Gathering Together

Posted on October 3, 2015 by For Glory Sake!

My Women’s Biblestudy has taken on marriage as a topic this fall. This has ignited great discussions of everything from how we survived the newly-wed years (mostly poor and in school), to preparing for the empty nest syndrome, complete with hot flashes!

We are staunchly pro-marriage, but within that have found the freedom to say how tough creating a good marriage can be. The choices we’ve all made along the way to keep this thing going were not always easy!

There are scars among our tight-knit group, but lots to celebrate too. So, how do we find JOY in the now after all these years? What do we do with any lost expectations of how it should’ve gone? How can we encourage those coming behind us?

 Life proves rather messy and surprising. If we don’t look carefully, we may miss some of the incredible blessings that have come our way. Getting together in a group to share hurts and happiness brings all the more to light. Stories remind us: we are not where we were… and we shouldn’t give up if we aren’t where we want to be.

There is always hope for change, always room to grow as long as we’re alive. With a good dose of laughter and an aim for fun, we can breathe new life into our marriages. God IS faithful, He is FOR our unions and He has spelled out in His Word that we should gather together and encourage one other in Jesus.

I pray you will seek out a group or just one woman to share life with, it does make a difference. 

ForGlorySake! –Anna 

Me and cousin Ashley
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On The Move

Posted on September 26, 2015 by For Glory Sake!

I’m sitting at the tire store waiting for new treds while thinking, maybe we should go into the moving business. It’s due to the sudden and repeated relocating of this crowd I call family. After growing up in the same house for 18 years, changing addresses seems really odd. 

2014 brought us moving parents OUT of their 50 year old home and us OUT of our 15 year old home, INTO a wheelchair-accessible house where we could care for the whole bunch under one roof! Our oldest son then bought his 1st house – proud parent moment!
And now, a year and a half later, both parents have passed, and 2 more children are off to college so we are looking to move yet again.

Another of our sons is getting married in the midst of these home changes and my husband decided to relocate his office in town, so I’m busy on all fronts. Everything in me resists these changes, yet I see why we must. There’s just no way around another uproot. Waaa

The good news of course: God goes with us. Actually, He goes before us -paving and smoothing the way, shedding His light. I can rest assure He’s directing these changes because I asked Him to and… because He loves us. He’s given instinct, timing and closed doors, advice and even financial limitations. Those are all guides I count as from Him. 

Change isn’t easy, but even moving happens according to His purposes. Bring on the boxes!

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. ‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭58‬ 

ForGlorySake! -Anna

moving the office…
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Opened Heart

Posted on September 10, 2015 by For Glory Sake!


Tuesday, I sat with my two oldest homeschool buddies. All our kids, are nearly grown now. We laughed over having fought so hard to shield them when they were young. We stressed about everything, trying to choose the safest and healthiest options. What mom doesn’t want to protect their babies? We did our best, but there is this thing called free-will.

With all my efforts, I still produced some prodigal children… they are however, my extra special kids. They have greatly humbled me, but also opened wide my vision and my heart. They speak a language that is understood clearly by other kids like themselves. My once strays bring home strays for us to love. And the rest of the family is far more gracious because of it.

Forrest Gump was right, life (and kids) are a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get! It’s a wild and wonderful ride raising them, but hold on to your heart if they’re still young… it’s just beginning. Go ahead, make plans, prepare, and pour Jesus in x10! Just know that God is supremely creative and sometimes what He allows is not as we could imagine.   

He promises, however, that no good foundation will be lost and all our efforts done unto the LORD will be blessed. Nothing is wasted with Jesus! Training up a child in the way they should go… will have its reward. They do come around, just not always in our timing or in our way. If you’re in my shoes of waiting for the return, don’t give up. God is faithful! 

My favorite part of this is that these lost-and-found kids, have been given special privileges with other lost kids. They are extra special. Because of this, I wouldn’t change one gut-wrenching thing. I am who I am, because of the stretching. It has been in the tearing that my heart opened.

ForGlorySake! – Anna

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

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Uprooting

Posted on August 25, 2015 by For Glory Sake!

I love fiddleing with plants and flowers, especially digging around and rearranging. With no formal training …or much guidance, it’s been a tangle of trial and error. Once, I spent a whole year transporting monkey-grass clumps from my parent’s woods to our yard, creating borders around the front, side and back of our yard! 

Most of that project lived, but plenty of other more delicate plants have been killed. :/ One thing I learned was the careful handling of roots. Roots are such vital sources of life. They’re like little nutrient-straws that need plenty of room to grow. 

