Back in the day, when I was about 11 years old, I watched my first political convention. It was not my choice by any means. But my parents wanted to see what was going on, so we gathered around our 13 inch black and white and watched Ronald Reagan accept the nomination for president. Of course, back then you were at the mercy of the main stream media to tell you how things went and what everything really meant. That really irked my dad, I learned.
That was the same summer we gathered around that little TV to watch May Lou Retton win gold for the USA in gymnastics. I remember both events. I remember both as being important and exciting to me. But only one of those events really has impacted my life and ultimately the lives of my children and the world.
As I had fair and balanced parents, we also watched the Democratic National Convention that year. I still remember listening with interest as Geraldine Ferraro gave her acceptance speech as the first woman vice presidential candidate. I gathered some basic knowledge of who the Kennedy's were and others like Tip O'Neal--whom I would see at the State-Of-The-Union addresses that I also got to take in every winter. (Oh, Little House on the Prairie, how I longed for you then!)
I didn't understand much of either party's rhetoric back then, but I did learn from my parents' response. I gained an interest in the future of my country and the type of leadership we hoped for. And, as it turned out, I took in some pretty awesome history too.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Finally Exhaling
Phew! I'm glad to have that behind me! As I come to the last leg of summer, I feel I can finally take a deep breath and look back at the past few months. It's been a while since I've written anything and that is, for various reasons, but mainly, it's just been too busy around here. As I've thought over my summer, I've found myself thinking things like: "It was a horrendous summer." Or "It was the summer from Hades". (My husband says I can tend to be negative--I've no idea why.) But even I know that I am being over dramatic and negative when I think these things because in all truth, God has blessed us beyond measure and it wasn't that bad because He provided the strength. Here is a rundown of the previous 3-4 months. (Please beware that I deleted the word "quick" before "rundown".)
In April, we got to take a wonderful, family trip to Disneyland. While there we were notified that our house we were renting was being placed on the market. I begged for them to hold off another week until I could get home, clean and get things ready to be show-worthy. They obliged; I cleaned; it went on the market. The day before our church's ladies retreat, I was up to my neck in food prep and had Costco trophies stashed all over my house as I was in charge of food. A realtor called wanting to show the house--there was no other time their clients could come--boo hoo. So they came--and bought the house.
We were now in need of a house, so we prayed and waited and prayed. We placed our old Tigard home on the market. Our renters did not clean. That house is still for sale. (I'm not bitter....really.) But despite that ..or is it "inspite of that"...God made a way for us to purchase a home here while still owning the Tigard home. We still need that house to sell to really make things work, but it was so clear that this was the way God wanted us to proceed that I have a lot of peace. We literally had no other place to go--there was not even a rental available. They accepted our offer and we were able to move in early, before closing and rent free! God truly provided.
As all of this house hunting/purchasing/moving was going on we had lots of other summer things going on. Our daughter took a missions trip to the Philippines. We drove to Seattle to pick her up when she returned. We had a beach trip with friends in June, and then a camping trip 6 days after moving. We hosted a gathering 4 days after moving. Our other daughter joined the YMCA swim team with practice every day and a few swim meets thrown in. There was kids camp for our son to work at and orthodontist appointments to keep. One of the big highlights (and reasons we were so grateful to have a house to live in) was that my brother and family from Virginia made a much anticipated visit. We were glad to be able to host a big open house birthday party for him to catch up with Oregon friends and family. The day after that, we were so blessed to go as a big family to hear my nephew preach at his church in Salem. That afternoon, we packed up and headed to the beach with our Virginia family and my mom and sister to spend a few days. The next day we celebrated my daughters 11th birthday--she wanted The Olympics theme--no rest for the weary but it was fun.
After returning home from that trip we packed up the next day to visit Ryan's family in Sun River. Since we still had family in town on my side, and since we had to close on the new house, we drove back home for a couple of days to say goodbye to family and take care of business. Then we packed up again and headed back across the mountains to finish out the week at Sun River. Of course the week after that was filled with more daily appointments, etc getting everybody ready for the school year. That brings us to this week and today.
Ryan drove into Hillsboro for a long day of meetings, Savannah left on a camping trip with a friend, Reagan went in to take his math placement test for starting high school next week, and I am loving the freedom of being at home today with nothing more on the agenda for a few days and leftovers in the fridge.
