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Imagination ~ Something to Think About

January 12, 2011 by  12 Comments

Fritz von Uhde, The Children’s Room

Read for the Heart 11292009Growing up, my siblings and I were almost constantly in the throes of some imagined story — shipwrecked travelers, desperate orphans, disguised royalty, westward pioneers. After our obligatory hour of reading, our afternoons were often spent outdoors in worlds available only through the creative power of our minds — worlds often introduced through the stories we had read…
 In the past few years I have come to the conclusion that those hours of imagination gave me far more than just good memories. As I have begun writing my first books and done a bit of speaking all over the United States, numerous people have asked me what gave me the ability to dream, what drove my desires and shaped my goals. How did my brother become a composer? My other brother a writer? What was the secret to our upbringing? The answer is simple: God, family, and … imagination.

Imagination is too often described as a ‘childish’ thing — attributed only to the young, the very creative, or the ‘artsy’ and impractical. But in reality, imagination is a transformative force that is common to all people who dream deeply enough to accomplish something of worth with their lives. At its core, imagination is the ability to envision the future we desire, the force enabling us to pursue a dream whose reality is radically different from the present. We cannot set out on a road of great hopes and determination if we have no concept of what it is we are journeying toward. Imagination drives inspired action.”
~ Sarah Clarkson in Read for the Heart pp. 147-148

When my children were younger, we had an hour of quiet time every afternoon. They each had their own basket of books, carefully selected by mom, and a treat of some type. This was an hour I truly appreciated! Mommies need a break from the go, go, go of mothering. This hour also blessed my children. They read books about history, science, Christian history, and fiction of all sorts.

These books helped stir my children’s imaginations. They could be bold heroes or delicate princesses. Every era of history could be acted out! One of our favorites was Roxaboxen, which directed hours of pretend. This sweet book is about children playing outdoors and creating their own town, Roxaboxen.

Old clothes from Goodwill and garage sales and hand sewn capes became the wardrobe for my budding actors and actresses. They made props out of anything and everything.

Children are creative, given the opportunity. If they have been given a solid diet of TV and video games, they might struggle a bit with using their minds to amuse themselves. Our culture encourages conformity, not individuality. Our Creator God gave us minds that can imagine. Schedule time this week for your children to play, indoors or outdoors and give them resources for play (dress up clothes and props)  and use their imaginations!

Here are some great children’s fiction that Sarah recommends:
Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
A Little Maid series by Alice Turner Curtis
The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene du Bois

These are books that make wonderful read alouds as a family, or they can be given to older children to read on their own. What book are you reading to your children this season? May the Lord bless you as you stoke the fires of your children’s imaginations! Pick up Sarah’s book with 384 inspiring pages!

Filed Under: Family, Family Favorites, Joyful Life, Mothering, Reading, Reviews

Christmas ~ A Time to Enjoy Reading Aloud!

December 15, 2010 by  4 Comments

Sarah’s Book on Books ~ a great Christmas gift idea!

On a storm-blown Sunday afternoon in a creaky old manor house in England, I rediscovered the timeless delight of classic children’s books. It took me by surprise. I was one of about thirty international students studying and living in England for the summer, and this was our first British teatime all together. A shy, awkward silence had fallen about us as we tried our best to balance philosophy, sophistication, and hot mugs of tea, when one of our tutors said something that sent us all staring.
“Let’s read Winnie-the-Pooh.”
A swift current of suppressed mirth ran the length of the room, but we were up for some fun, and the tutor assigned each person a part in the story. Pooh’s expedition to the North Pole was the story of choice, and before we knew what was happening we were immersed in the comical, compact world of the Hundred Acre Woods. The story had all of us — tutors, college students, post-graduates, old, and young — laughing until our sides literally ached.”
Read for the Heart pp. 113-114

Reading together as a family is a Clarkson tradition. Hours of memories have been made around good books. During the holiday season, busyness can rob you of precious time spent together as a family. Since all children should sleep at night, should being the key word, start the bedtime routine a little bit earlier and pull out a favorite book to read. If Pooh is a bit daunting by its size, try some holiday picture books or some shorter chapter books. Two that are recommended by Whole Hearted children are The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and Cosmic Christmas. Enjoy their reviews!

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a book I like each Christmas because it is a funny, family-friendly story.  It has inspired me to look at Christmas differently and a little more realistically.  For example, what if Jesus had colic?  The only thing about this book is that it has some questionable language so is better if Mom or Dad reads it aloud and edits as they read.
~ Reviewed by 10 year old young lady

Cosmic Christmas by Max Lucado ( also recently published as The Angel Story) opens a unique porthole into the uncommonly written realm of angels.    It is written from Gabriel’s perspective on his mission to give Mary the seed of Christ as Satan is desperately trying to stop him.   While it is written from a biblical Christian perspective, this soul stirring book provides a new look on the ” all is calm , all is bright”  normal theme of Christmas.

This book is a must read in our home each year.
~ Reviewed  by 13 year old boy

What books are you reading to your children this holiday season? May the Lord bless the time you spend together!

Filed Under: Classics, Family Favorites, Holidays, Reading, Reviews, Traditions

My Gift to Him….His gift to me

December 13, 2009 by  8 Comments

My personal, Christmas quiet time table, in my bedroom, private–sequestered away from the hustle and bustle of my home.

