Sweet Reminders

Living away from home means discovering cravings for seemingly random things that you never think twice about when you are actually there visiting.  For example this Christmas, I was really missing my family.  I've had many Christmases away from home, but this one just felt different.  So when a friend asked what they could put in a special Christmas parcel for me, one thing came to mind almost immediately...

Now, I often ask for different gummy candies that I miss... things like Twizzlers -- original only, I'm a candy purist and Peach Rings -- the closest thing to a Haribo Pietzsche that can be gotten.  But this year, I had only one real gummy craving and it wasn't even something I ate often when I lived there.

Today I opened up a bag of memories disguised as Brach's Orange Slices.  These orange gumdrop type candies shaped like segments of orange are worth way more than the buck 99 dropped at the local grocery store.  Even just the look of them sets my mind spinning with thoughts of my family.  These were my father's favorite candy and he seemed to always have a bag sitting next to the driver's seat in his car, little sugary crystals sliding out of the bag with every turn.  Even though he's gone, I still always associate this candy with him.

And then there's the cake... particularly at Christmas time, there is only one cake my sister always begs (and I mean begs!) my mum to make.  My mum's variation on Southern Living's recipe of an Orange Slice Cake much like this one makes for a costly treat and so it's not one she makes often, but when we ask, er... I mean, beg, my mum will surely make it, and it's always amazing.  I can't think of this candy without seeing the interplay between my mum and sis, and of course smelling the spices from the cake as it bakes.

While I don't have any sentimental ties between my brothers and this candy, as we only met in adulthood, even now typing this a new connection is being made.  Because now in my life, when I think of family, these two brothers instantly pop into my mind and I long to see them just as badly.  So as I eat these little sweet bites, I'll also think of them.  They do afterall live in Florida, home of the best oranges.

So thank you, friend, for giving me a sweet reminder of my family to start off this new year.  And to my family... I love you.

The Secret of Catch

When I was young, we had one of those standard family station wagons that marked the suburban landscape of the early 80's, even though ours stayed out in the country with us.  It was powder blue and on long trips, my sister and I would put the backseat down and use the stretch of the hatchback as our fort.  It was there we played games, read books and eventually fell asleep under blankets like our own moving hotel while dad and mom sat in the front.  We called it the Blue Bomber.

I mention it today because as I was remembering my father, and though there is so much to tell about this man some other time, I was struck by one memory of game dad often played with us while he drove that vehicle.  When mom wasn't occupying the passenger seat, my sister and I would pile in that space and whoever sat next to daddy would inevitably end up playing "catch the hand."  In essence, my father would put out his non-driving hand palm-up and we would try to tap the center and pull back without him catching our hand.  Then we'd switch.  He might have said it was some speed challenge from some Bruce Lee flick, but for me it was a chance to just have fun with dad.  The thing was, he always seemed to catch my hand and yet when we switched I couldn't seem to catch him.  I just assumed I was too small, too slow.  I didn't know his secret.

As the Bomber got older, the fabric covering the ceiling panel began to sag, making large upside down bubbles of baby blue felt that fell perfectly onto my tall father's head.  One day he was so frustrated, he pulled the whole thing off in one complete sheet.  The secret behind the puffy blue interior that had been my sister's and my sky when we lay back on those long journeys was revealed.  The newly exposed moss colored foam coating was a real tangible thing.  No longer a secret, it marked our hair with small bits of fuzz every time we got in or out of the car.  Some bits were so small, they stuck like dust to our foreheads and arms, a visible reminder of where we had been.

As I got older, I learned that there was no speed magic in my father's hand either.  His secret was just as tangible.  I remember the day I saw the action for how it really was.  I went to tap my father's palm, and I noticed that his hand was already reaching up toward mine, shortening the distance and assuring the capture and the giggles. 

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.  

--James 4:8a

Despite my father's human failings, as a child I simply knew him to be someone I wanted to be around.  I felt safe when I was with him.  It was in that security that I knew I was loved.  

God the Father loves without failing and in Him we find ultimate security.  It is out of this love and mercy that God is constantly drawing us toward Himself.  So whether confident or nervous, when we take that step toward Him, we can be assured  He has already closed the gap to receive us.

The story of the prodigal son tells us that while the son was still a long way off,  the father saw him and came running, embracing him (Luke 15:11-32).  Isn't this the nature of our God!  Instead of a hand, He captures our heart; instead of giggles, He gives us a wellspring of joy.  We become marked with the dust of His grace, evidence to those around us of where we have been.  We have been with our Father.

Some Joy in OK!

Some of ye may have noticed that things here in my corner have been quiet lately.  Well, I think the two recent book reviews have sufficiently dusted out any cobwebs and this girl is ready to get typing again!

I wanted however to share the joyous news that was the reason for my absence...

