The ABC's of Thanksgiving

It's quiet this morning, save for the lovely sounds of soft piano music in the background. A beautiful day is streaming its early morning light through the windows, and my little dog's body gently nudges against my leg as he finds just the right sleeping spot here on the couch.

Today is my 47th Thanksgiving. For a lot of years, there was the noise of the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade serving as the morning sound-track, but this year is different. Actually, it's different in a lot of ways. This year, I'm back home in Texas after eleven years "abroad" (state lines, that is!). This year, I'll spend it with extended family for the first time in that same number of years, as we chose Christmas as our traveling holiday. This year, we are living in an apartment, waiting for a house into which we thought we'd have moved long before now. This year, our oldest daughter is living with us, after living away for four years. This year, our youngest daughter is not with us for the first time, ever. And, this year, we received news that we are going to be grandparents; not in the way that most parents hope, but nonetheless, a grandchild will be coming into the world!

Because of this latest announcement, I'm going to be really honest and tell you that these last couple of weeks have been among the hardest of my life. Yet, through it all, my Jesus has been more real to me than ever. Each day He has shown me a sweetness that I've never experienced, and He's opened my eyes to the fact that I really can "thank Him in all circumstances". What seems impossible at the time, serves to change me, if I but choose to make mine an attitude of gratitude.

So, I leave you with my "ABC's" of Thanksgiving, and encourage you to make your own, as you walk through whatever God is allowing in your life right now - the good AND the challenging. A focus on thanks will change your heart and serve to make the path a little straighter.

• The AWESOME wonder of God's creation.
  
• The BIBLE, which truly is "alive and active".
• CHRIST, Who set me free.
• DOGS, who make me laugh every single day.
• EMMIE, my baby, who still calls me "Mommy" sometimes.
  
• FRIENDS, on both sides of the screen who blow me away with their care.
• A GRANDBABY who has already rocked my world and captured my heart.
• The blessing and excitement of a new church HOME.
• The fact that I am of the utmost worth to God.
• The JOY that only comes from Christ and is not dependent on circumstances.
• KEVIN who stole my heart in 1981 and never gave it back.
• True LOVE that always protects, always hopes, always perseveres.
• MADDIE, my first-born, who called me "Mommy" for the first time.
• The power of being NICE and how it can change a person's day.
• The lesson that life lived with an OPEN hand allows for much bigger living than holding it with a tight fist.
  
• PARENTS who can be counted on for anything...especially PRAYER.
• The ability to still find QUIET moments in a world that never shuts up or down.
• Enough RESOURCES to not only keep ourselves afloat, but enough to bless others.
• A SOLID marriage built on SOLID Ground.
• TECHNOLOGY and how it makes fulfilling the Great Commission possible for the every man.
• UNCONDITIONAL love and forgiveness.
  
• The fact that VICTORY is already ours through Christ; we don't have to choose to live in defeat.
• The WRITTEN WORD.
• The fact that my pursuit of living a life of eXELLENCE is not dependent on my being perfect.
• YAHWEH holds the world in His hands; He's in control when nothing else seems to be.
• The lesson that a little ZEST added makes not only food more fun, but life as well.
  

The happiest of Thanksgivings to you and yours, dear ones who visit me here. I'm so thankful for you, and the constant delight and encouragement your visits bring.

God bless us, every one.

A Mother's Heart

She sat, thankful to be off her feet after a long day, and relished the comfort of her grandmother's rocker that looked perfect in her newly completed nursery. Her hands traveled to her swollen belly as she rocked, her mind adrift on daydreams of toothless grins and the powdery-scented goodness of velvet infant skin.

The light from the window caught the beautiful rose-colored glass heart that she'd received as a gift, bringing her out of her reverie. A "Mother's Heart", the giver had called it, and it seemed an appropriate name, as it looked as full and rosy as her own heart felt. With a sudden rush of anticipation, she thanked God for the millionth time for the incredible gift that she carried and the privilege of such a beautiful future.

