The Hands That Shaped My World

For a short time each summer we are blessed with Elberta peaches.  They come in crates, and disappear from the grocery store fast, once the word gets out they have arrived.  We usually get at least one crate, and eat most of them fresh, saving just enough to make one of my mother's yummy peach pies.

With our hometown's location so close to the Canadian border, there is a broader scope of people watching for the arrival of these scrumptious peaches.  This year, before I had even heard the peaches had arrived, the entire shipment had disappeared. According to the locals, one pickup with a foreign license plate was seen transporting 19 crates back to Canada.  To me, this is just not fair!  Thankfully, my husband's cousin (who works at the grocery store) had snatched up a crate, and offered part of her box to me.

So it was, a dozen juicy peaches were stashed away in our refrigerator, while we ventured off to Alaska on vacation. . .and then to a funeral in Minnesota. . .and then to a doctor appointment and Legislative meeting in Bismarck.  Needless to say, I wondered if the peaches would even be good by the time life slowed down enough to think about baking pie.

Friday was my birthday, and I decided to take the morning and invest it into making this year's pie.  Out came the rolling pin, pastry board, and ingredients for making pie dough.  The recipes are written across the page from one another. . .one for "Peach Pie," and the other for "Never Fail Pie Crust."  Both are in my mother's handwriting, and just seeing her neat penmanship brought a smile to my face.

After preparing the pie dough, I rolled out a circle for the bottom crust.  Carefully, I rolled the round piece over the rolling pin, and then transferred it onto the pie plate.  As I gently eased the dough into the pan, I looked down and saw not my own hands, but those of my mother.  How many times had she carefully prepared pie crusts to treat our family or friends?  Countless times, for sure, and somehow in my mind's eye, her crusts always turned out so perfect.  I found myself thanking God for those precious hands that did so much to shape my world.

The next step was cutting up the peaches, followed by preparing the filling mixture.  Sour cream, brown sugar, a pinch of salt, and some vanilla whisked together make for a scrumptious coating to pour over the peaches.  A whiff of the vanilla from the bottle, and I felt my mother's presence near!

Finally, the top crust was rolled out, cutting in the outline of a peach to allow the pie to vent while baking.  Although I can make my crust look like my mom's prior to going into the oven, it seems it always "poofs up" while baking.  It would be so nice if I could call her up, and ask for some pointers.  Instead, I think of her fondly and wish I would have paid more attention while she was still living here on earth!

With the remaining dough and peaches, I was able to make five small pies for sharing, as well as some of the fun cinnamon crust sticks Mom always made.  

Just as I was finishing up with the small pies, a familiar sound came from outside the kitchen.  Someone was flying an airplane over town, and instantly my mind transferred to another pair of hands that shaped my world.  Hands that flew airplanes, and drove tractors, trucks, and combines.  Yes, my father's hands were most often busy outside our home, but just as much they influenced the person I came to be.

Often I ponder why it was God blessed me with such a wonderful childhood, and parents who instilled in me a faith which has carried me through the years.  Perhaps I will cut me a slice of pie, and ponder on!

"Thank You, Lord, for the blessing of Godly parents

who loved me, and shaped my life into

one which centers on YOU"

The Heavens Declare!

What a day it has been!  We left home bright and early at 7am, headed down the highway to Bismarck, where I had a doctor appointment scheduled.  By chance, we discovered some of our good friends from the ND Legislature were also in town, so we met them for lunch at the Capitol.  It was fun to catch up, and enjoy a time of sweet fellowship.

Since a Legislative meeting was on the schedule for Wednesday, we had two choices.  We could either make the 4 hour trek to back to Crosby, and return in two days, or we could find something to keep us occupied until then.

With my birthday coming up in a few days, one option was to head west to the wonderful, little community of Medora, ND.  It would be only half the drive, and we could take in the musical at their outdoor amphitheatre.  It is something we try to do each summer, and to this point had not found the time.  The decision was made, and down the road we ventured

What I was not expecting was the variety of “sky scenes” we would experience over the course of the evening.  Psalm 19:1 tells us,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

With this being the case, God outdid Himself over the course of a few hours time.  There were times when I wondered if “the show would go on,” with the threat of rain looming often, and more than once a round of sprinkles.  As it turned out, the show started about fifteen minutes late, and a good time was had by all (or at least the two in our party!)

Here are some pictures to allow you to share in God’s handiwork for the day!

Changes on the Horizon

After riding along with my husband to his brother's house, I opted to walk back home while he stayed for a longer visit.  It was a beautiful evening, with a few wispy clouds dancing in the blue sky.  I could almost imagine them as angels hanging out over Crosby, ND.

