Choices

Decisions.  Decisions.  Some are easy to make while others can leave us stumped.  Stuck.  I was talking to my sister's mother in law Kathy this week about a decision my Dad and Mom made about 39 years ago (almost to the day) about their future, specifically, my Mom.

My parents have always been very musically inclined.  Dad sang in the choir in high school, college, and in church as well.  Mom was an excellent violin player.  In fact she was so good she could have played professionally.   Her teacher was encouraging her to do it but she had just gotten married and was pregnant.   So family or career?  Well, six kids and and seven grand kids later...

I for one am glad she chose family.  Delving a little deeper though, firstly, it was a decision Dad and Mom made together.  Secondly that decision affected more then just me.  Had they chosen differently the timeline we are in would not exist.  At least not with this version of the Roberts family in it.  My seven nieces Anna, Ellie, Mandy, Abby, Ellie, Summer, and Mackenzie would not be here.  The choices we make as individuals affect much more then just us.

My parents have established a great heritage that I am incredibly proud to be a part of and I know for a fact that if Dad and Mom went back they'd do it all again.  There might be some tweaks here and there they'd want to make but I think if you'd ask them they'd say "we wouldn't change a thing."
 

Last Man Standing

Last week my brother Joel got engaged and I think it is awesome.  Amber is a great girl and I wish them the best.  But where does that leave me?  Joel was the one guy I could always count on to be without someone (sorry Joel) at a reunion.  I'm the last single Roberts sibling.  Well, where does that leave me?  So many people can find themselves in these situations and get depressed.   I've been to weddings and I see the bride and groom and wish I were them.  But at the same time Paul the apostle refers to singleness as a "gift" in 1 Corinthians 7:7.   I say enjoy the gift!  I look at my life right now and I'm happy.  I have a lot of good friends.  I have the freedom to take a trip to Upper Michigan a couple times a year if I'd like or maybe Europe.  I could even move to another state.  I have a lot more freedom then I would if I were to get married.  Now, that said, I am certainly not ruling it out!  No way!  But until then I'm not going to sit around and cry that I'm the only single Roberts sibling left.  Let's be positive!  I'm the only single Roberts sibling left!  Now what can I do?  Where can I go?  I'll tell you.  Having four weeks vacation  every year is tough :-) and so as long as I can I'm going to start picking different places and going there for a week to get some pictures, go hiking and just enjoy different parts of the country.  I'll say this  It will most likely be near water.  I love sunsets, sunrises and walks on the beach.  Oops.  Ha!  That almost sounded like I was filing out a profile for one of the dating web sites.  But I do love those things and if there is someone out there that feels the same way then maybe one day I'll be out walking the beach, watching the sun set or rise and so will she and we'll meet.  Stranger things have happened.   Oh what a story that would be!

Enjoying my Weekend

I've been off since Monday morning.  Oops.  Let me rephrase that.  I've been off work since Monday morning.  The Midwest has getting pounded with tons of snow (some more then others) and cold (some much more then others!).   Around 2am Tuesday morning I took my laundry to the laundry room.  I was around 8 degrees.  I almost didn't see a step and it could've been really messy.  I thought it was pretty cool that I hadn't fallen.  Well.  That was the beginning.  On my way back to my apartment I walked that same sidewalk and it didn't go so well.  I flat out did not see the step and fell flat on my face.  That was pleasant. 

Around 4am I went back to switch out the clothes (I got distracted) and was just over $1.00 short.  Now I had to go get quarters up at the gas station.  Not a big deal normally but this time I have to put on long johns, thermal t shirt, reflective vest, etc. so I don't get hit and I can stay warm.  (It is what is is.  Part of life.)  I got the quarters and took care of the clothes.  Everything was good. 

