Tag: God

A Ride I’ll Never Forget: Remembering My Friend, Jamie

Published on by noteworthymommy1 Comment

Yesterday, my dear friend Jamie Grimes entered the arms of Jesus. Seven years to the exact date of her cancer diagnosis.
As I sit here this morning, my heart feels incredibly heavy. A few hours before I heard the news of Jamie’s passing, she was on my heart in such a strong way that I felt I needed to write something for her. I remember thinking how we so often wait until someone is gone before we tell the world what they have meant to us. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if she could hear those words before she went to Heaven?
I even made plans in my mind to visit her on Monday or Tuesday. My new job has consumed so much of my time these past few weeks, with onboarding and meetings and modules, but next week I’d have two days with a little less. I thought I had a little more time. We so often believe there will be another Tuesday.
Instead, today I’m holding tightly to one of the greatest gifts God gave me this summer, a sunny June afternoon that I now realize was one last adventure with my friend.
After enjoying a delicious lunch and an afternoon of laughter at the home of our dear friend Kimber, Jamie and I climbed into my Dodge Challenger Hell Cat. Kimber was invited to join us but decided to stay behind, leaving just the two of us. We didn’t have a destination. We simply drove.
Looking back, that seems so fitting. We let God lead the way, following whatever road He placed before us. In many ways, that’s exactly how Jamie had lived the last seven years of her life.

Ready for a ride in the Hell Cat!

Our drive became so much more than a drive. There was laughter, there were quiet moments, and deep conversations I’ll carry with me forever.
At one point, the speedometer climbed to 105 miles per hour, but somehow the fast car became the background for one of the slowest, most meaningful conversations I’ve ever had. Jamie talked openly about death. Not because she had given up.
Not because she was bitter. But because she knew where she was going. She wasn’t fearless because cancer was easy. She was fearless because Jesus was faithful. She believed with every fiber of her being that Heaven is real, a place with no more pain, no more cancer, no more tears, and no more sin. She knew Jesus was waiting for her.
Only Jamie could joke in the middle of such a conversation. She laughed and said, “People at church are probably wondering why I won’t just hurry up and die already.”
I assured her that wasn’t true. But that was Jamie. She somehow found humor in the hardest moments. As I drove she shared how grateful she was that her hospice nurse had released her to take one final family vacation to Gulf Shores with her husband and their three beautiful children, ages 14, 12, and 10.
Then she said something I’ll never forget.
“I didn’t want this summer to be the one where all they did was wait around for Mom to die.”
That sentence has echoed in my heart ever since. She talked about her children and admitted that leaving them was the hardest part. She wondered who would mentor them, especially her teenage daughter? Then, with the confidence that defined her life, she reminded me that God already knew. She didn’t know their names. God did. She trusted that He would place exactly the right people into their lives.
Jamie wasn’t placing her children into the unknown. She was placing them into the hands of the God she had trusted all along.
She told me she could leave this earth knowing He would take care of them.
I’ve known Jamie for eight years, but only one of those years was cancer-free. For seven years I watched her receive wonderful scan results, only to have cancer return months later. Again and again she faced devastating news with remarkable courage. It was a journey filled with chemotherapy, surgeries, uncertainty, hope, disappointment, and unimaginable pain.
Yet cancer never defined Jamie. Her faith did. She remained firmly grounded in Jesus, believing that God held her securely in the palm of His hand. She trusted that His plan was greater than her own, even when it hurt beyond words. When you spent time with Jamie, you walked away changed. She radiated joy. She radiated peace. She radiated grace. She possessed one of the strongest, most unwavering faiths I have ever witnessed, especially in a young mother carrying burdens that most of us can hardly imagine.
Years ago during her cancer journey, Jamie discovered the song “God’s Not Done With You” by Tauren Wells. She once shared how deeply that song ministered to her heart during one of her darkest seasons. From that day forward, I could never hear it without thinking of Jamie. It became part of her story, a reminder that God was faithfully writing every chapter of her life, even in the midst of suffering.
As our drive came to an end, I asked Jamie to open the glove box. She looked at me with a puzzled smile. Tucked inside was a miniature replica of my Dodge Challenger Hell Cat down to the exact same metallic Sinnamon Stick color. I had hidden it there just for her. I told her to take that mini car home and give it to her children. Then I made her a promise. “If any of them ever need to go for a drive in a fast car to talk, or not talk, to laugh, cry, or simply get away for a little while, they have an open invitation to go driving with the Noteworthy Mommy.”
She thanked me with that sweet smile that so many of us loved. It wasn’t a grand gesture that could take away the pain of what was coming. Nothing could do that.
But I wanted Jamie to know that while no one could ever replace their mom, there would always be people willing to walk beside her children, encourage them, listen to them, and remind them how deeply they are loved. That tiny Hell Cat car became much more than a toy. It became a promise.
A promise that they would always have someone cheering them on. A promise that they would never have to travel life’s roads completely alone.

