Christmas

Every year, we have been reminded repeatedly to... Make room for Christ at Christmas!..Don't forget the real meaning of Christmas!....Remember it's not about the presents or food or partying!

I know all that... so I have determined this year, to JUST DO WHAT I KNOW to bring meaning into our celebrations and enjoy each and every activity to the max. I have been so blessed by the wonderful music of this season.... The outpouring of love from friends and family... The experience of working together with great people to present a drama for Christmas Eve...The beauty of the snow and lights and I don't care if my freezer isn't full of wonderful home baking.

Most of all, reflecting on the incredible fact, that God was willing to come to this crazy world to bring hope, love, joy and peace for someone like me, is Absolutely Amazing!
It's been one of the best.

Busy, Busy

Sometimes I chuckle when I hear myself and others, either bragging or complaining about how busy we are. (how silly) This last weeks snowfall was so beautiful, bright and quiet. Usually, we can hear fast traffic, but for just a short time the sound of an approaching car was slow, muffled, barely audible and q-u-i-e-t.
As I stood amid the snow with shovel in hand, it reminded me to take moments to reflect and be quiet in my spirit and whisper to God my praise, thoughts and feelings.
I love Christmas and I am determined to keep it that way. My own busy schedule is of my own doing, so I will not complain or brag about it, but enjoy each activity and event to the fullest.

Hardwood vs. Lino

The lino in my house has several nicks in it. The pattern has little indentations that trap dirt and the only way to really clean it is with a brush on my hands and knees. I want to rip it out and replace it with hardwood. The cost would be a couple of thousand dollars. (This seems to be the trend these days) Afterall, the house is 13 years old and it's time for a new look, right? The practical side of me says, I could walk on this lino till the house falls down and it would still be OK.
Speaking of renovating.....
We have been discussing the upgrading of our church building with new office space, relocating the reception area for security reasons, moving the library, expanding the foyer, etc.
Of course there are various viewpoints on the subject.

When I read Exodus 25....instructions from God as to what should be used to construct the tabernacle, and I Kings 6-7 details of Solomon's temple, I wonder why the incredible cost, show & pomp.
There were tapestries, linens, onyx gems, imported cedar and acacia wood, gold overlays, bronze, silver, massive pillars, all fashioned by the finest of craftsmen. Unbelievable!
My wildest decorating imagination cannot envision, rationalize or warrant this kind of affluence. I'm sure there were needy widows, orphans, and poor people living nearby. So why such extravagance? Could it be that God deserved the very best?

Now, I certainly would not advocate this kind of over-the-top, lavish spending on our church building, yet we upgrade, change and maintain our homes with the latest decor to suit our whims or needs, but somehow consider it unnecessary in our (almost 30 year old) church facility.
Could we call this a double standard?

In the Still of the Night

It is 3:40 a.m. and my mind is on "rewind" over past events & racing with a list of things that I should do in the coming day, or should have done yesterday. Frustrating!

I have learned that the best antidote for this malady is to relax and take this time to allow God to speak to me in his still small voice....and read, worship and pray.
He reminds me of friends who need my prayers this very minute. So I lift up one who is crying out to God with constant pain, one who is wondering where God is, one who feels the loneliness after the death of his dearest, one who needs a job, one who is discouraged, one who is hoping for restored family relationships, one who needs discipline in studying, one who needs healing from past hurts, one who needs to come to faith in Christ, and one who is looking for that special man.

My spirit is calmed and I rest & sleep.

I Hate Halloween

I am so glad it is past again for another year. Several weeks before October 31st, I walked into my grocery store and was disgusted by this hideous figure of a life-sized man (marked down from $149.00 to $99.00) with an ashen-grey face, ugly teeth, in a long black cloak, leering at me with his vacant, sunken, evil eyes. Most stores were filled with all kinds of grotesque masks, axes, witches, devils, monster costumes, tombstones and countless other morbid items.
People were decorating their houses and front yards with a lot more than a few jack-o-lanterns. I had to drive by a house on my street that had several life-sized bodies hanging from the trees leading to the front door. Since I have gone through the agony of suicide in my family, believe me, that is not funny or appropriate. And this is supposed to be an event for children? There aught to be a law! Fireworks have been banned because of danger, and yet we are promoting something that is far worse..trivializing death, macabre activities and fear.

