Category: friends and loved ones

life with my loved ones

friends and loved ones

the countdown

melodyanndayLeave a comment

020

(Lily the puppy, waiting to come home in a few weeks.)

It has become a daily routine that Mackenzie checks in with us, “How many days to Lily?”  This is the all important question, that must be asked regularly.  I think she asks in hopes that maybe the timeline has changed. like BAM – our answer will be, “She comes today!” or something like that…

We are actually about 3 weeks and a few days out from Lily’s arrival.  And we have been diligently preparing for her.  We’ve fenced in the backyard.  We have purged a lot of tiny toys from our house.  The deck now has wire to protect her from falling off .  So on and so forth the list goes.  And the work continues.

She has no idea how good its gonna be.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *

In the car my children and I have been listening to “The Last Battle” by C.S. Lewis.  His portrayal of the end of the world, followed by the beginning of the New Narnia is so filled with all of the satisfaction, wholeness, perfection and wonderful-ness a human heart and mind could possibly hold.

As we finished the last chapter, on our way downtown last week, I nearly pulled over due to the fact that I found myself  in tears.  Ugly crying, in fact.  I was so taken by the fact that the characters in the story had found the new Narnia to be such an amazing, technicolor, 3-D version of the former shadow.

Listening to that story, I began to think, “What will this New heaven and New Earth be like?  As a believer I’ve heard of it my entire life, and yet – I still don’t know what to really expect.  What does He have planned for us?  Is this joy and peace and love and wonder, so well conveyed by Lewis, a tiny taste? Is that even possible?”

*    *     *     *     *     *     *

Lily, our puppy coming to us soon,  is going to experience so much love and joy when she arrives.  We’ve done everything we know to do to prepare a home for her, and to prepare ourselves as her family.

If we’ve done all of this lovingly for her, we being so human and flawed and sinful,  I keep thinking…  How much more is He doing for us?  What has He planned?  What’s He got up His sleeve?  The God of the Universe, who created and formed so much majesty and goodness in the world around us – what has He orchestrated?

Even if I knew the answers to all of these questions, I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to comprehend it.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *

We’re counting down the days to Lily – excitedly awaiting her arrival – because that’s what you do when you love an adorable little puppy you’ve only met once…

I can’t help but wonder if He’s preparing for us, or if He’s on some kind of official countdown to eternity?  I guess we’ll know.  someday.

 

friends and loved ones

answers to things I didn’t pray for…

melodyanndayLeave a comment

DSC_0515

(My sweet baby girl, at the park…)

I’m a worrier.  There I said it.

And I’m not a worrier about big important things.  My heart strives over little stuff around the house, with my kids, about my husband.  Trivial, that’s how I roll.    But, I also worry about wild crazy things – that will never, ever happen, most likely.  Outlandish nightmares sometimes creep in, as though they’ll be my reality.  It is nuts.

Now before you come to believe I’m an absolute loon, I can tell you that the Holy Spirit has been my victory in this way.  I can tell you that at this time in my life, He overcomes my strange and obnoxious worries with a whisper and I don’t live a life of fear at all.  Scripture memory is a big part of that victory, of course – and I know where my heart rests.

Over time I’ve learned to set aside the worries, along with my lack of control and simply abide in the hope I have in Christ.  What this means for a worrier like me is I don’t pray like I used to.  My prayers used to be exhausting:  “Please don’t let this happen, and please keep this at bay, and please make this stop before such and such happens…”

Every human knows, there’s no praying for all the “what-ifs”.  right?

I cannot pray away enough “maybes” for my loved ones.  It just isn’t possible. And so I have to rely on a simple prayer of protection on them all and believe that my Heavenly Father is in control and knows all possible outcomes.

With all of this in mind, I want to tell you about a miracle that happened just last night here at our house.

I was at the bottom of the stairs, when I heard loud thumping – as I looked to my left, I saw my sweet baby girl falling helplessly head first down the stairs, with great force and inertia, her chin coming to a rest at the landing.  Very loud wailing ensued.  I rushed to her, and picked her up to hold and comfort her.

As I looked her over, I could hardly believe my eyes.  Though her face had basically taken the brunt of her fall there was no blood, no cuts.  All teeth were still firmly rooted.  No stitches needed.  A small bruise on her chin received an ice pack treatment.

I’m about to say something weird.

I can’t tell you how thrilled I was this happened.  You see the truth is, I’ve never prayed – “Please keep Mackenzie from falling head-first down the stairs.  And if she does, please keep her from being hurt.”  Nope.  I’ve never prayed anything of the sort.  And yet, it is an answer to the prayer I didn’t pray.  I believe He allowed it to happen, but also protected her from being hurt…  confirming His truth.  There is no need to worry.

