Christmas Season!

Thank you, God, for loving us so much that You would give your One and Only Son for us. The love of the Lord is overwhelming! Thank you for making a way for us when we were lost and in darkness. You sent your Son, the Light of the world, to walk among us and to make a way out of the darkness. Your Gift of love is our only salvation and You are the Way, the Truth and the Life.

This Christmas, I am blessed to be with Jeremy and Crystal and their children. Our children have called or Skyped and I am thankful for family and friends from all over who have contacted me with loving and kind thoughts. We await the birth of a precious little boy any day now.

Christmas will never be the same because my Lonnie is not here with us. I know I will always miss his fun and witty ways, his kindness and his love, but Christmas will still be sweet and there will be people and things to be thankful for in this life. And if there were nothing else, we have a God whose love is unfathomable!

Jeremy recites the following verse to their boys nearly every night when they go to bed, "The joy of the Lord is our strength!" This is a verse I have sung or said since I was teenager. I am learning in new ways that it is true and it has been put to the test this past year.

Joy to the world, the Lord has come! The joy of the Lord is my strength!

Thank you that you gave us such precious children and grandchildren and more on the way. Such love and joy!

Insight from Oswald Chambers

Jeremy set up my computer so I can read from "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers. A portion of the reading today said the following: "There will come a time when God will make you impatient with your own experience, and you can truthfully say, “I do not care what I experience— I am sure of Him!”

And He knows! He said not to lean on our understanding but to trust in Him. He knows!

Love in the Christmas Season

Happy Anniversary, Zach and Tiffany! This picture of you and your Isaiah is so precious! Seems like just yesterday you were getting married and now it's been how many years? Your life of love and commitment to each other and to the Lord is a blessing to us all!

ZayZay, such a precious little expression on that face. Gotta love it!

November Birthdays

As we approach the celebration of the most important birthday of all, that of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ, I want to remember some very special precious people born last month. Oh, and we are very excitedly awaiting the birth of our new little grandson any time this month. Thank you Lord for new life!

32 years ago, Lonnie and I welcomed the sweetest little boy to be born up to that time (excluding baby boy Jesus, of course). Well, that's what we felt and thought! We were so grateful to the Lord for this little boy who was born so near Thanksgiving Day. How appropriate! Jeremy Brandon arrived on the scene weighing 8 lb 3 oz and was 21 inches long. He did not cry when he was born and Lonnie always talked about how he had his eyes wide open, just looking around. I believe he is around four days old in this picture. My Uncle John and Aunt Susann came to visit with their two daughters when Jeremy was born and Uncle John just recently sent these pictures to Jeremy. What a proud daddy and mommy! Jeremy has been such a blessing to us over the years and continues to bring joy, love and comfort to our entire family. I thank God for his loving heart and his passion for life!

Fast forward to 2005 and the birth of Logan Brock in the same month of his proud daddy. What a precious little boy Crystal and Jeremy have! He is learning and growing and is an absolute joy to be around! He loves Jesus and talks about Him as he comes and goes....even in the doctor's office yesterday. He was in conversation with another grandmother who was there with her daughter and baby. He was telling her about Christmas and about baby Jesus being

born in Bethlehem. The woman, just out of the blue, said, "Some people say Jesus was a woman." I was taken aback and Crystal said I lightly gasped when she said this to Logan. But Logan immediately responded, "No, Mary was going to have a son because God told the angel Gabriel to tell her that." He spoke the truth so clearly and with such authority and boldness! He is learning about our Savior and is able to witness of it even at his young age. I am amazed by the words that come from his mouth....nuggets of truth. He also has wonderful imagination and creativity! What a Thanksgiving gift from our Lord to his mommy and daddy, and his granmommy and grandaddy as well as the rest of the family!

