Children's Story: Love

I was asked to give the children's story this week in church and I wrote this. It is a little disjointed because it helps me not lose my place when I'm speaking.

What is love?
Did you know that God tells us to love each other?
1 John 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
So, if we love one another we can know God!
Now, I'm going to tell you a story that happened to me when someone VERY UNEXPECTED showed me love and compassion.

One time when I had spring break at school in TN and I wanted to come home to my parent's house in NY. I had to drive 14 hours all by myself from TN to NY, so I got a good nights sleep,  woke up really early, and started on my way. I was following my GPS until the road it wanted me to use was under construction and the detour was closed off. So there I was in the middle of Knoxville, a big city, and I was lost. I wanted to find a place to pull over so I could call my dad and figure out where I was. I was weaving in and out of the streets and could not find a parking spot that didn't require money util...

Oooooh there it was! a nice open parking lot. I drove up and stopped and immediately called my dad and started crying because I was all alone and lost in a very stage place. I had my map out and my GPS and I was trying to figure where I was then, I heard a loud TAP TAP TAP TAP on my window.
 I looked up and realized that I had parked in a parking lot that had a giant cage at the end of it and there were motorcyclists inside the cage like structure smoking and standing around. All of them were not friendly looking. I opened my door and in a harsh burly voice this long haired motorcyclist started to say, "You shouldn't be here...." then stopped what he was saying and changed his voice after seeing my tears and in a sweet sympathetic voice he said, "are you lost?" in tears I nodded yes and cried even more. He then proceeded to ask me where I was going and saying, "oh please don't cry it will be ok." Once I told him where I was going  he gave me directions and started cheering me on like, "you can do this, just go up this street turn right and keep going till you reach Ohio! and  you'll see signs for PA... and take this to NY."

I started backing out of the parking lot following his instructions with my window down and going down the street wiping my tears away and following his directions and you know what? He was running along the side walk cheering me on and repeating his directions he gave me before. He started moving his hands where I should go and when I was on my way I could still see him in my rear view mirror giving me, not one, but two thumbs up!

You know I was so scared of him in the beginning, but then he started showing me love an compassion and showing me where to go and cheering me on and motivating me that I couldn't help but feel so grateful and loved.

Jesus tells us to love one another by showing it to others.

1 John 3:18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

That is what Jesus did right before he died for us- he SHOWED us his love. He told the father "take this cup from me"  he didn't want to die, but he then said it isn't my will that needs to be done, but your will or the heavenly fathers will.

So this week I challenge you to SHOW love to each other. to do the dishes or clean your room before your mom tells you to, or maybe even giving your sibling a back massage or write a card and send it to someone you know needs encouragement. There are so many ways to love one another that is what makes it fun!

When you feel like you can't do it just pray to Jesus and he will give you the strength to do good.

Let's Pray: Dear Jesus, Thank you so much for showing us love even when you didn't want to die you did it anyway and saved us from our sins.  We thank you also for giving us the chance to show other people in our lives love.  And we ask that when we don't have the strength to want to love that you  give us the desire and compassion to love others. We love you Lord, Amen.

Tape on the Window

   I'm in the food service rotation of the internship currently and it is, honestly really fun. It's lot of projects. For example, This coming week I have a theme meal to prepare where I essentially take over the kitchen and cafeteria by following their budget, making a menu, ordering the food, managing the staff, and decorating for my theme.

   The kitchen is filled with what you would classify as blue collar workers and it feels like one big family. That is why I like it so much. Everyone works together to get one task done. Working with clinical dietitians is great, but you miss out on working with a team. Yeah there is the health care team, but it's not quite the same. I love the atmosphere in the kitchen.
Today we found out that HFAP was coming in response to a complaint to inspect the kitchen. Cheryl, the Kettering nutrition network manager, was running around making sure everything was cleaned and up to code. If a manger is worried about cleaning you better believe the intern is cleaning her every worry.

   My favorite task was cleaning the windows that were on the double doors as you enter the kitchen. They were loaded with tape that had been there for years from different signs they put up to inform the workers about events and it just was never completely removed. As I work I contemplated my recent revelations from God and how I am much like the tape that has been on that window for years. I too get signs, or truth, from God like news flashes about important events. But instead of sticking to his words and signs, I get stuck to the different surfaces and environments that I should be proclaiming the message to. Then one day the words are gone and half of me is living on the words of God and the other half is living on the window, or the world. I feel so see-through and alone, yet there are so many other pieces of tape that live there.

