End of January–Dark days turning lighter–Seasonal Affect Disorder Syndrome at its height–Sunshine spotty–extreme cold–

Brokenness—family fissures–politics—paganism—lawlessness—death and torture

Biblical Illiteracy—moral failures—sin—evil—wickedness

Grief—loss—memories—sickness—disease

People who do not know the Jesus I know—

Who is Jesus?

To me, He is God and He gives me joy. He gives me peace. He gives me hope. Where do I find Him?

In the Bible.

Which Bible do I trust? Mostly the KJV. Translations do matter. I can read any translation and find Jesus, but I realize this issue has import.

The Biblical Jesus is so wonderful. He is just, He is love, He is our savior and our hope.

These days are so dark, here in Minnesota, Paganistan. The scores of covens who call Minnesota home have cast their spells on this region. We live in dark times, spiritually. The Luciferian elites of the world are still at work, driving chaos forward, pitting sides against each other, fostering war and mayhem.

The Beast System is waiting for a world that screams for relief.

But I choose Jesus.

I choose Him every day, and HE gives me joy.

Yesterday, during my swim, I had a moment of joy. It came unexpectedly and unasked for. I simply felt joy. Exercise can do that for anyone, so it may have been purely physiological, however, it was, for me, unexpected and needed in this incredibly sad time.

We cannot sustain in perpetual darkness.

True joy can only ever come from the Truth. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. In Him is true joy.

Which Jesus do you know?

I claim the One from Scripture. He is my Lord and Savior.

That changes everything, and I know those who also belong to Him.

One’s relationship with Christ is personal. I cannot judge anyone. God knows every thought.

But I can recognize my fellow believers, we speak the same language, understand the same ideas. We have the same foundation, all across the world.

We know each other.

What a joy to be in such a glorious family!

There is an awesome verse in the Bible. It is the scariest verse. Matthew 7:23. Depart from me, I never knew you.

I believe that Christ’s sacrifice was wholly sufficient in saving my soul. Not of works, lest any one should boast. There is this verse that catches me in my daily life—Does Jesus (the real Jesus!) really know me?

I go to Scripture and check, daily bringing my life and spirit before Him. I am born again, I know Him. I desire to do what is right and His will.

When I am discouraged I know the solution. I know what to do!

I affirm my place in Christ: I am saved by His sacrifice. Christ died and was resurrected. Not me, but Christ.

I sing His praises: there is power in the tongue.

I pray: I do not understand prayer, but I know it is incredibly powerful and it can be constant. “I make my life a prayer to you…” (Keith Green)

I listen for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in Scripture. Being in the Word of God gives me what I need to know about my daily needs and guidance. This only happens with consistent reading.

I look for God’s leading in my daily mundane activities. It’s incredibly sweet to see God speak in the mundane. He reveals His presence.

And this brings joy. Daily joy. Unspeakable joy. Somehow the chemicals in my body are triggered by this relationship I have with the One who created them.

Joy in sorrow.

You need Jesus.

MARANATHA!

I don’t know if you are watching the unfolding story in my home state, Minnesota, but if you pay attention to any news forum you may have heard about a monetary number, 19 billion dollars, that seems to be an issue.

Actually, that is a projected number.

There IS fraud in our great state. That is provable. There is documentation that money has been sent to fund terrorism. That is provable. There are illegal immigrants in our state, even some with criminal (very bad criminal) records. That is provable.

Sadly there are many that turn a blind eye to all of this corruption. Sadly there are complicit politicians in power, getting kick backs in the form of campaign funds —-or it is said, direct payments. These are people of a D party. They are demonic. They are rats. They are evil and they will see justice, because any authority is ultimately accountable to God. Sooner or later.

You and I are accountable to God. We are to obey God, not man. We are to follow His principles, His commands.

Of course there is corruption everywhere, but when it hits you, your home, that is when you must take responsibility.

If I must lose my head over a political disagreement someday, so it must be.

I took in a woman this week who was homeless. I had to ask her to report to the authorities when I found that she was not clear legally. That is my responsibility. The authorities (at this point) are there to help her, and I trust she did the right thing. I don’t know. I gave her a warm bed, childcare for a day, and a bit of cash to get the things she needed. I sent her to social services.

