Favorite Christmas Books

I've always been a book person. Someone who loves to read and talk about books. I find them both informative and a simple way to escape the mundaneness of daily existence. With a book I can immediately be transported to a different time and place. I can become engaged in the conversations of the high and low of humanity instantaneously. Christmas books, I think, offer a plethora of pleasures that can't be matched with the fare on film, be it television or the movies.

My first favorite is The Golden Christmas Book, circa 1947. The book has a picture of Santa with laughing, angelic children on his lap,and a paper Christmas tree on the inside cover that crinkled when I opened the book. It was filled with stories of elves, angels, and good boys and girls preparing for Christmas by trying to make things right.

Reading Christmas stories to my own children was also something I relished every year. Their favorites were A Velveteen Rabbit ; by Marjorie Williams; which is the story of how a stuffed animal becomes real because of the gift of love and The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg which is the story of how a trip to the North Pole strengthens a young boy's belief in the reality of Santa Claus.

However, of all Christmas books (besides those of Matthew and Luke) my most favorite Christmas book, the one I re-read every year is by Max Lucado, a Christian author. It was originally titled, Cosmic Christmas in 1997, but later renamed An Angel's Story in 2002.

It begins in heaven and presents a picture of the war Lucifer wages against the eternal, steadfast and all encompassing love of the Father.

Lucado focuses on the angels and their part in the war. It pits God's army of angels, including Gabriel, Michael and some new ones named Paragon, Aegus and Sophio against Lucifer and his followers who try to thwart God's plan for a savior. Yes, Lucado admits that part is fictionalized, but for me it presents a strong picture of the battlefront where we all live, especially at Christmastime when everything and everybody wants to draw us away from the simple joys of the season.

So, if you're looking for an escape from the today's Christmas "battles" against goodies, gadgets and gobs of glee, pick up a copy of Lucado's story. It's a quick read and I can assure you that the warfare will subside and you will delight in the season's simplicity of God's greatest gift: His Son!

"For the joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10

What are your favorite Christmas books?

A New Visit from an Old Angel

As I watch the eyes of children bubble with delight at all the signs of Christmas, I'm flooded with my own childhood memories. The time I caught sight of my father in the gangway (only people who grew up in Chicago know what a gangway is), carrying a child's kitchen stove and refrigerator, made not of plastic, or tin, but corrugated cardboard. Yippee, I was getting my Christmas wish. Another Christmas memory involved a beloved book that had a green tissue paper Christmas tree in the inside cover. I loved opening that book and hearing the crinkle of the green tissue paper opening up the wonder of Christmastime stories. However, surpassing all other memories were the warm emotions endowed by the Angel that topped our Christmas tree each year.

Simplistic, yet ethereal, she was the embodiment of the Christmas season for me. She wore a blue dress and was kneeling on top of a glittering snow covered globe. There was a silver paper crown on her head, resembling the sun's corona, and silver paper wings that were stapled to her back. Her hands were clasped in prayer as she bowed in a humble, yet profound way to signal the birth of the Creator. Her presence on top of the tree seemed to assure that nothing would interfere with the celebration of Christmas. She was the protector of the holiday and nothing would move her. Christmas and all it's wonder and peace were unmovable under her watch. I don't remember what happened to her. Perhaps her wings became detached or she tumbled to the floor, breaking; or even maybe she was discarded for a more modern version. I don't remember. But recently she came back to me!

Of all places to find a memory of Christmas past was Target. Yet, there she was, my childhood Angel, with a few alterations. She is still kneeling in prayer on a white, frosted globe; though, now dressed in pale pink with a large crown of silver weave. Her silver paper wings have been replaced with wings of white feathers touched with iridescent glitter. Her demeanor is like my childhood angel, with an important difference. My childhood Angel was an adult; strong, steady, powerful, ready to take on anyone or anything that would interfere with Christmas. My Target Angel instead resembles a child. She is someone who is disengaged from daily battles and is pausing to pray. I believe that is the lesson for me today.

God sends us different angels at different times in our lives. He sends adult angels when we're children and need protection, and childlike angels when we're adults and need to be reminded that we should become more childlike, especially at Christmas. We, too, have to disengaged ourselves from the daily battles of work, traffic, and television news. If Christmas is to remain the turning point of human existence, really the turning point of our existence; we need to approach it like a child in prayer, humbly entreating the intercession of a Savior, like my pink, Target Angel.

