Homesick

My precious grandmother Mary Paul Krumnow went to be with the Lord one year ago today. She is now living in blissful peace with our Lord and heavenly King.

She was our Great Grams, grandmother, wife, mother and daughter. My grandmother was the most kind hearted giver of anyone I know. She would have given me the shirt off her back if I asked for it. I wish I had more time to give back the way that she did for me. More of my time, more of my love, more visits, more phone calls, more letters. She helped shape me into the person I am. She was always there for me...always.

It all goes by too fast. I am grateful for the memories. And what great memories I have that I will cherish forever. I am grateful for the time I did have. I am very grateful that she got to know, to spend time with and to enjoy Beth and Parker.

(My Grandma and Parker's first Christmas 2003)

I am blessed to have you as my grandmother.

The Lord reminds me that this life will pass away and we will begin a new one in his presence. I wouldn't wish you back for anything.

I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where the heart is then I'm out of place
Lord won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now (MercyMe)

He helps me through the hurt. He helps me through the pain.

I love you.

I miss you.

I miss you...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I love you my Lord and Savior.

I love you Trey.

I love you Beth.

I love you Parker.

I love you Mom.

I love you Dad.

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

"Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away."

"For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

Special hugs and blessings to all my family and friends. Hope it's filled with lots of chocolate!

Snow Days

It's cold! It's been snowing!

And I really don't like it!

Hooray for the Groundhog who did not see his shadow a few days ago.


What is it with this weather? It always seems to snow in Texas in February. I remember two years ago when we had our house for sale and an open house scheduled...what did it do? It snowed. Needless to say, no open house that day.


Beth and Parker love it....of course. Although, Parker can only take so much of it. He tags along with his sister because she insists he must come out and play in the snow. "It's not going to last long," she says impatiently, "so you better come out and enjoy it while you can."

So he obliges for a little while. Then, he starts to get cold. His face begins to turn a bright red and soon his hands follow suit, rejecting the fact that his sister's too big, pink gloves are doing their best to keep them warm.

He trys to mow the snow with his toy mower. But by now his hands are too cold to accommodate any sort of usefulness.


Then, the tears start to flow and he's had enough. In the house he comes with his bright red hands leading the way, too stiff to even take off his coat. Mom to the rescue, peeling off coat, gloves, snow drenched pants and water soaked socks. I can't even touch his hands they are so cold!

So we head for the obvious remedy...a fast run to the kitchen sink to warm up those popsicle hands in the warm running water. A quick plunge and we are doing ok...for a few seconds. Yes, you guessed it, his hands are now stinging and hurting from the blast of warm water. Luckily, that only lasts a few seconds, whew, now hands are warm and I'm not afraid of fingers falling off.



Coats, scarfs, and shoes are left by the door to dry. Cozy, warm clothes are put on. The snow day is over.

Then I hear it. "Mom, can I go back outside?", Parker asks, as the snow softly falls.

Well, maybe I do like it after all.

Love Conquers All

"He who is in love is wise and is becoming wiser, sees newly every time he looks at the object beloved, drawing from it with his eyes and his mind those virtues which it possesses." (Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1841)

Ah, February. The month of Love.

I just watched the movie Pride & Prejudice, the classic love story based on the book by Jane Austen, for the first time a few weeks ago. I was particularly struck by the scene where Mr. Darcy first professes his love to Elizabeth Bennet.

"Miss Elizabeth, I have struggled in vain and I can bear it no longer. These past few months have been a torment. I came to Rosings for the single object of seeing you. I had to see you. I have fought against my better judgment, my family's expectation, the inferiority of your birth by rank and circumstance, all these things, but I am willing to put them aside and ask you to end my agony," Mr. Darcy stammered.

"I don't understand," said Elizabeth, most astonished.

"I love you. Most ardently. Please do me the honor of accepting my hand," said Mr. Darcy.

I know God loves me. But do I really know how deeply and passionately he is in love with me?

Sometimes I don't think my heart comprehends the depth of his great love. It can't get past how someone could love me so profusely that he would die for me -- for us. I think when God reminds you of the love he has for you that you fall in love with him over again. "I love you, O Lord, my strength." (Psalms 18:1) You set aside all inhibitions, all prenotins of what loving someone with your inner most being and soul really means. Your life and actions begin to reflect this love because it's growing deep inside you. You discover a renewed passion for others and you want them to know this love too.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deuteronomy 6:5)

I cherish when my kids say out of the blue they love me. Parker especially seems to have a knack for saying it when I least expect it. It makes me feel tingly and squishy...and loved! I want my kids to know and feel this special love and, not just to see it, but to understand how much I love the Lord.

Of course, we all know how the story of Pride & Prejudice continues. Elizabeth rejects the proposal of Mr. Darcy and then is in agony until she finally realizes that she does return his love. She then accepts him whole heartedly and without further hesitation.

I know the Lord is heart broken when we reject his love. It is much easier to surrender to the one who's love is never-ending and never-changing. I don't want to reject his love. I want to feel it, live it and be wrapped in it. I am so glad that he loves me. His love is so simple, so true.

His love....life changing.

Real.