Friends

Will has two buddies at school.  The three of them like to sit together at lunch and play together at recess.  They have so much in common that it took about four days for him to figure out that one of his new buddies was a girl.   But I guess it just doesn't matter.  Today after school we were walking around the track as part of the "Jog/Walk Club" that meets on Tuesdays.  (There are about 80 kids who walk and keep track of their miles.)  Will was walking with his friend.  She was telling him about a video game.  When I caught up to them, Will was excited to tell me, "He said (blah blah), then he said (blah blah).......and he said I could (blah blah)."  I pulled him aside and whispered, "Um, Will, 'he' is a 'she'".
 "Oh yeah" he said, "I forgot."

Sold?

We had an offer on our house Saturday and now we are playing the back-and-forth counter offer game--trying to find a number that makes everyone happy.  Well, at least a little less unhappy.  We think our house is worth MUCH more than the "market" says it is.  To us it is priceless.  And there's the problem.  I thought I would be happy to sell the house and instead, the last two nights, I have been crying before I go to sleep.  It's just so sad to think of someone else living there.  I feel like I'm losing another part of Anna, but really it's a part of myself since I have SO many memories of all of our kids there.  Even the bathtub that needs to be replaced--I used to bathe three kids at a time in there!  The yard--the perfect place for all of our parties, picnics, and play.  The fireplace--so cozy with our little ones in their footie pajamas gathered round roasting marshmallows.  The kitchen--loved those family dinners with all six of us around the table.  Sigh.  Moving is hard.  Moving on is harder.
Last night I asked the kids where they felt most at home.  Two of them said "here".  They didn't mean Richmond.  They didn't mean they love this condo.  They meant here with our family.  So this is home for now.  No home on this earth is forever.  We will make memories here and when we finally sell our house, we will move again and make memories somewhere else.  I have to keep reminding myself to look forward, not back.  As the name of the blog reminds me, PRESS ON!

I am having a hard time finding a house here.  Part of the problem is that I can't find anyplace with a backyard as nice as the one we are enjoying in this rental unit.  This is the view from our deck.

When you step out our back door there is a path that leads to the creek.

He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul.

(Ps. 23:2-3)

Before a word is on my tongue...

"Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord." (Ps. 139:4)
I've been going to a Mom's in Touch group since school started.  It's a group of women who meet together to pray for their kids and their schools.  I told them about Jacob, Audra, and Will, but I never mentioned Anna.  They might have wondered why I was so tearful the first day.  It was because I was afraid I couldn't pull myself together enough to pray for my prayer partner's daughter... Anna.   But I didn't say anything.  I didn't mention it last week either.
But this week it came up---and spilled out.
Why today?
Because today there is a former MIT group member dying of cancer.  Because today there is group member whose husband has a (hopefully) benign brain tumor.  Because today, we all needed to be reminded that God is still in control and that this life is not all there is.  Because, AFTER I shared, the MIT leader told me that she was going to visit a woman today who had lost her son to cancer a few months ago.  She didn't know what to say to her, but God had impressed upon her heart that she needed to reach out to her.  I wrote down Anna's website, my email address and told her to tell this woman that I was going to go to a bereavement group next week for the first time and that she was welcome to go with me.
Do you see HIM in the details and the timing?  Do you see how He "works all things together"?
He knows.  He sees. He cares!

A Sweet Reunion

Nineteen years ago I was teaching school in Kenya.  One of my students was a 5th grader named Kara.  We spent a lot of time together in school and out of school.  Last night I saw Kara at the concert I went to.  She is now married with three kids and living in South Asia.  Nineteen years ago, I was 12 years older than Kara.  But now that she is a grown woman with kids, it seems like we are the same age ---amazing how that happens!

Update

I told you yesterday that I spoke with a volunteer.  She was not aware of all of the programs that the group offered.  I emailed the chaplain when I got home and found that they have a bereavement group starting TONIGHT.  I can't go  because I am going to a book dedication/worship time with Travis Cottrell that I am very excited about,  BUT I will go next Thursday.   Thanks Shelley for connecting me to other grieving parents, and please come back to my house.  The bathrooms are clean now!

Are you kidding me?

