Perspective

As I watched the film, an aerial view of Paris appeared on the screen. "How beautiful!" I exclaimed. The broad avenues, like spokes on a giant wheel all converged upon an open area filled with exquisite sculptures. It was marvelously ordered. Impeccable. I had been there some years back, but this perspective was new. As a pedestrian sightseer, Paris had appeared to be beautiful, but in an entirely different manner.

My 15 month old grandson was touring the house this morning. I watched as he sidled up behind an end table, squeezing into an area where no one else ventures. He was eye to eye with a felt snowman, a felt snowman that is waist level to most of us. But there he was, seeing him on his own plane, the soft white creature looming large before his child eyes now filled with wonder and fascination.

I sat reading the word - the word of God - the book that brings a clearer focus, bigger vision, truer perspective. Seeing things through His eyes is always better. He sees more than we do in every way: His view covers all of time, all of space, and all of eternity.

I need to see things from different vantage points, His most of all. When I do, my understanding is definitely altered. The bigness of my troubles diminish. My all-important wants move to the bottom of the list. The tyranny of the urgent is dethroned. I suddenly consider what is truly necessary, what truly pleases Him. The shortness of my years, of a decade, even a century, is revealed and the eternity held within a moment's choice is unveiled.

He has given us a treasure in the Word; we can begin to view this time and place from an eternal perspective. Take a look every day. It will help keep things in proper view.

Nothing Much

Special days with festive celebrations have kept me quite occupied in recent days. Consequently, there have been no posts in several days.

And I must say, this post will be brief and simple. Why? Because the celebrating continues here in my home. I am of the mindset that all of December is intended for company, games, gifting, cookie-eating, singing, meals together, and such fun things. Guess I think that you can never get too much of such good stuff!

So tonight we share a birthday with a special young man, watch the Kennedy Center Honors with friends, play games, and have simple black-eyed peas with the whole kit and kaboodle. Tomorrow evening will find us entertaining another family with food and games. Too much fun!

So, I will check out here now in order to check out my black-eyed peas. Then I will check in again with you all another day!

Nothing Much

Special days with festive celebrations have kept me quite occupied in recent days. Consequently, there have been no posts in several days.

And I must say, this post will be brief and simple. Why? Because the celebrating continues here in my home. I am of the mindset that all of December is intended for company, games, gifting, cookie-eating, singing, meals together, and such fun things. Guess I think that you can never get too much of such good stuff!

So tonight we share a birthday with a special young man, watch the Kennedy Center Honors with friends, play games, and have simple black-eyed peas with the whole kit and kaboodle. Tomorrow evening will find us entertaining another family with food and games. Too much fun!

So I will check out here as I check out my black-eyed peas. Then I will check in again another day!

E.E. Thoughts

An Elisabeth Elliot must-read. Great reminder and resolve for why we discipline and require children to "tow the line." I know I needed it!

Christmas Tree Night Lights

My eyes blink open as my senses awaken. The muted glow of Christmas tree light illumines the chubby angel-face of the small form lying beside me. She is still, enveloped in peaceful slumber. Lifting myself to my elbow I gaze beyond the blanketed mound to view two young boys, also wrapped in the soft glow of multi-colored light. Snuggling down once more inside my sleeping bag, I listen to the quiet rythmic breathing which belongs to those who rest.

My eyes peek once again at the blonde head of the little girl next to me, hand tucked under her cheek, framed with that special glow, content and warm; I hope to save the memory for a future day, not assuming such recollective powers, having understood that they, too, are a gift from God not to be taken for granted.

You see, last night, Papa and Nana hosted a sleepover under the Christmas tree with two grandchildren and our youngest son. We shared a meal of hot dogs and tater tots (high rating for nutrition.) A viewing of The Adventure of Pinocchio while enjoying cookies and milk in the candlelit family room soon followed (the movie is okay, not great.) PJ's were next, then Christmas books were read while we cuddled on our makeshift beds. Nothing elaborate - just an evening together under the tree. That seemed special enough. I know I had been excited all day long about the arrival of two small children and an evening spent together.

Even if I don't remember it someday, I'm pretty sure they will.

Pain-free Living? Not On This Side

My little grandson fell (not uncommon for a 15 month old). One could just tell from the sound of the landing that this was not a serious event, merely unpleasant for him. After all, he was experiencing some measure of pain.

Pain. Humanity wants to escape from pain. We go to great lengths to prevent pain. Drugs have been developed to help us bypass pain; we don't want headaches (myself included.) Wisdom would tell us to look ahead and choose paths carefully so as to prevent pain. And parents try to shield children from pain, rightfully so. At times.

