6 Years in Glory

Today my Mom gets to celebrate 6 years in Glory! I know that time means nothing in Heaven but I am celebrating for her down here. I spent my quiet time this morning reading some of her favorite scriptures and singing some of her favorite songs and praying and thanking God for the legacy that He gave me in her.  I count it a privilege that one of the most vivid memories of my mom are of her sitting in the chair in the corner of her room every morning praying and reading her Bible. How I long to pass that legacy on to my children and my children's children. After I finished my quiet time I dug out our picture tote to look through some of them and found a few pictures to scan into our computer. Our scanner was causing me problems so I quit but I may scan a few more later - Glenn is usually the scanner person. I am making a album on Facebook of my pictures and here is a link to it.

It was fun to go through the pictures and review some fun memories. So many fun times at WOL, old family shots, etc. I love the ones of her holding Caleb. She loved being a grandma so much! It really wasn't in my plans to have a baby 11 months after we got married but how thankful I am that we did and that mom had a chance to be a grandma to Caleb. How thankful I am for pictures, even if they don't scan so well.

One hymn that meant a lot reading through it this morning was "O That Will Be Glory." It says "When all my labors and trials are o'er, And I am safe on that beautiful shore, Just to be near the dear Lord I adore Will through the ages be glory for me. O that will be glory for me, glory for me, glory for me, When by His grace I will look on His face, that will be glory, be glory for me." It made me smile. My Mom's life had a lot of trials. She had Lupus since 1975, I think. That is a long time to deal with such an awful disease but she handled it so well. I know that there was not a day that she was not in pain but you would never know it if you interacted with her. She almost always had a smile on her face and a song in her heart. Her trials are o'er and she is safe on that beautiful shore with our wonderful Lord that she so completely adored. I am sure that it is glory for her!

I loved sitting next to my mom in church because we would sing parts. She would sing alto and I would sing soprano and sometimes we would look at each other and smile, especially when we sang songs that we particularly liked or had fun singing. I can still hear her singing the harmony in my head as I sing some songs. One song that I loved to hear her sing was "My Hope is in the Lord." It was her class song at Houghton and she loved it. If you are familiar with the song the chorus has parts and she always sang both of them. I am going to put the words to that song at the end of my blog but before I do I just want to challenge you who are reading this to put your hope in the Lord. If you want to know more about what that means please ask me. I know that my mom would tell you with me that it is so worth it. 

My Hope is in the Lord

by Norman J Clayton

My hope is in the Lord

Who gave Himself for me

And paid the price

Of all my sin at Calvary

For me He died;

For me He lives,

And everlasting life

And light He freely gives.

No merit of my own

His anger to suppress

My only hope is found 

In Jesus' righteousness.

And now for me He stands

Before the Father's throne

He shows His wounded hands

And names me as His own.

His grace has planned it all

Tis mine but to believe

And recognize His work of love

And Christ receive. 

I love you Mom and miss you and look forward to that day that is coming soon when the roll is called up yonder and I'll be there too. 

GOOD NEWS!!

I am only just a little bit excited. Actually, no, I am a LOT excited! Today at about 2pm Glenn was at work and he got a call from a restricted number. He contemplated whether or not to take it but since he was walking past the kitchen he decided to slip in and see who it was. It was a lady from SUNY Upstate Medical University informing him that he has been accepted for the class of 2013!!!! We are moving to Syracuse!!! Glenn finally got in to medical school! Yes, it took 3 times applying but he's in! God answered our prayers!

My first response was to scream and then cry and then tell the kids and then change my facebook status to "Sonja is SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Wow! I can't believe it is real. We have been waiting for this for SO long! I was really hoping that he wouldn't get put on the waiting list - he got an acceptance call!

Hannah's first response was "Mommy, where is my green book [her quiet time diary]? I need to check it off [of her prayer list]!" She is so excited that God answered her first prayer request that she wrote down. Another cool thing - he gets his white coat on her birthday - August 26th!

I know that there is so much to come but I am excited and continue to praise God and trust Him with our future.

