2010-The Home is a Fountain of Civilization--redefining goals for 2010

   Clarkson Christmas picture at the Broadmoor 2009, where we breakfast each Christmas (after about 30 attempts to get us all smiling at the same time!)

“The home is the fountain of civilization. The value and character and appetites of a people are greatly determined by the reading, training and cultivating of moral and spiritual appetites in the home.

Mothers, you are the divinely-appointed teachers and guides of your children; and any attempt to free yourselves of this duty is in direct opposition to the will of God. If you neglect them, the consequences are swift and sure. …, Spend most of your time with your children. Sleep near them, attend and dress and wash them; let them eat with their mother and father; be their companion and friend in all things and at all times.”

From Mother, Home and Heaven from Poetic, prose and literature Of all ages and all lands. Copyright 1878-1880

Being with my wildly idealistic children, living through the noise of our exuberant home (drum set in the basement, electric piano and real piano upstairs,  almost always with someone blaring away, singing, listening to ipod music on their new ipod stations; rousing, lengthy, loud discussions at the dinner table; wrestling with the dog and watching movies and playing games and feasting with our whole family at home,)has reminded me again, that all the trouble was well worth the effort. It all mattered. Really. 

Even through all the exhaustion, meals, dishes, late nights, attitudes, weariness--it is of utmost importance.

January's are always a bit difficult. The time to be tempted to give up.

How I got to this point--this far and still in tact, was through years and years of defining and redefining ideals and seeking the Lord and then living through one day at a time, for a million days. Yet, I see life and beauty in the souls of my very individualistic children--the palpable life of the Lord--who is building them and growing them into healthy, vibrant adults.

Now that Christmas is over, I am bubbling over with excitement for the months ahead. I can't wait for our conferences which I love and enjoy so much.  I can't wait to encourage all the precious moms who will attend, because their lives matter--their love, correction, work, is all building a legacy from their lives that will live to glorify God throughout eternity! And that is what the conferences are all about--keeping the ideals alive!

The words above were written over a hundred years ago are still very powerful today. This, in a culture where the imagination of the importance of mothers to the overall well-being of soul of the next generation has been lost. How affirming it is to see that truth of past generations still applies to us today.

Often, I find that in the absence of a clear enough vision for their children and homes, mothers replace conviction and vision with lots of activities and distractions for their children. This hyper-activity and rushing around to an endless list of expensive lessons and experiences and toys,  and the buying of the newest expensive curriculum and technological options make moms feel like they are accomplishing something. 

However, when the home-life of children is rich with excellent, classic literature and great stories, passionate Biblical devotions, rousing dinner-table discussions around sumptuous, tasty meals, lots of love and affection given and household chores attended to— a child will become committed to all that is good and excellent and develop a moral and compassionate soul for all the divinely important values.

From the beginning of time, God created the home to be a place sufficient to nurture genius, excellence, graciousness and grand civility. But the key factor is nothing that can be purchased or owned. The accomplishment of this grand life is found only in the soul of a mother, through the power of the Holy Spirit, personally mentoring her children.

It is a personal relationship with a real person whose soul is alive in which the deepest imprints of life are given. The secrets and deep emotions shared during the goodnight hours in which a the soul of a child is tender and open; the comfort of warm, home-made food shared in the early evening as ideas are shared and discussed and prayers and devotions given; the laughter, stories, advice given in the midst of washing dishes together or sharing of a meal; the heroic and riveting stories read aloud and shared together that establish common patterns of morality, values and dreams in the comfort of the blazing hearth, mugs of steaming hot chocolate and squishing against each other on a den couch are those heavenly things which are food to the soul and nourishment to the mind and conscience of a child fully awake to all that is important in life.

There is no computer, television, software or text book that can pass on such passion, love and motivation.

It is indeed the personal touch of a mother’s heart that creates grand civility, deep affection, care and commitment to the foundations of a family. When the invisible strings of a mother’s heart are tied to the heart of her children through loving sacrifice and nurture, the stability and foundations of a nation become secure and stable. 

A mother, living well in her God-ordained role, is of great beauty and inestimable value to the future history of any generation. Her impact is irreplaceable and necessary to the spiritual formation of children who will be the future adults of the next generation. Fun, comfort, humor, graciousness, spiritual passion, compassion for the lost, hospitality, chores, meals, training, life-giving words, hours and hours of listening and playing and praying and reading—all are parts of the mosaic which go into the process of soul development.