Halloween reeks of evil, dwells on death and yet it is the fastest growing holiday in North America. And people wonder why violence and killing is on the increase!

As Christians, we should have no part in this holiday and do our best to find wholesome alternatives for our children. God Help Us!

Water, Water, Everywhere

Marie's words were......

"I told my rebellious teen-aged son to move his stuff out of the basement because the Skeena River was threatening to flood its banks. He said, We have lived here for years, we've heard that before and it has never happened, and then he left the house. I moved as much as I could upstairs while friends came to sandbag, but it was no use. Helplessly, I watched the waters rise and seep into my basement and then rush in torrents under the door. What a hopeless feeling! "

"Days later I was finally allowed to approach my home by canoe. My basement was a mess of floating sewer back-up, water logged papers, mattresses, desk, clothing, etc." Despair.



MDS...Mennonite Disaster Service responded to this need. Teams of volunteers flew or drove to Terrace, B.C. to help the flood victims. John & I had just a tiny part in finishing the arduous job that had been done by many preceding volunteer groups, such as mucking out the soaked gyproc, carpets, wiring, plumbing, and walls, then reconstructing the framework, electrical, walls, doors, taping and mudding the new gyproc, then sanding and choking with dust.

My job consisted of filling nail holes, a bit of sanding and painting. Thanks to my encouraging friend, Dorothy, this task was actually enjoyable. John did some carpentry and finishing. He had to be quite creative in hanging doors into frames that had to be adjusted and fit into walls that were far from level or square.

Marie was so appreciative and pleased to see her basement finally finished, clean and new, after this long 5 months process. She could finally move down the displaced items that had been crowding her upstairs living space. She was so excited to do laundry again in her own home, after John & Peter connected her new washer & dryer.

A group of local dignitaries suggested a "wrap-up" event. With cake and gifts in hand, they came to the camp we were staying at, where many tearfully expressed their gratitude for the help and encouragement they had received... from utter despair to hope and a brighter future.

Special new friendships and good memories are a bonus gift.
We are to be Jesus' hands and feet here on earth. I pray that the testimony all of us left behind would have reflected God's love.

Keep Your Eye on the Mark

Call me crazy, but I love cutting the lawn. The lines must be straight so when the job is finished the pattern should be even, perhaps criss crossed or diagonal or back and forth.
This brings to mind what my Dad told me... It was a mark of great pride for the early Saskatchewan farmers to plow a perfectly straight furrow across an immense section of land. This, being done while walking behind a temperamental team of horses and a rickety plow, was no small feat. The secret was to choose a marker in the distance, keep your eye on it and keep walking straight toward it.
(I wonder if the modern day farmers, in their air conditioned,stereo equipped,computerized John Deere tractors still have to do that, or is it just a matter of pushing "cruise-control")

Jesus uses this analogy in Luke 9:62..."No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." Wow!

The apostle Paul reminds us also to keep going, keep focused.
Philippians 3:14...Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward what is ahead, toward the goal .....
Hebrews 12:1 & 2 ...Let us run with perseverance, the race marked out for us, and fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

We start on our journey with Christ, but get so easily distracted by things that cause us to lose sight of the goal and the finish line.
If we could see our "life-furrow" from the sky, I wonder what kind of pattern would emerge?

Sometimes Miracles Hide

I picked up a used CD for one dollar from a sale table. One of the songs, written by Bruce Carroll, speaks of a couple who were eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child. A call from their doctor informed them that the ultrasound showed some serious problems. They were left with a difficult choice...to abort or to let live. They chose life!
At birth, the diagnosis was confirmed that their child would be disabled. From the moment they saw their little one, they realized she was extra-special. God gave them more grace, strength and love beyond what they could ever have imagined.

These are the words to the chorus....
Sometimes miracles hide.
God will wrap some blessings in disguise.
And you may have to wait this lifetime
To see the reasons with your eyes,
'Cause you know... sometimes miracles hide.

As a Grandma of disabled grandchildren, I needed this reminder today.

Shall We Gather at the River

This last weekend we went to visit our friends, Peter and Anna, who decided to move away from this rat race, way up a mountain and homestead...yes, free range chickens, turkeys, emus, llamas, bears, sawmill, log house and all....amazing! (but not for me)

We joined them at their church on Sunday morning and it reminded me of "Little House on the Prairie." About 80 people gathered in a little heritage church, complete with a church bell ringing in the steeple to welcome the worshippers.