Then he said to them, "I can guarantee this truth: Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3

THE CRUNCH OF TIME

Brown and green,

the wind of autumn

rustles the leaves

and they float and fall

to earth

Joining others;

carpeting the ground,

awaiting footsteps

that crunch and carve

my current paths.

These final autumn days

signal another year

mingling with memories

of different trees

whose leaves fell soft and golden

beneath my feet.

Memories of children

throwing golden coins in the air,

carefree and laughing.

Who would think that those smelly ginkgo leaves

would spark such glittering treasures

in the midst of the crunch of time?

Country Mouse or City Mouse? Part II: Colorado: Resplendent, Rugged & Remote

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge." Psalm 19

Since this is the case, for sure, in the skies and the mountains of Colorado, I was able to take a graduate course in God knowledge this summer. We visited friends who have recently built a fabulous mountain home nestled among the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Forests of rising Ponderosa pines, red topped mountains, buttes jetting into the sky, geological dikes forming natural walls, yellow and purple wildflowers all surrounded me in this glorious natural setting. At night the skies were even more amazing with twinkling stars and planets that felt so close I could touch them. The quiet, yet majestic beauty of La Veta, Colorado, is one that cannot be duplicated anywhere I have traveled. The climate too is amazing, no humidity and no bugs. This means that it can be 90 degrees and very bearable, especially in the shade of a massive Douglas Fir tree. With God's creative genius surrounding me, the question still remains: Would I be able to give up city life and all its conveniences for life in the Rockies, meeting the creator daily face to face?

Amidst these wonders, life is different for the mountain folk. Though my Colorado friends grew up in Chicago city life, they have readily adapted to the mountain life. They have been living in Colorado for the past twenty years. My husband and I often refer to them as Mr. and Mrs. Outdoorsy because they do it all: horse back ride, ski, mountain bike, kayak, hike, build, landscape and paint (not just walls, but large still life oil paintings). They are very talented and take to mountain life like suburban dwellers take to the shopping malls.

However, there is a caveat here: for all this beauty one must sacrifice convenience. It takes approximately 30 minutes to travel from the nearest town, LaVeta, up a winding gravel road to get to their mountain home. LaVeta, itself, is only about two city blocks long. Main Street has a small, mom and pop grocery store, a couple of art galleries, a bakery, quilting shop, several inns and guest houses, several RV parks, a coffee shop, massage therapy office, used book store, Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal and Catholic churches, the Francisco Fort Museum, several real estate offices and an Excursion Train that runs between LaVeta and Alamosa, taking passengers along the San Isabel National Forest. It also has a post office and bank. That's about it. Places for lunch or dinner are limited to the bakery on Thursdays and the inn everyday. Oh, there's also a pizza place, but it isn't open daily. The one time we decided for pizza, we had to go to the neighboring town of Cuchara. Wal-mart is the next town over and so is the closet hospital, which is located in Walsenburg. Garbage removal is inconvenient to say the least. First, they have to separate garbage into throw-away stuff, recycling glass and cans (no plastic) and compost, which they have to bury. They have to carry down their garbage and recycling themselves and deposit it in town. Burying compost can be tricky when bears are on the property and find no problem digging for their dinner. My friend also tells a story of leaving a bowl of fruit on her counter overnight with a two inch open window. A neighborhood bear was hungry and broke through the screen, lifted the window and helped himself to the fruit. Dealing with wild animals also comes with mountain living. The downstairs windows at their home are now always closed.

Most of the people in the town are older and retired or hippies who never left. Apparently, this area was once the home to nine or ten hippie communes in the sixties. The long braided hair on several male residents was grey as opposed to golden. These mountain folk are friendly and always smiling and willing to engage in conversation or help when needed. We had a flat tire on a mountain road, with no cell phone signals, and were helped by a traveling older couple and a young rancher. But, many others were willing to stop and help.

Mountain winters are rough. My friends told us about someone from town skidding off La Veta Pass in the winter and climbing out of his snow-trapped car with two broken ankles and finally after two days getting rescued. It sounds like when it snows everyone stays put. In fact my friends will be purchasing some snowshoes for the upcoming winter.

Now as far as becoming a Colorado mountain mouse, I think I would love it for the summer, but for the winter I think I'd rather join the snowbirds down in Florida or Arizona.

