Candid:

She is as Lovely as a Blooming Rose

lwingerd — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:09:05 +0000

She is as lovely as a blooming rose

And shines as bright as the morning sun

Her smile is beautiful to all who see

And her eyes sparkle like diamonds.

She is cherished by all she knows,

And her father is her God above.

She will not fall, e’en though all hell

Should endeavor to shake her love.

The trials come, and she is torn

Yet her love for God steady remains

The fight for joy is heartwrenching

Yet only joy will heal the pain.

But of course, she knows, her fight is fought

By God himself, who has ordained

The ending of this for her good.

By his might she is well sustained.

So lovely is her life of faith,

So humble, yet so glorious.

It shines above God’s brightest star,

And shall always be victorious.

What can I say to this lovely rose,

To comfort her as trials come?

Be steady and strong, and think not of

This earth, but of the Lord’s kingdom.

The winds of oppression shall not blow

Your lovely petals away, unless

The Lord decides that, for your good,

And His utmost glory, it is best.

Take comfort, trembling, shaking rose,

Comfort and peace are yours in Him.

Rest now, assured that he fights for you,

And the King of the universe will surely win.

(For Trish, and for all the women in my life who have gone and continue to go through trials. May you be strengthened in the Lord’s strength, and may you bloom as beautifully in his grace today as the day he created new life in you. I love you all.)

©Laura Wingerd 2011

A Sturdy Rocker

lwingerd — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:28:05 +0000

A sturdy rocker, back and forth, back and forth,

Baby giggles, tiny hands and feet, goofy faces.

Warm blankets, soft voices, gentle singing,

Frilly pants, big hair bows, little dresses.

Sandy feet, frumpled hair and clothes, silly smiles,

Big imaginings, small happenings, girly giggles,

Summer evening baths on the porch, and bubbles.

Big hearts, little hands, lives forming and shaping.

School days, lots of reading, mind is shaping,

Write a story, paint a picture, play outside,

Autumn leaves, crisp and crinkly,

Staring out the window, mind a thousand worlds away.

Huge changes, many miles, distant friendships

Letters, new friends, growing pains, first crush,

Playing until dark all summer long,

Ice cream cones, climbing trees, silly stories

Awkward stage, lots of confusion, funny hair

Boys are weird, but somehow nice, feeling alone

Mom explains, didn’t want to know, don’t dare tell,

Best friends’ secrets, try to fit in, lost in a sea of people.

Figure forms . . . when did that happen? Not quite sure

So self-conscious, piano practice late into the night

Begin to wonder what life’s about, begin to try

To take it by the horns and ask it . . .

First day of college, awkward meetings, professor greetings,

New friends, try to fit in, try to look just right,

Late nights, homework again and again, caffeine high,

Finals staring me in the face, trying for the best.

God’s gentle whispers, prayer and much confusion

Long walks and talks with my best of friends,

Quiet nudging towards something impossible

But who says impossible to God? Not me.

Realization that I like him, not sure how I got to there,

Awkward confession, joy and blessing,

A new and different stage, to be sure

The kind of friendship that’s intentional, you know.

Long talks, long letters, many prayerful nights,

First time I realize that I’m in love with him

Pent up feelings, raw emotions, blushes,

Feeling like it’s forever, and yet just a moment of time

Birthday wishes, surprises, and best of all

A glittering new ring full of promises

Our first kiss, absolute bliss, and the countdown begins

Four months, can I do it? You bet I can.

The beautiful day, bright and crisp

Autumn’s glory, red and orange,

Swirling leaves and winding side roads

Big red barn and hay bales

A white dress, long and flowing

A filmy vale graces my head and shoulders

Flower bouquets, and beautiful bridesmaids

The moment I’ve dreamt of my whole life

Music swirling, people smiling,

Best friend waiting at the end

Praising God, my heart is swelling,

Think it might burst from all this joy inside

Vows and rings and all those things

A kiss to seal what’s spoken

Man and wife, a whole new life,

I smile, the outworking of my joyous heart.

God made me how he did for you,

And made you just for me

And I wouldn’t change one single thing,

For all my life, to be your wife, is my greatest gift of all.

To Joshua

Love,

Laura Beth

I Got Married!!!! :)

lwingerd — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 03:05:31 +0000

Dear friends and readers (if there are any left),

It has been shamefully long since my last post, but I hope you all will excuse me as I had a good reason. . . I got married!