The entry was a tiny little foyer which was also served as the kitchen. All sorts of cakes, cookies and sandwiches were ready for a picnic on the ground after the service. Casual interaction between the people and the pastor during the service was interesting and sometimes comical.

A genuine love for God and each other was very evident in their sincere and fervent intercessory prayer. This was a very special Sunday as four young people shared their testimony of faith. After the last amen, the pastor said, "Let's go down to the river and we will baptize them".

The whole congregation walked a few blocks down the road past the old hotel, gathered at the river and watched as the pastor and the four young people waded into the cold, shallow Kettle River to show all onlookers their commitment to follow Jesus. PTL! It blessed my heart.

And it was like a step back in time when things were so much simpler.

Angel --- Aware

Just yesterday, our Sunday morning sermon topic was eyesight (spiritual, that is). Are we aware of the spirit world and angels present among us? Just because we can't see them, doesn't mean that they are not there.

Returning from Vancouver, going east (three lanes) onto the Alex Fraser Bridge, I was following the speeding traffic. The large semi in front of me was slow, so I passed in the left lane and proceeded to merge back into the center lane in front of him. A lady, driving a white van, passing the truck on the right, also began merging in front of him towards me. We both noticed this just a split second before our side-view mirrors touched and we pulled away. Had we side-swiped each other, God only knows what could have happened.

I'm convinced that my guardian angel was sitting in that passenger seat beside me.
I said, "Thank You Lord! Thank You Lord!" all the way home.

Trapped

We just returned from a wonderful time at the lake with kids and friends. Most of our cooking was done on BBQ's and campstoves. But when it came time to sit down to a delicious meal, we had univited guests joining us. It was the year for wasps. People were swatting and running and getting stung all over the campsite.
A sympathetic friend brought an insect trap and set it on our table and it worked. It was also very fascinating to watch....just a jar with a bit of pop in the bottom and a few holes under the sides of the lid which led to a small tube to the inside. It was like a wasp magnet.

If those wasps could speak & think, I imagine it would be something like this.

"Hmm, something in there sure smells good and sweet. Gotta get me some of that. Oh, here's a little opening. Yeah, I'm in. Oh boy, it's kinda tight and hot in here. Help, I can't get out! Forget the pop, I gotta get out of here. Buzz,buzz,bzzzz. Oh dear, here comes my brother, and my cousin, and my friends...Stop you guys! Don't get sucked in too. It's a trap! Too late. Buzz,buzz, bzzzz. It's so hot and I can't breathe. I can't fly anymore, I'm getting tired, I'm goin' down. Help! I'm drowning in this awful warm pop."

Outside more come to investigate. " Wow, there must be something really great going on in there. Listen to all that humming. This is where the action is! Let's join them, everybody's doin' it!"

Several lessons and observations come to mind, but I will let you draw your own conclusions to my little story.

SMILE

"Candid Camera" was a wonderful show, because it made people smile, laugh and forget about their problems for the moment. Every show ended with "Somewhere, when you least expect it, someone might walk up to and say, Smile! You're on Candid Camera."

Sometimes I smile for no apparent reason as I walk through the mall and people look at me with a quizzical "do I know you?" look and usually they smile back.
At the restaurant table next to me, one day, was a group of "special" people communicating with strange odd sounds. I admired how patient and kind their caregivers were with them. As they left, I said "Hi" to one of them and was rewarded with a very loud laugh right next to my face. She was so pleased and excited that someone smiled at her and noticed her as a person.

Elementary school joke. What's the longest word in the dictionary? Answer - SMILES
'Cause there's a mile between the two SS.

Harmony

The story is... that when I was just a little girl, my mom and dad set me on a chair between them as we sang as a trio in the little country church. Mom sang alto and dad sang tenor and I was taught to sing the melody, so I learned to harmonize at an early age. I have been blessed to be part of a heritage that can sing four part harmony easily.
As teenagers, my sister & I and two of our friends formed a ladies quartet. Every week we got together to practice. However these "practices" were often filled with so much giggling, laughing & talking, that we often got a reminder from our parents to get back to singing. We learned a lot of songs and were often asked to sing at evening services. I was reminded of one of those songs a few days ago when I read Psalm 103.
I can still hear the rich 4-part harmony as we sang....
"From everlasting, to everlasting.
God's mercy falls where'er we be.
Oh soul forget not, His boundless blessings
Our father e'er remembers thee."

