The Best Hardy Party Ever!!

It is the Christmas season and with it comes many parties with family and friends. Last Sunday we had the "Hardy Party". We look forward to it every year. My grandchildren love to get together with their great uncles and aunts and cousins. It is an evening filled with food, laughter, discussion and fun.

This year as every year the relatives brought Christmas gifts for the kids. Uncle Martin handed out the gifts from he and Aunt Dot. It was a tin shaped like a Christmas cookie with a card attached. Everett opened the cookie tin to find a Christmas cookie with M & Ms in it. His eyes got very big and he said, "A Christmas cookie, thank you so much!". While he was exclaiming such thanks for the Christmas cookie, the other kids had opened their card first to find a $35.00 gift card to Target. Everett had to be instructed to open the card where he found the same thing.

Then Aunt Peggy handed out the gift from she and Uncle Dave. The boys were very excited to receive a swiss army knife each. Once again leave it to Everett to exclaim, "Wow! a killing machine!". We were all laughing except for Addy who was busy looking in the little purse she had received to find small little gifts inside. She was opening each one to see that she was receiving make-up and lipsticks. She could hardly sit still. All of the sudden she jumped up, raised both arms and exclaimed, "This is the best Hardy Party ever!". This too brought much laughter from everyone.

I was thinking about the party later and thought, 'yes this was the best Hardy party ever!'. It was not because of the gifts or the company but it was because of the lesson I learned from Everett. When he was looking at one solitary Christmas cookie, he displayed a grateful heart. His eyes never said anything but 'thank you'. It seems my grandchildren are always challenging me. Do I have a grateful heart when all I receive is a cookie?

God makes His will clear concerning our heart in all situations. "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 This was demonstrated at the Hardy Party. It is the memory I will treasure from this year's celebration with the Hardys and hopefully one I will learn from. Thank you Everett. Thank you God for evidence of your Spirit to be made known through a 9 year old.

The Tooth Fairy Forgets!

On Thursday of last week, Tristan, my 7 year old grandson, lost his front tooth. He was excited about it. I received a picture from his mom on my phone of his toothless smile. Another great event in the life of a child growing up.

Thursday was also the day of the Christmas tea. My daughter came during the evening, sat at my table and we enjoyed the night together. At the end of the evening, there is always the clean up. I am in charge so I am usually cleaning up for over an hour after the event has ended. This year my daughter stayed to help me. We were in my office at around 10:00 p.m. when her husband sent her a text very concerned because she hadn't let him know she was staying. The result was that she went home and then sat and explained to him how she got caught up in helping and forgot to call.

On Friday morning, Tristan came in to his mother and said, "the tooth fairy didn't bring me the money for my tooth." My daughter's response was, "Well you see it was like this. The tooth fairy was at a party last night and stayed too late. She came straight home and talked with her husband so she forgot." As Tristan was just looking at her she added, "My tooth fairy never forgot."

Tristan's response was priceless. He said, "That's because your tooth fairy was a christian!"

Don't you just love that! I do because there is a relationship in his mind with a christian and integrity and follow through. Isn't that the way we are to live our lives as followers of Christ? We need to follow through on things and mean what we say. Thank you Tristan for the reminder!!

Summer Sleepovers Over

This weekend marked the last of the summer sleepovers with my grandchildren. I have them over one at a time in the summer and also for their birthdays. It is a wonderful time to just have one on one interaction with each and get to know them better. I trust that they will remember these times with fond memories and that perhaps they are getting to know me better too.

Each of my grandchildren have their own personality. Seth is a serious boy who is just beginning the adolescent journey. He now wants a hairstyle and is conscious of what others think of him. He is a joy to be around so serious yet so funny at the same time. Everett is a funny boy who doesn't really care of what others think of him. He is out to have a good time and definitely goes for it. He has a very tender side as well and will well up with tears if he thinks someone else is hurting. Tristan is a cutie who doesn't always get the obvious. He loves baseball, playing it, talking about it and reading about it. He has a mischievous grin that is very endearing. Addy is a girl. I could just stop right there because she is different on so many levels. She loves to hug and kiss me. She welcomes me with a big hug every time I see her. She is large and in charge at times. (takes a little after me and her mom)

I am sorry these sleepovers are over for a time. But I know they will be back again and we will go and do enjoying our time together. So I will rest up and get ready for more to come in the winter. Memories of times spent together, profitable for years to come.

