Zach's Day

Zachery Shawn Vinson
March 7, 1986

Today we celebrate the birthday of Zach, our 2nd born.
As I looked through the many pictures I was reminded again of what a precious son he was and still is. He had more facial expressions than anyone that I know. And his face readily showed what he was feeling. We never knew quite what to expect on his face for photos. That still holds true to this day.

From the time he started reading in 1st grade, I don’t believe that he has ever been without a book close at hand.
He was a goal setter and didn’t let anything deter him from accomplishing those goals. When he was about 9 or 10 he set out to read through the Bible. He did get rather slowed down going through some of the Old Testament but he diligently continued on until he finished over 1 year later.
He received the top awards for AWANA – the children's church program that required much scripture memorization.
After hearing how much it cost his brother for college he set out to get top scholarships so that he wouldn’t have to pay as much for schooling.

He learned the difference between excellence and perfection which is difficult for a child who is bent on perfection.
Even as a young boy, he was sensitive to God’s working in his life. He has a very loving, gentle spirit and is quick to express appreciation to those in his life.
There were times when it was difficult for me to understand what was going on in his amazing brain. He thinks at a much deeper level than I do and I remember feeling so inadequate as I tried to answer some of his questions.

He has a wonderful sense of humor which can catch people off guard until people get to know him.
And you should hear him play the piano! Wow, what a gift! I love it when his hands are flying over the keys. I had a friend ask once how he hits the right notes when his hands are a foot above the keyboard. I just don’t know.

He will be home much later tonight for what will probably be the last time in a while that he will be home for his birthday. He's coming from Chicago where he is giving a concert.
Zach is able to do a lot of things in amazing ways but that's not why we love him. He is a gift from God - someone who has been given the gift of music and seeks to honor God in what he plays and the songs he writes. He loves being home and I love having him here. A lot of things will be happening in his life in the next few months. In May he will graduate with honors and in July he will be getting married to Christina. God has gifted him in many ways and I’m excited to see where He leads.

But for now.... I can't wait to hear the garage door open up and know that once again he's home.

AMALGAM is the band that Zach was in for over 5 years. They spent a year living in Boston playing at many different locations.

Christina and Zach

www.myspace.com/zachvinson

Pier 19 Luau

Every February for over the past 8 years, I am busy helping put together the Sweetheart Banquet at our church. It is a fund raising event focused on encouraging married couples. It is put on by some of the youth of our church. But, over the years it has gotten to be so much more than that. Its' main focus has changed to be an outreach opportunity to invite neighbors, friends, and co-workers to who don’t attend a church, and more importantly, who don’t have a relationship with the God who loves them.

While last year’s banquet was quite formal with the theme “Unforgettable” done in black & white, this year’s banquet was very casual. It was “Pier 19” – a luau theme and thus very laid back. People were encouraged to dress as they would to a luau.

After many months of our planning, directing the teens practicing the songs & skits, searching for ideas for decorating and food, the weekend finally arrived.
Everyone enjoyed pulled pork, twice baked sweet potatoes and a rice dish. The dessert was a frozen coconut cheesecake.

We had 20 teens in the program singing and dancing to “Surfin’ USA”, “I’m Gonna Walk 500 Miles”, “Chapel of Love” and “The World”. The fun that the teens had on stage through songs and skits made for an evening filled with laughter. This year we also did a skit that required audience participation, which was a great hit. We had many other teens help with decorating for the event and serving of the food.

Our Youth Pastor then gives a short word of encouragement for our marriages and God’s desire for them.
Here are a few of the pictures from the “Pier 19 Luau”.

The funds raised from the evenings will go to help students with expenses like our summer missions trip. This summer our group will be serving for a week in a neighborhood in Chicago.

Christmas Memories 2008

Christmas 2008 is now just wonderful memories. I smiled as I looked at these pictures again and was reminded of the times that we had together.

There was the engagement of Zach to Christina Prince of Holland, MI a few weeks before Christmas. We are so excited for them. She is perfect for him.

There was the hunt for the tree and the decorating of it. We'll need to get used to doing that with just the two of us now.

There was the bad weather that Josh, Lauren & baby Ruth and Christina had to drive in to get to our house on the 23rd. We were so thankful as each of them drove up the driveway. My extended family Christmas that is usually held that night was canceled because of the weather. So there was no throwing of the wrapping paper this year.

