Merry Christmas 2023 From our Family to Yours

 

 Gifts! 

Everyone loves gifts at Christmas time. 

My grandson Isaac reminded me, 

"Grandma, Christmas isn't about presents.

 Christmas is about Jesus" [presence]. 

This Christmas, thank God for His Indescribable Gift which is 

". . . eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

Our hearts are filled with smiles and babies this 2023. 

What joy!

Our first great grandchild,

 Elaine Mae Sliwa, 

was born to Connor and Chassidy. 

She's cuter than any button and 

named after me and her other great grandma Elaine!

 (In case you didn't notice.) 

What an honor!

 This week we rejoice again as another precious gift arrived from Heaven,

Evelyn Jubilee Sliwa! 

Elizabeth's and Joe's 10th child and our 15th grandchild. 

I'm almost breathless at her tender beauty and sweetness. 

Thank you God for the gifts of baby Elaine and sweet Evie, 

sent to teach us much about the True Gift of God with us — Emmanuel!

 

Our grandgirl Ava became a bride in October marrying her love, Owen Yarka. 

Their love for each other filled our hearts afresh with 

the wonder of love and the goodness of God 

who gives us the gift of marriage.

Joanna and Bob enjoy watching their son Ryan excel at his giftedness in baseball. 

Gracie keeps advancing her lifeguard skills and college on-line as she makes her way in this world.

 Joanna and Bob continue using their gifts of 

teaching reading (Joanna) and bringing the Family Life Network news (Bob).

Elizabeth continues her studies toward a Masters degree of nursing/midwifery.  

JoePro Services keeps Joe on the go making local homes beautiful. 

He does great work. 

Garrett's Army duties keep him far away but close to our hearts. 

Brenna, Charlotte, Isaac, Lucas, Gunnar, and Sailor hold down the Sliwa farm, 

and homeschool when they aren't loving on Evie.

Sam and Katie, Lily, Jack, and Holly moved to Dayton, Ohio where 

Sam serves at Wright Patterson AFB. 

I marvel at their ability to adapt, enjoy, and explore 

new homes, towns, experiences, schools, friends.

 That's a gift too.

 Proud of this family who serve our country.

We've had a great year. 

Dan and I are well.

 I remind myself often of my doctor's words, 

"I've had you dead twice, but here you are." 

 I respond as the angel said to Mary, 

"Nothing is impossible with God!" 

I love ending with an exclamation point!

Indeed, our life in Christ is an exclamation point for

Jesus is the greatest gift of all!

We are loved! 

We have a Savior!

 Baby Jesus came to bring salvation to all men!

 He is the Everlasting Father! 

The Prince of Peace! 

The Alpha and the Omega! 

All I can do is bow down and worship with a huge 

Hallelujah and Amen!!! 

May you be blessed this Christmas with the greatest present of all 

— the Presence of Christ in your life,

Mother's Day Book Give Away

Happy Tenth Anniversary to my first book Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms!

Little did I know when I attended my first writer's conference without a clue how to write a book, that God had great plans.

 "Write what you are passionate about," said the writing teacher.

Hmmm. What am I passionate about? My bath! I'm passionate about my bath. And. I'm passionate about being a mom. 

And so was birthed my first book Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms.

A timeless treasure, this first book has withstood the test of ten years. In its third printing and  still ordered regularly by repeat customers.  Churches continue to buy in bulk to give to first-time moms. Still hearing from moms how Splashes of Serenity gives them just that — a splash of serenity.

With praise to God for putting His call to write into my heart, His writing conferences and writer friends to teach me to write, His blessing in 4,000 copies sold in it's first few months, and then there were these:

— The sweet moms who allowed their stories be written within the pages of S.O.S.

— The mom who buried two children and lived in fear her third would be taken. She opened S.O.S. and read Exodus 14:14 "The Lord will fight for you. You need only to be still." She thanked me for her first nights sleep in months.

— The mom of a brain-damaged boy who opened this book and cried tears of joy as God assured her "God Never  Says 'Oops!'"

— The grandma who learned her grandbaby would never walk. She opened S.O.S.  and realized God's love and care for her and for her granddaughter.

Are you a drained mom? Do you know a drained mom? My answer to both of those questions is "Duh! What mom is not drained on any particular day."

Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms is a book filled with true stories of hope from moms facing the most difficult challenges of parenting and moms drained by every day frustrations.

To celebrate this tenth Anniversary and Mother's Day:

I am giving away one free copy. To enter, please leave a comment on this blog and I'll put your name in a hat.  If you share this blog post, I will put your name in the hat twice. Please let me know if you shared. Thank you. Contest begins immediately and ends May 3 so I can send the book in time for Mother's Day. 

Congrats to Judy Pencek, the winner of a free copy of Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms

Thank you, readers, for blessing me for ten years. If you haven't read Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms recently, please read it again. This is a book that grows as your children grow.

I'd love to hear how Splashes of Serenity blessed you.

All of my books are available at the bookstore on this website. I'd enjoy sending you an autographed copy.

Happy Tenth Anniversary! Wow! Thank You, God, and thank you, readers,

Praising God for Creating a New Life for Me to Love!

What a thrill to receive this announcement from Katie, my daughter-in-law, yesterday:

Baby Miller is our ninth grandchild, but no less exciting for us. Babies are miracles. Precious gifts given by a great God. Dan and I are honored to pray for and love this sweet package being knit in Katie's womb.

I remember the birth of my three children. In awe I touched their sweet faces and wondered,  How could anyone see a newborn baby and not believe in God? Each one such a miracle.

What were your first thoughts when you saw your baby?  I'd love to know.

Praising God for creating a new life for me to love!

"For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me

were written in your book

before one of them came to be."

