Memorial Day

A soldier and his bride at a happy time only a little less then three years ago.

We remember you today, as we do everyday, and honor you for your service.

You left her too soon.

The Lilacs

This was a spectacular year for lilacs. The colors have been vibrant. The sweet fragrance has greeted us coming and going. We have continuously had large bouquets in every room in the house. They have lasted over two weeks now.

Many years they last for only a few days.

I think this is because we have had a cool damp spring and they like that weather. While we, in the North Country, have longed for the warmth and sun after our long and dreary winter, the lilacs have been resplendent, totally satisfied with their spring.

The lilacs have reminded me that while many things are out of kilter, to put it mildly, in our lives here at 42, we have so many blessings right now. I planted the memorial park flower garden yesterday with eight wonderful women from the community. We remembered Christian and Elizabeth and spoke of what the future might bring. The reporter from the local newspaper ran over just as we were finishing to take our picture with the flowers. The garden club wanted it planted before the parade for Memorial Day.

Small communities are wonderful! We know each other and we care about each others lives. We do not remain indifferent. You may not be able to remain anonymous but the connection developed between so many different people is comforting, sustaining and refreshing.

The Garden

"It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, it is why he does it." A.W. Tozer

The backyard garden, planned for a wedding. A response to the love two people were pursuing, developing, growing.

The garden would be the venue for the reception. The celebration after the vows of commitment to each other, the Lord, and the family and friends who had witnessed the union. Beautiful music, delicious food, laughter, stories, prayers, dancing, fun.

And so I continue to create, plan, work, and appreciate the garden God has given me. Started in response to the love of two people and continued to reflect the wonder of life Father has given us. I see His interest in beauty, I learn more about plants and their response to their environment, I dream of different elements that would enhance the garden. It is where I go out to in the morning to read, study, be quiet, and listen.

So I extend an invitation to come sit in my garden with me, those that are passing by on a warm sunny day. Let us tell stories of God's goodness, see His creative beauty in the flowers, trees and shrubs, walk on the brick paths, rest on the sofas and chairs, listen to lovely music, laugh, drink cool rasberry ice tea and enjoy each other for a brief moment.

"Let a man sanctify the Lord in his heart and he can thereafter do no common act. For such a man, living itself will be sacramental and the whole world a sanctuary. His entire life will be a priestly ministration." A.W.Tozer

Mother's Day

It's a beautiful sunny day here.

The dozens of lilacs; deep purple, lavender, white, light blue, which have defined some yard boundaries, emit lovely, sweet strong scents.

And I'm so thankful that God has called me to be a mother. And that I have four unique wonderful children. But now they are adults, (still my children) and I'm blessed.

So many memories from years past.

Elizabeth, a young girl so strong and determined in her faith. Singing and worshiping at age 5, standing beside me as I was teaching a monthly Bible study in my home. Reading books on faith that her Grandfather brought for her dad and I to read.

Jon and Christian riding home from a visit to a nearby town in Pennsylvania, inquiring about God and Jesus. Arriving home and asking Rob and I to lead them to Christ. Kneeling with them and praying. Watching them grow in grace and truth. My gentle, creative and sensitive sons.

Ethan, so full of fun and energy and joy, every minute of his childhood. A person others are drawn to and delight in. Wanting to live intentionally for the Lord, now in a postion, in THE city to do so, and have great impact.

And I think of the scripture and know it is true:

"Don't you see that children are God's best gift?
the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?
Like a warrior's fistful of arrows
are the children of a vigorous youth.
Oh, how blessed are you parents,
with your quivers full of children!"

Yes, and amen!!

A GRACE SUSTAINED

The Scriptures are full of verses that tell us that our lives here are like a vapor.

As if someone breathes in and then out. That short, that transient.

That understanding seems like reality today. Today, May 8, 2008, six months since the accident that took Christian from Elizabeth, his family, his friends. Six months since Christian is gone from this visible, tangible world. But not from life.

They were in Italy six months ago.

And it seems impossible that Elizabeth, and those of the rest of us who orbited his sphere, have continued on for six months. Six months is a long time, isn't it? It is almost two seasons, winter and spring. But we have continued on, and I don't know how.

How is it possible that we have laughed at all, we've played games, we've read books, we've spoken on the phone, we've given and attended parties, we've sung songs, we've been to church, gone to work, we've taken trips and gone on vacations, we've planned futures?

I can not think how she has done that. Continued on through the penetrating and paralyzing lonliness.

November 8th is indelibly engraven on my heart. The transatlanic phone call at 7:00am, tearing me violently out of a tender long sleep. I was asleep, and unaware of something going terribly wrong to those I cherish so far away. The prayer, the calling out to the One we know, the intercession, the arrival of our church family, my husband home from surgery in the morning, the waiting, the unwanted, unimaginable phone call, the packing, the flight to Paris then Venice, the running up the path to the house, the flinging into each others arms, the crying, the sadness, the grief, the loss.

