A Prayer of Preparation

Reader:  Prepare the way for the Lord,

Congregation’s Response:  Make straight paths for Him

Father, You sent Jesus away from heaven to earth.  Before He came, You clearly told us to look for Him.  Many people spoke your message to prepare the World for His coming. 

There was Isaiah who said:  “Behold, the Lord God will come with might; For a child has been born for Us, the Gift of God’s son—for us.”

Reader:  Prepare the way for the Lord,

Congregation’s Response:  make straight paths for him

There was Simeon, in the temple, full of prayerful expectation.  He said:  “With my own eyes I've seen your salvation; Salvation is now out in the open for everyone to see.” 

There was also the prophetess, Anna, who full of worship, rejoiced when her hope of seeing salvation was fulfilled.  Father, help us to make our hearts a place of anticipation of our Coming Savior King.

Reader:  Prepare the way for the Lord,

Congregation’s Response:  make straight paths for him

Father, teach us how to be like John the Baptist, The Voice of One crying in the Wilderness.  By sharing with our family, friends and neighbors how to give forgiveness, be generous, do more that what is asked of us, we teach them how to make room for Jesus.  Lord, give us words and actions to this end.

Reader:  Prepare the way for the Lord,

Congregation’s Response:  make straight paths for him

Father, we remember those suffering in the world:  disease as a result of earthquakes, floods and volcanoes; those who are suffering with hunger due to famine; those whose only home is a cardboard box on the dirty streets of big cities. We ask you to show us practical things to help them.  May our hearts burn with Your prayers.  May our hands and feet be Your hands and feet.   Help us to find a way to touch them with your message.

Reader:  Prepare the way for the Lord,

Congregation’s Response:  make straight paths for him

Father, Your message is “Comfort My People.”  Send us to the people who are sad, lonely, hurting—in body and/or mind.  Give us words of hope and healing so that they can clearly understand that You can and will heal them.  Help us to comfort others as we have been comforted by You.  And by so doing, we clear the way for others to open their hearts to you.

Reader:  Prepare the way for the Lord,

Congregation’s Response:  make straight paths for him

Glorious and Gracious Father, thank You for this time of year as we prepare for Christmas.  Teach us how to give You time each day to prepare us for what we need to hear from you.  And when we have heard from you, help us to show others how to make a path straight to You.

In the Name of Jesus—the Coming King.  Amen

Passing things along...

I've been finding new blogs to read by clicking on the blogs my friends read.  

I'm in the mood to give...The first thing I want to share is is a "Give Away Something Handmade" project.  One of the blog writers I have just started following is sending a handmade gift to the first five people who write a response on her page for today's posting--Saturday, 8th January 2011.  Part of the stipulation of receiving the handmade gift is that I also post this offer and send something handmade out to the first five people who respond on my blog.  

      "The only rules are that it must be handmade by you, and it must be sent to your 5 people sometime in 2011." Those are her instructions.

So, if you post a comment, I will send out your handmade gift.  I believe that before you comment, you must have a google account.  It's pretty simple and there is no obligation with the google account.

For the sake of a child:  The second thing I want to pass along is a story about adoption.  A missionary couple are working to adopt a child named Moses in Ethiopia.  I want to help, because I believe adoption is a part of our Christian faith.  Whilst John and I are not in a position to help this family financially, we can pray for God to provide.  And I can share this need.  I hope you will add your prayers and do all that God puts on your heart.  

Here is the link: http://dean-machine.blogspot.com/2011/01/will-you-help.html

Serving Jesus, Author of our faith.

Apron strings and other "ties that bind."

     Apron strings often get a bad connotation because people refuse to cut them.  Is it the fault of the Apron Strings?  No--apron strings just help you keep your apron on.  And let me just go on record as saying, as messy as I get in the kitchen, those strings are very important! I have one functional apron right now...so I guess I need to get organised and put my sewing machine to good use.

Grandma Cox

     One of my favourite aprons was made by the Grandma Cox from an old cotton flour bag--a single piece of material with four rounded corners, a hole in the top, so that the apron went over the head and the back ending at waist level, a button on either side with which to fasten it.  She had appliqued flowers on the front, sewn on two pockets and trimmed it with purple edging.  It is very clear there were no strings from which to detach one's self.  ;-)  However, each time I wore it, it connected me with my heritage, reminding me of someone I love dearly.  

