I've written about this before. Julie and I are stinkin' hilarious. I realized this again as we were frantically Christmas shopping today. We are really entertaining shoppers. Seriously, while we shop, people have said, "I wish that I had as much fun as you girls do." Here are some examples of how we have fun shopping:
1) While wandering through Lighthouse (a Christian bookstore) we picked up cheesy christian romance novels and read the backs of them with mocking inflections and laughed at the stupidest ones - and then purchased them. People were looking at us from across the store and laughing with us - not at us. My favorites were "The Falconer" where in one sentence we find out about the main character's nicknames, previous profession, height, build, personality, and goals as an abolitionist in England (that is one powerful first sentence) and one about a girl born into a powerful governor's family and a pirate princess! So great!
2) We sang along to the same Christmas songs even when those songs weren't playing. For example, one song was playing and Julie remembered the song "Last Christmas" so we sang that while an entirely different song was playing. It was impressive that we stayed in key.
3) We went to K-mart because it was close by and then immediately decided to go to Target. We silently understood that we are Target snobs.
4) While at Target we pushed Twilight on people including a woman who works there. It seems that wherever I go I tell people that they should read the book. Julie and I agreed that we should get some sort of commission from the author.
5) We tried to help a woman find baby Christmas dresses in infant sizes. We were unsuccessful, but I think the woman was encouraged by having others agree that it was strange to not have any there.
6) While at Tilly's, we tried to convince the one male working there that he should read Twilight, thus having more to talk about with his female coworkers.
7) We paid for dinner with quarters. (Not entirely, but there were a lot of them).
8) We went to several Game Stops. Nothing fun about this except that we were reminded of Julie's mom who questioned the existence of such stores, "They have stores where they only sell games? Do they close down after Christmas?" After we left, I said to Julie, "What a nice store. It's too bad that they are only open seasonally." To which Julie replied, "Well, games aren't that big a business." Somehow, Julie's mom plays a big part in many of our jokes.
9) The entire time we shop, there is a running dialogue. It's like shopping in an episode of Gilmore Girls or "His Girl, Friday".
I feel like I have not adequately expressed how much fun we have while shopping, but seriously, you should join us. We know how to get it done and have a great time doing it.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Christmas in a small town in a big city
I love my church. There are many reasons why, but tonight was a good reflection of how great my church is. We had our annual church play tonight and it was everything our church play should be: kids sang songs, people played instruments, costumes were made and edited at the last minute, lines were recited (some with feeling others with fear), and the little kids sang "Away in a Manger".
I love to watch Christmas movies and especially ones about small towns. I've always wanted to live in a small town. I am drawn to the idea of living in a place where everyone knows you and cares about you. Where everyone pitches in to take care of each other. Where we're not afraid to discipline each other's children or take action to help when help is needed. Where people can be a little kooky, but they are loved for it. I feel like this is what our church offers.
I get nervous every year about the Christmas play. I hope that the kids have a good time, that the message of the birth of Christ comes through, that the costumes will work out. I am always sure that the previous year's was better and that people will tell me so. When I get to a semi-meltdown state (usually the Saturday before), my dad always reassures me with this conversation, "What is our mantra?" he asks. "Everyone will love it no matter what. They don't care if it's bad," I reply in monotone. This year my dad reminded me, "It's not that they don't care, it's that they are going to love to see those kids up on the stage and that's what they'll get."
You see, in our small town of Faith Presbyterian, each kid on that stage was known and loved by the people in the audience. So when Josh says his lines with exaggerated enunciation and heartfelt emotion, we all smile with joy over the fact that this dear boy has a place in life where he can flourish and be quirky. And when our multitude of the heavenly host (all four of them) say "Glory to God in the highest" in a flat monotone, we all fill with pride over the fact that these little ones (first graders) knew their lines and came onstage at the right time. Dakota can pull on Eddie's lamb ear and say that she wants to sing "This Little Light of Mine" instead of "Away in a Manger" and we are reminded of a time when people thought she wouldn't walk or speak.