As I made my way down Main Street, another thought crossed my mind.  There will soon be a change in the skyline of Crosby.  A grain elevator which has served our area farmers over the course of my lifetime will soon be coming down.  Although I am not sure of the exact date it was built, I know it was in existence when I was a little girl, tagging along with my farmer father to bring in grain samples.

The highlight of those visits was getting an orange pop from the machine. . .one of those where you slide the bottle from its hanging storage to the mechanism which allowed you to pull it out once the proper amount of money was deposited.  I also remember watching as grain was swallowed up when exiting the trucks, making its way into storage.  I can still hear the swishing sound it made, and imagine the smell of the grain.  With my allergies, it is possible I didn't tag along very often.  Could it be a single visit impacted my memory banks enough to make it seem like just yesterday, instead of the decades it has been?

Over time, new elevators have been built, and this particular one has become obsolete.  Since it is no longer operational, a decision has been made to clear the spot.  Not so long ago, we watched as another iconic piece of Crosby skyline was removed.  With a new water tower built on the northwest corner of town, the old one was dismantled, and things just didn't seem right for a time.  Having now adjusted to one hole in the once familiar view, soon it will be time to change our focus once again.






As time passes, there is generally only one constant in life, and that is change.  What once was, will eventually be no more, and the path is laid for new adventures waiting down the road.  Part of me would like to once again be that little girl watching wide-eyed with wonder as her daddy took her through the world of a grain elevator.  Instead, it will be a grown up me watching as another piece of Crosby history is removed from our horizon.

It's nice to know there is one building which has stood the test of time. . .over 100 years now. . .our beautiful Courthouse at the north end of Main Street.  Even when it came time to expand with the new addition, they were able to preserve the historical view which speaks of "home" each time I see it.

Our lives, like the city of Crosby, have changing horizons from time to time.  As a student of God's Word, it is apparent through the pages of history kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall.  Yet there is a constant which has stood the test of time.  In Isaiah 40:8, we read even if the grass withers and the flowers fall, the Word of our God will stand forever.  

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible.  It has much to say about the importance of God's Word, and nestled right in the middle is verse 89:

Your Word, O Lord is eternal;

it stands firm in the heavens.

Firm and eternal are good words to cling to when things start falling apart in our world.  It is so good to remember God is our constant in the midst of all change. 

  

"Can You Hear Me?"

Today started out on the gloomy side. . .a sprinkling of rain, and cloudiness which made it hard for me to get motivated.  It has been on my mind for quite some time to get back into a regular routine of blogging, but, for whatever reason, it hasn't happened.  Time which could be used blogging instead gets eaten up scrolling through Facebook.  While doing so this morning, God planted this on my news feed:

It was like God was speaking directly to my heart.  "Can you hear Me now as I interrupt your scroll time? Don't feel like you have to create some grand plan on how you could get back into blogging.  Just start by writing one for Me today."  And so I did. . .along with this bonus post explaining why it happened!  

One of the special gifts God has given me in life is the ability to write.  I do feel it is a means by which He desires to use me in getting His message out into the world.  Hopefully I can do better in the days to come.    

"Well Done"

August has been very busy in my world.  A week and a half of vacation brought us to Seattle, by way of Denver, and treated us to an Inside Passage Alaskan Cruise with our Acappella singing friends.  It was glorious, and some wonderful quality time with my hubby.

The next week and a half was spent trying to get back into the swing of things. . .the usual laundry to catch up on, garden and flowers to tend, and simply trying to remember I didn't have to sway back and forth when standing still!

While away, we learned of two deaths in our extended family.  The first was my husband's cousin, and we were so sad to miss out on the family time leading up to and following her service.  The other was his great aunt, the last of the siblings of his maternal grandfather's family.  Her family opted to delay the funeral a couple of weeks to make it easier for family members to attend both the funeral and the upcoming wedding of one of her grandsons.

Although we will not be at the wedding this weekend, we did take time out of our week to drive to Fergus Falls, MN for MaeBelle's funeral.  We knew her as "Mamie" and were so blessed to have known her.  She was only six years older than her oldest niece, who just happens to be my mother-in-law.

Memory fades as to when I first met Mamie, but it likely was either at a time she was visiting her brother in Crosby, ND or at one of the many family reunions planned by their family over the years.  There were originally six siblings in the family, four brothers & two sisters.  The other sister lost her battle with cancer at a young age, making the others even more committed to staying close despite the many miles which separated their families.