   A house divide cannot stand. Recently, I heard a message about the sanctuary and how it is God's blueprint. I no longer want to be split- one side of me in the world and the other in the Word; No. There is a movement going on and I'm on God's side. We are in the end times and I'm not going to chance anything for my opportunity to spend eternity with God. No music, attitude, habit, indulgence, TV show, belief, friend, or anything else in my life should be of Satan. The sanctuary message is so practical and clear regarding the christian daily walk. Just like entering the sanctuary daily and encountering each piece of furniture: we are to accept the sacrifice of Jesus daily which relates to the alter of sacrifice, the lavar is where we should daily die to self, we should continually pray and accept Jesus as our intercessor corresponding to the alter of incense, the 7 candle sticks lamp is showing us we need to daily share our faith to others, and the arch of the covenant is showing that we need to keep the commandments of God.

   Pulling the tape off the window was my favorite job today. Free from the world is the best thing I have ever done. This world is tasteless. So far it has been a really interesting experience. It's hard to relate to a lot of people because I don't watch TV or listen to their favorite music and for some people that is their life. When our apartment manager found out that we don't watch TV and at the time we were still waiting on my parents to bring their old furniture set down she was speechless for 30 seconds then said, "this is what you need to do to have a good time, go out and buy yourselves some furniture on credit and a TV and you need to watch this show where a murderer is planning peoples deaths. It's the funniest thing and you'll love some real entertainment!" that has to be some of the worst advice I've ever gotten. The world is so backwards. I'm beginning to feel more and more peculiar.

There is a movement. Choose wisely.

1 Peter 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

The Ted-Mister!

I forgot to post about Teddy! 

Teddy is our somewhat moody fish that takes residence in our living room. 

He is an introvert at heart.

He is easy to read. If he doesn't like the amount of food you gave him or the size of his little pebble of food he will simply spit it right back out. 

He likes to be watched. 

He doesn't have very good self esteem some days because when he sees himself in the mirror he gets pretty upset. (hehe)

I think he is afraid of bamboo because when he gets daring he swims through the bamboo really really fast, but most of the time he avoids it. 

Hope you enjoy him as much as we do! :)

3rd Grade Lessons

For one of my community internship requirements I got to teach a nutrition class to 3^rd graders. Those 34 impressionable minds were all mine for 30 minutes. I had my lesson planned and practiced. Everything was set up and ready. I honestly don't remember everything that I was taught in 3^rd grade. I thought they would have herd of diseases and medical problems that their grandparents might have. I was taking a chance that my audience would nod and smile when I said vegetables can lower your risk of type 2 diabetes. At least that was what I was used to in college. I learned a lot of new things today...

3^rd grade and college are worlds apart. Of course the boy in the front row says, “umm umm what is diabetes?” Gulp. How can I explain diabetes to a 3^rd grader? Do they know about cells or hormones? I started to talk and all I know is that I said hormones, insulin, sugar, and cells a lot which seemed to satisfy the wondering mind.

3rd  graders are so willing to share. After explaining that vegetables were low in fat and low in calories, I moved on to fruits. I finished with “Fruits are low in fat and calories just like what other group?” 75% of the hands went up just like normal and I called on a boy. His answer was “My brother likes fruits, but I don't eat them very much.” It fit so well to say that in their world. It made me smile.

3rd graders are willing to participate. I think it is interesting the older we get the less we want to be up in front of people. I also thought it was interesting that 3^rd graders raise their hands even when they don't know the right answer. The main goal is just to get picked.

It was certainly a fun learning experience. My favorite part of today was talking about the grain group. I started out with, "we want to make 1/2 our grains whole." and I ended with, "Is white bread a whole grain?" A resounding yes swept across all of their lips. I smiled and said, "nope" and I heard a collective gasp by the audience. I had to revive the troops again by telling them that all the benefits of whole grains are found in brown bread. "I don't like that stuff though" I heard. I guess I didn't do a good job in reviving them, but I hope they remember to choose it next time. 

I Now Pronounce you MR. and MRS. Macomber...

The Wedding Day: 

     In the morning it started out down pouring. The wedding was outside and wasn't until 4:56pm, but the forecast wasn't very promising. We prayed it would let up for the wedding. My mom never slept that night and with some of our super amazing friends were at the reception area at 4am setting up. It was still raining when I arrived at the hotel were all the girls were changing and getting ready around 3:00pm. Then at 3:30pm the clouds broke and the rain stopped and it was just misting which we decided to have it outside anyway. The day only got sunnier and sunnier from then on. It was the perfect temperature. Everything was better than I imagined it. With the help of friends and family mostly everything was hand-made and had a personal touch. 

    At the reception we had an agape feast which was all prepared by friends and family. The food was amazing, the company was amazing, and the weather was amazing. It was an awesome day and will always remember it. But by far, the best part is getting to enjoy a lifelong relationship with my best friend and true love.

One last hug before we walked down the aisle.

I just love this shot. the rose peddles were from the roses I would get from David every Friday (and still get every Friday.)   

David dipped me for the kiss.

Christen was such a help! She handed out programs and had people sign the picture frame as our guest book.  I was so glad she was a part!

they held hands the whole way. 

