Cultivate Relationships

Sorry I did not post last week. Two of my grandsons were over on Saturday for a while and then on Sunday afternoon just as I was sitting down to write this blog Chris, my middle son showed up for a surprise visit. It was wonderful to have him show up out of the blue and a bit surprising because he lives at least a ten hour drive away from us. He was on his way somewhere else and dropped off to see us on the way.

Bob and I had great visits with family last weekend. It is wonderful to have family come by. This weekend my two youngest grandsons got to spend the night on Friday. That was fun. Life gets so hectic you have to just take time to enjoy family when the opportunity arises. I am trying to learn how to relax and take every opportunity that comes my way with family. Life is too short to miss golden opportunities that only come once.

I am growing in my understanding of how important it is to cultivate relationships with God, family and friends in order to have a well rounded life and mindset. Just like in gardening you need to cultivate the ground and add the nutrients and water needed to help the plants grow, we must also take time to cultivate our relationships by adding time, compliments, fun and other stuff to build them strong. Remember life is all about how we relate to each other. Join me this week in fine tuning relationships in a positive manner.

On this father’s day I would like to recognize a special man who I have watched over the years grow into an awesome dad, my husband Bob. The caring in his heart for his children and grandchildren helps me to understand how blessed I am to have spent so many years married to him. Happy Father’s Day Mr. Bob, I love you.

Enjoy your week and I will be back next week with more.

Here’s to Ruth

I did not publish a blog last week because I was in the midst of a sad occasion and many miles from my computer. We put my mother in law to rest on Monday. She is now peacefully in her eternal reward.

Her name is Ruth, which means “friend, companion”. She really lived up to that name. When I think about her my main memories are about the kindness that she showed toward me from the first day that I met her. As a child and young adult I struggled with one on one conversation with those older than me, but she made conversing easy.

Ruth was friendly, loving, kind, interested in the lives of others and would do what she could to help those in need. One of my favorite things about her was that she was down to earth without frills, which made her all the more loveable and easy to talk to. She was hard working and always had some project going, usually quilts. She never let anyone who came to her home leave hungry, and she was a great cook. She was strong in character and resolve.  I never had to worry about my children misbehaving at her house because she was quick to correct their bad behavior and when she did they remembered and were better the next time.

Proverbs 29:15

The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.

She helped me tremendously during the brief sickness and death of both of my parents within two years of each other. When she became my children’s only living grandparent she took on that role with honor and loved them even more. As my children grew older they got closer to her and never missed the opportunity to visit her even if it was just for a few minutes. She loved those visits. Later as parents themselves, they would bring the great grandchildren to her so they could experience the wonder that was “Grandma Palmer”.

I hope that I can be as kind and accepting and loving as she was as I attempt to be Grandma to my six grandchildren. It was a rare occasion to see her without  that beaming smile on her face.

If I could say one last thing to her I would say “Ruth you will be missed here on earth by many and we look forward to reuniting with you someday in heaven.”

God gave me a wonderful mother-in-law and sometimes it takes the passing of a wonderful person like her to remind us that we should truly appreciate our parents, grandparents and other relatives while they are still with us so we don’t regret what we did not think to say while they were alive.

Enjoy your week and I will be back next week with more.

Oh Mama

There is nothing like imitation to help you appreciate someone. This year I decided to share some of my memories from childhood with my grandchildren. I am not just telling them stories but rather imitating some of my Mama’s traditions so they can be passed down to this new generation.

I started by building a “cookie crib”, which is a manger scene with the building built out of sugar cubes, powdered sugar mortar, and a shredded wheat roof. Then the most fun part is to make the cookies with grandkids. This year I had Jack and Rex. But Rex wasn’t feeling good so Jack got all the fun.

I use some antique cookie cutters that my Mama used. As I started I remember my mama’s struggle with getting the cookies to release from the cutters. But I had Jack, he was in charge of putting flour into the cutters to make them release easy. He was a fun mess.

Then it was on to painting the cookies. I will admit I did not completely remember what parts to paint what colors but that didn’t matter because because Jack was in charge and did a wonderful job for a three year old. It was all about the fun not a perfect project. We were making memories.

While we worked I was able to explain who each cookie represented and briefly what Christmas is all about. Sharing sbout Jesus in a fun way made this even more special.

Oh Mama I miss you especially when I start to realize the amount of effort you put into raising us and keeping the Christmas pure for us.

This Christmas season is starting out very special. I hope you have a child, grandchild, niece, nephew, or other child you can share the true wonder of Christmas with. Enjoy your Christmas Holiday.

Sharing

In the life of a child sharing is something that is emphasized and difficult. I witnessed an amazing thing this morning as I watch two of my grandsons with a snack in the kitchen. Bob and I had bought some Red IS Apricots—first time I have ever seen these. They are an apricot that has been pollinated by a plum. We tried them and they have a sweet and tart flavor that can make you pucker but want more. So we decided to let Jack and Rex try them this morning. I cut off about 1/8 piece for each of them and Jack really loved them. I could not tell if Rex did or not but he ate what I gave him. So I cut up the rest of the apricot for Jack and put it in a bowl.