I hope to be posting more now, though. I’m on the couch a lot more lately as I found out for Christmas that I am going to have a baby in August! Been just a little sick, but supposedly that means the baby’s healthy, so, it’s a good thing they tell me. Could’ve fooled me.

Sophie Determines Musical Quality

lwingerd — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 21:22:18 +0000

So, our dog, Sophie, thinks she knows the difference between good music and bad music. It’s just too bad she doesn’t like my compositions. But then again, she doesn’t like Mozart, Bach, Beethoven or Shubert either. I guess I’m in good company.

Be Like Christ

lwingerd — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:07:02 +0000

In our young ladies’ Bible Study Wednesday nights we have been studying through the book of Philippians. One of the striking themes throughout the book has been Paul showing a picture of Christ and urging/commanding/exhorting the believers to imitate that.

So much easier said than done! I often say and think that I want to live like Christ, I want to be like Christ in everything I do. But, do I really? It’s a tough question to ask. I mean, do I really want to give up everything as he did, be humiliated in front of the world like he was, die like he did? While my first thought is to say yes, of course, my second is to shrink in fear of the discomfort, the disgust, the harsh reality of such a life. But such a life is what I have been called to be willing to live for his sake. Not that I’ll necessarily die for his name, but that I will at least die bearing his image to my utmost.

Laura (my friend of similar name), who’s also in the Bible Study, sent us all a link to a short video of a message by Francis Chan. It’s a good, clear little summary of what we are to think, and what most people (including me in several ways) tend to think. The verse referenced is in 1 John, but the theme is still applicable. Watch it, and I hope you’re encouraged as I was to continue striving to be more and more like Christ. And realize just what all that phrase really means.

A Taste of Summer

lwingerd — Tue, 17 May 2011 04:26:49 +0000

My brothers Daniel and Davy and I worked on fixing up the garden and the rest of the backyard today when I got home from work. It’s starting to look pretty good! Our favorite accent, though, is the fire ring. Building the addition on the back of our house forced us to cut down some trees, and thus we have tons of firewood, and tons of big logs for seating. We made a circle out of the logs, and put a fire ring in the middle. Looks like a regular campsite!

This evening we got the whole family (grandma and grandpa included) to join us around a toasty fire as we laughed and told stories. Gave me a taste for summer.

You know, that husky smoke smell, those faces dancing in the firelight, the laughter echoing out into the night, the frightened eyes in the circle as someone tells a scary story, and, of course, the S’mores!

Ooey, gooey, chocolatey, graham crackery goodness all in one little sandwich. Pretty much amazing! And there’s so many ways to make them! I like to assemble it all “cold” and then press it between two prongs and turn it over and over until it’s melted.

Emily likes to burn her marshmallows black and then assemble it. Davy, after wiping and blowing all the dirt off of each piece of his (as he somehow manages to drop all of it), meticulously toasts the marshmallows and then assembles the s’more carefully with very sticky fingers.

Daniel is too impatient, and eats all the pieces before they’re put together.

Mom likes the marshmallows just barely golden brown, and they have to be just right to be s’more worthy. And Sarah burns everything she puts over the fire, almost no exceptions. Grandma, Dad, and Grandpa all pretty much just toast the marshmallow and put the s’more together (kinda boring, I know). But, I suppose everyone is entitled to their own style of s’moremanship. And let it be said, it’s absolutely impossible to eat a s’more and keep your face and hands clean and “unsticky”. At least, in my family it is.

But yes, it was a good evening with my family. Only thing that could have made it better is if Josh had been there.

And I’m looking forward to summer! It’s just around the corner now!

Leaving a Legacy

lwingerd — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 06:26:10 +0000

In our young women’s Bible Study on Wednesday nights we have been studying the passages in the Bible that relate specifically to being a godly woman, wife, and mother. This evening we were finishing our discussion on Proverbs 31:10-31. The passage begins with “An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels” and it ends with “Give her the product of her hands and let her works praise her in the gates.” All through that passage we have learned just what it is that this excellent wife is, and it is a hard example to live up to in a lot of ways, but a very encouraging and inspirational one. The proverb ends with this woman’s legacy of hard work, great gain, and praise and respect.

