Dear Fellow Xangans,

I haven't blogged for a couple of years, but have decided to start another blog over on blogspot. I posted my first post today. The title of my blog is 'From the Heart of a Mom' and I will be writing about what I have learned in the 25 years of being a mom. I am hoping that it will be a real encouragement to all moms and particularly to young moms. There are so many things that I have learned through the years that I would have benefited greatly from knowing when I was beginning my journey of motherhood. If you are interested, the address is lungersma.blogspot.com

I'm slowly going through my old Xanga posts and deleting them and will delete the account sometime in the next couple of weeks. So, sign up on my new blog so that we can keep in touch!

Love, Laura

This poem was in our bulletin at Faith Presbyterian Church about 20 years ago. I copied it then and have meditated on it and been convicted by it many times since. I have no real wounds or scars. Nothing that comes close to what He bore for me. "Can he have followed far who has no wound or scar?" Lord, make me willing to be wounded, scarred, and pierced for You, Who gave everything for me.

Hast thou no scar?
No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand?
I hear thee sung as mighty in the land;
I hear them hail thy bright, ascendant star,
Hast thou no scar?

Hast thou no wound?
Yet I was wounded by the archers, spent,
Leaned Me against a tree to die; and rent
By ravening beasts that compassed Me, I swooned.
Hast thou no wound?

No wound? No scar?
Yet, as the Master shall the servant be,
And piercèd are the feet that follow Me.
But thine are whole; can he have followed far
Who hast no wound or scar?

By Amy Carmichael

Irish Missionary to India for 55 years

...the house gets painted! Hurray!

Cassie and I left early Monday morning and I got back Thursday night. While I was away, the men folk were obviously working very hard. Jim did all the spraying of the body of the house and the garage door, Seth and Jim painted the trim, and Isaac, Alex, and Titus taped windows and doors and moved scaffolding around. Thanks guys!

Here's a shot from last July.

And one from today!

And again, last July,

And today!

We are all pretty happy to have reached this milestone. A week from Monday the gutters will be put on the house and hopefully within a week after that, Jim and the boys will be able to put the front porch back on. And the outside of the house will be complete!

Marilyn Bushey September 19, 1957-August 10th, 2008

I have wanted to post for several days now, but just haven't been able to decide what to say. And yet, I feel I really need to post in order to pay tribute to a person who has richly blessed my life. A dear friend, Marilyn Bushey passed away on August 10, 2008 after a long battle with breast cancer. Initially, she had a small tumor which eventually grew and then a couple of months ago, the cancer spread to her brain. Marilyn was such a testimony to all throughout her illness and she never lost sight of Christ. Even after suffering a stroke in June which left her paralyzed she continued to praise her Saviour and rest in the wisdom of our Lord. Even as she lapsed in and out of a coma she would encourage all who came to see her or who called her on the phone. She continually reminded us all to look to Christ. He is our all in all.

The Lord had given to Marilyn an incredible voice and she delighted to sing to His glory. Her signature song which she sang for The Messiah performance each year, was I Know that My Redeemer Liveth. She sang it at many funerals throughout the years and it was sung at her own funeral this past Saturday. I have posted a link of her last performance this past December. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpM8rPSMFvc&feature=related

I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

And though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.

For now is Christ risen from the dead, the first-fruits of them that sleep.

And another link of one of my favorite pieces that she also sang which reflects her heart's desire to please her Lord, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaOJ9rXQtsU 

May both songs be an encouragement to you, especially in knowing the strong faith that Marilyn lived by.

O, Divine Redeemer!

Ah! turn me not away, receive me, though unworthy,
Ah! turn me not away, receive me, though unworthy!
Hear Thou my cry, hear Thou my cry, behold, Lord, my distress!
Answer me from Thy throne, haste Thee, Lord, to mine aid,
Thy pity show in my deep anguish! Thy pity show in my deep anguish!
Let not the sword of vengeance smite me,
though righteous Thine anger, O Lord!
Shield me in danger, O regard me!  On Thee, Lord, alone will I call.

O divine Redeemer!  O divine Redeemer!
I pray Thee, grant me pardon, and remember not, remember not my sins!
Forgive me, O divine Redeemer!  I pray Thee, grant me pardon,
and remember not, remember not O Lord, my sins!

