hymn cards for sale!

From the day I posted my first pictures of the Hymn Cards I made for our baby's nursery, I have been asked (and begged) to sell these Hymn Cards and finally starting today they are available!

This first collection comes with twelve hymns and are all my personal favorites. Of course, as soon as I say that I can think of twelve more personal favorites. And reading over the list you will probably wonder why I didn't include some of your favorites. I guess I had to start somewhere. There are some good, solid lyrics in these songs, promises to live by. I hope they bring encouragement and hope to your family as they have mine.

Inspiration for these the Hymn Cards came from working on the memory loss floor of a nursing home. I led the Sunday morning worship service for a group of men and women who often could not remember their own family. And yet, when we started singing What a Friend We have in Jesus, or spoke the words of the Lord's Prayer or the 23rd Psalm, new voices would join in, remembering every word. Those were powerful moments in worship, watching the songs of old calm anxious hearts, listening to incoherent sentences turn to harmonious singing. I remember deciding then that I, too, wanted to know these promises so well that when my memory fails, my heart would still remember.

I have my set of Hymn Cards on a little easel on the table next to my glider rocker. I can sit and rock my kids while looking right at the words of a beloved song, singing all four verses as my babies drift to sleep.

The coolest thing about singing these truths and promises to my kids is that God ends up singing these songs to me. The words are for me, too. And my heart is calmed, my trust is back in Jesus and I sleep as soundly as my babies.

For ten dollars, you can download a PDF of all twelve hymns to print on your own. For twenty dollars I will print the hymns on card stock and send them right to your door.

I’m excited about having these cards in homes all over, excited to imagine all of us singing these songs, remembering these promises. You might put them on the sill of your kitchen window to sing while doing the dishes. You might put them on the counter in your bathroom to sing as you blow dry your hair. You might put them on your desk next to your Bible for your devotional time. You might put them in your kid’s room, ready for bedtime prayers. You might give them as a gift for Christmas. I hope you are blessed by them. And I hope the promises take root in your heart once again.

For ordering information, click here.

The Family Book of Advent

I was contacted to write my first book review on this blog! Hard to explain how excited this made me. Not only that, but the book came in the mail and I adore the book. Whew. It's a book about family together time and preparing our hearts for Christmas. Basically my favorite two things in one book.

The book is called The Family Book of Advent by Carol Garborg. I love Advent. Advent is what the month of December is supposed to be about: preparation, contemplation, expectancy, joyful anticipation. Our Savior is soon to be born. He came in a very strange way. None of us would have written the story this way: The King of the Universe born in a bunch of straw in a dusty stable. The whole story can become cliche if we're not careful. The shepherds right next to the wise men right next to the barnyard animals might seem normal by now. But this was not a normal moment. From the moment everything fell apart in the Garden of Eden, all of creation was waiting for this little babe to be born. And here He comes. God with us. Emmanuel. That's what Advent is all about.

The book has a lesson for the 25 days of December leading up to Christmas. Each day has a short written lesson, an interactive advent activity, a thoughtful question for conversation and a short prayer. The very back of the book has a list of props and supplies you will need for the 25 days of advent activities, so in theory you could look through this list, make note of what you don't have on hand and run to Target one time to be prepared for all 25 days. Now if that doesn't make you feel like a super-mom, I don't know what will.

The Family Book of Advent seems most appropriate for elementary and possibly middle school aged kids.  But I'm going to try it with my family. I don't think you can start too young for family devotions and dinner table traditions leading up to Christmas.

The book is available on amazon by clicking here. And on the Christian Book website here.

how lovely are thy branches

 

 

Went to the Hampton Hills Tree Farm with Mark and Kathy and Baby Isaac today. Ivar was totally into it. Between Cousin Mark! (always said with enthusiasm), the Christmas Tree, Dad with a saw and Baby Isaac it was a very thrilling day. and Elsie slept through the whole thing. Not sure she even knew we had left our house.

