It's Friday -- The Day That Makes All the Difference!

So many times I hear in these news reports the words "not prepared for this". It made me remember Jesus's lessons on being ready. Because of the significance of what we are remembering today - Jesus' sacrifice for us -- we CAN be prepared for a beautiful life in eternity. Today - REMEMBER ----Choose Jesus.

It's been a time of simple living -- living off schedule.

It's been a time of remembering as I leafed through albums on a project searching for just the right picture. Remembering how very good God has been to us.

It's been a time of deep reflection -- deeper into scripture -- looking at the words of the Gospel writer Luke- how often he used the word "AMAZED"

Its been a time of gratitude for my people -- even though we can't be together -- connecting online reminds me how very much I am loved.

But in all of this -- remembering what JESUS went through on that fateful Friday - the darkness, the separation from Father God -- I now have

LIGHT from that darkness - lifting depression

HOPE - it became my word way back in 2010

PEACE with GOD as I read this morning - that drives out guilt that I am so prone to carry and shame that creeps up

JOY in the present and JOY for what will come.

From that, I want to live in THANKFULNESS today -- REMEMBERING

Messiah - God's promised gift come to get us back to him.

When the World Stops Spinning . . .

Our busy schedules, that to-do list that I keep adding to, the grocery list that always gets filled to overflowing -- now we are back to basics of milk, bread, eggs, butter.

What do we have left when . . .

. . .the g'kids sporting events are canceled for the season?

. . . school activities are postponed or canceled?

 . . . trips for celebrations are canceled?

.. . . Concerts are canceled, theaters closed, March madness doesn't happen?

. . .and CHURCH is relegated to online services?

WE HAVE JESUS --

WE HAVE HIS STORY OF HOW HE BROUGHT HIS PEOPLE THROUGH PLAGUES, ECONOMIC DISASTERS, WARS.

After the Crucifixion, when the disciples thought they had lost it all, Jesus appeared to them on the road to Emmaus and retold the story of God.  GOD IS SOVEREIGN-- He is here and HE knows the end of this story.  The Word says - HE GOES BEFORE US.

Return to your first roots, sing the old Hymns, return to the Story-- reread the Bible Stories to your children -- see Jesus living in our moment now.

WE'VE GOT EACH OTHER

Is this a pre-retirement exercise to practice living off schedule -- spending days together -- uninterrupted by even a stop-by visitor?  It's a good thing that we're best friends and Terry doesn't often let me know how much I'm getting on his nerves!

When I sent my students out for Spring Break and the question came up as to whether or not we'd be coming back and resuming life as usual in room 130 -- I laughed it off -- saying "I'll see you back on March 23".  One girl asked for her lab fee back is school was closed for the remainder of the year.

Friday at noon 3/13 -I hurried to the airport to meet my lifelong friend, Charlene, flying in from St. Louis--

 Planning the next few days -- knowing we would head to Edmond on Saturday and celebrate Charlie's 3rd birthday.

Plans began to change quickly . . .
The friend Charlene was going to meet up with in Yukon, couldn't receive visitors because of a rare kidney condition she has

We were all housebound because of this virus and constant rain and drizzle, so we spent our time cuddling with little ones and questioning how bad this whole thing was going to get.  

Marshall was quite concerned about his dad's low immune system and he, Katie and Bethany gave us their rules for us for the next 14 days.  We obeyed -- that's what parents do, isn't it?

Returning to Tulsa, Charlene and I ran errands (not really worried about getting out) -- finding stores empty of shoppers -- realizing this was a big deal --  so we did what country girls do -- we cooked, quilted and talked up a storm -- planning our next projects.  I said to her "We may look back on these days with REAL gladness that we had this time to visit if we're all shut in for weeks."

Charlene went home on Wednesday on a SW airplane with 22 passengers.

Goodletss Celebrating St Pat's with friends b/4 it shut us all in.

Bethany has already set up her home classroom and Mat became the PE teacher in his spare time!

Katie has developed lots of preschool activities for our little Bells.  Our girls are doing an excellent job of keeping these little ones busy.  

Marshall and Clara have planted their Spring garden. 

Sydney has set up her own Dolly Daycare for her baby dolls. .  . even getting a wheelchair for Baby Rosie who was attacked by Prairie in the late summer.  Notice dolly on crutches.  

Meanwhile -- Jack -- our budding athlete has a canceled T-ball and soccer season -
His shirt and cap came in the mail yesterday. . . sigh

- Campbell's Lacrosse and Soccer were canceled, as well.

Since the beginning of Spring Break these six children have been observing social distancing, adjusting to the new normal and are real troopers, though they really miss their teachers.  

 I have resorted to shopping from home with delivery service -- I thought that was a luxury -- now it's a necessity.  Just leave the groceries on the porch, please.

I'm knitting, working on a photo project, cooking more than I have in months, trying to exercise and starting to quilt an heirloom quilt that Charlene and I set while she was here.

We've watched far too much news - getting rumors of schools being closed for the remainder of the year.  I got the sense of loneliness for students -- In the meantime, I'm listening to podcasts and doing webinars on how to distance teach and making plans on the next 7 weeks of school.

It's a time of reassessing and re-evaluating -- the stillness opens me to think more deeply and hear God more clearly -- praying for those things that are most important.  My mind is less cluttered without all the multi-tasking!

47 and Counting . . .

