Saturday, October 10, 2009
Friday, October 09, 2009
Uncle Dan
The sun isn't even up yet, too early for me. But I had to get up to take Christianne to school in the dark because she made it into jazz band. She was up since 5, and excited. And that of course makes me happy, even if it is still dark outside.
My uncle passed away yesterday. He was only 52, such a short life, but a hard one. I don't have that many memories of Uncle Danny, unfortunately, just a handful. But as I got older, he was growing up and starting a family and then moving away. We really lost contact after that.
But when I was young, I remember he was cool. Just 12 years older than me, he was a teenager and young adult when I was a kid, and that's cool. I remember Grandma and Grandpa D gave me a boombox one Christmas, a pink one, and two cassette tapes - some CMA winners compilation and Disco Mickey Mouse. (I still know most of the songs from Disco Mickey Mouse.) So that must've made me, what, about 8 or 10? But the thing that fascinated me most was that it had tape recording capabilities - what fun for a kid! Enter cool Uncle Danny. He didn't have any blank cassettes, but he Scotch-taped over the little holes in a David Bowie cassette so I could record all the goings-on of the day.
I didn't even know who David Bowie was for years.
Anyway, please keep the family in your prayers - Dan's children, brothers, and sisters most of all.
Love you, Uncle Danny, and I'm looking forward to seeing you again.
xoxo
My uncle passed away yesterday. He was only 52, such a short life, but a hard one. I don't have that many memories of Uncle Danny, unfortunately, just a handful. But as I got older, he was growing up and starting a family and then moving away. We really lost contact after that.
But when I was young, I remember he was cool. Just 12 years older than me, he was a teenager and young adult when I was a kid, and that's cool. I remember Grandma and Grandpa D gave me a boombox one Christmas, a pink one, and two cassette tapes - some CMA winners compilation and Disco Mickey Mouse. (I still know most of the songs from Disco Mickey Mouse.) So that must've made me, what, about 8 or 10? But the thing that fascinated me most was that it had tape recording capabilities - what fun for a kid! Enter cool Uncle Danny. He didn't have any blank cassettes, but he Scotch-taped over the little holes in a David Bowie cassette so I could record all the goings-on of the day.
I didn't even know who David Bowie was for years.
Anyway, please keep the family in your prayers - Dan's children, brothers, and sisters most of all.
Love you, Uncle Danny, and I'm looking forward to seeing you again.
xoxo
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Day 6
It's been a long week for me.
And I know I'm not the only one.
Grace is somewhat "quarantined" in the basement with the H1N1 virus. We've worked hard to keep her down here and Pop on the second floor - not good for him to get this. She's not doing too badly, all things considered, although I think she's getting a little stir crazy. But overall she's a good patient actually. No fever this morning (yet?) but the chest coughing and achiness continues. Our biggest prayer is not just that she'll feel better soon but that Pop will not get it!
But others are having a long week as well, I know. My dad's brothers and sisters are gathered in Bend, Oregon, as my Uncle Dan is quite possibly in his final days. Praying for them all, for God's strength and peace and wisdom, as well as healing of course for Dan.
Robert and I did get to do a little geocaching the other day... man, I've really missed that. I got a new GPS for my birthday and we were finally able to go out and get some finds. In the dark and in the rain even! Geocaching is one of those things I spoke of in my last post - those things I love to do but have trouble finding the time to do it. (Or good weather - today we got our first snow of the season.)
And... I got my first ticket in about 7 years the other night. I was so upset. It's funny how we change. I used to get tickets here and there and just considered them part of life... but really in the past few years, with a growing consciousness I guess of the kids and safety (and the effect on my checkbook of fines and insurance costs), I've really slowed down. I don't often go much over the speed limit, but the other night I was talking and apparently missed the fact that the limit had slowed. I was going 40 in a 30 zone - she wrote me down for lower though but my fine is still $86.
Not the end of the world I know, but I sure would rather spend $86 on a lot of other things, you know?
The last time I got a ticket Joshua was in the back seat and I was passing by their old school on my way to Kaiser to meet Robert for lunch. Apparently I was passing by too quickly - I got pulled over, right in front of Kaiser, Robert standing outside across the parking lot watching me. Nice. As the officer went back to the car, Josh in all his excitement said, "Mommy! What is the policeman doing?!"
"He's going to give me a ticket, Josh." I said, not very excited at all.
But Josh could barely contain himself. "A ticket?!?! A ticket!!! Yay! Where are we going!??!?!"
:: Memories! :: He sure said some of the funniest things. I'll have to tell you more sometime.
All right, my nursing duty calls and this brief reprieve is over for the moment. Enjoy your day!
xoxo
And I know I'm not the only one.
Grace is somewhat "quarantined" in the basement with the H1N1 virus. We've worked hard to keep her down here and Pop on the second floor - not good for him to get this. She's not doing too badly, all things considered, although I think she's getting a little stir crazy. But overall she's a good patient actually. No fever this morning (yet?) but the chest coughing and achiness continues. Our biggest prayer is not just that she'll feel better soon but that Pop will not get it!