      Part of growing up--at least for my sister and me--was spending time with our grandparents over the summer,  during our school holidays.  An annual tradition began in the year 1970; we both spent a week in Bloomfield, Indiana with Grandma Cox--my mother's mom.  

Granny (Shilkett) Hildebrand

After a couple of weeks at home, we spent another week at Gramps and Granny Hildebrand's--my father's mother and step-father.  They lived in Rantoul, Illinois.  As we got older the visits lengthened to two weeks long--and each of us girls going by ourselves.  

     

     Grandma Cox had limited mobility--so I can remember washing windows, running the vacuum, and doing things she couldn't.  But Grandma was a really good cook--and she taught me how to make pie crust, home-made egg noodles and let me experiment in the open-plan kitchen.  As we sat on her back porch, looking out over the neighbours houses, the train tracks and the old ice house, I'd ask her about her life growing up as an orphan.  She was raised by her Grandmother Russell.  We built a relationship--and history wasn't a subject for school--it was living, fascinating.  

     I spent a lot of time wearing aprons at Grandma's house.  And I brought that home with me...growing to love home-making, cooking, sewing and crocheting.  These "emotional apron strings" didn't "tie-me-down", but rather bound me securely to my sense of identity, heritage and created the confidence I needed to become the person God created me to be.  

     By the time I'd had my "second 18th" or 36th birthday, I realised that my game plan was to marry a man who'd already had children and then become a grandmother.  And that is exactly what happened.  So, although I was dubious about having Grandson M & K for a week (18th-24th December 2010), I was also looking forward to continuing a tradition from my childhood with my step-grandchildren. 

     I thought back to the things that I did with my grandmothers, hoping to determine how to best spend this opportunity with them.  From times in the past when they'd stayed over-night on weekends, I realised that having a focus and planned activities was important.  My first few Christmases here I'd made an effort to have the grandchildren, who were old enough, over for a day of making Christmas cookies.  The purpose was to make memories with them, spend time with them--getting to know them and not only make them feel special, but make Christmas special too.  

     Though I didn't immediately recognise it at the time, this week-long opportunity was a gift to me.  Another  dream was coming true--spending time with some of my grandchildren the same way I'd spent time with my grandmothers.  We put aprons on...until the smaller apron's string  ironically broke!  Grandson M even prepared butternut squash soup for dinner one evening, with me supervising.  He's 13 now...and so he's at a good age for learning life skills that will serve him later as an adult.  

    More than once during our week together, I felt a lump rise in my throat.  I wasn't in Slough, but rather back in Bloomfield, Indiana, cooking with my grandmother.  The love I felt for my grandsons was being braided into the "apron string" that linked me to the love my grandmothers had for me.  I was investing into them those skills and experiences that had been invested into me.  I felt a supernatural sensation of timelessness--the present moment and eternity all in a single moment.  

     Not all apron strings are bad.  Sometimes those strings need to be picked up and passed onto the next generation

Serving Jesus, Author of our faith. 

    

     White Christmas?  Yes we did.  White New Year...no we didn't.  On 17th December Berkshire finally got a taste of what the rest of the Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland was experiencing...snow.  Between the 17th and 18th of December, Slough received eight inches of the powdery white stuff--the largest amount of snow on record for this area in memorable history.          

     Whilst this crystal powder managed to hamstring traffic, interfered with the running of the buses, prevented shopping in the High Street on the last weekend before Christmas, the snow actually served John and me well.

     Grandsons M & K  rode the train up from Wareham, England, accompanied by their Mum, T-Girl and little sister, Shi.  It was about a two hour journey, as the trains were also challenged by the snow.  None of them had ever seen so much snow at one time.  Midnight Man had walked the two miles into town, to do grocery shopping and meet the T-Girl and company.  T-Girl and Shi got back onto the train to return home; Midnight Man and The Boys marched off to Tesco to collect the shopping.  Since the buses were keeping a very limited service, a wait was required for a very necessary ride; carrying home 10 bags of shopping in the snow, at night was just not on. 

     The December sunset was at 15:51 hours on that Saturday afternoon.  I kept looking out the lounge window to see any signs of three bag-laden males slogging through the white stuff.  Knowing they'd be cold, hungry and tired when they got home, I'd prepared a pot of chili soup for dinner.  Finally about 19:00 hours I spied the first of the trudging trio.  Looking further across the park, I managed to see the other two plodding along the snow-covered walking path.  I hustled down the stairs to the front door of our block of flats to open the door for them and help get the bags upstairs.

