Southern Living Yankee

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I'll never forget the New Year's Eve when I was pregnant and two weeks overdue. My two-year-old, Brooke, was asleep for the night, my husband, Bruce was working one of his two jobs, so I was home alone for most of the evening, and I thought I'd be pregnant forever. Six hours and thirteen minutes into the new year (and a little snowstorm, of course), I was not. Lisa was born, a time-proven bundle of delight. Maybe that's why I have such a spirit of "expectancy" every time the New Year rolls around! Each new year I feel like God is handing me 365 beautifully wrapped presents, one for each day! I'm excited! Another thing I anticipate every new year is starting over with a Bible reading plan. When I was a little kid, my Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Paulson, at First Baptist, Waupaca, WI, would show us her Bible reading plan--a nice new little folder with every day of the year and assigned chapters to get through the whole Bible in a year. She us...

ELVIS SIGHTING Highlight of my day--Elvis bought a watch from me on his way to a show this afternoon. He wanted a big gaudy gold one. We started at the $500 price tag, moved down to $160, ended up with one for $72, but he'll be back. He said so. He was in a rush to get to his show. I didn't swoon or anything. And I had absolutely no desire to kiss him. Can it get any better? Thanks for the comments last week. It seems God is always willing to repeat Himself, and this time the key word was "community." I could use a little today, or maybe some sleep would be good, too. Have a great "only 6 more shopping days!" And a truly heart-felt Christmas.

COMMUNITY It's starting to feel a little bit like Christmas: I've done some shopping, we put up the tree, the house is a shambles of unpacked decorations waiting to find their place . . . But better than feeling like Christmas, is the feeling of finding community. Seeing people we know in church and chatting with them a bit between services, someone asking me for a recipe, getting in on shopping for a surprise gift for one of the pastors, taking the day Thursday to enjoy not only one but TWO women's get togethers . . . I've been real happy with this move, but now I'm feeling more connected. That's a good thing. Another good thing is that I heard from Michael, letting me know he's almost done with the other book proposal. He'll phone me about it after the new year. Pray that God will make clear to me what He wants me to do with this opportunity. Thanks for checking in on me, and for your prayers. Have a great "only 14 more shopping days until Christm...

ACCOUNTABILITY I thought I'd talk about accountability today. Just preach a little about what YOU ALL should be doing. You know, wag a finger in your face. But it always happens: hold out your hand, point your finger at someone--and, look! Three fingers pointing back at you. Or in this case, me. Thanks, Sharon. You posted a comment last week holding me accountable, asking how the writing went. (And here I thought nobody was reading these things). So, ouch, thanks. I'm feeling a little put on the spot. But I asked for it, didn't I. And I do need it. We all do, don't we? Anyway, getting back to writing last week wasn't as dreadful as I thought it could be. There's stuff to clean up/delete, and stuff to shorten, thinking to clarify. But overall, I was encouraged. I think it's coming together. Please continue to pray for me as God leads. An email penpal also had an accountability question for me this week: How was my walk with the Lord? A very good question! Kin...

BACK TO BUSINESS I've been away from writing way too long. Juggling Tom's new swing shift schedule, training 50 hours for the library job, and the "sale of the season" every weekend at you-know-where were enough spinning plates for me. Today is the day. Tom's at work now, Aaron's at school, I am off today and tomorrow, so this is it! In a few moments I will look at the pages I've written for the book. After weeks away, what will I see? Will they be amazing? Wonderful? Uplifting and encouraging? Or just the opposite--my greatest fear--DREADFUL!?? So, please pray for me today. Pray for wisdom and patience and perseverance. Pray for clear thinking, freedom from interruptions and distractions; pray that I can focus! Also, please pray for my friend, Crystal, who is having radiation treatment today and will have to be in isolation for the next several days. "People person" and involved mother that she is, this is extremely difficult. Our Thanksgiving w...

PROMISE IN MY POCKET Every time I put my hand in my pocket, there it was, God's promise to get me through today: "The Lord is the strength of my life, whom shall I fear?" My nervous fingers literally held onto the post-it note I wrote it on. I had laid awake most of the night, anticipating a confrontation at work. A last-minute Bible look brought this verse to my attention. It would be my lifeline, stuffed deep in my pocket. Meditating on it, I realized how well it corresponded to another favorite verse of mine: "God arms me with strength and makes my path perfect." And then I remembered how I'd gotten into this sticky situation: I had prayed and asked God for something. Moments later it happened! God was in this! He had started it, and He would be my strength. I had nothing to fear. And now it's evening. I survived. God was right, there was nothing to fear. Here from my third floor window, city lights shine against blackness as the day closes. The radio...