Getting my body to move, my mind to clear, was as if I was coming off of a thick cloud of  anesthesia–and then a heaviness began to creep over me as I began to awaken and remember what day it was–another event in my home, just two hours away. Stress crawled over me like mist over the sea–weariness bade me stay in bed, beckoned to me, urging me back to sleep. Then suddenly–the memory  of all that needed to be done moved my body into action and made me hit the ground quickly.Too much to do, too much cooking, too many activities, too many people’s needs to meet, too much, too much….was beginning to take its toll. All of these feelings were familiar from so many years, months and days of knowing this feeling–and so the assurance that I had made it through many other such seasons,  kept me from panic or the blues. Resolve, familiar resolve, whispered to my heart, that soon–very soon, all would be well. A plan began to form–tomorrow morning, I would ignore everything on “my list” and arrange a special meeting. Decorating a place just for me and him; clearing out the clutter from this space, giving time to beautify–I began to get pleasure and peace in my heart just knowing what I had to look forward to–my time with him.

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I have always loved the passage in Genesis when, after creating a breath-taking, dazzling, wondrous world, breathing with life, color, sounds, scents, pleasure–that God, the master artist, was strolling in the garden–looking for Adam and Eve–the ones for whom He had created such a personal gift. -He was walking along in His garden, surely admiring it, wanting to know what His children thought–if they were happy–if they appreciated it–looking for them in the heat of the day. “Where are you?” He called out–and they were not looking for Him—

Most of my mother-life, after I fell in love with being a mother, I have found I receive such pleasure at providing for my treasures–cooking, decorating, providing, loving, serving–hoping to be God’s very hands and breath and words to them so that they can better perceive what He is like. I look for them in the garden of my own life–”how do you like what I have provided? I want to be close to you–I want your companionship.”

Recently, after Nathan had been home from California for 10 days, I was looking, as always, on my email to see if I had any letters from him–or Joel. There in my in-box, was a short note–

“Mom, I don’t know what I would do without your love and encouragement. I appreciate everything you have done to make home a haven. Thanks for your love and prayers.”

No money or thing or experience could have topped the pleasure he gave me–he was my special one–he is the one from whom I long for time and friendship.

and so it is with God, my very own Father, who prepares life and looks out for me–to see where I am, to spend time with me! Imagine!

I realized very early in my knowing Him, that the miracle was that He was always looking for me–wanting me to be His companion, friend, to talk, to commune, to live together hand in hand–to delight in the pleasures He had prepared for me. 

And so I knew that my Christmas season would not be complete, unless I gave Him what He wanted, unless I made my plans–around Him, around just being with Him, listening to Him, loving Him–just what I needed–just the gift of my love I would give back to Him. He was not looking for my works–my good deeds, my Martha effort to beguile my family or my friends with dazzle and good food and fine presents–but He was looking for simple, feet of clay–me–to tell me more that was on His heart.

As I desire the companionship of my own children–that is what–amazingly–he desires of me.
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And so I made it through the day, talked with so many, fed, cleaned, rushed about to the other tasks that needed to be cared for–but I knew that my date was just ahead–so my heart took pleasure.Sunday morning as I opened my eyes, I looked out my window upon a purple-ish, blueish sky that promised colder weather again. My eyes lit upon the table I had late last night prepared for myself and for Him–a place of beauty, a place of quiet, a place of worship

–the framed picture Sarah had framed for me at Christmas years before–”The Peace of Christ be with You.”

Just what I longed for….A beautiful, delicate bird nested upon pine boughs–the reminder of the years before when I was spotting again–after a miscarriage, and yet pregnant again–but again beginning to bleed–alone in the mountains of Austria–when praying to God, wondering if I would ever be able to keep a baby–God sent a small bird, to perch upon the very window sill in which I was pouring my heart out to Him from my small hotel room.

–He spoke to me His comfort–”Not a  bird falls to the ground without My knowledge–I see you–I hear you–I am with you”–and the baby inside of me became Sarah–in spite of 6 months of bleeding. And so small birds, when they hop across my path or are collected in my home, are a symbol to me of His love, His care. This new little bird, recently purchased for its lovely colors and simplicity–was appropriate for my table before Him.

My berry and vanilla candles–the flickering lights a delight to me– a reflection of light–a reminder of His light into my world. The fragrance like incense–lifting my prayers to heaven.

My little cross that reminded me of what I wanted the new season of my life to be characterized by–belief. All spoke to me of our special bond–I was His and He was mine.

It was worth the little extra effort it took to make the setting of my date a special one–after all He had done to make the place I lived in His world such a place of beauty.

One of my favorite instrumentals softly set the stage. I had picked a book the day before–Prepare my heart, Lord, through one of my favorite authors, Elizabeth Goudge–a beautiful, lovely children’s story–the picture of a child’s faith–the heart of faith, the delight in life, the expectation of goodness–contrasted by an adult who had forgotten how to have grace of life, compassion, to live in freedom, not under constraint. And so as I sipped my coffee, the Lord greatly encouraged my heart–I want a heart of innocent, loving trust.