Before she knew it, she was back in that nursery, rocking a squirming bundle of pink. The daughter of her dreams...her heart. She sang the songs she remembered from her youth and sat for long moments marveling at each finger and toe, each eyelash and curl. As she lay that sweet wonder in her crib, she noticed that the glass heart seemed bigger than she remembered. Figuring that it was just light play or lack of sleep, she dismissed it and turned, leaving the heart glowing in the dim nightlight, a silent sentinel.

Several nights later, she awoke with a start, glancing in horror at the clock as she realized her girl had slept through a feeding. Heart pounding with an unfamiliar, searing pain, she raced down the hall and into the nursery, placing a hand on the baby to feel for breath. Tears streamed down her face as she felt the gentle rise and fall of a tiny chest in the deepest slumber, and moments later, as she turned to walk out, she saw the small hairline crack in the rosy glass of the heart. Wondering how in the world it got there, she realized that it was exactly how her own heart felt.

Her grandmother had told her once that the years with her children would fly by. What she had taken as an old wives' tale, she now realized was truth born of experience. The years were flying by, and as they flew, the glass heart continued to change. Growing ever-so-slightly with each milestone and achievement, cracking with each gut-wrenching fear and word spoken out of anger or frustration, it still sat on the shelf, now crowded by Barbies, stuffed animals and soccer trophies.

From changes in her room and clothes, to changes in her friends and activities, her daughter was trying hard to jump ahead to adulthood. Everything in her, as a mother, fought against this, and so ushered in the timeless conflict of parenting a teenager. The harder she held her ground, the harder her girl fought her, and the moment that the words "I hate you!" flew from her daughter's mouth for the first time, there was a loud pop that issued from the glass heart as a wide fissure formed from top to bottom. The sound shook them both, and as they stood side by side assessing the damage, her daughter quietly took her hand. Glancing over from tear-filled eyes, she squeezed it three times for "I love you", as she'd been taught as a small child and, together, they watched the glass heart grow. Wonder of wonders, it stayed intact.

The heart sat alone on the shelf again, now. Her girl was gone, off to college and chasing her own dreams. As she was dusting, she picked up the heart and marveled at how different it looked from when she'd first received it. It was bigger than she ever imagined, and rather misshapen from all the cracks, small and large. Wiping it off, she carefully placed it back on the shelf with a smile and prayer of thankfulness. They had made it through.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere came the news from her girl: There would be another baby - a grandchild - out of a relationship that had been kept secret. Fear of judgment over a myriad of differences had kept something that should have been shared, shrouded in secrecy, and as her dreams for her daughter died and her worries took control, it became too much. In the quiet of the house, the crash came. The sound of broken glass hitting the ground echoed what was happening in her own chest. She left it all where it lay, unable to even bear looking at it.

Each morning, she awoke and talked to no one but the only One who completely understood. He began to ease some of the ache, and when she walked past the room where the shards lay, she half expected the heart to be put back together, the way it was before.

But it wasn't.

Then He gave her the reason...

The Lord says, "Forget what happened before,
and do not think about the past. Look at the new thing I am going to do.
It is already happening. Don't you see it? I will make a road in the desert
and rivers in dry land.

She knew, then, that her heart would never be the same, but it would be healed...it would become a new thing.

Months passed, and, excited, she opened the door to the newly redecorated nursery. Her daughter walked in, cradling her own little bundle, and smiled when she spotted her great-grandmother's rocker in the corner. But what stopped her short was the small, perfect "mother's heart" that her mother held out to her, and the heart-shaped, rose-colored glass mosaic hanging in the window.

Changing One Heart for Many - Week 44 URGENT!!

If you're just joining us, click here to see what this prayer team is all about! While we are a "pro-life" prayer team, we, IN NO WAY, stand in judgment against those who have chosen abortion in the past! We hold you and your heart in the highest esteem and you are SO WELCOME here. Many women (and men) who've experienced abortion often hold onto the memory in silence, suppressing feelings of guilt, shame and grief for, quite often, years. If this describes you, and you would like more information on how to find hope and healing, please visit this site, or click on the "contact me" button above.

This is an early weekly post, as there is a LOT on the line this weekend with regard to government-funded health care. I received the following from Americans United for Life:

Pro-abortion forces have taken a dramatic step towards the tragedy of our tax dollars being used to fund abortions. The increase in the number of innocent lives lost in America – using the taxes you and I pay – is too high to count.

