Writing From Home

I Am Not Afraid

I am often asked if I am afraid. I should be after sending my firstborn off to Africa where so many bad things can happen. Well, I’m not afraid of all those bad things. I’m not naïve, I’ve read the news and perused the web. I know a lot can happen. A lot can go wrong. But I’m not afraid.

I’m not afraid like that anyway.

This is what I’m afraid of.

See all those adorable children? They frighten me.

My biggest fear for Gabby in Uganda is that she will fall head-over-heels in love with those little darlings and make Africa her home. And that will mean I will miss her. Like I do now. Only for a really, really long time.

So, I appreciate your concern and am grateful for your prayers. Keep them coming. If God chooses to keep Gabby in Africa, I am afraid I will have to get over some serious selfishness.

Gratefully,

Beth

Gabrielle is taking God's Love (and our hearts!) to Uganda

Yesterday we drove our precious 21-year-old daughter, Gabrielle, to San Francisco where she boarded a plane to Dubai. She will spend four days with her Uncle Tony and Aunt Kathy before venturing on to Uganda. There Gabby will be serving as an intern at a Christian boarding school, ministering to orphans. She will be there four months.

Gabby has always had a heart for missions. When she was six, she attended a school chapel service where a woman and her daughter shared their testimony about a mission trip to Romania. Gabby left chapel with tears streaming down her face. When I asked her why she was crying, she said, “I want to go and teach the children about Jesus.”

A year later, a friend began the adoption process of a young Russian orphan named Kostya. Gabby and I prayed every day for Kostya and the other orphaned children. We prayed that Kostya would come home to his adoptive mommy and a better life in America. A few months into the adoption process, the Russian government shut down all foreign adoptions for about 18 months. Gabby and I continued to pray daily for Kostya. After four long years, Kostya’s adoption was complete and he came to America.

I believe God used both of these events to prepare Gabby’s heart to minister to orphaned children with the love of Jesus. She has since completed training with YWAM (Youth With a Mission) and traveled with them on several mission trips.

Please join me in praying for Gabby as she shares Jesus’ love with the children in Uganda. Pray for her safety and that God will use her in powerful ways.

Gratefully,

Beth

Under the Banner of God’s Love

We left 20 minutes late for our 40-minute commute to school this morning. It was raining hard and water pooled on the roadway. Welcome to Monday. I hate being late. I mean it, I really hate being late. Especially to school where I knew I would be met by the haughty eyes of those parents who are never late and have no grace for those of us who sometimes struggle with timeliness.

I could feel the tension clawing at my shoulders as we waited in traffic a mile from home. I silently begged God to keep my frustrations from spilling over into my children's hearts—even though I am not the one who dawdled, changed clothes three times and grumbled about the breakfast Mommy made.

As we inched forward, my stomach knotted around my oatmeal. Have I mentioned that I hate being late? It makes me feel inadequate faster than just about any of my other shortcomings. I prayed again, out loud this time, "Lord please help. You're our only hope for getting to school on time. Could you part the traffic ahead of us so we don't have to face the humiliation of going to the office for a tardy slip?"

I plugged in a worship CD—Selah's Press On—and sang along. Loudly. My darlings know this is a good sign. It means Mom has moved on from frustrated to trying to make the most of the situation.

I noticed the clock said 8:10; we were about five miles behind schedule. Not too bad, considering. As we approached the intersection that usually takes 10 minutes to traverse, I noticed there were very few vehicles, and as we approached, the light turned a lovely bright green. My hopes rose. "Hey, we might make it after all!" I said.

We made our final two turns and right over the school a marvelous sight materialized out of the gray drizzle, a giant rainbow proclaiming God's grace. I looked at the clock again—8:22—we were three minutes early. On time. On Monday. After a very late start. And under the banner of God's love.

I hope whatever you are doing today, you also experience God's grace and love.

Gratefully,

Beth

Pulled from the Web

I am going through my emails and peeking at websites others have alerted me to. I wanted to share some of the fun things I've found with you.

 

Here they are:

 

What is your Birth Verse? Find out at www.birthverse.com/mybirthverse.cfm

 

Want to know how your state ranks on religion? Find out at USA Today

 

Would you like to see a really cool birthday surprise? Check out What's in the Box.