(Of course, I also believe that, if she was hurt, there would be something good to come from that too, ordained as a part of His will…  If I were posting photos of Mackenzie with stitches across her chin, that would not upset my belief that He is good.)

In the moments following her fall, I was so relieved to find that all of the Scripture I’ve been relying on about not worrying is true.   His loving care and provision is full and complete.

from Matthew 6:

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

friends and loved ones

Just a few verses from Psalm 103…

melodyanndayLeave a comment

DSC_0257

I’ve been trying to read Scripture by asking questions, like:  “What does that phrase mean in my life?”  “How does that include me?” “Why does that say about my heart?”  I know most people probably already do that.  But, I’ve been reading Psalm 103, trying to apply the words to my heart in the most honest sense…  and I thought I’d share a few verses of it with you this morning.

( Just to be clear, I’m not writing a paraphrase, or translating anything, only making it real for me.)

Psalm 103: 1-5

Today, I will remind myself to praise you Lord, with my whole body – inside and out – I will bless You in Your holiness and for your goodness, quietly and out loud.

I won’t forget all of the good things that come with belonging to You.

My sin, my shortcomings, my failures – my anger, my impatience with my children, my gossiping, my inability to follow You well – You have forgiven it all!

My lymphoma, can I bless you enough that I don’t need treatment right now?  I don’t know exactly where it all stands right now, but I know You have helped me overcome my disease, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally!

And, let’s talk about all of the havoc I’ve brought on my own life – making poor choices, continuing in them when I know better, and still you didn’t allow it – you turned my life upside-down in order to redeem the mess I made.  I truly don’t deserve the life I live now!

To top it all off, you love me with great patience and mercy through all of my waywardness ; graciously You’ve given me a loving husband and beautiful children, with a home where we can rest and live well.

By Your Spirit I’m empowered with strength and health and all that I need to live the life You ordained for me.

I will shout Your name  from the mountaintops so that all know who You are and what You’ve done!

DSC_0259

friends and loved ones

keeping secrets

melodyannday1 Comment

Most who know me well, know I’m terrible at keeping secrets.  If I know something, I tend to ‘spill it’, with very little pressure applied.

So, I’ve come to the place where I can’t keep this particular secret any longer.  A few know, but, I think we’re ready to tell everyone now.

The Day family has decided to grow by one more member this July and we couldn’t be more excited.

Meet Lily.

DSC_0768

 

friends and loved ones

de-bunked

melodyannday1 Comment

We live in a three bedroom house.  1300 square feet.  max.  None of our bedrooms are large, not even the master.  So, when our third child came along a few years ago, the natural solution was bunk beds so that two children could share one room comfortably.

For several years Emily and Isaac shared a room and peacefully slept on the bunk beds.  All was well at bed time in the Day household. However, when we did a little rearranging recently, Emily went solo in her own room, which left Isaac and Mackenzie to begin a new bunk bed partnership.  We expected the same arrangement.  peace and quiet.

How could we know the outcome?  We are just the parents, after all.

Night after night, since he moved to the top bunk, Isaac was distressed.  He was totally out of sorts, but he couldn’t tell us why. We tried to convince him it was the coolest and best place to be.  No longer was he a “bottom bunker” – he was on top now.  He was the king of the castle.  His top bunk was his own private space like a club house.   But he wasn’t buying what we were selling.

He didn’t like it.

After more than three months of trying to sort all of it out,  we discovered the problem a few nights ago.  He felt alone.  Although he knew Mackenzie was in the room with him,  that she was just below in the bottom bunk, he couldn’t see her.    As a bottom bunker he could always see Emily above, and that kept him at ease.  But now, he couldn’t get his mind around it.   We had to prove to him he was in good company.

So.  We de-bunked today.

Tonight Mackenzie and Isaac’s beds are side by side.  And for the first time in quite a while, they went to bed as happy and snug as two bugs in a rug.    All because Isaac could see Mackenzie and reassure himself that he was not alone.

I had to de-bunk my own myth this week.  I found myself not believing something that previously I had known to be true of my Heavenly Father.  Honestly, I’m embarrassed to admit it.   Though He has always met my needs, and I have seen Him present and active in my life consistently to this point, something came up – and in my humanity I became convinced He wasn’t working on my behalf. I couldn’t see.  and it made it hard to believe.

Well, He proved me wrong a few days ago.  Lovingly, he dismantled my disbelief with provision, beyond what I was expecting.

Just because I can’t see what I want to see, doesn’t mean I can let my faith give way to doubt.  And I realized once again the truth of Hebrews 11:1 – Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

I am thankful for a Heavenly Father, who cares to remind me of His love and faithfulness to me, drawing me to himself time and time again.  My heart is strengthened and my spirit renewed.

