Learning to Surf over the Waves this New Year

The other day as I was doing some after-Christmas shopping in Hobby Lobby, I noticed this surfboard plaque.

"You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf."

 Out here on the prairie we don't have oceans, waves, or tides.

This little pond frozen over for skating is the closest we come to surfing!

I took that picture of the surfboard because I thought how appropriate a thought it was.

We can't stop the waves crashing into our lives at high tide, but we can let them drown us--

or we can learn to surf.

Surfing is a skill, and skills take time and effort to learn.

You don't just go surfing one day and go gliding effortlessly over the crests of every wave!

I expect that you would end up upside down a few times! 

I am sitting up late tonight as I hear firecrackers booming in the distance--welcoming in the New Year.

None of us knows what this year will hold--and mercifully the Lord keeps the curtain drawn.

We don't know how many or how powerful the waves will be. 

But there is a surfboard that we can ride,

and the name on that surfboard is 

Promise.

God has so many promises!

Today the children and I decided to try to learn at least one promise in Scripture for each letter of the alphabet this New Year.

By faith in His promises, we can surf the waves that are sure to come!

Frankincense--the Tears of Christmas

Yesterday as I was researching uses for frankincense essential oil, thinking of someone who is struggling with severe physical issues, I learned that frankincense is a resin – "hardened sap from trees. In both cases, [both frankincense and myrrh] trees are slashed and allowed to 'bleed.' The sap that comes from the trees hardens and forms beads or 'tears.'" Then these are used to produce oils and products that are so potent in healing.

https://www.diynatural.com/frankincense-and-myrrh/

Without the Boswellian tree being slashed, without the sap dripping down and forming tears,

 there would have been no frankincense as a gift from the wise men for the Christ child,

and there would be no healing oils for our illnesses, pain, and brokenness.

I was feeling low this evening, just some personal heartaches that won't stop aching, and I thought of the frankincense.

Sometimes God allows our hearts to be slashed, 

plans and ambitions to be upset,

our comfort zones and little boxes torn to pieces,

before we can become useful as any kind of healing agent in the lives of other people. 

The frankincense used to be just sap flowing comfortably along inside the tree,

and often we sit in our comfort zones at home, at school, at church,

and we think we are alive and well and doing fine and helping others all we can.

But it isn't till the tree is slashed, and we are ripped out of the four walls of our comfort zones

 that we find ourselves not just looking for ways to minister,

in ways that are out of the box, because, bluntly put, we are no longer inside the box,

but in fact unboxed ways to minister are coming to us.

We are broken and slashed and in tears, but opportunities come to us, even if it is only one moment or one hour or one day at a time.

Someone without a family finds family for Christmas.

Someone without hope finds hope.

Someone who never darkens the door of a church sits around the table in a Christian home where the father of the house talks to Jesus before the meal. 

Someone in a dark tunnel finds a ray of light.  

Frankincense--the tears of Christmas.

Christmas Joys--Unto the Least of These My Brethren

 Christmas morning we all scurried about in a great flurry, getting breakfast on and then cleaning up the house and preparing food for thirteen people!
Plus, there were still gift baskets to arrange for Jonathan's parents and the company we were having--a girl who had recently met and written to our girls, wanting to get together and make friends, and her grandmother.
They helped us arrange the gift basket for Grandma and pa.

 I had thought of a Beary Merry Christmas theme, with honey and jellies and a little bear, but Jonathan tweeked it just a bit to be
a Berry Merry Christmas themed basket--with lots of berry things!
I looked online for ideas and got some ideas from some Blueberry Shop online.
So since Carrie was already going to town yesterday, I gave her a list and asked her to get a bunch of things for the basket.
She came up with some of her own ideas, too, so between Jonathan, Carrie and me, the basket contained  Dove Chocolate Blueberries, Blueberry Muffin mix, pancake mix, blueberry pie filling, strawberry pie filling, three kinds of berry preserves, three berry jellos, dried cranberries, dried blueberries, Carrie's homemade blueberry and strawberry chapstick, and probably another thing or two that I forgot.
Carrie's touch and ideas from our company friends made it so cute, with gingham jar toppers tied off with country twine, peppermint candy canes, a few sprigs of  evergreen and a big blue bow.