Moving our Freshman to college seemed as precarious as one of my transplant operations. I suddenly felt this terrible tearing away of heart and soul. It mattered not that we’d prepared. Ugh, if he’d been a plant… dirt was flying, roots were dangling and I wanted us all back in our same little yard! 

I swear Labor was easier. At least then I came home with something more precious than an empty XL duffle bag used for hauling sheets and towels up 4 flights of stairs. My job as Mommy has long since passed, sigh.  Even Mom has looser  connections… though I still hear it as needs arise.  God is full-time Caregiver now. And it’s up to our son to seek Him out.

I know the LORD has been on duty for a long time, but I still felt a-part. It’s tough to be so far away and relinquish all vigilant watch after 17 years! I’m finding myself out of yet another job. Hmmmm -there’s a pattern here. 

God please give this child of ours all he truly needs today in his new spot away from home. Thank You for staying with him and providing room for him to grow. You are his most excellent Gardener. -By the way, I have a big hole that needs filling.

ForGlorySake! –Anna 
  

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Overcoming Fear

Posted on August 21, 2015 by For Glory Sake!

The hotel worker waved and approached me as I entered the pool area where we were staying in New Orleans. I couldn’t understand what she said so I walked closer. We’d met on the elevator the day before. Her lovely smile and gracious words caught me off guard. She remembered me talking about “losing my mind, traveling with 7 kids.”

I’m always meeting strangers… telling my story, hearing theirs. David asks me not to look at people directly if we’re in a hurry. He knows I’ll stop and talk (haha). Today, when she asked me a question I had a minute to chat. Because of her boldness we shared the most lovely moment, like sisters do. 40 years sober, and a mom to extra children like me… Olivia and I found we had traveled similar roads. Kindred-spirits.

“Something about you,” she said. I had felt it too.

How often does fear and insecurity keep us from bridging the gap, reaching out and letting someone come close? The world is chock full of God’s children. A kind word, a smile, a hand shake, even a joke might be the first step in opening the door to a soul who needs our encouragement.

As women, we live in such different worlds, but we share a very common Hope. His name is Jesus. Someday, we’ll live in the same world with that same Hope walking beside us. No more sorrow, no more fear! In the meantime, I pray to be as bold as Olivia. She may never know, the boost she gave me on the weekend I was leaving our son at college.

ForGlorySake! –Anna

New Orleans
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Breathing Room

Posted on August 15, 2015 by For Glory Sake!

Like each previous school year, our house churns and swirls with new schedules and plans for 7 individuals. Its exciting and a tad chaotic, but oh, how I love these people I do life with.

With 1 totally on his own, and 3 in college by this fall (gasp!), my focus has narrowed to the  youngest 2 girls. The baby, midway through middle school has turned out to be quite the companion after so much time together spent caring for my parents (and homechooling). Actually each of our kids have been brought closer to us and each other through this unique experience of in-home elder-care. They have become our friends… as age permits.

With parents tucked safely in Heaven, I’m back in the swing of working for my husband’s law firm. Days have a bit more predictability… there’s even time for daily exercise, art and reading! Isn’t life funny how it can change so abruptly? Truly God is the only solid rock. He is who I wait on to show me the next step. In Him I find all my Hope. He gives me breathing room for my soul. Let the ground quake, my feet stand firm!

Last night our post-prodigal child, who serves Jesus now, asked his soul-mate to share life with him – forever. My husband and I cried as we thought through all that God has done to bring this moment about. What a good God, what a patient God, what a romantic God. Always more than we ask… when we yield. Working on our behalf… when we obey. Patiently, graciously ready.

“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my Hope is in Him. He’s a solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul.” Psalm 62:5-6

ForGlorySake! – Anna

Engaged!
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Dust

Posted on July 19, 2015 by For Glory Sake!

Walking in the door after vacation I could tell it was everywhere. Before I put my hand on the counter or kicked off my shoes, I knew I was surrounded! After the bags came in, I began the attack with my trusty swiffer mop. Noiselessly pushing around, I collected quite a pile. I was horrified by the amount. I blame the dog & cat, like the 7 humans don’t contribute… hah. 

Looking at that gross collection reminded me of anything I ignore for a while. Exercise, eating well, laundry, dishes… Biblestudy. It piles up and gets dusty and I have to trudge through the job of getting it back on track to run smoothly.

I was enjoying this read-through-the-Bible program until I misplaced the schedule and fell behind! When I finally discovered it and saw how much there was to catch up, it took a whole day of my Bible App reading to me. I discovered I actually like listening while I sew or paint. Multitask.