     As we ate dinner, I asked M & K what they wanted to do in the coming week.  Before they could answer, Granddad piped up:  "Play in the snow!"  The boys quickly agreed!  I think had they been allowed, they would have gone back out that evening.

   On Sunday all four of us bundled up and tramped to church.  Since M & K are apprentice bell-ringers, Midnight Man took them to the church early for practice while I cleared up after breakfast.  
     My walk was solitary.  I drank in the silence caused by the white, muffling snow that hung on tree limbs, stood on brick walls and covered roofs and lawns alike.  The bells rang from St. Mary's Church of England as I approached and I couldn't help but smile at a robin flittering from tree to tree in the cemetery.  Pleasure rose from deep within as I enjoyed this taste of "real" winter.  I even stood still for a few minutes to savour the crisp cleanness of the air, the pristine atmosphere.  And, this chilled landscape gave hope of a white Christmas.

     Walking home in the afternoon, M & K reveled in experimenting on the icy public path--charging away, sliding on a slick smooth spots.  WhilstMidnight Man and I ambled along behind we had to chuckle at them making snow balls and flinging them at each other.

     Boys are by nature rambunctious and seem to have a difficult time concentrating on cerebral projects until some of that build-up energy is released.  Daily, it seemed that by late morning during their week-long visit, I'd have to give the instructions:  "Okay, get your out-side clothes on and go out to burn off some energy!"

Looking out my studio window.

     Grandson K soon found out that fingerless gloves might be cool to look at, they were pointless toGrandson M found out that putting plastic shopping bags over athletic shoes only works if the bags are large enough and don't split!  They also learned that building a snowman takes longer than anticipated--and if the objective is a life-sized adult snow-person--well a ladder is needed. The great thing about playing in snow is that a person gets wet--but not necessarily dirty.  If the snow is deep enough, and the ground frozen--mud is avoided.  

    So, the snow served Midnight Man and me well by providing new experiences for our two oldest grandsons.  I'm sure they hope it will snow a lot next winter.  

    Ironically, whilst I was enjoying being in England for a cold, snowy-white Christmas, reveling in "actual" winter weather, John was dreaming of a sandy-white beach in Florida for Christmas.  Oh well, I guess we all have our winter dreams!

Serving Jesus, Author of our Faith 

December Days in a Daze...

     Truly, I intended to write a lot during December...like writing about the gifts I was making; experimental craft projects; the result of my appointment with the Rheumatologist and of course, Christmas.  Now, not only is December almost over...so is 2010!  

     Around the first week of December, whilst cooking dinner, I heard Midnight Man's mobile cock-a-doodle-do.  This Rooster-Song is the quirky, yet highly identifiable ring tone Midnight Man has chosen for his portable mode of communication.  The caller was his oldest daughter, T-Girl.  She had a favour to ask--would me mind having her two oldest sons--Grandsons M & K--for a week during their school holidays?  Mmmmm...okay, why not?  This gave me a couple of weeks to consider what to do with two rambunctious boys (ages 13 and 11.5).  Well, given my tiredness, they might have to deal with Nana D taking a nap everyday!!! 

      In the meantime, I did a little knitting--trying to make good use of the time to make some Christmas presents.  I made a valiant effort...meaning I got three pairs of mini-mittens knitted but got overwhelmed with the idea of needing to knit another 14 pairs!  And they are tiny!  The photo shows the three pair I did get done laying next to a 12 inch/30 cm ruler!  So, I've decided that I have a start on next year's Christmas gifts.    

      The idea is that each year for all 14 of the grandchildrens' Christmas Presents I will make at least two or three ornaments--each marked  with the year and each child's name on it.  I haven't been as successful as I would like.  However, I have managed a few years to achieve my goal.  The teddy bears were the 2008 project.  Each teddy was hand-painted with the favorite colour of each grandchild.  The name and year was marked on the back.  This way they have a keepsake to take with them for their own Christmases in the future.

