A Treat for 97 Years

This morning, I’ll be heading to Tulsa to celebrate Mom and her 97th Birthday! It’s truly a day of celebrating – not just a mother-in-law, but a dear friend, mentor, and mother. God brought this precious treat to us on October 31st, 1922. I'm sure He had a hand in her being named “Lydia" which means “worshipper of God“! And true to her name, she has been a true worshipper of God. You'll find her at any given time with her Bible in hand -- reading and praying for her family and friends. Many times you’ll find her on the phone encouraging someone.

"Mom means the world to me. Were it not for her, I wouldn't have been blessed with the love and joy of having her son as my beloved husband and our children and grandchildren. She has been a true gift to all who know her, leaving her mark on so many lives, including mine. Though she's my mother-in-law, it has always been so natural to call her "Mom". She always treated me like a daughter. She loved me when I was 12-years-old and was an accomplice with my mom in ensuring their two kiddos would marry AND stay married! Their strategies (and many prayers) worked well!

I know many funny, and often "catty" remarks said about "mother-in-laws". That's too bad, because if it weren't for our in-laws we would never have been blessed with our sweethearts. We should love, respect, appreciate, and honor them. And, isn't that the kind of "in-law" we want to be for our children's and grandchildren's spouses?

I'm putting Mom out there today -- front and center -- for you to see what a mother-in-law should look like. Not the exterior, though she is and always has been a beautiful, stately woman, but she did the best of what God called her to do. She walked His walk AND talked His talk. She has been a Proverbs 31 woman -- the one that her children ALL rise up and call her blessed. She sure makes me want to up my game!

Mom, I celebrate the gift of you in my life and to so many others who have been impacted by your grace and beauty for so many years! I love you so much.







Mom means the world to me. Were it not for her, I wouldn't have been blessed with the love and joy of having her son as my beloved husband and our children and grandchildren. She has been a true gift to all who know her, leaving her mark on so many lives, including mine. Though she's my mother-in-law, it has always been so natural to call her "Mom". She always treated me like a daughter. She loved me when I was 12-years-old and was an accomplice with my mom in ensuring their two kiddos would marry AND stay married! Their strategies (and many prayers) worked well!

I know many funny, and often "catty" remarks said about "mother-in-laws". That's too bad, because if it weren't for our in-laws we would never have been blessed with our sweethearts. We should love, respect, appreciate, and honor them. And, isn't that the kind of "in-law" we want to be for our children's and grandchildren's spouses?

I'm putting Mom out there today -- front and center -- for you to see what a mother-in-law should look like. Not the exterior, though she is and always has been a beautiful, stately woman, but she did the best of what God called her to do. She walked His walk AND talked His talk. She has been a Proverbs 31 woman -- the one that her children ALL rise up and call her blessed. She sure makes me want to up my game!

Mom, I celebrate the gift of you in my life and to so many others who have been impacted by your grace and beauty for so many years! I love you so much.

🎃🎃🎃The TREAT of October 31st, 1922🎃🎃🎃

This sweet little lady is my dear mother-in-law, Lydia (Winick) Wuerch, who was born on October 31st, 1922, 95 years ago. Though she was born on the day attributed to Halloween -- she was always the TREAT -- not the trick.

🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈For those who have known Mom as their dear friend, mentor, close relative or pastor's wife who always encouraged, supported and caused you to laugh at her wit and sense of humor -- it would be wonderful if she could hear from you via my email at: dwuerch@cox.net and I will copy off and give to her when I go to Tulsa tomorrow to celebrate her. She will love hearing from you. 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈

I'll let you in on my thoughts of her -- that I shared in her card that I'll give her tomorrow. She's not a social media gal -- so she won't know these words until tomorrow.

Happy Birthday, Precious Mom -- the Sweetest TREAT Ever!!
“This is the day the Lord made YOU -- and I’m rejoicing and so glad for it!” I can’t begin to express all you have meant to me for the 57 years you’ve been in my life, but here are some of the ways:
1) You were my role model as I watched you be a strong woman of God who served so beautifully as a loving, faithful and devoted pastor’s wife, organist, Sunday School teacher, women and children’s leader, and so many other ministries that you devoted your heart and life to.

