Just finished the cross country part of my current 12-day trek. The first nephew (or niece) on the Duncan side married last weekend -- after a sweet 5-year courtship. I flew to OH for the wedding, and enjoyed time with all the sisters, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews, and of course, my dad. Daddy and I flitted one night through numerous memories of my childhood, like the lay of our homes in the late 50's, why Lois swallowed the alarm clock button (when she was 3!), how visiting evangelists entertained themselves and scared us with their own bravado, and how many different kinds of animals we'd raised. Daddy is 87 now, and showing it, but he is still my hero.
Jenny, Jon and the kids drove (up) from Nashville for the wedding, and stayed overnight. Emily looked every bit the fairy princess she enacted for the wedding -- she was flower girl. Before the wedding she told everyone grandma was going to walk down the aisle with her. Ha! Jenny walked with her -- the better plan I'm sure. Her mama would best
Jenny, Jon and the kids drove (up) from Nashville for the wedding, and stayed overnight. Emily looked every bit the fairy princess she enacted for the wedding -- she was flower girl. Before the wedding she told everyone grandma was going to walk down the aisle with her. Ha! Jenny walked with her -- the better plan I'm sure. Her mama would best know how to deal with an unexpected -- and what do you expect from a 3 1/2 yr old if not the unexpected. After the walk, she kept busy dumping and picking up remaining petals till the homily and vows were finished. Paul was a hoot to watch as well, blustering past anything in his path -- except his mama. At 16 months he's not afraid of much -- not even Aunt Lois' dog. Such a thrill to see them. Paul is coming w Jenny Friday night to Nampa and our grad weekend!
Yesterday I awoke in Columbus at 5 am (2 am Wenatchee time), to fly out to Chicago to Seattle to Boise. Cindy P met me at the Boise airport and took me to their place, where I'm hibernating for about 24 hours. Last night I fell asleep about 8 their time with NO sleep aids -- no machine, no tylenol, no sleeping pill. Just the rain forest music. Today I'll nap, shower, nap, read, and be ready for grad party shopping after dinner with Lora and Joy. Another good weekend coming up! Can't wait to see all three grandsons trailing around this weekend, playing together. Pics will come next week, as I forgot to bring my camera cable.
And soon, our second little princess will arrive! Libby is due in only 2 1/2 more months. WOW! I've met some folks on this trip who have only one, or even NO grandkids, even tho kids are grown and out of the house. How blessed are we? (NOT that grandkids are more important than the well being of our adult kids! They are just icing! Cake is good w/o icing, but icing is awesome too.)
Speaking of folks I've met on the trip! I had some interesting encounters, some "coincidences" that really charged, challenged, and uplifted me. First was a clinical neurologist heading to a medical conference in Seattle. I was reading "The Song of Abraham" by Ellen Gunderson Traylor. AWESOME read relating the human blunders and courage of a man who really believed in Someone no one else dared to believe, in circumstances of stark and dreadful isolation. But "Abraham believed God". I was awestruck. This interesting doctor struck me as possibly of Jewish descent, and as it turned out, he actually was born in Israel to parents who migrated there after the war. Next year he plans to take his only child to Masada in Israel for her bar mitzvah, and I was excited both with and for him as he shared with me.
The connections of that encounter both charged and uplifted me. How amazing to meet such a person as I was pondering Abraham in my book. I felt like someone had orchestrated it -- for my benefit, or maybe likewise his? But Someone was noting.........
Then after the weekend, when I was heading for my gate in Columbus, I was filling my waterbottle at a fountain, with an Amish woman standing right by. Most Amish in Ohio come from Wayne and Holmes County. We chatted about what was allowable on the planes (smile!) and then in the course of small talk, learned that her sister (possibly now deceased) had been married to a brother of our good friend and writer, David Kline, of Fredericksburg OH. I lived with David and Elsie Kline for a college course experience, and have maintained friendship for the 35 years since. We last saw them about 3 years ago. Another "coincidence" that I wonder about.
The flights to SEA went fine, no long layovers, no scares, nothing anymore stressful than the long hours, waiting, eating fast food fast and having little time for restroom breaks. Once in SEA I headed for Wendys and a good salad, parked myself in front of the window wall overlooking incoming and outgoing planes. A couple my age eventually took the bench nearby, and corraling my trash led to conversation. They were accompanying a George Fox Univ group of college juniors to China and Tibet, and we began sharing. Another interesting and uplifting conversation.
Last, I walked to my gate and saw that, had I waited till I thought was the time for my flight, I'd have missed it ..... and I felt somebody was looking out for me.
I missed Larry lots this weekend, especially in lieu of the loss of friends' 54-yr-old son to a sudden massive heart attack. Life never happens in quite the organized way want or expect.