And now I must mention one more very special November birthday! Terri Rippy....words cannot do justice to what she means to me. She and Mike have been the best of friends to me and also to Lonnie. Terri, who does this....makes amazing cakes (I mean wedding cakes, birthday cakes that are not the kind I make with M&Ms, sprinkles and candles but unbelievable masterpieces), knits stockings, makes quilts, takes beautiful pictures, and is a beautiful singer too? But what is most important is that she is the best grandmom, mother and wife that a family could imagine (I have that on good authority). Then she becomes Auntie Terri to our family along with Uncle Mike! Well, there are just not hours in the day and somehow she does it! And I am just scratching the surface. She is a source of wisdom, kindness, comfort and love to me and to our children. So, as I said, words cannot express!

I celebrate these November birthdays of our firstborn amazing son, firstborn amazing grandson and my (you guessed it) amazing friend! Truly amazing! I am thankful!

Words

Just a thought this morning.... "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer."

We recited this verse every morning at the Christian school I attended for 4th and 5th grades. Mrs. Little was our teacher....around 12 children in a small school in Montana with many different grades. What a task she had!

I understand why this might be the verse she chose for us to memorize and recite. I hope that my words today and my thoughts and meditations are pleasing to our Lord who is my strength and Redeemer.

Making Memories in Hawaii

Just returned from Hawaii and enjoyed sweet time with Jason and Sunnie, Stella and Judah. What a gift that was for me and it brought back many special memories of the 3 years we lived in Hawaii. We made more precious memories during this past week. We stayed at

Bellows Air Station, traveled to the north shore, enjoyed famous shaved ice, went to New Hope Church, had fun "beaching" with Judah and Stella, visited the Dole Pineapple Plantation, snorkeled and saw the amazing fish at Hanauma Bay and so much more.

A true highlight was being able to spend time with Jen and Steve McDonald, both at the beach and in their beautiful home. We saw Gabriel hard at work right when we arrived on the island. Anna and Grace entertained our little ones with all kinds of fun activities and getting to enjoy Anna perform her Irish dances (Grace joined in on one of them) and hear Grace play the piano was such a treat. May God bless them all and keep Matt safe and well as he is away at college! Thank you for your zest for life and for your joy, McDonald family!

When we lived in Hawaii we had so many family adventures! Jeremy was an 8th grader when we first arrived and he learned to drive in Hawaii when he was 15 years old! Is that not incredible that we allowed him to drive on the island when he was 15? He was an excellent driver (as far as I know). He spent a lot of time with his daddy driving before we let him take off on his own. But he did drive on the island and I was always so thankful to the Lord when he arrived home safely. Having children really helps to develop your prayer life and your trust in the Lord that He loves them even more than we do.

Tiffany was in kindergarten, Jen a 4th grader and Jason in sixth grade when we first arrived on the island. It's amazing how you can be living life with your own children and how we can remember things differently....and not just your children. Sometimes I would be telling a story and Lonnie would get that funny look on his face and say, "Hmmmm, that's not exactly how it went," or "That's not quite how I remember it" and always with that cute grin on his face.

It must be perspective. I would love to have our children pick a day, a vacation, a family outing and write down things they experienced in their lives on that occasion and then compare it to what I "thought" was happening at the very same time. I think it might be interesting. Well, but then again, it might be hard for me to remember! Just kidding! I'd do my best. Just wish Lonnie were here to help me remember.

Jason and Sunnie, Stella and Judah, thank you for the precious memories we made this past week. Excellent company, sunrises on the beach, precious talks and conversations, rides in the car to places all over the island with Hawaiian music playing, Jason's body boarding at Sandy's, surfing at Kaneohe, Waimea, his incredible surfing time with Aaron, watching the big waves at Pipeline,

delicious food including L&L Hawaiian BBQ, Jason's BBQ with Sunnie's yummy cooking, sweet children enjoying the sand and the water and also learning about rolling the car window "up" and "down," little pretty princess Stella and sleepy little "honey bunny" Judah at the PCC show, pancakes and so much more! I miss you all already! Thanks for the memories! Help me to remember!

One thing we will always remember is the love we have for one another!

All of us! We are blessed!

My Words Cannot Express....

The steadfast love of the Lord never changes, His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22, 23

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is my strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.' Isaiah 41:13

Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Thanking God that He is Emmanuel, God with us, and for "His Word" today because I don't even know what to say today.

