My world changed on June 5 2009. Kyla Eve Rummel was born, my first grandchild. I wrote on this blog shortly after that grand day:Did you hear it? That loud whooshing noise last Friday, June 5th?At the exact moment of my new granddaughter’s birth, with her first intake of air, Kyla Eve stole my heart. Love for this new child swiftly gushed into my core and changed me forever.Whoosh! Love exploded triggering a chain reaction. Every instinct inside me wants to protect her, love her, and see her daily.Whoosh! My arms ache to hold her, to touch her.I watch her now as a toddler, exploring the world, learning new words, and embracing each moment as newly discovered treasure. You may have read in one of my past blogs how I got my grandma name, Amma.On the silent retreat I attended last week, I read Robert Wick’s book, Crossing the Desert. In this book Wicks tells about the ancient desert fathers and mothers in the 4th century who provided guidance on how to live. The book companioned me on … [Read more...]
People are More Important than Any To-do List
I spent most of Monday in the hospital emergency room. Not for me, but with my 99 ½ year old best friend, Esther. Esther, bless her heart, kept worrying about me. “You are so busy… I am keeping you... Just go... I will be ok… I am such a bother…” I stayed. Then on top of the inch of ice that covered our area the night before, Mother Nature began to dump an additional six inches of snow.“Go home,” her voice said, but not her eyes.I stayed.Yes my to-do list sat untouched all day.Yes I still have lots to get done this evening.Yes the pit in my stomach tightens with looming deadlines and others’ expectations. People are much more important than any list of things to do.My tummy may churn, but today I listened to my heart. And I stayed.PS I didn't write this to pat myself on the back. I just wrote it from my heart with the message that people are the most important thing we have. Some have asked about Esther and she is doing well today and being discharged. Thank you for your … [Read more...]
Sleepless Nights – God Nudges
I couldn’t sleep last night.Moving to the front room, I snuggled under the afghan and tried to pray. My scattered mind drifted from the Lord over and over again, a result of crazy schedules and unexpected events this week. Ok, Lord, at least I can thank You for this week.At midnight I rise to give you thanks Psalms 119:62Thank You for my kids’ good news at work…for a safe drive home tonight….for willing friends who stopped by to help move a piece of heavy furniture…Oh, look there is my IPod Touch. Let’s play…. Yes, I lost focus once again.Turning it on, I clicked on the Facebook icon. Last message, just five minutes earlier was from my second daughter, Katie:“Can't sleep again! Really wishes she could talk with her mommy!”I wrote back. I am up too.Immediately, she called.Overwhelmed by fears of the unknown, out of control emotions, and a jumble of excitement, joy, and “oh, no, what have we done?” – Katie told me she is expecting twins.Twins!Twice blessed!Dramatic change in … [Read more...]
The Pleasure of Your Company
When you are in love you want to spend time with that person. You let your eyes soak in every move they make, your ears cling to their every sound, and your heart just bursts with joy.I am in love.In love with my granddaughter, Kyla. She whooshed into my heart in June 2009 and continues to capture my attention whenever we are together. I watched her the other day. Stooping to pick up a crumb on the floor, studying it like a treasure from antiquity. She devours spaghetti with gusto and delicious delight. I giggled as she creates fun from an everyday object. Only a child’s heart and mind can see new possibilities in an ordinary humdrum of life.Each new day is a wonderful opportunity to learn and explore.Kyla went with us shopping the other day. I sat in the third row of the Suburban and even as she slept, snuggled in the arms of her car seat, I couldn’t keep my eyes from her. I enjoy just the pleasure of your company, Kyla, I thought. That phrase stuck with me – the pleasure of your … [Read more...]
How do you Celebrate the Firsts in your Life?
Watching a grandchild provides endless life lessons. I realized this last Saturday when I grabbed the camera to capture Kyla’s first boat ride on Hamilton Lake. (By the way she doesn’t look too happy in these photos and really wanted a nap instead of a strange bumpy trip on water. She did enjoy the second boat ride later in the day with giggles and smiles.) How we love to celebrate a child’s firsts in life! Think of them all - the first tooth, the first haircut, the first walk, the first day of school. We clap our hands, take lots of photos and maybe have a party. We inscribe the event into our memory for safekeeping and honor the moment.Why have we as adults forgotten to honor firsts in our lives? I don’t like to think that we have no more firsts after we reach a certain age. I think I quit noticing and don’t take the time to recognizing new onsets in my life.I believe in life long learning – so the first time you read a new word, pondered a new idea, or learn a new skill should be … [Read more...]
Secret to Longevity: Friendship
Want a long healthy life? Researchers at Brigham Young University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill gathered data from 148 studies on health outcomes and social relationships. They looked at every paper on this subject they could find. Their research ended up including more than 300,000 people. What did they find? People with poor social connections had on average 50% higher odds of death in the study's follow-up period (an average of 7.5 years) than people with more robust social ties.Friends keep you healthy.God created community to help us thrive in our health in all areas: physical, emotionally and spiritual. I would add social health too.When I was in graduate school, drained physically and mentally from balancing work, parenting, and school, I resolved to do one action over summer break in all the dimensions of health to revive my spirit. Physically, I walked at least three times a week. Mentally I escaped the world of serious non-fiction and enjoyed good … [Read more...]
God Bends Down to Hold the Ordinary
My one-year-old granddaughter, Kyla, has been here the past three days as her parents help put on a new roof on our house. My duties while they lifted, hammered, and sweated in the hot summer sun? Babysit!!Now being a good grandma I have a collection of fun and developmental correct toys and lots of books for her. Yet what was her favorite activity? Playing in the backyard with stones. I was fascinated watching her. She looked intently at the ordinary river rocks, spied just the one she wanted and gingerly picked it up like it was the most precious stone on earth. She held it tenderly in her hands, murmur baby talk as if she knew somehow the rock would recognize the words, then lay it gently down. I have stepped on these rocks in my back yard for a number of years and never once took the time to notice the individual colors, shapes and differences. I wonder what other everyday miracles I miss. One year old Kyla reminded me, this old grandma, that paying attention is a powerful … [Read more...]
Celebrating Weddings – Lectio Divina
I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10 (NIV)Today is my son, Brian’s, wedding day. He is marrying a marvelous young woman – Mandy. I am thankful and celebrating today! I delight greatly in the Lord!Apache Wedding BlessingNow you will feel no rain For each of you will be shelter to the other. Now each of you will feel no cold For each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there is no loneliness for you For each of you will be companion to the other.Now you are two persons But there is one life before you. Go now to your dwelling place to enter into the days of your togetherness And may your days be good and long upon the earth.I love you both – May God drench you with many, many happy days and surround you with His love. … [Read more...]