Sweet Moment

I was standing in line at Target yesterday waiting to buy my groceries.  A mom with her little girl who looked to be 7 yr. old was in front of me.  I watched as the little girl patiently waited.  As I watched her I heard in my heart "give that little girl $5".  I rarely have cash but thought if I had a $5 bill in my purse I would give it to her. I DID have one.  My heart started beating fast and I was so excited to do this! I told her mom I had been watching her daughter and how sweetly she was waiting for her mom to finish purchasing her groceries. I asked if I could give her the money I held in my hand for Christmas. The mother smiled and acknowledged that I could.  I walked over to the little girl, talked to her a little and told her Merry Christmas as I gave her the money.  She never said anything but her smile said it all. I talked to the mom about what a sweet girl her daughter was and turned to pay for my groceries. The mom turned around and gave me a cupcake that she had just purchased.  She told me her daughter wanted me to have it and Merry Christmas.  I was so touched by her kindness.  As I was thanking the little girl her smile grew larger.  This all took place in just a few minutes and was a small act, but the blessing that came from it will last much longer.  Each of us are affected by a touch of kindness...either by giving or receiving or like this situation by both. I'll never really know how the exchange I had with this family touched them but as I listen to God and allow Him to lead me I can know that it is in His plan for us to show love to others. 

 

 



Sweet surprise

 

Years ago I made strawberry jam for my mom and gave it to her in this jar. I made the top for the jar. It's one of the things I kept after she passed away. I found it recently and gave it to my daughter, Stacy. Tonight she called and said she had a surprise for us. Imagine my surprise when she walked in and handed me this jar...

containing homemade blackberry jam!

 

Not only will homemade biscuits taste wonderful tomorrow morning with this jam, but I will have sweet memories of my mom!

Thank you, Stacy, for this gift!

She continues to touch lives...

 

This is one of my favorite pictures of my daughter Amy. 

It was taken in Honduras in 1998, just weeks before she went home to the Lord. She loved children, so it seems so natural to see her with these little ones. I love the smiles on all their faces! I thank the Lord for the opportunity He gave her to go to Honduras.  She is still touching lives there with a scholarship we give each year in her memory. This year we are so thrilled to have enough money to present two scholarships of $1,000 each to two graduates of Ruach International Christian Academy in Comayagua, Honduras. This graduation and presentation will take place Sunday evening. This year they have arranged it so that we that cannot be there can watch it live. I can hardly wait to see the surprised faces when the names of the scholarship winners are announced!

 

Scholarship time...

Each year we give a scholarship in memory of our daughter Amy. Jim will be traveling to Honduras this month to make the presentation to a senior in Ruach International Christian Academy. To know we are blessing a young person that might not be able to attend college without this help is so wonderful. We could never thank our friends and family enough for helping make this happen. We are so glad we have been able to keep in touch with some of the students that have received scholarships!

 

My sister, Stephanie and Jim presenting last year's scholarship

Amy Elizabeth Pack Memorial Scholarship

 Last year we presented a $1,000 scholarship to Pedro Paul Luna Aguilar from Ruach International Christian Academy. He is currently attending college in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

We love hearing back from the students that have been presented this scholarship and see their dream for an education coming true. For example, two years ago we presented two scholarships which went to Gerson Acosta and Johany Acosta. Today they are both in medical school in Tegucigalpa.  Another young man named Carlos is also a med student in Tegucigalpa.  Celestino Garcia is a senior at ORU this year and was just selected as the $20,000 Whole Person Scholarship Winner from ORU. This scholarship program has been established to recognize those students who are well-rounded and dream of furthering their education.

We are excited to be able to present another scholarship this year to a graduating senior from Ruach International Christian Academy. Jim will be attending this graduation and presenting the scholarship.

Helping another young person fulfill their dream is a blessing to us, as is keeping Amy’s life story and testimony alive!

 

 

Friends and Family

Jim had a meeting in Minneapolis and because it was so close to our friends Sally and Ron's house I went with him.

