Savoring the Moment

Promises, promises....We said we'd update the blog regularly but several people have commented that they've seen no postings since we travelled up north. Our friend Calum, who used to visit us from Scotland would say we're "savoring the moment". I used to wonder if that was an excuse to avoid taking pictures but now I understand that sometimes absorbing the present and transferring it to memory is enough.

Though we have precious few pictures to prove it, life has been full to overflowing.

We love our refuge here at Kuyper--our 2 bedroom apartment in an idyllic setting. It is a gift from God. The sights and sounds are all so familiar and comforting....the smell of the apple turnovers as we hike across the orchard to the donut shop, the deafening roar of the waves along the shore at Lake Michigan, Starla's squeal of delight as she puts her penny in the pony at the local grocery store and rides (when I watch her I see 3 other faces smiling gleefully in my memory), Louie beginning each sermon with "turn in your copy of God's word to..."

Brian is pounding the pavement 6 miles many days doing his summer weight reduction/fitness program. He plays "Mr. Mom" while I play daughter many days. He's busy writing his next book and studying the US constitution.

Angela is BUSY! She's volunteering at the local library in the kids summer reading program, volunteering at the nursing home painting a beach scene wall mural, studying Shakespeare with a friend and she just finished a weeklong Worship Arts Camp at church.

Lily recently celebrated her 11th birthday and enjoyed her 3rd annuall roller coaster extravaganza day with her dad at an amusement park. She and I just completed a cake decorating class. Her lofty reading goal for the summer reading program is 65 books and she's already completed 34.

Robyn and Starla found baby raccoons one night last week and tried to feed them graham crackers. They feed the chipmunks on our patio and climb the mulberry trees to find the best berries. They are employed by our neighbor to water all the flowers around our building and she pays them 10 cents each per day.

We've all celebrated wedding, birthdays, graduation, meal sharing, walks and play dates with friends. Much is good in our lives and we are grateful people.

The bittersweet part of the return has been walking alongside my mom as she approaches death. I never anticipated becoming so intimately acquainted with the local hospital. Recently, she stablilized the very same room that my dad breathed his last on this earth. Her body continues to weaken under the strain of congestive heart failure and every night I go to bed wondering whether my phone will ring with a message of crisis before morning. I long for the day when her suffering will be over; still, the unknowns of "walking through the valley of the shadow of death" to get there is what she and I both dread.

So there's our June in a nutshell. As for the weather, it started out and ended feeling more like fall than spring--cool and crisp. But we also enjoyed many "perfect" days and even a couple of scorchers (by Michigan standards).

Starla's Haircut

Why did we wait so long?

Lily's Soccer Celebration

Lily started her soccer season as an inexperienced newbee and ended as a valued player on her team. She had a great time learning and can't wait to do it again next fall. The sports program she participated in rented a waterpark for all the families who participated as an end of season celebration. It was tons of fun on a perfect night.

Goodbyes on the South Side

We're packing it up and excitedly anticipating another summer up north. But there are last play dates, get togethers and hugs to give down here as we part ways for a season. What a blessing that as the years pass, relationships are solidified both north and south to celebrate reuniting with and sadly hug goodbye. Such is the richness of life....

Birthday Girl

Though I had not anticipated my mom would see another birthday, she turned 89 earlier this month. I spoke with her on the phone that day and she sounded strong and happy as she told me she was "43". Dementia can be such a blessing when a person's health fails. At least they can live in a pretend world that has youth and vigor.

I was listening to some old favorites from Sara Groves and came across this song. It articulates well my mom's journey toward the end of life and my participation in that journey.

I have a friend who just turned 88 and she just shared with me that she's afraid of dying.

I sit here years from her experience and try to bring her comfort. I try to bring her comfort.

But what do I know? What do I know?

She grew up singing about the glory land, and she would testify how Jesus changed her life.

It was easy to have faith when she was 34, but now her friends are dying, and death is at her door.

Oh, what do I know? What do I know?

She lost her husband after 60 years and as he slipped away, she still had things to say.

Death can be so inconvenient. You try to live and love. It comes and interrupts.

Oh, what do I know? What do I know?

Well, I don't know that there are harps in heaven or the process of earning your wings.

And I don't know of bright lights at the end of tunnels, or any of these things.

But I know to be absent from this body, is to be present with the Lord.

And from what I know of Him, that must be very good.

But I know to be absent from this body, is to be present with the Lord. And from what I know of Him, that must be VERY GOOD.....

In the Bluebonnets...

Bluebonnets are the Texas state flower. They bloom wild in fields around mid April. I took some photos of the girls individually this year and last but then a friend who is a professional photographer offered to take portraits of the girls in the bluebonnets last week. Sorry, I can't share those on the blog but here's a few of my amateur photos.

Lily plays Soccer

Lily joined a spring soccer team. She's the first Webster girl to join an organized sport and her Daddy is glad she chose soccer. He hasn't played on a team since college but they are enjoying practicing together and Brian is assistant coach on her team. We always knew she'd enjoy and do well in a sport because she's fast, athletic and adventurous. Besides playing great, it's been a joy to see her earn end of game acknowledgement awards for both "christlikeness" and "sportsmanship". 4 more games---GO LILY!

Church Anniversary Hallelujah Hoedown

Last Friday was our church's second anniversary hoedown. We had a great time. First we had a delicious dinner. There were games for the kids, a slide show with pictures from our church and a bonfire...and of course, square dancing. It was the first time for all of us to square dance, and my (Angela's) overall impression is that it is loads of fun! We all wore tiered skirts that twirl beautifully. My partner was my friend Rebecca. Each square has 4 couples and the caller calls out each move as you do it. It was quite entertaining and enjoyable! After the square dancing we had cobbler, and then...we went back to dance and twirl and dance some more!

Easter

Family Traditions are important to us. Easter is an incredible time of celebration. Jesus took our punishment on the cross, conquered sin and won. He is risen indeed!
This was our second year to coordinate the Easter breakfast at the church we attend. Lots of help from the youth group made light work.
This was our 4th year to have Easter dinner at our friends', the Andersons', house. They always have their cross in the front yard picturing the true celebration of Easter. Good food, good friends and lots of candy....

Bunkbed

Daddy spent spring break building us a bunkbed. It has bookshelves on the ends. I (Angela) am on the top bunk. I have divided the shelves for special use. The first shelf holds 40 of my favorite books. It was very hard to pick which books to place on that special shelf, and I am continually growing my collection of favorites. I put devotional books on the second and library books in the corner on the third. We can both sit up without banging our heads and now we each have our own space. We are very happy with our new bed.