SUPER KIDS Earned Their Name!

I've just spent a great month with 8-12 "SuperKids" each Thursday. I wanted the kids in my primary department to have something to look forward to every week in July. Our theme was Our Great Big God -- we had lessons focusing on a different name for God each week and then followed up with food and something fun -- a splash down pool party, trip to a kids' museum, trip the zoo and yesterday did a service project for Operation School Bell which outfits over 1800 school kids with new clothes to start the school year.


I believe that kids today are looking for more. They really do want to help someone else. They watch the news with their parents. They see poverty on TV and in their school -- but they are at a loss for what to do about it. Studies show that young people who are involved in serving others have less problems with low self-esteem and depression. By helping someone with needs greater than their own, young people appreciate what they have and learn to give back to help others.

A good friend of mine has worked with Operation School Bell for many years and is passionate about it. Several weeks ago I approached her with the possibility of our SuperKids lending a hand. My objective for yesterday was for our kids to learn HE is the Lord and we are His servants, along with "to whom much is given, much is required" and that we can all grow when we learn to give back.

I have to say that when they learned how young our kids are, some of the sponsors had doubts as to how well our Life Park SuperKids could perform. I was so proud of them when they all showed up in their red and blue shirts they'd painted the first week. (we added a few teens and Moms and even a precious 7 month-old baby brother) and were able to fill over 1200 hygiene bags to be given away to each student who has the opportunity to "shop" at the OSB store. The ladies in charge of this effort kept remarking at what great workers they were, how well-behaved and what an awesome job they did!

I reminded the kids that though they were tired -- it was a good kind of tired and they could know that they had done something significant. At their young age they had been able to help a student, maybe even one from their school have something that we all can take for granted -- new clothes.

SUPERKIDS --YOU'RE THE BEST!

DENVER GET AWAY

We had a wonderful trip to Denver last weekend to visit Marshall in his newly acquired condo and enjoyed the time to kick back and get into his world for a couple of days. He gave us his only bed, made a pallet for himself in his spare bedroom and went out of his way to give us a great time.


Marshall planned that on Sunday we would go up Estes Park to enjoy the mountains and have a leisurely lunch. We chose a little rooftop restaurant that specialized in the best tappas in town and had a great view of the valley and it's surrounding peaks. At his suggestion, we all three decided to ride the tram up the mountain to get a better view of the area.

Once on top Marshall bought peanuts in a shell and we found ourselves totally engrossed in throwing peanuts to the chipmunks and watching how rapidly they would crack the shell, chomp on the "goobers" and race for more from the next passerby who happened to toss them a treasure.




We found a critter who attached himself to us, named him after a favorite friend of ours who equally enjoys his food and then decided to see how much this little guy would cram into his chubby cheeks. He was so tame he would eat out of our hands. He continued to keep packing it in. For this short time we lost ourselves in this game of "stuffing the rodent".

Our ride down was just as breathtaking as the trip up. We found ourselves asking our young porter questions like, "How many times a day do you ride this trip?" "Where do YOU go for vacation - the flatlands?" "How do you handle it when people have panic attacks on the ride?" 'Funny the things you think of when you start relaxing and just start observing life.


We noticed that in the party of 10 waiting to board when we disembarked, there were 4 little Hispanic boys chatting excitedly in Spanish about their awaiting trip. The delight in their eyes showed they expected much from this ride -- Humorously, we thought of all kinds of things we could say like, "Watch out for the black bears up there." (none of us knew the spanish word for 'bears' -- and we thought better to let that one pass.)

We packed a lot into those 3 short days. . . what fun . . just enough to wish for more!

Stinkin' Happy

Out on my walk this morning I remembered it's July 13th and realized that it has been 6 years today since Mom went Home. For what I know of the way time is measured in Eternity -- it's only been a short "breath" . . . however, it's been much longer down here and those 13 months we got to have her in our home left a lasting legacy for us all.


Our kids have remarked at what a special time this was for our family having grandma with us. You see, she taught us a great deal about living life to the fullest and about making this very important transition. Her grandkids found her full of wit and ready to laugh at their antics and stories even though her body was debilitated by Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS). I would see pure delight in her eyes whenever any of them came to hang out in her room. There was so much she could complain about -- but she looked for the positive and stayed interested in other people. Bethany came home with a situation of some of her students needing school clothes and Mom was eager to help provide the funds. About this time, she picked up the phrase "Stinkin' Happy" from a little four yr. old who would visit her.

