Happy Birthday Mom!

Yesterday was my mom's birthday. I was thousands of miles away. However, I was traveling, so I had lots of time to think. And, I thought about my mom all day.

I admire so many things about my mom, it is hard to know where to start. She is honest. She will always tell you exactly what is on her mind. She is beautiful. One might catch her at her house in her PJs, but if she goes out, you can guarantee that she will look fantastic! She is strong. She has survived the death of three of her siblings, and both of her parents. She is fiercely loyal. Try not to get in between her and one of her cubs! She is generous. She won't just fill a need, she will overflow it. She is a hard worker. If you need her anytime between April and August, she will be out in her yard. She is faithful. It would take more than a wild herd of horses to drive her away from a commitment once she has put her mind to it. She is available. From the time I was a small child until now, I cannot remember one time she has told me that she was too busy to listen to me, or to hold me. Some respect their moms for having a career, and that is fine, I respect my mom for making the three of us kids her career. I always knew that I was a priority in her life.

My mom is funny. She can always be counted on to make one laugh.
My mom is in love with Jesus. God brings events into His children's lives for many different reasons, but they are almost always to grow us and to show us His reality. Many of us experience a time in our lives that is so moving, so persuasive, that the rest of our life seems to revolve around that one period. For my mom, and I believe that she would agree with me, it was her firm belief that God was going to give her more children. My brother is seven years older than me. During those seven years, my parents experienced the joy of knowing they were going to have another baby, only to lose it through miscarriage. My mom's doctors first encouraged, then begged her to give up. But, my mom was determined that God was going to prove faithful and give her another baby. He answered her prayers, and gave her me, two years later, He gave her my sister. Thanks mom, for gathering close to God's will, and waiting on Him.

I know that I could say more. I have so many wonderful memories of my mom. As for today? I love my weekly talks with mom. And, I know that I could call her at any time, on any day, and she will listen. She will then not only offer to pray for me, she will do it, right then.
Thanks, Mom. I love you more than you will ever know.
Your daughter, Deb

The truck is home for one day and....

The phone rang about nine last night. I was a little sleepy and thought about just letting it ring, but gave in at the last moment.
A very formal, female voice informed me that she was calling from the Calgary Police Department, and wanted to speak with a Debbie Falconer. Yes, that is me, what is this about? My heart was already pounding. Blue had been in Calgary all day working on a job. He should have been home an hour ago. She then asked if I was the owner of a white, Ford, Super-duty truck. Yes, well not me exactly, my husband, Blue owned the truck and should be in it right now, driving himself safely home. Was my husband's name Blue Falconer? Yes, isn't that what I just said? Yes, that is our license plate. What is this about? I was having trouble catching my breath, and hating myself for always assuming the worst in every situation. The woman then politely asked for Blue's cell number, then thanked me and hung up. Hung up? Wait, please wait, what is going on? It took a few minutes for me to calm down, and explain to myself that if he were hurt, or in trouble, she would have told me that, right?
I dialed Blue's cell, and nearly sobbed with relief when he told me that he was about a half hour from home, and everything was ok.
A few minutes later, the phone rang again. I had no trouble jumping up to get this one. This time, a man's voice introduced himself as a constable in Calgary. He then proceded to ask me many of the same questions. This time, I was not so dazed, and demanded to know what was going on. He informed me that they had received a "hit" on our vehicle. A truck with our license plate had been seen doing "stupid" things. I almost laughed out loud. My husband is a lot of fun, lively, adventurous, but what this officer was describing I knew could not be my husband.
It took a few more phone calls for us to discover that the license plate had been stolen off of Blue's truck and replaced with a fake. I could finally breathe normally.
Early this morning, as I lay in bed, thanking God for protecting Blue, and for resolving the situation, I was shrouded in peace. I thought about the person or people who had stolen Blue's license plate, in a vain attempt to tarnish his reputation, to certainly cause trouble in the hopes of not getting caught...so hopeless, so sad. I snuggled deeper into my pillow, and as sleep began to overtake me, I remembered Romans 8:35, 38,39.
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

It's a wonderful life!

Have you ever met someone that life seems to just happen to? I have, I married him eleven wonderful years ago, and life has been happening to us ever since.
Our most recent run-in (hee! hee!) happened to be while I was down in the States visiting my family for American Thanksgiving. I always get a little nervous when I leave him, I don't know why, since I can do absolutely nothing to prevent these little episodes.
Nevertheless, I returned one evening to find my brother-in-law standing in the kitchen with a rather serious face expression. He quickly informed me that he was the bearer of bad news, and that my husband preferred it that way. I assume Blue was deducting that I would become slightly upset with this news. He usually is right, better to go through a second party. So, I listening patiently while Joe explained to me that the night before, while returning from church (that part must have been important), Blue hit a deer and believed our van to be a write-off. Ok, that is all right, Blue was safe. Unfortunately, the deer was in a seriously battered condition, or he would have made a nice addition to our freezer.
Sometimes, when these things occur, I wonder what God is trying to tell us.
Two days later, I return to find a rather curious message from Blue stating that if anyone wanted to hear a good story involving his truck and a Rocky Mt. sheep, give him a call.
Ok, God? You have my attention, what are You wanting to tell us?
Apparently,as Blue and a vehicle in front of him approached a full-grown ram standing on the road, something we do nearly every day in the winter, the car in front of him hit the ram. There was no damage to his car or to the ram, but the big boy was now very upset. As Blue tried to sidle by, the ram reared up on his hind legs and put his head through Blue's passenger window!!
I like Isaiah 30:21. "whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying 'this is the way, walk in it'."
I don't think God is telling Blue not to drive anymore, but I do like to know that I serve a God is going to guide us, and is not going to leave us alone to figure out our way.
Too bad it is too cold to ride a bicycle!