Thankful for Thanksgiving

Where did Thanksgiving go? I feel like our holidays go straight from Halloween to Christmas, forgetting a special event in November. The grocery store is the only place that you see a hint that another holiday besides Christmas is happening in the next few weeks. All of the stores have their fall decorations on clearance by mid October. The holiday newsletter I get through email goes directly from ideas for a Halloween party to Christmas card designs. And the worst, a local radio station began playing 24 hour Christmas music starting in the second week of November.

Do not get me wrong, I LOVE Christmas. I am not even one of those who complain about Christmas decorations being put up in stores in August and I will even stop and look at them. I don't mind starting to think about Christmas plans, gift ideas and crafts in October. But, I don't want all of that to happen at the expense of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. Why wouldn't it be? The historical purpose of the holiday is to be thankful for how God has blessed us. It is a government endorsed holiday to express gratefulness. It is a time that I get to be with family and have lots of delicious food. Plus, it has what no other holiday can offer, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! I am 25 but I still love watching it every year and it is my dream to see it live one day.

I located the first presidential proclamation for Thanksgiving Day and added it below because I thought it was really nice. Happy Thanksgiving!

THANKSGIVING DAY 1789 BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - A PROCLAMATION Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor - and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness." Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be – That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks – for his kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation – for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war –for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed – for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us. And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions – to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually – to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed – to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord – To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and Us – and generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best. Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789. GO. WASHINGTON.

A Little Boy!

We learned last week that we are going to have a son! It was amazing to see him through the sonogram. He has grown so much since the last time we saw him and is absolutely perfect. It was fun to see him moving around, kicking his legs, waving his arms, and (I believe) smiling at us. My husband is certain he was singing! It is fun to daydream of his personality and the joy he will bring to our days.

We heard something on the radio about young men and I told my husband "you have a big job in teaching our little boy." I was teasing at the time but the thought remained with me. I am so grateful that I have a husband who will do such a wonderful job in leading and teaching our son. Not only do I trust his intentions and that it will be a priority to him to be a guide to our son but even more, I know he will be an example of Christian character. I believe that an example has much more lasting impact than words.

My mom told me that having a child will make me love my husband even more. I didn't know that it could start in my pregnancy though. He is so excited about our child and absolutely loves him. His excitement is contagious and makes it clear that he will be an involved daddy. He has been so caring towards me and has been patient and celebrated everything about my pregnancy. I thought about this the other night and was saddened for the families where the father is uninvolved or uninterested. I am so grateful for my husband's excitement and love for our son.

I never thought that I could be as excited as I am about playing with cars and blocks. I am about as girly as they come but I can't wait for the excitement of a little boy in our lives. If he is anything like his daddy, he will bring a lot of joy.

The Beauty of Simplicity

In the last few days, I have noticed that I have been struck by things of simplicity. Maybe it is because the last few weeks have reminded me of priorities in life and what success is defined by.

I started a book series called the Mitford series. It has been out for a while but I am just now reading the first. My reward for passing my licensure exam was reading a fun, fiction book (I felt guilty reading any other time because I knew I should study instead). I love to read and still get absorbed into a story, even as I did as a child. I chose to begin this series because it is one that was loved by my grandmother, Meme. I am reading her book and I smiled the other day as I turned a page and saw a small coffee stain. She and I shared a love for reading and I just felt like staying in a part of her world for the time. Back to the theme of the blog...

This book (and the series I assume) is about the comings and goings of a lovely, little town where people know and care for one another and you can walk wherever you need to go. I have found myself thinking, "I'd like to live there" and then wonder if I realistically could live in such a slower pace of life.

The second wonderment with simplicity came this morning when I heard my baby's heart beat for the first time. It was such a simple sound but so beautiful to hear the little life, letting me know that he or she is healthy and growing. It was amazing to know that the little thumps I was listening to belonged to my child.