If your interested in visiting LaVeta, Colorado here is a link:

http://www.lavetacucharachamber.com/

Country Mouse or City Mouse? Part I: Minnesota

Road rage! We've all either heard about it or witnessed it ourselves. I have not necessarily felt rage, but instead a sinking ship kind of feeling when I realize I am stuck in a traffic jam that affords no easy exit. In the city besides lines of traffic there are also lines at the grocery store, post office or gas station. Some days it even feels like I go from one line to another. What a waste of time! Living close to a large metro city like Chicago has many benefits like easy access to sporting and cultural events. Also, the culinary choices range from some of the best pizza in the world (yeah Chicago!) to fine dining even in the 'burbs (ah, LaGrange ). But lately the city and suburbs just feel too crowded for me. Perhaps I would fare better if I changed my status from being a city mouse to a country mouse.

This summer I had a chance to do just that. First, I traveled to the woods of central Minnesota to visit a dear friend and prayer partner. She lives just outside a small town called Long Prairie. It has about 3,000 residents and is located in the central part of the state, about two hours west of the twin cities. It is a place of wide open spaces filled with various kinds of farms: corn, potato, dairy and even tree farms. My friend has one close neighbor, who lives about a city block away, across their shared pond. My friends' have a relatively small homestead of about seven acres covered with trees, including graceful white birch trees. They are very involved in the community of Long Prairie because my friend's husband is the pastor of a local Lutheran Church. My friend spends most of her day driving to various hospitals and clinics in her position as a social worker for dialysis patients and their families. She drives a big Lincoln town car, which is perfect for those open Minnesota roads and thanks to her large car and the grace of God, she is alive today after hitting a large buck while going 65 mph.

My Minnesota friend is a gifted gardener. She can literally plant anything and it will grow. The property around her house is landscaped with a winding brick path interspersed with various gardens, a rose garden, a daisy garden, and many, many other flowers whose names I do not know. I am a terrible gardener, inside or outside. Nothing that I plant seems to last very long, so I am so in awe of my friend. Besides numerous flower gardens my friend has a wonderful vegetable garden and her very own strawberry patch and apple orchard. She regularly puts up tomatoes, peaches and the most delicious apple pie filling in a jar that I've ever tasted.

Since winters are very harsh in Minnesota; it gets to 30 below some days; one always has to have a ready food supply. And speaking of food, most of the food I ate during my stay was homegrown or farm raised. I feasted on new, and I mean really new potatoes, farm eggs, along with garden fresh strawberries and lettuce. I also discovered a succulent meat that I had never tasted before: venison.Venison is a quite low-fat and comes in a variety of forms; steaks, burgers, sausage and my personal favorite, jerky sticks. My friend explained that the venison is so good because it is corn fed as opposed to grass fed. I'll have to remember that when shopping or hunting for venison. Anyway, I must say I really enjoyed getting back to the basics of planting, harvesting and of course eating the country way. While visiting we had a small bonfire and roasted marshmallows under a magnificent night sky, while listening for the call of wild turkeys.

I also had an opportunity to participate in the Sunday Worship Service at American Lutheran Church. The church was filled with people of all ages. The paster usually calls the children up before the start of the service and does a little lesson with them. This time he used an orange life preserver to show the children what Jesus does for all of us. He saves our lives when we can't swim or the waves of our circumstances are too strong for us to keep our heads above the water. It was a good image of Jesus that I hope to use one day with my own grandchildren. After the time with the children, the service began with familiar hymns and everyone was singing and attentive, There was also an infant baptism at the service. After the service everyone joined in a large, bright community room for coffee, juice and muffins. I felt very welcomed and enjoyed listening to conversations about farms and family. People lingered and I had a real sense that this meeting time after church was important for everyone.

So I ended my country stay with warm and cozy feelings. However, I did have to ask myself if I could really hunker down and relish those same feelings on one of those 3o below zero winter nights? I don't know.

Another country note: Though they were dog-less in Chicago, my Minnesota friends now have acquired a huge Great Pyrenees, named Tanner that roams their property looking for chipmunks and other creatures to chase. Country mice definitely need serious dogs.

On the way back to the airport we passed a huge billboard with a picture of Ronald Regean in a cowboy had with the quote: "Remember when there was hope for real change?"