It's the fact that these kids are loved for who they are and that they are really cherished that makes the play so much fun to watch. But you know what my favorite part is (besides the fact that it's over successfully)? I love to see these kids say boldly that Christ is the Messiah. They've been in the plays enough times to know that if they have the lines that tell the truth of the Messiah they have the most important lines and they say them loudly and clearly. "The Messiah has come!" they shout with joy. Or "He will come to bring peace between Men and God," Josh whispers with the heaviness of such truth.
And then, as if that wasn't enough, we have the orchestra made up of members who play all year long and some who only play once a year. And then we sing along - loudly and with joy. And afterward we have food prepared by many different hands and candy distributed to the kids (but if you make a pouty face and ask nicely, sometimes the big kids get a bag too).
It's on this day that I feel like I live in a small town in a Christmas movie. There is no shortage of love on this day and I am so thankful that I get to be a part of such a fun and worshipful time. I am overwhelmed by the gifts God has lavished on me and I am thankful for the church that helps me see it.
I love to watch Christmas movies and especially ones about small towns. I've always wanted to live in a small town. I am drawn to the idea of living in a place where everyone knows you and cares about you. Where everyone pitches in to take care of each other. Where we're not afraid to discipline each other's children or take action to help when help is needed. Where people can be a little kooky, but they are loved for it. I feel like this is what our church offers.
I get nervous every year about the Christmas play. I hope that the kids have a good time, that the message of the birth of Christ comes through, that the costumes will work out. I am always sure that the previous year's was better and that people will tell me so. When I get to a semi-meltdown state (usually the Saturday before), my dad always reassures me with this conversation, "What is our mantra?" he asks. "Everyone will love it no matter what. They don't care if it's bad," I reply in monotone. This year my dad reminded me, "It's not that they don't care, it's that they are going to love to see those kids up on the stage and that's what they'll get."
You see, in our small town of Faith Presbyterian, each kid on that stage was known and loved by the people in the audience. So when Josh says his lines with exaggerated enunciation and heartfelt emotion, we all smile with joy over the fact that this dear boy has a place in life where he can flourish and be quirky. And when our multitude of the heavenly host (all four of them) say "Glory to God in the highest" in a flat monotone, we all fill with pride over the fact that these little ones (first graders) knew their lines and came onstage at the right time. Dakota can pull on Eddie's lamb ear and say that she wants to sing "This Little Light of Mine" instead of "Away in a Manger" and we are reminded of a time when people thought she wouldn't walk or speak.
It's the fact that these kids are loved for who they are and that they are really cherished that makes the play so much fun to watch. But you know what my favorite part is (besides the fact that it's over successfully)? I love to see these kids say boldly that Christ is the Messiah. They've been in the plays enough times to know that if they have the lines that tell the truth of the Messiah they have the most important lines and they say them loudly and clearly. "The Messiah has come!" they shout with joy. Or "He will come to bring peace between Men and God," Josh whispers with the heaviness of such truth.
And then, as if that wasn't enough, we have the orchestra made up of members who play all year long and some who only play once a year. And then we sing along - loudly and with joy. And afterward we have food prepared by many different hands and candy distributed to the kids (but if you make a pouty face and ask nicely, sometimes the big kids get a bag too).
It's on this day that I feel like I live in a small town in a Christmas movie. There is no shortage of love on this day and I am so thankful that I get to be a part of such a fun and worshipful time. I am overwhelmed by the gifts God has lavished on me and I am thankful for the church that helps me see it.
Friday, December 12, 2008
My Parents are Awesome!
You know how things that you are surrounded by every day just start to fade into the background? I have a neighbor upstairs whose pipe we can hear as he drains his shower. I don't pay any attention to it anymore. Yet when I had guests over, I was suddenly aware of how loud it was. Even now I have a fan blowing on my recently flooded kitchen wall and I have to remind myself that it's there.