Grandma doesn't sin

A few days ago at my daughter's dinner table she and my granddaughter Addy had a conversation. It was about being a Christian. Barb made the statement, "I am a Christian." So Addy says "Then I am a Christian too."
Barb, "Addy, it doesn't work that way. You can't just say you are a Christian and be one. Do you ever do anything wrong?"
Addy, "Yes"
Barb, "That is called sin. So you are a sinner. We are all sinners."
Addy, "Not you, right Mom?"
Barb, "Yes I am a sinner too."
Addy, "What about Daddy?"
Barb, "Yes he is a sinner too."
Addy, "Well I know Grandma's not, no way!"

Barb went on to handle the conversation from there but I am stuck on what Addy said about me. How humbled I am and how challenged at the same time. Although Barb did tell her I was a sinner, I know that Addy is watching me carefully. How am I responding to her, the boys, her mom and dad and my husband. She is seeing everything I do and running it through her grid of right and wrong. I have got to stay on my toes.

I am so glad for the Holy Spirit within who convicts me, leads me and points me to the acceptable way of the Lord. I cannot do this on my own. I need His strength, power, discipline and love every moment of every day. God's desire is that I reflect Him well.

All eyes are on me and you and you and you and you...we are being watched to see how we handle life. We need to handle it well. "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

Resurrection Day Celebration

Last Sunday was a celebration day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. As is the custom in my family we gather together for a meal after church and then the kids have an egg hunt.

This year we had celebrated with the body of Christ singing in worship together with various songs. We even sang one that had been written by John of Damascus in about 100 A.D. It was so solid in its theology which goes to show that we don't have the market cornered because we are living in a "modern" world. We prayed together and then spent time in the Word looking at Jesus as the temple that was torn down and brought back after 3 days. What a joy to have spent that time with the body.

After such a wonderful celebration we gathered together as family and spent time at the table over chicken and the trimmings. My grandson, Seth, gave the blessing and in it he prayed that we would remember that Easter was not about us but about Jesus. It was a good reminder from an 11 year old. After dinner when the eggs were being hidden, I was able to help my grandkids and my nieces put together resurrection eggs. We went through the last days of Jesus as we put them together, reading the scripture and asking questions. It was a joy to hear from them what they know about Christ. Then the egg hunt which is so much fun for them even as they are getting older. After that badminton with adults and kids alike. It was a fun day.

At some point in the day there was conversation which fell short of the gospel. Jesus was proclaimed as someone who was going to build His kingdom on this earth at that time but was killed just before He could. Wrong!! Jesus came to die. It was planned before the creation of the world. He had to die as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. So we all nailed him to the cross with our sinful hearts. The conversation put a damper on my resurrection celebration but God gave me joy the following morning.

On Monday morning I was speaking with my daughter on the phone and she told me this story. Everett (9) and Tristan (7) were having a conversation in bed. She couldn't hear it well but she caught enough to know what was going on. Tristan was asking Everett about being a christian. Everett said, "I just prayed and begged God to forgive me of my sins." Tristan asked, "When can I do that?" Everett told him to come down from the top bunk and get in his bed. Then she heard Everett say that he would pray first. He prayed about how God forgives sins and was very thankful. Then Tristan prayed and she couldn't hear it but she did hear this when he was finished..."Tristan that was good. You thought of praying things I didn't think of."(said by Everett)

Regardless of the conversation on Easter that fell short of the gospel. God was at work in the heart of a 7 year old boy. What a joy to know that my grandsons "get it!".

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

A Man of His Word

Last week as I was leaving my daughter's home, my granddaughter, Addy, said to her mom, "What does it mean to be a man of your word?"

My daughter answered, "It means you do what you said you were going to do."

Addy said, "Can you help me make Tristan be a man of his word? He said he was going to play with me."

