Jesus Arrived Today

Like a lot of days this week, I was gone most of the day. How could I have known it would be the day Jesus would arrive??! :)

Caleb, however was home all day - he's been sick for the past week with...something. Even the doctor isn't exactly sure what. The flu? Bronchitis? Anyway...feeling bad enough that he sleeps a lot and feels crummy.

While I was gone, and he was taking a nap, the doorbell started ringing. It rang...and it rang...and it rang. In a semi-state of consciousness, Caleb didn't have it in him to get up and answer it...but he knew who it was. No one else rings the doorbell like that. He said she rang for fifteen minutes.

Later in the day however, when he was up and about, the doorbell rang again. This time he answered.

It was Jesus. Well...sort of! :)

It was the promised "Jesus" needlepoint by our dear neighbor lady! She had just finished it last night, washed it, and laid it out to dry by their stove for the night. When morning came, she could hardly wait to bring it over! That's why she started ringing the doorbell at 9. Hey...it could've been earlier! She's been known to be at our door by 6 AM!

She of course wanted to see Dave and I, to give us her work of art. But since we weren't home, she gave it to Caleb and said she'd be back to see us later.

And she was...three times! Finally on the third time, I was home and could adequately and appropriately respond to this love gift of hers.

As I was hugging her and kissing her, telling her how beautiful it was, I wish you'd been there to see and hear her giggle! Pure delight! I don't know if she's had many of those kinds of moments in her life of being enjoyed and appreciated. It brought me great joy to give to her in that way.

Dave's in the States so wasn't here to see it. But you can bet she'll be back next week to check in and see what he thinks about it, and we'll again gush and thank her all over again for it then!

She says she can't wait to see it framed, and wants to know where we'll put it in the house.

Will have to do some thinking about that. I've never had a picture of Jesus on my wall before...don't know yet what I think about that!

But I do know...this was her expression of love to us, done out of her love for Jesus, and I value that very much. So I'll find a spot and cherish her priceless gift!

A Special Day

Another beautiful piece of news is that Claire was baptized last Sunday here in Frydlant!

I am so proud of all my kids for making this step on their own, choosing to be identified with Christ in His death and resurrection through baptism.

It was precious to hear Claire give her testimony (in Czech!) telling of how she came to faith in Jesus. Though she was young (the day before her 5th birthday!) it was very genuine and has proved to be true as she has lived her life since then as a believer, growing in Christ.

There were four others baptized at the same time as her. A mom of a girl who goes to BMA and is in Tyler's class, two youth group boys who trusted Christ through Exit 316, and Nicholas Pitcher, our pastor's son and long time friend (well...long time meaning his whole life, 15 years!).

Tyler has been sick so wasn't able to lead worship that day...so Caleb did instead. For the first time! He did such a great job up front, leading us into the presence of the Lord with his voice and new guitar.

He also ended the service by singing a really cool song that he picked out for those who were baptized called "Come and Listen". Dave on violin, Tyler on guitar and myself on the piano accompanied him.

Very special day all the way around!

In the Meantime...

Though I don't think I have time today to think about yet another new look for my blog (UPDATE...I did change the look!), I do want to get a few things posted here before time continues to march on!

First is that we are buried in snow!! Yes, after three years of being virtually snow-less in this mountain region, we finally have snow.

I don't know when my opinion of snow changed...I didn't used to like it. But now I do. It might have something to do with finally having 4 Wheel Drive (thank you very much Dad!), a garage to park in, and a snow-blower to deal with the ever increasing snowfall on our driveway...don't mind shoveling the walks, but no, no...not the driveway!

When we lived up at Malenovice those three years (short story...left our previous house because it was making Claire incredibly ill due to mold, then waited 3 years for the Lord to provide another solution which He most wonderfully did!), we spent a LOT of time trudging up and down the hill in deep snow, carrying tons of groceries on my back because I couldn't carry them, and having frightening encounters with the little road that winds up and down to the hotel...of course it snowed a lot during those years! And I hate to say it, but I complained more than once about it! :)

Those were also the days before we had a parking lot at Malenovice, before there were stairs, before there were staff to CLEAR those stairs! I remember parking on the side of the road at the bottom - hoping, PRAYING, that the snowplow wouldn't drive by and either hit me, or bury me. He never did, but I worried about it all the time. Tells you something about how productive my worry was doesn't it?!

But maybe that's why I didn't like snow back then.

I do now though! It's been so pretty outside that I almost can't stand it...beauty affects me like that sometimes. Watching those huge flakes fall and pile up around our house...ahhh, it just does something good for my soul.

And shoveling or blowing snow? Hey, I do it three, sometimes four times a day right now...without complaint!

Dave has been gone much of the time we've had snow, and all three kids have been sick so couldn't make them go out there to do it (at least, not too often!). But I really haven't minded this year.

Somehow the Lord has kindly redeemed his creation of snow for me. And you know what? I appreciate that...and am sorry I ever told Him that I didn't like it!

So that's one of the things that's news these days!

Not a Good Sign

Okay...it does not bode well that since I changed the look of my blog a bit, I have not posted!

I think there is something that doesn't sit well with me about that background because I have not been inspired to go there and write...hmmm, will have to think about that and more importantly...DO something about it!

More posts...and maybe another new look...to come!!