Joanne Heim

Organizing bookshelves

Well, haven't seen that button for a while. But I'll be getting back on track here. And since I cleaned the bookshelves today and couldn't think of another category, we'll call it a Simplify Me post.

BEFORE:

We have great built in bookshelves in the loft upstairs, and we have a lot of books. Not as many as we used to, but still a lot.

I used to buy all the books I wanted to read; now I try to read books from the library as much as possible and only buy books I love. (I always read with a pen in hand if it's my own book--I'm one of those people who underlines and stars and makes notes in the margins. Even in novels.)

I did a major book purge when we moved to Denver from San Diego. Today's purge was relatively minor. Some to donate, some to the basement to store for the girls. We just don't need all the Arthur books out these days--but I'm not ready to get rid of them because they both loved them so much.

So today was mostly just about cleaning the shelves (eww...very dirty and gross!) and reorganizing books. It was mostly the children's books that were out of control--no order to them at all.

Basically, I put...

Spiritual books together

Commentaries together

Newbery winners together

Adult fiction together

Series together

American Girl books together

Sabbath books together

Biographies together

Bible studies together

Travel books

French books together

Yearbooks together

Vintage readers together

Business books together

...and all those in alphabetical order

AFTER:

Look, there are even some empty shelves!

I think the key is to organize books in a way that makes sense to you, so that when you're looking for a particular book you can find it quickly. That and putting kids books within their reach (and those marriage and sex books up high where they can't reach them without dragging a chair over!).

So, how do you organize your books?

OT 511

Here's the stack of books for my first seminary class that begins NEXT MONDAY! (I'm just a little bit excited. Well, a lot. As you know if you've talked to me lately. I can't shut up about it!)

I just started a list of everything to pack in my bag, and I need to get my lunchbox (red plaid, metal) from the basement later today and wash it. And that's a pack of Bic Crystals on top--my all-time favorite pens. I go through them pretty quick.

I'm taking OT 511: Understanding Early Israel and Its Wisdom Literature. Here's what the course catalog says:

Surveys the content, historical background, critical issues, and key texts found in Genesis-Ruth and the poetic and wisdom literature. Journey with Israel through the wilderness, and experience its conquest and settlement in the land; listen to the poetry and song of Israel's psalms, and consider their place in the ancient world; and sit with the sages of the Bible.

All in the next three weeks. I'm taking this class as an intersession class--Monday through Friday from 9-12:15. So if it takes me a while to respond to any email you send me, that's why.

I'm all registered for the spring semester too: BI 501: Effective Biblical Interpretation and OT 512: Understanding the Kingdom of Israel and Its Prophets. But I haven't bought those books yet.

I did add a page on my Amazon bookshop (click the button to the right) to list all the books I'm reading for school. Just in case any of you are interested in them and want to read along with me!

Memory Monday: ALL of the Christmas story...finally!

Okay, here we go. I think I know the WHOLE thing. Though the punctuation is a little tricky since I don't say "comma" when I'm reciting it out loud to remind myself where they go!

Luke 2:1-20

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find the a baby wrapped in cloths and laying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone back into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." 

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning all that what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. the angel had told them. 

Phew. Not perfect, but pretty close.

Next week? I'm going for something short (in fact, it's really half a verse!), something that stood out to me from my quiet time last week:

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. (2 Corinthians 5:16)

Seems to me there's a good lesson in that. One I need to learn as I look at my family, at others around me. Especially those who are believers. Too often I focus on what I see, rather than the fact that they are new creatures in Christ. 

Toben and I had a conversation with our friend John Lynch about this one weekend in Seattle. About how our parenting might change is we nurtured the new creation in Audrey and Emma. It's an intriguing idea. And I think he should totally write a book about it. Hint, hint, John!

Did you do yours? Leave a comment! Want to join? Click on the button (--->) to get the scoop.

Christmas gifts received

I received some amazing gifts for Christmas this year...

My mom gave this to me, but the card said it was also from my grandmother. She was always doing needlepoint and made this pillow years ago. I love that when she ran out of yarn, she used another color! 

I also received this cookie cutter in my stocking--and this rooster candy mold from Kristen. If you've been to my house, you know I love chickens and roosters.

And just look at my typewriter! Isn't it beautiful? Mom knew I'd love it.

The typewriter is actually sitting atop this desk, which wasn't really a Christmas present, but came home with me on Christmas day. It's been sitting in Mom and Dad's basement in pieces, and they said I could borrow it for a while. 

With homework coming (!) I was wanting a bigger desk and a way to keep in neat without having to clear everything away all the time. Now I can shut the lid and keep all my homework in process!

I love all the little cubbies and the girls are fascinated by the "secret" drawers.

Janna made me a new shower cap out of this Nancy Drew fabric. I love, love, love this fabric! She also made me a little rice pillow and gave me some fabric for my stash. I use my shower cap almost every day and heat my pillow many, many times each day.

Kristen found this for me in South Dakota, cleaned it up and framed it. Isn't it wonderful? I still wandering around with it, searching for the perfect place to hang it. I'm thinking of hanging it from a ribbon in front of my kitchen windows...

I always wonder about who made things like this, why no one wanted it, and how it ended up in an antique store.

Mom filled my stocking with these vintage finds--love those dresses and am thinking I need the long sleeved one first.

More pictures of gifts given coming soon...

Gift for Kristen

When Kristen and Wade found out they'd be moving to New York, I knew I had to save this fabric for her. 

