Jane Eyre and "Until We Meet Again Cake"

Good Morning Porch Pals!




It has been a long time since we were together. I've missed you, and move ahead this morning with excitement.


There is something I've learned this summer, and that is some journeys of the heart are not to be public, and some stories, although written, are not to be read by everyone. Since June I have been living those stories and will share glimpses of them.


One story might be titled, "Reconnecting." Another might be named, "Letting Go." Still another might be designated, "Growing Season..."


This morning I am still appreciating last night. I spent the evening with my Titus 2 Girl saying goodbye our way. She is leaving for college in a week. There have been going away parties, and more to follow (that's how much she's loved!) but I needed time to reconcile her departure in a more personal way. A meal, a movie, memories retold, and mitigated pangs of sadness.


The most recent "Jane Eyre" movie was dark and haunting. I enjoyed it very much and silently pleaded for Mr. Rochester and Jane to be together forever. 


We baked a rich, opaque, dark chocolate cake to go with the film, that is only crumbs on a plate this morning. The kitchen has been our gathering place. A spot to examine our lives, our theology, our relationships, our families, and our futures. The walls stow a myriad of moments. Teaching moments, tearful moments, silly, nonsensical moments!


Tonight we said goodbye our way. A girl's night! Chick flick and chocolate. God bless you, sweet friend! Until we meet again.




From the porch,




Alis 

How To Be a Glow Girl

Good Morning Sweet Friends!

The advertising agency said the cover would be glossy, like Glamour Magazine.
The premier issue would be calculatingly printed right before the holidays. The media specialist promised strategic placement. They were targeting female executives and research showed that these women were my marketing audience. I stared at the hot pink cover and read the ad copy.

"She is smart, savvy, ambitious, affluent and powerful. She spends time shopping, entertaining, at home with her family, actively engaging her body and mind, connecting with friends and reconnecting with herself...She is a key decision maker...She strives for greater success and personal fulfillment."

I couldn't pinpoint a reason right away for not being in the magazine. The world was attracted to a "Glow" reader.

I considered the following words that sounded something like Proverbs 31.
"She has the motivation and means to buy products and services that make her and her family's life easier and more fulfilling." I was beginning to be jealous of this woman.

Then it hit me. All of the attributes attached to this woman involved her head, her body, her energy, and her position. Nothing spoke of her spiritual life. I became fascinated with reinventing the "Glow Girl."

"She is a light and a prayer warrior. She is a prioritized, and purposeful evangelist. She is uplifting and encouraging and committed to those around her. She is not self-reliant, but reliant on the Holy Spirit. She is confident of who she is in Christ and sure of her position in his kingdom. She is full of integrity. She is a woman who glows."

Satisfied with my new demographics, I went to the Word. Romans 12:2 says,
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing, and perfect will."

As Christians we are "under new management." 2 Corinthians 5:20 states,
"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us." Our lives should be an ad that says, "You want this."

There are many talented professionals in the workplace that are successful, influential women. Many Christians. They have been given an opportunity to effect those around them. I have a beautiful friend who is a hard-working, skilled individual. She is striving to have a marriage retreat leaflet allowed in her office. I hope she is triumphant.

Going back over the ad copy, which was used as a springboard for today's post, and not as a dissension project, I hope that dear reader you will look at your demographics carefully and consider what is beautiful in God's eyes.

These notes were taken from a speaking engagement I was invited to a few years ago.

God Bless you,
Alis

Her Children Rise Up and Call Her...

September 2003


I am teaching the youngest to read. We have flash cards with "everyday" words on them. He holds the card with the word she written on top. I hear him sounding out the letters, "s,hhh,eh."

I look at him and say, "Sh."

He thinks that I am telling him to be quiet. This time he sounds out the letters in a hushed voice. "S,hhh,eh."

Again I say, "Sh."

Around and around we go and get an unrelenting case of the giggles.

I explain that s-h together makes a sound like shoe.

