The Right Gift

So many things lately remind me that we're all a bunch of weaklings, trying to do the right thing.

I showed up for work an hour late yesterday -- got the days mixed up! YUCK!

Someone else is trying to improve his leadership style 'cause the family survival depends on it.

Another special person realizes how far short he falls from the abilities he thinks he needs.

We're all weak, insufficient, fumbling, NOT ENOUGH!

Maybe we're made with limitations that our Creator hopes will awaken us to our lack of invincibility. Maybe this awareness can awaken us to new relationships that will enhance our love and compassion. Maybe this love and compassion is really at the base of what every career, every obligation is about.

What do I need this season? I think I really need a greater sense of contentment. I'm not meant to save the world. I AM meant to do my best at the job where I serve today. Yesterday I needed patience -- and compassion -- for hyped, hormonally-driven seventh graders asking "how old were you when you learned about Santa Claus?" Today I need to accept that I can't make and bake all I want in the next two weeks. Tomorrow I need to just enjoy the joys of the children around me.

Sure, I'm a weakling, but not a failure. I can listen, but not fix. This Christmas I want to revel in what I have, what I can glean without accumulating. Pleasure. Smiles. Peace. Hope.

And I do believe that it exists because of the One Perfect Gift of Christmas.

Thanksgiving

When our girls were little, we drove home one night listening to a 4-year-old backseat singer, thanking God for the moon and the stars, toys, and yes -- broccoli. We heard that song this weekend -- without mention of the broccoli. Little ones singing a tune that has never been written down, from a heart that is so content and overflowing, mentioning - or not mentioning - the simple joys of life. That really brings you back to earth - remembering the simple pleasures. And how close I was to forgetting them amid the "big" problems of life.

It was fun. No - precious. Watching two little heads peer at the multi-colored lights. "Mo' Kwismas!" "I's Bwootiful!"

Another cherished memory will be today's 6 1/2-hour drive home. (NO, we didn't speed. We ate before leaving and only made one bathroom stop!) I'm so thankful for Larry. Too many times I talk - and keep talking - to explain my point. Today he talked a lot, trying to explain his understanding of my feelings. He knows me, and appreciates what I have invested in our home, marriage, and family. He understands that sometimes I am not logical, but he also(sometimes) knows why I am not logical. We HAVE been working on this understanding (AND listening) thing for almost 31 years. Sometimes it seems like we are on different wave lengths, but today we rode the same one.

It's great to be with family. Just hanging out together. Larry mentioned (again) how God sent the right guys for our girls.

We're also thankful that gas prices are down!!! And for health for our parents. And for our siblings.

And for tomorrow. Tomorrow. A new day, a new opportunity, a new chance at hope. Gotta take it. Not taking it -- is dismal.

Blessings! Be thankful!

Home again! Jiggity!!! Jig!!!

Oh, it's good to be home! So good. Eating out is great, but gets old when you can't have just a liiiiiiittle bit of something, when you have to walk a half-mile in the cold back to the hotel every night after eating, and when you run out of "special!" restaurants, and have to start visiting them the second time! SAD! I'm SUCH a wimp! Doing hair in the humidity of Florida is really a stretch too! -- We'd saved, waited, and did enjoy our time, but there's no place like home.

NOT to say we wanted to get back into the saddle. Every so often I have to have an attitude re-adjustment regarding the stress God allows my husband to endure for the sake of a paycheck. Of course, it isn't just for a paycheck. This is where God wants him at this place in time. Which also means that dealing with HIS stress is where God also wants ME at this place in time. I just finished re-reading a book (and it's sequel) that really affirmed for me that I must let God use Larry how HE plans, not according to what I think is ENOUGH! God is in control!