I've made her a number of totes in the past couple of years, but it seems like you can't have too many tote bags--especially with young kids. A library tote. A car tote. A spending the night at Gran's (well, used to be when they were here!) tote.

I gave this one both long and short handles--so it'll hang from the stroller handle easily and not drag on the ground--and it'll go over the shoulder or even cross-body like a messenger bag.

Like some of the others I've made for her, it's lined with oil cloth in case anything spills.

Isn't that fabric great?

Happy anniversary to us!

Seventeen years ago today...

This makes me feel old. And while it might be fun to be 19 (yes, I got married as a teenager!) again, I think we've improved with age...

The light of the world?

Last night Mom and Dad came over and we went for a drive to look at some amazing Christmas lights we'd heard about. They didn't disappoint!

Here's the first house we saw. And got out of the car so we could see even closer. 

I'm only sorry you can't hear Mrs. Claus singing. And don't forget to leave some cash to help pay their electric bill!

And this was just down the street! Note the twirling Barbie ballerinas performing for Santa and Mrs. Claus. And those trains run all over their yard--even up to the roof.

This house had stuffed animals, more Barbies, a full set of wooden reindeer, and even Elvis at Graceland. Oh, and a twirly box to leave some money and contribute to the electric bill too.

Both houses had this sign in the yard...

...which makes me wonder if they collaborate or if they are arch rivals who secretly hate each other and sneak over to throw the switches in their breaker boxes.

Here's what made me laugh out loud the most--in fact it took several tries to get the picture because I was having trouble holding the camera still--see, it's a little blurry even after three or four tries...

Jo-Bear, Mar-Bear, and the Baby Bear. Somehow I wonder if instead of the shepherds, they were visited by Goldilocks...

Gifts for girlfriends

Now that Christmas is past and all the gifts have been mailed and opened, I can share what I made for some girlfriends for Christmas. A girl can’t have too many little zippy purses in my opinion (ipod, tissues, lipsticks, giftcards—the possibilities are endless!)  and a monogram makes it even better. Plus, most of these are lined with vintage hankies that have been sitting in a drawer for a year or two waiting for inspiration to strike.

Of course, I think of someone new I should have made one for just about every single day...so I may be making them again next year! And, really, I wish I had the time, money, and steel fingers required to make one for every single one of you!

It's almost time...

We're getting ready to head out the door to have dinner at my parents' house and then go to church with them tonight. The girls are going to spend the night (oops! Glad I mentioned that...I still need to pack for them!) and then Toben and I will head on over in the morning to open stockings and gifts and have our traditional Christmas brunch (also known as the best meal of the year!).

After church tonight, it will be time for my all-time favorite Christmas tradition: Sitting by the light of the tree and listening to Robert Benson's The Night of the Child. The fact that no one else wants to do this with me used to bother me, but now I kind of like the solitude. 

Listening to the Christmas story and Robert's reflections (all accompanied by harp music that calls to mind angels' wings) in the dark, in the quiet, and all by myself prepares my heart for Christmas and satisfies my soul more than anything that could ever be wrapped up in a box and tied with ribbon.

I look forward to this night all year long, and can't wait to come home and get on my pajamas, snuggle under an afghan, and let the tears roll down my cheeks in silence as I rest in the love God has for me--me!--that prompted Christmas to come so long ago.

Wishing you the certainty that Christmas is for you--you!--because God loves you with a love that never fails,

Joanne

Memory Monday: Some more Christmas story

First, thanks for all the anniversary wishes to Mom and Dad--I read all the comments to them--most of which were about how much I look like my mom. But if you ask my dad, he'd say we look nothing alike. He just can't see it.

So here goes Memory Monday...I think it'll be another week before I've got all of Luke 2:1-20 down pat, but here's what I've got so far!

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born and she delivered gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their sheep flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find the a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying:

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

That's about all I know for now. I really need to have Emma record the hand motions for me and go from there to finish it for next week.

Did you post yours? Leave a comment!

Happy Anniversary!

...to Mom and Dad, the best parents a girl could wish for!

Here's the whole wedding party--aren't the dresses beautiful? (I think my aunt--next to my mother--had the same dresses in her wedding, because I seem to remember Mom having one of these that she wore at one time too.)

Don't they look so happy?

Eating cake--nicely!

Look how cute they are leaving the reception. Mom made her suit, and had a red jacket that went over it too. Very Christmas-y!

I am so blessed to have these two for parents and as for my role model for what it means to have a godly marriage. Toben and I both look up to them so much and hope that our marriage will be as wonderful as theirs.

Vintage cards

Since several of you commented on my vintage Christmas cards, I thought I'd share a couple of them here--you can open the image and print onto card stock. As I told Priti, you won't have the benefit of the writing on the back (I love reading what's on the back of old cards--as well as seeing the beautiful handwriting!), but you can still enjoy tucking them here and there in your holiday decor.

View this photo 

 

View this photo

Gifts for teachers

Do you struggle with what to give teachers? Sometimes I do. While I'd love to give big wads of cash, I don't really have big wads of cash to give away. And I'd love to give seasonal gifts and cute things, but I know a few teachers and their houses are full of that kind of thing.

Usually I make our teacher gifts. Last year, I did mocha mix, bread, pretty Christmas napkins, and a few other things--everything needed for a Christmas break breakfast by the Christmas tree. (And when it's eaten, there's nothing left to find a place for!)

