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He kept his hands over my eyes tightly, and made me promise not to peek. Me struggling to mentally map out the porch so that I wouldn't fall.
"Now, open your eyes!" And there under the shade of the trees were two wicker chairs.
"Where on earth did these come from?"
"Up the street. A lady had them in her driveway. She said they were free."
"Did you talk to the lady?"
"Yes. There was a table too, but we couldn't carry it. She said we could have them."
"Oh my goodness! You carried these all the way home?"
"Yeah. They're old, white, and country...so I knew you'd like them!"
A tender short story written on my heart by the youngest, on our twenty-second wedding anniversary.
"There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God..."
Sitting in an old, white wicker chair, under the shade of the tall trees. Or on the porch, in the same chair, under little white lights, imitating fireflies in courtship.
Little Man learned from his father that the best surprises don't have to be new and shiny. Some of them, in all their finery come from the heart of a boy on a walk.
Warmly,
Alis
He can't wait to present it to me. The little flower on the front, with its' purple center and bright blue petals makes it just too cute to put away.
The front cover has the letters M-O-M written vertically, and horizontally they begin the words, Memories of Mom.
I've never shown him my little purple book, but he has witnessed the answered supplications throughout his young life. He has been protected, provided for and preserved.
And this is some of what it says,
Peanut M&M's with mom.
Mom takes me to the park and buys me a little pumpkin.
My seventh birthday party- pizza and "Inspector Gadget".
First day of school. P.S. Best teacher ever!
Me and mom go to Apple Hill for the day.
I take mom to get her a teacup, she loves it!
Mom helps me pick sunflowers out for grandma.
Thank you for believing in me so much!
My little book means more to me than anything. It takes me back to a time when a little boy fell in love with his mom. It reminds me of the instruction and training he had. Soon, his heart will belong to another. The little book is no more than 2" square, but it's enough room to stow my heart.
Warmly,
Alis
Salutations Sweet Friends!
I was just recollecting the weekend's activities. We witnessed a whirlwind of meaningful events. Precious readers, sometimes I say to myself, "Dear Memory, please make a pretty scrapbook page of this in my mind."
Some of the blessings I can recount:
The demure look on her face when she discovered I was carrying a birthday bag with chocolate pie inside.
A living room full of girls watching Tron!
A liberal compliment from a unprejudiced four year old who thinks that I smell like granola bars... (the good kind).
Two brothers asleep on adjoining couches who fell asleep spending time together.
A dog, a boy, and snuggling by the fire, waiting for dad to come home.
One light-hearted traveler home safe and sound, toting volumes of books and satiated with stories.
Cutting paper flowers from cardstock 'til my fingers hurt.
A charmed breakfast with two at a tasty spot in town.
Receiving a bag of favorites from Whole Foods from a pillar of support in my life. My best friend.
Homemade soup from my walking partner which coated a sore throat with pure delight! Sweet Potato!
The headship of a husband, exercising the kind of love that Christ did and does for his church.
Ripe pears ready to be made into a perfect pear cake!
An overdue conversation with my sweet sister and the satisfaction of catching up with her.
Blessings to you,
Alis
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 Blessed Morning To You!
"Hi, This is Alis from Comfort and Joy Gift Baskets. I have a very special delivery for you."
I don't want to sensationalize this story. What I do want is for the person who will answer that phone call to know that she was on her mother's mind. Her mother ordered the basket and then went home to be with our Lord a week later.
I want her to know the tenderness in her mother's voice as she described her to me. I want her to know that her upcoming birthday was important to her mother. I want to tell her, "She was thinking about you!"
I feel very passionate about this project. Even still, I hit walls in my efforts. There was a photo album in my mother's things after her accident. She told me several times that she was working on a special gift for me. She had created in her own way a picture story-book of my life. There were pages opposite the pictures where she had planned to write text. If the words were there, they would say she was thinking about me.
