Ejecting the Ewww

Yes, I went into my time machine to grab an image to accompany this blog. But dang, I miss our kiddo at this age! Anyway, it's October and what follows is my column for our October church newsletter.

God’s Harvest Work

Some of us sun-lovers are not so thrilled about the dropping temperatures and the arrival of fall. But we all appreciate the perks of October – beautiful autumn leaves and (naturally) Pumpkin Spice Lattes.

Of course, as the season of pumpkins arrives, many of us will find ourselves carving jack-o’-lanterns. With only adult children now, I still can recall. It begins with choosing a pumpkin, taking it home, and then doing the messy work—cutting it open and scooping out the inside. The slippery, slimy guts that many of us convince the next generation is so fun to touch and remove. Eww.

But of course, we know that only once the pumpkin has been cleaned out can it be shaped into something new and shining with light.

In many ways, that’s what God does with us. We come to Him carrying all kinds of “icky inside junk”—sin, guilt, shame, fears, and worries that weigh us down. Left alone, we might try to hide it or carry it, but it keeps us from becoming what God intends us to be.

Through Christ, God gently but firmly opens us up and removes all that “Eww.” He forgives our sins. He takes away the heaviness of guilt. He cleans out the things that darken our hearts. Then, like a carver shaping a pumpkin, He gives us new purpose and identity.

And He doesn’t stop there—He places His own light inside of us. Just as a candle (or battery-operated tea light these days) shining through a carved pumpkin glows for others to see, God’s Spirit within us shines out into the world. 

As Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

So, the next time you see a carved pumpkin glowing on a doorstep, remember: Some parent made a financial and time investment here. And, more importantly, God has done that same work in you. He has chosen you, cleaned you, and filled you with His light. 

May we shine brightly, pointing others to the One who makes all things new.

White Christmas? Somebody's Wishing Hard

Since I actually slept in until after 9 a.m. on my first day of Christmas vacation, I had no idea it was silently starting to snow outside. But when I looked at it, I figured someone somewhere was really wishing hard for a white Christmas. And like the song says, since I had no place to go, let it snow!

Since this is Christmas Eve Eve, I was reminded though that we should be grateful there were clear skies in Bethlehem long, long ago. Today's 3+ inches of wet snow would've made a mess of things.

While the flakes fell, I enjoyed "brunch" and watched a Hallmark movie. (So many to get through in 10 days!)

Then I started the first of many ambitious stay-cation projects: Cleaning out closets! Not as fun as it sounds. But hey, 2 garbage bags full for Goodwill so far!

Probably why I volunteered to shovel off the deck. That and the fact I wanted to test out the Milwaukee M12 heated hoodie from Santa. Wow. I was sweating and it wasn't even hard work. Am loving this already!

Some backyard views, too, out the livingroom window.

Enough snow to cover the tree branches and some of the pine boughs, too. Pretty!

While I did shovel a little, hubby took care of most of the driveway before going to his dad's and removing his slushy mess. After running a few errands in town (including my first of several Goodwill drop-offs) I was grateful for the other thing I accomplished on my first day off today. Finally ordering new tires (and alignment) for my car. 

Really, nothing says Adult Christmas like a new set of tires. Am I right?

Hope you found a reason to celebrate Christmas Eve Eve today! Especially since the real reason for the season is just hours away.

Peace! Be Still!

After all the rain lately, it was so appropriate that today's Gospel lesson in church was about Jesus calming the storm. Both literally and metaphorically. 

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

With all the "storms" brewing in my life (and loved ones' lives) these days, am I acting like the disciples and questioning whether Jesus cares? Or do I have faith he'll get me through it?

I'll admit that a lot of times Worry steps in and Faith and Confidence are pushed aside. It's just human nature. Right?

Still, it was a much-needed reminder that God is in control. I am not. And I have a much better chance of getting from Point A to Point B if He is in the driver's seat. Why is it so hard sometimes to hand over the keys? Just gotta keep working at it. And be grateful He's in the boat with me!

On a lighter note, I could've used His driving help tonight on the golf course. Ha. Actually the drives were good -- as far as distance is concerned -- but direction is another matter. That's probably some sort of sign, too!