2) I will forever be grateful that my grandparents were the first to know you and introduced you to my family. You and Dad loved my grandparents and gave them so much love and support, especially as you would drive the distance across Dallas to pick them up and take them home from church. You loved and cared for so many others as "Mom" and "Mother" to many more than Ron & Karen.

3) You loved my family and showed so much hospitality to us. Oh the joys of Kip’s Big Boy on Sunday nights. You and my Mom became best of friends that prayed endlessly for us.

4) You and Dad were so loving and kind to me, welcoming me into your lives even as a young girl. You picked me to be Mahlah in the Church Christmas Play. I felt so special. I loved the sweet Christmas programs that you led all those little kids with such patience and love. Thank you for letting me wear your mink stole at prom. I felt like a Hollywood star. ;-)

5) The greatest gift you gave me was your beloved son. That beautiful boy who became a beautiful man stole my heart forever. There is no one that could ever compare to his talents and abilities. Our love for each other stood the test of time, the test of tough and good times, the test of sickness and in health, the test of raising kids, the test of trusting God through every challenge. I thank you for instilling such strong faith into him, for the man of God he was, for the sense of humor, and, even for those “perfection” qualities that made him to always expect excellence from all of us. I thank you for instilling in him his musical gifts that gave so many such encouragement and joy. I thank you for everything about this precious man that filled my life with love and joy....most of the time! ;-)

6) You were always supportive to me as a daughter -- not just a daughter-in-law. You were there many times when I needed a shoulder to cry on. I’ll always remember and treasure your support.

7) You were always an incredible grandmother to my two -- and great granny to my grandchildren. They all loved your homes that were filled with so much love and warmth -- that included lots of places to run around and play, the best toast ever, playing your organ, your mustard plasters, your swimming pool, your apple pies and chocolate cake. Your gardens produced so many delicious vegetables. And, your canned pickles were the best EVER!

8) Being at the organ will always be a precious memory of you -- and me getting to play the piano with you at church. You always encouraged me and helped me so much to play without music.

9) You have been an incredible example of serving God with all your heart, at church, home or at work. I was always impressed by your sales abilities at Sears. Everyone loved the discounted clothes you got us. Ron’s pastel colored shirts and pants and his long hair were the hot topic by all the church folk, but you defended him all the way!

10) You always had the greatest wit and sense of humor. You could make us laugh without even trying.

Mom, God must have loved us so much, that He gave you to us as the best TREAT ever. I celebrate this special day, honor you and give thanks to God for your life, your continual prayers for us and the living example of a Proverbs 31 woman of God.
Happy “95th” Birthday, Mom! I love you so much......Donna <3

Just Checking Out My Fall & Winter Wardrobe!

I changed out my Summer wardrobe for my Fall and Winter wardrobe a couple of weeks ago, which is a good indicator that Summer will continue for a few more weeks. ;-)

The best wardrobe, regardless of the season is Proverbs 31:25: '“She is CLOTHED with strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future!” That whole 31st chapter is notably called by many as the Proverbs 31 Woman. That gal is a tough cookie and trying to live up to her standards sure seems like a lofty goal. But her example wouldn’t be in the Bible, were it not a message God wanted to get through to us.

I know some amazing “Bible” women of today who wear those clothes of strength and dignity. One is a beautiful friend who is battling cancer and has lost all of her hair. She wears the most attractive scarves, hats and wigs, but most beautiful is the strength and dignity she displays in the midst of her daily struggle to survive another day.

I have another friend whose two children were at those ages when they were able to take care of themselves – dressing, grabbing their own meals -- if need be, getting up for school, handling their homework etc. But, then a relative could no longer care for his two young children – one still in diapers. My friend's heart couldn't abandon them. Her world came to a screeching halt, to love as her own, provide and care for these two young children – who have many needs. Yet, she is a Proverbs 31 woman who is clothed with strength and dignity and she praises God for the opportunity to care for those two precious children that brought on many new responsibilities and changes for their household.

