Encourage Someone Today

"Good job, Grandpa!"

I heard those words several times this morning from granddaughter #2. She's just 2 years old, but has already learned to be an encourager.

Her toy dinosaurs needed "a mommy' she said. "They are crying". Gail told me there was a bigger one at the top of the steps in the attic. So as I started climbing up the pull-down ladder she said, "Be careful, Grandpa."

"What are you doing, Grandpa?". Gail had brought in the last of the Christmas decorations from our deck and a few tiny leaves dropped on to the floor. So I was picking them up. "Picking up these leaves", I said.

"Good job, Grandpa!"

In the kitchen I was chopping up some onion to go with the ham, eggs and cheese I was preparing for breakfast. "What are you doing, Grandpa?" "I'm chopping onions."

"Good job, Grandpa!"

She loves oranges, so I was peeling one for her after her two bowls of "Snap, Crackle, Pop". "What are you doing?" "I'm peeling an orange for you".

"Can I help you, Grandpa?"

Encouragers are worth their weight in gold. They seem to come along (sent by God I believe) at just the right time. And when they speak those words cheering you on or offering to help or just showing that they care, they can be the missing piece in your track that allows you to move forward rather than retreat or give up.

Encouragers provide the anti-venom for the critics, gossips, whiners and complainers that seem to be so vocal and active.

God knew we all can use someone to come along side us and say just the right things that give us courage and dissolve our fears. So in the church He has even gifted some with a special ability to do just that.

To the Roman church, located in the heart of a pagan Empire ruled by a mad man named Nero, Paul wrote, "When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours." And, "If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging."

Chances are you'll be around someone today who could use an encouraging word. And if you don't know what to say, sometimes all it takes is a smile or a nod.

Personally I like, "Good job, Grandpa!"

If a two year old can do it, can it be that difficult?

Happy Birthday, Sarah!

May your special day be one of joy and celebration for the life God has given you.

I hope Terry springs for an expensive dinner.

Love,
Dad

Family Christmas photos

Days that change our lives

Our entire lives can be changed by a single event or by a series of events, and in only a moment, a day or days. I know that the first days of January were life-changing for me (and a lot of other people). And now, each year at this time my mind goes back to those days in 2008 when I saw miracles happen.

At least I call them miracles. Anyway, they were life-changing. And I'm so glad I blogged about them.

So I'm going back in the archives and reading what I wrote just to remind me of God's power and love. You're welcome to join me.

Click here to begin. Scroll down to the first week's posts.

A Christmas to Remember

The week before Christmas, 2007, Gail and I made an quick overnight stay in Durham, NC. Our two daughters, Rachel and Sarah and their husbands, Ramon and Terry made the trip with us. There we visited with Nathan, our son, and his wife Tricia. All of us wondered if this group would ever be together again for another Christmas.

You probably know Tricia's story, so I won't go into it here. But that Christmas she was perilously close to death due to the advanced stages of her cystic fibrosis and that fact that she was 5 months pregnant. Her ability to breathe was rapidly coming to an end. She would be admitted to Duke later that week and wouldn't emerge until May.

So we drove the almost 4 hours to Durham. We exchanged gifts, laughed a lot and went out to eat together. The picture is one I took of all the kids. Though they were smiling, behind the smiles was a sadness we all felt. If you've seen recent pictures of Tricia you see the immense change now that she's healthy. (She's on the right.)

God was gracious to us in miraculous ways in the months to come. Now those six have increased to 8 and a half (Rachel's got one in the oven). Best of all, we'll all be together this Christmas. And with the addition of a foster granddaughter it's even better.

I don't care if I get anything in my stocking. My heart is full and overflowing.

The Advent Conspiracy

Adventconspiracy.org

Check it out and see if you and yours can't spend less, give more and truly celebrate the birth of Christ this year more than ever before.

Finding the good in internet social networking

I've been blogging now for a little over 3 years, and have been on Facebook less than that. Experiences are teaching me and refining my use of both, and hopefully in a better way. These means of sharing info can do great harm. But I don't want to talk about that. I want to illustrate one way they do great good.

Yesterday I was pleasantly surprised when a "long lost cousin" popped up on one of my daughters' FB pages. Actually she is a cousin once removed (I think that's the correct lingo). She's really my dad's cousin, but she's younger than me by 8 years.

Anyway, I haven't seen or had any contact with her since Gail and I visited my great-uncle and great-aunt in 1978 where we all lived in close proximity on the West Coast. Gail and I only lived there for about 15 months, so when we moved to the center of the US, we lost touch with them.

Do to various family dynamics this cousin and her sister really didn't know any of their other Lawrenson family than the little contact they had with our family in the 70's and early 80's. They grew up and moved themselves, starting their own families.

Over the years I've asked Dad about them. But years ago he lost touch and just knew they had moved to another state. Both of her parents died back in the 90's.

Then yesterday there is this reply to a photo of my family, "I'm crying right now! You are family! I have pictures of us in CA with my parents...and sister...! How are you? Please, please contact me!"

After a couple of messages and replies we talked on the phone for about 30 minutes.

Later she posted this: "Today I am blessed beyond belief. I have made contact with treasured family from my beloved Dad's side! The Lawrenson legacy continues! Rick, I love you, Cousin!"

But how exciting was all that? The irony is that she and her sister live in a city that Gail and I visited on our Road Trip earlier in the year. If we had only known!

As I get older I have found that re-connecting with dormant relationships of friends and family is important to me. As one of my long lost friends noted, there is some redeeming value in these newfangled means of communication. I'm glad that I'm not too old to appreciate that.

