for reaping!

As I spend time wrapping gifts, putting out the last few decorations, something occurred to me. 

I am blessed.  

Now, I'm not just speaking about the "blessed because I have food, shelter and clothing" kind of being blessed...I'm so much more than that kind of  blessed! 

When I consider the past year,  all I can think of is loss. Great and significant loss of some of the most important people in my world.  Loss that has changed everything about my everyday life kind of loss.  Loss that still gives me that drop in the pit of my stomach when I think about it, still makes me cry, and at times really wonder the obvious..."WHY?"

But then I consider the past few weeks, and the next few weeks to come...and my heart is lightened, and the feeling in the pit of my stomach turns from sorrow to excitement, mixed with a little trepidation, but mostly excitement!  

I think of the wonderful organizations that I have been blessed to work with during this Holiday season.  The Forgotten Man Ministries, where we (Jeff and I), met with about 15 other volunteers at the jail to assemble gift bags for the more than 400 inmates who are or will be incarcerated on Christmas.  These aren't gift bags like you've ever assembled or received (hopefully!) but to the inmates, these are the most wonderful gifts imaginable.  The gifts consist of a pair of white, men's tube socks (for both men and women), a bottle of shampoo (a big one thanks to generous donors this year) a stick of deodorant, a new toothbrush (unbreakable, of course!) travel size toothpaste, 4 small candy bars, 4 pieces of hard candy, a candy cane, one blank Christmas card ( to be sent to family or friend).  All of this is in a brown paper sack, passed to the inmate through the bars by a FMM volunteer.  To receive these necessities in the form of a gift might not garner lots of excitement, you might think. 

But then, you'd be wrong.  The smiles, excitement and joy at being given something as mundane as deodorant and toothbrushes humbles me in a way I didn't know I could be.  Have I EVER needed something that much?  EVER?  I'm both happy and ashamed to say, I have not.  I'm happy because I've never been in need - and why wouldn't I be happy about that?  But I'm also ashamed, because I have often taken these things for granted, as if I'm entitled to them..after all, I've never been incarcerated, have I?  So, does that entitle me to basic necessities? No,  I'm not entitled to anything, and I ought to be just as excited as these men and women when the Lord provides for me the needs of my life and that of my family.  

Lord, forgive me for my sense of entitlement.

I think of the time I've been able to spend with my daughter, Julie, during this Christmas season.  We are as close as a mother and a daughter can be...and I know this, because I have the same relationship with my own mother!  There is nothing I wouldn't do for my children, but there is this special place in my heart reserved just for my daughter.  Its the place that often tugs at me when I see something in the stores that she might like, or maybe even need.  It was in that place I made the decision to purchase tickets to go to Harvest Bible Chapel in Elgin Illinois last weekend.  

The Water Tower Mall at Christmas Time!

Julie's favorite television show as a child (and I believe to this day!) is Full House.  Well, thanks to social media, she found out that Candace Cameron Bure (the one time D.J. Tanner of Full House fame) would be speaking at the "Behind the Glitter" Women's Conference there at the church in Elgin.  Only $15 per ticket, and approximately 3 and half hour drive, each way.  Now, a weekend trip to Chi town on it's own merits would be an easy decision.  However, this year, we already have plans to be heading to Virginia to pick up our son, Joseph from Ft. Lee for his Holiday Block Leave, and we need to head out on Tuesday.  That would be the day after we returned from a late night drive home after spending a day in the big city!  What to do?  It's hardly a choice, really.  This is Candace Cameron Bure - one of Julie's "bucket List" people to meet! This mom is going to find a way!   I log onto the website, order the tickets and leave it at that! Too late now...we are going to Chicago on Sunday!

The event was all we hoped for and the day was as much fun as it could be.  We spent the early part of the day shopping in the city - the Water Tower Mall and 900 Michigan Ave Mall.  We didn't spend much (not hard to do with these prices) but how much fun we had in the process! We headed to the church as evening approached, and it was wonderful to hear the testimony of my daughters idol.  She is a lover of Jesus Christ, and her life is a testimony to that.  Her teen age daughter sang the Revelation Song like and angel, and this mom had a tough time holding back the tears.  The long line for the meet and greet started at 8:30 pm...but by 9:30 pm we had our photo op and autographed program in hand...time to get back to Muskegon!

Pvt. Joseph Milner

Wait a minute, Joseph mentioned buying tickets to a Lions football game for he and his father for Christmas...and I think the game is in Chicago, next Sunday!  Are we really going to be in Chicago two weekends in a row, and the second after a drive to Virginia to pick him up at the base?   Sounds like it!  However, after some serious numbers crunching and a great tip from a friend, the decision was made to have us all meet in Chi Town together on Saturday instead of us making that cross country drive, Griswold style (OK, so it's not quite Wally World, but it is still a really long way!)  So, a few keystrokes, visits to Orbitz, Travelocity and IHG.com and we are set...one flight from VA to Chicago, and we are set to make the drive to Chicago one more time!

