GIFTS

 

Rita Lorraine 

Christmas is a time of joy, goodwill, and the giving of gifts—gifts for which we use our God-given time and money. During this season, we decorate our homes with twinkling lights and Nativity scenes. We bake cookies and make candy, hang our stockings, and try to be good for goodness’ sake.

Yet beyond these familiar traditions, there are other gifts God has given—gifts not wrapped in paper or ribbon. One such example is Beethoven, who became world-famous because of his gifting and dedication. Some of his contemporaries claimed he was less precise as a performer, especially later in life. His worsening deafness likely affected ensemble playing and timing, and he was known to take expressive liberties in performance, which some listeners interpreted as poor rhythm. Nevertheless, he ultimately devoted himself to composing, and God gave him the gift to excel in that calling.

In much the same way, music has been a gift woven throughout my own family. Many musicians have gone before me and are coming behind me. My beloved Aunt Ruth and Uncle Jack sang for me when I was five years old. I had requested they sing, “I said my pajamas and put on my prayers.” My mom and my Aunt Evelyn would also play for us.

Grace and Evelyn

As the years went on, my sister and all three brothers took part in bands. Our daughter and son played in bands as well, and cousins were involved in the music scene. We were blessed by a granddaughter playing in several bands also. Among them all, however, it was my mother-in-law who rose to particular fame. Rita practiced eight hours a day as a child, and God gave her remarkable ability. She played for many years in Jim Baker’s dance band, on a radio show called Rita Lorraine and Her Magic Violin, and in the Spokane Symphony.

Ultimately, God gives good gifts to us because we are created in His image, and we bring glory to Him when we develop those gifts. Still, the greatest gift of all surpasses every talent and tradition: the gift of God coming down in human form—Jesus—Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

ENGLISH IDENTITY

 

Aunty and Beanie's houses photo by Chris

Aunty and Beanie, my great aunt and great uncle, were “English.” All their ancestors can be traced back to England, and in many ways they carried that heritage with them. When I think of them, their houses—pictured in the photo above—seem to capture the spirit of the Pilgrims who emigrated to America in 1620. The Pilgrims primarily built their homes using wood such as oak, pine, and walnut, following traditional English methods. Their earliest dwellings often had thatched roofs, although clapboards later replaced them for better fire safety.

In the same way their homes reflected tradition, Aunty and Beanie themselves lived out many English traits. For example, they were wonderful gardeners. Uncle Beanie tended a huge lilac bush beside his house, while Aunty grew vegetables and a lovely bush of wild roses. It always seemed to me that many English people are dedicated gardeners, and they certainly were.

Beyond their gardens, Uncle Beanie was a natural caregiver. So it usually fell to him to entertain the cousins when we were visiting Grandma and Grandpa on their 15-acre farm in Eastern Washington. Whether he was taking us on long walks or escorting us down the hill to the mailboxes to wait for the mail, he always made us feel cared for.

Aunty, on the other hand, seemed happiest with babies. I remember her rocking one or two little ones at a time. My brother Jay, the first grandchild, bonded with her deeply, and they always enjoyed one another’s company.

Because of distance, we never spent Thanksgiving with them while we were growing up; our visits were usually limited to the summer. However, that changed later. When three of us attended college nearby, we finally had the chance to spend Thanksgiving with them and with other relatives in town. One year my brother Jay wanted to enjoy every Thanksgiving invitation he received, so he managed to eat Thanksgiving dinner at the college, at our grandparents’ farmhouse, and at our aunt and uncle’s home in town.

Looking back, I’m thankful that our ancestors emigrated to America and that we have such a rich heritage.

Psalm 119:111 — “Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.”

IT'S VETERANS DAY

 

Our active duty veteran--  Josh

Today is a day to honor veterans. We have an active duty veteran in our family—Josh—married to our granddaughter Samantha. We are very proud of him and grateful for his service.

On Sunday, our church recognized veterans in a touching tribute, and now, throughout Spokane, various events are taking place to honor them once again. It’s wonderful to see our community come together in appreciation. If you’re local, check out this website for details. Even “Play It Again Sports” in the Spokane Valley, 15412 East Sprague Avenue, Suite 12, is hosting a special event today—what a great way to see different groups show support.

As I reflect on all this, I’m filled with gratitude. I deeply admire these brave men and women and am thankful we have a day set aside to honor them.

Thinking back, I’m reminded of my own small connection to military life. Many years ago, when I attended EWU, I was an ROTC Sponsor and even served as the honorary colonel, commander of the Sponsor Corps. Those were exciting days—marching in parades, attending “Rifle Meets,” and supporting the cadets at various events. We Sponsors were proud to play a part in encouraging these dedicated future officers.

Back then, before women could officially join as officers, one of the few ways we could be recognized was by running for Military Ball Queen. Below are photos of the queen candidates from 1966—a cherished memory and a reminder of how times have changed.

It truly was a fun and meaningful time to be part of the ROTC community. I'm thankful for it. 

