August 12, 2010

  • A week before we moved, we had a great fare-thee-well party. I'm thinking that about 130 people stopped by. It was terrific, though I spent much of the day trying to contain tears or just all-out crying. Sometimes crying is just the right thing to do, you know, and it's not a bad thing at all. Which is a good thing, 'cause I did a lot of it!
    One of our friends took this picture of us that day,
    in between my taking shots of all of them....



    And before too long, that little Scion was winding its way across the continent!

August 10, 2010

  •  
     I don't have time to jump back in yet either here, nor even with much of FB, but I just wanted to let you know - we are here! And we have much to do...living amidst a labyrinth of sealed boxes at the moment and a large list of to-do's!

    Eventually, I hope to write a true update....but it could take some time,
    so be patient with me.
     

    Blessings to you all, my sorely-missed friends!
    Please do send me a message or leave a comment giving me a recap of your news.

July 27, 2010

  • Four days left to pack. In five, we shove off. Feeling the crunch.

    ********
    Heidie had an early 16th b'day party on Saturday. They had a blast.

    ***********
    "The true way to handle a matter wisely is to trust in the Lord. This is the sure clue to the most intricate labyrinths of life...." ~ C. Spurgeon

    "Things work out when you trust in God." Prov 16:20

    Trusting while I fly....

July 24, 2010

  • I miss knowing what is going on with all of you. It's time for you to send me a quick update via message or comment or Facebook...
    I look forward to the day when I can be leisurely with Xanga again.

    **********
    "From the beginning of the year to the end of the year, from the first gathering of evening shadows until the day-star shines, in all conditions and under all circumstances, it shall be well with the righteous." ~ C. Spurgeon

    This, of course, only makes sense if you remember that being righteous isn't about doing the "right" things, but it's all about being in "right-relationship" with God. If things are cool between Him and me, then I can weather any situation, however difficult.
    I know it's true. I've lived it.

    "Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them." Is 3:10
    "Arise from the depression....in which circumstances have kept you - rise to a new life!"
    Is 60:1

    As far as I can tell, that's only possible with Jesus. I'm so grateful that I walk through this life with Him. I didn't at one time, you know, and sometimes I even try to make it on my own still. Silly girl. Yes, I am so, so grateful for this Companion
    who walks through all of life's vicissitudes beside me.

    **********
    We'll be busy day today - not only packing, but prepping for a large going-away party tomorrow. The goodbyes are increasing daily. Yesterday I had to say goodbye to my very good, sweet, young friend pictured here, between 2 of us who often taught her classes and have just lived and laughed through much of her young life with her.



    I was a wet mess. She's like one of my own.

    And, the girls are bidding fond adieus to many chums.
    In this case it was the young lady in the gray top.



    It's definitely tissue time around here, which is a good thing.
    It means that much love abounds.

July 23, 2010

  • My nuclear stress test came out beyond normal....the doctor said that my heart is actually
    in good shape.  I was euphorically relieved and so, so grateful. Plus, I've been getting more sleep and the heart murmur symptoms have abated.
    It makes what we are doing much easier.

    Yesterday was our 32nd anniversary. We played hookie. More on that later.

    9 days left until moving day....

    *******
    "Integral obedience is absolutely vital to intimacy...worship is a life of obedience."
    ~ J. Bevere

    "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land." Is 1:19

    We sincerely believe that what we are doing is out of obedience to God's leading.
    I'm expecting increased intimacy, and I find that very exciting,
    even if at times what we are doing seems crazy and scary.

    I encourage you to follow His nudgings, however far-fetched they may be.

    *******
    Lovely upstate NY skies during our trip last weekend:



    Grandkids and Grandma:



    And, yours truly....



    And now, off to more packing!

July 21, 2010

  • "If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don't recommend Christianity." ~ CS Lewis

    Boy, isn't that the truth? But adventure abounds, that's for sure....and in the midst of all our ups and downs, He does provide solace.

    "We possess this precious treasure in frail, human vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves. We are hedged in (pressed) on every side - troubled and oppressed in every way, but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; we are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted, to stand alone; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed" 2 Cor 4:7-9

    "God... proved a comfort to me." Col 4:11

    We're definitely living the adventure here. 11 days and the trucks roll. Just to add some excitement to the mix, I had to have a 4 & 1/2 hour nuclear stress test yesterday to be sure that my heart murmur symptoms are just that - innocuous heart murmur symptoms and nothing more. It seemed, from my perspective, that all went well - but, I'll get the final results later today. Hopefully nothing will require immediate attention, as time for procedures and convalescence is on the short side here! That is today's understatement, in case you didn't catch it.

    ***********

    Last weekend in NY, we went to Green Lakes State Park.

    It's always a lovely spot in which to relax.

     

    Here we have some of us with Cousin Jess and Grandma.