Night gathers round my soul; fearful I cry to Thee;
Come to mine aid, O Lord!  Haste Thee, Lord, haste to help me!
Hear my cry, hear my cry!  Save me Lord, in Thy mercy;
Hear my cry, hear my cry!  Come and save me, O Lord!

O divine Redeemer, O divine Redeemer!
I pray Thee, grant me pardon, and remember not, remember not, O Lord, my sins!

Save, in the day of retribution, from death shield Thou me, O my God!
O divine Redeemer, have mercy!  Help me, my Savior!

From the time I was a very little girl, I have loved the words to this hymn. Then, at the age of twelve, when my best friend's nineteen-year-old brother passed away from leukemia, our minister told the story of Horatio Spafford's life. The story made the hymn all the more powerful and comforting and through the years, as life's experiences guided by the hand of God have carried me (and many other brothers and sisters in Christ) along, it has become much more so. We sang it at Caleb's memorial service and then (as now) in the midst of the gut-wrenching, heart-breaking grief we have known the peace that passeth all understanding. Praise God for His goodness and faithfulness!

It Is Well with My Soul

When peace like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, "it is well, it is well with my soul."

It is well with my soul; it is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and has shed his own blood for my soul.

It is well with my soul; it is well, it is well with my soul.

My sin--- O the bliss of this glorious thought! ---my sin, not in part, but the whole,
is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more; praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

It is well with my soul; it is well, it is well with my soul.

O Lord, haste the day when our faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend, "Even so"---it is well with my soul.

It is well with my soul; it is well, it is well with my soul.

Horatio G. Spafford, 1873

Whew! This was not easy, but finally, here is the video from Cassie's dress rehearsal. This isn't the entire piece since I began recording about 2 minutes into the concerto, and, of course, it's nothing like being there in person for the real performance... Enjoy!

For some time I've been wanting to post on what I am thankful for. There is no way I could list everything, but I will make a good start today in sharing some of what comes to mind.

I am thankful for the gift of salvation. I am in awe that the God of the universe, in His righteousness, holiness, and justice has reached down to place in my heart the knowledge of my sin and a need for His salvation. There are many times when I am overwhelmed at the thought of my adoption into His family. He is so kind, merciful, and gracious!

I am thankful for God's Word. Reading it, is like eating at a feast every day! It is life giving and nourishing to my soul. What a wonder that He speaks to me every day through His Word!

I am thankful for the avenue of prayer. It is almost too awesome to believe, that I can actually speak to the God of the universe and that He hears me and even delights to hear my praise and petitions! Not only that, but I can address Him as Father!

I am thankful for the work of the Holy Spirit in continually sanctifying me. This, too, is a great wonder. A Person of the Godhead reaching down to mold and shape me, to chip away the many rough edges, to pull out the weeds of sin and the love of sin from my heart. He works on me daily, never giving up, but purposefully and intentionally moving my heart and character towards the heart and character of my faithful Lord Jesus Christ. Absolutely astounding!

I am thankful for the Heidleberg Catechism. It's richness, beauty, truth, and comfort have aided me innumerous times to "keep on keeping on". I highly reccommend reading one question and answer every morning throughout one's life.

I am thankful for the countless beautiful and rich hymns that I have come to learn over the years. Since I was a baby, psalms and hymns have been an integral part of my life. They have catechized me, encouraged me, convicted me of sin, inspired me to faith and godliness, deepened my love for the Lord...What rich treasures!

I am thankful for Pastor VanderVeen's faithful preaching every Sunday morning and evening. He truly loves our congregation and is committed to teaching us what we need to hear for our edification and for our work. He wants us to grow in our knowledge and love of the Lord and for one another and is constantly challenging us, even when it is painful and uncomfortable, all the while encouraging us.

I am thankful for Dr. Rayburn's sermons. He was our pastor in Tacoma from 1985 till we moved away in 1993. We have received his sermons weekly throughout the 15 years since and I listen to them over and over. I think I have listened to five this week already. I've often wondered how my life would be different if the Lord hadn't brought us under Pastor Rayburn's teaching when He did. I don't think I want to know. He has been a tremendous encouragement in the faith over and over and over again.

I am thankful that all six of our children have a genuine love for the Lord and His kingdom.