Psalm 139:13-16

 

When I think of splashes of serenity, I realize in March there will be a big splash and I'll be a grandma once again! Hallelujah!!! The greatest splash of all!

 



Why I Write and Why You Should Too

This morning's Scripture reading was a beautiful reminder of why I write and why you should too!

"... Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything He has done." Psalm 22:30-31

Years ago I began writing journals so that one day when I am dead, future generations will read them and know what God has done in my life. They will know the wonders of the Lord.

The world is filled with such tragic news. May we not be guilty of hiding the Good News from our grandchildren.

Do you journal? Wouldn't you love to read your great, great, great grandmother's thoughts? Leave your words and God's Word as a priceless inheritance to your children and your children's children's children.

Splashes of Serenity,

Grandboys and Dads and Walks and Snakes,Oh My!

 Thirteen years ago today I became a Grandma. Life changed. It got better.

Happy 13th  Birthday, Connor Joe. You are a delight to my life.

 I wrote this piece many years ago after a walk with baby Connor and hope one day it will be published in Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Women.

“In the cool of the evening, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking around in the garden….”  Genesis: 3:8 (GWT)

“Let’s take a walk!” my grandson, Connor, suggests nearly each time he visits. Our walks take us into make-believe Africa hunting for the pair of stone lions gracing the driveway of a house three blocks away. The owner gave permission for Connor to sit on the lion’s back. He does and “roars” for everyone to hear. It’s fun for a four year old. I love our walks too. They bind us together on life’s journey. I have Connor’s full attention as I tell him tales of my childhood and walks with my dad.

For as long as I can remember, my dad and I took good walks. We walked in his garden. The corn stalks grew way over my head and my dad was my protection. He once commanded, “Don’t move!” Stopped in my tracks, I looked down to see a long black snake at my feet. Walks in the garden weren’t such fun once I realized a snake resided there. In the winter, we walked up snowy hills and rode down on the old wooden Flexible Flyer sled. Dad would lie on his tummy, and I would lie on his back holding on for dear life as we sped down icy slopes. What fun! As we grew older, we had great walks and talks about life and unseen snakes and lions that prowl around seeking to devour naïve young girls.

I have a picture to commemorate one of our best treks. On Dad’s 87^th birthday, we walked 27 holes of golf. Dad shot the best score of his life—two over par. Now that was a memorable day as shown from the ear-to-ear grin on Dad’s sweet face photographed, framed, and placed predominantly on my piano.

It was only a few months later Dad became sick and was hospitalized. We sat together in stillness knowing our days together would soon end. The twinkle in his eye sparkled as his mouth looked up in a grin. “Let’s take a walk,” he suggested. The doctor gave his approval. I think in dad’s heart he pushed himself for one last walk with his daughter. We shuffled down the hospital corridor. With one hand he held onto me. With the other, he held the IV pole. We talked about all the walks we had taken. I said the best walk had been the 27 holes of golf on his 87^th birthday. He disagreed, saying the best was walking me down the church aisle to marry my husband. Our eyes were wet on that day as they were now. I lightened the moment with a joke about his wanting me married so he wouldn’t have to pay my dental bills. But we both knew dad was giving his final blessing and approval of my husband, Dan—the man we both loved.

Dan and I treasure our long walks. Walking together is a priority to keep our bodies and our marriage in good shape. Our hands and hearts touch as we walk and talk about life—how good it has been, and how blessed we are by our love. Sometimes we encourage each other by pointing out lions and snakes the other might be missing. We leave nothing unsaid, for we never know which walk will be our last.

Death can come at any time. It came quickly for Dad. The walk down the hospital hall was our last walk together. Shortly after, Dad held God’s hand and peacefully walked to Heaven.

Must be God likes walks too. “I will walk among you and be your God.” He says in Leviticus 26:12 (NIV). God walked in the garden with Adam and warned him of snakes. God desires to walk with us and us with Him. He knows what lies ahead on our trail and He wants to journey with us, talk with us, bless us, and protect us from lions and snakes. Sometimes, He’ll pick us up and carry us as I do Connor when his little legs grow weary on the rough roads. Most important, I don’t think there will be any disagreement  that the best walk will be that last walk when He ushers His followers to Heaven.

Life is a journey of steps. We’ll meet some lions and snakes along the way. Even so, we should enjoy life’s hike and make sure the people trekking with us know how much we love them.

S.O.S.:  Dear God, thank You for walking with me through all the gardens of life. May I pay close attention to your warnings of lions and snakes and bears, oh my! Let me hear Your voice and obey when You lead me down a path that is Your choosing and not mine. Thank you for treasured times with those I love. Most of all, thank You for the assurance that You are with me, holding my hand, walking with me, and preparing a road for my steps. Keep me from stumbling and when I do, thank You for being there to carry me. I love You, Jesus. Amen.   

May your life walks be filled with Splashes of  Serenity!

Life Lessons Learned From My Grandchildren

The house is now quiet. Six of my eight grandchildren visited me this week. Oh, how I miss them. Grandchildren are like a splash of serenity in a world where all else is chaos. God tells us in Matthew 18:3, to "become like little children." So, I make a practice of observing little children and learning how to behave.

This week I learned:

Children aren't afraid to fall

But they watch where they are going.

They love without expecting anything in return.

When your hat is on backwards, you are still beautiful.

It's okay to lay down on the bowling alley coaxing your ball to knock down more pins.

It's more fun holding hands than going solo.

Letting someone else go first makes you happy.

Really happy!!!

It's the simple things like a good old dog named Fudge that make you smile.

Life is short. Grandchildren grow too fast. Treasure each moment because before long they are taller than you.

Children are God's Splashes of Serenity in a world filled with sadness. Take time to enjoy them and observe how they live and love.

Treasuring each of you today,

Elaine