for peace.

Yes... I believe that for everything there is a season. But, my heart cries that the change of seasons can be pretty rough on one's soul. Yet, God remains faithful!

... the last time we were there.

The first of the A-Chapter-Closed posts:
A Chapter Closed Today...

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today... 

Crazy About Traditions! - 31 DAYS OF CRAZY - 27 October 2012

I love traditions...big ones, little ones, significant ones, silly ones. And, the tradition which I started 3 October's ago was that I jump in the pool when we close it.  But, this year... this year the LOML decided not to put a cover on our pool the entire summer and into the fall.  When I checked the thermometer this morning, the pool was 48 degrees.

That called for a big decision this morning...  Do I honor my fun, family tradition and possibly DIE or... Do I let the tradition go for this year.  Guess what I did?

Well, there were other things to be considered this year, as well.  There were no kids home today--just me, the LOML and the cat. I started the pool tradition to give the kids a legit reason to laugh at me. The LOML thought it was pretty ridiculous to begin with. And, with no cover on the pool for the summer & while the ancient shagbark hickory tree dropped almost all of its leaves, the pool had begun to look more like a pond. The bottom was covered with leaves - despite numerous attempts to scoop them out over the past few weeks! As for the creepy crawly things on the bottom on the pool, I'd rather not talk about them!

By the time the leaves had been cleaned off the bottom & the chemicals had been added, it was time for lunch. And, me being me, I insisted that it was on the deck. You know me... and my being crazy about my traditions. It wasn't a fancy lunch but, tasted wonderful in the warm fall sun with the reflections dancing on the trellis above us. There's nothing like an outside picnic when the air is cool & the sun is hot!  And, the LOML didn't even complain - although eating outside is never his first choice!  

If I could persuade the LOML to wait even longer to cover my pond, I would. I lived by the sea for 15 years of my life and, I need to see water :)  There's something about water & light bouncing off of it that just brings a calm to me. And, there's something calming to me about traditions - no matter how small or insignificant. Is it familiarity or is it another type of control for me?  I don't know if I have that answer yet. Am I the only one who is this old & still trying to figure things out - ha ha!

We bought this house in the spring of 2009.  The house we lived in before was our home from when our older child began grade school and until the younger child was a senior in high school. I didn't really want to move here. There were so many wonderful family traditions in that other house. Playing on my weaknesses, the LOML found a house that he liked which had a pool. I fell for it too.  But, I'm glad that I did. And, I'm glad that the previous owners chose a blue tarp to cover the pool.  At least I can pretend that it's water, right? 

Oh, and the tradition of me jumping in the pool on the day we close it is still in affect! It just didn't happen THIS year!  

Go check out over 1200 topics
in the 31 days {of change} with...

The Best Part About a Gift is the Delivery

To me, the best part about a gift is the delivery... was it delivered with a warm smile... with a heart full of love?  When you received it was there the understanding that you were loved & accepted just as you are?  Did receiving it inspire you to become a "better you"?

I had a dear friend several years ago (we'll call her Miss Debbie) who shared a wonderful "tradition" with me.  She called it a "Happy".  What exactly is a "Happy"?  It's a gift which doesn't have to be for a certain reason or for a specific occassion.  It's something that will bring a smile to the recipient - maybe something they mentioned or admired while you were being observant. A "Happy" can also be a handwritten note with a meaningful picture tucked inside. 

Remembering & documenting fun times with friends & loved ones are a great ways to celebrate the good moments of life.  Remembering those good times can help us in the tough times too.  It's just like the words written in Psalm 77:11&12: “I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about them.”  The New Living Translation Bible Application Notes read: Memories of God’s miracles and faithfulness sustained Israel through their difficulties. They knew that God was capable and trustworthy. When you meet new trials, review how good God has been to you, and this will strengthen your faith.

One of my favorite "gifts"

Especially at this time of year I'm reminded that the "delivery of our gift of Jesus Christ" from the Creator of the Universe (all those years ago) was a wonderful "Happy"!  In the form of a tiny baby, came the hope of all eternity.  The gift of Jesus was free & given with no expectation in return. 

I love giving "Happy's"... and I love receiving them, as well. I love the fact that the cost of the gift has nothing to do with it's value. I love that they are often non-traditional & quirky. I'm pretty much non-traditional & quirky.  I love that there's no stress to finding a "pricey" gift.  By being observant, we can often find a meaningful gift.  The value of a gift is in the delivery - if you ask me! 

Hope you have a HAPPY Christmas this year. 

(shared this post with the Ann Voskamp One Thousand Gifts community)

(written 12/22/11)