Stronger Through Him

  As we were driving to Indianapolis last week, Kyrie and Ella were sitting next to me and commenting on how unorganized my phone apps were. Some were duplicated and they knew I sometimes had trouble finding things.   I simply hadn't gotten around to, which means MADE TIME FOR, that organizational process.   So I handed them my phone and let them get to work.   They deleted apps I no longer used - like the MyVerizon app because we changed providers four years ago 😬- and renamed my groups. This they did with a witty, humorous flair. Health and Fitness became "At Least You Tried".  Maps became "Probably Gonna Get Lost Anyway".   I contributed the name for social media as "Fellowshipping".   We laughed and I thanked them but then as I looked at the groups I paused and thought about how I use my time and specifically how I let my phone dictate my time use. And I rearranged the groups.   I moved  "Jesus Stuff" to the first

 My daughter is the athletic trainer for Faith Christian school.  She also helps coach the basketball team and they were playing in a tournament not too far away from us. So the team asked if they could stay at our house and we had the privilege of seeing Kyrie's  people and feel their love and acceptance of her.   This was an amazing group of girls who were courteous and kind and appreciative. I was happy to provide them with fruit and eggs and juice and of course Rise N Roll for breakfast!   It made my momma heart smile to see the pile of shoes by the door and to have a use for the large collection of air mattresses I have amassed over the years. Today we got to go watch the team in action and after the game the students gathered with their opponents and stood hand in hand, blue and maroon mingled together, and a student led them in prayer.   The invitation was offered before the game as it is every game.  Win or lose would you like to pray with us?  The daily outcome and the sch

  Last night we went to a Colts game with our family. The Colts struggled as is their norm but the halftime light show was pretty neat. All of the spectators were invited to download the app to our cell phones and then sync our phones with the music. By giving temporary permission to enable our cameras and microphones an elaborate light show soon filled Lucas Oil Stadium. As the thousands of lights on cell phones flashed together in time to the trans-Siberian orchestra it was truly awesome.  Sections flashed on and off at given moments and the immensity of all of those people unified for one purpose was inspiring. It also made me pause and reflect on what  the impact would be if people all over the world were to sync their lives with Christ.   Can you imagine what we could accomplish if when a need of a brother or sister was made known multiple people were prompted into action in service?  We recently completed our Light The World initiative for 2022 as acts of kindness i

  As we were driving home through the snow this week, I noted that George consistently checked his rearview mirror.   To be fair, he uses his mirrors regularly when driving.  Which is of course a good thing.   But this time he wanted to make sure that Kyrie's car with all our kids in it was with us and safe.  We saw them slide a couple of times as the roads were super slick, and occasionally we would end up further in front of them.  Then he would have me check my app to see how far back they were or text one of the passengers.  He wanted to see her lights to know she was okay. It got me thinking about how I respond when I notice lights of others disappear from my radar.   Sometimes it just means they have stopped for a break or to help another or maybe their circumstances slowed them down. Sometimes it means I wasn't paying attention and lost track of them. And sometimes it means they are having a difficulty and need help.   Part of our call to minister to o

  This is without a doubt my favorite Christmas story and every year I share it with my classes I am teaching.   When I was in first grade we had a class gift exchange.  The girls were in one group, the boys in another.   Our price limit was fifty cents.  I don't remember what I brought to the gift exchange but I do remember wishing and hoping for a coveted book of lifesavers.   Each student was to bring a gift in order to participate.  When the day arrived I remember a boy I will call Stanley opening his gift and receiving a matchbox car.  His eyes lit up and shone with excitement as he quickly opened the car and raced it back and forth on his desk.   I wouldn't understand for many years that the reason Stanley wolfed down his lunch each day was because he was hungry.  Or that the lack of consistent running water was the reason he didn't always smell pleasant or look clean.  His dad battled alcoholism and it was generally a losing battle.  But Stanley had the most pleasant

  Winter Solstice.   The shortest day of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere.   Or the darkest day of the year.   There is nothing you can do to avoid the sun setting sooner on this day. Some commemorate the day with a hike, luminaries, or fires- many focusing on the hope of longer days and more light to come. And later this week we will celebrate the Light of the World coming to offer each of us hope in overcoming our own personal darkness.   And each of us will have times of darkness- some longer than others.   That darkness may come from grief, depression, anxiety, loneliness, illness, injustice, confusion, or a variety of other disappointments and disabilities in this life.  But through His light, Jesus had promised to help us overcome them all. Mark 13:29 reminds, "For as the light of the morning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, and covereth the whole earth, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be." Covering the whole ear

 I had grand plans as I often do. I wasn't even aiming for a perfect Christmas, just good enough to have a sprinkling of magic.  Many years this would have made me feel like exploding with failure when it didn't happen.  Aging and perspective have helped me.  I now knew from the beginning it was just a guide line, a wish list of sorts and not success criteria.  That Jesus' gift to us is complete and wonderful and inclusive without ANYTHING we do. So I chose to take a humor approach and focus on all that is to come.  I had my list: Write Christmas Letter and send cards. I revamped to no Christmas letter and if your last name starts with A-F you are in luck. I'll start at Z next year.  Create and deliver gifts to friends.  Two lucky recipients may or may not get them delivered on Christmas Eve. Bake cookies. I did buy butter.  And with grocery prices what they are I suppose most people would be thrilled with that butter by itself and if I threw in eggs it's truly a gi

