Patina General

Waiting...It's Not Easy

This year we are waiting on Spring!  The calendar says spring is almost here, but mother nature says "not so fast".

We've all experienced times in our lives when we've waited for things.

• for a diploma
• that dream job
• the perfect spouse
• a baby
• for a house to sell, so we can move forward with our plans
• for our children to live their lives the way we think they should

and the list goes on...

Lora and I dreamed of having our own store for many years.  We had rented spaces in other stores over the years, but kept the dream of our very own store alive.  

Most days we were content in the knowledge that our kids were young and our hearts were at home raising them.  Every so often we'd get that tickle of an itch to let our minds wander and dream what we would do if we had our own space to play.  Then we would remind ourselves, "all in God's perfect timing".  There is no hurrying God, He is faithful.

From time to time, one of us would spy a potential store site.  We'd talk, imagine the possibility, and have the store layout mapped out in our minds.  Our husbands can atest, Lora and I can go from zero to sixty faster than most cars.  We do turn an entire store into a complete mess and put it back together completely different in three days month after month.

Patience is not a virtue that comes naturally to either of us.  We like things to move quickly.  That's one of the many reasons we love having our store in Buffalo.  

Lora and I both knew we had to wait for God's timing.  He would lead us to the perfect location when the time was right, we just had to wait.

If you have difficulty waiting, read through the words of this song from the movie "Fireproof".

I'm Waiting, by John Waller

I'm waiting

I'm waiting on You, Lord

And I am hopeful

I'm waiting on You, Lord

Though it's painful

But patiently, I will wait

 

I will move ahead, bold and confident

Taking every step in obedience

While I'm waiting

I will serve You while I'm waiting

I will worship while I'm waiting

I will not faint

I'll be running the race

Even while I wait

 

I'm waiting

I'm waiting on You, Lord

And I am peaceful

I'm waiting on You, Lord

Though it's not easy

But faithfully, I will wait

 

Resolutions, or One Word?

It's about that time in January when all the well-made resolutions have fallen by the wayside.  Making new habits is really difficult!  That's why last year I resonated with the idea of picking out one word to focus on, rather than trying to defeat myself with resolutions.  Each new year holds it's own challenges.  By choosing one word, prayerfully and conscientiously, you can still have a goal...a reminder of what your focus is for the coming year.  

Last year my word was...

We were going into our second year of owning the store.  The first year bugs had been ironed out, we were getting into a rhythm.  Now, we needed to maintain and keep on growing.  Last January, I had the opportunity to be in a test group with Prevention magazine, working out with suspension straps, led by Chris Freytag.  I needed to workout 4 times a week. I was also in Community Bible study, with 5 days of homework.  Add all this up, and include 3 busy kids, a dog and a household to run, and you can see why I chose this word!  I come from a family of Norman Rockwell-type expectations. Let's just say we have a lot of "ideas".  When we're getting a little out-of-control in our idealistic visions, we say to ourselves, "you gotta cut your losses and move on"!  The word "Balance" is my version of this saying.  I've always got more ideas, but balance keeps me in check.

This year?  Totally different, although balance will still need to happen!

Pursue is an active word.  It means to seek a goal, to follow in order to chase, or overtake. Life is short, and is flying by!  I want to make sure I am making the most of each moment I've been given, and part of this means pursuing in different areas:

I want to pursue opportunites.  Cheryl and I have been doing this business for 15 years!  We have slowly, steadily moved forward with each new step.  God has provided for us all along the way.  Both of us are always thinking of new ideas, and we have a couple thoughts that have been a festerin' for quite a few years.  We are both reading Dave Ramsey's new book, EntreLeadership which is excellent, and totally gets us pumped up.  This year I want to pursue some of those "what if's"?, and see where the road will lead!

I want to pursue relationships.  I can definitely be a Martha instead of a Mary when it comes to my task-oriented self.  But the truth is, there's always more work to be done, and it's not an eternal pursuit.  Relationships take time.  Relationships take work.  I want to spend more intentional time getting to know people on a deeper level.  This means purposeful lunch and coffee dates with friends and family.  I also want to pursue peace in my existing relationships.  Peace does not mean quietness, or stuffing the emotions. Instead, it's making wise choices to calmly work through issues.  Cheryl and I have enjoyed the ministry of Proverbs 31, and it's founder Lysa Terkeurst.  I love getting their devotionals sent to my phone & getting to read them whenever.  I'm looking forward to Lysa's book Unglued, and the everyday wisdom she professes in such a humorous way.

