The Thrill of Victory

I make my blog post and move over to my emails and, first thing, my eyes about bug out as I see that our Dallas Stars Hockey Team won their Western Conference Championship the night before. For the first time in 20 years, the Dallas Stars are heading to the Stanley Cup Final! Now they have my attention.

Isn’t it funny how we get lackadaisical to our teams when they aren't making their marks in their game seasons? As I walked my two Frisco grand-dogs a couple of weeks ago, I saw homes with Dallas Stars team flags in their front yards. I simply thought “loyal fans – wonder if they know someone on the team” – not once thinking that they may be doing well in their season. Suddenly, I am a fan! Suddenly, it feels good to have a win during this season when there have been so many loses. I am amused as I watch the final seconds of play, hearing the mega-crowd cheering with all out abandonment. Amused, that there are NO fans in the stands and what we hear is just a sound bite. Still, a win is a win is a win!!

In 2018, it was our Winnipeg Jets who beat the Nashville Predators 5–4 and clinched a spot in the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs. Our Winnipeg cousins, Gord and Sher, brought me a Winnipeg Jet shirts that season and, suddenly, we are amped up and become loyal fans of their home team (and ours from when we lived there for seven years in the 80s & 90s).

Aw! The thrill of victory! We could use many of those days – right? And, there are “wins” happening all around us if we would but SEE them instead of the agonies of defeat that have seemed way too common in these last few months.

This season is just temporary anyway. It’s merely a season – and seasons come and go. I have friends and family members who saw the passing on of loved ones and I have friends who welcomed precious babies and new life into their homes. There were those who lost their jobs but found better ones. There were those who had some big wins by using their abilities to be innovative and creative. I have seen two churches in Austin merge and become one gigantic church that can reach the lost of their city in a greater way. I heard that some churches have thrived so much with online church that they have fed more hungry people, helped many financially and created more programming and outreaches than ever before. So many joys of victory – if we would but SEE.

Here’s an agony of defeat and thrill of victory story that changes the way we SEE our seasons. Jesus came to this earth for you and me – showed us the way to live in victory by following His lead, trusting in Him and His promises – showing us that even in times of defeat – we still win. He suffered the agony of our defeat on the cross and the joy of victory in His resurrection. When God looks at us, He doesn’t see defeat and failures. He sees victors who are made clean through the blood of Jesus. He won the victory for us and now we get to cheer on the “home” team. We get to show people how important our Savior (aka our Coach) is. We get to help others get ready. Because ready or not, Jesus is coming. We are all team-players when it comes to being devoted followers of Christ. We suit up daily, we exercise our faith by studying God’s Word, praying, spending time with our Coach. He has all the team plays and staying in His presence, we have the wisdom of our Coach. We will not know the agony of defeat because our relationship with our Coach assures us the thrill of victory that awaits us. Now, let’s do everything we can to spread the word about our TEAM so others can celebrate with us. Let’s do everything we can so they will never have to know the agony of defeat!

Remembering Our Heritage with our Huggin' Cousins

Heritage - valued objects and qualities like traditions, that have been passed down from previous generations; legacy

"Remember Grandpa's preaching? He spared no words." "Remember Grandma and how precious she was." "What about those huge meals she'd cook -- roast AND chicken AND squirrel? She was the best cook EVER!" "I remember going to church with them." "I remember Grandma saying 'You just gotta' love!" Those were words that were said when four cousins got together after 40 years apart. My dear cousin who lives just a few blocks from me, Mary Ellen Snow and her husband, Charles, and dear Halbert cousins (my Mom's side of the family), Olan and Lola Halbert, and Johnnie and Mary Halbert, and I came together for a cousins' reunion. We're all from Texas. Other cousins couldn't make it, but I loved relishing the memories of many years gone by with these ones, and we expressed such gratitude for our ancestors who planted deep faith and strong moral ethics into all of us.

