Valerie's Voice – Page 92 – Musings on Life

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.

Happy Thanksgiving

Upon entering our church sanctuary last night for our annual Thanksgiving Eve service and pie social the above quote was on the overhead and I liked it.

I love this day of Thanksgiving, and strive to have an attitude of gratitude all year ’round. There is much to be thankful for everyday.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. ” Psalm 100: 4-5

Jemma!

I met Jemma last week. Jemma is an eight-week-old golden retriever. My friend trains service dogs for Helping Paws, an organization with a mission of
“Furthering people’s independence and quality of life through the use of Assistance Dogs.” One facet of the organization trains dogs for veterans.

It matches veterans with service dogs believing that the dog can significantly change the lives for the better for veterans with a variety of post traumatic stress symptoms. My friend took on this challenge for the first time a few years ago and her first assignment was Atticus, another golden retriever. She trained him tirelessly, with blood, sweat, and tears for two years. She fell in love with the puppy and two years later gave him up for the greater good, the new duo: veteran and dog who are now inseparable. Atticus is making life so much better for one young man. I am in awe of this ministry my friend pursues as she willingly takes on another challenge with Jemma. It will be another wonderful journey to watch unfold…watching this adorable puppy grow up to be a service dog.

A Park for All Seasons

Light, Space, Zest, that’s God! Psalm 27:1 (The Message)

We return often to visit one of our local favorite parks, Big Woods State Park. It is always a welcome sanctuary. To be outside, in open spaces and natural light, enjoying God’s creation fills me with joy and… zest! Here are a few photos I took today on our hike at a park we enjoy during all of Minnesota’s seasons.Colorful!
Funky.

Space.

Zest (and ice)

As we drove away from the park there above us, perched on a high tree branch, was an eagle, bidding us farewell and, I think, enticing us to come back again.Light.

A Tuesday Surprise

A surprise came through inter-campus mail Tuesday afternoon… a hand-made wooden pen by an employee who sent it to me as a thank you gift for helping him with his concert tickets. He loves to make pens out of reclaimed wood from different areas of campus…my new pen is from Skoglund’s original gym floor where the Christmas Festival performs. In his note he said, in part, “the place you find seats for so many people.” I have admired his pens but never thought I’d be the recipient of one. I was thrilled, overwhelmed and grateful for this delightful surprise on a Tuesday afternoon.

A Peek at the Grandchildren

Time for another peek at our grandchildren living in Mozambique Africa. And coming Spring 2017 we will have our newest grandchild! Our oldest son and wife are expecting their first baby. We’re so excited.

I love this photo of Ezra looking so relaxed and happy and ready to carry on a conversation with you!!! The photo was taken off Skype.

This photo of beautiful Zoey was sent by her mom, taken in Mozambique. She’s growing so fast.

Minneopa State Park

We visited a Minnesota State Park that we have not been to before. Minneopa State Park near Mankato has a lot to discover. It has a two tier waterfall with a drop of about 30’+ on the second tier. I didn’t know before we went but the word Minneopa comes from the Dakota language which means “water falling twice.” I like that! It is a beautiful waterfalls. Some trails take you down to the base of the falls. It was fun to explore although it was very crowded as there were many people out on a beautiful Saturday in November enjoying the unusually warm weather.

The park also has a bison herd. We did not see any on the drive along the fenced in area where they roam. However, the road took us to an old historic wind mill, Seppmann Mill, built in 1862 and completed in 1864, by a German immigrant for the purpose of grinding grain into flour. Originally it had cloth sails which, of course, no longer exist, but the base of the windmill made of stone is very impressive. The Seppmann Mill is on the U.S. Register of Historic Places.

Click here for more information.

It was a fun day making all these discoveries, in a “new to us” Minnesota State Park. On a side note, we saw a little boy who was getting scolded in sign language. It was clear what was happening and it was so interesting to watch as we walked by this silent exchange that “spoke” loudly.