A friend from Dubai just sent this, and I love all the characteristics listed! May we be inspired and blessed!
“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”
Proverbs 1:8
Happy Mother’s Day!
Cindi’s Refreshing Tropical Trifle Parfaits (Can be Made Gluten-free, Dairy-free, and Vegan)
Here’s a wonderfully refreshing fruit dessert, just perfect for Mother’s Day (because it’s so simple kids can make it for their moms), or hot summer days—or really any time of year! It comes from the creative imagination of my dear friend, Cindi, who brought some to our last couples’ “high tea” party.
Tropical Trifle Parfaits
(per serving; Cindi made 6)
In parfait glasses, layer:
2 Vanilla Wafers (can be GF)
1 tablespoon pineapple juice
1 tablespoon shredded coconut
1/4 cup crushed or fresh pineapple
Custard, pudding or whipped cream (can be whipped coconut cream to be dairy-free and vegan)
1/4 diced, ripe mango
1/4 cup diced kiwi
Repeat Layers to fill parfait glasses, top with custard or whipped cream, and garnish with toasted coconut and a slice of kiwi just. before serving. If you prefer, you could also make these parfaits with fresh berries instead of tropical fruits.
“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.”
Philippians 4:4
Welcome to the Family, Bristol!
Here is a story of hope and joy in the aftermath of deep sorrow over the loss of a child, written by my dear friend, Susan Blount, to her newest grandchild. Motherhood (and Grandmotherhood) comes at a great cost, but it is one of the purest forms of love on earth. I pray that all of you who have had the great privilege of birthing a child into this world will have a very Happy Mother’s Day this Sunday.
January 8, 2024
Welcome to the family, Bristol Palmer Wall,
We’re so glad you are here safe and healthy. You are God’s surprise bundle of joy, but your journey to get here has kept us on our knees. Your mom had years of combating Lyme disease and Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy that gave everyone concern. Many decisions had to be made to give you and your mom the best chances of a healthy delivery, as cholestasis can raise the chances of a stillbirth. God was near, as He always is. I can’t wait for you to get to know Him.
God chose this day, and no other, for you to be born. He knew this before the world began. Imagine that! As the day grew closer I found myself feeling more anxious. This song from my childhood kept singing in my head: I will trust when I cannot see – when I’m faced with adversity – and believe Your will is always best for me – I will trust when I cannot see.
Your sisters, Hope and Alana, got a stomach bug just a couple of days before this. Thankfully, your mom didn’t get it! God was merciful.
Only God knew what the future held for you and the family who already loved you. We all knew what we wanted, but I knew what God had seen us through in the past.
It seems that Mom’s Lyme disease has been partly responsible for some of her pregnancy struggles. Then, thirteen years ago, your older sister, Ivana, died just prior to her due date. We have never experienced a still born baby in our family and the shock was almost more than we could bear. God was near, then, too, as He always is. He saw us through, though the memory is still very raw.
I thought of Ivana often during your delivery today. She never got to meet us, but it’s a comfort to know that she knew the love of your mother, and the sounds of her family before she left for the perfections of heaven – safe in the arms of Jesus.
In October of last year, Aunt Crysten and I were rejoicing with our friend Kelly who was expecting her second baby, a boy who would be named Noah. Like your mom, there were some concerns for the safety of Kelly and Noah so they planned to have her induced. Sadly, things didn’t go well for them.
These were the stories that played like a background noise in the days leading up to your birth. God was using them to stretch my faith – to trust in Him for the things I could not see or understand. Our God is great, you’ll see.
My prayer that morning wanted to beg God to make everything perfect, but I knew He already had a plan and I needed to be willing to accept whatever it was. I knew it would be for our good no matter what happened. So, I prayed that we would know peace and that the caregivers would have wisdom.
God’s continual presence is real, but I wanted it to be more than good theology… I wanted it to be tangible… and He did not disappoint.
Before leaving for the hospital your Great Aunt Judy sent me this: “In my quiet time this morning Psalms 145:18 “The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, all who call upon Him in truth… He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him: He hears their cry and answers them.” It was God’s way of reminding me, “Fear not, I am here.”
