Happy New Year! 2010 wow...

Blessings, friends, of all the hope of the coming new year! May God bless each one of you, abundantly above all that you could ask for or think about; May He make Himself so visible in His blessings that you will see His graciousness; May He give that peace that gives you all the understanding that your heart and mind so desperately desires. Amen!

New Years are like 'startovers' - sort of 'freebies' - to try it again, especially if it didn't go well in the past one. Yes, all the resolutions are often temporary, but there is always hope. "With no hope, the people perish..." We hope that the sun will come up tomorrow and we will have another try at this 'life' thing. We hope that we are leaving some sort of mark in this life, and that our lives count for something. As those who are 'in the Beloved', we are hoping for the life following this, where it all makes sense.

But, while we breathe, this life has our attention. Now, what, pray tell, will we do with those things which demand our care? Will we succumb to apathy when our beliefs are challenged or ignored? Or will we, having done all we can, stand firm and speak the Truth? Yes, these are the heady things of life, but, many of us never get past the tyranny of the urgent...cares of immediate need - food, bills, clothing, entertainments - you know, those 'can't live without them' things. I certainly am not saying ignore them, but keep them in their place.

Our culture is not used to looking beyond the immediate for goal resolution. It is more about the now, and from it, what satisfaction is gained. Legacy is ALL about beyond the now, but involves how we live in the now. What kind of legacy are we living in front of those we come in contact? "It's all about now!" or "The past is prologue" ?

May our new 'startover' give us a reminder, to pay more attention to the influence of goals farther out than the next new thing that captivates our minds. And may we keep our goals of standing as a legacy, not a stumbling block - as we await the passing of yet another year. Blessings, all!

Holidays 2009

I have often thought that the holidays were the worst time for funerals. Not so sure that I've changed THAT much, but this year, with several of these under my belt, I have had to change my thinking some. Surely, the loss of a family member at a time of celebration is never a happy thing, but one will surely remember them as they celebrate in the ensuing years. And one can hope, remember them celebrating...not leaving.

This year has brought two losses of friends for each Mike and I, with us being able to attend one memorial service - his friend. The fabulous musician was asked (and rightly so) to offer a musical rendition of "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" and "Amazing Grace" at the site, as the friend was an avid follower of his Jazz playing around here. After having asked the Lord to glorify Himself through his horn, it was beautiful, and the wife thanked us profusely. This writing, however, is prompted by another person we had the pleasure of meeting. Pastor Molly...an Episciple pastor who led the service.

Now, I have to explain myself here. I am from a long line of not particularly supportive of women pastors. I believe Scripture to address this and I will leave it at that. However, Pastor Molly was the first of said pastors I've seen who was really herself in her pastoral robes, and not a woman trying to prove herself in a man's role. Her service was totally Scripture based and full of hope of eternal life, evangelical in outreach, and very reassuring of God's care at such a difficult moment. I found myself asking God to bless her ministry as He so chose, for she was all about offering Him glory. Hmmmmmm...won't we all be surprised at the tightly held belief system that we ascribe to here on earth, being altered when we all "see as we are seen" by the One in Whom we believe!

Celebration of holidays is after all celebration of hope - recognizing the past joys, and looking forward to those in the future. While I know losing a loved one during these times seems like a tragic event to focus on, being brought together again as family, whether related, or the family of man, should cause us to remember with deep joy the time we have been allowed here with those we have loved - to redeem the time we have yet, with thanks to the ONE WHO LOVES US BEST.

Rite of Passage...

Today, we attended grandbaby Aubrey's baptism. Yes, we are Presbyterian by birth and upbringing, Calvinist in our doctrine, and Baptist in our church attendance. And, oh yes, we have a beautiful Jewish/Christian blended new branch in the family from Chris's Jessica! So, the outreach in our spiritual walk has many labels, but a heart of the love of God.

The baptism was held in her other grandparents home church, with the relatives from Texas in attendance, too! The charge to raise Miss Aubrey in the nurture and admonition of the Lord was to us all, from NC to Texas, to Alaska, and wherever else God flings the family! I'm sure the "longest distance" family was watching with pleasure, as well.

My father was a Presbyterian minister for 50 years, and had the delight of baptizing ALL of his grandchildren before God called him home. My children have bemoaned the fact that both grandparents are gone and that they left before their "big moments." Trust me, guys, when I tell you, no one misses them more than I, especially at your "big moments." It was, however, perfectly appropriate that your new granddaddy, Coach, held you and charged the congregation to pray for Aubrey and to encourage her growth in knowing God everytime she comes to their church to visit! The pastor was a mission-minded young man who gave a great message on loving audaciously and stepping outside the comfort of cautious caring.

And another wonderful serendipity that my son-in-law explained to me (speaking of Boppa, my pastor father)...the beautiful Maori melody hymn "Spirit of the Living God" was written in this same church back in the 1960's by a precious friend of my father's, Dan Iverson. Right there...in all of our celebration of family at Aubrey's baptism, the circle of our respective lives got a little smaller. Abba, You are awesome...the "long distance" folks really were there. ;o)

My heart is full...

This holiday season, while very different from past ones, has been characterized by a deeply felt gratitude to and from each member of my family. Not that we haven't been grateful in the past - it's just that with us all apart from one another, things said and done were from the heart and shared from love more especially this year.

I shared a story about losing a special friend right before the holidays, which certainly dimmed my outlook however briefly. And even in my loss and sadness, as our God is often known to do, a precious, precious gift was given to me by my son, in the same form of story - but this one about life, not death, about a future here, not just in the eternal. His story follows, and if you didn't read my story yet(two blogs previous "My Friend"), read it first, and have a Kleenex ready, too.