Wow! It was very funny to hear a 5 year old speak in such a way and it was also very convicting. How many times do I nonchalantly say, "I'll pray for you" and then forget I said it. I need to be a woman of my word. I need to take the words that come out of my mouth seriously. In fact here is how serious my words are..."Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment." Proverbs 12:19 A woman of the her word is truthful. Truth will last forever. Truth can set you free. Truth can give you hope to endure. Truth makes you trustworthy. Truth is not hard because it is real and open.

Addy, the truth is that no one can make someone else be a man of his word. It comes from his heart to love truth and follow through on it. The best we can do is model it for others to see in obedience to God.

Addy, I can say this to you...I am praying for you, Tristan, Everett and Seth to be a woman and men of your word. I promise to not forget about it. :)

Can Someone say Amen?

I always love it when I see evidence of God working in the lives of my grandchildren. It is such a privilege as a grandma to witness the growth of each of them especially in the area of their spiritual lives.
Seth is my oldest grandson and is definitely the most serious of the bunch. One day he came into his mother's studio and looked very dejected. She asked him what the problem was and he said, "It's the Holy Spirit." She thought that was interesting so she asked what he meant. "I hit Everett and now the Holy Spirit won't leave me alone." She reminded him of what he needed to do about it and he went upstairs to ask for forgiveness.

Wow!! "It's the Holy Spirit!" Sometimes I am embarrassed to say that I don't even know if I am listening to the Spirit. How wonderful to see that my grandson has a sensitivity to the Lord.

Everett is next and boy can this guy pray. He will cover just about everything in a prayer before the meal without ever praying for the food. He too is very sensitive. He rarely lets a prayer go by without praying for his uncle, my son. He has not seen him in 5 years and yet he still remembers him and prays for his uncle to turn to God. He was upset one day because he forgot to pray for his uncle.

O.K. who am I forgetting to pray for on a regular basis. What an example he is to me!

Tristan is the youngest boy in the family. He has learned the song about the fruit of the Spirit and sings it with gusto. He tries to sing it faster and faster. Through this song he has memorized the Word of God. It is such a joy to see his smiling dimpled face as he sings the words which are being imprinted on his heart.

Memorize...falling behind there myself...I guess I need a song to help me. So proud to hear Tristan singing God's Word.

Then there is Addy, the girly girl and the youngest. One day as we were making cookies somehow we were talking about Jesus. With great authority she said to me, "Well, Jesus died on the cross and came back to life." I agreed and said that this was very true. What a great truth to know at her age.

I need to remember what Jesus did on a daily basis and I don't always do that. I get busy.

So not only am I proud of my grandkids but I can also be challenged by them spiritually. What a joy to watch and learn. So I pray for sensitivity to the Spirit, to remember to pray for specific people, to memorize the Word and to never forget what Jesus did for me.

Another Lesson From Everett

My seven year old grandson, Everett, is always teaching me something. I wanted to pass this on to you. My Dad was having surgery on a Thursday, partial knee replacement. My daughter has all of the kids signed up for an Enrichment program for homeschoolers which meets on Thursday. On Wednesday my daughter mentioned to Everett that the next day would be his class. Everett said, "Family is more important than class." Barb asked him what he meant and he replied, "I can't go to class when my poppie is going to have surgery." With that statement his lip began to quiver as the tears were right at the surface. She promised him to take him over to see his poppie before the surgery and then after. This was satisfactory to him.

A seven year old already understands the importance of family. He knows that we do not need to go after fun for ourselves when there is an important issue taking place in our family. I want to commend my daughter, Barb, and husband, Kalin, for the way they are raising their children. They are training them in the important things of life. The most important thing they are doing is pointing each of their children to Jesus. They incorporate the love of Jesus into their training as they love each child for the glory of God.

Thank you Barb and Kalin for your efforts. Thank you Everett for considering others better than yourself. I heard your lesson and will strive to learn it as I serve my family.

Wisdom from Everett

My grandson, Everett, is seven years old. He was recently visiting with us and had a conversation with me about being a Christian. He said the following:

"Grandma, I am a Christian. You can know that Jesus died for your sins but you have to really believe it and tell God you believe it. Then you will be a Christian."

He also said, "When I grow up I am going to be a preacher or FBI."