Senate Democrats, led by Harry Reid, have just unveiled a 2074-page government take over of health care bill. This radical bill DOES NOT include the Stupak-Pitts language from the House bill – that you helped pass -- prohibiting federal funding of abortion.

Instead the pro-abortion forces in the Senate are winning approval of federal funding for abortion health care coverage. To help limit our ability to fight this radical change of existing law, these pro-abortion Democrats plan to hold the first vote on the bill THIS SATURDAY.

We are fortunate that there have been pro-life legislators on both sides of the aisle working tirelessly to keep abortion funding out of health-care reform! Praise God that He's working mightily in this way! We just need to keep the pressure on to keep the lives of the unborn out of jeopardy!

Please CALL your US Senators RIGHT NOW (before Saturday) and tell them to VOTE NO on allowing the Harry Reid, pro-abortion health care bill.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS

My mouth's full of great praise for God,
I'm singing his hallelujahs surrounded by crowds,
For He's always at hand to take the side of the needy,
to rescue a life from the unjust judge.
Psalm 109:30-31 MSG

Father God, we come to You today - many believers, one voice - to stand for life. Lord, we thank You that you are always at the ready to "rescue a life". We ask that You would infuse us with Your strength and perseverance to "take the side of the needy" - to stand in the gap for those tiny ones who have no voice - and be Your instruments in their rescue. We pray that the din of our voices would overpower those that would bring them harm, and that every word we say would would bring glory and honor to Your name. Believing You will change one heart for many, we pray in the MIGHTY, LIFE-GIVING NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, Amen.

Desperately Seeking...What?

Would you do me a favor?

My girl Mary is asking some questions about relationships. What are you seeking when it comes to relevant connections with others? Mary would LOVE to know (and so would I, for that matter)! Would you head on over there and be sure to leave a comment?

Y'all are the best. I really mean that.

Changing One Heart for Many - Week 43

If you're just joining us, click here to see what this prayer team is all about! While we are a "pro-life" prayer team, we, IN NO WAY, stand in judgment against those who have chosen abortion in the past! We hold you and your heart in the highest esteem and you are SO WELCOME here. Many women (and men) who've experienced abortion often hold onto the memory in silence, suppressing feelings of guilt, shame and grief for, quite often, years. If this describes you, and you would like more information on how to find hope and healing, please visit this site, or click on the "contact me" button above.

How I loved being able to report the passage of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment by the House of Representatives last week! Certainly, it was and is cause for celebration and praise for what God is doing! Now, however, it's time to get back to business and pray harder than ever, as the victory for the pro-life camp has not gone over well with the pro-choice camp...not in the least!

An article from Politico states it like this (for the entire article, go here):

Abortion-rights advocates are calling in the cavalry to help fight off an anti-abortion provision House Democratic leaders swallowed in order to win passage of their health care reform bill.

Laurie Rubiner, vice president of policy for the Planned Parenthood Federation, said the tight restriction on public funding for abortions “has completely galvanized the reproductive health community and the women’s community.”

On Tuesday, Planned Parenthood summoned 80 progressive groups to plot strategy for keeping the anti-abortion amendment — named for sponsors Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and Joseph Pitts (R-Pa.) — out of a final health care bill.

For all intents and purposes, we have stirred up a hornet's nest. They are hopping mad and will be organizing their very best efforts to expand their interests; should we do any less to ensure the expansion ours? This is NOT the time to lose momentum or back down.

Please continue to pray fervently for President Obama and the decision makers in Washington to hear and accept the truth about life, and to listen to their constituency. Just as you were so faithful to contact your state representatives, please contact your Senators with your requests to not vote for any plan that does NOT have explicit language barring government funding of abortion (along with your desires regarding a government health care plan). Finally, pass the word onto your family and friends so they can do their part, as well.