And then to my Celtic Daily Prayer book–verses from the Psalms, the Old Testament, the New Testament–and more from His heart–Psalm 18: 28, “The Lord lights my lamp; The Lord illumines my darkness.” Verse 32,  ”The God who girds me with strength, and makes my way blameless.” Verse 35, “You have given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your right hand upholds me; and Your gentleness makes me great.” Psalm 118: 6, “The Lord is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.”

And so it went. He spoke of His love for me; His presence; His strength; His peace. I gave Him the gift of myself, my time. He gave me the gift of peace, rest, delight and strength to keep going. Now, I had what I needed and longed for–perspective, a plan of simplifying, dancing one more time knowing He was with me in the minutes of my days.

Have you given Him the gift of yourself during this busy season?

He is walking in the garden, calling your name. May His peace be yours today.

Filed Under: Beauty, Bible Studies, Family, Family Favorites, Holidays, Joyful Life, Music, Nature, Our Family, Reading, Simplicity

Joy to the World indeed the Lord has come!

December 10, 2009 by  2 Comments

 

A blurred but artistic picture Joy took of our mantel before a Christmas party at our home in our living room!

Oh, my! As usual, the days are flying by! I have so much to write to you in the next few days that I may just write a blog a day for a while! But I haven’t been writing because I have been making family and friends a priority! And of course having lots of fun myself. 

First, Joy and I are reading every day in our devotionals a wonderful advent book, called The Jesse Tree. We are loving it. A very sweet friend sent us a bag full of wrapped little presents that we open one day at a time and read the verses that go with it! Loving my time each morning, staying in our gowns and eating home made mcmuffins with home made bread, sipping our juice and sharing our wisdom in scripture over candlelight and fire place. What a luxury to have the opportunity to have leisurely time talking to my sweet daughter about our wonderful savior without having to hurry this memory. (It has been quite cold!)

Flying to Nashville and on to Earlington, Kentucky to visit my sister-friend! We are not really related, but I never had a sister and neither did she. She flew to my home for 28 years in a row over the Christmas holidays to keep the commitment to be family to each other we had made as single missionaries. So now, the past few years as she is homebound, I fly to Gwennie’s house to celebrate Christmas. She has been the family God knew we would need when we didn’t have many around to love us. She always wraps mounds of tiny gifts to delight each of my children and me–even if it is tiny, like a flashlight or pocket knife or pair of pretty socks. We go one gift at a time and ooh and ahh! It is like really having a real live auntie or grandmom for my sweet ones.

 
Mrs. Janie’s tea room–Sarah, Joy, and Gwen enjoying the civility!

Our trip included a luncheon to a tiny town in Sacremento, Kentucky to Mrs. Janie’s, a tea house in a Victorian home that serves on the weekends only. We had 3 courses–ambrosia with pineapple scones, buttered asparagous with a baked chicken breast in herbed cheese and wrapped in phyllo dough and a baked potato casserole with cheese and chives and red velvet cake and ice cream for desert with a cup of tea–all girlish memories. I love making memories with my girls around other like-minded, godly women who are life-giving and build into their souls. Gwennie loves them and models Christ to them and on the side is just a lot of fun.

After this, we celebrated Christmas and I got two blue–blue shirts and a cd of great music. We ate coconut pie–a classic that Gwen’s mom always made! And then one of my best times was attending the Messiah with all the girls. I dearly love the Messiah and always marvel at the way God stirred Handel to gather all of the scripture in such a way as to tell the Great Story. Everyone should gently lead their their family to love the Messiah. Joy and I were humming under our breath, Sarah and Gwen were living in ecstacy during several of the choruses. Such beauty in words and music.

Finally, went to Nashville to visit with precious friends who have shared life and history with me since our 25 year olds were wee ones. Such a fun time to pray, talk, share, have lunch at Puffy Muffin and watch our girls catch up with each other. Of course there were lots of, “I can’t believe how much you have grown up!” on all sides.

 
Nate driving off to California in front of our home with his car. I was so brave! till I went inside! :)

Having Nathan on my mind. Would you pray with me for the Lord to show Him favor and find him a good job that can help to pay rent– And to find  favor with his agent so that she can get him auditions and also that the Lord would specifically direct Nathan in a place where he can find a good community in this work and have a settled, long term job or one good commercial!  Nathan loves the Lord and is hoping to serve Him in the arena of music, acting, speaking and writing–but at this moment needs our wonderful Lord to open doors for him and give him favor with the right people. Would so appreciate your prayers for my dear, fun, loving Nathan boy! Can’t wait to see what God will do as I have seen Him love answering prayer the past few years and He is the Lord of North Hollywood. All this mothering is a continued walk of faith and labor in the gates of heaven.  And of course it is the training grounds of my sweet son as well. Thanks ever so much.

Oh so much more this week, but it will have to wait till tomorrow. May God bless you, every one! I have some cookies to get out of the oven! Preparing for our two book parties for Sarah and there will be such treats. More later this week about the pictures of my home during this season; weathering the blues and storms during this season with Him, our humble king; recipes, babies, favorite catalogues and things to order and traditions for all ages. Oh, I am blessed today.

