I live a very blessed life.  I have a job that I love.  A husband who loves me.  A large healthy family.  Very few true “worries.”  I know that the things we have and the life we have is provided by God.  It would not be, if he were not here taking care of the smallest of needs.  Thank you God for being so very faithful and loving to me and my family!

I just spent a few minutes “updating my Facebook status” and my “profile pictures.”  Today I chose an oldie from 1987.  One from Camp Nomacca the summer that I was lucky enough to be on a Summer Ministries Team in Maine with Sabrina and Albert.  It wasn’t a year after the picture was taken that our team of 3 was down to 2.  Albert had been in a head on collision with a drunk driver and died.  The heartache was unbearable to lose a friend so young.  As I look down the picture at the face of folks I have loved, so much has changed.  No, not just hairstyles and clothing, but we’ve grown up.  Debbie Raymond is no the Grandma of four children and her youngest was but a young school age girl in the photograph.  Ronnie Chavez is married with a couple of girls.  I have a large family of 5 and a grandson.  Elaine’s kids are now grown and she is a pastor’s wife. Valerie has been married more than once – just like me – and I know has endured hardships.  Sam has a shinier crown like his father had and his children are nearly grown and has a blended large family of six I think.  John has two young ones, one from overseas I believe.  Allen has a nice young family of 4.  Tim has had children and adopted children and has had a ministry with Sabrina for years.  Andrew is married – but I don’t know about children for him – he is all grown up though and I’m sure serving the Lord.  I saw Roberta in Maine last time I was home, looking as happy as ever.  Tracy still lives there too.  Becky lives in Arizona with her family but was home last summer to visit her folks.  I hear that she might like to move East again one day.  Albert died in 1988.  Becky lives in the Bangor Area and Holly died a couple of years ago.  Very suddenly.  Julie keeps in touch with my sister and I don’t remember the other girl’s name from Canada -but with a little searching I could probably find it.  Sabrina is a wonderful mom and amazing woman.

So, why the walk down memory lane?  Why the reflection on the folks who I have loved?  I have loved them because they were my family at the time.  They have spread all over the country.  They each have their circle of influence.  The youth workers who spent time with us, molded us, had no idea what we would do or where we would end up, or where their circle of influence would reach.  Seeds were planted.  Many many many “plants” grew from the seeds.  God has taken care of each of us and some have stopped living this life on Earth.  I am most comforted by the fact that He knew the plans.  He knew how long we’d be here.  He knew what would become of us, and he still became the sacrifice for us.

So, in 2012 what will God do through me?  What seeds will He plant in my heart?  What circle of influence will I have?  What difference will my life make in 2012?  I have no way of knowing, but I do know that I will strive to keep my eyes on Him and have faith that he has the rest of it all in control.  Just like he did for my “family” in that old photograph.

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When I consider the plans that God has for me, I can’t begin to see the big picture that He does.  I figure that I am doing well if I know where things are going for the day that we call today, let alone how he will orchestrate the beautiful things that God has for me.  I know that He has a plan that is bigger and better than I could plan for myself.

There was a time when I thought I knew what God wanted for me.  I thought that I knew where I was going to be and grow old and every single road I would travel.  I did not know.  I only knew the time that he had revealed so far.  I still don’t know my whole story – the beginning from the end.  Truth be told, I don’t know how this story will go for the rest of the time on this planet, but I do know one thing.  I want to be doing the things that God has planned for me.

You see, I know from the events of this season, that God has been planning the recent additions to our family for a lot longer than I could have imagined. This holiday season, our family has grown a new branch, the Richtmyer branch.  I have always felt that you didn’t have to share biology to be family and God has provided this new branch for us in what I feel to be miraculous ways.  I know that God has planned this long before I could ever have imagined it myself.  You see, I believe that God had it all in His plan that we would find our way together and there are too many “coincidences” to think anything else.

Dennis and Faith grew up in New York.  Tony and I grew up in Maine.  But, here we are together in Bethlehem, North Carolina.  Dennis and Faith have one “older” daughter, Kyrstin, who just-so-happens to fit smack dab in the middle of our Anna and Emily.  They have two boys, Andrew and Adam, who just-so-happen to fit perfectly with our Gideon and Isaac.   The icing on the top of the layer cake of young ‘uns is baby Emma and she is a sweetheart.