 

friends and loved ones · in my kitchen

mashed potato protest

melodyanndayLeave a comment

My daughter stood at the doorway of the kitchen and wailed this evening, as I peeled and diced potatoes.  I was preparing to make mashed potatoes for dinner.  But my sweet baby girl wasn’t having it.  She stood there and cried, “Mama, mama, mama”  incessantly until I finished and picked her up.

Many thoughts went through my head at the time mostly revolving around the idea of never making mashed potatoes again.  But I’ve thought about it since then – and I have learned something.  Two things actually.  And I couldn’t decide which to share with you, so I will share them both.  I have realized from this experience why I want so desperately to be just like my baby girl.  But then also, in another way why I hope I’m not like her.

huh?

Okay – first – my daughter had some serious perseverance.  She was not leaving the kitchen without me.  She did not get distracted.  She did not get quiet.  She cried and called out again and again until I answered.  She did not waiver once.

I need to be more like that.  By comparison my prayer life is weak.  I call out to my Heavenly Father, but I give up easily.  If I don’t hear an answer in a few minutes, I give up.  I’m distracted by other possibilities, other earthly offerings and I walk away.  I do not always press through to reach His heart.  Sometimes He wants to know I mean business, and unfortunately a lot of times I show Him that I don’t.

Now, what you need to know is that my daughter didn’t know what I was doing.  Mashed potatoes are her very favorite.  She requests them regularly – “Hot potatoes! Hot potatoes!”  I think she would eat them at every meal.  But here she was, pitching a major fit, trying to get me to stop my work in the kitchen and move me to do something else entirely.

I wish I wasn’t like this, but I am.  There have been times in my life where I know that I have pitched a similar fit because I couldn’t see what God was doing, and therefore I assumed it wasn’t going to be good.  So, I let him know, trying to get Him to stop the work, not realizing that what He was doing would be a huge blessing for me…

But there is good news.  With my Heavenly Father there is always good news.  He loves me in spite of it all.  He knows what His plan is for me and He blesses me. In spite of my inability to pray properly, in spite of how many fits I pitch, His love knows no limits.

And so, I’m hopeful after learning these lessons from my baby girl.  The next time there is something uncertain or unknown, I’m going to try to remember to spend time sincerely in prayer.  But, I’m not going to protest – it might be mashed potatoes.

From Jeremiah 29: 11-12  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”

 

Originally written February 2011.

friends and loved ones

five

melodyannday2 Comments

IMG_7705

My sweet baby girl turned five today….

DSC_4187

It seems she just turned one a few days ago!

DSC_5898

Who knew five years would fly by so quickly?

DSC_0379

I couldn’t be more grateful to God that I am the Mama to this feisty and creative little girl!   It is a blessing beyond measure.

Happy Birthday Mackenzie!   There are no words to express just how much we love you!

friends and loved ones · who knows?

old hat, new hat

melodyanndayLeave a comment

When I was a little girl, my dad would read a book to me called, “Old Hat, New Hat.”   It is about a bear who goes into a hat shop looking for a new hat to replace his old one.  It was my favorite book.  The best page was the one where the bear tries on all of these different hats and you can see him trying them all on, but he doesn’t like any of them and so he says, “too beady, too bumpy, too leafy, too lumpy, too twisty, too twirly, too wrinkly, too curly.”  And in the end, Bear puts on his old hat, saying, “just right!”  and he leaves the store.

I’ve been thinking about the book a lot over the last week or so.

There can be a lot of distractions in my female world – distractions that complicate my calling as a woman, wife, mom, sister, friend. And if I’d like, there are a lot of hats to wear.  Step into the boutique and try on a “new you.”  Believe me, there are some good causes,  some helpful changes that might make a “better me.”  I’m not suggesting otherwise.  But every hat needs to be tried on with the right perspective.

In Christ.

No matter what I’m hoping for, is it something that I can do, “In Christ”?   I can obsess about my weight, or healthy eating and exercise.  I can spend hours considering my children and their education or their manners.  There’s my work, my identity as a musician.  Or, am I a good baker, runner, gardener, housekeeper?  many, many hats to keep me busy…

But truly, what good is it to be the only mom on the block who manages to cook only healthy meals for her children, and never a crumb of junk food, if it isn’t what Christ has asked of me?  I would love to become that Mom, but I don’t have the capacity for it  24/7 in my life right now – and He hasn’t intervened to help me be that Mom in the way I expected.   That doesn’t mean I don’t try to change some of our habits, or we shouldn’t be healthy eaters…  but maybe that new hat “Healthy Super Mom” is a no-go for me.

So, lately I’ve been attempting to filter all these ideas of “what I could be” thru this lens – and this is what helps me remember that I already am a NEW CREATION:

Scripture from 2 Corinthians to help me think clearly:

13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.  16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Questions to ask myself:  By putting on this new hat (whatever that may be) is it worthy of His sacrifice?  Am I choosing it for myself selfishly, or is His Spirit whispering it in my ear?