Logan asked his daddy earlier today, "Did you know that God can lift up trees? Did you know God can lift up a building?"

Jeremy said, "Logan, did you know that God can move mountains?"

Logan replied with this precious question, "Daddy, did you know that God can lift you up?"

Well said, sweet young man!

October Celebrations

Happy Birthday to Crystal! We celebrate your life. What a treat to be able to be with you on your birthday this year! You are so delightful and precious! And your little one is growing and going to be here soon to join his big brothers. What fun we will have with the Barker boys!

Congratulations on your anniversary, Jason and Sunnie! What an amazing couple you are! You bless me so much! I am so excited about your new little baby that is on the way. Stella and Judah are going to have so much fun with this little Barker!

And speaking of new life, I was skyping with Jen the other day. Zoe was showing me a little blanket that I had made her. I asked her to show me her little baby. She walked over to her mommy and patted her tummy. I exclaimed, "Jen, are you going to have a baby?" Jen laughed and told me yes, but she and Benji were going to wait to tell me together. Well, Zoe beat them to it. The funny thing is the next day and every day after when I asked Zoe where her baby was, she would walk over and get one of her baby dolls. Just that very first time, she went to her mommy and patted her tummy. So sweet!

Tiffany and Zachery, we rejoice in your very precious pursuit as well and know the Lord is leading you in this as well. He knows all about your little ones and is guiding you.

The family is growing! Thank you, Lord, for your loving kindness and faithfulness!

Jennifer, Zoe, and Benji (illustrated by Jennifer Horning)

August-October Journey

It is hard to believe that October is here and is going by so quickly. I arrived back in MA after a precious time with the amazing Rippys. I was in Alabama over the last half of August and the month of September. It was a privilege to be able to play keyboard at Evangel Temple with their worship band and choir with Ashley....a true blessing for me. Most of all, I treasure any opportunity to spend time with "Uncle Mike and Aunt Terri." What gifts you all are to me and our family!

During this time, I was able to spend sweet time with Tiffany and Zach and their little Isaiah. We visited with Kim and my Aunt Susann and Uncle John, Linnea and her family. On the way home, I swung by to see Tiffany and Zach and Isaiah again and then saw my sister Karen and her family. What a delight it was to meet my baby sister's first grandchild, little Isabella who was born on Lonnie's birthday!

And tucked in this month was a sweet visit with my friends Laurie and Susie and her family in Virginia. How we laughed and we cried and we laughed and cried again and laughed! While in that part of the country, I was able to visit with friends from the chaplain corps. "Uncle Scott," thank you for helping me with my concerns from way across the ocean. You have been phenomenal! Lola and Keith came for a wonderful visit and brought love and encouragement to us as well. Thank you, Kristi, for having coffee with me in the mornings long distance! Jen M., you touch my heart with your words. Jan, what an amazing day it was to hear your voice on the phone (high school seems like just yesterday). Donna, the bracelet you gave me and your phone calls remind me of the sweet promise that our Lord is always with us. Linda and Dean, your prayers and words of love and hope for our family have been awesome. Cathy, your friendship means so much. I arrived home today to find a comforting message from Sheila.

I have had correspondence and cards from so many friends and family that have truly ministered to my broken heart. How thankful I am for family and friends! I know I could go on and on, and I would miss some precious person or church or chapel or group that has done something so sweet to help us along our journey. So, instead, thank you to all!

Thank you, amazing children, for welcoming me into your homes, taking such good care of your mommy, showering me with love, and for living each day for the Lord in the midst of unbelievable suffering yourselves. Our God's steadfast love has been with us throughout this year and we thank Him for His faithfulness.

Time is precious. Each moment is a gift from God. Thank you to everyone who has prayed for me and for our family through this past year. Thank you for caring for us in precious, sweet ways. I will be grateful for the rest of my life. I thank my God for you all and for your continued prayers.

Our sweet little girls---Stella and Zoe!

Sweet Sleepy Stella! I have two sleepy stories to tell about our Stella.

