Category Archives: 1 Christ is All

Jesus loves me, this I know. This category is about Jesus, the Living Word, my prayers to Him, my worship of Him, His relentless pursuit of my heart and His invitation to me to come to Him in Sabbath, my Savior, my Rest.

History Makers

October 28, 20091 Christ is All, 2 Mi Familia, Stuff I Actually Thinkdelirious, history makersJeanie

Family Soundtrack

For the past 15 years or so, Delirious, a British group, has been impacting the musical landscape with some of the most powerful songs (secular or Christian) anywhere. I heard once that the original 3 of the 5 guys were married to 3 sisters and that the bass player is the sisters’ baby brother. So they are family, then, which explains a lot!

Our own family became huge-devoted fans while Tara was a senior in high school when some one gave us Delirious? Live and in the Can. They changed everything about Christian music and influenced my kids, who were all teen-agers at the time and deciding for themselves how to follow Jesus, deeply. This group has been the Rhoades family soundtrack for these last exciting 12 or so years as my children grew into passionate pursuers of the Presence.

Their songs have become classics.

“I Could Sing of Your Love Forever” and “Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble” are unquestionably songs that define our spiritual times. Their call to social justice because of loving Christ, not to garner His love, has broadened the church’s reach, made Christians more aware of a need to get out into world and make a change. There is “Majesty (Here I Stand),” and “My Soul Sings,” which have taken us to places of deeper worship. When Martin quoted the words of the 1834 lyrics of “The Solid Rock” through a megaphone at their final appearance in Colorado a couple of weeks ago, I was struck by the power of the classic hymn as well as how musically sophisticated and cool Delirious has been. It was almost a rap, but with that English accent. They definitely experimented and we are the richer for it.

Stormie took lots of pictures of the bass player. She even has a shirt (her very own design) that says “I wanna be just like Jon Thatcher.”

Their song, “Obsession,” (“…and my heart burns for You…”) expressed the haunting question that kept one of my daughters returning to God when the enemy of her soul tried to dissuade her. Another daughter encouraged me through some of the darkest times with the lyric from “Every Little Thing”:

When it’s all falling down on you
You’re crying out but you’re breaking in two
When it’s all crashing down on you
When there’s nothing you can do
There is someone who can carry you

Every little thing’s gonna be alright
Every little thing’s gonna be alright

And when some one broken has come to me for a word to soothe, I have often put my arms around them and sang those words softly in their ear, because I do know Who can carry them, “…every little thing’s gonna be alright…” It is a promise we can take to the bank.

There is “Rain Down,” “What a Friend I’ve Found,” and the classic, “Oh, Lead Me.” The Monkey-esque (in the best possible Davy Jones way) song from the Mission Bell album makes you want to run right out and “paint this town red with the blood of Jesus.” And I don’t know if there is a song about the indisputable power of God that I love more than “My Glorious.” He is all in all and “greater than the air I breathe, this world we’ll leave. And He will save the day and all will say ‘my Glorious…'”

The Delirious? Challenge:

But the song that seems to wrap up their message in a nutshell, the one they’ve been singing for ages and sang again just the other night, is “History Maker.” And Martin Smith and the band challenged everyone there to understand that they can shake this nation and impact this world. And my kids were there, hearing it and accepting it and I am so blessed to watch them becoming History Makers in their worlds. We have always told our kids to live in a way that could bring them an epitaph like David’s: “For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep…” That is the whole goal, to fulfill God’s purpose in our times, for our times. That is the message of “History Maker.”

Is it true today that when people pray
Cloudless skies will break, Kings and Queens will shake
Yes it’s true and I believe it,
I’m living for you

Is it true today, that when people pray
We’ll see dead men rise and the blind set free
Yes, it’s true and I believe it
I’m living for you

I’m gonna be a History Maker in this land
I’m gonna be a speaker of truth to all mankind
I’m gonna stand, I’m gonna run
Into your arms, into your arms again

Well, it’s true today that when people stand
With the fire of God and the truth in hand
We’ll see miracles, we’ll see angels sing
We’ll see broken hearts making history
Yes it’s true and I believe it
I’m living for you

I’m gonna be a History Maker in this land
I’m gonna be a speaker of truth to all mankind
I’m gonna stand, I’m gonna run
Into your arms…

Thanks, Delirious?

