Archive for the Family
Monday, December 5th, 2011
The visible center
Our very first Christmas was in the middle of our honeymoon, so our traditions began the second year of marriage.
We visited our families before Christmas, and returned to our small place late at night on December 21. We didn’t have any decorations, and our budget and the time were short, so we decided not to buy a tree.
I had found a tiny nativity set at an international gift shop. So on Christmas morning, the two of us sat on the floor beside a low, small table with that scene between us. Christmas carols played in the background as we opened each other’s gifts. It seemed exactly right that Jesus be the visible center.
So every year since then, a special crèche has been the focal point of our celebration. We arrange it on a table in the living room and collect our gifts underneath. This is often the gathering place for our family devotions during December. Anyone who visits sees what our center is.
We also use a manger scene as part of our Advent candle arrangement, so the focus of our waiting is visible before us. Other uses for a crèche might be:
- an unbreakable set for the children to play with.
- manger scene ornaments for a Christmas tree.
- a stained glass or colored cellophane window arrangement, visible from the street.
- a play corner with toy lamb, baby doll and appropriate dress-ups.
One friend told me about her crèche collection:
I try to find one in every place I visit. I give traveling friends money to spend on a nativity for me if they happen to see one where they are going. I find them at garage sales and thrift stores and after-Christmas sales, and people give them to me as gifts. I have more than a hundred now from all over the world, and when I get them out for Christmas it is a wonderful reminder that one day people from all tribes and tongues and people and languages—not just my own country—will worship the King.
(Hint: If you’re shopping locally for a nativity scene, wait till the day or two after Christmas.)
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Adapted from Treasuring God in Our Traditions. |
Sunday, December 4th, 2011
Doesn’t she know?
Yesterday, I wrote about how we think about Santa at our house. It boiled down to this primary goal: Helping our children understand God as much as they were able at whatever age they were.
I hadn’t realized what a hot topic this would be. I really meant it when I said I’m not on a crusade that has good guys and bad guys.I meant to be clear that I was simply telling you how we think about it at our house for our family.
Some of you raised questions that I expect to be thinking about in future posts. In the meantime, let me complete the thought I began yesterday.
Here are some encouraging effects we observed (at different times with different children) of not including Santa in our celebration. These aren’t really reasons to make a decision one way or the other, but more like side effects.
First, I think children are glad to realize that their parents, who live with them all year and know all the worst things about them, still show their love at Christmas. Isn’t that more significant than a funny old make-believe man who drops in just once a year?
Second, our children know our family’s usual giving patterns for birthday and other special events. They seem to have an instinct about our typical spending levels. Knowing that their Christmas gifts come from those same people they love, rather than from a bottomless sack, can help diminish the “I-want-this, give-me-that” syndrome.
And finally, when children know that God’s generosity is reflected by God’s people, it tends to encourage a sense of responsibility about helping make Christmas good for others.
Our oldest, for example, worked hard on one gift the year he was 3. On Christmas morning, my husband stepped around a large, loose-flapped cardboard box to get to his chair at the breakfast table. “Where’s Karsten?” he asked, expecting to see our excited boy raring to leap into the day.
Sitting down, I said, “He’ll be here in a minute.” I nudged the box with my toe. Karsten threw back the flaps and rose to his full three-foot stature. “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them . . .” He had memorized Luke 2:8-20 as a gift for his dad. Karsten knew Santa wasn’t the one to depend on.
In fact, a few days later, he and I were walking down the hall at church. One of the older ladies leaned down to squeeze his pink, round cheek and asked, “What did Santa bring you?” Karsten’s head jerked quickly toward me, and he whispered loudly, “Doesn’t she know?”
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Taken from my book, Treasuring God in Our Traditions. |
Wednesday, November 30th, 2011
Peapods update
Peapods! What in the world?
Hints:
- They have something to do with our grandtwins.
- I wrote about Peapods almost a year ago.
- The update is at Tell Me When To Pack.
P. S. In any case, this gives me an excuse to post a picture of the babies. It’s the first time I ever played double Trotsy-Horsey.
Monday, November 28th, 2011
Today only!
For some reason, the link from the photo isn't working. Link through the text.
in 1968, when we got married, my mother-in-law had been using her KitchenAid Mixer (link here) for more than 25 years. So when there was no mixer among our wedding gifts, we used gift money to splurge and buy a KitchenAid for ourselves. Our marriage is going on for 43 years, and so is our KitchenAid.
So when I saw that this one is almost half-off today–just today–I wanted to make sure you know about it. If it should last you 43 years, that would be, let’s see . . . about $6.00 a year. Not bad. Not bad at all.
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011
Advent is upon us
Update: Today, Amazon is out of stock. If you want a copy, you can go ahead and order from Amazon, and they’ll ship when they get more in stock. Or you can order directly from the publisher, Rabbit Room Press. They also offer a book/cd combo.