This is how it is with my parents. They have been amazing for so long that I have grown numb to how insanely great they are. Not that I take them for granted, no I am thankful for them every day. It's just that I no longer take a step back and think of how strange they are. My mother has severe pain in her body from various ailments. Her back aches, her hip goes out of joint, her arthritis and gout flair up at inconvenient times, and she's an insomniac. My mother just put on a nine course meal for 40 or so people. She carefully crafted dishes like an amazing mozzarella and roasted red bell pepper rollade, shredded chicken on a bed of harvest cous cous and cream, slow roasted lamb on a bed of creamed root vegetables, and pumpkin rolls garnished with a pumpkin caramel glaze. She did this with an oven that barely works and a full time job (good thing she has insomnia!).
My father supports my mother in her crazy food ventures. He samples and edits flavors, he diligently shops for just the right ingredients, he made all of the place cards, led the carolling afterward, took photos, encouraged conversations, set-up, cleaned-up, served the food, and helped forged the bonds between the hodgepodge of kids that are in the youth group.
I need to take a step back and look at these two people. Who does this? What a legacy I have in my life of sacrificial love and using your talents to their fullest. Now, I know that I have a tendency to go over the top like my mom and I hope that I can balance so that insomnia doesn't rule over me, but if I did half the things my parents have done I would be a good servant indeed. They give of their time and energy freely and joyfully - and they're just plain good at it.
So as I dream of the leftovers and take off my heals to rest for the evening, I'll think of my mom and dad and then get back on my feet and make cookies until 2am - because that's what we Dempsey's do!
This is how it is with my parents. They have been amazing for so long that I have grown numb to how insanely great they are. Not that I take them for granted, no I am thankful for them every day. It's just that I no longer take a step back and think of how strange they are. My mother has severe pain in her body from various ailments. Her back aches, her hip goes out of joint, her arthritis and gout flair up at inconvenient times, and she's an insomniac. My mother just put on a nine course meal for 40 or so people. She carefully crafted dishes like an amazing mozzarella and roasted red bell pepper rollade, shredded chicken on a bed of harvest cous cous and cream, slow roasted lamb on a bed of creamed root vegetables, and pumpkin rolls garnished with a pumpkin caramel glaze. She did this with an oven that barely works and a full time job (good thing she has insomnia!).
My father supports my mother in her crazy food ventures. He samples and edits flavors, he diligently shops for just the right ingredients, he made all of the place cards, led the carolling afterward, took photos, encouraged conversations, set-up, cleaned-up, served the food, and helped forged the bonds between the hodgepodge of kids that are in the youth group.
I need to take a step back and look at these two people. Who does this? What a legacy I have in my life of sacrificial love and using your talents to their fullest. Now, I know that I have a tendency to go over the top like my mom and I hope that I can balance so that insomnia doesn't rule over me, but if I did half the things my parents have done I would be a good servant indeed. They give of their time and energy freely and joyfully - and they're just plain good at it.
So as I dream of the leftovers and take off my heals to rest for the evening, I'll think of my mom and dad and then get back on my feet and make cookies until 2am - because that's what we Dempsey's do!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
The Christmas Rush
It seems that I have Christmas denial right now. It is exactly two weeks until Christmas and I still think that it's so far away. I look at my to do list and think "38 presents, I have time" and then I proceed to plan away all of my weekends and have no time to shop. I have a beautiful tree, my classroom is decorated, I've been listening to Christmas music, the play is this Sunday, but still I don't feel like it's really Christmas time.
I think I need to blog about Christmas to help me feel more like this season is truly upon us. Last year I made a complete list of all of my favorite Christmas songs: both secular and Christian. I would love to just copy that here since I wrote better then, but I should do something current to help me get in the spirit. So I have decided to do an in depth analysis of my favorite Christmas voices and their songs.