Still it was fun to start out my "birthday week" playing with/against our friends Sean and Michelle for Couples League. I originally captured the photo "Fun in the sun," but wouldn't you know it? We got rained on the last 2 holes!

Apparently a sign that I can't take the sunny days for granted. There's always storms around the corner. We just need to remember who to rely on to get through them.

Lord, please be our wing man this week!

Footprints :: Winter Edition

While I was taking a walk at lunchtime today, I came across footprints in the snow. Now in Wisconsin, even for us indoor types, we're pretty sure these are deer prints. But to me, they looked like hearts. 

Two hearts.

When I bent down to take a picture and noticed a single track by itself – a lonely heart – two things came to mind. My grieving sister and that old Footprints poem.

I'm going to believe that this is sign, Rayna, that God is carrying you now during this tough time. Your heart may feel lonely and broken and even shattered, but think of all those memories that can fill it up. Think about how much you were loved by Paul and are loved by all of us. And God, too. May that be enough to carry you. 

Even for one step.

Just one step at a time.

So many of you are grieving right now – recent losses of parents and family members and friends – and this message is for you, too. 

Rejoice in the good news that when I continued to follow these tracks today, the next set showed two "hearts" again. You may feel like the single heart right now, but God is carrying you through this dark and sad time. Just know that it won't last. There will be two prints again. There will be light and joy again.

Unfortunately, we don't know the distance between those sets of prints, do we? For everyone, it's different. Seeing any ray of light might seem so far down your dark tunnel right now. But keep the faith. Be patient and trusting. God has you in His care and he'll keep leading you though the darkness. Through frigid temps and deep snow. Until one day it's suddenly spring.

For today, for right now, just keep inching forward. While God carries you, I'm here to walk beside you. In fact, every person reading this can look around and there's more than one person who'll make tracks with you.

Just ask. Believe me, we all look forward to spring.

Well, Bless My Pumpkins!

I've seen this before but I find it a worthy reminder to share. Plus, it gets me out of writing a blog tonight after a very, very long day...

This may also explain why I'm such a pumpkin spice girl. We can blame – or thank – God for putting the spice in me! No wonder it was so easy for Him to carve a smiling face!

Happy Halloween week, my little pumpkins!

Tying That Important Knot

 An absolutely gorgeous, sunny, mid-60s fall day to do anything outside today. Include getting married.

I was shooting a wedding this afternoon and I have say this is one of the coolest things I've seen yet. And meaningful! Gone are the days of simply lighting a unity candle. People are getting pretty creative now. And I love this.

During the ceremony, the bride and groom each took one of the brown strands of rope and worked together to braid it with God's white strand. "A cord of three strands is not easily broken." In other words, putting the Lord at the center of your life – and marriage – will only strengthen it even more.

Love it! 

Looking forward to sorting through more photos of the newlyweds, who may have grabbed the last summer-ish day of 2020 as their own. And wishing many blessings to Craig and Jen – and their triple-strength cord.

What's the Word on the Birds

I guess I'm a little slow on the uptake. I didn't realize there was actually some meaning that connected the seemingly random partridge, doves, hens, swans, geese and more in that 12 Days of Christmas song. Someone mentioned this at church council tonight and I'm glad I looked it up.

Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality that made it easier for children to remember. Except I don't think they grew up and shared with their children what the meaning was to pass it on. Or somehow was lost in translation.

But now YOU know...

The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

Three French hens stood for faith, hope and charity.

Four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

Six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit – prophecy, serving,
teaching, exhortation, contribution, leadership and mercy.

Eight maids a-milking were the eight Beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

Ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.

Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.

It totally makes sense. And I'm glad there's deeper meaning. Makes listening to the world's longest Christmas carol worth it, I guess!

The Least of These

My Advent column for this week's church bulletin...

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’"

–Matthew 25:44-45

On my recent trip to Seattle, I was astounded by the number of homeless people “living” there. I had not considered the Pacific Northwest a mild climate location, but I guess it is. Enough so that people seeking a warm place to lay their head have been arriving by the busload over the past several years. Apparently, Seattle had a policy of sorts to be a “welcoming city” for homeless.