But perhaps we do ourselves a bit of a disservice in that last arena. Am I suggesting that we should throw our children out in the cold every afternoon for hours on end, refuse to feed them even if they are hungry, or leave them suffering when ill rather then seeking respite from pain? No, of course not. But I am suggesting that I often see parents stepping into a role of protector that is not theirs; they are attempting to shield their children from every pain and sorrow, both physical and emotional, rather than helping them seek God for comfort from that anguish.

In an effort to protect children from pain, parents sometimes are found hiding truth from them; or a false surrounding is created to buffer them from the painful reality outside the door. We find ourselves perplexed by nagging questions: How much is too much? What must they know? Aren't they too young to experience this? Shouldn't childhood be idyllic and pain-free?

This is my question: Shouldn't my grown-up life be idyllic and pain-free, too? Isn't the sad reality of trials and tribulations one that we help young Christians come to understand and accept, even recognizing that it works good in us? When does the transition occur between an ideal world and the real one?

I suggest that it begins at a young age. The truth is, awful or not, you cannot shield them from all pain. You are not meant to. You cannot be the great protector, the provider of all comfort, the supplier of grace. You are not God and should not try to be God. Your part is to teach them to turn to Him, to understand that He alone can provide help in time of need, and that He is concerned about every pain, angst, and fear that will ever plague their body or soul. It is never too early to begin, especially if we want Psalm 144.12 children:

That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth;

That our daughters may be as pillars, Sculptured in palace style;

Here is a picture of sons walking in maturity while yet young, of daughters displaying a beautiful strength. Where does maturity and strength come from? We all would agree, tribulation causes us to seek Him and the trying of our faith builds strength. Children who have learned to look for Him in the midst of trouble have experienced His faithfulness and grow in maturity. Young ones who have learned to trust Him in time of need have found the true source of strength.

If I grow up never facing giants with my parents by my side, what will happen when I am grown up and face my first giant alone?

We don't need to shield them from all pain. We can't and shouldn't. Their rightful portion is much better than that. Their privilege is to know Him from a young age as the Holy One, the true provider, the only absolute shield, the fountain of grace and wisdom. Teach them to look up, to look to Him alone. Teach them what to do with pain and sorrow from the earliest age. Don't candy-coat every situation. Don't cover up the truth. That reflects a fear that He will not be able to meet their need. Instead, buy up the opportunity to teach them about the reality of this sin-tainted world.

In all honesty, you should start at a young age - opportunities will abound to teach this vital lesson for successful living, but you never really know how many of those opportunities you will be present for.

Don't put it off until tomorrow.

News Bulletin: The "New" Sugar Cookie

The Sinclair Press
NY, Fri. Dec. 14, 2007

POTSDAM, New York - The local P&C has run out of rum flavoring and it is early in the season. One concerned citizen attributes the shortage to the unusually high number of rum logs now being produced. "Rum logs are sweeping the North Country!" says Darlene Sinclair of Madrid, NY. "Every family is making them. They are quick and easy - you can crank out dozens of delicious cookies in hardly no time at all. And kids of all ages can readily decorate them, making them the perfect family cookie! They are becoming a holiday staple."

If Sinclair's hunch is correct, the P&C will need to up the amount of rum flavoring procured in future holiday seasons. And since the month is not half over, they better get some more in - quick!

For those who don't yet have the recipe:

Christmas Rum Logs
(aka "It Wouldn't Be Christmas Without These In The House" Cookies)

1 cup softened butter
2 t. vanilla
2 t. rum flavoring
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, unbeaten
3 cups sifted flour
1 t. nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350*.
Cream first three ingredients together in large bowl. Add sugar. Blend in egg. Gradually add flour and nutmeg.
Roll portions of dough into long ropes, approximately 1/2" thick. Cut off into 2" lengths, forming small "logs". Bake on ungreased cookie sheet 12-15 minutes or until barely tinged with golden brown. Remove and cool. Frost with Rum Frosting and decorate.

Rum Frosting
3 T. butter
1 t. rum flavoring
2 1/2 cups confectioner sugar
2-3 T. milk or cream

Blend together to spreading consistency.


© 2007 The Sinclair Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Double Duty

Serving home, serving the church. We get to do both. We need to do both. We're called to do both. You can't throw one out in favor of the other. How do we do it? There is no simple answer for what appears to be a simple question...

...but here are a few guidelines to help us sort it all out.