Jaime with the toy car.

When I think back to that afternoon, I don’t remember just the horsepower, the winding roads, or even reaching 105 miles per hour. I remember Jamie’s smile.
I remember her peace. I remember a mother whose greatest concern wasn’t herself but her children. And I remember driving home that day feeling incredibly blessed that God had allowed our paths to cross.
I’ll miss seeing Jamie at Zion Women’s Retreats and Advent By Candlelight. I’ll miss playing Bunco together whenever she felt well enough to join us. I’ll miss hearing her laugh. I’ll miss the way she made everyone around her feel just a little closer to Jesus. Jamie was one of the most grace-filled women I’ve ever known.
Faithful.
Steadfast.
Hope-filled.
Inspirational.
She walked one of the hardest roads imaginable with incredible courage because she knew her life belonged to God.
I rejoice knowing Jamie is finally healed.
Cancer no longer has a hold on her.
She is at peace.
She is at rest.
She is home.
She is in the loving arms of Jesus.
Jamie taught me that faith isn’t pretending life isn’t hard. Faith is trusting God even when it is. Our last drive together had no destination. Looking back, I don’t think it needed one. God knew exactly where He was leading us. He gave us one last afternoon filled with laughter, honest conversation, and a promise that neither of us would ever forget.
Thank you, Jamie, for showing me what unwavering faith looks like. Thank you for reminding me that when we let God lead the way, His road always leads us exactly where we need to be.
Until we meet again dear Jamie. ❤️

Jamie and I after our drive.

Click here to watch the video of Jamie’s favorite song.

https://youtu.be/cVHrkYBEgFM?is=RUIq8wszhgaaC8Qs

It Is Done: More Than a Resume

Published on by noteworthymommyLeave a comment

Well… it is done.

I have submitted my resume and cover letter for a potential new job, one that combines the gifts God has given me with 32 years of experience. And let me tell you, it was no small task. My old resume? Lost somewhere on an old flash drive or hard drive from a few devices ago. So I started from the very beginning. From scratch. A flashback to a lifetime ago.

There was something surreal about seeing my life laid out on paper…32 years of education and experience. My work life, anyway. Line by line, role by role, it brought back memories. Some sweet, some difficult. It made me proud. These accomplishments have shaped me, refined me, and, in many ways, defined me.

Maybe they shouldn’t define me as much as they have but I’ve always been goal-oriented, always looking toward the next mountain to climb, the next thing to conquer.

And then, in the middle of all of this reflection, a humbling (and slightly hilarious) reality check. Mini Me said, “My teacher hasn’t even been alive for 32 years!” She made sure I knew it! Loud and clear.

As I filled in names of past supervisors and references, I found myself walking back through conversations long tucked away. Some with my graduate school mentor. I could almost see her again, sitting across from that younger version of me, an energetic, optimistic young teacher who truly believed she could change the world.

And maybe, in small ways, I did!

Because as I looked over every position, every transition, every unexpected turn, I could see something so much bigger than a career path. I could see God’s hand. In the hard decisions. In the closed doors. In the leaps of faith. In the moments I didn’t understand at the time. He already knew the ending when I was just standing at the beginning.

What a blessing to say “I’ve lived an extraordinary life, not because it was perfect, but because it was purposeful.”

And yet, as I typed and reflected, I was reminded of something even more important. So much of who I am isn’t even on that resume. Becoming a wife. Becoming a mother. Being a daughter. Being a friend.

