My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip or be moved.
He who KEEPS you will not slumber.
{He who watches over}
He who KEEPS [His people] will not sleep.
The LORD is your KEEPER.
{the LORD watches over you}
The LORD is your shade on the right hand (the side not carrying a shield).
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.
The LORD will KEEP you from all evil.
{the LORD will keep you, guard you from all harm}
He will KEEP {watch over} your life.
The LORD will KEEP {watch over/guard} your coming and going
from now until forevermore {for always…}.
The question:What does it mean to be “kept”?
In awe of the Keeper…Jeanie
NOTE TO SELF: I can see He is not sleeping – so I can! Peacefully. He is at work on my behalf. Makes me start singing: You dance over me while I am unaware…He is KEEPING me…
Sometimes I look at Dave across the room and wonder if he is feeling as overwhelmed with awe and wonder as I am. There is noise and mess and laughter and teasing and general uproariousness – and we did this – on purpose. Dave and I created this crazy, wonderful mess. This is the fruit of hot passion and true love. This is the grace of God.
(pictured above, l to r: Stormie’s thoughtfully-wrapped gift for Tara; Averi pretending to be drawing on the chalkboard so she can get a taste of the chalk; deep fried pickles! Yes. Deep-fried pickles…and some homemade onion rings)
Bowling for Tara.
Saturday: Tara is not a birthday-cake-and-ice-cream-and-let’s-open-presents kind of birthday girl. No, no. She wants activity. Physical activity. And if there can be competition in there, all the better. Her birthday dreams are made of beach-ball volleyball tournaments or tetherball challenges or something with tennis racquets.
Because the forecast said “rain,” (which, btw – God, seeing on His calendar “Tara’s birthday,” sent a brilliantly dazzling and sunny day – the rain came after dark very beautifully), we opted to bowl for Tara’s birthday. We gathered for an early lunch. We bowled a couple of games. I found out Gemma (almost 2) is a better bowler than me and Hunter-the-informative (4), gave me tips to bowling better, along with a demonstration of how I was turning my wrist all wrong.
We came back to the house for strawberry shortcake and presents and blessings. Dave and I read our love letters to Tara out loud and we cried. That is hard to do, but it is good for your children to hear your love straight from your own mouth. It will keep them long after we are gone.
It was hours and hours of love and celebration. In the evening, DP pulled out the romance ticket and whisked Tara off to the Melting Pot where he had flowers delivered to the same booth they sat in 6 years ago on her birthday as they were madly falling in love. One of the gifts he is giving her is time in a recording studio to do some of their songs. Then, while we hung out with Hunter, they went to the new Star Trek movie (a must-see in our family!).
A couple of months ago I was worried about Tara turning 30 because she seemed so alarmed by it. But she ended up actually enjoying it. She felt honored and loved. She is THE most gorgeous (inside and out) 30-year old I know!
5 kids + their 3 loves + 5 grandkids (throw in a niece and nephew) = a blessed Mother’s Day!
Sunday evening: I had these 2 bamboo/cane stools for the breakfast bar we bought at Gordman’s when we moved in almost 7 years ago. The grand-bebes love sitting there during big family meals. But we have 5 of bebes now. We have been using an extra stool we have had for years, but still-it has become a scramble to see who will get to sit where. A few weeks ago I spotted some sturdy wooden stools at a very-very nice reduced price* at Target. I tossed the idea out to Dave and Stormie: Hmmm…maybe we should get these and just paint them black? They were very nonchalent and less-than-enthusiastic about the response. “Oh, yeah. Maybe.”
After the kids had fixed a great big BLT (the lettuce is welcome to come along, but the stars are the bacon and the Tomatoes…swine flu be darned!), fruit and veggies-with-dip meal for me, I was asked to leave the room momentarily. I came back in to my 5 little grand-bebes seated, with big, colorful bows atop their heads, on 5 matching (recently painted black) breakfast-bar stools. Oh yes! Less work for me! More space for my joys. I LOVE it!
