Today I sit centrally located in our 1800's log home, formerly a schoolhouse, working on my computer. One daughter, age 16, with birthday today, is upstairs jamming on her Fender Telecaster and with the "tunnel of sound" in the oldest part of our home, it is quite overwhelming. My 14 year old is in the 1915 addition (kitchen), lovingly preparing cupcakes for about 40 kids at youth group this evening, listening to Fireflight, a Christian band. I always know when she's in a baking mood, as the music in the kitchen cranks up. Some fellow homeschooler's were just here to deliver fresh baked blueberry muffins for the birthday girl. What an awesome gift to be able to see the creativity in my daughter's and observe how God uses them to touch lives. Homeschooling has been a blessing. It is also a challenge in these high school years, as I'm not as diligent as I need to be as the subjects get more advanced.
Megs, 16, is in driver's ed in an adjacent town public high school. She knows some of the kids there, but, apparently the grape vine is fast and furious in that school and, with her being the "new" girl, there is much buzz. Her girlfriend, who goes to school there, says Megs is the source of much conversation. One of the boys who rode with her one day told the story of how they got to drive down our road! And they drove in our driveway! And they saw one of our alpacas!
It seems, that Megs does not fit in the instructors mold of what a homeschooler or a Christian should be. He has lots of questions for her. She turned the radio on a Christian station when the instructor was out of the car. A bit later, he asked her if she had turned it on that station. She said yes. He said, "I thought so, it was religious."
The class got a late start yesterday and Megs had a small group Bible study she has been involved in and didn't want to be late, so she asked if they could drop her off somewhere and I'd pick her up. So the instructor wanted to know if it was a church thing. She told him, yes. He wondered if she wanted to get something to eat, as the group often stops somewhere. She said no, thank you. He said, "so, you're going to a church thing AND you're going to eat?" He has lots of questions and I think she is a real curiosity to all of them.
Megs is very intelligent, a leader, wearing traditional jeans with holes, Christian tees, she leads the youth band, so plays contemporary Christian music and has strong boundaries and faith. She is jazzed by the challenge and interest.
Megs was standing in the hall at school, waiting for class and a girl came up to her and asked, "Are you the girl from driver's ed? You are! You're Megan!"
Megs said, "yeah....." and was taken aback. Very interesting, very curious. So far, very good, too.
All through my daughter's lives, I have encouraged them to look at the people around them and to be a missionary right where you are and that just one person can make a big difference. This has been a hands-on time to be on her own as a missionary. She went to New Orleans with a rebuilding committee after Katrina, but she was with a group. Now she is going on her own and her light is shining. How very cool to see how God uses one person - just one person. How blessed we are.
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The Kids on the Block

Shadows spread across the snow like arms surrounding us with His presence. The last glistening sparkles from the trees are reminders of the light we reflect from Him who's presence is never failing. As the snow quietly melts into puddles, it is only a part of the cycle, it may be reformed into ice or meander into rivers and streams. So our lives go, also.
God may use us as we are or transform us through trials and successes, to be used as He best needs us. My daughters bloom and grow, and sparkle and fade through the phases of life. Through the difficult process of teenage years, they are also beginning to glow from inside beauty that is reflecting Him whom they desire to serve. How amazing to have a savior that they can speak to and cry to and even laugh with when they are lonely, or happy or sad. Never alone, they can face the trials and be comforted by the daily miracles of life around us.
Facing a friend with a serious disease, facing a life changing surgery, facing an accident that alters your course can all be blessings when you are able to turn them around to let God shine through you. We will all die. But how will we die? Will we die kicking and screaming, not knowing what will come next? Will we die singing praises and looking forward to the next place? Will we die with anticipation of seeing loved ones long gone? Will we die with a message to those around us that we have peace from knowing God, not only in life, but also in death? I choose life, but when that is done, it will be time for yet another transformation and I will accept it for me and my loved ones when that time comes. peace. alison

Change

Change is so very hard and we never know when it will arrive at our door. Sometimes it is invited in with open arms and sometimes we just want to push it away as though it is not real and we reject the change. Today we'd like to reject the changes, but they come anyway. A dear friend diagnosed with cancer just sucked everything out of us - such a shock and heartfelt pain - we don't want this change. My 2 daughters have grown up with this very, very special person as a constant through years of turmoil and pain, this friend was alway, always there for them with unconditional love. We expect her to still be there, but as my youngest said, nothing will be the same now. No, it will be different, but God does have a reason for everything. Perhaps all of the seeds of faith and love that have been sown will provide a harvest that will overwhelm her with love and, along with God's strength, restore her with another dimension in her life that does not come without trials. We will pray for that. We have seen God move mountains and this is just one more that we will ask Him to move. We don't see the whole picture, only He does and we get fleeting glimpses of His glory as we see Him reflected in others. She is one whom we have seen Christ reflected through. We will continue to see Him use her and shine through her, with hair or without - with strength and without, but prayerfully recovered fully when this trial is through.