Like swiffering, a little everyday keeps the dust away, especially when it comes to quiet time. I know God is always available, but I need a regular time-out. He gives me something I need- fuel. These spiritual doses of soul food strengthen and encourage. That’s why I wake up early and get a head start. I want that fresh word from Him.

Lord, help me not to neglect the little things that can pile up and cause such a mess. Like our time together, even if it’s short. I need Your input. I need Your thoughts. I need You! 

ForGlorySake! –Anna

yuck
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Addicted to Hope

Posted on July 16, 2015 by For Glory Sake!

I love hope. When I feel down I can’t stay there long. I’ll do anything to change up and scramble away from gloom. I’m like a hope-addict. Hope-filled people can offer such joy, they are treasures from God! Hope is life, like water to a plant… without it we’ll shrivel up.

I have met far too many people who temporarily lost hope. At least I prayed it was only temporary. It  dawned on me that if I looked to anything besides God Himself, my hope gets lost too. It starts to rise and fall according to what is happening. How can we keep it steady?.

Look to the Source: May God, the Source of Hope, fill you with all Joy and Peace by means of your faith in Him, so that your hope will continue to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Everything else will shift and change, only God stays the same. I can have full hope in God because He never changes. God is Who He says He is and can do all He says He can do! 

  • Hope is the belief there’s more to come and I will see it
  • Hope says Change is possible!
  • Hope knows God is using me today and He will do it again tomorrow
  • Hope believes He has a plan and I have a purpose
  • Hope declares “He has gifted you to accomplish good works”
  • Hope holds God will use this  for my good and for His Glory
  • Hope is clear God is molding, shaping, refining me like art
  • Hope understands God is concerned… but it’s more than my happiness He’s after
  • Hope reminds “He won’t leave you or grow tired of you”
  • Hope whispers “He longs to be with you even more than you long for Him”
  • Hope repeats “He loves me more than I can fathom”

Hope does not disappoint!

ForGlorySake! –Anna

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Big Plan

Posted on July 2, 2015 by For Glory Sake!

Home. Our vacation was wonderful… I’d have been happy to stay, but I’m thankful to be back too. We leave again soon to gather all the family and sprinkle ashes near my parent’s favorite summer spot.  So many changes, so much up in the air (…what’s next for us?) and yet, I feel content.

I look around the house and see lots of things I need to accomplish. We have decisions to make and no clear answers from God. I should feel turmoil, still I’ve learned that God has His plan and His own timetable. My loving Father, knows my name and cares – He’s in control. He will direct today, tomorrow and beyond. His dreams for us are bigger than mine. Those are the dreams I want to know, because He can make them happen!

For me, there can be no my way, just His Way will do. And knowing I get to come along for the ride everyday, every moment, watching His awesome deeds (Psalm 65:5) is enough. Changing hearts, working things together for a greater good… I can count on that. Even in the midst of world chaos or confusing social issues – God is at work!

You have your own ministry, so do I. We are fellow heirs (Gal. 4:7) in God’s Kingdom; being fitted together into a holy temple (Eph 2:22). We serve God right where we are, whatever we do as we commit ourselves to Him. Prayers matter… our concern matters… our feelings of being pulled toward another life matters.  

He is molding us to be more like Jesus.
Because He promised.
Because we ask.
Because He wants it more than we do.

So today, I’ll fill up my calendar with necessary appointments and sit at my desk and work hard, not forgetting the One with The Plan. I can hear Him calling, “walk with Me,” “stay with Me,” “know Me, because I long to be known, and

I love with an everlasting love.”

ForGlorySake! -Anna

Sunset Art by God
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Be Thankful!

Posted on June 21, 2015 by For Glory Sake!

When?

When I have a house to clean, people to feed, wash to do, hair to cut, long list of folks to pray for.

When diapers need changing, someone needs bathing or feeding, medicine regulating/ordering/dosing.

When there’s shopping to complete, and more shopping, then returns, carpools, moving, packing, searching, wishing, planning, dreaming, hoping.

When faced with a confrontation, an ugly attitude, bills, a difficult person, improvements to be made,  …results delayed.

When waiting for successes but seeing only failings, disappointments, regrets, illness.

In sunshine or rain, repair or despair, a new dress or PMS. In admiring, loving, playing, enjoying, prayers answered, a tender word.

This is when God said to be thankful IN everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18)… and FOR everything (Ephesians 5:20)

ForGlorySake! – Anna

 
Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. ‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭18‬ AMP

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