God Bless the Farmers of Kansas

Billboards! Don't you just hate them. They are an ever expanding growth of commercialism that are impossible to avoid if driving. They are usually advertising local casinos, adult (inappropriate) entertainment, or fast food. They are certainly not signs of the best of the highways of America.

EXCEPT for the road signs put up by the farmers in the state of Kansas, they give hope!

On a recent trip west I had the pleasure of driving along I-70 across the entire state of Kansas.

My husband and I have shared an affinity for the state since our daughter attended college at the University of Kansas, in Lawrence. With Salina as more that halfway through the state (going west), the farmland that comes after Salina is vast and open. There are 46 million acres of farmland in Kansas and approximately 65,000 farms. The majority of the crops are corn, wheat and sorghum (used for grain and syrup). Amid the acres and acres of farmland there were some small, privately placed billboards. They had these messages: "Thanks Mom for choosing Life, Abortion Stops a Beating Heart, Jesus Heals, Pornography Destroys, Jesus, I Trust in Thee (with the Divine Mercy picture of Jesus. Devotion to the Divine Mercy of Jesus was started by a Polish saint named Sister Maria Faustina in the 13th century.), and my all time favorite:

NO GOD KNOW GOD

NO PEACE KNOW PEACE

So at this time I would like to thank and bless the farmers of Kansas for their boldness in promoting faith, family and peace.

Animal Encounters on the Steps of Heaven

The steps of heaven are all around us if we just take the time to look around and about; the lush green after a summer rainfall, or the reds and purples of a summer sunset are just a couple of those steps that can lead us to the magnificence of our Creator. The steps of heaven are no more apparent than in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Southeastern Colorado. Recently, my husband and I visited friends who have built a home near the town of LaVeta, which renders a spectacular view of these mountains. Sangre de Cristo means "blood of Christ," which I thought comes from the color these mountains take on with the setting sun. However, after some research, I discovered that in 1719 the Spanish explorer, Antonio Valverde y Cosio, was more impressed by the reddish hue at sunrise; and it's called alpenglow.

Besides a view of the Spanish Peaks (part of the Sangre de Cristo range) their home also affords another spectacular view of a butte arising from pine and scrub oak bushes with a series of random stone fences jutting out from the landscape. According to our friends these stone fences are a natural phenomenon that is are often visited by various geologists looking for an explanation for their occurrence. I will give my own explanation as the Creator working with His Lincoln logs to cause a more interesting variance in the landscape, or even a type of wind barrier to protect the early dwellers of this area. Our Father is a Provider and Protector as well as a Creator.

Amid all this beauty I also found creatures that caused me to smile at their antics: roaming horses, grazing cows, howling coyotes, buzzing hummingbirds, and one vigilant dog. His name is Leo and he so reminded me of the dog on the original Disney series, Corky and White Shadow.Corky was a pig-tailed, twelve year old girl who lived with her widowed father, the town sheriff. She and White Shadow would have adventure after adventure helping to capture bank robbers or horse rustlers, while learning life lessons. Didn't every pre-pubescent girl want a dog like White Shadow? One who would protect her from dangers like mountain lions, rattlesnakes, bears and the ever present "bad guys." It may have taken me about 50 years, but I finally found my White Shadow in Leo.

Before we arrived for our visit, our friends had several encounters with the local bear community. The bears were attracted to the compost that my friend had buried behind their house and also the bowl of fruit left on the kitchen counter next to an open window. The bears pulled the screen back and lifted the window up so they could help themselves to the fruit. When I heard about this, being the sissy city woman that I am, I worried about taking walks on their property. What would I do if I ran into a bear? Faint, scream or run? Either one of these seemed rather fruitless when encountering a large, wild animal(s). Enter Leo.

Leo is a neighbor's dog that is left outside during the day to freely roam the property. He visits our friends daily, looking for companionship from our friends' elderly dog, "Cinder." He loves attention, treats, and a quick rub behind the ears. As he visits, he patrols, looking and listening for something to chase. Isn't that what all dogs are ultimately about, the chase? With Leo around, all thoughts of encounters with dangerous animals dissipated. If there was a rustle in the brush, Leo sought it out and made it go away. He always returned wagging his tail and waiting for the treat that I so willingly provided. With Leo ever present I got to enjoy the mountain views with the knowledge that He had sent someone to watch my back. Thanks, Lord, you are truly a God of detail.

