I leaned over the brightly-lit glass casing at the jewelry counter to get a better look. The Pearl ring was so beautiful. It was shining under the light and I wanted one very much though I knew I couldn’t just buy one they were too expensive.
I leaned over the brightly-lit glass casing at the jewelry counter to get a better look. The Pearl ring was so beautiful. It was shining under the light and I wanted one very much though I knew I couldn’t just buy one they were too expensive.
The lady behind the counter asked if she could help me and I said “Oh, no I’m just looking, thanks”.
As I walked away I told Heidi that one-day I wanted to buy a beautiful Pearl ring.
Later on I wanted to learn a little more about these things that came from an Oyster.
I read this - Pearls come from an irritant that enters the shell of the Oyster like a grain of sand or bacteria of some kind as the Oyster tries to get rid of this irritant it produces, over a period of quite some time a beautiful pearl.
In my life I see how God seems to be leading me through things I don’t understand. Hard things I can’t deal with and things that I want to get rid of and move on with my life. My past had its hardships and as I look ahead I’m sure more hard times will come. Sometimes I turn a tear-streaked face toward heaven and ask Him why.
As I thought of this wonderful analogy of the pearl I realized God has an ultimate and really beautiful goal in mind for those who suffer hardships.
I see that every tear that streaks my face is another layer of the pearl He is forming in me.
God sends these hardships our way because He is making us into something beautiful, something costly, something others will look at in admiration and wonder someday, something that only comes through hardship and that’s the wonder and beauty of a - Pearl.
On Memorial Day all the R.C.I. Staff went to the park. We all played a little kick ball then I stopped and found a place I could sit in the sun. I laid down and just enjoyed having the sun on my face. I miss the sunshine when I don’t see it and when I can’t be out in it. But I was able to be in it all day and it was very nice.
All day the others played volleyball, kick-ball, soccer, ect. I was glad to get out and really be out getting some fresh air again. I enjoy God’s creation so much and believe you can learn about God just by enjoying what He has created for you.
After we were done playing and eating Dad sat down and told us a story as the sun was setting. A story of a man and his son and because of hurts, misunderstandings and expectations they were not close and did not love each other throughout there whole life.
I was glad I could not relate to that. Me and my Dad are so close and love each other very much. I just know it is not that way for many girls today. When I am older and someone asks me about my relationship with my Dad I will be one of the few that can honestly say my Dad loved me, spent time with me, talked things out with me, gave me Godly advice, listened to me talk, cried with me, laughed with me, let me know I was one of the most important things in life to him.
Dad talked about the importance of never letting anything come between you and your earthly father and never letting anything come between you and your heavenly Father.
I am so thankful that I can have that same relationship with my Father in heaven. I am so thankful that when I am straying He leads me back home like a good father should.
Saturday the R.C.I. staff girls went to Shipshawana, Indiana. We had a lot of fun. I love the Amish. Their simple life, love of family and their country homes.
We used to live very near the Amish country of Ohio. Holmes County. It was beautiful there. In the summer time we would make trips there often. I didn’t really fully realize then the beauty of all that I was in. We would often go to the little towns or villages there called Walnut Creek and Charm. The country-side with the farms near and far, rolling green hills, gardens that would take your breath away, always in the front of the house. It was something we as a family will always remember. I was taken back Saturday to the days when we all, as a family would, drive up into Holmes County, Ohio. I miss it.
Going to Shipashawana to visit was fun. I enjoyed so much these trips when I was young and found not much had changed over the last nine years. We went into this restaurant called “Wana Cup” It was cute. We walked in out of the cold and all eyes seemed to turn to us. There were many Amish men women and children there. We ordered our meal and went to find a place to sit down. We found a vacant spot and sat down thankful that we got it in time. Many more eager customers were coming in through the door. I sat down and looked around. To one corner there was a group of women in plain dresses pastel in color their stiff white bonnets in place.
One booth caught my eye. Four girls around 12-13 were sitting at a booth there Mom’s were sitting in the next booth over. They were talking away in Pennsylvania Dutch. I was curious to know the subject of their earnest and excited conversation. Bent over the table they were chattering as if they had learned some very exciting news, something was on their minds or they were just happy to be together having fellowship again. It was kinda’ cute.
Soon our food came as I was eating my chicken sandwich Heidi leaned over to me nudging me with her elbow she said “Holly, look” I looked to where she was nodding her head. I little Amish boy was in the booth next to Heidi sipping his coke through a straw. He was about 7-8 I would say. He was smiling at Heidi with the biggest smile I’d seen in a while, especially on a little guy of his age. I told Hiedi his Dad was probably wondering why his son was looking over his shoulder and smiling at some “strange English girls”. He got a talking to on the buggy ride home, I am sure J. To my right I noticed two couples. They were talking with each other.