Those were words that were said when four cousins got together after 40 years apart. My dear cousin who lives just a few blocks from me, Mary Ellen Snow and her husband, Charles, and dear Halbert cousins (my Mom's side of the family), Olan and Lola Halbert, and Johnnie and Mary Halbert, and I came together for a cousins' reunion. We're all from Texas. Other cousins couldn't make it, but I loved relishing the memories of many years gone by with these ones, and we expressed such gratitude for our ancestors who planted deep faith and strong moral ethics into all of us.

Mary Ellen and I found out some of our family roots go back to John Rolfe and Pocahontas. They were our 10th generation great grandparents. Yay! I'm multi-racial!! There's a tiny percentage of Native American in me! And I thought I had no famous folks in my family lineage. 😁

After that "cousin" get-together, then cousins from Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada (my husband's uncle's children) came in to town and we had such a special time of celebrating the great heritage of hockey that we were so familiar with when we lived in Winnipeg in 1986 to 1993 -- 7 great years of living in such a diverse and multi-cultural city that celebrates its diversity every summer. We always loved the Folklorama Multicultural Festival. It is an exciting, two-week event where throughout the city, you can visit and experience the cultures, their foods, arts, dances and entertainment. Winnipeg isn't a "melting pot" where everything blends together. It's more like a salad -- delicious in every way and distinctly different in every way. Gord Neufeld and Sher Neufeld reminded us of the heritage that our family passed on to us. Again, the most important tradition was that of serving God and teaching their children and their children's children to love God and others. Obviously, our forefathers did a really good job.....because we're passing it on!

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 “The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. Let these words that I’m commanding you today be always on your heart. Teach them repeatedly to your children. Talk about them while sitting in your house or walking on the road, and as you lie down or get up. Tie them as reminders on your forearm, bind them on your forehead, and write them on the door frames of your house and on your gates.”

This is NESTING -- Preparing, Waiting, Anticipating

This is NESTING -- Preparing, Waiting, Anticipating
On Saturday, I went outside to water some plants and I was startled by the fluttering away of a mama dove that had laid two eggs in my fireplace vent outside. I quietly left that area because I wanted her to return to her nest. Then yesterday morning, I was about to clean my BBQ grill when I looked up and there, patiently, peacefully and undisturbed was this mama dove sitting on her soon-to-be-hatched babies. How significant to see such a beautiful wonder of creation on Mother’s Day. That adoring and devoted mama was waiting, anticipating and, obviously from the well-built nest in a cozy spot, preparing for her brood. I kept going outside, and Mama had not moved from her spot. She is on a mission to bring life into this world, unconcerned at all by the bird watchers that would check her out throughout the day -- and especially, when my children and grandchildren came over to power wash my porches right near her..

We, women relate to “nesting”, not only in birds, but when we, as expectant mamas, are getting close to that day when our baby will arrive. We wake up one morning feeling energetic and have the distinct urge to clean and organize our entire house. It's that overwhelming desire to get our home ready for our new baby. Sometimes, that urge is from boredom or frustration from still being pregnant, as well as knowing that the baby’s care is going to take lots of time and energy, and we want everything to be ready before the baby arrives. I recall the excitement and anticipation of that bundle of joy AND I knew the hours of love and care that I was about to give. There would be little time for much else, so, like that mama dove, my "little nest" needed to be just right.

On this Mother’s Day, I was pondering about the thoughts I had before my babies arrived. We already had their names picked out long before their arrival day. I worked tirelessly on their nursery, being sure it all set up and ready to go for the tiny, new occupant. All the gifts of clothes, nighties, and underclothes were washed and folded into the little dresser drawers. The hanging diaper holder was filled and all the tiny items were all organized for the imminent arrival of our baby. I would open those drawers and smell that sweet baby aroma.. My house was clean. My bags, with my baby’s "going home" outfit, was packed and ready to go. With our girl's arrival, we had all the plans made for taking her big brother to Granny & Papa's to stay until we came home with her. Everything was ready for her debut. The excitement was building for the BIG day!