Welcoming, yes. But able to actually give them a home, not so much. They just can’t keep up.

What do we know about homeless people? Do we assume they made bad choices, screwed up their lives somehow, and that’s why they’re in the predicament they are today? Do we give them the benefit of the doubt?

There are plenty of homeless in Wisconsin Rapids. Most of us just don’t see them. Or choose not to see them. Out there in Seattle, though, they often told their stories on signs: Lost jobs. Veterans with medical issues. Single mothers. Was I in a position to help any of them?

Sadly, my first thoughts were concerns for my safety. Even though it was just a short half-mile walk from the Pike’s Place harbor area to my hotel, homeless or no homeless, it’s a big city for a small-town girl on her own. I had to be smart and nonjudgmental at the same time.

On my last evening there, I was taking pictures of the sunset on Puget Sound. I knew I had to hoof it back to the hotel to be beat darkness. But something in that sunset spoke to me. God was showing himself in the beautiful array of pinks and oranges. Was I overlooking other ways he was showing up – through people, maybe?

On my brisk walk back, I knew I had to slow down for one person. At least one. I stopped in front of an older gentleman in a wheelchair whose crude sign indicated he’d had a stroke. I’d seen him every day but walked right on by. That time, though, I placed some money in his hand and simply said, “May God bless you, sir.”  Then went to my hotel room and prayed for him.

As we focus during Advent on the coming birth of Christ, let’s not overlook the fact that he’s already here. We just need to open our eyes – and our hearts – and look.

Don’t forget Flat Jesus

Author's Note (ha, always wanted to write that): This is one of my almost-weekly little devotions we run in my church bulletin.

On my recent tour through Scandinavia, I was blessed with the opportunity to visit several churches – from old country churches to chapels inside of centuries-old castles. One theme was consistent: Despite the humble exteriors, the interiors was beyond opulent.

Lots of gold paint drawing attention to everything from large “crowns” hanging over the pulpit to quite the variety of religious sculptures. It was both beautiful and over the top at the same time. And really, how can you concentrate on hearing anything if you’re so busy looking?

There was one castle that had a room painted floor to ceiling with battle scenes and elements of war… with angels hanging from the ceiling here and there. The tour guide said the Swedes were proving that God was on their side during the war. Hmmm.

It was interesting to see, though. And as I’ve seen in many old churches, they had numbered pews that were enclosed with half doors so families – prominent or otherwise – could sit in “their place” each week (keeping others out).

Who would have heard of such a ridiculous concept? Sitting in the same place every week? Apparently a tradition centuries in the making that goes haywire during our church's combined summer services.

While the churches were photo-worthy, I found my most meaningful time with God outside of the buildings. Sitting on rocks overlooking a lake. Walking down a flower-filled path. Watching the tide roll in. There is an awful lot of praying that can get done without the noise pollution of the office, the television, the phone, and the computer. It was awesome!

One of my sisters brought along a Flat Jesus (akin to Flat Stanley) from her home church. She posed him in number of places – I guess to show Jesus was on tour with us. I generally don’t need a Flat Jesus to prove that He’s everywhere. But if it helps you keep Him front and center during your busy summer weekends outside of the church building, bring him along!

Pretty sure God will just be happy to hear your voice. No gold or props required.

Leap of Faith

What group of people do you think has the most faith? Nuns, monks and clergy? Innocent children? Maybe Green Bay Packers fans?

Nope.

I'd have to say skydivers. Jumping from thousands of feet in the air to plummet at extreme velocity, pulling a rip chord and praying, yes praying, it opens long before your feet touch the earth. What an act of faith. What a literal leap of faith.

Tonight we concluded our church book study on If You Want To Walk On Water You've Got To Get Out Of The Boat by John Ortberg. With the approach of summer's end, we wrapped up the last three chapters in one session, taking time to reflect on the book as a whole, too.

Appropriately, the "Focusing on Jesus" chapter reminds us "Don't look down." Remember when Peter was walking on water and got distracted by the storm and lost focus on Jesus? That's when he faltered. Much like a tightrope walker, we need to lead our lives in faith, one foot in front of the other, focusing on Jesus – and definitely not looking down!