So, though the weariness of the busyness and celebration of Christmas is still upon our hearts and felt in our bodies, the Spirit and vision of His life in ours will keep us going--the refocusing on His great call, will fuel our commitments to keep going, to keep loving and to keep believing. Taking time with Him this morning has fueled my own soul with new excitement. May He grace you all with His encouragement--right where you are, in whatever season--to know that it really matters. Grace and peace and rest be yours in the days ahead!

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PS You can still help us this month by advertising the conferences and letting Jennice know. She will enter you into the drawing that we will do on Monday, January 4 to see who the 2 winners are of the $50 for any books we carry, or two free registrations. Go here for registration info and press under the conference location that relates to you. Above that will be resources you can use for your adds in blogs, websites, announcements, or whatever! Thanks for your help in getting the word out!

Dancing Day

 

Can't wait to share Dancing with my Father book with you.

 I see more and more that our heavenly Father is one who 

wants to celebrate life with us, to talk and commune and 

have joy in the art of His creation. This English hymn 

from the point of view of Christ singing/speaking is lovely.

 May the Lord bless each of you this Christmas and in the 

coming year with His joy and peace! 

(All of this was stolen from Sarah's blog--

itinerent.idealist.com 

She found such a great song

 for the sentiments of my heart in the realm of Joy)

Merriest of all Christmases!

Sing, oh!

Tomorrow shall be my dancing day; I would my true love did so chance To see the legend of my play, To call my true love to my dance;

Sing, oh! my love, oh! my love, 

my love, my love, This have I done for my true love.

Then was I born of a virgin pure, Of her I took fleshly substance Thus was I kni t to man’s nature To call my true love to my dance.

In a manger laid, and wrapped I was So very poor, this was my chance Betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass To call my true love to my dance.

Sing, oh! my love, oh! my love, 

my love, my love, This have I done for my true love.

Traditional English Carol Go here to hear it sung by a choir at 

King’s College, Cambridge. The picture is by Arthur Rackham

(one of my favorite English illustrators of 

fairy tales.)

Mom's conference--for Christmas!

DON'T FORGET TO ASK FOR THIS FOR  CHRISTMAS!

Mom Heart Conference 2010 -- a Great Christmas Gift! 

If your husband isn't sure what to get you for Christmas, then make sure he knows about the Mom Heart Conference. We can't send you a conference in a box, but here's a nice Gift Certificate you can print and put under the tree (if you are registered, of course). There's no other event quite like a Mom Heart Conference and no better way for a husband to say, "I got this just for you!" He'll feel great giving you something you'll really enjoy. Here are the dates and states:

CO: January 22-23, Denver/Littleton, Colorado

CA: February 5-6, Irvine/OC, California

TX: February 26-27, Irving/DFW, Texas

NC: March 12-13, Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina

Ready to register? Just CLICK HERE to go straight to the Our Events page on our Whole Heart Online website. Click on the event nearest to you to learn more about it, or to register for it online at www.wholeheart.org or call:    888-488-4466   888-488-4466

Home--a sanctuary for celebrating the life of Christ

As we began the events that took place in our home this Christmas, stories began to emerge with every person who was here--a woman whose brother attempted suicide the night before; a single mom whose husband abused her daughter and she had to leave the state in which she lived to protect her daughter; an exhausted mom who hadn't slept in months because of her 3 babies under 5; a young teen who had been rejected by her parents and closed out of her home but who kept walking around our home saying, "It is so peaceful here," amidst the noise and conversation and getting food on the table; a woman who was just tired and exhausted and felt forgotten, a woman whose husband had cancer; two women who were vibrant and filled with hope and encouragement who prayed and encouraged those who needed an extra measure of love. And the stories go on.Jesus sees each of these precious ones and He sees you and cares for you and  your concerns. Jesus came into the world because the people of the world desperately needed hope, comfort, forgiveness, wisdom, love. He was humble and meek--in other words, he came to slip right into the mundane, the normal people for whom He came. When he looked out to the multitudes, like those in my home, he felt compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9

He was a servant-king, he washed feet, held and blessed children, loved the downcast--the lepers, the prostitute; the poor; the sick, served meals, washed feet. He was a "man of sorrows, acquainted with grief" as we read in Isaiah.This was His message, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has appointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty  to the captives, and freedom to the prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord, And the vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting, so they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified." Isaiah 61:1-3

Interestingly, when Jesus came to open his ministry in the temple, it is this very passage that He read. He was on a mission--he was here to heal, to save, to encourage, to proclaim God. When we love Jesus, we will be overcome with His compassion. Our words will be full of power and life-giving and hope. No one will leave our home without having a sense of His hand of love, His voice of truth, His comfort, His strength and calling.