Rex decided that he wanted to eat more but Jack didn’t really want to share his, so I cut another one for Rex. In the mean time Jack finished eating all of his. They sat on the kitchen floor with both of their bowls and Rex proceeded to take pieces out of his bowl and give them to Jack. I asked Jack to make sure Rex got some and so as Rex gave pieces to Jack, Jack would put a piece in Rex’s mouth. It was an amazing time of sharing a really good snack.

Oh that life could be that simple every day. Let me dream a little.

• Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our desires were fulfilled just by showing someone what we wanted?
• Wouldn’t it be amazing if drivers on the highways would respect each other by driving safely and courteously?
• Wouldn’t it be nice if politicians would just tell us the truth about themselves so we can make an informed decision?
• Wouldn’t it be great if we allowed ourselves to have so much compassion for others that we would share the truth that we know with them so they have an opportunity to believe?
• Wouldn’t it be awesome if everyone took time to consider their eternity and take steps to insure their salvation?

Wouldn’t it be nice? This life is too short to spend being busy and never taking time to consider the future. God is our hope and future. In Jeremiah 29:11 He says:

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

God knows what we need and has a plan for us all we need to do is take time to listen and accept Him. On this Labor Day weekend try to take some time and consider your future. Spend some time in the Bible to see what might be in store for you. Enjoy your weekend and week and I will be back next week with more.

Faithfulness

God is faithful in good times and in bad times, in sickness and in health and the good news is that we do not depart from Him when we die.  As I began writing this I realized that it is just like the marriage vows that I took 36 years ago.  We said that we would love, honor and cherish each other in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad times, for better or for worse until death do we part. (I might not have gotten the order right but you get the picture.) The time that we have been married has flown by and we are more in love today than when we married.

We raised three children who, like all children, challenged us at times. But more often than not they gave us joy and are still bringing happiness into our lives through what they do and through our grandchildren. Last night I was reminded of those days when we took care of two of the grandchildren. One had a fever and the other one is teething. I remembered those very short nights but the satisfaction that I was able to comfort a baby in need made it worthwhile. I was also reminded once again that I am no longer in my twenties and probably would struggle a bit with night after night of that. Thank God the fever broke and there was only one incident of throwing up.

God equips us with what we need when we need it. Last night God allowed me to be the comfort for a sick toddler and a teething baby. I thank God for those moments because they allow me to build a better relationship with family and to let the love of God shine through. I am blessed and a little tired but feeling wonderful about life.

My daughter believes that she has to apologize for the children being sick, but I tell her it is part of life and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Children are children and I expect they will always present challenges but I love them and God loves them and that is all there is to it. I am blessed to have children that have such caring hearts and loving souls.

Remember to enjoy your family while they are near and know that God will give you the strength to deal with anything that comes your way. God is faithful in good times and in bad times, in sickness and in health. Enjoy your week and I will be back next week with more.

For Christmas

As I come into the Christmas season I wonder what I really want for Christmas. I remember last year talking about how difficult a time I have with making a list of wanted items. This year I have family coming to spend the holidays at my house. This is a little different and it changes the perspective of what I need to do. Today I spent a few hours working on making some cookies for family and for friends. I also spent the weekend with a wonderful little grandson whose parents were busy all weekend. My husband and I love watching the grand kids. Sometimes it seems easier to take care of them than it was to take care of our children. I remember the birth of all three of our children and how wonderful and challenging each one was.

That makes me think of Joseph and Mary when Jesus was born. I imagine they just wanted to have a quiet birth of their first child. I imagine they did not want to travel to Nazareth and give birth in a stable. I imagine they never thought that angels would announce the birth of their son and shepherds wouldn’t really care and wise men from the east wouldn’t show up on their door steps. I bet growing up they never thought that they would be so closely directed by God in how they were to raise their son and where to live. They never expected it but I am glad they followed what God asked. I am glad they listened and obeyed.

I am happy and blessed being a part of Christianity. Without Jesus the Christ, I would spend my life wandering aimlessly and never amounting to anything eternal.  But God gave me the opportunity to share Jesus with everyone around me and make a difference in this world that will last for eternity. I consider that opportunity the best present ever that I can share it as often as I like.

Give yourself and others a present by sharing your faith this Christmas season. I will be back next week with more.

Grandchildren

I am thankful for my newest grandson being born this year. Grandchildren are wonderful and make parenting worth it. I have six grandchildren and am thankful for all their accomplishments. Every single belt and stripe in karate, every dance performance, every school performance, every soccer game, everything. I am also thankful for their challenges because I know that going through them will make them better children and challenge their parents to be better parents.

I believe that God has given grandchildren to us because he wants us to be able to help them grow and understand life. Sometimes parents are too busy to explain life to the children, so grandparents get that opportunity. Miles separate me from most of my grandchildren but I still love hearing what they do and seeing their accomplishments. The grandchildren that are closer to home get more attention because of where they live. I really enjoy experiencing them from birth and watching week by week how they grow and change.

When I was younger with my children little, it seemed I never had enough time to spend with them. I always wanted nothing more than to stay with them and play and watch as they grew up. But challenges of life caused less time than I wanted with them. Now I look at my children and watch as they spend more time with their children and share in all those wonderful times of watching their children grow and learn.  I am blessed to be a grandmother and blessed to watch my children be wonderful parents.

Enjoy your week and I will be back next week with more.