As I look back at this past spring, I recall reminding the Lord that we didn't have a house of our own and that the kids were getting so close to leaving home and that I'd really love to have a place of our own before they all graduated. At that point, I didn't think a house of our own here would be possible. When our house that we were renting went on the market, I wanted it to either sell quickly so I wouldn't have to go through the trouble of showing it over and over, or stay on the market until I could get through the summer. God knew best and answered. It sold with the first showing. And then God closed every door that we thought would be a possibility and opened just one--one where we would have a house of our own. Isn't He kind? Isn't is fickle of me to call this a "horrendous summer" when God has blessed us so much?
This spring, when we returned from Disneyland and I was cleaning my socks off, I wrote out a portion of a verse on our little chalkboard in the kitchen. I have purposefully left it there all summer as a reminder. "I will bless the Lord at all times." It was a reminder and also a prayer. A prayer that I would indeed do that. Of course, I failed. But He is faithful.
I do bless Him. I bless Him for providing. I bless Him for Savannah's opportunity to serve over seas. I bless Him for our health. I bless Him that Summer could improve her swimming and make friends. I bless Him for the good times with friends in the midst of the chaos. I bless Him for moments of quiet snatched at a lake or the beach. I bless Him for the laundry that somehow stayed manageable throughout the coming and going. I bless Him for reconnections with precious family. I bless Him for the strength to pack and unpack one. more. time. I bless Him for faithful friends and family who graciously bent over backwards to move us one more time. I bless Him that maybe next summer I won't have to move. (Can I get an "Amen"?!) I bless Him for that awesome fridge that came with the house and the volunteer tomatoes and the beautifully prepared garden beds that I inherited. I bless Him for the opportunity to trust Him with our unsold home. He is so good---even when all I can dwell on is the negative. I will bless the Lord at all times. Lord, let this be true.
In April, we got to take a wonderful, family trip to Disneyland. While there we were notified that our house we were renting was being placed on the market. I begged for them to hold off another week until I could get home, clean and get things ready to be show-worthy. They obliged; I cleaned; it went on the market. The day before our church's ladies retreat, I was up to my neck in food prep and had Costco trophies stashed all over my house as I was in charge of food. A realtor called wanting to show the house--there was no other time their clients could come--boo hoo. So they came--and bought the house.
We were now in need of a house, so we prayed and waited and prayed. We placed our old Tigard home on the market. Our renters did not clean. That house is still for sale. (I'm not bitter....really.) But despite that ..or is it "inspite of that"...God made a way for us to purchase a home here while still owning the Tigard home. We still need that house to sell to really make things work, but it was so clear that this was the way God wanted us to proceed that I have a lot of peace. We literally had no other place to go--there was not even a rental available. They accepted our offer and we were able to move in early, before closing and rent free! God truly provided.
As all of this house hunting/purchasing/moving was going on we had lots of other summer things going on. Our daughter took a missions trip to the Philippines. We drove to Seattle to pick her up when she returned. We had a beach trip with friends in June, and then a camping trip 6 days after moving. We hosted a gathering 4 days after moving. Our other daughter joined the YMCA swim team with practice every day and a few swim meets thrown in. There was kids camp for our son to work at and orthodontist appointments to keep. One of the big highlights (and reasons we were so grateful to have a house to live in) was that my brother and family from Virginia made a much anticipated visit. We were glad to be able to host a big open house birthday party for him to catch up with Oregon friends and family. The day after that, we were so blessed to go as a big family to hear my nephew preach at his church in Salem. That afternoon, we packed up and headed to the beach with our Virginia family and my mom and sister to spend a few days. The next day we celebrated my daughters 11th birthday--she wanted The Olympics theme--no rest for the weary but it was fun.
After returning home from that trip we packed up the next day to visit Ryan's family in Sun River. Since we still had family in town on my side, and since we had to close on the new house, we drove back home for a couple of days to say goodbye to family and take care of business. Then we packed up again and headed back across the mountains to finish out the week at Sun River. Of course the week after that was filled with more daily appointments, etc getting everybody ready for the school year. That brings us to this week and today.
Ryan drove into Hillsboro for a long day of meetings, Savannah left on a camping trip with a friend, Reagan went in to take his math placement test for starting high school next week, and I am loving the freedom of being at home today with nothing more on the agenda for a few days and leftovers in the fridge.
As I look back at this past spring, I recall reminding the Lord that we didn't have a house of our own and that the kids were getting so close to leaving home and that I'd really love to have a place of our own before they all graduated. At that point, I didn't think a house of our own here would be possible. When our house that we were renting went on the market, I wanted it to either sell quickly so I wouldn't have to go through the trouble of showing it over and over, or stay on the market until I could get through the summer. God knew best and answered. It sold with the first showing. And then God closed every door that we thought would be a possibility and opened just one--one where we would have a house of our own. Isn't He kind? Isn't is fickle of me to call this a "horrendous summer" when God has blessed us so much?
