Light Will Come.....

There were shepherds camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them.

Luke 2:9

Yesterday, we sat in the glorious twinkle of our beautiful tree. There were a few candles lit, the fire was also giving off a warm glow, but it was the beautiful twelve foot tree with its hundreds of twinkling lights that bathed the room in sparkling light. It was early so we had the lights down low to adjust to the new day. All of a sudden, there was a flicker, and the lights on the tree disappeared! Jim fiddled with the connections, we checked up into the tree to make sure everything was plugged in—they were. Yet the tree was still dark. 

After a few minutes of fussing in exasperation, Jim called the number for this guaranteed-to-stay-lit-tree. The tech determined we needed a new part. They promised to send us one in ten to twelve days. “What!” I fumed. “Christmas will be nearly over! We’re having company tomorrow night. This isn’t at all what I wanted!” After a few more moments of conversation with this crisp voice most likely in India where they don’t celebrate Christmas anyway, Jim convinced him to overnight our needed part. We shall see if it comes in time for our gathering. 

Still frustrated, I glanced over at the shelf where a small light was focused on the nativity set nearby. It seemed bright, even in the darkened room. And it reminded me how dark our world would be without the Savior of the world entering our space. Our beautiful tree is dark. And the world is dark. But there is hope, right around the corner. Born in a little town wa-a-a-y across the world, a Savior was born. It most likely was quite dim. Little did most people know, the Light of the World was in that space.  

We will have light again on our tree. We will either pack it back into its boxes and get another one from the store. Or we’ll wait for that part. Either way, we can glance at the little stable and see the intense light. And the promise of a Savior. 

God is So Faithful

Today is our second wedding anniversary. At our wedding service we sang as a congregation a hymn that has much meaning to both of us. I like this stanza:

Great is thy faithfulness! 

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed, thy hand hath provided;

Great is thy faithfulness! Lord unto me.

I thought it would be fun to chronicle this past year. It has been full of adventures of many kinds. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves:

We took our first cruise on our first wedding anniversary

Yes, a large cruise ship--we loved it.

Champagne breakfast on our deck in the Panama Canal

We were spoiled

After the elective surgery in January, Jim took extra good care of Shirley. In May, we went camping in our new RV and when I was stepping up into the RV, I tripped, fell, and shattered my ankle. It was very serious, but again, I had excellent care from Jim. He took those vows very seriously.

Shirley had elective surgeries

And some not planned...

But God was with me and healing began...

We traveled to Disneyland with the Sagert family--in a wheelchair.  Proudly watched Sarah Rudberg graduate with honors from Kings High School.

Went to Disneyland with the Sagert branch of the family.

Fabulous teaching on the cruise with Chuck Swindoll

That didn't stop us from taking a memorable Inspiration Cruise with Chuck Swindoll

Throughout this year, Shirley, with Jim's encouragement, completed her book.

We took the time to re-enact our first date two years later on September 4. 

Early October, we took a road trip and find we love driving the roads of our beautiful country. Here are some photos from that memorable trip.

We both enjoyed driving..

Eating in Kansas

Getting to know our youngest grandchildren in Iowa

Mount Rushmore

After driving more than five thousand miles, we flew to Paris, France with Joyce and Dick. We had a great time....

Gardens that inspired Monet in France

Yes, that's the Mona Lisa

Awe-inspiring Normandy Beach

And then.....we launched my book.

God has been good to us. Do you understand now why I think the lyrics to the hymn means so much to me? We are now celebrating our two years while we watch a  storm at the beach inside a cozy, warm house. 

All I have needed (and more) Thy hand hath provided. 

PS  My apologies the blog's graphics were not behaving today!

We're Still Celebrating

Twenty-seven months ago, I woke up with suppressed excitement. I wondered if the guy I’d been matched up with would call me and ask for a date. We communicated via email. I’d googled him, saw several photographs, read his family tree. Mostly what I liked about Jim were his expressions of love and commitment toward his grown children and grandchildren. I really liked reading about his relationship with God.  Although his profile didn’t say he was a widower, I believed he was by what he said. Now we needed to meet face to face. I’d been excited to meet someone I'd met on-line before, only to be flatly disappointed upon meeting them in the flesh. Yet, I’m an optimist and expected this guy might be someone I’d like—and maybe even love!

Later in the morning, I was in a meeting and couldn’t take a phone call. It was Jim, calling to see if we could meet for coffee later in the day. I listened to his voice. It was enthusiastic, though he sounded nervous and said he was. I liked his positiveness. I called back and we agreed to meet later in the day. At Starbucks in Portland, midpoint between my home in Vancouver, and his in the Portland area. 

Jim was everything I hoped he’d be—and more! We talked for hours in that noisy coffee shop. And Jim made arrangements to meet again in a few days. AND, he asked for the name of my book, Second Chances, At Life and Love, With Hope. He was the first and only guy who asked what the name of the book was. And right there, on his computer, he ordered it!

This is a reenactment of our first date, 24 months later

Things moved rather quickly after that. Jim got my book two days later, sat down, and didn’t get up from his chair until he read it cover to cover. I heard my cell phone chime at 8:30 that Saturday evening. It was Jim. “Shirley, I just finished your book. Wow! I wish I could come over and just give you a big hug.” He repeated himself several times, and finally, I said,

“You can come over if you want to make the drive.” 

“I really would like to,” he said. 

Things moved quickly after that. But I’m going to leave you waiting to see what happens next. It’s all in the book that is being launched tomorrow evening. 

www.shirleymozena.com

There's so much more to this story and more than that, my love story with my Savior, Jesus Christ. He's been in my life since I was a little girl and He has never failed to be near me. Sometimes it didn't feel like it. But He was there. When I joyously took my vows with my first husband, Bill--and through the forty years we were together--some good, some hard, some exciting, and at the end, no regrets. He was there when I fell in love and married Blair. He was with me when after only 17 months  Blair became very ill and died of a brain aneurysm. He was there when I was alone and my heart was broken. 

It was four years before God brought Jim and I together. We look at each other every day and thank God for the gift of our marriage. Magically, we've learned so many lessons from our previous marriages that our life together is nearly seamless and beautiful. We don't know the future, but we make every day a celebration. 

Today, we'll commemorate  the 27 months we've known each other. On Monday, we'll celebrate our second wedding anniversary. And in between, we'll thank God for the gift of each other. 

" ...Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Nehemiah 8:10b

We are celebrating. Daily. We know not the future, only God does. But we know the maker of the future and that is enough.

Enjoying Brooklyn, but mostly each other