Those roles might show up in a short answer on an application, tucked into a line or two, but they are not bullet points. They are not measurable achievements. Yet they are the greatest gifts. They are the truest parts of who I am. They are where love is lived out daily in the ordinary, in the unseen, in the moments that will never make it onto paper but matter the most.

Lately, I’ve also been singing in the requiem choir at funerals, and our pastor reads the obituary of the deceased. Maybe that’s why my mind has been lingering here, thinking about legacy, about a life lived. And with a sweet young friend currently on hospice, that reflection feels even closer, more real.

But what is really important? As a Lutheran, I know this truth deep in my soul: My place in heaven is not defined by anything on that resume. Not the titles. Not the accomplishments. Not the years of service. Not even the good works done in His name.

This life, this faith, is not about works. It’s about Jesus! Yes, I strive to glorify God in all that I do. Yes, my faith has grown and my outreach has expanded. But none of those things earn me anything when it comes to eternity. Only one thing matters. Jesus. His sacrifice. His love. His suffering on the cross.

And as we walk through this Easter season, I can’t help but return to His final words: “It is finished.” (John 19:30) It is done. Not “almost done.” Not “keep striving.” Not “earn your way.” Done. Complete. Finished.

The work that truly saves, the work that truly matters was never mine to accomplish. It was His.

So my resume is done. But more importantly, the greatest work of all has already been completed for me. And because of that, I am free. Free to work. Free to serve. Free to love. Free to be a wife, a mother, a daughter, and a friend. No need to earn anything because I already have everything in Him.

All glory to God.

Friendship, Faith, and the Life We Never Could Have Imagined: A Clarinet Duet Composed by God

Published on by noteworthymommy3 Comments

Friendship over the years has a way of revealing something divine: God has plans for our lives long before we ever know what they are.

I met my best friend in high school during marching band camp. She was a sophomore, I was a junior, and we both played clarinet. At the time, our biggest concerns were rehearsal schedules and surviving the summer heat, not realizing God was quietly planting a lifelong friendship that would shape both of our lives in ways we never could have imagined.

We stayed close through college and eventually found ourselves searching for teaching jobs at the same time, me in early childhood education, her in music education. Coming from southern Illinois, we sent out hundreds of resumes across Illinois and Missouri, praying and hoping for doors to open. When I was offered my dream job teaching all-day kindergarten in the Ferguson-Florissant School District, I was thrilled… and terrified. It meant crossing the Mississippi River and leaving the comfort of my hometown after two long years of searching. Still, I knew in my heart it was where God was leading me.

Then, just one week later, my best friend landed an interview in the very same district. What were the odds? I helped her prep, drilled her with interview questions, drove her to the administration building, so she’d know exactly where to go… and she got the job! Suddenly, what felt like a leap of faith became a shared journey.

We hadn’t planned on being roommates, not wanting to risk our friendship, but after apartment hunting, it simply made sense. So we moved into our first apartment and began our teaching careers together in the fall of 1996. Those years were filled with the growing pains of first-year teaching, tears after long days, late-night talks, and constant encouragement. When she wanted to quit, I reminded her of her gifts. She stayed and went on to teach general music in that district for years.

The Noteworthy Mommy and her BFF throughout the years.

In return, she nourished me in ways only a true friend can, through amazing meals, laughter, and by pulling me back into music. I began playing clarinet seriously again, taking private lessons, performing in pit orchestras, and eventually joining the Saint Louis Wind Symphony, where we are still members today. Together, we built a wind quintet, played weddings and receptions, and even created concerts for children.

Over seven years as roommates, we supported each other through graduate school, both adopted cats, hosted dinner parties, watched sitcoms recorded on a VCR with steaming cups of coffee on Saturday mornings, and shared faith conversations sparked by sermons I heard at my church with my bestie even joining me sometimes. Somewhere along the way, we became more than friends, we became sisters. For two only children, it was an extraordinary gift.

Life continued to unfold: seven years as roommates, standing as each other’s maid of honor, marriages, motherhood. Her daughters came first, and when my “mini me” arrived years later, she became my mommy mentor, passing down clothes, books, toys, and priceless wisdom.