I have humbly asked God to help me with this very important work. Above all, I pray for the basket's recipient. I pray that she would know the comfort and joy I pack into that basket. From a mother, to a daughter, with love...
Please pray,
Alis
Betty Jane. You won't be familiar with that name, but I remember that shining star with hopeless devotion and great emotion.
That year we gave her an Oscar Party for her eightieth birthday. The red carpet, the gold, shiny statue, the limousine, the movie posters with her name next to Rhett Butler's... all of it!
The performance that stands out in my mind was one day when we grocery shopped for a very large meal in Colorado. The roads were snow packed and slippery and a truck was supposed to pick us up at a designated time. For one reason or another, the truck couldn't make it. I was young and muddled. Betty Jane went into the market and asked the butcher if he had a piece of rope and a large cardboard box. I could not have imagined what would come next! She moved here a little, there a little, tied this, and cut that...and built a sleigh! We walked home, trailing the sleigh behind us.
I've never known anyone who could make something from nothing the way that she did. Her knack for improvising and her industrious nature were beyond compare.
The Lucille grin, the infectious laugh, the out-of-the-side-of-her-mouth whisper all gave her star quality.
I'll never forget her.
Warmly,
Alis
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
Salutations Sweet Friends!
I was just recollecting the weekend's activities. We witnessed a whirlwind of meaningful events. Precious readers, sometimes I say to myself, "Dear Memory, please make a pretty scrapbook page of this in my mind." Life is an interrupted series of days isn't it. It is penetrated with joy and trespassed with pain. It is slow and purposeful and intensely speedy. I don't want to forget a single frame, but would rather store them in my head with pretty corners and lovely backgrounds.
So, please remember...
boys laughing so hard they couldn't speak, boys rolling on the floor with joyful giddiness,
Tiny fingers sifting through a first birthday cake, stained with pink frosting
and beaming, grinning parents,
red roses at a funeral home in honor of a friend,
little man pausing to send messages over the net in the middle of a sleep-over, just to say hello,
a congregation full of get well-wishers and
contented hugs from cheerful children hearing the story of baby Moses in a basket,
man-child covering the set-up and prep at church that the man couldn't do,
a late run for chicken and frozen yogurt with my true love,
a merry maiden in a bright yellow coat, smiling...
Thank you God for a weekend of memories.
What is in your scrapbook?
Warmly,
Alis
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
A Good Morning to You!
I hold the opinion that once a woman is ninety years of age she has received enough slipper socks, rose-scented milky white lotion, and chocolate-covered cherries to last a lifetime. She wears her "I Love Grandma" t-shirts under a chenille robe and has stacks of acid-free photo books next to her favorite chair. Her bookcases and decorative wall shelves are lined with figurines of cats and puppies and crosses and hand bells or collector spoons. She is full of pride when she speaks about her family and hesitates for a minute as she tries to recall the great grand children's ages. I want to be her.
The woman above has seen the seasons change. She was that new bride, the new mother, the keeper at home. Next, she was the grandma that offered to sit with the children so that mom and dad could have a deserved night out. When those children had grown and started families, she was the senior at the wedding, and then the great grandma that everyone talked louder around. She was lovely before, but is beautiful now because she has a cast of glory surrounding her. Hers is not a new journey beginning after the reception, but a slow walk to the end of a journey.
I hold the opinion that an appropriate gift for a woman who is ninety years of age is a thank you note. A handwritten token of affection for the woman who started our story.
Here is an excerpt.
Thank you for allowing me to help you so that I could feel trusted.
Thank you for your perseverance so that I could feel invested in.
Thank you for sharing family stories with me so that I could feel connected.
Thank you for loving my grandfather so that I could see what a relationship should look like.
For Christmas this year I sent my grandmother a thank you note.
I couldn't get to the mailbox fast enough. Those four scribbled notes of a lifetime of memories, stuffed in an envelope, a size too small, are the best present I could have ever given her. Someday, I want to be her.
Grateful from the veranda,
Alis
