It has been sometime since I wrote in this blog, and much has happened... My dad had just passed away at my last writing. We couldn't have his funeral for more than a month (long story), but finally had a very nice graveside service the end of January. My husband moved to Arizona right before dad's service to start a new job in a different church, so when he left the funeral, he flew to Arizona and I went home to Oregon. Three weeks later, mom had a stroke and I headed back to Idaho for mom's surgery. She is doing great now, but what a stressful time we all went through. And between then and now we sold our house in Oregon, bought a house in Arizona, said goodbye to family and friends and packed up and moved across the country. But now it is the middle of August and we have managed to survive the summer! We have really loved being here... even with the hot summer. The church is wonderful, and Arizona is beautiful. We are learning to do things we have never had to think about before, like always carrying water, doing laundry before noon or after 7 pm, shopping early in the day to avoid the heat and pretty much staying indoors in the summer instead of the winter. I have also been able to pick oranges and grapefruit off the trees in my yard! How cool is that? I am looking forward to a little cooler time of year, but Christmas might seem mighty strange this year. I'm so used to cold snowy winter weather that it just doesn't seem right to think about serving Christmas dinner on the patio by the pool...

Today was the day...

Dad finally made it today. He was finally able to leave this life and is now in the presence of the Lord. He is whole and healthy, and if I know him, dancing a jig! I will miss him, but I'm happy for him. He lived a good life on this earth, loved his family, cared for others, told people how to receive everlasting life through Christ, and brought joy into the lives of those who knew him. He had a quiet spirit, strong principles and much integrity, and he was loads of fun. He could tell a story like non-other and will continue to provide laughter and love as we reminisce and remember. Thanks dad, for your example and love. This world will never be the same without you in it, but then Heaven will never be the same, either. I see you leaving this world, standing on the porch and doing your little goodbye dance with your thumbs in your ears, waving your hands, making funny faces and wiggling your hips as we drive away. So many memories. But one of these days we will be together again and it will be so good to see you healthy and happy. And we will continue to make eternal memories. I wonder if Heaven has a money tree...

Family

I have a great family. My folks are old--dad is in a nursing home and slowly dying. Mom is going deaf and blind and can't do like she used to. But they are still full of life and love... for God, for each other, for their family, for their country. They have taught me a great deal in my life, and I'm still learning from them... about growing old gracefully, about loving my husband without selfishness, about enjoying the simple pleasures of life, about caring for others. They are great examples of faithfulness and love.

Mom and dad really enjoyed their great-grandaughter, Ari. She is six months old and about as cute as they come. Dad kept calling her "my baby." That is pretty sweet. He thought she looked just like him, but then, he has thought that with every baby who has joined our family! I couldn't help but compare Ari and dad--where they are in life. Dad is leaving, Ari is just starting out, but yet they are both in a place where they are totally dependent on others. Neither can get where they want to go without someone taking them there. Both need someone to feed and bathe them. If we live long enough, we will leave this world the way we came in. But as Ari's parents rejoiced when she was born, so our heavely Father will rejoice when dad arrives in His presence. We are born into this life, we live and we die. Hopefully, somewhere along the way we come to believe in Jesus and are born again... into a life with Christ where we will never die. Jesus not only paid for our sin, but defeated death, both physically and spiritually.

I know dad is looking forward to leaving this life for one far greater...

Never a dull moment...

There haven't been very many dull moments in my life. When I was a child, my grandmother and mother were the general comic relief. After I got married, my husband took over the job. And my dad, well, he had his own funny quirks that defined him. Then there is my sister with her great sense of humor and story telling ability... and you add our kids to the mix and life really has been quite fun most of the time!

So, I shouldn't be surprised by the funny things that happened on our anniversary and on my folks anniversary.

27 years... that's how long Greg and I have been married as of Friday. Today (Sunday), my mom and dad have been married 60 years. Both seem like incredibly long times in one sense, and no time at all in another sense. I found a couple things quite funny about both events. I mailed a really nice card to my folks last week. On Friday, our daughter and son-in-law gave us the exact card. I know my kids greatest fear is to become their mother :) I think it is refreshingly funny that in many ways, they already have... and I'm like my mother... and she is like her mother...

The other thing that was funny is that when I talked to mom this morning to wish them a happy anniversary, she told me that she and my sister had gone to look at a restored farm house yesterday and that the kitchen was like my grandmothers. This morning, their picture was on the front page of the Idaho Statesman standing in that kitchen. Only my mother could end up of the front page of a newspaper on her 60th anniversary!

Both those things seemed quite appropriate for our family. Giving the same card to someone has happened more than once in our family... we all think alike I guess. But the picture on the front page of a newspaper, well, that was a first. Leave it to mom....

Bible Study

I'm involved in a Bible study that I haven't been too excited about. I almost didn't go last night, but now I'm glad I did. The material we are using was written by a woman who attends our church--nice lady, but I'm not thrilled with her material. I didn't want to go, because I didn't want to be critical; I decided I wouldn't say anything and just see what the other ladies had to say. I was pleased that at the first question, another woman said she really struggled with the verses applying to the questions and felt that some of the verses were out of context and didn't apply at all. I felt better that I wasn't the only one who was feeling like that. Sometimes I feel I shouldn't say much of anything because I am a pastors wife--I don't want to cause trouble. But at the same time, how we interpret scripture is so important. I was able to share quite a bit after she said what she did...

I did find an interesting verse last night. It didn't really have anything to do with the Bible study (again, it was used out of context), but it struck a cord with me and made me think about the word "believe." The verse was Hebrews 2:16, "For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham." That took me back to a conversation I had one time at women's retreat. The speaker seemed to think it takes more than belief in Christ to be saved. She made the point that the "demons believe and tremble." In other words, the demons know the truth of Christ's sacrifice, but their belief doesn't save them. I pointed out that the demons (fallen angels) had already made their choice of who to follow and that Christ hadn't died for them. But she would have none of it. I wish I had quoted Hebrews 2:16 to her. The context is salvation and would have been a great verse to use in making my case.

So, even though I'm not crazy about the material we are using for Bible study, I did learn something... which seems to always be the case when we study God's word!

My First Post

Okay... so I've decided to try this blog thing. I've never been much of a writer, but there have been times in my life when I have kept a journal. I'd keep a notebook of things I wanted to remember: camping trips with the kids, vacations, special occasions, etc. And sometimes, when I was particularly stressed, I'd write out my thoughts and prayers to God. That seems a little personal for this type of thing, but it might be fun to write out my thoughts occasionally.

So, what am I thinking? I'm thinking how much I love autumn! It is a beautiful fall day with a chill in the air. I love it when the leaves turn colors and start to fall, when the wind catches them and they swirl around, when they make a crunching sound under your feet. I love fall decorations, the smell of wood smoke, hot apple cider and pumpkin bread. And I love Thanksgiving Day. That is sort of the end of fall for me, but I think it is my very favorite holiday. Oh, I love Christmas, Easter, and Independence Day, but I especially like Thanksgiving Day. I love the cooking, the smells, and being with family. Thanksgiving always brings to mind all the blessings God has given me: the people I love so much, my salvation, the Bible, the indwelling Holy Spirit. I am also very thankful for the freedom we have in the good old USA. The reason the puritans came here in the first place was to escape religious persecution. And we have been able to enjoy that freedom and many others because of the sacrifice and wisdom of our forefathers. God has truly blessed our nation since then. I'll stop there... I'm tempted to get into politics at this point as I can see those freedoms being taken away from us, but I won't go there, not right now. I want to savor this glorious fall day a little longer...