 

And now to trim the tree!

 

burping elsie

"Ah, Aunt Bec, I am going to burp baby Elsie. So hand her to me that way." -Sonna

dear email family,

At Grandma's birthday party we each got a wooden ornament with her picture on it. Since then it has hung right by Ivar's reading chair in his room. Ivar likes to give Grandma sips of water from his bottles, and especially likes it when the littlest kitten gives Grandma a goodnight kiss. I like it that Ivar still knows his great grandma.

Grandma died one year ago today. I miss her a lot. I just spent an hour reading emails she sent out to the family over the past few years and it made her feel very near.

I love Grandma's strong voice in her writing. Felt like she had just sent these emails today.

Here are some favorites from Grandma B.

Dear email family,
What a joy to be able to visit with you again. Some were sure I had to buy a new computer, but our Vern who takes care of the many computers out at the electronics building was able to fix it--how ? don't ask me. I was taking a nap and when I awoke , Margaret was here with her neighbor and Vern was busy fixing. How long they had been here I don't know. How thankful I am. He made other things on this machine be more handy and better for me. I said all I want to do is e-mail but now I can reach facebook and bring up the blogs much easier. And all he would take is "Thanks"

Psalm 107:1,2

"O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

for his steadfast love endures forever!

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,

whom he has redeemed from trouble."

Life here in Venture Out is comfortable for me. I simplllllly waited patiently [ or not so patiently-] for this machine to be fixed and read two books

 

I love you all, if you wish to be deleted from my e-mail list, please let me know. Too many messages are not needed. Grandma B.

 

Dear email family,

What a lovely day for a walk. Sunny but cool, a little wind and a clear blue sky. Ann left me a lot of pretty glads to play with yesterday. I made one white bouquet and one yellow, with other things to go with them. She also brought a huge purple and green gladiola bouquet. So my house has lots of color.

 

I've been doing a little painting.  Would like to try painting the evergreen in our front yard on the farm, that one Christmas was completely covered with snow after Phil had put all the colored lights on it. we had to add another set every year, the tree grew so fast. That was always a must before the kids came home from college. It was so pretty and they always looked forward to seeing it. My, that's a long time ago and that time went so quickly. It was always such a joy when they arrived--still is--

 

O, my new hearing aids have arrived, I'm so anxious to try them out. Will get them Friday when Ann and I will go to Fairmont.

 

Don has put some new information about Jan on 'caring bridge'. She has had some new changes on her tongue that should improve her ability to swallow. Was back to the hospital at the U yesterday to have this done. she is back home and Don is busy keeping her comfortable. How fortunate we are to have him to care for her.

 

Tonight is Bingo, plan to go and play. I was so disgusted when I found out we had services with Rev. Wilson this morning and I didn't know it. That's what I get for not looking at the black board early in the morning. But I cook my own oatmeal, with peaches and blue berries and english walnuts on top with plenty of butter and brown sugar--very good. and I don't go down till noon.

our verse for today: I am thinking a lot about Mt. Carmel these days, we will be gathering our family there next July. I found writtten in my Bible : " theme for Mt. Carmel in July of 1995,"

Isaiah 43:1

"Now thus says the Lord,

He who created you,

He who formed you,

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you:

I have called you by name, you are Mine."

So many wonderful Messages we received over the years, this was my 57th year of enjoying " a litttle bit of heaven at Carmel. So many good speakers, both for grown ups and the children.

Love you all, Grandma B.

Dear email family,
...mom made lots of rolled sugar cookies and drop cookies, guess she made all the ones I made, too. Plus she made divinity!! and she didn't have an electric mixer for years and years. Lots of arm power. Mom was so great, how she ever did all she did, I'll never know--maybe when I get to heaven she can tell me--I doubt wwe'll have time--think all we will do there is sing praises to our loving Heavenly Father. Love you all, Grandma B.