So, why am I telling you about all of these details of the past few weeks?  Because without the blessings of our Heavenly Father, NONE OF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE!

How on earth can we afford all of these opportunities?  Well, first and foremost, we know that our Heavenly Father is faithful to His Word, and He keeps His promises. In Malachi, He said to: Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it".
"TRY ME", He said. And so we have.  One thing that is an automatic in our home is faithful and joyful giving.  We never PAY our tithes and offerings. We GIVE them.  10 % is such a small amount, and for the returns we receive, I can't imagine ever NOT doing this simple act of worship.  

But is it only the financial blessings that we are receiving?  Hardly.  God has blessed us with a super natural strength, energy and stamina like never before.  Jeff and I struggle with physical health - each in our own way.  Somehow, this season, God has blessed us with the ability to just keep on going!  Now I say this after only part of these events have transpired...how do I know that the next 3 weeks will be like the last 3?  Well, again, I go to His Word, and I read in Ephesians:  Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Exceedingly, abundantly above...that's what it's going to take for the drive to Chicago, a night, the football game on Sunday, the drive home, a trip to Detroit on the 23rd, Christmas Eve with family on the 24th, a family day trip to Frankenmuth and Bronner's on the 27th, and finally a trip back to Detroit on January 2 to take Joseph to the airport to return to base.  Those are the things we already have planned...who knows what will spring up as the days approach.  

But we are ready  for it, whatever it is!

So, after the year from hell...that's all I can call it, because in my limited mind, this is what I think hell will surely be like, I can still say,  I'm blessed.  

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away..BLESSED be the name of the Lord!

Our parking garage in Chicago...Socail Media is EVERYWHERE!

for going DEEPER!

Last weekend, I was blessed and honored to give a breakout session for the Legacy, Seasons of Redemption conference in Muskegon.  I had no idea that the process of preparing for the session, and the session itself would lead me to desire a closer and deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

I'd been praying for the opportunity to speak to ladies and give my testimony to a fresh group of ladies, and here it was - but how could I speak on being redeemed physically when my physical body remains broken and tired?  That is where the Lord stepped in and revealed to me the most wonderful and unexpected revelation in my life this far.  In one night, after weeks of prayer, seeking Him in the scriptures, and recalling the days of my youth when my health was so much worse, the Lord revealed to me how He had, indeed redeemed me, and it was at my lowest point He did so.

How can I have been redeemed when I was at my sickest, most painful and scary time of life?  He gave me the choice.  He promised me in the scriptures that I WAS HEALED...and it was no longer anything I should be waiting for.  I could choose redemption from the diagnosis - and trust in Him for the rest.  It was no longer "My Rheumatoid Arthritis", I would never again claim this terrible disease. After all, I didn't ask for it, I don't want it, so I'm not calling it MINE!

While I was giving my session, there were just a handful of ladies who chose to hear mine (thanks to my church ladies once again, or that room would have seemed pretty empty!).  Those few who didn't know me came to me after and began to tell me about their story, and how their health had been holding them back and they never realized they could be redeemed without physical healing.  The pure joy and hope in their eyes as we parted was worth every moment of pain and suffering I had endured. The idea that through something God allowed me to suffer,  someone else would find redemption was more than I could have ever hoped for.  I want nothing more than to tell each and every person who suffers with a physical disability that they can decide how much of their life they will allow it to hold hostage.  You can choose to leave it at the foot of the cross, and have a wonderfully productive life anyway.  God has a plan for you, just like He did for me.

Physically, I'm feeling better than I have in my entire life.  But spiritually, I am walking on air... still wanting to go DEEPER!  God has birthed in me a desire to release things in my life, so that I can go deeper in Him. This is a new challenge for this "I love my platters big AND full" lady!

So, I've begun to scrape things that are not as important as I once believed, off of my way too big platter...in hopes that once I have gotten enough off of it, I can trade it in for a nice saucer sized plate.

And that will be filled with nothing except time with the Lord!

for reflection...

If I said that the past two years of my life have been filled with faith filled risks, I would barely be scratching the surface of the truth!

When it started to become obvious that my mom and dad being in Romulus was no longer in their best interest, physically, financially or even spiritually to some degree, my husband and I sat down to have a "talk".  Any of you married folks in the "sandwich" generation (I've recently learned this is where Jeff and I are...still raising our children, and also caring for aging parents) know this talk.  It is never a one time discussion, and it is rarely a discussion at all.  Our first went something like this:

JEFF:  "Honey, do you think it's getting time to move your parents closer to Muskegon?"

ME: "Why do you say that?"

