Things unseen.

Hi. My friend at work and I were talking this morning - she has lots on her plate right now in her personal life and she is doing some brave things to make it better. She said that she heard a mom talking last night about a daughter who is about to be deployed - and the mom is frightened. Very frightened. I can identify. Oh, can I identify. And my friend thinks I am brave. I looked at her incredulously. Me? Brave? Not really - just riding the roller coaster and looking at a BIG hill. For a military mom, climbing the hill is a lot tougher than the downward ride. You can see ahead of you when you're going downhill.
With all that is going on over in the sand right now, not just with troops but with American contractors, it's enough to make a military mom hibernate...go into some sort of deep sleep until it's over. But that's a long time to be away from life. We don't know how long it's going to go on - nor do we know how it will affect our lives.
And so, I realize that instead of dwelling on the fact that Stephen is going to be in the midst of all of it in just a few months, I need to keep one of my favorite Scripture passages ever close in heart and mind:

"Now faith is the substance of all things hoped for; the evidence of things unseen." Hebrews 11:1

Things unseen, and faith - they MUST go hand in hand. Faith is in the empty cross and in the open tomb. Because He who occupied both is alive. Since God can do that, His Word is certainly true.

Oh and to my friend... (you know who you are): brave is what you are doing too. Don't ever forget that, ok? And you know that you have friends walking with you, don't you?

With prayers for our loved ones who serve, not just those deployed, but all who serve. Remember that you are missed - and loved. But you'll never know how much. Only our Father in Heaven knows that. The One who watches over you.

Thanks for stopping by. Your prayers are appreciated.

God bless our troops - and those who wait.

HE IS RISEN!!

Yesterday, we waited.

The cross was empty.

Today, the TOMB is empty and HE IS RISEN.

HE IS RISEN INDEED!

God bless your Easter Day.

Sue

Waiting


Last night I went to our Good Friday service at church. It's one of those services that can't be missed - because it's message can't be heard enough. Pastor had asked me to be one of the readers - there were six passages and he asked me to find two other ladies to read and assign two readings to each of us. The text, of course, was from John 18 and 19. The betrayal in the garden, the trial and Pontius Pilate's efforts to save Jesus, and the crucifixion. The story never gets repeated enough, and never ceases to put a lump in my throat as it's being read. I was thankful that the Word got past that lump as I read.
Today, we wait. We, as Christians, know that just as we grieved yesterday, tomorrow we will rejoice. We know that on this the second day of Easter weekend so many centuries ago our Savior slept in a tomb, and on Easter morning, He would arise.
And, on the same day He arose, he would walk down a road to Emmaeus. How many, like Thomas, need to see the wounds in Jesus hands and side to believe God's glory in Jesus' resurrection? Thankfully, we who are Christians do not need to see those wounds.
We just believe.
My friend at church told me a cute story last night. She said that she mentioned to her young grandson that yesterday was the day when Jesus died. He looked at her and with a serious face said, "Already? He was just born!"
Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, Sunday mornings. No matter when we attend worship, the theme is a comforting one. Jesus. To a small child, Jesus may still seem like a newborn because we just celebrated His birth. For us grownups, we know that my friend's grandson will be learning many things about Jesus as he grows up...and he will learn that the road between birth and crucifixion was quite a journey. Thirty three years or so, but oh the amazing ministry.
On this day, the in between day when we consider Jesus' death and anticipate the glory of Easter morning, may we all know and realize, that the best is yet to come.
For all of us who call on the name of the Lord, yes, the best is yet to come. Not just for Jesus, but for our lives as well.
Blessings,
Sue

The kindest thing...

Hi everyone. Today was a better day at work - whew, yesterday was a disaster. Just transition issues as we close one financial aid year and begin another. It's always hectic, sometimes stressful, but ALWAYS a challenge, and I do love a challenge. (well I usually love a challenge). But today is also a sad day for our family.
My sister just called. Her doggie Spencer - a beautiful golden Retriever - died yesterday after a battle with oral melanoma. She couldn't bring herself to call yesterday - anyone who has walked in the shoes surely understands that. Spencer was a true and literal case of puppy love.
When Michelle first adopted Spenc, he was an abused and malnourished animal, only a couple of years old. Chelle and Bob gave Spenc 10 years of absolute and unconditional love, as well as a silly, lovable, spoiled Llasa Apsu (sp) "sibling" who helped him create havoc time and time again. But yesterday, Spenc was tired, and stressed, and ready for them to allow the kindest act a pet owner can chose. And so, with the advice of a very loving vet, they did the thing that we as doglovers do - with broken hearts. When Chelle called me tonight, I wasn't much help as I sobbed right along with her. How do you console someone who has just lost their best friend? You look in your heart and remember the pain of 19 months ago when our own Shelby went to sleep. And you remember that it takes time - that 10 years of love can't be erased by a visit to the vet's office. I love you Chelle and Bob and we loved Spenc.
Don't mean to be low or sad, but sometimes we just need to remember the life of a good friend. I am thankful that we have the choices we do - that mankind can give these kind and timely gifts to our best friends when God has chosen.
But it sure doesn't help the pain. I guess the pain is a reminder of how kind and full of Grace God has been to have let us know these furry creatures.
I know that there are animals in heaven - I can't wait to see all our old furry friends.
Thanks for letting me remember Spenc. There should have been a picture posted but I couldn't load it from the email Chelle sent. Sorry Spenc - your beautiful face should be part of this post.
Blessings my friends.