But our homes are the arena in which we can build the life of Christ, and in which the life of our home becomes a sanctuary for those who need to feel His life by being welcomed, to receive a "cup" of cold water-- a home cooked meal, a focussed conversation, a healing touch. We celebrate the traditions of home, not because we want to be busier--no one needs that, but to make the life of Christ come alive, to show the beauty of God, to give our children an live picture of His beauty, His reality, His truth, His words and His outreaching love.

We still have this Christmas day to give Him our responsive gift of love--to serve and love and comfort and reflect His spirit alive to all who are in our arena--first our family and then those whom He has providentially placed there.

Homes are the foundations for society. When the life of Christ flourishes there, then the life of Christ will flourish in our nations. But we cannot imitate His life, unless we ourselves are spending time in His presence. The older I get, the more I love Him, the more I admire Him and understand the heart of this servant king, who humbly lived His life to pour out for the benefit of others because the very essence of His being was to redeem, to give, to serve.

And, so this is the source of our strength in tirelessly giving and serving, Christ in us, Christ giving us His strength, power and resurrection life, lived out through rocking of children and listening to their starry eyed wishes and stories and giving grace to the unlovely in our lives, because we are unlovely--but accepted; the making of meals served in grateful appreciation to Him who is preparing a future feast for us; the giving of our love and gracious words generously because He has so given to us.

When we spend time in His presence, we fall in love with Him more, and then the love spills over to our children, our husband and our friends. Jesus himself said, "He who follows me, from His innermost being shall flow springs of living water."His life, overflowing through us. Someone, many in your life today, need to feel this touch, these words of encouragement, this life, the actions that say, "The peace and grace of the Lord be with you--for He has given it to me and I, by His healing love, am so happy to give it to you."

May His life fill and fuel your days as we celebrate this week the magnificent reality of His life in the sanctuary of our sacred homes.

 

Some of my own beloveds, with whom I am celebrating His reality.

Sarah, Gwen, my sister friend, and Joy

Traditions for the little ones--part 2

 

Hall hutch where I put my seasonal items at the entrance in my hallway--My Grandmother's hand painted creche scene--always put awry through out the season as everyone handles it!

I would fill my home, (still do!) with interesting things children could touch and explore. A basket of golden books just the right size for little hands with Christmas stories. The camel shown yesterday, the little dolls we would imagine stories with, last year's cards to cut up and glue onto construction paper,  picture books with my children's pictures in them through the years on the coffee tables, Lincoln logs to build a Christmas village right on the hearth. Little hand jingle bells to wear on their wrists to shake as babies when we would sing, rhythm shakers, whistles and cazoos to help make up the Christmas band for our adnvents, coloring books and crayons or pencils in a basket to draw with while we read the Christmas verses, popcorn, fruit, pretzels and snacky things like cheddar fishes, with hot chocolate or tasty herb tea before we went to bed. The creche scene my grandmother made--with cows and donkey, lambs, wise men and Jesus, Mary and Joseph were each placed and held and cherished. (We also had a wooden one the younger ones could pretend without the worry of breaking.)

Outreach party to neighborhood kids

We would have a decorating party with our children for the Christmas tree and often invite their friends from the neighborhood as a sort of outreach. We would have a tray with specific decorations on it--that all the children could take turns putting on the tree as we read the different verses with each decoration. 

First we would talk about the evergreen tree, representing everlasting life--The tree is always green, as Jesu came to give us everlasting  life, so that we would never die but always be with Him in heaven forever. John 3: 16

A number of candy canes--each child would put a candy cane on the tree. 

Luke 2: 8-13 is read. This passage tells of the shepherds who were out in the fields, keeping watch over their sheep when the angels appeared. 