I am willing to obey the just laws that are valid and stand in our country. I may be unaware of some obscure code that I am not in compliance with, but I try to obey the laws of the USA and Minnesota in all my knowledge.

To openly and rigorously protest our laws is certainly a right, but it comes with consequences.

You can or will end up in jail, (likely) for breaking a law.

One day the beast system will take off heads of the non-compliant. That is when it gets messy. Scary.

As a pre-trib Rapture believer I think we will not be here for that prophecy. The Bible warns those who will be here, though. One will not be able to buy or sell without the mark of the beast, and many will be led to their deaths for not complying.

That is true protest. The death penalty is rather decisive.

Iranians are seeing a day of death today, right now. They are dying by the scores, the thousands. I am hopeful that these souls are saved, as so many of the protesters are actually Christian. For sure, there are many killed who didn’t know Jesus.

I saw people I know (and love) standing up for terrorists and law breakers, loudly protesting against just laws. They are completely silent when people they don’t agree with are slaughtered.

What a testimony. They are driven by something other than a Biblical worldview, a holy and righteous spirit. They are driven by pagan ideas: Communism, Marxism, Collectivism, Socialism. These come from the belly of the Fabian Socialists and they have completely brainwashed our educational institutions and those who teach this upcoming generation of adults.

A couple of weeks ago I had this weird thought that my generation is now the “authority” because of our advanced age.

I always assumed people older than I were smarter, more experienced, generally worth listening to. I respected age.

I don’t think that is the case with the upcoming generation, and they rightly have thrown us out. What failures we are at preserving our lives and our country!

I am now the aged, and I will speak for good things. Even if all of the young folks I know are of a different persuasion I will still speak.

I still believe in the United States of America. For now. I still believe in conservative values. I still believe that most laws are just. I still believe in borders and legal permission to enter any country. I still believe in Jesus Christ and His love, His commands, His presence in my life. I still believe in science, in marriage, in the preservation of innocent life. I believe in family, that God had a good plan, even if Cain killed Abel right off the bat.

The human heart is wicked. Scripture affirms this.

Today is a day to remember the unborn—-those murdered by abortion. It is January 22.

Certainly other things are overshadowing this day of remembrance: Iran, fraud, illegal immigration, criminals on the loose, kidnapping, fake day-cares, funding cut-offs, the icy cold temperatures (today it is supposed to get down to -23!!!), storms all over the country, Davos, World Economic Forum, Puppet Masters, ….

But I will stand with Francis Shaeffer and point at the issue of abortion being a watershed issue.

If you are pro-life you are right.

If you are not pro-life you are in big trouble. You are compromised. Your worldview is full of holes. You are siding with Baal in the idolatry of child sacrifice.

Watershed issues do exist.

When you chose the pro-abortion side you slippery slide down the path of the demonic.

You are demonic.

May God convict your heart and rescue you from this spiritual darkness.

I am praying for you. May my prayers be as powerful as mustard-seed sized faith. May a mountain be moved in your soul.

Jesus loves you. He told us to love our enemies, so I lovingly pray for you. Even as I see you support outright crime, I will lovingly pray for you. I will visit you in prison, I will take you in and give you what you need to survive. I will love you.

But I will not condone your disobedience to God.

Repent. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Lord Father, please forgive my anger. I need to repent. I know Your plans will play out in Your time. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

MARANATHA!

As Bilbo Baggins says, it’s a big day for Corgi: It’s like a golden day today. I was born in 63, and you can do the math. I’m spending the day with my cousin, and we are enjoying some sunshine.

Minnesota, on the other hand, burns with ice and fire. I’m watching from a distance. I’m not completely an armchair critic, but I sort of feel like it because I am out of town.

I have shared some things on social media that define my own thoughts regarding the craziness in Minnesota these early days of 2026.

Stuff in Venezuela, stuff in Iran, stuff in all the blue states: things seem pretty chaotic overall.

The national digital ID in Britain, Cuba, vaccine and abortion issues, artificial intelligence—-it seems a bit like an avalanche of concern for someone of my faith persuasion.

But I will ramp this post down to Corgi’s concerns.

Corgi Hollows lost its Corgi last Tuesday. Less than a week ago.

