After a month of writing about Israel, I have a little catching up to do on other topics, including what our family has been up to.
Steve left for Charlotte yesterday after church to spend a couple of days with his parents. His mom (Vernie) was in rehab for four weeks following a 7-hour back surgery and she’d only been home a few days when she had to call an ambulance for his dad (Ken) who had developed a hernia that was pinching his intestine and causing immense pain. There has been a lot going on with them and I know that a visit from Steve will be great medicine for them.
here is my sweet daughter-in-law with her two sisters. Kristin, in the middle, is the oldest of the three and is having her first baby in May. Joy is the youngest sister and is actually just pretending to be pregnant for the sake of a funny photo. She did a good job of finding believable stuffing! She had her fourth (and last) baby nine months ago.
While Meagan diligently “grows” our third grandchild, she stays busy doing other important stuff, like taking grandbaby number 1 to look at his new school.
And here is grandbaby number 2 in all of her feminine splendor!
Of course, I can’t move along without showing you a photo of the two people responsible for all that grandbaby gloriousness!
For a little trip down memory lane, here they are on their first date.
And here are the two people responsible for all the people mentioned above. I don’t know. There’s something about these two that looks vaguely familiar.
Nathan called Steve Saturday since he is the consummate handy man and Nathan wanted him to see a project he is wanting to do on his storage shed. Nathan showed him around the project using the video messaging function on his phone.
Steve said as he was viewing this project through Nathan’s camera lens, he felt such a sense of loss and sadness. He told Nathan, “Son, I wish I could be right there with you and we could work on this father/son project together.”
Steve and I were talking about how we could possibly find ways to get to Florida more often to watch all the many changes and stages the grandkids are going through. And of course, seeing Nathan and Meagan is very much the icing on the Floridian cake; we enjoy being with them so very much. It’s tough being away from people that we love.
although this photo doesn’t show a particular family member, it does show evidence that the particular family member has been home recently. It always makes me happy to walk into the media booth at church and see the Regent water bottle sitting there because it means Sarah is in the house! She will be home this Friday for Easter break so the water bottle will be showing up at home and church lot more often, much to my maternal delight. (By the way, this is the desk where I spend 20-25 hours a week.)
Oops. Almost forgot one family member. The one and only Miss Summer who makes my life so very happy. She was put on this earth to snuggle and she does it with great panache and aplomb-ness!
I keep forgetting to show this picture of two boxes of chocolate that we received. They arrived in fine, anonymous fashion a few weeks back and just in case it was a blog reader who sent them, I wanted to say thank you. Such incredible deliciousness inside.
Some of you may have heard about the weather that has been afflicting the east coast in recent days. This video shows what the road conditions were like Friday–this is the road that leads to my second job at the daycare. As I was getting ready to go, I heard that police had arrived and had closed down all the lanes except the center lane because the others were impassable so things deteriorated since the video was shot. Thankfully, the daycare told me not to come in since they were going to close early.
This truck got blown over about an hour from we live. The wind has been unreal.
last week, we invited a few people over for a simple dinner.
A few minutes after we had sat down to eat, we got a call saying that Miss Frances, a church member, was in her last minutes/hours of life. (I wrote a post about her a few months ago.)
We weren’t quite sure what to do because we didn’t want to just run out the door so soon after our guests’ arrival but we also wanted to be with Frances’ family during their time of sorrow. We ended up staying at home another half hour before explaining to our guests why we had to leave.
Fortunately, we knew them all well enough to say, “Although we have to go, feel free to stay as long as you want and just hang out together. Lock up when you leave!”
One of the guests was our new youth pastor, Clinton Rogers, who we are so excited to have on board. He and his fiancée will be married soon and then she will move to Manteo to be with him.
When we arrived at France’s house where her family and a few close friends were gathered, I was reminded once again of what a privilege it is to be a pastor’s wife. It is an honor to be invited into people’s lives at their most crucial, tender, intimate moments–births, deaths, crises, heartaches and joys.
We stayed until after 11 p.m., singing, praying, crying, telling stories and together bearing witness to the moment when Miss Frances peacefully transitioned from earth to heaven.
Frances’ husband, George, is a church board members and a great help and encouragement to Steve. He has also overseen our ministry to the homeless for many years. Such a wonderful couple and such a great honor to be in the room as the goodbyes were said and the tears were shed.
It occurs to me as I write this that although we are, indeed, many miles away from our biological family, we are surrounded on all sides by church family members whom we love so much. Although we do not share blood lines, we do share life, prayer, birth, death, tears and laughter.