It has been years since we had a crowd for Thanksgiving.  This year we had 19 people here.  The only “real relatives” were my parents here from Maine, but we were surrounded by people we truly love.  People from Tennessee, New York, Maine, Vermont, and North Carolina – but all family.  For Christmas we got to go play at the Richtmyer home for Christmas Eve and stuff a pew with 11 “family” members.  It hasn’t been all that many years that I sat in the pew with my kids feeling alone – since Tony spends his services in the sound room helping out with the computer work.  What a blessing to spend time with loved ones, worshiping our Savior.  We are so very blessed!

Tonight, on Christmas Night 2011, we got to relax (some in our jammies) and listen to 7 happy children play Monopoly – well until they weren’t happy any more… we visited, we shared, we ate Chinese Take Out and sang,  ♪♫Fa Ra Ra Ra Ra… ♪♫Ra.. ♪Ra.. ♫Ra!♪♫  The girls visited in the “girls room” (since the Richtmyer home has a nearly identical layout to the White home) the boys played in the basement.  All were happy… satisfied… and loved.

I am so thankful that God created the Richtmyer family to be part of the White family – from many miles away and planted us both here in Western North Carolina.  Through every single trial and thing that we could not have seen as a plan at all.. through the mountains and valleys, I believe that God planned this season – for the girls to fit so nicely together and the boys to do the same.

I am anxious to see what God has planned for 2012.  How will he fit things together for His best plan and for ours.  Thank you God for taking such good care of one such as me!

When Sherri and I were little girls we were invited to go to Vacation Bible School with the Kierstead family.  We went to the little church down in Sleepy Hollow and loved it.  Before the closing program, the Kierstead girls told Sherri and I to SING LOUD.  When Mom and Dad heard us practically yelling at the top of our lungs …♪♫ THE B-I-B-L-E YES THAT’S THE BOOK FOR ME… ♪♫ I STAND ALONE ON THE WORD OF GOD THE B-I-B-L-E! ♪♫  I believe that Mom and Dad told us NOT to sing that loud again.

As we got into our teenage years (in fact I’m sure it was 1983) I learned how to harmonize.  I know that the first time I really “heard” the harmonies was when I was playing Alleluia in a flute duet with “Andrea Nichols from Ashland.”  The “from Ashland” part was not really part of her name but it was almost always said – since we had another Andrea Nichols and she was not “from Ashland.”  I have no idea why we were playing that song or why we were practicing it in the Brown Cottage – but we were practicing for something.  Every time we sing that song in church, the harmonies take me back to that moment with my friend – from Ashland.

After that time I almost always put myself in the alto section of whatever group we were with.  Whether it was the Northern Lights Youth Choir, or singing choruses in Youth Fellowship with Bob Davis, or singing good old hymns with Elmer Tompkins at Sunday Evening services at State Road Advent Christian Church, I loved singing parts with people who I loved.

At Christmastime a group of us girls would go Christmas Caroling on Christmas Eve in the morning.  We would sing for anyone who was unfortunate enough to be working on Christmas Eve.  We always went to Maine Farmers Exchange – which happened to be on the second floor of a building on Main St. in Presque Isle.  We would promise ourselves that we would not go too fast – because inevitably we would start to sing and be gasping like a fish out of water for enough breath to finish.  We would end up laughing our heads off after the first song – because we did it again.  We would ride the elevator to the top of the Key Bank building to sing for Linwood Raymond.  I think he was on the third floor – and it was the tallest building in our town.  Linwood would stop and listen and share our songs with folks far away – and he would cry.  Linwood was always easy to love – and he loved us right back.  Another stop was to Anne Blanchard’s house near Presque Isle High School.  Anne’s kids were very young when we started singing to them.  They were nearly grown by the last time I remember singing to them.  I think that we became a part of their holiday tradition I know they were part of mine.  I looked forward to that singing event most of all every year.

During a dark time in my past I lost the ability to love music and sing with my friends.  I lost my way through that dark tunnel of divorce and depression.  Emerging from the other side, music was difficult at best.  It was something that had been important but I didn’t know how to grasp it again, but in 2002 when the holiday season was approaching I experienced my own Christmas miracle.  I had told Tony that more than anything I would like to find a church to go to – just to sing some Christmas Carols.  It wasn’t but a day or two later that I received a Shirleygram in my mailbox.  It turned out that Dave and Shirley Ross were taking a pastorate in a town called Bethlehem.  I had no idea how to get to Bethlehem or where it was, but guess what, it was only 15 minutes through the curvy roads of Dudley Shoals.  Dave and Shirley were moving over Thanksgiving weekend.  They would be there for Christmas.  I had an answer, a place to sing some Christmas Carols where someone loved me.  We called and asked permission to come to their church.  Dave said yes – of course.  We had a place to go – and carols to sing.  I was excited, nervous, and oh so thankful that God had provided a place for my family.