Corwyn was showing signs of breathing problems again, one month after she had been in the emergency pet hospital overnight with oxygen. I took her to our own vet last Monday morning and the doctor said she seemed to have heart problems.

After a trial run on some medications she was not improving. Her suffering was more than I could stand.

We chose to end her life on Tuesday morning.

I cannot tell you that I even acknowledge that she is no longer with us right now. I am still in denial.

I had had my trip to the sunshine planned and plane tickets bought months ago, so I decided to go for my winter vitamin D and process my loss as I soaked up the sun.

Corgi Hollows is in good hands during my absence.

When I return I will face my grief head-on.

Those of us who love animals understand the pain of losing them. As one who grew up with farm animals, horses, cows, dogs, cats, I felt the pain deeply and often. Animals just do not live long enough.

I always circle back to the promises and covenants that God made with animals, His significant treatment of animals throughout Scripture, especially in Genesis when He set up creation. I think of and comfort myself with Revelation 21:5: He will make ALL THINGS NEW.

I fully expect to see my animals again.

And God says He is preserving my tears. He understands me even if people don’t. He knows my thoughts from afar off. He comforts me. He loves my furry friends more than I do.

I refuse to be callous and “adult” in accepting the lower orders of life. I feel loved and accepted by them far more than by most people! They are integral to me.

So I grieve, unashamed. I have cried my eyes red.

Yuki is also grieving. Topi wanders around with deep meows. Alex, our new resident cat, wasn’t a fan of Corwyn, so he shows no signs of loss. Cheri is strong. Ed kindly accompanied me to the vet with Corwyn and was profound comfort for me.

Corgi Hollows lost three pets in the past 11 months.

Why?!

Who could have predicted this?

This is life, this is change, this is the reality of sickness and death. I must accept it.

For now we will hunker down and heal. Corgi Hollows will probably have another Corgi some day, but I need to wait and rest.

My body continues its healing process from cancer and surgery. I have lost a few pounds since the holidays. Swimming is therapeutic, and my physical therapist is optimistic about my health come-back.

The weather here in sunshine country could not be more perfect. It’s too cold to swim, but I can soak up the sunshine next to the pool. The water is such a nice thing to sit by, palm trees wave above my head. My cousin and I laugh and laugh.

Yesterday we went to church and it was a most interesting service. I feel like reporting what happened here because I was so impressed.

The church is quite large, and it has been around for 63 years (as I have!) The senior pastor and elder board decided five years ago to prepare for a pastoral transition, with a timeline that included major goals.

The church chose to cultivate a candidate from within the GenZ pastoral staff. They consulted professional help with head hunting, formed a “search committee” within the elders and pastoral staff, and began to groom the person most fitting for the role of senior pastor.

Some thoughts shared in the morning service made an impression on me. If you choose someone from within the congregation/church there will be little change in the overall direction of the body. If you bring in an outsider you will experience change.

If a church needs to change, bring in an outsider. If the church is healthy and wants to remain healthy, pick an insider.

In order to remain healthy the church needs to choose a candidate that is around 40 years old. Wow. Apparently the data shows that a vibrant body that continues to grow must have a pastor that is within 10 years of age (plus or minus) of the majority of the congregants.

So, the pastor, who is 63, saw the writing on the wall and started the exodus process on his own. I find that commendable. He will still be on staff in this big church in another role.

A younger guy who has been trained and held accountable for the past 15 years by church staff is taking the reins and he was introduced as the next senior pastor. There will be a vote of affirmation from the congregation in the next months, but the staff has already chosen him unanimously. They know him well. He’s 43.

I find this whole situation very interesting. Positive.

I am not a fan of mega-churches (won’t elaborate here) and I am cynical about big names in theology and American Christian culture. I am a severe critic of mainline Christianity (Christianity in name only!) and I tend to ignore “Christian trends.”

Of course I am a home-schooling Christian veteran, former missionary, church planter, Christian musician—teacher, Bible prophecy maven, conspiracy theorist, theology critic….

I nod to all these things. But all these things have made me a cynic. I’ve seen too many fall, I’ve seen the cultural trends in my “Christian country.” I have seen failure.

I’ve been burned, too, by my Christian brethren (and sisters.)

I speak/write from an insider’s standpoint.

And I am a cynic.

