Pursuing More

  It has been brought to my attention that when I became a granny this past summer, I excitedly hopped on my keyboard and blogged the exciting news; but when my second grandbaby was born in October, I didn’t blog about it. In fact, I haven’t blogged since just before she was born. It’s not that it hasn’t been on my mind, it’s just that instead of writing, I have been spending the last 2 months holding that sweet one. She lives only 4 blocks from me and I get the pleasure of seeing her almost daily. So, without further ado, (and since she is out of town visiting her other grandma and I cannot cuddle her this week) let me introduce you to Little Miss Abigail Paige. Isn’t she just adorable? I sure think so! I am so blessed to have 2 little granddaughters and I truly love love love being with them .   Being a grandma has colored my view of life in a new way. Carseats are even more important to me now. Comforting them when they cry seems more urgent somehow with thes...

It was 5:30 a.m. and with coffee and chocolate muffin in tow I was driving to a doctor appointment. I tuned into KLOVE and settled in for the two hour drive on that early January morning.   My husband reclined back for a little nap which worked perfectly because I began to talk to God- silently, but I can’t help moving my lips when I pray. With him sleeping, I felt freedom to talk to God without fear of being declared insane. I love time with just me and God. No distractions except for a few deer and occasional bright headlights from oncoming cars. I babbled on and on to Him, whatever came to mind, I talked it about to my Father. I prayed for my children- for safety and blessings… for a family who recently lost their mom…for safety as I drove…and I praised Him for the lack of fog that morning. My prayer came to a halt. God seemed to say “Is that all you have faith to thank Me for? No fog? Is driving safely to an appointment the most weighty matter on your mind? Is the...

I have been praying and asking and waiting…and praying and asking and waiting...(with the occasional whining mixed in)…and yet still I sit. The For Sale sign outside my house sits as well. A friend’s house that is for sale showed yesterday. Today our son and his wife’s house will show at 9:30. And ours sits. Its hard not to be envious. Its hard not to get bitter or desperate.   I am glad for our friends and kids, they need to sell their homes too, but I feel left behind. As I sit here praying this morning, a verse I have scribbled at the top of my prayer list catches my eye. Psalm 119:164, “Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws.” The praise I give too often tends to come from what God does for me. “Thank you for that great parking spot on a rainy day…Thanks for a safe trip…Praise God for that pay raise…” Not bad things to give thanks for, but the Psalmist doesn’t look for what God does but at Who He is and His righteous laws. This totally takes the “me” out...

When my daughter was 2 she was a demanding child. Her bark was bigger than her chubby little 25 pounds. Barney was her show of choice and her perspective of choice was that if she wanted to watch Barney, then she should get to watch it NOW. One afternoon while at my parents house, my dad was watching a show. Little Laura entered the room, pointed to the TV and said, “Grandpa,…Barney…NOW!” She added a stomp of her foot for emphasis. It was hard not to laugh, it caught us all by surprise. Who did she think she was? The center of the universe? The main attraction? Apparently, yes and yes. Proper discipline showed her otherwise and brought some submission and respect for authority to her heart. As I look back on this memory, I can’t help but notice the parallel between that little heart years ago and mine. I enter the presence of my Heavenly Father, point to my life and lay out my demands. I even add a little foot stomp sometimes. Who do I think I am? We live in a society that enco...