Dad preached...we went along for the ride!...#8...

I bet you think I'm running out of stories!

Not yet...

One summer we met up with our friend and song leader, Jesse Liese and his family in the midwest. Several small churches had joined together as dad came to preach...

One of the families in the church had gone to Europe for a trip, and invited all of us to stay in their victorian farmhouse, on the family farm. Oh was this exciting for all of us kids (now 5 of us as we have joined with our friends)...

First thing we discovered was a chamber pot under each beautifully furnished antique 4 poster bed. You had to climb onto a stool to get into the bed, but... there was NO toilet in the home! ... there was a large outhouse as you made your way onto the farm land... that was a brand new adventure for city kids!

There was a water pump out in the back, and while we were staying there, a 'band of gypsies' came through, about 25 of them, kids and all, and primed the pump and took a rest on the farm. To this day I have never seen any more gypsies, but that's what they were, men women and lots of children playing. After they had spent an hour resting, they picked everything up and moved on down the road as we peeked around the curtains from inside the house...

One morning a bat got into the house. It flew around and swooped down close to where we were, so all of the kids and the 2 wives climbed into a huge 4 poster bed and pullled the covers up over our heads. Each time that bat flew into the room, we all screamed and hid under the blankets. The bat was probably scared to death! I think the screaming stunned him... My dad and Jesse tried to capture it every time it flew into the bedroom. Finally, they got it contained in a big jar and put the lid on and later released it way down the road.

It's no wonder that I still love farms... some of my favorite memories of childhood happened as we visited those farms. No traffic, very little noise, lots of land as far as you could see, huge stars lip up the night sky, and we NEVER ran out of new places to explore!

Even though I've never owned a farm, I am sure that since "He owns the cattle on 1000 hills"... in some way they are mine as well, after all, He IS my Father!



(photo courtesy of Google)

What's 'normal'??...

I'd say most of the time, this is a pretty true statement! We are all different. 'Normal' also looks different for each of us, not only Maxine!

I have never felt like my life was anything out of the ordinary, and yet... what I am seeing is how many ways I have been blessed, and many of them have been out of the ordinary, different from someone elses 'normal'.

When I was growing up, I didn't think our life was anything unusual, but looking back, I see it so differently. My mom and dad were... 'my mom and dad'. And now I see how special that really was! Maybe it's that way with most of us, we see so much more as we go down the road.

Our everyday life was full of the spiritual 'heroes' of the day, it was our normal. To us... they were just our family friends. Now... I am reading their books and studying the treasures that God taught them, and seeing with fresh eyes that our 'friends' were extraordinary!

And... I am seeing in a clearer way that there is a responsibility that is mine because of all that I was taught and lived through during those growing up years.
"To whom much is given, much will be required"...

So...what does God's normal look like?

Because as different as we may all be, how we were raised, the choices we have made, our temperaments, and our journeys in life...even though our normal's may differ, and even though He created each one of us to be a unique person...

God's standards remain the same for every one of us!

He has made it clear what our lives should look like...His Word spells it all out... and that normal is not always how my life looks, but I want it to, just like you do.

... one day at a time
... one choice at a time
... one 'heaven turned' heart prayer at a time
... one step of faith at a time
... one obedient decision to 'stand on truth I already know' at a time

And the list goes on...

The bottom line is that I want my normal to line up with His standards! He's already given me all that I will ever need to do that....

One of my favorite verses, and I've quoted it before..."If ye KNOW these things, happy are ye if ye DO them!" (KJV) John 13:17

Preachers' lunch hits the road!...

One of my dad's ministries through the years, was the formation of a group of pastors and people in full time ministry in various cities, to meet for prayer and fellowship among themselves...

It was a rich time of fellowship and prayer that they all needed...

One of these groups met during the summer months in Oregon, and my sister hosted several such times in their home, where she and my mother prepared lunch, which they served to the ministers.

One time as the ministers were on their knees in the living room praying, one of the pastors from another country began to pray in his own language, and in a louder than average volume, with real emotion and ferver, as he was blessed and earnestly in prayer...My then 4 year old nephew was listening around the corner, and with huge eyes and hushed voice he came into the kitchen and said... did you HEAR that guy??... When those preachers got together to pray, God was in their midst and they were free...

Another day, as they were gathered and getting ready to meet... dad and a good friend were carrying casseroles from the car to the house, one of the large platters slipped out of dad's hands, hit the ground and spread onto the driveway.