We tried to make sure she had no worries and that her care was superb. She had nurse's aides while I was at school and Terry would get up every two hours of the night to check on her and move her from side-to-side to keep the soreness away. His household rule was "What ever grandma wants, grandma gets." Every night he'd make her favorite sundae - icecream with crunchy peanut butter and chocolate sauce.

Many of Mom's friends and family came to visit from her home in Illinois during those last months and I would hear her give them words of blessing and depth. I watched her life's work being affirmed by them during these visits and enjoyed listening to the encouragement she gave them.

One of our favorite memories with her is pictured above when we got her to go with us to look at Christmas lights. That was our yearly tradition and our grown kids still wanted to keep this ritual and wanted grandma to do it with us. We asked her and she begged, "please, don't make me." However, we persisted and she relented. Bethany got her all "dolled up" in winter garb and Terry held her up as we drove a short trek through the neighborhood. When I put her to bed that night she thanked me over and over for her Christmas outing.

About dying she would say, "God will do it in HIS time, no point doing a lot of talking about it." Before Hospice was engaged to care for her -- she quipped "all they do is talk about dying and if you don't, they're disappointed!" (She did love her Hospice caregivers and greatly appreciated the service they rendered.)

Hospice worked early on at preparing us for what was to come. They explained that sometimes when it was time to pass, people would see bright lights or dearly departed loved ones. As her speech failed, we often misunderstood what she was trying to communicate. Bethany was sitting with her grandma one evening while we were out and she was saying something with the word "light" in it. Bethany asked everything she could think of "Do you see the bright light?" --- "Do you see Grandpa?". At this Mom strongly responded, "NO, TURN OUT THE LIGHT!"

After her 83rd birthday party and making a video interview with her six grandkids, my sister-in-law, Sandy, put her to bed; she looked up at her and said -- "They think this will be my last -- but they're going to have to do this again next year!" When I turned out her lights that night after having all her favorite people with her Mom said, "Jan, I'm Stinkin Happy"

When Did I Get Old?

Play dates for our kids didn't seem this difficult when our kids were young.
But since I'm a little out of practice, I felt I needed to plan in greater detail to minimize chaos, so I shopped post VBS sales at Hobby Lobby and $Tree, sprayed "S" on lots of shirts until the fumes nearly made me loopy.

I wanted this to be a time when our Life Park kids would grow in God while they had fun, I planned the theme several weeks ago and wanting it to flow consistently through these four Thursdays in July. I worked on my lesson for a couple of hours, knowing it could take any course as their discussion unfolded.


Wednesday's rain, I thought was a sign that Thursday would dawn clear, warm and sunny, but we woke up to dark skies, rain and lightning. I kept praying, "Lord, let it stop" -- What could I do with that many kids indoors for 3 hours? (I remembered two years ago that 3 of the 4 Thursdays it rained and kept us out of the pool.)Whatever the weather -- I knew their Moms needed a break and I was bound and determined it would be fun! When it didn't look like the rain would let up, at 10:00 I decided we were going to need a Plan B. We'd have Foods lab 101: Cookie Decorating (I kicked in to Home Ec Teacher mode) -- I talked our house guest, Omar, through the Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe, and he made some dough just in case we needed it.

Oh me of little faith, my prayers were answered and just before the kids arrived so did the sun! I had fun -- the lesson progressed as planned -- the mothers came back from their R & R just at the right time.

The house still echos with the noise of the 8 of them. I loved listening to their chatter and clatter as they ate lunch and painted their "superkid" shirts.
One said "I may not look like it -- but I'm a pretty creative guy." And when it came time to ice their superkid cookies he remarked, "My second talent is cooking."
They always give insightful answers from their precious little hearts during our Bible lesson time. Since our lesson was GOD reveals himself as THE WORD they wrote their favorite words with these neat glass markers on our patio windows. -- "God" "Jesus" "Love" "DAD" "Ice cream" and "Candy" Since I haven't had kid art on our walls in a long time, I decided we needed to leave them up.

I learned several things --
1. Try out every craft before you teach them to the kids. (Not all craft supplies work as the label says.)
2. Bags of decorator icing in the sun make a huge mess on the patio --
3. Pick up the markers as soon as they are done with them. . . they don't blend well with the couch upolstery.
4. The shirt next to your's will probably smear it sometime during painting.
5. 60 yr.-old men with cameras are targets for 8 kids in the pool. . .we rescued the camera -- and soaked the man!


I tell our own kids that I want to have "Camp Grandma" one week every summer when they have children -- hmmmm! How long is a week?