Like anything else in this world, the internet can be used for good or bad. I'm going to focus on making my part good.

Just don't ask me to become a farmer or whatever.

Happy Anniversary Gail!

We haven't changed a bit over 33 years!

Sunday Flashback

Sundays on Sabbatical still produce a feeling of "lostness" for me. When you're used to years of your whole week coming down to what happens on Sunday and then that's gone it takes some adjustment. Compound that with being gone on Easter, which is the biggest Sunday of our year, and it's kind of surreal.

Even though we're home now, I've resolved to visit other churches on these Sundays to gain some perspective as a guest and to pick up some good ideas when I can. So yesterday we visited a young local church trying to carve out their "niche" in our community. I'll say this much: it was different. And all the while we were both wishing we were at home at NHC because it is home.

Sometime after the Sabbatical is over and we have worshipped in 12 or so different churches from FL to CA to NC I'll write some of the lessons I learned.

Sunday afternoon we had a crowd over, including our grandchildren, their parents, my brother's family, Gail's mom, and our grandkids' other grandparents and an aunt, and some more friends. We've been working hard the past few days on our yard (it's been sadly neglected for too long) getting the deck ship-shape and the front yard ready for an Easter egg hunt.

This year's (and future years') hunt is different from the big hunts we hosted a few years ago when our kids were all college aged. We'd invite their friends; make them all wear bunny ears and sent them out into the yard and woods behind the house searching for eggs. One of the eggs always was loaded with cash, so they were pretty motivated. It was always a lot of fun watching grown up kids get excited about hunting Easter eggs. Lots of craziness.

Now we're hosting mostly toddlers. Cuteness reigns, but not as funny or crazy as before.

The food on the deck was awesome. God gave us a picture perfect day, too, with warm temps and a Carolina Blue sky. On special days like Easter, which speak so much of the faith we have in Christ that holds us together it is also like icing on the cake to have so much fun with family and friends. And we're grateful to be blessed with a home that makes it possible. The older I get the more I get it.

Happy Birthday Nathan!

The Seminary secretary interrupted the Synoptic Gospels class I was in to tell me I needed to go home. Within the hour your mom and I were at the hospital, but you took your time. By late afternoon I had to excuse myself to go down Rivermont Ave. to the Cavalier for a couple of chili dogs.

May this 29th year be the very best of all. Your mom and I are proud of who you've become.

Happy Birthday Sarah!

Looking forward to seeing you and Terry real soon.

(Sarah pictured in 1987 at age 3.)

You've Come a Long Way, Baby!

It's Friday, January 8th, 2010!

Happy Birthday, Gwyneth Rose Lawrenson.

Every time I see your smile, watch you play or hear your voice I am reminded of what a miracle you are. And you always have a smile for me, except when you're in your car seat watching a DVD. Then I can't get your attention. But just getting to see you and how happy you are is a thrill.

On your birthday I wrote these words from Duke Medical Center.

I love you very much!

Grandpa

(And apologies to Elvis. I didn't mean to snub you today on your birthday.)

Two Years Later (almost!)..."Micro Preemie" Baby Enjoys Christmas

This is in Christmas Day's Virginian-Pilot!

Merry Christmas Tricia, Gwyneth and Nathan.

Happy Birthday Gail!

Every day you're special! Hope you enjoy this one.

Happy Birthday Rachel!

Your first one as a mom!

A chapter closed today

Today my Aunt Nita was buried next to her husband, parents and sister. She died Thursday after a long illness. It was her time and she was ready.

In November Aunt Nita would have been 99 years old. Think of all the changes she has seen in her lifetime. It's mind-boggling.

The last of her generation in our family, she was a great little (I don't think she ever quite made it to five feet tall) lady with quite the sense of humor. Laughing at things she said and did was great sport in our family, from her fondness for burnt toast to her calling team mates Andruw and Chipper Jones when they were on the Braves "salt and pepper".

I guess her death moves me up one more step on the ladder to the position of "next to the oldest generation". There's a sobering thought.

Last night at the reunion I'm attending I heard the word "legacy" mentioned more than once. That's an important concept to me - leaving behind a legacy. I heard it put this way (reminding me of what we used to say as Boy Scouts about our campground): "Leave it better than you found it."

Aunt Nita did. Any life she touched was the better for it. I hope the same will be said of me, whether my time is now at 54 or (heaven help my children) at 98.

Happy Anniversary #5

While I'm on the subject of marriages, a happy 5th anniversary to my son Nathan and his bride Tricia.

We're all so happy and frankly amazed that you've reached this milestone. Your marriage has touched more people than you'll ever know.

You can read Nate's post about their anniversary and see the video. If you don't know why this is so special, please visit here.

Sorry this is posted so late, but it's been a long day!

Happy Anniversary!

It's hard to believe that it was thirty two years ago today this lady became my bride. We've been coast to coast and continue to have lots of adventures, especially as our family expands and changes.

At a slower pace, we continue to "Climb the Hill Together"*.

Love you, Gail!


*from the song "Let Us Climb the Hill Together" by Paul Clark that was sung by True Vine at our wedding. I also sang this song to Gail at our 25th anniversary celebration in Mt. Currie, BC.

Happy Birthday Tricia!

Everbody's birthday is their special day. But yours are more special than most.

Sorry, I couldn't resist using this photo. We Lawrensons love mugging for the camera.

You compare

On the top is Rachel's newborn daughter Evaine. Below is Rachel being held by big sister Sarah in 1985. My kids keep spitting out clones.