When Mom checked in to her room, they discovered right away that she was already 3 cm dilated at 36 weeks. This was the second confirmation that God was in this and moving us toward the outcome we desired.
He prepared a nurse, named Kassey, who was the perfect fit for Mom and our family. She was homeschooled, homeschools her children, had a home birth and seemed like someone we had always known. A woman who understood where we came from and embraced some of our favorite things in life.
Homebirth midwives have such a different philosophy than medical doctors, so it was comforting to have a nurse who would know the difference and help your mom to move things along in a non-intrusive way, as much as possible. She was patient and calm. Just what was needed. God was near.
She introduced us to a technique I had never heard of called Spinning. Spinning Babies® has become a new view on childbirth created by midwife, Gail Tully. The technique helps create room in the lower uterus so you could rotate into a more ideal position for birth. You seemed to like it and it may explain why you shot out of there in only 40 minutes. 😊
We certainly didn’t want a C-section because the recovery for your mom is so much harder and longer. But, if you had shown any signs of distress, they were ready to do that to save your life. Your mom wore a heart monitor the entire time and your heart rate never dropped or gave us any concern. God was near. Even in low risk births, the heart rate can drop some as the head gets lower in the birth canal. Your heart rate was an encouraging sign that the C section would not be needed.
The first procedure used to get things started was to strip your mom’s membranes. She did feel some contractions during the morning, but they were weak and not very often.
“What can we try next?” she asked Nurse Kassey. She suggested pumping some milk. She quickly went to get a breast pump and got your mom started. “I’ll be back in 15 minutes,” she said.
It didn’t take long before your mom filled two bottles with colostrum and experienced some good strong contractions – the kind she couldn’t talk through. It was more encouragement that this delivery would happen without surgery.
Nurse Kassey answered Mom’s call button and couldn’t believe how fast she filled those bottles. “I’ll put them in the fridge for later.” And it was a good thing she did.
I wondered two things: 1. Has your mom used up the essential colostrum that would be needed in a few hours? And 2. If needed, how would they get the save colostrum into a breastfed baby? God was near and He had an answer for both of my questions.
(When babies are born early, their blood sugars are often unstable. Nurses keep checking for about 24 hours and yours were dropping. You wouldn’t wake up to eat and the saved colostrum helped elevate your blood sugars. They used a dropper to get it into your mouth. God was near… as He always is.)
Once Mom stopped pumping her milk, the contractions continued but not at the same pace. Your doctor came in to discuss the next step – an infusion of Pitocin, a synthetic version of oxytocin, the naturally occurring hormone that the body produces to signal the uterus to birth its contents. We hesitated to go that route because we would be asking Mom’s body to do something it might not be ready for, and the contractions are much more intense.
Dr. Abbey said she would just do “a squirt” every half hour and would stop whenever your mom said to.
With the contractions getting stronger, I suggested your mom might want to get in the tub and she agreed. Warm water was drawn and she slipped into it, groaning with contractions. Your dad hovered over her in case he was needed. You were tolerating everything well. The Pitocin seemed to be working.
The time was 6:50 PM. Before long, Mom yelled that she thought you were coming. Dr. Abbey rushed in and said, “Melissa, you have to get out of the tub. We’re not allowed to deliver in the tub.”
Mom couldn’t move. “I have to push!” “Don’t push yet,” Dr. Abbey said. But you can’t stop a fast moving “train” and as the water was draining out of the hard porcelain tub, out you came! It was only 7:28 PM!
You came with an attitude and that was very comforting because preemies often have weak lungs and your cries confirmed yours were strong and getting stronger with every crying breath. God was near . . . as He always is.
You were a short 18.5 inches long and a round 6 lbs. 5 oz. Very good size for a “preemie”, born at 36 weeks. There were no extraordinary measures needed (no NICU) to secure your health. Sing Hallelujah! All is well. We see God’s plan now, and in all circumstances, He is worthy of our praise.
I can’t wait to do more life with you, Bristol. You’re one of a kind and perfect, a thumb sucker (like me when I was little), and your snuggle is real. All is well, lift up your voice and sing Hallelujah, all is well. Thank you, Jesus.
Welcome to the family. We’re so glad you’ve come.