This year I thought it would be nice if the girls helped make their gifts. And since they've been loving learning to embroider, I thought they could do zippies (because they are IMMENSELY practical and useful) for their teachers.

They chose the designs, did the embroidery, and I sewed them up.

(Sorry--I forgot to take pictures before they were wrapped up in cellophane bags!)

Audrey and Emma took them off to school this morning; I'm anxious to hear what their teachers thought!

Gifts we think we don't want

I came across this quote in one of my Advent devotional books (Watch for the Light) the other day and it made me stop and think:

This is often the way God loves us: with gifts we thought we didn't need, which transform us into people we don't necessarily want to be.

~William Willamon, on December 14

I really do want to be transformed into a person who reflects Jesus to the world around me, so I'm not sure about the second part of that quote. But I do agree that the ways in which God molds and shapes me and loves me are often through circumstances I'd rather do without.

And yet.

The hardest times in my life have been the sweetest gifts God has given me. Because the heartache and turmoil and pain and sorrow was worth the growth and intimacy with him that came from it. I can say with certainty (knowing myself--and my mother would agree) that I would not have learned some of those same lessons if the circumstances hadn't been so extreme. Often hard lessons are the ones we learn best.

So why have I been resisting the circumstances I've found myself in lately?

In a weird way, it's been familiar and even oddly comfortable to be back in a place of total dependence, of desperation, of crying out to God for his mercy and love and presence. Though the circumstances are different, the center of these circumstances is a safe place I've been before. 

What would happen if we regarded our hardships, our trials, our disappointments as gifts? Gifts from a faithful and loving Father for our good, not for our harm. Gifts to give us a future and a hope. Gifts to transform us into the image of his Son, whom he loves.

 

O Kakor Chokladflarn, how do I love thee?

I stopped by Mom's this morning and she gave me a new IKEA catalog and a box of these cookies she bought for me while she was in New York visiting IKEA--oh, and my sister, Kristen, and Kristen's kids.

I didn't even wait to make a mug of tea or mocha before diving in (the cup's empty, but looked pretty in the picture!) Two crispy, buttery cookies with a chocolate layer in the middle--the best store bought cookies ever. (Well, those and the Petit Ecolier cookies in dark chocolate from LU.)

If you leave near an IKEA and have never bought these...well, you're missing out big time. There's nothing better to break into on the drive home after a morning of shopping for cheap, pretty paper napkins, candles, and a lunch of Swedish meatballs and lingonberry sauce.

Go. Buy some. You'll thank me, I promise!

Oh, and one more thing? THEY ARE BUILDING AN IKEA IN DENVER. YES WAY! JUST MINUTES--I COULD WALK IF I WAS SO INCLINED--FROM MY HOUSE. I KNOW!

Sorry for the shouting. But IKEA! And MEATBALLS! And CANDLES! And KAKOR CHOKLADFLARN! It's almost too, too much for a typical Tuesday afternoon...

And while we're in the Christmas spirit...

(If you look real close, you can see my sister taking our picture in our sunglasses!)

Come on over!

It's here! TIme for a peek into everyone's houses. (I have to say, I leave my blinds open all the time out of respect for others who, like me, love to peek into someone else's home! Do you?)

Come on in out of the cold--it finally made it up to 0 degrees here in Denver this afternoon! Have a sit by the fire to get warm--you can even sit in "my" chair by the tree while I get some tea and once you're warmed up we'll take a look around.

I'm a word girl and love vintage cards, so they are tucked here and there:

I also love trees of all kinds:

(Yarn trees from my sister Kristen--and those are my parents visiting Santa when they were small)

And I like to have more than one Nativity set:

(The girls have always loved to play with this pewter set we received as a wedding gift from Toben's Uncle Jim and Aunt Susan)

(This is part of my new one--it's cardboard and was made in 1933)

By the way, we're listening to this--well, most likely just tracks 2, 3, and 9 over and over again. Because they are my favorites. Just ask my family. (And if you don't have this CD, you really, really want to put it on your Christmas wish list!)

And we're going to be eating some Rocky Road Fudge. I'm not usually a fudge person, but my friend Yvette made some for us and oh. my. word. It couldn't be any easier to make and it so deliciously yummy. (This is what my neighbors will be getting!) I'd show you a picture, but we ate it all and all that's left is the cute tin it came in.

Rocky Road

Yield: One 9 x 13 pan

3 cups semi-sweet chocolate

3 tbsp. butter

3/4 cup chunky peanut butter

1 package mini marshmallows

Line 9 x 13 pan with waxed paper. Melt together chocolate chips, butter, and peanut butter. Add small amount of mixture to pan. Fill pan with marshmallows and pour remaining chocolate mixture over the top. Bang pan on the counter until the chocolate mixture works its way down between the marshmallows. Refrigerate 2-3 hours. Turn out onto cutting board and cut into squares.

Go here for all the other tour links.

One more tree before you walk out the door...

Come again soon!

Memory Monday: Part of the Christmas story

Confession: With the week being such as it was, I didn't start working on the Christmas story in Luke 2:1-20 until yesterday afternoon. So here's what I know so far. (Corrections are in red.)

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) So And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Jospeh also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. And While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she delivered gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

I remember learning this in the fourth grade, but I think we learned it from the KJV--so I keep getting mixed up!

The next part is something the girls learned for the Christmas program at school--and they have hand motions, so I think we'll have to have a video post later this week to help all of us learning these verses.

What have you memorized this week? Leave a comment! And want to join in? Here's all the information you need!

