Mann Memories

My peanut butter pie

We had a wonderful time with the rest of the Manns at Thanksgiving. Garrett and I arrived on Wednesday morning, armed with peanut butter pie, pumpkin roll, and lots of luggage for our several-day stay. We loved being able to walk in the door and be immediately greeted by enthusiastic parents and siblings, happy to see us even though we hadn't told them exactly when we would arrive. The morning went by quickly as we talked, and after lunch, we visited the World War I museum in Kansas City. Now, I am not a huge museum buff, but I am learning more about it being married to Garrett. He is a serious museum guy. Like read-every-word-of-every-sign serious. So, it kind of takes a long time to get around the museum with him. A couple times, I wandered off to find one of my sisters-in-law and we giggled as we looked at the different displays (not that war artifacts are something to giggle about...it just seems to happen a lot when I'm with them!). Garrett and I had a Skype date with my parents and siblings in Australia and my brother and sister-in-law in Indiana. It was nice to have some time with them, though I wish it could have been in person!

The whole family for Thanksgiving dinner

Thursday was, of course, filled with baking, game-playing, eating, and reflecting on things for which we are thankful and the things God has been doing in our lives. Dad Mann asked us all to go around the table and share one thing that God has been doing to encourage our souls over this past year. That was a wonderful time of praising God and remembering how good He has been to all of us. I am so thankful to have such a godly family-in-law!

That night, we watched "October Baby," which is about a girl who survived an abortion and was adopted but didn't find out until she was in college. I won't give away the story line, but I would highly recommend it. I was impressed that it shared a very clear gospel message of the forgiveness that Jesus grants to us and allows us to, in turn, give to others. Beautiful story. I think I was the only one in the crowd crying (I'm a little more emotional than the Manns, it seems!), but it made me so thankful that I have been able to start volunteering at a crisis pregnancy center here in Manhattan. The fight against abortion has been on my heart for many years, but I have never made a huge effort to help consistently for that cause until this opportunity came up.

On Friday, we girls and Mom Mann decided to venture out into the chaos of the shopping world. None of us are traditionally Black Friday shoppers, but we figured we might stand a chance getting a few deals without too many bumps and bruises from the crazy crowds if we went in the afternoon. It turned out to be a very good plan, as the lines were not terribly long, and we all found a good deal or two that made the trip worthwhile. That night included a live performance of our favorite blue-grass band!

The Mann Brothers Blue-Grass Band

Saturday was a more leisurely day, with some of the siblings gone. Garrett and I went out to coffee with Mom and Dad Mann, which was very encouraging. We talked about ministry, future plans, and I was encouraged both by their counsel to us and their sharing of their own life and ministry experiences. Their example of faithfully sharing their lives with others continues to amaze and challenge me. I hope Garrett and I can continue in the same spirit of hospitality and love that both sets of our parents have modeled to us!

It was nice to be able to go to Garrett's parents church on Sunday, since we hadn't been there since last Christmas, right before we went to Australia and got engaged. There were many times during the course of the week that I reflected on what a joy and privilege it is to be married this year, to not have all the uncomfortableness and uncertainty of the dating state and all of the agonizing waiting of the engagement stage. We had a Psalm sing in the evening with other nearby RP churches, which was an encouraging time of praising the Lord together. Garrett and I decided to stay another night so we could have one more evening with our family. With both of us being from pastor's families, we have many memories of "Sunday night sillies" after church in the evenings, when our dads were more relaxed and we could all enjoy family time together. That meant a very early morning departure for us, but it was worth it. I drove home so Garrett could sleep, and I was once again thanking the Lord for my husband and for the fact that instead of driving to the airport to say goodbye to each other again, we were able to drive back to our home in Manhattan. Together.

"Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!"
--Psalm 106:1

Simply Happy

Yes, I am happy today. I am happy about the beautiful weather outside. I am happy about the fact that my husband is getting a holiday on Monday, so we get to enjoy a three-day weekend together. I am happy that my husband took me on a coffee date last night and that the Lord encouraged us both through conversation--reflecting over the things He has done for us in the past and anticipating things He will do in the future. I'm happy to know the Lord, to be able to talk with Him throughout the day, to know that He is good and merciful and in control of all things.

Sometimes when I get like this, I wonder how long it will last. As they say, "What goes up must come down." But what a cynical way to view life! Shouldn't we be allowed to be simply happy sometimes? Aren't there things to be happy about? Shouldn't God's people be among the happiest?

I have been reading for my Biblical counseling class recently about "simple pleasures" - the ability to enjoy things because we are created in the image of God, and He has given us many things to enjoy! However, as sin affects everything else in life, it also adversely affects our ability to take the right kinds of pleasure in the right kinds of things. Even the enjoyment of good things is tainted by sin when we let that pleasure drive us and become the chief desire of our hearts and lives.

But, just as sin has corrupted all aspects of life, Jesus Christ is redeeming all aspects of the lives of those who belong to Him. "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age" (Titus 2:11-12).

So, we can be happy! We can live joyfully. We can enjoy the beauty of the world God has created. We can enjoy the comforts of the relationships He gives us. We can enjoy a cup of coffee or a dish of ice cream or an invigorating run or an enthralling book. We can enjoy those things as part of enjoying the Creator of all things.

We, too, can exclaim, "Blessed [or happy] are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!" (Psalm 144:15).

Blessing of Weekends

I have been growing in appreciation for weekends since Garrett and I got married. I love sleeping in (you know, 6:30 or 7:00 - which is a sleep-in compared to the normal 5:30 a.m. wake-up!). I love getting coaxed out of bed by my husband for a brisk morning run. I love coming home and settling down on a comfy chair to spend some time with the Lord. I love hearing the beans grinding as Garrett makes coffee. I love having a leisurely breakfast, talking and laughing together, having a longer family worship time, not having to worry about running out of minutes. I love knowing that Garrett is home all day long, not rushing out the door to work. I love running errands together and working side-by-side on things at home. I love going to bed, knowing the next day is the Lord's day, a day of rest and worship and fellowship.

It's like a little present every week, a gift from the Lord. Not that we deserve it for working throughout the week. Not that we are to use it carelessly and mindlessly. And not that I am to live life in full anticipation of the weekend, forgetting to be grateful for all of the days God gives me.

Because the weekend always brings just that - the end of a week. It always comes to an end, so it's not something that is worth living my whole life for. In one sense, Monday mornings are just as much a blessing as Saturday mornings. It's a blessing each day to wake up, to live and breath and have the ability to do things. My husband helps me remember this, but I need to keep learning to be thankful each day and to ask the Lord for help to serve Him with gladness.

"Satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast love,
That we may rejoice and be glad all our days."
--Psalm 90:14