Busyness Business.......

Seems like I've been away for a while, but things have been ...busy. I'm convinced that life was better in a sense when I was young (back before electricity). Things moved slower.....we had fewer distractions to overload our schedules. Early to bed and early to rise was the rule not the exception. We worked hard, in school or at our place of employment, but we played hard as well (not in front of a TV either). Leisure hours were spent outside in the yard or on the front porch. Just thinking of the swings and rockers makes me smile. People took time to visit...share a meal or dessert. You did not have to call and make an appointment, either, just show up and knock on the front door. This busyness business has gotten the best of our culture......I'm thinking it's time to slow down................

Life List........

This has been an emotional week for me. I'm not sure why......... Perhaps the death of a relative has caused me to reflect on my own mortality or perhaps it's just me being female. However, I'm determined to be thankful for all things God has supplied.

A Savior

A loving husband (After 33 years, he's still my best friend)

Children and grandchildren

A loving family (blood relations and my adopted family: Adam Family - take note)

Special friends (especially Lisha, who keeps me sane and on track)

A wonderful work environment and great partners in ministry (who wouldn't love working at Mulder?)

Even though Bob will lose his job by year's end, we are trusting God to supply all we need. We can't let the uncertainty of tomorrow guide how we live our lives. I firmly believe God has His hand in all things that are affecting my family. I choose to celebrate all things...find joy in all things.....and praise Him always!

Wondering Why......

I'm always leary of conversations that begin, "Are you sitting down?". Those were the words my brother spoke to me on Wednesday morning. I had heard that before......Same question.....same tone of voice. I heard it when his 42 year old daughter had died suddenly in June 2007. I knew something bad had happened. Then he told me......His oldest son (who was my age) had been taken by ambulance to a local hospital and wasn't expected to live. He died around 4 pm that afternoon. While I haven't been close to Steve in a long time, we were close as children, so naturally I am saddened by his passing. I fondly recall long lazy summers, playing outside. I remember holidays with the house full of children and the aromas of good food to share. Those thoughts have been buried for a long time...Steve's death served to remind me of simpler times. Yes, I am sad, but even sadder is my brother and his ex-wife who have lost 2 children in 13 months. We are always deeply touched by parents who lose young children.....I'm convinced we should be touched as well by parents who lose adult children. How do you comfort parents who are in their 60s and 70s and wish it had been them? Tomorrow I will sing Amazing Grace as we gather to say goodbye to Steve. He lived a hard life, he lived a solitary life.......I'm not sure of his eternal destination.....I can hope he found salvation before the end. Life is short.....live it to the fullest for the glory of God.

Catching Up.........

My good friend, Lisha, gently asked if I was ever going to blog again. Guess that was her way of telling me that I needed to put words to the screen.

A lot has happened in the last 6 weeks:

1. School finished. Richard will be a high school freshman in August!

2. VBS went off without a major hitch....just a few minor blips. Great job, Lisha!

3. Richard's baseball team won their league championship. He hit 7 homeruns this year, tying the league record.

4. Richard made the 14 Year Old All Star Team!

5. Richard is now my son. Adoption Day went off without a hitch. We were joined by Craig, Zac, Abby, Mark and Lisha. Everyone, plus Dan, went to Red Robin for lunch.

6. Richard's team won the Sub-District Championship, but came up short in District play.

7. Bob and I had dinner with Dan & Lisha in celebration of their 21st wedding anniversary. We attended an off-broadway production of Jesus Christ, Superstar after dinner. Thanks for asking us to join you!

8. Lisha, Valerie, Tanya and myself spent last weekend in Atlanta attending Deeper Still:the Event. What a blessed time of spiritual renewal. What a wonderful time of hanging out with the girls. I look forward to our next trip together.

9. Tomorrow we will travel to Lake Martin to celebrate the Fourth of July at the cabin of my BIL, Sonny. Lisha and her family will join us. This is the first year mother will not and I know I will miss her. She is unable to get out of bed these days............

10. My nephew, Bobby is on his way home from Iraq for some R&R. Hopefully, we will travel to ATL to pick him up on Saturday!

I could elaborate on any of these topics and may one day soon, but this is the best I could come up with at the moment. God is good and I am blessed..........