My Weekend

I apologize for the little blogging break I took, but after the events of last week, I crashed this weekend emotionally and physically. It was nice to spend Saturday at a Creative Memories crop with my mom. It's been awhile since both of us had done any scrapbooking, and I, for one, am WAY behind! I spent the entire day scrapping Christmas photos from 2002 and 2003. In my chronological family albums, I'm only on 2000, so I'm a little better off on my Christmas photos than my every day photos! I really need to make it a priority, especially in light of last week's events. My cousin's wife and her sister were both scrapbookers (the younger sister introduced her older sister to the craft) and now both husbands are thanking their wives for leaving behind so many well-preserved and organized memories. I know it sounds morbid, but I really want to get caught up for Dave and the boys in case something happens to me. (And no, I'm not getting paid by Creative Memories!)

On Sunday I taught my fourth grade Sunday School class. Ironically, the lesson revolved around the hope we have through Jesus Christ. I shared with the class how apropos this lesson was to my week, and then they shared the difficulties they face on a daily basis...everything from passing the PSSA's this week to the death of a pet to divorce in their families. It was refreshing to be able to reiterate again how the hope we have because of Jesus's resurrection from the dead enables us to face whatever comes our way. Our God is a faithful God, and is the same yesterday, today, and forever...praise be to His Name!

So now I'm back to my normal weekly activities...grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, ebaying, blogging...but I'm not the same person I was a week ago. I've changed somehow...and that's okay. God works ALL THINGS together for my good, and I know He knows what He's doing! More later!

Exhausting, Exhilirating Day

Today Karen Peters, my cousin's wife, had her earthly body laid to rest. The celebration service of her life was beautiful, from the solo at the beginning, to the benediction at the end. In between we laughed and cried as Karen's life was remembered. My Dad led the service and shared the message. The hope that we have through Jesus Christ was clearly presented. Admirably, and with strength that only hope in Christ can give, Karen's brother and mother shared words of testimony. Karen's mother was amazing...she shared her memories of Karen and then prayed for both of her sons-in-law who have sustained such devastating losses this past week. Karen was buried just steps from my grandfather in a beautiful cemetery in Wilmington. We all commented that even though Karen had never met Grandpop Christian, we are sure they found each other in heaven. Now I am tired...and I can't even fathom how exhausted my other family members must be. Continue to pray for my cousin and his daughter, and his brother-in-law and three sons. Some tough days lie ahead for them as they adjust to this new normal...but God is good, and will give them the strength to take it a day at a time. The service began with my cousin's sister singing a beautiful song entitled "I Can Only Imagine". Karen's not imagining any more...praise God!

Prayer Request from Ebay Friend

Those of you who faithfully read my blog know that I have been on Ebay lately, attempting to purchase vintage tupperware to help organize my pantry. In so doing, I have "met" some very nice sellers through e-mail exchanges. One of those sellers is Judy, with whom I have exchanged many e-mails in an attempt to clarify some things. Long story short, I have found out that Judy's nephew, Jamie, has just been diagnosed with Wilson's Disease, a genetic disorder that causes excessive copper accumulation in the liver or brain, and is potentially fatal. This news has weighed heavily on her family as it comes on the heels of other losses in the family. I told her that I would be praying for Jamie, and her family, and asked if I could put his name on my blog so that others could pray, as I know most of my regular readers pray faithfully. She agreed, so I humbly ask that, as God brings Jamie and Judy to your mind, you would pray for them, and for God's will to be done in this situation. Judy and I thank you!

Beautiful Poem

To read a beautiful poem that my youngest sister wrote about the tragedy that has affected our family and the hope we have in Jesus Christ, please visit her blog here.

For a very moving and thought-provoking three-minute video that has increased significance for our family these days, please click here.

Please pray for my cousin and our entire family in the days and weeks ahead. Thank You!