Here's a link if you want a background check of Corky and White Shadow

http://www.originalmmc.com/corky.html

The Voices of Children

The voices of children are among the sweetest sounds on the earth. I truly believe that in moments of stress, doubt or worry all we have to do is close our eyes and seek out the voices of children. We will immediately be taken back to our own childhood, where times and tasks were simple and we were not yet tarnished by "...the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for things..." (Mark 4:19).

Since I haven't yet been blessed with grandchildren and I teach teen-agers (you DON'T want to listen to their conversations); I only get this chance during the summer, up at our cottage on the lake. We have a screened in porch with a very comfortable futon that is perfect for napping. Our cottage sits just a bit away from a sand box, basketball hoop and make-shift baseball diamond and the lake. This area is affectionately known as "the Point," because it serves as a gathering place for all the cottage celebrations, like the 4th of July or kids' birthday parties, food tasting, bonfires, and games like Bag Toss, Kick the Can, Capture the Flag or Flashlight Tag. Because of the fact that sound carries over water, I can usually hear the voices of the children screaming in excitement over who is captured or found. Their cheering voices are not rough like the cheers at an adult sporting event, but rather the pleasant fizz that comes from a popped can of cola. Their squeals of delight over a team win can indeed lift anyone's spirits! Listening to their conversations also brings a chuckle when you hear things like, "We were boys yesterday, but men, today," coming from a triumvirate of 10-year old boys. Now, I didn't know or care to ask what was the reason for this comment, but I did pass it one to one of the boys' fathers.

So my advice is if you don't have a chance to be immediately around children, take a walk to the park with a boring book and just sit there and listen.

"Except ye be converted, and BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 18:3 ).

SUMMERTIME- I'm jamming again!

Ah, it's summertime. A wonderful time, especially for teachers, when we can lay textbooks and papers aside. No schedules, no deadlines, no grades. Time for personal pursuits. Time to do all things leisurely. More time to blog. Time to ponder the wonders of creation, from the buzz of hummingbird wings to the sound of leaves rustling in the wind, to the purple and pink of sunsets. Time to dig into those drawers and closets that have collected my overflow of stuff: including worn out socks, old shoes, and lots of notes written to myself to remind me of my to-dos. More time for prayer and seeking the Lord and asking lots of questions. I guess in the summer I lay down my teacher role and become a student. Scripture becomes a chest full of treasures, that beg examination and awe. What will I find tomorrow? The Holy Spirit is a great summer tour guide. It's always fun to find out more about that mysterious place called, "the kingdom of God."

I also started doing something that I haven't done in decades, make homemade jam. Yumm!

We regularly spend our summer vacation time at a cottage on a small lake in Michigan. In fact, this will be our 26th summer up at the cottage, named, "Catherine M." after the owner of the resort. (More about the cottage in upcoming blogs.) This particular area of Michigan is filled with fruit and vegetable farms. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, peaches, apricots, and apples are among the most plentiful. When my children were young and I was staying at the cottage for the entire summer, I used to can a variety of fruit jams. In fact, I purchased not one, but two canners. One affectionately known as a "baby canner," for small jam jars and the regular size canner for large quart jars (applesauce, salsa, tomatoes, etc.) I would then store the jams until Christmas time and give them as presents to family and friends. Honestly, homemade fruit jam on a Ritz cracker is a scrumptious snack or dessert. My kids loved it. So did many of their teachers. Canning and jamming, however, went the way of many other crafty pursuits when my attention turned back to teaching, furthering my education, and caring for my elderly parents. "Why make jam when you can buy it?" thought I. I left all my canning supplies on a back shelf at the cottage, not be be pulled out until this year. This week I put up my first batch of strawberry jam. Even today I found some small baskets that are perfectly sized for the jars for Christmas giving. I guess I need a break from the intellectual arena that I dwell in for most of the year and get back to doing something that is simple and immediately gratifying. No fat in jam, just the bounty of flavors that come from the earth by way of the hard work of farmers, pickers and the master grower are there to enjoy anew.

For anyone interested in jamming. Here is a good link with pictures and easy to follow directions.

http://www.pickyourown.org/jam.htm

STENT CLUB MEMBERS, WOMEN OVER 60 & OTHERS:HEART TALK

An egg white omelet with part-skim mozzarella cheese, asparagus, tomatoes and a special every day seasoning from Trader Joe's. This was my heart healthy breakfast today and those egg whites were surprisingly good and satisfying; which is sometimes hard to achieve on a heart healthy diet, but the alternative is fat which clogs the arteries and you die.