This coming Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent 2012.
Justin Taylor recommends a devotional book that looks really good — Behold the Lamb of God: An Advent Narrative.
I’m ordering one right now for our family.
Monday, August 29th, 2011
Remembering Daddy
Today is the anniversary of my father’s birth on August 29, 1922, so he would have been 89 years old this year.
Johnny wrote this poem in honor of Daddy and read it at his funeral. Psalm 1 was one of his favorite passages of scripture.
In Memory of Dr. George Henry
Reflections on Psalm 1
No tree however deep the roots,
However high and green the shoots,
However strong the trunk has stood,
Or firm the fibers of the wood,
No tree was ever meant to be
A never-ending shade for me
Or you. Save one: where Jesus died
With bleeding branches spread as wide
And far as faith for sinful men.
But there was shade, especially when
The tree was old: the leaves were thick
With life, and though the root was sick,
The bark deep-creased with age, the limbs
Were laden down with love, and hymns
Were heard beneath when wind bestirred
The bowing branches with the Word
Of heaven. O there were years of shade!
And more: there was the fruit he made,
Or better, bore, when all the ground
Seemed dry, we turned again and found
The branches heavy with some rare
Well-watered food and sweet called Care.
There must have been a river there
Beneath the arid earth somewhere
Deep-flowing up around the tips
Of dying roots and giving sips
Of everlasting life for him
To share with us while every limb
Gave up its own. O, there was fruit!
Life-giving from the dying root.
And more. Much more. There was the wood
And it was strong. It had withstood
A thousand storms, and everyone
More firm. And now for every son,
Grandchild and every daughter here
He lies a fallen tree and dear,
And leaves in you the solid wood
And bids you stand where he has stood
Beside the river of the Word,
And that you keep what you have heard,
And sing with him in one accord:
“My fruitful house will serve the Lord.”
Sunday, August 28th, 2011
One of our first real dates
Today when I was skimming through the blogs I subscribe to, I was reminded of one of the first real dates Johnny and I had. Real means we planned ahead and went somewhere, as opposed to the impromptu “Want to go to Dipper Dan’s for an ice cream cone?” after the evening service at Wheaton Bible Church.
One summer Saturday we and two other couples piled into the van that belonged to one of the guys, and we spent the day at “the dunes.” The Encyclopaedia Britannica Blog calls Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore an off-the-beaten-path venue.
There are several reasons for me to remember that day–all embarrassing.
1. Not being very adept at make-up, I wore mascara. When we ventured into the water, it dribbled down my cheeks. Johnny asked, “Why do you wear that stuff?”
2. On the way home, Johnny “casually” eased his arm toward the back of the seat behind me–just to rest his arm, you know–and jabbed his elbow into my eye.
3. The next day my sunburn had fully developed–all on one side. Why? Because I felt it wouldn’t be polite to turn my back on Johnny and so while we were lying on our towels in the sun, I always had my face turned toward him .
Thank God, he’s brought us a long way since those first uncomfortable days.
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Make sure your name is entered at my travel blog, Tell Me When to Pack, for one of the Mystery Prizes from Down Under. So far, you can enter up to 3 times–#1 and #2 and #3.
Friday, August 5th, 2011
Pulling heroes out of hiding
I want you to meet my cousin Rebecca.
Her beauty is not only on her face, but in her heart. Her heart is huge and keeps her looking toward far corners of history and geography, on the lookout for the works of God in people’s lives.
I am thankful that in her books she shares her discoveries with us.
She wrote first about more well-known historical figures– Amy Carmichael, George Mueller, and Fanny Crosby.
Her most recent books are the beginning of her Hidden Heroes series– With Two Hands: Stories of God at Work in Ethiopia and The Good News Must Go Out: Stories of God at Work in the Central African Republic.
Obviously, there’s another book underway. Rebecca tweets teasers, and is posting chapters on her blog.
You go, girl!
Tuesday, July 26th, 2011
What do you give a woman who has . . .
Earlier this month the extended Henry family had its reunion at High Falls State Park. It’s been an annual event since about 1986.
Traditions have evolved around the event, and it seems a new one has been added this year. My cousin, Chris, suggested that each year we give, if we wish to, to a charity that is special to someone in the family. Each year the recipient organization would be different. He suggested that this year the gift be to The Gideons International, since several family members are Gideons.
Aunt Rachel followed up a couple of days later with this email:
Chris and I have been talking and thought that since it is Pam’s ninetieth birthday year, it would be good for our Gideon contribution would be in honor of her.
She has worked in the Gideon organization since she and George became members. Since George died, she in her boundless energy, has continued to be faithful distributing Bibles, in the jail ministry, and attending meetings and conferences. She has held offices both locally and statewide, and you do not have to be with her long before she will tell you about the greatness of this Great Commission ministry.
