Category Archives: Reflections on Life

My Gratitude Journal

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Every morning, after my shower and before eating breakfast, I sit down at my kitchen table and open a journal. Lately I’ve noticed I’m nearing the end of the empty pages, so soon I’ll go purchase another book to fill again.

img_2447Each morning I write down five things I’m grateful for…five gifts in my life. Some are silly (longer extension hose on the sump pump), some are monumental (healing), some seems small (the smell of brewing coffee), some are large (the furnace has worked great all winter long), some are spiritual (thankful for God’s unconditional love), some are physical (warm socks on a cold day), some are mental (clear mind for today’s work), some are emotional (joy over times with family and friends).

I began my gratitude journal on January 1, 2018 – by the end of the year I had written 1800 lines of thankfulness. I’m sure a few were duplicates (I love the smell of coffee – it probably showed up a couple of times). Today I wrote numbers 530-535 of 2019. It takes some introspection, some self-awareness. Those first few pages were easy to fill, but now it takes some real work to find those things that I’m thankful for. The practice of gratefulness has caused me to look over my day, even as I’m living it. What will I write tomorrow morning? What am I living right now that I’m grateful for? Who has caused me joy, or pain, that I can turn into a journal entry?

I know God has blessed me with health, love, joy, family and friends I treasure. I have work, shelter, provision, food on my table and blankets on my bed. I enjoy electricity, hot water and air-conditioning. We drive two cars, worship the Lord with freedom, and eat meat every day. And I know most of the world doesn’t have any of the above.

Would you take on the gratitude challenge? You can use a cheap spiral notebook, or purchase a fancy journal, but no matter what the pen and paper look like, it’s the expressions of gratefulness that will change your outlook on your life. And it will definitely spark joy!

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:18

Five Favorites

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“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens.
Brown papered packages tied up with string.
These are a few of my favorite things.”

Everyone has favorite things. Mine change from day to day, week to week (well – except for the really important things, like my husband and kids). Seems to be a “thing” to blog about favorite things…so I’ll jump on the bandwagon.

Sweet and Spicy Tea. Since I’ve given up caffeine drinks for Lent, I’ve embraced herbal tea. I love sipping a hot beverage morning, noon or night, so it was imperative that I find a tea that I could enjoy at any hour. I found this one at HyVee and fell in love. I’ll probably drink this even after I take up coffee drinking again (ON FRIDAY!). The title describes this tea perfectly – sweet orange tangles with spicy cinnamon. Not too harsh, like some darker herbal teas. And no after taste either. Just really great flavor and I can get a couple of cups of good tea from one teabag. Score one for frugality.

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Two of my current favorite things: Sweet & Spicy tea and “Peace Like A River”

Peace Like a River. A friend from work loaned me this novel by Leif Enger about three months ago and I have dinked around getting through it. It isn’t because it’s bad. It’s very, very good. This best seller from 2001 is “a heroic quest, a tragedy, and a love story,” the story of 11-year-old Reuben Land, who joins his younger sister and father in a cross country search for his outlaw older brother. The writing flows, the story is captivating, the premise is unique. I really like it – and I promise I”m going to get through all of it by next Monday. I promise. If I could only stop everything else I need to do and just read…

Brussels sprouts. (yes – it’s plural “Brussels” not brussel – I looked it up.) I’ve loved these little cabbages for years. But somehow now it’s “cool” to love Brussels sprouts so I order them as appetizers and no one looks at me in horror. In the last month, I’ve eaten them in three separate restaurants – all were great, though they were prepared differently every time. Don and I roast this veggie at home – trim off the bottom, cut in half, toss with olive oil, salt and paper and lay out on a foiled-lined sheet pan. Roast in a 425 degree oven for about 15 minutes. Delicious!

C25K app. Yes – I’m back to training again for a 5K. I do it every year. I always take the cold winter months off. I have no treadmill and I will not run outside in snowy or icy or freezing conditions. It’s not that important to me. But once spring rolls around, I like to get back out on the trail. I’m not fast, but this app helps me slowly get back into enough shape that I don’t embarrass myself at an organized race. This year I’ll be tackling a 10K also so I especially like that the 5K app will progress right into a 10K app.

