40 years and counting

Yesterday, we celebrated our parent's 40th anniversary.  They are an example to us and to others of loving each other and Jesus and of commitment. And it is good to honor them.

My sister had the idea to surprise them.  With some help from Chipolte and Dairy Queen, we had a plan all laid out.  Until......  sickness kept two of my favorite families home and the party dropped in size by a third.  And a storm wrecked havoc on the house we were going to be at and we did a last minute switch of houses.  In spite all that, it worked out.

40 years ago- Aunt Betty, Mom, Dad, Uncle Dwight

Mom and Dad showed up at Holly's house thinking they were just doing dinner with Holly and her in-laws.   They were truly surprised to see the whole family and some good friends.  But the surprise went up another level when Aunt Betty and Uncle Dwight (who Mom thought were busy with other events) popped out from around the corner.

Anniversary Family Picture (PC: Frances)

Our party was small and intimate but sweet with close friends and family who are part of the fabric of Mom and Dad's lives (and us kids).   We had a slide show with lots of comments on pictures, a wedding album I stole earlier that week from their house with a little help from a friend, questions and answers about Mom and Dad by the grand kids, the bridesmaid dress Aunt Betty had worn on display, and good food and conversation.

Dad told us we did well.  I take that as a compliment.

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

A shout out to Julie for being part of the surprise planning, to Frances for taking pictures, and especially to Aunt Betty and Uncle Dwight for making the trip up to celebrate.

Child of delight

Today Eve has reached the double digits which is hard to believe.

10th birthday in Maryland

She is the first of all of my nieces and nephews- real or fake- in that she was the first to enter my life. I still remember eating crabs with her parents and my brother and sister in law the night before she was born.  I still remember holding her a couple of weeks old almost in tears knowing that her family was moving halfway across the country and my relationship with her would be built on infrequent visits. Pretty much every year for 7 years(?), I would visit her family and relish the time I had with her and her siblings until her family moved to Virginia and finally Maryland when I saw her much more. But God is good because, despite the infrequent visits for years, I have always known Eve and loved her deeply.

Reading in California

She is sweet and loves well.
She is eager to please and desires to help others.
She is full of creativity and imagination.
She is a joy to all who know her.

Visiting Eve in Oklahoma

Happy birthday, Eve!

Overcoming Anxiety

Anxiety tends to defines me.  I wish it didn't, but more often than not it does.  I can be anxious about everything - big or small, what may be, what was, and what may not be. Anxiety for others. Anxiety for me.  Anxiety that I will forget a commitment.  Anxiety that I will never love that unlovable person more.  Anxiety about my niece at camp this week.  Anxiety about whether my friend will do good on a job interview.  Anxiety is all around ready to control me.

I have a choice.  Do I let anxiety define me or do I overcome anxiety?  Do I let the habit of anxiety set future precedence?  And as I contemplate these questions, I am reminded of an answer I know yet constantly forget.  "Do not be anxious about anything.  But in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and the peace that passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." * This is the habit I need to continue to make.  Instead of dwelling on anxiety, I need to present my worry to God and trust that He will give me peace.  And you know what, He inevitably does!

Today, I choose to give my anxiety to God and dwell in His peace.  "He is able to do immeasurably more than all I can ask or imagine"^ even with my anxiety.

*Phil 4:6-7
^ Eph 3:20

Friends and Relations

This week, one of my cousins and her family came and spent the week at my mom and dad's.  It was a full week- lots of meals with people who wanted to hear about the work my cousin and her husband do, visiting another cousin at her church, playing with the kids and just visiting.

I often think about relationships (really most of my blog is about relationships.)  It is because relationships matter.  We forge friendships and encourage and build each other up by spending time with other people and being involved in their lives and they in ours.   They take time and effort and often physical time together.

But my cousin lives a continent or two away.  The wonderful thing is that when we are together, we pick up right where we left off.  I think that is because we have common interest, shared history and, most importantly, long to grow in the knowledge and truth of the Lord.   I am grateful for this week and the time we had.  For all the time playing with her kids and my nieces and nephew.  For the time to hear them speak about their work in a formal and informal setting. For the time spent talking about what really matter especially while running errands. For the time just to be together.

I love and cherish relationships and the value of friends.  Every so often, it is nice when your friend is also a relation.

Games with kids

The one who giggles and one who pursues knowledge

This week, two of my favorite kids have birthdays.

Christmas bowling

Susie, a 4th of July eve child, turns 8 and Matthew, a 4th of July child, turns 10.

Girls' tea

I love these kids.  To those who don't know Susie, you would think she was shy, a little giggly and doesn't talk alot.  Well, she is shy and she is VERY giggly, but she does talk alot.  And when she does talk, she is funny and there will probably animals involved in her stories. Susie loves her animals - passionately.  Oh and she is the best hugger - she squeezes tighter than anyone else I know.

Susie's soul food- ice cream

Matthew is not so quiet though maybe with strangers. With people he knows, he shares a wealth of information or is seeking to acquire knowledge.  He may be the smartest person I know.  Play a strategy game with him and you will know what I am talking about. Some of my favorite times are playing strategy games with him.

Happy birthday, Susie and Matthew!

Living in the ordinary

Last weekend, I visited my aunt and uncle, a friend and her family, and went to a family reunion.  It is funny to think that I have seen relatives in Africa more recently than relatives in Virginia.   But along the way, I didn't take many pictures or even have my camera on me. 

A few moments captured of time with my friend and her family

But that is okay.  Even though I didn't capture every moment in picture, memories were created.  The moments were ordinary.  

• Visiting my aunt and uncle and having dinner with them.  
• Spanish class with my aunt.
• Talking to my aunt and uncle about recent trips and upcoming ones.
• Walking with my friend as in bygone years - only now with a 4 year old.
• Craft time with the 4 year old.
• Sitting on a porch and talking about everything and nothing. 
• Traveling with my brother's family and just talking.
• Making funny laughs for my nephew.
• Playing games with my nieces.

None of these moments are spectacular or amazing.  A book or movie would never be created about them. And yet.

Games

And yet, in the ordinary is the extraordinary.  These moments are the fabric of my life.  These people are the people God has given me.  And that is extraordinary. And it is good.

Choosing family

While drinking coffee the other day, as we do many Saturday mornings, Monique commented to another girl that sometimes we can chose our family.  I wholeheartedly agree with this statement.  We can't chose our biological family (thankfully I love mine).  But we can choose the family we love and do life with on a daily basis.

Family

I am fortunate to have a several good friends that I call family.  Monique is one of them.  And what a friend, one who is kind, chill, loving, gets me, and serves the Lord.

Over the past 10 years, our lives have overlapped and intertwined. And, in the past few years, we have been drawn closer and closer together.  My life is filled with Monique; we drink coffee together weekly, sit together at church, study the Bible together at Bible Study, eat dinners together, do Christmas bowling with kids.....  Our lives are wrapped up together.   She is family.

Monique, I chose you as my family!  Happy Birthday!