2016: a Year in Review

2016 has been a hard year for many.

Even our nation as a whole has seemed to "suffer" on so many fronts. In fact, thinking back has been more disheartening for me than productive.

Then, I poured my morning cuppa, opened the last page of my devotional book, My Utmost For His Highest and read  Oswald Chamber's answer. (paraphrase is mine)

Anxiety can easily arise from remembering all the yesterdays but as the year ends, one must once again turn with fervor to all that God has in store for her in the future. I need not let my present enjoyment of God's grace be hampered by the memory of my yesterdays with all its blunders and regrets. (sins)

"...But God is the God of our (my) yesterdays..."
"God's hand reaches back to the past and makes a clearing-house for conscience."

Prayer: May God allow my past memories to be an impetus for future spiritual growth as I recall how "insecure"  all of life is, apart from Him. May I not bemoan lost opportunities---remembering "but God," in His love and mercy gave me life in Christ. May I not hastily enter 2017 impulsively or thoughtlessly but may God allow me to let go of my broken, irreversible past.

As  Chambers clearly states it, "Leave the Irreparable Past in His hands, and step out into the Irresistible future with Him. "

Reviewing 2016 gave me much to ponder.....prior to my "resolve" for 2017.

So, after my review,.....what's my resolve?
Maybe the best resolution is NO resolution---at least no resolution apart from Him.

An "ESCAPE" Place

An "escape room." An "escape place." What is that? Where s that?

These days in Memphis there are several "escape rooms" where people actually "pay" to have heart-pounding fun solving puzzles, cracking codes and trying every possibility which might lead to a way out. A way to escape.

How does one escape life's hurts? How does one escape the "leaving one's head under the pillow mode" when life's realities seem too hard to face?

What if life hands you a reality of which there is no escape----the grief of losing a child, the fear of the terminal diagnosis, the infidelity of a spouse, an Alzheimer's diagnosis, the sudden death of loved ones? 

2016 has offered these scenarios in bulk this year for many folks whom I know. The realities which offer no escape---no undoing of the event.

So, then the question changes from "why" to "now what?" How does one acclimate to a new normal" which is filled with loss and grief? Life as one once knew it, with its hopes and aspirations, is gone.

How does one hope again? How does one escape the darkness of despair?

How does one say as Matt Redmon wrote, "When the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say, Blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be your name."

Grief is real. Grief hurts. 

The grieving process is necessary----tho there is no "right" answer to why or  no right way to grieve. Even the time of the process differs.

But God.....hears us in our grief, no matter how long one "stays" there. 

How does one unlock their seared and damaged heart to fill it with hope once again? 

In John 14:18, Jesus says He "will not leave us comfortless & He will come to us." Sometimes I think the Lord uses us to "go" and offer comfort. Not necessarily "words" but time and a listening ear. 

Maybe such a "caring" visit will offer a glimmer of hope to the grieving soul---even if it's just enough to get them to take the step to open the door. It can be a step toward sharing the experience and the pain with one who cares enough to "come" in His name.

Maybe just for a moment, one has a respite from the "pain" over a cup of tea shared on a comfy couch----maybe even allowing a brief smile to "escape" as two share time and hurt together.

CHRISTMAS SEASON: JOY, JOY, JOY!!!

Son Buddy's sermon series for Allen Bible Church is on JOY!

Our church, First Evan  is celebrating a "Joy" theme the 4th week of Advent. 

Friends are sharing joy! We are all "lifted up" because we all share the same joy!

 MERRY CHRISTMAS 2016!

CHRISTMAS EVE TRADITIONS

The first thing that comes to mind is our annual event---"breakfast at Bryant's with friends. This year was our 31st year.
Our first year, we had 8 adults and 10 children. Now we have 8 older adults, 10 adult children and 22 grandchildren.

The 2 women in this picture were present at our first breakfast, Molly , age 7 and Carrie who was cooking our "breakfast specials" was 26 at the time.She still looks 26 to us!
The 2 young men were no where on the radar, at the time but we are so glad they are now a part of the family!

The "Earls" were both at the first b'fast event as well but they non-gray/white hair and no grandchildren. They just hauled their kids around. This year, their haul was "crunchy ice"---40 lbs a piece to take home to serve family at upcoming Christmas dinners!

It has been "31" years of a great tradition.

THE PERFECT GIFT

Addendum---after posting this entry, 2 different folks said (directly to me0----don't let your tinsel get in a tangle! Then ,I "uncovered" this gift from a friend.........."I get it! I get it!"

Some people are "naturals" at gift giving---thoughtful, creative, pragmatic, & within budget all rolled into one. Many folks I know do this. However....
I  would not be one of those. It's not that I don't try. I even try to keep notes on who likes what so I don't give milk chocolate treats to the dark chocolate diehards, or "forget to delete nuts" in non-nut folks' recipes---actually, I usually err on the side of extra nuts so I just eat it all extras myself!

