One Little Baby

I was very little when I held a little baby not much smaller than myself. The baby was my niece, the little baby who on that winter day had made me an aunt.

I did not know how about the many times to come where we would play as little sisters.

I did not know that on the day I had gained the little sister I longed for in much later days.

Some days I was a naughty girl and made her cry. That was many years ago and another time of life ago. This week I got an e-mail from my niece and she made me cry.

Because you know what? Abi is one my very closest friends. She is the one who encourages me when I am down. She is the one who makes me laugh and she laughs too...even when I have embarrassed her. I secretly look at her taste of fashion and take note. She listens to me talk about nothing and I do the same for her.

Can you tell she is just an all around amazing girl? Most of the time I forget I am the aunt and just prefer to say we are sisters.

18 years a go My sister was a mother for the very first time. Mom entered the world of grandmother hood and well me...I was an aunty.
21 times I've been an aunt since then but 18 ago was the very first time the title nailed itself to my name and the adventures have never stopped and I hope they never do.

I know I look much to young to be an aunt of a 18 year old, but well some of us just age quite slow.

:)

This is one of the Seniors from last year. Sometimes I wasn't sure what I thought about her, but after a while we settled the large gap between a Senior and Freshman and became friends. It didn't take very long. Though I'm afraid I never ceased to give her a hard time. I am not sure though I would not have survived the year without being teased. Because well don't tell anybody, but I secretly enjoyed it.


Happy Birthday Liz

1,000 Gifts.

My mother is one of God's greatest gifts to me. I'm just awed how much she has persevered in raising me, from being on bed rest for several weeks before my birth, mothering a newborn and a bride to be, raising a very stubborn child, putting up with my far too many teenage moments, and giving the same advice over and over again because she knows I need to hear it.

Happy Birthday to my Mom, a woman who....

teaches me to love the Lord
take joy in life
to follow God everywhere...

she has mothered a teenage daughter and been grandma to her teenage granddaughter at the same time.
she has selflessly cared for both her mother in law and mother.
And you know what, I learned how to cook from mom, so that says a lot about how good my mom's cooking is.

If all that isn't spectacular I don't know what it will take to impress you.

but...
she is the first to admit where she is wrong and where she has failed in life...teaching me all the more to appreciate God's Grace.

I can't help, but say it, I love my mom very, very much. I know this birthday post is a little early, but I just could not wait to tell the world about my mom.

1,000 Gifts

I was quite exceedingly happy the day my older brother got married. It was my 18th birthday too, but well that small fact was very much forgotten because all I cared about was that I got to watch my brother marry his very best friend.

Than there was just one of brother's left in the world bachelorhood. I gave him suggestions of a fine young lady, but of course who listens to their pesky little sister?
One day I said to one of my friends " I praying for my brother to find a wife". That was several years ago. This Christmas my brother called saying he was engaged to the before mentioned friend. My big brother one of my very best friends is getting married...

...so someone else poses beside him in pictures. His very best friend, but I am and will always be my brother's little sister and now I get a big sister . This makes me happy...very happy.

21. One week of school all done and the privilege I have of attending school.
22. Conversations with friends that make laugh out loud.
23. Wearing dress pants to class...I do believe I am no less of a lady in pants, I mean slacks...
24. Awkward classes that are just too funny...
25. E-mails from my soon to be sister
26. Sharing my heart with a friend.
27. Snow covered trees.
28.Snowballs that land very close, but not on me.
29.Chocolate and more chocolate.
30. Answered prayers in the form of a new sister.

1,000 Gifts

Today I am so thankful to be here at school. The homework does not excite me, but after being in the car for 12 hours, being delayed because of a blow out tire and driving in blinding snow, well it is just nice to be here safely. I don't think I have ever been so grateful for the Lord's protection.

11. Sleeping soundly through night in a less than restful place.
12. Yummy healthy dip for break.
13. Snow, I really like that white stuff.
14. Being able to wash dishes to pay for my school bill.
15. A lost check book because it means I have a bank to put money in.
16. People to laugh with even things are sad.
17. Big sister and little brother who are together because of Christ's sacrifice for us.
18. Hugs from friends and high fives:)
19. A cell phone to call home on.
20. A coat that makes me feel too warm...even when its 2 degrees outside.


Yes I am afraid I'm not posting on a Monday again...

Ever Faithful

Today is one of those days where I write something I wish could have been written at a later time. The subject seems too sad put into words, yet it is so worthy and needy of being written. At the very same time it is a delight and a joy to put these memories into words.

You never knew when my Aunt and Uncle would come for a visit. They live far away in Montana and it wasn't unusual for them to call in the afternoon and say they would be at our house for supper. Having our work done was not an issue for both my aunt and uncle would eagerly help us with the chores and the garden. Than later we would sit around the supper table for hours hearing stories about my aunt's famous carrots which were the envy of all other gardeners. Stories from my uncle about fierce Montana blizzards and so much more.

This fall it was parents turn to go visit my aunt and uncle. Mom and Dad carefully planned their trip in order not to put a burden on my aunt and uncle. For my aunt was very sick with cancer. Mom told me later how my aunt spoke earnestly of heaven and her eagerness to get there. She knew what was happening and with the Lord's grace she was ready to face death.

It was not a strange subject to my aunt. I remember her telling us about caring for her mother in law in their home before she died. I saw first hand that loving care when she cared for my grandmother as she neared death. These memories are what will stand in memory forever as the greatest things my aunt ever did.



Now my aunt has fought the final war with pain and oh it was a battle; but the Lord prevailed and whisked her to safety forever with Him.

I sit here and remember my aunt, but the memories are overshadowed by God's faithfulness. For even in death and pain our Lord is ever faithful.

[5 ] For the LORD is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
(Psalm 100:5 ESV)

And I just cannot help, but wonder if my aunt's brother greeted my aunt with a sparkle in his eye boasting that he had beaten her to the Celestial city.

1,000 Gifts

Yesterday I was contemplating life. I do it so much these day that I get rather bored of the subject. Right now though I stand at a base of a mountain. I know I will get to the top, but I have no idea of how. Just that it will happen. That's what I know that my life just go in the direction God leads.

Now that really had nothing to do with what am writing about tonight, but I thought the analogy was some what intelligent. Right now though I want to confess something... I have a tendency to be ungrateful, to whine and grip about anything and everything. This I know is an ugly disposition one I wish to do away with. Unfortunately I'm a human being, so I am afraid turning into Miss Sunshine doesn't come over night. Tis the time though to make New Year's resolutions although I prefer to call them goals. The first one I've already started, the thankful book, just a small personal record whatever I feel thankful for each day. And yes each and every day there will be something I am thankful for, because if you really stop and think there are many blessings even in the bleakest of days.

The second goal my readers ...whoever you are, ahem, you will get to read my 1,000 gifts of thankfulness. Of course not all at once sadly while I could find a 1,000 things to be grateful there just is not time in a hour to share them. Let me see though how fast I can post the 1,000 things each week.

Starting now.

1. Shopping with my mother and laughing about things only the two of us would laugh about.
2. Egg rolls for supper and not having to make them.
3. The perfect very much needed little black shoes from the thrift store.
4. Christmas music. Please say I am not the only one who is still in a festive mood?
5. A good night's sleep after a nasty cold.
6. Lovely weather where coats can be shed.
7. Dress shopping with special people for an equally special wedding.
8. Thoughts of heaven and those who wait for us there.
9. Sparkly clean kitchen and dish washer which does the dishes.
10. Tea with a very dear friend tomorrow.

I do know it is not Monday, but who will scold me for being thankful on a Tuesday?