It is wonderful to be with long time friends that you feel so comfortable with. We laughed together, cried together, and talked and talked.  One day Ron walked in the room and reminded us how many words women had and he was sure were were using all of them. We were making up for all the days, months, years we are not together.

 As we sat by the fire visiting that first morning we looked outside and saw snowflakes!

 

 

 

 

When we were on the plane flying home I could not help but think of this verse as we looked out the window. 

 

 The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Psalm 19:1

 

 

 

 

 While we were gone, Colette and Ashlynn's school had the children dress as their favorite book character and bring that book to school. I am so glad both mothers sent me pictures of the girls!

Colette dressed as Kaya, one of the American Girl dolls.

She carried the book that was her story.

 

 

Ashlynn was Angelina Ballerina.  Angelina is a is a ballerina that is a mouse!

Ashlynn made the cutest little mouse.  

 

 

I am thankful for the opportunity to visit our friends

and thankful to come back home to family! 

New school year for two darlings...

Our cute granddaughter, Ashlynn, started Kindergarten this year. Her mom said she was so excited she was up at 5:00 that first morning!

 

 

 

 

 

I have taken care of Colette since she was 4 mo. old.  She started 2nd grade this year.  I love this picture of her and her sweet sister, Sabrina.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had fun picking up both girls from school on their second day!

(sun was in their eyes)

 

 

I am thankful for these two little girls!  They both make me smile and bring me happiness!

 

 

Cute poems were part of who she was

 

 

Fourteen years have gone by since our precious daughter went home to the Lord.

in memory of Amy Elizabeth

 

As I was thinking about her this week I went to a folder we have that holds some poems she wrote.  She had a great sense of humor and some of the poems really make you smile. 

This one was written about her Daddy, who was on a mission trip in Africa. This trip was one of his first since becoming Missions director for Life Outreach, International. She gave it to him when he returned.

It is one of my favorites. 

 

My Daddy Went to Africa

 

My Daddy went to Africa

And didn't take a gun.

If an elephant's after him,

Will he know to run?

 

Johnny said there's tigers there.

They just roam around the place.

And if you hear their stomachs growling,

You'd better hide your face.

 

Sally said her grandpa went

And met a crocodile.

He tried to take its picture,

But he refused to smile.

 

Billy said I better pray,

'Cause it's always night and never day.

The Indians come and tie you up,

Cook you for breakfast, and drink you out of a cup.

 

I told them that they all were silly,

and my Daddy would be just fine,

Because he was taking Bibles to the children,

So they could know about Christ.

 

There'd probably be no elephants, tigers, or Indians,

But I know if there were, he'll be safe because his journey's just begun.

 

 

It could get boring sometimes when she was in the hospital.  She wrote this one day during one of those times. I have typed it just as she wrote it.  I love it too!

 

hello

i'm joe.

this is

my dog

wiggles.

when my

dog wiggles

his tail

waggles.

wiggle's,

i love you.

 

Today, as every day, I thank the Lord for His gift to us of Amy!

 

 

 

A week of sunshine and flowers

I had a week with no obligations so I spent some time with friends.

Monday I met my friend Jenny for lunch and we spent hours talking and laughing!

That evening our church helped at  6Stones . Besides stacking cans of food we had a fun time visiting with each other.  A great way to become friends or get to know each other better while helping an organization that provides food and clothing for those in need.

Tuesday I had lunch with my friend Carol.  We ate salads and visited for what seemed to be too short of a time.

Wednesday I had lunch with my friend Jennifer and her daughter. What fun to spend time with her and her sweet three yr. old who loves to be read to and work puzzles.

Besides a fun visit I received a special treat of Jennifer's homemade strawberry-cranberry jam. It tasted delicious on our biscuits this morning!

Thursday I baby sat for my friend Lindsay while she was out of town helping her sister with her new baby. Her little Keane is adorable!

Friday morning my friend Jennifer and I visited our friend Phyllis that is in the hospital recovering from a fall.

I am blessed and believe that...