With hugs from a very grateful Nana who loves you a bunch.
“ . . . and give to my children a perfect heart to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies and Your statutes, and to do them all . . . know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. If your heart is blameless you will not be ashamed.” (1 Chronicles 29:19; 28:9-10; Psalm 119:80)
TWA:SW 37 Rescue at Joshua Tree National Park
Our next stop was Joshua Tree National Park, where the Mojave and Colorado Deserts collide against a backdrop of the Little San Bernardino Mountains in southeast California.
Although it’s one of the newer parks and not well known, it encompasses over 1,200 square miles . . . an area slightly larger than the state of Rhode Island!
Joshua Tree National Park is named for the “Joshua Trees,” which according to undocumented legend was the name given by the Mormon settlers to these strange plants. As the story goes, the trees reminded the pioneers of the biblical Joshua, who lifted up his arms toward heaven for hours and hours, interceding to God so the Israelites could overcome their enemies and safely enter the Promised Land.
Although they grow to be as tall as some trees (nearly 50 feet) and are long-lived like trees (can live hundreds of years), Joshua trees are really a member of the Yucca family, Yucca brevifolia. They are most abundant in the Mojave Desert and thrive at elevations between 1,300 and 5,900 feet.
Joshua trees bloom in the spring, typically from late February to late April, and they were bursting with blooms while we were there. If you want to visit, I highly recommend April for maximum color and beauty!
Besides enjoying the Joshua trees, the park is famous for rock climbing, hiking, camping, and star gazing (since the night skies are usually clear and very dark).
We marveled at the unusual rock formations in the park, known as “inselbergs” (a loan word from German meaning “island mountains”).
They are composed from igneous rocks that have been weathered over ions of time and are now beautifully sculpted into soft contours and smooth boulders, often stacked in whimsical towers that seem to pop right out of the desert floor!
Alan and I took a drive along the main road through the park on a cool, sunshiny day and saw many hikers climbing the rocks.
We enjoy hiking—and used to scramble up rocks like mountain goats—but it occurred to us that at our age it would be pretty easy to slip and fall, so we mostly kept on level paths and resisted joining in the fun of rock climbing.
But, really, doesn’t this look tempting? Alan probably could have done just fine, but he makes wise decisions that keep us out of lots of trouble I’d likely get myself into!
As we traveled, I couldn’t help scanning the distant hills to see if I could find climbers, and they were there, mostly looking smaller than ants on anthills!
About halfway through our adventure, we heard a helicopter overhead.
Helicopters make so much noise I usually hear them before I see them! This one seemed to roar out of nowhere and suddenly passed right overhead.
Police were already on the scene and stopped the traffic just in front of us to make space for the helicopter to land.
Before long, a second helicopter came to to the site. We could tell we were not going to be going anywhere for a while, so we started looking around, trying to figure out what was going on and praying for whoever needed an airlift from “Mercy Air.”
After a while, I decided to take a walk along the road. I was delighted to see that what had seemed like barren earth as we sped by really hosted a number of tiny but beautiful flowering plants.
Talk about blooming with grace and blooming where you’re planted!
The things I miss when I’m looking off into the distance at all that’s impressive and famous while failing to admire the humble beauty right at my feet!
My dad (after he retired and got smarter about life) often used to say, “Don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers!”
That day we did. So many times it takes trouble to make us slow down, doesn’t it?
As a flower lover, I was thrilled to discover all the tiny treasures and signs of new life. Life and beauty abound even in parched places. God is so merciful!
After about a half an hour, we saw one of the helicopters lower a rescue worker with a stretcher, load someone on and take them back up to the safety of the craft. Within seconds, they roared away, doubtless to a hospital emergency room.
I never heard what happened, but I thought about how we humans can lift our hands to heaven, just like Joshua, and ask for help. I thought about how we humans are spiritually in need of rescue. We are never going to be able to climb to heaven on our own and will just get injured if we try. We can die trying or accept help from Jesus, who knows the way and explained, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father but by me” (John 14:6). I am eternally grateful that our merciful God sent Jesus down from heaven to rescue me . . . and “whosoever will.” Have you asked Jesus to rescue you?
