Everlasting

Each time I hear this song my heart is deeply touched and I am reminded of Who God really is! As you listen, may you realize that He truly is the Everlasting God!

(The words follow the video if you would like to follow along. To listen to the music on the video you will need to turn off my blog music on the right side below so you can listen to the video.)

From everlasting to everlasting You are God
From everlasting to everlasting You are God

In holiness you stand secure through culture's shifting sands
Unchanged by all the vanities of man
And as the nations rise and fall your sovereignty remains
You are You are You are the One True God

From everlasting to everlasting You are God
From everlasting to everlasting You are God

In faithfulness your love extends through times of turbulence
Adopting those who call upon your name
And every generation joins in songs of grateful praise
You are You are You are the One True God

From everlasting to everlasting You are God
From everlasting to everlasting You are God

Eternal
Immortal
Invisible
God
Eternal
Immortal
Invisible
God

From everlasting to everlasting You are God
From everlasting to everlasting You are God

You are God
You are God

Song: ‘Everlasting’
Written and recorded by Brian Doerksen

From A Mother’s Heart

There are times we try to ‘hide’ the reality of life and it seems when we read each other’s blogs that everything is just perfect. There are homes where things always seem to be absolute perfection, blog friends who seem to have everything in life all neatly put together, menus and meals that surpass my wildest imagination. Yet I know from sharing your lives on a daily basis that it isn’t always so! At times you have shared your messy homes, your failures in the kitchen, your mistakes and wrong words spoken and your heartaches and struggles. I know life doesn’t always go the way we plan and I love the way you, dear friends, have chosen to let me walk through some of the rough spots with you. And I truly cherish the way you have walked through times of pain and sorrow in my life. The notes and messages and comments and emails of support and prayer and encouragement at times are a lifeline to each of us as we walk through ‘deep waters’.

Over the past year you have been aware of our sorrow at the sudden death of our thirty-four-year-old son-in-law. Many of you continue to send me notes and messages that you are still praying for us and for our daughter and the children. But what I haven’t shared – and wasn’t sure I could ever bring myself to share with you is the heartache we have walked through recently. For awhile I didn’t think I could ever share the pain in my heart and the struggle of watching our daughter make choices we would never choose for her. It’s time to share her situation and to share the joy we anticipate as we look to the future.

A few months ago our daughter met a nice young man who was the single father of a school friend of our youngest granddaughter. In the scheme of things, they met as parents whose daughters wanted to spend out-of-school time together. They were responsible parents, making sure everything was the way it should be. And in the course of time they talked a lot about raising children, about her grief and loss and about life in general. They began to see each other often and it wasn’t long before things went a direction they hadn’t planned. We knew something in her life had changed because our dear daughter, with whom we’ve been very close, stopped seeing us, stopped calling us or returning our calls and emails. After what seemed like forever she contacted us to say she was expecting a baby! Her struggle was enormous – what to do, how to face the family she loved dearly and wondering if her family would be too disgusted with her to be there for her and her children! God has worked in all of our hearts, healing the hurt and helping us come to grips with this news. The communication between us has been restored and we see them often. We would not have chosen this path for her but once the shock settled and the tears dried we began to focus on the future – a future that includes another precious granddaughter. Now we are excited as we wait for the arrival of this precious little girl early in May. Her daddy and our daughter have moved into a house together – he is a nice young man and he cares deeply for her. They are raising their children together. Her three and his two. He is kind and very good to her and the children. He has been an incredible part of the healing in our daughter and grandchildren’s lives. And we like him!

Many years ago, before we had children – during a very difficult time when it seemed we could have no family - God directed my heart and thoughts to two verses in Psalms and I was reassured that the God who puts families together cared deeply for my pain and that He would give us a family. I thought I understood these words then but I’m beginning to realize that I still do not fully comprehend their meaning.

God sets the lonely in families. . .
Psalm 68: 6

and

He rescues the poor from trouble
and increases their families like flocks of sheep.
Psalm 107:41

So, my friends, God gave us our family and we have begun to realize that our family is growing again. Just as God 'set' us in a family, He has blessed us with our children - and now their children. Not only will little Hannah Grace join our lives – and our hearts – in a few months, we are getting to know two more precious children whose lives are intertwined with ours now and who want us to be their grandparents. We have a way of ‘collecting’ family. While this wasn’t the way we planned it, we are learning to let our hearts continue to grow and to embrace the family God brings our way. We thought we had that lesson learned. Apparently not. We’re still learning!