HARMONY....what a beautiful word! It can be a blend of colors, a family living together in unity, a delicious mix of herbs and spices, sights and sounds of nature, a marriage of minds, the restoration of broken relationships, an orchestra in symphony, or the blended voices of a chorus.
Harmony only happens with togetherness... No Solo acts. One single person, one voice, one color, one note, one thing, cannot produce harmony unless it joins with another.
I miss the choirs, octets, and trios. It takes much more time and effort to pull together a group than sing a solo, but the rewards and blessings are much greater as we work and practice together. I hope and pray that the next generation would see its tremendous value.

"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers and sisters, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because you were called to this, so that you may inherit a blessing." 1 Peter 3:8&9

What a wonderful world it would be if harmony reigned!

Giving..a Blessing

I was paying for my groceries when a rather distraught young lady approached the clerk saying, "I was just here and I lost a ten dollar bill. Did you find it or did someone turn it in?" She got a short reply, "No".
As I was unloading my groceries, I noticed this same lady rummaging through her trunk, frantically searching for the money. As I drove out of the parking lot, a voice said to me, "Go give her ten bucks."
I turned around and pulled over while saying to the Lord, "If there's a ten in my wallet, I'll give it to her." But there were just two twenties and a five. "Oh well... Too bad. She'll probably be gone anyway by now." But I drove there and she was still searching her car. I pulled in the spot beside her and said, "Are you OK?" She answered, "No. I just lost ten dollars." You should have seen her face when I handed her a twenty. Tearfully, she said, "You just made my day!"

It sure is more blessed to give than to receive. I was blessed more than she was!

Celebrate Life

My last week consisted of a bridal shower, a wedding, a 60th birthday party and two funerals.
At each event, I met wonderful friends & relatives. (like a reunion) Each celebration was very different with a wide gamut of emotions.
The bride-to-be was showered with gifts and blessings...eagerly awaiting her big day.
The bride was gorgeous in all her finery...nervously awaiting the walk down the aisle.
My cousin enjoyed her birthday party immensely with lots of laughter & fun.

Then there were the funerals.....
I must say, I enjoyed them too. There were many tears but there was also celebration for two very different persons, because we knew that they are in the presence of their Saviour and at rest & peace. No more sickness, no more struggles.

My friend, Carol (I feel) was too young to die. She was a most open, honest person with no pretentiousness. She was real. Her love for God was so evident.
This was reflected in her choice of simple songs when she sang solos with that beautiful clear soprano voice. What a blessing she was to so many people!

My Uncle John, at 93, had a long good life. He was spared physical suffering and died peacefully. He was quiet, had a sly sense of humor, and had a sure, steady faith in God.
He openly loved his wife of 60 years and patiently spent hours with her in the care home.

When we reflect on memories shared, after all the anecdotes and funny stories, in the end all that really matters and is of eternal value is our relationships with people and God. After each funeral, I renew my resolve to remember this.

I'm Sad

Today I feel sad, not for me, but for friends and family members that are so dear to me.

We just returned from a trip to visit relatives. My sister-in-law has dementia and didn't know who we were and her husband is in rehab after a stroke. This aging thing is no fun.

My neighbour and some good friends are battling for their lives against that Cancer monster.

Some of my siblings are struggling with constant pain and debilitating disease.

My Aunt is very sick and frail and could be breathing her last any day.

My Grandson was so very sick yesterday.

I'm reminded of a song..."Everybody want's to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die".
It's the process of getting there that is so difficult.

Again, I cry out to God for all these people and I read Psalm 23. Thank God, our shepherd is always there to comfort and guide.

Looks aren't Everything

You are waiting in a line-up. In front of you are two mothers with two little girls.
The one little girl is rather unattractive, making strange sounds and obviously disabled. The other is beautiful, has big blue eyes and curly blond hair.
Which one will you smile at and perhaps coo with and talk to? Which one will you ask, "What's your name? How old are you?"

The one mother gets many compliments on how cute her little girl is. The other mother feels the hurt once again, ignored..... perhaps with a glance of pity, sometimes even disgust.

We look at the outside appearance, God sees the heart.....yours and mine too.