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! . . . Who remembered us in our lowly state, For His mercy endures forever; And rescued us from our enemies” (Psalm 136:1, 23-24 NKJV).
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:4-11, ESV).
AQ Benefit Lecture—St. Boniface: Apostle to the Germans
Ever hear of St. Boniface? I am always astonished at how much I don’t know about the lives of godly believers down through the ages. Although I’ve still never had enough nerve to read Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, I am continually finding new books telling the stories of saintly souls who have loved and served their Creator and His beloved creation.
Saint Boniface by Cornelis Bloemaert, c. 1630
(Public Domain)
One such man was Saint Boniface (ca. 675-754), who was born in Southern England as “Winfrid” and became the most significant early missionary to the people of Germany.
He is sometimes credited with creating the vision for the “Holy Roman Empire” of the medieval period and the notion of a “Christian Europe.”
Two years ago, Alan and I had the privilege of exploring some of the sites connected with St. Boniface while visiting Jonathan’s family in Germany. (This photo is of St. Boniface’s tomb in the Fulda Cathedral on the day we visited.)
Best of all, we had the joy of attending the baptismal service for their three daughters,
who were baptized in Germany’s oldest natural baptismal, just down the mountain from the monastery St. Boniface established over 1500 years ago, in 721 A.D.
Jon at Hoher Dom zu Fulda in Germany
After much research and meditation, Jonathan has developed a one-hour Benefit Lecture to explore the sites and artifacts of Boniface’s missionary work and reflect on the question of his enduring legacy. He will present this on Thursday, May 9, 2024 from 2:00-3:00 pm New York City time. If you’ve got an hour to learn more about one of Christianity’s early missionaries and what we can learn from his life, please join in at Aqueduct Project! Here’s a link where you can check out what’s available (always free) and register if you’d like:
https://www.aqueductproject.org//courses/saint-boniface%3A-apostle-to-the-germans
Statue of Jesus in the St. Boniface Cathedral in Fulda, Germany
“Through Him [Jesus] we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:5-6).
Sweet Chili Chicken Wings
Chicken wings have become so popular they cost more than chicken thighs at the store these days! I’m not a lover of super spicy foods, but I finally decided it was time to try them before they go out of fashion. However, they’re really fun, so I can see why they keep popping up at parties! Whether you’re looking for a special treat for Cinco de Mayo tomorrow, Mother’s Day next weekend, a ball game or a shower . . . wings are never out of style, especially this super simple recipe with its perfect blend of sweet and spicy.
Chicken wings even made it into the menu for our annual high tea this year!
Sweet Chili Chicken Wings
(Makes about 18 pieces)
Secret Ingredient: Panda Express Sweet Chili Sauce! 🙂
Ingredients:
3 pounds frozen chicken wings pieces
20-oz bottle of Panda Express Sweet Chili Sauce
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Lawry’s Seasoning Salt
Black, ground pepper
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Arrange the partially defrosted chicken wings on a baking sheet (I take them from the freezer to the refrigerator overnight, but they’re still half frozen when I bake them.)
Bake uncovered in the oven for 25 minutes, or until the juices start to flow clear and the skin is starting to crisp a little.
Baste each wing with Panda Express Sweet Chili Sauce (One [20-oz] bottle will actually cover almost 6 pounds of wings.) Sprinkle with garlic powder, onion powder, and seasoning salt (the more you like of those flavors, the heavier the dose). Return to the oven and roast another 15 minutes.
Flip the wing pieces over, repeat the seasonings with added pepper to taste, and then baste the bottom sides. At this point, you can cover the wings lightly with aluminum foil and return to the oven to keep warm (and continue baking slightly) BUT be sure to turn the oven completely off (or at least down to 200°F).
Arrange them on a tray only when you’re ready to eat them, so they’re still hot!
“But of all clean fowls you may eat.”
Deuteronomy 14:20
Ivana: Above Rubies
To me, May is always the month of celebrating spring, graduations, birth, rebirth, and motherhood. This is a long post written by my dear friend, Susan Blount, about her daughter and granddaughter. It will break your heart, but it may also be a balm to those of you who have suffered deeply in the area of motherhood.
