Category: family

little treasures :)

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Among all the other changes and life events, we moved about three years ago.  Not to a new town, just a new house.  With all the “babies” grown and moved out, I guess it was time to downsize. In my dining room, I have these floating shelves above my sideboard, super cute.  I love to decorate them with my favorite things.  After having so much fun decorating them for Christmas, I decided I would do a subtle little “nod” to Valentines – I put out my paternal grandmother’s formal china with its little pink rosebuds, got a few pink things from Hobby Lobby and Target (and even had a Valentines dinner for some friends with pink chargers!).  Fun! (oh how Mama Annie would love it too, seeing her dishes so loved!)

   

Since Christmas and Valentines Day were so much fun, I decided a little “nod” to St Patrick’s Day would be fun too, so off to my favorite shops I went!  Turns out, St Patrick’s day is not subtle…. everything I saw was pretty “loud”, sparkly, not the little “hint” of shamrocks I had hoped for, but then I remembered: my little Irish girl! Can we take a little rabbit trail together? 


My maternal grandmother collected music boxes.  Lots of them, shelves and shelves, boxes and boxes.  I loved playing with them when I was small. Some were very large, some were very expensive, but all of them were out – she didn’t mind when we played them. This little Irish girl plays “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling”, but have your earplugs handy when I start her up – she’s so out of tune, it will give you a headache when she plays. Her dress is cracked, someone glued her back together long before I was around. Her paint is worn off in places.   I have very specific memories of this one when I was small – every time I got down the music boxes, I made sure she was one of them. I remember feeling sorry for her, thinking that no one would play with her because she was broken and didn’t play a pretty tune.  I always thought no one would want her, so I made sure to give her some attention when I visited.  Isn’t it funny the things were think when we are young?

When my grandmother passed away, my mother, aunts and uncle asked the grandchildren if there was anything in the house we would like.  I don’t think anyone objected when I requested the little Irish girl, and I was so pleased to bring her to my house. Today, she was the perfect “nod” to St Patrick’s Day for my floating shelf.  I decided to display my maternal grandmother’s china along with her music box – it might not be “St Patrick’s Day official”, but it makes me smile.  It makes me remember.   (oh how Super Nana would have loved this too!)

You know, these little treasures – china and chargers and music boxes – all contain little lessons. Titus 1:15 says, “To the pure, all things are pure”. I think this means that God can speak to me in everything if I focus my attention on Him, let my desire for His truth be the filter through which He speaks to me. So, today the lesson is about a broken, out of tune, faded out, old music box.

She doesn’t sparkle. She doesn’t sing sweetly. She doesn’t work quite right. Her dress is cracked. But she’s still treasured – not because of how well she performs, but because of who she belonged to, and the memories she holds. I don’t love her because she’s perfect—I love her because she belonged to my grandmother and now she belongs to me.

And isn’t that just like the Lord?

We may be cracked. Our song may be off-key. We may feel forgotten, or passed over, or patched together one too many times. Even in our imperfections, God chooses us. Loves us. Delights in us. Simply because we are His.

Psalm 22:30 says, “Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord” (NLT). I want to be the kind of woman who tells. Who shares. Who puts broken music boxes on the shelf and pink chargers on the table and celebrates every season of life, because every one is a gift. I want to be a bridge between generations—passing down beauty and brokenness, faith and joy, love and legacy.

And in this way, even my little broken Irish girl becomes a treasure ❤

Sweat and Sunscreen and Generational Blessings

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“I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.”  Genesis 17:7

My two-year-old grandson and I love SeaWorld. At this stage in his life, we see it more as a zoo than a theme park. We love to stroll the paths, admire the aquariums, and see the animals above and below the water. He especially loves the shows. He loves the orcas, sharks, Elmo’s train…. He has a lot of favorites, and that makes life with him so much fun!

Last week, I invited his dad/my son to join us for the day. As we sat together at the orca show (his favorite!), my grandson crawled up into my lap. I kissed the top of his head, breathing in that familiar mix of sweat and sunscreen, the universal cologne of little boyhood. Suddenly, I was transported back in time to when his dad was two years old and snuggled in that same spot. That weight, that warmth, that love, that memory brought tears of joy to my eyes.

