Gramp the mail carrier

living life well

Gramp’s stamp collection was more than just a collection hobby he shared with me. It symbolized how he spent much of his life—as a mail carrier and then Postmaster in Aurora, Nebraska.

My favorite postman died April 6, 2006.

As our family sorted through memories of my kind, generous grandfather, I thought about Psalm 39:4,5: “Show me, O Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth.”For a few months I’ve thought a lot about life-living. Not life plotting along. Not life survival. I long to live all of the adventure God has for me, not just part of it.

One of my favorite singer/songwriters, Nichole Nordeman, captures this idea in her song “Live”—the idea that God offers much more to life than we often experience…or expect.

Did You come that we might just survive?
Did You come so we could just get by?
Did You walk among us
so we might merely limp along beside?

You make me want to live
You came to shake us
And to wake us up to something more
Than we’d always settled for
And You make me want to live

Holding Gramp’s hand the evening of April 5, his weathered body tucked under the sheets, hours away from heaven, I cried.

The end of his life right before me caused me to reflect on my life.And I want my years to make a difference, to count for eternity.

More than ever, I’m passionate about being a follower of Jesus. I’m passionate in asking God that everyone would know someone who truly follows Jesus. John 10:10 captures Jesus’ incredible promise: “I came that they might have life and have it abundantly.”

Who wouldn’t want that? Yet living—real living—means trusting God to give us power for the abundant life He has for us. And that we can’t conjure up a life purpose worth living without Him.

How about you? Are you experiencing that abundant life? What will your children and grandchildren remember you for?

go Virginia!

I know, a 5K is only…what…3 miles, but I’m not a runner. However, I love cheering for friends, like Virginia, who are speedy on their feet. (Here with cheering cohort Jennifer at the Citrus Bowl and finish line for the Orlando corporate race. Campus Crusade had 120 or so runners!)

celebrating Gramp

We used to be the ShaBring 10 (we nicknamed ourselves, combining the last names of Shaneyfelt and Bring; we're witty like that).  Now we are 9. We celebrated the life of Gramp (Wayne Shaneyfelt) yesterday in Aurora, Nebraska. What a special time remembering a wonderfully kind man.

whoopty doo

This is why I take my camera with me at (almost) all times. Saw this on a grocery store's vending machine. Only in Nebraska can you get a can of soda to fit any mood. Well _______.

spring bloom

It is absolutely spring here in Lincoln. Flowers are literally breaking open as I watch. And the smell? Let's just say it's more original than the Bounce fabric softeners claiming "spring breeze."

branch life: connected and fruit-bearing

What an incredible day! Only 12 hours after losing Gramp, I had the privilege of spending time with precious college students on the other spectrum of life.

Two of them were Alpha Xi Deltas; Sara (left) and Renae (right). We dined at Chipotle for dinner, talking about what God is doing in the sorority now amidst bites of burrito and spicy salads.

We came back to the sorority house where they were hosting the Campus Crusade for Christ weekly meeting. I spoke on John 15 and "branch life." I was scheduled to speak about a month ago–and the timing couldn't have been more perfect. Seeing Gramp cross into eternity made me sense the brevity of life even more, causing me enjoy Jesus even more with the days I'm given. Tonight was a true blessing. I forgot how much I love college students!

a homegoing

(photo of Gramp and me taken at Christmas a few years ago)

This is a tribute to a kind and very loved man. Here are a few of my special memories of him:

• Enjoying many rounds of Backgammon over the years. He always had all the time in the world for me.
• Sharing his treasured stamps and love of collecting them. It was always a treat to go into the basement with him. He'd push away the plastic cover for the overhead light and retrieve the (what seemed like) buried treasure (a.k.a. old stamps) stored in the secret compartment above the light.
• Setting up a "grocery store" of sorts for us grandkids that we could shop at when we came to visit. The sundry goods were all real cans (bottoms taken off with a can opener), boxes of cereal, etc. It was a highlight of my visits as a little girl.
• Cheering at the majority of all sporting events, choir concerts and really long, boring violin recitals throughout my childhood.
• The awe I had for him because of his incredible intelligence. Without a college education, he built his first few cars with a high school buddy and wrote his own computer programs when personal computers became more common.
• His easy-going personality that endeared everyone to him because you really sensed he enjoyed you and loved you as you were.

Gram, Chad and Gramp

saturday morning Jazzercise classes

Live in Orlando and free on Saturdays at 8:45 am? Come to Jeanine's Jazzercise classes–I sub two times a month for her and would love to see you.