Edited to add: I drafted this post a few weeks ago and waited for just the right time to share it. There were a couple of friends I wanted to share this ‘news’ with before they read it here. A few days ago I felt it was time to share this with you but I waited until today. I’m glad I did! Something has changed – the next chapter of the story has begun. Something good!

A few days ago Mr. K., the young man in our daughter’s life, called to invite us to be his guests for dinner with them at a very nice restaurant nearby. The invitation was accepted and the time was set. We met them for dinner last evening. They were waiting when we arrived and soon we were seated at a table and our orders were given. Conversation was good and we were all happy to be together. It wasn’t long after our dinner arrived when the real point of the evening became clear. Mr. K. told us of his love for our daughter and her children and he asked for our permission marry to her! We didn’t hesitate to say yes. We gave our permission – and our blessing! Smiles were abundant and tears ready to fall. Then he produced the most gorgeous ring a girl could hope to wear, showed it to us and placed it on our daughter’s finger. He followed that with a kiss on the ring and her hand. The conversation flowed from that point on to talk of plans and questions to get better acquainted and lots of love shared around that table. No wedding date has been set and plans are still being discussed. We weren’t the first ones he asked for permission to marry our dear daughter - a day or two ago he asked our oldest granddaughter, our daughter’s eleven-year-old girl, for her permission to marry her mother. Her answer: ‘No way!’ Followed by ‘Of course!’ The children love him very much and they are thrilled.

The evening was nice, the food was good but certainly not the focus. The focus was our relationship with two very special people – two people who are obviously very happy to have our love and our blessing as they walk through life together. Smiles were the order of the evening and hugs were abundant when we finally stood up to leave the table. My heart was deeply touched to see the smiles on our daughter's face and hear her laughter again. It was an evening we will never forget! Not the end of the story by any means – just the beginning of the rest of their lives. And ours. To be continued. . . . . .

Kitchen Gifts

I promised to show you some finds and treasures I’ve not shared with you before. Before I show you the things I have found I want to share with you some gifts a dear family member gave me for Christmas. I love receiving things for my kitchen – especially when they are things I would love to have but probably wouldn’t buy for myself! We exchange Christmas gifts with a dear cousin in another state and he always finds the neatest things for me. I always look forward to opening his gift on Christmas morning – I can’t wait to see what ‘fun’ and interesting thing he had found this time! This year he gave me the sweetest kitchen gifts – measuring cups unlike anything I’ve ever had before. This could make cooking fun!

Aren’t they cute? When you look inside, here’s what you see:

In the same package I found this little cutie – she’s a dish brush!

Now it seems I need to head to the kitchen to measure something special so I can make a delectable treat – and dirty some dishes so I can use my sweet dish brush. That’s what I’ll do – my sweetheart will be thrilled and I’ll enjoy it, too. Hmmm, what shall it be? I'm sure whatever I make will bring 'joy beyond measure'!

Morning Thoughts

I’m home again! I was greeted by this sunrise when I open the bedroom drapes this morning. After three days away with grandchildren I woke in my own bed at home – and I didn’t want to get up! It would have been so nice to roll over, snuggle under the covers and let the rest of the world go away! I felt like singing that line from the old Eddie Arnold song, ‘Make the world go away and get it off my shoulders’. But there are things to do and places to go today. It’s time to get back into life at home again.

I had a wonderful, though at times challenging, time with my three grandsons while their parents were away at a conference. It’s certainly been a long time since I’ve made lunches, gotten kids up and ready for school, driven them to school, overseen homework, enforced bedtime, fed tacos to a two-year-old who insisted he wanted pizza (until he saw my taco and wanted the one I made), worked on potty training a little guy and climbed up and down a million stairs a day! They are good boys and have been taught to obey and be polite. What a joy to have them throw their arms around me and share their excitement about whatever is happening in their world. And when I snuggled with little Mr. H., to hear him say, ‘Gamma, I ‘uv you!’ made it all worthwhile.

My sweetheart joined us each evening after work. He helped with homework and bedtime routines and then we spent time with our laptop computer to update his resume so he could apply for a big promotion at work. He has been the assistant to the man who just retired from this position – and he is currently filling in. As I wrote his new resume I was amazed and very proud of him for all the experience he has had over the years with his company. He is a good man with a strong work ethic, a quick mind and a gentle personality. His peers and the management respect him and recognize his strength. But I have some mixed feelings about this new position – if he should be promoted. He will have added stress and heavy responsibility. I am leaving it in God’s hands, to lead as He chooses. And I am working hard to make our home a place of sanctuary for him when he returns at the end of a long, busy day.