Together, we can do this.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT

Father God, we come to You today - many believers, one voice - to stand for life. Lord, it's so amazing to join together with other believers in a common cause. You don't need us to accomplish Your will, but You choose to include us, to let us participate, even promising to show Your glory in even more incredible ways when we gather together in prayer. Father, we "braid" ourselves together this day, into a many-stranded cord infused with Your strength. We ask that You would blow us away with Your glory in this situation, giving us Your stamina to see it all the way through. Continue to change hearts Father and draw them to You, the very Author of Life. Believing You will change one heart for many, we pray in the MIGHTY AND LIFE-GIVING NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, Amen.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

I have so loved reading your favorite Christmasy things from my 300th post: Favorite Things Giveaway! It's really started to "stir the mood", even though it's only mid-November. There was a time when I was "militant" about not launching into Christmas until all the Thanksgiving leftovers were in the fridge, but I've decided to abandon that philosophy. Sometimes, like the song says, you just "need a little Christmas" no matter what the calendar says, amen?

As promised, you find my own Christmas favorites listed below. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it is more than five! I figure since it's my blog, I can list as many as I want!

• The movie "White Christmas" - it's been our family movie since before the girls were born and now we can all pretty much quote it. Oh, how I love it!
• The way Christmas lights on the outside cast a warm glow through the window to the inside.
• A Starbucks red cup filled with a Peppermint Mocha or Egg Nog Latte.
• On that note...ice-cold, thick egg nog sprinkled generously with nutmeg.
• Snow on Christmas (not too crazy about it any other time of year, but a Christmas snow is MAGIC)
• A roaring, real fire made from pinion wood.
• The felt and sequin stockings that my mom made for my brothers and me...the stockings with my grandmother's lace that I made for my girls.
• The fact that I can tell you where every ornament on my tree came from.
• The old Firestone Christmas album #3 and its recording of Ave Maria.
• The nostalgic Christmas sounds of Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin and Perry Como, and how I had to relearn them withOUT the skips when I got them on cassette, then CD.
• Two nativity scenes given as gifts from my Aunt Mary Ellen: One is small and almost 46 years old, given on my first Christmas; the other, a Sears and Roebuck porcelain bisque set given to us when we were first married. The latter now has an angel with one wing, and two wise men whose heads and/or feet have been glued back on. I wouldn't trade either for anything in the world.
  
• The more current Christmas musical offerings from Point of Grace; specifically, Christmas Story.
• The Salvation Army bell ringer at store entrances
• Sweet Potato Souffle
• Santa's Christmas train, complete with elves, that my mom made from a pattern in Better Homes and Gardens magazine in 1964. She still puts it out every year.
• The tradition of NOT putting Baby Jesus in the manger until Christmas Eve. We've always wrapped Him up in a beautiful package labeled "God's Gift to the World" and hidden it, giving the kids clues to find the "treasure". Once found, we read the Christmas story and He takes His place in the scene.
• Hot mulled cider.
• Pigs in a blanket and my mom's strawberry and/or pumpkin bread on Christmas morning before we open gifts.
• Cinnamon/Vanilla scented candles.
• All the lights out except for candles and tree lights.
• The Christmas Nail ornament.
• Our tradition of going to see a Christmas movie on Thanksgiving afternoon, then coming home to decorate the tree.
• Christmas plays, pageants, and concerts.
  
• Baking for neighbors.
• Orange Spiced Pecans.
• Novels written around a Christmas story.
• The fact that spending time with friends and family becomes a priority.
  
• THE Christmas Story: God's heart for a broken people, wrapped in the skin of a baby boy...hope given its voice as an infant wail splits the night sky. Most certainly, my favorite thing of all.
  

And, after a random drawing, GEORGIA JAN can look for something in the mail next week from me! CONGRATULATIONS!! Please send me your address via the "Contact Me" button above.

You are all such blessings to me...thanks for doing life with me over these last 300 posts. It's been an amazing ride!

Veterans Day

As I was considering Veteran's Day today, I looked up the lyrics to the Star-Spangled Banner. Did you know there are four stanzas?? After reading through them all, it made me wish that we would adopt the final stanza as our National Anthem, instead of the first.

Read these incredible words with a gratefulness in your heart for a country founded on a trustworthy God and for "free men" willing to put their lives at risk to keep it that way.

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

If you haven't entered the Favorite Things Giveaway, go here and do it now! Winner announced on Friday!