I had no idea what the gift of a church would be to my family – although I should have known.  I simply asked for some songs at Christmastime.  I got so much more.  I got a family.  I got a sense of belonging.  I got a place where I could sing those familiar alto parts and learn some new ones.  I found a place where I could make music again. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 God is always true to His promises, but that dark tunnel blinded my eyes.  I am so thankful for promises that I didn’t even realize that I should hold onto and He kept them in spite of me!

This Christmas I have enjoyed singing with my kids.  Anna is now 17, Emily 15, and Isaac is 9 and one of the thrills of this holiday season (aside from the Dinner Theatre, Billy Graham Library, Christmas Drive Thru and many parties) has been to teach my children to sing “Christmas is Coming” the way that we used to sing with Sherri, Holly, Kori and others who joined us through the years.  It is no small feat for my children to sing parts and a round – and we may not be quite concert ready – but I am thrilled with it and proud of them.

I am so very thankful for music in my past, present and future.  It is truly a gift that I treasure and hope that will be as important to my children as it is to me.  After all… ♪♫”Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat!  Please put a penny in the old man’s hat.  If you haven’t got a penny then a ha’ penny will do.  If you haven’t got a ha’ penny then God Bless You!”♪♫

As you wander through the village you see families portraying a variety of jobs and businesses.  None of the businesses are really what any of us do the other 362 days of the year.  I sit in the Census Takers Booth counting all who have come to be registered by a decree from Caesar.  I spend my time near Roman Soldiers who guard a jail.  Just through the gate to the city I hear the blacksmith pounding out a new horseshoe for the horses that ride by.

Over to my right I see shepherds out in the field and a multitude (ok 2 at most) of Angels stand over them proclaiming the good news that a Savior has been born.  The story is familiar to many of us.  The story of the true meaning of Christmas.  What a wonderful focus for 3 cold nights in December.

The biggest blessing of the Drive Thru Weekend doesn’t come from the costumes or the people who have built the make-shift village in a field.  It isn’t the CD’s that the people have to listen to in their cars.  No, the biggest blessing for me is the sense of community and belonging that tears down walls.  You see, in Bethlehem, we are all dressed in a make shift “authentic” Bible Times costume.  (Ok, maybe it is a piece of upholstery fabric with a head hole cut and tied with a string about your waist.  On our heads we wear what could pass as a cover for the arm of your sofa, secured with head squeezers of various colors.)  But when I walked into the “Village” for singing, devotions and prayer, on Friday night after a harried day and week I felt relaxed.  I felt at home.  I felt that I am part of something bigger than me.  Something bigger than our church.  Something bigger than we could really ever know.

Families began streaming into the village shortly after 6:30.  Some drove through – and there were times that when I looked into their eyes, that I wondered if what they were driving was there home.  Some just came to be fed in the Fellowship Hall.  Some visitors didn’t speak much English – but the story translates itself.  A babe, a savior, born unto us this day… came as a tiny baby … laid in a manger.

As you leave the Village of Bethlehem, you see the Manger, the Cross, and the Empty Tomb.  You see, the story doesn’t stop there with a baby being born and people dressed with sofa arm covers on their head.  The story is really about the greatest gift we could ever receive.  One not tied up in pretty paper and bows.  One who came to be the Savior of the World.

There is so much that happened over the 7 1/2 hours of Christmas in Bethlehem.  So many stories to tell.  So many faces of wonder and delight from the youngest to the oldest, from the skeptic to the softest of hearts.  We may never know what a difference the Christmas Drive Thru made in the roughly 2000 people who participated, but I know that for me and my family we will never be the same.  

I went on the trip feeling a bit of stress (and our last-minute purchase of a van surely didn’t make it any less stressful.)  I thought that the meaning “for me” of the Exodus 14:14 scripture was revealed with a smooth van purchase, but as it  turns out it was just the tip of the iceberg.