The last area I want to pursue is Health!  So far, this is the area I think I need the most motivation in right now!  I think I need to pray for myself..."please, Lord...make me want to exercise!"  I know I can do it...I've done it.  And I feel so much better when I'm working out a couple times a week!  I also need to get out my calendar and make doctor's appointments...not just for my kids, but for me!  Putting the laundry and dishes, and the computer ahead of this is not healthy!  Guess it goes back to last year's word...Balance.

1 and 2 Timothy had the word "pursue" in a couple verses:

1 Timothy 6:11

"But you, (wo)man of God, flee from all this (the love of money) and pursue rightousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness."

2 Timothy 2:22

"Flee evil desires of youth, and pursue rightousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those that call upon the Lord with a pure heart."

Do you have a word for the year?  What are you pursuing?  Hope this gets you thinkin'!

Christmas Music

All weekend at the store, we were asked, "What CD is playing?"  Well, thought we should make it public, in case you needed something new and fun to listen to this Christmas season!

Go Fish was a Minnesota group of 3 guys that have great harmony, and a fun beat-boxing jive.  They write all their own music, combining old favorites with new sounds.  Their "Snow" CD has a 2006 date on it, and their other CD's were probably before that.  

 

I loved "Superstar", and "Splash" for the biblical concepts they wove into their lyrics, along with great kid-friendly style.  The 10 Commandment Boogie and the Ladybug fryin' on the Sidewalk, were two of our favorites!

Years ago, we went and saw them in concert at Northwestern College in Roseville, MN, but I honestly don't know if they even exist anymore!  

The Veggie Tales videos and the Go Fish CD's were a highlight for me as a mom, when my kids were in gradeschool! 

Glad you all enjoyed their Christmas CD!  If anyone knows more about them...let us know!

 

 

A Season of Hope and Joy

As we enter this special season, I wanted to share a poem written by Holly Kimbell, for a friend of ours.  Our friend, who is a beautiful artist, had her first baby girl just about a year ago.  We celebrated her coming arrival at a very special and creative shower.  Holly was one of the hostesses and shared this specially written poem for our artistic friend.  I loved how Holly wove together the concepts of creativity, potential, and hope in this poem.  It was written for a new mother, but resonates with all of us who want to bring art, beauty, and hope to our lives and those around us!  At this time of anticipation of the most important baby boy...

Used with the permission of Holly Kimbell.

You, who constantly gather what others have overlooked

Eyes never weary as they move to and fro,

Finding potential of things hidden in open fields

Your wandering is purposeful, for you see what we cannot see.

Your hands, grasping what they have gleaned, work steadily, with certainty

Calling forth life from the commonplace, the ordinary, the everyday.

Bringing beauty out of the disparagement of the world.

You have birthed many works, by a power not fully your own

It is your offering, your nature.

Can you do otherwise?

Now you have a work being formed inside of you!

Beyond your control,

But without you, it would not exist.

And you make ready for it, as the goldfinches do, year after year

Your mind is "on fire with the flower of one perfect idea"

You build your nest, preparing

For one of your greatest pieces coming forth,

Coming forth to love the world.

May it be

May this one restore old things too, in it's own way

And bring healing to the worn and left behind

Weaving hope and meaning into the fabric of humanity

As the hands and feet in this world of the One we love

And as we look on,

Joy, innocent and holy, wells up within us

God has given us a gift

And we embrace it, laughing

Because there is nothing so wonderful as this.

I'm sure our friend is especially thankful this Christmas season as she has enjoyed the first year of her precious baby's life.  

...but Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  Luke 2:19

Hope this poem encourages you this season to find hidden potential, restore beauty, bring hope and life to that and those around you, and appreciate the gifts that God has given!