Jumping out of plane? Uff da. Not sure where to look. Just trust God and the parachute!

And pray you don't have to wait too long for it to open... even though the next chapter had some advice on "Learning to Wait."

In our society of immediacy, we're not the most patient lot, are we? Pretty sure I'm not just speaking for myself here. Raise your hand if you've honked at the car ahead of you when they didn't move the nano-second the light turned green. Or you've told your microwave to hurry up because it wasn't heating up your food fast enough. Or you've become an Amazon Prime member for that 2-day shipping since 5 days might as well be a Pony Express delivery.

Did you know that learning to wait well is a sign of maturity?

Ha. We'll skip that part. What hit home for me was that hope is really a form of waiting. Waiting means we give God the benefit of the doubt. We have faith that whatever it is we are waiting for – usually unanswered prayers – will be worth it. Often times positive. Or a least a life lesson to learn.

God is not about to call us out of the boat and set us up for failure. But when we lose focus and lose patience, we are saying we don't completely trust Him and His plans. We don't have faith and we don't have hope.

Is it because our God isn't big enough? Or because we forget that He is?

The final chapter asks: "How Big is Your God?" Every time someone gets out of the boat (or jumps out of the proverbial plane), their God gets a little bigger.

He's not just the safety net under us. He's the giant behind us, protecting us while gently nudging us in the right direction. He's the life jacket securely hugging us as we navigate the rough waters. He's the strong arms catching us when the wind picks up and we stumble. He's the hands reaching out to take our troubles from us... and we just have to release our grip and let Him. He's bigger than all the drops of water in the stormy sea combined.

Wow. I'd get out of my boat to meet Him at least halfway. Wouldn't you?

You've taken the walk with me this far. Might as well go out with a leap of faith!

That's Me...

Saw this circulating on Facebook today and figured it could serve as my blog. I don't know who wrote it, but I like it.

It also underscores what I attempt in my occasional blogs that strive to inspire. I am NOT better than any of you. I am NOT perfect. I have several faults and am open about that. If I find a way to cope with them or improve them, I share – not to brag but to empower you to try, too.

Just like it says here, I am simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow!

May God bless you this week!

For God So Loved the World...

On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, President Kennedy died, and the world changed.

What if you could change it back?

That is the premise of the book 11/22/63 by Stephen King, an 849-page, 2-inch-thick novel I just finished reading. I am not a King fan at all and have never read one of his books, ever. I think I got freaked out by the books-turned-movies when I was young and impressionable. But this one was recommended to me by some fellow bookworms so I gave it a go – knowing it was "long" but starting out on a Kindle not knowing it was THAT long!

Really interesting plot of a man going back in time to try to stop Kennedy's assassination – along with a few other tragedies. Without giving too much away, we learn that every little action and decision we make can alter our future. Sometimes for the better. Sometimes not.

On Easter weekend, as we are reminded of Christ's suffering, we believers wish we could go back and change the course of events. Stop the flogging, the added pain of the crown of thorns, the humiliation of carrying the cross, the unspeakable torture of being nailed to a cross, His undeserved death.

It's almost impossible to believe, but God wouldn't want us to change that. It was His plan. His gift of grace to us because He loves us that much.

Hard to believe, yes, but it is the freeing truth.

Still, in our own lives, we sometimes question how things would be if one moment (or several moments) in time could be changed, don't we? We ask ourselves, "What if I had done this differently?" or "that differently?" How different would life be if we had?

I have had to come to terms with many regrets in my life, but I wouldn't – I couldn't – go back and change them. Every step – whether joyful or painful – has led me to where I am right now. Right at this moment. I wouldn't change that for the world.

Because my Easter blessings don't fill a basket. They fill my heart.

May the blessings of Easter fill YOUR hearts with joy, too! Happy Easter!

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear...

Due to our surprisingly mild temperatures, we have been living under a thick blanket of fog for the past few days. We're talking low visibility Saturday and Sunday and "zero visibility" warned for my commute to work this morning.

It is a good thing I can practically drive to work blindfolded. I know the route pretty well, even in fog and rain ('cause we needed to throw that in the mix). I just hoped others had headlights on – and the deer stayed in the ditches.