Watching my grown son hold his son’s hand as they walked through the shark tank (oh wait – the sharks are his favorite!), or laughing as he crammed his 6’4” frame into a tiny seat on Elmo’s train (that’s also his favorite, LOL!), I was struck with gratitude—not just for the sweetness of the moment, but for the enduring goodness of God from one generation to the next.

The promises of God are not limited by age or time. Genesis 17:7 speaks of God’s everlasting covenant—not just with Abraham, but with his descendants. This is the beauty of generational faith: God doesn’t just call me to follow Him—He invites my children, my grandchildren, and their children after them.

We’re not saved by bloodline, of course, but there is an incredible grace in seeing the thread of God’s faithfulness continue through the generations. Psalm 145:4 declares, “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.” There is no greater joy than watching your children carry on the faith you’ve labored to live out.  One day, God willing, I’ll see my grandson begin to walk that same path.

“We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His might, and the wonders that He has done.” Psalm 78:4

If we embrace this season with joy, we’ll discover its own special anointing. We become the storytellers of the family faith. That’s my call, and yours: to speak life into the next generation—not just through Bible stories, but through our own testimonies. Tell them about the time God provided when I had nothing. Share how He healed, how He carried me through heartbreak, how He surprised me with peace when it made no sense. These aren’t just stories—they’re spiritual inheritance.

Holding my grandson, watching him gaze at his dad with adoration, I felt it deeply: this is what blessing looks like. Not just health or happiness or financial security, but the continuity of love and faith. My grandson is just the cherry on top!

“Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation.” Joel 1:3

There’s something profoundly holy about watching your grown child parent their own child with gentleness, laughter, and strength. It’s a glimpse of God’s faithfulness—not only in your own life, but in theirs. (Since this post is so personal anyway, I’ll just continue: I’m in awe watching my son and daughter-in-love parent. They are excellent, and their children are surely blessed).

Faith passed down becomes more than memory. It transforms from something we talk about to something we live out, shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand. From the stroller at SeaWorld to the altar at church, from Elmo’s train to the truths of Scripture, every moment is an opportunity to pass along something eternal.

“To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:21

I’ve been in a season of transition, and know from experience that transitions can be hard. Watching the years unfold brings tears and joy in equal measure. However, these transitions in my family have been a joy and ease: my son becoming a husband, then a dad, me becoming a GiGi. What a joy to hold a child in your arms and know that the God who held you all these years is now holding them, too.

To tell of God’s mighty works, and to declare that His mercy truly endures from generation to generation – that’s my treasure today and I am taking it all in! ❤

“I’m Going to Your House Today!”

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When we were children, friendship and community seemed easier, didn’t it? We were in school together, when you had a deskmate or someone who shared your seat on the bus, 8 year olds could be pretty simple. (Well, at least when I was an 8 year old, life was simpler – not sure if it’s simple for the 8 year old in 2025!). However, as adults, we have to make more of an effort.  Godly friendship doesn’t happen by accident!

One of my friends and I laugh often about how we became close.  She had moved to a new city, and I thought, “she needs me” – so I called her up and said, “Hey!  I’m coming to sleep over at your house!” I called another friend and said, “Hey – we are going to a sleepover!  Get packed!” LOL!  Today, we are still BFFs, and we still laugh about that story!  

You might be thinking, “I could never!”. I know – it sounds embarrassing, but this is not without precedent. You know who did this way before I did?  

“When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”  So Zacchaeus came down at once and welcomed Jesus gladly.” Luke 19:5-6 NIV

(Anyone else singing the children’s song in your head right now?  “Zacchaeus, you come down!  For I’m going to your house today! I’m going to your house today!”)

To be honest, at the moment of that phone call when I invited myself over, we weren’t really that kind of friends yet. The Holy Spirit, in His kindness, allowed me to see a need – and it turns out that it was a need I had in my life too.  The result is one of my most treasured friendships!

Okay, so you don’t have to cold-call people to get friends, LOL!  However, the faith journey should not be a solo one.  God’s idea is for us to be in families and in community – He was the one who said, “it is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). The enemy of your soul wants you isolated – don’t fall into that trap.  

A few tips for you:

  • Be Vulnerable: Let others see the real you. Friendship grows in the soil of authenticity.
  • Make Time: Busy-ness is one of the greatest threats to community. Prioritize people over productivity.
  • Pray Together: Shared prayer deepens bonds like nothing else. Make prayer a regular part of your friendships.
  • Speak Life: Be generous with encouragement, grace, and affirmation.
  • Pursue Reconciliation: Conflict is inevitable, but godly friendship chooses forgiveness over offense.

