Some of my Christmas People

I have been thinking lately about all the people in my life who have been "Christmas in the flesh" to me.  That is, who have embodied the real message of Christmas to me, all year long.  Some have been in Heaven now for many years, and some are still living, though maybe not in my current area.  I decided to write about some of these people, in tribute to my great affection for them.  To do this more easily, I am using an acrostic with the letters in Christmas.  This, of course, limits me to those mentors whose names begin with those 8 different letters.  To those of you who know you should be on my list, accept my apologies and know that eventually I will think of a list that will enable me to include you!  I am very good at lists, you know....

C is for Camilla Henry, who was part of our church in Rome, New York.  We pastored there from 1968 until 1975.  Camilla was raising her grandchildren at that time and was very much a part of our fellowship.  She was very loving and very giving, especially to a young pastoral couple.  My biggest memory is of the time we had to take our newborn Daniel to the hospital in Syracuse for NICU care, due to an immature liver.  We took our camper and set it up near the hospital and stayed there so I could nurse him until he was released.  One day when "Cam" passed her bank, God told her to draw out a specific amount for us to help in the expenses.  She obeyed, and, of course, it was exactly the amount we needed.  I am so thankful for God's servants who hear and obey His voice!

H is for Helen Nichols, my Diabetes Educator here in Custer.  In 2008 I really needed an understanding friend to guide me through those first frightening days of my diagnosis.  Helen was so very caring, and seemed to know just how to teach me what I needed to know - in the way that I would best learn it.  She became personally involved in my life and I will be forever grateful!

R is for my friend in Oshkosh, Ramona Kugler.  She was the only one I can really call my "soul sister" and God gave her to me before I even met her!  Before we were even introduced in 1989, I saw her across the room and said to my husband, "Oh, there are the Kuglers!"  We all racked our brains for years to figure out how I knew them when we had never met.  Ramona became my best friend and we shared much in the short time we had before she died from an infection incurred during a successful liver transplant.  I did not have a chance to really say goodbye and when I felt her appear to me in a dream/vision a few days later, to say goodbye to me, I asked God if He would really do that for me - let her come to say goodbye to me.  He said that yes, He would.  And I asked if He really gave her to me before we even met, and He said that yes, He did.  There are very few occasions when I have felt as much love as I did in that moment!

I is blank because I just cannot think of a person whose name begins with I for this list.  Maybe sometime.

S is for Susie Treyz, a part of the church family that led me to Christ in Binghamton, New York.  Sister Treyz cared for me and loved me into the Kingdom.  She was a great prayer warrior and I always wanted to be like her.  One thing I remember is her entry in my Autograph book, "Be good, sweet maid.  Let all who will, be clever."

T is also blank because God has not brought to my memory anyone whose name begins with T.

M is for my mom, Mildred Brown.  There is not paper enough to list all the Christmas qualities that she embodied to me, and to our whole family.  Her love, caring, generosity, patience, advocacy, shepherding, her peace-making, her gentleness....well you get the picture.  I want to be just like her when I grow up!

A is for Andy and Barb from Lincoln, generous in our times of need, friends always.

S is also for Skippy Beckwith, our first and best and most loving baby-sitter!  She will live always in our hearts.

James 3:17 says that "...the wisdom that comes from Heaven is first of all pure and full of quiet gentleness.  Then it is peace-loving and courteous.  It allows discussion and is willing to yield to others; it is full of mercy and good deeds.  It is wholehearted and straightforward and sincere."  (TLB)  My Christmas People embody this wisdom and have "set the bar" for me. They have been Christmas gifts to me through the years.  Do you have such a list that you can use during your praise and prayer time this Christmas season?  If so, tell that to Jesus, and then tell that to the people involved.  Maybe you will become a gift to them, in this way!

Ten Ways to Get Through the Winter

Everyone who knows me knows that I really want to be somewhere warmer for the next 6 or 7 months. Since that is (yet again!) not happening, I have compiled a list of ways to make it through the Winter here in Custer. I would welcome your input, if you are feeling so inclined:

1. Make sure I have 5 layers of clothing for each day between November 1 and April 1. Last year, I realized that 3 layers just wasn't going to cut it.

2. Do more journaling and blogging. I am considering a project called, "Proverbs By Marj." The first one is inspired by our daily walk through town. It goes like this: "It is hard to walk in unity with someone who is constantly kicking the stones." Can you relate to that on a spiritual level or on a physical level? If so, write and let me know how it speaks to you.

3. Be more serious about Bible Study and prayer. I need to be reminded of Who I am reading about and praying to, though I am sure my grammar is suspect in that sentence...

4. I need some warm boots.

5. I need to laugh more this year. I know I am too serious and that laughter will help me be healthier and happier.

6. I am trying to put a positive spin on all my negatives. This will take some study, I think.

7. Since my diabetes diagnosis and the need to monitor my eating and health so closely, I have spent way too much time focusing on me. More thought for the needs of others might make me forget that I am constantly feeling way too chilly (both inside the building and outside).

8. I will make lists of things about Custer that make me thankful and happy.

9. I will find a way to go to Wrangler for breakfast 6 days out of 7 from November 1 to April 1. Well, that would sure make me feel better, don't you think? Maybe this one won't be possible, but I can try.

10. Now here is where you can help me. I need suggestions, people. Time is running out and I need a plan.....

Thinking about Family Ties

Today it is warm and sunny and has been for several days. I thought I should probably note this fact since I spend much time complaining about the weather. I doubt that my wishing for warmer climes will cease, however, so don't get too excited about today!