The canes were symbols of the shepherd's staff--those shepherds who first heard of the news of Jesus being born. Jesus talked of being the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. John 10: 11

We also speak of David seeing God as his shepherd and we read the first part of Psalm 23. The staff reminds us that Jesus will always take care of us and watch over us wherever we are.

 

 The swirl of the candy cane also shows the red of the blood Jesus spilled when he died for us on the cross, by protecting us from the death that sin would bring to us.  The white shows that because of the sacrifice, we are washed as white as snow.Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord, "Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though the are red like crimson, they will be like wool." 

An angel would come next. The angels were in the second part of this passage. They were celebrating Jesus's birth with great music, just like all the great music our family loves to sing and enjoy. The angels were God's special messengers who came to the earth with His messages--to Mary, to the Shepherds and to sing of His great glory as they do in heaven. Matt. 1:20; Matt. 2:13

 Then we would sing one song. 

Next, Matt. 2:2 A star for the top of the tree--God made a special star to celebrate Jesus' birthday. He put it in the sky so that the wise, learned men of the world could come to worship Him. 

Lights to string around the tree remind us that Jesus is the light of the world. "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwelt i the land of the shadow of death, upon them the light has shined." Matt.4: 16 Also, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but ill have the light of life." 

A little treasure box--Matthew 2:11"After coming into the house they saw the child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshipped Him. Then opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." Even great kings and scholars believed in Jesus and came to give him gifts fit for a king.

Gold represents the idea that we should entrust our money and wealth into His hands--

A little vanilla candle to put on the tree--this fragrant gift that they brought to Him means that they found Him worthy of worship.--this represents our worship of Him--and that we pray to a God in heaven who hears our prayers and answers us. 

A little packet with cloves, cinnamon sticks wrapped in netting and tied with a ribbon. This represents the myrrh. The spices were used to prepare someone for burial. Each of us has only a short time on earth and while we are here, we need to present our lives to Jesus so that when we see Him face to face, we will have lived our lives to please Him.

A little Christmas tray filled with candy canes ends the time. We say that the tray represents the idea that even though Jesus was the king of the whole world, he came to serve others and to show them the sweetness of His love and forgiveness--and then everyone gets to lick their candy cane.

This is just a summary, (Clay has it somewhere all written out!) But you get the idea. It always made the tree and all the ornaments on it meaningful when our children were young. And even the babies, when they didn't understand everything, liked toddling up the tree and putting something on a branch.

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Service--each year we would take the children, even as little ones, to sing or speak or teach at homeless services and have each of them put some money into the offering. We would then pray for all the ones they remembered meeting throughout the month.

We would make plates of cookies and cards to deliver to needy or lonely people in our lives. So many respond to babies and toddlers and little children that the children never forgot it. 

Some years, we would take some friends and sing carols at the Retirement home, with a big Christmas tree cake and hand made cards. All my children loved this and they were taught how to deal with elderly and converse with adults.

We always had a Christmas open house for neighbors and a few close friends. We would color the invitations and walk around the neighborhood to put them in mail boxes and then pray they would come. it was our desire to make at least one new neighborhood friend each year to follow up.

Also, as the girls got a little older, our yearly tea luncheon for moms and daughters and friends. More on that in a couple of days.

Finally, we played music all day long and night. And we would listing to one song from the Messiah at a time in the morning or at night and read the corresponding verse from it. When they reached 5 years old, we prepared them for the their first Messiah concert. We told them it was a reward for being so big and strong. We would always prepare them for sitting still and trying to listen for several thoughts in each song and that we would take them out for a treat at the end of the concert and hear what lines they remembered. 

Now, all of our children love the Messiah. We couldn't have known that when they were little, because sometimes they would squirm or fall asleep. But it was going deep in their soul. 

So, just a few of the things we did and gave us so many memories together. Not every thing every year, but we repeated these things over the years and they became a rhythm to our lives and the kids all learned to do their share of work and cooking and cleaning to keep it all going. Enjoy your little ones! It passes too fast. But my delight begins tomorrow as Joel comes home. Happy weekend!

. 

Traditions for the little ones--part 1

Den Hearth--pack camel from the middle east like the wise men would have had--

One of 4 Swedish dolls we put out on Christmas.