Friendship is not just emotional support—it’s a spiritual discipline. When we surround ourselves with godly companions, we position ourselves to hear God more clearly, walk more faithfully, and live more fully.

Don’t wait for friendship to find you. Sow seeds of intentionality, vulnerability, and prayer. Water them with consistency and grace. Trust that God, in His perfect timing, will surround you with the kind of friends who make you more like Him. I have found that this effort is worth it, and I have been blessed with godly friendships in my life. Today, I want to encourage you to make that investment! You will find it to be a treasure ❤ 

p.s. I’m continuing this discussion on the podcast this week! New episode will drop on Thursday. Subscribe on Youtube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts this week so we can connect again! Here’s the link tree so we can connect!

an old favorite: when noun/treasure becomes verb/treasure

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Passed this sign at the entrance of my neighborhood the other day:

ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD YARD SALE THIS WEEKEND

treasure

 

Yay!  I almost never want to buy anything, but a good yard sale involves many things that I do love: people (watching them, meeting them, hearing their stories), walking, being outside, and the best: seeing all these little treasures! This morning, I was up and ready around 8:30, so I asked my 17 year old if he wanted to talk a walk with me.  Never one to turn down a good rambling around, Ty agreed and we set out.

First stop: lemonade stand.  We loved that little girl (she was selling handmade jewelry too – can you imagine something sweeter than jewelry and lemonade from a 6 year old? A.DOR.A.BLE.).  We weren’t quite ready for a cool drink yet, so we promised to circle back.  Next stop: all kinds of goodies!  We looked at everything, and Ty settled on a small chest, little tiny drawers, we thought it would look great on his bookshelf (he loves books and a good treasure like his mom).  Only $1 (score!), PLUS we got a story about how grandpa had made this beautiful little chest by hand.  Next stop: an antique camera.  My daughter collects them (how cool is that?), but the price was a little steep for our yard sale budget.  We passed, but not before we met this dear lady and her husband.  Next stop: lots of kids items, toys, books, cute cute cute.  We didn’t need anything, but we chatted with the dad and then two sweeties ran out, “Mrs. Spivey! Mrs. Spivey!”  They gave us big hugs for free, and we talked about when we would see each other next (Monday at school).  Next stop: an apple peeler/corer!  Remember the kind – it suctions to the counter and you twist the apple around and around until it doesn’t have the core and the peeling is all in one long curly strip?  Fun!  I had one once, when the babies were little….. hmmm, must have gotten lost in a move along the way.  How much is this one, brand new, still in the box? $1! Yep, we’ll take it!

Time to circle back for our lemonade, only a few houses down from the house.  “We’re back again! Do you still have lemonade?”  She does, and it’s 75 cents a cup.  Well, no day at the yard sale is complete without a good haggle over price at some point, right?  We bargained our new little friend from 75 cents a cup up to $1 a cup and we were all happy with the deal. 🙂  We’re ready to be home now (did I say I loved the sun?  Well, after our ramble, I think I’ll love the air conditioning!), but we have one more new family to meet and a friend to visit on our way.

Treasure chest: $1, apple peeler/corer: $1, two cups of lemonade: $2.  $4 well spent – and my true treasure today?  That was the time spent with my son, all by himself.  For this sweet one, quality time is his love language and my greatest joy.  That makes a nice combination!  We talked with neighbors and friends today, but mostly we talked to each other.  These moments together are not to be treated as common.  It’s easy to remember the “big stuff” (trips to Disney, surprise birthday parties), all the major “firsts” in life (steps, days at school, drivers licenses, etc.), but this isn’t all. Our lives are made up of the everyday that we can pass over as common if we aren’t careful.  These are the kind of memories that I want to save: hearing his voice, hearing his thoughts, having secrets or smiles or jokes shared between us.  Yeah, it looked like a little ramble around the neighborhood and a couple of crinkled dollar bills, but it was much more than that.  Ty gave me his morning, and it was my favorite gift today.  It was a treasure. ❤

Sometimes I think about Mary and all the celebrating connected to the birth of Jesus (BIG EVENT, no mistake about that!).  Right then in the middle of all this celebrating, she takes a moment and the noun “treasure” becomes a verb: “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).  She had the presence of mind right then to pause and reflect and TREASURE the miracle and love her Son.