As it got closer to morning I thought it'd be cool to get a picture of the sunrise at the Huffman Dam.  I left late and thought I was going to miss it as it was getting pretty light.  At one point I saw the light reflecting off of a cloud behind me and took a picture of it. However, something just seemed off about it, but I just couldn't place it.  I continued riding and it kept getting brighter but it still had not dawned on me.    It's about 4 miles to the dam and I had ridden just about 3 when sunlight started reflecting off buildings.  Hmmm...  At this point I stopped, turned around and wouldn't you know it, there was the sun peaking over the rooftops.  It was actually pretty spectacular.  It was then that I remembered I always came down to the dam to see the sun set and of course the sun always sets in the west. 

I figured since I was almost there I'd at least finish the trek.  I went to get on my bike and my front tire was flat.  HA!!!  I sure am glad I put long johns and all my cold weather gear on! (It was 5 degrees)  The icing on the cake was that I had brand new hiking boots on.  So I was able to break them in.  Yea for me!  On the bright side, it was a beautiful, cold sunny morning and I did get an awesome picture (see below)!  Plus, I couldn't have asked for a better day to go for a walk.  It would've been nice to make it to the dam but oh well.  It also reminded me why I like the morning.  Seeing the sun come up and things coming to life is just amazing.  I think I'll be doing it next week too!

                                 

My Favorite Christmas Carol: Silent Night

When I was little I remember Dad telling  me he could sing Silent Night in German.  That was so cool!  Ever since then it has been my favorite Christmas carol.  I think I like it too because I like the night so much.  The silent night is powerful.  It's nice to be out when it is so peaceful.  My morning rides home are enjoyable for that very reason.  It's quiet.  The stars are out.  It can be so peaceful....until a car comes along.  :-) 

I decided to do some digging and so I looked online to find out a little more about the history of the song "Silent Night".  The author, Joesph Mohr was born in the city of Salzburg on the December 11, 1792 .  As a boy  he was poor until he met Johann Nepomuk Hiernle . Hiernle served as a vicar and leader of music at the Salzburg Cathedral.   This gave Mohr a good opportunity to get an education as well as develop his skills as a musician and his childhood was spent preparing for the priest hood.  On August 21,1815 he graduated from seminary and was ordained a priest.

Mohr served as assistant priest in  Mariapfarr, Austria from 1815-1817.  It was there that he wrote the words to "Silent Night."

Franz Xaver Gruber was born on November 25, 1787 at Unterweizburg 9 in the village of Hochburg in the Inn River region of Upper Austria.  He wrote the melody to "Silent Night."    He was the fifth of six children and his parents were linen weavers.  Although he was expected to take up the family trade he wanted to become a teacher.  He discovered his love of music early on and his school teacher encouraged him by giving him lessons.   He was a weave until he turned 18.  Then his father allowed  him to follow his desire to become a teacher and this alos gave him opportunity to serve as organist in the local church.

As "fate" would have it in 1816 both Franz and Joesph were in the same town at the same church on Christmas Eve.  Joesph was an assistant priest and Franz the organist.  Mohr asked Gruber to write a melody for two solo voices with choir and for accompaniment by guitar. The exact events are unknown but it is thought that the organ may have been damaged so they had to go with another instrument as a plan b of sorts.

The fascinating thing I've found is that the English version of "Silent Night" has only three verses coinciding with a translation of an original text of verses 1, 6 and 2, in that order.  The original song actually has six verses.  The reason this is important is in regards to the historical context of the song.  Specfically verse four.

Silent night! Holy night!
Where on this day all power
of fatherly love poured forth
And like a brother lovingly embraced
Jesus the peoples of the world,
Jesus the peoples of the world.

The area in which Mohr lived had just underwent the Napoleonic wars (1792-1815) which had caused much suffering..  New borders were being drawn and things that people had been doing for centuries were changing.  That's why verse four took special meaning to the people of that area.  I find it intriguing that a song we hear in the malls and on the radio every year has such a deep spiritual and yet at the same time political origin.  People who were living in an economy much like ours, facing depression and coming out of a war were given the gift of this song.  A message of encouragement giving the people hope.  Why?  Because there is a Father who loved them and all the peoples of the world.  What a message!  Certainly something that still holds true today!


sources: http://www.stillenacht.at/en/index.asp, http://www.stillenacht.at/en/text_and_music.asp, http://www.stillenacht.at/en/origin_song.asp, http://www.stillenacht.at/en/spreading_song.asp
 http://www.stillenacht.at/en/gruber.asp, http://www.stillenacht.at/en/mohr.asp

Some thoughts

My plan was for my next post to be on Silent Night.  That is in the works.  However this would be (to use the Star Trek vernacular) supplemental.  For me it's actually an experiment as well.  This will be my first time using a computer to free "write."  But I digress.  Onward and upward.