So, I have chosen to look at Jesus and obey Him. I am accountable to Him, and Him alone.

The body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still. —Martin Luther

I will stand on God’s truth.

Truth, Discipline, and Kindness.

At the vet the doctors said to me, as I am weeping, “It’s the kindest thing to do…”

I immediately knew that God was in the moment, and I could let Corwyn go. God had the vet use one of my 2026 words and I just knew He was there in my sorrow.

Sometimes it is just the smallest thing, the little seed.

Pray for Minnesota. Pray for us all. Pray for the world.

Here is my “snatch list” prayer for this post:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I pray that you would snatch R. He is at the top of my list, an influencer that holds great admiration in his field. I pray for him every day and I see fruit in his life! This is so exciting to see. I believe you are truly working in His life.

I don’t know if he belongs to you yet, Lord, but I will pray that he makes this transaction to belong to you and that he will influence many, many of his followers to turn to you as a result. I thank you for loving him and revealing yourself to Him.

Save him soon, Lord! Snatch him from the fire.

In Jesus name,

AMEN!

Maranatha!!!

I don’t know about you, but I heard this a lot when I was young. It must have made an impression, because what I am experiencing now brings this cliche to mind.

On face value it’s silly. Of course God doesn’t have grandchildren. Each and every person is His own creation, His writing of DNA, His plan. I think of all the aborted babies in heaven, the miscarriages, those lost through SIDS. Each one is His child.

But this phrase gives me pause as a grandparent, myself.

I look at my precious grandchildren and I wonder—-where have I messed up my parenting that will affect my grandchildren?!

If I didn’t parent well this could have repercussions on my children’s parenting. Of course they have every chance of being stellar parents despite my own shortcomings. We have seen that played out time and again in testimonies from all over the world.

But I do see strains of different thinking, ideas, spiritual journeys that surprise me at times. They are different people with different experiences. Of course they will be different.

But when those ideas and bents lead them in different paths from Biblical truths I am alarmed. I wonder how they will affect the next generation.

My generation abandoned the Biblical Inerrancy stand. The pre-tribulation rapture is not a popular idea anymore. Theology is wishy-washy and prophecy is scorned.

Kingdom Now and Dominionism are all the rage. You can research these for yourself. New Age Ideas and Paganism are everywhere, often embraced by many who identify as Christian.

Biblical literacy is at an all-time low. The next generation has so few people who really know Scripture, the Bible stories, memorized verses. It’s a shame.

So if the next generation doesn’t know the Bible, how will their children know? Most knowledge is imparted through daily interaction. Parents have a huge responsibility.

Thankfully the internet is full of young people who really do crave Jesus and His truth. I am somewhat encouraged by the zeal of some on Instagram. I can only promote their stuff, rejoice that they have found a voice, and they are passing on Biblical truths.

It’s not enough, though.

The next generation tends to scorn church. I understand the problem. Church is a place where sinners convene, a bunch of scrappy humans with issues. Fights break out. Sin (bad sin) reveals itself periodically. The church is a hot mess.

But that doesn’t mean it does not have value. We need each other. We need to be a body, a spiritual body. We need to duke it out with each other on issues. We need to have a forum to practice love and service, support and prayer.

We need to see supernatural healing, which happens regularly in these imperfect church bodies. Yes, church life is messy, but it is necessary.

It’s also commanded by Jesus. Do not forsake the assembly….

So, dear ones of the next generations, this grandma implores you to read your Bible, take your children to church, get messy with fellow believers, pray, and WATCH FOR JESUS TO COME BACK FOR YOU!

This is the hope that will sustain you through anything, including wars and evil schemes.

Jesus wins. We have the truth.

MARANATHA!

Heavenly Father,

First of all, I confess all the sin in my heart and mind to you. I do not want my prayer hindered. I know I stand saved because I have put my faith in you and the blood of Jesus Christ! Thank you, Father.

Today I pray for B. He is family. I have prayed for him since he was born, and he has had a tough life. He went down paths that were away from your path.

You are the way, the truth, and the life.

I pray that B. finds this truth. I pray that you would snatch him for your glory! I pray that his spiritual eyes would be opened to you and all of your loving forgiveness.

I pray that he would embrace your tender mercy. Please, Lord, save his soul.

In Jesus name I pray, AMEN!