What I really opened up my computer to blog about

After saying yesterday that I don't believe in coincidences, God proved the point. The readings for my quiet time today spoke so clearly--again!--that I just had to share. Because I'm so astounded at how much God loves me and how much he has to say to me about exactly where I am that I can't keep it all inside.

This was part of the reading for today:

"I will...gather those who have been scattered. I will give them praise and honor in every land where they were put to shame. At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes," says the LORD. (Zephaniah 3:19-20, emphasis mine)

Did you see that the whole scattered thing is there--again?! That and the fact that God speaks?

And the other passages in the reading (Isaiah 2:2-6, Philippians 4:4-9, Luke 3:7-18) followed that up with the whole idea of singing and rejoicing. That in the midst of anxiety we can present our requests to God, accept his peace, and rejoice in the midst of it. Because he is among us, because he is Immanuel, God with us.

I've not been very joyful this week. I've been moping and sad and feeling like somehow Toben and I are going to have to work ourselves out of the pit we're in because we got ourselves into it. 

But something else I read this morning confirmed to me that God will be the one to do the work. (Back to all those "I wills" from Ezekiel the other day.) That though we've been saved for eternity we still need his salvation from this thing. And that like our eternal salvation, we cannot achieve it by our own works. That salvation--any kind of salvation--comes from God alone.

Jesus saves. They sang that at the Christmas program at church yesterday. And I was struck by its truth. Jesus saves. Once and for all. And every single moment of every single day. Jesus saves.

Have I ever?

I've seen this around blogland in the past few weeks and thought I'd join in. Wanna play? 

The things I've done are in bold. My comments are in red.

1. Started your own blog 

Well, obviously.

2. Slept under the stars

As a kid I loved to sleep on the deck during the summer.

3. Played in a band 

4. Visited Hawaii 

Four times--Kauai is my favorite.

5. Watched a meteor shower 

6. Given more than you can afford to charity 

Just last weekend, actually.

7. Been to Disneyland/World 

Southern California passes are the best!

8. Climbed a mountain 

9. Held a praying mantis 

10. Sang a solo 

Teaching Girl Scout songs?

11. Bungee jumped 

12. Visited Paris 

As a child with my family.
Toben and I moved there after college for the summer of 1993.
Went back to visit my sister when she lived there.
Went with five girlfriends for my 30th birthday for a week.

13. Watched a lightning storm

Best one ever? Indigo Girls concert at Red Rocks with a lightning storm over Denver.

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch 

Tatting.

15. Adopted a child 

If you count our four daughters through Compassion--Lucia, Denys, Gita, and Josianne.

16. Had food poisoning 

Trip to Pennsylvania when Audrey was a baby--I ended up in the hospital.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty 

No, but I've seen it from a distance.

18. Grown your own vegetables

Every summer--but NO MORE ZUCCHINI!

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France 

See #12.

20. Slept on an overnight train 

Seems like I must have while we lived in England.

21. Had a pillow fight 

I'm a girl. And I take girls to Girl Scout camp. Enough said.

22. Hitch hiked 

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

Mental health days.

24. Built a snow fort 

Colorado winters!

25. Held a lamb 

Best time? Camping in a farmer's field in England as a kid and the farmer's wife let Kristen and I feed the lambs with a bottle.

26. Gone skinny dipping 

27. Run a Marathon 

Are you kidding? That ain't never gonna happen!

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice 

29. Seen a total eclipse

Maybe, but I can't remember.

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset 

Sunrise--almost every day! Sunset in Hawaii would be the best.

31. Hit a home run 

P.E. in junior high school, but it's called Rounders there.

32. Been on a cruise 

Yes, but NEVER AGAIN! See here for why.

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person 

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors 

Visited the farm in Germany (still owned by Friedensteins) where the youngest son left from to come to America to seek his fortune.

35. Seen an Amish community 

The Big Valley in Pennsylvania is my favorite.

36. Taught yourself a new language 

I have a college degree in French; I also speak a little German (four years in high school) and Spanish (two years in high school).

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied 

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

Though I've traveled in Italy, we didn't make it to Pisa.

39. Gone rock climbing 

Well, I suppose not officially. But our house in Rockrimmon when I was in elementary school was surrounded by all kinds of huge rock. We played all over them and named each one--Monster Rock, Ghost Rock, Mushroom Rocks, King's Crown.

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David 

While my family lived in England, we traveled all over Europe.

41. Sung karaoke 

First time was in August here.

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt 

As a child--I'd love to take Audrey and Emma.

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant 

44. Visited Africa 

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight 

Hawaii again--though also when we lived in San Diego and the beach was minutes away

46. Been transported in an ambulance 

47. Had your portrait painted 

Does it count if one of my children was the artist?

48. Gone deep sea fishing 

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person 

See #40.

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris 

See #12.

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling 

See #4--and we went sailing in the Bahamas when I was 10--lots of snorkeling there.

52. Kissed in the rain 

Definitely. Toben and I went to college in Spokane. 

53. Played in the mud 

In elementary school I stayed with the Nordemans when my parents were gone and the house next door was being built. The whole for the foundation was a huge mud pit and Robbie and Nichole and Kristen and I played in there--happy as pigs.

54. Gone to a drive-in theater 

55. Been in a movie 

Do promotional movies for Promise Keepers count? Also the Parenting Adolescents video series.

56. Visited the Great Wall of China 

57. Started a business 

Take a look here.