KINDNESS Taffy had questions for me in her reply to my blog last week--and I'll get to them sooner or later, but I want to remember some things that happened this week. First off, Taffy's reply happened, and I was struck by her kindness. "Why should she bother to ask how I'm doing?" I thought. It's because that's the way she is--a kind and gentle woman. Our paths have "just happened" to cross. I felt very blessed because she asked. Am I weird to always feel so amazed that I have friends? I'm very grateful for them all. Second, I heard from Anne this week (Anne of Chesterland, sounds regal, doesn't it?). She emailed me with a bit of news on her trip to Africa, and then I swear we were both laughing over email as we wondered at God's sense of humor and His surprises: her very first mission trip was just a couple months ago, to El Salvador. Now she's been to Africa, and in the spring her church wants her to go to Italy! If anyone had...

BUTTERFLIES Have you ever watched a video of a monarch butterfly emerging from the crysallis? If I remember correctly, the crysallis turns from its luminous light green color to a shiny black, and then it seems to dissolve. In place of the black you begin to see folds and stripes and smoothness break out into bent, wet wings and black spindly legs. The butterfly stiffly starts to spread and fan it's wings. Body fluids work into the hollow appendages and joints of the insect as if lubricating the pistons of a machine. What begins in weakness picks up strength and patience, and if patient enough for just the right moment in which strength and desire combine, results in lift off. Dear God, Please pump my friends with patience. May those moments of strength and desire converge in their hearts this week, and may their faith soar to new heights. Amen!

DAY OF REST Yesterday we spent part of the afternoon at an arboretum. It was one of those great fall days, not too hot, not too cold, just enough leaves were down to rustle as you walked along, and the trees were beginning to show their red, yellow and orange colors. We saw trees we'd never seen before, and also walked through an herb garden and a rose garden. I had to hold my hands tightly together in the herb garden to prevent them from pinching off leaves and stems to smell. And, as always, in the rose garden I had to smell each variety--you know that the different varieties of roses have different fragrances, don't you? I wanted to be a hummingbird or a honeybee so I could bury myself even further into them. All that got me to thinking about heaven. Imagine having eternity to see and learn about all of God's creation? (No. You're not going to have to sing in the choir 24/7.) I think I will take some time to learn more about trees--maybe even ALL of them in the new h...

NEVER A DULL MOMENT! I started working part-time at Penney's again, and I had an interview at the public library for a part-time job there, too. I am also on a call-list for substitute teaching. Plus writing. Adds up to about 4 possible part-time jobs. Tom starts his new job on Oct. 23. Sounds crazy? I think we're getting used to it, just going with the flow. Still have boxes to unpack, curtains to hang, pictures to put up . . . Here's where God's grace comes in: I'm not freaking out! I know all this will pan out. I have this supernatural peace. Plus, I am always thinking about my writing. Every time I meet new people, I wonder how my writing can connect with them, their issues, their circumstances, their needs. I think it's very engaging. God has put some interesting people in my path. Writing update : ("finally!", you say out loud.) :) 1) My part of the book proposal for the collaborative project has been sent off to the other writer. Please pray for...

Today we should receive a copy of the job offer from Tom's interview last week! They called on Friday. The offer is less than he makes now, but more than we expected, plus regular hours and 4 weeks vacation. It's very attractive. But pray that God gives us wisdom as we comb through the details of the contract. Brad tells me he will move into an apartment today and start classes tomorrow. I can't begin to explain what a struggle this has been! I really felt some fiery darts this past week and had to live out much of what I taught on at Riverview a couple weeks ago. "Until we know that life is war, we will not know what prayer is for." But it seems the cloud has lifted for the moment and I breathe a cautious sigh of relief. I think it was a week in which your prayers were crucial. I praise God for them and for you. HOW TO LEAVE A COMMENT IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR OWN BLOG If you would like to leave a comment on this blog that others can read, too, it's very sim...

PRAYER REQUESTS: Today (Monday) my husband has a job interview. His current job, the reason we moved here, is not good. One lesson he learned when his first wife died is that he wants a life outside of work, he wants to spend time with his wife and family. But his job is eating away at that. He works at least 10 hours a day, 6, often 7, days a week. He worked the entire month of July without a single day off. It's time to look elsewhere. Also, today is a crucial day for Brad to get his housing in Seattle nailed down. He's to start school next Monday. But, I say, why start school if you have no place to live? So he's in a hard place. I appreciate your prayers, and I appreciate YOU! Thanks for checking in on me. :)

AUTUMN GARDEN Dry, brittle leaves crumble in my fingers Like pages from a diary a hundred years ago They smell like spent sunshine Others fold golden curls Over slugs and molds They'll work decay through winter Unseen, unheard, unhindered Yellow jackets buzz Summoned by sticky sap Unaware of days to come --fbh I wrote this several years ago after raking maple leaves out of a weedy flowerbed down by the brook and old barn foundation on our old property. I post it here today because it's close enough to autumn. And because there are some yellow jackets in my life. Please pray about them for me. Thanks.