This spring, when we returned from Disneyland and I was cleaning my socks off, I wrote out a portion of a verse on our little chalkboard in the kitchen. I have purposefully left it there all summer as a reminder. "I will bless the Lord at all times." It was a reminder and also a prayer. A prayer that I would indeed do that. Of course, I failed. But He is faithful.
I do bless Him. I bless Him for providing. I bless Him for Savannah's opportunity to serve over seas. I bless Him for our health. I bless Him that Summer could improve her swimming and make friends. I bless Him for the good times with friends in the midst of the chaos. I bless Him for moments of quiet snatched at a lake or the beach. I bless Him for the laundry that somehow stayed manageable throughout the coming and going. I bless Him for reconnections with precious family. I bless Him for the strength to pack and unpack one. more. time. I bless Him for faithful friends and family who graciously bent over backwards to move us one more time. I bless Him that maybe next summer I won't have to move. (Can I get an "Amen"?!) I bless Him for that awesome fridge that came with the house and the volunteer tomatoes and the beautifully prepared garden beds that I inherited. I bless Him for the opportunity to trust Him with our unsold home. He is so good---even when all I can dwell on is the negative. I will bless the Lord at all times. Lord, let this be true.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
If That's My "A" Game....
I'm pretty tired...and wired. I shouldn't have had those two Cokes at Red Robin tonight and that iced tea at Burger King at lunch (come on! I don't eat out all the time like this. It was a busy, on the road kind of day). But it's been a while since I've posted and if any day lately was a "blog worthy" one (well MY kind of "blog worthy") this would be it.
It was heavily scheduled and one that required keeping a sharp eye on the clock and adherence to the schedule in order for me to get successfully to that highly anticipated Red Robin moment with friends. We began with taking my youngest daughter to the optometrist this morning. And can I just say right here that having an appointment in the same town you live in cuts out 90% of the stress? That's all I need to say about that part of the day. It went well. Glasses were ordered. Nobody blacked out this time. I even remembered her cool personal sunglasses for the dilation and she wouldn't have to wear the dorky ones they hand out. "A" Game on!
Unfortunately, things went more typically for me after that. After a 25 minute drive to my mom's for the boys to mow her lawn, the lawn mower wouldn't start...not even a little bit. We had to get on the road to Beaverton. So, I headed to my In-laws' who had agreed to drop my boys at a church-sponsored all nighter later on. All the while I was praying Friday, spring break traffic would hold off until I could get safely back to my home exit. Since they would be gone, when we arrived, my mom-in-law had shared the code to get the boys into the house. Warning bells rang all over the place when this plan went into place but I proceeded with hope. Sure enough, it wouldn't work for us. I am code challenged and as it turns out, so are my boys. The boys were determined to handle this and wouldn't let me call my husband for help. When they started picking up stones to remedy the situation, I put a stop to it and told them they'd just have to wait outside. We were able to read through the window the nice note Grandma had written to them welcoming them and telling them to make themselves at home, so that was nice. The clock was telling me that I had to move on to pick up my daughter's friends from school and ferry them home with me for a sleepover. PLUS, I had to get home for an Easter music practice being held at my house in a little over an hour. Did I mention we live an hour away and this was Friday before spring break and 217 and I-5...
So with all this in mind I drove off with my boys in my review mirror, sitting on Grandma's porch waiting for Grandpa and Grandma to get back in a couple of hours. Once at the school, I just had to wait for the girls to be dismissed and then get back on the road. To my surprise, the younger of the two was entrusted with the class gold fish for spring break. "You may want to drop this off at their house." Her teacher told me. I looked at the clock and knew that wasn't possible, so little Splash was headed to Silverton for a sleepover. Of course, with my "I've got to get us on the road before the horrendous traffic takes over" driving skills, a good portion of fish water was spilled onto the pillow pet before we even made it out of the parking lot. And of course, the horrendous traffic had taken over. But we made it back to our house eventually. The practice was able to start without us and I was only 20ish (with emphasis on the "ish") minutes late.