SO WHAT is a SUPER KID?

When I have “kid times” in the summer at our house – my purpose is always to provide an outlet for the children in our primary classes at Life Park to have a day out and their moms have a bit of a break. I remember what it was like to keep a super summer going with enough activities and food to reduce the squabbles to a minimum. There are only so many VBS that a kid can go to before they know all the routine. There are only so many trips to Wal-Mart you can make and who wants to be out in the heat, anyway? By July everybody is getting a little restless and the excitement of summer is beginning to wane.

I believe this time is best served if it is built around a Biblical theme with time in the Word, in the pool, with games to play, a chance to do some serving, and even a little cooking lab time.

We have a lot more boys this year – I previously have done this for girls and taught them to sew, cook and do crafts. This year I have a greater number of boys – so it promises to be a little rowdier.

Ladies and teens quickly signed up to help and at present it looks like we can expect 8-10 Primary SUPERKIDS! This year I want them to become aware of all the different names of God we see in the Word and learn how HE reveals himself in each of those ways.

I’ve been praying about this and I ask you to pray for us --- It’s sure to be exciting, a little messy and hopefully some great spiritual fun!!!

The Room Upstairs

I have been touched by the unnamed Shunammite woman in 2 Kings for many years. I identified with her early in my marriage because she, too, was a woman who was infertile. As the story unfolds, the prophet Elisha, in repsonse to her generous hospitality of building a room on the top of the house for him, prayed for her and her elderly husband to have a child.

I like it when our extra room upstairs becomes an "Elisha" room.. . . for the folks God sends our way. I enjoy stocking it with goodies. (Terry and I have a rule of checking the other’s schedules first before we fill up the house.) We are housing such a man of God right now who is preparing himself for the ministry. It is thrilling to anticipate the ways God is going to use him.

From time –to-time God has sent some extraordinary guests. . . ones in whom I couldn’t necessarily see a God-shaped plan – and I find I wrestle more with it because it isn’t always the smoothest of times. The rewards of that time are often seen much later and I have to keep praying to continue that spirit of hospitality. God reminded me recently of our friend Chad, who has this generous heart that gives and gives unconditionally. You see, he believes that if he has it and you need it or want it– it is your’s.

Bethany's wise words echoed that, “Mom you don’t know what God wants this person to see and know from living at your home. “ Scripture confirms – do not forget to entertain strangers because in so doing you may be housing and hosting angels. I don't want to miss out on that possibility.

Pappa's Hands

We found ourselves going through "family withdrawal" as we began to pack up our bags and head back home. It was difficult to leave my sister-in-law and brother-in-law and for that reason, I have added this final installment to my blogs about Pappa Bell.

It was something that just came about accidentally. Bethany, our family photographer, carries her camera everywhere she goes and began taking pictures of Pappa's hands as he lay sleeping on last Friday afternoon. They were swollen from so many ports and IV tubes -- but still they were same hands that had worked tirelessly during his lifetime.

Pappa was a fisherman, hunter, gardener and builder. He could build anything he set his mind to and loved even more doing it from used items as he was very frugal. After the Tornado struck Wichita Falls in 1979, he collected all sorts of discarded doors, plumbing and two by fours and built a shed in the backyard. He planted pecan trees everywhere he could and spent the fall and winter harvesting the pecans and shelling them out for all the rest of us. He cared for Meemee with those strong hands and even made some of the best pies and soups. We all received our share from Pappa's hardworking hands.

One thing we all noticed was that even to the very end Pop's hands still had a firm grip. I found that out whenever we had to do a procedure he didn't want to endure.
Early on they wanted to restrain him with velco wrist straps, but we found that when we held his hand his restlessness would subside and his breathing become more peaceful and he would relax.

Bethany and her cousin Delaney decided to capture photos of Pappa's hands with his children, grandchildren and great granddaughter and combine these with other pictures of him during his lifetime and back it with the song "Daddy's Hands" to create a memorial powerpoint. It became the theme of his service on yesterday.

About my father-in-law, Artie Bell, I would say, The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. HE has watched over your journey. Deut. 2:7

He's Home!

We had been praying for Marshall and Bethany to get to TX in time to say goodbye to their pappa. God was so gracious to bring them in and let us all be together to give him the tenderness and love he's given to all of us during his life.