Love baking pies

Often when I bake pies I think of my mom and dad.  Both baked pies and they were always delicious. My mom's apple, cherry, and pumpkin are ones I remember as being favorites.  My dad made the best pecan pie I have ever tasted as well as a banana cream that I wish I had the recipe for.

So today as I was baking pies I pictured my mom or dad in the kitchen making their pie crusts. My parents each had their favorite crust recipe. I have my favorite too and it is different than both of theirs. I am thankful for all they taught me about making a good pie crust...the preparation, the rolling out of the dough, and placing it in a pie plate. I loved the memories I had today as I baked pies.
One of today's pies was
Strawberry Custard

1 1/3 C sugar, divided

6 T cornstarch, divided

1/4 t salt

2 C milk

2 egg yolks, lightly beaten

1 T butter or margarine (I always use butter)

1 t vanilla extract

1 baked 9-inch pastry shell

1 C water, divided

1 T lemon juice

1/2 t liquid red food coloring

6 C fresh strawberries, halved

Garnishes: sweetened whipped cream, fresh strawberry

Combine 2/3 C sugar, 4 T cornstarch, and salt in a saucepan;stir in milk. bring to a boil over medium heat. cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute.

Whisk milk mixture gradually into egg yolks until blended. Return mixture to saucepan. * Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, 1 minute or until thickened. Remove from heat;stir in butter and vanilla. Spoon hot filling into pastry shell.

Stir together remaining 2/3 C sugar, remaining 2 T cornstarch, and 2 T water.

Bring remaining water to a boil in medium saucepan. Whisk in sugar mixture;cook, whisking constantly, 2 to 3 minutes or until thickened and clear. remove from heat. Stir in lemon juice and food coloring; cool. fold strawberries into syrup mixture. Spoon over custard mixture; chill 4 hours. Garnish, if desired.

from Southern Living

She worked really hard for this...

Colette has been trying really hard to not suck her thumb.  Her reward was to be an American Girl doll.  She was so excited the day she told me she had stopped and would be getting the doll.  Her mom surprised her yesterday!

Thank someone today...

I see her when I go to the produce department of our neighborhood grocery store. I see her carefully putting vegetables or fruits in their bins or moving things around to make the display nicer. I think to myself...she enjoys her job. She almost always takes time to say hello and check to see if I am finding everything OK. I have seen her help others and always with a smile and an attitude that shows she cares. For about two weeks I have felt like I was supposed to tell her thank you for the good job she does and to let her know that this does not go unnoticed. I just couldn't get my nerve up to speak to her about this. Silly as it sounds, I got nervous every time I felt like I was supposed to tell her and would just leave. A friend suggested I write a note to her. I could do that. It would be much easier to put down on paper what I wanted to say in person. Jim suggested I write a note to the manager of the store also. What a great idea. I wrote her the note and this morning knew I was supposed to go to the store and she would be there. She was! As I handed her the note I told her I wanted to thank her for all she does in the produce department. She seemed surprised and thanked me. I asked her name and introduced myself. Then I went to customer service where I spoke to a manager and he suggested I fill out a card and send to the corporate office. The card will be filled out and mailed! Hopefully they will recognize her in some way. I think we take so many things or people for granted. I am thankful that God is opening my eyes to see those around me. I want to see them with His eyes and hear Him tell me how I can bless them. This time the blessing was for a lady in the produce department. Perhaps she was wondering if anyone noticed her, or if anyone cared. I pray that this note blessed her. I know I was blessed to write and give it to her.

Look around and ask God who you can be a blessing to this week! Maybe there is someone that needs to hear the words THANK YOU!

Scholarship

Giving Thanks...

for this young man

and for all who gave making this scholarship possible!

Thankful,

Elaine



Nertz

Giving Thanks

Today I give thanks for the game night we are having tonight. Jim is in Honduras and it is fun to have a girls night. A game of Nertz is planned.  I know there will be tons of laughter and fun because it always happens when we girls get together! We'll eat snacks, talk and hopefully I will win a game.. or two!!

