Today...

It has been my privilege and joy to get to know a very special sister in Christ for the past several years. In February of 2006 I was reading a post at the Rebelution, and happened to randomly click on the name of someone who had commented. Her name was Anna Lofgren. When I found we had so many things in common I sent her an email, and before long we were emailing back and forth, and felt like we had known each other for years!

Not only is it amazing that we happened to find each other, but the similarities in our backgrounds and our present struggles and lessons we found to be a blessing as we shared thoughts in emails. Our parents were missionaries before we were born; hers to Africa and mine to Japan. We grew up living on an acreage with our 6 siblings; Anna with her 4 sisters and 2 brothers, and me with my 5 brothers and one sister. At the age of 11 we started taking ballet lessons, and at the age of 16 started teaching. We share almost identical likes and habits in clothing, music, literature, and more.

Anna and I met for the first time in December of 2006, and attended Ballet Magnificat's! Summer Intensive in Summer of 2007; celebrating our 17^th birthdays together (we were born just an hour apart in 1990). We both placed at the same level, and helped keep each other going when the days got long.

Though our dreams for our single years are identical now, a few years ago we had very different expectations for our futures. Anna wanted to stay home and continue furthering her talents to prepare for motherhood; I wanted nothing more than to join a small dance company in Kansas. We were so sure this was what we would do and couldn't imagine anything getting in the way of our dreams.

As of nearly a year ago, however, we both came to realize that God was leading us both in totally different directions than we had planned. Anna's family had a strong desire for her to attend college, and so she has chosen to honor her father's wishes and go. Dance was becoming more difficult for me, and my father disliked the idea of my leaving home, and so I came to the decision that I would not join a company but instead stay home and pursue many different talents and projects.

We graduated from High School in May. Anna celebrated at her home in Alabama, and I had my ceremony in Nebraska. Anna is preparing to leave for college at Belhaven in Mississippi, with a major in theater arts. I will be staying at home with my family campaigning for political candidates, teaching dance, and helping at home. It's been a long road for us as we both worked through struggles; learning to rely on God as He revealed His plan for our single lives. It truly has been a blessing to fellowship together; despite the physical distance we share a special and close tie through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Today we are 18. We really don't feel old enough, and in many ways don't feel ready for the next step we're about to take. But God has been faithful to bring us through the past few years; things we never thought would turn out right came together for good as we shared struggles and learned lessons. And so I know it will be in the next several years of our young adult life, as we lean on Him and grow together.

Happy Birthday, Anna!

Treasures by the cupful

One can find a lot of treasures at a garage sale. Just today I was hunting through dusty boxes and disorderly piles to find a shoe box in which were piled five saucers, four bowls, and four cups to an old, antique tea set. They were dirty, chipped, and covered in dust, set amongst old frames and worthless objects. I, being the good Scotch collector that I am, paid all of $2 for the set and went home to wash the dishes bordered with dainty flowers. A little soap and shining revealed an antique design, possibly as old as the 1920’s; a nostalgic antique.

Though I know not all Americans share my enthusiasm at adopting old, dusty, outdated objects, I’m still aghast at how so many people who inherit old and priceless treasures from ancestors can throw them in a dirty box and sell them for basically nothing without a thought. What are the memories and stories behind the tea set? What kind of lady served tea with it to her sophisticated neighbors? Doubtless there is a story behind the dainty antique, but how much more could be learned from the knowledge passed down and soaked in from the actual people who lived and breathed in a different time and culture?!

Our generation needs to be very careful in how we dismiss seemingly silly or outdated pieces of history from our parents, grandparents, or even our great grandparents. How much wisdom we can learn from those who have gone before us! I am convinced that the people who do not take care to learn from the lessons unveiled in history are doomed to repeat those hard lessons. May we this generation take care to always be on the lookout for priceless, hidden treasures, for once discovered and revealed we will not cease to give thanks for the blessings they bring that will never wear or fade.

Proverbs 31 Slideshow

Knights Of Our Day

Every young lady has dreamt at one time or another of her Knight in shining armor; of the chivalry lived out in medieval times. Today, often knights are pictured as handsome young men who spend their days riding from castle to castle and rescuing the fair ladies. Doubtless such acts are honorable and to be admired by all, but I think often the honor and character of knights has been rather lost on the outward images our culture does so well in glorifying.

G.A. Henty is an especial author in painting an accurate picture of the lives young men lived as Knights of the Cross. In his novel “A Knight of the White Cross” he brings out well the duty of his selfless young characters, who live for so much more than pale-faced maidens in distress (though he never fails to end with the rescue of a gracious, courageous, and worthy young lady). In the beginning, young knight-to-be Gervaise is urged by his father to live for Christ;

“I trust that for some year after you attain manhood, you will expend your whole strength and powers in the defence of Christianity, and as a worthy knight of the Order of St. John.”

