The Old Wahoo to the Brand New

My sweet husband was a man of many skills and talents. His artistry and craftsmanship were recognized in the many homes, churches, and furniture he built with such attention to the details. He was a perfectionist. He was never satisfied with "good enough”. He was a Master Craftsman with a capital "C". He was also a woodcarver and could make such beauty out of a simple piece of wood.

Five years ago, I saw a woodcarver carving game boards. It reminded me of the round Wahoo board game my husband carved for our family when our kids were young. I don't remember what happened to that beautiful board, but I do remember the hours and hours of fun we had playing with it. I know that I wanted my grown children and their families to experience that fun game like we had. So, I had three Wahoo wood board games made and presented them as a special family Christmas gift for my three families: The Wallace's, The Wuerch's and The Anderson's (my godson’s family). The words pictured here are what I attached to each game board at Christmas of 2015. I seized moments that represented more than memories.....it represented today's joys and tomorrow's. It has blessed me, over the years, when each family sends me photos of their children playing the game. But, last week, while in Austin, the game was taken to a whole new level.

A welcome surprise came during quarantine. My grandson’s girlfriend’s family also play the game but with their new rules for strategizing – unlike the usual, only-win-by-luck game we played before. This photo explains the new rules of having partners and using two decks of cards instead of dice and playing as a single. Oh, what fun we had playing by the new rules and even more so, filling this heart of mine with all the sweet family time playing with the “old” and making it “brand new”.

There’s something to be said for making the old, brand new. Many of us really take off on DIY projects that make the old, brand new. My old piano bench was made new by adding an upholstered cushion to it. Outdoor furniture was made new by spraying on a new coat of paint. Homes are made new when we update them with fresh paint, adding more space or taking out walls to make larger rooms.

God is in the business of making the old, brand new, too! I love Bill and Gloria Gaither’s old song that went like this: “Something beautiful, something good / All my confusion He understood / All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife / But He made something beautiful of my life.”

And those song lyrics tell my story of God’s amazing grace. When I asked Christ to forgive me of my “old girl” past of regret, mistakes, failures, sins – He forgave me and took it all and threw it into His Sea of Forgetfulness. “He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:19) My “old” became “new” – new outlook, new heart-look, new attitude, and new awareness of my need for Him every day. Like the new Wahoo game strategies, now my new life strategies – partner with His strategies and everyday is brand new in Him. Maybe you’d like to play our new Wahoo rules and new God’s ways, too!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Life is Like Candy Land! It's a Sweet Spot or a Sticky Swamp!

Everyone that will read my post today will, no doubt, remember playing, at least one time or another, the "sweet" game of Candy Land. It still ranks as one of the most popular children's games in the U.S. I've played it with my kids and grandkids -- many times. The goal of the game is to make it to the end of a winding route and reach King Kandy -- but the path is very unpredictable. You pick a card and it might indicate that you can jump way ahead or you may have to go way back to the beginning. Or you might get stuck in Molasses Swamp, where you have to stay until the right cards turn up. The randomness of the cards adds to the adventure. You can be almost to the end of the adventure, but you still have to draw just the right card to reach your destination.

Though the game is truly a "game of luck", it plays very close to the real unpredicatability of our lives. One moment we might be in a state of incredible joy, but give it a couple of days, and we might face incredible disappointment. Neverthless, the reward of reaching King Kandy makes the adventure worthwhile. In this post, I'm referring to King Kandy aka Father God. No, He is not a Candy Store where we can always expect sweet delacacies, but we can trust that even in the tough times, He is directing our steps. Proverbs 16:9 "A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."

I know those adventures. And, I know my faith tells me that my Lord walks the journey with me. He never promised a clear, unobstructed road, but He did promise to be with me -- even to the end of the world (Matthew 28:20). Having Him with me, gives me joy, peace, and contentment, whether the adventures lead me to sweet treats or to yucky swamps.

God's Word (scriptures) illuminates my pathways. "His Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my pathway." Psalm 119:105. His LIGHT keeps me from going off-course. As long as I keep my focus on Him, He keeps me in peace.

So, today, if you find yourself depressed, sad, afraid, doubting because you're hanging out in places of darkness -- I lovingly encourage you to move toward THE LIGHT. Let God fill your heart and home with His light. Let Him eliminate the sources of darkness. I promise you…..you’ll find the SWEET SPOT. Then you'll live in Candy Land's home SWEET home everyday!
— feeling peaceful.

Seizing the Moments -- Wahoo Style

Seizing the moments!  That's the way I live today....more than ever.  I know how valuable and precious those moments are as each day, month and year goes by so quickly.   So I define the moments.  I don't let them define me.

My sweet husband was a man of many skills and talents.  His artistry and craftsmanship is recognized in the many homes, churches, furniture he built and the attention to detail that he had.  He was a perfectionist.  He was never satisfied with "just getting by".  He was a Master Carpenter with a capital "C".  He was also a woodcarver and could make such beauty out of a simple piece of wood.

This summer, I saw a woodcarver making game boards and it reminded me of the Wahoo board game my husband carved for our family when our kids were young.

I don't remember what happened to that beautiful board, but I do remember the hours and hours of fun we had playing it and I know that I wanted my grown children and their families to experience that fun game he'd made again.  I had three Wahoo wood board games made and presented them as a special family Christmas gift for my three families:  The Wallace Family, The Wuerch Family and The Anderson Family.

This is the note I wrote and read to each of them when I gave them their game this Christmas:

"Once upon a time, a very fine man,
Lived here on earth and made lots of things with his hands.
He could build houses and draw planes and even more,
He could carve wood and even doors.
He once made a board game out of wood.
It was called Wahoo, and his family played as much as they could.
They had hours and hours of so much fun.
It was bedtime before they were done.
This wonderful man went to heaven one day.
And I know if he were here, he would say,
“Merry Christmas, I love you so!
From the top of your heads to your little toes!
When you play this game, think of me.
One day you’ll get to see.
The joys and peace and the happy place,
That heaven is.  It’s better than playing Mario’s Kart Race.
I’ll be having Christmas with Jesus – what a treat!
It’s so awesome to be here – I’ll save you a seat!
But until that day, when we meet face to face --
Have lots of fun and run your race!
The next time you play Wahoo,
Remember how much your Papa and Nana
….really, really LOVE YOU!”
MERRY CHRISTMAS -- 2015

Yes, seizing the moments represents more than memories.....it represents joys for today, AND tomorrow!  Over the Christmas holidays, each family has played hours and hours of Wahoo fun -- as seen in these photos
#Wahoo #FamilyTimeRocks #SeizingTheMoments

What Are You Filled With?

What Are You Filled With?

For many reasons, I love being a participant in the Wallace household when I'm able to take off a few days. There's nothing more hilarious than being a part of their family's conversations around the dinner table, or being a part of playing a board game or their family adventures. I've repeatedly said, "You all need to have your own reality show!" Honestly, I get some really good material for my FB postings just from hearing and watching them live their lives. But, there is nothing to compare with getting to be a part of their morning family devotions.

Wednesday's devotion was about the gunk, funk and stuff like anger, envy, impatience, disobedience, etc. that settles into our heart and lives. Being FILLED with the Holy Spirit, causes those things to be removed. I just knew this short video-clip should be shared for others to learn and live better from. I hope you enjoy "What Are You Filled With?" by the Wallace Family!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWO7gCjgSGU