Best 20 of 2020

 2020 has been quite a year, no need to point that out to anyone.  It has been full of loss, sadness, heartache, and disappointment.  We've had to lean on God's promises -- that He will never leave us nor forsake us, and that He is always ahead of us, lighting our way.  

So as this year closes out and we embark on 2021, I want to focus on the positives that came out of this year.  In no particular order, our Best 20 from 2020.

20.  Walks.  And walks and walks and walks.  Daily walks together -- bundled up at first, then late evening summer strolls and then bundled up again.  So many strolls and power walks with my family = lots of time to talk and laugh.

19. Puzzles and games! We pulled out so many of both and enjoyed the slower pace last spring and in the summer.

18.  Online shopping!  I already did a fair amount before 2020, but I gotta say, I really upped my game when I could no longer shop in person.

17.  A glass of wine while making dinner during the height of the quarantine months.

16. Seven plates for dinner.  For weeks and weeks and weeks.  We had more meals together as a family, day in and day out, than ever in the history of our marriage.

15. Doing dishes together for over two months while we had no dishwasher. The kids may not agree this falls in the "best" category, but I loved the opportunities it created.

14. Doing laundry only two days a week as in days of yore when I stayed home full time.

13. Unforeseen wisdom in an accidental toilet paper stock up in late February.  While everyone else was panicking, we were flush with TP.

12. Leggings and T shirts for months on end.

11. Our preferred method of vacationing (camping!) turned out to be the best way to vacation in 2020, especially in the UP of Michigan!  They were socially distancing before it was cool!

10. Worshiping at home.  While it isn't the preferred method at all, there were many moments of joy and beauty as the kids and I sat in our "regular" seats in the family room and faced our home altar beneath the TV.  Singing together (so loudly we couldn't hear the singers on the screen), kneeling and praying together. . .worshiping at home had its own kind of beauty for a time.

9. Videos and zooms with my students.  It was so great to see their little faces on my screen, and also to chat with their families.  I got over my angst at seeing and hearing myself on countless videos and was able to be in the moment with my little ones.

8. Listening to my boys and husband play game after game of basketball on the driveway.

7. Shadow basked in the joy of having everyone home day after day.  Or maybe he hated it and wished he could just be left alone and sleep on my bed already.

6. Hearing my children's teachers and classmates on zoom and google meet. Getting a glimpse of their classroom environments was fun.

5. Good health.  We are so grateful to have all remained healthy this year.

4. My freshman son was able to attend his first semester of college in person.

3. Saved a lot of money on gas.  Spent a lot more on groceries.  Saved a lot by not eating out.

2. Participated in numerous drive by parades and birthday parties.  Also enjoyed socially distanced extended family time outside. 

1.  Family time, family time, family time.  This is the best aspect of 2020 for me.  Like we never have before and like we never will again, our seven people were together.  And it was an unbelievable gift. 

Confirmed in Christ!

Last Sunday, our youngest child, sweet KK, walked up to communion distribution and received a blessing from her dad, like she has down the entirety of her eleven years.  But this blessing was different. When she sat back down in the pew next to me, she whispered, "That was my last blessing!".  

While she will receive lots of blessings in her life, she was right about this particular one.  Because the next time she walks up to communion distribution, she will receive the body and blood of Christ.  K is being confirmed and receiving her first communion tomorrow evening! She is so very excited!

K has watched all of her siblings make their confirmation and receive the Eucharist, and now it is her turn.  She has had some bumps on her road to this momentous occasion, however.  All of her siblings were confirmed at the grand Easter Vigil; K will be confirmed a week before Christmas.  All of her siblings were surrounded by our entire extended family; K will be surrounded by her immediate family and three of her grandparents.  All of her siblings had a year of in-person instruction (a term we never would have used at the time!) with all of their classmates and friends; K has finished up the bulk of her instruction via zoom and video lessons.  

But however different this special night might feel, our daughter's joy hasn't diminished.  She is still thrilled beyond words as she thinks about tomorrow night and the big step it is in her faith.  She has read, studied, prayed and written testimonies in preparation.  She has chosen her confirmation verse (see below), and pondered her baptism's great importance.  This girl has been flexible through all the changes and at the end of the day is just thankful that she is going to be confirmed and receive the Eucharist.