Jennifer Dukes Lee. A couple of years ago I discovered a book called “The Happiness Dare, ” written by an Iowa farmer’s wife named Jennifer. Soon I started searching my house for cameras because it felt like she had overheard my conversations, read my mail, and sat at my kitchen table. Though we’ve never met in person, I’ve been privileged to interact with Jennifer multiple times via social media and if there is anyone I’d like to live next door to, it would be this special woman. She’s vulnerable, talented, relevant, devoted, gifted, funny and beautiful, inside and out. I hope you’ll sign up to receive Jennifer’s blog or buy one of her books. She’s a best friend I haven’t met yet.

I know the title of today’s blog is Five Favorites, but I want to end with one of my favorite Scriptures. My husband is notorious for calling every Scripture he preaches on his “favorite,” but it’s true – the Word of God is so rich, it’s hard to narrow it down to just one. Lately I’ve been taken with Psalm 62, especially verses 5-8.

“My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. 
In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”

 

 

From Cheers to Jeers

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If you know me at all, you know I’m a huge fan of the Chicago Cubs. I’ve been a fan since I was a little girl sitting in my grandpa’s white pick up truck, listening to Lou Boudreau call the games on WGN radio, or watching the games with my dad every Sunday afternoon on WTVO. My dad took me to my first game at Wrigley Field when I was about 12 and I was hooked. Though I followed the Cubs through some of the worst baseball seasons ever, I never wavered. The Cubs were, and are, my team.

You can imagine how ecstatic I was in 2016 when the Cubs won the World Series. I loved watching the huge parade that wove through the city after the series win, where literally millions of people cheered for the new champs. They climbed lampposts, hung from balconies, stood for hours, as the team was driven in open air buses down Lake Shore Drive. It was a glorious sight as fans, old and new, cheered their team.

A short few years later and people are writing them off. The team has had a rocky start to the 2019 season, and people are jumping off the bandwagon right and left. “What have you done for me lately?”

Do you know something similar happened to Jesus? One Sunday crowds of people stripped trees bare of palm branches so they could wave them as Jesus made His way into Jerusalem, riding on the back of a donkey. They shouted and cheered: “Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

The palm branches were a symbol of victory and joy. During the time of Jesus, the palms were waved as the people cheered in celebration when an important person like a king rode through the streets.

But just a few days later, Jesus was arrested, tried, and led out to a hill called Calvary to be crucified. The cheers He heard on Sunday turned to jeers on Friday. No longer shouting “Hosanna,” the people were now screaming, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

The people were offered the choice of whether to free a murderer named Barabbas or to free Jesus. They chose to set Barabbas free and crucify Jesus. His once-faithful followers had now forsaken Him.

We have that same choice everyday. We can choose to follow Jesus and make Him our King and Lord or we can turn away from Him like the people who denied Him or shouted “Crucify Him!”

I want to be faithful to Jesus. As much as I cheer for my team, I want to be even more faithful to my Savior Jesus, who willingly went to the cross to save me from the penalty of my sin. This decision is so much more important than a game.

Jesus – today we choose to make you King and Lord of our lives. Help us to be strong and to follow you when all others forsake you. We shout “Hosanna! You are our King!”

What Does Passion Week Mean?

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Cross_Passion_Week

Jesus

Betrayed ruthlessly

Arrested unjustly

Abandoned callously

Tried illegally

Beaten brutally

Crucified unfairly

Buried anonymously

Arose victoriously

Jesus

Son of God

Light of the world

Lord of Lords

King of Kings

Messiah

Savior

Redeemer

Lover of my Soul

Jesus

Compassion continual

Truth unerring

Humility personified

Grace without limit

Mercy repeatedly

Power eminent

Peace unending

Joy overflowing

Love unconditional

Christ himself was like God in everything.
But he did not think that being equal with God was something to be used for his own benefit.
But he gave up his place with God and made himself nothing.
He was born as a man
and became like a servant.
And when he was living as a man,
he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God,
even when that caused his death—death on a cross.
So God raised him to the highest place.
God made his name greater than every other name
so that every knee will bow to the name of Jesus—
 everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.
And everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
and bring glory to God the Father.
Philippians 2:6-11 (NCV)

Making the Most of a Week

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I’ve spent the last few hours trying to come up with blog content that would interest anyone. Nothing. So you’re going to get a blow by blow of my week. Sorry. Stop now unless you’re having difficulty sleeping. This may work as well as melatonin and Unisom combined.

