Okay, it cannot be Christmas season yet .. but ...

The Christmas music is playing continuously at our house! Yes, continuously. If you were to get up in the night, you will hear our stereo in our living room softly playing the carols of the season. I love this season ... I love Christmas carols! I love the memories of waking up at Grandma Nelson's house on Christmas morning! She lived in a quiet neighborhood and while I could hear the clanging of pots and pans in the kitchen as she prepared Christmas dinner, I would reach over to her radio beside her bed and turn it on hoping to hear the 'sounds of the season'. I would peek out the window hoping to see a blanket of snow and would sigh .. this is what Christmas was truly about. Family .. being together .. celebrating our Savior's birth.

I'm afraid my house is somewhere between beyond Thanksgiving and almost Christmas. The tree is up .. and it's one of those great pre-lit trees that I wanted so badly for so many years! Now I'm facing the task of figuring out why some of those prelit thingy's have gone on the blink ... completely off!! Not even blinking to say they still work. They are just off -- and in the oddest places. So, I picked up two more strands of lights to somehow fill in the dark places of my tree!! It's just sitting in the living room right now -- nicely ... well, partly nicely lit!!

But, I am encouraged because up high on the ledge (we have very high ceilings so have a ledge above (on top) of the cabinets) is a Christmas village that our son-in-law, Tim, has put up. He loves Christmas more than I do (how can that be?)and I'm thrilled because I'm not necessarily the most creative person in the world by a long shot. So to have someone around who can handle all that stuff .. I can sit back and watch .. not! Even in my own house, I'll be put to work to get that tree all decorated. My very first decoration on the tree? A wonderful gift from my sister -- a 'frame' ornament with my dad's favorite photo of him and my mom! I'll admit, I have mixed emotions when I look at that photo. This is the first Christmas that they are both gone. This morning, I was driving to Walmart (and at 11:00am, no less .. not the best time to go!) and I thought on the way home, "This is my time to call Dad." I often called him as I was out running errands. I have been so busy recently that I hadn't thought too much about that until today. And there was some sadness .. but I would not wish him back.

Of course, it feels just like Christmas here in warm, sunny (not so sunny today) Florida! I left on Friday before Thanksgiving .. I came home Sunday evening to a brightly lit neighborhood except for a few houses -- and yes, ours was one of them not decorated! I was sure hoping some of the neighbors wouldn't be quite so eager to get it done so soon! But, it seems we have to do an overkill of decorations to convince ourselves that this is wintertime .. or almost anyway. The first year we lived in Florida, I finally figured out in January that Thanksgiving and Christmas had come and gone and I still wasn't sure fall had arrived!

My Christmas wreaths are by the front door. Odd place, I know. But, you see, I forgot to take them down .. good excuse, huh? So, they stayed nicely on the front door most of the year and anyone who visited our house thought I must truly have some sort of dementia not to remember what time of the year it was. Christmas in July maybe? Anyway, the wreaths are by the front door. Sandi took them down momentarily so there could be some decoration or token of the fall season on the front door. She also put out nice corn .. whatever kind it is that you use with fall decorations. That worked well until the squirrels decided that it surely must be better food than decorations. To which Tim said, "I'll get you" and screened in the front porch! The funniest thing was before he got the door on, a squirrel got in and couldn't figure out where the opening was to get out. I mean .. it's right where the door was to go but that squirrel went everywhere but out for a few minutes. Totally freaked out!

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care -- well, does the back of the chimney count? Okay, makes no sense -- you have to be here to understand. The back of our chimney faces the front door -- floor to ceiling mirror with a nice mantle where the girls' stockings are hung. And an antique piano!! Now, I love that and it blocks out having to look at ourselves every time we walk in the front door! Love that especially! And it also holds the flag that was presented to me at my dad's funeral. So, there are the stockings! So many grandkids that theirs won't fit there but I'm afraid to hang them on the mantle above the fireplace. I guess I'm worried that our nice fire (in the fireplace, of course) might either melt the kids' stockings or somehow burn them up that I have to hang them on the wall. So I guess our reading/song would be that the stockings were "hung on the wall" with care. I know, not a very good songwriter am I!