Though I am no longer in that “season” (Thanks be to God!) of nesting because a baby is on the way, I still find myself nesting in times of sweet reflection, peace and quiet, and really pondering God’s goodness and mercy to me. Aw, pondering. Mary, the mother of our Lord, perfected that term – she pondered all those angelic messages in her heart.

This little mama dove reminded me about the importance of "being still" nesting in our Lord. It's a given that He abides in us, but when we spend time refreshing and reviving our relationship with Him, to really know Him, His peace (like the dove) comes over us and all the clamor and activity around us is as nothing. That dove really looked like a decoy -- unshakable and unmovable. Her babies were her preeminent responsibility. Nothing else mattered.

Today some of our precious family from Winnipeg, Canada are coming for a visit. I've prepared for them. I baked and cooked and made sure my house is clean. I even ordered the hockey channel on my TV for watching our Winnipeg Jets play their second game in the Stanley Cup Western Conference finals. In essence, I’m nesting and I’m preparing, waiting, anticipating, and preparing for their arrival. Maybe “nesting” is the mindset we should always have with our relationship with Christ. Peacefully, thinking about what He means to us, being still enough to know His indescribable love for us and preparing, waiting and anticipating, with joyful sense of expectation of His return. Oh, what a DEBUT that will be!

Cornish Hens, A Street Sign and Noticing and Pondering

Lately, I've seemed to be more of a noticer AND a ponderer than ever before. Both words seem to be encased in the traditions of Christmas. I'm in good company. The shepherds were noticers of the angels who broke the news of their Savior's birth. The Wise Men were noticers of the star that led them to the Christ Child. And, Mary was a ponderer. Luke 2:19 says (after the shepherds departed): "And Mary pondered these things in her heart." I like that -- and I sure desire to follow Mary's lead, as well as the shepherds and Wise Men -- pondering and noticing.

Years ago, when we lived in Canada, our daughter, a high school student at the time, had some Winnipeg Jets Hockey player friends, and one young man became very close to our family. Along with the friendship that Staci had with this young man, my husband and I enjoyed friendship with his parents. I know it was, in part, because of both families having German backgrounds. They were fluent in speaking German. We were not, but Staci and I took some German classes at the University of Manitoba to help us understand and speak some of the language. I'd like to say we became fluent but NOT, but I can tell you that we enjoyed sailing with them on their sail boat and visiting them at their lake home. What still stays with us today, is one of the meals that Renata (that's the young man's mom) made for us. Grilled cornish hens that were seasoned with Spike. We loved it so much that it became a meal I duplicated and to this day, Staci asks me to make that meal for her -- it's become a family tradition. Grilled, "Spiked" Cornish Hens and Fettuccine Alfredo Pasta. In fact she asked me to make it for her birthday dinner. I did. Every time I have made that meal, I think about Renata and how precious she was and how much she loved my Staci. Pondering.

I was running here in Frisco the day after I made that meal for Staci a couple of days ago, and I NOTICED a street sign with the name Reata Drive. I PONDERED Renata and that delicious cornish hen meal and quietly thanked God for that memory, but then when I pondered, I prayed a little prayer for Renata. Silly thought? Or divine thought where I was led to pray for a friend that it's been well over 30 years since we were together. I took it so seriously that I found the young man (now, mature man) on Facebook and recalled some of our great times together, along with asking for his Mom's phone number. He responded with it and expressed his gratitude for our "history" together. Though I still haven't been able to get in touch with his Mom, I left her a message of gratitude for the memories and I let her know I was praying for her.

I like to think that just maybe.....noticing and pondering are part of seeing, hearing and sensing God WITH US. Remember Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel (God with us)? The more I've thought about those cornish hens and the brief encounter with a street sign called Reata, the more I realized we should all think of ourselves as “God with us.” When we understand that Emmanuel is with us, then even the thoughts we think just might be exactly what and who He's wanting us to pray for and reach out to. Maybe they are just not random thoughts but bullseye target thoughts where we are to be God’s representative to our world. We can live to purposely be aware of God with us and in us to be His "light" representative which means to express the reality of His attitudes, actions, and character in and through our lives.