There was the joy of having a baby in the house. Ruth is such a precious baby. She was just starting to smile and interact with us. Several early mornings we enjoyed time with her and let Josh and Lauren sleep in. We all enjoyed that time.

There was the hunt for the pickle ornament which Zach won - again.

Having a baby in the house at Christmas seemed to naturally draw my thoughts to the infant Jesus. How could God the Father send his son, God also, into this world knowing what was to come?
My human mind can not comprehend the heartache of God. What was heaven like during those 33 years?
As the angels rejoiced over the shepherd's fields, did they already know what lay ahead? Did they know the battle that was to be waged because of the Father's great love for us? Did they know of Calvary?

I am in awe of the depth of His love. At times I think that I am starting to understand it. But, then when I take time to really consider all that He has done, I realize that I have yet to begin to understand His "unfailing love".

So, as you also consider the tremendous love of God, I share our Christmas with you.

I Just Had to Smile

This morning was a bitterly cold morning. When I headed to work at 7:15 it was below zero. I had only gone about two miles when while crossing a bridge the tire seemed to make a little more noise than usual. It wasn't long and I could feel that something was wrong with the tire. I pulled onto the shoulder to find.... you guessed it - a flat tire. I hurried back into the warm car to look for my AAA card, but couldn't find it. So I called Dale to get the number from him. He said that he would call them for me. He then let me know that someone would be there within 45 minutes.

On my blog entry from just a few days ago I mentioned about being stressed out some with all I was trying to do. So, before I left work I was going through some e-mails to find a devotional that gets sent to me each day and guess what it was about. Yup, stress. Well, maybe I should say it was stressing making time for Christ in this busy season. I did have my time with God before I left the house but it was hurried. The devotional suggested setting aside 30 minutes this week to spend with Him.

I just had to smile as I remembered this while waiting for the tow truck to arrive. It was a wonderful 30 minutes. I was blessed by that time. When the man was done with changing my tire, I told him that God had given me this time to concentrate on the true meaning of Christmas. I wished him a Merry Christmas and headed to the auto service we use so I could bring in my tire. I would pick it up after work.

I returned later in the day after doing some quick shopping. As I went to pay, he said that he didn't want to do a credit card charge for something that was less than $20. I told him that after shopping I didn't have enough to pay him.

I had to smile when he said, "You can come in anytime and pay it. That's fine."
I didn't know that there were places like that anymore.

I quickly ran to the grocery store for milk.
I just had to smile as I overheard 2 sisters. Maybe 8 and 5 years old.
"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious", said the older girl.
"super", said the older girl
"super", said the younger
"cali"
"cali"
"fragil"
"fragil"
"listic"
"lipstick"

I just had to smile...
I hope that you had a day filled with things that made YOU smile!

Betrothed

Last week our son, Zach, asked Christina Prince of Holland, MI if she would marry him. We are pleased to announce that she said, “Yes.” They have been dating for over 2 years, with some of that time being spent many miles apart. From their first date in October 2006 to now, it has been fun to watch and hear of their growing relationship. They were both students at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, MI when they met. She has been here to visit several times and we have enjoyed getting to know her better.

Now begins the work of trying to make it all come together. I know that it can be a rather stressful time – location, dates, photographer, flowers, invitations, etc…
My advice to Zach is to be praying and asking God to help it fall into place. Don’t allow the stress of planning your special day effect your relationship with the one you love.


Many years ago there was another man “pledged to be married”. Joseph, “a righteous man”, finds himself in a difficult situation when he finds out that Mary is pregnant. What should he do? How did this happen? How does he still protect Mary? The laws at that time could call for her stoning. Now that’s stress!
Then God breaks through in a dream and an angel tells Joseph just what he should to.