Rejected by a Friend

This pretty piece has lanquished in my friend's garage for over 10 years.  I remember seeing it in the garage of her last house and thinking it was pretty cute.  She had hopes and dreams for it, and had even spent some time stripping the ends, but she finally gave up.  Too much work...she rejected it.  She wanted it out of her garage...out of her life.

Ever feel like that?

 

None of us is perfect.  We don't say the right things, we don't act the right way, we don't do the right activities.  Sometimes people just give up on us.  Reject us.  Want us out of their lives.

I know Someone who was denied and rejected. (Luke 22:57)  He knows what it feels like.

I know a Friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24) He will never change his mind.

My friend was trying to achieve perfection.  Her plan was to strip this piece totally of it's beautiful grey paint, and try to make it look new again.  I, on the other hand don't like perfection.  I like that beautiful in-between, where the character that has been gleaned through the years melds perfectly with modern beauty and function.

I know Someone who liked to hang out with imperfect people. ( Matt 11:19)

I know a Doctor that did not come for the healthy, but for the sick. (Luke 5:31)

I gladly took this rejected piece and nursed it back to health.  The drawers needed to be rebuilt to restore it's function. The front needed sanding to meld the beauty of it's original self to it's earned character.  It needed some compressed air to blow away the spiderwebs and dirt that had settled in it over the years.  It needed some soapy water to wash away dirt of many years from sitting in the garage.  It needed a couple coats of poly to seal it just the way it is, and protect it from any future damage...inside and out.  It needed new hardware to update it and make it shine as the re-creation that it is.

A rejected heart needs a Master Carpenter.

Are you going to keep your heart locked up, or give yourself to the One who can bring hope, beauty, and function?

The keys to your heart are on the inside of the door.  Only you can open the door.

"Come to me all you who are weary, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

A Friend to the rejected.  That's who He is...and that's what I am, too.

Twenty Years ago...

Twenty years ago...we were young, fresh, and had a lot of hair!  We had both grown up waiting for that special person that God had for us.  We both wanted to honor Him and follow Him wherever He led.   We made a committment to Him and to each other...forever.

Life seemed so simple then.  Love seemed so simple.  Even with similar backgrounds, the same faith, and no extra relational baggage...marriage and "one-ness" is difficult.  Life gets complicated: kids, houses that need constant remodeling, sickness, grief, finances, career transitions...Life!  How do any of us make it?

I am pondering today...(and I'm not even using a power tool!)

...of that beautiful, sunny October day when we took our vows, in front of our dear families, and dear friends. How we had planned for that day, and how special it was.  Oh, the beautiful fragrance of the gardenias in my bouquet!

...of our parents who gave us our example of what committment means.  Nothing fluffy...just plain endurance.  In my mom's not-very-poetic words, "There will be days when you don't even like your husband, let alone love him." Love is a choice, not an emotion.

...of the special friends that surrounded us, who knew us from childhood, and still are our go-to confidants.

...of the verse that I framed for a young boyfriend, when he was struggling after college with his career path.  A verse that is suitable for our whole lives.

What have I learned in 20 years?  Definitely not all I need to learn.  There's a  verse in Ephesians that has helped me in marriage and in parenting, that I don't always get right.  But it's worth having at the forefront of my mind:

"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth.  Only such a word that is good for edification, according to the need of the moment, that it may bring grace to those who hear." Eph 4:29  I learned it years ago to a song, and it has stuck with me.  My mouth is a powerful tool, and I need to be constantly taming it.  I want my words to bring grace to those who hear, especially those in my family.

Although the Bible is the only perfect book of wisdom, I have learned quite a bit from these two books:

The Five Love Languages, by Gary Chapman, and Love and Respect, by Emerson Eggerichs. 

Reading books helps expand our viewpoints, gives us more tools in the toolbelt.  There's room for a little marriage counseling, sometimes, too!  Life is not a sprint, it's a marathon.  Committment is all about enduring, and choosing to be faithful to each other...for 20 years...and for a lifetime!

Happy 20 year anniversary, Mr. Fix-it!

P.S. Did you notice the black and blue fingernail in the picture above?  Little did he know 20 years ago...all the projects this creative woman would throw at him! ;)

Summer Reading... Karen Kingsbury

I'm not a person that always has a book going, quite the opposite in fact.  I'm a magazine, blog or the Sunday paper(and only during football season while my husband is watching the game) kind of girl.  I've been known to check a book out of the library and have to return it by the due date without finishing it.