Next, he realizes that we have a card with her written on the top. He puts these two cards side-by-side and with a toothy grin and childish recognition he says, "Hershey's!"

Older brother is suddenly amazed by the kid in the overalls. He feels like they could be related after all.


September 2004

Youngest is staring at me and says," To tell you the truth, I think you're better than the President's wife!"


2005

Youngest is looking at a movie preview. "That program looks entertaining, but it's probably not appropriate."

Big words from a little guy.


Mothers, are you keeping track of the meaningful phrases and prose spoken to you from a child's heart? This is a gentle reminder.

Have a blessed day,
Alis

A Fragrant Home

Good Morning Sweet Friends!

The morning is already advancing with accelerating speed. My to-do list is longer than my get-up-and-go. Fernando Ortega echoes, "Give me Jesus..."
and I am taken by the song writer's petition for Christ at three specific events:
in the morning when I rise, when I am afraid, and when I go to die.

I have just received a shipment of merchandise for the baskets from one of my favorite vendors. Scented candles in all their welcome fragrance from Pure Integrity Candles.

As spring approaches and temperatures become milder I will delight in filling my home with the aromas of lemongrass, sage, honeysuckle, and lavender. I would love for my dear readers to enjoy these special candles. You might visit their website or order from me.

Did you know that God's word describes our service to Him as fragrant when it is offered in the right aspect. It is only pleasing to Him when it comes from a heart that presents it with joy. In my business, presentation is everything! So it is with God. Where are your motives this morning?

I believe that in the morning, when I rise, is the perfect time to petition Jesus. To ask for that grace that I will need today. To plead for the strength that I will require. To pray, boldly for his guidance and praise humbly for his gifts and his character. To want more of Him.

"But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere."
2 Corinthians 2:14

May your sweet service be an influence for his gospel today.
Alis

Child With a Garden Hose



Good Morning Sweet Friends!

Freely flowing, fast moving water, gushing into puddles beneath him. Garden hose stretching long in an exaggerated twist, squirting fluid without restriction. Grass and mud clothing his water-logged feet, and dripping ringlets of wet straight hair. Unconfined...

That's how I want to look. Even in this weak and worsening economy, I pray for hands wide open. Not open to grasp with selfish hands, open to pass on and move all that I can.

My grandmother once told me that we must never lose our spirit of generosity.

It's so easy to store shoe boxes in the ground.

I once knew a woman who gave generously. She gave with utter abandonment. Her home, her food, her time, her resources...it didn't matter because she never really took ownership of them to begin with. She understood that she was just using them temporarily.

I still have the crumpled, yellowing sheet of paper that holds the words that I had hoped to tell at her memorial. You see, the same day that Mimi died, a boy in Africa died from AIDS. His motto was, " Do all that you can, with all that you have, for as long as you can, wherever you are."

These two people, continents apart, lived their lives the same way.

Like a child with a garden hose.

Warmly,

Alis

Catching Up With Katy

Good Morning Dear Readers!

Last night we received a very welcome phone call declaring today a "Snow Day." To fall on a Friday means a long weekend and this delights the boys!

 I have just made peace with Wonderdog who completely irritated me this morning with a rompous fit over a loose dog in the yard. He has since warmly offered puppy kisses to my cheek, and I have given in, as usual, to those sparkling dark eyes.

As you are aware I have been reading "Stepping Heavenward", by Elisabeth Prentiss. I so enjoy this book and this author. The book is about the lifelong, spiritual journey of Katy, a fictional character, but someone that you and I can relate to. Her journey to godliness begins at age sixteen and that is when we are introduced to her and her family.

In 1838-1839 Katy becomes a mother. She is fascinated with baby Jotham Ernest, named after his father.

A close friend of Katy's shares a book with her titled, "The Imitation of Christ."
In that book are Four Steps To Peace:

1.) Be desirous of doing the will of another rather than thine own.

2.) Choose always to have less, rather than more.