A sweet friend asked me to write about the traditions we practiced when our children were little. There are so many that I would have to write pages to adequately describe them all. We did different things at different stages. However, the goal of Christmas traditions is not to do the most elaborate and difficult, but to help your children love Jesus, revere Him, enjoy His story, to transport the beauty of the Christmas carols so deeply into their hearts. I tried to make things so familiar when they were quite young,  that when they hear the familiar carols as adults, it will flood them with deep memories cherished even from the rocking chair of their sweet mothers.

Of course, it is the whole year that will make our children fall in love with Jesus if He is daily cherished in our home. "Look at the twinkling stars that Jesus put into the sky for our pleasure. Isn't He wonderful." I am so glad that Jesus made grapes. I love to eat them." "Isn't it wonderful that Jesus created us to love music so we could sing and dance?" and all in the midst of the other rhythms of life.

When the Christmas season is at hand, we would always say, "Now we get to have the best birthday celebration of all! God came to the earth through a little baby to help us, love us and save us. And we get to celebrate His birthday and love Him more by telling his story and singing to Him."

We need to look at little children as Jesus did--they have innocent hearts, they freely love, they adore great stories, surprises, fun and giggles--they want to be generous and give of themselves without self-consiousness. And so we approach the season with their sweet minds in consideration.

I started out by singing the carols each night to my babies as I nursed them, so that they learned them from infancy. At two and a half, one night as I was singing "Away in the manger" to Joy (very verbal and articulate at an early age), and she looked up and me and said, "Mama, isn't it amazing that the cows blew Jesus and he didn't even get mad?"

I said, "What do you mean?" She said, "The cattle were blowing the baby awake, but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes."   She had engaged her little mind seriously thinking about cattle blowing Jesus awake!

As the children multiplied and became a little older, we would put all in pajamas and have advent with them each night, singing a carol together, in the light of the candles of our advent wreath and then reading our advent verse before they climbed into bed. It is easy for others to hear of our traditions and imagine that somehow we had total cooperation, but of course our children wiggled or argued about "You sat next to mama last night! It's my turn!" or "He keeps tickling my toe with his feet."

But somehow, it was the rhythm of keeping going and celebrating it the same way year by year that made it precious to the children. The expectation that when the dark of night came, we would all cuddle up on the couch and sing and eat little snacks and read fun Christmas tales and have one more piece added to the adventure of the story of King Jesus.

One of my friends gave me this lovely idea. We would buy at least one new Christmas book a year. But her idea was to wrap all of your Christmas books in tissue paper and put them in a basket and after advent each night (or whenever you do it), the children take turns picking out one book each night to unwrap as a present and get to read that one before going to bed. This also makes each book a treasure. If you want to make it easier, you can have an older children wrap up the book each night after it's been read so that it will be ready for the next year and then you won't have 24 books to wrap!

Delight, Anticipation and Wonder

• 

Oh, Christmas tree, Oh, Christmas tree, .... Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls my mom made for me 50 years ago.

************************************************************************************************* Flickering candlelight, shimmering slivers, golds, reds, greens and blues sparkling on a real tree inside the house; familiar songs that beg swaying and dancing; the smells of pine boughs, vanilla, sugar, spices, cookies, coffee, breads filling the air with invitation each different time of the day, lots of friends and family and hugs and kisses and celebration and presents,stories to stir up imagination of babies, wise men, young mothers, animals--all of these wrapped in one short period of a few weeks--all to fill the heart and stir the imagination to new dreams and the heart with lots of love---what's not to love about Christmas?!

I have had many women write to me and ask if I thought it was pagan to celebrate Christmas and have trees and presents. Of course Clay and I pondered this many years ago and studied the Word and we came to our own conclusions as each family must do. But, we now see even more, how it was the delights of our home and the filling of emotional cups and the fun and making of memories and cherishing Christ and carols every day, that gave our children even more love for Him. Since our family is not pagan, the celebrations in our home are not pagan--nor the ways we choose to celebrate.

And I so love the family togetherness. When my children have lived far away, and now the boys do, coming home to celebrate together--to celebrate all that it is--is something they can hardly wait for--it is another of the invisible strings that ties our heart so strongly together..

When I think about the wonders of the first Christmas--astonishing, bewildering, unimaginable beings appearing on the earth; terrestrial choirs filling the heavenly sky; a heretofore unheard of star filling the night sky; wealthy, learned kings traveling from afar; a virgin birth in the midst of a love story; an old woman and an old man marveling and speaking of the messiah as the baby is dedicated- with celebration and feasting;--our Heavenly Father was the first to celebrate. He was the first one to document the birthday of Jesus--supernaturally with music and feasting and amongst the humble and the kings.