When I first think of simplicity, I think of slow and easy and not too busy. But I think what makes simplicity appealing is actually that there is something meaningful put into it. In the Mitford series, what is desirable about the life of the townspeople is the purpose they carry with them through their day, particularly relationships with others. What was special about the simple sound of a heartbeat is that it is from my baby and it is the first communication she or he has made to me. That is a new priority, to make what I do meaningful and appreciate the simple things that matter.

There is a song I am reminded of that was popular for a few years titled "The Beauty of Simplicity." Some of the lyrics are:
It's the beauty of simplicity
that brings me down to my knees
I'll praise You for eternity
and lord I love You
Because You
You first loved me
And all God's people say:
We, we love You, we love You Lord, we love You
And we, we love You, we love you Lord, we love You
We love You

Again, it is what is meaningful in those words and it is the simplicity of faith. It is not to be hard or busy, but it doesn't mean it won't...rather, it is the powerful, yet simple message that we love Him because He first loved us.

My Meme

My precious grandmother recently passed away. I was given the opportunity to put her words into paragraph form for her obituary. When it was completed, I felt that it just did not say enough about who she really was. It had the dates of her birth and death, names of family members and things she was involved in...but it didn't say who she really was. So, I am going to use this avenue to tell you about my Meme.

I can write about what others have said: Meme was a fine lady, she was full of grace, kindness and cared about the lives of others. She was busier after she retired than when she worked full time because she volunteered so much. She always sent a kind note, always had a thoughtful word.

But, what I am choosing to write about is what I knew of her as her granddaughter. She was the woman who for my thirteenth birthday, took me to the mall for my first makeover and made me feel so grown up. She would take me out to lunch before a semester of college started, so that just the two of us could spend some time together. She emailed me almost daily when I first left town, keeping me updated about everything from what the rain was doing to the grass at Tabor, to her prayers about different family members. She always stood up for me when I was getting in trouble in junior high, even when I needed to be in trouble. She picked my sister and me up from school so that we could ice cookies and decorate her home for Christmas with her. When I started a Christmas village (because of hers), she took all of the girls in the family to a Christmas village exhibit so that I could see the large collection in town. Growing up, her house was ours to let our imagination run in. It was a beautiful and elegant place, but felt like home. The smell of bacon in the morning still reminds me of waking up at her home. And I know the night before she would have read the Sesame Street book to me and Bearly Bear to my sister for the hundredth time of each. Then she would have scratched our backs as we fell asleep in the room that I always thought was like a princess room. Before I got married, she reminded me that marriage is a commitment that I could not take lightly. She loved my husband and loved how much he and I love each other. She told me of a conversation she had with my sister. My sister said, "Jordan loves being a wife." Meme corrected her and said "Jordan loves being a wife to Brock." She did not try to impress any of us with how much she knew, but it was clear that she was one of the wisest women I have known. She worried about us all, all of the time. She had her post at the window above the driveway, checking on all of us. She modeled how to get along with others, and how to take care of others. She did the right thing because it was the right thing to do, not for expectations or praise. She loved my Pete and took care of him. Her emails, before she was sick, always told me about what they did together and she never said anything but loving words about him. In fact, she only spoke with love about all of her family. She served us and gave her time for us. Meals were a special way for her to have us spend time together and we spent hours at the dining room table, long after the meal was done, telling stories and laughing. Then, my mom and aunt would try to start the dishes and she would repeatedly insist they stop, even though they never listened. I have so many wonderful memories of us all just spending time together, sitting in different rooms in their house. I never once doubted that I was a priority to her. No matter what was going on in her life, I was greeted with a "Hi Honey" in a voice that sounded so happy to see me. Even at her sickest, she wanted me to know that she was going to be okay. She modeled her faith, especially through her disease. She had an unwavering faith in God and strongly believed in prayer. She desired to know more and grow closer to Him and always encouraged me with words of His truth.