1. Keep first things first. Titus 2 tells us to be keepers at home, to love our husbands and our children. We cannot renege on that commitment. We cannot allow other areas of service to commandeer our time. If the home-front is disorderly from lack of attention or if our husbands and children are neglected something is wrong, seriously wrong. Go back to square one and start again, re-prioritizing as you go.

2. If God has called you to a specific service for the church, be it nursery or office help or providing meals, He will provide the time and energy needed. If your week is constantly too short and you're burning the candle at both ends and paying for it (along with the rest of your household) you need to figure out where the problem lies. Something is robbing you of precious resources. If He has asked you to do something, whether at home or at church, He will provide what you need to accomplish the task - so if you're coming up short it is safe to say that you've probably taken on something that is not His will. Once again, drop back, pray and seek His will, then re-prioritize accordingly.

3. If you are totally uninvolved with any service outside your own doorstep you ought to examine where your time and energy are being invested, then redirect some of those valuable resources to serving your local church. If possible (there are certainly seasons when we cannot do this), cut back on something around the house. It requires sacrifice, but your children will learn to cheerfully give beyond just their finances if they see Mom and Dad giving of time and energy regularly. They will learn to serve. They will learn that serving costs us something, but they will also learn that God rewards generously. You can never out-give God.

4. Allow yourself to be stretched on both fronts. We are enlarged as we step out in faith, both at home on behalf of our husbands and children, and in the local church on behalf of our brethren. Let God make you into something more than you are today. He is able!

Serving home, serving the church. They are not mutually exclusive.

We get to do both.

Moments of Remembrance

I was supposed to be traveling with my husband and others to Arlington, Va. to join family (Danica flew from CA this morning) and friends in a final time of honoring Christian Skoglund at his funeral service there. It will be most special, of that I am certain. I pray they will be blessed.

But instead I am home doing bedside care for my littlest man. He has been crouping and hacking for days and days, and Saturday saw a relapse. A bit of fever, intense coughing spells, and an ear ache. Sounds like fun, huh? He's hanging in there and so am I.

Bedtime arrived on Saturday night and found Dad carrying his little buddy upstairs. I hustled along in front of them to prepare the bed for welcoming his tired body. As I bounded ahead, full of intention, my heart flooded with thanksgiving for our Merrick. I found myself smiling at such privilege. For a moment in time I felt like a young mom all over again, full of the joy of giving and nurturing. You would think I had never turned down bedsheets for a sick child - one might even have wondered at my marveling as awareness of the privilege of parenting waxed in my soul.

Funny how the specialness can continue, years into it and nine kids later. Yup, it may be old hat in some ways, but true treasure never gets old, just better. And let's face it, there is no better treasure than kids.

Fresh Snow

I already am finding it difficult to whip up interest in heading out the door these days (the quiet and restful home-front definitely beckons; I think I will need a crowbar soon to get me out of my chair and into motion...)

And now, upon glancing from said chair, I see huge flakes of fluffy snow filling the air, burying the sidewalk, piling up in the driveway, and soon, covering the street.

Ah, the insistent quiet of winter, calling - no - compelling rest from all.

I knew winter was a friend.

Naughty - But Nice

Shhhh!

Don't tell anyone
but I just ate a bunch of

rum logs...

for breakfast!

Well, come on now -
they do have eggs in them.

Right?

Creating "Cozy"

When something yummy is happening in my kitchen, those arriving home in the cold late afternoons and early evenings from long days at school or work invariably step inside, stomp the snow off their boots, and while unbuttoning their coats, exclaim, "Oh, it smells so good in here! What'cha making, Mom?"

When the weather outside is frightful, warm titillating aromas emanating from stove and oven do more than bring physical comfort - they become soul food. Instant soul food. Of course, it certainly helps that those aromas attest a mouth-watering meal meant to satisfy these weary loved ones, but those smells bring immediate warmth to heart and soul.

Hence, the advice once given me years ago from a more seasoned woman: when the time has gotten away from you and you see the clock has stolen your afternoon meal prep time; when hubby is due home soon, you have no plans, and the dreaded question is bound to be asked, "What's for dinner tonight?" - it's time to pull out the no-fail strategy. Quickly dice up some onion or garlic and saute' it in your favorite oil. Aromas full of promise will soon fill the air, so when the question comes, it is a question of expectancy and positive anticipation. You can smile and say, "You'll see!" It buys you some time for creative ideas while the family waits a bit more contentedly. (And anyways, almost every creative idea begins with sautee'd onion or garlic, right?)

Happy home-making!