BEAUTIFUL NOTE FROM MY SIS-IN-LAW "I'm sure you know that my mom passed away yesterday (Sept. 10). I wanted to let you know how God was glorified in her death. After I broke down sobbing over her and left the hospital to call everyone, a joy came over me like it was Christmas morning. I was giggly and couldn't contain myself. I called my old neighbor who was like a second mom to me growing up because her daughter and I were inseparable. I had such joy and told her that I could just see Mom up in Heaven praising God. Standing up straight, sight in both eyes, gazing at the wonders of Heaven and praising Him. She couldn't believe how I was handling her death. Not shocked, but I felt that she was in awe of the peace and joy that I was feeling. I couldn't track down my brother Tom because he was at a dog show. I remembered on my way home (probably a whisper from God) that a lady at Mom's church also did dog shows. I stopped in and got there right in between services...

GREAT WEEKEND It was so good to re-connect with dear friends from Riverview and Chesterland over the weekend. I sensed many relationships will now continue for a lifetime. How good to have such a circle of friendships, to know we can mutually count on each other in the coming years! Anne DiFranco brought me a special souvenier from her trip to El Salvador. It was a wood cross, handmade by an artist there, and at the base of the cross he painted women of all races. My heart leapt when I saw it because one goal in writing about Ruth & Naomi will be international printing. I believe their story can speak to women in all countries. Their suffering is our common bond, and our Redeemer meets each one of us in the same way--personally and plentifully. He is full of grace and is pleased to call us "daughter," just as Boaz called Ruth, even though she was a Moabite. Read Ruth 2, and then imagine how nervous Ruth must have been as she waited for the answer to her outrageous request...

Since "blog" is short for "web-log" and a weblog is an on-line journal, I thought that today it would be fun for my readers to see a diary entry--much more secretive and private than a journal. Who can resist a peek at a "diary?" Here goes. . . Dear Diary, I received great encouragement from friends in Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, New York and even the Phillipines! Patti and Melissa were able to post their comments right in this blog and I will treasure them forever. But I also want to record the emails I received. I have such great friends! "Brava! How many years ago did I suggest that you write? Good for you, woman! -Toni "What fun! Maybe dinosaur's mother will jump on the blogwagon." -Mom "How exciting! I will certainly be in prayer with you over it, and if you want any comments or proofreaders, I would be happy to get a first glimpse!" -Sue (How cool is that? A Proofer! Sue, you don't know what you're i...

PRAYER REQUEST: MOVING MOUNTAINS The purpose of this blog is to gather pray-ers around me for God's leading me in this writing ministry. God has me exactly where He wants me: fully dependent on Him. I went to a writers conference in July, just wondering if I might get a little direction to do something, or how to do something with the Ruth Bible study I wrote a couple years ago. I got more than a "little" direction. Three editors asked for a book proposal! This is NOT NORMAL! "Normal" is fortunate to get to see an editor, "blessed" is to be asked for a proposal by anyone! But then, (such life-altering words in scripture-"but then") last night I was asked for ANOTHER book proposal! Now I have not just one, but TWO books to write! Again, very unusual. In publishing, writing a book proposal is not a guarantee that your book will be published. It is only the first step in a journey that could be aborted at any time, for any whim. But . . . it is ...

DINOSAUR CREATES OWN BLOG! At 8:39 this morning a 50 year old female techno dinosaur, known to be timid and skittish in all computer skills beyond email, was seen hunched over a laptop. The binoculared observer watched this abberation in horror. What could be going on? Head banging? A feeding frenzy? A near fatal computer crash? Did she discover how to use a credit card on Amazon? Ebay? No screaming or crying were observed. The subject was relatively calm, only brief flashes of confusion crossed her face, quickly followed by "aha" moments. The entire encounter seemed new to the dinosaur, but relatively painless. The observer was able to relax. Blogging. The subject would be fine. It's so easy, you could set up a blog, too! Here's how I did it: 1) Decide which blog service to use. To alleviate my "analysis paralysis" which results from too many choices, I used the "good nuff" method: blogspot.com was good enough for the 3 people I know who have a bl...