Yes, it has been another whole month. Instead of beating myself up for not posting every week like I tell myself I am going to...I should just plan on updating once a month and surprising myself when I do it more often. With that said, here's what has happened over the last month-hang with me...this post will end....eventually.
My mom and dad on their last cruise to celebrate their 30th anniversary, which he wouldn't quite make it to, but celebrated nonetheless!
Last month we (my mom, me and the girls) took a little drive up to see my grandparents who are now well into their 90's and still living on their own. The reality of this is that every time I see them-it might be my last. Not to sound morbid but you just never know. My grandparents-while they are still healthy and frugal are AWESOME. I love them and so do my children. Hannah can hardly wait to climb up on Great Grandpa's lap for a story despite his failing voice. She doesn't care, she just sees a man who loves her and cherishes every moment he has been given. What she doesn't know but will when she is older is a man who grew up during the Great Depression, who only had two pair of pants during his childhood, who joined the service, traveled the world had five children, has buried two already, worked like a dog, lived on little, saved a lot, given even more away, has read more in his life then most libraries can hold, has loved his wife and chosen to be faithful to her in their seven decades of marriage. (most people don't live to seventy, let alone stay married that long). My grandfather has a living legacy that most people only dream of- he's lived through the best and worst of this world with an eternal perspective.
On the flip side-or his better looking side-is Grandpa's side kick Jeanette! She might not tower much over 5 feet but she can pack a punch. Literally, she might pack punch just like she packs the most amazing picnic lunches. Grandma can make a feast for pennies. This gal was green before there was a green. On our most recent trip to see them she made a green jello with crushed pineapple in it. I served it up and she put the empty pan back in the fridge. Upon clearing the table later I took the pan out of the fridge because there weren't any leftovers. She gently stopped me from rinsing the pan and told me that she wanted to save it. I asked her why and she told me that when she rinses out the empty jello pan she will pour it into a cup and drink the juice. Again-raised during the depression and has lived that way her ENTIRE life! She has saved every napkin, recycled every container, given away more homemade jam and picked more produce then I could even imagine or count.
I love my grandparents so much it hurts. In some ways I don't ever want them to pass but I know that their footprints-while small on this physical earth, are ginormous in eternity!
Then there's the little trip we took to Chicago to see Mary Poppins. As a belated birthday gift to Hannah and Megan, Grandpa Bob and Grandma Linda took them to see the Broadway version. Then we had a fabulous dinner at the Grand Lux on Michigan Ave. The next morning we were off to Lincoln Park Zoo and before we hit the road home. We had a wonderful time and stayed in some pretty nice digs too! Thank you-everyone who made our trip so fun!
We finished up our swimming lessons for the summer. The girls gained a ton of confidence in the water and had a blast meeting new friends. They can't wait to start again in the fall.
Charlie and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary. I can't say enough about this guy that I have spent half of my life loving. I love him more today then I did in those first few years when I thought I knew what love was. The days he used to follow me while I was on a date with his best friend, leave a pack of gum on my car so that I would find it in the morning on my way to school, show up at an away game unexpectedly, teach me to drive stick on his Samurai, skin my dead cat for me in Dr. Ellis' A & P class. All those things I thought were love pale in comparison to how he loves me now-getting up day after day to go to work, or making breakfast for us on the weekends when he could sleep in a little more, helping to clear the table, bathe the girls, read stories every night, complete projects both here and at my mom's, encourage me to be a better mom, friend and disciple and staying faithful to his family and God. Lucky doesn't even begin to describe how I feel to be married to you, Babe!
We've played, celebrated, enjoyed the beach, watched a soccer game or two and loved every minute of our time doing those things with friends and family. This summer is going to be a blast. We have a ton to look forward to but we just enjoy our time outside and playing in the sand.
This Saturday I hope to compete (I use that term very loosely) in my fist 5K. I have always wanted to try it and set a goal to complete one before I turn 31. So just pray that I don't pass out or make too big of a fool out of myself.
And finally, yesterday marked the three year anniversary of my dad's death. It's funny how much life changes in three years. Looking back on that time of loosing my dad, I never would have seen life looking this way. I don't know that I could have imagined what the next week would look like-let alone three or five or ten years down the road.
The truth is that now I am three years past his death and I don't understand it any better than I ever have. In a book called Turn My Mourning into Dancing by Henri Nouwen. I came across these words...
"Pruning means cutting, reshaping, removing what diminishes vitality. When we look at a pruned vineyard, we can hardly believe it will bear fruit. But when the harvest comes, we realize that the pruning allowed the vines to concentrate their energy and produce more grapes. Grateful people learn to celebrate even amid life's hard and harrowing memories because they know that pruning is no mere punishment, but preparation.
When our gratitude for the past is only partial, our hope for the future can likewise never be full. But our submitting to God's pruning work will not ultimately leave us sad, but hopeful for what can happen in us and through us. Harvesttime will bring its own blessings...pg19"
When our gratitude for the past is only partial, our hope for the future can likewise never be full. But our submitting to God's pruning work will not ultimately leave us sad, but hopeful for what can happen in us and through us. Harvesttime will bring its own blessings...pg19"
You see, even in the pain of my dad's absence I am seeing the harvest. I look at my mom-she is harvesting. Not only is my mom growing and learning new things about the Savior but she is ministering to people daily through ministries she never would have been involved with if not for my dad's passing. The painful pruning in our lives wasn't meant as a punishment but a preparation. I continue to praise God amidst my loss and worship Him for His goodness in my life.
My mom and dad on their last cruise to celebrate their 30th anniversary, which he wouldn't quite make it to, but celebrated nonetheless!Thanks for sticking with me. I will update soon (term used loosely) with some summer pics of the girls!
Easter morning before we left for church. Grandpa and Grandma L came up to visit us that weekend and we had so much fun decorating popcorn egg balls and opening our fun Easter baskets!
This is what bees do, isn't it?
Hannah is mid sentence explaining the "whys" of rain clouds.
Every chance the girls got to wear the rain coats, boots and umbrellas from Uncle Wes and Miss Meggie-they did! Even if it just looked like rain was coming.