Valerie – Page 79 – Valerie's Voice

European Holiday

A couple of years ago we celebrated Christmas in Mozambique, Africa. Our son was, and still is, living in city of Maputo. That year I was so excited to meet my first grandchild, little Miss Zoey. We had a great time and many, exciting adventures and the best part…our immediate family was all together even though we were far away from home.

Once again we are very excited and look forward to many, new adventures on our European holiday in Portugal. We will meet our second grandchild, Mr. Ezra Nghala, for the first time in Lisbon. And the best part….our immediate family will all be together again for Christmas, this time in Portugal.

Loaves & Fishes and Little Puppies

Our four "little puppies". Ross is the one in yellow. I have always loved this photo. — Our four “little puppies”. Ross is the one in yellow. I have always loved this photo.

The Bible story about the little boy bringing his lunch to Jesus and it being multiplied came to mind as I was thinking back on a very special friendship.

Thirty-three years ago I called an acquaintance from the church we attended at that time to see if I could bring her lunch since she just given birth to her firstborn son. My firstborn son was 10 months old at the time.

My inexperienced self brought over a tuna fish sandwich in a brown paper bag. But God took that lunch and multiplied it into a deep and lasting friendship. Thank you Lord!

Life went on and we each had another son…so we had four “little puppies” as my friend affectionately called our four boys. They played together for many years and then one sad day their family moved away. However, our friendship continued to grow from yearly trips together.

My friend’s oldest son, Ross, was diagnosed with a rare condition when he was 8 years old. He eventually was confined to a wheelchair. He was on a special trip to Scotland last month where he had respiratory failure and passed away. We attended the memorial service in Indiana this past weekend. Ross was a wonderful young man of God and a light for Jesus. He lived a full and faith-filled life.

Ross, you will be missed.

February 23, 1983 – December 6, 2016

The Cedar Chest

My cedar chest doubles as our entertainment center in our living room. The other day we took off the TV, soundboard and DVD player to get into the cedar chest. It’s been a long time since we’ve opened it up and usually when we do, it’s just to put something in it. I would get a whiff of the aromatic cedar but close it right away. This time I was deliberate to go through everything. I remembered the price tag was in it…my dad bought it for my mother in 1947 for a wedding present. This Lane Cedar Chest retailed for $54.95 in 1947. There is another piece of paper inside – an insurance policy…a Moth Insurance Policy good for three years… hmmm I wonder…do they still sell that type of insurance???

I also found my mother’s baptism gown and the gown my brother and I wore when we were baptized. There was my mother’s velvet brown hat and some long white gloves -over the elbow kind that I wore to prom. I found my Brownie uniform, my candy-stripe outfit and a red dress I sewed back in high school that I particularly loved.

I did not iron these special pieces before taking a photo. They went back into the cedar chest.

I found what I was looking for…an outfit for my grandson that was my son’s when he was a little boy – but I found a lot more children’s clothing and blankets. I didn’t remember saving them all. It was a delight to look at each one and remember. I kept them out and washed them up and will pass them on.

What a fun adventure opening up the cedar chest!

A portion of the clothing I had stored in the cedar chest.

Every Child Has a Name

“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me” John 10:14

I read this verse yesterday morning and kept it in my heart as I volunteered at Northfield’s Christmas Sharing later that morning. Christmas Sharing is wonderful program that serves hundreds of family’s each Christmas. Parents, who qualify, are able to come and “shop” (for free) for their children. They can choose among hundreds of toys that have been generously donated by the community. Parents can pick one big gift item for each child, a game per family, a book for each child, a pair of pajamas for each child (a team makes the pajamas all year long.) They also can choose one stocking-stuffer per child, a hat and a pair of mittens per child and one quilt per family (also made and donated all year long). There is gift-wrapping service too.

There are many, many hands that make this program work and it’s been working for many years now. There are different types of volunteer positions. One is shopping assistant and that is what I like to do. I follow along with the shopping cart as the client chooses the gifts. It’s especially fun when the mom gets so excited to find that perfect gift… and then she continues to say thank you over and over again each time she picks something out.

I’m proud of our Community Action Center that works very hard to make this happen. It’s a blessing to the clients but also to all those who help in some small way. It’s a Christmas gift to the whole community.

First Snowfall of the Season

Piling high on our deck and still coming down.

A Place Inside Me

There is a place inside that needs white –

Seeing the first snowfall draws a quick breath of content.

There is a place inside that needs brown –

Smelling the aroma of fresh ground coffee brewing.

There is a place inside that needs golden yellow –

Feeling the warmth of a fire on this cool morning.

There is a place inside that needs green –

The beauty of an evergreen tree standing tall.

There is a place inside that needs God –

To bring it all together in peace.

There is a place inside that needs movement

Rocking in a rocker moving closer to God in prayer. (11/02)

And a hint of red from the cardinal is an added bonus!

Northfield’s Winter Walk

Last night Northfield’s main street was closed to traffic and luminaries were placed along the curbs and downtown business stayed open late for holiday shoppers. There were carolers, and horse-drawn wagon rides and store-front windows decorated for the festive, annual Winter Walk. I remember the first Winter Walk 18 years ago. I bought a Santa hat at Jacobsen’s Department Store and have worn it to every Winter Walk since. Jacobsen’s closed in 1998. It was a “store with a heart” – so they advertised – a wonderful, old fashioned department store where you could find anything.