Hurry,Hurry

This morning I am reminded of a song on an old cassette tape by a group named "Alabama".

I'm in a hurry to get things done, Oh, I rush and rush until life's no fun.
All I really got to do is live and die, but I'm in a hurry and don't know why.

Isn't it crazy that we even get impatient driving behind someone who is doing the speed limit.
SLOW DOWN AND LIVE!

The Sandwich

Forrest Gump said "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get". That sure is true. Life is also like a sandwich. All of us are part of the layers.
The top slice of bread is made up of ages 40 and younger . The bottom slice would be ages 65 and over (of course, in every family situation this varies). In between, is the filling - "the sandwich generation". Each of these time periods come with interesting challenges and demands.

Since I married young, straight off the farm, I had a lot to learn about life on my own. I sort of grew up with my kids. (This time was the top slice of bread) We were getting established at work, stretching the dollar to make ends meet, going to night school & summer school, taking kids to lessons and activities, and very active in our small church. My Dad loaned us some money for a down payment on a beautiful half acre lot which cost us $4,000 dollars. Here we built our first home. Basically, life was good..... till one morning my brother phoned and said, "Dad committed suicide." Talk about life coming to a screeching halt, like your head hitting the windshield!!

Suddenly I found myself in between the slices of bread. My mother-in-law was a widow and looked forward to our visits. Now my mother's life had come crashing down around her, our close family..shattered. We rallied around her the best we could, but my four siblings, our extended families and I were reeling emotionally also. We didn't know how to handle this, but we were carried on wings of prayer. Yet, sometimes I felt like the pastrami and cheese squished between mayonaise, tomato & lettuce. My children and husband were very important and so were our mothers. Each needed my time, love and support. I felt pulled in both directions. Many of you can identify, I'm sure.
As I reflect on this time 30 years later, I praise God for his healing, strength and grace. My mother was a stalwart..... totally leaning on God to carry her through that devastating experience.
She didn't make us feel guilty or feel sorry for her. Totally amazing!

I do not regret... the many trips to see her...bringing her flowers... taking her clothes shopping (where we would laugh in the changing room, because nothing would fit her short, pear-shaped body) ...the many dinners at Chicken Chalet..... the surprise 66th birthday party....listening to her repeated stories...and being at her side when she passed away.
I do regret my lack of respect and appreciation for her when I was younger and not saying,"I love you" more.

To my friends who find yourself in the middle of the sandwich, where young and older both vie for your time, care and love... take heart. All too soon they will be gone and won't need you anymore.
The true reality is.... that I am now the bottom slice of the sandwich. Yikes!

Pruning

Just give me a clipper or an electric hedge trimmer and I'm in my glory. My rosebushes and evergreens cringe when they see me coming with them in hand. Plants actually go into shock from severe pruning, but when it is done correctly, they soon thrive and flourish. My rose bushes fight back with their thorns, but I keep telling them that it is for their own good that I am cutting away the dead and weak branches. Gorgeous summer blooms will be my reward. I stand back to make sure the green hedge is trimmed level and even. Aah..beautiful and tidy.

The analogy of pruning is used in John chapter 15 where God is portrayed as a gardener, pruning out branches from the grapevine that are not bearing fruit and pruning the good ones to produce better crops. We are compared to the branches of a vine. God uses many things to shape us into what he wants us to beccome and this can be painful. Testings such as sickness, disappointments and convictions from his Spirit point out things that shouldn't be in our lives. This is never a pleasant experience but he is a careful, skillful, loving pruner who can shape us into something beautiful, reflecting His character.....if we submit and allow him to.

Glen

What a character! I met him about 10 years ago while visiting the seniors rest home. He could be seen flying down the hallways in his wheelchair, kibitzing with the nurses and teasing other residents. This was his favorite line. "I'm the trouble maker around here. I cause trouble and then I help them solve it."
While just a young man of 31, Glen was stricken with Multiple Sclerosis, which had immobilized his lower body, however he had a keen mind and a quick wit. Determined that he would walk again, with a lot of hard work and therapy, he managed a few steps, yet remained confined to that chair for 30 years. He was kind of brash and loved to argue and talk rather than listen. He didn't get many visitors, so my brother, Dave, became his friend and visited him almost every Sunday.
When I was hired to do some gardening around the residence, he would come wheeling down the sidewalk with a cheery hello and off to the local store to buy his lottery ticket.