My dad and the other pastor immediately hit their knees in the driveway to try to collect it back together, and then they looked at each other and the situation became so humorous they both burst out laughing and couldn't stop!

Meanwhile, from the kitchen window, my mother and sister were watching this whole thing unfold, and were horrified... until they also got the giggles and laughed till they cried, watching the ministers on their knees in the driveway collecting casseroles!

The end result? My mom and sister went outside and between them all, they salvaged the least damaged... re-casseroled it all and no doubt covered it with cheese and served it with a big smile!

Antiques & garters!...

Here are a few pictures of my favorite antique show held twice a year in Richardson, Texas. This is the MOST fun and beautiful show!

Take a look at my friend Candace's shoes... vintage plastic DIOR. She is one of those who can wear ANYTHING and it looks fantastic. She had on Gucci style flowing pants and some layered tops. She couldn't decide which nail polish to use, so she did each toe in a different color!

























This is my friend Jan...
Jan makes garters for brides... incredible garters.


She did the garter for Jenna Bush, and is doing one for Rebecca St.James, a Christian singer that we all love. She makes each one by hand, from very special vintage lace and trims. They are works of art, and a keepsake that each bride treasures.



She made the garter for my niece's wedding in Norway last summer and it is a work of art.

The other thing about Jan... the main thing... is her love for the Lord! I call her Miss Joy Bells ... her smile is huge, her joy is from the heart, and her life is a living testimony to her Saviour. Jan is one of those rare gems that God places in your life, to remind us of His goodness.

Our good friend Steven produces the show and he does such an incredible job!



If you are ever in the Dallas area in February or September, The Antique Elegance Show is where you need to be!

Abiding...

I love to read!

There are some great new books out there right now and I have read quite a few of them. But... I am often drawn back to the early writers... whose lives and legacies have already stood the test of time.

I am reading a short paperback book called ABIDING IN CHRIST by Andrew Murray. Sometimes the words and heart of those old heroes of the faith have a way of expression that gets my attention and makes a deep impression, even when the wording is from another time... the heart of the words does not change...

Here's what I just read...

"Of God are ye in Christ Jesus"... (from I Cor.1:30)

"He would have us not only remember our union to Christ, but especially that it is not our own doing, but the work of God Himself"...

"If it is of God alone that I am in Christ, then God Himself, the infinite One, becomes my security for all I can need or wish in seeking to abide in Christ"...

That grabbed my attention... WOW! Not only am I 'in Christ' as I abide... but it reminds me that God Himself is part of that heavenly 'team'. not to mention that the Holy Spirit is also doing His work!! ...

It does my heart good to think of this heavenly eternal 'team' of the Almighty, holding me, guarding my heart and faith, and working on my behalf, as I abide.

How's that for a powerful Wednesday morning thought!

Dad preached, we went along for the ride...#7...

One of my favorite memories as we traveled around the USA during the summer months, and dad preached in lots of churches...

(a side note here... even though I look back on those days with great fun, joy and memories... I think the spiritual blessings that I gained didn't come until much later in life. During those days, it was all about the adventures we were having...)

In one small town in northern Michigan, some members of the church owned both a funeral home and the local Dairy Queen!

I think I was about 10 years old during that summer.
They had some kids our age, and they invited us to do 2 things... take a tour of the funeral home, and spend a day working at their Dairy Queen!!

Both adventures were memorable! The funeral home was large and beautiful, with the long cars out in front, and the quiet eerie feeling inside. We went into the room where all the caskets were and my eyes were huge as I looked at the open caskets on display... we even went into the embalming room! Yikes!...

But the best part of the day was getting to stand behind the counter of the drive through at thier local DQ, wait on a customer and make the order, all by myself!

I'm telling you... times were simpler back then, but I don't think any of our own grandkids would enjoy it any less than we did back then if they were behind the DQ counter today!

I don't remember what we served up but I'm pretty sure it was pre-Blizzards!

She brought this over on the boat...

My mother was born in Norway. When she met and married my father, an American minister, they left very soon after the wedding for New York.

The one thing she brought over on the boat from her family home was this painting by Olaf Nordlien.

It had been in their home as she grew up and she always loved it. It hung in our home in New York, and then moved with us to California.It was such a part of her life. I am sure when she was homesick and missed her land and her family, that this painting was a comfort to her many many times.
When my parents went to heaven, the 3 of us 'kids' went to their home and went through all of their belongings. We each selected some things that we especially treasured, and this painting was my choice.