But I'm more convinced than ever that the same God who watched over Abraham, and asked more than Abraham thought he could ever give, was watching over me. No migraines, no close calls to heighten stress, no conflict with friends or family. Instead, several unexpected blessings that didn't have to happen, would most likely have not happened ..... except by the hand of a Master Designer, who is always watching over me.
I'm lucky, fortunate, blessed, however one wants to call it. I miss my husband, but am thankful for the phones. He called me this morning! First time he has placed the call since I left -- but ok considering that yesterday was the last day of his long-day stretch. He had worked 12-14 hr days for the 14 days previous, no days off. Thank God for a job, for one he can enjoy, for one where he knows he will get paid.
Much is bad in the world, but much is good. All is safe and well, with One who knows no coincidences.
Yesterday I awoke in Columbus at 5 am (2 am Wenatchee time), to fly out to Chicago to Seattle to Boise. Cindy P met me at the Boise airport and took me to their place, where I'm hibernating for about 24 hours. Last night I fell asleep about 8 their time with NO sleep aids -- no machine, no tylenol, no sleeping pill. Just the rain forest music. Today I'll nap, shower, nap, read, and be ready for grad party shopping after dinner with Lora and Joy. Another good weekend coming up! Can't wait to see all three grandsons trailing around this weekend, playing together. Pics will come next week, as I forgot to bring my camera cable.
And soon, our second little princess will arrive! Libby is due in only 2 1/2 more months. WOW! I've met some folks on this trip who have only one, or even NO grandkids, even tho kids are grown and out of the house. How blessed are we? (NOT that grandkids are more important than the well being of our adult kids! They are just icing! Cake is good w/o icing, but icing is awesome too.)
Speaking of folks I've met on the trip! I had some interesting encounters, some "coincidences" that really charged, challenged, and uplifted me. First was a clinical neurologist heading to a medical conference in Seattle. I was reading "The Song of Abraham" by Ellen Gunderson Traylor. AWESOME read relating the human blunders and courage of a man who really believed in Someone no one else dared to believe, in circumstances of stark and dreadful isolation. But "Abraham believed God". I was awestruck. This interesting doctor struck me as possibly of Jewish descent, and as it turned out, he actually was born in Israel to parents who migrated there after the war. Next year he plans to take his only child to Masada in Israel for her bar mitzvah, and I was excited both with and for him as he shared with me.
The connections of that encounter both charged and uplifted me. How amazing to meet such a person as I was pondering Abraham in my book. I felt like someone had orchestrated it -- for my benefit, or maybe likewise his? But Someone was noting.........
Then after the weekend, when I was heading for my gate in Columbus, I was filling my waterbottle at a fountain, with an Amish woman standing right by. Most Amish in Ohio come from Wayne and Holmes County. We chatted about what was allowable on the planes (smile!) and then in the course of small talk, learned that her sister (possibly now deceased) had been married to a brother of our good friend and writer, David Kline, of Fredericksburg OH. I lived with David and Elsie Kline for a college course experience, and have maintained friendship for the 35 years since. We last saw them about 3 years ago. Another "coincidence" that I wonder about.
The flights to SEA went fine, no long layovers, no scares, nothing anymore stressful than the long hours, waiting, eating fast food fast and having little time for restroom breaks. Once in SEA I headed for Wendys and a good salad, parked myself in front of the window wall overlooking incoming and outgoing planes. A couple my age eventually took the bench nearby, and corraling my trash led to conversation. They were accompanying a George Fox Univ group of college juniors to China and Tibet, and we began sharing. Another interesting and uplifting conversation.
Last, I walked to my gate and saw that, had I waited till I thought was the time for my flight, I'd have missed it ..... and I felt somebody was looking out for me.
I missed Larry lots this weekend, especially in lieu of the loss of friends' 54-yr-old son to a sudden massive heart attack. Life never happens in quite the organized way want or expect.
But I'm more convinced than ever that the same God who watched over Abraham, and asked more than Abraham thought he could ever give, was watching over me. No migraines, no close calls to heighten stress, no conflict with friends or family. Instead, several unexpected blessings that didn't have to happen, would most likely have not happened ..... except by the hand of a Master Designer, who is always watching over me.
I'm lucky, fortunate, blessed, however one wants to call it. I miss my husband, but am thankful for the phones. He called me this morning! First time he has placed the call since I left -- but ok considering that yesterday was the last day of his long-day stretch. He had worked 12-14 hr days for the 14 days previous, no days off. Thank God for a job, for one he can enjoy, for one where he knows he will get paid.
Much is bad in the world, but much is good. All is safe and well, with One who knows no coincidences.
No comments:
Post a Comment