It's not that I don't enjoy reading, I do, but life and schedules can get in the way of a good book.  I just can't sit and enjoy reading for long periods of time when there's laundry, dishes, cleaning and ironing to be done.

When I'm packing to go up north, whether it's a quick weekend trip or a week long stay, I always remember to slip a Karen Kingsbury novel in my bag.  At the cabin I can read guilt free.

Karen Kingsbury is my author of choice, I found my first book at a garage sale (imagine that).  Her writing takes you inside the life of her beloved characters.  It's so easy to get involved in her books, she has a few series that you can enjoy and several stand alone titles if you just want a quick read.

Between my sister-in-law's large stash, our church library and more garage sale finds, I've been able to read quite a few over the years.

FYI- She's hard to put down once you get started.  I have to confess, one day several years ago on a Monday after one of our outdoor fall sales(preparing for months), I sat down after everyone had left for school and work, I read an entire novel.  While still in my PJ's(because I was only going to read a chapter or two), I kept thinking, oh just one more chapter.  I finished in time to shower and make the beds before the kids got home from school so no one was the wiser.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Happy Mother's Day!  I hope all of you who are Mom's are getting to enjoy your day just as you would picture it!  Here in Minnesota, we are enjoying a beautiful spring day with sunshine, a cloudless sky, and a little breeze...Perfection!

To celebrate the day, I thought I would share one of my favorite gifts from my Mom with you.  It is a framed illustration that hangs in my back hall:

I  have a fondness for vintage illustration, especially those that depict chubby-cheeked little children, and doting parents.  I love the soft pastels-greens, blues, yellows, and pinks, and the definition of the black.  Even more, I love the meaning of why my mom chose this picture for me, and what it represents.

I had always dreamed of being a mother, and was thrilled to be in the child-bearing years.  I had an enthusiastic boy first, and loved noticing all the trucks on the roads and digging in the sandbox with him.  A couple years later, I got the privilege of having a rosy-cheeked little girl that was so happy from birth, that she would make one think..."I'm a pretty good parent!" Well, just as I was getting comfortable in the Motherhood role, I realized God had a sense of humor, and likes to push us out of our comfort zones sometimes!  As I was still nursing my sweet Happy Girl, I found out I was pregnant!  How could I be pregnant...I already have a baby?

Mr. Freckles came into our lives totally blue. I remember the nurse's letting me give him a kiss on the forehead, and him letting out a weak, little cry, before they whisked him away to see what was not right with his little body.  I wondered if I would ever see him again.

Over the next few days, my compassion grew for the mom's who were recovering from birth, and didn't have a baby at their bosom.  My compassion grew for the mom's who had spent weeks, months, even years in hospitals, being with thier sick children, and having children at home that needed loving arms, too.

We were able to bring baby Freckles home after 8 days, and tried to let the words of the heart surgeon sink in..."treat him like a regular baby."  He didn't wear much blue for awhile...

The caption on the bottom of this picture says "Rain, Rain, Go Away". The rosy cheeked, brown-eyed mother is holding her healthy-looking, toddler son on her lap.  She is protecting him from the rain by covering them both with an umbrella.

The cozy cottage in the background is welcoming, even though the wind is blowing, and the trees are bending all around it.

The faithful little doggy is standing watch.  I wanted a dog my entire life.  Every birthday, every Christmas...at the top of my list was "a puppy".  I have only gotten to enjoy the faithful love of a dog these last couple of years.  I wanted my kids to have that special relationship in their lives.

The mother hen in the corner is nestling her three little chicks by her side.

The birch tree standing behind them, reminds me of the huge birch tree in the backyard of my childhood home.  It represents the heritage my parents and grandparents gave to me.

The year after baby number three was a blur.  Taking care of three little people four years old and younger was challenging, and health isssues were quite time consuming.  Sometimes life brings showers, sometimes it's pelting rain for awhile.  Some of my mom's best advice was "life is more full of challenging days, than happy days." So true. My mom gave me this picture, knowing I had experienced a year or so of rain.  We mothers always want sunny days for our children, don't we?