Our family has spent the past days around his bed with David, Candy & James, Delaney, Zac, and Tambi remembering stories of our Pappa and retelling them to each other. That seemed to draw us closer and heal our hurting. Terry spoke at Pappa's funeral about this time between the beginning of dying and the end of living where this shared effort of ministering to him, ministered to us.

He's been released and He's free of dementia, pain, loneliness and all the other maladies of aging.
He's Home.
He's with Jesus
. . . and his beloved Wanda.

Homecoming

We got to the hospital shortly after midnight Monday night and Terry joined his sister, Candace to spent a difficult night with his Dad in the ICU. On Tuesday morning, shortly after I got to the room, Terry was trying to get his dad to connect with him by reminding him of things they'd done and places they'd lived and all of a sudden he said "Wanda's waiting for me." Nobody had said anything about what might be coming. We weren't even sure he knew who we were. What did he already know that we didn't?

It's amazing the events God puts in place when HE calls one of His home. As Terry and I look back at the death of our other three parents we remember things that only God could have brought together. The verse in Psalm 116 says, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints."

Separate and apart from all the phrases we've heard tossed about in the past few days, "irreversable damage", "organs failing" "quality of life" "advanced directives," and "living will", the technology one can be hooked up to in the final days makes me wonder if it isn't harder in these times to get free of this earthly body. The decisions presented to Candace, David and Terry are very difficult to make. Pop, your three children have tried to carry out your wishes precisely according to the way you lived your life.

Something that has been helpful to me during this time of sitting my shift with Pappa is to let these young caregivers know just WHO they're taking care of - not some tiny little man who can't hold his head up or form his words or understand what they're saying. This 92 yr. old retired military man was the ultimate caregiver for his wife of 50 years and showed us the nurturing, caregiving nature of our Heavenly Father.
As I talked to them about him, I also wanted to say . . .
"Treat this man gently because he spent a lifetime caring for others. Be careful how you treat that broken hip when you're pulling him up in bed". They are amazed at his strong grip and firm response when they want to probe and prod to clear his lungs. I've seen that strong back transfer Meemee into her wheelchair for years and do it oh so gently. I remember how he sat by her bed from dawn until dusk every day of those 19 months she was in the care center, monitoring the care the staff gave her. While he's slept I've had a chance to remember what we've all learned from him and the good life we've had with him and because of him.

Yesterday his sweet smile came back. His eyes were brighter and he seemed to be waking up from the haze of these past few days. I wanted to think, look who's coming back to us yet they tell us how very close the end is -- but the Word says God has numbered our days -- it's in HIS hands. Whenever that day is . . .

We know Pop, that at some point there's a homecoming ready for you on the other side. AND -- if there's dogs in heaven, knowing your extreme love of your "little doggies" then Touzer, CHOTO, Simone and Buttercup and Cisco and Maggie and all your other critters will be at the gate waiting with Meemee.

Forever Friend

Today is my friend Charlene's birthday.
She's not just any friend.
She's my forever friend.

You see, I've known her as long as I have a memory.
Our friendship goes back 57 years because
my parents moved next door to her family when I was two.

Charlene and I are in the back row.



We used to get the same Christmas presents
due to our mother's planning --
I wonder if that was so there wouldn't
be any fighting when we played together.

We used to play "show" on each other's front
porches wrapped in our faux mink stoles and
plastic high heels, mimicking something we saw on
the Ed Sullivan Show the night before.

We baked cookies in each other's kitchen
played back and forth between the two
houses,and helped each other with chores
so the other could come out to play sooner.

There was a time when our brothers excluded us
from their adventures, and we tried to dig our own
swimming pool since we were banned from their secret
hide out.

Her family goes back 150+ years in that little town and she
has helped to preserve the same family tradition of
dedication and hard work to her community, leading
4-H there for 23+ years.
This summer she is helping to host an old-fashioned picnic for the Lutheran
church's 150th anniversary.



I moved away after high school and she married and moved
back home aross the road from my parents and her's.

During all those years of my parent's confinement with poor health
she cooked food, brought her husband to help and came running whenever
they had a need, and she raised her children to be helpful and attentive
to them. She became like my parent's second daughter.

Charlene is in the middle


She's nursed her parents and mother-in-law through
their own illnesses and is the backbone of her family --
a loving wife, supportive Mom,
and doting grandmother.

She knows my history better than anyone else and STILL loves me.

I can let too much time pass and she still answers my calls
with the same enthusiasm and warmth.

When I call with a problem she always considers my best.
She's the first to be excited over any success I may have.

Charlene is the one I use as an example in my life skill's classes
when I talk about faithfulness and loyalty in relationships.

