Category Archives: Relationships

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So Glad, So Happy, So Content; God is Real!

So Delightful…

I’m just back from a glorious visit in California. I went with my three siblings. We had fun; real fun. I’ll tell you what we saw as far as places, then I’ll tell you, who we saw. We left on a Wednesday and returned the following Wednesday. First, we went out to the coast, that is, after we saw my cousin Jeff and his wife, Jo Anne and cousin Jana, her daughter and two granddaughters. Then we were ready for the whirl-wind trip.

We headed toward the coast. We saw three California missions that day (they are worth seeing). Then we enjoyed seeing my cousin, Jerry, and his wife, Kathryn. We enjoyed talking with them (and, of course, eating, as well). My cousin was good to see, and he and his wife were great to talk to. It is interesting how the years have made what we have in common rise to the surface. We were all blessed by the conversation.

Hearst Castle

On we went the next day to see the elephant seals and a bit later, the Hearst Castle. We did the first tour together, and the second tour we split up, one group to see the upper rooms, and the other, to see the extra cottage bedrooms and the kitchen. I was with my sister Juanita (no one else) and we got to talk quite a bit with the tour guide…he was great! It really is amazing to realize how much Randolph Hearst gave to his guests. It’s obvious, he loved it. We had a nice day, too. A bit of rain, and then it would clear a bit. You get the picture. By the way, The Abby at New Clairvaux has the Rocks, which they grouped together for the monestary, that Randolf Hearst purchased and brought to San Francisco long ago.

The Reagan Library

Then we drove down to the Reagan Library. Wow! We sure enjoyed partaking of the many pictures, movies, and writings of the place. Lots of Reagan quotes. It was nice, especially since he was a California governor and later the president during our life times. Side note: My bother went with a few hand-picked history students to meet him, when Reagan was governor. We spent a a great deal of time there, and could have spent more time, but we were out of time! It was well worth it.

Tar Pits

We then drove to Los Angeles. The next morning we went to the La Brea Tar Pits. There we took a tour, which was well worth it. They have brought a lot of dead animals out of the tar pits. It is really quite an adventure to see what they have collected. After all, the animals get stuck in the gooey tar. There was something like 400 skulls of wolves (or something like that). We saw some people working on cleaning animals and other stuff collected from the pits.

The Museum

Then we went to the Museum of Science and Industry. There we saw SO MUCH. We had gone there as children, so it brought back many memories. We learned about the life of the dinosaurs, in some detail. We spent a good deal of time reading the explanations for the exhibits of the various kinds of animals (that’s what I remembered from childhood). We viewed a room full of various kinds of minerals. They were absolutely fantastic. It was so wonderful. I’d recommend it.

Glendora, California

Next, we drove toward Glendora, taking in a mission on the way. We settled in and made ourselves comfortable. The next morning we went to the church of our childhood, what used to be an Independent Brethren church) and visited with my Great Uncle Melvin, who goes there. Later, we ate lunch with my Staudenrause cousins and visited my Grandma Weigold’s house in Glendora and later the graveyard where theirs and our parents, grandparents and etc. are buried. It was quite an adventure seeing my cousins and seeing where the graves of our relatives are in that Cementary.

Chino, California

The next day we visited with my Aunt Thelma and Mary, her daughter, before driving to Chino, where we lived before we moved north. We drove around some before we drove south to San Diego. We wanted to see where we lived in Chino (you can see the bridge but the house is gone), the school where we attended, indeed. Up the hill to see the Chino Boys Republic, and then on to San Diego, where we saw Jana and her family, at least the two boys, her grandson and daughter-in-law. We had a delicious meal on the beach, in one of their favorite restaurants, it was really very yummy. The next day we visited with Jana, she drove us around to see some of the nice places in San Diego. Lastly, we visited Mark’s burial. It was really wonderful to see her and her family. I’m so glad we did. Then we headed up north.