Grandma and Grandpa arrived with the Christmas ham and Christmas cookies.

Carrie mashed the potatoes. Hers are the best!

Several people helped set the table.
We did without fancy paper plates this year--just the same old plates that need washed!
But--we have plates and so much more!
Crystal contributed one of her candles that matched ours and we lit them.

We'd made the broccoli salad the night before.
Grandma had brought little candies.

Rose and Jasmine pulling fresh rolls from the pan.

Before eating, we sang the chorus, "Emmanuel."
"God with us, revealed in us. His name is called Emmanuel."
Jonathan prayed the Christmas blessing and then we all fell to eating!

After dinner, while some of the girls and ladies were doing dishes, I was back in my room finishing a gift basket for Jasmine's grandmother, and Crystal was playing Christmas arrangements on the piano.

There were gifts for everyone. I read a poem called "Bunkhouse Christmas," about cowboys who only had a tumbleweed to decorate, but found spurs and cut tin stars from piepans, and finished it off with a white cowboy hat.
And though perfection wasn't the aim, the poet said,
"Perfection's what we got!"
Jonathan read a Christmas story about a single mom who prayed for a Christmas tree, and God sent an enormous tumbleweed to their door--which she promptly transformed into a Christmas tree!

I guess it was Tumbleweed Christmas that day out on our prairie!

 And though perfection wasn't our aim,  as the poem said, 

perfection was what we got--if you define perfection as having a very beautiful, fulfilling day despite all its imperfections!

Our company was quite relieved that we included them in helping with meal preparations and that we didn't mind them seeing our less-than-perfect bedrooms with Christmas messes hiding there, (and even a pile of dirty laundry on my bed since I hadn't gotten it quite into the washer yet). They helped carry Christmas wrappings, etc. back there, and were visibly relieved that the Lucas house wasn't anything to be intimidated by.

I notice that often new friends arrive a bit nervous, but when they see our imperfections that we simply accept and acknowledge, they become at ease. Suddenly they have found a home where they can feel at home.

They see that some other people actually live in their homes, too, rather than showcase them, and it makes them feel at home!

Our girls had arranged this lovely gift basket for Jasmine, with yarns and candle and lotion and mug and homemade chapstick and a couple other things I can't remember.

The girls made this fruit pizza for dessert.

Hannah had made two of these horseshoe ornaments for Crystal.

 The children skating as the sun sets over Pikes Peak in the distance!

 It was bitter cold, but they weren't about to let the cold keep them from having fun!

 After supper of leftovers, the children played Dutch Blitz while we ladies snipped and froze most of a bushel of green beans which Carrie had found for just 77 cents a pound.
Sounds like July at Christmas!

 Finally before sending our company on their way, the girls got out their mandolin and violin and guitar, and played Christmas carols around the piano. I was impressed with how well Jasmine did, after having violin lessons for only 5 months.

Not everything was on tune, but we had fun!

I had prayed that this Christmas
the Christ Child--no longer a humble Child but a Coming King--
would be pleased with our celebrations, 
as we sought to do for "one of the least of these" as unto Him. 

Dear Christ, we simply opened our home to someone who needed a friend this Christmas,
and somehow, we believe that the Light of Your presence was very real.
Star of every night sky,
shine upon every lonely and hurting heart, and lead them to their perfect Home in God's Heart!

If He Remembers the Birds at Christmas Time...and Gives Hay to the Lambs...

Even the birds are remembered at Christmas time!

Hannah tried out a recipe of birdseed and peanut butter, making shaped bird treats.

(Hint--top secret! They didn't stay together very well, but they still made good bird food!)

We have lots of feathered friends coming to the feeder my nephew Samuel made while he was here.