Pray with me, please.

Lord, I lift up the snatch lists of my readers. You know each and every story and thought, so please work your salvation in the lives of loved ones, and those who are listed. We pray for the salvation of these dear souls. AMEN!

I will continue to ask you to pray with me.

When a pet is sick I ask for prayer, too. Corwyn has been struggling with pneumonia this winter. She was much better after antibiotics. Yesterday her breathing was worse, again. I called the vet for a refill of antibiotics and they would not give them without another appointment. I booked the appointment for next Thursday.

Please pray with me that Corwyn makes it to next Thursday! I cannot afford another emergency vet visit.

Pray with me.

I am holding her close, feeding her natural antibiotics. She is 8 years old, so she isn’t a pup anymore.

Lots to pray about.

Of course the world is on fire as well. Much rejoicing in Venezuela. Communists are livid. Justice in Minnesota (the very place I live) is non-existent. A Somalian man gets 49 million dollars for running a couple of day-cares. He has his luxury lifestyle and I am helping to pay for that while scraping for cash these days. (I am doing fine, but my assets are tied up in retirement funds.) I need to scrape by for another few years before I can take Social Security.

I am HOPING that Jesus will return well before that.

In case I have misled anyone about how I see current events and unfolding prophecy let me clarify!

Next event: Rapture (bride of Christ snatched away)

After that at some time; Tribulation—otherwise known as Jacob’s Trouble. God will redeem His bride, the Jewish people.

Seven Years go by: JESUS RETURNS with us (on white horses!) to reign and mete out justice on this earth for 1,000 years! A glorious, wonderful kingdom is coming.

After 1,000 years: The Great White Throne Judgment. Those born into the millennial kingdom will be judged. Those who do not choose Christ will be condemned. Satan/Lucifer will be thrown into a lake of eternal fire. We will be with Jesus forever.

So simple, so wonderful, so full of eternal hope. This is a very literal interpretation of Scripture and eschatology, Old and New Testaments. This is Bible prophecy.

Reminder: the Bible is about a third prophecy. Of the prophetic texts about 2/3 have been fulfilled already. We are waiting on the last 1/3 of prophecy to come to fruition. The odds of the first 2/3 being fulfilled were pretty slim. Therefore we KNOW that God WILL fulfill His prophecy completely and exactly, against all odds.

Are you ready to be snatched?

Look up, your redemption draws nigh.

MARANATHA!

2023:

Love, Beauty, and Peace

2024:

Balance, Boundaries, and Health

2025:

Faith, Purpose, and Service

2026

Truth, Kindness, and Discipline

It is so fascinating to me to see “themes” emerge in my day-to-day life around these words!

I told you in the previous post that my SIL described her pastor as a servant—what a beautiful way to sum up the year that my emphasis was “service.”

Have I found more purpose? Funny, but my international Bible study did a unit on “identity.” I think that is popular right now. I found an identity as a substitute. Not only am I a substitute teacher for a job, I fill in wherever I need to fill in. I think God gifted me in this way.

As a younger adult I might have felt slighted by this “identity,” (Don’t I have a purpose of my own?) but I think it is freeing and lovely to help out where I can, yet (true confessions!) not have the ultimate responsibility!

I have too many responsibilities of my own to take care of. Am I lazy? A bit.

I enjoy having purpose as a substitute, whether teaching, playing my instruments, singing, doing projects instead of someone else…

What about faith? I went through a few years of trauma, mostly fully unpacked here on this blog, and that had huge impact on my faith.

Am I still faithful? My given name means “Faithful One.”

I don’t think I could get away from a faith walk.

Where would I go?

I am a complete and firm fence sitter on theological matters. Perhaps I lean towards a position of free will, rather than predestination, but overall I see Scripture in favor of both extremes. I think Scripture promotes balance, so I can justify balancing on the fence theologically.

My faith has come to a complete rest on the fence. There it sits, happily, trusting that God’s will be done in every thing, and everywhere. I pray happily for people to come to Christ, that they would be saved in Jesus’ name according to HIS WILL. It is His will that none shall perish.

Since I am not a universalist (I do believe in hell) I realize that people have a choice. They can choose God. Many don’t.