She is such a precious little lady. Last spring when I was visiting her up in Washington, she was ready for bed and was "reading" her Jesus Storybook Bible. I told her I would be back in a few minutes after making sure her brother was tucked in. When I came back she was sound asleep with her Bible on her head. So cute!

Jason told me that one night not long ago they arrived home from a church event and Sunnie brought Stella in from the van and told her to get ready to brush her teeth while she went back to the van to get Judah. When her mommy got back just a few moments later Stella had kicked off her shoes and jumped into bed and was passed out asleep with her clothes on from the day.

She is getting to be such a big girl!

Well now, Zoe! Girls will be girls! Zoe found her mommy's mascara. Whoops! Still a cutie!

A couple of Zoe stories, according to her mommy, she likes to read now, says "Stubucks" instead of Starbucks and her mommy says she's a lot like her daddy. She takes baby wipes and cleans up everything, and likes things in order. If she is crying in the car, the way to get her to stop is by giving her a plan. "Ok, Zoe, this is what we're doing, making a right here, getting on the freeway, passing Vons, going to be with Zac and Lacey, eating dinner and then coming home. Is that better?" She says, "Yeah." Even if they just tell her the directions home, she stops crying.

Two very precious grandaughters who bring abundant blessings into our lives and their grandmommy loves them very much! They are delightful!

My prayer for our family:

Thank you, Lord, for our wonderful children and grandchildren! Thank you for their precious lives and for the little ones who will join our family in December, March and others who may be born in the future. Please bless and guide in Zach and Tiffany's adoption efforts as well! Please protect and defend our family, be our Refuge and our Strong Fortress, our Rock.

Lord, You are Good and Your mercy endures forever! In Jesus' Name, I pray, Amen.

Grandsons

This is a fun post...baby Isaiah and his mommy and daddy came to Montgomery to visit over Labor Day weekend! I was privileged to be there as well. What a fun time we had together. Isaiah is growing up and such a sweetheart! He is all boy! How did he get such a booming voice when his mommy and daddy are so mild-mannered and soft-spoken? He fills their days with laughter. Whenever I talk to Tiffany on the phone I can hear Isaiah in the background just jabbering on and on....and with great volume!

Speaking of grandsons, one morning Elijah was praying at the breakfast table. Crystal says that as he was praying he began to include a dialogue about Christmas. "Mommy is the shepherd, I'm the baby, Logan is Joseph and Daddy is....um...the cow. Amen." Hmmm....just wondering what happened to Mary in the whole scene?

Logan was playing baseball in the backyard with Elijah. They were talking about who they were. Elijah decided he was "Lefty" and their mommy asked, "Who is Babe Ruth?" Logan said, "Babe Ruth, Babe Ruth, Lonnie Bruce, Lonnie Bruce. Mommy, did Grandaddy play baseball?" She answered that he did and he was a catcher. Logan decided then and there, "I'm Lonnie Bruce!"

Jason told me a cute little story about our Judah. When the family prays and thanks God for their meals, Judah bows his head and holds their hands and prays with them. Throughout the prayer he yells out, "AMEN!" Jason says, "Sometimes I feel like I am at a pentecostal church in my home." Way to go, Judah!

And we have a new grandson coming in December! Yeah! More stories to tell.

What are Jason and Sunnie Barker going to have in March? Another boy or a little girl? I wonder....

Stella and Zoe...don't worry...I'll be telling stories on you soon! Take note!

A Note from Lola

My sister, Lola, her husband Keith with baby Michael and Grandma Anderson at the arch in St. Louis with Lonnie and Jeremy, Jason and me.

Lola and Keith were with us from the beginning....and are still walking along side our family offering comfort and support. They came to spend time with us in San Diego (pictured below with Benji, Jen and Zoe) and we are thankful for their love, prayers and encouragement.

Yesterday Lola sent me a verse and included in it were these words: "Be strong and let your heart take courage, all who wait for the LORD!"

These same words were part of Pastor Mike Rippy's sermon last Sunday. He has been going through the book of Ecclesiastes which has been very inspiring and perfect for these times. One of the verses he highlighted was Ecclesiastes 10:10 which reads, "If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success." He stressed that we need to develop the skills of obeying God, being strong and courageous, facing the future with hope, faith and not fear, and develop the skill of adding to what others have done before us.