  I looked around the table at the teens eating waffles on our last day of Seminary for the semester. We have studied and learned so much in this semester in the Old Testament. "How would you sum up the message of the Old Testament?  What have you seen or felt over and over again?"  I waited, curious at how they would respond. "Prophets.  There were lots of prophets warning people." "People mess up a lot even badly." "And yet...." I prompt and wait. "God still loves them." The others nod their heads. "God gives second chances," one student firmly states. "And third chances and fourth," adds another.  I smile and the Spirit testifies that they have picked up part of the important messages. "What else?" I continue. "Even though He loves us He still requires us to be obedient.  Love isn't just letting them do whatever they want." Then we talked about the Abrahamic Covenan

 Today at our school assembly, our counselor talked to the kids. She thanked them for the unprecedented level of giving in our food drive.   Day after day kids came in lugging their backpacks laden with canned goods, cleaning products or boxes of cereal. Most of our families are factory workers.  80% of the world's RVs are said to be manufactured in our county.  And as interest rates increase, the demand for RVs decreases. Many of our families are getting ready to have four-five weeks of shutdown.   For many that means smaller or  no paychecks at all.   And yet.... They opened their hearts and their cupboards to help their neighbors. Even knowing their own pantries might be limited they gave what they could.  On the very last day was the coin drive.  Pennies and nickels, quarters and dimes. Couches were searched, banks emptied and kids came in with baggies and handfuls of coins.  It wasn't much per student but collectively we brought in more than $400 to add perishables to the

  Sometimes I admit to tiring of 4th grade drama.   Which makes recess duty frustrating.   We've had a quite a run of it lately.  But I remind myself that is WHY I am there.  To keep them safe and guide them. Their emotions are often highs and lows as they struggle to figure out these unfamiliar hormones and become more aware of their roles in social interactions. Today I caught sight of a boy with his hood over his face lined up early.  His slumped shoulders let me know something was amiss. I approached and asked if he was okay. He looked up with tears rolling down his cheeks and said he had tried to play soccer but it was "as if he didn't exist".  No one passed the ball or even acknowledged him. The hurt was etched in his eyes.  A hurt I recognized because I've felt it before and seen many others reflect the same.   Sometimes I've even caused it. 😔 I offered my arm and he leaned in for a side hug. And continued to sob. Then another student

  When it feels overwhelming---- remember. When "the lights aren't twinkling, Clark" or maybe yours are still in the box in the attic this year-remember the Christmas star and that it wasn't the Wise Men who put it up there. When the house can't seem to come together and the pile of to-dos seem endless, remember.  Remember that in the middle of paying taxes Mary went into labor and the Savior was born.  Some of our greatest moments will happen right in the middle of the mundane.   When the guests aren't coming or we didn't get the invite we were hoping for, remember the Shepherds.  Let the promise that God sent who they needed soothe your lonely heart and help you see those who DO come.  Perhaps they won't be as expected but sometimes a simple conversation at the grocery store, a text from an old friend, a nuzzle from a pet or a deeper appreciation of those you live with or near can bring love reflected from Heaven. When you feel the frustrati

 We couldn't help but compare my sweet neighbor to Mary tonight. She is thousands of miles from her home and family in Pakistan, having moved here for her husband's job.  She is expecting her first child, a boy in January.   She has lots of nerves and questions and in a beautiful scene, a group of us women gathered around her and celebrated her pregnancy.   In a world where motherhood is often put down and disparaged, she was glowing with joy and excitement.  We laughed and shared stories and tips and she shared the latest baby gadgets with us.    And then, when her husband locked his keys in the house when he was attempting to come and pick up her and her gifts, it was mentioned that perhaps, like Mary, she would be without a room in the inn. I laughed, but the more I thought about it the more I wished that Mary had had a group of women to surround and help her.   Because we need each other.   For the stories and tips. For the tears and hugs when things go wrong. For the laugh

  As in many families, we have many traditions in our family.   Among our Christmas traditions we have an Elf on the Shelf (ours is named Eddie) who moves around, creates mischief and leaves small gifts.   Even with only one child left at home, who is 17 years old, we still bring him out on the first of each December.   But tonight as I looked around at all of the efforts we go to to continue our holiday traditions, I had this thought. Do I put as much intentionality into my Gospel traditions?  President Cheryl C Lant spoke on a similar thought, "Are we consciously creating righteous traditions, or is life just happening to us? Are our traditions being created in response to the loud voices of the world, or are they influenced by the still, small voice of the Spirit? Are the traditions that we are creating in our families going to make it easier for our children to follow the living prophets, or will they make it difficult for them?" The beautiful thing about tra

 I walked into school with concerns for a close friend's granddaughter fresh in my mind.   I quickly dropped my stuff off in my room and headed to my usual post at what is called the "Hallway of Doom".  It's a long hallway all but screaming COME AND RUN!  Skip on my squares.  Hide in all the alcoves and jump out at your friends.  First wash your hands in the bathroom and then try to touch every single coat hook on your way down the hall to the cafeteria.  After the other 400 students do the same thing.   If you can knock down  coats it earns bonus points.   And it's my job to monitor where that hall intersects with the main one. It's a job I love.  Because I get to do daily checkins with so many students and help ensure that they start the day right.  And I'm pretty much just a 47 year old kid.  Who may or may not sometimes skip on the tiles.😊 Only today my little first grade friend came up to me and said, "I heard you like to start your day with a h