Most (if not all) who read this blog know of the tragic events of this past week in CT.  For me on the outside looking in I can't even begin to comprehend how to begin to comprehend what they are going through.  However, I found myself trying to identify with them.  Putting myself in their shoes.  All night at work I found myself asking God, "Why?"  I spent the ride home continuing to mull it over in my head.  Ironically, he answered.  I'll tell you what he said in a minute and this is why.  Even after he answered I still kept asking why.  It was almost like I was a little kid.  You know the one.

Kid:  "Why do dogs have tails?"

Mom:  "Because that's how God made them."

Kid:  "Why?"

Mom:  "He just did."

Kid:  "Why?"

...and on it goes.

Isn't that how we are sometimes?  Even when God gives an answer it's not good enough or we just take it in stride and don't even consider that he might be answering the very question we've been asking.  We don't need to keep wondering.  He answered!

Now, one of the things that has been plaguing many people and still is (myself included) is how will God use this?  What good can come from a tragedy like this?  Plus, why at Christmas of all times?  This stuff is horrible at any time but does it have to be on at a time when people celebrate family?  Don't criminals have at least a little bit of compassion?  All questions we can't answer.  It seems hopeless.  I'll admit that I was angry.  Angry to the point that I actually thought that bringing the guy back so I could kill him would be a solution.  Now, that said, I dismissed it immediately as that is in no way, shape, or form the right way to resolve this.  That is not how Jesus would do it and it is not how I would either.  I had written a post and as I wrote it I could feel the anger in my fingers.  I stopped typing.  I will not let the Devil control me.  He has a foothold already in the area of sarcasm.  I have to be very careful how I respond to people.  Even if I am not angry I can sound like it.  I've had to go back and apologize more times then  I care to admit over the last few months just because of that.  But now, on to God's answer.  I hit a bit of a rabbit trail there.  :-)

My aunt posted a picture of a girl who was shot in the classroom.  Her name is Emile Parker.  They moved from Utah 8 months ago.  The preschool she was at set up a fund for her family on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/EmilieParkerFund).  I thought that was cool.  Anyway,  she was a Christian and God pointed out to me that a revival may start as a result of this.  Appreciation for the family, their values and all it entails.  Maybe this is the start of something big.  Regardless of anything, I know it has made everything appreciate family all the more.  Now I can rejoice!  Before I could rejoice as well.  I just couldn't see past all the barriers.  Have a good day!

A Christmas Day Tradition

I mentioned a Christmas hike on my Facebook page today and it inspired me to share the Christmas tradition I had established while living in the Upper Peninsula.  This will be fun for all as it will be much more visual then all of my previous posts.  :-)  You won't have to hear from me as much.  :-)  That said, I do need to share how it started.

Christmas morning 2000.  It was around 7:30am and I was sitting in my living room after opening my gifts wondering what to do with the rest of my day.  Then the thought occurred to me.  Why not take a drive up to Great Sand Bay and have breakfast on the ice.  Given that it was a last minute thing I decided to have a bowl of cold cereal.  And it was cold cereal!  Great Sand Bay is almost 30 minutes from Hancock.  It was between 20 and 30 degrees when I left It at 8am and I had one of those custom Kelloggs cereal bowls.  It was large and glass.  I grabbed a gallon of milk, some Rice Chex (I think), and thinking that the milk would get warm if I kept it on the front seat I stuck it in the trunk.  :-)  (FYI:  Not a good idea.  Don't get me wrong.  It will stay cold but it's still not a good idea.)  Thirty minutes later at thirty degrees, probably less, I pulled up to Great Sand Bay.  It was ice covered.  I pulled out my glass bowl.  It was in the front seat.  However, it didn't matter.  When I pulled out the now nearly frozen (and partially green) milk my cold cereal became ice cold.  It was at that time that I determined that the next year I would make pancakes.  I did eat breakfast on the ice though!    After I finished I continued my trek up to Copper Harbor. However, along the way there were spots I made it a point to stop at every year.  They were actually spots I stopped at year round anyway so it just made sense to stop there on Christmas morning.  One of the stops I made was at was at Eagle Harbor.  

