Through the heart of the young

She’d been looking worried, but I was on the phone with my husband and simply walked past her to continue our conversation out of earshot.

Yet, something had changed by the time I returned to the main part of the house, for she was busy writing.

The paper was handed to me just before bedtime and as much as I wanted to read it, I felt it would be best waiting till morning.

When I read her writing, I was surprised.

I hadn’t realized that my phone conversation about the latest news would engender such fear in her heart.

The first lines spoke clearly of the deep emotion these days of world news are bringing.

As I continued to read I chastised myself for not being more careful with my speech, and for not checking back with her to see how she was processing all that she is hearing and seeing.

At 19, she’s too young to remember many of the circumstances of world affairs, but she’s been taught history and she’s not ignorant of the abilities of humanity to harm one another.

Then, I read:

“I sat at the table, trying to keep from being afraid, that’s when my amazing little brother walked in, set his phone on the table and pushed play on a video.”

“I quickly recognized the Piano Guys playing the Peanuts theme song… Dancing to this song has become something fun we do ever since I moved back from Grandma’s.”

“Laughing, I slowly joined him. My heavy heart started to lighten…The next song he played was by Mercy Me, Greater.”

“At that moment, I felt peace again. I was reminded that I don’t ever need to be afraid.”

“While the world may be falling apart around me, all I have to do is trust Jesus and dance in worship before Him.”

All my self condemnation evaporated.

I praise God for His blessings of truth which even the young can find comfort in.

As I refolded the paper, my heart was reminded of scripture.

Matthew 21:16 NKJV — and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?”

Let each of us learn from the simply beautiful faith of the young: all we have to do is trust God and praise Him.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your truth. Thank You that we can find courage, security, and faith in Your Word and Your promises. Lord Jesus, thank You that this world is not our forever home, but we have a much better one yet to come. Thank You for the simple and beautiful faith of the young. Thank You for the trust exampled to us by a small child clinging to their loving Daddy. Lord, thank You for children. Please continue to teach us how to have child-like faith. As my daughter said, may we walk in the truth, trusting and praising You. I love You, Jesus. Thank You for first loving me. Amen.

My husband, my blessing

Yup, those belong to me!

Bell and her dad are two peas in a pod.

They both enjoy being able to work out.

They enjoy the outdoors.

They are super funny!

And anyone who knows them well can say they have many sides to their personalities.

Infact, I can easily point to characteristics which each of our children have that are a reflection of their father.

It’s amazing to me how blessed I am to be married to this guy!

I was chatting with someone about how my hubby had learned to dance as a teen and had shared it by teaching all of us how to dance.

It was one of the best memories from the wedding last summer : Daddy dancing with the bride.

It has become one of my favorite things we do as a family.

I am so thankful for the gifts God has given through my husband.

He is a hard working man, not unlike my father.

He is a brilliant man who has poured hours upon hours into learning as well as teaching.

He’s amazingly creative and has written and preformed in many skits.

His ability to act as well as write skits has brought Bible truths to kids both here and in other countries.

He’s a loving father.

It’s not been easy for him to divide himself in so many directions, but his love for his children has caused him to put off more and more of the things he enjoys to be at events or to touch their lives.

He’s a wonderful man who loves me, but most importantly, loves Jesus.

He’s not perfect.

Neither am I.

Yet through our broken battered sin-torn lives he has walked with me and Jesus.

We still have a lot to learn.

We still have areas of healing.

Yet we are determined to hold hands while we face the future together, with Jesus.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for my husband. Bless him today as he walks into whatever You have planned for him. Please teach me how to be a good wife to him. Please protect him from the evil in this world and help our family to grow ever stronger in You.

Dance

I know it looks like a basketball something.

However, it’s actually dance class.

Bell and a good friend of our family are trying out a few West Coast Swing steps.

My husband and I had been asked to give a few private lessons to another family.

They also happen to be the assistant coach for our basketball team.

So we met after practice one day and had a blast.

I was surprised by how much fun we all had.

I am not a dance instructor, neither is my hubby.

We have danced for years.

As a teen my hubby took professional lessons and has enjoyed it ever since.

Being a member of the FFA, I learned a few of the simplest steps to keep from being a wall flower at the FFA dances.

Together we have danced at weddings and other social events when there was the opportunity.

We have danced in our living room.

When our oldest girl was a Senior her friend, who planned to be her date at Prom, asked that we teach them so they’d actually get to dance at the dance.

We did and all of us enjoyed it.

Her husband learned to dance when they became engaged.

It was one of the best parts of their wedding, all of us dancing together.

We’ve had a total of 2 dance classes with our Assistant coach and his lovely family.

At the end of the class we chatted and decided we’d invite others who also expressed interest in learning.

Then we’re going to rent the local Grange and actually have a dance.

I am looking forward to it.

Life crowds in with so many priorities.

Yet, I know God wants us to fellowship and spend time with one another.

What better way to do that than to stretch out of the routine.