June 6, 2010
Diane arrived early for my scheduled haircut this morning. I
was struggling to stay focused and get things done before she
came. I was still restless after she left – so much to do, but
for some reason I just couldn’t settle into any of it.
I was reading these verses – Psalm 46:1-3, “God is our refuge
and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we
will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though
the mountains be carried into the midst …of the sea; though
its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake
with its swelling.“
Sometime after 10 AM, while reading these Scriptures, the
phone rang. It was my son-in-law Dan calling from his work
site “Melissa is on her way to the hospital. They can’t hear
the baby’s heartbeat.” Melissa was my daughter and Dan
was her husband. My heart sank deeply. “No, Lord,” I
protested. “Not Melissa!”
“What do you need, Dan?” I could barely listen to what he
was saying as my mind raced – Melissa would have Emma
with her. “I’ll meet you there,” I said, knowing I would be
needed to watch Emma or take her home. “I’m so sorry,
Dan.”
I was first to arrive at the hospital. It all seemed so surreal
as I waited. I had little hope that an ultrasound would
change the outcome. Surely this wasn’t happening to us—to
my beloved daughter who, with her husband, had committed
to having as many children as God would give her. Now, that
commitment was being tested – attacked is more like it.
Dan arrived next and together we watched the midwife,
Heather, Melissa and little Emma take that lonely walk from
the parking lot. My stomach was in knots . . . “Be still nerves,
be still.”
Without a word we followed Heather and took the elevator up
to Room 5 where nurses Heidi and Belinda greeted us. They
wasted no time getting the Doppler going, but all we could
hear was the silence of Melissa’s womb.
“I’ll call the doctor,” the nurse said softly, trying to hide her
emotions. Dan looked at Heather. “What does that mean?”
he asked hopefully. “They didn’t get a heartbeat,” was her
quiet response. It was then we all knew…
It didn’t seem long before the doctor came in. He took the
ultrasound and began his search. He looked at Melissa and
said, “Everything looks perfect, the placenta looks well
attached, the baby looks good, but here’s the heart . . .” and we
could all see . . . it wasn’t moving. Ivana had been delivered
directly into the arms of Jesus after approximately 8 months
in her mommy’s womb.
Melissa had had some concerns over the weekend. The baby
hadn’t moved much, so on Monday morning Heather, the
midwife, drove over to check. They got a healthy heartbeat
and everyone was reassured. Then on Wednesday the baby
was quiet again, and by evening Melissa could not coax her to
move at all. That must have been a long night. Early the next
morning she dropped her children off at 4-H before Heather
came once again. But, this time they could not hear anything.
I didn’t know until later, but Melissa was now troubled by her
fears of being around dead people. When my parents had
been caretakers for a funeral home, she had never been able
to go in the room where the caskets of dead bodies were.
Now she was trying to come to grips with her fear and
wondered how she could ever go through the delivery of her
very own baby. She wanted it out, and she wanted it out now.
I couldn’t believe she was asking for a C-section. Melissa? I
knew that it was best, even now, for her body to experience a
vaginal birth. The doctor agreed. He offered Melissa all the
time she needed to think things over and when she was
ready, he would give her something to get things started. He
explained it could be hours before it would even take effect.
Without consulting with Dan or anyone else, Melissa insisted
on getting whatever she needed to get started. It was urgent
for her.
Because there is a God, the doctor’s predictions were
misspoken. It was not a long wait. During the night before,
Melissa had felt some mild contractions. Now God was using
Melissa’s own body and with little intervention the
contractions came and Ivana was born by 6 PM that evening.
During this time, I was trying to tend to Emma; call Melissa’s
sisters; first, Jen in New York, and finally Loralei and Crysten
nearby. A friend agreed to keep Melissa’s three oldest
children with her as long as she needed to,
Melissa asked about a tub birth, and even though it was
against hospital policy, the doctor allowed it. The tub was a
large whirlpool one and brought a lot of comfort to Melissa as
she labored.
She did beautifully throughout the process. I still had no idea
about her fears. The doctor and his nurses were wonderful –
God’s agents, for sure.