Small moments, big moments, take a pause and let the noun/treasure become a verb/treasure in your life.  We have so much.

God is so kind and generous!  Praying that you find lots of reasons to verb/treasure today,

Jennifer

an old favorite: raise up a child :)

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This is an older blog post, but in honor of my twins birthday today, I thought I’d run it again 🙂 Now they are 21, but at the time of this writing, they were 20.  Thanks for visiting with me again! Fondly, Jennifer ❤ 

Last summer my twins turned 20, and I had an idea to make “months” signs and recreate some favorite baby pictures.  To complete the joke, I posted on my social media: “Our babies are 240 months old – we can’t believe it! Tyler and Jacob are excellent young men: they love Jesus and Super Smash Bros, Jacob loves to fish and Tyler loves to read, they are awesome brothers to Lindsay, and they bring joy to our lives every day! We love these guys and pray God’s BIGGEST blessings on them for the next 20 years and more!”  Our friends and family laughed with us all day!

 

I was happy to see them hit 20, and happy every day with the wise young men they have become.  Of course, raising 3 children (all 3 born in less than 2 years!) wasn’t easy.  I don’t have to tell you: motherhood is not for the weak, nor is it a job to be taken lightly! In some ways, I think it is harder for young moms today than it was for me when mine were small.  All the more reason to depend on the Lord daily. Those truly were wonderful days, with my three littles toddling around!

These are wonderful days, too!  Tyler and I were out together the other day – we like to call it a “ramble”.  We went to mail care packages to the siblings who are away at school, ran a few errands, then hit an antique store in town (we love to look at treasures!).  I found some darling vintage Christmas dishes, and Ty found some gorgeous old hardback books by…. wait, now I’m doing a different kind of rambling!  Let me get back on track!

This particular store has a garage out back, and we couldn’t resist.  We walked in and saw a whole corner full of old children’s games and toys.  On the top of the pile was a big Teletubbie plush – does anyone remember that program?  Well, children’s items usually bring up an opportunity to tease me: I was a little fussy (maybe more fussy than was necessary) about what my children watched and read. So, Tyler says, “Mom, I remember that we weren’t allowed to watch Teletubbies – why not?” He’s already smiling and ready to laugh at my response, so I tell him the truth (I’ll spare you – it probably was ridiculous!).  I answered his question honestly, and that laugh led to memories of other things I didn’t allow, all in kind jesting between me and my son.  There was a popular movie then about a lion, but they didn’t watch it because I didn’t like the theme (uncle murders father, uncle convinces son that it was his fault, and then uncle convinces son to run away because he couldn’t tell his family the truth – all kinds of ideas I didn’t want introduced to my 3 year old charges).  We didn’t watch Dragon Tales, we didn’t believe in Santa Claus (though we did watch those holiday cartoons – we just didn’t present them as truth), the list went on.

Before you judge me too hard: the list of things we DID DO and the list of fun we had and things we DID enjoy was much much longer than the “don’t do it” list! Before you think, “wait – I do let my kids watch that show” and think that I am judging you, let me assure you that nothing is further from the truth!  I don’t have any judgement on any parent: I had an anointing from God to raise these specific three – and I believe you have an anointing from God to raise yours!  Our households aren’t exactly the same because our children and experience is not exactly the same!  There’s LOTS of grace here, honest promise! 🙂 

Here’s the moment I want to share: after Tyler and I stopped laughing at my silliness (some of it was right; some of it was exaggerated, I’m sure), I told him the motivation behind every decision I ever made on that got us to this point: “Son, I knew I only had ONCE CHANCE. ONE CHANCE to get you and your brother and sister successfully and happily through childhood.  ONE CHANCE to deliver you to adulthood as a God-fearing, faithful, normal, well-adjusted person.  If I was going to make a mistake, I was going to make it on the side of caution.”

You know what he did?  (forgive me if I start crying right now) My 6’2″ son, 240plus months old now, came to put his arm around my shoulder, and said two words:

“Nailed it.”

God bless him.  The Bible says to “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it (Proverbs 22:6 NIV).  Beautiful and comforting advice for moms and dads.  The Bible also says, “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck” (Proverbs 1:8-9 NIV). Beautiful and comforting advice for sons and daughters.

Thank you, Ty.  Thank you, Jacob and Lindsay.  You are literally the best!