I have loved Delirious? for years now and will be listening to and loving their music for a long time to come. They are just so cool! I am blessed because my kids use their stuff (some one once told me that nobody can cover a Delirious? song as well as my son Rocky, and oh, how I agree) and they will be releasing their final album on November 9 (“History Makers Greatest Hits“). Thank-you, Delirious, for what you’ve given, what you have stirred up, the integrity in which you have walked and for unleashing History Makers around the world. Your song will go on!

From a thankful mama…Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF: Buy Rocky the Greatest Hits 2-CD/DVD set as a late bithday gift.

WWJD?

September 25, 20091 Christ is All, Stuff I Actually Thinkchristianity, jesusJeanie

The question really isn’t “What would Jesus do,” as much as it is,

What is He doing – through you? Today? Right now, right where you are?

Because He isn’t living our lives for us. We are. And the way we live is His expression in the earth. In the store. At the restaurant. In the parking lot and on the interstate. It’s His expression where we work and in our homes. So what is Jesus up to right where we stand?

Lily Pad

September 14, 20091 Christ is All, 4 Home & Garden/Food & Seasons, Stuff I Actually Thinkgarden, lilies, scriptureJeanie

As I reflect on the garden of 2009, I have realized, OK-wow…I had lilies.

They are so random and scattered and were absolutely planted here or there with no expectations. And every single lily, whether the extremely drought resistant mini-daylilies or the exotic Easter and Asian lilies, were purchased on clearance by bulb. In fact, I got them so cheap they were pretty much purchased with a whatever-happens-happens attitude because I didn’t even know if they’d grow.

But now, a few years later, I am glad I took the risk and I have throughly enjoyed, considered even, the lilies.

“My lover has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to browse in the gardens and to gather lilies.” Solomon in the Song of Songs 6.2

“Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” Jesus in Luke 12.27

Judgement

September 11, 20091 Christ is All, Stuff I Actually ThinkgraceJeanie

Yet another slew of those crazy if-you-love-Jesus-forward-this-and-don’t-be-ashamed-to-stand-up-for-what’s-right forwards have arrived at my email inbox recently. They are the kind that point out a hurricane or a tornado or wildfire and tie it to some sin or wickedness in the area and how it is proof of God’s judgement against a group of people or an area of the country.

² O Lord, hear my voice.
       Let your ears be attentive
       to my cry for mercy.

³ If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins,
       O Lord, who could stand?

⁴ But with you there is forgiveness;
       therefore you are feared.

Psalm 130. 2-4 NIV

And with great humility I bow my face, knowing it is by the great grace of God that I have not been carried to justice for my own sin in a forceful, cleansing judgement-tsunami, never to be revived. Grace happens.

Scenes from a good summer ~ Heaven Fest

September 11, 20091 Christ is All, 4 Home & Garden/Food & Seasons, 5 Songs I am Singing, 9 TV & Movies/Books & Entertainment, Stuff I Actually Thinkandy garcia, heaven fest, heaven fest 2009, heaven fest pictures, kent henry, summerJeanie

An Ode to Summer, for I will not to acknowledge a fall which does not truly begin until the Autumnal Equinox, on the 22nd day of this month sometime in the afternoon. Yes, the nights are cooler, some mornings even crisp. And it may seem the summer is past. But I must sing of my love for the summer until the last verse fades softly…

“In summer, the song sings itself.” ~William Carlos Williams

The evening skies are amazing.

“The summer night is like a perfection of thought.” ~Wallace Stevens

At Heaven Fest this year, we had THE perfect sunny summer morning. Then late afternoon clouds which morphed into an electrical storm in the offing. There was supposed to be rain, but lightening just surrounded us instead and gave us the coolest breeze and light show ever!

www.skateministry.org Uriel!

The screen is bigger than it looks!

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Early in the day.

Skillet is so cool!

23,000 people showed up.

The hip-hop stage was so awesome! It was packed all day long and there was amazing worship going up!

“Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.” ~Sam Keen. This quote has absolutely nothing to do with Heaven Fest, not at least until it’s OVER!

Every stage had a chaplain/minister who prayed with all the bands. John Burgess is leading it here!

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We had a Kidz Area this year: petting zoo, face painting, jumpy-things and even a worship stage they could play at. It was so much fun!

We never want to chintz on the port-a-potties, and we never shall.