I have been given a new perspective on life after my heart surgery a little over a month ago. I was traveling along in life after just turning sixty with not a care in the world. I have a wonderful family, great friends an interesting job and even a beautiful view of the woods out my back windows. But lurking inside was an enemy that was mounting a serious attack. While I was walking away on a treadmill at LifeTime Fitness, at level 5, I suddenly felt something in my chest. I got a little short of breath. It felt like I swallowed something. I immediately slowed my pace, but continued my workout. Right before coming to LifeTime, my husband and I had walked our dog outside and it was cold and windy, so I just associated it with swallowing some cold air. I didn't think any more about it until I received an e-mail at work, describing a heart attack from a woman's point of view. In the e-mail the woman compared the sensation to "swallowing a golf ball." Now, I didn't think it felt exactly like that, but there were some similarities. However, I pushed "heart attack" thoughts aside. I mean, my husband, who does have heart problems along with a bout with kidney cancer, always tells me I'm going to live forever. My parents were in their 80's when they died, and neither one had any major medical problems before 75.

The following week I was chaperoning a field trip after school for our Newcomer's Club that gives new students an opportunity to socialize in a safe environment. We were taking the students to Woodfield Mall for some spring shopping. I was running late and while quickly walking, I experienced the "golf ball" feeling a second time. The thought crossed my mind that maybe I shouldn't go on this trip, but since our school nurse was coming, I thought, "If anything happens, she can take care of me."

The next day was Parent Conferences and I didn't have to go to school until noon, so I called my husband's cardiologist and they scheduled me for an appointment the following day. The nurse asked if my feeling was like "a lump?" "That's it," I replied. The following day, March 5, I went to see the doctor. I brought my latest blood report which showed all my counts for HDL, LDL and over all cholesterol all in range. They decided to give me two tests, a calcification test (which is like an MRI in the big machine). It is looking for any blockages or calcium deposits in the heart. I passed this test with flying colors. I scored a zero. The second test was a stress test and I flunked. The doctor then told me to call my husband and get over to the hospital for an angioplasty. He also said that perhaps this was a just a false positive.
I've been through the angioplasty drill before with my husband, and I knew that there is a degree of risk involved with this test. Also, you have to sign a release that if necessary they can do open heart surgery. I was concerned, but not anxious. I felt very relaxed going into the test and asked for prayer from my husband and daughter.
During the test, I was awake and heard the two doctors talking about size, something like, "Is it 3.5 or 4?" I said oh-oh, something must be going on. The surgery took all of about 30 minutes. And then the shocker, I had a 95% blockage in my left main artery of the heart, commonly referred to as the "widow maker," but in my case it would have been "widower maker." I am now a member of the STENT CLUB, because the doctors put in a medicated stent or tiny pipe that allows the blood to flow through the artery. They also put me on Plavix, which is a blood thinner, and a 80mg. dose of Vytorin, which is a cholesterol lowing medication. I also have to be on a strict low-fat diet and continue exercising. My husband and I have been going to LifeTime about three times a week since the fall, so that has to increase. Drugs, diet and exercise are now my mantras.

WOW, I couldn't believe it. How could this happen? I wasn't angry, but confused. Now, even though my parents didn't experience any serious health issues until their seventies; my mom's brothers and sisters died primarily of heart attacks in their sixties. But I had always thought I was my father's child, since I look more like him than my mom. I guess my insides are my mom's and with that comes the heart problems. Even my younger cousin, who is only 53, had the same thing happen to him last November. This heredity thing can really sneak up on you, just like age does.

It has taken me about a month to mentally process what all this means. I have had more thoughts about death after this, but not in a maudlin or depressing way. Just the thoughts that one day I will die and it will probably be heart related. Does this event make me want to quit my job and go sky diving, NO. (I'm still somewhat afraid of heights.) However, it does give me pause to spend more time in prayer listening, rather than talking.In addition it makes me want to tell other women over 60, not to ignore any feelings in the chest, no matter how busy they are.