I hope your rainy days are few, and the sun is coming out!  Happy Mother's Day!

Saying "I Do"

Almost twenty one years ago (May 4th) I said "I do".  I'll always remember the details of that day.  Waking up in my bedroom at home for the last time.  I remember smiling as I got out of bed and thinking the day is finally here, our wedding day has actually arrived.  The days of planning and preparation were behind me and today I would become someone's wife.

A trip to the hair stylist and off to the church.  The moment I stepped into that beautiful gown I truely felt like a bride.  My nightmare of the photographer knocking on the door saying "it's time" while I stood in my bathrobe with my hair in a towel hadn't come true.

Instead the knock on the door was my husband to-be.  My bridesmaids left us alone to share a quiet moment in prayer before we began the busy beautiful day that lie ahead.  I remember a feeling of relief came over me as I realized we had both arrived safely at the church and today we would be married.

During our year long engagement, a thought entered my mind, that anything could happen before we said "I do".  A car accident could take one of us, an illness, a natural disaster, what if our wedding day never came?

The flowers had arrived, they were more beautiful than I had imagined and the fragrance of my bouquet is something I'll always remember.  The pictures were taken and a few last moments with my bridesmaids before my dad walked me down the aisle on that white starched linen aisle runner.  My groom waiting at the end with a smile I will never forget and forever cherish.

I said "I do" and from that moment on my world became "we" and "ours".  Nothing was mine any longer, it's our house, our car, our kids (and dog).  I dropped the word "my" from my lips.

Twenty one years sounds like a long time, but it seems like so much less.  I look forward to sharing all the years that lay ahead, I love you Brian.

Community Bible Study

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter, celebrating with your family and friends!  We had a fun, couple of days at the store, and could tell that many of you brought family members and friends with you to experience the fun and inspiration of a Buffalo, Occasional store shopping day!

A big part of Easter for my family is attending our church's Good Friday Service, and also the Easter Sunday service.  I just love singing all the celebration songs for Easter!  Maybe all this Easter celebrating and church attending got you thinking..."I would really like to know the Bible better."  Well, let me tell you about CBS, Community Bible Study.

Community Bible Study is a non-denominational bible study that meets in many different locations around the country, and even the world.  There are women's groups, men's groups, co-ed groups, and even teen groups.  The whole focus of the study is the bible-plain and simple (well, it's not always simple)! There is a workbook that leads you through whatever book of the bible you are studying, broken down in 5 day parts, and culminates with a commentary.

I started attending a CBS class several years ago, and then took a break to open Patina General.  I joined again this year, knowing I wanted my life to be more balanced-you know-family, work, exercise, bible study!  I really enjoy the mix of ladies that are in my group.  Having many different denominations represented-Lutheran, Catholic, Covenant, Free Church, Presbyterian, and many more-keeps the focus on what the bible says, without any church "stuff" involved.  

CBS has a great Kid's program also.  My kids loved attending-learning Bible Stories, doing crafts and games, and singing.  CBS classes consist of an opening time that sometimes includes a personal story from a class member, a small group time led by a facilitator, and then a large group time and lecture with the teaching director.  Each class location studies a book or group of books for the year.  This year my class in Plymouth studied The Divided Kingdom and the Minor Prophets.  It's been all Old Testament and lots of names, but such great information to learn!  Next year my class is doing the book of Luke, which will be totally different!

Registration for next Fall's classes is coming soon, so each CBS class location has Visitor's Days for people to check them out.  There is a nominal registration fee for books, and a fee if you have children.  There isn't childcare for the Visitor's Days, but you could peek your head in and see what fun things the kids are doing, I'm sure! 

Here is information, if you are interested:

www.communitybiblestudy.org

The three women's classes that I know meet from 9:15-11:15 on weekdays are:

Buffalo.cbsclass.org, meets Thursday mornings at St. John's Lutheran Church.   Visitor Day is April 19.

StPaul.cbsclass.org, meets Thursday mornings at First Covenant Church in St. Paul.   Visitor's Day is April 26.

Minneapoliswest.cbsclass.org, meets Wednesday mornings at Plymouth Covenant Church.  Visitor Day is April 18.

Hope you're challenged!