2009 Christmas letter

Tale of Three Trees
There were once three trees. The first tree dreamed of holding a treasure. The second tree dreamed of being a strong ship. The third tree dreamed of being the tallest tree in the world. So that when people raised their eyes to heaven to look at her............they would think of God.
One day, wood cutters came and chopped down the trees. The first tree became a feed box for animals. The second tree became a fishing boat. The third tree was cut into beams and left in a pile. The trees eventually forgot their dreams. One night, a lady used the feedbox as a manager for her baby. The first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure of the world. The second tree was caught in a storm. But with one word, one man calmed the waves. The tree knew he was carrying the King of heaven and earth. One Friday, the third tree was taken from the woodpile. And a man's hands were nailed to her. Sunday, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It had made the first tree beautiful. The second tree strong. And when people look at the third tree, they think of God.
This year in the Leavell household, we have sought to dream big. We now have our own business, OakenBleau Ltd.., which has been a welcome source of revenue, and opened up opportunities to get to know some new people. We were able to accomplish many outdoor projects during the warmer months, along with planting our own version of a “victory” garden this summer. Learning by trial and error that string beans really do need to be unstrung. We were fortunate this year to make a VERY long trip to the Outer Banks for a beachside visit with the ghost crabs. Elijah started his first year of preschool, learning everything from the days of the week to why spiders have 8 legs. Everyday is a new adventure. Gabriel is learning what it means to be an only child 3 days a week, I think he likes it! Elijah is becoming more observant, causing mom and dad to spell everything in code, while Gabe is becoming our little comedian.
John and I are learning to dream big regarding the things that require faith and trust, as well as being challenged to become more thrifty and creative in how we use our resources. We are basking in the simpleness of what this season was meant to be, a spotlight for our dear Saviour's birth.
Like the three trees, we all have dreams. If we trust God and let Him be our guide, he will answer the desires of our heart in ways we never thought imaginable. May God bless you and fulfill your dreams this Christmas season and in the coming year!

One of my favorite parts of Christmas!

Lay 'em down

Driving home on Friday night after work, I had to make an out of the way stop. This song came onto the radio, and though I have heard it several times, something in that moment and in those words struck a chord with me. As I pulled out of the parking lot I found myself in a place of worship. The windows were down, and the moon up ahead reminded me of the stability of my unchanging Saviour. To quote Pearl Asperschlager, "So often we think of the circumstances or the "facts" of our life as being the same thing as the "truth" of our life. In fact, Scripture teaches us that "truth" is something far more than facts". The "truth" that we need as the foundation of our life is not found in the changing circumstances of our day to day living, but rather in the person of Jesus Christ, who is Truth and speaks ultimate Truth and never changes!..." In that sacred moment of worship, I found myself laying my changing circumstances by the river.

Come down to the river
Come and let yourself in
Make good on a promise
To never hurt again
If you're lost and lonely
Broken down
Bring all of your troubles
And come lay 'em down

All you sinners
And the weak at heart
All the helpless
On the boulevards
Wherever you are now
Whatever evil you've found
Bring all of your troubles
And come lay 'em down

We're all tied to the same old failings
Finding shelter in things we know
We're all dirty like corrupted small towns
We'll bring our troubles
We'll bring our troubles
Come lay 'em down

All you rich men
And the high above
All those with
And without love
All you burdened
And turned around
Bring all of your troubles
Come lay 'em down

Some fun summer pictures

These two little boys are inseparable, finally the day has come when they can be playmates, brothers and most importantly friends. They love each other which makes their mommy and daddy very happy!

Jump Jenni Jump

My current addiction as of late has been two blogs, www.jumpdavidjump.typepad.com, and 7schwinns.blogspot.com. Both speak of tragedy, hopefulness, and the faith that is tested and made stronger. The people in these blogs have had to jump from one way of thinking about faith and life, into the reality of trusting a Heavenly Father they can not see, but trust in. They are both drawing on their past memories of God's working in their lives, and trusting in the words of Jesus. I have found myself wondering how I would respond if faced with the same trials and tragedies. Would my faith be strong enough, would I be able to jump from my current frame of mind to one of complete surrender. I am learning so much from these two journeys, both marked with losses and gains, the loss of physical comforts, the gains of spiritual wholeness. These two people are seeing and experiencing the mercy of God in new and refreshing ways, their faith is alive and vibrant. They have hope, not necessarily of surviving and living out their days here on earth, but a hoped marked by one end goal....heaven. They have eternal vision, and peace that passeth all understanding. Most importantly in their greatest need Jesus himself is drawing near to them. He is revealing himself through others reaching out, through prayer, and through His word. I am inspired and encouraged, and excited for these two people and their families and all that God has purposed for them.
"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom"
Psalm 90:12