Making a commitment to the Lord, making a commitment to a purpose AND seeing it through?  That’s a treasure.  Praying you have something to commit to, something to pour your whole being into, and I’m also praying that you will finish strong.  God is on your side – and I am too! 🙂

Jennifer ❤

 

 

guess who? :)

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When the babies were little, we liked to play board games.  I remember when we first brought home a game called “Guess Who”.  It was a sort of “20 questions” situation – each player had a person card that their opponent must identify, narrowing the field by only asking yes and no questions.

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We played along with the twins for a little bit as they were learning – it was tough at first to understand that their 2 people were not the same.  It was also tough to understand that one was to ask questions that might apply to the opponent’s person, not your own. So we ask questions: “Does your person have red hair?” If the answer is yes, you flip all the people who do NOT have red hair (flip, flip, flip, flip, flip).  “Does your person wear glasses?” If the answer is no, you flip all the people who DO wear glasses (flip, flip, flip, flip, flip). And the game continues until you have narrowed it down and can “guess who”. Fun!  The first time the twins played without my help, it was fun to listen in:

Q: “Ty, does your person have a hat?” A: “No” and then flip, flip, flip, flip, flip

Q: “Jake, does your person have white hair?” A: “Yes!” and then flip, flip, flip, flip, flip

The kiss of death was having a girl – there weren’t nearly as many women as men on the board.  And if your girl was wearing a hat?  Practically game over before you start!  My favorite exchange, and it still makes me smile:

Q: “Jakie, does your person have a beard?” A: “No” flip, flip, flip, flip, flip

Then Jacob added a little comment that changed the game: “That wasn’t a good question, Ty – because my person is a girl!” flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip 🙂 Round one to Tyler, LOL!

One question can still change the game.  Jesus asked the disciples a single question to end all other questions: “Who do you say I am?”  Let’s take a quick look at the conversation:

 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 16:13-17 NIV)

Even for us today, the question must be settled in our minds: who is Jesus?  Never mind who your friends say He is, never mind who your co-workers say He is, never mind who your family members say He is, it’s a question we must answer for ourselves and be able to trust fully in the reply: Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God! Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15, “I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (15:3-4).  “First of all” means “of first importance”, the main idea. Paul is saying “if you don’t get anything else from me, get this: Jesus died for our sins and was raised from the dead”.

One question, one answer that changes everything else.  God sent His Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for your sins, so that you could be reconciled to God.

Selah – pause, praise and think of that!

Accepting the truth of Jesus’ identity (and not having to “guess who”) is a treasure – praying that you have the opportunity to apply this truth to your heart and let Jesus give you peace ❤

Jennifer 🙂

 

 

Bea’s Gifts :)

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You might know Bea already – she’s a regular on my facebook and instagram 🙂  No pretense: I never intended to love a dog, but I sure love this one!

Bea

Bea does lots of funny things – she has a BIG personality packed into her little 5-pound body.  One of her habits is the way she greets us after we have been gone for a while: she has to have something in her mouth before she can come to us.  I don’t know why – as soon as we walk in the door and release her from her crate, she runs to find a bone or a toy before she lets us pick her up and love on her.  As she likes to hide her bones all over, she can’t always find one quick enough for a greeting – in that case, she’ll get a mouthful of dog food from her bowl and them come running for us.  I sometimes kind of wonder if she is bringing a little offering of sorts.

When the babies came home for Christmas break, I noticed something: I was constantly finding pieces of dog food under their bedroom doors, just as far as Bea could poke it under there.

Bea’s gift

I know its hard to tell what you are looking at here: that’s the hallway tile on bottom, the bedroom carpet in the middle with the piece of dog food, and that’s the bottom of the closed door on top.  I get up WAY earlier than anybody in  the house (even Bea), and I leave my bedroom door open so she can come find me when she wakes up.  I wonder if she is trying to visit the babies when she wakes up, taking a gift to see if they’ll let her in.  It’s completely silly to try to imagine what she is thinking and utterly ridiculous to attach a response or emotion to her actions (she’s a dog for crying out loud), but I do it anyway!

If I’m allowed to attach an emotion/reason for her action (just for the sake of this silly story!), maybe its because she recognizes that it’s because of us she has a home and toys and bones and all she needs.  She wants to give something back. My heart is touched by her offering and I’m excited to see her too. I don’t feel impatient as she looks for her bone – I smile and wait for her.