So .. right now, in our living room is a tree -- prelit, mostly lit .. awaiting more lights. And a ladder! You gotta have a ladder to reach to the top of that 9 foot tree! No, I won't be on it because the first thing I would do is fall off of it! Not a very pretty picture for sure! The decorations are in the box (big box, that is) ready and waiting! There's a folding chair in the middle of the room -- wonder why that is there .. oh, I know! I wanted to sit down while trying to 'fluff' all those lower branches on my prelit / mostly lit tree! The only thing is, we didn't get the top of the tree fluffed so it's like a big blob on the top right now. And it's half lit, too! The truth is, Sandi and I got discouraged when part of the tree wouldn't light -- we just said, "We'll leave it for a while!" Not sure what we thought that would accomplish but actually, some of the lights decided to come on after they thought about it for a while. Must be a spooked tree!

I know that there are fuses somewhere on those strands of lights that are supposed to be replaced maybe -- but Tim has worked and worked on that tree and since he is in construction by trade, if he can't figure it out, I don't think anyone can. We'll just add lights! Did I already say that? :) We'll see if that does the trick!

I did put one of those cut little fiber optic trees in the front window. Or rather, on a table by the front window. I know Sandi will work on that tree because it seems to be leaning a little to one side. I tried to fix it but I think it would probably go on strike, too, so think I'll wait and let her do it!

So .. there you have it! I love Christmastime .. so glad it is here but will be really glad when the tree is all decorated, the fire is lit in the fireplace (without us having to turn the airconditioning on!) and we'll relax with a cup of hot chocolate, tea or coffee and wish the season would never end! Oh, the photo above is of Ava last Christmas!

Happy Anniversary, Mother and Dad!!

65 years ago tomorrow, my mother and dad stood at an altar in Rock Island, Illinois, and pledged their love and lives to each other. They kept those vows until ‘death do us part’ … my mother on October 8, 2006 and my dad on October 1, 2009. Even after the passing of my mother and when we suggested that we would certainly understand if Dad needed a companion, his love for his beloved never wavered. He would just smile and shake his head when we teased him about a couple ladies who had their eyes on him at the nursing home!

Little did Dad and Mother know what would happen over those next 61+ years they would spend together. Just about a month after their wedding, my dad was off to World War II and the fear that he might not return weighed heavily on both of their minds. My mother has told us about the time that my dad was able to call her while overseas – about a two minute call and she remembers crying most of that time.

And a short synopsis of what followed .. well, how can you put 62 years into a short synopsis. Well, I’ll try!

After the war, it was off to Olivet Nazarene College where I made my appearance, interrupting my mother’s quest for a college degree. It was there he built their first home – and his desire to ‘build’ or remodel seemed to be always at the back of his mind. I remember several remodeling jobs he did on their homes throughout the years. His artistic and drafting skills served him well.

Tim followed while we were living in Peoria, Illinois where Dad built a church – imagine that! He loved building – not just a congregation but a facility as well. As I look back, I see that throughout all his life. From churches to Bible Colleges, he loved constructing, creating, developing, etc. That was hard for him to give up when they moved to Berkshire as he finally realized those days were over. (You can’t very well remodel an apartment in an independent living facility although I think he would have tried had he been in better health.)

Mark, Joel and Thad arrived in the latter part of the 50’s and Mother was kept quite busy with her growing family. But, she also added another responsibility when Dad felt the calling to establish a Bible College. She became his secretary / registrar / administrative assistant! With the help of a number of people, those dreams became a reality in 1958. Oh, how I remember those years and wonder sometimes if had they realized the time and sacrifice it would take, would they have done it all over again? Probably so! The love they had for young people and especially for missions was a driving factor. You see, they had felt a call to go to New Guinea as missionaries. They applied through the Nazarene Church and had been accepted .. everything was ready to go until my mother’s final physical and the doctor felt like she was not quite strong enough to endure the hardships of that field at the time. Disappointment was overwhelming – I remember hearing about it as I was growing up and whenever I hear stories of missions in New Guinea, I wonder for a few moments … “What if …..” I may have grown up on a mission field!

Those years were not necessarily easy but what memories they hold in my heart and I know in theirs. Our home was open to students and some even stayed with us from time to time. When I consider that my dad was 33 years old that first year of the Bible Missionary Institute, I almost cannot comprehend that since our youngest is 33. She’s a very capable young lady but I just can’t imagine what all it would have taken to oversee the establishment of an educational institution! I’m glad I was part of that “era” – I have so many great memories of students, of worship times, of friendships made that are still close today – and even of passing those love notes between students!!