    I enjoyed the skies as minor storms blew in and out.

     

     

    Then it was dinner time....Jess, Gram and Cousin Meredith.

    And Rob's bro and sister-in-law.

     

    Similarly to my boys, our dear uncle is less than thrilled about camera time.

    I just don't get it!! Who doesn't love a photo shoot?

July 19, 2010

  • We're back from a trek north for the weekend. The break from all that faces us here - chores, errands and a multitude of decisions - was very nice.
    Now, we've returned to 13 days of much to do!

    But, I'm still noticing small delights along the way....



    And, here are the girls when we picked them up from a week at camp.



    They weren't campers, per se....but spent the time hanging out with their 2 good friends who work there all summer as staff members. (It's a family thing they do.)

    *******
    "Persevering is just faith with Nikes on." ~ A. Seu

    "We pray that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, to...every kind of endurance and patience - perseverance and forbearance - with joy." Col 1:11

    "Endurance develops maturity of character." Rom 5:4

    May the Lord give us all the ability to persevere in whatever is at hand.

    *******
    I wonder what you are blogging about...but, for now - I must fly and continue to wonder!

July 16, 2010

  • Today we are off to upstate NY to spend the weekend with Rob's family - his mom, brother, sister-in-law and nieces. Driving away on Sunday will be a bit challenging, I am sure. Just one of many challenges we are facing right about now. Yesterday was overflowing with them - aside from all the work of packing and making arrangements, we had to scramble to set up financial details for both of our college students. Jesse will be starting art school in exactly a month, Jon will be entering his senior year.
     Transitions abound at this point.

    Speaking of changes....I stumbled across this stray photo while packing the other day.
    I'm guessing it's from 2000-ish.

    Wow. We look younger. How many more changes will the next 10 years bring,
    and to where will we be scattered by then? I'm glad that God knows what we do not,
    and His ways are always good.

    **********

    "I always have permission to bring something real to the Lord, the Respecter of emotions; no need to hide or pretend." ~ A. Seu

    "Pour out your hearts before Him." Ps 62:8

    Isn't that a gift given all that is swirling?

    **********

    Have a delightful weekend, friends...

July 15, 2010

  • Quick update here...though I need you to message me a short summary of your news,
    as I have no time to peruse blogs....

    I've been having special time with folks as we wind things up here...

    College chums:

    My very dearest of friends:

    My lovely and gracious Xanga buddy, Doris:

    One of my all-time favorite girls, also known as Jon's girl:

    And Rob even had time with our best man, Brian. You can see what they did:

    All that amid a multitude of packing sessions and phone calls and other arrangements.

    We have finally confirmed that we are renting the house that we are trying to buy in Oregon - so we do have a home in which to move. (Cheers and Woots! all around!) We continue to dicker with the bank about the price. Best case scenario: we come to agreement and close on it by the end of September. Worst case scenario: they refuse to budge and foreclose on the house and try to sell it at a ridiculously high and impossible to get price and we move again in mid-September. I am encouraged.
    We think it just might work out without that latter situation transpiring.
    May it be.
    Thank You, Jesus.

    *********

    "There are no 'ordinary days.' There is always the tug of war...There is a liberation in that if you will have it....it's just a little while more, after all." ~ A. Seu

    I fell like Dory...just keep swimming.....

    "Therefore also now, says the Lord, turn and keep on coming to Me with all your heart..." Joel 2:12

    "Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking." Mt 7:7

    "Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear; only keep on believing." Mk 5:36

    Yes. That's the ticket. Keep on keeping on.

July 12, 2010

  • I'm back from a whirlwind weekend away, seeing some college chums and my dear girl, Katie. And now I'm back to packing, various last hour doctors' appts., many teary farewells and about 19 or 20 days until the moving trucks pull out. We still are sorting out housing in Oregon, but I'm just trusting it's all going to work out, indeed. What is inevitable at this point is that I'm going to be increasingly absent from Xanga until things settle down.
    We are fastening our seatbelts and getting ready for a whirlwind,
    all the while expecting God to do good things.

    "The Lord brings about the most improbably wonderful finales....The end of a matter is what counts. If the end is nice, the middle mess is not only bearable but takes on the endpoint's sheen...Satan wants you to believe the middle will last forever...
    The key to everything, to surviving brutal middles...[is that] those who believe
    not merely survive, but flourish." ~ A. Seu

    "God mean[s] it for good." Gen 50:20

    I'm expecting good - not only for us, but for you and whatever God is doing in your life at the moment. If you'd like to connect on Facebook, while I am in and out here, send me a message! I'll be able to do soundbites there
     a bit more easily than lengthy ruminations here.

    From this last weekend:



    Blessings, dear friends! If I don't pop in here again, any time soon...
    it'll be coming next from Oregon! (Someone pinch me now. )