We had an uneventful and quick (if you call 20 hours a quick trip) trip to Northern Maine on Friday night and Saturday in the middle of July.  The only casualty of the trip was my legs that swelled and made some pretty beautiful cankles for me.  After relaxing, drinking, and putting my feet up, they returned to normal.

Isaac began complaining of a toothache Saturday night, but (in my mother-of-the-year) way, I gave him a tylenol and blamed it on Isaac being afraid to sleep out in the camper at Grandma’s house.  I ended up sleeping with him that night and Tony slept with Gideon.  Sunday he seemed fine and we went to the Ashland AC Church and then down the river in Kayaks until a storm blew up and we had to shorten our trip.  Sunday night he again complained, and I agreed to try to get him into a first thing Monday.  Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles, the dentist agreed to see him at 11:30 and off to the dentist he went.  His mouth began to swell, he had an abscessed tooth and started antibiotics, but Tuesday his face had doubled in size on one side… and back to the dentist we went.  They extracted his tooth, and drained the infection.  By Thursday he was still swollen… back to the dentist and they upped his antibiotics.  There… I was still… the Lord fought my battles and got us not one, not two, but three dentist appointments with dentists who aren’t even accepting new patients.  God is Good!

While the tooth fiasco was unfolding, Tony was given some very encouraging news.  Someone who had been angry with me for more than 3 years, told him that they knew that the way they had treated me was not really the way they wanted it to be and wanted to “try again” with me.  You could have blown him over with a feather.  The relationship is healed.  I stood still and the Lord fought my battles.  Healing is good.

Anna and Emily attended Camp Nomacca as senior campers.  There was a bit of fear and trepidation that stemmed from the possibility of their biological father showing up and making things difficult for them.  They had a good week.  No incidents.  Old relationships were rekindled and new ones forged.  We stayed still and the Lord fought our battles.  He has protected the girls from what surely could have been emotionally upsetting.

After going back down the river with my mom, sis, niece, nephew, friend, and children, I began to feel – no so good.  I had a spot showed up on my leg.  I thought maybe a fungus or bite or something.  Either way it got to be a BIG spot – oh about the size of a tennis ball in diameter – and swollen… with a dark spot in the center.  Tony took me to the doc.  We were first in line.  The doc said it was a bite of some kind.  (Maybe a spider – maybe not.)  She gave me prednisone and an antibiotic and sent me home with directions to have me email her on Tuesday if I was better, and to come to her office in Fort Fairfield if I wasn’t.  I emailed her … she thought my description was encouraging.  (Today I look nearly all better…)  God is good.  He got me to a doctor who understood, took time and gave me ways to follow up before heading back to the land of Sweet Tea.  I stood still, and God fought my battles.

My girls wanted to go to State Road Church on the second Sunday we were in The County.  Folks were warm and wonderful and that day, my heart grew softer yet again.  The God of the universe who has so many better things to do than to worry about all of my “little issues.”  There were many people in the church family who were on vacation.  But, God arranged for old friends to meet once more in His house.  Folks I hadn’t seen in years and years and years.  I couldn’t sing without tears.  To worship with people I have missed for a decade and a half.  Healing is good and it comes from God.  The sermon was about the transformation that only Christ can do – and thinking back through your own personal history as a follower of Him.  State Road was a very important era in my life.

Family camp at Nomacca was wonderful.  It was there that I finally knew that my chains were gone, and I’d been set free.  You see, when you follow God and strive to stay in the center of His will, the battles will not be yours, but His.  I only needed to show up.  I needed to be present.  He took care of the rest.  I couldn’t have orchestrated the week and a half that we had.  I wouldn’t have wanted to try to do it.  God did it.  Easy as pie.  How awesome is our God?

1 week ago today I learned of a potential job opening that really interested me in some ways and -not so much- in other ways.  On Sunday I received my answer in Exodus 14:14   ”The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”  So I am being still.  Since Sunday, I have been very busy – with no time to think about potential job changes… this week has been the “Karen Version” of being still… at least where it comes to my employment.  I have heard rumors of more changes on the way in our school or not in our school… either way – I am trusting the Lord to put me exactly where I am supposed to be teaching whoever I am supposed to be teaching.  If HE wants me to move to the other position, He can do all of that and more.  I am BEING STILL!