      

     Another thing I've had to learn this December is how to put a group of photos into a Microsoft Publisher file, save it  as a JPEG File Interchange Format in order to insert it into the blog.  If I want more than one image, then I must make a photo montage with several photos on a document that can be saved in a JPEG format, thereby creating a single and insert-able image. Trying to maneuver an inserted image in this blog -creating -mode is limited to the optional commands the website gives me.  So, this led me to experiment and find a new way to use publisher and also accomplish my objectives.

    

     The teddy bears are made out of a non-edible dough made with flour, salt and water.  You roll it out like roll-out cookies.  The link to the recipe is here:  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Dough-Ornament-Recipe/Detail.aspx  I used acrylic paint to decorate them.  

     If I think about why I make the ornaments, there are at least a couple of reasons.  Perhaps the most obvious is that both Midnight Man and I are unemployed due to illness.  So we must be wise with our resources.  With four grown children, their spouses/spouses-to-be and 14 grandchildren, buying Christmas presents requires a create deal of creativity.  We could shop year-round when we find good deals...but then we don't have the space to store things.  

     Another reason I like to make gifts is that I am giving of my time to create something unique for each person or family. I am constantly praying for each person while I'm working on a project.  I am not just giving them from my hands, I am also giving something of who I am, reflecting back to them the love they give me.  

     Making things with family creates memories--which can be a real treasure.  By making a point of making things each year, I am also creating a tradition.  Traditions can be boring--but they can also become anchors that create stability for us in an ever changing world.  Imagine the first time you were away from home at Christmas.  Singing along with songs you sang with your parents, siblings and close friends hopefully made you feel less alone.

    It was a Christmas in the 1970's that started a tradition between Grandma Cox and me.  Grandma Cox was my mother's mom.  Grandma made a set of feather pillows for my older brother, my younger sister and me.  Along with each set of feather pillows, she handmade pillow shams from old flour bags, embroidering each case with special designs, and trimming them with hand-made lace she had crocheted.  I was so excited by those pillow cases, my grandmother made a set for me each year until she died.  I still have these pillow cases.  Each time I use them, I feel touched by her hands.  I am now trying to replicate that type of tradition--and hope my "Step-" family feel their lives touched by the love I invest in what I make for them. 

      So, that kind of covers the topic of making gifts.  I hope that I will complete some of my experiments and give you some interesting blogs in the future.  

      Regarding the result of my appointment with the Rheumatologist, I am happy to report that my body is clear of any rheumatic complaints or conditions.  All along I had believed this to be the case.  However, after the New Year, I'm going to pursue seeing and Endocrinologist.  I have a reasonable amount of energy each day--provided I get at least 10 hours of sleep a night.  The Rheumatologist recommended light exercises, such as Pilate's.  I have two videos to work with...so hopefully I will get motivated with that soon.  

     My time with Grandson M and Grandson K deserve a blog of their own...and I will be writing more soon.

Become a follower?

     Hello!  Have you noticed the colours I use?  When I was in high school, I read about a study where researchers tested how people's eyes responded to typeset on different background colours.  What they found was that people found looking at black ink on a light-to-medium green was more restful for readers.  I acutally read several paperback books with the greenish tint and found it easier to read.  So that's why I've been posting most of my blogs on the green background.  

     Would you like to become a follower of my blog?  It's pretty easy really.  Near the top and on the left you will see a small google symbol with "Follow" on the tab.  Just click on that tab.  A window will open with the message:  Sign in using an account you've already created.  If you don't have an account, you will be asked to sign up for a google account.  You can use any e-mail address you want.  Just enter that and a password.  Once you've got an account, simply go back to my blog and click onto the follow tab.  Then you become a follower.  It's just that simple. 

     I will certainly share the posts via Facebook and send out e-mails.  I guess I just don't want you to miss anything!  

    Thank you to all of you that are reading my blog and following it.  

    Hope to see your "Follower" Icon on my blog page!    

Serving Jesus, Author of our faith

Psalm 92:1 It is a good thing to give thanks....

     September and October mark the annual harvest of crops in the United Kingdom and North America.  As a woman of dual citizenship, I can honestly say that I benefit from having more traditions and customs to celebrate and enjoy. 

     November brings All Saints' Day on the 1st and All Souls' Day on 2nd November.  As an official Church of England (Anglican) member, these church days give me a reminder to think about those who have gone before me in the walk of faith--Hebrews 11; my family members who have gone home and see the Lord face-to-face.  