JEFF: "Well, for the past year, every time we come to Romulus, your mom has bought more bags of Cheetos."

ME: "What's wrong with her buying Cheetos?"

JEFF: "Umm, She has them hidden in every closet in the house...this place is filled with Sam's Club size bags of Cheetos. I'm just saying, she might need some help."

ME: "You might be right."

Now, obviously Cheetos wasn't our only deciding factor...but it was on the list, and for clarification, those who helped us move them discovered most of them, the final count was 14 unopened, Sam's Club sized bags of Cheetos.

Where do we begin?  We are still trying to raise Joseph with a pretty limited income.  His needs get more expensive with each passing year, and the only thing that hasn't increased is the amount of money we earn every month.  Actually, it decreased by almost a fourth in February 2012 - with no warning whatsoever. We continued to tithe and give in faith that the Lord would provide...and He has, but how can we afford to help my parents when we are barely getting by ourselves?

To prayer we went...not only us, but our church family and friends who know how to pray - we left no prayer list unchecked, and no prayer chain uncalled.  Lord, we need an answer!

One month later, my dad was in the hospital at Henry Ford Medical Center - Oakwood.  Something is seriously wrong with his heart, and he isn't getting any better.  Jeff and I had a chat with my mom one evening while visiting, and told her what we had been praying about.  My mom, being a woman of faith and practical thinking (not withstanding the Cheetos) was on board...ready to move West!

But what about my dad?

A visit to him in ICU, and a chat that lasted about 7 seconds -went something like.. "No, I'm not ready...I like my home. I like the church here. I'm not going." Hmmm,  OK, Lord - did we hear completely wrong?  Is it NOT the time?  Perhaps the Cheetos thing really isn't such a big deal?  Back to the drawing board.

Or, maybe not.

What none of us realized at the time, was that the people we had asked to pray, not only prayed...but they interceded!  Our Pastor's wife, bless her soul, was on a walk through her neighborhood as she prayed one evening, and she called me and said, "there is a house for sale here in the park.  Here is the number.  I really think you should call."

I called, set up a meeting for that evening, and we went to check out the place.  It was perfect, move in ready and handicap accessible.  Not to mention around the block from my Pastor and less than 5 miles from our home.  The owner was looking for a serious buyer, and promised to hold the place while we traveled to Romulus to chat with my parents.

Just a few short weeks after my dad was released from this hospital visit, Jeff and I convinced he and my mom to come to Muskegon for a visit over Labor Day weekend...just to take a look at a few places, and think about the possibility of a move down the road.  At this time, Jeff was still recovering from a pretty intensive shoulder surgery, so he was unable to drive or lift anything yet.  We had no secret plans to move them at the moment anyway.

On Friday, they arrived in Muskegon, on Friday night my mom got sick.  On Saturday morning, I took her to the emergency room. On Saturday night, she had emergency surgery to repair a bowel blockage, and was diagnosed as severely malnourished, and with "failure to thrive".  On Sunday morning, she asked her surgeon when she could go home. He replied, "Mrs. Anderson, you are a very sick lady.  You can't take care of yourself anymore.  You need the help of your daughter and her family.  You are home."

In the space of 72 hours, the Lord allowed a series of events to unfold that would forever change my life, and that of my family...and would grow my faith in a way I never thought possible.

After all, the fact that the doctor told her she needed to be closer to more help did not generate the finances needed for this to be a possibility.  We still have their home of nearly 40 years in Romulus - with a mortgage they were upside down in.  Did I mention that the house was a 3 bedroom, 3 story Colonial style home where they raised 4 children, and that the home in Muskegon is a 3 bedroom trailer?  Did I mention that the cost of living in Romulus (a suburb of Detroit) was so high, that it was taking nearly 70% of their income just to cover the expenses of the house?  How about the fact that every room, from the attic the size of the entire 3rd level, to the full basement was filled to the brim with stuff? Not to mention the garage!  How about the medical bills that accrue regularly, and as soon as one gets paid off, there are two more to take it's place? Let's not even discuss the car accident that totaled their vehicle and almost killed my mom, that was my dads fault, that was still in litigation!  Remember, Jeff is still recovering from shoulder surgery...my main source of strength and who I would need to lean on for so much help during a move, was unable to do more than be a gracious host, and give up his bed and his recliner...relegated to the spare room to finish his recovery!

Are you feeling the pressure just a little?  I certainly was.

But then...there was this moment...my Pastor and his precious wife came to the hospital and sat with me while I waited to hear how my the surgery went.  They spoke words of encouragement, words of life, health and strength...and plenty of humor too!  They brought to me, the peace that passes understanding.  That thing where when you have absolutely no idea how you are going to get through a situation, but you just know that you will.  When you have 1,000 questions, and not a single answer...but you know it's going to be alright.  I knew that my parents would be moving to Muskegon, into that perfect home that Ms. Coretta found on her prayer walk all those weeks ago.