And yet we seem surrounded by grace, and strength. From Him and from each other.

Our lives come to us moment by moment. We take time for granted; we've had a past, we are in our present and we plan for our future. That is how we understand this thing called time, moment by moment, and our experience of it. But life is a gift, a treasure, a fragile delight.

It seems as if Elizabeth has lost all her tomorrows with Christian, but God has not. He is always in the present. I AM. And all His days are now. I know that He will never for one instant forget her or the rest of us, the pain experienced, the seperation endured, the future unknown as yet.

So we mark this day. We think and we cry a bit. It is not a beginning or a middle or an ending, but a road marker. We stop and seek His face and more of His sustaining grace. We continue to need it, we hunger and thirst after it. We can not go on without it.

And we know that Light has shined in the darkness and the darkness could not put it out.

We're back at 42

We're back from almost two weeks outside of the North Country. At least Liz and I have been gone that long. The boys met us for a week down in Hilton Head.

Our first stop was in Roanoke to see our dear friends the Story's and Brooks at their mountainside domain in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Absolutely gorgeous! We ate and talked and talked and continued talking the next morning until we had to continue on our journey to my sisters in Raleigh. Their basement is big enough to sleep the entire youth group from CFC, and Tom can take everyone hiking through the mountains just by stepping out their back door. I miss them here though.

We then headed out to Joan's and had a great time at P.F Changs and enjoyed her and Bobby's townhome and flowers which she had all planted already. We are so far behind in the changing of the seasons, they have already had spring and into summer now.

Then down to Hilton Head to stay with my Aunt Millie whose condominium is located right on the harbor. We had gorgeous sunsets and views of private sailboats and motorboats and the ferry, running back and forth to Dufuske Island. We unloaded the bikes and rode for miles on the wonderful bike trails that Hilton Head is famous for. My cousin and his wife came on the weekend which was a great surprise and a lot of fun. More talking, well into the wee hours of the morning. My men came Saturday from St. Kitts, NYC and Syracuse. We were all together. Yeah!!!! A mother's dream, especially when her children are grown and having responsible jobs!

Leigh came on Monday and we had a great time introducing her to the nuclear and extended family. Great aunts included. They go everywhere we do, although Peter would not let his mom go kayaking with us! Boo Hoo. She still wanted to go even though she's 85! It wasn't so long ago that both Aunt Millie and Aunt June were jet skiing around Higley. Go Aunts!!

The Skoglund clan came Tuesday, except for Lars. Studying and finals got in the way. And the vacation began in earnest. Lots of time by the pool. Us northern people have been starved of sun so we all indulged! Big time. There were a few with sunburns. No one seemed to care, except one who suffered more than the rest. We did crossword puzzles, created MANY Haiku's (thanks to Maja and Rob), played cribbage and speed scrabble. I think the speed scrabble was a little too intense for Leigh, but she was a good sport. Wonderful evenings out to restaurants with fantastic seafood. Walks on the beach, spa time, biking, TJ Maxx.

Most did the sunrise kayaking at 6:00am. We were treated to paddling with a multitude of dolphins right next to our kayaks and Elizabeth even saw a baby dopphin jump out of the water. And then at 6:23am there was an amazing sunrise right over the beach. Thank you Lord for the beauty of creation. Your handiwork is seen everywhere.

Rob and I biked on a national wildlife preserve right off the island and we saw an armadillo foraging along the path. He was so much fun to watch! On another bike ride we saw a huge turtle, giant blue heron and an alligator. We saw many pelicans and sea birds. I love the wildlife. We also visited life time friends, the Larsens and Kilgus's; over 40 years of continuous friendship and following the Lord together.

We arrived home to visit with a family from Texas who was here for a week visiting Laura. They had three little boys and I had so many memories of when my three sons were that age. One was even named Ethan. They enjoyed our little town, experienced small town friendliness and looked at real estate. We walked down to have pizza last night and ended with a visit to Morgan's Ice House to have our first ice cream cone of the season. And then they were off this morning, back to 90 degree weather in Waco.

And we are off to resume our ADL. I gardened for 10 hours straight yesterday. At 6:00pm they sent the troops out to pull me in. I must say my backyard garden is doing fairly well and it is so much fun to see plants popping out and shooting up. I got some wrought iron while in NC that I want to install in the garden. It's up to Rob to see how I can get it into a stable position. I'm bringing all our old windows down from the barn so Rob can visualize my concept of a greenhouse that I have my heart set on as part of the backyard garden. We'll see if that materializes.

Does anyone have any idea what Maja, Ethan and Jon are doing in the last picture? The three of them are so much fun!!!