For the past few months I had been having a lot of dreams about my dead family members,even at some of the old houses they lived in. Often I'd wake up and think, "Do they need prayers?" or "Are they calling me, am I going to die soon?" As I reflect on it now, perhaps they were warning me about this impending situation with my heart and telling me to take care of it.

Also, before this happened I would also say that I trusted the Lord with everything. Now, that trust in God and His plan for my life is going deeper into my soul. My life is truly in God's hands and I believe that now more than ever before. He has tasks for me to do and I won't go home to Him until those tasks are done and when I'm ready to see him in person. Trust and Faith are really two sides of the same coin. I trust that God is a loving God and I have Faith that His actions and decisions are rooted and grounded in love, just the way I should be. Do I ever get frightened? Of course, in the middle of the night when I feel a slight flash of pain or I twist or turn the wrong way. However, knowing that I am in His loving hands I return to my dreams.

I would like to recommend a book that I have been praying/reading after my surgery.
It's 31 DAYS OF HEALING by Mark Brazee. It's one of those little books that you can stuff in your purse or pocket. It is filled with encouragement for anyone who is going through an illness. Why 31 days? I don't know, but maybe it takes that long to mentally process a new health condition or illness.

I was also encouraged by two verses in my daily devotional following my surgery:
"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order to know the hope to which God has called you." Ephesians 1:18 (NIV)

"Thus says the Lord: Your hurt is incurable; your wound is grievous. For I will restore health to you and your wounds I will heal." Jeremiah 30:12,17

Some pretty awesome encouraging, hope-filled, heart-lifting verses!

The Divine Physician is Himself the best medicine anyone could hope for!

For Christ's Love Compels Us...to be Messengers of that Love

Being a messenger of God's love to another person is an awesome honor. By this I mean not just the daily living out of the Gospel message to "love one another," but the special time when God COMPELS you to reach out to someone in a special way that only He can orchestrate. Usually this occurs at a time and place that is inconvenient for you, or it is directed at a person that you really don't like. A few days ago I felt compelled to send God's love in a most unique way to our department secretary. The day before she had been experiencing some chest pains at work and someone immediately drove her to the hospital. She was OK, but had to follow up with some tests. She was experiencing a lot of anxiety both on the job and in her home life. Her burdens were many to say the least. The day following her trip to the hospital I was coming home late in the evening after enjoying dinner and conversation with a friend, when I heard a song on the radio (K-LOVE/94.3 FM)and I felt that God was telling me that I had to get this song to my secretary as a Valentine's Day present from Him. I did a turn around and drove to my local Family Bookstore and asked about the song, I wasn't even sure of the title, but they did announce the artist as J.J. Heller. So I asked for a CD by her, and sure enough, they had one copy left and the cover of the CD showed two hands coming together to make a red heart. Perfect for Valentine's Day, for sure. Our God is a God of every single detail, and then some. I was so elated that God would have me bring his message of love to my hurting secretary. I carefully wrapped the CD and wrote a short note expressing God's love and care. I don't know the results, but I know that with God's love present, healing and hope are alive. I thank the Lord for allowing me to be his messenger for this Valentine's Day. Now I would like to share with you that very special song by J.J. Heller, "Your Hands."
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Chicago Doctor Returns from Haiti Medical Trip - Chicago Breaking News

Here is the story and pictures of the medical team that I wrote about in an earlier post.

Chicago Doctor Returns from Haiti Medical Trip - Chicago Breaking News

A Word About Haiti: 12 Hours on a Bus

A family friend who is a physician's assistant to a group of orthopedic surgeons recently left for Haiti with the doctor who fixed my elbow. The doctor's brother, who is also a doctor, received a call from a Catholic Missionary group, who he knows. They were desperate for help. Though they are not located in Port-Au-Prince, they were also affected by the earthquake and were trying to help as many people as possible.
The team of doctors flew into the Dominican Republic (they couldn't get on any flights directly into Haiti); and they took a 12 hour bus ride, at night, over very difficult terrain to get to their destination.
My husband spoke to our friend's wife who relayed this information on the situation. "Very bad, they have to put toothpaste in their noses to clear the stench of death.
Lots of amputations, the ones on children very sad. The doctors are working around the clock with as little as sleep as possible because there are so many to help." Our friend actually saw a case of tetanus, which is very rare here in the states. The families of the doctors are worried about them. Please pray for their safety and health as they try to help as many people as possible. And the people of Haiti, pray that they may feel the love of God and the hope of a Savior.