What Resurrection Day Means To Me

It has been an emotional weekend for our extended family. We found out early Saturday morning that my cousin's wife and two sisters were in a fatal car accident late Friday night in upstate PA. My cousin's wife and her youngest sister were killed instantly when a drunk/high driver failed to negotiate a turn and hit them head on. The middle sister, who was driving, is in critical condition with internal injuries and a leg that is all but destroyed and will possibly need to be amputated to some degree. My cousin and his wife have a four year old daughter who was adopted from China a few years ago, and her sister and husband have three young sons and a foster son who subsequently was returned to social services...loss upon loss. The surviving sister has a 16 year old son. As details of this tragedy unfolded over the weekend, I couldn't help but think about the ramifications for my cousin, and how important it is to keep short accounts because you never know what the future holds. He didn't go to bed Friday night thinking that his wife and sisters-in-law wouldn't return home from dinner and shopping. He didn't expect to get awakened abruptly by state police at 4 a.m. with such horrendous news. He didn't expect to be burying his 39 year old wife this week and raising a daughter by himself. He didn't expect any of this...BUT IT WAS NOT A SURPRISE TO GOD.

Yesterday, my cousin's wife and her sister celebrated Resurrection Day in Heaven. They were embraced by their father, who passed away almost two years ago. They were greeted by my grandfather, who preceded them almost 25 years ago, whom my cousin's wife had heard a lot about, but had never met. And they were welcomed home by their Heavenly Father, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, Jesus Christ himself, who made their eternity in Heaven possible through His sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection over 2000 years ago. For you see, at a specific point in time, both of these young ladies placed their faith and trust in Christ and asked Him to forgive them of their sins and be their Lord and Saviour...Jesus is the only way, the only truth, and the only life eternal.

As we gathered to celebrate Resurrection Day at church yesterday, we sang that beautiful Gaither song, "Because He Lives". As I sang the familiar words, I was struck afresh and anew by the third stanza and chorus:

And then one day I'll cross that river,

I'll fight life's final war with pain;

And then, as death gives way to victory,

I'll see the lights of glory--

And I'll know He lives.

Because He lives I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth the living--

Just because He lives.

I thought of my cousin, and the peace he has in the midst of his grief, because he knows his wife is in Heaven, and he will see her again someday. And the hope he has in the midst of his grief, because he knows that God will sustain him and his daughter through the difficult days ahead...BECAUSE JESUS LIVES! It is my prayer that all who read this blog would know that same peace and that same hope that only trusting in Jesus's finished work on the cross can bring. If you do not know that if YOU were to be struck by a drunk driver tonight and killed instantly, YOU would be in Heaven with Jesus...please allow me to share with you how you CAN be sure!

What does Resurrection Day mean to me?

BECAUSE HE LIVES, I CAN FACE TOMORROW...AND WHATEVER TOMORROW BRINGS!

Imagine That!

Yesterday I spent a good part of the morning cleaning out and reorganizing my pantry in anticipation of my new, old, tupperware arriving later this week. I have not really done that since we originally move into this house almost two years ago, so I found many interesting things! Of extreme satisfaction to Sabastian was the location of a long lost Game Boy game and shark tooth; I was impressed with the spare coinage I found...it was enough to allow the boys to purchase lunch this week! I also threw out a bunch of stuff, and put some of my Longaberger baskets to good use...now I'm just awaiting my tupperware so that I can put my dry goods away properly. When it's all done, I'll have to post pictures...I know, not the most interesting thing in the world, but important to me! Speaking of waiting, I'm still waiting for my first Etsy purchase to arrive from Chile. The tracking website says it's still enroute to Miami, but that was almost a week ago! I check the mail with anticipation every day...when it gets here, I'll let you know!

Ebay-ing

Well, I have won and lost on Ebay the last few days. I'm currently waiting on a couple of more auctions to end this evening before I go to bed. The competition has been fierce on these tupperware containers (believe it or not!) but I'm close to having what I need to store my dry goods and my fresh home baked bread. Dave says he never would have thought that I would be baking and cooking like I am...I always knew there was an ulterior motive for keeping me at home...it wasn't just for the kids! The funny thing is, we are working on losing weight so I'm cooking more, but eating less--go figure! When my new, old (vintage sounds so much better!) tupperware arrives, I'll post a picture! Gotta run and check my auction standings........