I didn't know how, and it didn't matter.  I placed it, along with every other fear, unanswered question, worry and doubt, at the foot of the cross.  Then I took action...the faith risk of all faith risks!  Without the funds, without the help, without means of any kind, I began to make phone calls, set appointments, hire help, and prepare for the big move.

An estate sale company came in and handled the contents of the home for us.  No way was I navigating a sale from 200 miles away!  We needed $5,000.00 as a down payment on the land contract agreement.  My parents had $2,000 in savings.  Would you dare to guess as to how much income the estate sale generated?  Of course...after their costs and profit taken, we received a check for $3,098.00! Just enough - and a little extra for fuel! How great is our God??

My mom's surgery was on September 3, 2012.  On Saturday, September 15, 2012 - with the help of friends from their church in Taylor, Michigan, and my church in Muskegon Michigan, we moved them from their home of nearly 40 years, to the home, where little did any of us know, that they would share for less than 2 years.

But what an amazing 16 months it was.  Not a day passed when either one or both of them told me or my husband how much they loved it in Muskegon, and how much they loved their home.  With all the difficulty that my dad faced physically during that 16 months, I don't even want to think how we would have navigated it all from Muskegon...not to mention his unexpected passing just a few weeks ago.

My Heavenly Father knew, all those years ago...when I made the decision to marry this man from West Michigan, with his three beautiful children, that it was not a decision that would only change the course of my life and theirs, but that it would be the first in a series of faith risks that would lead my parents to a calm and peaceful last years of their marriage.  And I'm trusting in Him for the next season of my mom's journey to be filled with great times, leading others to Him, and even greater risks of faith!

Now, our son will be 18 in a few short days...and his path is laid before him...what risks of faith are just waiting for my husband and I?

Stay tuned!

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8 NKJV

Mother Becky (as she is called at Shekinah Christian Ministries) and Elder Tom enjoy
the potluck dinner following Ministry Appreciation Service on November 10, 2013.

for fishing!

I hope I've hooked a few of you who know me well, and caught you with that title and caused you to ask, "Amy? Fishing? I think NOT!"

And you would be correct. I prefer my seafood neatly wrapped in white butchers paper at the local market, no heads, tails or icky "innards" to dispose of, &  ready for me to cook - for someone ELSE!

So why is it my season for fishing? Because the Lord promised me that if I cast aside my own nets, and follow Him, He would make me a fisher of men...and women.  That has always been my heart's desire...to win men and women to Christ.  The desire became much stronger after my Grandpa, Bishop Allen Parent, passed away this summer.  Hearing the stories of how he touched so many men and women in his 89 years has left me with the deep desire to live up to his heritage and the legacy of his life's work. When I leave this earth,  I want people to say, "You knew she loved the Lord", and "she never was ashamed to preach the Gospel".

I've been fishing all my life...some times more than others.  There were years when I never even baited a hook. If I am honest with myself, and you, there were some years I never even got the pole out!  But here I am, a living example that repentance and turning from my wrong ways that yields forgiveness and a fresh start.  I've been blessed to be raised up in "the church".  So many years I wasted thinking it was my right instead of my privilege.  I'm so glad that those selfish and unproductive years are behind me.

For you young people (and not so young people alike!) out there who think that you can do it without the Lord...my advice is don't waste too much time trying to prove it!  The longer you spend outside of His protection, the harder it is to find your way back.  You may be experiencing "blessings" but don't forget that there are probably folks out there praying for you, and holding you up to the Almighty...He may only be answering their prayers, for which you are reaping the rewards. Never underestimate the power of a praying mother!  The bible is pretty clear on what it means to have a walk for Christ, and what it means to NOT have one.  Sin separates you from God - period!  SO if you are living with any type of sin that you justify with "God knows my heart" and "everyone sins", I challenge you to stop trying to justify a sinful lifestyle, and give your life back to the Lord, who gave it to you to begin with.  If you think you are being blessed now, just wait until you return...oh my, how Jesus LOVES a prodigal who has come to their senses!!

As I enter 2014, I'm reminded of the year gone by, and wishing I hadn't spent so much time trying to "help" people who really didn't want my help. I realize there are people in this world who will just use you and use you and use you...especially through your work in ministry. After all, aren't we supposed to forgive and turn the other cheek?  Well, not if the outcome continues to be the same, and there is no change, and the help becomes enabling.  In the Gospels, when men and women would not hear the testimony of  His disciples, God told his men to shake the old dust off their feet and move on. I'll continue to be in prayer for those who have used me and my time and my resources for their own personal gain..but my prayer has changed a bit. I pray that Lord will not let them have a moments peace while they behave in this selfish way.