I pray that God intervenes overwhelmingly in their lives, drawing them to Himself. I pray for the world and all its people. When I get to heaven I fully expect to say, “I prayed for you!”

My faith has matured. I can rest in God’s love. I can have a constant attitude of prayer. The majority of my sin is locked up inside my head, so I bring it to God daily.

Repentance is a daily deal for me. My prayers can’t be hindered by my sin. I can turn to Jesus at any moment and clear out the sin in my mind.

Thank you, Lord.

Prayer is absolutely the focus of my faith walk. I’m okay with that.

Looking forward to 2026:

Truth and kindness, discipline. Let’s see what comes.

I encourage you to pray about some words to look for and develop in your life this year. Maybe it’s just one.

I took my first three (2023) words from a prayer a woman prayed for me in my moment of tragic loss and despair. She prayed love, beauty, and peace over me. It touched my heart memorably.

I wanted to see those things manifesting in my heart and life. It seemed like a quest was begun.

I saw fruit. I saw love, beauty, and peace that year. Blessing.

I am back from the prayer vigil at my church. I cannot tell you how sweet it is to meet quietly and prayerfully before the Lord in the wee hours of the night, or simply solo, at church. Having multiple requests for church health and growth, missions, personal needs, and anything that the Holy Spirit brings to mind—these all get cast onto the Lord.

I left the church with such peace in my heart.

Cast your cares upon the Lord, for He cares for you.

His yoke is easy, and his burden is light.

I am casting.

I now I need to be truthful, kind, and disciplined….

MARANATHA!

Since I have been praying my “snatch list” for several years I thought it would be great to have you pray with me.

My snatch list book is quite full, but I have chosen 10 people to pray for, always, top of the list, even when I am not in a “praying posture” during my quiet time.

They are people that the Lord has placed on my heart specifically.

My list may not make sense to you, but it does to me, and the Lord.

Pray with me for M. I have known her for many years. She is agnostic. I have shared Christ with her, but it seems to me that her heart is closed. There have been glimmers of spiritual awakening in her, but I haven’t seen an acceptance of Christ.

___Lord, please save M! I have prayed for her for years, Lord. I love her. I want to see her surrender to you! She is so capable, beautiful, and calm, so gifted and intelligent. Her world has been one that didn’t need you. But she does need you.

If I have been a stumbling block to her coming to know you I would like to ask forgiveness. She has known me since childhood, and she knows I love you.

Would you please save her, Lord, and her family. I’m praying for him, too. Please let your Holy Spirit touch her heart and mind and open her to your truth.

She is so wonderful. She doesn’t think she needs you. She needs you.

In Jesus’ name, AMEN_____

Thank you for praying with me today, this New Year’s Day. I want to bring in the back-up prayer forces, prayer warriors, to help me out with this spiritual battle.

I am sure you have your snatch list, too. Jude 23.

May Jesus come back to get us in 2026! Aren’t you ready?

I have another post brewing, so I’m signing off here.

MARANATHA!

A prescient Happy New Year to you all, my readers! How I value you, and your prayers! I am so blessed to have you.

Tonight there is a 24-hour prayer vigil at my church. I love this. It’s such a beautiful way to “ring in” the new year, bathing it in prayer.

Has the past year been hard? Yes. Of course.

My fall was not what I’d planned.

But I have such a grateful heart! I am well—for now. At the advanced age of 63 I expect new health issues to crop up with the passing of time.

If the Lord does not return before that. How I LONG for His return. I am Rapture-Ready. Come, Lord Jesus!

Can you see us, the bride of Christ, in the first four chapters of Revelation? I do. The church is gone after chapter four.

Chapter five is about to begin.

I am ready.

I’ve been praying people into the faith. I know that many have not made a decision yet. I will begin to pray again, each day, for their salvation. I want them in heaven with me, and with Jesus.

Many years ago I had the overwhelming idea that I was so unworthy of salvation. WE are unworthy, of course. It is the love of God that washes us with worthiness. I wanted to be an old sheep that stuck to the Shepherd’s side, never leaving, grazing close. Just let me be that sheep, Lord. I ask for nothing else. Even today I ask that. I want to be with Jesus.

Having family that loves God is such a blessing. I am blessed.

There are still loved ones that need to make things right with God. I know it is between God and them, but I can be praying for the Holy Spirit to prod and pry. How I want them to come to know God.

