Birthdays....Dates.....and Such

Birthdays are always special to me. Especially mine. As a child, Mom would make a special meal and for dessert, cake, of course! My grandpa and grandma would usually be there, journeying some eighty miles. I loved it when my birthday fell on a Sunday. No school with lots of attention at church.

My tenth birthday fell on a Sunday. A brilliant sun was out with deep blue skies. Most early May days were like that. After church on this day, we went to the zoo. I'm certain Mom and Dad gave me a gift. But the one I remember the most--and still possess--was a brand new zippered King James  Bible. It had both testaments in it and best of all, lots of pictures.  There was one of Adam and Eve being ushered out of the Garden of Eden. Noah and his ark. Daniel in the lion's den. David killing Goliath. The New Testament featured pictures of Jesus healing the sick. Teaching. Loving children. Dying on the cross. There was a picture of the empty tomb. Many times when my mind wandered at church, I looked at those scenes and never tired of seeing them. I used that Bible all through my childhood. There were notes from sermons I took in my childish scrawl. Growing older, they had a more rounded script, the i's dotted with circles. And though I don't use that Bible anymore, it's right there on the shelf.

Though my birthday is in the spring, many of my immediate family members celebrate their day in the fall. Special days in September are the 11th, 17th, 26th and 30th. October has quite a few, too. 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 9th. Today, September 26 is Bill Rudberg's birthday. Bill was my husband of forty years and the father of my children.

Do they celebrate birthdays in heaven? I'm not sure, but I'd like to think so. We're the same person there as we are here. This would be Bill's 9th celebration up there. 

Birthdays are important dates to remember. To honor the person we love and cherish. To show them how much they are loved. I think it's good to remember those who aren't here on earth anymore, too. So today, on September 26, I will remember Bill. Happy birthday, Bill! We remember you. Love you. Miss you. And we'll see you again someday. At the banquet table!

Yellowstone, Old Faithful, and First Dates

One week ago today, we were in Yellowstone National Park enjoying it with our daughter and family along with other students enrolled in a special outdoor school. Two teachers, who were experts in volcanoes and geology gave us many insights where we saw firsthand the many sights at the Park. It was a wonderful time as we enjoyed God's creation. Here are a few of the sights:

Bison, casually grazing right next to our car

Firehole Falls

Yellowstone Lake

Yellowstone Falls

Paint Pots

Thursday, September 4, was a  special day.  It was the first anniversary of our first date. While driving through the national park, we reminisced about the day. It was September 4, 2013, during a meeting that I saw my silenced cell phone brighten up with an incoming call. It had no personal identity, but I noticed it was a 503 area code--the Portland area. Could this be that guy from Corbett? The one whose voice I'd never heard. Whose face I'd only seen in a still photo? I quickly left the meeting to check my messages. Indeed, it was Jim! I called him back and we arranged to meet at a Portland coffee shop at 12:30 pm. I was a little late--it was 12:34--when I walked toward the shop. I scanned the people sitting outdoors and didn't see anyone who resembled Jim. I quickly made my way inside the crowded room to find this Corbett guy. There was a man halfway standing up, peering over the crowd across the room. It looked like it might be my date. I walked up to him and said, "Are you Jim?"

"I sure am!" He said. Quickly he flipped his laptop open, looked at a photo of me, nodded his head as if confirming  it was me displayed on the screen. He stood, offered his hand to shake mine and said. "You must be Shirley! What can I get for you?" We drank our coffee--mine was a cappuccino, he had a latte. We talked and talked and talked. The date lasted for more than two hours. Before we concluded our date, Jim asked for another--and that's part of the story. If you've been reading my blogs, you know that on December 7th, we were married.

Let's fast forward to this September 4, 2014, when we were at Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park. We pulled into the Visitor's Center and saw that in only 10 minutes, Old Faithful geyser would erupt. We quickly walked out to the site and waited with many other people in the clear sunny skies. Soon, it began smoking and sputtering and in no time, it was spewing hundreds of gallons of water up into the air. People around us were clapping and oohing and ahhing at the sight. Soon, it slowly came to a stop and it was done--for another ninety minutes. As we walked back toward the Visitor Center, Jim looked at his watch. Old Faithful erupted at exactly 1:34 pm, Mountain Time. That meant it was 12:34 pm Pacific Time. One year later, at the exact time of our first meeting Old Faithful erupted and helped us celebrate that wonderful meeting! Was it coincidence? Maybe. But maybe, just maybe, it was just another nod from God and His sense of perfect timing to remind us of His love for us and also remind us how much He loves us as individuals.