It was shipped back to Dallas, and now it hangs on our dining room wall. At first, even though I loved it, I cried every time I looked at it. It was so HER...

Now it has settled into our home and even though it is not like anything else in our home... it fits! Right there on that wall.

When I think of my mother as a young bride, leaving her homeland and not knowing if and when she would see her country or her loved ones again, and making her way to America... this painting makes me love her and miss her every time I look at it. It always makes me think of her. She would love that I love it so much...

Valentines and sweethearts...

My dad married us, and inside the cover of my Bible is a worn thin sheet of his hand typed and spoken words. Valentine's Day and our anniversary both come in February, so it's a good time to share this memory, and to give thanks for my valentine!......

Some of dad's thoughts spoken at our wedding...

"Sometimes it has been said that love is 50/50, 'he is my better half... she is my better half'. But Christ shows us a better way. The trouble in our society today is that too much is only on a 50/50 basis, half hearted & divided. Life is not half and love is not 50/50. It is 100%. 100% both ways!. Forgiveness is not 50%, it is 100%. And many times you will both give in 100%. This is the life of love. Keep everything on a 100% basis, with nothing between. Share your secrets together, your joys, your sorrow, your trials & triumphs.

I would like to give you a very wonderful verse for this your wedding day and for your life together. It is the promise of Christ..."If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything they ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven."

And later... His closing prayer...

"Oh God of love, Thou hast ordained marriage for the welfare and happiness of man. It is entirely Thy plan and only with Thee can it work that way. Thou hast said, 'it is not good for man to be alone. I will make a help meet for him.'
Today we are here to recognize and solemnize this holy union & to give Thee praise and thanks for such a high wonder on earth. We are here to pray... that Thou will EVER KEEP THEM IN THIS ONENESS:

... one in heart
... one in love
... one in life
... one in everything!

We are here to ask Thee to seal this union which Thou thyself has made, and as they walk together as lovers through life may their path be as a shining light that shineth more & more unto the perfect day. This we ask through Jesus Christ, the great lover of our souls. Amen. "...

My dad loved to pray, and could he ever pray! He talked to the Lord like we talk to each other, and this prayer was just a small part of what he prayed at our wedding...

For years we all laughed together with him when my husband claimed that was the longest time he's ever spent on his knees... he wasn't sure if he could get up! Dad was going to be sure he got us good and blessed!

and... it worked!



(above photo is left to right, dad, Joe and his dad)

our weather... our life!...

This was the view from an upstairs room in our home this past week...


I read this in Psalm 147 the other morning...


"He sends the snow in all its lovely whiteness, and scatters the frost upon the ground. and hurls the hail upon the earth. Who can stand before his feezing cold?...

But then he calls for warmer weather, and the spring winds blow and all the river ice is broken"...

What a picture of life... in February in Texas, and ... in our own life as we journey with Him!

When we are in the middle of winter, we must always remember that spring is coming!

Serenade at midnight!...

Years ago I was a college student at Westmont College in Santa Barbara. Our dorm was about 5 miles from the campus and it had been a boarding school for young girls in the 1920's.

The building was like a beautiful old hotel with winding staircases and an old elevator. The whole place was filled with antique furniture.

The dorm had several floors, but it also had a tower room at the very top of the building. One of the traditions was for the some of the guys to serenade us at about midnight, several times during the school year. Once in awhile one of the girls was dating one of the serenaders, so word would leak out that 'tonight was the night'.

We would rush up that very top winding staircase to the tower room with our hair in big rollers, in our pj's, bathrobes and slippers, and we were always so excited!! Soon we heard the cars driving down the small road, they dimmed their lights so we would be surprised, and we waited expectantly, crowding around the windows and looking down at the little muffled lights of their flashlights as they gathered, while we waited for the first song to begin...

I would just LOVE to have had a recording of some of those beautiful songs. Those guys could really sing, no piano, no music, just their group, most of them were in the school quartet or choral groups.

I have no idea why I'm sharing this. There is no hidden point or deep message, just some wonderful memories...

'For all we know we may never meet again'... or

'Blue shadows on the trail'... or

'Red sails in the sunset'...

I can just hear them right now...




(Westmont photo by Megan T.Guffey)