Karen Carpenter - I love the Carpenter Christmas album because my mom always played it during her Christmas botiques. Her deep voice is so soothing and rich, it instantly calms me. I especially love her rendition of Sleigh Ride and her singing the intro to White Christmas. There's this note she sings when she says, "There's never been such a day in Beverly Hills, LA" the LA is so low, I could never hit it. She reminds me of my mom in that respect too. She sings beautifully and could be a baratone - just like Mom :)
Bing Crosby - White Christmas is just perfect. He's in two of my favorite Christmas movies (Holiday Inn and White Christmas) during which he sings this song. But there is another song that Bing sings that is more about Christmas to me than any other, and that's "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas". That song is one we sing often in my family. Grandpa Dempsey used to play it on his player piano and sing it with us. I've always associated my Grandpa with Bing because of it and that makes me love it. Plus, it's fun to sing "a pair of hop-along boots and a pistol that shoots is the hope of Barney and Ben. Dolls that can talk and will go for a walk is the wish of Janice and Jen" It took years before we got the words right.
Nat King Cole - This man could sing anything and I would love it. But "The Christmas Song" is all Nat. Others have covered it, but it is only Nat King Cole's smooth tones that make the intro "Chesnuts roasting on an open fire" thrilling.
Those weird singers who sing the Drummer Boy song - You know the one that sounds like an all boys choir singing "Come, they told me, pa rum pu pum pum". I just love it.
Amy Grant - she's great and Christmas songs kind of belong to her, but "Mary's Song - Breath of Heaven" is truly genius. It is such a beautiful peice of music independent of words, but then when you add in the perspective of a young girl who is willing to sacrifice all comfort for the plan of God, but still has fears and is looking for the strength of God to pull her through! Wow! What a song! "Do you wonder, as you watch my face, if a wiser one should have had my place. Still I offer all I am. Holy Father to your plan. Help me be strong. Help me be...help me." Great song!
Josh Groban - He was made to sing Christmas songs, any and all. Especially in other languages. Yet "O Holy Night", one of my two favorite Christmas hymns, will make me cry when Josh sings it. It's sad that a boy can sing higher than I can, but that boy can hold a note!
The Muppets - yes, they qualify as a singing group and they happen to sing on one of the best Christmas albums ever! I especially like their version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." This is because Beaker, the lab assistant who doesn't speak, but 'meeps' sings on one of the days. I laugh every time.
Andrew Peterson - Matthew Begats is one of the funniest Christmas songs and I'm still memorizing it. Andrew basically took the geneology of Jesus from the book of Matthew and turned it into a song. "Abraham had Isaac, Isaac he had Jacob, Jacob he had Judah and his kin." The best lines tell a little bit about the person in the lineage like "Amon who was a man who was father of a good boy named Josiah, who grandfathered Johoiachin who caused the Babylonian captivity because he was a liar." So clever.
I love Christmas. I love singing. I love that I get to play my favorite Christmas music in my classroom and it's ok. Think of all of the words that I play during my class that are ok because it's Christmas! Well, off to bed where I'm sure I'll dream of sugar plumbs or other delights.
I think I need to blog about Christmas to help me feel more like this season is truly upon us. Last year I made a complete list of all of my favorite Christmas songs: both secular and Christian. I would love to just copy that here since I wrote better then, but I should do something current to help me get in the spirit. So I have decided to do an in depth analysis of my favorite Christmas voices and their songs.
Karen Carpenter - I love the Carpenter Christmas album because my mom always played it during her Christmas botiques. Her deep voice is so soothing and rich, it instantly calms me. I especially love her rendition of Sleigh Ride and her singing the intro to White Christmas. There's this note she sings when she says, "There's never been such a day in Beverly Hills, LA" the LA is so low, I could never hit it. She reminds me of my mom in that respect too. She sings beautifully and could be a baratone - just like Mom :)
Bing Crosby - White Christmas is just perfect. He's in two of my favorite Christmas movies (Holiday Inn and White Christmas) during which he sings this song. But there is another song that Bing sings that is more about Christmas to me than any other, and that's "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas". That song is one we sing often in my family. Grandpa Dempsey used to play it on his player piano and sing it with us. I've always associated my Grandpa with Bing because of it and that makes me love it. Plus, it's fun to sing "a pair of hop-along boots and a pistol that shoots is the hope of Barney and Ben. Dolls that can talk and will go for a walk is the wish of Janice and Jen" It took years before we got the words right.