50 degrees. The difference between the temperature on Monday and the low temp for tonight. Iowa, gotta love it.

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Chicago hot dog from Bigg Daddy’s food cart, downtown Cedar Rapids

Monday’s lunch hour walk through the neighborhoods was so beautiful – blue sky, birds singing, trees budding. Found a hidden park but it was locked up tight. In honor of the Cubs’ warm home opener, I stopped for a Chicago hot dog at the Bigg Daddy’s food cart  downtown. And it tasted as good as it looks.

The rest of the week’s weather was awful. Each day got progressively colder and windier. Though I’m very grateful we aren’t experiencing the extreme winter conditions  that our northern neighbors are suffering through, this cold, driving rain brought more water trickling through the recently discovered crack in my basement walls. More home repairs. Yeah.

But I am determined to pursue gratefulness. Tuesday found us celebrating my soon-to-be daughter-in-law’s birthday. Wednesday night we prepared for our church’s annual Easter egg hunt, bagging candy, constructing the tomb on the church platform, transforming into an Easter garden.

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Using real rocks to construct the tomb for Troy Mills Christian Church Easter services

And these people we call our congregation, our friends, our flock. They work hard. No matter how their day has gone, they show up.

Head down, hanging on tight to my umbrella, I ventured out of the office at lunch on Thursday. The wind was howling, seemingly from every direction. So thankful for the nearby sky walk – got in another great walk, above the streets and away from the nasty weather.

Short day today – love those early out summer hours. Had to smile when I got to Barbers Etc for my hair cut and saw my stylist’s cape. Made her take a picture. Cubs began my week, and ended it too.

img_2415Nothing special happened in the last five days. I prayed and cried for friends going through trials. I read my Bible, sent cards to friends and family. I worked, walked, wrote, repeat. Sometimes I get caught in the hamster wheel – the same thing over and over – hypnotized by my mundane routine. But looking back I see a thread throughout the week. God never left me. He walked with me on the beautiful days and the ugly ones. He listened, comforted, provided, protected and loved through each and every moment.  Good weeks, bad weeks…do not fear. He will never leave your side.

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

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clip-art-pot-potato-soup-clipart-1It’s cold again and instead of whining (at least verbally), I’m going to make soup. We love soup year round, but there is something about cold, blustery days…soup is just the comfort food I need to get through this stretch of “when will spring arrive and stay?!” Oh wait – this is how spring arrives…in Iowa. And yes, I’m grateful I don’t live in Minnesota right now.

On to my Baked Potato Soup recipe…I wish I was making it as I’m blogging. Such cool pictures of each step, my fingers beautifully manicured, showing the wonderful progression from raw potato to creamy goodness with perfect garnish. Alas – not happening today. Plus, I’d have to go get a manicure. I don’t even have a picture of the finished product because I haven’t made it yet.

You will need potatoes, butter, onion, flour, chicken broth, water, instant mashed potatoes, salt, pepper, basil, thyme, half-and-half, cheddar cheese, bacon and green onions.

I’m going to give you the recipe below, but I have a few tweaks I’ve made to the original through the years. One, you do not have to bake the potatoes in the oven. I love a good oven-baked potato, but for this recipe, you’re going to scoop out the contents and toss in the soup anyway…just use the microwave. Makes the construction of this soup much, much faster…I’d say you can have this on the table, or into your mouth, in 30 minutes, start to finish.

Two, you can make this recipe or you can swap out a few ingredients for low-carb, low-fat alternatives. The butter can be olive oil, the chicken broth can be low-salt, the half-and-half can be 2% milk, and the cheddar cheese can be…never mind, you have to use cheddar cheese. Though I will allow you to use turkey bacon, absolutely do not use Bac-Os instead of bacon. Absolutely do not. It’s against every known bacon rule.

Third, the seasonings are standard. Adjust to your own preference. We keep the salt to one teaspoon until we taste it at the end. We up the black pepper and even add a little red pepper because we like kick. Be careful with the basil and thyme – too much more than what I have listed with alter the flavor dramatically.