The Noteworthy Mommy and her bestie.

Even as life grew busier, we stayed connected through Sunday rehearsals, phone calls, and faith-filled conversations. Scripture and lessons learned from our individual Bible studies began weaving naturally into our talks. Then, last year, she mentioned possibly returning to work. I casually shared that my daughter’s school was always looking for preschool assistants. She applied, unsure if she was cut out for it, and was hired.

Suddenly, my “sister” was part of my school and church family. She became a blessing to our school community, beloved by teachers and children alike. Seeing her there, and knowing she would see my “mini me” at lunchtime brought a deep sense of peace and gratitude.

And then came yesterday.

I was asked to substitute in her classroom.

Team-teaching with my best friend, my “sister”, surrounded by three, four, and five year olds, was pure joy. The inside jokes flowed, the love and respect were obvious, and the kids felt it. It was a truly blessed day, one I will always remember. A church friend saw us together, referring to us as the “preschool dream team!”

What keeps echoing in my heart is this: when we met in high school, we never could have imagined that we would have been roommates teaching in the same school district, and now, 38 years later, we’d spend the day teaching preschool together. If someone had told us back then, we would have laughed!

But God knew.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Working together in preschool in January 2026

This friendship has always been give and take, composed by God’s hand. Proof that when we trust Him, stay open, and walk faithfully, even when we don’t see the full picture, He weaves something far more beautiful than we could ever plan ourselves, a quiet duet composed by God.

God is amazing! His plans are good. And sometimes they begin on that one day in band camp and lead to a friendship that lasts a lifetime!

A Clydesdale Named Rascal and the Sweetness of the Unexpected

Published on by noteworthymommy1 Comment

This afternoon, God tucked a little surprise into an ordinary day and Mini Me and I were lucky enough to unwrap it.

Most days after school, we take the same route home. But today, for no real reason, I chose to drive down Highway 94. Maybe it was the sunshine warming the car after a dreary few days, or maybe it was a nudge from the Holy Spirit. Either way, it led us right to the unexpected.

As we neared our neighborhood, we spotted something unusual in the gas station parking lot: a tent, balloons, and a massive horse…a Clydesdale. Not just any Clydesdale, but Rascal, a famous Budweiser Clydesdale with a glossy coat, feathery hooves, and a calm presence that instantly drew a small crowd of admirers. Although feeling a bit under the weather and longing for my comfy chair at home, I quickly turned the car around and pulled in. We couldn’t miss this! 

Mini Me’s face lit up as we walked over. She’s an experienced rider, having taken lessons at my cousin’s ranch, so getting to meet Rascal felt extra special. We pet his soft nose, chatted with his handlers, and even got to hold his rein for a quick photo. The spring sun was shining, the breeze was gentle, and for a few minutes, everything in the world felt just right.

Mini Me with Rascal.

For two days I was in bed with the flu, worn out and drained. And now God has brought this. An ordinary Friday transformed by something as simple and grand as a horse in a gas station parking lot. It reminded me that God’s gifts don’t always come wrapped in big plans or tidy schedules. Sometimes they come through a detour, a change in routine, or through a horse named Rascal.

The Noteworthy Mommy with Rascal.

Life has its heavy days. But sprinkled in, like a gift from heaven, are these moments of unexpected joy. Today reminded me to keep my eyes open, my heart open, and my plans open, because you never know when grace will gallop right into your day.

Have you ever had an unexpected surprise like this? I’d love to hear your story. Please comment below. 

Called and Chosen

Published on by noteworthymommyLeave a comment

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14

I have often battled with this verse. It’s a bit bleak, many are called, yet only a few are chosen? What does that mean for me, for my family, for the people I love?

Jesus speaks these words at the end of the Parable of the Wedding Feast. The king sends out invitations to his banquet, but many reject them. Others make excuses. Some even attack the messengers. So, the king extends his invitation further, calling in both the good and the bad from the streets. The banquet hall fills, but then the king finds a man without a wedding garment, and he is cast out.

This parable is about Gods kingdom. The call of salvation goes out to many, the Gospel is proclaimed to the world, but not all respond in faith. Some reject it right away. Others try to enter but on their own terms. Only those clothed in His grace, those chosen in Christ, remain at the feast.