Nat King Cole - This man could sing anything and I would love it. But "The Christmas Song" is all Nat. Others have covered it, but it is only Nat King Cole's smooth tones that make the intro "Chesnuts roasting on an open fire" thrilling.
Those weird singers who sing the Drummer Boy song - You know the one that sounds like an all boys choir singing "Come, they told me, pa rum pu pum pum". I just love it.
Amy Grant - she's great and Christmas songs kind of belong to her, but "Mary's Song - Breath of Heaven" is truly genius. It is such a beautiful peice of music independent of words, but then when you add in the perspective of a young girl who is willing to sacrifice all comfort for the plan of God, but still has fears and is looking for the strength of God to pull her through! Wow! What a song! "Do you wonder, as you watch my face, if a wiser one should have had my place. Still I offer all I am. Holy Father to your plan. Help me be strong. Help me be...help me." Great song!
Josh Groban - He was made to sing Christmas songs, any and all. Especially in other languages. Yet "O Holy Night", one of my two favorite Christmas hymns, will make me cry when Josh sings it. It's sad that a boy can sing higher than I can, but that boy can hold a note!
The Muppets - yes, they qualify as a singing group and they happen to sing on one of the best Christmas albums ever! I especially like their version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." This is because Beaker, the lab assistant who doesn't speak, but 'meeps' sings on one of the days. I laugh every time.
Andrew Peterson - Matthew Begats is one of the funniest Christmas songs and I'm still memorizing it. Andrew basically took the geneology of Jesus from the book of Matthew and turned it into a song. "Abraham had Isaac, Isaac he had Jacob, Jacob he had Judah and his kin." The best lines tell a little bit about the person in the lineage like "Amon who was a man who was father of a good boy named Josiah, who grandfathered Johoiachin who caused the Babylonian captivity because he was a liar." So clever.
I love Christmas. I love singing. I love that I get to play my favorite Christmas music in my classroom and it's ok. Think of all of the words that I play during my class that are ok because it's Christmas! Well, off to bed where I'm sure I'll dream of sugar plumbs or other delights.
Monday, December 8, 2008
My little flood or how two single girls embraced modern feminism
...by calling every boy they know to help them.
Once upon a time, I was walking in my dining room (ok, room is a bit of an exaggeration - dining area) and I noticed water on the floor. "Did you spill something?" I asked my roommate.
"I noticed some water on the floor earlier."
"Now there's a big puddle!" It actually filled four of our big tiles on the floor. So we covered the floor with towels and tried to find a leak - to no avail. I went to my new neighbor's house and knocked on the door. He asked who it was and I replied, "Your neighbor, Brenda," He opened the door and I explained that we had a flood. He showed me some water that had spilled in his place, but didn't know how it would lead to ours. Basically he was saying, "Not my problem, Chica." (only he was much nicer than that and probably wouldn't have called me Chica since he spoke Korean)
So I went home and Julie and I continued putting towels on the ground by a wall that contained no pipes. I went back over to Jimmy's house a couple days later and tried to explain again. "Maybe it's your refrigerator?" "No," he replied. I had no comeback so I went home.
"This is why we need husbands," Julie declared. No, I thought, we are modern women and we are intelligent women, we can handle this. So I did what every modern woman does: I called some men in my family and asked them to help. Cody and Paul came over (along with Cody's girlfriend, Buffy) and helped.
Cody cut holes in the wall looking for the source of the leak and after a long time, discovered that it was from Jimmy's new refrigerator. Paul and Cody walked over with me, standing like goons behind me, while I tried to explain once again. "No, it's not my leak," Jimmy replied and even though I now knew it was from his house (I saw the leak myself) I still felt like caving in. But Paul and Cody politely and clearly explained what was going on and only an hour later or so the whole thing was fixed. Fixed except for the holes in the wall that Cody will fix after the fans have finished blowing and drying the wet wood.
But sadly, that was not all. For the pipe still has a slight leak. It has been slowly dripping for weeks and filling the bowl that I put under the leak. I've been dumping the bowl every couple of days and putting it back, because that is easier to me than facing poor Jimmy again.