Fourth, the last three ingredients are optional – just for garnish. Feel free to leave off the cheese, bacon and green onions, if you want. But don’t complain to me if your “Loaded Baked Potato” soup tastes like plain old potato soup. Those garnishes make it special. And you deserve special…because it darn cold outside and cheese + bacon = comfort.

Lastly, you may have noticed I have no serving size, number of servings or calorie content. I will not tell you how large your portion size should be…that’s all on you. Which means I don’t know how many people this will serve – maybe you’ll eat the whole pot. And calorie content? Who really cares? It’s comfort food. Calorie content only brings guilt and I’m all about letting that go.

Forgot one thing – use a large spoon. Grab a little bit of potato chunk, bacon, cheese and onion in that first bite. Creamy, smoky goodness. Happy slurping.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

 

Heartbroken But Not Hopeless

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My heart is hurting today. So many friends are experiencing devastating events in their lives. Last year two of my closest friends battled through cancer diagnoses, clinging to God’s promises of healing and coming through victorious. Yet they continue to deal with the aftermath of that long year.

My dear high school classmate is facing another long road in her latest health challenge. And challenge is such a feeble word for what she is going through. She shared just a few of the trials she’s facing – extreme headaches, 4 hour MRIs, insurance company issues, doctors’ appointments in far off places, the uncertainty of medications…and I’m confident that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Yesterday I received news of another friend who revealed her leukemia diagnosis. Just two years ago her son died of an aneurysm…gone in an instance. Now this. Such heartbreaking news as she continues to work through her grief. But she is a faith-filled prayer powerhouse, trusting in the promises of God.

 

This morning I saw another friend post about an upcoming divorce and then another about a road side bomb in Afghanistan killing three Marines…when will it stop? What can I do? Where do I turn?

In yesterday’s blog I wrote about Psalm 121 – God is my Helper, my Guardian. But Lord, there is so much sadness, so much disease, so much heartbreak in this world. Sometimes it seems so overwhelming…and these things aren’t even happening to me!

Even so…

Let me share part of a Instagram post my friend wrote two days ago…”God has been so very faithful – in every single way – and I love Him more than I ever have before. He has never left me, never betrayed me, abandoned me. What would I have done if it wasn’t for Jesus?”

Again – I’m reminded – Jesus loves me. Jesus loves you. Jesus died because of that great love. He endured the ultimate betrayal and abandonment. He was sinless, yet took on my sin. He sacrificed everything for me. He will never leave me. He will never forsake me. He is my Healer, my Strength, my Rock, my Provider. He is where I go when I have no one to turn to. He walks with me in every storm. He goes before me into every battle. He listens to me cry out in despair, and comforts me in my sorrow. He rejoices with me in victories and dances over me with joy. He has written my name on the palms of His hands.

The bad news will never stop. Our fallen world will always encounter disease and tragedy. But I do not have to succumb to grief and sorrow and hopelessness.

I have hope. My friends have hope. His name is Jesus.

His Name is Jesus 30 x 22 LG

Where Do You Go For Help?

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We all need help. No matter how self-sufficient we are, everyone needs a hand now and then. Well, probably more than now and then, but some of us are stubborn and wait until a crisis hits before we cry out.

“Help!”

The lyrics to the Beatles hit record from 1965 rolls through head occasionally (yes – I’m that old) “Help! I need somebody! Help! Not just anybody! Help! I know I need someone! Help!

In the everyday mundane routines of life, who do you go to for help? Are you overwhelmed with a non-stop schedule?  Frustrated by choices others have made? Worried about a health issue? Wondering if you’re doing this parenting thing right? Ever need a kind or encouraging word on a bad day? Having difficulty navigating your grief? Ever just need a big hug? YES – all of this has been me and though I try so hard to be the helper, not the “helpee,” I can’t do it alone. I am constantly in need of someone who can help me!

Psalm 121 tells me about God, who is my Someone all the time. When I’m desperate for help, He is always there. When I’m grief-stricken and cannot see through my tears, He sees me. When I’m worried about finances, He provides. He’s my Healer when I’m sick. When I can’t see a way out of the trouble, He provides a path for my feet. He lights up the way, and I follow Him out of trouble and into the light. He never sleeps, and I can never catch Him off guard. He shields me from danger, no matter what time of day or night.