Off the top of my head, I can think of three of these reunions we took part in. . .one on Lake Okaboji in Iowa, one in Omaha, Nebraska, and one in Colorado Springs, CO.  There was always an abundance of laughter, music, and playing of the card game, ROOK.  In later years, after the brothers had all passed on, we would take time in our travels to visit Mamie in her winter home of Tucson, AZ.  Our last visit with her took place a couple of years ago in her home in Fergus Falls, MN.

Her family was able to provide her with a wonderful send off.  Grandchildren shared memories and the song, "I Will Rise", spouses of her four children shared the Scripture readings, and the message was given by a son-in-law who is a pastor.  He talked about the qualities of inclusion, love, and community as they related to her life, and encouraged us to follow her cardinal rule of life, which was to simply be nice (or kind).  

As a final tribute, her three daughters and one son gathered behind their mother's casket to share the song, "Well Done", which was released last fall by a group know as "The Afters".  The words couldn't have been more fitting to honor her life, and they fit equally well to honor the passing of my husband's cousin.  May we all strive to work towards hearing these words when we reach our heavenly home:

What will it be like when my pain is gone

And all the worries of this world just fade away?

What will it be like when You call my name

And that moment when I see You face to face?

I'm waiting my whole life to hear You say

Well done, well done

My good and faithful one

Welcome to the place where you belong

Well done, well done

My beloved child

You have run the race and now you're home

Welcome to the place where you belong

What will it be like when tears are washed away

And every broken thing will finally be made whole?

What will it be like when I come into Your glory

Standing in the presence of a love so beautiful?

I'm waiting my whole life for that day

I will live my life to hear You say

Well done, well done

My good and faithful one

Welcome to the place where you belong

Well done, well done

My beloved child

You have run the race and now you're home

Welcome to the place where you belong

What will it be like when I hear that sound?

All of heaven's angels crying out:

Singing holy, holy, holy are You, Lord

Singing holy, holy, holy are You, Lord

Singing holy, holy, holy are You, Lord

Waiting my whole life for that day

Until then I'll live to hear You say

Well done, well done

My good and faithful one

Welcome to the place where you belong

Well done, well done

My beloved child

You have run the race and now you're home

Welcome to the place where you belong

Well done

The "C" Word

A couple of months ago, the following blog was written, but not posted.  Dealing with a cancer diagnosis is a lot to process, and I felt at the time it would be better to simply share it with those immediately involved.  Since then, however, there have been additional families in our community who have faced similar news.  Because of this, I share my thoughts, along with a prayer for each one dealing with the "C" word.

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There is a word none of us wants to hear associated with our life.  Some don't even like to say the word, and simply refer to it as the "c" word.  Unfortunately, it is a word which has been creeping its way into our lives over the past several months. 

First, a dear Legislative friend got the word he had a cancerous tumor.  He is currently undergoing a series of chemo treatments following surgery.  We pray for him daily, and have been encouraged by the fact he has been able to tolerate the treatments without any serious side effects.  For this, we thank our Lord, who has been with him on his journey with the "c" word.

This weekend we learned of another who will soon be headed to the Cancer Centers of America in Chicago for an evaluation following a scan which revealed multiple tumors.  This person is the picture of health.  She eats right, and walks more miles in a week than most people do in a year.  Still, when a nagging back ache prompted her to make an appointment at our clinic, the news she received was far from what she, or any of us, wanted to hear.  The "c" word had found its way into her life story.

This afternoon, as I was out walking, I found myself praying.  "Why, Lord?  Why her?"  I looked up in the sky and found blue sky surrounding a little gray cloud.

It was a picture of what was now hanging over her life.  Then I heard a little voice in my head asking where the sun was.  I could see it was hiding right behind the cloud.  "You see," God affirmed, "the sunshine isn't gone because of one little gray cloud."

As I continued my walk, I had to agree.  There was still much sunshine in her life. . .a loving family who is supporting her on this journey, a community who will surround her with prayer, and a Savior who will be with her every step of the way.  I found myself looking back at the gray cloud, and lo and behold the sun had already made its way out of hiding.

Yes, there is a dreaded "c" word.  But we have a bigger "C" word. . .CHRIST!  Along with our much more powerful "C" word come the following attributes:

CREATOR - CHRIST is the one who designed each of our lives, and already knows if and when we might have to face a diagnosis with the "c" word.

COMFORTOR - CHRIST is the one who is standing ready with words of "Don't worry!  I've got this!

CARING - CHRIST is the one who knows just what is needed each step of the journey, and will provide peace in the midst of the storm.

COMPANION - CHRIST is the one who will never let us walk alone.

