My Liz list.

My Liz list. In honor of her birthday, because she's so awesome. And she likes randomness. And because she likes lists.

*She came 2 weeks early!
*I didn't get to hold her for the first 48 hours, because I had fever. We still bonded :)
*She had her days & nights mixed up as an infant. Good preparation for now.
*When she was about 5, she was holding the baby while I did the dishes. He got cranky and I said "I'm coming." But I didn't come, until she asked, "Mommy, do you love the dishes more than you love your baby?"
*Liz likes to help others. I have a picture of Liz standing in the washer. She was too young to reach in and get the clothes out, but she found a way to help. I also have a picture of her ironing. I think she was 6.
*Liz refused to admit that she knew how to read, until she was about 7. I think she knew sooner, but didn't want to make anyone else feel bad. A sad day for me was when she was reading a novel and didn't even look up as I walked by with a huge load of laundry. Up until then, I hadn't folded clothes alone. She was always up to it, as long as they were fresh out of the dryer!
*When she was about 8 or 9, someone asked Liz what her favorite verse was. We expected to hear John 3:16 or something familiar to kids. Her answer: Well, that changes. But right now, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9" (Thank you, Awanas.)
*As a teen, Liz was extremely tolerant of my dad's dementia and failing health. I saw a strength in her that I needed in my own life. Around this same time, I saw that she valued the wisdom of older people, like her grandmas & grandpas. But others, too. For that I'm thankful.
*She sings when it's least expected. And loudly. And somehow makes the rest of the people around her join in!
*She got a passport before I did. And she used it before I used mine!
*Liz studies. That's how she learns. It doesn't come easy, even though it might look easy, it's not.
*Liz & her sister Ruth are best friends. OK, I'm choking up now.
*Other things. Journaling. Thrift shops. Photography. Chocolate. Milk. Letters, handwritten. Coffee. Mugs. Teas. Straws. A good ol' Mason jar suits her just fine.

There's so much more I want to say, but I'll save it for another day. And at that time, I might add pictures, because she does love pictures!

Brave Heart

I wrote after Liz left for a semester in Niger...I turn to it often...

Brave Heart
©2008 Eva Wilson

v1
The gift God gave me years ago is walking away
A strong arrow of my quiver is flying today
Spreading your wings ~ feeling the breeze beneath you
Knowing the Almighty One will carry you through

chorus
Brave heart, following God’s call
Whole heart, offering your all
Kind heart, eyes of mercy, go and share your smile
Brave heart, brave heart, I’ll see you in a while

V2
A tiny seed God planted is deep in my heart
A faith in Him to watch over you, wherever you are
Getting on my knees ~ down there I’m never alone
Knowing the Almighty One will help me to become

Chorus 2
A brave heart, following God’s call
A whole heart, offering my all
Your kind heart, eyes of mercy, I can almost see your smile
Brave heart, brave heart, I’ll see you in a while

10 Things That Make Me Think You're Going to Be OK :)

As I reflect on the last few months, as David prepared to leave for his year in India, there were a few "aha" moments that made me think/know he'd be ok...there are so many more things than what I will say here, but this is a start.

I dedicate this blog to my amazing son, David :)

10)You are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes. Faith.
9)You surrounded yourself with awesome friends/mentors/mentorees. All of them have built you - into who you are. You checked in with the grandparents, without being asked to! Wisdom.
8)You listened to everyone's spiritual and practical counsel during your going away party. And didn't argue, or offer a better idea. You just nodded and said "I'll do my best to remember that." I've heard it put like this: "Recognizing that it is actually God and others who are responsible for the achievements in my life." Humility.
7)You woke up before me this morning. That's a first haha ok, yes, you know it's true! Initiative.
6)You packed a 49.5 lb bag, filled for people who asked you to bring them stuff. And paid about $1/lb for it without complaining! Generosity.
5)You weren't afraid to tell facebook about how you fell down the stairs on one of the most important days of your life. Enthusiasm at its best!
4)You didn't blink when the strap on your new duffel bag broke before you even left home. Flexibility.
3)You insisted that you hadn't seen your passport today. Combo comedy/freakinoutedy.
2)You wanted a Chick-fil-A sandwich & a large sweet tea on the way to the airport! That's my boy! And you limited it to only 1 meal. Self-control.
1)You didn't look back once you got to the security point at the airport. You can be sure that your dad & I stood there until those nice people at security asked us to leave! That's security. Structuring your life around that which is eternal and cannot be destroyed or taken away. Security.

I want to be like you, David. And if I can, I will in turn, become more like Christ. Thank you for pointing the way, all along the way.

You are loved! You are sealed!

John 6:27
"Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal."

Honk if ya love Jesus

Confession, yes, that was me, sitting on Woodland Hills Dr, honking at a car whose driver stopped right there in front of the middle school to pick up her child & her child wasn't anywhere in sight. That's a lane, woman. Not a parking lot. Please don't smile and wave me on around. I can't see when I'm honking :)

(For the record, I don't know where I learned to honk. It certainly wasn't Barry. I don't remember my folks ever honking. I guess I've ridden in the car with my kids just once too many) :)

And Jonathan was with me. He starts drivers' ed classes tomorrow night. This should be fun. I can see him now, honking at cars instead of graciously making a detour, like his mom taught him :)

Favorites...

After I lovingly HURRIED the husband & kids out the door, I sat down & read LOVE in the Bible. Here's some of my favorites:

Notice the first mention of "love" is when God required Abram to give his only son!

Genesis 22:2
He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you."

Deuteronomy 7:9
"Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments."

Psalm 146:8
The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; The LORD raises up those who are bowed down; The LORD loves the righteous."

Proverbs 15:17
"Better is a dish of vegetables where love is than a fattened ox served with hatred."

Mark 12:29-31
Jesus answered, "The foremost is, 'HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD;

AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.'

"The second is this, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

John 15:8-10 "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love."

Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 13:8 "Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law."

Galatians 2:20
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."

Ephesians 4:15
"But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ."

1 Timothy 4:12
"Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe."

Hebrews 13:5
Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU."

1 Peter 4:8
Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

1 John 3:16
We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Jude 1:21
"Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life."

Revelation 12:11
"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death."

2010.

I love numbers (ya know!!) and I thought it was funny that some of 2010 came in groups of 2.

2 of our kids accepted Christ, and were baptized…Hannah & Stephen (and we’re thankful that all the other kids were able to attend)

2 graduates…David graduated from Kingwood Park High School. Liz graduated from SFASU.

2 kidney sonograms (but all’s well…it was just really weird)

2 kids DIDN'T change rooms. All the rest did! What a mess...

2 ER visits (glad that’s behind us!)

2 “Getaways” – Barry & I celebrated our 25 anniversary in Gatlinburg, TN, and also spent a few days in Richmond, VA

2 Songwriting trips – "Write About Jesus" in St. Louis, MO & "You Can Write a Song" in Nashville, TN

2 girls working overseas!!!

2 girls taken off our auto insurance (ok, so, yes, I HAD to mention this!!!)

And last, but not least, 2 grandbabies! Not born, but HUGGED!!! We welcomed Jacob’s little brother, Levi, into our lives…what a precious gift LIFE is! Thank You, Lord!!! The boys are such a joy!!! Barry and I love being grandparents!

Then there’s the number 1. The number of cars added to the fleet. The number of vans we retired (I understand Old Blue is in Oldsmobile Heaven). The number of fender-benders in 2010. The number of teen drivers added to our insurance...oh, I should’ve quit while I was ahead…