As a Lutheran, I take comfort knowing that salvation is entirely God’s work, not mine. I do not choose God, He chooses me. In Baptism, He has called me by name and clothed me in the righteousness of Christ. I do not have to worry about whether I am good enough or whether I have earned my place at the table. The chosen ones are not the strongest, the smartest, or the most deserving. They are not the ones who have given the most money or done the most deeds. They are simply those whom God, in His mercy, has gathered to Himself.

Yet, this verse still calls me to act. The fact that I am among the chosen is not a reason for arrogance, but for gratitude. It reminds me how important it is to share the “Good News” of Jesus’s love and salvation with others. God calls many, and I am part of that calling. Through my words and actions, I can invite others to the feast, pointing them to Jesus, who provides the wedding garment of righteousness.

Today, I find peace knowing that I am both called and chosen. I did not earn it, and I can’t lose it by my own doing. It is God’s gift, through Christ. And with that certainty, I can live in faith, love, and joyful anticipation of the great banquet feast to come.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for calling me into Your kingdom. I know I do not deserve Your grace, yet You have chosen me in Christ. Clothe me in your righteousness and give me the courage to invite others to Your feast. In Jesus name, Amen

Reflection: Jennifer reminds us that being chosen into God’s Family leaves no room for arrogance, but gratitude. What are you most thankful for because God chose you?

Author:

Jennifer Freeman Talley is a life-long Lutheran, a wife, mom to a Zion 4th grader, educator, writer, and musician. She enjoys subbing at Zion, sings in the choir, and plays the clarinet in the Saint Louis Wind Symphony, Zion’s wind ensemble and the Northwinds Concert Band. www.noteworthymommy.com.

This devotional appeared in Zion Lutheran Church’s 2025 Easter Devotional Book, Chosen People of God.  

Waiting With Joyful Hope

Published on by noteworthymommy2 Comments
Romans 15:13 I think I want this as a tattoo | Bible quotes, Word of god, Words

I wrote the following devotion for my church’s 2021 Easter devotional book titled, “Waiting With Joyful Hope.” As I read the pages of this year’s devotional, I was inspired by the stories of hope and tremendous faith expressed by the authors. After reading my devotional below, about a vivid childhood memory, may your heart be filled with hope and joy knowing that God the Father is here to rescue His children.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13

Rescued By Hope

It was the summer before I started fifth grade and my family was traveling home to Illinois after visiting relatives in Maryland. After countless miles in the van, navigating through mountains and rolling hills, we knew we were close to home when we saw flat land. Then, only forty miles from home, our mini van began to smoke. The oil light came on and we found ourselves stranded on the side of the road. The sun was setting and there was nothing but corn fields for miles. No gas station, home, or business was in sight! There were no cell phones back then, so calling AAA for help was out of the question! We felt hopeless, isolated, and alone.

Have you ever felt this way? Have you ever been in such a dire situation that you felt as if all hope was gone? As darkness enclosed upon us, my mom began to pray. Although we were tired, scared, and longing for home, we had hope that God would protect us and provide for us. We trusted in Him. Has God rescued you just when you were about to lose all hope? Has God given you exactly what you needed at just the right time?

The minutes felt like hours and my dad decided he would begin the long walk to the nearest town. Just as he began to leave, a car stopped and a young woman stepped out. She was traveling alone and said she had no intention of stopping and even passed us by, but “something” told her to stop, so she turned around and came back to help. My dad told her that the oil light had come on. This good Samaritan happened to have purchased oil earlier that day and still had the oil cans in her trunk! She helped us fill our van with 2 cans of oil and our van started right up.

God had His hand in our rescue that night by placing the young woman in our path who had a trunk full of oil, which was exactly what we needed! And the power of the Holy Spirit was working in the woman who rescued us by calling her to turn around and help strangers stranded on the side of the road.