Reminders for my heart:  I am reconciled to Christ, in spite of my sin or wrong doings.  I do not have to live in guilt or fear of his disappointment in who I am or who I think I should try to be.  I am hidden in Christ – and that makes me a beloved child of the Heavenly Father.

No matter what other hats I think I need to try out, this is the best hat that I will always wear!

Heavenly Father, thank you for your forgiveness and the reconciliation I find for my heart in your Word.    May I never forget who I am in You!  amen.

friends and loved ones · who knows?

secrets

melodyanndayLeave a comment

Measles.  She was in a panic about the measles.  There’s an outbreak, my friend said, and some kids even with the vaccine had come down with measles.    What else can be said?  Modern medicine works hard to eradicate a terrible illness, and still it rears its ugly head.

I sat there quietly, because I probably know the truth.  But, I don’t really like it.

We all, and I do mean to be that all-encompassing, spend our lives striving.  We take medicines, we exercise, we spend enormous amounts of money on our health, in order to add hours, maybe even days to the length of our lives.  Regardless, at the end of the day, the truth?  It isn’t doable.  We can search for the keys to long life and and health and such, but they are elusive.

In Deuteronomy 29, God chooses to renew his covenant with the Israelites.  The entire chapter is spent reciting what He has done for them, and reminding them of how they should respond.  Then the final verse of the chapter says this:

29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Secret things.

A good friend, struggling with his health has often been a physical reminder of these words.  No matter what we do, and what we think we know – there are things we will NEVER understand on this side of eternity.  Our Heavenly Father claims some secret things, answers to questions that only He knows.

My first thoughts about this revolve around this question: Why?   God, why do you have to allow things I don’t understand?  Why can’t you let me in on the secret?  Why should one have a long full life, while another’s life is cut short?

And I don’t know His answer.

But, I do know: the things that He has revealed belong to us.    What does he say in Matthew?  Don’t worry about tomorrow, tomorrow has enough of its own cares.  Not one of us is able to add to our height.  It is no secret that He promises to care for His children, to meet our needs, and to love us without condition.

And so, I realize what is required of me:  Trust.   Without full disclosure of the secret things, I have no control.  There is only surrender in exchange for all that striving.

friends and loved ones · who knows?

no regrets, only grateful…

melodyanndayLeave a comment

I’m sitting here typing at my kitchen table, breakfast dishes littered here and there, half -done coloring pages (courtesy of mackenzie), medicine bottles scattered around, and clorox wipes…  And of course, in the very middle of it all, is my wooden centerpiece of Jesus carrying the cross.

It is March 31 and we are almost halfway thru Lent, to the Resurrection.

I’ve not written in a week.  Mostly because I’ve been unable – due to the most ungodly, disgusting, wretched stomach bug I’ve ever met.  And between myself and my kiddos, my house and my life in general feel completely out of sorts.  But, at least I finally have a few coherent words to put together today.

When I was talking to the Lord early this morning, I had a few things to say.  I told Him how I felt about all of it.  You see, I was angry.  For many reasons, too many to mention here, this stomach bug has been awful to bear and also terribly inconvenient, in this space on our calendar.  Now my personal agenda is all messed up.

Why should we have to deal with so much?  *arms folded across chest*

And when I was done, I sat there knowing I needed to change my selfish, faithless thinking.  My heart needed to regroup.  But how?

As I sit here now, staring at Jesus holding the cross, the one only He could carry, I’m terribly embarrassed.  A picture of sorrow and sacrifice boldly looking me in the face.  And I realize I know nothing about suffering.

My heart’s reversal came as I read this just now:  Jesus is praying in the Garden –

Luke 22: 41-44   He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me.  Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”  Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened Him.  He prayed more fervently, and He was in such agony of spirit that His sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

Jesus’ example of surrender to the Father’s will is amazing to me.  Such a severe future – and yet, he prayed and was strengthened.

I gaze at the image of Jesus and his cross a bit longer.  It’s not that His surrender was without struggle or cost.   No, indeed He suffered a tragic and horrific death.  But, with the price He paid, He purchased a gift.  His resurrection brought about eternal life for all.  This gift is the robust hope that we have, by grace; through each of our own struggles and pains, we know that there is hope :  Hope of God’s Kingdom coming to earth.  Hope of God’s love surpassing all of our trials.  Hope that death is ended…

Thinking about my current trials and suffering, they seem so mild and insignificant compared to His.

My heart finds peace in this knowledge:  His will in my life is to bring all of the bits and pieces of my story into His complete story – Once I understand this, I realize whatever happens, my surrender to His will brings surreal comfort and peace.   And truly – I cannot regret the situation I find myself in, but rather grateful that I’m able to be hopeful in Him.