Yes.  This is my beautiful mum and her cowboy.  I was so blessed to be able to fly across the Atlantic to be there for the wedding.  I got to spend three weeks with my family and all my friends back in T-Town.  It has been ages since I have seen my mother so at peace and happy and she couldn't have found a better gentleman.  I was so thrilled to be able to be there for it all, especially since I hadn't been Stateside or seen any of my family in a year.

It was truly an occasion that God brought together.  At one point the wedding coordinator pulled me aside and said she and both the photographer had been talking.  She said that this is the kind of thing they see every day, given their line of business.  However she said there was something about it all that gave them pause.  She said simply, "This is REAL."  The love, the joy and the sense of family.  She said she was leaving feeling as if her purpose there was not simply to work, but rather to receive a blessing herself, full of hope for her own family members' lives.

This something special was simply God.  Folks, we may be involved in all our own stuff, absorbed in our moments.  But the Spirit of the Lord is with us everywhere we go and people do notice.  May we never disregard that. 

Let your light so shine before men, 

that they may see your good works, 

and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

--Matt 5:16

It's the Little Things

 

Strawberries are my favorite fruit.  Springtime in Tulsa is the best for strawberries in my opinion.  You can find them in huge amounts, the fresh sweet smell drawing you to a display marked clearly with low prices.  I love it.  I went for three years without strawberries when I lived in Uganda, as the few visits home to T-town were off season.  Since moving to Ireland, those strawberries are more available, but they definitely come at a price.  I am currently growing my own in a pot on the balcony.  But today, I ate a load of these fresh American strawberries in my morning oatmeal.  It's one of the little things I love about being back home.

That's right.  I am in Tulsa.  It has been a year since this bit of middle America has been pounded by my flip-flop wearing feet.  I am here for a short visit with the fam, enjoying the celebration that has drawn me here... my mum is getting married!  And I am enjoying the little things that could easily get taken for granted, did I not live elsewhere - things I love, like family and strawberries.  And... driving big cars at fast speeds on wide roads, unlimited hot water that comes out with extreme pressure, petting my Daisy-doo who still remembers me even though this little dog is getting so much older, eating Taco Bueno, and hearing the constant sound of aircraft flying above that has become a distinctive part of the Tulsa background.  So T-town, thanks for the warm welcome.  It's good to be back.

Share it with a Sister

Most of my pre-digital days pictures are packed up at my mom's back in the States.  There are so many family pics that I love, but this is the only one I could find in digital form.  I high-jacked it from my sister's Facebook page.  It is a scanned photo of the two of us from almost 15 years ago.  I was in college and we were just goofing for the camera.  My sis (on the right) has a funny look because she is actually pulling me off the ground onto her back with that one arm.  It is something she has always done.  Instead of my usual laughing and tackling her back, I decided to give the camera a face.  It's not the best quality photo, but the memory makes me smile.  I'll admit, I had a little too much fun adding fun stuff like the crown and tiara at Picnik.

I wish you all could know my sister, but she doesn't blog so I don't know how you would ever meet unless I introduce you.  She is by far my favorite person in the world and I am overwhelmed with joy every time I realize how God gave her to ME to be my big sister.  As the younger in the pair, most of our childhood included me following her everywhere.  This was not always a joy for her, especially as she moved up into those independence-developing middle school years.  

Although we are almost two years apart in age, we were only one year apart in school, which often led to more awkward moments between friends and teachers that we shared.  Of course this often led to some pretty intense fights, but no matter what the difference (or decibel level from our screaming) we grew even tighter.  Even with all the miles between us in these last years, we have continued to grow closer and stronger.  God has worked amazing healing in both of us from some shared trials and I can't imagine my world without her.  She is intelligent and very funny :)  I love her more than a silly tribute like this can ever say.

So when I got this opportunity to share a new giveaway contest with ye from Angela Hunt called Share it with a Sister, I had to at least share a picture of my favorite seester with all of you.

The sharing doesn't stop there.  You can also enter this great contest to win Angela's newest book, The Fine Art of Insincerity.  I've given you details here.  You can send in a pic of your sisters, whether by blood or friendship to aehcontest@gmail.com .  Each week she'll take some of the submitted photos and inserting them into the Sisters video playing at http://www.angelahuntbooks.com .  

Enter as many times as you wish between March 1 and May 1, but only one entry per day, please.  If you don't have a photo handy, you may enter simply by sending an email to that address with "Contest Entry" in the subject line. 

The grand prize winner of the random drawing will receive a tote bag filled with Angela Hunt books for herself and ten copies of Insincerity for her book club, sisters or friends.  Five first place winners will receive an autographed copy of The Fine Art of Insincerity, which officially releases on May 3.

I would love to win, but also think it would be so cool if a winner came from my blog!  In the meantime, how about you share something about your sister, or a friend who has become a sister to you here in the comment section.  I would love to hear your stories!