We have choices to make everyday. Let's choose wisely. The "little" choices we make today greatly affect our tomorrows.

And, just for fun, I leave you with one of Lonnie's favorite quotes from the musical, The Music Man. It illustrates perfectly why the choices we make today are so important.

Marian Paroo: Maybe tomorrow.
Harold Hill: Oh, my dear little librarian. You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you, but I'd like to make today worth remembering.

Happy Birthday to a Sweet Little Girl

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday, dear Zoe!

Happy Birthday to you!

It seems only yesterday you were born and now you are growing up and learning so much. You sing, talk, dance, paint, praise Jesus, take care of your babies, have tea parties, and a bubbly birthday party too!

We love you, sweetheart! You bring so much life and joy to our hearts and we celebrate that God gave you to your parents and to all of us! You bless our hearts!

Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so...

I'm singing with you, Zoe!

A Single Rose

Back on January 31, 2010, Tiffany and I went out to visit Lonnie's grave site. A single rose with a rosary had been placed there. I don't know who left it but it touched my heart and I am thankful for the friends I know and those I do not know who love our Lonnie. A couple of days later, I was talking to Jason and he mentioned that one of his and Sunnie's friends had written a tribute in Lonnie's honor and had given it to them. He read it to me over the phone and also sent me a copy:

A Single Rose Fell

by Jaclyn Heistand

My bare feet step upon the cement with assurance. Heat from the sidewalk radiates through my skin, warm enough to keep my stride from lulling. It feels good. I feel good.

I walk with confidence. Hope is my guide, and I am running on faith. With my head lifted, I walk.

Don't be fooled, for it isn't pride that I wear, but a sure confidence in Christ. This is how it is.

Then...it happens, that as I walk, something comes to lay in my path. It is, that as I step, I come along a single yellow rose in the middle of the sidewalk.

I stop. I peer down, and I stare at the rose.

I am unaware of my knees bending. I am unaware of my strength leaving me. I am unaware of the heat biting my feet. The ground beneath me shakes suddenly and quickly I fall to the walk. It is also, for a moment, that I fall from that place of assurance.

With my palms on the cement, I steady myself.

The yellow rose is still there. I ponder that rose. The tarnish of age has not yet touched its petals. The blossom lay open in its full display of beauty. I look for its purpose there and cannot find any, but only as if it fell lonely and alone from off the bush that bore it. My eyes dart around, looking for the bush, and it is there. With other yellow blossoms leaning in my direction.

No, they were leaning towards the rose. Truly? Were they bowing?

I stare at the scene in front of me. This one beautiful rose, alone, and now gone with no life, fallen apart from where it belonged. And the others, still left, bowing down in mourning.

My heart aches in what I cannot change, and in what I cannot do, and in what I now miss. What a fall I have taken as I mourn. My stride is no more. I now sink deeper into the ground, my head bowed.

I cry out for my hope, for my blessed assurance. And He hears me. And I feel His tears fall upon me even as I am held.

Forever I will ponder on the life of that rose and certainly in its end. I seek now to walk again. I stand slowly, my legs tremble. I don't want to lift my head, but I do.

Cautiously, my foot steps forward.

(When Jason read the title to me, in my mind's eye, I immediately pictured a red rose. How remarkable that the flower we found just two days prior was a yellow rose placed there by someone who knew and loves Lonnie and at the same time someone on the other side of the country who had never met him would write about a yellow rose and honor our Lonnie in such a loving, heartfelt way).

Our Father is holding us in His hands and is walking with us as we take each step moving forward......and we know our Lonnie has moved forward to be with Him in heaven......just a breath away!

We can see his smiling face even now....and remember the many times when he sang praise to our Lord here on earth including the words "blessed assurance, Jesus is mine." (Another thing our new friend in Washington did not know....Lonnie's favorite hymn was Blessed Assurance.)

So thankful for that blessed assurance and we join you, Lonnie, in "praising our Savior all the day long."