December 25, 2009

Once upon a time that same little nobody had three little bodies. Her first one was tall and dark and quiet, and his gift was reading people. Her second little body was small and dark and perfect, and her gift was relating to people. Her third little body almost wasn’t, but she was a fighter, and her gift was meeting people. Each one reflected parts of the little nobody, the little one with her dark hair and ready smile, the perfect one with her compassion and consideration, and the quiet one with his gift for reading people. He knew right away that she wasn’t a nobody, and never had been. She was a Very Special Someone. He grew up and went away, traveling around the world. He came back, dented and ragged and inked, and kind of lost. Rather than be alone, he found a partner he thought would be good. But he held her up next to the Very Special Someone, and she didn’t reflect anything. So he kept looking, working, and waiting. Later, he found another one, and he held her up to the Very Special Someone. This one reflected, but dimly, a small light to the Very Special Someone’s great blaze of light. He was tired, and so tired of looking, for all he found were flawed and broken. But in the middle of a dark and wintery time, he found another, across the world. She seemed perfect, dark and lovely like the Very Special Someone. But he had been fooled by dark eyes and hair before. So he worked to get her close to him, so he could hold her up to the Very Special Someone. And this time, when he did, the reflection was a mirror image! The same light and goodness, love, creativity and humor from the Very Special Someone was reflected in her. The quiet one knew he had found his very own Special Someone, because he knew what to look for from the nobody that was never a nobody, but instead a Very Special Someone. I love you, mom.

Me, writing, now. He is quite the wordsmith, yes? My heart is still full. I am so blessed, by all of my family. Thank you, Lord, for them all, each and every one.

Merry CHRISTmas, all!

This year, we are having a very different CHRISTmas. In years past, even in my own growing up, family being together was the absolute proof that it was indeed the holidays. Even as a young parent, we made the four and a half hour trip with child in tow, just to be where "the stockings were hung, by the chimney with care..." As my own children have past the teens (where they have to be with us!), all of us have been able to have our together time on Christmas Day. What a blessing and privilege that providentially we have been geographically close!

Well, things are beginning to change and, as parents, we expected this to occur MUCH sooner, but are more thankful than I can describe to have had the years all together.

As explained in earlier postings, our firstborn son packed up "life and limb" and moved to the frosty northern regions of Alaska. He is spending his first CHRISTmas in Los Angeles with his new family, who are THE most celebratin' folks I've ever known! He (they) have been enjoying gatherings for a week now, and show no signs of stopping! Go, family, go!

Our newest family member, grandaughter Aubrey, is spending a whirlwind time with her other grandparents and Texas relatives, with a stop off at her very own home to spend her first CHRISTmas at home with just Mom and Dad, then back with the relatives at Appy's house again.

Third offspring, Kiera, and her boyfriend, Scott, are expected here, at our place, for festivities sometime this afternoon. Presents, food, and games...all the regular celebrations at the Minguez household! Only minus a couple of regulars, WHOM we have spent the morning texting our greetings and happenings and plan a SKYPE visit with later today!!! Thank God for technology...and the ability to keep up with it, sort of...hopefully!

So, change has been relatively painless with all the phones and computers in working order. I must here and now, tell my children, if they read this, that Mom and Dad are doing great with the changes and we know that you are just the best!!! Thanks for keeping in touch as you are - from the shores of Californistan to the flatlands of Tarboro, even to right here in town. You are our gifts from God to ourselves and every year, we want to take the time to tell you so.

Oh, and by the way, lest I forget another significant something, the fabulous musician and the pretty good artist celebrated thirty-four years of a life sentence together - one that we each joyfully serve. May God be blessed for all of His great love and mercy poured out on us, not only for our time together, but for the Gift of His Son to this earth, an unfathomable gift, to save us from ourselves and give us life eternal. Merry CHRISTmas, one and all.

My friend...

I know that it is the holidays and I am envious of all of you who have kept up your blogspots and have pictures even now of the decorations and all, already posted. Maybe tomorrow...or the next day...

But, right now, I need to tell a story.

Once upon a time, a little nobody from no place special got the opportunity to meet someone very special - in fact, the very special someone that the little nobody got to meet was royalty - maybe not a queen exactly, but royalty none the less.

The little nobody was so excited that she was meeting the somebody! And even more so, when for some unknown Reason, the little nobody and the special someone became really special friends. They visited each others houses, they met each others' families, they even dedicated a monument together.

The special someone wasn't like a lot of special someones that get all selfish and self-centered. THIS special someone made every one around her feel special, too. She would share all she knew about special places and things in the world, she would even talk to lots and lots of people in their very own language because she could! We all know that special someones are gifted that way - to make others feel special, too.

One day, a very long time after the little nobody and the special someone had become friends, the special someone became very sick - very sick. Because special someones are special, they don't always like to share when they aren't feeling very special, so not a lot of people knew that the special someone was very, very sick. But the little nobody did. And she prayed and prayed that the special someone would get well and not be sick anymore, and that the special someone would ask the One Who made her special, to help her.

The special someone lived being sick with not so many knowing for a long time, but one day, she couldn't keep from showing that she was very, very sick anymore. She realized that she wasn't so special if she could keep herself from being sick.

And the time had come to meet the ONE WHO had made her special all her life. The little nobody was very, very sad when day came that the special someone left to go meet the ONE WHO LOVED HER BEST, the One Who had made the VERY SPECIAL PERSON what He wanted her to be to everyone she had met - and especially to the little nobody, who she had left behind.

The little nobody missed the special someone and trusted that someday, when the ONE WHO LOVES HER BEST comes to take her with Him, that the special someone who was her friend will be there with Him, too.

Goodbye, special someone; this little nobody has certainly been forever changed by your very special friendship. The end....for now.