The other day we delivered a couple of these huge bales of hay to some friends.

They were just becoming the owners of two Dorset sheep, one of which, valued at $500, their oldest daughter won in an essay contest for writing about sheep.

It was no small task to get those 750-800 lb. bales of hay off the flatbed trailer.

One, two, three--heave!

Saturday afternoon after unloading the hay, we listened to stories about raising sheep in Maryland.

Our friend had been president of a Dorset sheep organization, and had helped organize a weekend sheep and lamb festival in Maryland

to which 80,000 people have come in one weekend.

We didn't know our humble friend had been so high up in the sheep world!
The next evening, their family and ours went Christmas caroling together.
The girls had baked cookies and arranged them on plates to give out to different neighbors.

This special basket was to go to the rancher couple at Red Ink Ranch where our children work. Marsha LOVES the girls' sourdough bread, so there is a loaf of that along with cookies, fudge, home canned pickled beets (which she also loevs), and lemon bread slices.

Getting ready to head out with guitars, mandolin, violin and banjo.

Here we are caroling in the twinkling lights at Marsha's.

And here is the basket the girls made for our friends the Hagertys--a cookie mix-in-a-jar, a cocoa mix jar, and a stack of peanutbutter cups, besides a dishcloth Hannah knitted.

Despite being in a bit of a pinch financially recently, the Lord provided so we could make lots of baskets of homemade gifts.

He Who watches over His sparrows and feeds the birds of the air...

(can you spot the dove in the top left corner behind the tree branches? It had been at the feeder.)

And He Who provides hay for the lambs and sheep,

He Who provided straw for the manger,

and a Lamb for the stranger,

will He not provide all that we need?

Not just food for a Christmas Eve dinner reserved for family only this year,

but so much more?

Dare we ask for more this Christmas season?

After the Christmas Eve service late that afternoon at a fellowship we slip into sometimes, one of the men there went around handing out packages of ground elk burger!

I loved getting that kind of gift rather than more candy!

But what I needed far more was a chance to be quiet, to lay aside the work and the preparations for a happy family time that evening,

and to be still and worship. 

To remember with others how the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

To make sure that in preparing to give gifts to our beloved children,

we do not forget the Child.

We took time, while supper was baking in the oven, to remember Christ.

Because of Him we can have joy all evening, watching children's eyes sparkle and hearing their happy squeals and laughter as they open their simple gifts.

(This package was for me, complete with wrapping paper that my children knew their mom would love, as I love cardinals.

Carrie had also tied these three flavors of her homemade chapstick together for me--strawberry, blueberry, and orange. Mmm!)

A gift basket to me from the girls--including a patchwork potholder, a set of cups, a dish towel embroidered by my sweet niece Amaris back in Pennsylvania, a molded homemade goat soap, a cookie mix, and a cocoa mix, a dishcloth and scrubbie knitted by one of the girls.

These are molded lotions that our pastor's wife, Holly Walker, gave me. 

Delightfully fragrant with lavendar, they feel so good!

Just pinch off a corner and rub on your hands.

 It feels so good to be remembered!

He Who remembers the birds and the lambs at Christmas time

will remember You!

Hiccups for Christmas! And God--Lover of the Lowly

We had to chuckle during a Christmas program this month when one of the youngsters singing up front ended up with hiccups!

Unabashed, the girl continued singing, the loud hiccups punctuating one line after another. 

Hiccups did not ruin the Christmas program.

Rather, of the dozens of poems and Scriptures, sermon, and songs sung,  the hiccups was one thing we remembered!

 And God knew we would not remember or be impressed with sermons, songs, poems, or even Scriptures.

So He sent--hiccups.

A Baby--who hiccuped just like we do.

God clothed with umbilical cord, swaddling cloths, and hiccups.

“Incarnation.” 