This morning, Bea got me thinking about bringing gifts.  Generally, we give a gift out of love, remembrance or appreciation.  One of the gifts we can bring to the Lord is our gratitude and praise. One of my former pastors used to say that the “password” to enter God’s presence was gratefulness and praise.  I’m sure you’ve heard something similar. Psalm 100:4 is a familiar favorite:

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name”

Exodus 23:15 is another one about bringing an offering:

“none shall appear before Me empty”

Give me a little grace on the Exodus one, okay?  It’s not exactly the intended context, but sometimes when I think of this verse, I think about all that God has done for us, all His generosity, all the things that I can think of, and all the things I can’t think of because He is so big and so far beyond my comprehension.  To come before Him with nothing seems ungrateful somehow – He has done so much, how can I offer a response of utter emptiness?  If all I have is a praise or a word of gratefulness, that’s still something.  When the Lord draws me into His presence, I want my first response to be praise – I want to bring Him a gift.  

Like little miss Bea scrambles for a bone or some sort of offering, let’s do the same for our Heavenly Father, as He is the Source of everything we need. At every opportunity, thank Him. Father, thank you for breath!  Thank You for health!  Thank You for air conditioning! (that’s not silly – I really am grateful for AC!) Thank You for provision!  Thank You for guiding my children!  Thank You for friendships! Thank You for every good and perfect gift! Thank You for mercies, new every day! Nothing is too small to mention, nothing too insignificant.  God is our Source of all – it’s right for us to recognize Him as such. I believe God’s heart is touched by our offerings of gratitude and He loves us so. He doesn’t feel impatient as we search for words – I imagine he smiles and waits.

I know that there are hard days, difficult times when we might not feel grateful – that’s just a feeling.  Push on through it and be grateful anyway! Being quick with gratitude or praise every day, that’s a treasure! 

Praying you have lots to be grateful for today – take a moment to thank God!

Jennifer 🙂

“everything fits” or “Christmas in July” :)

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Maybe because they were so close in age, my husband and I referred to our three as “the babies” and the affectionate term stayed. Now that they are 18 and 19 and 19, well, they are are still “the babies” – I guess they always will be!

When the babies first started helping in the kitchen, we started what we called “family dinner” once a week.  For “family dinner”, everyone made whatever their own favorite dish or dessert was at the time, or the most recent item they had learned to cook.  No rules – everyone added the ingredients they needed for their contribution to the grocery list, and we all cooked together.  Got to admit it – we had some weird combinations at those “mini-potluck” meals!  (Maybe this explains why you’ve never seen a picture of my dinner posted on Facebook, LOL! I would have gotten some raised eyebrows at the answer to the “what’s for dinner?” question if anyone outside of my 5 asked!). Maybe they were combos that one wouldn’t see at a restaurant, there was no “theme” to the meal, but we loved it.  The theme, I guess if you need one, was “things we loved”.  Remembering how picky the twins were in those days, it honestly worked out well – everyone cleaned their plate at the “family dinner”!

(p.s. this is NOT a picture of “family dinner” at my house, LOL!)

Had to smile when someone at church asked me today what was for Christmas lunch at our house… Want to know?  Michael and I had white chicken chili, and the babies had chicken alfredo (with angel hair pasta instead of alfredo noodles, naturally). When the garlic toast went in the oven, Jacob asked if he could make “pigs in a blanket” to go along with lunch.  Of course, he can!  What else would go along with a lunch of chili and alfredo if not “pigs in a blanket”? 😉 So, that was Christmas lunch – everyone had their favorite, and we loved it.

It’s a silly tradition, but it brought an unexpected lesson: we all have gifts to share.    We didn’t put “rules” on their offering, we just let it be. (Sometimes, the meal was brownies, crescent hot dogs, green bean casserole, and bacon. Weird, but we rolled with it and we enjoyed it. Maybe I could have done without the “beanies weenies and clam chowder” night, TBH 😉 ).  What we learned (completely by accident) is that all of our offerings are valuable. When we share those gifts, they all fit together somehow. Just like our gifts in the body of Christ – here’s what Paul wrote:

So here’s what I want you to do. When you gather for worship, each one of you be prepared with something that will be useful for all: Sing a hymn, teach a lesson, tell a story, lead a prayer, provide an insight. (1 Cor. 14:26 MSG)

You might be asking yourself: What is my gift?  What is my talent? Where do I fit in? My advice: just get started!  Do what you can with what you have.  You’ll see that God will bless it.  He will grow you and He will grow your gift and He will bless others around you with your gift.  You might think it’s silly, but you never know who might just need it…… Just like we needed Jacob’s “pigs in a blanket” to go along with our chicken alfredo 🙂

Realizing you have a gift to share, and recognizing the opportunity to share it?  That’s a treasure, and I’m praying that you find a place where your gift fits today! (hint: it very nearly fits anywhere!)