I said to Heidi “Courting Couples”.
She whispered back “One is married”
I whispered “How do you know?”
“He’s growing a beard” was her answer.
I laughed as I noticed the little beard just starting to grow on his chin.
We walked into a grocery/fabrics & crafts store. I looked up and noticed I beautiful, hand-sewn Amish quilt hanging up on the wall. The stitches were so intricate I would not have believed it was hand sewn had it not been for the tag that read “Hand sewn by Esther”. Talent, hard work, time and as a result a wholesome beauty was displayed on the country blue quilt. It reminded me of the quilt I started that still needs a few stitches and a little more time to be completed, I want to finish it soon.
Later we girls found some neat hickory rockers lined up in a row outside the door of the store and sat down. I was ready for a little rest. Then I noticed that Heidi, Hannah, Mom and Frances were all laughing at me. I looked up wondering what was the problem. Then I realized that beside me was a sweet-looking older Amish man with a full white beard rocking beside me a big smile on his face. He was probably waiting for his wife to finish shopping. Mom was saying she wished she had her camera. She thought that it was rather amusing, I guess, Me and him rocking side-by-side.
We had a great day in the Amish Country of Indiana. As we drove out of town the sun came out from behind the clouds. We passed the simple homes that stood back from the road a ways, a one room school-house, a cute bed-n-breakfast, and bakeries.
We were happy girls bouncing down the country road for home. Just the simple things in life can make you happy. Simply visiting the Amish can be a reminder of the true joy in simple things like hand sewing a beautiful quilt, a meaningful chat with a friend, returning the smile of a cute little boy, or rocking in a hickory rocker…
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Books I would recommend to read on the Amish life though these are fiction they really made me see that contentment we need is really found in the simplicity of life.
-Mariam’s Journals
By Carrie Bender
-Dora’s Diaries
By Carrie Bender
-The Shunning
By Beverly Lewis
Friends,
I wanted to sit down here at my computer this afternoon and tell you what I have been doing. Today as I write I am listening to the “Anne of Green Gables” soundtrack. M\It is my very favorite movie. I want to watch it again. If I can find the time. Someday I would also really like to visit Prince Edward Island. That has always been my dream.
Anyway, last night it was blowing snow. This morning we awoke to snow everywhere. It is beautiful but I think I am ready for spring and summer now.
Today I have been helping my Dad. I work from my office which is right next to Dad’s and really enjoy writing, reading and also helping Dad with whatever jobs he wants to give me.
I have also been helping my Mom with “The Character Lunch” each morning starting at 10:00. Mom, Heidi and I will all go to the Kitchen to make the sandwitch of the day. We also always put a character definition in the boxes.
And then Mom will go out to the sky walk with either Heidi or Me and we help
This weekend is a big deal to us here at the Character Inn. The Family Enrichment Weekend is going to be going on and I get the wonderful opportunity to speak for the young ladies session. I am excited and yet have a sense of responsibility to really say something to these young ladies that will help them in their walk with the Lord. So I am praying God will give me His words to say.
I am really looking forword to this ministry to families. How they need to be encouraged so I pray everything goes well and God really does encourage them through this weekend.
Well I would like to close with this poem I was reading in the book called “Toward Jerusalem” by Amy Carmicheal, and one we would really like to apply this weekend to each of the families that come through the doors. Wheather it be a smile, encouraging word, helpng them with their bags, teaching the children in any way.
Love Through Me
Love through me, Love of God,
Make me like Thy clear air
Through which unhindered, colours pass
As though it were not there.
Powers of the Love of God,
Depths of the heart Devine,
O Love that faileth not, break forth,
And flood this world of Thine.
- Amy Carmicheal
Today I was reading in my little devotonal book called “You Are my Hinding Place” by Amy Carmicheal. The title was “Just His Touch…” I also had some thoughts on this wonderful subject in the Bible I have not thought of before.
Jesus was met by many sick people wherever He went. Mark 6:56. “And withersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of His garment and as many as touched Him were made whole.” (Also read Mathew 14:36)
We all have times when life is not happy, fun and the sun isn’t always shining in life. We are having a bad day. Times are hard. I have gone through hard times myself. Very hard times.I have cried many tears. Though the darkest days of my life are when the light of the Lord Jesus has never shone so brightly to me.
Maybe you face a really painfull decision, one you know you have to make. Maybe you are not in the happiest of sprirts. Maybe you are discouraged by the sin that keeps coming up in your daily life towords your family. Maybe you have experienced really hard times, like losing someone dear to you.