3.) Seek always the lowest place, and to be inferior to every one.

4.) Wish always, and pray, that the will of God may be wholly fulfilled in thee.

I thought I'd leave you with that list over the weekend. And also leave you with a comment from Katy's husband. "When a man has been all day encompassed with sounds and sights of suffering, he naturally longs for cheerful faces and cheerful voices in his own house."-Ernest

It is not easy to become self-less. In the quietude of the snowfall, if we ponder the portion that is ours and thank God for that perfect piece that he has entrusted to us, our gratitude to Him enables us to want the best for the ones we love.

Today I pray that you will meditate on the eternal. If you are "cooped up" or snowed in, confined to four walls, thank God that you are not a shovel!

Blessings,
Alis

My Titus Two Girl

Good Morning Sweet Readers!

On this Valentine's Day I thought it appropriate to introduce you to my Titus Two Girl. She has spent the last year knitting herself into our family and into our hearts. I am so beholden to be this merry little maiden's "mum." After my mom's dreadful accident I felt like life had handed me a beginning, an end, and nothing in between. But this sweet girl has given my life a "middle." The glorious friendship we share means the world to me.

Let me tell how it started. We were both involved in the launch team of a new church. One night after a meeting, many months ago she asked if we could spend more time together. I raised boys and was not sure what to do with a young girl. I took it to prayer and immediately knew that the empty foyer in our home would make a lovely project for the two of us. We painted, and decorated, and laughed and shared stories.

The responsibility of teaching and training my new maiden gave me energy and creativity. It inspired me to be better. It gave me a reason for gratitude and celebration. It gave me the best gift- love for a daughter who is biblical, not biological. Although some have made the mistake of deeming us mother-daughter. Her mother is very important to me. She has done an amazing job with this gal. I am not a replacement, or substitute, nor would I wish to be. The most important personal relationship a young lady should have is with her mother.

My little maiden, who is college-aged, has given me someone to invest in. She has provided me an opportunity to obey God's word in Titus to teach younger women. She has healed great loss and void in my life. And, she has given me hope.

My first priority is always taking her to Scripture. I do not have a perfect life, nor perfect answers. To fill her mind with the recommendations and suggestions of Alis would be far too cheap. I want the best for her and must always point her to Christ. We share girl-talk and exchange thoughts and ideas all the time. But I have learned how weighty words are. I pray my words are few.

There are so many activities to include a Titus Two girl in. I find fresh ideas daily.

Lastly, please understand that I could not pour myself into this maiden without being flowed into myself. There is a trickle-down effect. I have a couple ladies in my life whose guidance and maturity help develop me. In fact Marie, Lisa, and Diane are like pillars that support my whole structure. They show me who I am and who I want to become. They have already experienced the season I am in. I can trust their leading. And I love them deeply. Many others are praiseworthy.

Dear readers we have the skills and capabilities to change a young lady's life. Will you look closely to the young ladies in your circle or even in your church body and be an encourager to them. Perhaps it's a neighbor, a niece, a student...

I must close with extreme thankfulness for my boys. They have taken to this "adoption" with the love and kindness that I would expect from them. There is no jealousy or resentment, only friendliness and patience.

Someday when I am old I will sit in the garden watching her children play. We will take tea together and talk about these days. The days I was her "Claire" and she waited for her "Charlie."

Love you,
Alis

Stuck in the Mud

Have you ever been so thick in the mud that you walk out of your mud boots?
Do people ever make you feel that way? Have you ever needed to "take five" just to wipe off the mud and get your boots back on?

The next time you're stuck consider Elisabeth Elliot's words,

"When I looked at that person who had offended me

through the "spiritual eye", I saw in him

one of God's instruments to teach me,

instead of one of the devil's to torment me.

I saw something more.

I saw a person God loves, and whom he wants

to love through me."

I'll go get the hose. We need to do some wash'in.

Swinging with you sister,

Alis