She has kept our relationship strong all these years. She NEVER
forgets a special day of mine.

When I go back to my hometown of Moro I step back
in to all the wonderful memories of our time growing up
together and we pick up where we left off from
our last phone call.


Charlene, 1 Cor. 13 describes the love you give to all of us,
LOVE is (You Are) patient, kind, not self-seeking,
. . . always protect, always trusts, always
hopes, always perserveres.

I can't be there today, Charlene, but
I want to wish you the best of birthdays.
You are the wind beneath all our wings.

Road Trip

I was calling it our "Thelma and Louise" Road trip -- but as I remember the movie, those two gals got into lots of trouble and came to a fateful end.

What fun to get to spend 19 hours of car time catching up with Bethany as we traveled to my niece, Chelle Neese's, destination wedding in Chicago. We laughed, shared, dreamed and meandered through little towns with I-80 detours! We had time to walk (me) / run (her) Lake Michigan Shoreline, take lots of pics in Lincoln park (she's a great photographer) and eat our fill. We stayed in an historic Chicago hotel, the old Stratford Belton, overlooking the lake.


As family was busy with rehearshal and wedding prep, we found a great little Italian restaurant Tuesday night a few blocks down the street that we darted into to avoid the rain and ended up having a wonderful time. Ricardo himself made sure we quickly got a table (I think he took pity on us looking like two drowned critters).




We enjoyed being with extended family and seeing some folks I hadn't seen in ages! The wedding was such an intimate, loving time between the two families who have previously enjoyed Zambia mission work together. Chelle and Michael met in Zambia and both had wanted to have their wedding there. (That would have been the extreme destination wedding!) Chelle looked gorgeous and remained calm -- Michael was striking in his tux and the whole evening was a wonderful celebration with family and close friends.


Waiting out a downpour by the side of the road in Davenport Thursday on our return to KC made me realize how vulnerable you can become in a millisecond. Cruising along at 70+ mph all of a sudden we drove into a torrential downpour of wind, water, hail and whatever else could blow through. (Next day Terry said he heard CNN say a tornado had zipped through the route we were driving!!!) I sat shakily clutching the steering wheel praying to not get hit by cars whizzing by and that it would soon pass -- in a few minutes it did -- God is sooo good -- and we were on the road again --- anxious to get back to their home for Mat's residency graduation.



We enjoyed time with Mat's family and our kids together and got to witness him reach another milestone.

I told Bethany as we parted yesterday -- "I'm gonna go through Bethany withdrawal"

It seems there's never enough time to be with the ones you love -- I know that's one of the things I'm going to enjoy in Heaven --An eternity with the Jesus and all the people I love!

Taking Off

We watched his U-Haul pull away, knowing that Marshall was starting a new chapter in his life and his relationship with home would be different now that he has bought his own house. I have to say it caused a swift tug at this mother's heart strings.

It's been fun sharing his excitement of this new adventure and shopping together for a new couch. I believe the couch decision was about as crucial as buying the condo. I discovered that trying out couches is a lot like trying on clothes -- has to fit the body and look good at the same time.
It also presented a chance to load up this trailer with my cast-offs:) I am pleased to announce that "Rusty", the coyote from the garage, made it to the back seat of the pick-up truck! (Terry & Marshall are both attached to that taxidermied critter and Terry's agreed to loan it until we get the western room complete on the new church property.)

We can't wait to check out Marshall's new "digs" and maybe I can help organize the kitchen. Hmmm . . . maybe I'd better wait until I'm asked!

What a Birthday Week!

Terry always says I don't want a birth DAY -- I want a birth MONTH. This year, it really was a whole week long -- Starting with the kids coming in on Friday to celebrate early on June 5th. They know I love it best when we all gather in the kitchen to each prepare our favorite dishes. Let's see it was Marshall's asparagus, coconut cake and steaks and Bethany's salad and Terry's ? ?? Oh, that's right he did the shopping and planning.

I got to have lunch with a dear friend, received cards from other special friends, read facebook birthday wishes from people various places I've lived, plus got calls from a dear friend of 57 years and my younger brother, Bill. At this point I have 3 raincheck birthday lunches!!! I am blessed beyond measure!

It's at this time when I realize the significance of long time friends and newer relationships and how very much I enjoy having all these people in my life.
Our Creator God made us relational people - with a need for people to complete our lives and . . . like the song says, "I get by with a little help from my friends." (and my wonderful family !!!)