                                                              January 20,1973

1982

1985

Mid 80's

Early 90's

1998 - Israel trip

                                                                       Mid 2000's

2003

2005

2006

2008 Workshops

2011

2012

2013

2015

2018

                                                             

2020

Through the decades God has blessed us over and over -- We've done it all together parenting, grandparenting, ministry, missions, travel, caring for parents.  Our life has been rich, full and rewarding. This man has been my lover, best friend, co-parent and pastor.  My life has been richly blessed.
-                       

From the mouths of children . . . speaking back God's verses to HIM.

There is excitement in our children's ministry corner because ten students have accepted the challenge to learn 52 verses of scripture at their own pace.  These kids have jumped in with both feet and couldn't wait to get to Sunday school and "spew" the word this morning.

At the other side of this challenge,  they are all working for rewards that are suited to their own special choice.  I reminded them that our Father gives us rewards all the time -- and for each 26 verses -- they will receive a $10 gift card to anywhere of their choice!

They are pumped and raring to go -- and we're only into the 2nd week of this challenge.  They are not in competition with anyone but themselves!!!

Our Holiday Wishes for a Happy New Year

Happy New Year!   Holiday Letters always get mailed from our house after Christmas day -- as a teacher its the first you have to set down and collect your thoughts.  

Everyone reminds us it’s a new decade – looking back over the last 10 years: 

There have been very special moments – births of all six of our beautiful grandchildren, the marriage of our son and daughter-in-law, Katie.   During these 10 years both of our kids have moved back to Oklahoma.  We attended Marshall’s graduation from fellowship at Univ of CO in June, finishing 10 years in Colorado.  We helped them move to Edmond the following week. 

We are blessed and that is something  that Terry and I say to each other every day -being able to set all our rowdy bunch at our table often is wonderful after several years of our kids living in different states.  We thrive on the chaos of it all!  This holiday we got to attend all their holiday programs and recitals!  We get to have regular sleepovers and are blessed to watch these little ones grow and develop into their own persons. We’ve come through health challenges and are stronger. God is good!

 It’s the season of passing the torch to the younger generation – our kids are hosting the holidays now- the younger leaders have emerged at the church where we have served for the past 2 decades.

We are both still teaching and enjoy preparing the next generation, though, I do have to admit keeping up with technology and current trends is a challenge at times – at the heart of it all, there are still young ones out there who need affirmation, direction and love. 

This Fall there have been losses of family members and dear friends.  Our brother-in-law, James Gilbert, passed away in October. Each day is more and more precious and our desire is to pass on the legacy of faith to the coming generations.  May 2020 be a year of PEACE, JOY and HOPE as you trust our Lord.

Scroll down and enjoy our pictures in the family journal I post -- life is moving at such a fast pace -- it helps us to remember all that is happening.  

Tis the Season . . .

 Thanksgiving we were all together in Tulsa . . . In keeping with our annual tradition, we kicked off the holiday with Wednesday brunch at the Wild Fork.  It started years ago as Bethany and I would get away for a relaxing meal (that we didn't have to cook ourselves) to kick off the weekend.  It grew every year to include more and more of us.

Throughout the day Wednesday different family members arrived.  Jim and Jan made it in ahead of Colorado storms on Monday night.  Marshall, Katie and the kids came in mid-day from Edmund and Mike Good and Tammy joined us in late afternoon.  We all enjoyed a simple meal of soup at our house Wednesday night and Holiday breakfast the next morning.

Mat smoked the turkey and each person shared their own part of the meal.

Having Mike and Tammy with us made our Thanksgiving holiday even more special.
Tammy drove them in from Springfield, MO. (She hates driving on the interstate- but got them here in great shape).  Mike is living each day to its fullest loving the Lord as he battles ALS.  Tammy is his devoted caregiver.  

Christmas came right on the heels of Thanksgiving and it all sort of blended into one long season of celebrating.   We got to see the Grands in all their Christmas programs and it was wonderful.  The season takes on a special significance from the eyes of little ones -- as Jack says, "It's about Jesus birth!"

 Sun 12/8 - Jack and Sydney sang in Redeemer Covenant's Children's choir

 Sat 12/14 Charlie and Clara's school program and Clara's Dance Recital

cl   Sun 12/15  -  Both Sydney and Campbell were in the Nutcracker and spent many hours practicing for it.   Sydney was a clown and Campbell was a mouse.  The girls did an outstanding job and loved it!

 

 Meanwhile, the 3 little guys hung out together with Uncle Mat and Aunt Bethany. 

Wed 12/18  We got to see Jack in his last preschool Christmas Program at Redeemer Covenant 

Marshall and Katie hosted Christmas week at their house with Jim and Jan Good arriving on the 22nd, Terry and I arriving Christmas Eve and Mat and Bethany and the Goodletts coming in on Christmas morning.  We were 8 adults, 6 kiddos and 4 dogs.

Up at 5:45 and ready for the morning!

Early morning Edmund - Charlie really got into the swing of it.

Edmund by 10:30

Christmas clutter and soooo many fun gifts

These four make a great team and took great care of their parents!!!  Prime Rib with all the trimmings
 Cousin Fun -- the 6  Grands loved being together and were sad when they had to say goodbye.
 

 Campbell got hair chalk and make-up for Christmas - so the gals 
played beauty shop.

Pawpaw is the "go-to" for fun and cuddles
Word is that he created "Santa Claus" by phone on Christmas Eve for the Tulsa Grands and their friends.

This little guy laughed grinned and loved every minute of his holiday.  I loved my time snuggling and holding --watching him
grow so quickly makes me hold on to him a little longer.

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