Heaven is for Real

It’s been three months since our last post. In that time, we’ve had the joy of celebrating my mom’s life – twice. First in Maple Grove where she lived for the last 20 years, and then in our hometown in northern MN where she was born, and raised, and raised a family. It was a joy to be there to honor my mom with her mom (my 99-year-old grandmother), as well as my mom’s two sisters, extended family, and friends. Her ashes are now buried right next to my dad just as they should be.

In May, we took a road trip which gave us an opportunity to read a book aloud together in the car called “Heaven is for Real.” It’s a true story about a young boy (3) who had an emergency appendectomy and while he was in surgery, he visited heaven. I know it may sound far-fetched, but as the details unfold, it becomes very clear that this boy had an amazing supernatural experience. It starts a little slow, but stick with it and you won’t be able to put it down. Suffice to say, it is incredibly exciting to know that my mom and dad are now in heaven, enjoying life together with Jesus for eternity. For Christians, there is no fear in death with heaven on the horizon. Want to be encouraged? Read this book!

Have you ever visited the Creation Museum in Kentucky? What a blessing to experience a museum that teaches the truth that life was created on purpose by a loving God. How wonderful to hear all of the scientific evidence for Noah’s flood. And how encouraging to know that science lines up with scripture! Evolutionary theory is a huge tragedy because it devalues life. If all I am is evolved pond scum, what value do I have? But if I am a unique person, created in the image of God to love and be loved, hmmm…that is completely different. Suddenly life is valuable, worth living, and exciting!

There are some new adventures brewing here at the Bendickson house. Let’s just say we’re in purging and packing mode again. The details aren’t nailed down, so stay tuned as the journey continues. There are a few hints in the slide show in case you’re curious :-)

My Mom is with Jesus

My dear sweet mom is now dancing on streets of gold. No more pain. No more suffering. I stayed with her at the hospital on Wednesday night. After sleeping a couple hours, I was up holding her hand again at 4:30 am. I read Psalm 23 and annointed her head with oil. She went peacefully to be with Jesus early Thursday morning.

Carole Yvonne Grovum of Maple Grove, MN, died Thursday at the age of 70 after a year-long battle with cancer.   She was born in Thief River Falls, MN, where she graduated from high school, was married, and raised her family.  She and her husband, Wally, owned The Club Café and worked together until his death in 1986.  She then relocated to the Twin Cities to be near her two daughters.  Carole worked as an insurance agent for many years prior to her retirement in 2005.  Carole was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.  She lived life to the full and her smile was contagious.  Her grandchildren were her pride and joy.  They loved riding around with her in her notorious yellow bug.  She was preceded in death by husband, Wally; father, Henry Thorson & brother, Miles Thorson. Survived by children: Connie (Rich) Bendickson & Vickie (Steve) Woehrle; grandchildren: Ashley, Jake & Ellie; mother, Gustie Thorson; sisters: Olive Eckstein & Annabelle (Jim) Sullins.  

A celebration of Carole’s life will be held at Kozlak-Radulovich Funeral Chapel in Maple Grove (13745 Reimer Dr.) on Monday, February 28, from 4:30-7:00 PM with a service at 6 PM.  A memorial service will also be held in Thief River Falls this spring.

Thank you for praying!

Just a quick update to THANK YOU all for praying for my mom these last couple days. She was in surgery for five hours and the surgeon said it went very well. She is in Intensive Care until Monday, but she is doing incredibly well - talking, eating, moving her arms and legs, and sat up all day today in a recliner. She has no pain and isn't even taking pain medication! She's in great spirits joking around with the nurses and looking forward to getting home (hopefully Wednesday). I attribute all of this good news to the incredible power of prayer. Thank you so much!

This is a picture of my mom in her hospital gown before she was wheeled into the operating room.

Prayer...

It’s been three months since we moved out of the RV and into this house. Everything felt very spread out at first – too big – like a young boy putting on his father’s suit with the arms and legs way too wide and way too long. But we have adjusted and are really enjoying entertaining friends and family. We are grateful to be living in such a beautiful place and so blessed to be close to my mom who has been battling lung cancer for almost a year now.