That scripture in Proverbs rings loud and clear to all of us women! First of all….our daily clothing attire should first, and foremost, be that strength and dignity that only comes through trusting God and His Word, and that comes from spending time with Him. When life seems unbearable and we are surprised with an upheaval in our plans, it’s time to steal away and go to our Wardrobe Prayer Closet where the Strength BEARER and Strength GIVER is waiting to dress us for success. Oh, we know that “Dress for Success” is a slogan that encourages people to find confidence and to build up their self esteem by looking professional. But we can be “dressed to the nines” (perfection on the outside), but be completely a wreck on the inside.

Our strength, dignity and power doesn’t not come from what we wear or how much we can accomplish in one day. It flows out of our relationship with our Heavenly Father.

How often do we get all flustered by the have to’s and are loaded up to the point of exhaustion? How often do we get so busy running around doing things FOR God, that we forget to spend time WITH God? The oftentimes-overwhelming-tasks that face us could be handled so much better if we would spend more time putting on our “strength and dignity” ensembles, while sitting at His feet like Mary did (in our Wardrobe Prayer Closet), spending time in His Word AND in the words of the last part of verse 25, “she laughs without fear of the future!” We can laugh in the face of the enemy because we are assured that God holds our tomorrows. I think it’s time for putting on our strength and dignity outfit, because when the weight seems too heavy to bear, it will be no problem – our strength AND dignity that comes from His wardrobe department -- will help us not just handle it, but to laugh our way through it.

That “strength and dignity” outfit sure looks good on you!! It’s just the right fit!

Time to Get Out the Weights!

Just Checking Out My Wardrobe!
Yesterday, I was with a dear friend who was simply worn out from life and all that it entails. You know….family health issues, responsibilities of being a homemaker and caregiver, having to make some very serious decisions that could mean a positive or negative outcome, as well as those questions that come from others “How do I do this? How do I tell them that?” And then being expected to have the answers to it all.

Asking God for a response to try to lighten her load just a bit, I heard “Tell her these words from Proverbs 31:25....'“She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future!” That whole 31st chapter is notably called by many as the Proverbs 31 Woman. That gal is a tough cookie and trying to live up to her standards sure seems like a lofty goal. But her example wouldn’t be in the Bible, were it not a message God wanted to get through to us.

I heard that scripture for my friend AND me. First of all….I get that my daily clothing attire should first, and foremost, be that strength and dignity that only comes through trusting God and His Word, and that comes from spending time with Him. I told my friend “When life seems unbearable. It’s time to steal away and go to the strength BEARER and strength GiVER.

God has given us a strength all our own. But what kind of strength is it? Does the fact that we can make dinner, talk on a phone call, put a bandaid on a boo boo, be a nurse, counselor, accountant and can even change dirty diapers, with one hand – ALL at the same time -- mean we are Wonder Women? Of course not!

Our strength and power doesn’t not come from how much we can accomplish in one day. It flows out of our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Jesus taught that same truth to Martha over 2,000 years ago. But it is just as true today. Martha was in the heat of preparing a gourmet dinner for the Guest of Honor, our Lord. As she hustled around to get it all done with her culinary best, she became frustrated that her sister, Mary, was just hanging out with Jesus instead of helping her.

When Martha questioned Jesus about it, she didn’t get the response she anticipated. He said, "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it." (Luke 10:41,42).

How often do we get all flustered by the have to’s, must do’s and are loaded up to the point of exhaustion? How often do we get so busy running around doing things FOR God, that we forget to spend time WITH God?

Just prior to the "She is clothed with strength and dignity" verse I mentioned above, was verse 17 that says “She girds herself with strength (spiritual, mental and even physical fitness for her God-given tasks).” The oftentimes-overwhelming-tasks that face us could be handled so much better if we would spend more time girding ourselves up spiritually while sitting at His feet like Mary, spending time in His Word AND laughing in the face of the enemy because we are assured that He holds our tomorrows. So taking the advice I gave my friend….I think it’s time for some girding up myself with strength and dignity, because when the weight seems too heavy to bear, it will be no problem – my strength AND dignity that comes because of His "work-out" program will help me not just handle it, but to laugh my way through it.