I watched Ivana being born, and I watched her mom embrace
her just like she would any other of her babies. Ivana looked
unbelievably whole . . . except she wasn’t breathing.
“It’s a girl,” Melissa announced after checking to be sure.
Melissa talked to her with comforting words of love even
though she knew Ivana wasn’t there. She was experiencing
the grace and mercy of God that casts out all fears. With God
we can do anything.
We were looking at a beautiful little baby girl, who weighed 6
lbs. 10 ozs. (on 6/10, by the way). We may never know why
God didn’t allow her to stay. Life and death decisions are and
were in His hands on this day. There were no decisions to
make, and Melissa and Dan can have confidence that there
was nothing more that they could have done to avoid this.
They had done the best that they could for Ivana Grace. Her
name was chosen because it means “Gift of God.”
As soon as she was born, Melissa asked for her other
children. I don’t know what Faith, Eli and Alicia must have
thought when Aunt Crysten came to pick them up. They had
no idea their mom was in the hospital – they just thought she
was late in picking them up from 4-H.
The nurses were preparing a new room for Melissa at the end
of the hall, away from the sounds of birthing mothers and
crying babies. I encouraged Dan to take the children there to
tell them before they went in to see their mom. There were
tears as they came out, and more tears and weeping when
they saw their mom holding their new sister.
It’s hard to think of all the wonderful things Ivana was
enjoying in heaven, when all you want to do is hold her, bath
her, nurse her, dress her, teach her things like how to smile,
to clap, to walk, to sing “Jesus Loves Me” . . . but, with time,
everyone will now be more heaven minded knowing that
Ivana is there.
After the Walls had their time as a family we were invited in
to join them. There are some wonderful ladies in the local
community who sew clothes for little babies like Ivana and for
parents who are unprepared for the suddenness of losing
their baby. God bless them.
Melissa dressed Ivana in the most gorgeous ivory colored
eyelet dress, complete with bows, lace, matching bonnet and
socks. Then she gently wrapped her in a blanket and anyone
who wanted to hold her was welcomed to do it.
She felt like a living baby. She looked like a living baby who
was only asleep. “Can’t we keep her, Lord?” I found myself
asking as I stared into her precious face. I didn’t want to let
her go. I just wanted to keep her; hold her. I can’t imagine
how hard it must have been for Melissa, but she managed her
emotions very well – stoic at times, strong; and then very sad
at other times.
Another great gift to the community comes from the
generosity of local funeral homes. They provide their services
at no charge for babies like Ivana. What a comfort to
grieving parents who have been blindsided by all the
unexpected and unexplained that is happening to them. They
would have supplied the casket at no charge, too, but Dan
wanted to build one for her himself.
Melissa wasn’t always sure what she wanted – no
company/company – and would switch back and forth for a
while. During her “no company” time she inadvertently sent
her midwife away. She also couldn’t decide whether to go
home or not. Her universe was rocked, and nothing else
seemed to matter. Even the smallest decisions were difficult
to make. In the end, she went home about 9 that evening.
Our church family was very supportive. The men volunteered
to help Dan dig a grave, but he turned them down. “That’s
okay. It’s my daughter,” he told them.
Eli, Ivana’s ten-year-old brother, wanted to do something for
the Tuesday afternoon outdoor service. When he mentioned it
his sister asked, “Do you want a piece of paper so you can
write something?”
“Nope. I have my Bible. That’s all I need,” he replied with
confidence. I wasn’t there for the discussions, but he wanted
to share this verse with everyone: “In all this Job did not sin
nor charge God with wrong ” (Job 1:22). They had been
studying it during family devotions. He wanted everyone to
know that they weren’t mad at God. He practiced with his
mom.
But, at the service, Eli was so overcome with his grief, he
couldn’t compose himself to speak so his dad shared with the
audience of over 100 what he had wanted to say.
Ivana was buried in a small private cemetery here on the
farm. In the middle is a huge oak tree that shadows the
entire site. Other children from the 1800’s, who lived on our
farm, are also buried there.
We used golf carts to drive those who could not easily make
the walk. We sang songs that had been chosen by Ivana’s
family. Her siblings wanted “Jesus Loves Me” to be the first.