Jennifer ❤

 

Back in February 1997….

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It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom…. it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us…..

Charles Dickens’ opening line in “A Tale of Two Cities” described the moments perfectly, though  in my world, those moments don’t necessarily happen simultaneously.  On this day, the “worst”, the “darkness”, the “despair”, the “nothing” was all together – the return of my symmetry with the “best”, the “light”, the “hope”, the “everything” would come a few months later.

In February 1997, I was about four months pregnant and loving it. Pregnancy agreed with me.  I had a miracle inside, and even though it wasn’t a secret, it felt like it in a way.  All mine, for now – I would share the baby later – but today, it was all mine and I felt a smile inside all the time. Best, light, hope, everything before us. No words express it all, really.

One Saturday night, I started bleeding.  Panicked, I woke my husband.  We called the doctor, who advised me to stay in bed and call first thing in the morning. We called first thing in the morning, Sunday morning. Doctor said for me to stay in bed all day, and come to the office first thing Monday. I was frantic and I was sad.  Worst, darkness, despair, nothing before us. Really, I had no idea what this event might mean, but “for this child I had prayed” (1 Samuel 1:27), and nothing escaped the Lord’s notice.  He was forming this baby in the womb and He KNEW this baby, even now (Jeremiah 1:5).  I went to the Lord and to His word for comfort.

I’m not a “random” person – I’ve heard the same stories you have about the Bible falling open to the right page at the right moment to the right verse.  I believe those stories – it just isn’t how the Lord deals with me.  He knows my type-A-ness and He parents me in a way specifically suited for me.  On this night, though, I couldn’t hear and I couldn’t see through my tears, I just held my Bible, and opened it.

I saw Isaiah 44:3 and the following verses immediately.  When I read that the Lord said that He “will pour My Spirit on your descendants And My blessing on your offspring”, I felt an immediate peace.  I accepted this promise, leapt off the page, as mine, and went back to bed.  I can’t remember how I slept, but I know the Lord gave me sleep that night (that’s a promise too – Psalm 127:2).  We went straight to the doctor, first thing in the morning.  She listened for a heartbeat, and we were listening too, barely able to concentrate for the sound of our own rushed heartbeats, Michael’s and mine. Oh relief! She found it – can you hear that, there it is, the baby’s heartbeat and it’s strong!  Mercifully, the baby was fine.  Thank You, Jesus, the baby was fine!  Once again: best, light, hope, everything before us!  The symmetry I long for restored.

In February 1997, we only knew about one baby.  Back in the dark ages, doctor’s offices didn’t always have their own ultrasound machines.  In March we’d be sent to the hospital for the one ultrasound our insurance would cover.  Hopefully we’d be able to find out the gender while the technician counted fingers and toes and measured limbs.  Imagine our surprise: it wasn’t only one baby, but two!  Two boys! I forgot all about the scary weekend last month – I had two boys!

Some weeks after the twins were born, I was grabbing minutes (or seconds) here and there to pray and get into the Bible. One morning, I remembered that verse that had given me peace – what was it again?  I remembered Isaiah, and I remembered that I had written “baby 2/97” beside it. Flipping pages and finding it, I read it again and took the whole passage in:

“One will say, I am the Lord’s; Another will call himself by the name of Jacob”.  It still takes my breath away  to read it, and let me tell you why: Baby A (the firstborn) is Tyler, and Baby B (the second) – his name is Jacob.  Reading it right off the page, I realized: on that evening, comforting me, the Lord didn’t only know the child that I knew about – He knew that there were two of them, and He even knew their names.  How precious.  How humbling.

Later, the doctor would explain to me why she had me stay home instead coming to her right away: she “knew” that the baby was already lost she said, and she wanted to give me one more night’s sleep before breaking my heart with the worst possible news. Funny, how we humans explain things.  She was giving me one more night.  Really, it was God who was giving me one more night – one more opportunity to hear His voice and experience His peace.  He knew that this memory would sustain and encourage for years to come.  It was His gift, and it continues even still.