Even though the dense fog warning was supposed to expire at noon, the drive home was just as bad. Thankfully, I made it to and from work safely. I kept hoping I'd hear the Christmas carol announcing that "it came upon a midnight (or afternoon) clear," but I had to wait for my music fix later.

The fog has yet to lift.

After work, I met up with some gal pals and attended Assumption's choral Christmas concert. I love Christmas music and was looking forward to seeing / hearing my friend's daughter – and a couple dozen others I know.

This year, instead of holding the concert in the high school gym, it was at one of the churches. The beauty of having your child attend a private Catholic school is that you are free to bring Christ into Christmas concerts, where He belongs!

It was a beautiful program, taking us through the real reason for the season with a Festival of Carols and Lessons about Christ's birth and purpose. Wonderfully done.

After the concert, my bestie and I stopped at the bowling alley to peek in on our hubbies. Jim has become a somewhat permanent weekly sub this season. He was having a good game and I didn't to jinx it by hanging around too long. Plus I wanted to get home in the fog and hear a few more carols.

Maybe tomorrow something will become CLEAR!

Be safe out there.

Two-fer Tuesday

Don't let the fact that the first two sights you see in the morning – cat puke and fornicating cows – ruin your day. It can only get better, right?

Whew. Right.

This time.

Though work was its own form of Purgatory, the day got progressively better thanks to two treats.

First was a half-hour chair massage.

I pretty much live and breathe by this guy's weekly visits to our office. So many knots and kinks to get worked over, beaten on and pinched away. "You're carrying a lot of stress," he said. No kidding. He worked his magic, though, and I can now shrug my shoulders and move my neck back and forth and everything.

My second treat was book club.

Tonight we discussed our latest completed book: Lamb – The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. This may be where the phrase LOL originated, because you are laughing out loud. A lot.

If you are open minded and willing to be offended, you will enjoy this funny and sarcastic telling of a story we all thought we knew. At times it's a little over the top. You look over your shoulder and make sure lightning isn't about to strike you dead. But if you get over that fear, you may enjoy it!

I skipped Carter's baseball game tonight (they won) but it sure was nice to have a cerebral Girls' Night Out. Not totally a brainy book discussion, since we laughed and talked off subject quite a bit. Of course, that's what makes it a club!

I should point out I actually had three treats today. Hostess Sharon's homemade key lime pie is a subcategory of the Book Club treat. But I must tell you it was scrumptious and deserves its own treat category!

Not bad for a day that started out a bit on the "ick" side.

Oh, Cricut Tree...

We woke up in something like Bizarro World this morning. Daddy and I were up before Carter! It didn't take him long to hear us, then we had to wake up the big boys and get going on the gift opening. Judging by first glance, I would say we all must have been very, very good this year!

The big boys liked their presents (especially since they picked most of them out), Carter liked his iPod and other gifts, Daddy liked our surprises for him and I did not mind the lack of surprises. I got MY Cricut! Thanks, Santa!

It didn't take long before the living room looked like Mount Wrapping Paper erupted! That was about the time Sylvester found her catnip in her stocking and added to the chaos. Gotta love Christmas morning!!

I do. Especially when Daddy makes breakfast. And especially when there are 5 of us here to eat it! The big boys had to leave by 11 to go with their mom to her parents. I was just glad we had a good evening and morning with them. I miss that.

After they left, I went for a 4-mile run in the life-size snowglobe we live in. It was awesome! Big flakes falling the whole time. I felt like Snoopy as I stuck my tongue out catching them.

I'm sure the highlight of everyone's day around here was my demonstration of how the Cricut works. Hubby says, "How long do I have to pretend to be interested?" What a good sport. At least I know I won't have to share it with him. (As if that was a remote possibility.)

The rest of the day and evening was all about family fun for the 3 of us. Watched Bill Murray's Scrooged movie together then, after supper, I dragged out my old Tripoly game and taught those 2 how to play one of my childhood favorites. I don't even mind that I came in last. I just like sharing with them one of the games we (us 4 younger kids) played for hours and hours during our Christmas breaks. I bet you anything (if I had any chips left, that is) that Ron, Rachel and Raylene are reading this and jealous they couldn't be a part of it!