 

Enjoy!

Beth

Sacramento Museum Day February 7th 2009

On February 7^th, 26 Sacramento area museums will offer FREE admission during the 11^th Annual Sacramento Museum Day. Museums will be open from 10am to 4pm.

For more details and to learn more about the museums visit: Sacramento Museum Guide.

If you live outside the Sacramento area, check your local museums to see if they offer something similar. Many cities do.

 

This is a great opportunity to be local tourists for the day with our families.

Enjoy,

Beth

Children a Drain on the Economy?

So, please help me to understand this…

The Democrat party claims to be "for" the lower class, the middle class, the hard working people of America. Yet they insinuate that these people should NOT REPRODUCE because they are a drain on our economy.

 

From Drudge Report:

PELOSI SAYS BIRTH CONTROL WILL HELP ECONOMY
Sun Jan 25 2009 22:13:43 ET

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi boldly defended a move to add birth control funding to the new economic "stimulus" package, claiming "contraception will reduce costs to the states and to the federal government."

Pelosi, the mother of 5 children and 6 grandchildren, who once said, "Nothing in my life will ever, ever compare to being a mom," seemed to imply babies are somehow a burden on the treasury.

The revelation came during an exchange Sunday morning on ABC's THIS WEEK.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Hundreds of millions of dollars to expand family planning services. How is that stimulus?

PELOSI: Well, the family planning services reduce cost. They reduce cost. The states are in terrible fiscal budget crises now and part of what we do for children's health, education and some of those elements are to help the states meet their financial needs. One of those - one of the initiatives you mentioned, the contraception, will reduce costs to the states and to the federal government.

STEPHANOPOULOS: So no apologies for that?

PELOSI: No apologies. No. we have to deal with the consequences of the downturn in our economy.

God has a different view of children.

Psalm 127:3-5

3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
       children a reward from him.

 4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
       are sons born in one's youth.

 5 Blessed is the man
       whose quiver is full of them.
       They will not be put to shame
       when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

 

Okay, I'm getting off my soapbox and on my knees. Please join me.

Prayerfully,

Beth

Everything I Need to Know I Learned at Christmas

We can miss our wonderful life while striving for something more.

--George Bailey taught me this in It's a Wonderful Life.

 

Childlike faith is infectious.

--Learned from Buddy on Elf.

 

If we hide our light so that we fit in, we cannot be used by the Big Guy to do wonderful things.

--Lesson learned from Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer.

 

If I always have a song in my heart, I will never show up without a gift to give.

--I have this firsthand from The Little Drummer Boy.

 

Christmas magic eludes those who do not believe.

--If you are not convinced, climb aboard The Polar Express.

 

When you help the persecuted, amazing things happen.

--I learned this from Miracle on 34^th Street.

 

My destiny and legacy are decided by the choices I make today.

---The Ghost of Christmas Future while watching A Christmas Carol.

 

Skipping Christmas sounds like a great idea. If Christmas consists only of shopping and eating and spending—might as well skip it. But Christmas is so much more!

--Just ask the Kranks. (Christmas with the Kranks)

Packing Up Christmas

Packing Up Christmas

By Elizabeth M. Thompson

 

It is time to clean up after a fun and somewhat chaotic Christmas. As I pack up all the remnants of our celebration, I am reminded of Mary's reaction to the blessing of the first Christmas. After Jesus Christ was born and the shepherds came to see Him, and then left to spread the good news, Luke 2:19 tells us, "…Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."

There are a few things I will treasure up and ponder in my heart as well.

The Christ Child

As I pack my nativity set into its box for safe-keeping, I want to keep the birth of Christ tucked safely into my heart. I want to remember always that the God who created the universe and spoke all life into existence, humbled Himself and came into the world as a little baby. Not the warrior His people anticipated. He did not come with the armies of Heaven to set the world straight and create peace. No, He came gently, humbly and set a pattern for living and for dying for all of us to follow. He did bring peace, but not through the sword. His peace is inside our hearts, though the wars rage around us. I want to keep His peace in my daily life.