Yosemite

But there was one more thing we wanted to see…and Juanita and I had not seen it before. We went to Yosemite. Yes, you got that right! We drove part way the night before. Then we drove until we got to the top of the park. My goodness, it’s lovely, ,and it even has a few patches of snow. Then we drove down to see the massive rock (s) from the bottom up. Another tourist from Australia had binoculars, which we viewed the rock with. There were at least three people climbing the rock! That was really something to see! Then we drove on home. My sisters stayed a day, then they drove home. That was quite a trip.

My Siblings

Not only was the trip a lovely thing to do and see, the trip with my siblings was particularly nice. The missions were mainly my type of thing, but they went with it. It’s kind of neat, when your siblings care about making everyone happy. It’s like we just agreed to be nice no matter what. It’s not surprising, but yet, it is. I love my siblings, and I’ve always known that. But it is quite special when everyone is on the same page. Thank you, Juanita, Marilyn, and Paul. You made it special in every way, and I’m not kidding.

We should go on another trip sometime. 🙂

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We Need To Help People & We Need God

Some of us who were raised in a good home tend to view the world as okay, with little problems, or, at least, we used to see the world that way. The world isn’t that simple. You can’t think everyone knows the things you talk about or care about similar things. I’ve been around awhile, and I know that many people do not have a clue as to how the Christian really thinks and/or acts. Universities and high-up places are pretty much set against the way of Christian thought.

I Was Running On Empty

Christians have a variety of thoughts and a variety of ways they get their thoughts across to other people. You can probably tell by my writing that I am fairly traditional in my faith and experiences. But there was a time a few years back when I let my faith and experiences go and put it all up in front of God and said I wanted true truth from Him, not the church’s truth. I wasn’t against the church but I wanted to know what He wanted to show me. Nothing more and nothing less. That’s when my life turned and became truly different.

I looked the same. I went to the same church. I acted mainly the same. I was different, though. I started reading books outside of my protestant beliefs, not outside the faith but outside my firmly held beliefs. I was on a walk of faith. I told God He could show me what He wanted me to read, That was an amazing undertaking. I gobbled up reading. Books came my way via untraditional ways. Anglican writers, Catholic writers, the prior Pope, the deeper books of faith kept coming and I kept reading. I didn’t know where I was going to end up (and I started dating an Anglican who is now a priest). I was worried my family would think I’d left the faith, but I carried on. Frankly, I was somewhat nervous, but I was determined.

He Got My Attention

God was also taking me on a personal journey to discover what really mattered in my faith journey. I wasn’t telling anyone. They might get alarmed, since I didn’t know where I was going to end up. The books began piling up. I wanted to know more than I had been taught. I became amazed. Chesterton spoke clearly. Merton spoke deeply and fluidly. St. John of the Cross made me weep. I read ferociously. I was single by then and was eager to find my way. God took my eagerness and put into me truth in a new way. Most of my understandings changed little, but I came to realize that my beliefs were way to small and rigid.

I’m thankful God opened my eyes to the beauty around me. How do I view people now? Do they seek God for answers? Do they have a hunger for God? Do they love God? Is their walk of faith, in particular, their walk with God, meaningful, special, precious, heart-expanding, and real? People need Jesus. People need the Lord. God reveals himself to people who want to know Him, not just about Him. If you find Jesus in this way, you will be changed. God is your close friend. Until He is your closest friend I don’t believe you know Him as your Enough. He waits for us until we are ready to seek to find Him as our closest, dearest, and most worthy friend.

God Changed Me In A New Way

No one could have told me years ago that God would become as real as He has to me. My path was strewn with clutter, My heart was heavy. I’d tried so hard to be the right type of person but I failed miserably. For many years I tried. A lot of good happened those years. Yet I hadn’t found the key to unlock the door. I remember when it started, my husband had left me and my job was terminated. I sat on the couch and lighted a candle on the table before me. I surrendered it all to the Lord. I gave it all up. Every last bit. And asked Him to teach me whatever He wanted to teach me. I meant it and my tears intermingled with my words. I still suffered. Life was still hard. But I was open more than I had ever been, and God knew it. My journey to health and wholeness started that day and will continue for the rest of my life. I’m so glad. I’m so thankful.