Today I worked with 5 other ladies in our church assembling upholstering

fabric samples into a quilt, backed with a 2 1/2 yd piece of fleece. We have 3 mostly completed and 10 more underway. Our plan is to pass them on for distribution to the homeless of our community. I can't imagine sleeping outside as the weather is chilling down -- I'm so grateful for a house and good working furnace. But the weather isn't all that daunts them. I pray that God takes our efforts -- namely, the quilts -- and reminds these people, whomever they are, that He is with them and cares about them. We'll work more tomorrow, but hope to get them made and distributed asap.

Larry is sick. Flu probably. The guy seated next to him on the plane, coughed for 6 hours. He's still working, still getting up at 5 (better than 3 AM), still working nights and weekends. -- God is in control.

Can't wait to see the boys (Thanksgiving) -- AND the big kids! I brought Legos home on the plane for them. It is SO hard it is to decide which items to buy for grandkids when you want to buy them all! Fortunately, I can't make Legos! Ha!

I taught 5th gr sp ed Math and Science yesterday. It was a good day, two great sets of kids, but with the second set, especially, I could see how challenging it really is for them to complete a task. Most of them could grasp the tasks -- some could not. And every one of them looked like everyday, normal kids. A couple are handicapped by their situations. I wonder about the others. I feel for them all -- and admire the teachers. I admire teachers who deal with kids every day--and love them.

If I could ask one prayer for the world, it would be that we would give more grace to one another. Grace for the person who ticks us off. Grace for the appointment who forgets us. Grace for the person who endangers us because they were careless. Grace for the person who didn't know better. Grace when I don't feel like giving it. Grace when I feel I don't have any more to give. Because I've been the one who has needed grace for every one of these situations!

Blessings! Have a BRIGHT day!

I'M EXCITED!

Yes, I am! We're going on a trip! And even tho this trip (like always!) involves Larry's work, we'll have days to just play, laugh, have dinner, smile, remember, wish for kids and grandkids.......

We began planning early in the year for this trip, and that I would go along, that this would be the trip to make up for the 25th and 30th anniversary presents we didn't get to give each other. It was supposed to be Hawaii, but ...... well, maybe 35th!

Today I pruned 3 bushes in the back -- because he doesn't have time! I won't attempt to prune the junipers because he has his own way, but the holly, ornamental crab, and forsythia were monsters this year!

My sample quilt for our church project (quilts for the homeless) is done. A friend will meet and advertise while we are gone, and we'll work with volunteers to make 10-12 in a few weeks.

I've contacted moms to learn which Disney characters are grandkids' favorites right now. We'll be taking pictures with Wally & Eva, Mr. Incredible, Ariel and Tinkerbell -- if we can find them!

I need to make some more applesauce or else get more apples in the old frig. Even drying them would be good, but the drier takes so long.

Tomorrow I should deliver some donations, ask the neighbor to watch the house, wash the rest of the clothes.

His work continues to take every moment that I don't ask him to do something else, but I'm accepting it. God knows. God allows. God has a plan. I don't like this stage of the plan, but I'm not God, am I? so live with it, Linda, and be thankful!

So I thank God tonight for 3 daughters who are happy with us and a husband who grins at me when I get excited.

Northwest Beauty!

It took 15 years! Discussions. Dreams. Promises.

Finally a date, accountability to friends -- "You go with us!"

Tickets bought. Gear and lunches packed . . .

. . . and we headed up to Chelan to take Lady of the Lake into the Stehekin National Forest. AAAHHH!

Nippy? yes! Warm up? yes! We were quite comfortable both inside the boat and out on the upper deck. One guide told us that the upper Stehekin is only 8 miles from the ocean at the upper pass.

And beauty? Awesome! The majestic desolation of these rock
mountains! In some places, the walls towered up hundreds of feet. And the lake depth goes to 1486 feet in its center, 386 feet below sea level. Exceeded only by Crater Lake in Oregon, and Lake Tahoe in California/Nevada, Lake Chelan is the 3rd deepest lake in the US, and 18th deepest lake in the world.