After Dan and Pastor Wayne shared some Scriptures and
encouragement, Uncle Jeremy and Uncle Ed carefully placed
Ivana in the ground and we dropped our roses, given to each
of us by the church, on top. She was buried in the beautiful
gown from the hospital and with a blanket that had been
made for her by a friend.
Only little Emma refused to share her rose. She decided to
keep it. Eli took a shovel and insisted on helping to cover his
sister’s casket with dirt. No one moved until the job was
done. Then slowly, people began to make their way back to
their cars. It was very quiet.
It’s so hard… to say, “Goodbye”. Melissa’s sorrow was great,
but not irrational. Thank God “Goodbye” is not forever.
There’s a place where we’ll see Ivana’s face again. This hope
is our anchor.
“We’ll give thanks to You with gratitude for lessons learned in
how to trust in You—
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream In
abundance or in need” (—Nichole Nordeman).
Once again I was reminded of the verses God had given me
the day Ivana died:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in
trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be
removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst
…of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though
the mountains shake with its swelling” (Psalm 46:1-3).
TWA:SW 36 Abiding Places: From the Mojave Desert to the Salton Sea and Palm Springs
It occurs to me that I could take a year describing all the amazing things we saw on our Southwest tour of America, but I’m trying to finish before summer’s over, so I have to speed things up!
Therefore, I’m going to compress our travels across several biomes with some photos and commentary on what it felt like for a Midwesterner.
First, I must mention Humphrey’s Peak which is stunning and dominates the skyline for 80+ miles! At 12,639 feet, Humphrey’s Peak is the highest point in Arizona. We were able to see it on the way to and from the Grand Canyon . . . and even from the road beside the rim trail 🙂 Oh, the heights and depths of God’s love (Ephesians 3:16-21)!
After leaving our campground at Grand Canyon Village, we headed west across Arizona, crossing the Mojave Desert. The Mojave is the smallest and driest desert in America. It borders Death Valley National Park, which is the largest (for the 48 contiguous states), lowest, driest, and hottest national park in America and includes Badwater Basin—the lowest spot in North America (282 feet below sea level). To date, Death Valley holds the record for the hottest air temperature recorded anywhere on earth: 134°F on July 10, 1913.
Interestingly, the word “Mojave” is a shortened form of the Native American word Hamakhaave, which means “beside the water.” In many places the sand looked as fine as beach sand along coastal dunes.
However, there was no lovely water in sight . . . only miles and miles of desert all the way to the distant horizon, where purple mountains edged the sky.
Instead of bodies of water, there were bodies of sand looking like dry sea beds. Indeed, as in all places around the globe (including under the South Pole and on top of Mt. Everest), there is evidence that the Mojave Desert was once a shallow sea. I tell you, the Bible can be trusted! There was a world-wide flood at one time.
But today, the Mojave Desert seems desolate. Nothing like the sugar sand beaches along Lake Michigan where you can dig in your toes and find cool water beneath you. Where you can make drip castles. The sand in most areas of the Mojave is hard packed, and the mountains—although they look like huge sand castles— are sandstone, not sand.
I know my friends who live in the Southwest seem to love living there, and I was taken with its unique, wild beauty.
But I constantly feel like I’d suffocate if I lived there. Or dry up and blow away like a tumbleweed. I’m glad God has created all sorts of environments and “abiding places” for people with all sorts of temperaments, sensibilities, and needs!
But, as for me . . . I felt a palpable sense of relief as we came over the mountains into California and started to see green again.
I remember flying over California as a young person and seeing a beautiful body of water in California that I never knew existed! What was it? How was it possible that I’d never seen it before? I learned that it’s the Salton Sea.
It’s a landlocked body of very shallow, highly saline water. In the 1950s and 60s it was a popular tourist destination for swimming and boating, but today it’s mostly just a scenic area for hiking and marveling over the salt-strewn beach and layer of white crystalline salt that covers everything.
Aqueducts bringing water from the Sierra Nevada Mountains
The area around the Salton Sea has become fertile farmland, thanks to huge aqueducts that pump water from the Colorado River.
