HOW I LOVE IT WHEN GOD DOES THE
SCHEDULING! You might have noticed that
there was not a new blog post last week.
That’s because I didn’t write one ~ and guess what? The world is still in orbit! Amazing, huh?! As hard as we push ourselves to live life to
the utmost, I love that we are learning to kick back and relax a little and
take a bit of time for ourselves, too!
We had planned a mini-break over Memorial Day weekend with my husband’s
brother and wife, to be with our grandson, Wade, who was graduating from high
school, celebrate at his open house and spend a few days with the entire
family. But last minute, God penciled in
some extra, extended stops on the calendar, and soon we knew it was going to be
a 9-day jaunt to see as many of our family as we could! Looking back on those days, we see God’s hand
in it all! For there was time with two
of our three sons and their wives, time with five of our six grandsons and with
one of our two granddaughters. God’s
prompting allowed me to make the circle complete when the other three of my
siblings and spouses came together to spend time with our 88-year old mom! What a treasured time … especially if that
should be our last time all together on this side of Heaven! We enjoyed walks and talks, old, old photos –
and even some new ones, lots of great meals, a trip to the local zoo, fun-fashion-shopping
with our granddaughter, meeting our older grandsons’ girlfriends, an accidental
knock-out punch by grandson #4 that about took me to my knees!, celebrating
belated birthdays, kindergarten, high school, and college graduations, going to
the little boys’ t-ball game, even helping our 88-year old mom deliver 31 dozen
eggs to her customers in town!!! We’ll
never forget that! And … my husband and
I made stops at our dads’ respective graves to decorate them and reflect over
cherished memories! I know … I
know! You may not have met any of our
family that we are talking about, but they are as important to us as your
family is to you. Several sad
life-stories occurred while we were gone, reminding us how very fragile life is
and how priceless are these shared times!
We want lives filled with expressed love and the gift of time invested
in those we hold dear to our hearts – so there will be no regrets! Just a wealth of memories that can be
captured better on the heart than on photograph paper or memory cards! The saying goes that married couples, after
living together for many years, begin to look like each other. I don’t know if that is always the case, but
I’ve seen enough resemblances - that there could be some truth to that! There is a recent study that states “you are
what you read.” It goes on to explain
that “research says when you lose yourself in fiction, you may begin to
resemble the characters you love.” I’d
like to add my statement to that study and say that “I believe when we lose
ourselves in God’s Word, we will begin to resemble the character of Christ who
we will fall deeper and deeper in love with, the more we read of Him!” And I believe that extends to our
families. Little ones trace our steps,
mimic our words, and watch our ways.
What are they becoming as they begin to resemble us? Thought-provoking question! We loved seeing what our children and
grandchildren are becoming … hopefully in part because they saw some of Jesus
in us – even in the unexpected times that God has scheduled for us now and
then!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Kavin on June 2nd and to Aleana
on June 7th; and LOVING ANNIVERSARY WISHES to my husband, Doug, on
June 5th, and to our son, Dana and his wife, Stacey, on June 7th! God’s blessings to all!
SUN, JUN 10: 12:00 NOON –
ELEVATE KIDZ EVENT w/pizza at church and swimming at “Serengetti”/$5.00 cost
SUN, JUN 17: 10:00 A.M. –
WORSHIP & PRAISE / message for “Godly, Courageous Fathers” from God’s Word!
FRI/SAT, JUN 22/23: MEDFORD CITY-WIDE GARAGE SALE, including
Elevation North; can you help?
SAT, JUN 23: 4:30 P.M. –
MEDFORD PARADE – w/a fantastic Elevation North church float – come and be a
part!
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