No wonder non-Christians think we're nuts!

Another burning at the stake! This time it was an English Reformation holdout who wouldn't sign Henry VIII's six articles of faith of the English Church. Cromwell told his friend, "Henry's a Catholic at heart. He just doesn't want anyone else to boss him around." (paraphrase) Last night my husband and were watching episode four of the third season of THE TUDORS. This is a Showtime Cable series about the life and times of Henry VIII. It's portrayal of that era is racy at times, but I must say the program's depiction of the fighting within Christianity is the most interesting part of the series. Each episode features another group being killed.

In the prior episode before Cromwell's friend was burned at the stake, the leaders and followers of a Catholic movement to restore the monasteries in England called the "Pilgrimage of Grace," were all hung, including women and children. At the beginning of the series, Thomas Moore, who most Catholics regard as St. Thomas Moore was also burning men who the Catholic church considered heretics. In almost every episode someone from one side or the other of the debate over who is the "TRUE" religion is tortured and put to death for either heresy or treason. How this must have grieved the heart of God to see his children killing each other in his name. It is scary indeed, because I wonder if this can ever happen again? It was about 500 years ago, but are we still capable of killing each other in the name of Jesus? Now, I'm not talking about other religions, I'm talking about fellow Christians: Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox believers.

One of my favorite chapters in the New Testament is John 17. Jesus is at the last supper and praying for his disciples and future believers, (verse) "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you....May they be brought to COMPLETE UNITY (my caps)to let the world know that you send me and have loved me and have loved them even as you have loved me."

Let us all pray that we, Christian believers, do become one, so our Daddy can smile and not pace the heavens because the kids are fighting.

NO TREE POLICE

It's January 5, 2010. Do you know where your Christmas decorations are? Neatly packed away or still shining brightly? I used to always hurry to put the Christmas decorations away right after New Year's Day. Maybe it was because we always had a real Christmas tree and I felt it was a fire hazard to leave it around, with its constantly falling needles; or was it perhaps because the media resoundedly ended the Christmas season on January first with commercials about tropical vacations and the upcoming Valentine's Day? Or maybe it was just another task on my "to-do" list. I'm not quite sure. However, since we have purchased a fake tree (much to the chagrin of my children), I have decided to leave up my Christmas decorations until some unspecified date in January. There are, after all, no tree police issuing citations for having Christmas decorations up until sometime in January. This decision has given me an unbelievable feeling of freedom. I can continue to enjoy the warm Christmas feelings that can be so often pushed away with the stark and cold January realities of life. Do we really want to banish that Christmas spirit for another eleven months? Do we desire our lives to somehow get back to normal? Hopefully normal is always Christmas. Always a time for gathering with family and friends. Always a time for singing,"Alleluias." Always a time for giving and receiving. We haven't even lived through the twelve days of Christmas.What about the lords, pipers, and drummers? Don't we owe them at least some type of audience response? Though we have had over two thousand years to ponder the mystery and majesty of Jesus' birth, I still think that we don't quite get it or we would keep that Nativity out year round. GOD OF THE UNIVERSE TOOK OFF HIS ROBE OF GLORY AND BECAME A HUMAN BABY TO SET US FREE FROM SIN AND DEATH. WOW, will I ever truly understand the implications of this event in the history of mankind or my own history? I doubt it, so keep those decorations up and keep singing, "Gloria in Excelsis Deo." The picture at the top of this post is a little Nativity that I keep up year round on my book self.

Allelulia's Year Round

In heaven Christmas isn't over. It's Christmas year round. Alleluia begins and ends every sentence spoken. What would it be like to be near love incarnate? To see Jesus, the very source of love. To feel that love radiating into the fibers of my bones. Love in the nucleus of every cell?

That must be how we are transformed and our bodies made new. The essence of God's love takes over the nucleus of our cells and we become like our resurrected Lord. What a wonder awaits us all!

Thank you, Lord, for snow, because it gives sparkle to the gloomy grey landscape. It causes me to think that your grace is like snow. It drapes our gloomy existence and makes us free and pure and innocent. We become children again. Making angels in the snow is the game you gave us to draw us out of the seeming security of our possessions into the freedom of a grace filled life. SNOW, a reminder that the darkness now can be transformed in an instant by the touch of the Creator's love. Don't live another day without it.