Family Life - November & December

If I do not post about November and December soon, I will have to add January to it, and mixing years does not bode well for my strong organizational (I won't say OCD) side! =) Both months were full. There were good days of farm work, laughter, traveling, and holiday celebrations. There were also some emotional moments as we continued to grieve the loss of Aunt Karen, went through the first holidays without her, and I began to clean out and pack up Grandma's house in preparation to sell. And yet, is God still good? Yes. Is He still bigger? Yes. Nothing changes that and never will. 

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or prosecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword...Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35, 37-39)

In November, Caden was making a trip down to North Carolina, and 
I took advantage of the free transportation and visited with Emma, Stephen,
and James for a few days. Love this little guy so much! 

While out there, I took some family maternity pictures for them.

The face says it all! After throwing a fit in a store, James and Aunt Madeline
retreated to the car to allow his momma to finish shopping. 

Hope, Leah, and Joel doing some work in the tractor. There is nothing 
like working together to bond siblings!

Mom, Ella, and I flew to Kansas to visit Grandma the week before Christmas.

We took Grandma to Walmart to pick out supplies for her gifts to her
caretakers.

We worked on addressing Grandma's Christmas cards to send out...

...and played lots of games.

While in Kansas, I was able to slip off to meet up with my dear friend
and her family for a few hours. I have such a precious friend in Emily,
she faithfully supports, loves, prays, and cheers me on in this season of life. 

Even amid this season of heightened emotion in the loss of Aunt Karen,
we still had a wonderful Christmas celebration with our cousins. 
We got an Airbnb and all of us "kids" spent the night together, played
games, watched a movie, and had a big pancake breakfast.

So, we said farewell to 2023 and greeted 2024. 
May it be a year of glory to the Lord.

Not As The World Giveth

Two summers ago, while I was coming to the end of a several-day stint working for a local ice cream store at the Kentucky State Fair, I began to sense my heart becoming desirous of the popularity and the allurement of the world I had watched swirl around me all week. I watched blond beauties pass by in their worldly and sexy clothing. I saw official people walk around, dressed in monogrammed shirts and business attire, looking very put-together and professional. Then I looked at myself in the mirror, dressed in a denim skirt and a t-shirt with my hair pulled back, and contrasted the differences. I found my heart lacking contentment in the Lord and my flesh longing for the “peace” that comes from the exposure of the body to gain attention, the affection of a boyfriend, and being popular with others to receive affirmation.

Then it hit me.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

When it is all sifted down, social popularity, sexually enticing beauty, the wealth that is manifested in dollars and cents, that is all the peace the world has to offer and it is all as a mist that passes away when the sun rises. There is nothing trustworthy, nothing eternal, nothing that holds hope. What is it that we have with the peace of Christ? Eternal security in Jesus, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, fellowship with other believers in the Spirit, rest in the sovereignty of God, acceptance in the Beloved, and the list goes on and on. So would I trade all that and more to be viewed as sexy, to be popular among “the right people”? No indeed! The peace of Christ is the better part. It shall not be taken from me or you (Luke 10:42). Let us dwell in that peace, refusing self-pity absolutely and asking the Lord to enrich our hearts with the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). That promise is tangible and active, and offered to each of us. Grasp it with both hands and delight in the peace of Jesus Christ.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.” Isaiah 26:3

Grasping With Both Hands

    Back in October, I began studying through the book of Colossians, taking a section or perhaps just a verse per day, and breaking it apart, desiring to be a better "miner" of the Word, not just a reader. As part of my Bible Study, I enjoy looking up the Greek meanings of words or phrases in the section I am reading (I could not more strongly encourage the acquiring of a Strong's Concordance), as well as taking those definitions and creating paraphrases of the passage using the Greek definitions to give greater understanding and depth to the passage. 

I arrived at Colossians 1:11 one morning, 

"Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness..." 

Madeline's paraphrase: "Enabled with miraculous power, according to the glorious power of Christ, which is without limit, unto all cheerful endurance and forbearance with calm delight." 