I love seeing the feasting--usually for days--in the old testament. God is a God of celebration. Christmas is a time when we bring friends and family into our home to be refreshed. It is a time of personal worship as I mentioned yesterday and a time of joy-work and preparation to say I love you to our family, whom God designed for the passing down of His story and of His love.

I think that sometimes people are afraid to have too much fun or to celebrate life. Yet, it is only when we do this fully, from our heart that we understand the joy of the Lord--the God who gave us the ability to be satisfied, to laugh and play games and eat merrily.

So, our family makes time to delight together. It is the organic life of Christ, the tastes, smells, fun, love and theology that gives the whole picture of this baby become king and savior. And so in a spirit of love, we celebrate Christmas--His coming to earth--fully and happily.

Some happy photos  friends sent me from the  coming and going in our Christmas festivities. Pictures of Christmas spaces in my home.

Living room coffee table--the stocking my mom made for me when I was a little girl. I love glass jars to put all sorts of things inside. (A good source is pickle jars--the big kind-- from Sams. Good Will is another spot, and Hobby Lobby with great half-price sales.) 

 

Kitchen nook table--old Austrian table cloth on table with little snow houses collected through the years.

Den coffee table with Romanian hand-stiched cloth.

Living room hearth

Friends and food and feasting in the kitchen!

 

and of course sweet babies

 

and children delighted with food and a full house!

 

the dining room table and talking

The gathering room--living room from the stairs above.

 

Ending on the Word,....,

and a good time was had by all!

My Gift to Him....His gift to me

My personal, Christmas quiet time table, in my bedroom, private--sequestered away from the hustle and bustle of my home.

Getting my body to move, my mind to clear, was as if I was coming off of a thick cloud of  anesthesia--and then a heaviness began to creep over me as I began to awaken and remember what day it was--another event in my home, just two hours away. Stress crawled over me like mist over the sea--weariness bade me stay in bed, beckoned to me, urging me back to sleep. Then suddenly--the memory  of all that needed to be done moved my body into action and made me hit the ground quickly.Too much to do, too much cooking, too many activities, too many people's needs to meet, too much, too much....was beginning to take its toll. All of these feelings were familiar from so many years, months and days of knowing this feeling--and so the assurance that I had made it through many other such seasons,  kept me from panic or the blues. Resolve, familiar resolve, whispered to my heart, that soon--very soon, all would be well. A plan began to form--tomorrow morning, I would ignore everything on "my list" and arrange a special meeting. Decorating a place just for me and him; clearing out the clutter from this space, giving time to beautify--I began to get pleasure and peace in my heart just knowing what I had to look forward to--my time with him.

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I have always loved the passage in Genesis when, after creating a breath-taking, dazzling, wondrous world, breathing with life, color, sounds, scents, pleasure--that God, the master artist, was strolling in the garden--looking for Adam and Eve--the ones for whom He had created such a personal gift. -He was walking along in His garden, surely admiring it, wanting to know what His children thought--if they were happy--if they appreciated it--looking for them in the heat of the day. "Where are you?" He called out--and they were not looking for Him---

Most of my mother-life, after I fell in love with being a mother, I have found I receive such pleasure at providing for my treasures--cooking, decorating, providing, loving, serving--hoping to be God's very hands and breath and words to them so that they can better perceive what He is like. I look for them in the garden of my own life--"how do you like what I have provided? I want to be close to you--I want your companionship."

Recently, after Nathan had been home from California for 10 days, I was looking, as always, on my email to see if I had any letters from him--or Joel. There in my in-box, was a short note--

"Mom, I don't know what I would do without your love and encouragement. I appreciate everything you have done to make home a haven. Thanks for your love and prayers."

No money or thing or experience could have topped the pleasure he gave me--he was my special one--he is the one from whom I long for time and friendship.

and so it is with God, my very own Father, who prepares life and looks out for me--to see where I am, to spend time with me! Imagine!

I realized very early in my knowing Him, that the miracle was that He was always looking for me--wanting me to be His companion, friend, to talk, to commune, to live together hand in hand--to delight in the pleasures He had prepared for me. 