If you have ever seen our vehicles, you know that they are not a status symbol for the White Family.  They are transportation.  We have not had a car payment for YEARS, and really were hoping to “get by” for another 18 months.  But, Tony’s car has been running on 3 cylinders (which until recently I thought might just be an expression… but I have learned is not…. you really need to be running on all 4 cylinders to be efficient…) for the last month.  We hoped that it would be an easy fix.  And, it can be fixed… but to do it would tighten up the top of the engine and we have no idea how long it will be until the bottom blows out.  Sooooo for his 1993 Toyota, we have decided that she won’t be with us for much longer.  Sad really – she has been a good car for 240,000+ miles.  Her name will soon be j u n k … but don’t tell her.

My van (our 2000 good ol’ Bertha!) is experiencing the change of life I think.  She has hot flashes… and will not blow cool air for very long.  We will have her charged up again – but she isn’t very reliable really with her 209,000 miles.  But she does have more good miles in her and we will keep on running her.  She will not be making the trip north tonight…. she will be resting until we return.

Tony has a new van.  Yep… another van for the White Clan.  We thought that we were going to buy a Honda van in Morganton – and after 4 trips… no such luck.  I think that they really weren’t ready to part with that nice little blue van.  BUT, the nice folks at Abernethy Chrysler in Lincolnton took a shine to the White Family and we will be driving north tonight in a 2009 certified pre-owned Chrysler with way more toys in it that we would ever have chosen.  God provided this nice blue van within a price that we liked.  I would recommend Jr. and the folks in Lincolnton to any potential car buyer.  They really took time to show you every bell and whistle…. and we’ll be going back there for 6 “free” oil changes over the next two years.

God is good to us.  He provided wonderful folks at Cruise In (thanks Fay and Ronnie!) for all of the help this week.  Great folks in Lincolnton.  A van we needed.  Peace of Mind about potential job changes.  And most of all a wonderful little family.  Anna and Emily have been great help at VBS when life has been crazy busy.  We know one little girl has accepted Christ in the midst of the chaos.  God is sooooo good!

I wonder what he has planned for us in the next 7 days!  I can’t wait to find out!

But the last 10 years have brought many good times and certainly some difficult ones.  But, I didn’t have to go through any of the tough times alone.  All the while, Tony has been at my side and I have been by his.  We’ve had the opportunity to do some traveling together, obviously to Maine, but also to Vegas, San Antonio, Germany, Charleston, Florida, Gettysburg, Virginia Beach, Atlanta, Decateur, Dahlonega, Warm Springs, the NC Mountains and anywhere else we can think of to go together.

Our children are growing up in front of our eyes, the day we got married we gave the girls some bride dolls… and the girls fussed about getting a shower.  Today they’re 15 (well 1 day away) and 17.  Jeremiah was but 11 years old and today he is married and a Dad.  Gideon was in a stroller but is 11 today and Isaac was just a twinkle in his father’s eye.  He’s now 9.

I don’t know what the next ten years hold, but I sure am glad to have Tony White by my side.  I can’t wait to see where we get to travel and how our children will change.  Life is good and God has been good to me to give me such a wonderful husband.

In the 11 years that I have been administering this test (and 19 in the classroom) I cannot remember a group of kids who worked harder or more intensely than this particular group of 7th graders.  It was heartbreaking to me when I read the list of kids who missed it by the skin of their teeth.  It was heartbreaking to sit with my teammates and break the news to kids who I knew had given their all.

Now they need to rise to the challenge again next week and one more time give everything they have.  I know that many of them can dig just a little deeper and make it.  I just hated to see their faces fall.  I know they all hoped that they had finally made that magic score of a 3.  I could see their heart break.

Other kids were ecstatic with their scores.  It was fun to talk to them and watch them.  I only wish that they all could have felt good about it.

I have not typically been the “touchy feely type” but I guess as I get older… the softer I get.  What is up with that?  I mean really?  I think part of the softie thing is that I have a child who doesn’t just intuitively do what the teachers want them to do.  The girls went through all of elementary school without needing me to push or prod.  Isaac has not been quite like that.  I think that I have more compassion because I see my boy in so many of the kids who struggle.  Maybe that makes me a better teacher.  Maybe it makes me a softie.  Maybe I am just becoming a pushover.  But, for whatever reason, I hope that the kids know that they matter.  That I really do love them, and I do want the best for them.

This group is only mine for 10 more days.  I will take care of them while I can and help them to be their best while they’re mine and pray that they grow up to be what they really want to be.

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