I refuse to stop believing that there is good in people, but I will stop trying to find the good in those who are doing such an amazing job of hiding it from me.  Instead, I will go forward and find new people who need and more importantly, who want I have to share, people who are tired of living a life for themselves and want to live a life for Christ.  For those people, I am sold out, ready to pour all that I have and more into helping them enjoy the blessings and favor that I have so often testified about.  This is not a walk for the timid or the faint of heart. Get ready to roll up your sleeves and DO YOUR WORK! I've done my work, and oh, what a reward I have received. The best part is, I have another reward waiting for me! It just keeps getting better!

This year, the Lord has led me to "cast my net on the other side". Are you spending time with those who are just sucking the very life from you?  Do you have those people whose calls come in and you ponder, "what is today's drama going to be?" Or those who will take all you have to give, and then ask for more...but when you try to get them to help another, maybe do a little work, they disappear, or their schedule just won't allow it?  I do...or at least, I used to. No more.  They are going to see a new Amy this year.  You will either do your work like I've done mine, or you can stay in that chaos and confusion that you navigate so very well. Sadly, I'm sure they will be able to find another person to exploit and use.  But I can't be concerned with that. I'm trusting in God for what I cannot control.

Here I go, dusting off my shoes, and casting my nets on the other side of the boat.  Anxiously awaiting the catch of new men and women who will be as on fire for the Lord as I am, and who will be willing to do their work!  Anyone want to go with me?

 Happy 2014

Preparing to say "Good-Bye to Grandpa...

No, strike that...I'm going to say, "I'll see you in the morning, Grandpa!"

Much Better!

As I am crazy busy with preparations to travel to the "D" as my big brother, Steve Big House Anderson so lovingly calls Detroit (I stopped telling folks in Muskegon that I was going to Romulus or Southgate...they would inevitably say "where?" and I would say, "near Detroit", "Oh, yeah, I know where that is!"), I can't help but continue to recall the memories with my grandfather, Bishop Allen Parent.

One such memory came flooding back as I gave a testimony at church this past Sunday..and I'm sure most of my cousins will remember this..Grandpa trying to make us sing at the Christmas Eve parties at Auntie's house.  We always started with Christmas carols, but soon enough we were into the songs of Zion - from the Lanny Wolfe Trio and the Gaither's to Andre Crouch and countless more...Grandpa (and probably my mom, Rebecca Parent-Anderson)crying and Auntie's fingers cramping at the piano.  "Sing for me, Amy Joy" as he and my uncles call me (not sure why, my middle name is Rebecca, but I am a Joy, so - sorry, SQUIRREL!) and being just 5 or 6 years old at the time, I had NO INTENTION of singing out loud in front of at least 100 people (that's what it felt like at those parties). "I don't wanna sing, Papa." All I wanted to do was open my present and get home to wait for Christmas to start! "But dear, this might be my last Christmas."  Nothing like good old fashioned guilt, straight from the master!  SO, sing I did - and the years went on, and as I became a teenager and he would make his plea, I remember thinking, "If you put that 'this-might-be-my-Last Christmas' statement is writing, I'll sing all night long"!

Yet here I am, packing up, and evidently, last Christmas, he finally meant it... and of course, I wasn't there to sing.  The song "I Need Thee" comes to mind when I think of him singing.  The church could be on fire with the Holy Ghost all over the house, and folks dancing and shouting to the Lord all around - but when grandpa got up to give remarks, "I Need Thee" was his song.  If you don't know it, it's just about the slowest song one can sing, but oh the power in those words.

I miss him already, even though I've been away from him almost 10 years.  I miss knowing that when I travel to the big city once a month, I won't be able to stop in and see him and Gram together at the lunch table, patiently waiting for their food - faces lighting up when they realize they have company.  I'm ashamed for the first few years of my marriage when I didn't bother to go visit - excuses like being too busy, not liking the nursing home, or any other lame excuse I could call upon.  But the lessons learned at his and my grandma's knees - those I will never forget.  Like "Always be a man (or a woman, as the case may be), Always plead the blood of Jesus Christ when I'm in trouble, and remembering that anyone I have to carry, won't make it anyway (I'm dealing with this in my life right now).  He taught me about being proud of my heritage and who I am...telling me when I would go to visit another church on my travels - "Make sure you tell them who you are."  He meant for me to tell them that I was his granddaughter...but I've learned that now wherever I go, I should tell them not only who I am, but WHOSE I am.  And most importantly, though he never taught me this with his words, he exemplified NEVER BEING ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!  I can remember being more than a little embarrassed when we would walk into a restaurant, Grandpa wearing his hat, laden with little metal pins that he'd pilfered, begged and borrowed, announcing to all who would hear, "What have you got for this old Bishop?"  No one ever accused him of being subtle...but it no doubt started the conversation, that usually ended in him giving someone the church business card with the "How Many F's" puzzle on the back...because "if you could be wrong about how many F's were in that paragraph, you could be wrong about the bible."

