The Gift of Friends

Carolyn
Going Away Gathering of Friends

The last week has made me so grateful for friends! I’m not always aware of the gift that true friendships are, but last week was a time where I realized how thankful I am for these special women in my life.

One friend hosted a going away party for another friend, and the women who had been in a Bible study together gathered to send her off with prayers and fellowship. It was a sweet time together.

Then as I prepared to speak at church on Wednesday, I was so supported by so many loving friends. My prayer group prayed for me, emailed and encouraged me. One of my friends in my prayer group came to the talk with her mom!

A few of the friends I worked with stopped in to hear the talk. Another friend pictured above came to the talk and sent encouraging emails.

My three out-of-town friends all prayed and encouraged me. A couple of them read through my talk and sent words of encouragement.

And then all the lovely ladies at church in my Bible study, my leaders and friends, came around me with their prayers and support. Several women in the church whom I admire emailed me they were praying for me or made it a point to stop by and tell me this.

When I actually spoke on Wednesday, I looked out in the audience to see so many faces I know and love from years of being in church together. I could see looks of encouragement and support, and they seemed really engaged, despite my shortcomings as a speaker!

God was so faithful to me to show me love through so many friends. It reminded me of the gift of true friendship, and I am thankful for each and every friend and all the unique ways God has brought us together to go through life and support one another. I praise Him for them all!

An Interesting Week

Carolyn

It has been an interesting week. I haven’t blogged in a while, and I have about 10 posts in my head!

On Monday our good friends moved away. It was hard to see close friends separated; our girls have been friends since they were born and in school together since Kindergarten.

Fighting back the tears for a couple of them
A final good-bye, for now at least

 

On Wednesday, I stepped way outside of my comfort zone by speaking at our church’s Women’s Bible Study spring celebration. That requires its own post!

I’ll save the rest and end by saying today is the 7 year anniversary (4/27/05) for me of a life-changing, powerful moment. It’s part of what I shared on Wednesday. I praise God for today and remember again all that He has done.

The Cross

Carolyn

We just drove back today after being away in Florida for the last week for spring break. It was a last minute trip, such a wonderful provision. The weather was beautiful. The beach is my favorite place to be. It’s always so relaxing and good to be near such an incredible part of God’s creation.

Have you ever seen this cross?

We passed it today on our trip home; it’s something we always see around Effingham, IL. I loved it that right as we came upon it, I was listening to Hillsong’s CD and the song “At the Cross.” Here are some of the lyrics:

At the cross I bow my knee
Where Your blood was shed for me
There’s no greater love than this
You have overcome the grave
Your glory fills the highest place
What can separate me now?

You go before me
You shield my way
Your hand upholds me
I know You love me

You tore the veil
You made a way
When You said that it is done

Here’s the song if you would like to listen. It’s really pretty.

As we prepare this week for Good Friday and Easter, I liked thinking about the cross and what Jesus has done for us, and I’m looking forward to celebrating next Sunday morning at church!

If you are reading this, know that you are prayed for today for God to reveal Himself to you very powerfully this week as you consider what He has done for you through His death and resurrection!

A New Scarf!

Carolyn

Every year at school, the children learn a different hand craft. Last year my daughter learned to knit. She is rather creative and always enjoys crafty things. Since I am not that way, I’m always pleased when someone else can help her learn!

She asked for some more yarn for Christmas, and I think she’s finally passed the stage of producing things as practice that would cause frustration because of their imperfections. She’s worked hard to make a scarf and actually found ways to work around areas that weren’t just right.

Working hard after school on knitting a scarf

She was so pleased the other night to show me her finished creation! I think it’s great for her first piece. She even made a smaller version for her American girl.

A new scarf!

My son is off on his first church retreat this weekend. He’s growing up so fast now it seems! I hope they are having a good time!

Psalm 95:1-3
Oh come, let us sing to the LORD;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

2012 Reading

Carolyn

I thought I’d track some of my reading this year. It could serve as my motivation to read good things that I could enjoy blogging about.

I must admit I think I only read two books in full in January, and they are not what I would have expected! In recent years, I’ve been inspired to read things that stretch me and grow me, that are intellectually challenging and full of rich ideas. This is part of the fruit of watching my children have a classical education and seeing the things they are learning and reading. Working in the school also encouraged me to be a lifelong learner as we would often read and discuss meaningful books amongst ourselves, be it about education or spiritual growth or culture, etc. I’ve also tried to read some classics like Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which I thoroughly enjoyed last year.

But this year started out differently with two easy and unexpected reads that don’t necessarily fit my above criteria. First, my son, along with every other 13 year old boy in America, I suspect, got this for Christmas, so I picked it up to see what he would be reading:

I was impressed by many things in the book, but particularly how Tebow has loved and respected his parents and has also had a desire to be himself, not having to be like anyone else, but free to use the gifts God has given him for His glory. I think there were a lot of things in this book that could serve as encouragements to young boys, as long as they don’t get discouraged that they won’t be a superstar quarterback!

Then my daughter got this book for Christmas, so I wanted to read it through, too:

I admit to being very skeptical, but I found the family to be seemingly very sound and believable. I don’t know that I could necessarily put confidence in all that was written, but what it did do was give me encouragement to think more about heaven, to imagine it in ways that I had never considered, and if nothing else, to see the power of prayer. It unexpectedly and positively impacted me.

A friend has asked me to read with her a biography on Amy Carmichael, so that is next up.

As long as I’m on the subject of books, another book I thoroughly enjoyed late last year (but let’s pretend it was in 2012 because I want to add it to this reading list) was Surprised by Oxford. It’s Carolyn Weber’s  conversion story that tells how she found faith at Oxford. I read it in less than a week and would highly recommend it!

I’m off to read a book on Jonah before bed. I stumbled upon this, and we had just studied Jonah last week at Women’s Bible Study at church. I can’t wait to see how this book reinforces the beauty of that short book that tells of Jonah’s resistance and God’s incredible mercy and love.