Do you need help today? Are you feel overwhelmed with grief and sorrow, or feeling helpless and hopeless? Do you just need to be noticed? God sees you. He is your Guardian, your Helper.

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1 I look up to the mountains—
    does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth!

3 He will not let you stumble;
    the one who watches over you will not slumber.
4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel
    never slumbers or sleeps.

5 The Lord himself watches over you!
    The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
6 The sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon at night.

7 The Lord keeps you from all harm
    and watches over your life.
8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
    both now and forever. 

 

Psalm 121 (NLT)

 

Daughters of My Heart

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I love being a boy mom. My husband’s family is full, full, full of boys and we continued the trend with two of our own. But, I’ll be honest, there were days I wondered what it would be like to have a daughter. I imagined tea parties, dress up dates, chick-flicks and drama queens. I never missed the drama queen part, but I know, from being one, that daughters have a special relationship with their moms. I can dream about sweet and happy times because I never had a daughter. And I have friends with daughters – so I’ve heard horror stories, along with the good times. But God heard what I never even expressed and now I have two daughters…daughters of my heart.

Don and I prayed for these girls way before we ever knew them. We prayed for our sons’ future wives…that they would know and love God, desire to serve and follow Him; that they would be prepared by their own parents to be the wives my sons would need. I asked God to give me daughters I would love with my whole heart, and who would love me in return. I learned a lot about mother- and daughter-in-law relationships in my own marriage and I hoped to be the type of “other” mother my girls would want to spend time with…and that I could encourage and love them as I would want to be.

God is so good!

Kids_NTB_concert_2017Three years ago my first born married his sweetheart…someone we had known almost her whole life. Though they started dating after David’s high school graduation, he and Tristen had been friends for many years. They are a lovely couple and we are so blessed to have Tristen in our family. She loves and supports my son wholeheartedly, and embraces life’s challenges with a bravery I find inspiring. I love her so.

This June, my youngest son Sean will marry his girlfriend. They started dating while in high school and have worked hard to make their relationship a priority. Ellie is a beautiful young woman who seems to enjoy hanging out with our crazy family, even as we argue such earth-shattering topics as “is a hot dog a sandwich?” She’s the quietest one among us, but gives amazing hugs and listens well. I love her so.

Now I’ll have two daughters. Girls I didn’t raise but have loved for so many years. Those two girls took me for my first pedicure and introduced me to sushi, so careful to help me pick out something I would like. They love ethnic food – just like me, and they’ve helped my boys get outside their food comfort zone. They laugh with us, cry with us, eat my food and even though neither one are particularly sports fans, they endure hours of McGarvey family sports watching. They have been a part of family road trips since my concert obsession began, and the three of us have already had one girls’ day out to Galena. Much more fun to come.Girls_Galena_2017

I’m so grateful that God heard the silent cry of my heart for daughters…and He selected the perfect ones for me (and my sons’ too, of course).

Rejoice!

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I have the privilege of conducting the kids’ sermon each Sunday at our church. We have some amazing kids who seem to enjoy coming up front for “their” time. Since I try to keep the message about 5 to 8 minutes long, it’s important for it to be simple, easy to understand and applicable to the kids’ lives. And the first Sunday of each month, I have the kids (and adults) memorize a Bible verse.

Today we memorized Philippians 4:4…”Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Rejoice scripture

Short and simple, right? The verse itself is short, but the message is deep. The writer of the book of Philippians was the Apostle Paul, and he was composing this letter to the church in Philippi while sitting in prison. He had been unjustly imprisoned, accused by his enemies, and falsely charged. But even so, he was telling other believers to “Rejoice!”

I told the kids the definition of “rejoice” is to feel or show great joy or delight. How could Paul rejoice while sitting in prison, with good reason to feel despondent? Because Paul knew he wasn’t rejoicing in his outward circumstances, he was rejoicing…finding great joy and delight…in God. He knew that no matter what happened to him physically, Jesus was always with him.

My study Bible note on this verse says “It’s easy to get discouraged about unpleasant circumstances or to take unimportant events too seriously.” But we need to remember where to place our hope and trust…in the God who will never leave you or forsake you, who is your rock and refuge, a very present help in times of trouble. Rejoice in that!