Windows -

I have this thing about dirty windows and I inherited it from my Dad. He never wanted anyone wiping off his car windows with their sleeve because that would leave them smudged. In my mind's eye, I still can see him in the subfreezing temperatures of January washing the front glass doors of the church the day Terry and I got married. Yes, Dad and I shared a disdain for dirty windows.

I don't like having my view obliterated or having to guess what's on the other side. I spent Thurs. morning power washing and then drying all 150 panes of the garden room atrium doors. Being able to see clearly changes my perspective of EVERYTHING and now I am quite certain that now my yard looks much more like Southern Living landscaping than it did before this chore. 'Wonder what I'm missing on the front side of the house?

Didn't Paul say something about now seeing dimly and one day we'll SEE CLEARLY face to face? It is within us to want to SEE things as they are -- Aren't there a lot of things clouded in our world today?

One day there will be no guessing -- it will all be made CLEAR as we see HIM FACE TO FACE.

The Spirit of Toss

I confess -- I am a JUNKIE -- not in terms of substance abuse, but in possessions. I don't shop garage sales -- I have enough of that stuff at home. Whenever I hold a garage sale I make about $30 -- Evidentally, I'm not parting with the things somebody else really wants. I'm always waiting for one of those groups that will come by and pick up items for charity. I keep boxes ready to give away-- and the minute they call I have it ready to put on my front porch. Doing all that, it still seems to accumulate!

I have been saying to my family for the past six months when summer gets here I'm doing a major cull of everything. WELL . . .
Yesterday I spent the day in Marshall's apartment in OKC moving boxes and clothes back to Tulsa -- From his packing plan of taking only what will fit in his pick-up I can see it coming . . . another one of those moves that part gets left to our garage, attic or his abandoned room upstairs.

Where did all this stuff come from???

Whenever our kids have made a move -- Tulsa seemed to be a drop-off point for a few of those things they couldn't quite part with or need in their new place. As a Mom, I'm holding on to those little reminders of every stage of their lives. When our parent's homes sold, their keepsakes were divided and we received some cherished items that we can't part with just yet.

A friend of our's at LifePark even did a music video to a Christian song "Things" and used our attic and garage for the video clips b/c we had the most JUNK! To our defense we have become the storage shed for the church while we're waiting on our new building to be built. As you can see from the picture above our garage holds two church lawn mowers, a wheelchair for the Honduran medical mission, western decorator pieces for the cabins we hope to build on the property some day and a stuffed coyote. (Our kids are still asking what's the use for that?)

I read magazine articles on organization and every 2-3 years I sort and do a major toss. It seems in the interim we take on more things --
People used to refer to my collection of teaching supplies, flower decorations, travel souveniers, fabric remnants and old collectible dishes as "Jan's Junk". When my mother died and we closed out her house, my brother was going to give all her craft boxes to Goodwill, I could see a teaching "need" for those and quickly retrieved them from the toss pile.

Our daughter, Bethany, is what her aunt describes as a "minimalist" and as she looked over our accumulation last fall said, "I'm not looking forward to some day having to deal with all this -- it's time to toss -- I reminded her who's college boxes are still in the attic. Bethany's rule is if you add one item you have to toss something else.
Something I read last week said if it's not useful to you in the next six months, beautiful to enjoy or highly valuable then discard it. Problem is as a teacher and crafter I see a project or teaching object in EVERYTHING!

My rationale for keeping was -- when the kids get their own places they may need this overstuffed chair, old recliner or table. Well they're about settled now and they're not taking it!

My goal for the summer is to sort, reorganize and pare down to only what we can use, enjoy or share with others. I've put the attic off until now -- Do I really need that many toys or baby clothes for my grandkids some day? Will kids still be playing with transformers and leggos in 2015? How many stuffed animals can one toddler hug, anyway?

The Hebrews passage "throw off every weight that hinders" has convicted me. Max Lucado wrote of this concept in "Traveling Light". Getting rid of what is cluttering our walk, not just in the realm of spiritual or mental -- but I also believe in the physical..


I've decided to pray for the "spirit of toss" to be able to know what to hold on to and what to throw. Lord, show me what I need to keep for Your work, give to somebody who needs, and what to TOSS! I can be more productive if I'm traveling lighter!

Hmmm . . .my office is stacked, with every THING I've moved home from school and my last two months of Sunday school lessons. I guess I know where I start today.

A Goal Reached and Moving On . . .

YOU DID IT! CONGRATS TO YOU, DR. MARSHALL T. BELL!!!