Kent Henry was here! What an honor!

My sweet-peeps, Andy and Leah Garcia, made this shot possible right after Kent and his kids had led us into some deep worship. Andy set it up and Leah took the shot. Thank-you, friends!

Kent Henry is not only my all-time favorite worship leader, he was the one I raised my kids on. Heaven Fest being what it is is due, in no small part, to the worship influence my “tribe” was nurtured on as they were growing up. Having Kent attend, teach, lead worship and pray over my kids was the honor of a lifetime. His influence on Heaven Fest is undeniable, whether he is here or not, but it sure was cool to have him come and see the impact his life and ministry are still making on my family and through my childrens’ lives. Talk about legacy!

The nameless/faceless band at The Sacred Assembly – it was a breathtaking time in the Presence!

What a summer! I get to work with 100 other people who lead this deal and it is such a privilege to get to do this thing! In November we told the Lord yes, in February we started the fundraising, permitting and all sorts of logistical. By the time summer comes, we are literally surrounded by the world’s most amazing people, walking it out with them. I love Heaven Fest! LOVE it!

Wanna see about 8000 more pictures?

Tons more photos and youtube videos we found can be seen on www.heavenfest.com. You’ll feel like you were there, if you weren’t, and will re-live the thrill if you were!

Tristan’s “Big Night” (because he is turning 29)

September 7, 20091 Christ is All, 2 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Events, 4 Home & Garden/Food & Seasons, 9 TV & Movies/Books & Entertainment, Stuff I Actually ThinkBig Night, birthday, family, food, fruit pizza, home alone, mccaulay culkin, stanley tucci, the office, timpano, tristan kelleyJeanie

Happy Birthday, Tristan Kelley!

pictured: The sign made by Steph and Stormie with a nod to The Office, naturally.

You are at that age – you know? The one everyone claims to be when they don’t wanna be the age they really are? So pretty much, for the next year, everyone will think you are lying about your age. But you’re not. Like McCaulay Culkin, you are actually 29. Which puts into perspective for me the little boy you were so many years ago when we watched Home Alone with our kids, and Stephanie, in particular.

Family.

When you chose Stephanie, when you decided (which in retrospect seems uncharacteristically devilish of you) to pursue Stephanie in spite of a road-bump whose name I shall not bother to mention here, you got us all, the whole loud, crazy, undone and un-in-law-tested bunch of us, lock, stock and barrel.

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And we are grateful to your parents for the wonderful son they raised. We thank God that you were nurtured and encouraged in a godly home, prepared and equipped to be the man you have become – a great husband to Steph and a true daddy to the bambinos. Tell your mom and dad thank-you for me, will you? Because they did really raise a courageous son, one who, in spite of the size and girth of the sum of us, is not only equal to the task, able to withstand our faults and failures and shortcomings as much as enjoy any good, but strengthens us as a family, bringing rich character and treasure to us. Who could have known when you became one of us that one such humble young man’s presence in a family could change our course so drastically? Tris, you brought an increase of the favor of God upon us and I can’t remember life before you became our “son.” We are blessed.

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pictured: he must have said something funny at the family party; a shot from the recent Kelley photo shoot taken by Tredessa; the apparent Rocky/Tristan “butt” shot…for their wives only, I am sure.

Food ~ The Glorious Timpano

As usual, we had your annually-requested-birthday fruit pizza (see recipe) instead of a cake (but I really am game to create free-standing drum set someday), which nearly drove several family members into a sugar coma. And, much to Stormie’s delight, your celebration became an opportunity for her highly-sought-after Timpano ~ as made famous by the cinematically beautiful movie, Big Night, starring Tony Shalub and Stanley Tucci. The movie is wonderful. The food they prepare is inspiring. Stormie’s version is delish!

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Frolic.

What a silly family we are, sometimes, huh? But what great times celebrating each other and just being with people who’ll love you to the end!

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Twenty-nine wishes for Tris on his 29th birthday.