I wonder how many souls he has led to the Lord, and they have led, and so on?  I'm sure the number is countless.  Can I say the same thing?  Am I bold enough to walk into Wesco and begin to share my testimony with the others getting their Icee's?  Truthfully, sometimes yes, most times, no.  But oh, how I desire to have that gift...now more than ever.  I want to live up to the name I was born with - not on March 14, 1972, but on March 20, 1980 when I went down in that beautiful name of Jesus Christ and came up whiter than snow, or on September 9, 1980 - when I received the gift of the Holy Ghost, speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave me utterance.  It was then I was given the name of "Child of the One True King" (thank you, Matthew West!)

So tomorrow, my family and I will pack up our mini van, and head to the "D" and say our final farewell to my grandfather, Bishop Allen Parent.  What a homegoing service it will be.  Rest well, Grandpa...you have earned it!  See you soon - and don't start spoiling Tommie Lee again...he's probably just getting his head back to normal size! 

I NEED THEE
OH, I NEED THEE
EVERY HOUR, I NEED THEE
OH BLESS MY NOW, MY SAVIOR
I COME TO THEE

PASS ME NOT
O GENTLE SAVIOR
HEAR MY HUMBLE CRY
WHILE ON OTHERS THOU ARE CALLING
DO NOT PASS ME BY

SAVIOR, SAVIOR
HEAR MY HUMBLE CRY
WHILE ON OTHERS THOU ARE CALLING
DO NOT PASS ME BY

The Love Dare

It's been awhile since I've written, and the direction of my life has changed considerably...but all in good ways.  The transformation has been difficult and often painful...but necessary.

Having my mom and dad move to Muskegon has been a blessing in so many ways.  The obvious is that I can be closer to them for emergencies and needs, which has proven to be very important over the past few months.  It dawned on me on July 4th that it was just a year ago at this time of the year that I began to introduce the idea of them moving to the west side of the state.  my mom was relatively compliant, my dad - not so much (which is why I think my mom's compliance was so easily won..she knew my dad was gonna dig in and so no for the both of them anyway!)  Fast forward 12 months...here they are, all moved in.  Everything in Romulus has been handled, and with the exception of the sale of the house, there are no more ties (excpet familial) to the East side of the state.  It has been an exercise in change, challenge, fear, and most of all, exhaustion.  I can't be at my mom's house enough it seems. There is always so much to be done or to get ready to be done.  Thank God for an understanding husband and an oblivious teenager.  The days, weeks and months of sandwiches, hot dogs and the occasional pizza suppers are a testimony to my absence in our home.

Jeff has been more than patient, more than kind and way more understanding than any wife has the right to expect her husband to be.  He has needs that I should be meeting here, and instead of that happening, I come home and find a mopped kitchen floor and vacuumed family room, and a sleeping husband - once again.  I feel bad, I feel a failure and I fear he won't stand for it much longer. 

WHAT DOES A DAUGHTER AND A WIFE DO?

Enter, the Love Dare!  It was a few years back that two of my best friends, Karri Gordon and her mom, Linda Strait, began a ladies Bible Study, using the Stormie Omartian boook - the Power of a Praying Wife, and accompanied it with the Love Dare.  We met faithfully for almost a year - we missed every now and again, but for the most part, Monday's at 11am would find us sitting around Karri's kitchen table having coffee or an Icee (depending on the season), catching up the week prior and digging into the Word of God and some amazing help from an excellent author on how we can be better wives through prayer.  Unfortunately, life got busy, Karri got pregnant, Julie got married, Linda's hours got changed, and BAM...our Mondays are a thing of the past.  We spoke often about starting up again and again, only to have something stand in our way, time after time.  Eventually, we just quit trying, and soon enough, our weeks were filled with family busyness as never before. 

FFWD one year...my folks are all settled in (to the best of all of our abilities), Karri is now the mother of FOUR, with baby Colin getting ready to turn 1, and unfortunately, Ms. Linda still has the difficult work hours...but I'm trying to set a stage-work with me!  A new young woman and her husband have been attending our church, and she was looking for ladies to get together and do a Bible Study with, and Karri and I - though we had long stopped talking about it - were always hopeful of starting up again.  So, here I am, with a husband who has demonstrated the patience of a saint over the past 12 months, and looking for a Bible Study for myself and two other wives with husbands who are in need of more of their time.  The Love Dare it is - but this time, we do the Love Dare solo...not with another study, and not a slow pace - but the 40 days the book calls for.  We began on July 1, 2013.  I know that so far, it seems that Jeff really doesn't see anything different - but what a change it has made in me! It has reminded me that it is not about hw Jeff reacts - but about how I react to his reaction.  The tone of our marriage can be swayed with the tender touch on the hand during dinner prayer, a a quick text that says "I Love You"...especially since he doesn't know how to text a reply!