All those Kaplan study sessions you went to at OSU to prepare for your MCAT, those grueling tests for each of the 12 segments of your first two years of Med School, the Boards you've taken twice -- and the hours of rotation at the hospital it's all behind you, now.

Your Dad and I are proud of you. But more than that, we respect the man you've become. Your love for people, respect for the hurting and desire to help remind us of the boy growing up who always had a heart to help others.

We raised you and Bethany with the verse, "to whom much is given, much is required." As a family we have been given so many wonderful experiences and opportunities as well as blessed with knowing so many of God's special people. I believe I see that scripture being displayed in the way you and Bethany approach your life's callings.

The weekend was wonderful spending family time with Bethany & Mat and your Uncle Allen and getting to meet your friends over Earl's BBQ. They all had so many great things to say about you.

You always say that when we Bells get together everybody has to bring a story and each one better top the one just before it. (We get kind of rowdy at the table telling our stories) No Bell family function would be complete without a tale to tell and your episode of running an armed burglar out of your neighbor's apartment yesterday just before graduation has to top the list!

It was a great day and we thank God for the grace He's given to bring you to his Happy Place in your life. We celebrate with you! Love, Mom & Dad

Packing It Up, Turning off the Lights on Another Year

I have ended up this school year weary and worn, not sure why, but tired nonetheless. Yesterday I finally took down a bulletin board, removed the student's housing displays from the space above the top cabinets and emptied the top of my desk -- putting the most of it in files or trashcan. My eyes fell on the posters I've made of their senior pictures from the past nine years. There were two graduation invitations -- one from a developmentally challenged student and one from a former student who was graduating from college. It was the message in their cards that lingered in my thoughts.

I keep all the cards and notes. A minister's wife said one time -- "Save the notes you don't get many when you're past fifty. I guess the same holds true with teachers. Our daughter teaches elementary and has gotten many gifts from students over the years. I've had my share of nice mementos when I taught the younger classes, but when you teach juniors and seniors the gifts they give-- come not from the parents shopping, but from their own pen.

I have about 240 different students in a year and I have to say remembering names is a lot like the Hallmark commercial of the old professor packing it up and the student comes by with a card and thanks him for his instruction -- he finally is able to remember her name and calls her by it, even telling her where she sat in his class by the time she walks out the door.

When my students come back to visit, I always pray, "Lord, help me with that name." Now I don't always remember their names, but their life stories stick with me and several notes they've written come to mind --

It's always something like,
>"I loved your class because we got to cook and have hot chocolate" or
>"This class finally got good when you let us in the cooking lab" or
>"I know I drove you crazy, but thanks for always putting up with me".
>One guy this year wrote"You were always so quick with the comeback when I challenged everything you said" (which was daily).
>"I'm looking forward to you and Mrs. M going on the road with your cooking show" (we used to tease them and say we came as a matched set and planned to hit the road in a Winnebago during retirement and do TV spots.) He went on to say, "You two are inseparable, like ham and cheese". (I guess they always think food when they think of us).
>Another young man said, "I'm not going to lie, at first I didn't take your class seriously. . . but towards the end I did, though you probably don't believe me."
>Several years ago one girl wrote "I've never seen anybody be so passionate about fruits and vegetables, but you were ALWAYS excited about EVERYTHING".
>One girl recently said of me and my co-worker, "I wouldn't have made it, if it weren't for you two." (That student was high maintenance and did take a lot of prayer, I admit.)
>One note I'll never forget was from a young woman who said "You showed me I don't have to get married right out of high school but can still pursue my dream of being a veteranarian, and that there will still be guys left to marry."
>One that keeps me energized, was from a former student who said, "You were always in a good mood." (She had my class early in the day -- lucky for her.Lord, keep me smiling even through 6th period.) She went on to say I had inspired her to go into culinary arts. All teachers really want, is to know we've done our job to the best of our abilities and that we connected on some level with our students, hoping they will go out of our classroom to become responsible parents, partners and citzens in the community. Teaching is what I enjoy and I tell my students each year I'm working my dream job -- However, this teacher is ready for a little R & R to refuel, read, renew so I'll have something to give 'em next year.

Where Everybody is Somebody . . .

The old Cheers sitcom theme song goes, "sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name and they're always glad you came". . that's the kind of church we want Life Park Christian to resemble. We got reminded of that in a powerful way when our church "downsized" about 18 months ago. We became smaller in numbers as some families felt crosswise with the vision that was or was not unfolding at a projected pace and went elsewhere. We were reduced about 40% and it was unnerving and frightening, to say the least. We'd relied on the trusted and true ones to help carry the load of responsibilities. What were we going to do? Who was going to help us? I have to confess I felt overwhelmed as a minister's wife.