We took most of our pictures here. It was so pretty! 

David and his bow-tie. (Hehe!) Isn't he so good looking!

we walked to the reception since it was just across the road. We saw the swings and couldn't resist! 

the centerpieces.

we were nice to each other. 

The cake! It was red velvet yummy-ness, and that is coming from someone who doesn't like cake. It's really small because we had a whole dessert table filled with cheesecake, and any kind of pie you can think of!

My Dad sneaked a kiss in front of the camera.

This is one of my favorite shots of David and me. I had no idea our photographers were taking the picture. 

Our flower girl and ring/bible boy were so good. they stood up front the whole time  even though their moms were in the front row. They were adorable :)

The structure David and I stood in front of was built by my dad. 

My little cousin, Kellen, rang a bell and ran down the aisle with this sign right before my dad and I came down. It was too cute. 

I gave this handkerchief to my dad right before the ceremony started. It totally caught him off guard and my funny-always-joking dad was almost in tears. He showed everyone at the reception and even carried it to church a couple of Sabbaths after the wedding to show people who couldn't make it to the wedding. 

This was the bible McLane, our ring/bible boy carried down the aisle. It is really special to me because it is the bible my Grandma Van Gelder gave to me.  

These were the wedding programs all 200 were hand cut and folded. It was a lot of work and couldn't have done it without my cousin, Jessie, all her friends, and my good friend Jamie.

I love this picture of my sister, mom and I. This was taken on a balcony over looking the lake right after all the rain stopped before the ceremony :) 

My Mom and I. Without her I wouldn't have had a wedding. She found the location, arranged all the flowers places where everyone was staying, and got all the decorations. I'm so lucky she helped out so much!!

Grandma's Goal

    My Grandma has been in the hospital since January. That's 6 months now. When she went in for surgery on her hiatal hernia the doctor nicked a part of her bowel and the whole area got infected. The doctor then went in to remove the graft they put in, since it was infected, then he nicked another portion of the bowel during that surgery. It's amazing she is still alive. A fistula formed between her bowel and the skin. She has been in the hospital waiting for it to heal without another infection. The terms I was studying in my medical terminology book was spilling into my life with every phone call from home.

    I was finishing up my last semester in college when all of her surgical procedures happened and a large part of her healing process. I felt so disconnected and useless. I called once on her birthday, but as I was applying for my internship, studying for tests, and working, I only made time for grandma in my prayers. The things that I felt were nothing compared to my grandma's life were consuming my time.

   I felt disconnected in other ways too. So many good things were going on in my life. I got engaged, passed my four year comprehensive test, got and internship, graduated from college, and yet when I called home it was more bad news. Grandpa had cancer, got his bowel removed, and now has to change a bag for the rest of his life. Grandma's medicine was making her memory go and  she was very depressed. The people that made up the largest portion of memories in my life were slowly going downhill, and I was far away from it all. 

   Once I graduated, I came back home to plan the wedding, finish up a class, and get everything ready for my internship. The first time I visited grandma when I got back home she was doing well mentally and was in high spirits. Her wound had about a 1/2 inch to heal upwards over a large portion of her abdominal area, but she was making progress. The next time I visited she was discouraged and depressed. She thought she would never make it out of the hospital. The following time I came she thought that I surprised her and that I just got back from college. She hadn't remembered my visits before. I just got off the phone with her and she was asking me about the large gash that I got when I flipped the lawn mower on a bank where it rolled over me (praise God the blades were not facing me). She remembered that from when I visited her last. She told me she misses watermelon and being in a home and riding in a car- the simple things in life.

My Grandpa holding Grandma to comfort her.

   I am amazed with my grandma. She is truly a remarkable woman by hanging on so long to one day becoming better and walking out of the hospital. She inspires me to keep going in my everyday ho hum tasks of life. I thought I didn't have an impact on her and that she was so far away only my prayers would reach her, but through it all I found that, even though every visit was different, she has always told me, "I want to make it to your wedding." There are signs on her hospital wall that say things like, "Eat, drink, and walk to make it to your goal- Sarah's wedding." The whole time I was away I had no idea that she had made my wedding her goal. The doctor already gave her a one day pass for July 15th and I am so blessed to know that my grandma will be there supporting me in just another special way.

 

My Best Friend

I always want to be with him. He makes me laugh when he talks in funny accents at the grocery store and makes puns on just about everything he hears. He does the dishes and opens doors for me because he loves me. Sometimes when I am busy he comes up behind me and gives me a bear hug and smothers my cheek with kisses. He stands up for what is right and is a spiritual leader. He let me cry on his shoulder when I found out my Grandma might not make it. He listens to me when I talk about my day. He gets me a single rose every Friday with a special note attached. I can sing freely around him and say what's on my mind. I love him, and I thank God for giving me such an amazing best friend.