The Burb

There are so many things I love and a few things that I don't like about the Burb (what we call our '95 Chevy Suburban).

One of the things that I love most is SPACE!!! Our kids aren't huge yet but I know that even when they are full grown they will be able to sit in it and we'll be able to carry everything we'd need for a vacation etc. Caleb is already 4'8"  at 8 years old. He is not going to be short! Hannah and Lydia at 6 and almost 5 are pushing 4'. I guess knowing that they are our children we should automatically assume that they would be tall. (Unless they happen to get extra Hansen genes). 

It is also nice, being transient like we are, that it is able to hold A LOT when we take the seats out when we move.  It is amazing to me how few trips we had to make with it when we moved twice last year! 

I also like that it seats 8 people so we can take 2 people along with us if we want to or have the need. When Glenn's parents visited and when his sister and our nephew visited last year we were able to do whatever because we all fit in there together.

There are a few things that I don't like about it... the known problems and the unknown. Last week I drove it out to AWANA with the kids and I don't remember it giving me problems on the way to church but I was praying hard all the way home not sure if it was going to make it because it was acting funny and felt like it was going to fall apart and I didn't have my cell phone to call anyone and we have to drive through some sketchy parts of Rochester to get home. Thankfully we made it home and I swore I would never drive it again. Glenn had to work the next couple of days so couldn't look at it until Saturday morning when we were supposed to be going to the home of some friends. They graciously came and got me and the kids then let us borrow their van for the night so we could get to church in the morning. Glenn had no answers on the Burb but he thought that it might be the transmission. Yesterday we took it somewhere and were told it was not the transmission but it might be the motor. The guy who checked it out said that the Burb was great and that we should get it fixed. So today it is at another shop getting worked on. I guess that the intake manifold gasket is shot. It will cost us, but a lot less than a junker that we don't know what is wrong with it on Craigslist. Getting this fixed should also help out gas mileage (which was about 9mpg last time I checked - ouch! another thing I don't like about our Burb) because it is spitting out too much gas. There is still the problem with the gas line and the loose front end that we have to replace a tie rod every year to get it to pass inspection but... we'll be on the road again and not HAVE to buy a vehicle right now.

So that is our most recent Burb saga. I really love our Burb. It has been a great vehicle for us. I don't know if I would be content with a mini-van and Glenn's dream vehicle is a LandRover Defender 110 so I am glad that the Burb is fixable for now. 

25 Random Things About Me

I got tagged on facebook to write 25 random things about me and thought I would post them here as well.

1. I never ate onions until after I married Glenn now I can't cook without them!!

2. I lived in 2 places from birth to when I got married and 13 places in the 9 1/2 years since then (*though I did live in the one bedroom apartment I lived in as a baby with my hubby and 4 kids for 10 months and the house that I grew up in for 4 months so I guess I have only lived in 13 places total). 1707c, 3615, *0783, 1310, mini mart, Aldermans, Alan's, Christensens, 1304a, *1314b, 1090, Lishawas, our current little house.

3. I loved the 3 months from August 26-November 26 of 2008 because I could say my kids were 2, 4, 6, and 8! I truly think that this is the easiest stage in my parenting ever - no more diapers, everyone sleeps through the night and we haven't gotten to the teen/tween issues yet!

4. I homeschool my kids. Caleb is in 3rd grade this year and Hannah is in 1st.

5. I would love to write a book someday.

6. I bake most of our bread. My two favorite recipes are Oatmeal Bread and French Bread.

7. I love Wegmans reusable shopping bags.

8. I am a messie and tired of it so I am trying to get more organized this year.

9. I love camping (except for trying to get out of the tent in the middle of the night!)

10. I went to 3 colleges and still graduated with my BS in only 4 years.

11. I am really praying Glenn gets into medical school this year because I am so tired of this waiting game but I am so thankful for all that God has taught me through these last 4+ years!