And, true to form, we played until we were staying up way later than anticipated. Not that it matters. I believe we're supposed to be celebrating Jesus' birthday all day ... and we haven't even gotten to the cake yet! (Do we have cake??)

Sure, I thanked Santa for my material gifts. But thank you, Jesus, for all the true gifts that made today special!

Hope your Christmas was filled with blessings of love, family and fun, too!

The Advent Conspiracy

I knew Carter was back to normal this morning when the first thing he wanted to do was rip open Door #1 on the Advent Calendar to get his piece of chocolate. Well, it is German chocolate (straight from the German Club at school) so I guess it's worth getting excited about.

When he first brought it home a few weeks ago, I warned him we'd be doing Advent a little bit differently this year. He's not just going to open the door, see what shape the chocolate is in, eat it and move on with his day. We're going to think a little more about what Advent is.

At my church, we are in the midst of an education series called the Advent Conspiracy. Sounds a little too controversial for a group of Lutherans who normally would only be up in arms if the coffee was cold or there was a "hotdish" with no hamburger in it. But that's not what it's really about.

Their website (www.adventconspiracy.com) says it best:

The story of Christ's birth is a story of promise, hope, and a revolutionary love.

So, what happened? What was once a time to celebrate the birth of a savior has somehow turned into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping lists.

And when it's all over, many of us are left with presents to return, looming debt that will take months to pay off, and this empty feeling of missed purpose. Is this what we really want out of Christmas?

What if Christmas became a world-changing event again?

You see, the "conspiracy" is that there is something more to Christmas than the Black Friday deals and the spiked eggnog at the company holiday party. There was something more -- long ago -- and now we have to find it again. And, along the way, figure out how to Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More and Love All. Those are the 4 lessons of the Advent Conspiracy.

When you think about your favorite Christmas from childhood (or even adulthood), the reason it is our favorite memory more often than not has to do with a special event or person, not a new toy. In my family, I can guarantee we could talk forever about various "acts" in the family Christmas program we still put on for my parents each year. That has nothing to do with spending money, but has much to do with sharing love and sharing in the joy of Christ's birth.

One of the things I am concentrating on (with Carter) this Advent season is giving more to those less fortunate than we are. He donated food to the food pantry through a drive at school. We donated coats and snowpants to our church (which is giving them away to the needy this weekend). We have 2 sessions on the agenda for bell ringing. And each day that he opens up a window on his Advent Calendar, he has to tell me something he is thankful for.

Today I would have thought he'd be thankful for his health, that he feels fine again. But no, he said he was thankful for clothes and his winter jacket. Trust me, that does make sense today! Eventually, I hope he will realize with this exercise that God gives us gifts every day. Few are material things. But that doesn't mean we can't share them, right?

That's a start anyway.

Advent Calendars

My sister-in-law has kept up a wonderful tradition of giving Carter an Advent calendar each year. Part of the fun is the anticipation of opening each window to see what lies behind the cardboard shutter. In our case, we always know it's chocolate of some kind, but what shape will it be in? A snowman? A gift box? An angel?

It's fun to discover treasures as we count down to the celebration of our Saviour's birthday. And much like the Wonderful Life movie, we often find ourselves discovering new things about our lives in the holiday season, too. If we push aside the "shutters" of worry and doubt, we can see a new blessing every day.

I realize that despite the fact that parts of my material world seem to be crumbling around me, I am blessed that my faith, my family and my friendships hold firm. And really, what else is there?

Here's what else I have discovered this Advent season. God is perfect and no one else ever will be. The only person who thinks I need to be is me. I have this sneaking suspicion that God is reminding me I am not even close, though, through little things that go clank in the night.

Yup, it's true. I am pretty sure I am the one with anti-Midas touch. I can't blame Carter anymore. It's my fault we are in appliance hell. I think it's my touch. This morning, when my hair dryer snap-crackle-popped and started smoking, I just laughed. Are you kidding me?

Seriously, where's the hidden camera? Was someone filming while hubby and I "worked together" to put the belt on the dryer? How about yesterday when I had Carter hold the partially shattered mailbox in place while I duct-taped it to the post? What about today when the snowblower was stalling every 50 feet or so?

