Just Laurel

Birds of a Feather

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(The following blog was written as a devotional that was read before choir practice at St. Paul Lutheran Church on Thursday, September 20, 2012.)

I am always looking at nature:  leaves, trees, clouds, flowers, and animals.  And so many times, I find an inspirational story emerge from what I see.  I particularly notice birds when they congregate on overhead wires.  Do you think they have a favorite spot to congregate?  Is there a pecking order of who gets to perch by whom?  And why do a few birds sit a little off to the side?  Are they sick?  Or maybe antisocial?

My son-in-law Andy is an expert in wildlife science.  He is one of those guys that can tell a bird from the sound it makes.  It amazes me that from the various chirps, tweets, trills, and whistles he hears that he can name that bird!

Did you know that in the (NIV) bible, birds are mentioned in over 125 verses? 

Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Of course people are more valuable to God!  But I think we’re a lot like those birds!  Like the flocks that congregate on the wires, well, here before me sits a congregation of choir members.  And some of you sit in a favorite spot, picking who you like to “perch” next to.  Sometimes, like the bird off to the side, I see some of you sitting a little back from the rest.

And like those birds, we all have our own voice with our own song.

Did you know that in the (NIV) bible the word ‘sing’ is mentioned 158 times?  And almost 70 of those instances are in the Psalms:

I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever, Come let us sing for joy to the Lord,  sing to the Lord a new song,  how good it is to sing praises to our God, sing to Him a song of praise.

I know we all have different songs – some of us warble, some trill, some sing high, and some sing low.  But God’s word tells us to sing – and how great it is that we can “flock” together on Thursday nights to bring our voices together to make beautiful music for His glory!  And (I just had to say this!) thinking of us all being birds of a feather here, together, I can also look out at everyone and say “these are my peeps!”

How wonderful it is for each one of you to be here sharing your time and your voice to be part of this choir!

Dear God,  Thank you for making us all part of one flock, the choir, but giving us different voices to harmonize in song.  May we use our voices as the Psalmist instructs and sing joyfully to the Lord.  Bless our time together and as we ‘fly away’ home, keep us safe and forever walking in your way, Amen.

just Laurel

Too Good To Be True!

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I don’t have very good eyesight.  If I have to read a recipe, a magazine, the mail, or even my phone, I need my reading glasses.  Ok – I need my reading glasses for just about everything.  My distance vision isn’t exactly 20/20 either.

Quick history – I was born with a left crossed-eye.  Just my left eye.  As a child I paid countless visits to the eye doctor.  Not my favorite appointment – even if it meant missing school, I didn’t like it.  All those times in the big chair being asked, “Better one?  Better two?  One? Two?”  Argh.

A few years back after going through a visit with an optometrist (Better one?  Better two?) I was the proud owner of progressive lens bifocals.  Yuck.  I tried wearing them but they were uncomfortable and I could never teach my eyes to find that reading part of the lenses.

I went to the eye doctor today.  After going through the exam, (Better one?  Better two?) I asked if I was a candidate for contact lenses.  The answer was ‘yes!’  I never thought I could wear contacts!

I left the eye doctor office wearing my first, ever, pair of contact lenses.  Wow!  I could see leaves and read road signs!  I could read my phone texts with a glasses-free face!  It was truly too good to be true.

When I got home, I sat in front of my computer screen and brought up my email to read.  I took a look …. and …. it was all blurry!  Ohhhhh…. When I sat down I, out of habit, swooped up my reading glasses and put them on my face.  Of course it was blurry!  I tossed those babies back down on the table.  This was truly too good to be true!

My afternoon quickly switched into high gear with countless emails and phone calls that all had to do with staffing for Amanda.  I don’t want to bore you with the details, but it looks like we may have come to a favorable solution.  But my mind is like, don’t count the chickens before they hatch, and I want to be sure it all works out for sure before I do the happy dance.  It just seems (you guessed it) too good to be true.

I looked up “too good to be true” in the online Free Dictionary and it said it meant:  almost unbelievable; so good as to be unbelievable.  (Oh my – do you think Ted wrote that?  Unbelievable!)

Did you know that after Jesus fed the 5,000 with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish (too good to be true!) and then walked on water (Unbelievable!) his disciples still had the nerve to ask “What sign will you give for us to see so that we may believe you?” (John 6)   Ted and I have been praying for a solution for so long for Amanda – and now that it looks like things are coming together all at the right time – am I actually doubting it still?

Mark 9:24  I do believe!  Help me overcome my unbelief.

I can’t wait to tell the stories of how much Amanda enjoys living in her own place.  We’re getting closer for sure!  It’s going to be too good to be true.

If I can get those contact lenses back in my eyes tomorrow morning – well that’s going to be unbelievable!

just Laurel

Hey! It’s me. Just Laurel!

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Welcome to my blog!  As this is very new to me, please pardon any mistakes I make or technical goofs that occur while I work through my computer ignorance and strive for blogger competence.

Why am I blogging?  Right now I have 3 HUGE reasons.

Number 1 – I have written a book about my past 29 years of parenting and being caregiver to my daughter, Amanda.  It is a brutally honest book as I talk about having a baby with spina bifida, all the surgeries she had, adding to our family, dealing with schools, doctors, therapists, family, and friends, the emotional roller coaster ride it’s been, and the way my faith helped carry this whole family through.  If you are a caregiver, parent of a handicapped child, or a person of faith wanting to read someone else’s story – my book is waiting for you to read!  I will give you updates as to my release date as it gets closer!

Number 2 – We have finally made the decision to move Amanda to her own apartment.  TERRIFYING!  This blog will give you updates (and struggles and stories and tears and cheers) as we go through that process.

Number 3 – Like most people with a history of a challenge and the absolute faith in God that gave me a story of growth and survival – I hope to share with you my talks with God and inspirations that seem to come my way. 

Please visit and read often for updates.  Feel free to comment and ask questions.

But for now,

just Laurel