These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

Saturday, when I got home from a workshop at church, there was a large box sitting on the kitchen table.  I knew what it was - a box from Afghanistan - some of Laurie's things that she was sending home because, well, she is getting ready to re-deploy back to the states.  In the box, some of Laurie's favorite things she had over there.  Things she had taken with her, some were items she had Stephen send a month or two before she left while she was in officer training in TX, and others we had sent in the many care packages mailed in the last xx number of months.  Movies she watched on her computer when she wasn't working, or doing homework, or during the long nights when she WAS working but not busy.  There were a few things in the bottom of the box that ~ as soon as I spotted them ~ brought tears to my eyes.  I saw the little square  Valentine with the simple message on the back from Kasey...."Dear Mom, I love you, Love, Kasey'....in the legible printing of a first grade boy.  Then I saw the silver bracelet with the Lord's prayer on it - which even though Laurie couldn't wear, she kept close....this a gift from my sister Chelle, who had sent one to Laurie, and to myself, and kept one for herself.  I have worn this bracelet nearly every single day....have removed it countless times to make a meatloaf, or to do the dishes, or help Kasey with his bath.  But when I crawl into bed at night, it's always on the bathroom vanity next to my hearing aids so in the morning, I read it in prayer, and slip it over my left hand. Chelle, you don't know how much love you gave me in that bracelet.  And I thank you - and God - every time I put it on my wrist. And then I picked up the third item that was so special.  It was a small pewter stone that I purchased at the Renaissance Festival during the summer.  On the stone was written one word - Princess.  Now THAT made me cry.  And I mean CRY. 
When it began, this deployment was so difficult to think about, and instead of thinking of it as a year, I took it one day at a time - often one hour, one minute at a time.  When I go to bed at night I ask the Lord for a safe day for my children - all of them. Here,and  in Buffalo, and over there, where Laurie is. And now where Stephen is also. When I get up in the morning, I ask for a safe night's sleep for Laurie and Stephen, and a good day for Scott and Vi too.  Not to mention Luke, and Veronica, and Kasey.  And so, at first, we kind of trudged through the days here at home.  Stephen like a fish out of water because Laurie was deployed instead of himself.   But we soon got into our routines and the days began to pass quickly. Laurie came home for R and R during the Christmas holidays and things seemed normal again....for a little while.
Once Stephen received his deployment orders, things moved quickly, and now we count the days on two calendars (mentally, that is), both for the safe return of our soldiers.
So in looking at all of these things in a big box, I realized that this year has been one which I never could have imagined.  When Laurie left, I was lost.  A mom can't explain what goes through her heart and mind when her daughter goes to war, and then her daughter's husband too.
But in receiving that package, and in thinking about the past year, I realize that God had His plans for me too.  Not just cooking and cleaning and taking care of two men and a boy and the dogs.  But rather receiving a gift far greater than I could have imagined.....the open door to our new church.  To a strengthened faith, new friends,  and the reality that when your child leaves for over there, faith IS what will get a person through.  And of course all of you and your prayers.  We still need them, please. 

Faith, family, friends.
These are a few of my favorite things.....and I would have to bet that even though as a mom and daughter Laurie and I haven't always agreed about everything....those three of our favorite things are the same.
Thanks for stopping by - God's blessings to you all.

The Weeks of Easter.




When Lent began on Ash Wednesday, our Pastor (who is awesome) asked us to give up a few things.
Oh, we could give up the usual things like chocolate, or sweets, etc., but especially, he asked us to give up our anxieties, sadness, guilt, and sin.  Maybe because of this, and with God's help, this Lent and Easter season has been more meaningful than I can ever remember.  I've shared this with Ron and with some of my church family, but since you also know me, it was important to share it with you as well.

Admittedly, there were moments during those 40 days that I truly struggled with this.  Stephen would be leaving before Easter.  With Laurie still over there, my prayers were for her as she thought,  in a war zone, about her husband's deployment. As her mom I struggled with what she must be feeling. But on that day, when Stephen hugged us goodbye, (and as I wanted to keep holding on to him) the prayer I had been praying for weeks, (Please, Lord, let this happen without tears), was answered.  There were no tears until after he left, and they were not in front of Kasey. A few days  later, Laurie Skyped to say that the powers that be (thank you LORD) had managed for them to be able to spend some time together.  On Easter morning, they were still together.

The joy of Easter goes past that one Sunday after Good Friday.  The joy continues, and I am realizing more and more that the sadness, guilt, anxieties, and sin for which Jesus died are still ours- still mine -  to give up every single day. Not just during 40 days of the church year.  They ALL died on the cross with God's Son.
Moms worry - even Mary probably worried about Jesus....but they are calmed in the peace He brings to us. No matter what hurts or joys lie upon our hearts, God sees them....and hears them in our prayers, and brings us dear and wonderful Christian friends who pray with us, and who hug us in Christian love. He helps us past our own thoughts to hear and pray for what is on their hearts as well.  Not just the anxieties, but the joys too!  

Praying that His peace will also be in the hearts of our military men and women who are in the midst of war.  Or who are about to be in the midst of war - and in the hearts of those who love them. 
Every single day He helps me to realize more and more that Easter joy is not just a feeling..it is a blessed reality.
May you know this too.