 

Unexpected Gifts

I have often wondered if a certain family member had any faith. We have walked down some dark and painful paths together and I have never heard him express a faith in God. I hoped. But I didn't know. This year, at one of our many family gatherings, this family member led us in prayer. Not just any prayer, but a heartfelt prayer to a very personal God. Wow! That was one of my unexpected gifts this Christmas. I will treasure it in my heart.

 

Forgotten Gifts

While organizing my closet—the secret place I always hide the Christmas gifts—I came across two presents that somehow eluded my midnight wrapping session on Christmas Eve. They sit on the shelf next to my summer shoes as a reminder to give all that I have to give. I don't want to hold anything back in this life. If I die with my song still inside me, it will be a great tragedy. This year, I want to give my gifts their full voice and leave nothing sitting on the shelf to collect dust.

 

Joyful Chaos

I'm a go-with-the-flow kind of girl. I have never thought of myself as a control freak. Sure, I have friends who are, but I have never placed myself in that group. I'm pretty easy going—to a point. I hit that point on December 21st this year.

 

Our plans to get together with the Thompson clan were thwarted when two of the six families could not meet as planned Christmas day at my brother-in-law's house. My husband and I really wanted everyone to be together, so we committed to an impromptu gathering at our house on the 21^st. We had only a week to buy and prepare all the food, set up extra tables, find eight more chairs and wash and iron eight table cloths. Everything came together flawlessly except one small thing: my attitude! I was exhausted and I wanted everything to be perfect. I had a difficult time relaxing and enjoying the family. I expected perfection and got …well…

Children laughed and ran around inside my house like it was a playground, leaving trails of chocolate fingerprints and half-emptied glasses everywhere. The dogs were in the kitchen, licking feet and looking for scraps. Gift wrap flew around the living room like hurricane debris, threatening to ignite on contact with my candles.

 

My house was a mess. I was exhausted, but in the end I surrendered to the mayhem and enjoyed my company in spite of myself. I treasure my extended family and the memories we made. I look forward to doing it again next year, hopefully at my brother-in-law's house.

Lights

At Christmastime I line the driveway and sidewalks leading to my front door with 156 luminaries. I love the soft glow they give off and the warmth they add to the cold winter nights. They speak of hospitality saying, "This is the way to a warm home, good food and friendly conversation."

I could never get away with lighting them year-round, but I want to keep their hospitable message long after I have packed them into the attic. I want others to find comfort and blessing in my home. You won't see my luminaries again until the day after Thanksgiving next year, but I hope you will feel their essence if you visit my home.

Stockings

Christmas stockings are such amazing things. You hang them up empty and the next morning they are filled! I am packing away our stockings, but I want to become like my stocking. Every night I will empty myself of my concerns and ask God to fill me with His Spirit, His gifts, His presence. And in the morning, I will anticipate good things as the day unfolds. Just like opening my stocking on Christmas morning.

The Promise of Future Gifts

This year my wonderful husband bought me the gift I wanted most—a Kindle. He did not realize that Kindles are back-ordered or he might have made his decision a little sooner. As it is, I have several weeks of anticipation ahead of me. When Jesus came into my life, one of the gifts He promised me is eternal life with Him. Though I know someday I will experience the ultimate fulfillment of that promise, today I have the joy of anticipating it.

 

Gifts to Those in Need

Each year we adopt a family at Christmastime. Each year we provide Christmas dinner and a few modest gifts. This year, after all the excitement of Christmas recedes to memory and we settle back into our routines, I want to keep giving to this family. I want to help the mom learn English and mentor her. I want to encourage her as a parent and a wife. I want to share with her the Savior whose love compels us to reach out to her family. I hope she will visit my church and maybe make it her church home, too. I want to give more to her than a once-a-year handout. I want to invest in her family through friendship.

 

Now that Christmas 2008 is a memory and all the trimmings are packed away for another year, I have much to be grateful for, much to learn from and much to treasure away in my heart.

 

Gratefully,

Beth

 

Midnight Visitor

I heard the bedroom door open in the darkness that concealed our midnight visitor. Seconds later she was in our bed, her long, silken hair next to my cheek silently confirmed which child had come seeking refuge from a bad dream or a frightening sound in the night.