COMPASSIONATE - CHRIST is the one who understands when the journey gets tough.

COMPLETE - CHRIST is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.  He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.  Ephesians 3:20-21 tell us this is true.  As the verses continue, "to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen"

We are a part of all generations, and live in a small space of time in forever and ever.  Yes, the "c" word is not to be dreaded, because we are more than CONQUERORS through CHRIST who loves us.  (Romans 8:37).  He has CARRIED our burdens to the CROSS, and we no longer need to bear them.  Best of all, He has given us the avenue of prayer to CRY OUT to Him when storms arise.  And even then, He is the voice that says, "Peace, Be Still."

"Peace Be Still" sung by Acappella

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Community is also a "C" word.  My hometown of Crosby, along with all those in the surrounding areas of northwest North Dakota are an excellent example of what true community should be.  Last night we held a 2 mile walk in honor of the one for whom this blog was originally written.  In addition, a benefit meal and auction was held, and once again, as many times in the past, the people showed up in full force with financial resources to back their words of encouragement, caring, and concern.

It is difficult to process why so many are getting a "c" word diagnosis.  Could it be God is putting in place opportunities which will in turn give Him the chance to show forth His healing power?  We talk a lot about faith in our church circles.  Perhaps God wants to move us to a higher level of faith.  This brings to mind a passage in Mark 9, where a father has come to Jesus on behalf of his son, who struggled with convulsions.  Jesus tells the father, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."  The reply of the father is one I find myself praying often. . ."Lord, I believe;  help my unbelief!" 

Another prayer we can copy is that of the disciples, who in Luke 10:5 asked Jesus to "increase our faith."  It was after this Jesus told them all they needed was faith the size of a mustard seed, and miraculous things would take place.  My faith may not be up to the size of a mustard seed, but perhaps if we all combine our measure of faith, we can see God do what seems impossible. . .which includes eliminating the "c" word, and replacing it with the "v" word. . .VICTORY!

Mystery of a Missing Tooth

Last weekend our daughter and her family came for a visit.  We were able to spend time with Grandma Ardis in the local Care Center.  Several years back the facility underwent a name change, and personally I feel "Care Center" sounds so much better than "Nursing Home."  Either way, we are thankful for the wonderful care she is receiving!  Part of the visit was spent showing her a very loose tooth in the mouth of Daniel, her 6 year old great grandson.

Daniel had a plan for the afternoon.  We were scheduled to attend the new Lego Movie at the Dakota Theatre in downtown Crosby, ND. Then afterwards he had his dad help him rig up a length of dental floss between his loose tooth and a dart for his nerf crossbow.

 

His older siblings had used a similar method on their loose teeth, and he was all smiles, ready to give it a try.  We videoed the process, and it was hilarious to watch and re-watch the video that showed his big smile turn to total shock, and then near panic until his mom quickly came with a washcloth to stop the bleeding!  Her reassuring words of, "You did it!" prevented any tears from flowing!

Then the search was on.  We easily found the dart, with dental floss still intact.  But the missing tooth was just that. . .MISSING!  We carefully searched in the direction of where the dart landed, but there was no tooth to be found.

Later in the evening, after they had returned home, his uncle watched the video in slow motion, trying to get a sense of which direction the tooth went.  Amazingly, we saw the tooth actually fly off in the opposite direction, so a new search was made, this time on the other end of the living room.  Unfortunately, we still were unable to find any evidence of the tooth.

We did notice our daughter's purse sitting on the floor in the area where the tooth appeared to fly, but a thorough search of the purse in the morning gave no solution to the mystery of the missing tooth.  All we knew for certain is it was no longer in Daniel's mouth!

 

Throughout the week, God brought my thoughts back to the missing tooth.  "Where do you suppose it is?" I would ask, and the only reply I sensed from God was, "I know where it is!"  Yes, He is fully aware of all things lost. . .including lost souls.  It may seem to us there are those who will never find their way to God, but He knows exactly where they are, and is orchestrating a path to bring them to a saving knowledge of His Son, Jesus Christ.  With each wrong turn made, God is a faithful GPS "recalculating" to find a new path to the final destination by His side.

Evidence of God's desire to find lost souls is found in 1 Timothy 2:3-4.  Just prior to this verse, Timothy reminded his readers they are to petition, pray, intercede and give thanks for all people.  He goes on to say,  

"This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 

 who wants all people to be saved

 and to come to a knowledge of the truth."

As for the missing tooth, will we ever find it?  Who knows!  We were informed the tooth fairy would receive a note explaining the situation, and just this morning we got word the second front tooth has now been removed. . .no nerf gun needed!