I have really struggled this season, trying for perfection in all my shopping. Though son Buddy's recent sermon, reminded me that joy is re-findable, even in holiday chaos, when folks tend to lose their way. A reminder to slow down and "savor the season" (and the Savior) and not "over shop it." So....I pulled out some gifts I've received to try to replicate similar ideas of thoughtfulness for others---these "small" gifts were "perfect" for someone like me.

 "My" favorite Christmas carol highlighted on a super-sharp pencil (and it has a great eraser!!)

Fresh gathered eggs from Full Circle Ranch for me to share with family. Grandson could not believe there were pink ones, white ones, along with light and dark brown ones. But, all tasted delish!
Just ask, Owen.

So many but don't want to list for fear of leaving someone out!! But what I see in each is that relationships are real between the giver and the receiver----I'm just blessed to be on the receiving end!

I do keep trying so hard to make all (12) stockings personalized and yet fair---don't want to hurt someone's feelings. Then, I read an Ann Voscamp quote. "Stop holding onto a standard of perfection instead of being held by the arms of grace." I had already written an AV observation, that began to ring true as I wandered distractedly here, there and yon (in my own house, no less. Voskamp said anxiety can give you God Alzheimer's." I might forget where I've hidden hubby's gift or M's tea but I don't want to forget God or move Him to the back room. So, I stopped, refocused and 5 folks walked in unexpectedly. Yahoo!

Of course, the only true perfect gift arrived centuries ago in a manger in Bethlehem. A gift from our heavenly Father who keeps on giving....
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights... (James 1:17)

TRIFECTA....

Trifecta---and I'm not talking pari-mutual betting here.
I'm talking a three-win run of grand events. A threesome of good times.
I love musical theater---that's a given in my life. I try for these "musical" treats throughout the year. However, at Christmas, they pull at my heartstrings in that "Christmasy" way!
Why? Because at Christmas I tend to be with family and other loved ones when I attend. That's the key---according to both Church Health Center's, Dr. Scott Morris's, recent CAcolumn and son Buddy's recent sermon 12/4. The gist of both, "we might forget what gifts we have received but we don't forget time in relationships." 

In the last 15 days, I have been blessed to see 3 musical events with those dear to my heart:  
 1) "Christmas Tradition" low country style in Savannah, GA w/ dear California girls, Gigi & Bonnie

     2) "A Tennessee Christmas with Amy Grant and Vince Gill at the mother church of "county music," the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN w/ "my" Molly & long time friend, Doris, after our "dinner" (think yummy fried bologna sandwich for me) at Robert's Western World 

    3) "Take the Soul Train to Christmas"  a production of Hattiloo, the largest of only 4 black repertory theaters in the US, with hubby---enough said, as he is always my "willing escort."

Music and food are great backgrounds, up front seats are nice...but "up close and personal" relationships are what life is all about. Christmas always reminds me of that! 

Here I come......

Here I come or maybe I'm going----

Here I go a wandering (wassailing isn't what I'm doing, tho maybe a little "nog" would help the noggin'

Here I go a wandering from room to room to room

with the gifts, paper, ribbon & cards all a-scatter. 

The stockings are on the floor and not at the fireplace

But what does it matter!

A cucumber on my head reflects my state of mind so lean---

Only what counts gets done today, if you know what I mean.

So....Love and joy come to you, and you can wander, too.

Just ask God  to bless you and send you a Happy New Year

Because God would love to bless you and send you a Happy New Year 

....& I would as well, but gifts and cards have missed the date for mail...

 so I keep on a-wandering and praying for my friends, many of whom are now recipients of a cucumber so green!

Oh what fun it is to share and pass those cucumbers on...and on...and on! Thanks Carla!

NOT a Christmas Tradition

Since our first born was able to say "ights," we've driven all over Memphis looking for the beautiful Christmas lights. Now, that's tradition! Kids always make it more fun.

But, this year we went without children and had a once in a life-time experience. We drove to Forest Downs in Germantown which is just off Forest Hill Irene on the west side of the street between Poplar Pike and Germantown. Beautiful trees with BIG snow flakes hanging are seen as you turn in to the subdivision.

And then....there it is---the Griswold House with all the things folks remember from the 1980s film---

even Clark is standing out front ready to "plug-in all those lights!!! 

Even Uncle Eddie is there with his RV parked in the drive

and the chair that Clark and Eddie carried out the "fried cat." 

A once in a life-time experience!!