There is much to do today – lead Bible Study at the one care center where I am currently serving as chaplain, stop by the cell phone store to find out why my hands-free device isn’t working, catch up at home, spend time with my doggy and kitty and have dinner tonight with my dear, little mother while my sweetheart is away at a men’s event at church.

I’m happy to be home. When I saw the sunrise this morning I knew it would be a good day - no matter what happens, it will be a good day! Because this is a new day God has given me. I am blessed – there is no doubt about it.

Now I am singing:

This is the day
That the Lord has made
I will rejoice and celebrate
This is the day
That the Lord has made
I will rejoice
I will rejoice and celebrate

He goes before me
He walks beside me
He lives within me
He's the lover of my soul
He's my defender
He's my provider
His overflowing mercies
Are brand new every day

Song: ‘This Is The Day’
Composer Unknown

Going Away To Play

I’ll be away for a couple of days – going to play with grandsons. And do a bit of work in the process, too. Our son and daughter-in-law attend an annual conference for ministers and their wives and this is my annual ‘play’ time with their three boys while they are away. I know I will be tired, but happy, at the end of each day. They are good boys and easy to care for, but they are boys. Busy boys. Two will be in school all day this year so two-year-old Mr. H. and I will have the day together. Fortunately he takes a good, long afternoon nap. It’s possible this grandma will, too! I will be able to check in to see what you have to share and maybe leave a comment or two. When I get back I have things to show you – some finds and treasures you haven’t seen. Until then, I’m off for a play date – with three of the most wonderful grandkids anyone could ask for!

The Virtuoso

Many years ago, a mother took her boy to a concert by the legendary Polish born piano virtuoso Paderewski, wishing to encourage his progress on the piano. After they were seated, the mother spotted an old friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her. Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked ‘NO ADMITTANCE.’

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.’ At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, ‘Don't quit. Keep playing.’ Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child, and he added a running obbligato.

Together, the old master and the young novice transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played. Only the classic, ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.’

Perhaps that's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't always graceful flowing music. However, with the hand of the Master, our life's work can truly be beautiful. The next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You may hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, ‘Don't quit. Keep playing.’ May you feel His arms around you and know that His hands are there, helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces.

Remember, God doesn't seem to call the equipped rather, He equips the 'called.'
- author unknown

The Gift Shop At Lavender Bleu

I promised to show you the gift shop at Lavender Bleu. After enjoying a sweet time together over Afternoon Tea Marilyn and I said goodbye and I spent a bit of time in the gift shop. If you ever come to visit I’d love to take you there – if you live nearby, it would be fun to meet there to browse and shop. And have a cup of tea!

Just outside the door of the tearoom is the patio area where they serve tea during the summer months. On the patio, between the door of the tearoom and the back door of the gift shop, there are all kinds of wonderful garden things for sale. I could spend a lot of time there – and I may go back soon to get some things for my yard. The first thing I spied was this darling little pair of boots. Yellow ceramic boots! I really think I NEED them!

Aren’t those just the cutest little boots? (That garden tool is a door knocker!) Wait till you see inside the shop! There are things for tea – of course.

And sweet little cupcakes to display (but not to eat!).

And more teacups and teapots and pretty serving pieces.

I would love to buy this set.

These cute teacups caught my eye – such fun!

There are all kinds of pretties – napkins and tablecloths and table runners. Pretty papers to write to your best friend and greeting cards, too. Jewelry and handbags. Seasonal decor and bits of whimsy to add to your home. Aprons and linens and things galore. But the corner that caught my eye was this one. . .

The baby and children’s room!

That darling little white coat is just about the softest thing you could ever hope to touch. I thought of a special little girl who would look like a princess in it. She would need this dress to go with it, too. Don’t you think?

I loved these porcelain alphabets. I may go back soon and get one to add to a baby shower gift. The photo doesn’t show the blues very well – they are all pinks and blues.

There was a lot to see and too much share all at once. Soon it was time for me to go so I bought some tea to enjoy at home, said farewell to the owner and her assistant and promised to return again soon. Another day. And maybe you can go with me next time. Wouldn’t we have fun?