My grandson is learning a lot about God. He is being taught well by his parents. I am very proud of them. When Everett said these things to me, I let him know that we will be looking for fruit in his life as he grows. He said that he wanted to bring God glory not himself.

Later before we all had lunch together, Everett asked to pray. He prayed beautifully never mentioning the food but thanking God for Jesus and how he paid for our sins. He apologized to God for our continued sin. Then he said this...
"And God our Uncle Gabe is not a Christian. We want him to be a Christian and we will do everything we can to make him a Christian but you have to do it."
I could barely speak after his prayer. No one had mentioned his uncle, my son and yet he remembered him. Isn't that fruit?

Everett wants to do what is right but still struggles as we all do. (see my former post) Through his instruction from home and the Holy Spirit, I believe he has quoted scripture without really knowing it.

Romans 10:9-10, "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord", and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

Amen and amen...Thank you Everett. God has granted you wisdom. May God grow you up in Him. But whether you are a preacher or FBI or something entirely different, you can honor God with your life. And me??? I will be the proud Grandma.

A Challenge For Humility

This week my grandson, Seth, gave me a short paragraph he had typed about me. He is learning to type and write paragraphs and had actually done it for school. I am so glad he gave it to me. It will go into my keepsake box. I am going to share it below and you will see why I have been challenged.

"I have three favorite things about my Grandma. These things are kindness, happiness, and loving. My first favorite thing about my Grandma is that she's kind. She's kind because she'll play games with us. My second favorite thing about my Grandma is that she's always happy. I'm happy that she's happy or she won't be kind. My last thing I like about my Grandma is that she is loving. Its good to have a loving Grandma or else well she won't like you. I have the best Grandma in the world."

As I read this I smiled and shed a tear but then it started to sink in. How in the world can I live up to these three words?? It is humbling to think that this is the way I am seen by Seth but what a challenge to continue in that humility. It makes it all the more clear to me that I cannot do this on my own. I need the help of the Holy Spirit to strengthen me to practice these characteristics without being proud.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." Ephesians 5:22-26

We have read these verses but we like to concentrate on what the fruit of the Spirit is rather than the whole passage. Notice at the end we are warned about becoming conceited. As we see the fruit of the Spirit evidenced in our lives, we will be tempted to boast or be proud about what we are doing. In actuality when we do that we are not displaying the fruit of the Spirit at all, we are counterfeit. Do you see the challenge?? I am so glad Seth sees this in me and yet I need to remember that it is not me I want him to see. I want him to see Jesus.

Thank you Seth for your encouraging words. I will seek to yield myself to the Spirit and reflect Jesus in my actions. Because that is the only way to live!

The Two Day Event at Grandma's

On Thursday at about 10:30 a.m. my four grandkids arrived for a sleepover. They are still young enough to enjoy sleepovers at my house but I know those days will not last forever. That is one of the reasons I want to enjoy them while I have the opportunity. Each one of them enjoys personal attention so I was on (you know like being ON stage) for the entire day until bedtime. I played more games in one day than I have probably played in the last year. They love to play games. We made cookies. They love to crack eggs and stir up dough. We ate popcorn. They love popcorn. We watched a movie. They love movies. We had chicken legs for dinner. They love chicken legs...especially the bones. (one has a little collection :) We had french toast for breakfast. They love syrup. I passed out plenty of apples. They love apples.

As you can see I tried to make their time here revolve around what they love. But what I know for certain is that they enjoyed their sleepover because they love me. What a humbling thing to have four children in your care who do not have to be here but want to be!

The sleepover is here to stay as long they will participate. The reason is simple...I love my grandkids. I will cherish each and every moment together.

Thanks to each of you for your time this weekend. Thank you Seth for leading Addy in bedtime prayers. Thank you Everett for your consideration of my feelings when you did not like the smoothy. Thank you Tristan for your consideration of the feelings of the young man in Nino's when you did not like the chicken pot pie you tasted. Thank you Addy for your "I'm sorry, Grandma" whenever you thought you did something wrong. Thank you Kalin and Barb for allowing me to be a part of your children's lives. My thanks to God for giving me the experience of these four precious grandchildren.

I am putting my feet up now but they would hit the floor again if I heard little hands tapping at my door.