I am thankful for Natasha: for her gentle and sweet spirit, her unwavering convictions and her steadfastness in all of her life, her willingness to learn contentment and to work hard at whatever the Lord puts before her.

I am thankful for Cassie: for her amazing self-discipline that is evident in every area of her life, her tender heart to the Lord's work at sanctifying her, and her soft, kind spirit to those who are in need.

I am thankful for Isaac: for his big dreams and his determination, his willingness to stand up for what is right even when it means standing alone, his optimistic outlook on life, and his desire to hammer things out.

I am thankful for Seth: for his level-headedness, his tender heart to God's Word, his great sense of humor which makes us laugh often, and his dependability.

I am thankful for Abigail: for her cheerfulness, her creativity, her willingness to see things in herself and to work at change, her ability to make friends easily, and her eagerness to be helpful.

I am thankful for Titus: for his love for his family, his enthusiasm each morning for what the day ahead holds, his attention to detail, and his kind, sensitive heart.

I am thankful for Jim: for his faithfulness in working so hard to provide for our family, for his willingness to look at his heart and to be honest about what he sees there, and more and more, his determination to gain wisdom to lead our family in the ways of the Lord.

I am thankful for the opportunity to care for my aging parents.

I am thankful for the abundance of friends that the Lord has blessed me with and especially thankful for that handful with whom I can truly speak my heart: those who know me almost better than I know myself who are able to encourage me and set my thinking clear when it gets muddled.

I am thankful for many, many composers, but especially for Handel, Mendelssohn, and Bach.

I am thankful for daffodils.

The list could go on and on. Maybe I'll continue on xanga another day. But I'm forever continuing on in my heart!

1) Are you currently in a serious relationship?
A.Yes. I've been married to Jim for 23 years. Is that serious enough?

2) What was your dream growing up?
A.To be a wife and to have four kids. (We have six.That's even better!)

3) What talent do you wish you had?
A.To be able to play the bagpipes. Do you think it's too late for that? 

4) If I bought you a drink what would it be?
A.Strawberry Banana Orange Julius!

5) Favorite vegetable?
A.Snow peas

6) What was the last book you read?
A.Voyage of the Dawn Treader, by C.S. Lewis (to Titus).

7) What is the last movie you enjoyed?
A.The Princess Bride (yes! I watched it again and this time I liked it!)

8) Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? Explain where.
A.Both ears are double pierced. I would never pierce myself anywhere else on purpose, although I sewed through my finger once with the sewing machine when I was making a jumpsuit. Ouch!

9) Worst Habit?
A.Not being able to sit still during a movie. In fact, I usually get up and check the laundry, go make a few quick phone calls, brush my teeth, check e-mail, etc. Very rarely do I see a movie from start to finish.

10) If you saw me walking down the street would you offer me a ride?
A.Depends on who is asking this. Since I found it on Katie's blog, I'm assuming she is the one who is asking, so I would say, "Yes!"

11) What is your favorite sport?
A.To play : working out (walking, running, swimming, lifting weights, going for bike rides (NOT exercise bikes, but REAL bike rides))

    To watch :  basketball, figure skating, diving

12) Do you have a Negative or Optimistic attitude?
A.Optimistic

13) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me?
A.Cry. Not because I don't like you, but because I don't think I would like being stuck in an elevator. It sounds scary. ( I guess in this case I may have somewhat of a less optimistic attitude. )

14) Worst thing to ever happen to you?
A.It's too embarassing so I can't say. But I hope it never happens again!

15) Tell me one weird fact about you.
A.I like pancakes without syrup. Yep. Just butter!

16) Do you have any pets?
A.Well, our family has two cats and a dog. I like them all, but wish they were all outdoor pets. I've lost the battle though as far as Tomcat is concerned and I guess that is okay because he's getting so old and he IS awfully sweet.

17) What if I showed up at your house unexpectedly?
A.I would be so happy to have company and would give you a big hug and invite you in for tea and to visit (if my family would let me get a word in edgewise, that is! We all love having company!) 

18) What was your first impression of me? (hmmm...careful!)
A.Is Katie asking this? I thought you were a sweet, caring, person with a deep love for the Lord. I still think all that!