An essay on age

Someday (if the blogger world still exists), I will look back on this current posting and hopefully laugh.
My memory is often impaired when it comes to childhood events, but one thing is for sure I remember the birthday parties and family gatherings in relation to the topic of age. There was always some comment to pass between the adults regarding the age related ills of growing older, the comments seeming to pass over our young heads. I remember laughing to myself, and feeling so lucky that I didn't have those same aches and pains, believing that I never would. Growing up and older is humbling business. The longer you live, the more you realize the frailties of humans. The skin changes, and changes in hair, there are aches and pains that come out of nowhere all of a sudden. My own frailties have come to the forefront of my life lately. I have been living with a plantar fascitis, ulcerative colitis, my knees bother me and creek when going up stairs. I can now recognize little crows feet and wrinkles on my face. I find myself kind of freaking out about getting older. I always thought I would handle the aging process with grace and beauty, that I would welcome it and embrace it wholeheartedly.
I work with mostly an elderly, aging population. I try to envision them in their early years, even 10 year earlier, how they must have looked. I ask questions about their lifestyles, not trying to pry, but trying to educate myself. Perhaps I am on the hunt for the fountain of youth, what can I avoid that has caused them to age? I reluctantly resign myself to the truths of growing older in an age obsessed society. I have found that I can control two things, my lifestyle habits.....exercise, vitamins, stress, sleep, diet, and my attitude to aging. My attitude needing to be one of grace and submission to the natural ways of life. And though my memories have failed in recollections of childhood, the topics of aging propel me forward. It is a universal, uncontrolled phenomenon that we must all endure, it is the enduring that matters!

Another quote

"Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights, before the dark hour of reason grows." John Benjamin

The power of words

"If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things." James 3:2-5
Words have the power to uplift and the power to wound us and vacuum us up. My current reading addiction is "The most important place on earth" by Robert Wolgemuth. There are several chapters, and parts of chapters dedicated to the power and play of words, specific to raising children. These chapters have brought to mind two specific women in my life who have known the wisdom of chosen thought before speaking. Both women speak only after they have given careful thought to how their words will sound or be absorbed by the listener. They use both tact, gentleness, and steady reasoning when they share their ideas. Their speech is both pronounced and, heavy, as you hang on each word. One woman is from my past, the second woman is in my present, propelling me forward in my education of the chosen, spoken word. Neither woman is aware of the other, though I gander that if in a room together their conversation would be sweet and heard in the heights of heaven. "Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones." Proverbs 16:24

The three phases of Mister Rogers

I have found as I have gotten older, and now have children of my own, that I gone through three phases of Mister Rogers. The first phase was filled with wonderment, and awe at this make believe neighborhood, somewhere in the middle of America. A red trolley sounded its bell of entrance into this make believe world, filled with puppets who all had the same voice. Mister Roger's was my first babysitter of sorts, teaching me much about attitude, graciousness, and a new song or two. Phase two came around in junior high/high school. Everyone made fun of the man in the red sweater, with the sweaty sneakers. Eddie Murphy put a voice to our poking fun of a man who only a few years earlier had been a trying to teach us how to be a good neighbor. Now enter phase three of Mister Rogers, and my current frame of mind and spirit. It is only in the last few years that I have once again become enamored with this enigma of a man in a red sweater. Last year after much searching, I borrowed a book titled "I'm so proud of you". It is written from the viewpoint of a newspaper reporter, and his friendship with the man Fred Rogers. His friendship made up of letters and emails trickling through a period of about 7 years. At the end of each letter, Mister Rogers would sign off with IPOY (I am proud of you). I became endeared through this man's example of encouragement, and mentoring that he offered. Recently I received another book by Fred Rogers titled, "Many ways to say I love you". As a parent now, I have a newfound appreciation for the motives, and ways of Mister Rogers. His generous spirit gave so much to me, and many others. Hopefully we can provide a trickle down effect on the children we now have to raise. Soon they will be experiencing their first phase of Mister Rogers. "Children who hear that they are loved in many different ways are likely to find their own ways to say it to the people they love - all through their lives." Long live Mister Rogers neighborhood!

Three quotes

"If you could have heaven, your health, your relationships, your dreams, and God is not there, is that okay?" John Piper

"Don't ever limit your evaluation of yourself to yourself" Mahaney

"In our church if you don't love who we love (God/Christ), then you are not comfortable." John MacArthur

I love quotes, they inspire, challenge, and teach us.