What are your plans for your spiritual walk this coming year? I plan to read through the Bible, do my study on Christ’s commands, and pray my “Snatch List.” (Jude 23!)

I am keeping a journal and making the words TRUTH, KINDNESS, and DISCIPLINE my focus for the year.

Faith, purpose, and service were my 2025 words.

My dear sister-in-law, who is also one of my best friends (we married brothers!) came for a brief visit.

She was praising her new pastor and his wife. She described how they SHOW UP. They are servant-hearted. They actively serve their congregation. They have mastered the word “serve!”

Although the church isn’t that huge there is a sense of family. The pastor had everyone in the congregation over for Sunday lunch over the first weeks of their tenure.

I need to have people over for Sunday lunch!

Since I am involved in my international Bible study on Sundays that isn’t the best time for me to entertain.

I want to be hospitable. That is a rule at Corgi Hollows. Hospitality must be practiced! (And I love it, when my house is dry and clean ;))

I have a sign in my kitchen: “Tea is always served at Corgi Hollows.”

Come for tea.

Come for cake and coffee on Sunday afternoons. I just loved that German tradition. While I lived in Germany we all ate apfel, or pfirsch kuchen, around 4 pm, then took long walks.

I NEED to do this again! Cozy, sweet tradition.

It’s time to make resolutions. Let’s do this!

MARANATHA!

I do not use that word lightly, but I see them every day.

This one is big though.

Firstly, my plans are not always followed, and the past few weeks I had some alterations, all wonderful, though.

Here is the true miracle story:

I was scheduled for a PET scan this past week, on Tuesday. I was shot up with radiation, as the scan requires. As the technician put the stuff in my vein I mentioned my radiation story.

Years ago, in 1986, I was a short term missionary living in Ingolstadt, Germany. I arrived in the summer that year. I was 23 years old. Some new friends and I spent an evening at a man-made lake near town picnicking and swimming in the late June light. It was so beautiful and I never forgot that fun day!

A week later we learned that the city pool in Ingolstadt had to be drained because of dangerous levels of radiation in the water! Tchernobyl disaster had happened that spring.

It was the time in history when ATMs were new and used. I had a bank card that kept erasing every few months. ! The bank asked me, “Do you work at a nuclear power plant?”

NO! I am basically an Au pair, a church worker, a “Gemeindehelferin.” Hmmm.

I am telling this little story to the technician, and she responds: “Did you tell Dr. _____ this story? ” (My surgeon?)

“No.”

“You need to tell her.”

SO at my very last post surgery appointment I said to my surgeon, “—the technician for the PET scan told me I need to tell you a story.”

Now, the appointment already revealed that my situation was a bit different from what I knew.

I had thyroid cancer in a large tumor. I had thyroid cancer in an ovary. All of this was removed surgically. I had a PET scan that revealed NOTHING ——even the nodules on my thyroid are not there (?!!!!).

There is nothing more to treat. There is nothing more of concern.

The surgeon listened with interest to my story. She said that the thyroid is the first thing to be affected by radiation. She concurred that there is probably a connection to my experience years ago.

Now, my case; It was Stage 1 cancer, no treatment prescribed, Ongoing monitoring every six months.

My condition is of interest to a panel/board of doctors, it is extremely rare. (Less than 1% of similar situations!)

I see a miracle. I see a miracle that even though I was affected by radiation I have five children, I am cancer free, I am healthy. I see a miracle that even in a few weeks nodules on my thyroid seem to have disappeared.

God chose to heal me. God answered my prayer with healing.

I know this does not happen to everyone. God graciously gave me a beautiful gift. I will say that His plans are always the best plans. He knows the best. Dark and hard it may seem to us, but HE KNOWS THE BEST.

This is trust.

I am looking out at the snowy landscape. Cheri and I have holiday chaos indoors, as we are trying to decorate some, along with restoring order to a house hampered by water for four years! We are using the season to re-organize and clean. It never ends, but we try. I still have stacks of books to re-shelve.

I was unable to swim (after all) until yesterday. The surgeon gave the green light on swimming, but she mandated that I ease into it.

It was quite difficult. My body has gained weight, become stiffer, generally lost strength over these past four months.