I have now been informed that there is plenty of room for one more stool there should I get a 2010 grand-bebe, but after that I will have to move to have a bigger breakfast bar.
There was some very crazy card-playing (Pitch) where Rocky aggressively won by bull-crapping his entire way through. How we have not broken the Rocky code all these years, I do not know. He keeps us laughing!
SIDE NOTE:I stopped by youtube to re-watch my Mother’s Day present from last year (my kids singing my favorite Patridge Family song) and it seems the public wants more. There are comments saying they should sing and post some more and one person even suggested getting in on a family singing contest on an early morning news show where David Cassidy himself is one of the judges! Haha! Just in case you missed it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpDzazacUEw
Weekend over. Heart Full.
Stormie painted me a representation of the original 5 who made me a mom (and wow-three of those have brought me amazing “new” kids!). It is hard to see in the photo, but all of their names are on there with 3-d lettering. Stephanie bought me a gorgeous “little black dress” and the house, thanks to all the kiddos (including niece-Elise), looks like a flower shop – for all the flowers they brought me and each other to celebrate mommyhood. Loving the fragrant lilacs!
We are real people. We do NOT do everything right. We’re not even always that nice. In fact, we struggle, and fail and do it wrong at times, crying out to God for mercy, just like any other family…But we are a zealous bunch. We are loud. We are committed. And there is love. And you can’t get too much of that.
Until next time…Jeanie
NOTE TO SELF: I am so glad Dave chose me to be the mother of his children and that he is the father of mine. It is working for us.
It is a good thing to have a bright, sunny day when you are in the mountains (where I am currently, Estes Park actually). But it is not a good thing while you are in the mountains on a bright sunny day to have anything related to your bodily functions described as being “bright, sunny yellow.”
I hope this is not the work of the neighbor’s 2 cats (and btw-why is it OK for people’s cats to hang out in my yard, leaving their poo-poo and harassing my obviously “fraidy-cat” of a dog??). Why should my carefully prepared garden soil be an invitation for kitty-frolic? People, I implore you!
But for the past several mornings, my garden has been in disarray.
The onions have been pulled out (which I am able to plop back in: they are a hardy bulb plant and seem none-the-wiser that they have been messed with). And my 1″ high radish seedlings are half gone. Gone! Now the itty bitty tiny carrot seedlings were pulled out and of course, died in the sun (I am starting over), but half of my radish seedlings are gone without a trace. Not a leaf left lying. Some lettuce and mesclun, too. And I am blaming Bugs (as in Bunny)!
I have seen the little bunnies. Our neighborhood is full of them. Full! They apparently did not get the notice that this is no longer open farmland and that to stay will require a vote by the HOA.
You’d think our mangy Lady-in-the-Water*-looking dog would scare them away, but they still sneak back here – to my Eden, my little farm-in-the-dell, my back 40 (feet).
Peter had just better watch out…Mrs McGregor, aka Old Jeanie MacDonald
NOTE TO SELF: I will have veggies! God as my witness, I will have veggies!
*Referencing the “Lady in the Water” movie which was one of the lamest storylines ever from one of my favorite storytellers, M. Night Shyamalan (a bit of indulgence for the writer himself, I fear), but I still watched again recently because the characters are great and the setting is superb. Just a crappy story (but some great visual appeal), with a grass-mange dog-thing of some sort.
Elise-the-niece gave me a big bouquet of flowers for Mother’s Day (for being her Colorado mom-ish-type-fill-in-person) and some flower seeds and these adorable little garden markers she found in the dollar section at Target. They say you get 5 in the package, but mine had 6 – good times! They come with the marker and everything.
These are highly superior to the plastic picnic knives Gavin and I had used! Methinks we shall do some replacing…
I FIND THIS (very humbling) NOTE FROM TREDESSA: Please post on your blog:)
TITLE: To a mother who blogs from a daughter who doesn’t
By: Jeanie’s daughter, Tredessa
My mother usually starts off her children’s birthday blogs by remembering the day we were born; her first encounter with us; the beginning of our relationship. I can’t say that I remember that far back. I can never remember a time without her. It doesn’t exist for me. So I can’t say what my world was like without her.
