This is one of my all-time favorite pictures of my dad and me. I look like I'm about two and he has that same patient, teaching look he always had with me.
My father's family was twice the size of mine, but unfortunately wasn't twice the fun. His father was an abusive alcoholic. Dad was sent to live with and work for an abusive uncle at the age of four. He quit school after the eighth grade to help support his family. At eighteen he was drafted and was sent to the German front lines in World War II. While there, his life was in constant jeopardy and he watched many of his friends die.
Dad came home to discover that his father had drunk up all the money he had sent home from the service. He eventually married twice and was left twice. When he married my mother and became a father to me in his early forties, he was ecstatic. I can't tell you that he was a perfect father. Years of trauma and mistreatment took its toll on my dad emotionally. But I can tell you that he wasn't an alcoholic, nor was he ever abusive to me. He told me he loved me and was proud of me all the time. He constantly made me laugh. He was one of the most humble men I've ever known. He taught me how to fish, fast pitch softball, and basic carpentry skills. He loved beating me in cribbage. When I was on my own, he bailed me out of several financial jams I got myself into and wrote me precious letters. In one letter he wrote, "I've been thinking of you all week, so I thought I'd better write."
My dad's parenting is a testimony of God's faithfulness in my life. He was the father I wish he had had.
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children… (Luke 1:17)
Pictured from left to right: my grandmother, (help on who this is, Mom!), me, my grandfather, my mother, and my father
This photo was taken during my baby blessing (or dedication) and you might think that I am going to discuss how God began a lifetime of blessing me on this day. While that is most certainly true, that isn't the story behind this picture.
The real story began many years before I was born. My grandparents had three daughters and one son. My grandma encouraged me to space my babies five years apart like she did so that the older children would be in school when the baby arrived. I didn't exactly follow that advice! I would have been 53 when the last one was born and I didn't exactly send them to school (we homeschool if you're new to this blog).
My mom will have to help me edit this post because I am not sure if she was born when the accident occured or not. My grandparents' two older daughters (10 and 5) went sledding one winter day in Iowa. Their sled struck a parked car at the end of their ride and their five-year-old daughter sustained a fatal head injury as a result. My grandmother, who eventually lost her husband of almost fifty years, said that nothing was harder than losing a child. I can't imagine the pain of it.
My mother told me that prior to this tragic accident, her father was not a Christian. It's been said that trials will either drive us away from God or toward Him. In my grandfather's case, he wanted to be sure that he would see his beloved daughter again in heaven. He became a believer and eventually an elder in his church. If my grandfather had not come to faith, I wonder if I would have? Only God can work good from such terrible circumstances.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Several years ago, I was inspired by these verses to create a scrapbook of God’s faithfulness to me that I’m calling my Joshua Journal:
5 and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” (Joshua 4)
I recently took stock of the huge number of scrapbooking projects I want to complete and reluctantly admitted that I will never be able to complete them all. So I asked myself which projects I would really regret not completing in my lifetime and this particular one was number two (my youngest’s baby book is #1! I just have to do the journaling :-). I want to have an 8×8 digital photobook that I can give to each of my children that is like the pile of stones in Joshua, testifying to the amazing things the Lord has done for me. I dream that they will read it to my grandchildren and maybe my great-grandchildren, too. I also want to have a copy in my purse that I can use in sharing with people I meet the reason for the hope that I have.
I realized that if I blog each story, I can not only share these testaments of God’s faithfulness with all of you, but it will motivate me to finish the book! If a particular story is meaningful to you or if I fall off the wagon and quit posting them before I announce that volume 1 is complete, will you please comment? Thank you so much! I would love it if I inspire you to do the same. Please link up to your own stories!
Wednesday was certainly a day to give glory to our Wonderful Counselor. Here's what was wonderful about my Wednesday:
Time to discuss the things of God with my wonderful husband
Time with friends at P.E.
Time at the park with a dear friend to talk about our faith
A nap!
Getting my hair cut and time to encourage my hairdresser who will have surgery for cancer on Tuesday. Add her supernatural peace to your prayers, please!
Got dinner made and everyone fed before 6.
A time to talk about God's incredible creation during my son's confirmation class. I am so thankful that my child and I know the truth and I pray that others will, too.
Listening to our audio book together as a family.
Ending the day reading my book on prayer. I have offered my body to Christ as a living sacrifice. I am so relieved to know that I don't have to worry about my body anymore because it belongs to God.
It really has been a terrific Tuesday. Here's what made my day:
Got loads of laundry done
New approach of cleaning 10 minutes per floor as a family is working like a charm (after we prayed about it)
Got to eat Oreos and milk for the first time in decades
Got to see my friend Shannon in good spirits after sleeping well. Thank you, Lord!
Had an incredible school day. I taught as long as a public school teacher! I was in awe that the kids worked hard all day–even after lunch–without being told
Spent lots of time training Daisy today. She's responding to the stay command well so far!
I got a lot of important details taken care of
Had a nice dinner and enjoyed watching Biggest Loser with Grandpa
Loved seeing the kids reading before bed. It helps that Dad has promised the reluctant readers a chocolate shake! The oldest complained he never gets one (he is an avid reader) – LOL
Have a terrific day tomorrow! Wednesdays are days that I devote specifically to prayer. If I can pray for you, please comment or email and let me know how I can pray.
Mondays can be hard so I am designating them as days to move the obstacles in my way by faith. I may have moved only a little mountain of laundry today but I moved a big mountain of fear. I was able to enjoy playing tennis with no anxiety.
One mountain in my life is consistency in schooling. Today was very rewarding that way. The kids loved their lessons and I did too. I enjoyed playing personal trainer to them as well.
My new approach to some mountains is to see them as from the Lord. No writers group tonight meant I had time to enjoy my family and move a mountain of unused toys out of my basement.
Of course mountain movers need their sleep so that’s what I aim to get. Have a mountain moving day!
I’m a Christian psychologist turned homeschooling mother of six. My life can be a little crazy, so I look for sanity-saving ideas to use and share. I hope you’ll read my About page to learn more.