19) Do you think clowns are cute or scary?
A.I think clowns are silly. We have several here at our house. Real, live ones!

20) If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?
A.I would have a real tan (not a sunbed one) all year long. I just feel healthier and more "alive" with a tan.

21) Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?
A.Oh dear. That depends on whether or not Reese's Peanut Butter cups were involved. I have no conscience when they appear.

22) What color eyes do you have?
A.Green

23) Ever been arrested?
A.Nope!

24) Bottle or can soda?
A.I'm not crazy about pop.

25) If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it?
A.Invest it.

27) What's your favorite place to hang at?
A.Anywhere with friends and family.

28) Do you believe in ghosts?
A.No.

29) Favorite thing to do in your spare time?
A.Spare time?! What's that? Too many to list: scrapbooking, gardening, beading, reading, playing the piano, writing letters, talking on the phone with good friends, going to garage sales and thrift stores...

30) Do you swear?
A.No.

31) Biggest pet peeve?
A.May I have two?
1) Finding kitty fur on the carpet, furniture, clothes, floating through the air...
2) Singing only verses 1, 2, and 5 (or whichever) of a hymn. Why not sing them all? The flow and meaning of a hymn is disjointed and lost when only singing bits and pieces. At our church we sing them all. I LOVE it!

32) In one word, how would you describe yourself?
A.Complicated. At least I think I am. I'm not sure.

33) Do you believe/appreciate romance?
A.Uh huh!

35) Do you believe in God?
A.Most definitely.

 

Our pastor (a wise and godly man) sent these words out to our congregation last night on our church e-mail list. I printed them out right away and put them on one of our kitchen cupboard doors so that our family could see them often and work on putting them into practice. I've been thinking about them off and on all day and thought I would share them with all of you.

"When I was a pastoral intern, I quickly realized that church life is not always very pretty. On one occassion, in the midst of an ugly situation, a wise man (now deceased) told me that before I accept Bobby's (not his real name) "factual" account of a situation, I should read Proverbs 18:17. He reminded me that before I share my opinion of others, I should read Matthew 7:1-5. He also exhorted me to read Deuteronomy 19:16-21 at least once a week. He said that if I ever found myself unsure how Matthew 18:15-17 applied to a situation, I should read 1 Peter 4:8. He was a wise man, a very wise man..."

May our words and actions bring glory to our Heavenly Father. And may we, as Christians, love one another deeply as He loves us.

On December 26th, we had a "catch-up" day here at home. Jim and Natasha had to go to work, but the rest of us worked hard on getting the house back in order and preparing for the next round of activity. That night, we watched 'Amazing Grace'. If you haven't seen it, you simply must!

December 27th we went over to some dear friends' house for dinner. We had a lovely evening with John and Nina and six of their seven children. There was constant conversation and lots of laughter happening all night.

December 28th we went to Gerben and Sandra's (more dear friends) house for dinner and had a wonderful evening of fellowship. Mom and Dad came along too. All of our kids had a great time with their kids and Mom had a nice time visiting with Sandra's mom, Jennie.

December 29th we celebrated Abigail's 13th birthday!

Hard to believe that our second to the youngest is now a teenager! Where are the years going?

Pumpky enjoyed the party immensely as you can see in this picture.

Sunday, December 30th, we went to my sister's church and then on up to their place to celebrate Christmas with my side of the family. We had fun opening gifts,

and trying to get a good picture of us four kids with Dad and Mom. We finally gave up and said this one was just going to have to do.

Here's a good picture of cousins, Cassie and Tamara.

And another of Isaac and Rachel. What a nice guy to give her a hand massage!

December 31st, Jim and the boys worked hard all day to replace two great big garage windows that didn't open with this one little one that opens and has a screen. I'm very happy with it! They also tar-papered part of the garage.

January 1st, they worked hard all day again. This time they ran telephone line from the phone box to different jacks in our house. Natasha and Cassie went shopping all day. I worked hard inside preparing a big turkey dinner for our family, Dad and Mom, and some friends who were visiting from California, John and Helen. Since I hate chopping onions, Seth stepped up to the plate and chopped them for me. As usual, he donned the goggles, thus preventing even one tear from forming!

And now, we are all getting back into our normal routines of school, work, etc. It was a good Christmas and New Year all the way around!