I can only postulate what it would have been like…
My life might be devoid of a wisdom I’ve learned from her.
I might not understand the importance of choosing a Godly husband.
It’s possible I wouldn’t know a thing about events – wouldn’t have the deep love for them that I do – might not be able to pull one off for all the money in the world.
I could know nothing about how to decorate a house or how to turn someone else’s garbage into gold.
I would probably be imbalanced in my thinking with no one to tell me when I’m over-analyzing; with no one to bring peace where I’ve gotten myself worked up; with no one to give hope where my disposition may cry that there is none to be found.
I might not have learned the danger of religion over relationship and therefore hurt many by keeping them in spiritual bondage as a result.
I probably would have chosen to let past wounds breed inside me until I was a hollow, emotionless shell, lashing out at anyone who tried to get close, inside of choosing to let the Healer come in and restore broken areas.
I wouldn’t have the deepest love of worship and could carry no tune.
There would have been no years of teaching on a healthy marriage and parenting to learn and commit to before those blessings have happened.
I may not know what it means to be a woman in the truest sense of the word.
I wouldn’t have learned to love the Word of God by seeing a mother who learned it, loved it and lived it day in and day out when no one was watching.
My love of writing would have had no example and nurturing to give it wings.
Prayer would have remained something that stayed in church and was reserved for Sunday mornings only.
Church would have remained a building, a place that you attended and left behind instead of a fellowship of like-minded, like-hearted individuals.
Endurance through suffering would have been something I ran from and didn’t embrace as a necessary part of growing up and maturing.
Self-discipline would be a four-letter word and I would have thrown my life away seeking pleasure at all costs.
I would have taken deep hurts from the past and grown bitter; choking on them, instead of forgiving, desiring true freedom and moving on.
I would never know the importance of what one woman, who believes her life hasn’t amounted to much, could truly impact a generation; could bring life through her wisdom and experiences and advice; could save my life so many times through her prayers and love; could show me what a true wife, daughter, friend, sister and mother looks like.
This speculation is just that…speculation; and I’m glad to leave it at that. The life I’m describing looks bleak and not worth living. For millions of individuals in the world, the enemy has stolen away a precious part of truly living…their mothers. Why does God deem me worthy enough to have kept mine and not just that, but to have given me a mother that blows me away? I’m not worthy, but I am so thankful.
Mama, as the years go on, I imagine that I will say many times that I haven’t told you enough how important you are to me; how much I love you; what you’ve done for me, but – like moms usually do – I hope you know these things by:
The time that I spend opening my heart up to you, looking for insight, taking your advice
The words that come out of my mouth concerning you
And the way I mimick you in so many ways throughout my life
You are my mother and I will always shout that from the rooftops in grateful awe at how much God’s love has saved me from who I could have been without you.
I love you, mama. Happy Mother’s Day!
Note to self: Remember that Jeanie Rhoades has served me selflessly for almost 26 years. Bless her by doing the same with my children and return that service to her for at least the next 26.
“when — naked, soaked in sweat and blood, and a heart thumping from a marathon — you are squeezing onto your bosom ‘the whole universe wrapped in harmony with your soul’ and realize that this is the tiny body of your own baby.
Mytyr, Mana, Mater, Muter, Madre, Mother, Mamma, you are the circle of life; heaven and earth pass through you.” ~Eleftheria Mantzouka
I wanna be just like you when I grow up, Mama. I love you! Happy Day!
*Norma Jean (Allison) Moslander, currently residing in Springfield, Mo. Everyone should have some one like her in their lives! Truly. “Then the world would be a better place!…” Pictured: my mom beside my dad – where she has been for 51+ years, faithfully and with great love and devotion.
It was a Wednesday 05.09.79, the evening of a beautiful spring day. The mysterious baby was coming – boy or girl? I had no idea. But I was hoping for a baby girl. 30 minutes after arriving at the hospital (where I refused to go until I was having difficulty “handling” contractions), she arrived.
