broken arm prayers.

I am sure even the godliest 8-year old would have fallen prey to envy when they watched Heidi walk into the Miss Norman's 3rd grade class that monday morning.  Heidi was sporting a huge cast on her arm and an even bigger smile on her face  On the previous friday,  Heidi had fallen on the playground and broke her arm.  As,  Heidi' s parents rushed their daughter to the hospital for treatment,  Miss Norman called the class into action.  There were cards to make,  a desk to decorate and a schedule to be made of who would help Heidi for the duration of her cast.

From the moment Heidi stepped into the class, she was flooded with attention.  I was one of the first in line to sign her cast.  She had assistance with her books, her lunch tray and plenty of popularity on the playground. 

It all seemed like a dream.  A moment of pain,  for 6 weeks of celebrity!  Sign me up! 

Thus began my "broken arm prayers".    "Lord,  if you could just break my arm like Heidi's, I would really appreciate it"  Of course,  after what I am sure was a big belly laugh from God,  I am sad to say,  all my limbs stayed intact.

Now,  some forty years later,  I smile at the immature wishes.  But,  then I reflect on other prayers over the years.  In my little mind, they were very sincere.  I just didn't have the bigger picture.  God has answered "no" to prayers.  Evidence later reveals that God was protecting me, or maturing me, or giving me something far greater. 

I am sure I still pray "broken arm prayers".  I am sure I still make God laugh at some of my requests.  I will still keep praying, hopefully, with more maturity.  Even though I don't crave the title of" Miss Popularity" of the 3rd grade,  I do ask for things that may not be for the greater good.  I love that God is always good and will work everything for good.  I can trust Him.  He has proven faithful.

to the father of my children.

Thirty years ago, when I went on my first date with "Mr.  Blue Eyes", it wasn't his silver camaro, or his redwing work boots,  or his much- in- need- of- update- wardrobe that won me over.  It was the light in his eyes as he spoke about his nieces. 

I knew I needed someone that loved children.  Someone that would hear "it's a girl"  three times, and jump for joy each time.  Someone that would get up and bring the squalling- with- hunger- child to me to nurse at 4 a.m.  Someone that would drink "tea" from plastic cups filled with bathroom tap water and act like he was with the queen.  Someone that would know how to change poopie diapers, clean up vomit, and never complain when doing it.  Someone that would go to choir concerts, track meets, school plays, little league, soccer, basketball games, be supportive and encouraging...  even if his child wasn't the best.  Someone who would stay up late waiting for the daughter that didn't come home at curfew, and then make sure she realized there were consequences.  Someone that wasn't afraid to tell his girls "I am sorry" when he blew it.  Someone that would weep over the sick child being rushed to the hospital in an ambulance.  Someone that wasn't afraid to cry out to God for wisdom.  Someone who would pray daily for the men he would someday call his sons-in-law.  Someone that loved stepping in as surrogate father to the sons of the brother called home to Jesus.

I needed someone who was willing to take a job that let him "be there" for his girls. A job that didn't give lots of status, or climbs to great heights on a corporate ladder.  A job that allowed him to be at home each night for tucking 3 girls in after the popcorn snack.  A job that would help with the morning school rush when mom was already at clinicals.

No, his name will probably not be on the side of a building, nor on a book jacket.  There will not be a lot of degrees to his name.  But, what he has done for my children is worth far more.  He has taught  how to love with grace, work hard, and to serve others with joy.  He was exactly what I needed for a life-partner and what my children needed in a dad.

Now, wiatching Kent with our "fab five" ,  I fall in love all over again.

Establish the work of our hands.

For 1,405 weeks,  Kent has had a paycheck from the same company.  That is 27 years of knowing there would be a check in the bank to pay for food, shelter, clothing, etc.  Like all jobs, it has had it's highs and lows.  But, it has helped supply our needs (and wants).  Next Friday,  Kent will get his last paycheck from the company.  The business has been sold.  The doors are closing.  Not only will Kent be out of employment, but, there are also some other great people that will be out of work.

So,  what does this mean for our future???

We don't know!  But,  we do know that God has "been our dwelling place throughout all generations"...."from everlasting to everlasting you are God".  We can certainley trust our God,  he has proven to be worthy of our faith and trust.  He has supplied are needs, given above and beyond.

As Kent and I read through the bible this year, we are amazed at how timely our portion of scripture has been for each day.  Right now we are reading in the Psalms.  Kent came to me the other night with Psalms 90:17  May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;  establish the work of our hand for us-  yes, establish the work of our hands.   That is our prayer,  we want to honor God with our faith that he will establish the work of our hands.

little blue books

Getting a passport is relatively simple, right?  You take some $$$ to the courthouse along with a few documents and a beautiful picture and you are good to go.  EXCEPT when you don't have the "few documents".  As was the case with me.  The romance of being born in Nice, France was greatly diminished (temporarily)  when my birth certificate was lost and I could not acquire my passport.  Until I turned 18,  I had been to the Bahamas,  Haiti and The Netherlands Antilles.  But,  since that time,  I have not left the U.S. 

This year--my 50th,  I made it a goal to do whatever it took to get my passport-sans birth certificate.  After many phone calls, tears and visits to the courthouse,  I discovered one could send $$ to the American Consulate and get an official "Counselor Report of Birth Abroad"  which is the equivalent of a birth certificate.  (so now you know, if you are ever in my predicament). 

In May, I was helping my daughter, Kara, prepare to move to Louisville Ky. along with her husband and 4 children.  The pattern of my days would look much different with their move.  I was so used to driving, walking, riding or running to their 2-mile- away home several times a week.  I knew the same God that was leading my son-in-law to pursue seminary, was going to have a beautiful plan for the extra time in my week.  It was going to be good.  I believe the God in the Bible and His promises are true.  Not that His plans do not make me cry.  I mean really???  Four adorable grand kids moving 4 hours away, and 1 beautiful granddaughter already 4 hours away????  But, the very day that I didn't think my heart could take it,  the little blue book came in the mail!  A reminder that God does have a plan,  He loves me and He knows.

I quickly called my dad and told him I was now free to leave the country.  Before I knew it,  I was headed for Vietnam!  I know this is a trip of a life-time.  A chance to see how God is working in a land scarred by a war.  A land that my mother loved so much, she asked to be buried in a dress handmade by Vietnamese women. A land where the church is alive and active and many are turning their hearts to Jesus.  That is the land I get to visit, to have my first (of many, I hope) stamps in my brand new passport! 

Windows

I haven't seen an abode without windows.  I know I would never prefer to live in such a place.  I love how windows let in natural light, and they show a view of what is going on in your little piece of the world. 

Some look out their window and see beaches (I'm jealous!) , some see mountains,  some see forests, some see well-manicured lawns, some see a busy city with lots of action going on all around.  My view is cornfields and neighbors with green and yellow machines that cost more than my home!  I see barns and young teenagers picking sweetcorn and melons for produce stands.  I love my view with all the seasons that come and go.  The tall sturdy trees that are thick with green, will soon be vibrant reds, oranges and yellows.

In a few weeks,  my view will look totally different. instead of tractors; rickshaws.   instead of barns; pagoda,  instead of baseball caps; conehats.   I am going to a land that I never thought I would visit.  I have heard it's name as a young girl,  associated it with war and death, but, now I am pouring over books and websites, appreciating it's beauty.

I am praying God will change not only my physical view, but also my spiritual view.  I pray God will open my heart and His light would shine through.  I  would love you to come along with me!   Please join me for my wonderful adventure to Vietnam!