And so I knew that my Christmas season would not be complete, unless I gave Him what He wanted, unless I made my plans--around Him, around just being with Him, listening to Him, loving Him--just what I needed--just the gift of my love I would give back to Him. He was not looking for my works--my good deeds, my Martha effort to beguile my family or my friends with dazzle and good food and fine presents--but He was looking for simple, feet of clay--me--to tell me more that was on His heart.

As I desire the companionship of my own children--that is what--amazingly--he desires of me.

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And so I made it through the day, talked with so many, fed, cleaned, rushed about to the other tasks that needed to be cared for--but I knew that my date was just ahead--so my heart took pleasure.Sunday morning as I opened my eyes, I looked out my window upon a purple-ish, blueish sky that promised colder weather again. My eyes lit upon the table I had late last night prepared for myself and for Him--a place of beauty, a place of quiet, a place of worship

--the framed picture Sarah had framed for me at Christmas years before--"The Peace of Christ be with You."

Just what I longed for....A beautiful, delicate bird nested upon pine boughs--the reminder of the years before when I was spotting again--after a miscarriage, and yet pregnant again--but again beginning to bleed--alone in the mountains of Austria--when praying to God, wondering if I would ever be able to keep a baby--God sent a small bird, to perch upon the very window sill in which I was pouring my heart out to Him from my small hotel room.

--He spoke to me His comfort--"Not a  bird falls to the ground without My knowledge--I see you--I hear you--I am with you"--and the baby inside of me became Sarah--in spite of 6 months of bleeding. And so small birds, when they hop across my path or are collected in my home, are a symbol to me of His love, His care. This new little bird, recently purchased for its lovely colors and simplicity--was appropriate for my table before Him.

My berry and vanilla candles--the flickering lights a delight to me-- a reflection of light--a reminder of His light into my world. The fragrance like incense--lifting my prayers to heaven.

My little cross that reminded me of what I wanted the new season of my life to be characterized by--belief. All spoke to me of our special bond--I was His and He was mine.

It was worth the little extra effort it took to make the setting of my date a special one--after all He had done to make the place I lived in His world such a place of beauty.

One of my favorite instrumentals softly set the stage. I had picked a book the day before--Prepare my heart, Lord, through one of my favorite authors, Elizabeth Goudge--a beautiful, lovely children's story--the picture of a child's faith--the heart of faith, the delight in life, the expectation of goodness--contrasted by an adult who had forgotten how to have grace of life, compassion, to live in freedom, not under constraint. And so as I sipped my coffee, the Lord greatly encouraged my heart--I want a heart of innocent, loving trust.

And then to my Celtic Daily Prayer book--verses from the Psalms, the Old Testament, the New Testament--and more from His heart--Psalm 18: 28, "The Lord lights my lamp; The Lord illumines my darkness." Verse 32,  "The God who girds me with strength, and makes my way blameless." Verse 35, "You have given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your right hand upholds me; and Your gentleness makes me great." Psalm 118: 6, "The Lord is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes."

And so it went. He spoke of His love for me; His presence; His strength; His peace. I gave Him the gift of myself, my time. He gave me the gift of peace, rest, delight and strength to keep going. Now, I had what I needed and longed for--perspective, a plan of simplifying, dancing one more time knowing He was with me in the minutes of my days.

Have you given Him the gift of yourself during this busy season?

He is walking in the garden, calling your name. May His peace be yours today.

Joy to the World indeed the Lord has come!

 

A blurred but artistic picture Joy took of our mantel before a Christmas party at our home in our living room!

Oh, my! As usual, the days are flying by! I have so much to write to you in the next few days that I may just write a blog a day for a while! But I haven't been writing because I have been making family and friends a priority! And of course having lots of fun myself. 

First, Joy and I are reading every day in our devotionals a wonderful advent book, called The Jesse Tree. We are loving it. A very sweet friend sent us a bag full of wrapped little presents that we open one day at a time and read the verses that go with it! Loving my time each morning, staying in our gowns and eating home made mcmuffins with home made bread, sipping our juice and sharing our wisdom in scripture over candlelight and fire place. What a luxury to have the opportunity to have leisurely time talking to my sweet daughter about our wonderful savior without having to hurry this memory. (It has been quite cold!)