Isn’t it comforting to know that God is with us throughout our journey through life? I have hope knowing that God is beside me and that He travels with each and every one of us. When the road in front of us is smooth and clear, God is there. He continues to be our compass when we travel through bumpy patches or become lost during our travels. God isn’t an annoying backseat driver because He loves us even when we make a wrong turn, run a red light or arrive late to our destination. We should rejoice with thanksgiving knowing that He is guiding us through every twist and turn; protecting us, rescuing us and providing joyful hope.

Dear Almighty God, Help me to always trust in you. When I feel there is no hope give me strength. Lead me to find hope in You. Fill me with the peace and understanding that by trusting in You I will never be abandoned. For You will always give me exactly what I need. Amen

A Fun Loving Pastor Who Taught Me To Never Stop Cheering For God!

Published on by noteworthymommy2 Comments

If you stay in one place for any length of time chances are good that at some point a friend, neighbor, co-worker, teacher or pastor, will leave your community and you will have to say goodbye, sending them off with well wishes and good speed. My family of three recently participated in a “water balloon” send off for one of our associate pastors who left our congregation to accept a call to serve at a church in West Hartford, CT.

COVID-19 made it impossible to hold a traditional send off but our church staff found a creative way to say goodbye. Pastor Reitz has a fun loving personality, enjoys a good joke and is known to ease awkward situations with a little bit of humor, so, it seemed fitting that our congregation had a send-off for him “water balloon style!” With water guns and water balloons in hand, church members drove through the parking lot drenching Pastor Reitz with water and best wishes. Pastor Reitz and his family will be dearly missed and we wish them the very best!

Fair Weather Fan– A Saint Louis Blues parade passed behind our house prior to our drive through send off for Pastor Reitz. It seemed appropriate, not because Pastor Reitz is a Blues hockey fan but it reminded me of a sermon Pastor Reitz gave shortly after the Saint Louis Blues won the Stanley Cup in 2019. The sermon touched me so deeply that I approached Pastor Reitz after the service and let him know how his words had resinated with me.

The Reitz family on the last Sunday they were together at Zion Lutheran.

I remember Pastor Reitz describing our city’s reaction to the Blues during the championship series. It seemed everyone had became a fan with households in every zip code tuning into the games! Blues banners and flags appeared on businesses and throughout neighborhoods. Stores sold out of Saint Louis Blues t-shirts and jerseys, making them impossible to keep in stock! There was no denying it, everyone in the St. Louis area was bleeding blue! Then Pastor Reitz questioned if these fans had always been Blues fans? Have the fans loyally stood by the team during the wins and the loses? Or were they being fair weather fans, only interested in the Blues when the team is playing well and abandoning them when they have a bad season?

Then Pastor Reitz asked us if we have ever been a fair weather fan to God? Have we ever turned away from God? This question hit me. Although I have never turned away from God, I have historically turned to Him more when I was struggling, suffering and in need of guidance. I have spent more time on my knees praying when I was experiencing a struggle than praying for thanks when everything in my life was going great. So in my own way I do turn away when the going is good. During that sermon I resolved to turn to the Lord during the good and the bad and the in-between. I was reminded that God never turns away from us! He loves us when we sin and forgives us of those sins when we ask for His forgiveness. He loves us when we win and when we lose. God is never a fair weather fan to His children.

Proverbs 3:5 happens to be my daughter’s memory verse for this week and I found it so appropriate.

Pastor Reitz and his family served Zion Lutheran Church for close to a decade. We pray for the Reitz family as they begin a new chapter serving the congregation at Bethany Lutheran Church in West Hartford, CT.

Come, Lord, Restore Us…Day 76

Published on by noteworthymommy1 Comment

As my family of three worshiped virtually in the comfort of our family room, this new choral piece expressed what has been on my heart and mind over the past few days. “Come, Lord, Restore Us,” spoke to me as my heart continues to break over the suffocation of George Floyd and the pain, hurt, anger and unrest present in our country today.

CLICK HERE to listen to composer, David von Kampen perform the anthem. I pray it brings you some peace during these uncertain times.

Finding Comfort in the Familiar…Days 61 and 62

Published on by noteworthymommyLeave a comment

Our weekend was filled with the familiar and this brought me comfort as we continue to navigate an unfamiliar world filled with uncertainty.

