beWARM

Being in Portland blessed me with a Triple Treat – sharing 24 hours with Fabulenza, Theo the Magnificent, and The Divine Miss V. I must say, being in the company of precious grandchildren puts a unique spin on one’s view of the world…and I would guess that any grandparent would agree.

Of course, Enza and I had our customary ice cream outing. Her ability to chow down a good sized serving of her favorite confection and then “taste” at least four spoonfuls of mine is quite the achievement.

What struck me as Enza reached up to grasp my hand (a pleasure I will never tire of) was her  complete trust in my knowledge of where I was leading her. Does Nana really know how to get to the ice cream place ? was nary a passing thought.

Without a second glance, Theo readily accepted my bottle holding skills  – and voraciously downed his milk. A champion eater, he – in true Fammartino tradition.

As the youngest, Vera is the most helpless of all.  She relies on us to keep her tummy full, her bottom dry, and get adequate sleep – with a good dose of cuddling on the side.

Observing such sweet innocence made me realize that children, from the beginning, don’t have a clue about the words and feelings that can sometimes consume our thoughts as adults.

Worry…Doubt…Fear…to name a few.

These are not part of the emotional repertoire of infants and toddlers. So exactly when do these words become part of their vernacular?

I don’t have the exact answer, but I do think that when those thoughts arrive might depend largely on the child’s life experiences.

Aside from the joys we receive from the little ones of the world, there is much to be learned from what words are yet unknown to them – for aren’t we the ones who place worry, doubt, and like concepts in our minds?

And what can we do to diminish the power of such emotionally charged words?

God asks us to relinquish our concerns and be as children to Him, trusting that His orchestration of details will be masterful and beneficial, even through our trials.

I fervently pray that we all can lift up our eyes to Him, surrender to His leading, and let those interfering words

fade… into… oblivion.

 Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. ~Matthew 6:34 (The Message)

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The world, with its nonstop demands, can be put on hold. ~ From today’s Jesus Calling (emphasis mine)

It is raining buckets in Portland today.  It’s almost as if God turned on a turbo sprinkler  and somehow got distracted.

Listening to the rain has a soothing effect. And I so wish this sound could be heard in Santa Fe, where the soil is in desperate need of moisture.

After one week here, life has settled into a certain rhythm.  The days are punctuated with Vera’s feedings and diaper changes, with interludes of happy play and occasional “shushing” for naps. We enjoy daily walks to the park or the grocery store.

For the most part, Vera is a very happy – and smiley! – baby. Oh how blessed she is to be so far removed from the cares of this world.

As I cradle her in my arms, my mind travels back to the days when I held my own precious daughters in the same way – when life was the uncomplicated (though unpredictable) orbit around the baby universe. So immersed, I rarely imagined that any challenges would be befall my little ones.

And how well we all know that life just doesn’t come with a trouble-free guarantee.

In the early years as parents, our job was to nurture and protect our children. As they grew older, we soon realized that for them to be in the world would require nursing an occasional hurt or scrape – along with doling out a dose of discipline once in a while.

As they became adults, we entered the “observation” stage – one where we have to sit back and watch them live out the consequences (sometimes painful) of their decisions.

And we pray…and pray…

Spending time in VeraWorld has brought simplicity front and center. Yes, there will always be the demands of life hovering about, and the inherent issues that accompany them.

And though I long for time with Joey, I know that God has put me in this otherworld for reasons only known to Him.

Unlike us, our Heavenly Father is all-knowing. No watching and waiting in His world. And we, with confidence in His lifeplan for us and our beloved children and grandchildren, can welcome Him in.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.  ~ 1 John 4:4

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If only I had…

If only I hadn’t…

My guess is that these words have inhabited all of our minds more than once throughout our lives. If we are not careful, second guessing can really smudge up our thinking.

I write this from Portland, Oregon where I have been for the past week, helping Emily with the Divine Miss V as she begins a new job.

Relocation is enough of a challenge to begin with  – and Emily has had her share of hurdles and heartaches related to that. When Kristy did some reconnaissance and  found that “perfect” apartment – and, better yet, the movers’ schedule meshed with Emily’s, we heaved a sigh of relief.

Whew…at least that detail was falling into place.

That peace of mind instantly evaporated when Emily found out that the landlord had rented to someone else – after she had actually seen the apartment and loved it.

Another huge disappointment in a string of many.

If only the landlord would have taken Kristy’s offer of a deposit…

If only Emily could have arrived in Portland a few days sooner…

So here we are, in an apartment hotel that is fairly reasonable (thanks to Abby’s charm in negotiating the nightly rate), addicted to refreshing the “Portland Apartments for Rent” page on Craigslist every 10 minutes, hoping that we can find one comparable to that one that slipped away.

And the movers, loaded with Emily’s things, are driving westward at this moment.

I admit, I have succumbed to the “if onlys” more than once during these past days. And truly, in the grand scheme of things, these issues are not insurmountable – even though they seem overwhelming right now.

As He often does, God has oh so gently guided my wayward thoughts back in His direction, allowing me to, first of all, be in a place of thanksgiving, appreciating our blessings.

At least we have  a place to stay…

At least Emily has a job…

At least Abby and Kristy are close by…

Down deep I know and trust that God will handle all of the details – and that He can do what might seem impossible to us. Keeping that mental billboard flashing brings a peace and confidence that will surpass all difficulties.

…As does one of my favorite verses…

Trust in the LORD with all your heart ,and lean not on your own understanding; 
 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

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If Utah’s Zion National Park is not on your bucket list, it very well should be. The breathtaking beauty of the sandstone cliffs backed by blue skies etches itself in your memory, and permeates your being. Such glorious vistas!

Immersed in outdoor nirvana, I am awed by nature’s magnificence – but also have the utmost respect for its inherent dangers.

We hiked to Observation Point, a steep climb rewarded by a spectacular view at the top. My fear factor was highly challenged, as the path, though plenty wide, at times had a sheer drop-off on one side. I could barely look down. Heart pounding, I hugged the “safe” side of the trail while praying for secure footing.

Our other option that day was Angel’s Landing – not quite as much elevation gain, but with one “perilous” section that “should be avoided by people with a fear of heights.” I decided that the only Angel’s Landing I ever want to see is the one I (hopefully) will encounter in the hereafter, thank you very much.

Coupled with the reminders for safety on the trails were flash flood warnings. Apparently these are quite common in this narrow canyon where storms can send water crashing through, causing an instantaneous and dangerous rise in the water level.

In such an instance, trying to outrun the water is futile; getting to a higher place is the best protection.

This natural phenomena is one thing – but how about the flash floods of life? You know…those times when situations or events overtake you with such force that you don’t know what hit you? Raging currents rush in,  turning your world upside down with dizzying force.

After we recover from the shock, we look back to see if we missed the warning signs – if only we had paid more attention!

If we’re fortunate enough to recognize impending tsunamis in our lives, we can get to higher ground to avoid those life-threatening overflows.

What would you be standing on in that elevated spot?  Would you be grounded in love…faith…hope…mercy…forgiveness…compassion? Holding fast to any of these can help sustain us through all kinds of trials.

If we’re caught in the torrents by surprise, we have to trust that God will provide the strength we need to stay afloat.

And, after the storm, we can look to His warm, radiant light to heal our hurts and revive our hearts.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.   
When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you. ~Isaiah 43:2  New Living Translation

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