Old Faithful, beginning to erupt

Either way. I love the coincidence. Happy first anniversary of our first date, Jim! I'm so glad I said yes!

Celebrating our first at the Bear Pit at Yellowstone Inn

Sleep, blessed sleep

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD,

make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8

Sleep was never an issue for me until a few years ago. Never in my entire life until I was in my fifties, did I ever live alone. There was always someone dozing somewhere else in any place I lived. That is until my first husband, Bill, died. Then I was alone. I can remember pacing the hall and throughout the house unable to sleep. Not because of fear, but loneliness. Perhaps it was the total silence because there was only one human being--me--in my house. 

The moment I married for the second time, that allusive property--sleep--came back. I could sleep soundly all through the night! It was wonderful, that sleep. Then I was widowed again and had the same experience. I was alone. Again, I paced the house. This one had two floors so I could wander up or down, rather than across. 

Now, I am married again and that blessed sleep has come back to live with me--along with Jim. I am so thankful. "What about me?" You say. "I'm alone." 

I understand. Being alone is hard. That's why I'm including this verse that helped me. And might help you too. 

Here's my wish for you on the eve of the"last" of outdoor weekends. May God grant you peaceful sleep. And if you cannot sleep, may you sense His presence--for He's there!

My grandee Annabel at 18 months--she's now ten years old.

Ice Bucket Challenge and Why I Will Accept the Challenge But Donate to Option 360 Instead

Here's the ice bucket before water was added

The most frequent posts on Facebook lately, have been people accepting the "Ice Bucket ALS Challenge" and having someone dump a bucket of ice water over their heads. They donate $10.00 to the ALS Association and challenge three other people to do the same thing in 24 hours.

I recently read a blog, written by Nathanael King, where he said he could not do the challenge for reasons I very much agree with. He quoted from the ALS Association website the following:

Adult stem cell research is important and should be done alongside embryonic stem cell research as both will provide valuable insights. Only thorough exploration of all types of stem cell research will scientists find the most efficient and effective ways to treat diseases. 

According to Nathanael King, (www.nathanaelk.com), in one clinical trial, which was supported by the ALS Association with a $500,000 grant involved "stem cells...from the spinal cord of a single fetus electively aborted after eight weeks of gestation."

I was challenged by my dear granddaughter, Sarah, to do the ice bucket dump. Because I love her, I don't want to say no. Instead, I say "yes" to the dunking, but I will not donate to the ALS Association. Instead of sending $10.00 to the ALS Association, I will send to the Option 360 in Vancouver. They do not do research on ALS, but they save lives by giving support and free ultrasound to women in a crisis pregnancy. 

I am sure most of the people who are doing the challenge are pro life. Perhaps you still wish to donate. That's fine, but I cannot in good conscience, now that I know. 

Why am I so rigid about this? Because I care about human life. I cannot send money--even $10.00 in good conscience. I will support any organization that supports life--at the very beginning--conception--as well as the very end of life. End of story.

Here I go with the ice dump!

A True Romance--yes--Made In Heaven

     I just submitted a story to e-Harmony, the matching site where Jim and I met. I thought you readers might enjoy a closer look. Let me know what you think.

     After being widowed for two years,I joined e-Harmony. It was very strange to even be looking for a mate after being married for 40 years, but I also did not like being alone. I liked being married!  I joined eHarmony in 2008 but I did not find suitable matches. I let the subscription run out and joined another matching site. There, I successfully met the man of my dreams and we were married six months later. We had a wonderful marriage, but 17 months after we were married, my husband died suddenly of a brain aneurysm. I was devastated and it was after two years, I decided to “put myself out there” to meet someone again. I tried the same matching site (not eHarmony) and met and became engaged. That relationship did not last—he broke off the engagement and in hindsight, I know that was for the best—for we were not a good match. I dated quite a few different men and had a good time, but did not find the right match. There was always something not quite right. Finally, after nearly four years after Blair, my second husband, passed away, I decided to retry E-Harmony. For me, it was a last resort.

I filled out the questions and put my photos on and began the quest to find that perfect match. I was on e-Harmony about two weeks and was frustrated to see several of my unsuccessful dates were also on e-Harmony! There were a few new ones and I was “smiling” and sending questions to one gentleman who seemed a good match—but I thought he was a bit too old. Maybe he’s not too old. I thought. But, truly, he was! A five year difference in ages when you are 67, is a lot! And I was a young 67! I’m sure everyone says that, but that’s what people tell me. I was ready to give up and go ahead with “Mr 73” year old when Jim’s profile popped up in my matches.