A few months ago, he was taken to the hospital with pneumonia. It was a sad day at the residence, when they got the news that Glen had passed away at the age of 63. They miss his humour, spark and chatter. The Christmas Party was not the same without him in his Santa suit and the cheery, Ho! Ho! Ho!

I remember him asking me about the different flowers I was planting and offering his unsolicited advice. Pansies were his favorite flower because they looked like smiling little faces. He would park his wheelchair near by and sit in the sun and soon fall asleep. I observed underneath all that bravado, a sad lonely man who had a very hard life and yet made it his mission to bring a smile to peoples faces.

Rain,Rain, Rain

The other day I was complaining about the continual rain, rain, rain, rain. I am so tired of it and my little 3 year-old granddaughter said, "But Grammie, the ducks just love it."
Driving around our area, we see swollen rivers and lakes in places where they shouldn't be, causing havoc in many low lying areas. My sympathies to those who are experiencing tremendous hardship, damage and distress due to flooding.
But there is a field near by, covered in water, attracting hundreds of various fowl species. They are happily having a huge,wonderful party, this menagerie of seagulls, geese & ducks. When I hear the frogs they remind me of a giant choir practice, each one trying to out-croak the other, hoarse and off-key. They're lovin' it.
Now Noah comes to mind. Just imagine having to stay inside your house for forty days and forty nights, hearing nothing but continual heavy rainfall on the roof and you couldn't get out.
It's not so bad, so let's stop our whining. This too will pass.

Shopping Makes Me Sad

Many women love to go shopping., I don't. As I wander through a shopping mall, it makes me sad to see store after store filled with so much merchandise that we really don't need. Think about it.....how many brands, models, colors there are of toothpaste, shampoo, diapers, socks, yogurt, microwaves, compact cars, Tshirts, toys,etc,etc. The selection is so vast, that we have this compulsion & stress to find exactly the right thing at the best possible price and will drive miles to get it.
I am also sad when I see another Mega Box-store building going up. As I look at them, I see many dreams shattered again because small family businesses are forced into bankruptcy because they can't compete .
Years ago, I worked in the only flower shop in town. When people wanted to send flowers, they automatically called our shop. Trends changed when others, such as gas stations, grocers, large chain stores and it seemed like everybody and anybody, began to sell flowers too. My boss, Cathy, became so discouraged & depressed as she saw her dreams and investment slipping away, that she just closed the doors one day and left everything.

In many countries the baker still sells bread, the butcher still sells meat, the farmer still sells his produce, the tailor still sews the clothes. People still know each other by name and there is a sense of community and friendship. I don't experience this at Costco. (Yes, I confess, I shop there too.)
My greatgrandfather stood in line for hours to buy a loaf of bread, only to be told to go home because the shelves were empty.
There's a serious virus going around, even in our churches. It's called "affluenza". We have too much, but still want more and that makes me sad.

What's in a Name

When you think about it, naming a child is an onerous thing. He/she will be stuck or labeled with it for life, unless, of course, they hate it so much and have it legally changed. Ann Landers once wrote in her column that people assume characteristics or even looks, to suit their name. She wrote, "People with a name like Esther are sort of cow-like...." whatever that means. I have never cared much for her opinions after that unflattering comment. We usually like or dislike a name because it reminds us of someone who is either a wonderful person or a first class jerk, so this often determines what we name our children.
Let me tell you about one of the neatest memories I shared with my Dad. I was about 10 years of age when he took me (just me) to see a drama of the biblical story of Esther, performed by the local high school. I was mesmorized by the lighting, the glamour of the gowns, and the superb acting as the story came to life on stage. The plot included everything... suspense, a fashion show, a beauty contest, a pompous ruthless villain, palace royalty, anti-Semitism, the battle between good and evil, and a happily everafter ending.(Spielberg couldn't do better)
When I consider the qualities that Queen Esther portrayed, I would like to be like her. Smart, tactful, patient, courageous, godly and of course dropdead-gorgeous. I was not blessed with the last attribute, but I hope I'm still growing in the others.

Speaking of names, recently I was doing flowers for the wedding party. Here are some of the name labels I put on the boutonnieres....Samuel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, John, Israel, Matthew, Andrew, Stephen & David. How's that for a biblical family tree?
When people hear our name, I wonder what attributes come to mind?