Many stores offer treats during the Winter Walk. My friend makes cookies for a corner store on main street with windows are always decorated creatively, no matter what time of year. My friend is a great cook and baker. If she asks me for a recipe I feel special. One year she asked for my mom’s ginger cookie recipe and somehow it was decided she would make 1,000 ginger cookies using my moms recipe to hand out at the corner store during Winter Walk this year! My mother would been surprised and I was delighted to stop by and taste a delicious ginger cookie.

I have always said of Ruby’s ginger cookies…there cannot possibly be anything unhealthy eating a fresh baked, (especially warm from the oven) ginger cookie!

A Christmas Festival Angel

Three years ago, around this time of year, my husband was laid off his job. One evening back then, when I was working at the Christmas Festival, an older woman was sitting in the lobby near the box office. I don’t even remember how we struck up a conversation but I found out she lives out of state and has relatives in the festival so came to see the Christmas Festival for the first time that year. As we talked I shared about my husband’s job loss. She encouraged me that evening and said she would pray for me, then we parted ways.

Fast forward three years to Thursday night. She came back to attend the Christmas Festival and came to the box office to check on me. She told me she often wondered how things had turned out for me. I was blessed by this. We visited awhile and she promised she would continue to pray for me…and she would add my friend’s family to her prayer list.

Our conversation was sweet. I told her I wished she lived in my town so we could get together for tea every now and then. I’m delighted to know, and truly believe, she is praying for me and my friend! I’m grateful. I’m calling her my Christmas Festival Angel.

Light Dawns, Hope Blooms

Another successful Christmas Festival happened at St. Olaf College over the weekend – complete with live streaming – it’s the 105th year. A sprinkling of white snow made the campus look “Christmasy” on Sunday. This year’s theme, Light Dawns, Hope Blooms, was reflected in the music and set design. Five choirs and an amazing orchestra, all current students, sing and play their hearts out and it’s beautiful service to begin the Advent season, with hope.

The song Stay With Us was especially meaningful to me this year, and the choir’s signature piece, Beautiful Savior, always concludes the concert as the choirs spill into the aisles and sing in “surround” sound. Their voices fill the auditorium with sweet, sweet music.

Beautiful Savior,
Lord of the nations,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor,
Praise, adoration,
Now and forevermore be thine!

~Gesangbuch, Minister, 1677 trans. Joseph H, Seiss

There are four performances. I have been the ticket coordinator for twelve years. Every year it’s like a jigsaw puzzle and when it’s over, and 11,748 people have been seated, I sigh and call it a Christmas Miracle.

Three stunning Christmas trees displayed in the student center, Buntrock Commons, create a welcoming and festive atmosphere. A Scandinavian Buffet, complete with Lutefisk and Lefse, is offered in the ballroom to add a another special touch for Christmas Festival at this college of Norwegian heritage, rooted in the Christian tradition.

Time Marches On

Time marches on as

Time stands still

Standing in a crisis

It’s not your will. ~

Time goes slow yet

Days fly by

Cannot contain time

Even if you try. ~

Time keeps ticking

Waiting in a bind

All on your own

Thoughts and prayers are kind. ~

Then comes the time

When there is the need

To step back into life

‘cause time marches on, indeed.

I tried to capture my feelings about this concept of time while going through a difficult period. It’s hard to explain. A situation may lead you to step of out of your “daily life” and it seems you are in a time warp yet the world around you keeps on going – until you stabilize and can gently step back into life (changed) with just a few ever noticing you were “standing still” in the first place. But those few are very precious. All along God has been there with you, and He is Faithful.

My precious friends are in a time of waiting, at the bedside of their firstborn son. My heartfelt prayers continue and my thoughts turn to them over and over during the day as I continue on. But these are Holy moments for them. They are in the arms of the Almighty God. They love him, He loves them, and so do I.

“The Eternal God is your our refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” Deuteronomy 33:27

Traditions

Thanksgiving has come and gone and a new tradition has begun – I hope. My son and his wife came down for the day and we had a delightful time…eating a traditional Thanksgiving meal, going for walk with their dog Charlie, playing a game, giving thanks and…reading children’s books.

The book The Tale of Three Trees was already laying around in our sunroom after recently reading it to friends who came to visit. I was recalling how special it was to read the book out loud to adult friends and so I asked our small family gathering if I could read it out loud to them.

After I finished, unbeknownst to me, my daughter-in-love pulled out a children’s book she brought along to read to us, The Secret of Giving Thanks…so there we were, listening to each other read children’s stories.

Later in the day, while we were talking about things we were thankful for, quiet times were mentioned…which reminded me of another favorite children’s book, Thank You, God, for Quiet Things. I went straight to the bookshelf, found the book and read the story out loud.

We looked at each other and said a tradition has begun…

We’ll see…that’s the thing about traditions….only time will tell…but we had a fun and memorable time this year.