Go, grandma, go!!

Hi everybody. Two weeks since I last posted but I have a very good reason - we were visiting Laurie, Stephen, and Kasey. What a wonderful visit it was - oh my, to see them again was great.
And what do you suppose I did when we were there? I went to the playground with Kasey and climbed up a rope ladder to the slide platform and went down the slide several times. Kasey was yelling out, "Go, grandma, go!!" and he was pushing me down the slide as I sat at the top trying to get up my nerve (teehee, not really, but I haven't been on a slide - or a rope ladder for that matter) in a long time. It was wonderful. Then, because the playground wasn't busy, Kasey and I had a derby of sorts by taking all his toy cars, putting them at the top of the slide and then letting them vrooom down the slide. Hmmm...his cars always won. Do you think he kept giving me the ones with bad wheels?
They have so much on their plate right now and are so busy, but they always manage to spend time together. Kasey is a very loved little boy and with the pending issues the Army has for them, their first thought has always been his care.
I did something highly unusual this trip - I did NOT access my office email or voicemails. A first for me in like the last 5 years or so. When I announced that at our staff meeting on Thursday, my first day back, there was applause because I always get hollered at for doing these things while I am on vacation. This time I decided to make every moment count.
Veronica is here this weekend - Scott had to work today so we took Veronica to breakfast and then went and looked at some RVs. A good morning.
Today is my birthday - it's a quiet one but good all the same. I don't know if we are going out for dinner tonight or if we will be having leftovers. Nobody has mentioned it, so I could be making the leftovers. Anyway, 61 isn't a bad age - sweet 16 reversed? Tomorrow I will bake some cookies to put in an Easter package for the kids. There are a ton of things to do around here but not sure if they will get done this weekend. Getting the kids' package in the mail Monday is most important. There's always next week, right?
It's good to be home..
Blessings to all of you - and to those we love who serve.
Sue

We all have a story.

Our lives.
They can be busy, or quiet; problematic, or trouble free; plenty in the pocket book, or just getting by. No matter what our lives bring us from day to day, well, we all have a story to tell. Are we supermoms who try to get it all done? Get our kids to school in the morning, then soccer practice and gymnastics after school, all while having a scrumptious dinner in the crock pot at home...and oh yes, this is after working all day at the office and driving in rush hour traffic for heaven only knows how long. Are we on a merry go round - or is this living life at it's fullest? Although the mom taxi thing is pretty much behind me, I remember it as a time of having the chance to have one on one time with Scott and Laurie.
I've had occasion to take stock of my life lately - guess it's because I am in my sixties now - not far into the sixties, and about to go a little further with my birthday being in a couple of weeks - but I'm there just the same. :)

And this sixty thing is just fine with me. Counting the months (and days) til retirement, yet really struggling when I think about the day I turn in my keys to the office, dust off my desk one last time, and walk out the door. My job has been a really comfy niche for a long time...but it's not all of my story. It's just a really comfortable place for me to be, and I love my co-workers-every single one of them. Like I said, leaving there won't be easy. Will cross that bridge when I get to it. I suspect there will be enough tears from me to flow like a good sized river underneath that bridge. You know how I am.

Veronica is here this weekend as usual. She seems to be a little different these days - discovering her own little personality, I guess. All of this can't be easy for her so we give her a lot of latitude. It takes a day for her to get rid of the defensive nature that she seems to have taken on...don't know if it's school, or Luke - he's a big boy and can be not nice to her sometimes.

Brothers and sisters...we are all alike with our sibs when we are little. It takes a long time for us to realize that we love each other. Once we are beyond the wrestling and the name calling...well, you have probably all been there at some point if you have brothers or sisters, or kids. :)

Life is going to be a little quieter for the next week or ten days as we visit Laurie, Stephen and Kasey. It's a trip we badly need, I think. Almost done with the book for Kasey....all the plans are laid down, just the printing of the pages and putting them in the book. I hope he likes it. (I sure enjoyed doing it not to mention the visits to the craft stores :).

Shopping today for last minute things for our trip - and one more gift for Kasey, but the weather is NOT shopper friendly. Cold, windy, snowy. Still, it's always fun when Scott & Veronica, and Ron & I hit the streets and the stores together :)

Sometimes I wonder what will unfold over the next few years - I think of the things that are in our immediate future - that affect us all. Presidential primaries, elections in November, the rising cost of gasoline, and most importantly for those who serve (and their families), the war in Iraq. For my family, I think of deployment looming, divorce for Scott and Tina, retirement and traveling for Ron and I. Perhaps putting that part on hold for a year while Laurie attends school and Stephen is deployed and Kasey comes to live here with "handma" and "handpa." God has it all in His very loving hands. Sure glad that I don't have to worry (she says convincingly).

That's the best part of our story, no matter who we are. He is the Author - we the characters. It may be somewhat unclear, but it's His perfect will. No matter how our stories play out - yours and mine - may God continue to bless you and your family.

God's Peace my friends and may He bless our troops - and those who wait.