"It is not what we would expect. God comes in lowly status, born in a manger, in a far corner of the world... Chesterton captures the paradox:

The Child that was ere worlds begun...
The Child that played with moon and sun
Is playing with a little hay."  
[https://www.memoriapress.com/articles/a-christmas-fairy-tale]

 

 John Piper writes that during his first Advent at Bethlehem years ago, he "lingered over Mary’s magnificent song one Sunday evening. It is a remarkable vision of God as a lover of the lowly. He is not the least impressed by human pride or power or wealth. He loves to show mercy to the lowly who fear him."

This Christmas was pretty lowly for our family, as we cooked simple meals and made or bought simple gifts,

 attended a lowly country Christmas parade,

where lowly fire trucks, tow trucks, and other simple wagons and vehicles spread cheer and light along the street,

as we reached out to lowly community children Christmas Sunday,

and invited a teen and grandparent along with our children's own grandparents into our home for Christmas Day.
No platform activities.
No applause.
No greatness or glory or bells or stars or halos. 
(Just lassos!)

  "God is honored when we turn from fragile security of wealth to the unfailing security of trust.

  His promises are better treasure," Piper writes.

My sister Dorcas shared this picture of a simple Christmas decoration her girls had made with just what they had on hand--

greenery, red ribbon and candle, and popsicle sticks they painted red and turned into a sled!

To me, simple is best!

God is God of the lowly, not of the great.

He is God of the humble, not of the proud.

He is God of the poor, not of the rich.

He is God of the classless--not of the classy.  

He came to shepherds.

He became a Lamb.

God--this Lover of the lowly!

  

Homemade Christmas Gifts

It makes a mother's heart glad when she sees her daughters putting little homemade gifts together for people they love.

Before Sam, Carrie and Rose left for PA two weeks ago, Carrie was making homemade lip balm, and Rose was making molds of goat soap--for each of their girl cousins back there, the littlest one included.
Then you can see how they tagged and bundled them,
just small gifts, but so much love and joy wrapped up in them.

I spent many hours addressing Christmas cards--to so many friends, new and old, and this pile is just one  of the piles I sent or gave out.
And everyday is a blessing to receive cards in the mail.
I still love actual cards in the mail!

The girls made a jar of cocoa mix for some one. I loved the layers of brown, pink (peppermint candy crushed) and white marshmallows.

Dear little Hannah put together three care packages for the girls to drop off at a Christian Aid Ministries drop-off near my relatives back east. It did my heart good the Sunday before when Hannah had earned quiet seat prize at Kids Club, and she was searching through the box of prizes. The other child had chosen quickly and was gone already, and I thought Hannah was spending too long and urged her to hurry. Finally she chose something--crayons!

She said, "To give!" And I realized she wanted them for one of these care packages for children in a needy country.

She spent her own money for all these things--and she didn't have much to start with!

God bless my little girl!

I always pray my children will be cheerful givers--and they already are.

 

Other joys this Christmas season for us have been being able to attend a beautiful concert at Village Seven Presbyterian Church at the beginning of December. Jonathan's parents told us about it, so we went one of the nights it was performed. It was mostly good Christmas carols and the second half was the Messiah, read and performed. It was outstanding!
One blessing there was how many friends "happened" to surround us in our corner of the balcony--homeschooling friends, Carrie's violin teacher and children, and others. One staff member from Caring for the Heart recognized us from down where he'd been sitting, and he came up to greet us. We had the pleasure to introduce our children to him.
Another friend was playing in the orchestra.

It is in worshipful times of quality music such as this that we can "drop an anchor" of faith in the bustle of the season.
Matt Chandler of Desiring God shares,
"In the swift-flowing river of commercialism and consumerism this Christmas season, in the hustle and bustle of buying and traveling and gathering, we need to drop an anchor...
That’s the real (and subtle) war this Christmas. It’s not some debate about political correctness, but it is a focused and passionate effort to make the most of this season — instead of being swept away by the decorations and gifts. Instead of falling for the feelings of Christmas, we’re learning to truly enjoy the child."

So we enjoy the Child--now grown, crucified, resurrected, and ascended,
and interceding in heaven for us!