I see perfection for the first time in my life. She is pink and shaped perfectly and gentle. I am not alone…
Two hours later they place the little bundle in my arms in our temporary home and she looks at me as if she has always known me. I breathe in the mystery of her and know that my heart is tied to this little human being in an eternal way. I feel the love I give her come back to me. God gave me the gift of her, entrusted me with her life and I cannot fathom how life-changing it will be.
Shiny blond hair and bright blue eyes accessorize this girl’s joyous personality. Everything about life is another opportunity to laugh and be happy and to bring the same to all around her. She squeals with delight at the slightest provocation. She is fun and she is joy. She is star bright and star light.
Was it really thirty years ago that I held this beautiful stranger as close as humanly possible? Did I really start my wobbly ascent into motherhood so long ago? Hard to believe, difficult to comprehend.
Yet, more mysterious is the fact that this girl, this amazing woman of God with the angelic voice, this anointed exhorter and song writer, DP’s devoted crazy-in-love-with-him wife and Hunter’s creative and attentive mommy is that same baby I held. The fact that I had anything at all to do with this woman boggles my mind. The fact that I held her first, that I prayed over her and sang to her and got to mommy her ~ I am humbled. Because Tara? Has turned out!
I am so proud of you, Tara. I am so pleased with the choices you are making every day and the life you are living to please the Father. Happy Birthday, my firstborn, my child. Happy Birthday!
Thirty wishes for Tara on her 30th birthday:
Oh, my first born~I thank God for you. I pray you will always know how much I thank God for you.
Passionate kisses and lifelong love with Dave. That is what I want for you. I love how you love your husband. I pray that you two keep the fires sizzling hot!
Thousands of hugs from Hunter. You are such a good mommy, Tara, really-so good. I hope you will get ready to receive the fruit of all the love you give.
Courage to be all God has called you to.
Courage to do everything God planned for you before the foundation of the world.
Hope in your heart for all the secret desires…”Your desire is the confirmation that the destination is there,” as Carman used to sing!
Revelation on the deep things of God (“Deep calls to deep…”).
I wish for you to hear God’s secrets, praying you’ll stay so close He’ll actually confide in you (He confides in those who fear Him…).
I wish creativity for you – that you’ll always be energized when you get to flow in that aspect of the character of God – making the world brighter for everyone who knows you.
I wish for you to stay strong and healthy, and vigorously active (just like your grandma…:{ not like me).
I wish for a million good hair days.
May you live long on the earth and may it go so very well for you (check out that 5th commandment!).
I pray that you’ll be surprised by the great things God has in store. Nothing to fear in your future. He is already there and it is good times!
More traveling! You love it. The world needs what you and Dave bring. I pray that gazillions more travel opportunities open up!
But I pray you’ll always live close by. Let “home base” be near your mom and dad, okey-dokey? Settled.
I pray that your love for the Word will just keep increasing (time in the Word is time with the Word).
May the songs increase. Write, girl, write!
I wish for you to understand the power behind your soft voice. It is there!
I wish for you to have true friends – the kind who will deposit good things into your life and replenish you after all you pour out.
My wish for you is to do tremendously well on the keyboard and teach me the stuff I do all wrong.
May your worship please the Lord.
May your voice be heard around the world.
I pray for you to walk in wisdom.
Enjoy your youth. These are amazing days. Enjoy them fully.
I pray for the Lord to order your days and help you, as a family, to schedule carefully – always listening for Holy Spirit direction.
May you have the financial provision to complete the tasks the Lord has placed in your hands. I pray for the money to come so your generous giving may increase! Dig wells, care for the orphans, teach and preach and obey every day. Lord, send the money it takes!
Stay humble, my sweet. Kill pride the second you see it anywhere in your life.
I am praying the Lord will bless you and keep and make His face shine upon you.
I am praying that the smile of the Lord will be on your life. Remember – He is rejoicing over you with singing.
And I wish for the joy of the Lord to be your strength – all the strength you’ll ever need.
Love you babe…Mom
NOTE TO SELF: Be the driving force to get her birthday shelves built by her dad! :)