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Forgot to mention that the winners on December 1 for the drawing from all of you who promoted our conferences were:
 
  Kristin Kerley (TN)
  Jennifer Tammeling (CA)
We will have another drawing on January 1 for $50 in books and cd’s or free conference registration for all those who advertise our conference in their newsletters, on facebook, on blogs
and in support groups or Bib
le studies. Just write Jennice to let her know where you advertised. We so appreciate your help in getting the word out to as many moms as we can reach as we see the Lord change lives, encourage and give inspiration to so many every year. 
For more information and to get links for your area, go here
You can click on the different conferences and then open the folders at the top for flyers and information to copy for the conferences.

You can also get a link to read our most recent Whole Heart e-letter by connecting here

Have a great Friday!
Filed Under: Family, Family Favorites, Friends, Holidays, Music, Our Family, People, Reading, Relationships, Tea

Thanksgiving–an epic tale!

November 17, 2009 by  2 Comments

The First Thanksgiving–Brownscombe

I love sweeping, captivating tales of real men and women of courage who believed they were present in this world for God’s glory, who took risks to worship Him, lived courageously and held fast against great odds to the goodness and promises of God–even in times of trial.

Plymouth was the place of such a tale. A small, dwindling group, of seemingly frail people, invisible to the world at large, taking time to worship and thank their creator God for His lovingkindness and mercy and provision. And yet they were not invisible to God. Their tale has lived on to inspire many thousands to live a life of faith. This is what I would call a intentional, purposeful heart devoted to joy, celebrating the reality of God and obedience to worship and praise Him. Another picture of God taking the small, faithful and turning it into an eternal work. 

We are in a different sort of time, but trying to believers nonetheless. Erosion of Biblical morality, economic pressures, the break-up of marriages, materialism, godless values, and yet, here we are, blessed to know Him, to know our future is secure with Him for all eternity, where we will celebrate the great feast of all times, when we are with Him face to face.

It is a time for us to celebrate our own feast to His reality this Thanksgiving, as an act of faith for His reality, power, provision and blessing in our own time. This is a time when He can still use the acts of  faithful people to turn the world upside down. 

I love having the opportunity to celebrate this great story with our family. The story of Squanto is amazing. To see how God used one man, took him all the way to Europe as a slave to learn English, to be led to the Lord by monks, so that he could return to America in order to help save the Pilgrims so that he could show them how to live in this new world. (The Disney movie about Squanto is actually very beautiful.)

Even the story of the Pilgrims themselves–the idea that man had the right to worship God and hold fast to his beliefs and to do whatever necessary to provide this for their children is a model of what we should follow–to fight for the ability to worship God, to pass on our faith to our children, to make this a supreme priority–what a great story to pattern our lives after. So, be sure, this Thanksgiving, to not forget the real reason of this holiday. To notice the fingerprints of God in history, to notice His fingerprints of grace and blessing in our own lives. To dream with our children how we might leave a legacy of faith, bringing His kingdom to bear in our own generation. And to celebrate His goodness to us this year by taking the time to praise and worship Him together. How blessed we are to have such a heritage.

Some favorite Thankgiving books:

A Thanksgiving game to play online, here
Some great recipes, coffeeteabooksandme  
Some favorite children’s books:
If  You Sailed the Mayflower by: Ann McGovern

Three Young Pilgrims by Cheryl Harness (love all of her books)

Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving by Eric Metaxas

Landmark Plymouth Plantation

So many more in my library–but these are a few. 

Finally, a great unit study for your children, should you want to use it as a guide

Happy week before Thanksgiving!


Filed Under: Family, Family Favorites, Holidays, Our Family, Reading, Recipes

Beauty–created by God for his glory

June 20, 2009 by  3 Comments

A couple of weeks ago, Sarah spoke at a tea in our home about beauty. Beauty is one of the attributes that we see in creation. There is something in God’s very nature that must express itself in beauty. We have noticed over the years, that often, when a culture adopts a godless philosophy, like communism and socialism, the beauty begins to disappear from the culture of the people. Buildings and furniture and art become either more utilitarian or abstract. However, beauty is one of those attributes of God’s world that hushes us in quiet admiration. Just the other day, when we went out walking, there was the largest, double rainbow in the sky than I had ever seen. We had to stop and marvel and call Clay on the phone to be sure he had a chance to see it. 
We have had 45-55 degree weather here in Colorado lately and rain most days. Consequently we know why this state was named Colorado–the dark blues of the sky and the greens of the trees and grass and a proliferation of wild flowers are evident of a very colorful artist who designed this colorful state. 
Back to the tea–We had mother’s and daughters and had lots of fun together. Each person had to bring something that they thought was beautiful and tell a story about it. (One of the great stories was a beautiful stitchery that had been framed that one of the mom’s husbands had made for her when they were in high school. Then they each had a quotation about beauty under their luncheon plate that Sarah had cut out. 
Finally, she read a beautiful passage from The Secret Garden. When Colin, the crippled boy from birth, is wheeled into the Secret garden that his two friends have been working on, he marvels, breathlessly at the beauty of the garden, the roses, the robin, all the vibrant colors–and he says, “I know that now I can get well because of what I have beheld.” She then  talked to the girls and moms about the intrinsic beauty that God had placed in their souls–to reflect Him in their lives, the way they live, the way they serve, the way they dress–and a reminder that when we subdue and create an atmosphere of beauty and creativity in our homes, we were giving one more testimony of His reality in our lives. The end was even better than the first, because she had made a lemon cake with raspberry filling. She also gave each daughter present a real pearl necklace on a ribbon. Jesus, the author of beauty, was considered the pearl of great price–the only one worth giving up everything for, in order to have it! Joy was the trusty servant! 
And so a great memory was made by gathering people and celebrating life.
What fun I had speaking in Denver this week and being with so many new and old friends. Especially grateful I am to two friends, Deb and Jerrine, who went with me, prayed with me, whisked me away to tea for a quick lunch–which included scones and yorkshire gold tea!  and were just the pals I needed.
Now I look forward to Father’s day, cinnamon roll breakfast, church,  salmon lunch with basil potatoes and homemade rolls and then off to the airport. California here I come. Looking so forward to it! I would appreciate your prayers as I attempt, with a generous talented friend, to make a new Bible study video set for each chapter of Seasons and for Mission, also will see lots of great California friends, speak 5 times and need health and strength and just the right words–and of course I can’t wait to be with a couple of bosom friends who I will share girl time with and tell secrets and have fun. There is nothing like an old friend who knows you and still loves you and gets you as you are. Cheerio.
Filed Under: Beauty, Classics, Family Favorites, Food, Home, Homemaking, Hospitality, Joyful Life, Our Family, Reading, Table Settings, Tea