The girls and I have committed to completing the dare, no matter how busy our schedules get or how ornery our husbands get.  We are also committed to holding each other accountable. Thats what has been missing for me - I need accountability to keep me on track. Just like walking 4 time a week, and Ms. Coretta texting and reminding me "So, are you coming?" I have Karri and Dawn who are there reminding me that it isn't about Jeff and his reaction to the things I do or have stopped doing, but how I am day to day - and the same from me to them.

I'm encouraged this far - some days have been much more difficult than others, but each day has been an experience with the Lord and something new to learn about myself or my husband.  I'm looking forward to sharing some of the results from our challenge here - as it makes things real once you put it on the internet, right? BonJOUR!

If you are of a mind to - keep the three of us and our husbands in your prayers - we are dedicated to praying for one another, but it is difficult not to pray for myself and my needs during this time, but trusting in my sisters to stand in the gap for me, as I am for them.  I'm looking forward to reporting good and positive things over the next days and weeks. 

Thank you - with all my heart.
 "Normal Day, Let Me Be Aware of the Treasure You Are"

and finally..my mom

Today I am grateful for:

Rebecca Anderson

I've really been thinking and praying about this particular post - because I want to do it justice.  I pray that my mom feels the love and sincerity and most of all, the gratitude with which this is being written.

From my earliest memories, my mom stands smack dab in the center of my world.  I'm the only girl with 3 brothers, so it was just she and I representing for the ladies in the Anderson Household.  For me this meant having my own room in a 3 bedroom house..yes, my brothers all shared one room - it looked like military barracks, minus the organization!  This also meant a great deal of quality mother/daughter time.

My childhood was a charmed one.  I can't even begin to say how grateful I am for that.  My house was a home - not only to my family, but to anyone who might need a home at the time.  I can recall at least 3 people who lived with us for an extended period of time while they were getting their lives straightened around.  This meant sharing Thanksgiving, Christmas and whatever holiday was coming on the calendar with a stranger.  My mom made our home a place of safety.  I never felt afraid or unloved in my home.  We may not have had alot, but what we had, my mom kept nice. 

We spent the months during the school year pretty heavily scheduled. My mom is a fan of planning ahead.  The summers were a bit different.  We would take the days one at a time and depending on the weather or something that was going on in the family, the day would plan itself.

Some of my favorite memories are of the summers we spent Up North.  I know that the term "up north" means something different to everyone. To us, "Up North" meant going to Grandpa and Grandmas cottage in Cheboygan, right on Lake Huron.  Oh how we would be so excited to get into one of our old Buicks for a six hour ride filled with "are we there yet?' or "he's touching me!"  When finally we would hit 31 North, it was a matter of miles before UTA Lane was upon us.  Turning into the woods, it seemed we were going into the wilderness, but then a maze of roads and cottages would appear, and as we came down the hill on Uta Lane, the lake would come into view - so beautiful and blue.  We couldn't wait to get out of the car to get to the beach.  First, to bring everything into the cottage, we began an assembly line.  The cottage next door was owned by my Grandpa's sister and brother in law - Uncle Steve and Aunt Adelia...and their scary dog, "Cookie".  Cookie looked like a monster from a horror movie.  He was a beach dog and stayed outdoors most of the time.  Technically, his coat was white - but a nice creamy tan was as good as that was getting.  He was matted with leaves and beach grass and smelled like fish.  I was afraid of Cookie! 

Once we got everything into the cottage, it was to the beach! After all, thats why we were there.  I'm about to frighten some of my younger readers - you might want to skip the rest of this paragraph if you were born in the 80's or later.  The reason we wanted to get right to the beach was because there was no cable or satellite (which was really not a problem, since there wasn't a tv either). There was no computer or internet service, and no telephone for that matter.  There was no jungle gym, swings or activity center...we were on the lake!  My mom would always take us into town to the local Ben Franklin store to get some arts and crafts for the rainy days.  Otherwise, we had board games, Rook and all the Dominos we could play.  The time we spent together up north were some of the best in my life.  I remember the day after we buried our little brother, our family went to the cottage just to get away for a few days, and how different it was to have only 5 and not 6 people there.  My mom always made our trips a time of good fun and excitement.

Other summer excursions to places like Belle Isle, Boblo Island, Greenfield Village & Henry Ford Museum and of course, Cedar Pointe - all such a treat to us because we didn't make these trips frequently.  She always made sure we had a fun time.