How do I know it's a once in a life-time experience? Because.....next year this house will be torn down. The owner, who just purchased it for the property, decided to give it a grand "Christmas Vacation"send off this year. Too funny to miss for adults who remember the film. Clark looks real and the RV is a wreck in the driveway. 

Tune into 94.5 on your radio, hear the soundtrack from the movie and have a memorable time that won't become a tradition because it will be gone soon.

of stillness and storm

What a paradoxical day for dear friend and author, Michèle Phoenix. A day of comings and goings.

As Michèle celebrates the "coming out" of her latest novel today, Of Stillness and Storm, she will be "going into" Central Dupage Hospital for a bilateral mastectomy.

The Amazon reviews on this "release" day have been glowing. As they should be. This gal can write. For those in ministry on foreign fields, Of Stillness and Storm will seem more REALISTIC than fictional. Michèle's words create mental images of the poverty stricken Nepal setting while touching us right in our emotional core as she weaves us through the lives of a missionary family--- Lauren, Sam and their son, Ryan. 

For me there was an intense emotional undertow throughout the story. The beauty of Michèle's prose is that she doesn't use additional adjectives for her words to convey feelings but that she uses the perfect words. Pithy with a punch----the way I like them. It's almost poetic when an author has the ability to say the most with the fewest words.

Of Stillness and Storm is a contemporary read that begins in Katmandu, introducing us to the daily life and hardships of the Nepali people and yet transcends the miles to an America connection via the internet. A juxtaposition of hope and disappointment at almost every turn.

“I felt torn between two worlds. Each with its own mystery. One more captivating than the other, but the other more real and breathing.”  (Michèle Phoenix)

Her reviewers used words and phrases like poignant, heartrending, and "must read." I agree.

A riveting story, the book will keep the reader turning pages long after the acceptable time for lights out. (B. Miller)

Complex characters and a provocative theme---comparing it to reading Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible as Phoenix masterfully plays with the reader's perspective's and emotions as the story unfolds.

(J. Morris)

An absolutely outstanding cautionary tale that is deeply affecting and will linger in reader's minds long after the last page is turned. (K. Branfield)

To me, the title also reflects much of Michèle's life as an MK. Her life has spanned the ocean and travel in third world countries but because of her faith in Jesus Christ she has weathered these storms, being an inspiration for all who know her. "In quietness and trust is her strength." (Isaiah 30:15) 

Even today in the midst of this new "cancer storm,"  Michèle has an aura of peace---a peace that passes understanding. (Philippians 4:7)

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

Maybe the "memory moments" began as I sat by "my Molly" at the funeral of  6 yr. old Milla G. this week. Such a service can have any parent wanting to hold on to sweet memories of their precious children.

This morning I wondered what memories my children and grandchildren would carry with them once I am gone. Would they remember that in their early years I always sang a little 2 line "ditty" to help them ease into their mornings. "Good morning Sunshine. How you doing friend?"

Guess what made me think of that today! My morning cuppa!

But would they recall the spiritual & sometimes quirky Christmas happenings---

• Donald Duck always goes on tree first as it's the 1st ornament bought for a Liles tree in 1969
• 24 days of no TV which they gave me as a gift (and then wanted to take it back, but didn't) 
• the lobster races on the kitchen floor, 
• Pop's "little" prayer for the "big" meal "For these and all our many blessings we thank you."
• country ham (cooked in black ironskillet) with biscuits & re-eye gravy on Christmas eve
• In 1982 when we walked "late" on the night of the full moon and discovered 2 moons that  December---13 moons that year---one of those "once in a blue moon" years
• the year the lights went out, only on our street, so we had to entertain a house full of Advent guests in the DARK---at least we could use our camp stove & run an extension cord across to our back door neighbors to plug in an electric skillet, 
• our Advent Sundays with a Jewish neighbor in attendance just to hear Mr. Liles sing "We Three Kings", 
• the on-going "hunt" for the lost Double Bubble bubble gum canister/tub, 
• always picking out a "real" Christmas tree, 
• Cutting the names off of every Christmas card we received and taking turns throughout the next year praying for the names we "drew" from the yellow smiley mug. Mug had been given us by Maxine (Mommar's sister) & Clyde---along with King Leo peppermint sticks for Molly
• taking 20 leftover Christmas trees the day after Christmas to use in Molly & Corey's wedding, 
• Lucy being small enough to bathe in the kitchen sink on our first Colorado Christmas, 
• the deer in the front yard on our 2nd Colorado Christmas as it snowed everyday we were there in 2014,
• making Christmas angels in the snow then darting back inside to the hot tub
• magic wands that turned on the Christmas lights over the big mantle,

Maybe this Christmas we can all share what we remember and then I can add to the list---remembering the One who should be the ultimate focus of the entire celebration. (Isaiah 9:6)

You, reader,  might want to start your own "Christmas Memory" list!