As the years passed and I started taking pictures this turned into a real adventure.  Christmas morning the Keewenaw was mine.  I would see next to no one and would call my parents from Copper Harbor.  I called from a phone booth one time.  I wish I'd taken a picture of it.  I think there are two phone booths next to a hotel in Copper Harbor.  I called from one of them.  No need to call from both.  :-) Then as the winters warmed up I was able to call from the top of Brockway which was cool but depressing since I was able to drive my Ford Escort up a road that normally only snowmobiles could get up.   Then of course I'd have to get a picture of the Copper Harbor lighthouse.  Every year I would always go to this spot
 and get a picture.  I'd take hundreds of shots trying to get that stupid light.  I was really happy I had the LCD screen in the back.  That helped!  So I guess not as many pictures but my trek was mainly one to get out and enjoy the morning.

As I think about those eight years and how I much I enjoyed those yearly treks up to Copper Harbor (I did eat breakfast every year at Great Sand Bay, although not on the ice every year as it didn't freeze. :-)  That was the initial tradition.  Breakfast at Great Sand Bay overlooking Lake Superior.) I know that it was only for a season. :-)  Hmmm...  No.  There was no pun intended but I suppose it could've worked well there.  I now have to look to the future and what God has in store for me now.  It is exciting!  I can't wait to see He has waiting for me around that bend!
  

A Dedication

Moving back to the Midwest has enabled me to get closer to a larger portion of my family.  Siblings I haven't had a lot of contact with over the last fifteen years as well as Mom and Dad.  With the recent addition of the twins to the ever growing family I've been able to see Mom and Dad even more then I thought I would and this past Monday night I was able to meet for what has become almost a weekly meeting with either one or both of them.  After discussing different things the topic turned to the future.

Let me pause for a moment.  When I look at the future I have always seen them in it.  I have refused to take them out.  They can't not be there.  Right?  I've thought this way for years and in the back of my mind I've always known this was wrong.  However, I was young and naive.  Now, I've seen death.  I've seen it up close and personal.  It happens.  It is very real.  Death brings a new meaning to life.  You appreciate it more.  You appreciate life and you respect death. 

As we sat we Dad and Mom both talked about heritage and what they hope will happen after they are gone. I started really listening to what they had to say.  (Not that I don't normally)  Almost as if I'd never see them again.  I know their intent wasn't to make me think they were dying or that they were giving me their "last requests" and I hope that when they read this they don't think that.  But I did realize that Dad was being Dad.  (And Mom was too...being mom.  She was being the godly mother I love love and respect).  The man I respected.  No.  The father I love and respect.  For years he and mom both have been telling us to stay strong in our faith.  Not only have they been telling us, but they've been training us.  For years, every morning before school we would sit and listen to Dad read out of the Bible and Mom read from a book.  Then they would pray with us and we'd be off to school.  So I know that both his and mom's desire is that we continue the Godly heritage they have built in us.  That has been their goal for my entire life.   What I appreciate is that Dad and Mom both weren't just doing this "for fun."  This was a way of life.  Dad has always stood and stands for what he believes in.  Mom is right there with him.    They have weathered storms from every direction.  Together they have stood, like a lighthouse. That is the heritage I hope to pass on to my children, if I have any.  If I don't then I hope that the knowledge they have entrusted to me will bless those around me as I have been blessed.    "Oh may all who come behind us, find us faithful." (Steve Green)