People began to step up to the plate . . . and the result was that as a church when someone would miss two Sundays in a row, we'd get concerned, and people would call to check. We became much more attentive to visitors and wanted to make sure they felt at home. We began "meet and greet" community outreach get-togethers that brought people from all walks of life with a myriad of needs. The ministry of body life had to take precedence and not the race to our "promised land" on 61st and Union.

You know sometimes as a church we're caught up in the program for the morning or the deadlines and goals we have for the year -- and don't always take note of who's walking through our doors. (I confess, I can be guilty of this.) All of a sudden every person mattered -- every single person was important. People unlike our regular membership began to attend. Terry always says, "Nobody is here by accident". . . that means God might just send someone who needs to feel cared for and loved that day, someone who's poor in spirit because they've lost a dear one or lost a job or might be going through the ripping pain of divorce. Many folks are just lonely -- in need of family because of crumbling care networks that so many experience.

We have a special lady in our Church family who helps us see the most delightful aspects of others. She continues to remind us where we would be without Jesus Christ and each other. Our pace and our deadline have changed a bit, but our mission is still the same - offering unprecedented redemptive care - loving as Jesus loves. . Don't we all want to go to a church where everybody's glad we came?

I was reminded the other day of the simple fact that everybody is somebody because each person matters to God.

When God Has a Job for Us

There are seasons when God uses his refining fire on me and I've come to know these as the times HE'S burning off the "phoney and the baloney". I can be stubborn and can give lots of "plausible" excuses when I don't want to do something, I must confess that when God shows me it is important to do I will submit while "kicking and screaming" on the inside.

Twice in the past two days we have been presented with opportunities that seemed to be God asking, "if you're serious about reaching the poor and the lost, the homeless and disadvantaged" how far will you go? When presented with one situation for our church to minister to on Sunday evening - I wrestled sitting there in the pew. I assessed the situation trying to decide if they were "worthy" of financial help (are they drugged out or drunk?) - The thought came to mind - "This is a test of how much we really intend to do for God".
In the second situation my response was -- not in the next 3 weeks, that's when our kids are going to be here off and on. I want our house sane and serene --just like the home they left. (When was our house sane or serene?) I can't take in an extra right now. They need the house to themselves. Don't I often think about how empty our house seems in "empty nest"?


We often mention the good works we plan to do for God when we get to our "promised land" and our building is built. I don't think we're going to step one foot on that place until we've proven sincere and shown ourselves to be diligent in what HE's called us to do NOW. Isn't it in these times of unplanned efforts that HE calls us to where we received the greatest blessings and discover new relationships?

I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.Matt. 25 gives us our job description. Help me to see you Lord in every opportunity that presents itself to me.

Youth Alive? -- Me???

My friend is moving and asked me to fill her position as sponsor of our school's youth for Christ group, called "Youth Alive". The students are juniors and seniors preparing to launch their lives.

I have to admit at 58 and 11/12ths there are some days as I go to school I am asking "just make me alive today and help me make you look good, God." or "Let me make it today with no more sleep than I've had and not bite somebody's head off." Somedays, I confess, I feel like Sarai of old in an i-pod, i-phone, wii, txt. msging, youth-driven society.

I don't know the new Christian bands, haven't been to a youth rally in decades and my responsiblities in ministry keep me always striving and praying to meet needs of our children's department and hospitality needs of our members.

However, I want to be an influence for God's good in my classroom and with my students. I've prayed that several days on my way to work -- that I not waste this time that I am in the classroom and look at each day as a wonderful opportunity. I realized I couldn't say no --because I've prayed to be useful for HIM, but felt overwhelmed with this awesome responsibility. I feel I have to accept his gifting in this, but I could give several reasons it wouldn't fit into my schedule at this time in my life.

A friend says, "If HE brings you TO IT, HE will bring you THROUGH IT. I know that there will be new things HE wants to show me and teach me and even ways HE wants to stretch me. Saying "no" would demonstrate a lack of faith in what HE can and will do in me.

"I'll took it to the church and have asked for their prayers behind me as I do this." God impressed on me this week that I can't do it under somebody else's agenda but CAN only do it as he opens doors and guides me.

"To Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. . ." Let's see what doors HE opens up.