I have a physical recovery to manage. I need to be back in shape by the wedding in Japan that we are attending in May!

Getting old is not for the faint of heart! I keep thinking about all of us being 30ish in heaven, robed in light, healthy and JOYFUL. We have an eternity of happiness that awaits, with each other. This is the promise of Scripture! So much beauty and love, peace.

I will attempt to become stronger. I am cutting back on the “Home-Chemotherapy” and I am still treating radiation. (My friend said to take kelp for the aftermath of the PET scan.)

Corwyn is back to normal. She is healthy. Ed had a bad virus, but he seems to be getting better.

I will be cooking for a day or two now. Plans for gathering continue.

I got to go to Hitchville’s Christmas concert this past weekend. What an incredibly talented ensemble! They are as good as Pentatonix, but have such wide talent and ability beyond that! I highly recommend their Christmas concert. So joyful!

I did get to see “The Singers” at Westwood Lutheran Church, with Ed. Such angelic sound! A peaceful and precious time.

Last Friday, my niece, Cherie, and I went to the Norwegian Lutheran Church (Mindekirk) in MInneapolis, for the Gregorian Singers Scandinavian Christmas Concert. They are really top-notch, too! Such an fun evening of sound and sweet traditional Scandinavian folk Christmas. Hardanger fiddle music!

The season has been full of music and joy.

I have a JOYFUL heart.

Surely Jesus is coming quickly….

MERRY CHRISTMAS, dear readers!!! Love to you all.

MARANATHA!!

Today was the second day back in the classroom.

I look back on the last six weeks of recovery as a time to process. I did NOT find it a profitable time, as in getting things done. I wasn’t mentally sharp enough to make stuff or write much. Even reading —I usually get through a lot of books in a time like that, but I just didn’t have the energy. The stacks of books were touched, but not enough.

Still, a quiet time of processing is profitable. Things come into focus, decisions are made subconsciously. Time just rolls on and change happens.

Healing is change. I went from pain to healed, fogginess to more clarity.

There is nothing so constant as change.

I came back to school more cognizant of my abilities and desires as a teacher. As I age my authority grows. Kids who have known me for years are listening to me. I can still have “bad” days when they seem disrespectful and difficult to manage. It lies in the poor discipline they have received since birth (some of them), or congenital issues, or they are just having a bad day.

There is a spirit in each classroom. I can sense it. Keeping a lid on bad behaviors is a challenge, constant, as a teacher. If some are allowed the escalation is remarkable. It spreads like wildfire.

I have my management techniques, but I think the spirit of the room is the most important to consider. I can completely fail on a given day.

If the students don’t respect you, you’ve lost.

I try to keep control by limiting noise. As a substitute teacher, spending only a day with the students, I always feel they can handle silence for one class period or even a day. I don’t demand silence from the little ones, but from 5th grade up it is part of my program.

Respect is such an issue in today’s classroom. I don’t think there is any teacher who does not see this. It’s a chronic problem. I am always writing notes to teachers about the lack of it in certain students. They already know, but it is the only way I can “control” a student who is acting badly. “I am writing this down for your teacher.,.,.”

That can help unless the student has escalated. Then there is nothing to do but call in back-up. That has happened several times over my years of teaching.

Disrespect happens. It happens a lot.

This is a problem throughout our culture. Kids (at least in public school, which I am qualified to generalize) seem to have lost their ability to see adults in a way that shows deference. Adults have had to resort to being “a friend.”

Teachers need to appeal for good behavior.

This is so backwards from historical educational culture. Perhaps some may see this as progression. Sadly, the structure of classroom education isn’t conducive to appeals from the teacher for good behavior. Enforcement is difficult.

Personality and emotion can really have an effect on the spirit of the classroom. The teacher can’t be the same person every day any more than anyone. We bring our ups and downs to the space. It’s dynamic. It has effect.

I have thought in the past that teaching is really acting. It seems that the teacher must put on a performance the entire day.

Acting, performing, getting a point across; this is the state of current education. The time for learning is minimal, but the brain is constantly learning. It’s learning something.

Our brains are vacuums. The space must be filled by the minutes we exist.

It is a challenge to fill those minutes productively.

I’m reflecting on productivity as I come out of my “house arrest.”

I want to do things better, progress.