May the storehouse of good in you always be full to running over! “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him…” Matthew 12.35
I wish for you to know the deep things of God and to increase in wisdom as He leads you.
I hope you and Stephanie will always remain madly in love, and that your life’s pursuits will keep you running into each other in happy, romantic collisions.
I pray that the love you bestow upon your children will come back to you a hundred-fold.
Long life! And may it go well with you because you keep the 5th commandment to honor your parents. Keep doing that. You can’t go wrong.
God? Bless Tristan. Really bless him!
I wish you 50% off days at Mile-High Comics every Labor Day!
I wish for your full talent as a musician to be recognized beyond your wildest dreams and that you be compensated duly.
May you get all the best drumsticks and Zildjian cymbals you ever need.
I wish for you to have good students: the kind who don’t waste your time and who will really learn from the treasure-trove of musical knowledge you possess.
I pray that as you have dared2work at dare2share, you’ll get credit in heaven for the harvest!
Tris, I hope you will always be strengthened by knowing that you are so well loved by our whole family.
The time you need with the people you love. Thank-you for working so hard to provide for your family, for doing whatever it takes, but enjoy time that belongs to you, too.
And that secret dream? May the resources and location come to pass quickly by the divine hand of the Lord. He is on the look out for you, I know it!
Rest. I wish rest for you.
Peace. I wish peace for you, too.
And joy. I wish an abundance of the joy of the Lord to be your strength.
X-box 360 expertise. As if you even need this wish – may you do reeeeeally well in X-box tourneys and beat everybody (except occasionally let Rocky have a victory since he is your “little brother”)!
I hope you’ll…laugh (you thought I was gonna say “dance”, didn’t you?).
I wish for your sense of humor to get even keener, if that is possible, so you can keep us laughing!
Surprises. I hope this year will be full of really good surprises for you.
I wish increased relationship and bonding between you and all the siblings (the sister you were born to and her husband, and all the ones you have because of Stephanie). Their lives are so enriched in the knowing of you.
Cool t-shirts, the perfect jeans, great hair cuts and shoes that make your feet go “ahhh.” You have your own style and I wish for it all come to you easily this year!
Songs. New songs. Lots of them.
Beats and rhythms only heard previously in the halls of heaven. Bring ’em on, Tris!
I wish lots of English toffee for you and other sweet sundries, which I guess can be made possible if I will only get busy. Sometime between now and Christmas, maybe…
I wish more kids for you, but apparently you are not going to receive that little present, but can’t you just see it? Six or seven more little redheads running around??! Wouldn’t the world be a more delightful and magical place???
I am hoping for lots more conversations with you because I learn so much and am so moved by your insight and wisdom on so many different topics. You are truly one of the smartest people I have ever known in my life.
And finally? I pray for God to bless you back, in the same kind and with the same measure with which you have loved us, shown respect to us, honored us and become a part of us. And if He answers that prayer, and I know He will, you will be blessed – on your 29^th birthday and always. And I am believing for that!

We love you, Tristan. I hope you will always know how much. Happy Birthday to you!…mom (and so honored to get to share that role just a tiny bit even though you already have a wonderful mama)

NOTE TO SELF: Break out the toffee recipe because Tristan is worth it, even if it isn’t Christmas.

Tonight!

August 16, 20091 Christ is All, Stuff I Actually Thinkheaven fest, seek and soak, what now?Jeanie

www.heavenfest.com www.seekandsoak.com www.worshipandtheword.com

UPDATE 8/16: OK. World class musicians. The Word of God and a zeal for it. Love for people. Scriptures on seeking God and finding His joy. Major prayer covering. What does it all add up to? W O W ! Amazing music. A spontaneous prophetic song that set people to dancing and shouting (you know-Zechariah-esque rejoicing and worship that could be heard afar off?). Omygoodness! What a night it was!

“Everybody Oughta go to Sunday School…”

August 13, 20091 Christ is All, 5 Songs I am Singing, 9 TV & Movies/Books & Entertainment, Stuff I Actually Thinkchurch attendance, frank viola, from eternity to here, the Presence, the tabernacle of david, the tent denverJeanie

If you have ever been a pastor or paid local church employee or just a really good church-type person or the offspring of one of the above and have cut your teeth on the back of a pew and know every song in the hymnal by number and have a perfect-attendance Sunday School pin or church softball league trophy on your dresser, you are probably reeeeeeeeeally irritated at those people who rarely attend church.

And they probably reeeeeeeeeally tick you off when they tell you they can feel close to God while they are in the mountains fly-fishing or hiking a trail or sitting in a meadow watching elk.

I know I have been bothered by that in the past, you know, as a girl whose very first full sentence was, “I’m gonna go to church!” And boy, did I!