Jesus passes by for you today. I love that. He passes by today!! Just to think we get the chance to reach out and touch the hem of His garment.
I grieve to think of the many days in which He Himself has passed and I have let Him go, yet needing Him so much, thinking only of the things I am going through I let Him pass by without reaching up for His garment. He is right there. We get the life-changing chance each day to reach for His garment. Don’t let Him pass. We need Him. He will make us whole.
Mathew 9:20-22 “And behold a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind Him and touched the hem of His garment. For she said within herself, if I may touch His garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned Him about and when He saw her He said Daughter be of good comfort thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.”
On November 23rd I went back home to Fremont for the Santa parade. I was to sit on the big float with Santa, Mrs. Clause and first and second runner up. It was cold out but the air was full of festive excitement. Everyone seemed to be in the Christmas Spirit and bundled from head to toe wearing their Christmas colors of red or green.
As we all waited for the little parade to begin I went to greet a girl I saw was shivering in the cold. She was a girl scout with a little green sash proudly showing off the badges she had earned.
As we waited soon the parade began to move slowly down the street. First it was the high school band then the choir. Our float started and as the band played “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” we were also slowly moving down the street. I began to wave to everyone I could make eye contact with (I tried to wave to the little ones in the crowd). I had a warm feeling in my heart for this little town I had come to love and enjoy. It now seemed so small and homey, though it was no longer my home.
We passed by the library where dad had taken us many times. We had spent hours there reading good books by the fire.
Every shop had a special memory or some kind of significance in my life.
I saw our favorite stamp store. I remember mom taking me there many times. One time stands out to me- Mom was going to give me a party for my 13th birthday. So we went there to find the supplies to make my birthday party invitations. That was a fun time for me.
We passed by the Chamber Office. I had spent many hours there in volunteer work. And made many friends that were so kind to my family and me.
Slowly we went passed the pizza shop where the Queens Court and last years Queen ate dinner, just one hour before the crowning night. Of course I didn’t eat a thingJ I was so nervous.
“Paris Studio” came into view. A picture of the Queens Court smiling brightly hung in the window. It was there I had my Queen pictures taken. I wanted to capture the memories I would retell my grandchildren in the years to come.
As we approached the “Wyse Office Supply”store there Kyle and Chuck stood in front waving back to me. Kyle stood there with his old boss. He used to work there and had really enjoyed his job. I loved finding excuses to visit him during the day.
Shop owners stood in their windows not brave enough to face the cold wind that blew down the street. It was cute to see the faces peeking from the clearing they had made in the white, foggy windows. I made sure to smile and wave to them as well.
Then I looked up to see “The Koffee Kupe”. As I looked closer I saw that my two best friends were standing there in front of the cute, homey, little coffee shop. I waved to them. We had spent so many hours together there just talking about things that were going on in our lives. Me, Heidi, Hannah, Courtney & Mariah sitting together the same round table.We would order a nice coffee in the cold months, in the summer we would always go to the glassed freezer case and pick our favorite flavor of ice cream.
Many times we would leave that place not really knowing it but we had been streangthened in our walk. And I believe we all needed that. So many times we laughed till we cried. And recently we cried and hugged as we had to say goodbye.
We ended the parade at the park downtown were Santa’s little red and white house was set up. Santa was going to greet all the eager children there.
My eyes found the big band stand were on Friday night July 19th at 9:00 I was crowned National Baby Food Festival Queen 2002. That night will never fade from my memory.
Soon the parade was over that too only a memory now. Glancing back up the little street I had just come down I realized it was one I had walked many times before on tired, sore feet. I worked all day every day that week during the hot days of the festival. Though it was hard I made many friends and fun, happy memories I will always remember. I had many exciting times right on this small town street.
After the parade was over I met my two best friends at the “Koffee Kupe” just like old times. And again we encouraged each other in just simply being together. We believed in the very same things and we both knew it was God who had arranged our special friendship.You could call us “Kindred Spirits”.
I realize that memories really aren’t the places you visit or the things you like to do, it’s the special friends and family you share them with that really matter the most.
Passing by those shops was like going slowly over my memories again.
God really was so good to me here, I thought. He gave me such wonderful things that would turn into cherished memories. I know it is God who gave me these memories. I believe he wants me to enjoy these moments on earth. And now I see the common, everyday things I do today are the memories I’ll hold dear tomorrow.
“We have this moment to hold in our hands,
and to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand,
yesterdays gone and tomorrow may never come,
but we have this moment today”
You have this moment, to make a memory with someone you love
“–Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:9-10
- The Manger Scene
Once again it is come around to the “most wonderful time of the year”.