Thankful,

Elaine

Giving Thanks!

Today I am giving thanks for my friend Carol's grandchildren. I was invited to attend Grandparents Day at their school.  They go to St. Vincents School. We went to chapel first where both girls sang in the choir. Then we went to the music room where the 4th grade did their presentation. They have been studying artists and each child was to chose one to  write about. Then they chose a picture their artist had painted and they painted one like it. Veronica was Vincent Van Gogh.  She borrowed a jacket from my husband, Jim and a beard from my nephew, Joshua.  She memorized what she wrote about Van Gogh and did a great job!

Her picture was Van Gogh's Starry Night

Giving Thanks...

Elaine

Thankful for this gift

Every time one arrives in the mail I feel encouraged and loved.  What a kind gift of love is given me each week.  It started shortly after our daughter, Amy, went home to the Lord in 1998 and continues to this day! One time I told her she did not have to keep sending them to me and she told me that when the Lord tells her to stop she will.  I am humbled and in awe that someone would do this for me.  So today I give thanks for my faithful friend, Joy, and each beautiful card that she sends me. Each card has been different and I cannot imagine how she never sends duplicates. Words cannot express how much it means to be thought about and prayed for! 

This is today's card!

Giving Thanks,

Elaine

Sisterhood

Today I give thanks for

Sisters in Christ 

My friend Jennifer says so well what my heart feels.

Visit her at Heart to Hear  and see what she has to say about sisterhood and our group that meets together every Tuesday morning!  Wish YOU could join us! 

Giving thanks,

Elaine

More thanks

Giving Thanks

Today I am continuing to give thanks for the joy and peace God gives....

Romans 15:13  May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.


Read about it here Precious in His Sight on my sister's blog!



Giving thanks,
Elaine

Encouragement for our day

Today I am giving thanks for the sweet way the Lord let my sister, Stephanie, know HE CARES!

As she serves the Lord teaching at Ruach International Christian Academy in Comayagua, Honduras, there are times she becomes tired and needs encouragement and joy from the Lord.  These past few days have been like that for her and she has asked her friends and family to pray for her. This morning I received a text message from her saying that she had opened one of the cards I sent her (I gave her a stack of cards this summer to take back to Honduras with her and to be opened whenever she wanted). 

The text message said:

I opened a card from you this morning and it said just what I needed for today.  The verse is now on the board in the high school is Romans 15:13. Love you!

I was excited and knew God was hearing our prayers.

A couple hours later I  spent some time with my devotionals.

First I read My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers.

Then, I opened

Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young and read:

... "As you sit quietly in My Presence, your awareness of My Life within you is heightened.  This produces the Joy of the Lord, which is your strength. 

 I, the God of hope, fill you with all Joy and Peace as you trust in Me, so that you may bubble over with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

One of the verses at the end of the devotional was...

Romans 15:13 which in the Amplified reads:

May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.

I was so excited as I was seeing God was not just telling my sister, but me also, how much he wants to fill us with His joy and His peace so that we will be overflowing with His hope!  What a word of encouragement!!

When  I looked back at the beginning of the Jesus Calling devotional I found I had read yesterday's, not todays! This realization caused me to remember what Oswald Chambers had said in his devotional today:

My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers:

...."Never allow that the haphazard is anything less than God's appointed order, and be ready to discover the Divine designs any where. "

I know God orchestrated all this. It began with me buying the very card Stephanie would need to read today and then everything else that happened pertaining this! 

 I LOVE HOW HE LOVES US!

Giving Thanks,
Elaine

Precious pictures

Today I am giving thanks to the Lord for a friend that sent me 4 precious pictures of our sweet Amy.  I had never seen them.  I was overwhelmed when I opened the envelope and saw Amy with her sweet smile!  The pictures were taken around her senior year in High School with her close friend, Robin.  I just love them!  When you have a loved one with the Lord and you see a picture of them you have never seen before it means so much!

Giving Thanks-

Elaine