Jots and Tittles From The Morning Hours

Snow falls again today. Beautiful. As I sat in this very place yesterday I recognized its beauty but wasn't sure I wanted to participate in the frosty world outside my window.
But participate I did - and it was wildly invigorating and refreshing. Wonderful.

How much of life is like that? If we don't push ourselves to participate, to taste, to "give it a try" we miss a pleasure, a positive experience, a new dimension.

Laziness robs me most. Sometimes fear. Often enough, apathy.

"Lord, help me rule over these things today so that I might choose to live life fully. Amen."

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

Two asked for recipes:

Christmas Rum Logs
aka "It Wouldn't Be Christmas Without These In The House" Cookies

1 cup softened butter
2 t. vanilla
2 t. rum flavoring
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, unbeaten
3 cups sifted flour
1 t. nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350*.
Cream first three ingredients together in large bowl. Add sugar. Blend in egg. Gradually add flour and nutmeg.
Roll portions of dough into long ropes, approximately 1/2" thick. Cut off into 2" lengths, forming small "logs". Bake on ungreased cookie sheet 12-15 minutes or until barely tinged with golden brown. Remove and cool. Frost with Rum Frosting and decorate.

Rum Frosting

3 T. butter
1 t. rum flavoring
2 1/2 cups confectioner sugar
2-3 T. milk or cream

Blend together to spreading consistency.

***************
Fruit Crumb Bars

2 1/2 cups flour
2 1/2 cups oats
1 1/2 cup packed br. sugar
1/4 t. baking soda
1 1/2 cup butter, melted
21-24 oz. fruit pie filling
1 t. finely grated lemon or orange peel

Mix together first four ingredients. Add melted butter. Set aside 2 cups; press the remaining mixture into pan. Bake at 350* for 12 minutes. Cool slightly.

Meanwhile, mix together fruit filling with grated peel. Pour over slightly cooled crumb crust; sprinkle evenly over the fruit the remaining crumb mixture. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden. When cooled, sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Let's Celebrate His Birth!

My eyes took in the marshmallow world just outside my window. Trees were draped with mounds of fluff; clumps of snowflakes hurried on their way to join the piles already collected on the roadway. This would be a perfect winter's day for the planned Christmas festivities!

Early on, several of us garbed ourselves with layers of sweaters, pants, socks, and outerwear. Piling into a family van and a borrowed pick-up truck we headed to the local Christmas tree farm in a nearby town. Snow piled high as we capered amongst the rows, looking for the specimen that claimed our eye and then became our own. In no time two trees were selected, cut, and strapped to the truck bed, ready for the ride home.

Upon arrival, cups full of homemade tomato soup along with thick, crusty slices of grilled homemade bread generously filled with gooey sharp cheddar cheese warmed and filled our hungry bellies. My daughter who remained at home had prepared the tasty lunch - a perfect conclusion for a winter outing.

Now the tree must take its place in our home. In time the tree was upright, and soon my husband and youngest son decked the boughs with lights and tinsel.


Meanwhile my daughters decorated cookies made by their little sister. They would be our Christmas treat while the final ornamentation of our tree was completed.

Everyone has something to put on the tree. Each Christmas they've received a new ornament to add to their own collection. One day they will take their boxful of pretty things to their own homes and trees. But for now we continue to enjoy them together, here, in this their first home.

Sisters shared a moment together when all was completed.








Now we will settle in for a viewing of The Nativity Story.
I hope it's good!

Drawing the Line

Yesterday I was privileged to speak to some wonderful Christian ladies. They were all like me - officially older women with more years behind us than ahead. I wondered if speaking about the vital ministry of establishing Godly homes was a relevant topic. It was.

As I talked about the need to build homes that were havens from the world, places of comfort and peace, refuges from the battle all around;

as I shared a vision of creating a world where memories made were sweet and children longed to return each day with friends in tow, where husbands found solace and ease from weariness, where broken men and women could see something they never had;

as I unveiled scripture regarding the home as the center of ministry (evangelism, discipleship, healing and counsel), the hub of family life, the well-spring of Godly living, a picture itself of God's plan;

as I encouraged them to know it was high time that we, as women, stood strong against the enemy who has been busily assaulting the home-front, refusing to allow him to take this vital tool of ministry from us, the very ones to whom God entrusted the art of home making -

tears filled their eyes.

Words soon formed upon their lips - they were leaving with a mission. "We're going to go make a home," was their earnest reply.

Oh, God, help them in their mission. Help all of us who have been granted the high call of home-making. It is not automatic. It is not easy. But it is noble, it is good, and it is right. And it is blessed by You.