I love it. It sure did come upon me fast this year. Things have been changing in my life lately so quickly. I have really been enjoying my ‘new’ life, though I do miss my forever friends in Fremont.
Here in Flint is such an exciting place I feel so privileged to be a part of this awesome ministry so very much used in my parent’s life and as a result also used in mine. God has such mighty ways of using and preparing His children and guiding them.
Lately I have been in the “Christmas Spirit”. Last Monday on the 25th we started decorating the Inn for Christmas! It was so neat. We turned on the CD “Good Christian Men Rejoice” from the Alert Men and started putting up lots of pretty white lights. I was to start decorating a certain tree about 20ft.high. It was beautiful. We had to have guys help with the top of the tree stringing the lights. The girls did the lights on the bottom. Then we decorated it with poinsettia’s, red ribbons and pretty bulbs of gold, silver, red and mulberry. Finally, we placed a big red bow at the very top.
Some girls in the kitchen brought out some eggnog and cookies for a snack J We had lots of fun. You should see the lobby now. It looks beautiful. With all the lights and decorations.
Mom also decorated the gift shop and put up the front window display it looks so pretty. It is a nativity tea set. The teacups are wise men the cookie jar is the manger scene and the teapot is a shepherd.
I love the Manger Scene. To think of the wonderful thing that happened on that night. God was making a way, building the bridge over the gap that separated us from Himself. To think that He would care that much when He had no reason to is simply amazing to me. So in that beautiful manger bed that cows had just earlier eaten from was love, grace, forgiveness and hope for a whole world of dying people. That is what I call perfect love.
Last year I heard a song on the radio while I was driving. I think the song was called “One Tiny Baby”. The message was about sweet Baby Jesus and His precious little hands. Have you ever looked at the hands of a baby? How sweet they are. The finger nails so tiny. Imagine one day mean and hateful soldiers running nails through them. Imagine that sweet head of the Holy Baby Jesus. A baby’s head smells so sweet and innocent, it feels so soft. One day they would crush thorns on that head till blood ran down in His eyes. That infant face with small brown eyes- one day cruel men would spit on it in hateful disrespect.
When I heard that song, tears clouded my vision and I couldn’t see to drive.
If you hear that ‘One Tiny Baby’ song I hope you listen closely to the words.
When He came it wasn’t for Himself. He came to be the Sacrifice we all desperately needed. He came to be an example of how to live. He came, so He could die.
-Holly Allene Pierpont
I remember one Christmas when I was about 8 or 9 years old. Dad pastored a church. It was in the gentle country of Ohio. I was to sing for the Christmas program that year. We had luminaries lining the walk and snow was on the ground. It was our yearly candlelight service that night. That had come to mean so much to me. The wind was blowing and it was cold. Snow was falling outside. Everyone gathered in the warm little church and found a spot to sit down for the Christmas program that year. I remember getting up when it was my turn to sing and sung:
What can I give Him?
What can I give Him poor as I am
If I were a Shepherd I would give a lamb,
If I were a wise man I would do my part,
But what can I give Him, I’ll give Him my heart.
What I simple song. Yet what a beautiful meaning. I am now eighteen years old. And just the other day as I was looking in the mirror fixing my hair singing that song I had a sudden thought cross over my mind. “Have I given Him my heart?” I stopped singing the song looked back at my reflection and asked myself silently the question again.
Yes I gave Jesus my heart when I asked Him to save me from my sins. But have I given Him my whole heart? Ask yourself that question. Do you think of Him during the day? Do you delight in reading His word? Do you find joy when talking with Him? Do you make time in your busy schedule for Him? Are you willing to give up everything you have for Him? Think of the most valuable thing that you have in this world. If you did not have that would you still love Him with all your heart?
These questions I am asking myself continually because I know I need help in this area as well. I need to always be asking myself these important questions. Many times I get distracted- thoughts going off in other directions and not delighting in Him alone.
Maybe you could ask Him what He would like you to do today. Talk to a relative this Christmas about Jesus. Ask them if they know for sure, they will go to heaven when they die. Or maybe it’s something else–just let Him tell you. He will.
This Christmas I am going to get on my knees before Him and say “God here is my gift to you- my heart”. Who else could have your heart that is more worthy of it?
Make Him the most important thing in your life. What an awesome thing if young women all over the world this Christmas said those sweet words to the Lord. So if you’re looking for a gift this year, I believe that’s the gift He really longs for. Will you pray that prayer this Christmas? I will. Let’s pray that together.
That pretty, simple song, the song I was singing when I was just a small girl in that little church, one cold December evening, never rang so clear to me as it did this year.
“What can I give Him?
I’ll give Him my heart.”
