Family Life Of A Public Servant

Having been married thirty years .. 26 of which have been while hubby has been an officer of the law has not been easy on our family time.  Odd hours .. long shift work .. mid week days off .. are just of few of the lesser stresses of the job.  There's also the safety fears:  Will he come home in one piece at the end of watch?  Will he stay awake on the long drive home?  Will he be exposed to infectious diseases?

This life style has left a good deal of the work on my shoulders with hubby's odd hours and oft times need to sleep during the day.  Homeschooling was an option we chose so DH could take part in our family life.

We've survived separation during great civil unrest, earthquakes making travel impossible, hostage takeovers, high speed pursuits and shootouts.  Calls from the hospital with hubby saying, "I've been injured and am covered in someone's blood."

Now we are in another city .. with a less stressful job .. still odd and inconvenient days and hours.  People are people no matter where you live.  Some are kind .. but most treat the law officer in contempt .. that is until they need help.  Yes .. there are bad apples in every field .. and it only takes one to tarnish the badge.  Next time you need the assistance of an officer, or you get pulled over for speeding, or get a ticket for illegally parking .. be kind and thankful to the man or woman behind the badge that has sworn an oath to serve and protect YOU.

Answered Prayer

Nathan .. that's about all I'm writing about on this blog of late.  But .. today was his second Sunday attending church with me .. in the adult church .. he has sat quietly by my side during the entire service .. soaking in some of God's word .. listening to praise and worship music.  This is something I have prayed for for several years .. Words are not adequate for what is taking place.

Nathan and his dad .. unusual but much appreciated Christmas gifts :)

"  People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. ¹⁶ But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁷ Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”  Matthew 18:15-17

Sandbox 101

Growing up .. Nathan never really learned how to play in the sandbox and share or interact with other children.  He often kept to himself and played alone .. or parallel played, along side, without much interaction.  Something is changing .. he's now interacting with his new 'best' friend .. his little nephew, Jacob.

They are always competing now .. talking up a storm .. communicating with incomplete sentences or using the IPad app (Proloquo2Go) .. to speak .. remember manners .. share .. be kind.

Nathan's therapist has been encouraging their developing friendship by including Jacob in at least one weekly therapy session. 

It's great to see their relationship develop into a friendship; one that will carry them into adulthood .. one day Jacob may even be his big uncles protector.

Good Intentions

of taking down the Christmas decor on New Year's Day .. but oh, I'm still enjoying the tree lights, door wreath, and instrumental (flute, violin, harp) music.  Why all the fuss to get it put away so soon after Christmas .. not going to happen .. I'm waiting until Friday when hubby can help.  It will be more enjoyable working together .. memories to share as we take the ornaments off the tree together .. not so much a dreaded solo chore. 

Besides .. this will give us a chance to start a new/old tradition .. that of celebrating the Epiphany .. arrival the the Three Wise Men to visit the Christ child .. 12th day of Christmas.  

Savoring in Him,

Winter-scapes

Ann enjoying a bleak winter day

Finding beauty in bleakness .. it takes just a little imagination to develop this sense.  Living in a winter scape affords a person the ability to eventually see summer in technicolor.  Never one for wasting a good day, I try to find the beauty within each one.

Bleak .. cold ..

snowy .. sunny .. in-between .. leafless

emerging .. emerald .. first leaf .. first bloom ..

scents .. fruit of the vine .. harvest ..

swirling leaves ..

naked sentry trees .. wind .. ice ..

cold .. bleak. 

As each day unfolds, there is a beauty to behold.  Even on the bleakest day of winter, somewhere in the landscape .. beauty is waiting to be discovered.  No special glasses required .. just open eyes to pinpoint the God given abundance that is ours to discover .. if we just  observe His ever changing landscape.

You will go out in joy and be  

led forth in peace; 

the mountains and hills

will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field 

will clap their hands.

Isaiah 55:12

A New Year

There's nothing like a fresh new calendar on my wall or desk .. one that holds lots of hope and promise stored within its pages .. yet to be written.  May God bless each of you this coming year as you bless Him in actions, words and deeds.  Not in 'good works' to get something back from Him .. but as an act of faith and desire to serve the Living God Almighty.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?  Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

  But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

   Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

 James 2:14-18