Favorite books that describe life-giving homes

April 28, 2009 by  10 Comments

Hi, Just a short note–I just had to connect you to my friend’s blog today. Brenda Nuland and I are so much alike, it is as though God created us out of the same mold–we even both don’t like to fly in airplanes–which is a faith issue for me about 20 times a year!  She is a dear friend and my older children have gotten to know her oldest daughter Stephanie, as she is on the way to Boston. Brenda has a wonderful blog that always feeds my soul and she and I love so many of the same things. She had a post called I Heart Hobbit Houses. You can go to her blog here to connect and read down in her article to connect to the article. I love it because she asks for recommendations for those who know of books that have great descriptions of homes and also great descriptions of food I thought I would put some of my list here and ask all of you to tell me of your favorite homey books. Here is a short list off the top of my head.

Brambly Hedge–delightful children’s picture book series from England–more contemporary than Beatrix Potter and has the most inviting pictures of the inside of an English Home that is lived in by precious animals–lovely– and worth buying second hand for your own library.
Pilgrim Inn–a favorite book from an old English author, Elizabeth Gouge, whose story is about the redemption of people in a home, and family after World War II-a book for adult readers or older teens. Also shows the mending of a marriage and grace that comes through acceptance. Makes the home come alive through loving, giving grace and living as a family.
I love Edith Schaeffer books–The Hidden Art of Homemaking and What is a Family for instruction and stories about her own family and the life of using her home as a place of ministry and of course the story of L’Abri is a must read for families to picture the hand of God at work in the life of people who live by faith–heart warming stories–but all of these books are non-fiction
The Winter Cottage by Brink–pancakes a focal point and so funny as well as a cozy cottage–read aloud for kids lateo-elementary or read aloud to children.
Also, I collect old Eloise Wilkin (an artist) books because her beautiful pictures of children in family, playing, doing chores, helping mommy and wonderful pictures of home–are a great way to put pictures in your children’s minds of the importance of family and home–these are simple children’s picture books–but the first imprint I put on my children’s brains about family, home and Mommy.
Loved the melted cheese passages in Heidi–also a must read aloud–a picture of salvation through a great story–beautiful picture of creation. This author wrote to give children literature to lead them to Christ. (We translated one of her stories into English for the first time in our book that we publish called the Gold Thread–the Story was The Rose Child and can be found through our website 
Just David–also one of my favorite books in the world–such a picture of a child’s heart redeeming a whole village because of is wonderful integrity–we published this, too.  You can find this through our website
Also, the meal in The Little princess–also a must read aloud in our home-the meal she took on her porch was delightful
So many more, but wondered if all of you could tell of some great books and favorite children’s books along this line. Have a great Tuesday!
Filed Under: Classics, Family Favorites, Reading, Reviews

Take a little time for You!

December 8, 2008 by  10 Comments

This little picture was taken at a pub right outside of Beatrix Potter’s home on a rainy day of our trip to England. We were soaked to the bone and needed a little fortitude in order to face the rain again! (note the sweet hands of Sarah, Joy, and Phyllis, my sweet friend.)

Today I awakened to a house full of people, all hungry and giggly and wound up for the day. We have our friends, the Hamby’s of Lamplighter Books staying with us and I had promised some blueberry, apple, cinnamon pancakes for them and for their daughter and husband. All of us had been to see Scrooge last night and stayed up till almost midnight talking about the events and happenings of our Sunday together. After breakfast, we saw them off to a meeting they must attend.

But a conversation I had as I was cooking and my sweet friend was drinking coffee spurred some thoughts in my mind. I realized that many of my friends who are older and have passed through the aes of their younger children and are now living in grace with their present season eventually had to compromise some of their ideals and expectations of life in order to live it well. Often we develop a noose around our neck that isn’t of the Lord and that causes unnecessary critical attitudes, or feelings of inadequacy or stress. Walking in freedom and reality in the midst of the demands of daily life is the only way to live healthily. I am thankful for my fun talk with my sweet friend this morning as we reflected together on our lives and what the Lord had taught us amidst putting orange juice on the table and stirring pancake batter.

