miracles

"He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

The prayers of 19 grandchildren are a powerful thing....They were not only praying together with us for a miracle, but were conspiring to help find reconciliation.

Charter: "How about we call Grannie and Gramps and make them say sorry."

Carrie: "How about all of us kids write them a huge e-mail."

Robin: "How about we have this really big party. We will invite Grannie and Grampsie. We will make them hug. We'll make them kiss. We'll play cards, and we'll make them sleep together."

God heard our prayers and this afternoon we received 2 e-mails. There will be no "parting", there will be a letting go of all things that may take away from the marriage... which translates as: There will be a retirement party and a home-coming. There will be a letting go of things that divide and a burning of legal papers that conspire to separate the most precious of partners to me. God is big, God is good, God hears. So proud of mom and dad. I know this is the beginning of a hard journey home, but it will be worth this journey... and we will all walk it together as families were designed to do. As a child, I learned this song on a "Psalty" tape and learned it with my dad. The family took it up as an anthem for welcoming new babies and wedding partners... today, it's for all of us. A old song to mark a new start. A letting go of things behind us and a pressing on to things ahead....together.

Welcome to the family,
we’re glad that you have come to share your life with us,
as we grow in love and,
may we always be to you what God would have us be
a family always there,
to be strong and to belong.
May we learn to love each other,
more with each new day.
May words of love be on our lips
in everything we say.
May the Spirit melt our hearts
and teach us how to pray
that we may be a true family.
Welcome to the family,
we’re glad that you have come to share your life with us,
as we grow in love and
may we always be to you what God would have us be
a family always there,
to be strong and to lean on,
to be strong and to belong.

Best Friends Forever

We have a tradition between my sisters kids and mine. Ever since my niece Cairo was a tiny baby, my sister Paige would hold out her finger to her and they would touch peter pointers and announce "Best Friends Forever!" As the years have progressed, this tradition has spread to all 19 of the cousins. The little ones especially love repeating it over and over, reminding themselves and everyone around them that they are part of the group of "Best Friends Forever". Today, after taking each child individually to their rooms, cuddling them on their beds and talking to them about the "parting" of their grandparents in language that each age level could understand, we gathered as a family for prayer. Robin, my tender little one, curled up in her most comfortable blankie, eyes still red, my older ones impatient with my 3 year old's interruptions. I hadn't explained it to her, so quickly, in simple, language explained it this way. "Grannie and Grampsie have been having a fight and no one will say "sorry" and no one will say "I forgive you." She nodded her head slowly and stared at me with such a serious face. As Curt began to pray for my parents who we love so much, Sadie burst out with "The Bible says "Be Best Friends Forever!!". I looked up at her and she had a huge, beaming face and her 3 year old finger was raised up to me. I shifted baby Wesley in my arms, pointed my finger at her and repeated "Best Friends Forever Sadie"... As i type this now, the image of Michelangelo's Sistine Ceiling comes to me... God's finger coming down to touch the finger of Adam... bringing life and promise and relationship. May the "finger of God" come down and bring us a miracle this Christmas, one of new life, promises kept, and relationship.

sojourner: The Last Date

sojourner: The Last Date

Trading my Worries for Snuggles

I've found myself lately in a state of stunned silence. My children can ask a question a thousand times and here i sit, at the computer screen, e-mailing back and forth... thinking...digesting pain that I can't share with them. Not yet. "Just a sec Sadie. Mom's finishing this note... Carrie could you get Wesley for me?...and Robin, check auntie Steph's pie in the oven, tell me if it's done. Ellie, would you get me the phone? Darren, could you go somewhere else? mom's writing a private e-mail. If you want you can go watch TV"... My house is "shocking" but not because I've been snuggling children...It has been left to become a mess because I am too busy worrying. The last 4 lines struck me today. Maybe it's not just cleaning that can wait... maybe worry and sorrow can wait too... I'm feeling like a bad mama doing nothing but obsessing for days. Jesus, I lay this sorrow in your capable hands... I need to go hold a little person and be held back. Help me to only carry what you intend for me to carry....and to keep moving. -j

Song for a Fifth Child
by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I’ve grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

Still

Still

By Reuben Morgan

Hide me now

Under your wings

Cover me

Within your mighty hand
When the oceans rise and thunders roar

I will soar with you above the storm

Father you are king over the flood

I will be still and know you are God
Find rest my soul

In Christ alone

Know his power

In quietness and trust

When the oceans rise and thunders roar

I will soar with you above the storm

Father you are king over the flood

I will be still and know you are God

Human Life

"Human Life does not move with the regularity of a clock

In living there are gaps and silences

When the soul stands still in it's flight through abysses

And then there come times of trial and times of struggle

When we grow old without knowing it."

(Hamlin Garland from "Main Travelled Roads")

...or when we wish we were 2 again.