Pam is my mother, George my father. They joined Gideons in 1971–40 years ago this year. After Daddy died, for several years, Mother was The Gideons Auxiliary person responsible for staying connected with Gideon widows. Up until recently, whenever I visited, she was likely to take me to the county jail, to gather with women inmates with Gospel testimony, singing together–and, of course, giving Gideon New Testaments and other Christian literature.
So, what do you give a woman who has 90 years and whose treasure is in heaven? Bibles to give away, of course–$1600 to The Gideons, who will send 320 Bibles in local languages around the world.
Mother emailed the family:
I could not even begin to describe to you how your love impacts me. You have joyously reminded me of my upcoming 90th! However many days the Lord has allotted to me (and He says that our days are numbered), I enjoy every one of them, and so may you–abiding in the center of his will.
Your gift will bless some or many of the well over 190 countries where there are Gideon business or professional men and their Auxiliary wives, many of whom are living near poverty level but with rich hearts.
May our Lord bless you and minister to you in all your needs, as you share his Word where he sends you.
Thursday, July 21st, 2011
Using her gifts to bless
I am feeling very thankful tonight for our daughter, Talitha. God has given her a sweet gift: she loves to be with young children and they love to be with her. She’s saving up her babysitting money these days so she can use her gifts thousands of miles away next month to bless children and their parents from around the world.
Here are excerpts from a letter she wrote earlier this summer. I hope you will pray for Talitha and her teammates when you think of them.
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Dear Friends and Family,
This August I get the privilege of serving kids in Europe for God’s glory! My team and I will be organizing children’s programs and teaching them at a spiritual life conference. I am incredibly excited to connect with these kids who are coming from all over the world! May Jesus Christ be glorified in the ways we interact and what we teach these kids.
I am going with a team out of Bethlehem, called Club 4th. Club 4th works with Third Culture Kids, with the desire to connect with them and help them grow in their understanding of the 4th Culture, God’s Kingdom Culture.
As I prepare to go this summer, I am fully aware of my neediness. God will supply!
Prayer Needs
- Satan is on the prowl. He will try his hardest to make us doubt the goodness of God. Please pray that we would be armed and that we would fight off the devil with God’s power!
- Working with a team is good and fun, but also humbling. Please pray that we would be united in God and that when we correct each other, we would be kind. Also that when we have wronged someone we would be quick to forgive and forget.
- There are so many families coming from all over the world with all kinds of needs. Please pray that God would work mightily in the lives of these families and give them grace for whatever they need.
- Lastly, pray for the kids. We will be working with ages 4-11, and another group (not out of BBC) is working with ages 12-18. Each has unique needs. Pray that God help us as we connect and build relationships. Also may God help them connect in a powerful way with him.
Your prayer is much appreciated! I want so much for these kids to fall in love with Jesus like I have, maybe for the first time, or maybe again! I also want them to have a solid Christ-honoring relationship with their parents as they work together on the mission field.
Thank you for supporting me! May God bless you! This summer I want to be used by God for his all powerful glory! To God be the glory!
Talitha Piper
Sunday, July 17th, 2011
Saying Goodby
Today we say goodbye to the beautiful mother of one of our beautiful daughters-in-law. Maria Clara discovered cancer near the end of April and now–so quickly–she is gone.
She had moved from Fortaleza, Brazil, to Minneapolis about a year ago, so we’d been able to see more of each other since then. Sometimes I’d have the grandchildren and drop them off with her, their Vovó. Other times she’d drop them off with me, their Grandmama.
We two mothers celebrated together with our shared children and grandchildren this Mothers Day, which was also her beloved daughter’s birthday.
Not long ago, in the hospital, after I had prayed for her, she continued holding my hand, “Noel, I love you.”
“Maria Clara, I love you too. And I love your children and grandchildren very, very much.”
She said through tears, “You and I will raise our grandchildren together.”
Now we see that’s not going to be happening the way she’d hoped. But the love Vovó Maria Clara has poured into her grandchildren is not lost. It will always be part of their memories and of who they are.
No one can take your place, Maria Clara, but I will try to be a better grandmother to them, and remember you with them.
Thursday, July 7th, 2011
One of the things I love about my husband
Last weekend we had some special time with some of our grandchildren. When Johnny gathered them around him the first evening for a Bible story, one said, “Why do we do this every time before we go to bed?” Another said immediately, “Because it’s fun!”
Johnny explained that there’s lots more to it than fun. But I thought, “What more can you ask for than that a 6-year-old love the Bible stories for any reason, including Granddaddy being such a good storyteller?”
Here’s a glimpse of the next evening.
Once there was a very wicked man named Haman. He wanted to kill all the Jews. But there was a very brave girl named Esther. Haman didn’t know she was a Jew . . .