She was diagnosed last February, went through chemo and radiation last spring, and has been feeling well and enjoying life. Last week, however, after enduring a headache that lasted for two weeks straight, we discovered that the cancer has spread to her brain and there is a golf ball-size tumor in her cerebellum. The doctors are astounded that she isn’t having problems with coordination given the size and location of the tumor. We would very much appreciate your healing prayers as she is scheduled for surgery this Friday (January 21).  Thank you for praying with us.

In the midst of a season filled with many unknowns, there’s a song on our hearts that overflows with praise and thanksgiving. We have much to be thankful for. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever!!

Café Diasozo

Dear Friends and Family,

Just a quick note to invite you to the grand opening of Cafe Diasozo - my new health blog.  Check it out at www.cafediasozo.blogspot.com/  

Wishing you a happy and healthy new year!

Margin

Margin. It’s word I’ve been contemplating lately. I remember when I wrote a book a few years back and friend kindly told me that I didn’t need to fill every page full. She said it’s good to have some white space – some margin. That comment stuck with me.

Living in the RV was an experience living outside the culture in many ways. One thing that hit me as we entered back into suburban life is the lack of margin in people’s lives. People are just plain busy. And I do mean busy. Crazy busy, in fact. On the road, it was a different story. We barely needed a calendar. Life was lived in the moment. We rarely planned more than a week ahead of time. Not that I’d want to live my whole life without something penciled in. But I do miss the pace of life on the road. It was slower. Simpler.

Back to margin. Why do we pack things so full? Schedule too tight? Run ourselves ragged? Join too many things? Say yes when we should of said no? One reason, perhaps, is because we see it as normal. I think I did too…until I got a taste of life with margin. Margin allows time for the unexpected, the unanticipated, and the important. It grants time for things that get lost in the shuffle without it. Like reading, for example. How in the world did Ashley and Jake read over 35 books a piece last year – not to mention the 17 we read together? We had margin.

So I’m really trying to be intentional on how we move back into life. I’m being cautious about what I commit to. I don’t want to get sucked back into the rat race. I want a healthy rhythm of life. Just now a Brian Regan comedy bit is coming to mind. If you have enough margin, I highly recommend taking three minutes to laugh yourself silly. If you don’t, you may be “bookin’ yourself too tight”.
 

A house without wheels...

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind. Within the last month, we drove to Oklahoma (and back) to store our RV for the winter; moved out of the RV, into my mom’s (for a week), and then into a house; spent a week in California, threw two birthday parties, and the list goes on. And suddenly, we’ve gone from fall to winter in the blink of an eye.

But back to the moving. Two weeks before we were supposed to move into a townhome, our plans fell through. We really loved the place, but trusted that God must have something better. Back up a minute:  Last summer the kids and I stumbled upon a neighborhood we absolutely loved. We stopped to see the model and shared our story with the agent…”We’re not really looking for a house…we live in a motorhome…but this is really a beautiful neighborhood…” Well, guess what? The very same day the townhouse fell through, we got back on Craig’s List and a new listing had just come on the market. And guess what? It was a house in that beautiful neighborhood! And guess what? We are now living here! Praise God! He gave us more than we could ask or imagine!

It still feels strange to have so much space. Everything is so spread out and we can go for hours without seeing each other. But it is such a blessing to be here! Rich has an office, the kids have bedrooms, and I have a gourmet kitchen. What a gift…we are so very grateful we get to live here for a season. Thank you, Lord!

Speaking of seasons…yesterday it was fall. Today it is winter. Really winter. Like six inches of snow winter. And we’re loving it…the trees are gorgeous all dressed in white.

People are asking if we’re going to keep blogging even though we are no longer in the RV. The answer is yes. Life is a journey no matter where you live. And though we no longer travel full-time, we are still committed to following Him wherever He leads.

If You lead me Lord I will follow.
Where You lead me Lord I will go.