Flying to Nashville and on to Earlington, Kentucky to visit my sister-friend! We are not really related, but I never had a sister and neither did she. She flew to my home for 28 years in a row over the Christmas holidays to keep the commitment to be family to each other we had made as single missionaries. So now, the past few years as she is homebound, I fly to Gwennie's house to celebrate Christmas. She has been the family God knew we would need when we didn't have many around to love us. She always wraps mounds of tiny gifts to delight each of my children and me--even if it is tiny, like a flashlight or pocket knife or pair of pretty socks. We go one gift at a time and ooh and ahh! It is like really having a real live auntie or grandmom for my sweet ones.

 

Mrs. Janie's tea room--Sarah, Joy, and Gwen enjoying the civility!

Our trip included a luncheon to a tiny town in Sacremento, Kentucky to Mrs. Janie's, a tea house in a Victorian home that serves on the weekends only. We had 3 courses--ambrosia with pineapple scones, buttered asparagous with a baked chicken breast in herbed cheese and wrapped in phyllo dough and a baked potato casserole with cheese and chives and red velvet cake and ice cream for desert with a cup of tea--all girlish memories. I love making memories with my girls around other like-minded, godly women who are life-giving and build into their souls. Gwennie loves them and models Christ to them and on the side is just a lot of fun.

After this, we celebrated Christmas and I got two blue--blue shirts and a cd of great music. We ate coconut pie--a classic that Gwen's mom always made! And then one of my best times was attending the Messiah with all the girls. I dearly love the Messiah and always marvel at the way God stirred Handel to gather all of the scripture in such a way as to tell the Great Story. Everyone should gently lead their their family to love the Messiah. Joy and I were humming under our breath, Sarah and Gwen were living in ecstacy during several of the choruses. Such beauty in words and music.

Finally, went to Nashville to visit with precious friends who have shared life and history with me since our 25 year olds were wee ones. Such a fun time to pray, talk, share, have lunch at Puffy Muffin and watch our girls catch up with each other. Of course there were lots of, "I can't believe how much you have grown up!" on all sides.

 

Nate driving off to California in front of our home with his car. I was so brave! till I went inside! :)

Having Nathan on my mind. Would you pray with me for the Lord to show Him favor and find him a good job that can help to pay rent-- And to find  favor with his agent so that she can get him auditions and also that the Lord would specifically direct Nathan in a place where he can find a good community in this work and have a settled, long term job or one good commercial!  Nathan loves the Lord and is hoping to serve Him in the arena of music, acting, speaking and writing--but at this moment needs our wonderful Lord to open doors for him and give him favor with the right people. Would so appreciate your prayers for my dear, fun, loving Nathan boy! Can't wait to see what God will do as I have seen Him love answering prayer the past few years and He is the Lord of North Hollywood. All this mothering is a continued walk of faith and labor in the gates of heaven.  And of course it is the training grounds of my sweet son as well. Thanks ever so much.

Oh so much more this week, but it will have to wait till tomorrow. May God bless you, every one! I have some cookies to get out of the oven! Preparing for our two book parties for Sarah and there will be such treats. More later this week about the pictures of my home during this season; weathering the blues and storms during this season with Him, our humble king; recipes, babies, favorite catalogues and things to order and traditions for all ages. Oh, I am blessed today.

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Forgot to mention that the winners on December 1 for the drawing from all of you who promoted our conferences were:

 

  Kristin Kerley (TN)

  Jennifer Tammeling (CA)

We will have another drawing on January 1 for $50 in books and cd's or free conference registration for all those who advertise our conference in their newsletters, on facebook, on blogs and in support groups or Bib le studies. Just write Jennice to let her know where you advertised. We so appreciate your help in getting the word out to as many moms as we can reach as we see the Lord change lives, encourage and give inspiration to so many every year. 

For more information and to get links for your area, go here

You can click on the different conferences and then open the folders at the top for flyers and information to copy for the conferences.

You can also get a link to read our most recent Whole Heart e-letter by connecting here

Have a great Friday!

A little Christmas pondering.......

I love words and people who craft them in such a way as to bring me into their world. Two posts you might be blessed to read today.......

Here, from Sarah,  is where I am committing my heart to be--still, to notice, to hear..... 

Here is a place that brings me to worship my king in a more focussed manner, worthy of my contemplation.

Happy Sunday, Happy Advent to you and your precious ones.