But others are having a long week as well, I know. My dad's brothers and sisters are gathered in Bend, Oregon, as my Uncle Dan is quite possibly in his final days. Praying for them all, for God's strength and peace and wisdom, as well as healing of course for Dan.
Robert and I did get to do a little geocaching the other day... man, I've really missed that. I got a new GPS for my birthday and we were finally able to go out and get some finds. In the dark and in the rain even! Geocaching is one of those things I spoke of in my last post - those things I love to do but have trouble finding the time to do it. (Or good weather - today we got our first snow of the season.)
And... I got my first ticket in about 7 years the other night. I was so upset. It's funny how we change. I used to get tickets here and there and just considered them part of life... but really in the past few years, with a growing consciousness I guess of the kids and safety (and the effect on my checkbook of fines and insurance costs), I've really slowed down. I don't often go much over the speed limit, but the other night I was talking and apparently missed the fact that the limit had slowed. I was going 40 in a 30 zone - she wrote me down for lower though but my fine is still $86.
Not the end of the world I know, but I sure would rather spend $86 on a lot of other things, you know?
The last time I got a ticket Joshua was in the back seat and I was passing by their old school on my way to Kaiser to meet Robert for lunch. Apparently I was passing by too quickly - I got pulled over, right in front of Kaiser, Robert standing outside across the parking lot watching me. Nice. As the officer went back to the car, Josh in all his excitement said, "Mommy! What is the policeman doing?!"
"He's going to give me a ticket, Josh." I said, not very excited at all.
But Josh could barely contain himself. "A ticket?!?! A ticket!!! Yay! Where are we going!??!?!"
:: Memories! :: He sure said some of the funniest things. I'll have to tell you more sometime.
All right, my nursing duty calls and this brief reprieve is over for the moment. Enjoy your day!
xoxo
Saturday, October 03, 2009
I've Got a River of Life Flowing Out of Me
Do you remember that song?
Though you wouldn't know it by the periodic posting of late, blogging is one of my favorite things to do.
As is scrapbooking, I guess, which I haven't had a chance to do in months.
Hmmm... simple pleasures.
But life is full and busy and good.
Pop arrived 4 weeks ago today - hard to believe already. I think he's settled in quite nicely... no real head-butting, no complaints (that I've heard!), no major catastrophes. I think he might even like it here. Except that he's still chilled. And too stubborn to use the heater. But anyway...
His house finally closed escrow last week, so thank you on your prayers for that. It closed about 3 weeks behind schedule, but it closed. The check is on its way to Pop, after being mis-mailed somewhere else. The efficiency of some businesses just amazes me. Yeah.
The Texans are here, two of them at least.
And so with adjusting to Pop's routine, company, kids' extra-curriculars, my unspecified business endeavor, yada yada yada, life is busy.
I learned yesterday in my Bible study* though about God's peace - remember the song, "I've Got Peace Like a River?" So many times we picture peace as a still, quiet pond. In fact when I think of perfect serene moments, I picture sitting at a quiet lake, early in the morning, before the wind and the birds and the activity comes along and disturbs it. But that childhood song (and indeed God's Word!) teaches that God gives us peace like a river, not a pond.
When we first drove to Colorado from California, the last chunk of our journey before we got into Denver was alongside the Colorado River. Not as big, say, as the Mississippi, but strong and powerful. Some fished, but we also glimpsed many people rafting the rapids that parallelled the highway.
In a neighboring town we also have another river (is it the Cache la Poudre, Robert?) that people also raft down. In my understanding it isn't the soft, easy going waters like the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland, but a rough, bouncy, vibrant ride that calls to people who like excitement.
And in our own little town we have the Big Thompson River. Here in town it isn't very big; in the Fairgrounds Park the kids have actually gotten in and played in it. In fact, I would love to see my kids get baptized in it when they're ready. But anyway, this river begins up in the Rocky Mountain National Park, and as we drive up the Big Thompson Canyon toward Estes Park and the RMNP, we love to watch people fly-fishing its waters. It doesn't generally strike me as a powerful river, but in 1976 thunderstorms and flash flooding in the canyon claimed 143 lives.
Maybe you have your own river stories. Growing up in the AV we didn't have access to many rivers; our river of reference would have been the concrete California Aqueduct. Regardless, if you think about it, what images does a river conjure for you? It's constantly in motion, going somewhere, fed by a source...
And God says that His peace is like a river, not a pond.
Life isn't boring, that's for sure. Often I do feel like I'm riding down a river and sometimes I would much rather be just soaking up the sun on a still pond. But it was neat to study this yesterday and understand that *my* image of peace is different from God's image of peace. He wants us to have peace like a river ~ peace in the midst of a busy life, an exciting life, a life that has purpose and movement and meaning, a life that is connected to a Source.
So we've been splashing down this river. Sometimes it wears me out and I long for moments of stillness so that I can sit and blog, or glue pictures to paper to preserve memories. Usually I have to get up early to have quiet time with God, and sometimes I have to hide in the bathroom to finish a book that I've been reading for months now. (That is actually on my agenda today, to finish Little Women, and it probably will be in the bathroom.) But in between those moments, life is full and beautiful and busy, and we are blessed.