Well, today was my day to grow. I went, with Julie, over to Jimmy's house and told him that there was still a leak. He pulled away his fridge and checked, "You're right," he replied. HALLELUJAH! He said he would fix it. A few minutes later he came over to check and it seemed better. "I'm sorry, your brother said that it was all right so I thought it was all right." I could see the fear of my two goons in his eyes. "No problem, Jimmy. Thanks for fixing it. I'll let you know if it's still leaking." He sighed with relief and left.
So here is what I've learned from this life lesson: Neighbors are great and I love meeting them (ok, I knew this about myself already)
Cody and Paul are such handy brothers to have. They can fix anything and can be bold for me when I have failed.
My courage has limits, very easy to meet limits. And I am trying to stretch them by being more assertive, as long as my assertions don't make anyone unhappy.
Owning a home can be scary, especially when you're clueless about how to handle any problems.
I must always keep good friendships with handy people.
Once upon a time, I was walking in my dining room (ok, room is a bit of an exaggeration - dining area) and I noticed water on the floor. "Did you spill something?" I asked my roommate.
"I noticed some water on the floor earlier."
"Now there's a big puddle!" It actually filled four of our big tiles on the floor. So we covered the floor with towels and tried to find a leak - to no avail. I went to my new neighbor's house and knocked on the door. He asked who it was and I replied, "Your neighbor, Brenda," He opened the door and I explained that we had a flood. He showed me some water that had spilled in his place, but didn't know how it would lead to ours. Basically he was saying, "Not my problem, Chica." (only he was much nicer than that and probably wouldn't have called me Chica since he spoke Korean)
So I went home and Julie and I continued putting towels on the ground by a wall that contained no pipes. I went back over to Jimmy's house a couple days later and tried to explain again. "Maybe it's your refrigerator?" "No," he replied. I had no comeback so I went home.
"This is why we need husbands," Julie declared. No, I thought, we are modern women and we are intelligent women, we can handle this. So I did what every modern woman does: I called some men in my family and asked them to help. Cody and Paul came over (along with Cody's girlfriend, Buffy) and helped.
Cody cut holes in the wall looking for the source of the leak and after a long time, discovered that it was from Jimmy's new refrigerator. Paul and Cody walked over with me, standing like goons behind me, while I tried to explain once again. "No, it's not my leak," Jimmy replied and even though I now knew it was from his house (I saw the leak myself) I still felt like caving in. But Paul and Cody politely and clearly explained what was going on and only an hour later or so the whole thing was fixed. Fixed except for the holes in the wall that Cody will fix after the fans have finished blowing and drying the wet wood.
But sadly, that was not all. For the pipe still has a slight leak. It has been slowly dripping for weeks and filling the bowl that I put under the leak. I've been dumping the bowl every couple of days and putting it back, because that is easier to me than facing poor Jimmy again.
Well, today was my day to grow. I went, with Julie, over to Jimmy's house and told him that there was still a leak. He pulled away his fridge and checked, "You're right," he replied. HALLELUJAH! He said he would fix it. A few minutes later he came over to check and it seemed better. "I'm sorry, your brother said that it was all right so I thought it was all right." I could see the fear of my two goons in his eyes. "No problem, Jimmy. Thanks for fixing it. I'll let you know if it's still leaking." He sighed with relief and left.
So here is what I've learned from this life lesson: Neighbors are great and I love meeting them (ok, I knew this about myself already)
Cody and Paul are such handy brothers to have. They can fix anything and can be bold for me when I have failed.
My courage has limits, very easy to meet limits. And I am trying to stretch them by being more assertive, as long as my assertions don't make anyone unhappy.
Owning a home can be scary, especially when you're clueless about how to handle any problems.
I must always keep good friendships with handy people.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Mark Riddering
I don't want to say too much, but I do want to write something about this amazing man. Mark Riddering (the father of my cousin's wife, Sami) passed away on Thanksgiving. His funeral was yesterday and it was amazing.