I had big plans for this day–working 6 hours on my book that must be turned in soon–and getting Joy ready for an all day practice for a competition this coming Saturday; preparing for a 2 day meeting that Clay and I have with Focus on the Family tomorrow; planning treats and dinner for Joel’s homecoming Wednesday; and figuring out how to fit in washing clothes, homeschooling, getting everyone fed and cared for–(the Hamby’s leave tomorrow) and other mundane things.

But as I began to move into the day, I felt a little weariness creeping over me. This is only the second week of December, so I knew that from my experience of my last million years, that if I don’t take a little time to regroup and refresh today, I will be totally spent by the time Nathan gets home late next week.

So, about an hour ago, I shifted my expectations today to realistically accomplish what is reasonable and won’t wear me out. I lowered my goals and determined to take some pressure off and decided that I will take at least two hours to have fun and regroup. (My children need this today, too!) So, we will have a quick lunch with friends because we need buddy time, I am not going to write this morning, but just do restful, fun things with Joy–who is exhausted from 6 performances since last week; and I think we will have take out or go out to dinner tonight instead of me cooking the big dinner I had planned.

I have had to learn that no one else in the world will be responsible for my over-all well being. I have a husband and children who love me, but I am responsible for my rest, my quiet time, my eating and exercise and my chill time. I do have countless emails in my inbox that I would love to answer, and there are tasks calling my name around the house, but I have become the queen of turning my head away and sticking to my priorities. I have found that there will be just as many things screaming for my attention tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow. But today, I know that my body and mind need a little rest and that when I am a steward of my body, I am protecting my walk with the Lord. I am always simplifying and evaluating if something is worth the effort–(I do think that making things beautiful and special during the holidays are worth the effort as it builds the taste and values and work ethic and ministry skills of my children–but all in its season. But it may not be worth it to answer one more phone call or one more email–as this will certainly steal from my children and husband who need me today.

Each of us has a different puzzle and different personality and we must accept our limitations within our own story and be comfortable being ourselves. I see so many moms seeking to live up to other’s expectations and ideals and then burning out in the process. I have high work times and rest times.

If we don’t eventually make peace with our own life circumstances, then we are in danger of cultivating a heart of bitterness or whining. But if we become the conductors of our own life symphonies and live within our own melody of life, we will last longer more gracefully with the God of grace who leads us.

Take time to regroup today–the rest of December is still coming and you will be the better for it!

Now for a few answers to emails: (and please know that I read every one and would so like to answer every one–but this month I have let my emails mount up by hundreds in taking care of my family–so if I don’t get to yours, write me again–as It is not on purpose that I ignore you, but they get buried in the recesses of my computer! So sorry! I still have to finish Joy well!)

Joel finally got approved for a loan for his classes last week and is on his way home to record an album. He is hoping to sell his album and sing at some events and churches to help make enough money for his housing this spring. Thanks so much for praying for Him. God is working quite a testimony in His life through the journey of trusting Him and I see maturity taking place. He still doesn’t have roomies or housing for Boston, so we are still all praying for something to work out there. I have noticed that the Lord provides the manna for the day, but not usually ahead of time!

As to devotional books I have enjoyed: I love my Celtic Daily Prayer book as it has three scripture readings every day and a little commentary. I keep a Daily Light by my quiet time chair, too. Other times I use Kay Arthur’s Bible studies (did Isaiah last year and thinking about doing Hebrews this spring) and I also keep a list of spiritual books by my bedside for quiet times in the mornings. (Eugene Peterson, Phillip Yancy, Peter Kreeft, Nancy Leigh Demoss and a few other authors have fed my soul in the last year.)

As to advent resources, we have used a lot over the years. I am now using Handel’s Messiah family advent reader with Joy. Also, the family has been using a sweet one about  advents based on  famous old  hymns and Sarah  introduced me to God With  Us for December readings–also excellent.

It would be so much fun for me to have so many of you right here, face to face in front of the fireplace for a relaxed visit. Eternity will be glorious!
Grace and peace today!

Filed Under: Family, Family Favorites, Food, Friends, Holidays, Our Family, Prayer, Reading, Traditions

Gentle Joel Please join me in prayer for him this birthday week!

November 16, 2008 by  9 Comments

Sweet Friends,
I have a favor to ask of you. Will you help me give Joel a birthday present this week and join me in praying for God to open doors for him financially so he can attend Berklee School of Music in January? He also needs to find housing he can afford. (Hmmm that sounds familiar–oh, yeah–Nathan two months ago!) But I learned my lesson when you prayed with me for Nathan! I would feel so very grateful if you would join me in prayer for Joel this week.

 Here is the whole story: My first son, Joel, turns twenty-two on Wednesday. As a little boy, he was my gentle child, always singing, designing lego cities and castles, drawing hundreds of designs of jeeps, and almost always happy. He would always make the other kids jealous because he could hear a song played on the piano or guitar and he would just sit down and begin to pick it out or play it by ear. I remember one year when we were visiting some friends in Boston, Joel sat down at a harp and began to pick out melodies as though he had been playing for years.