And while I sometimes (often?) smugly sighed at people who said things like that (“God is in the trees, God is in the sunshine”), making a facial contortion that read: well, you just don’t have revelation about the local church-you are uncommitted, I can admit that I felt a little jealous that they got to sit by a lake while I handed out bulletins or filled in for a missing nursery worker or tried to unjam the copier for a Sunday School teacher who should-have-been-prepared-before-Sunday-morning-for-crying-out-loud!

God must find us all so amusing.

I love the local church because she is a crack-up. But we have got so far to go in understanding how our local gatherings could serve the Bride and the Church (big “C”) and bring joy to the heart of God. We have the Bride scrubbing the floors of our Temples of Religiosity when she should be served and made ready by Friends of the Bridegroom. We have just gotten this so backwards.

The question today.

So, I am reading this book by the poetic and dazzling-wordsmith, Frank Viola, From Eternity to Here, and today, in reading Chapter 14, “God’s Quest from Moses to Solomon,” as he parallels the Tabernacle of Moses with that of the Tabernacle of David during the 40 years when they were both “up and running” just 6 miles apart, but actual Presence of God was resting in the ark of the covenant in David’s little tent, I am hit between the eyes with this question:

Where MAY God go to FREELY express Himself?

Because that is where we are going to find Him, where He is able to freely express His heart, His plan, everything about who He is.

And, O God, may it be when your people gather, wherever they gather to worship You. May our local churches be places where the people can rejoice and sing and dance and enjoy Your smile and Your favor and Your Presence. May it be where they can serve You and bring You glory and be part, with many many people, of building You a home.

But sadly, in looking back over even (or especially) my own life as a bona-fide, militant church attender, I can see so much of it was a practice equal to the worship at Gibeon when the ark wasn’t even there (from the book):

“Over in Gibeon, the Tabernacle of Moses stood. On Mount Zion the Tabernacle of David stood…[At the Tabernacle of Moses] the priesthood of Israel is fully active. The priests are sacrificing animals and slinging blood at the brazen altar. They are marching through the religious program, passing out the bulletin, lighting the candles, ringing the bells, and following the liturgy. But there’s one problem: there’s no ark. God is not there. Does this bother them? Apparently not. They continue on with the ritual.”

I wanna be where He is.

And He is in the stars and the moon and the sun. He is in the air I breathe. I hear Him in the rushing river on the mountainside. He walks with me in my own little garden in the cool of the day. And I want to be in Him and Him in me. And when I gather with His people on the streets or in our homes or in the hallways of a building on a Sunday morning, may we collectively BE a place where God may freely and creatively and joyously express Himself.

It’s time to walk the 6 miles, even if that is out of a time-honored, traditional institution like, say, Sunday School (this is NOT an anti-Sunday School post, btw) to be where the Presence is. It really is. How fruitless and sad to go through the motions without Him there…

www.thetentdenver.com …Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF: David’s, humble, canvas tent: create the same welcome…

*Song, “Everybody Oughta Go to Sunday School.” I actually grew up singing that both at home during our “family Altar time” and in Sunday School. The second verse was “Everybody oughta stay for church.” There were about 5 or 6 verses designed to help me know how to sling my bloody sacrifices around.

How do you know if your criticism is actually constructive?

August 12, 20091 Christ is All, Stuff I Actually Thinkconstructive criticism versus destructive criticism, criticismJeanie

Criticism, constructive versus destructive

Question: How do you know when your criticism is actually “constructive,” rather than “destructive?”

Next question: And if you offer me some, to make me better, of course, may I also offer you some?

Destructive criticism is, among other things:

Hurtful or humiliating, especially if done publicly or behind some one’s back
Manipulative and controlling
Laying blame or creating guilt
Very self-serving for the critic (my wants, my needs, the way I want to see it, I’m disappointed, made my life harder, etc)
Attention-getting: look how much I know about your job/performance/life/business
Bad timing, just “telling it like it is” when it is right for the critic, not the receiver. This is in horribly bad taste.

Constructive Criticism is more like:

Helpful in making us aware or improved
Expressing concern and caring because we have the same goals and are both working toward a common outcome.
Keeping open or re-opening communication that has been clogged up because of relationship.
To clear the air when things have felt funky. Get together and get clarification for peace, for unity, for an ongoing future relationship.
Motivates us to do better, go the next mile, improve and keep getting better (think of Jesus with the Woman at the well; when He exposed her sin, He did it to set her free and she brought the whole town to Him!)