She pressed her tiny ballerina body into my embrace with her back against my chest and her head resting on my shoulder. I whispered a prayer close to her ear and felt her breaths slow and deepen into the rhythm of sleep.

I continued to pray long after my presence chased away whatever fears had propelled her through the darkened house and into my arms.

I know there will be pains and fears in her life that I am powerless to remove. I prayed her faith would grow and that she would learn to trust God to provide protection, comfort and peace in those times. That she would feel his embrace during those dark nights just as she sleeps without a care in my embrace tonight.

Sweet dreams,

Beth

Making Christmas Meaningful

Here's an article I compiled for The Answer, it is titled "Making Christmas Meaningful." I realize it is a little late in the game to include some of these ideas, but there is still time to make this Christmas one your family will always remember.

It is easy for busy families to get caught up in the frenzy of Christmas. Christmas brings shopping, decorating, baking, wrapping, mailing and traveling. It can become overwhelming and rob our focus from the commemoration of Christ's birth.

As we gather family and friends together, we can share meaningful traditions that keep our hearts filled with the joy of celebrating the birth of our Savior. Here are some ways families in our community make Christmas meaningful.

Keeping Christ First at Christmas

"I use an unbreakable nativity set to re-enact the Christmas story with my grandchildren. We huddle around the nativity on the floor and as I tell the story, the children add the characters to the scene. They enjoy it every year." Sue Tornai, Carmichael

"We enjoy gathering with friends and family. My husband plays the guitar and we all join in singing Christ-centered Christmas carols. Each year our children and their cousins present a nativity play for our extended family." Leslie Hansen, Sacramento

"Even our gift-giving reminds us of Christ's birth. Each of our children receives three gifts—just as the wise men brought Jesus three gifts. This helps us keep the shopping under control as well." Debbie Gonzalez, Sacramento

"Several of our friends throw "Happy Birthday Jesus" parties, celebrating with cake and ice cream. They even sing Happy Birthday to Jesus." Idamay Strysky, Mather

Making Decorating Meaningful

"Every year we purchase an ornament for our children. The ornaments are themed around their interests and activities that year. I mark the date on them and we remember the meaning of each ornament as we decorate." Doris Valdez, Sacramento

"The day after Thanksgiving I bring all our Christmas decorations into the house and I leave. I let my children decorate the tree and the inside of the house. They have a blast and I curb any desire to rearrange the ornaments. This has made decorating a lot of fun for my family. They are proud of their handiwork." Debbie Gonzalez, Sacramento

"We purchase ornaments while on family vacations. They remind us of the many happy memories we have made while traveling." Leslie Hansen, Sacramento

Creating Fun Christmas Memories

"Every year we have someone special read 'Twas the Night before Christmas to our family. The reader signs the front of the book, a reminder for years to come." Leslie Hansen, Sacramento

"We celebrate Christmas with my mother on Christmas Eve. We enjoy her stories of Christmas traditions growing up in Germany during and after World War II, in the days of live trees with lit candles. Money was to scarce to waste on wrapping paper. They would set the gifts out unwrapped under the tree." Doris Valdez, Sacramento

"I mark all my children's gifts with numbers instead of names, so no one knows which gift belongs to them. Then on Christmas morning, each child draws a number from a basket. They pick up the corresponding gifts and I tell them who to give them to. This involves all of the children in passing out the gifts and adds some fun." Debbie Gonzalez

"All of the children in our large extended family participate in a talent show. They perform songs, skits or play an instrument. It is fun to watch their talents and confidence blossom from year to year." Doris Valdez, Sacramento

Blessing Others

"We send boxes of personal items and gifts to our troops serving our country abroad. We know how precious every little item is to our service men and women." Debi Shank, Sacramento

"Every year we host an Operation Christmas Child party at our house. We invite friends to come over and put together boxes that will be shipped around the world to children in need. We enjoy a meal together and have a great time preparing the boxes." Idamay Strysky, Mather

May your Christmas season be filled with meaningful times for you and your families as you celebrate the gift of Christ, family, and friends. Merry Christmas!

 

I hope your Christmas is filled with Jesus' love and your family creates rich and lasting memories. I would love to hear all about it. What special touches did you add to make your Christmas meaningful?

Merry Christmas bloggy friends!

Gratefully,

 

Beth