Trivia Night- The Mid-West is known for holding trivia nights, a fun way for organizations to raise funds and an enjoyable night out with friends. This year, several trivia nights in our area were rescheduled due to COVID-19. We participated in our first virtual trivia night on Saturday when we gathered with friends, virtually, and answered questions as a team. Although there were fewer questions and we didn’t get any of Debbie’s yummy chocolate chip cookies, debating on answers felt familiar and there were snacks, drinks, laughs and a whole lot of fun! 

Church– Although we miss our Zion Lutheran Church family, worshiping together in front of our TV on a Sunday morning is becoming comfortably familiar. When we return to regular worship I’m going to miss these lazy Sundays where we sleep in, eat brunch (sometimes from Donut King) and snuggle together in the family room listening to the word of God, praising Him in song and remembering our many blessings.

I find joy in the music we sing every Sunday. Last week the hymns during worship were all familiar and comforting. CLICK HERE to listen. From the opening hymn, “From All That Dwell Below the Skies,” to the hymn of the day, “At the Lambs High Feast We Sing,” to the sermon hymn, “Christ is Our Cornerstone,” to the closing hymn, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives,” all were wonderfully familiar. In fact, I can’t remember a time in my life that any were unfamiliar. These are the hymns from my childhood. They bring comfort and healing and have always been part of me.

Family Dinner- We ended our weekend with a big Sunday dinner. COVID-19 has my family of three preparing meals together and eating them every night around our kitchen table. Tonight we enjoyed homemade smoked sausage (leftover from Zion’s sausage supper), mashed potatoes, sauerkraut and green beans. The menu was familiar and took me back to my childhood as this was one of my grandmother’s favorite meals. She prepared it often with sausages bought at a wurstmarkt. The meal also warmed me with more recent memories of our church’s annual Sausage Supper, held a mere three months ago, in February. Although the day felt ordinary at the time, I would give anything to return to that moment. A morning spent worshiping with my family of three in our physical church building, a non-social distanced sausage meal enjoyed with my parents and then serving sauerkraut next to dear members of my church family. There were no masks and plenty of hugs!

 

 

 

 

Artsy Thursday (Week of the Young Child)…Day 45

Published on by noteworthymommyLeave a comment

Today is Artsy Thursday and my daughter dressed in purple and blue (her two current favorite colors.) The weather was beautiful so we spent a majority of our day outside enjoying the beautiful landscape God has created.

Natural Art– We walked around the backyard gathering natural materials to use for an art project. Upon returning inside we sorted the items; counting how many we found in each group. Then we created a graph to show our results. I asked the following questions… What do you have more of? The least of? Are there any that are equal? How many do we have altogether? Then we used our outdoor treasure and created a beautiful naturalist collage.

Cat’s Colors– My daughter checked the book Cat‘s Colors, by Airlie Anderson, out of the library the day before we went into isolation. When cat finds herself in the midst of a grey. dull day, she seeks to collect splotches of color among the dreariness. This charming, deceptively simple story about making the most of the world around us and giving something back in return, is an anthem for the challenges we are facing as a result of being quarantined. Living generously and finding splashes of color in a world otherwise filled with darkness, has been our family of three’s motto during this time of uncertainty.

Let‘s Go Fly a Kite– My daughter got a kite for her birthday and she has been begging to fly it. Since daddy is home this week he helped her assemble it and the dynamic duo made attempts to fly it in our backyard. They celebrated the fact that they got the kite into the air but it simply wasn’t windy enough to stay in the air for long. They talked about what makes the kite fly and how the string needs to be taunt to get the kite going. The scene reminded me of the time my dad and I took a bicycle ride to my elementary school where we attempted to fly a kite. I don’t recall if we had any success but I sure enjoyed the mini chocolate covered donuts we packed as a snack and spending quality time with my dad. Keep reading to find out what yummy snack my family of three enjoyed.

S’mores– After the sun set daddy (a proud Eagle Scout) built a fire for his girls so we could roast marshmallows and make yummy s’mores for a nighttime snack. While we munched on the sweet gooey goodness, we counted the stars in the sky, located Jupiter and enjoyed hearing stories about the giant campfire daddy built at Boy Scout Camp. I can’t think of a better way to end the day!