His first year after graduating from high school, Joel attended a worship school, as we have tended to have our kids spend the first year at home as a sort of transitional year into adulthood. At the end of that year, Joel received a several scholarship offers from universities but ended up taking a presidential scholarship at Seattle Pacific University. He so enjoyed his first year and worked while he took a full load of classes and still made a 3.5 average. However, at the end of his first year, he and Sarah were chosen to be interns at a ministry outreach in Cambridge University in England to work with Ranald McCaulay in a ministry outreach to students and professors. Upon return from their summer there, Joel began to pray about changing his major. He began to clep out of some basic classes and said, “I have always wanted to be a musician. I don’t think I have much of a chance, but I really feel that if I don’t try to get into Berklee school of music, I  might regret it the rest of my life. I think it is the best school in the United States for what I want to do–become a composer.”

So, last January he began to compose a song for his interview, which would take place in person in Boston. Now, as a mom, I felt insecure because with our 17 moves, travels in ministry and limited salary, Joel only had about 2 years of formal music lessons. But though he didn’t have a depth in musical theory or  much experience at reading music, he had lots of other strengths in just musical talent and a good ear all by God’s grace and design.  So our whole family prayed and friends prayed and Joel took a trip to Boston for his live audition. Before that time, he had to fill out pages upon pages of essays telling his philosophy, dreams, desire to study and so on.

He did great on his composition performance and probably was a little weak on the areas he hoped to study at Berklee–like theory!  (You can hear his composition by connecting to this link: http://www.virb.com/thenorthcountry  When you go to this site, place your cursor on The Night as Bright as Day.)

 Then the wait began. They said it would be September before he would hear. This had been the year that I had truly decided that I was like the little boy who gave Jesus his fish and loaves and asked for a miracle. I had done my best, given my all to my children, but I knew that there were holes and that only the Lord could help to open doors for my children. This was the faith I depended on–that if the Lord wanted Joel into the school of his dreams, He would open the doors, knowing that He would be the one we would thank.

Finally, September 15, Joel got the word that he had been accepted at Berklee. We were all amazed and  excited  that now he was going to have the opportunity to pursue what he had wanted to do for many years.

It just happened that it was during the time of the bank failures. So, even though he was accepted, as a January student, there were no scholarships available, even though he pursued every office, every opportunity and every email address he could find. He was only offered $2500 in loans from government Fafsa loans, which is hardly enough to put his toe into the door. So, Joel kept working and praying that God would open the door for him somehow to get into school. In the midst of this, I sent him the book, The Spiritual Lives of Great Composers, which we had read from many years before.

The Lord seems to always use stories of faithful people who have gone before us to show us the way. Joel read several of the histories of the great composers. He called me last Friday and was renewed in his confidence to trust the Lord. He said, “Mom, all of these great men had to work so diligently. Most of them were dirt poor and they had to devote themselves to practice and discipline for years upon years. But because they worked hard, they became great.They also had this in common–they performed and composed for the glory of God. The most amazing thing was and epoch statement that Bach made. He said that anyone could do what he did if they would work as hard as he worked. I know I will never be a Bach, but I want to do what he did and work to my capacity. I really want to try to find a way to make it work for me to go ahead and start school in January. I am not afraid of working  hard. I think I can make good grades and be a good student and then maybe I can get scholarships the end of my first year. I really want to do my best to become a composer.”

So, now, we are placing ourselves once more in the hands of the Lord and know that in some way He will greatly show his faithfulness. Having been involved in ministry for so many years, we have not had a lot extra to put into college for the kids. Yet the Lord has met our needs every year. But we have put our names on loans for the kids for their cars and for the school loans they have had to take out. All of our children have worked hard and have been able to pay their basic bills.  But we are not sure if Fafsa will give loans to Clay and me as we have heard that all such student loans are very difficult to get since the fall of the banks and since we have already applied to Fafsa for financial aid and Joel just received a little. .

Yet, having seen the Lord work so wonderfully before in our lives with Nathan in New York city, we want to ask you to please join us in praying for Joel this week as we make one final attempt to secure a loan so that he can start school. Will you please pray for Joel to see God open a door for him with us? He is willing to keep working, but he has also come to the point of wanting to see God open doors in such a way that many will see His reality.

I used to worry so much more, but I have seen God’s ways more clearly in the past few years. When I wanted things to be easy, God was allowing them to be a challenge–because He was a Father with a training heart. He was answering my prayers, (Lord, please build my boys into godly men.) His ways are to build Joel into a stronger man so that he can be prepared for more difficult challenges ahead. Having had to work, to strain towards his dreams, to grapple with the Lord about how to make it all happen could be as important to the making of his character as school will be to his music education. I see his spiritual muscles growing, his confidence in God building and his whole life being stretched and in all of this, he will be much more prepared to be the godly, strong man God would have him be.

So, Happy Birthday, dear, wonderful Joel. I can’t wait to see what the Lord has waiting for you.

I love you!
Mom

(And thanks to you wonderful friends who join me in prayer before the Lord’s throne.)

PS Joel’s email address is jicmusicguy@gmail.com

Filed Under: Family, Family Favorites, Music, Our Family, Reading

Stories that touch your heart!