12. I really miss the Tuesday morning Bible study I went to at the Waterloo Rec when we lived there!

13. Both of my parents are in heaven with my Gram who was like a 2nd mom to me and my Savior Jesus Christ who I can't wait to meet in person!

14. I want to be an oak tree follower of Christ - with deep roots firmly grounded in God's Word and a strong trunk that is not easily swayed by winds or trials. (thanks Linda Dillow for that illustration that I just re-read this morning).

15. Speaking of Linda Dillow, the two books that have changed my life the most besides the Bible are books by her - Calm my Anxious Heart and Creative Counterpart.

16. I played piano and flute growing up and would love to learn how to play the guitar.

17. I love cooking healthy meals for my family and would love to teach others how through my direct sales business but need to get shows booked in order to do that. Ugg, I hate the phone!

18. I love the model of mentoring set up in Titus 2. I would love to have a mentor (and be one) but because we move so much I have never made the commitment.

19. I am addicted to facebook.

20. I love the Strong Museum of Play (especially the Berenstein Bears part!)

21. I love North Baptist Church and can understand why someone would want to move to Rochester just to be a part of it and am very sad that we will have to leave it someday!

22. I LOVE books so the libraries of the Monroe County Library System are some of my favorite places! There are regularly over 50 books on my card and it is NOT the kids fault - though they love books because of their parents.

23. This has been the first successful week of homeschooling that we have had all year and it is all do to a right attitude from the teacher (mom) a little planning, and checklists (that are the bad guy instead of mom).

24. My favorite food is Hawaiian Haystacks.

25. I hope that I never forget that this world is not my home, I'm just a passing through even when I have lived in one place for over 2 years!

Well, there's 25 random things.

God is at Work

As I write this Glenn is heading east on the NYS Thruway, I-90, on his way to Upstate Medical University for his interview and I am so thankful for all the people that are praying for him! This is the only interview that he has been offered at this point and we would love to go there! 

That is really on my heart but another thing on my heart right now is that I am SO thankful for the work that God is doing in my family. I know that we would not be where we are right now spiritually if it weren't for these many years of uncertainty and steps of faith that we have taken  through which we have seen God at work to get us to this point.  I love seeing God at work in my kids. Whenever anything good happens the first thing out of Abigail's little 3 year old mouth is "Thank you God!" Even things I don't notice she is so quick to thank God for them. How it brings joy to this mommy's heart! 

This year I really wanted Caleb and Hannah to get into God's Word more. They memorize verses for AWANA but that program doesn't really challenge them to get into God's Word for themselves everyday so I thought I would look for something for them. Starting in middle school or so I had used the Word of Life Quiet Time diary to help direct my time with God for several years and it was really helpful for me. I have looked online for them before for the kid's ages but never bought them. I found some on ebay shortly before Christmas, a few of them from several years back that had never been used that someone was clearing out and I bought all that she had to offer. We gave them to the kids on Saturday and I sat down with them and talked them through the prayer section and what they would be doing everyday (reading a short scripture passage and doing an age appropriate activity based on it).  They were so excited and wanted to start right then but the reading started on Sunday so I told them that they could work on putting down some of the things that they wanted to be praying for and we could pray together. I loved listening to the things that they wanted to pray for. The first request they both put down was that Dad would get into medical school then that Abigail would believe in Jesus. Caleb wrote down Lydia that she would grow in Christ. Hannah's next request was that Abigail and Lydia and her own husband and Caleb's wife would believe in Jesus :). On the missionary page they both wrote down a request for the Thomas' family to catch "the Chisler" (a big rat that has been bothering them in their home where they serve God overseas). They went on to write many things that they were thankful for on the thank you page: grandma & grandpa's visit, a warm home, blankets, pillows, family, safety tools. I really don't think that they were given enough space on those few pages for requests and things to be thankful for! It's OK, we can staple in more pages :)  When we got home from church yesterday Caleb ran and got his quiet time diary to add a request for his friend Zach from church whose arm is broken. It was neat to chat with the kids too after they had done the first day and see what they had learned. I am excited about what God is going to do in their (and  my life) through this tool that we are using this year.