I'm so proud of my little gal, and so grateful that she will be given the gift of the sacrament of the altar. She's ready and so very excited for this blessing in her life.  Thank you, God, for a child who truly loves you! 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy --

think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

A Thrill of Hope

This morning I woke up very early (of course, since it's Saturday!) and was looking through my email, when this phrase caught my eye:

A thrill of hope

It was printed on a pillow (that I considered purchasing for a few moments) and as I looked at it, I started humming the hymn and finished the phrase:

The weary world rejoices

And it really resonated with me.  Indeed, we are a completely weary world.  Being sinful, we're always weary, but I think everyone would agree that the world seems especially weary right now.  In fact, the world has never been so united in something as we are now:  weariness.

But this!  This thrill of hope!  When I read the lyric,  I shivered - a thrill!  I've heard this hymn hundreds of times before, but as I read it this morning, it took on a new meaning.  Here we are, already weary from our general sinfulness, now multiplied exponentially by covid and all the sadness and hardship it has brought to our families and communities.

But we are not without hope!  The rest of the stanza assures us:

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees; O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!  During Advent, we are anticipating that new and glorious morn!  As Jesus is born in a humble stable, that tiny baby promises us (gives us hope!) of that new and glorious morn!  While we don't know how or when He will fully reveal that to us, we do see glimpses of that hope.  God gives us those moments that bring us joy and strengthen our faith all the time, we only need to be open to seeing them for what they are.  A baby's laugher, the twinkle of Christmas lights in a darkened room, a sunset over the ocean.  The anticipation of a family gathering, the sound of a summer breeze in the trees, sand beneath your feet.  The moving music of a beloved hymn, the feeling of home and family while at church, and the joy of the Eucharist and comfort of the communion of saints.

I do so believe that God stirs our hearts any number of ways.  He gives us the thrill of hope -- joy, peace and happiness at unexpected moments.  And right now, as we quietly observe Advent in anticipation of Christmas, He reminds this weary world of the of the new and glorious morn that is coming.  

A thrill of hope, indeed.

Things That Bring Me Joy

In no particular order, a few things that bring me Great and Abiding Joy :) 

Shadow, or as we call him, Shadow da babies.  Or as he has been recently nicknamed by one of my boys, Stinky, which I must admit is an appropriate moniker.  This (mostly) good boy loves his mamma so much!  He follows me from room to room, watches for me to come home at the dining room window, and loves to cuddle in bed with me (which is not always allowed!).  He's getting a bit older and slightly more gray (join the club, puppers!), but he's still a sweet playful boy at heart.  He's been a good addition to our family these last many years. 

A new Cricut!  I received this beautiful piece of machinery as a Christmas gift and I LOVE it!  And I also love that my 20-year-old daughter figured out how to run it and the computer program so I didn't have to!  We've been making ornaments and the like, with plans to try a few other things soon.  It's so fun!  But I'm not looking forward to having to learn the computer program when she goes back to school.  

Christmas decor and buffalo plaid!  I have been drawn to (read: obsessed!) black and white buffalo plaid this Christmas.  I am loving decorating in the simplicity of black and white.  My kids are not totally on board though - "why are you decorating with boring colors, mom?  Where's the red?"  Sigh.  You can't win them all.  One kid, however, said this a few days ago:  "Mom, the outside of our house is lame at Christmas." As I prepared to defend myself, citing white lights and garland around the front door, the child continued, "But the inside is hecka vibey!"  I'm not totally familiar with that phrase, but I'm pretty sure hecka vibey is a compliment.  I'll take it!

This meme.  Wow, does it summarize where I'm at with my boys these days.  One minute I was their world -- a kiss and hug from me could solve all their problems, and the next minute I'm getting a random hug from a giant man-child while being called bruh.  It happened in a matter of minutes I tell you.  Moms of little boys, hold on tight. It's a bumpy ride, but it's so awesome.

 

Thank You

I woke up at 4:00 am this morning, overwhelmed with thankfulness for our church family.  Unable to go back to sleep right away, I decided to get up and write down my thoughts.  

