Posts

No One Told Me It Was Gonna Be This Way!

Image
 You clapped after reading that title, didn't you? These thoughts have been rolling around in my head ever since a friend said to me, when looking at our family pictures from Easter, "I can't imagine you in Florida anymore!" No one told me it was going to be this way. No one said how easy it is to slip into the daily rhythms of your grown children's lives. While I was raising my kids, my parents were 1000 miles away. So when we saw them, it was 24/7 togetherness, until they hopped on a plane, and we went back to our normal routines.  I am just now learning what it is like to be present in my kids' lives without living with my kids. And it's better than I could have imagined. Don't get me wrong - we LOVED our freedom of the "Florida years", where dinner out was on a whim, lazy Sundays were spent at the pool. Life revolved around "the next trip" and "companion flights" and "facetimes." Mike and I were able to focus...
Post a Comment
Read more

But it's only been four years.....

Image
Surrounded by boxes again. It's only been four years. Looking for a rental until we can get settled again. It's only been four years. Packing up 29 years worth of teaching "stuff" again. It's only been four years. Moving 1500 miles again. It's only been four years. ************************************************************************************ But what a wonderful four years it's been. God gave us these four years to reconnect with friends that are really family, to slow down and enjoy an empty nest, for Mike to try a job that he never would have ever tried- and actually really enjoyed, to be surrounded by familiarity as Mike fought and beat a cancer diagnosis.  And then God placed before me an opportunity that I didn't seek. The chance to stretch myself professionally and personally- a challenge that will help me grow and learn new skills, for we all know that I am the very definition of "life-long learner".  And here is a chance to do ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Send it

Image
  What a day. Rae has been training for 6 months to run the Grand Rapids marathon, and today was the day.  While there were hours of running to prepare for today, that isn't what this is about. While there were many many phone calls about running adventures, trails, and times, that isn't what this is about. While the marathon took her through her most favorites city in Michigan with her favorite places along the route, that isn't what this is about. While she had her best cheering section, filled with her boyfriend, her siblings, her friends, even that isn't what this is about. It's about John. John and Rachel were running near each other practically the whole race. She'd pull a little ahead, then he would, but throughout the 26 miles, they started talking. Two complete strangers, with nothing in common except that they ended up near each other today, encouraging each other. Laughing at their training- or lack of... just basically passing miles in short conversa...
Post a Comment
Read more

And then they got married.....

Image
Can you really sum up such a great day in a blog post? Probably not, but at least I can forever look back and remember the feelings we had this day.  You see, Caroline, Holly (Jack's mom) and I didn't actually live anywhere near each other for the year before this day. But Holly (who is amazing and organized and thrifty and smart) and Caroline (who is easy going and easy to please) did the lion's share of the work. I ordered supplies on Amazon, listened to to-do lists, prayed a lot, helped with what I could, and then rolled into town a week before the wedding. Somehow, Holly had it all together...there was a purpose, a plan, lots of hugs, not too many tears, and so many smiles my cheeks hurt. But all the collaboration, planning, and praying led up to this...... after 7 years in the waiting, Caroline and Jack got married. The girls got ready at Jack's house, while Jack and the boys were at his aunt's house. There wasn't much stress, but there was music, singing, ...
Post a Comment
Read more