Unlike many of the others, Jim’s profile looked perfect for me. His age was good—three years younger—he sounded like a widower—I was looking for that too. Most important, he sounded like he had a strong faith in the Jesus Christ of the Bible. I sent him a smile and he nearly immediately sent a set of questions to let me know his interest. I loved it that he responded so quickly. My frustration was that many took their time in responding to a “smile”. We passed back and forth questions and then he requested to email through e-Harmony. I accepted and he asked if I’d like to meet for some coffee to see “where God might lead”. 

I said, “Sure, let’s email and, yes, I’d love to meet you for coffee!” One day later, Jim called and we made arrangements for Wednesday, September 4, 2013. That coffee date turned into a two hour date. The high point for me of that date was how much he seemed to be that person who was on the web site. I had written a book and that was also in my profile. One of the first things he did after asking me about it was to order it on his computer during our date! No one else had done that. They’d asked about it but that was it. He obviously wanted to get to know me.

We emailed long emails after that for several days. Quite honestly, I googled Jim. It revealed he was who he said he was. The chemistry seemed to be there, too.

Jim received my book that Saturday after our coffee date. He says he read it from cover to cover without getting up. It’s only 190 pages, after all! I got a phone call around 8:00 pm on that Saturday (September 7). Jim said, “Shirley, I just finished your book! You are a wonderful woman. I’d just like to come and give you a hug!” I thanked him and he repeated his request. He really did want to give me a hug. 

I said, “I’m in my pajamas, but I can change clothes if you really want to come.”

“I do! I’ll be there as soon as I can!” Jim lived about 40 minutes away from me and soon, I saw his lights as he drove into my driveway. He did give me that hug—a good one. We talked for several more hours. 

Without going into the full details of our dates in the next few days, I will tell you that Jim asked me to marry him nine days after our first date. Without any hesitation at all, I said yes and I’ve not been sorry! We married December 7, 2013 and our marriage is like one made in heaven. Truly! 

I highly recommend e-Harmony. For those of you looking for a matching service, don’t use e-Harmony as a last resort. Try it first. I’m so glad both Jim and I made that choice.

     

     That's the story! Have a wonderful weekend! I will--with that match made in heaven!

An Eventful Life

"Shirley, you have an eventful life!" Jim said this morning as we clinked our coffee cups together. We raised those cups in acknowledgement of a special date in my life. On August 16, 2008, I was married to Blair Graybill and after 42 years of Rudberg, I became Graybill.

Blair and Shirley in Colorado

I treasure those 113 weeks that I knew Blair Graybill--and the 17 months of marriage. He was my hero and I called him my beloved Boaz. And now, it's time to enjoy the next phase--or event--in my life. Being married to Jim.

He is such a huge blessing to me. We love to talk and reminisce our past lives. And we look forward to the future with our new blended family, with new memories and dreams. I could have continued on with my life as a single woman, but I'm so glad I met Jim. We believe our meeting was all a part of God's plan for our lives. Just as my wedding with Blair six year ago, and before that, my 40 years of marriage with Bill.

Jim and Shirley Mozena

Yes, I've had an eventful life. And it isn't over either! Here we go. Final quarter coming right up!

Final Quarter

Jim and I talk about our "final quarter" of life--and that we need to make the most of it. We're newlyweds and enjoy being married so much, we celebrate weeks and months, not years.

My fiftieth high school class reunion was last weekend. After the big event, I couldn't sleep for I was on overload from meeting so many friends. I would look at a person, not know who they were, ask their name and soon, they would morph into view. I found it was their eyes that brought them into focus for me.

At the reunion, I was disappointed some of my closer friends did not attend. My best friend, Karen, was not there. She was the first death in our class at age eighteen from a tragic car accident. George, a promising young man from my church youth group wasn't there either.  He also died in a car accident--while on leave from his stint in Vietnam. Neither was Patty, a friend who had been a bridesmaid in my first wedding. She died of an accidental gunshot wound. There are rumors she was murdered, but we don't know for sure. Then there was Sharon. A cheerful woman who only two years ago, sent me a note encouraging me during the recent loss of my second husband. I didn't realize she was battling cancer at the time. She, too has entered eternity.

Death and life are very real events in our life and most of the time, we avoid talking about the shortness of life. I've said final goodbyes many times. Two husbands, a stillborn baby girl, parents, best friend, and yet, I am always surprised at someone's final passage into eternity.

Some of my classmates who were on the planning committee.

The apostle Peter reminds fellow Christians some final thoughts about our time on earth:

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

I Peter 4:8-11a

Sounds like good advice for someone in her last quarter.