Another thing I am excited about is how God is working in Glenn's life. A lot rides on this interview today. We would love to go to Upstate but as he was reading his Bible this morning he was on James 4:4, "You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."  We have talked a lot over the last year and specifically recently from the series at church about people pleasing. I love that the song on his lips this morning was "I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold, I'd rather have Him than have riches untold...." You know what? Today is a big day. Glenn may get into Upstate but if that is not God's best plan for us we don't want it. I know that as he goes into his interviews today he is going to be himself and if that is where God wants him, He will work out the details.

These many years of waiting on God have not been easy but the song that rings through my heart this morning is "Through it all, through it all, I've learned to trust in Jesus, I've learned to trust in God. Through it all, through it all, I've learned to depend upon His Word." My God is so good and faithful and I trust Him. He has proven Himself over and over again. Thank you Jesus!

Family

Right now Glenn's parents are visiting us which is so much fun. We have only seen them once a year for the last three years around Christmas time and the kids are loving their time with Grandma & Grandpa. We aren't around family much, mine more than his because mine is closer, so we try to make the most of the little snippets we do have with family. God has really been impressing me lately though of the fact that, though I do not have blood family that I see often I am so blessed to have "family" close by. Last month at Vertical Worship during communion Brad Files was talking about how he is closer to some people that he has absolutely nothing in common with besides being a fellow follower of Christ than people that went to the same school, like the same movies, do the same job, etc. I have been thinking about that a lot lately. I love that about the family of Christ. Every Sunday I feel like I am going to a family party when I go to church. I am always excited to go to church, not just because I know that I am going to be fed spiritually and get to serve but I get to see people that I love and that love me and my family. I am not related to anyone that goes to North but am closer to many people there than people I am related to.

I don't get out much but last night, since Glenn's parents were here, I decided to go with Glenn to the last night of work party for another one of his co-workers who is leaving his floor. Sitting there I was struck once again with how thankful I am for North and for Glenn and for being part of the family of Christ. God has shown me again and again that no matter where He lands us or for how long He will provide all that we need and one of my needs is a support system. Everywhere that we have lived that has not been near family He has provided family for us at our church, first at Highland Park Baptist, then Fillmore Wesleyan and now North Baptist. I can think of special families that have adopted us like the Francis family in Chattanooga, the Hahns, Cronks, Deans, Masts, Nafzigers, Keelers/Woodards and many other families that we became part of when we lived in Houghton and here our small groups and so many others that have had an impact on our lives. I love having adopted families. I am so blessed. Besides having people that I am related to by blood and by marriage we have countless families that have invited us to be a part of their lives that are as close as, or closer than "real" family. I guess that I don't really know where I was going with this but if you are one of those people I just wanted to say how thankful I am for you. My life is so much better because God has brought you into our lives. Thanks.

Hawaiian Haystacks

Last night we had Hawaiian Haystacks for supper. It is one of our favorite meals and I am often asked for the recipe so... here it is!

The sauce can be made two ways, I usually use the 2nd way b/c it has less salt but the first way is easier so I will give you both:

Sauce option #1:
2 (10 oz) cans cream of chicken soup
1C chicken broth
2C diced cooked chicken
Stir together in a pan and simmer until heated through

Sauce option #2:
Saute 1 onion chopped (and optional 1/2 green pepper) in 1/4C margarine or chicken fat skimmed from broth until soft.
Add: 1/4C flour. Stir and cook until bubbly.
Add: 2C chicken broth, 1C milk, and salt & pepper to taste.
Cook stirring constantly until smooth and thickened.
Add: 2-3C diced cooked chicken (and optional 1T chopped parsley)
Heat through.

At the table have bowls of:
chow mein noodles
diced tomatos
chopped celery
chopped green peppers
chopped green onions
pineapple chunks
shredded cheddar cheese
slivered almonds
coconut

Let everyone stack their own toppings on the base of rice and chicken gravy - yum! Everyone gets to eat only what they like! Enjoy!