"According to His glorious power" struck me that morning as I thought about Christ's marvelous power...that has NO limits! What manifold riches we have in Christ...but too often sorely neglect accessing. Ephesians 1 lists so many heavenly blessings we have in Christ and the scriptures are full of the rich promises that we have in Jesus as His children and as saints, but do I take full advantage of them? Too often, in my Christian walk, I have found myself seeking after earthly pleasures to satisfy a void in my heart, when Jesus Christ sits with all the fullness of the Godhead, desiring for me to access the manifold graces of my Lord. 

"The End of a Coil", by Susan Warner, accounts the struggles of Dolly Copley to live a life pleasing to the Lord amidst family challenges. At one point in the book, after a specifically arduous trial, she is found by a friend, a non-Christian young man, with her Bible open, receiving from it what comfort scripture offers. 

"Does that help?" said he, glancing at the book in Dolly's lap. 

"This?" said Dolly. "What other help in the world is there?" 

"Friends?" suggested Rupert. 

"Yes, you were a great help last night," Dolly said slowly. "But there come times—and things—when friends cannot do anything." 

"And then—what does the book do?" 

"The book?" Dolly repeated again. "O Rupert! it tells of the Friend that can do everything!" Her eyes flushed with tears and she clasped her hands as she spoke. 

"What?" said Rupert; for her action was eloquent, and he was curious; and besides he liked to make her talk. 

Dolly looked at him and saw that the question was serious. She opened her book. "Listen. 'Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have; for He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.'" 

"That makes pretty close work of it. Can you get hold of that rope? and how much strain will it bear?" 

"I believe it will bear anything," said Dolly slowly and thoughtfully; "if one takes hold with both hands. I guess the trouble with me is, that I only take hold with one." 

"What do you do with the other hand?" 

"Stretch it out towards something else, I suppose. For, see here, Rupert;—'Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee.'—I am just ashamed of myself!" said Dolly, breaking down and bursting into tears. 

"What for?" said Rupert. 

"Because I do not trust so." 

"I should think it would be very difficult." 

"It ought not to be difficult to trust a friend whose truth you know. There! That has done me good," said the girl, sitting up and brushing away the tears.

I would suggest that we all can relate to the weakness that Dolly expresses. Oh, that we too would grasp "with both hands" to the abounding promises of Christ, not with wavering trust or with "only one hand", but with complete and absolute confidence in the character, and thus the promises of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Would we not dwell "outside the palace", eating what we can beg when there is a room in the castle reserved for us with riches and gifts beyond understanding. 

"I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." Psalm 27:13-14

"The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and He helped me." Psalm 116:6

 His "glorious power" holds strong, it is a sure and steady rope to grasp.

Family Life - August, September and October

 Ahhhh. Here it is, the middle of November, and we are staring Thanksgiving down in just a week! August and September were busy months, and I fully intended to do a family life update at the beginning of October to recount the rest of the summer, but with the passing of my aunt in October and all the ensuing travel and needs, blogging was driven from my mind and schedule.  

However...here is August, September, and because I am late, October.

In early August, Mom, Aunt Karen, and Uncle Tom drove Grandma out
to Wichita, Kansas where an Alzheimer's treatment clinic is located. 
While her parents were out of town, Kate came and stayed with us 
for a few days. It was a joy and delight to have her with us! The picture 
is a poor one and we look bleary-eyed with rough-looking hair,
but the hour was early as we headed out to sort and work some cattle.

That afternoon, we loaded up and headed down to the creek for 
water fun! Peaches and Kip are almost always ready to follow
us on any adventure and they were a joyful addition to the excursion.

Who just keeps being a cutie? I am thankful for the pictures and
FaceTime enables us to be a part of James' life, even at the
the physical distance we are apart.

In mid-August, Mom and I drove up to Iowa to attend Testify Training 

Camp. TTC is an event planned to help train and encourage being better 

equipped to share the gospel with clarity and comfortability. We had 

 practical and enjoyable sessions and then hands-on application at the Iowa 

State Fair. Mom and I both were blessed by the training as well as the fellowship. 

Such a beautiful girl!

In September, Caden and I took a brother-sister road trip to 
South Dakota to an event out there.

