How can I help?

I discovered this weekend how much Brook likes flowers. We walked through the garden Friday night, and I cut at least one of each flower for her. Saturday she got a new purse and didn't let go of it until we got home. I'm continually amazed at the girliness she exhibits. Having a brother and then sons threw me into the world of men. I love having sons, but there is something very special about a granddaughter. She constantly amazes me, and makes me smile.

This morning I read Romans 15:2 in the Message.

"Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?" I plan to make that my memory verse this week and hope to find ways to help others.

Please check back later this week as I post an interview with Janice Hanna. We'll discuss her new book Love Finds You in Groom, Texas.

4th of July Reflections

Wilmore, Ky is one of the best places to celebrate the 4th of July. I didn't have to work this year and was able to attend the parade. The grand marshals were two ladies from Wesley Village Retirement Community.
The parade also included the annual lawn mower brigade, horses, fire trucks, police cars, children from the summer parks program handing out popsicles and tractors.

Later in the day we enjoyed a cook-out with Bill and Amanda. It's hard to believe Brooke can bring corn hole to a complete stop.

And what 4th of July would be complete without fireworks? This year I didn't even have to leave my back porch to enjoy the show thanks to a group of teenagers in our back yard.

Jet Skiing

 Jet Skiing

This year ten members of my family decided to vacation together at Holden Beach, NC. I talked six of them into jet skiing with me on the Intracoastal Waterway. I’ve always wanted to do this, so it was like a dream come true.

My son, Scott, graciously agreed to share a jet ski with me. After receiving our life vests and safety instructions, we were off.

I screamed and laughed. We passed my family, and they passed us. We rode in wakes of bigger boats. We’d bump up and splash down. I hung on to Scott and enjoyed the ride. After a while he offered to let me drive. So we switched places. I wasn’t smooth, so I asked to switch back. He took over, and once more we were off. A little later he urged me to try again. The waterway wasn’t crowded, so I tried, and it went better. The water wasn’t as choppy, and it was almost like flying. The wind whipped my hair as water splashed in my face. It was wonderful.

The experience made me consider my relationship with God. I had faith in Scott that we could do this safely. I trust God to get me through many tough situations also.

Near the end of the ride Scott made a turn too quickly, and I went flying off. He immediately came back to rescue me. If I can trust my 18 year old son to take care of me, I can definitely trust God to watch out for my safety.

Here are the sevenof us before, and Scott and me at the end of our ride.

Vacation

Thankfully, God gave us a time to rest, and that's what I'm doing this week. See if you can guess where we are, and have a good week.

Ten of us are vacationing together from my family this week. I'll have lots of stories to share soon.

Friends

This past week I have reconnected with friends I haven't seen in years. Two couples we met for dinner on different nights. We laughed and talked over old times. We caught up on each others lives, and renewed our commitment to get together more often.
Tonight my husband and I were out walking the dog. We ran into a couple who moved to Colorado.  They were so happy to be back in Wilmore for a few days and reconnect with old friends.
The thing all these couples have in common is their Christian walk. Being around these couples was uplifting and brought me joy.
It made me want to be more like them. I want to be a vessle God can use to bring joy to others.
Thank you Jennie, David, Karen, David, Claire and Russ for challenging me. And thank you for spreading the joy of Jesus!

Lost sheep

My husband has spent days looking for the luggage carrier we secure to the top of our car when traveling with family to the beach. Days. He is one of the most organized people I know. And when something disappears it drives him nuts. I have helped look, and we've called extened family and asked them to check their garages and basements, just in case. I wish I could find it for him, he'd be so happy. I'd go out and buy a new one, wad it up and stash it somewhere just to say, "Here it is, honey." But I don't think he'd fall for it. The thing that would please him most would be to find the lost luggage carrier.

Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep. He shows us how tenderly God loves us and searches for us when we stray. When the shephard finds his lost sheep, he will rejoice. And Jesus tells us there will be rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents. Jesus goes on to tell parables about the lost coin and prodigal son. Three stories in a row in Luke about rejoicing over a lost item or soul. Three!

As I've watched Tim agonize over this lost item, I've thought about this parable. We could buy another one. God could find another Christian to love. But he wants those who are lost. Jesus tells us that three times. What an awesome God!

Reflections on Father's Day

God blessed me with wonderful earthly fathers.
Dick Lutz is my dad. He's the duct tape that holds our family together. He's supportive of all of us and never fails to tell us he loves us.
Granddaddy Lutz was a man of few words. Before he died I asked him to sign my autograph book. He worte, "We love you. William Lutz." My grandmother asked what he wrote and he told her it was just between us.
Granddaddy Hubbard enjoyed telling us he loved us so much he wouldn't take a hundred dollars for us, no make that a thousand dollars, and he'd end with, "I wouldn't take a million dollars for you." We'd always laugh.
My husband, Tim, is a great father to our boys. He's always there for them in whatever ways they may need him to be.
My father-in-law is a gentleman in every sense of the word. He doesn't get around as much now, but when we're together the love he feels for his family shines through.

My oldest son, Bill, is now a father and so the next generation begins.

See if you can figure out who each dad is. Happy Father's Day!