The other day Pop and Grace and I went to the barber shop, the library, and then Burger King. Simple things, but as I watched Grace help Pop with his cane and closing his door, I was struck by the huge blessing we have now been given - an opportunity for Grace to come to know her great grandfather and love him the way that Christianne had with my grandma. And Josh and Chris, too, of course, but we moved away from Pop when Grace was a year old ~ 2/3 of her life ago. So while Chris and Josh already knew and loved Pop when we moved, Grace hadn't really had a chance at the same kind of relationship. And now she will.
I'm sorry I've gone on so long in this post. I just have a lot on my heart today... I feel almost overwhelmed at the blessings God has given me ~ Pop and new friends and what He's teaching me in His Word and even success in my UBE. Life is good. Count your blessings. And sing, "I've Got Peace Like a River."
xoxo
*Beth Moore's Breaking Free
Though you wouldn't know it by the periodic posting of late, blogging is one of my favorite things to do.
As is scrapbooking, I guess, which I haven't had a chance to do in months.
Hmmm... simple pleasures.
But life is full and busy and good.
Pop arrived 4 weeks ago today - hard to believe already. I think he's settled in quite nicely... no real head-butting, no complaints (that I've heard!), no major catastrophes. I think he might even like it here. Except that he's still chilled. And too stubborn to use the heater. But anyway...
His house finally closed escrow last week, so thank you on your prayers for that. It closed about 3 weeks behind schedule, but it closed. The check is on its way to Pop, after being mis-mailed somewhere else. The efficiency of some businesses just amazes me. Yeah.
The Texans are here, two of them at least.
And so with adjusting to Pop's routine, company, kids' extra-curriculars, my unspecified business endeavor, yada yada yada, life is busy.
I learned yesterday in my Bible study* though about God's peace - remember the song, "I've Got Peace Like a River?" So many times we picture peace as a still, quiet pond. In fact when I think of perfect serene moments, I picture sitting at a quiet lake, early in the morning, before the wind and the birds and the activity comes along and disturbs it. But that childhood song (and indeed God's Word!) teaches that God gives us peace like a river, not a pond.
When we first drove to Colorado from California, the last chunk of our journey before we got into Denver was alongside the Colorado River. Not as big, say, as the Mississippi, but strong and powerful. Some fished, but we also glimpsed many people rafting the rapids that parallelled the highway.
In a neighboring town we also have another river (is it the Cache la Poudre, Robert?) that people also raft down. In my understanding it isn't the soft, easy going waters like the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland, but a rough, bouncy, vibrant ride that calls to people who like excitement.
And in our own little town we have the Big Thompson River. Here in town it isn't very big; in the Fairgrounds Park the kids have actually gotten in and played in it. In fact, I would love to see my kids get baptized in it when they're ready. But anyway, this river begins up in the Rocky Mountain National Park, and as we drive up the Big Thompson Canyon toward Estes Park and the RMNP, we love to watch people fly-fishing its waters. It doesn't generally strike me as a powerful river, but in 1976 thunderstorms and flash flooding in the canyon claimed 143 lives.
Maybe you have your own river stories. Growing up in the AV we didn't have access to many rivers; our river of reference would have been the concrete California Aqueduct. Regardless, if you think about it, what images does a river conjure for you? It's constantly in motion, going somewhere, fed by a source...
And God says that His peace is like a river, not a pond.
Life isn't boring, that's for sure. Often I do feel like I'm riding down a river and sometimes I would much rather be just soaking up the sun on a still pond. But it was neat to study this yesterday and understand that *my* image of peace is different from God's image of peace. He wants us to have peace like a river ~ peace in the midst of a busy life, an exciting life, a life that has purpose and movement and meaning, a life that is connected to a Source.
So we've been splashing down this river. Sometimes it wears me out and I long for moments of stillness so that I can sit and blog, or glue pictures to paper to preserve memories. Usually I have to get up early to have quiet time with God, and sometimes I have to hide in the bathroom to finish a book that I've been reading for months now. (That is actually on my agenda today, to finish Little Women, and it probably will be in the bathroom.) But in between those moments, life is full and beautiful and busy, and we are blessed.
The other day Pop and Grace and I went to the barber shop, the library, and then Burger King. Simple things, but as I watched Grace help Pop with his cane and closing his door, I was struck by the huge blessing we have now been given - an opportunity for Grace to come to know her great grandfather and love him the way that Christianne had with my grandma. And Josh and Chris, too, of course, but we moved away from Pop when Grace was a year old ~ 2/3 of her life ago. So while Chris and Josh already knew and loved Pop when we moved, Grace hadn't really had a chance at the same kind of relationship. And now she will.
I'm sorry I've gone on so long in this post. I just have a lot on my heart today... I feel almost overwhelmed at the blessings God has given me ~ Pop and new friends and what He's teaching me in His Word and even success in my UBE. Life is good. Count your blessings. And sing, "I've Got Peace Like a River."
xoxo
*Beth Moore's Breaking Free
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
