#staceystone

[staceystone]

Stacey Stone sits down with author Cynthia Ruchti to discuss her new book, Afraid of the Light. 

[staceystone]

Not Just Possessions Anymore

I realized today that our lives were changed by the kindness of others. You see, Johnny and I are radio nomads in a way. We go where God calls us and that involves numerous moves and movers. As a married couple we had come to the point where we did everything on our own. We planned, packed, traveled and unpacked like pros but yesterday, we trusted others. It was a huge step for us and I can now say that we view the world a little different now.

We don’t just have clothes anymore. We have clothes that Becky packed and Crystal loaded into the truck. The lamp beside my bed no longer just gives light. It provides the memory of Nicole walking it down the street to our new home. Our sectional was just that until Tom and Becky’s son Zach helped pick it up and place it on the Uhaul. Speaking of Tom, each dish that I remove from the cabinet is loaded with gratitude for the careful packing and love he provided the day before and the day of the move. My grandmother’s secretary holds so many memories for me but now I smile as it represents Rob gingerly carrying it through the door. 

That dog that I am always telling you so much about. He’s no longer just ours but belongs to two girls, Addilyn and Maya, who carried him for hours so he would not be underfoot.

But the mastermind behind the entire day, Jerry Woods, lives in my desk that just couldn’t quite make it up the stairs and the filing cabinet that did. None of this would have happened without you and for that we are forever grateful.

The mentions above are only representative of the hard work that was lovingly provided by our coworkers/friends/family. As I have worked today to get everything in place, each piece has reminded me how incredibly blessed we truly are and beyond thankful to God for each of you in our lives.

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Love and Support

I have so many friends who have lost their dogs to illness recently that I have put The Rescued Breed on sale at a discount. In honor of Mia, Stormy, Rocky, Maui, and my Mally, I wanted to offer love and support. The Kindle version is now .99 so I'm hoping it will help. https://www.amazon.com/Rescued-Breed-Jesus-Shows-Transforms-ebook/dp/B015JVAPFE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1490900279&sr=8-2&keywords=The+Rescued+Breed 

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Never Mary...

Let me explain before we go any further; I never fully grasped the relationship between Mary and her son, Jesus. The most obvious reason is because I have never given birth, felt a baby's heartbeat under mine or raised a child to adulthood. Mary is special to me because she is the mother of my Savior but I never could connect with what she was feeling or experiencing when it came to raising and losing Jesus. The other side is that Mary said yes when there were so many questions that I would have wanted answers to. For this over thinker, simply saying "if it is God's Will, let it happen" would be a major stretch for me. "You want me to do what?" would have been my less than gracious response with the angel and questioning my purpose in all of this would have been natural for me. I admire her willingness to serve God but never could immerse myself in her pain until two personal revelations today. Reading Liz Curtis Higgs new book, "The Women of Easter", I was stunned to read that, when someone was crucified by the Romans, their feet were only about 3 feet from the ground. That meant that the group of women sitting under the cross were not staring up, out of the range of His suffering. Mary could see His eyes, hear His voice and see the pain etched across His face. Liz's words are stunning as she describes what Mary went through and how she "could hardly bear to look at her son, yet she couldn't take her eyes off Him". My heart began to break as the book describes that "the face she'd scrubbed clean a thousand times was almost unrecognizable, so misshapen were His features". But I don't think the emotions were truly captured for me until she wrote about John 19:25 and three words, "his mother's sister". His aunt stood beside her sister, never looking away from the face of her nephew in this tragic moment. Could I do that? If it was one of my precious little nephews would I be strong enough to stay put and watch as the soldiers tortured him. Would my temper and my mouth be stayed as the leaders and soldiers mocked him as he died? And could I have left his grave, carrying his mother in her grief? I can respond with a firm "yes" because the love that I felt for the woman beside me was so strong. As his aunt, just like his mother, I would have taken the cross as my own but that was never an option for either woman. The women remained long after His death, Liz writes, as the crowds dispersed. "Perhaps they, too, had started for home but couldn't bear the thought of leaving Him and chose to stay" is how she describes their lingering. Even after everything they had witnessed and suffered, they couldn't bear the thought of Him being alone. Since Jesus is mine, I would stand there in grief now never walking away until forced by the joy of the Resurrection. Finally I know the brokenness of the women at the Cross and the overwhelming gratitude I now feel for what they endured so that my Savior could save us all.

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God Better Have Cornbread

We were sitting together, as we had been all day, talking and laughing. She had rallied for a moment and was smiling at me. Her brother was lying beside her on a pillow and I told her that she could have some cornbread like I was eating when she started feeling better. In that moment I thought we were on the rebound and I was grateful for the joy on her face. 

She heard Johnny coming down the hall and turned her head to see him. As he approached she rolled over on to her back to present her belly. He said that she was perfectly peaceful as her ears fell back and she smiled up at him. Then she turned her head, laid down and took her last breath. Johnny yelled “no baby girl, no!” and I screamed a primal scream Her one eye lost it’s light and we knew. 

I thought if I wrote down one of the worst moments of my life it might help with these tears. Mally, I will always love you!

[staceystone]

A delightful interview and Christmas title for your Thanksgiving vacation! The Christmas Quilt continues on a few years after the conclusion of A Simple Amish Christmas. Whether you are a quilter or know someone having a baby, this book is perfect for those cool nights wrapped up in a quilt!

[staceystone]

A Letter To Oprah

Oprah:

I'm pretty sure you will never see this but I had to write and let you know that I am pretty perturbed at you right now. As one of the few women who believe in Jesus that still take up for you (even after the video) I was not happy to see the nativity included in your Favorite Things for 2013. I'm sure that Adam Glassman (Mr. Hanukkah) would be in the same boat if you turned the menorah into an edible confection. But he loved the edible "Sweet Jesus"... really?!?!?

I can't remember a recent Christmas without including your list of favorite things... I even look past the $90 headbands and the $122 night gowns because I know you have no one around you living in the real world any longer. I don't even blame you for implying that you buy $500 truffle sets for your friends because I know the good you have done in this world.

But, my question is fair, would you make a chocolate Muhammad for Mr. Hanukkah to enjoy? And cherry cordial centers?!?!? Did any of your think what a cherry cordial center looks like running out of Mother Mary? Actually I'm pretty sure none of you are thinking.

Enjoy your chocolates,

Stacey

[staceystone]

A huge Happy Birthday to one of my favorite authors! This interview, about her novel When Mountains Move, talks about the main character, forgiveness and serving a God of second, third and fourth chances. If you have suffered something tragic recently or know someone who has, please read and share this interview.