Having never been that far west before, the scenery was enjoyed
by both of us, but honestly, I do not wish to spend a winter out there. =)

Applesauce! After making and canning over 50 quarts, I admit
that I am rather sick of apples, but thankful for the productivity 
and the long supply over the next year.

Mom and Hope made a trip out to Kansas to visit Grandma.

In late September, I made a trip up to Louisville to spend some girl time
with Katie while Matthew was out of town. Their cat joined me for my
morning devotions

I am so thankful for this gal! It is more like having a sister-in-law
than a cousin-in-law. God gave me such a sweet gift in her.

September 29th, found me traveling south for a prison ministry trip. 
It was a blessed week with the Lord teaching me as well as many of 
of the women who attended.

Prison Ministry Trip Women's Team
October 2023

As my birthday was two days after the passing of Aunt Karen, we
postponed any celebration, but Leah was such a dear and made me
a mini cake. Love you, Leah!

With Emma, Stephen, and James coming into town for the 
funeral arrangements, it was a sadly sweet opportunity to 
spend that time with James. 

October finished with the 6 of us out in a cold October rain searching
for a lost baby calf. It was such a miracle finding her the way we did.
Such an answer to prayer! I am so thankful for this crew and I love 
being an older sister!

My Aunt Karen (1968-2023)

On October 14th we received a life-altering phone call. My Aunt Karen, my mom's sister and best friend, had had a stroke while they were on vacation in South Carolina. She was rushed to the hospital where they did surgery to remove the blood clot but during the operation, there was a brain aneurysm and Aunt Karen began bleeding in her brain. She remained in a coma, on full life-support, and there was only a small hope, but through a miracle from the Lord, that she would survive. The next days were a horrible nightmare of tears, traveling, and crying out to the Lord to allow her to stay with us. The day following her stroke, Mom, Dad, and I traveled down to South Carolina to see her and the family. It was a surreal moment standing there outside the ICU doors waiting for my turn to see her. We returned home quickly as Mom had to immediately fly to Kansas to break the news to Grandma. We continued to wait and pray and on October 18, 2023, Aunt Karen beheld the face of the Savior whom she loved so much.  

All through those horrible days, the scripture Deuteronomy 33:27 was continually on my mind, "...underneath are the everlasting arms." My faith was strong in my belief in the Lord's sovereignty and perfect plan. If Aunt Karen still had work to accomplish for the Lord, then no medical prognosis or surgery could kill her, but if she had completed the tasks He had given her, then no procedure, medicine and no amount of time could keep her here. Aunt Karen's last text to me was, "The Lord will accomplish all He has planned. Nothing can thwart His purposes." The Lord's plan is much bigger than our temporal eyes can behold and His way is perfect (Psalm 18:30).  She ran her race, she finished her course, and she kept the faith.  

However, trust in the Lord's will working ultimate good in our lives does not lessen our clinging to the relationships we enjoy here on earth, and when one is taken, hearts break, as ours have been. Growing up, my siblings and I were like another set of children to Aunt Karen and Uncle Tom, and their children, Matthew (now with Katie), Chase, and Kate, were like another set of siblings. We were just about as close as we could be. Aunt Karen was one of my biggest cheerleaders. She loved well. She faithfully made me feel like she saw me for me, not just one of the group, but singular, with my own individual needs and interests. She loved well. She was such a loving and loyal supporter of this blog, and in my desire to reach out to other girls, as she had the same heart. She loved well. She was a master storyteller, and we loved hearing her tell stories in her dramatic and expressive way that would often leave us laughing. She loved well. She was an amazing example of one who invested in relationships and delighted in the body of Christ. She loved well. She had an extreme passion for the Word of God and thrived when teaching it to other women. She loved well. She enjoyed matcha tea, Korean food, dancing, and singing. She loved well. She adored her husband, children, and daughter-in-law. She loved well. One of her ultimate favorite places to be was the beach, and South Carolina became a haven of rest for her, and it was there she had the stroke, sitting overlooking the beach. She loved well.

I love you, Aunt Karen. Thank you for loving me. 

I miss you...so much.