     November 5th is a British National celebration--Guy Fawkes Night--a date remembered for its political and historical significance:  an annual public day of thanksgiving for the failure of a plot by English Catholics to blow up the House of Lords on the opening day of Parliament, 5th November 1605.  It is a good day to remember that I am blessed to be a citizen of Heaven, and also a citizen of two countries where worshipping Jesus Christ openly is freely allowed.  I may not agree with the politics of 1605, or even 2010, but I am still glad that I am blessed to live in a country where I can freely express my faith.

     My 52nd birthday was on 19th November.  Love was lavished on me by unexpected presents, phone calls, birthday cards and 42 well wishes on Facebook.  My Midnight Man (Husband) took me out to dinner and purchased an MP3 player for me.  I am still learning how to use it.  
     One of the high-lights of the day was the phone call to my sister, "Dija".  She answered the phone:  "Hello".  
     "Hellooo!"  I replied.

     "Ruff ruff ruff ruff, ruff ruff.  Ruff ruff ruff ruff, ruff ruff.  Meow, meow meow meow, meow Meowww Meowww, Ruff ruff ruff ruff ruff ruff."     "I've sung it in the other languages, do I have to sing it in human as well?"  Said "Dija".  
     I was laughing out loud by now.  "No, that was great."  
      There was nothing better than being serenaded by my sister's animal band:  Hannah and the Cats.   
     This brings us to American Thanksgiving--traditionally the 4th Thursday of November.  

     Some of you know me well enough to know that I enjoy history.  I can get lost for hours trawling through websites reading about things that intrigue, puzzle, pique my curiosity.  And why?  Because deeper appreciation comes when context frames the significance, reasoning and purpose of events that have come into our lives--from daily tasks to annual observances. 
     According to my research the first Thanksgiving was 1619 in the first colony of Virginia.  Later the Pilgrims had a three day feast of Thanksgiving in 1623.  This is the traditional event most recognised in schools and by the American public.  
     After the Revolutionary war ended in 1789, George Washington declared a national day of Thanksgiving and prayer as recognition of the Providence of God.  Washington declared a 2nd day of National Thanksgiving in 1795.  These proclamations to recognise and acknowledge the Providential care of God, were the first time a governmental proclamation of this type was issued to the United States--and significantly and not initiated by the church.
     Presidents John Adams and James Madison also made proclamations to observe national days of Thanksgiving.  But it was Abraham Lincoln who was responsible for creating an annual national day of Thanksgiving.  In 1863--while the Civil War still waged--President Lincoln signed a declaration of National Thanksgiving to God to be observed on the last Thursday in November.  And it has been observed annually since 1863--147 years.  It was President Franklin D. Roosevelt who made the 4th Thursday of November the official federal day of celebration.  And in 1941 the Senate and the House of Representatives officially signed a resolution to make the 4th Thursday in November permanently fixed as Thanksgiving.  

My Sister-In-Law & Husband

     Because of my struggle with fatigue and related symptoms, I hadn't originally planned to do a Thanksgiving dinner.  But my good friend Señora L. asked if I had any plans--that she and her husband (Mr. C.) would like to celebrate with us.  We invited Midnight Man's sister and her husband and the "Dpr" Family--with whom we attend church.  Thursday was a not viable day to have the feast because of schedules and Britain not observing a national day of giving thanks; the meal was scheduled for Saturday 27th November.  Señora L & Mr. C. contributed a turkey and some vegetables.  I contributed a broccoli and cauliflower salad, desserts and all the cooking.
     My guests were due about 7:30 p.m.  I had a moment of being completely overwhelmed-nearly burst into tears, which was complicated by exhaustion--even though I'd taken a nap.  I looked at John and said, "I feel like a pregnant woman giving birth to her first child---I'M NEVER DOING THIS AGAIN!"  Once all the guests had arrived, Midnight Man and S-In-L took over the serving, I settled down and was actually thinking of having guests for Christmas dinner.  

Mr. D, Me, Senora L. & Mr. C

It's great to know that I don't have to wait for once a year to give thanks to God.  Everyday can be Thanksgiving--as indeed it should be.  The world has a way of telling us that we should want more, more, more...


But the Apostle Paul wrote "Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always).  Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]: Thank God in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and mediator of that will}.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Serving Jesus, Author of our faith