I have a new friend that I met 20 years ago.  I was reading the Baylor Line a few months ago and  saw that a girl from my graduating class had recently moved to Richmond.  I had a vague recollection of a tall girl with curly hair, so I emailed her and told her we were moving her way.  She had no idea who I was, but was nice enough to welcome me into her circle of friends when I arrived.  Today she invited me to attend a fancy Junior League-type market that was benefitting  kids with cancer.  Before she came to pick me up, I made sure that the pillows were on the couch; I picked up the shoes by the door; I put the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher; I even swept the back porch.  When she walked in, the first thing she asked was, "Can I use your bathroom?"  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  My choices were to let her go upstairs and see my messy bed, or let her use the kids bathroom.  I chose to let her think my kids were slobs instead of letting her think I was a slob.  Next time I want to impress someone I will not forget to wipe down the bathroom!

We enjoyed "just looking" at all of the jewelry, bags, clothes and fancy dog collars at the Ivy Market.  On the way out I stopped and asked about the organization that was benefitting from the fund raiser.  It's a group that works to "improve the lives of children battling cancer."  They told me about all of their activities and it sounded a lot like Ally's House.  Then I asked the volunteer, "Do you have any services for the families of the children who die?"  The woman stared back at me with a blank look on her face, "Uh, no.  I don't know of anything..."  I wanted to say, "Some of them do die you know."

Raccoons and Bun-gee Cords

We have raccoons.  No, they are not pets, but apparently we are feeding them.  Two nights ago I heard them so I sent Richard out to investigate.  The lid was off one of the trash cans.  When he went to put it back on, there were two raccoons staring back at him from the bottom of the can.  They didn't scamper off and Richard didn't want to trap them in the can so he just left them there.  The next day we moved all of the trash to one can and put a bun-gee cord over the top to hold the lid on.  This morning the empty can was still covered, but the other lid was laying in the grass with the bun-gee cord right next to it.  I guess  bun-gee cords are no match for little raccoon hands and to tell you the truth,  I've always wanted a pet raccoon.

Servant-hood

I have reached the "I quit my job 13 years ago when I started having kids and now my kids are in school  so what do I do?" stage of life.  I have two degrees, but I have been feeling NOT SMART and NOT ABLE to do anything "important" or "professional".  This all came to a head Friday night when I burned the pizza.  I know burned pizza had NOTHING to do with how I was feeling, but it sent me over the edge and all sorts of emotions came spilling out--including grief which is always lurking beneath the surface.  (Yuck!--and surprise for Richard!)
THE NEXT MORNING during my quiet time I was reading in Isaiah chapter 49....

3"You are my servant... in whom I will display my splendor."
4"But I said, 'I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing...
(But God, my resume isn't  impressive in the eyes of the world.  My experiences don't qualify me to do anything.  What was it all for?  What have you prepared me to do?)
"Yet what is due me is in the Lord's hand, and my reward is with my God."

Then God asked me the question,
"Is it too small a thing for you to be my servant?"

"Why... labor on what does not satisfy?  Listen to me... and your soul  will delight in the richest of fare.  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways... As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."  (Is. 55:2)

No Lord, it is not too small a thing for me to be your servant.  Speak for your servant is listening.

Happy Birthday Will

Last night I was sad as I kissed my eight-year-old goodnight and realized that I would never have another eight-year-old.  It's hard when your kids grow up!
But today was a day to celebrate being nine.  Will got up early to make the most of his day.  He opened his nine presents and his cards at breakfast.  Then we had fun Skyping our friends and family in Oklahoma.  (Video conferencing on the computer for those of you who have never tried it.  It's great and it's FREE.)  The best quote was from Will's buddy Nate who asked, "Is it Saturday there?"
At ten o'clock his new VA friend arrived for four hours of fun.  We took them to the park then came back home for spaghetti and more play.  Tonight we went to see "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs".  We liked the movie, but it would have been just as good without paying extra for the 3D showing.  I'm pretty sure Will had a good day.  He has decided that now that he is nine, he is too old for a booster seat.  I reluctantly agreed, but I will miss having a car seat in my car.

Will likes cookies better than cake and ice-cream better than anything

Making ice-cream sundaes