58. Taken a martial arts class 

59. Visited Russia 

60. Served at a soup kitchen 

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies 

Cookie sales start January 9 in Denver!

62. Gone whale watching 

See #4 again.

63. Got flowers for no reason 

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma 

Not on purpose that I can remember. I HATE needles. (Unless I'm sewing.)

65. Gone sky diving 

Indoor skydiving. See here.

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp 

Dachau, when we lived in England. I'll never forget it.

67. Bounced a check 

68. Flown in a helicopter 

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

Smurfs, anyone?

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

More than once. This was the last time. 

71. Eaten caviar 

72. Pieced a quilt

Here, here, and here to see a few.  

73. Stood in Times Square

The last time? I flew to New York to tell Toben I was pregnant with Audrey. He was there on a business. 

74. Toured the Everglades

As a child--probably sometime in 1982 when we lived in Montgomery, Alabama.  

75. Been fired from a job 

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London 

Lived in England from 1983-1986. 

77. Broken a bone 

Does my thumb count? 

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle 

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person 

80. Published a book 

Take a look here. 

81. Visited the Vatican 

See #40.

82. Bought a brand new car

Saturn x2, Pacifica, HHR. We've owned way too many cars.

83. Walked in Jerusalem 

84. Had your picture in the newspaper 

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

See #70.  

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating 

88. Had chickenpox

Fifth grade. And my best friend's mom wanted her to get it too, so Janet came over every day after school to play until she caught them.  

89. Saved someone’s life 

I don't think so, but I gave Ava the Heimlich when she was a baby when she choked on a Cheerio and Kristen thinks I did.

90. Sat on a jury 

91. Met someone famous

Lots of authors and musicians--comes from working in publishing and also from Toben working at Youth Specialties. 

92. Joined a book club 

93. Lost a loved one 

94. Had a baby 

Two of the cutest ones ever. 

95. Seen the Alamo in person 

From the outside only on this trip--see #41.

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake 

97. Been involved in a law suit 

98. Owned a cell phone 

99. Been stung by a bee

One flew up my skirt and stung me on the knee during recess in the fifth grade.

It seems like there should really be 100 things, doesn't it? So I'll just go ahead and add #100.

100. Got married as a teenager.

That's one that thrills my Girl Scouts to no end.

He speaks

One morning during chapel last year, a mom leaned over to me and said that she didn't think that God talked to people anymore. I looked at her. "What?" she said. "God talks to you?"

Yep. Not in an audible voice. But God speaks to me. He is a God to whom speaking and communicating is vastly important.

The Bible opens with God speaking the universe into creation and ends with Jesus, the Word of God, speaking a promise to return to earth. And all throughout Scripture God speaks. And he hasn't stopped.

I came across this quote from Karl Barth in one of my Advent books, Watch for the Light, this morning:

"...the living word of God is available to us. It is a word that, in contrast to all human words, is clear, intelligible and unambiguous."

While at times God clearly impresses something on my heart or tells me something I couldn't possibly know on my own, God speaks to me primarily through the Bible, his Word. 

So often, we don't think God speaks because we're not in the Word. We can't hear if we don't listen, and we listen by spending time in the Word. If we want to hear God's voice, we must read our Bibles.

I don't believe in coincidences. And yesterday's reading from Ezekiel 34 was so clearly God speaking to me, because it talked exactly about being scattered:

For this is what the Sovereign LORD says:

I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak. (Ezekiel 34:11-16, emphasis mine)

Remember this? This has been a scattered week for me--a hard and painful week that began with a "day of clouds and darkness." And yet in the midst of it all, I'm hearing that God is at work. It's hard because Satan is lying his head off--loudly and smoothly--but God is at work and he has allowed this for a purpose. 

God promises to work all things for good when we love him (Romans 8:28). He uses for good what others meant for evil (Genesis 50:20). His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 2:9). His will will be done (Matthew 6:10). And just look at the list of what he will do in that passage:

For this is what the Sovereign LORD says:

I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak. (Ezekiel 34:11-16, emphasis mine)

He has plans for me--plans to give me a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). He has plans for you. Plans to give you a hope and a future. He's bringing us out of whatever danger we're in and bringing us into the land he's prepared for us. Doesn't that just thrill you? It does me. 

What are you struggling with? Is there something in your life that you're wanting to hear from God about? Do you want to know what he thinks--about you? about life? about Jesus? about the world?

Open your ears by opening your Bible. God has something to say to you.

Done

Emma's Christmas dress from Butterick 4906, view B. My favorite part? The gingham lining. That and the zipper I finally got in...after three tries.

Christmas meme

Carolina Mama (who really loves snow and wishes she were here to shovel my driveway for me) tagged me for this Christmas meme. I know I'm supposed to tag people too, but join in if you want--it's an open invitation!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Coffee. Or just hot water.

2.Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Santa doesn't bring us presents.

3. Colored lights on house/tree or white?
White.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Nope, though I kissed a lot of boys in the sixth grade because of it.

5.When do you put your decorations up?
Day after Thanksgiving. Though this year it was the day before.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Egg and sausage casserole. 

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?
Cutting down our Christmas trees.

8.When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I don't remember. But apparently I didn't talk to my parents for a while after they told me.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Yes--pajamas.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
The big one like a magazine tree. The small ones with ornaments. (There are five in the house at last count.)