Last question: Should I say, “I am going to give you some constructive criticism,” or do you think the recipient of it knows the difference when I am through?

Stuff I actually think…Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF: Speak words of life regardless of how much some one has messed up. Like they don’t already get that usually??

Mary Kay Asher of Mary Kay Cosmetics fame always said that criticism was stacked between 2 big compliments in her company, which is why a lot of women probably don’t mind driving pale pink cars, you know?

Not sure how I feel about the tomatoes representing the criticism in this image???

Elise-the-Niece is Leaving Us

August 10, 20091 Christ is All, 2 Mi Familia, Stuff I Actually Think6 Looking Back // Memories!, elise moslander, elise-the-niece, family, farewellJeanie

Elise Rachelle Moslander.

A year and a half ago Elise moved to Denver. I don’t think her parents, my brother Joe and his wife, Robin, of Aberdeen, were as excited as we were because she’d been in Hawaii with YWAM for over 2 years. But we were very happy to have her near.

Elise smiles…these photos swiped from her Facebook…

And Elise has been a joy to have (“ketchup” with her here). She roomed with a childhood friend and about 17 other college girls most of the time and has been crashing at Stef and Wrex’s for the summer, but she infused herself into the life of our family from the start. We’d never lived near Elise, only seeing her at family reunions and occasional visits and the veeeeeeeeeery rare photo her parents might send, but it was as if, when she arrived, we’d always been together.

YWAM.

Elise is taking a leadership position, once again, at the YWAM base in Hawaii until the end of the year and then moving back to Aberdeen to help develop her local church mission focus (where her daddy is the pastor). She is leaving us and Colorado will be a little poorer for her absence. Colorado will be losing a truly genuine, loving and sweet young woman with an easy laugh, a room-lighting smile and a helpful spirit. We will lose a girl who loves God and is devoted to family. Little children all over the metro area will miss her (she has nanny-ed for several families during her time here and her 2nd cousins, my grandbabies, all find her quite delightful).

Engaging.

“Engaging” is the perfect one-word description of Elise. If you have ever had a conversation with her, you know that she speaks very pronouncedly with a slight lift/lilt to the end of all sentences. Every story, every word, every sentence becomes, yet stopping just before, a possible question or response-requirer. Brother Joe told me at reunion that she learned when she was four to be able to talk for 47 straight minutes in a way that simply made it impossible for the hearer to disengage. He said it had become a lifelong art for Elise – the ability to keep you in because you might be called upon to answer…but then again, you might not. So, she has this beautiful set of pearly whites and the full, shapely Moslander lips and she is simply fascinating to listen to and to watch. And every word she says is all the more interesting because it comes from her.

Elise with the orphans of Honduras

I will miss you, Elise. I will miss your enthusiasm about life and your commitment to family. I will miss your loving ways and involvement in our lives. I will miss your cool sense of fashion and your heart for missions and travel. I will miss having the treasure of my brother Joe’s heart here close to me. I will miss your love for my grandchildren and the happy dances you do with them at family gatherings. I will miss your Holy-Spirit-given Gift of Faith and your childlike belief that everything will work out (and hasn’t God proven Himself to you time and again!?). Never give up that kind of trust in the Lord, Elise – it will serve you well.

I don’t think Aberdeen is big enough to contain you, because you have sufficient personality to fill so much more, but that is probably why God has called you to the world and given you such love for people. And today, knowing you are leaving and knowing our sun is losing some brightness, I just thank God for the time He allowed you to be here blessing our lives and infusing our family with joy and delight. We will cherish it always. We will treasure the memories and never forget you were sent as a gift for this time.

I am so proud I can say you are my niece. You are a beautiful girl, both inside and out. I am so proud for the choices you are making in your life. I am so pleased to see you follow the call of God on your life. You are loved and you will be so very much missed! Be blessed when you go out and when you come in. Be blessed in the country and in the city. May your enemies be defeated and may everything you put your hand to prosper and be blessed!

I love you, girl, and I miss you already…Aunt Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF: Learn to smile with total abandon like Elise does. Can that be learned or will it require surgery?