Still we saw color -- vibrant reds and yellows! In patches
like scrapings across the mass of stone. Pines grow out of rock beds, bushes out of the silt washed down
mountainsides with spring thaws.



Some of the lower hillsides bloom with orchards, vineyards,
and of course extravagant summer homes, but all touched by
deep water reflections of rock walls and mountain forests.

Rainbow Falls is an incredible continual waterfall at the head
of the lake. Snows from the upper peaks feed it on a year-round basis, and bless us with a hidden oasis under the fallen pines and tangled brush.

The majesty is beauty for me. And the majesty speaks of God's power in check. It could all roll down in a blink, but he holds it patiently -- till the right time. So we can see and understand a little more....

The beauty, the time together, and the corny jokes of our men -- all made it a wonderful day.

Joel thinks Chad is inspired to emulate him, and carry the tradition in their family.

Any takers in ours?

Grandkids!

Oh, the blessing of being exhausted by grandkids!

Last weekend I traveled with some grandparent friends to visit our kids -- and grandkids. We had a great time together -- talking lots about -- OUR GRANDKIDS.

We arrived in time to help decorate cookies. Two little guys wearing Mom's aprons, icing and sprinkles stuck to cheeks and fingers, made a revived spirit after a long day on the road.

Joy and I had opportunity to watch "big kid" movies like "The Great
Debaters" and "The Illusionist". Good comfy time. Not movies one can

usually fall asleep to -- but Jer had a really long week.

Aunt Lora had planned on babysitting during Sunday's amazing City of Trees Marathon in Boise. (Joy and Jer both ran a spectacular 13 miles!) My visit gave Lora an extra half hour sleep Sunday morning. But no way could either of us have handled the boys at the race on our own! She and I had a great time together, taking two toddlers potty, meeting friends at the race, readying for naptime.

With the boys, we watched movies, played trains, went to McD's for ice cream, and sang in the car. All the great things a gramma loves to witness -- and be a part of. When it was time to leave, Ian invited me to daycare, then teared up when I told him I had to go home and take care of Papa. Within 5 minutes he was telling me to "go take care of Papa." Papa was sorely missed on this visit.

Jenny's Emily turned 3 yesterday! Recently Jenny got off the phone , turned, and saw Emily with hands on hips and a big grin. "Emily, did you hear what I was talking about?" "YES I DID!" It was birthday plans. As Jenny says, Emily is a "mess". All curls and grins! Paul (9 months) has officially pushed down his sister to get what he wanted.

There's nothing like the love of family and friends. It comes from hanging on in the good times and the bad, watching each person become whom he or she was created to be. And also from waiting -- WAITING -- till the next visit.

I'm working on PATIENCE. I remember an old quote from college days: "Patience is doing something else in the meantime." I always want to be doing something, so I'm incorporating more "things" into my regiment, like resting, or listening, or praying, instead of always running, or checking, or helping.

Life has had its bumps, but I'm lelarning to just live with them. Go around them. Look around rather than down. Pick the flowers instead of kicking the mud. Ha! The world will go on, and I want to go on too!!!

Find just a little flower today!

A New Day

OK, so anyone can say, "it's a new day!" So what? What does that mean?

For me it means I have another chance to clean up my house, to get my bills paid, to finish a project(s) I've not yet completed.

It also means I can work on my attitude (always a work in progress). I can look for new ways to support a discouraged co-worker or friend. I can pray for wisdom for someone who is struggling. I can reach out to people I care about who are "drifting" without purpose to their lives.

Those are things I CAN do. Many things I cannot -- yet they still afford me hope.

Somebody bigger than me can fix things -- or help me be happy in a broken situation.

Somebody bigger than me can calm my fears -- and help me rest well through the night.

Somebody bigger than me can speak to someone who wouldn't be ready to listen to even a good friend.

Somebody bigger than me can make me feel valued when my husband teases -- but didn't know I wasn't in a teasing mood.

Today is a new day! I want to see what it holds.