Sharp Turns

sharp turnIf we were driving, a sudden sharp turn might result in disaster. I remember my panic when I once took an exit ramp on two wheels, unaware of how tight the turn was.

But other sharp turns lead to lovely surprises.

A spontaneous walk around our neighborhood several months ago resulted in a radical turn for Birgitta, which then brought one to Emerald, and eventually, to me, too. None of us saw it coming.

As we rounded the block toward home that day months ago, Birgitta was commenting about the seven month break in her schedule between the end of undergrad college and the beginning of her masters degree in the fall of 2016. As she wondered how best to use that time, Nelson off-handedly said, “What about doing a DTS?” (Discipleship Training School, Youth With A Mission)

FullSizeRender (1) Five of my adult children had been through this spiritually rich program, studying such valuable topics as “The Father Heart of God,” “God’s Nature and Character,” “God’s Intentions for People and Creation,” “God’s Plan of Redemption,” and much more. That’s the first twelve weeks.

The second twelve include travel to a foreign country and mission projects there alongside other missionaries. The DTS motto is “To know God and Make Him Known,” the first part during the lecture phase, the second while on outreach.

Birgitta commented as we walked that day long ago that she didn’t know how she could do something like that with a three-year-old, but before we reached home, Nelson was on the YWAM web site, checking the possibilities.

We learned that young children are welcome, as long as they’re accompanied by a nanny who can look after them when a parent is in class, doing work duties, having one-on-one conferences, doing ministry projects, or meeting with small groups. That’s when God plopped the idea into my head that winter in Hawaii as a nanny might be a pretty good gig for a 70-year-old from Michigan.

FullSizeRenderWhile the students would be working on growing deeper relationships with God, Emerald and I could explore beautiful Hawaii by stroller. And while the students would be learning how to better worship, listen to, and obey him, we could be playing at the park. And while the students would be cultivating knowledge of other cultures and learn how best to relate to the people, we could be swimming with giant turtles at Children’s Beach. It didn’t take two seconds for me to volunteer.

We all began praying about it, and God began doing what he does best – opening closed doors and ushering us through them, one at a time.

This can be an unnerving process. Just like Abraham in the Bible, we were told to “start going” without knowing what was around this sharp turn. But day by day, counting on the Lord for preparation and provision, we arrived at last Thursday, the day we stepped onto the first of three airplanes heading to Youth With A Mission’s University of the Nations in Kona, Hawaii.

Taking off...(….to be continued)

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him. (Genesis 12:1,2)

God’s Different Agenda

Charlie Brown ChristmasThe Christmas season is full of reasons to celebrate, and celebrate we do – in classrooms, offices, churches, stores, homes, and in our yards.

One of my favorite parts of the season is the music. Though our children grew up with a measure of choice over what they wanted to hear, once we flipped the calendar to December, it was mom’s Christmas carols, all the way.

I love the old standards and don’t have any need to get familiar with new ones, but this year, God himself added a tune of his own: Rock-a-bye Baby.

Daughter Linnea, 9 months pregnant, felt a few twinges yesterday afternoon but didn’t think much of it. Her fifth baby wasn’t due for a few more days, and the older four had all come well after their due dates.

Baby Nelson AaronBut God had a different agenda, and by dinnertime they were cuddling their new baby boy. Labor and delivery were speedy and textbook-perfect with three midwives, one daddy, and one auntie (also a midwife) present for the home birth. Linnea and Adam decided to name their little guy in a special way, after both of their oldest siblings: Nelson Aaron.

As his grandma, my plan was to be in Florida for the baby’s birth – like I was for the last two – but here again, God had a different agenda. Many months ago when Linnea and I chose the day after Christmas for my plane ticket, we gambled that this baby would be late like the others. But the Lord smiled and said, “Well, we’ll see about that.”

He had a different agenda for Linnea, for Adam, for baby Nelson, and for me.

But isn’t that often his way? What we think will happen doesn’t, and what does happen often surprises us. That’s because we so easily fool ourselves into believing we’re in charge of our own lives, when it’s really God who has it all in hand. The up side of this is, if we’re willing to accept that our good, loving God is completely in charge, any future unknowns can’t possibly worry us.

Baby Nelson meets his folksAnd so, as my 11th grandchild dozes in his mother’s arms, I’m delighted to add yet one more Christmas-time carol to my playlist:

Lullaby and Goodnight.

The Most High… does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” (Daniel 4:35)

 

ln the Pink

Back in the fall of 1982, I was 9 months pregnant and very anxious to meet our 5th child. Also excited were his or her siblings: Nelson, Lars, Linnea, and Klaus, 3 boys and 1 girl. Logic told us another girl would be nice.

3 boys, 1 girl, so farIf you had chatted with our one daughter back then, at 5 years old she’d have let you know that baby #5 was definitely going to be a girl. The thought of a 4th brother was, well, unthinkable.

I prepped her for that possibility, though, by saying, “God is the one who chooses boy or girl, so we’re going to be happy with whoever he sends to us.” But that didn’t dissuade Linnea from continuing to think pink.

The day Hans was born, Nate and I were thrilled with a boy-partner for his brother Klaus, who was just 16 months older. But we knew we’d have to choose our words carefully when we announced the news of yet another brother to our little girl.

As expected, she didn’t take it well. “Did you do that on purpose, Mommy?” she asked, looking sideways at me with her pudgy hand on her hip.

>>>>>>><<<<<<<

3 boys, 1 girl...In recent weeks, the tables have turned, and our 5th-born (Hans) has been anticipating his own 5th-born. With 3 sons and 1 daughter, it was déjà vu as he and Katy found themselves preparing little Evelyn, also 5 years old, for the possibility of a 4th brother.

One thing Katy did was set up a mother-daughter “date” during which she cleverly told Evelyn a story: “Once there was a family with 3 boys and 1 little girl. The mummy was going to have another baby, and the little girl really wanted a sister…”

The conclusion of her story was, “The new baby turned out to be a little boy, and they named him Hans – and guess what. He grew up to be your daddy!”

Katy described to Evelyn how different life would be for them if Hans had been a girl. Katy wouldn’t have him as her husband, and Evelyn wouldn’t have him as the daddy she loves. Evelyn understood, but that didn’t stop her from continuing to think pink.

>>>>>>><<<<<<<

Hans, Katy, and ElizabethToday, just after lunch, the long-awaited phone call came. Baby #5 had arrived safe and sound in England…. a sister for Evelyn!

Elizabeth Anne Nyman, born at home, weighed in at 7 pounds 4 ounces. And I am grateful for the conversation I got to have with both parents today while the thrill of the birth experience was still fresh in their voices. God has done his wondrous work yet again, creating a brand new, unique person with a soul that will live forever.

 

Elizabeth means my God is bountiful.  Anne means graced with God’s favor.

Indeed!

Elizabeth AnneDear Lord, please cause Elizabeth Anne to “come to know your ways. Teach her your paths. Lead her in your truth and teach her, for you are the God of her salvation.” (Psalm 25:4-5) We are overwhelmed by your goodness, Father, and the gift of this precious child! With all our hearts we thank you.  Amen