11. Snow. Love it or dread it?
Love it. Don't love to shovel five inches at 6 a.m. when Toben's out of town.

12. Can you ice skate?
Oh yeah. Backwards too.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Handmade baby dolls.

14. What is the most important thing about the holidays to you? 

Jesus. 

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Almond crescent cookies.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? 

Listening to Robert Benson's The Night of the Child by the light of the tree on Christmas Eve. All by myself usually.

17. What tops your Christmas tree?
This year? Sparkly gold stuff and red berry twigs.

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
Giving.

19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
Right now? "Ring the Bells" by Travis Cottrell.

20. Candy Canes. Yum or Yuck?
I could take them or leave them.

21. What do you want for Christmas?
A white one.

22. Do you attend an annual Christmas party?
Used to. Don't anymore. And my mother and I hosted a Christmas tea for all of our friends for nine years running. Maybe next year again.

23. Do you dress up for Christmas Eve or wear PJ's?
Dress up for church.

24. Do you own a Santa hat?
Nope.

25. Who do you normally spend Christmas with?

Family.

Pumpkin reads your blog

Thank you

I can't even begin to say how much your comments have meant to me. Thank you so much for your love and encouragement and prayers. What an amazing gift you are to me.

How often do we not receive because we do not ask? All too often I think we wait around, expecting others to realize our needs and then rush in to meet them. And then we are disappointed. 

And while God does put others on our hearts at just the right moment, how much more we receive when we admit our need and ask.

Do you have need of encouragement? Of prayer? Of friendship? Ask!

I'd love to sit here (with Pumpkin on my lap purring away madly and watching the computer screen--yes, I have a picture and will post it later) but Toben is out of town and we have four or five inches of snow that need to be shoveled off the driveway before I take the girls to school.

Not the snow day I'd hoped for! Which included no school, lots of hot chocolate, and finishing off the Rocky Road fudge my friend Yvette made for us. Instead it will include driving on icy roads, more laundry, and who knows what else. I suppose I could always eat the fudge alone.

Gotta go find my mittens...

Feeling scattered

Funny how the verses you memorize tie in with real life, isn't it? As I was typing in Mary's Song earlier this morning, I got to the part that says "he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts" and thought, No kidding.

I'm feeling totally scattered. And realizing that it has to do with pride on some levels.

You see, I thought something was true--something good. But it turns out it's not true. In fact, it couldn't be further from the truth. (Sorry, I know this is a little vague, but stick with me.)

Anyway, I realize that I was proud of this thing. To the point of feeling superior to others because of it. Judging others in my heart because of it. Feeling oh so sorry for others who didn't have it together like I thought I did.

Turns out it was a big fat lie. And I feel like a fool.

I'd like to justify it all and say, "But I didn't know this thing wasn't true." I didn't. I really thought this thing was true. I was told it was true. And I told others it was true. But it wasn't.

But I guess that's not really the point. The point is that I let this thing become an area of pride. 

Pride's a funny thing. Sometimes it seems like a good thing--like taking pride in a job well done for the sake of doing it well. But this has clearly been a bad pride thing. An "I'm so great" pride thing rather than a "God's so great" pride thing. 

I've spent some time this morning confessing my pride and wrestling through this thing and asking for forgiveness for my pride and praying for wisdom.

Because this thing needs to be true in our life. And we will be working toward making it true. But once we get there, it's going to be one of those great things the Mighty One has done for us. Not something we've done ourselves.

This is what the LORD says:

"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

Let him who boasts boast in the Lord. (I Corinthians 1:31)

I'm still feeling overwhelmed and confused and scattered; I'd appreciate your prayers. Thanks for listening...

Memory Monday: Mary's Song

Mary's Song

Luke 1:46-55

And Mary said,

"My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices with God my Savior,

for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed, 

for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is his name!

His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he promised said to our fathers."

Posted yours? Leave a link in the comments! Want to join in? Here's what you need to know.

***

Added a bit later...

Forgot to pick next week's. I think I'm going to start memorizing the Christmas story from Luke 2. Seems appropriate!

Why memorize?

A friend emailed this article by John Piper to me this morning...thought I'd share it with you!

***

Week of December 8

Why Memorize Scripture?

John Piper

First, a few testimonies: I have it third hand, that Dr. Howard Hendricks (of Dallas Seminary) once made the statement (and I paraphrase) that if it were his decision, every student graduating from Dallas Theological Seminary would be required to learn one thousand verses word perfect before they graduated.

Dallas Willard, professor of Philosophy at the University of Southern California, wrote, "Bible memorization is absolutely fundamental to spiritual formation. If I had to choose between all the disciplines of the spiritual life, I would choose Bible memorization, because it is a fundamental way of filling our minds with what it needs. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth. That's where you need it! How does it get in your mouth? Memorization" ("Spiritual Formation in Christ for the Whole Life and Whole Person" in Vocatio, Vol. 12, no. 2, Spring, 2001, p. 7).

Chuck Swindoll wrote, "I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture... No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified" (Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994], p. 61).

One of the reasons Martin Luther came to his great discovery in the Bible of justification by faith alone was that in his early years in the Augustinian monastery he was influenced to love Scripture by Johann Staupitz. Luther devoured the Bible in a day when people earned doctorates in theology without even reading the Bible. Luther said that his fellow professor, Andreas Karlstadt, did not even own a Bible when he earned his doctor of theology degree, nor did he until many years later (www.orlutheran.com/html/luthbibl.html). Luther knew so much of the Bible from memory that when the Lord opened his eyes to see the truth of justification in Romans 1:17, he said, "Thereupon I ran through the Scriptures from memory," in order to confirm what he had found.