Someone asked during the meeting for each of us to write out our own legacy. That is, if we were to die, at the end of our life, what would we wish to be remembered for? Someone suggested thinking of it as what we would want written on our tombstone perhaps. And so we all did, and it prompted an encouraging discussion about how to actually live the lives required of those legacies.

My legacy that I hope to leave is this:

She laughed often, loved deeply, and lived for the joy of others and for the Glory of her God and Savior.

I truly hope and pray that I will live up to those words. I know I won’t be perfect, but if I can be filled with joy overflowing, love others as Christ has so greatly loved me, and live my life in serving and glorifying my amazing God and wonderful Savior, how could I ask for a life more full than that?

So, my question for you, reader, is, what is your legacy? What will you leave behind at the end of your life? An empty life with no meaning or purpose, and nothing to encourage others? Or a life brim full of love, sacrifice, joy, and service?

One of my absolute favorite quotes that I have tried to live my life by is an, as far as I know, anonymous one.

Only one life, T’will soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Hold On

lwingerd — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 02:00:22 +0000

Hold on, little ray of light

The darkness won’t last forever

The morning shall dawn bright at last

So hold on, sweet light, hold on

Hold on, little ray of truth

The lies shall at last be revealed

And you will shine, bright and glorious,

So hold on, sweet truth, hold on

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life

He shines in heaven gloriously bright

And when time is full, in pow’r and might

He’ll come to make all things right,

So hold on, sweet you, hold on.

Hold on, little ray of love

Be all that you were called to be

Shine to the world your beauty

And hold on, sweet love, hold on

Hold on, little ray of life

Carry your cross, full of courage,

Knowing that this is just a moment,

So hold on, sweet life, hold on.

Ending: The Lord is our Judge, he will repay,

The Lord is our King, and he does reign

So when you can’t seem to find the way

Hold on to what you know is true

Hold on, hold on, little you

Snow Day . . . Twice! And Another Recipe . . .

lwingerd — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 01:33:15 +0000

So, I got two snow days in a row! Here are some of the things I found time to do . . .

Made some hot chocolate (see previous post)

Made a snow angel

Had a race with my sister barefooted in the snow (Not a smart idea, by the way. It’s very cold. And it really doesn’t make any sense. Just in case you were wondering.)

Got a lot of reading and studying for my trip done

Had a lot of music time!

And finally, made delicious Chai Tea Lattes! Here’s the recipe, just for kicks.

Once again, you need a trusty pot

About 2 cups of milk

1/4 cup honey, raw sugar, brown, or white sugar. Basically, something sweet.

About 3 Chai Tea bags

2 cups boiling water

Boil the water and steep the tea in it for about 5 minutes (depending on how strong you like it)

While your water is boiling and tea steeping, stir the sweetener into the milk and heat on the stove (in the trusty pot). Heat until very warm, but do not let it boil. Stir often so the milk won’t scald. It’s about as close to steaming the milk as I can get at home.

Once the milk mixture is hot, and the tea is steeped, remove the tea bags and pour both liquids into a teapot (or whatever is available). Makes about 4 cups (about 8 teacups). And as always, be sure to use a cool mug, or a nice tea cup.

All in all, snow days are a blast. Too bad I have to go back to work tomorrow . . .

Recipe for a Snowy Day

lwingerd — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:29:17 +0000

Just about one of my favorite things on a snowy day is to have something warm to drink, a good book, some knitting or crocheting, and a comfy nook to curl up in. I love tea, but sometimes I just want something sweet! And hot chocolate seems to be a wonderful way to get that warm sweet drink. This is the recipe from Hershey’s, but it’s so good, I thought I’d share it. Enjoy!

First step is of course, ingredients. You will need:

A trusty pot

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup Hershey’s Cocoa

Dash of Salt

1/3 cup hot water

4 cups milk

1 tsp vanilla

Mix sugar, cocoa, and salt with the water. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently.

Once it boils, add the milk and the vanilla. Stir until warm, but do not boil. While you’re waiting, have fun with your marshmallows . . .

Ahem. Anyway. Once it is heated, add marshmallows or whipped cream for decoration, taste, or whatever you like them for!

Oh, and be sure you use a really cool mug. Drinks just aren’t the same in a boring one.

Finally, sit back, relax, and enjoy your delicious hot chocolate!