Circumstances change, however, and my dad left the Bible Missionary Institute and moved across the river (Rock River, that is) and established the Francis Asbury Bible College in Milan, Illinois. And then … along came the last of the children, Rachel. Were they thrilled to have a little girl join the family? Were the boys thrilled? Was I thrilled? I think we were as they say, “over the moon” with excitement! With the heavy schedule my mother had as secretary / registrar / teacher, etc., Rachel became almost like my own and quite often, if we were out shopping, my mother would explain that both of these gals were her daughters, not just one.

And that rounded out our family and the influence of two godly people who had pledged not only to love each other but had added to that their commitment to Christ worked hard to raise their children in such a way that would please God.

I’m going to add a little here of what my brother, Tim, shared at my dad’s funeral that expresses so well what our parents’ influence on our lives:

“… bear with me for a minute as I honor the man who was absolutely the most godly man I’ve ever known. He was my encourager, my greatest cheerleader and in any type of business down spot I had in my life, I knew I could pick up the phone and he’d have a word of prayer with me on the phone. And just to have that in your back pocket would make all the difference. We as children were blessed with a heritage of having two loving parents who loved the Lord with all their heart. My dad never raised his voice to me. When he did discipline, he didn’t do it in anger. He had a unique way of making each of us feel special … I’m blessed beyond words to call this man my father and the love he had for my mother was a very, very unique relationship.”

Dad and Mother showed us how to treat each other. From the time we were little, we weren’t allowed to talk to each other (siblings) in an unkind manner. We were to treat each other with respect and I think that’s why we are so close today. Dad taught the boys that there are some things you do for a lady: Opening a door, a car door (I never saw my mother open her own car door when Dad was there); walking beside the road when walking along a sidewalk; standing up when a lady entered a room; etc. Mother taught us manners … sometimes to a fault but we knew what table manners and etiquette meant. (Did we all excel? Well, that’s another subject – who knows?!) But those things run through my mind to this day – elbows off the table; don’t get up from the table until everyone is done (unless you have asked permission); do not start to eat until all the food has been passed; don’t read at the table; don’t talk with your mouth full, etc.

Oh, and since Dad was an English major, we were encouraged to use proper English from a young age .. I learned the difference between “may” and “can”, “will” and “shall”, “lie”, “lay”, etc. And, for heaven’s sake, when someone asks you how you are, do not say “I’m doing good” but rather “I’m doing well”! What memories!! Oh, and lest I forget – adverbs!!! Just ask my girls! Dad was loving in his instruction but what he taught keeps running through my mind even now! And since Mother was a spelling bee champion, she expected that of her children. Most of us did pretty well in that area and if we didn’t, it wasn’t because she hadn’t tried.

They showed their love openly to us yet with great taste. It was common for my dad to slip up beside my mother, put his arm around her and give her a hug. They wanted us to know how it should be and they were truly a ‘class act’. Oh, and we could never chide or argue with our mates in front of them. Well, I should say, never even raise our voice to our spouse or we could expect some chiding especially from Mother. That simply wasn’t acceptable! And never argue in front of your children .. ever! And that is something that Bob and I worked diligently on. Hopefully we have passed that along to our children.

In later years when there were physical and emotional challenges, my mother would call me and always be so careful as she shared some of her own frustrations, trying not to ever diminish my respect and love for my dad. And he would do the same for her. We had to actually tell them that we knew they were as normal as any of us – and we thought no less of them for being ‘human’! In fact, it made us appreciate them more!

Probably the most valued treasure they left with us is their prayer lives! From the time I was little, they made special times when they prayed together and when we prayed together as a family. In their later years, I knew that early evening was the time that Dad prayed aloud. He named all of us children, all of our children and grandchildren – all by name! He prayed for other concerns and we knew that when he was done, he had truly been to the ‘throne of grace’ as he described it. Mother, on the other hand, could be found early morning in her chair with her Bible and little lists and post-it notes across her lap. She remembered all of us by name but we also knew that on those post-it notes were prayer concerns that were personal – perhaps from one of us but just as often, requests from her grandchildren. You see, they knew that she seemed to have a direct line to the Father and whenever there were needs, she was ready to add them to her list.

So, on what would have been their 65^th wedding anniversary, I want to say Happy Anniversary and say how very blessed we are to have had godly parents whose prayer was to meet every family member in heaven some day! And our prayer now is .. may that circle be unbroken!

What a difference two days make!!

I left for Atlanta on Friday morning .. the day after Thanksgiving. I arrived home last evening to a neighborhood already brightly lit with Christmas lights and decorations! I think I need to get busy!!