The evening was looking up with a fun double date planned with friends from church, and I soon found myself seated at Red Robin. This time I threw caution to the wind and ordered the Coke AND a burger, fries and a half a bottle of ranch. It was fabulous. Our plan was then to go see Act of Valor but as we double checked, we found that not only would we be late, but the theater wasn't even playing it anymore. (Don't ask how you can be late to something that isn't even happening. But if one can be late to something like that, I will be.) So we did some more checking and found a different movie playing at the needed time at a different theater. It wasn't until we were well settled into our seats and starting the movie that I remembered I had emailed an invitation to a new attender at church to join us for the previous mentioned movie no longer in existence at a completely different theater at a completely different time. -Sigh- If that by itself isn't bad enough, he's thousands of miles from home, new to the area, homesick, gluten and everything intolerant, and......(really cringing here) it was his birthday.
I'm not really sure what the point is to all of this other than: 1) I am lame. 2) Drive carefully when you're hauling a goldfish. 3) If you are incompetent with codes and locks, you could very well just be generally incompetent.
Right now I am just hoping for all those caffeinated drinks to wear off and that our friend isn't a regular email checker.
It was heavily scheduled and one that required keeping a sharp eye on the clock and adherence to the schedule in order for me to get successfully to that highly anticipated Red Robin moment with friends. We began with taking my youngest daughter to the optometrist this morning. And can I just say right here that having an appointment in the same town you live in cuts out 90% of the stress? That's all I need to say about that part of the day. It went well. Glasses were ordered. Nobody blacked out this time. I even remembered her cool personal sunglasses for the dilation and she wouldn't have to wear the dorky ones they hand out. "A" Game on!
Unfortunately, things went more typically for me after that. After a 25 minute drive to my mom's for the boys to mow her lawn, the lawn mower wouldn't start...not even a little bit. We had to get on the road to Beaverton. So, I headed to my In-laws' who had agreed to drop my boys at a church-sponsored all nighter later on. All the while I was praying Friday, spring break traffic would hold off until I could get safely back to my home exit. Since they would be gone, when we arrived, my mom-in-law had shared the code to get the boys into the house. Warning bells rang all over the place when this plan went into place but I proceeded with hope. Sure enough, it wouldn't work for us. I am code challenged and as it turns out, so are my boys. The boys were determined to handle this and wouldn't let me call my husband for help. When they started picking up stones to remedy the situation, I put a stop to it and told them they'd just have to wait outside. We were able to read through the window the nice note Grandma had written to them welcoming them and telling them to make themselves at home, so that was nice. The clock was telling me that I had to move on to pick up my daughter's friends from school and ferry them home with me for a sleepover. PLUS, I had to get home for an Easter music practice being held at my house in a little over an hour. Did I mention we live an hour away and this was Friday before spring break and 217 and I-5...
So with all this in mind I drove off with my boys in my review mirror, sitting on Grandma's porch waiting for Grandpa and Grandma to get back in a couple of hours. Once at the school, I just had to wait for the girls to be dismissed and then get back on the road. To my surprise, the younger of the two was entrusted with the class gold fish for spring break. "You may want to drop this off at their house." Her teacher told me. I looked at the clock and knew that wasn't possible, so little Splash was headed to Silverton for a sleepover. Of course, with my "I've got to get us on the road before the horrendous traffic takes over" driving skills, a good portion of fish water was spilled onto the pillow pet before we even made it out of the parking lot. And of course, the horrendous traffic had taken over. But we made it back to our house eventually. The practice was able to start without us and I was only 20ish (with emphasis on the "ish") minutes late.
The evening was looking up with a fun double date planned with friends from church, and I soon found myself seated at Red Robin. This time I threw caution to the wind and ordered the Coke AND a burger, fries and a half a bottle of ranch. It was fabulous. Our plan was then to go see Act of Valor but as we double checked, we found that not only would we be late, but the theater wasn't even playing it anymore. (Don't ask how you can be late to something that isn't even happening. But if one can be late to something like that, I will be.) So we did some more checking and found a different movie playing at the needed time at a different theater. It wasn't until we were well settled into our seats and starting the movie that I remembered I had emailed an invitation to a new attender at church to join us for the previous mentioned movie no longer in existence at a completely different theater at a completely different time. -Sigh- If that by itself isn't bad enough, he's thousands of miles from home, new to the area, homesick, gluten and everything intolerant, and......(really cringing here) it was his birthday.
I'm not really sure what the point is to all of this other than: 1) I am lame. 2) Drive carefully when you're hauling a goldfish. 3) If you are incompetent with codes and locks, you could very well just be generally incompetent.
Right now I am just hoping for all those caffeinated drinks to wear off and that our friend isn't a regular email checker.
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