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
— James 1:17

IT ISN'T SAD MOVIES THAT MAKE ME CRY-- IT'S NEW TECHNOLOGY

 

Mad scientist

My wonderful family wants me to have the best of everything. Unfortunately, that often involves change — and change is not my strong suit.

This weekend, for example, my beloved iPhone 6s was pried out of my hands (with my reluctant approval) and replaced with a shiny new 16e. I know, I know — progress is good. But as soon as I start getting comfortable with one gadget, another upgrade appears on the horizon.

As if that weren’t enough, our Select Comfort king bed also got an upgrade — adjustable mattresses this time. It’s not that I dislike these improvements; it’s just that my brain doesn’t adapt as quickly as the technology does.

Take my nighttime podcast routine. It used to be so simple: grab my wired earbuds, plug in, and listen. Now, it’s an entire production. I have to fish my fancy wireless earbuds out of their little case, twist them the right way, and somehow get them into my ears — all in the dark. Half the time, I’m not sure if they’re even on.

Then I remember — there’s always help nearby. When all else fails, I can just ask ChatGPT.

Because as Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us:

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

Maybe this is my season to learn — slowly, reluctantly, but with a little laughter along the way.

HAPPY REFORMATION DAY

Lutheran church Gothenburg, Sweden photo by Chris

Martin Luther (1483-1546) posted 95 theses, on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany on October 31, 1517.  Thus started the Protestant Reformation. 

What caused the ruckus was his reading of Romans.  Romans 1:17 states--  17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Romans 1:17 revealed to Luther that righteousness before God is a gift received through faith, not something earned through good deeds or church rituals.This insight led him to reject the idea that salvation could be influenced by indulgences—payments to the Catholic Church that were said to reduce punishment for sin. Luther’s famous 95 Theses were written largely in protest against the sale of indulgences. He argued that forgiveness and salvation are entirely God’s grace, not something that can be bought or earned.

 As the Bible was translated into many languages people were able to read the Bible for themselves.   

If you haven't already -- pick up a Bible and read it for yourself.  You will be glad you did.

Acts 17:11  Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

ABIDING

Me downtown Spokane about 1945

Spokane, WA was called the Inland Empire. Dad jokingly called it the “ingrown empire.” It was kind of a little big town — small enough that people knew each other, yet large enough to feel important. The city grew up around the Spokane River and became a center for lumber, agriculture, and banking.

Although my parents grew up in the area, our own family never lived there. Still, Spokane held a special place in our lives. We would visit grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins about once a year, and each trip carried its own memories and traditions.

One of the highlights of downtown Spokane was The Crescent Department Store. It was a favorite shopping destination for many. The store offered just about everything you could imagine—men’s, women’s, and children’s apparel; shoes; millinery (hats); furs; furniture; rugs; heating stoves and ranges; and all kinds of home goods, or “housewares,” as they were called then.

Among the many departments was the Record Department, where my mother-in-law, Rita, worked. She sold sound equipment and records to music lovers from all over. It wasn’t unusual for customers to hum a tune and ask her to find the record that matched. One day, however, a customer puzzled her by asking for a “monorail record.” Rita was baffled—until she realized the woman really wanted a monaural record!

Life at the Crescent was never dull. One particularly memorable day, a woman approached the record counter with a stack of albums and presented a Crescent Credit Card. Rita glanced at the name and froze—it read Isabel Stowell, my grandmother’s name. When Rita asked about it, the woman confidently claimed to be a granddaughter. Following the Crescent’s rule that “the customer is always right,” Rita completed the sale—but something didn’t sit right.

As soon as she could, Rita called me to ask if I had a cousin by that name. When I said “no,” she immediately alerted store security. They quickly caught the woman leaving the store with piles of merchandise from other departments. It turned out that while my grandmother was in the hospital, her credit card had been stolen.

Looking back, it’s clear that my grandmother had someone praying for her that day. God’s protection was woven through even that small drama at the department store.

John 15:7 — “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

MARRIAGE

 

August 7, 1965 Spokane, WA Evy, me, Chris, Janet, Davy or Wayne, Dianna

Finally, after 60 years of marriage, I have some marriage advice. Looking back, there are a few things I would do differently if I had the chance to start again.

To begin with, the very first thing I would do is make sure we both believed in Jesus as our Savior. That shared foundation in faith makes all the difference.

Next, I would go through a practical resource with my fiancé—Before You Say "I Do": A Marriage Guide for Couples by H. Norman Wright. Preparing together with a tool like this sets the stage for a stronger start.

The third thing I would do is make sure we both had jobs before we married. Chris and I made the mistake of not having employment in place, and that made our early years together more difficult than they needed to be.

In addition, I would recommend listening to Part One of Albert Mohler’s insightful podcast: His perspective sheds light on how cultural shifts have reshaped marriage today. Marriage Comes After Adult Milestones? It’s No Wonder We Face a Delay of Marriage Crisis

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So, after 60 years of marriage, here is my closing thought: marriage is a mystery and a miracle. It is not something we can do well on our own. The only way to do it right is with God’s help.

“This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.”
—Ephesians 5:32

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