And before being knighted, Gervaise is counseled by a knight;

“Ever bear in mind that you are a soldier of the Cross. Avoid luxury, live simply and modestly; be not led away by others, upon whom their vows may sit but lightly; keep ever in your mind that you have joined the Order neither to gain fame nor personal advantage, but simply that you may devote the strength and the intelligence that God has given you to protect Christendom from the advance of the infidel.” (emphasis mine.)

That picture stuck in our heads of handsome and wealthy knights is not so accurate after all, in light of the simple and selfless lifestyles lived out by men 600 years ago. Knighthood can easily be compared to the simple, selfless, and pure lives lived by monks in their time. The images, stories and ideas we have in our day about rich and handsome knights is not so entirely accurate as their giving and chivalrous attitudes that are not stressed enough. Spending the majority of their lives living in humble service to their countries- battling Muslims and fighting off neighboring clans- they were not allowed to marry while in active service to the Cross. And yet their attitudes towards women were such as any lady, single or not, should admire and encourage. As a young Knight friend of Gervaise put it;

“… it is part of the education of a true knight to be courteous to women. It is one of the great duties of chivalry.”

Though we long to and take delight in sugar coating the tales of heroism of yesterday, the truth to be revealed is; what made the Knights such a legend of goodness and success was the hardships, struggles, and everyday duty that we find in our own lives, though doubtless living situations were rougher than today’s.

Such wonderful stories told of innocent, fair ladies and noble protective Knights! How we often long to be carried back to the day when we could roam the green hills and walk the castle corridors in the company of a people and culture so far from our own. And yet, Knights and Ladies are not so yesterday as often thought. If we will only draw from the courageous men and women of our history the lessons learned and virtues upheld, and rely upon the renewal and strength of a gracious King, we may transform our everyday life in a modern culture into another legend of chivalry and beauty.

May we, the teens of today, aspire to live as purely and honorably as those who are called to defend the honor or family, friends, and most importantly the Cross.

Where is a knight when you need him?

I yawned as I walked up the stairs and through the hall, towards the bathroom as I reached in to flick on the light. What I saw as I was stepping through the door shot up my heart rate to an alarming speed. A large, spotted, brown spider sat right inside the doorway; it’s large leg span and hideous colors making me shudder. Normally, I can handle spiders; provided I have a fly swatter with a very long handle within reach. But this was just too much. I could visualize perfectly how it would crunch as I hit it, and then leave a disgusting mess on the floor. Eewww! There was no way I was going to kill that spider. Quick! Go get a boy.

Too late. All four of my younger brothers were already in bed (angels that they are), and Mom and Emily flatly refused to either support or aide me in the battle. I was left alone, watching this unmoving spider, with a fly swatter in my hand and a growing sick feeling in my stomach. Oh, where is a knight when you need him? I was faced by my ultimate fear, thrown into a frightening circumstance, and there was no hero wielding a sword in sight.

I am not a feminist. I’m exactly the opposite; I LIKE to have men protect me, defend me… do all the disgusting work for me! But a common misconception about conservative, anti-feminist ladies is that we’re weaklings who rely totally and completely upon men for our every need. But for those of us who aspire to live as a Proverbs 31 woman, this is not so. Life as a Christian lady means struggling against temptation, fighting against lies and slander, fiercely protecting God’s truth, and the honor of our family. Christian women lead a battle of our own as we face struggles and obstacles; both in a spiritual and physical sense.

We cannot rely upon men for everything (though they are a tremendous help in many circumstances!), for we were not made to rely completely on anyone except God. He alone gives us the ability to do things that reflect a strength and resolution that should not be so uncommon to the character of women. Whether it be in working in relationships, taking a stand in our community, facing financial challenges, finding a good job, accomplishing things in the home, or killing that spider in the bathroom. We have a Strength far greater than our own; far greater than the human strength of men, but we have a God who promises we will not be challenged beyond what we are able. This truth goes so much farther and proves a will so much stronger than what feminists promote; a shallow belief in ourselves.

As I stood outside the bathroom door, I was totally grossed out at the sight of this spider, so afraid that it would run straight for me should I make a move. Everything in me said NO to killing that spider. But I knew it wouldn’t have solved my problem to run away and leave it to make itself at home. Looking around one last time for a hero in armor, I faced again my foe, lifted the swatter, and…. WHACK! SPLAT!*squeal!* *groan.* I faced my fear, took action against my will, and thanked God for vacuum cleaners.

May we all find the Strength “within ourselves” and not be afraid to step out in faith, as face the obstacles in our lives.