So here are a few reasons why so many have viewed Scripture memorization as so essential to the Christian life.

1. Conformity to Christ

Paul wrote that "we all... beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another." If we would be changed into Christ likeness we must steadily see him. This happens in the word. "The LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD" (1 Samuel 3:21). Bible memorization has the effect of making our gaze on Jesus to be steadier and clearer.

2. Daily Triumph over Sin

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word... I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:9, 11). Paul said that we must "by the Spirit... put to death the [sinful] deeds of the body" (Romans 8:13). The one piece of armor used to kill is the "sword of the Spirit," which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). As sin lures the body into sinful action, we call to mind a Christ-revealing word of Scripture and slay the temptation with the superior worth and beauty of Christ over what sin offers.

3. Daily Triumph over Satan

When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness he recited Scripture from memory and put Satan to flight (Matthew 4:1-11).

4. Comfort and Counsel for People You Love

The times when people need you to give them comfort and counsel do not always coincide with the times you have your Bible handy. Not only that, the very word of God spoken spontaneously from your heart has unusual power. Proverbs 25:11 says, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver." That is a beautiful way of saying, When the heart full of God's love can draw on the mind full of God's word, timely blessings flow from the mouth.

5. Communicating the Gospel to Unbelievers

Opportunities to share the gospel come when we do not have the Bible in hand. Actual verses of the Bible have their own penetrating power. And when they come from our heart, as well as from the Book, the witness is given that they are precious enough to learn. We should all be able to sum up the gospel under four main headings (1) God's holiness/law/glory; 2) man's sin/rebellion/disobedience; 3) Christ's death for sinners; 4) the free gift of life by faith. Learn a verse or two relating to each of these, and be ready in season and out of season to share them.

6. Communion with God in the Enjoyment of His Person and Ways

The way we commune with (that is, fellowship with) God is by meditating on his attributes and expressing to him our thanks and admiration and love, and seeking his help in living a life that reflects the value of these attributes. Therefore, storing texts in our minds about God helps us relate to him as he really is. For example, imagine being able to call this to mind through the day:

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103:8-14)

I used the word "enjoyment" intentionally when I said, "communion with God in the enjoyment of his person and ways." Most of us are emotionally crippled -- all of us really. We do not experience God in the fullness of our emotional potential. How will that change? One way is to memorize the emotional expressions of the Bible and speak them to the Lord and to each other until they become part of who we are. For example, in Psalm 103:1, we say, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!" That is not a natural expression for many people. But if we memorize this and other emotional expressions from the Bible, and say them often, asking the Lord to make the emotion real in our hearts, we can actually grow into that emotion and expression. It will become part of who we are. We will be less crippled emotionally and more able to render proper praise and thanks to God.

There are other reasons for memorizing Scripture. I hope you find them in the actual practice.

Still learning with you,

Pastor John

By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: www.desiringGod.org. Email: [email protected]. Toll Free: 1.888.346.4700.

Kristen's Advent calendar

This is the Advent calendar I made for my sister, based on the one made for me when I was a little girl.

I don't have a pattern--I just used mine as a guide for the size and ornament ideas. Her tree is a little more free form than mine, which is a little more her, I think. And I did her ornaments a little differently. A lot of mine have sparkly sequins and stuff--I made hers a little more simply. (See, her girl has yellow felt hair instead of orange yarn.)

Other than sewing the tree, buttons, and pockets, it's all about the Alene's Tacky Glue that comes in that gold/bronze bottle. That and a really good pair of scissors!

Here's a fun way to waste some time

Go here and make a font for your computer out of your own handwriting. Pretty fun!

Telling time can be tricky

So Audrey and I were reading in the living room by the fire last night. Toben and Emma were snuggled up in bed and I had no idea what time it was.

At one point, Audrey opened up my computer to check the time--7:48 p.m. So we kept on reading for a while, then I said, "Time for bed--it must be 8:30 by now."

She checked the time again--9:48. What?! I knew it hadn't been two hours. So she ran to the kitchen to check the big wall clock. 8:45.

By this point I was totally confused. (And I'm sure you are too!) 

I sent her upstairs to jump into bed and checked the clock in the kitchen myself while I let Daisy out one last time. 9:45.

When she'd opened the computer the first time, it was still showing the time it was when I shut the lid--she didn't wait for the time to adjust.

Needless to say, I freaked out a little.

First, I was awake. Wide awake. And it was almost 10 o'clock--a time I usually only see in the A.M.

Second, it was 9:45 and Audrey was still awake. Wide awake. ON A SCHOOL NIGHT!

I  think I'll let her sleep in as late as possible this morning. And let her have some coffee with her breakfast.

Happy birthday, Kristen!

Today is my little sister's birthday--Happy birthday, birthday girl!

I've mentioned before that she just moved to New York three weeks ago. She and her husband are ice skating in Central Park to celebrate tonight and stopping by Rockerfeller Plaza to see the tree lighting.  Sounds fun, doesn't it? Cold, but fun!

In my family, we call and sing on your birthday--usually waaaay before the crack of dawn. But I waited to call until this afternoon and then left a birthday singing message since she didn't pick up. I'll have to see if she's home tomorrow and skype (video calling on the computer) so I can sing "in person."

Anyway, happy birthday, Kristen. I love you!

