Alaska

This summer, Blair and I had the opportunity to travel to Alaska with a mission group from our church.  We went to work at a children's music and arts camp.  

Sitting here back at home a week later, I still can't wrap my head around the majesty that is so prevalent in Alaska's landscape.  I also can't even begin to fathom how dire the need of a Savior is among it's people.

              "As the deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God." Psalm 42:1

"For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."  Isaiah 55:12

"Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains into singing!  For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted."  Isaiah 49:13

 "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul.  He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake."  Psalm 23:1-3

"O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!"  Psalm 8:9

"I lift my eyes up to the hills.  From where does my help come?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth."  Psalm 121:1-2

"Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.  Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever." Psalm 111:2-3

"Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends for the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.  Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgements are like the great deep, man and beast you save, O LORD.  How precious is your steadfast love, O God!  The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings."  Psalm 36:5-7

Visiting Alaska was truly a remarkable experience and being allowed to get to know some of it's people a true privilege.  I could never come up with enough words to adequately describe our experience there.  I consider it an honor that I was was chosen to witness God's mighty hand move in powerful ways.

The Great Conductor

Now, I realize that many of you (my husband included) probably thought this was going to be a post about him.  You are mistaken.  While he is indeed a great conductor, we'll make that a post for another day.

...........

Saturday there was a rare occurrence in our home.  The dog let Noah play with him.  Not that Murray isn't a friendly dog, because he is.  He would just rather lay on the hearth and stare out the window all day than let a two-year-old beep his nose and giggle repeatedly.  

For whatever reason, Murray decided Saturday morning that he needed to drag his favorite toy out of the depths of the laundry room and be playful.  Perhaps it was the cooler weather.  He and Noah tossed and played catch for several minutes, until Murray found himself backed into a corner and staring into a very small face.  Noah immediately began imitating his daddy.  

"Sit, Murray."  "Lay down, Murray."  "Stay, Murray."  However, the dog's good humor does know it's limits, and this was not going well.  I could hear the pitch rising in Noah's voice, so I silently stepped in to intervene.  

Noah: "Sit, Murray."  Murray sits.  Fits of giggles.

Noah: "Lay down, Murray."  Murray lays down.  More fits of giggles.

Noah:  "Stay, Murray."  Murray stays.  Dancing ensues.  

What Noah didn't realize, is that I was standing a few feet behind him giving Murray the silent hand signals we used to train him.  He doesn't need to be verbally told to sit, lay down, or stay.  He just needs us to use our hands and show him what to do.

We silly humans often pride ourselves on being able to make things happen.  We plan, toil, and celebrate our achievements regularly.  We're pleased when life goes our way, and we're just sure that we made it happen.  Meanwhile, what we don't realize is that off to our peripheral (where quite often we have placed Him), the Maker of All Things is conducting the entire show.  

"Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.  The LORD hath made all things for himself."  Proverbs 16:3-4a

Home Sweet Home

Due to a series of God-sent events over the last several months, my parents are moving to Knoxville today and tomorrow.  So, if you will indulge me, I would like to share a few thoughts with you this morning about my family's dear, sweet home of 23 years:  2221 Stella Ruth Road.

Or, as I first knew it, Rt. 1, Box 354.  It's amazing how much change can creep and ease in over the years.  Trees come down, concrete buildings get covered in vinyl siding.  Children grow and leave.  And come back with their wife.  Or husband and baby.  And dog.

This house has held many special places to me over the years.  The yard, where I learned to ride a bike and drive a lawnmower.  Where I spent days at a time with my sweet Lindsay friend swinging on the swingset and singing.

The bedroom where I had many sleepovers throughout the years with that same childhood best friend.  The dining room where I spent countless hours learning to play the piano.  A skill that I cherish and use daily.  The kitchen where my mother taught me to cook.  My husband thanks her for that on a daily basis.  And the living room where I sat on December 27, 1995 and accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior.  

These last several months have taught me that home isn't about the roots you put down or where your memories are made.  It's about what kind of roots you put down and the sweetness of those memories.

Mysterious Ways

Three weeks ago, I was robbed in town.  I eventually got everything back except my wallet, Little Man's vaccination record, and my brand new iPhone 4.  

Friday on Lankford was a looooong day.  Little Man is working on four molars, a snotty nose, and upset tummy.  Mr. Chadwick has school, soccer practice, musical theater rehearsals, and concerts.  We're very busy and very cranky.  At 6:15 Friday evening, we were trying to eat a very fast supper, get a tall man into a tux and out the door, listening to a screaming toddler, and watching the dog make a very big mess on the carpet because no one had had time to take him out.  The door bell rang, and I threw a temper tantum.  After 27 years, I'm still pretty good at that, unfortunately.  It was a friend of ours from church.  My tantrum actually escalated at this point, believe it or not.  After telling me that she didn't mind the incredibly large pile of dog mess on the floor (which really didn't make me feel better), she reached into her pocket and pulled out something small, asking if I recognized it.  It was my phone.  The brand new iPhone 4 that had been stolen three weeks ago.  In perfect condition.  Here is (a paraphrased version of ) her story:

"I was on my way home from work when my phone rang.  When I answered it, there was a man on the line who asked if I was the same B---------- R--------- who lives on --------- Road.   I said I was.  He said he was my garbage man.  I thought I'd forgotten to pay my bill or something.  He asked if I knew some Chadwicks.  I said I did.  The gentleman said he'd been at Wal-Mart and a man he didn't know asked if he wanted to buy a phone.  The gentleman thought something might be up with the situation because the phone didn't have a charger with it.  He turned it on and saw a picture of a very cute little boy.  The little man took it into the store on some pretense and saw a message on the phone that said something about it being stolen.  He looked through the contacts and saw B----------- R------------ in it.  He went back out to the man trying to sell it and told him that Wal-Mart had run the serial number and the phone was stolen.  the seller took off running.  The gentleman took the phone home and called me (B-------- R------)." 

Our friend then went to a rather rough part of town and picked the phone up.  The gentleman said he had had several things stolen from him in the past, and wanted to make sure that whoever had been robbed got back their stolen property.  After she left I called the police to report the phone had been returned to me.  They were amazed, as was I.  I also felt pretty silly for that tantrum.  Maybe one of these days I will learn...

I never expected to see that phone again.  It's very easy to think that God isn't answering our prayers when it takes a while to see a result, forgetting that "Wait" is every bit as much a response as "Yes" or "No."  I hear "Wait" alot.  I'm pretty sure it's because I'm impatient.  (And hard-headed, apparently.)