I want to yell, "Why me? I don't deserve this." But I should yell, "Thanks, God. I'm glad it's me." I'm in my deep thinking mode now and realize I can name a half-dozen people off the top of my head who would trade places with me in a second. A friend who just lost his wife to Lupus. A co-worker praying chemo will keep her dad around for another Christmas. Our racing buddies who just buried their mother. A couple who just learned the wife has breast cancer.

We never know what we will discover when we push that shutter aside. But we know that if we look closely, there's a blessing in each window somewhere. We don't know what shape it will come in, but with some faith we will learn to accept it and maybe even savor it.

I for one am going to keep opening those calendar windows until the ultimate blessing arrives on Christmas Day. Then I can rejoice and yell again: "Why me? I don't deserve this. But thanks, God. I'm glad it's me."

Simple minds, simple pleasures

If you ever wonder why certain sayings became "catch phrases," so to speak, take a good look around you and you are bound to say, "Ahh, that's what they were talking about!"

For example, I'd say "Simple minds, simple pleasures" likely originated in a breakroom in corporate America where employees were ooohing and ahhhing over a new vending machine.

I'm serious. We got a new soda vending machine you'd think was the second coming. People watch as this little robotic plastic holder moves up the machine to their selection, grabs the bottle, travels down to the bottom of the machine and gently places it in the "outbox" so it won't fizz up -- all the while making these cool robotic sound effects.

It actually draws a crowd of spectators when it's in use. And I am a pathetically guilty but willing participant. This morning some co-workers were raving about the new machine. "Let's go use it!" they said. I said I had nothing to buy but I'd go watch!

Oh yes, simple minds, simple pleasures.

Honestly, though I wouldn't consider myself simple-minded, I do find joy in the little things. Besides the vending machine (which provides such obvious fulfillment!), I get a big smile on my face ...

When I read Christmas letters from family and friends. When I see a house with beautiful lights outside. When I buy the last item that means Christmas shopping is officially done (yeah!). When a favorite carol plays on the radio. When I find a little treat from a co-worker at my desk (mint kisses rule!). When I reconnect with old friends. When I catch Carter or Jim under the mistletoe. When I nibble on the occasional treat while downing yet another glass of eggnog (it's an addiction, I know). When the Vikings pull out another ugly win. When Carter tells me how important it is to celebrate Jesus' birthday.

Yep, it's the little things. But some of these fill a big place in my heart.

May you find simple pleasures of your own to treasure this holiday season.

Wise Guys

Carter (center) hams it up with fellow wisemen Clayton (left) and Jeromy.

We've referred to our dear son as a wise guy before but today, for 55 minutes, he was a wiseman -- thanks to the Sunday School Christmas Program.

About 3 years ago we started sharing the story of Jesus' birth through the eyes of a different character each year -- partly to educate the "audience" and partly to keep them from getting bored with the exact same program year after year! We've heard from the shepherds and Joseph, and this year it was the wisemen (otherwise known as the fourth-grade class).

Carter had a few speaking parts today and despite one false start, he spoke with confidence and expression. Despite the fact he was dreading this program for the past few days, on the way he home he said, "That didn't seem very long at all!"

I think he was gauging it by the 2-hour dress rehearsal we had on Friday night. We never really had one non-stop run-through of the program. I often wonder how it all comes together but magically it does. Most of the time, the audience has no idea if there's a goof. Only those close to the project know a line was missed or timing was off. As far as the audience is concerned, it was wonderful.

When you think about it, that's the way it is with a lot of things in life.

At work, my "audience" of readers sees a wonderful publication -- they don't know the errors we caught before press time, the computer crashes we suffered or any other headache we endured. They say thanks for a great product ... and we should just say "You're welcome."

In my personal life, if I've baked or crafted something, my "audience" will marvel at my creativity -- they really don't need to hear me complain about what went wrong, point out my mistakes, how I should have chosen better colors or better ingredients, or criticize my abilities. When they say thanks for sharing ... I should just say "You're welcome."

No need to be a wise guy, eh?