Handwritten Letters

What a day this was for our family. Lonnie was leaving for a year-long remote assignment to Korea. He was so choked up about leaving his family behind. He says that it was the first time he ever had that "lump in your throat" experience. In fact, Jason looked up at him and asked him, "Are you ok, Daddy?" Lonnie could not even answer him. He tried to speak but no sound would come out. It was a sad day for us.

While he was gone, he handwrote many letters to us and I saved them all. He made "rules" for his letter-writing that year. He wrote the letters in cursive (except for the ones he wrote to Jennifer and Tiffany as they were 8 and 4 years old) and he also had "rules" for the content of his letters. I know this because one day he wrote that he had started a letter to me but had to throw it away and start over because he had broken one of his "rules."

He was always very encouraging and loving and enjoyed teasing me too. Here is an example: "Chris, please let Tiffany read this herself. She should be able to by now. Can she sing harmony yet? How often do you floss her teeth? Oh, how is she doing on her times tables? Chrissy--do you still love me?"

Yes, I do, Lonnie.

Good advice and godly wisdom were wrapped up in those letters too. On October 2, 1991, he wrote these words:

"I hope you realize how proud of you I am. Just take it a day at a time and please in all that you do--don't despair--you are everything to me and sweet to others and, above all things, remember--you can make it and I love you!!!

Phil 3:20 'Our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.' I am going to preach from I Thessalonians 4 this week on the soon return of Christ."

His handwritten letters continue to encourage and point us to Jesus today. Thank you, Lord, for Lonnie's words and life. Help us to remember our "citizenship is in heaven" and to live our lives with "eternity's values in mind."

Another Birthday Boy

Our little baby boy is 30 years old today! How can this be?

The secret is out, Jason. You grew up! We celebrate you and the amazing life you are living. Thank you for following hard after the Lord and having that compassionate heart for Him and for reaching and teaching others to walk with our Savior as well.

Oh, and congratulations to you and Sunnie! So excited about your newest baby who is due in March. Love the baby announcement picture!

Happy Birthday, Benji and Zach!

My daughters have been blessed with such amazing, wonderful, loving husbands who are one year older today! Born on the same day, one year apart....makes it easy for this mother-in-law. They are sons to me. I cherish them and am thankful to the Lord that He brought them into our lives. They are so much fun, encouraging beyond words, full of God's love and goodness and they bless us everyday.

Have a happy celebration, Zach and Benji, and may this year be filled with God's blessings beyond imagination!

A Friend's Timely Reminder

I received a note yesterday from my friend Sheila which reminded me of verses that were whispered in my ear more than nine months ago: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22,23) How thankful I am for these words.

As I read these words in my Bible today, I noticed the next verses which state, "The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in Him. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him." (Lamentations 3:24,25)

Thank you, my precious friend. Your message was right on time!

May we always seek after the Lord, hope in Him and wait upon Him for He is faithful. His love is constant and His mercies are without end. Oh, how our Father loves us!

Lord, thank you for reminders......please help us to always remember your love.

A Sweet Daughter

Jennifer, I love you and thank God for the day He brought you into our lives. What a precious morning that was! Jeremy and Jason were so proud of their baby and so were your mommy and daddy. We still are!

The lyrics from The Sabbath Prayer in the musical Fiddler on the Roof have been one of my favorites. I pray this for Jennifer, all of our daughters and our granddaughters too. I thank God for answering our prayers in so many ways (how I thank God for our sons and such amazing husbands for our daughters). He is Faithful!

May the Lord protect and defend you,
May He always shield you from shame,
May you come to be in years full well a shining name.
May you be like Ruth and like Esther,
May you be deserving of praise,
Strengthen them o Lord and keep them from the stranger's way.
May God bless you and grant you long life

(May the Lord fulfill our sabbath prayer for you),
May God make you good mothers and wives

(May He send you husbands who will care for you).
May the Lord protect and defend you,
May the Lord preserve you from pain,
Favor them o Lord with happiness and peace,
O hear our sabbath prayer,
Amen.

Oh Lord, hear this mother's prayer. Please protect and defend and favor with Your peace and joy!