What I am thinking about more is various family members who rarely get notice in this blog. It occurred to me that I have not mentioned Dan, even though I wished a public happy birthday to each of my other kids in 2009! That was just an oversight that I thought I would correct before we celebrate another Thanksgiving - wouldn't want him to pretend that I am not his mom because I snubbed him. And, after all, he is the one who set up this blog site in the first place so that I could complain to my heart's content! His birthday was in June and I promise that next year I will note it properly. He is such a good kid and deserves many blessings!

I have spent many hours in prayer this past week for my sister in New York. She is my only surviving sister of the 7 girls that God gave to my mom. She lost her husband 2 years ago and has had a hard time getting through that loss. Each passing of a family member has been hard on me, as it is for everyone. I have 2 brothers left and at least one of them has had a rough year with family and finances, so I have been thinking much about all of them lately.

I also have 2 daughters-in -law who are a treasure to me but who get little notice in this blog. Stacy and Katy, I love you both and thank God daily for the support and love that you provide for my sons and for your love and care of Dad and me! May God give you peace and joy and any other requests you currently have out!

Holly, Julie, Claire - I love you much and pray for you daily, for your present and for your future. May you find Jesus sufficient for all of your problems today. I think that covers everyone that I have not mentioned previously - just so you know that I do think of you and thank God for you. Please take time today to thank God for our family - all of them - and remember that as life goes on you all will become ever more important to each other. Don't let anything get in the way of your love and care for every brother and sister you have been given. I know that I really miss all of mine, and I also know that I did not treasure them all while they were around. I was too human all those years and I would want better for you kids and grandkids and great-grandkids of mine! So, God bless and be ready for Thanksgiving Day this next week - make it the best one yet!

God is good!

Today is a beautiful day in Custer - not too hot, not too cold, not too wet, not too dry. And I've been out to coffee twice this week (it doesn't take much to make me happy). I got to hear from Josetta this past week and my husband finally got a newer tire for the Explorer and all four tires are balanced and whatever else you do to make the car run smoother. The monthly bills all look to be paid in a timely manner, and Jennifer has set a wedding date for October 10 (I pray "the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise"). I also got a new phone so that now I can talk more than a few minutes before the battery runs down. Now, if only my curly perm I got last week was really curly, I think I might be totally happy, but it is pretty close to 100% today! So, I think it is a good time to testify to God's provision for me and mine. Not everyone has all they seem to need, and not everyone feels really healthy today. Still, we can thank Him for all that He has done and is doing to make us more like Him and to be a beacon for Him in this world. We still have a few really important prayer requests out for family members and friends, but we have the assurance that He hears and answers according to His perfect will if that is what we really desire, and we do! God is good, and today I reaffirm that, loud and clear!

Life is interesting these days

Today Stacy, Lisa, Sandra, and I went out to coffee to discuss the new year of Oasis coming up. These ladies and LauraLea will possibly constitute our staff for the 2009-2010 program year. It is usually exciting to start something new and I feel that way about this project. We all liked our meetings last year and are trying to keep the good parts and improve on the less than satifying parts from 2008-09. Looks like this year we will do more Bible study in our monthly meetings and try to do additional personal outreach on the side. I have been massively "bummed out" since our ladies meetings were changed from missions to only fellowship more than a decade ago. I really miss the missions study, prayer, and fund-raising that used to be our special job. But since that no longer seems to interest the younger ladies, we have changed our emphasis to fellowship, personal growth, and outreach . By the time I adjust to this, I will probably be in Heaven with a new kind of emphasis (constant worship and praise!) . This getting old stuff is not as nice as it is supposed to be. I am always out of step, it seems. What I wanted when I was young, I no longer want. And what I want now that I am older, is hardly ever available to me. Ah, well.....I guess we are all in the same boat. Life is a lot of difficult situations mixed in with a lot of wonderful stuff. But we often miss the significance of it until it is too late. I am glad to be able to find more time for prayer, but the prayer needs seem to be increasingly more serious. It is a good thing that the answers to our needs depend upon the one being prayed to and not on the one doing the praying! My faith never seems big enough to cover the needs, but He is certainly big enough to provide the answers. As your day wears on, be assured that I am bringing your needs to God and that He is hearing and answering. He loves you even more than I do, and that is saying a lot! Pray also for me that I will have wisdom for the jobs He has given me to do, including Oasis.

On a positive note....

I guess when you are writing to release frustrations or to vent about life in general, it serves you right when things go well for awhile, leaving you with no inspiration (or need) to write! Lately, God has been answering prayer and reminding me how much He cares for me. This last week I spent many hours in prayer for several of my loved ones who were on a long and difficult road trip. You would think I would be able to rest in God's demonstrated protection of them and maybe relax, or at least sleep at night! Not so, this time. And do you all know what stress does to glucose levels? It was not a pretty thing....leading to some depression and down time. That has passed and things are back to normal, I think. I had a good session with my diabetes educator this morning, and came away quite encouraged. My weight refuses to grow, but everything else looks okay. I have my next A1C count next Friday, so we will see if I am doing as well as we all think. Now, if only this Winter (Spring?) weather would settle down for more than a day or two at a time and give me the sunny days I so desperately need - well, then I think I would have to change my blog to reflect God's marvelous care of me and mine. What do you think?