There were a couple reasons why it was so amazing. First, Mark was one of the most remarkable men I've ever known and his funeral reflected his life so wonderfully. Mark was diagnosed with ALS 14 years ago (or so). This is a degenerative disease that is extremely debilitating and painful. Most people die within a few years of diagnosis, but Mark was different. He lived long enough to see his children grow up, get married, and have kids. All of this is amazing, but what made him truly awesome was his unwavering faith in God's sovereignty in all things. Mark lived with joy.
Every time I would come up to hang out with the Ridderings, I would love to talk to Mark. I am a natural encourager. I love to talk to people and make them feel better and happy. I am good at this, but Mark was the professional. Any conversation was easily and quickly turned into how you were doing and how your family was. Mark remembered details about my life and would constantly shift the conversations back to me. I would leave the conversation feeling strengthened, exhorted, and encouraged. I loved his smile and his joy that shone through everything.
The service was awesome because it reflected Marks unshakable faith in a God who is in control and who is loving. It also reminded me of the reality of heaven. That Mark is in the presence of Jesus right now. I think that I so easily forget that this life isn't the end, but it's just the beginning. Mark never forgot that.
I loved hearing his family speak about him. I loved how each member of the family let their own personalities shine through in what they said, but the same themes remained: Mark loved God, Mark loved his wife, and Mark loved his family.
His wife Sue spoke; this woman who so willingly gave of her constant time in being the main caretaker of her husband for years, 24 hours a day, with love and joy. Well, after she spoke, everyone stood up and applauded. We cheered for her service to her husband and her sacrifice that was so readily made, as if there were no question about what she needed to do. Sami so beautifully commented on this by saying that we live in a time where marriages break up because one person isn't happy anymore. Her parents instead showed what Christian marriage should be - sacrificial service to each other.
It was an amazing day and I am blessed even more by the Ridderings. I love them so much and my prayers go out to them that God will continue to remind them of the blessings they experienced with their father, that they will be able to rejoice in their father's present state, and that their grief will be comforted.
There were a couple reasons why it was so amazing. First, Mark was one of the most remarkable men I've ever known and his funeral reflected his life so wonderfully. Mark was diagnosed with ALS 14 years ago (or so). This is a degenerative disease that is extremely debilitating and painful. Most people die within a few years of diagnosis, but Mark was different. He lived long enough to see his children grow up, get married, and have kids. All of this is amazing, but what made him truly awesome was his unwavering faith in God's sovereignty in all things. Mark lived with joy.
Every time I would come up to hang out with the Ridderings, I would love to talk to Mark. I am a natural encourager. I love to talk to people and make them feel better and happy. I am good at this, but Mark was the professional. Any conversation was easily and quickly turned into how you were doing and how your family was. Mark remembered details about my life and would constantly shift the conversations back to me. I would leave the conversation feeling strengthened, exhorted, and encouraged. I loved his smile and his joy that shone through everything.
The service was awesome because it reflected Marks unshakable faith in a God who is in control and who is loving. It also reminded me of the reality of heaven. That Mark is in the presence of Jesus right now. I think that I so easily forget that this life isn't the end, but it's just the beginning. Mark never forgot that.
I loved hearing his family speak about him. I loved how each member of the family let their own personalities shine through in what they said, but the same themes remained: Mark loved God, Mark loved his wife, and Mark loved his family.
His wife Sue spoke; this woman who so willingly gave of her constant time in being the main caretaker of her husband for years, 24 hours a day, with love and joy. Well, after she spoke, everyone stood up and applauded. We cheered for her service to her husband and her sacrifice that was so readily made, as if there were no question about what she needed to do. Sami so beautifully commented on this by saying that we live in a time where marriages break up because one person isn't happy anymore. Her parents instead showed what Christian marriage should be - sacrificial service to each other.
It was an amazing day and I am blessed even more by the Ridderings. I love them so much and my prayers go out to them that God will continue to remind them of the blessings they experienced with their father, that they will be able to rejoice in their father's present state, and that their grief will be comforted.
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