The Colorado Aqueduct
Southern California is a paradise of orchards and farmland—an incredibly lush and fertile area of America. According to a U.S. Survey from 2010, California uses 38 billion gallons of water per day (from all sources), which I assume has only gone up in the past 14 years).
Did you know that California is the largest sub-national economy in the world? If it were an independent nation, it would rank fifth in the world: United States, China, Japan, Germany, and then California . . . ahead of India, the UK, France, Russia, etc, etc!
I felt in awe of its beauty and productivity.
I was also painfully aware of the importance of water. Water is life! Were it not for the aqueducts pumping billions of gallons of water into California, it wouldn’t be the paradise that it is! For those of you who know me and our family—our son Jonathan has started the “Aqueduct Project” to help funnel some of the abundant spiritual resources found in America (and other first-world nations) into less developed countries so that they too will have access to the Bible and can learn about the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the water of life for human souls (John 6:35).
After a huge day of driving, we arrived at a beautiful RV park in Palm Springs surrounded by palm trees and walls of blooming hedges. I could feel my whole body relax. We had reached an oasis in the desert! I thought about how David must have felt when he was hiding from King Saul in the wilderness, looking for water and a safe place to camp—and the huge relief he must have felt when he reached the Springs of En-gedi.
As I snuggled into bed, I thought about how good it is to have water, and how we need to share the water of life with others. I thought about how grateful I am that Jesus calls all of us to abide in Him, where we are filled with living spiritual water that gushes up like a fountain and gives us joy . . . and fruit. Fruit we can share with others as we abide in Him. Thank you, Lord, for giving us the spring of eternal life in Christ!
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5).
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
AQ (Aqueduct Project): “Music and Singing in Online Prayer Services”
Maybe you remember the challenges of trying to have online choirs and orchestras during Covid. Did you ever try to participate in one? It was very messy and hard!!
I read an account of one near-death experience where a man saw the throne room of heaven. Myriads of people were singing in a great cacophony—all different songs and different tongues—yet it sounded inexpressibly beautiful and somehow “perfect!” Ah, I can hardly wait to experience this!
Meanwhile, Jonathan’s being working really hard at trying to figure out how to make provisions for us to be able to sing together during our online worship and prayer services! This coming week, on Monday, May 6, 2024, he’s going to be sharing what he’s learned so far in a workshop from 11:00am-12:00pm (noon) New York City time.
Jon reminds us: “The Apostle Paul instructs the church to ‘address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart’ (Ephesians 5:19). In this workshop, we will explore ways to incorporate music and singing into online prayer services. We will review best practices in proctoring worship videos, spotlighting solo musicians, conducting group singing, and leading liturgical readings.”
If you’ve got time and interest, please check it out! You can see all the upcoming (always free) classes and register here: https://www.aqueductproject.org/courses/music-and-singing-in-online-prayer-services.
“Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations.” (Psalm 100, NKJV).
Savory Thai Soup
This recipe is inspired by the wonderful pot of soup Susan brought to our high tea. Great flavor, and she said it’s “simple” to make. I added a couple of extra veggies to “own it” for myself, but you can also make it with just green onions.
Savory Thai Soup
Serves 12
In a blender, add:
1 quart chicken broth
3/4 cup nutritional yeast
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup toasted sesame oil
1/4 cup red curry paste
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon Cayenne pepper (or to taste)
Purée for a few seconds (which helps emulsify the sesame oil).
Transfer to a large crock pot or Dutch oven and add:
1.5 more quarts chicken broth (or water plus chicken bullion)
12 oz. rice noodles
2 (12 oz) cans of chicken meat (or 3 cups chopped, cooked chicken meat)
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup (8 oz) chopped fresh or frozen green beans
1 bunch green onions, chopped
Simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes.
This can be kept hot and served hours later, or served immediately. I almost like it better reheated because the noodles pick up so much flavor, but (of course) the veggies lose their brightness after hours of simmering, so there’s a trade off! Both ways are excellent!
(Note cheery bowl of cilantro close to the Dutch oven filled with Thai Soup)
If you like cilantro, you can provide some fresh, diced cilantro in a bowl as a garnish.
“The whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen” (Luke 19:37— that’s us when we get together 🙂 ).
Summer Setting 