To know His voice, you must know His Word – He never contradicts Himself.  Read the Word on the good days, so you can remember the Word on the hard days. I can look back at this and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord is real and alive and present and invested in me.  Can I tell you one more thing about the Lord before we close today?  He’s “no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34).  That means that He loves everyone the same and shows no partiality.  He doesn’t only speak to me through His Word – He speaks to all of us.

Knowing how He speaks and being able to receive His comfort at just the right time is a treasure – and being able to remember it and understand it better the second time is beyond expression. Praying that you find a treasure in His Word today –

Jennifer ❤

 

sing it loud so I can hear you :)

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After work this week, I was walking out to my car, just like every day around 4:30.  It’s funny how we can get into a practice, perform the same actions every day, get immersed in the tedious little details, routine follows routine, until we don’t really notice.…. Want to know what I noticed today?

I noticed a co-worker walking out to the parking lot with her little ones following close behind.  Toddling under the weight of backpacks, twittering and chatting about – well, I wasn’t close enough to hear words, I just heard the timbre of little voices.  It made me remember when I had three following me around, chatting and trading stories, and falling asleep in the backseat and singing songs and sticking their tongues out (let’s be honest – they were littles just like every other little out there!) and reading books and reciting memory verses. I loved those days!

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We had a routine – every morning, I told them the same verses:

“Work heartily as unto the Lord and not unto men, because you serve the Lord Jesus Christ and you will receive your reward from Him” Colossians 3:23

“Do all things without complaining that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” Philippians 2:14-15

“A man who has friends must himself be friendly” Proverbs 18:24

Every morning a routine.  Some mornings, not much discussion.  Some mornings, a lot of discussion.  Shared examples from life yesterday.  Shared ways we succeeded in living up to these verses,  and we shared ways we should have done better. Every morning, a blessing and prayer.  Every morning the same simple reminders: Work hard. Be purposeful in dedicating daily activity to the Lord.  Be friendly. Shine like a light in a dark world.

After remembering our rides to school, I went back further and remembered when they were babies and toddlers.  I used to sing to them a song and the words went, “I’ll love you forever and forever, love you with all my heart.  Love you whenever we’re together, love you when we’re apart. ” Those words were so true and still are ❤ The next lyric in that song didn’t make complete sense to me until later.  I’ll circle back 🙂

I miss them being little, those precious days, but can I tell you one more thing? I wouldn’t trade today for anything in the world, honest promise.  I love them being grown and coming into themselves, these precious days.

Now my three are growing older: figuring out who they are and Whose they are, finding and following their God-given callings, developing their unique gifts, making efforts to walk worthy of their calling.  Maybe those little reminders are in there somewhere, little treasures I was able to tuck into their pockets before they left me. And the next lyric in that song? It makes sense today. Here it is: “And when at last I find you, your song will fill me up: sing it loud so I can hear you. Make it easy to be near you, and the things you do endear you to me….”

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“When at last I find you” – developing into godly young men and lady, my knowing them better now than I did when they were tiny. “Your song will fill me up” – listening to their songs being sung to the Lord, little echoes of my song coming back to my mother’s heart. “Sing it loud so I can hear you” – praying that they’ll always be close enough for me to hear them, even across states, maybe even across continents. Safe enough to sing, and close enough to the Lord to have a reason to sing. “The things you do endear you to me” – my three babies (I guess I’ll always call them “the babies”) growing more precious to me daily, loving them more deeply with every step they take on their own. So proud. Heart bursting.

Those common every-day type of days are easy to forget – but it’s in those common every-day type of days that the real work is accomplished.  Let’s get into a practice, perform the same actions every day, get immersed in the tedious little details, routine follows routine; and as often as we can remember, let’s notice and cherish. Opportunities to invest in those closest to you, to sing and recite until new songs echo back into your life from those loved sources? That’s a treasure ❤

Thanks for listening to my song, my babies. Thanks for hearing.  Thanks a MILLION TIMES OVER for singing your song back to me.  Sing it loud so I can hear you. You three, my greatest gifts, my most prized treasures. I love you so ❤

praying that you have someone to invest in, or someone to invest in you today!

Jennifer