What an example of faith both Joseph and Mary are to us. It is hard to even imagine what feelings they experienced through all of this.
Fear Excitement Praise

Joseph “did what the Lord had commanded him.”
Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”


The last two weeks has been so busy for me. I am, to be honest, struggling at times as I feel the stress creep into my life. Our tree stands in our living room carrying only some of it’s lights. Our entry has boxes of ornaments and lights waiting their final placement. There are those special gifts yet to be found and the cookies that are still in their most early stages – like in the bags of flour and sugar!
Maybe it’s because Thanksgiving was so late. Maybe it’s because we haven’t done anything for Advent here at home this year to remind me daily of the most precious birth ever.
I don’t know. But, what I do know is that I want the rest of this Advent time to be different for me. I don’t want to be stressing on things that really aren’t all that important. What gets done, gets done. What doesn’t, doesn’t.

This is what REALLY matters.

“Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you, He is Christ the Lord” Luke 2:11

Father, help me keep my eyes on you. Always and forever!

Welcome to December!

I love a good snowstorm!
We've had about six inches so far. I was so glad to hear on the radio that our school district had a two hour delay because of the snow. This is the view from my front yard this morning. It's still snowing and rather windy. When I turned back to look at my house getting ready to take the picture, the wind was blowing into my face. It's the kind of wind that on a day like today makes you catch your breath. I wish that I had more time to really bundle up for a walk and head down to the river which is behind those trees. Maybe tonight Dale and I will break out the snowshoes and do just that. I love going out in the evening with our way being lit just from the snow.
But, for right now, there are things that I need to do. I'm thankful for the extra two hours to put away my Fall things, now that Thanksgiving is over, and start getting out my Christmas decorations.
Woohoo!!
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is Good. His love endures forever. Ps. 118:1

I have been blessed in so many ways. I could change the famous quote of Elizabeth Barrett Browning to “How am I blessed? Let me count the ways.”

I would start with the blessings of God Himself and the salvation that is found in Christ alone.
“Praise, (bless) the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me,
Praise His Holy name,
Praise the Lord, o my soul,
And forget not one of His benefits.” Ps 103:1-2

From there would come the blessings of family: parents, brothers, sisters, children, daughter-in-law, grandchild :) aunts & uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews….etc.
Always and forever…family.

There’s my church or spiritual family which consists of many wonderful people whom I love dearly and whom I love serving our Lord with. They are people who hold me up to our God in prayer and who count on me to do the same for them. There are the teens that I love working with, who help keep me young and excited about what God can do in a life.

There’s our friends, our health, our jobs, our home...

Our Thanksgiving plates were full and soon so were our stomachs. We had an abundance at my parent's house and they were glad to be able to share it with others. Then we also went to Mom & Dad Vinson’s for a later dessert.









“Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him all creatures here below.
Praise Him above all heavenly hosts,
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.”
by Thomas Ken

I am blessed!

From Generation to Generation

“We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power and the wonders He has done.” Ps. 78:4

These hands are mine. One with my Grandma Grace and one with my grandbaby Ruth Elizabeth. They are a picture of this verse from Psalms. A picture of one generation having an impact on the next for the glory of God.

We recently got to meet our granddaughter Ruth, who was born October 19th. What a joy to see our first grandchild. Those of you who are already grandparents, know what I mean. It is an emotion that is difficult to adequately put into words. When Josh first handed her to me I felt waves of emotion – thankfulness, joy, & praise to the giver of life.
It was so much fun to watch Lauren and Josh with Ruth - the seeming ease at which they have settled into the roll of “mom & dad”. To see them snuggling, talking and playing with her is heartwarming.
So, I’d like to introduce you to Ruth Elizabeth Vinson, my granddaughter.










The last morning we were together, I had time alone with Ruth Elizabeth. As I held her out before me in my arms, I prayed for her. I asked God’s blessing on her life and wisdom for Lauren and Josh as her Mom & Dad. I asked that God would use her to impact others for His kingdom. As I prayed quietly aloud, she stopped any moving around or fussing and just stared at me as though she were listening. It was a precious time.

Saying “good-bye” was never more difficult. We knew that it was time to go and I couldn’t keep the tears from coming.

Life is precious.

Family is a gift.




I wonder, will I have a granddaughter that will sit with me and hold my hand when I’m 90 years old? Who will smile if I forget her name?
Will I have made an impact on other’s lives like my grandmother did on mine?

I pray that this will be able to be said of Ruth –

“I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother, Lois and in your mother, Eunice and I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” 2 Timothy 1:5


To read more about my grandmother see blog entry - June 22, 2006