October 17, 2008 by  7 Comments

 On my banner is a picture of the great home of William Wordsworth, who was a favorite poet, and Joel had taken this picture when he and Sarah were working at Cambridge in England a couple of summers ago. A friend said, “Since you use it on your blog, you should take a picture of you in front of it while you are on your trip to England. So this is me, with my Itakejoy stance–the choice I want to make every day of the rest of my life.Several people thought it was my house–no but maybe in another life!”

*********************

All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful, yet , to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” Hebrews 12:11

Yesterday morning found Joy and me cuddled up in our jammies sipping tea on our living room couches  and crying together as we read a very touching chapter in our book “Rilla of Ingleside” by Lucy Maude Montgomery.

Now neither of us cries very easily, but sometimes when you sink your  heart into a book and you feel like the characters in the story are your personal friends, then when life leads them into grief, you are right there with them. I had already read this to my older kids when they were studying World History, but it had been long enough that I enjoyed the story all over again and remembered as we were in the throes of the last third of the book why I liked it before. It is just one of several we are reading right now, but the most fun fiction of our books. Perhaps it is also relevant because Joy, at 13 is so much like the heroine who starts out the book at 15, so there are a lot of parallels. 

(I think I have mentioned before that I have a history group that meets every couple of weeks and that we are doing history from 1900 through World War II this year. Every time I read a new book and have the kids do reports, I remember all over again why I so love the literature-discipleship based approach to education. I fairly see the brains of the kids growing. I see understanding of ideas, philosophy, world view, life choices, choices always having consequences, the importance of integrity, the meaning of relationships in every aspect of work and life; the love of God determining the foundations of a person’s overall life–and so much more.)

But I just had to share a paragraph with you from the book because the author, one of my favorite, Lucy Maude Montgomery, put her finger on my very feelings about hardship. Just to give you background to this paragraph, I will give you enough details to understand this paragraph without giving away the book.

Rilla was the youngest child of the famed Anne of Green Gables. She was fifteen when the book began and had a carefree, fun, dreamy, romantic life. The book starts out with her first dance she attended with her brothers and sisters. The very night of the dance, the beginning of what grows into World War I was announced at the dance by someone who heard that war had erupted in Europe.

Over the next two years, Rilla’s whole life must change. She has to take in an abandoned war baby and raise it as her own, her brothers and most of her childhood friends enlist in the army and go off to fight in France and Italy, and she is confronted with life and worry and joys and the waiting that always accompanies families who have loved ones engaged in war. The story shows the progress of a young, inexperienced girl growing into a lovely, strong, dependable, deep and patient young woman.

At this point of the story, she is reflecting that it was just two years ago that she attended the dance and what hard years they have been. A friend then engages her and asks her if she would go back and change the years if she could. This is the context of this quotation.

“Two years ago this morning, I woke wondering what delightful gift the day would give me. These are the two years I thought would be filled with fun.”

“Would you exchange them-now- for two years filled with fun?” her friend asked.

“No,” Rilla said slowly, “I wouldn’t. It’s strange, isn’t it? They have been two terrible years, and yet I have a queer feeling of thankfulness for them–as if they had brought me something precious with all their pain. I wouldn’t want to go back and be the girl I was two years ago, not even if I could–but I’m not quite the selfish, frivolous little doll I was then. I suppose I had a soul then, but I didn’t know it. I know it now and that is worth a great deal–worth two years of suffering. And still, now, I find that I don’t want to suffer any more–not even for the sake of more soul growth–even though at the end of two years, I would probably look back and be thankful again for what they would have brought me, but I don’t want it now.”

“We never do want difficulty,” said her friend, “That is why we are not left to choose our own means and measure of development, I suppose. No matter how much we value the lessons we have been taught, we don’t want to go on with the bitter schooling.”

This put the finger on my heart. I feel validated when I see that others share some of the feelings of my heart as in this story. We can still be spiritual and godly  even if we find in our heart a feeling of dread of having to face difficulties. We were made for rejoicing and joy. If we rightly understand that trials cause us to suffer and we find that we don’t want to suffer, we are also feeling what Jesus felt. “who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame.”

It helped me so much to realize that Jesus despised the shame, but because he knew he would redeem mankind and he would be seated with the Father, he went to the cross. Feelings are neutral–they are God given. However, what we do with our feelings will determine our obedience and faith. We can acknowledge feelings of sadness or dread or anger. But then we have to give our feelings into His hands and say, “You know what is best. I will trust you with whatever you do.”

I am so thankful for the ways our wonderful Lord has chosen to deepen my love for Him, my more eternal perspective on life, my understanding of sacrifice and being a servant leader,  the rarity of integrity and righteousness in this world, but the need to pursue it with all my heart ;the loneliness that comes from holding to ideals in a compromising world, giving unconditional love to those who would not love me back, staying true when it seems prayers go unanswered, — and yet almost all these lessons came through trials. I wouldn’t exchange the years in which he gave me eternal gifts, but I don’t necessarily want to ask for more hard years. I still find my little girl heart enjoying the easier, happier times. And yet, I have learned that He is my father who is responsible for my personal development and character and heart, so I can leave the days and years ahead in His hand. Peace today!

Filed Under: Family, Family Favorites, Family Trips, Our Family, Reading, Reviews, Travel