Advent calendars

So, for those of you who asked, I found this introduction to what Advent is all about in my new Advent devotional for this year: Preparing for Jesus by Walter Wangerin, which I am loving:

As a season of the the Christian year, Advent is ancient. It goes back at least to the middle of the sixth century. Already then its observance defined not only the One who was coming, but also those who were faithfully and self-consciously waiting. It defined the peculiar people who looked forward to the coming of that One...

For nearly one thousand five hundred years Christians have spent the days of Advent not in passive inaction, but in activities strenuous and profitable: they have prepared themselves by scrubbing and cleaning their lives, by examining and repairing their souls--even as people generally prepare themselves body and home to receive a visitor of ineffable importance...

So let us enter the story one more time. In this present season of Advent let us experience the infant's Advent in the past and so make ourselves ready for the Advent of the Lord of Glory in the future.

from the introduction, p. 21-24

All too often, waiting is passive inaction--sitting around, twiddling our thumbs and wishing time would move faster toward whatever it is we are waiting for. But Advent is not passive inaction.

Advent is a season of active waiting--of mediation, of preparation, of telling the story of the first Christmas again and again even as we long for the coming Advent.

For children especially (well, for all of us really!) waiting is hard work. And waiting for Christmas is no exception. And so by celebrating Advent, we make the waiting fun.

One of the activities that children love is counting down the days with Advent calendars. There are a zillion different ways to do this. Here are a few of the ones we use.

This one was made for me when I was a little girl. (Sorry for the blurry photo--my battery is dead, so I can't take a new one!) It's the one that my sister and I used growing up. To go first or to go last on Christmas Eve was always the hard decision!

I think Kristen was pretty unhappy when this came to live with me. After all, it was a huge part of her childhood too. So I used this as a template and made one for her the Christmas she announced she was pregnant with Ava. That way, the house looks like her little house, there's a dog that looks like their dog, and the little girl has blond hair instead of orange--and there's a little boy for Wade too.

Maybe she'll send me a picture of hers and I'll put it up. Kristen?!

My mother also bought us paper Advent calendars to hang in our rooms--not the kind with candy, but with Bible verses or pictures hiding behind the little doors. These are two of them that Mom saved for me.

And then there are the Advent Treasure Boxes that I made for the girls two years ago. Each morning they open an envelope and put a small treasure in their box. Each treasure represents part of the Christmas story.

(To see all the envelopes, click on the Advent Countdown button over there <---- on the category cloud and it'll show all the posts I did when we first made them.)

How do you count down Advent? Leave a link in the comments if you've blogged about it!

A little more about Advent

We lit our first Advent candle yesterday at Sunday dinner and read the Scriptures that went with it. And we talked about hope--and why we need hope and what it would be like to have no hope.

I can never think about hope without the line from "Amazing Grace" that says "his Word my hope secures." I love that. Our hope isn't tossed by the wind, here and there, but anchored securely to God's Word. Because he said it, we can trust him to do it. 

That's why verses like the ones I mentioned in Isaiah this morning mean the world to me. In times of trouble, they are something tangible I can hang on to. I remember so clearly writing out those verses on an index card and carrying them with me everywhere I went. 

Isaiah 43:18-19

"Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up, do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the desert

and streams in the wasteland."

"You said you'd do a new thing, Lord," I'd pray. "I'm looking for you to make a way," I'd tell him. 

I can't encourage you enough to secure your hope to God's Word. Whatever you may be facing, find a promise from God and hang on to it with both hands. Your hope is secure in him.

We spent the rest of the afternoon camped out in front of the fire, watching the snow fall. The girls tucked themselves into the window seat behind the tree and played Go Fish. (Just now noticed Toben's lovely giant diet Coke in the picture--ignore that!)

And before I forget, my candle holder came from Restoration Hardware years ago. I don't think it was intended as an Advent candle holder, but anything with five candles will work. I saw a tea light holder thing-y today at WalMart that would work great. 

(I tried to find a link on their website, but it kept showing me Crystal Light which is NOT what I was looking for. Anyway, it's in the back, on the aisle with all the candles--not in the Christmas section. And it held five tea lights and went up and down in an arch kind of a thing. There. That'll totally help you find it, won't it?!)

Finally, it's hard being a little cat around Christmas. There are just so many ways to get into trouble. I think this is what temptation looks like!

If there was sound with this picture, you'd hear me warning, "Puuuummmpkiiiin!"

Okay, look at that. It's 9:13 p.m. and I need to go to bed. Though we do have a late start tomorrow--hooray! Sweet dreams, ya'll (that's for you, Lisa)...

Memory Monday: Part of Mary's Song

Confession: I haven't learned all of Luke 1:46-55 this week. (What a week! I think I'm finally caught up on my sleep and feeling like myself again.) But I have learned some of it. So here's what I know for now, and I'll know the whole thing by next Monday. I promise!

Mary's Song

And Mary said:

"My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation."

My favorite part? 

I love that Mary calls God "the Mighty One." (Have you heard this song? I'm so gonna sing like her when I get to heaven!) And I want these words to describe me--"From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is his name."

Because you know what? The Mighty One HAS done great things for me. 

Some of you know that Toben is bipolar, and the couple of years when he was diagnosed and despaired of life, I didn't think we would make it. I didn't think I would make it. Every single day hurt.

But God led us through and made "a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland" as it says in Isaiah 43:18-19. And here we are today. Not perfect by any means. But healed and whole and a family.

Holy is his name!