I was always overweight as a child and into my teens, as was my mom.  We tried with so many diets and programs for weight loss over the years that I have no idea how we stayed so heavy. It wouldn't matter what she was doing at the time. If I was upset at my weight and made the decision to start another diet, my mom would be right ther by my side, preparing the food and getting the information we needed.  We really tried so hard, and we would lose some weight, only to put it back on, and a few more.  Finally in 1988, we were introduced to Douglas Hess, MD. He practiced out of Bowling Green, Ohio and he was a pioneer in what is now called "gastric bypass" surgery.  Back then it was something much more barbaric called stomach stapling.  I remember the visit to his office when my mom asked him the only question that mattered to her at the time. If I have the surgery, will my daughter be able to have the surgery too?  Her biggest concern was not to lose weight to be healthy for herself - but that she not leave me alone to be overweight.  At that time, nobody under the age of 18 had ever had the surgery, so Dr. Hess had to do some research and some pretty extensive testing on me.  In the end, it was actually the diagnosis of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) that pushed him to say yes.  One of the main reasons he did not like to operate on teens was because they are still in the process of growing and changing. However, one side effect of JRA is that growth is typically stunted and stops around the age of 14. I was already as tall as I was ever going to be, and hadn't really grown (except in my weight, of course) since I was 13.  So, May 10, 1988 - my best friend Angie's birthday, was the day my life changed forever, and I know my mom would agree.  She asked that I have surgery first, and when I came out and she knew I was ok, she went in for hers.  This was quite an ordeal to go through - and once again, we were going through it together.  As we both lost weight over the course of the next 12months, it was so fun and exciting to buy clotes in sizes that I had never worn before. I went from little girl clothing right to women's size moomoos.  This was such great time for my mom and I - though we met with some prejudice from those who were convinced that we were just lazy and if we wanted to lose weight, all we had to do was stop eating.  We learned something from Dr. Hess that we hadn't known before.  Food, like alcohol, cigarettes and drugs to some is an addiction.  The problem with an addiction to food is that unlike alcohol or drugs, we need food to survive.  A person can quit drinking or smoking - but one can't quit eating.  You really have to decide what you need to live on and see the excess as the addiction.  It is much more difficult than many think, and we are so glad that the stigma surrounding the weight loss surgery is much less vocal today than it was when we had it.

When you go through difficult times, it either strengthens a relationship or hinders it. I'm so glad to say that all the tough times have just served to make my relationship with my mom one that is completely unbreakable.  She and I have seen each other at our worst and at our best - and we still love each other.

I feel bad because my mom carries much more guilt than she should about things of the past.  Remembering that I've forgiven and usually even forgotten is difficult for her.  I pray that she finds the strength to forgive herself fully one day.  As far as I am concerned, those things were a test and a trick of the enemy to try to get us to give up our walk with Christ and our relationship with each other...TOO BAD!

My mom always has a testimony and a song in her heart that she is ready to share - no matter where she is or who she is with.  I'm proud to be her daughter, and when I think about just a little bit of the suffering that she has endured in her lifetime, I get sad.  She deserves happiness at this time in her life more than anyone I know.  She has proven herself to be the Proverbs 31 woman in every way.  She is a wife to be admired and emulated by young wives today, she is an awesome mother and grandmother - to her own and any who want to call her grandma. She is an incredible daughter, and so faithful to her mom and dad as they began to need her help in their later years.  I know the move to Muskegon was difficult for my om because this meant she wouldn have to give up the serving of her mom and dad - but it was time.  There are others willing to step up, and they have.  It is time for my mom to be served as she has served others all her life.  I'm so glad she is at home at Shekinah Christian.  She has been a fixture here since we began the work, and to have her and my dad as a part of the ministry seems to be a divine appointment made so many years ago, fulfilled.

My entry here could go on and on (like it didn't, you say?) and I still couldn't tell all of the ways my mom has been an amazing example to me.  I guess the greatest compliment I get is when someone tells me that I'm just like my mom, because I think she is just about the greatest person I know.  Regardless of the tough times, our arguments, disagreements and spats - nothing has ever kept us from depending on each other.  When the rubber meets the road and I'm really in trouble, she is always there to offer encouragement, advice and help - if only I would take it!  I'm proud to say that I learned to accept help as an adult. It makes you much more mature than to fail because you were too proud to admit you didn't know what to do, or made a bad decision and didn't want to get caught in it.  I pray that my children will always feel the freedom to come to me with their problems, and that together, with Gods help - we can get through them.

Lord, like so many other people, thank you for sending me the best mom in the world.  With all my hurt and suffering, it took someone so special to be my mom through all of that.  Thank you for not only making us mother and daughter, but for making us friends - in You.  Bless her, heal her body and strengthen her in every way.  Bring her the joy of her salvation one more time, and give us what we need, only for the day.  Thank you for knowing the kind of mom I would need, and for giving her to me.
I love you mom!