So my dear Trinity, thank you:

Thank you for loving my children.  Thank you for loving them when they were yet unborn through prayer and support.  Thank you for loving them when they were little and sitting still in church with their mamma seemed an impossible task - for years and years and years.  Thank you for loving them when they were cute, silly and also crazy. Thank you for loving them when they made mistakes (such as, but not limited to: pushing a table into the wall in the hallway and making a hole in the drywall).  Thank you for not expecting them to be perfect but understanding that they are children (and now young adults!), not just PKs (pastor's kids).  Thank you for thinking of them on their birthdays and at holidays! Thank you for supporting them as they've gotten older, asking them about school, college, life.  Thank you for praying for them (sometimes by name!) and letting them know you care for them.  Thank you for loving them, and us through that.

Thank you for loving me.  Thank you for loving me just where I am, and not where you might think I should be as a pastor's wife.  Thank you for not having preconceived expectations of what a pastor's wife should or shouldn't be and imposing them on me. Thank you for your kindness to me day in and day out -- when we first arrived and I was figuring this life out, when I was a young mother learning my way each week in the pew, and as the years have passed, as simply a friend and fellow parishioner.  Thank you for taking an interest in my life too, and supporting me.  Thank you most of all for loving me as I strive to support and be a helpmate to your pastor.

And thank you most of all for loving my husband.  Thank you for encouraging him, praying for him and building him up.  Thank you for seeing the best in him and knowing his heart -- that his every decision and choice is born out of prayer for the people of his parish.  Thank you for trusting him with all your moments -- baptisms, weddings, and loved ones' funerals.  Thank you for turning to him when you're hurting, sad, and afraid.  Thank you for giving him the opportunity to pray for you during your struggles, and for the gift of celebrating confession and absolution with you.   Thank you for inviting him into your homes and making him feel welcome. Thank you for laughing when he's goofy and appreciating his love for 80s rap! Thank you for knowing who he is -- not only how he shepherds his flock, but his likes and dislikes and what makes him unique and special.  And with teary eyes, I thank you most of all for praying for him -- that God would give him wisdom and would guide his thoughts and words as he works tirelessly to bring Jesus to the people God has entrusted him to lead.  

We've been here for over 22 years, and this little blogpost only scratches the surface of what the people of Trinity mean to me. And like I posted about here, through our shared moments we have become more than just "people who go to the same church".  We have become family.  

So thank you, thank you, thank you.  Thank you for letting us into your lives and embracing all of us, faults and all.  Know that you are always in our hearts and prayers.  Thank you for being our family.

Preschool Stories

A couple of preschool stories for you:

Friday was a beautiful day, so before I got my students settled in for their nap, I grabbed a couple of books and their corresponding stuffed animal characters and told the children we were going to have a special story time.  The little ones excitedly followed me outside.  The children were laughing behind me and the gentle wind was blowing pleasantly as we climbed up a small hill near our classroom door, and suddenly, I had an overwhelming desire to break into "Do Re Mi" from The Sound of Music.  I was Maria, in the hills of Austria, with my precious children skipping behind me.  Hard as it was, I suppressed the urge to burst into song as I settled the children in for story time.  But a few minutes later, as we were wrapping up, another teacher walked by, and in moments we were regaling the children with "The Hills Are Alive".  I'm pretty sure the students were all very impressed. 

My 20 year old daughter is home this semester and taking her classes online. She happened to have no classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so she is an aide in our preschool those two days.  We share many of the same children, so it's fun to share cute stories about the littles.  She shared this one with our whole family:

Child, walking up to my daughter in the gym:  Miss A, do you have a broom?

My daughter:  Yes, I have one at home.

Child to friend:  SEE!  I told you she was a witch!

Then the girls skipped off, continuing to discuss their Halloween costumes. 😂

Word Up!

 My kids got me this letter board for Mother's Day, complete with this spot-on quote. :)  We've had fun changing it out over the last several months.  Here are a few of my favorites.  Any quote suggestions for us to try?

Maybe not exactly spot-on. I live with some pretty awesome people.

 But it did make me smile when I opened it. :)

I put this one up in honor of my son's high school graduation.  I have always been inspired by this quote by St. Catherine of Sienna.  We are already created just as God wants us to be!

This has long been one of my favorites, especially in the early years of parenting, when the days were so long and hard.  It's not always easy to be in the moment, but as the years pass, the more I try to be.

And this one, which I just put up last night.  My dear Anne Shirley,

 always appreciating the beauty around her, which October so gloriously provides.