This description may not mean much to anyone else reading it, but it is some of the special things she was to me. After all of that, I still do not feel as though I have captured who she was. Proverbs 31:10-31 was one of her favorite Scripture passages. I think it is a good summarization.
"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children (and grandchildren) arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."

Undeniable Life

I had a conversation with a young lady about a friend of hers who recently found out she is pregnant. This girl is a teenager and there are many reasons that this pregnancy is not a good thing for her. She is not a Christian and it seems the easiest option in her mind is an abortion.

I asked how far along this girl was. It turns out that she is almost to the day as far along as I am- 8 weeks. Her baby is the same age as mine. I was almost sick when I heard that and it has been bothering me since then.

I have always been opposed to abortion but hearing that this one who will possibly be aborted is the same age as mine has really shaken me. The only difference between my baby and hers is that mine is wanted. The life of my baby is the exact same as the life of hers. They are both about 6 weeks old, have a heart beat, finger, toes, eyes and ears. They both were created by God for a purpose. It is unfathomable to me to think of my baby as anything but a living person with a wonderful future in store. I physically hurt when I think that hers may not get that chance and that she could think of it as anything different than a baby.

Please join me in praying for this girl. I hurt for her because I know she is terrified right now.

Dunking and Dogs

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."- Matthew 28:18-20

Tonight was a really special night. I have written numerous times how much I love the church I am a part of and this is one of those stories. Tonight was our first baptism service. We are a Baptist church without a baptistry because we meet in an intermediate school. This past year, at a meeting in a member's home (one that I wrote of), our campus pastor noticed that the wading pool in their beautiful backyard would make a perfect site for baptism. Tonight was the first one and it was an absolutely wonderful time.

Eight people were baptized: 3 children, an older lady who did not want to get baptized in front of a large crowd at the main campus and an entire family that has come since we moved out to the second campus. The father of the family that was baptized had been a Christian for over thirty years and decided that this was something he needed to do and lead his family in. We had 30-40 more people than a normal Sunday morning come out to celebrate this time in these believers' lives. Baptism is not an act required for salvation. Rather, it is an act of obedience after someone becomes a Christian. It is a public declaration of your belief. It was so neat to be with those people and their families as we celebrated their declaration.

After the baptisms we all hung out in the backyard for a few hours having a hotdog cookout, playing football and chatting. It was such a great time of fellowship. Who would have thought that we could have been outside in the middle of August and been comfortable? The weather was perfect though with even a breeze.

It has left me with such an excitement about what God is going to do with the West Campus. Tonight is what the church should be like. There are different roles of the church which include evangelism and service outside of the walls. But there is also a role amongst the members which is to be a family and encourage one another on. What better way to do that than to celebrate our friends' baptisms and then have a fun, relaxing, "family" time together? I am again reminded that I am absolutely blessed to be with this group of people, working together for the kingdom of God.

God is Busy Knitting

"God is busy knitting." I heard this statement a few years ago when a newly pregnant lady shared her news and I thought it was a sweet phrase based on Psalm 139. I had no idea what it really meant to say that.

I am pregnant! It still feels odd to see those words and know it is about me. I have known for almost 3 weeks and these 3 weeks have been full of every emotion possible. It is actually impossible to put in to coherent statements what it is that I am thinking. I am sure any woman that has ever been pregnant knows exactly what I mean. It is a joy that I cannot describe and sense of responsibility that is enormous.

The overwhelming thought is related to the statement I began this note with. Psalm 139 is a beautiful passage to read as a pregnant woman. It speaks of the precious love that God has for each person, his own creation. Each person has been lovingly designed by God for a purpose…including my baby. Every day my baby grows and develops. Their little heart is already beating, their fingers will develop this next week and major organs are quickly developing and all will be working within a few weeks. I am so grateful that I don’t just have to trust in nature to make all of that happen correctly. Instead, I know that God is tenderly creating my baby. He knows and loves my child and has a purpose for their life.

I have never appreciated the truth about God as creator quite as much as I do now.