Gifts from the Father

It was a gift from my father when I went off to college, my grandpa's guitar.  He got it when my grandfather died and had since stopped playing it himself.  I loved the history, the mellow sound and the musty smell of the instrument, but struggled with my own deficiencies as I taught myself.  These deficiencies, of course, were a natural result of lack of practice and diligence.  Despite this, I have always enjoyed playing and have tried to keep it up to a certain degree, but have never become as proficient as I felt a guitar of this quality deserved.  So the sound has remained muffled, shared only with close friends or with such a quiet strum that only I could hear as a result of the lack of confidence.  My precious gift too often collected dust.

Since becoming worship leader at DCF almost two years ago, I have led vocally.  At times we have had a full worship team and other times just one on the guitar (def not me!).  I have even led a few times a capella when we haven't had any musicians.  Worship comes from the heart, not the expression.  We worship in spirit and in truth and God is glorified.  This is why when the couple who play guitar and drum left for holiday in the States, I didn't worry... until I realized what could potentially be done. 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

2 Corinthians 12:9-11

As a church family, we didn't need a guitar to bring God praise, but I knew there was a gift God had given that was going unused.  As a leader, I want to encourage others to use the gifts God gave them so that we as a body will bear fruit.  I began to practice the guitar.  How many times do we forsake the things God has given us because of fear and insecurities?  True worship however means taking the focus off ourselves and putting it on Christ where it belongs.  For me, this was about sacrificing perfectionism in order to bring the sacrifice of praise.  In that vulnerability, Christ revealed His strength and we worshiped.

My prayer is that ye will be encouraged to dust off the gifts He gave you for His glory.  May ye put aside fears and insecurities and allow God to work in those weaknesses.  Today, when my fingers stumbled across the strings, I kept going back to the words resonating from my own mouth and became overcome with joy to praise Him.  "You are my strength when I am weak... You are my all in all."  It was a spiritual stretching for me for sure, but a sweet stretching.   His grace really is sufficient.

This post is linked up with the lovely folk at

Another Birthday!

That's right!  My mother is also a December gal.  So today I just want to give a lil' shout out to a fabulous woman whom I love dearly.  Happy Birthday Mum!!!

I'm How Old? That Can't Be Right!

Well, yippee tai yai yo!  It's my birthday!  We actually celebrated last night with a girls night full of ice-skating, chats, pizza and a movie.  It was so much fun.  I am still waiting to see pics of us on the ice, although I am a little nervous about those pics...  At least I didn't fall!

Today I got to start my day off in a great way with a special email from my sis and a skype video call with my mum.  That put me in a good mood for the whole day.

The day was predominantly quiet, which was nice because I was a bit tired after yesterday.  I saw some friends, and ran some errands and even managed a nap in between.  Tonight I celebrated quietly and contently with a special little dinner.  A few weeks ago I saw these frozen lobsters at Lidl for just a fiver.  Now I'd never had lobster, so I instantly thought this would make a great treat for my birthday.  I had some onions and mushrooms sizzling in the skillet as well.  These were for the fried potatoes that would accompany my lil' lobster. 

Okay, let's be honest now.  There is something about these creatures that beg for silliness.  I can neither confirm nor deny that video exists of this lobster going into the pot all while speaking in some unrecognizable accent that was anything but Canadian, which was the specified origin on the packaging.  Perhaps there's more of a story here, but again, I can neither confirm nor deny.   Now the lobster was already cooked, so I simply had to thaw it and then drop it in boiling water for no more than five minutes.  Gotta love that.  Five euro, five minutes, one fancy fine meal!

Complete with pan-fried potatoes and garlic-parsley melted butter.

Okay, I'll admit I had to look up on the internet to find out how exactly to go about eating it, but there's no shame in that.  It was such a fun thing to do and it actually tasted really good.  I love crab meat and this was like a sweeter version of that.  Speaking of sweet, I finished of my birthday dinner with a rich piece of Chocolate-Chocolate cake I brought home from Ormand's, my favorite place on the square. 

Sweet dreams now, folks.  Thanks for sharing my birthday with me.  God bless :)

A Nod for the Sibs

We have such a good God. 

Yesterday marked six years since my father died.  I was thinking about this last night and remembering that last week.  The family situation was difficult and the story is too involved for a post such as this.  I note this just to say God does amazing things even in the midst of grief.  With this loss, it felt as if my already damaged family had just irreparably shrunk, but then God surprised me.  God kept a promise to my father from which my sister and I benefited.  The day before he died we were connected with two half-brothers with whom we had not grown up, but we had always longed to know.  Six years ago, my family got bigger.

I am thankful for a fulfilled promise and the joy of having not one, but two big brothers.  I love them both and am proud to be their baby sis. 

I am thankful that I've never known life without my sister.  She is my absolute favorite person in the whole world!

Although I live an ocean away, I am thankful that no distance or time can change the fact that they are family.

Today I am marking a day of thanks for siblings.  Join me.  Say a prayer for your brothers and sisters, and brothers/ sisters - in law, and brothers/ sisters in Christ. May God bless them and protect them.  May He shower them with His love that they may know the fullness of Him.

This picture was taken the first weekend we had ever had all four of us together.

This post is linked with other grateful folk at