And isn’t that just what family does?
What about you? Does your family live close or far away? And if they live far away, what are some of the things you do to keep a close connection?
I hope Steve’s parents are doing well. The weather you had looks downright scary! Water like that terrifies me.
Loved the photo of Nathan and Meagan’s first date, wow, they look soooo young!
Such an adorable expression on Summer’s face, she is a cutie.
I would imagine you are all busy getting ready for your Easter presentation. Sure wish I was attending!
Oh, your question, my only sister and my nieces and their kids live about 20 minutes away, an aunt and uncle about 10 minutes away, another aunt and cousin about 45 minutes from me. Another cousin just moved to Lake Havisu, AZ.
Kari,
Sounds like you are blessed to have family living near you. I know you enjoy that!
We are actually taking a break from the Easter drama this year and will start work on it again next February.
How wonderful Steve is able to go spend time with his parents…as you said, he will be “good medicine” for them both. My husband’s brother & family live in the same town as we do and we are able to spend lots of happy time together. His parents, two sisters and their families all live in the Arkansas/Memphis area which is about 7.5 to 8 hours by car. My family is even farther away. My sister and her family are in the Atlanta area, my brother and his family live near Utica NY (although he “commutes” to Charlotte for work weekly) and my step-mom is in West Virginia. With all of us being so far apart, the internet is definitely a wonderful thing.
Sue Ellen,
Your brother commutes from NY to Charlotte weekly? Wow! It must be a job he really, really likes!
Sounds like you and your husband’s families are scattered everywhere. You’re right–it is SO much easier to keep in touch now than it was a few decades ago. That internet is amazing for that.
Our son and his family live in Oregon and our daughter and her family live about 6 miles from us. We just got back on Sunday from Charlotte, NC. The wind was very strong, but don’t remember the winds being that bad to blow a truck over. The picture of Summer looks like she’s saying – Oh, shucks!!!
Sharyn,
The winds weren’t near as bad in Charlotte as they were near the coast. I’m glad you didn’t encounter any of those winds during your travels.
And yes, I think that is exactly what Summer was saying! 🙂
So wonderful to have such a supportive church family. I hope you can figure out a way to see your family more often. Time goes by in an instant, it seems, especially when little grandchildren are growing. Hoping things settle down for Vernie and Ken in the very near future!
Lesley,
Time goes by in an instant. Such truth in those words.
Becky, I thoroughly enjoyed this blog on my favorite subject – family. As usual, I particularly enjoyed your photos! The photo of you and Pastor Steve wins the prize, and I saved it to use as my desktop photo. I know your hearts will be joyful to have sweet Sarah home for Easter Break. Love, Fred & Lucy
Fred,
Well, Steve and I are honored to be hanging out on your desktop! And yes, we are looking forward to Saturday and Sarah’s arrival.
It is a sacred moment to be with one passing from this life to heaven; so glad you did not pass up that wonderful time. I am sure you sensed the blessed peace of the Lord Jesus with you all. Ruth
Ruth,
Yes, a sacred moment is truly the best way to put it. There is no other experience quite like it.
My parents live about 115 miles from me now; however, for nearly 13 years they were in Southwest MO and I was in Tampa, Florida. It’s just me so a little easier – and cheaper – to travel. I tried to make it back to Missouri about 4 times a year – Christmas every year and Thanksgiving every other year and then two other times during the year. On the years I didn’t go to MO for Christmas, I had my parents come to Florida. Plus for several years, they came to Florida in February for a couple weeks – nice way to get them out of the cold of MO winters. My younger brother lives about 90 minutes from me and the older lives in same town as my parents. He never left our home town. My younger brother and I left shortly after college and will likely never move back there. My niece is in college about 4 hours from me. The other niece is in my hometown and my nephew is 90 minutes away.
Glad that Sarah is able to come home for Spring Break. My niece is on tour with her college choir for 10 days over her Spring Break so no going home for her. Over 10 days, they have 13 concerts or singing in church services. Church members host the choir. Saturday night’s concert from Spring, TX was live streamed so I was able to watch on my iPad. This Saturday she will be in Topeka which is only about an hour from me so I’ll be making a trip over there.
Phyllis,
Thirteen performances in ten days is quite the schedule! Glad those kids are young and have energy. I know they will make many great memories–making music with friends is one of the best things there is to do.
Sounds like you are blessed with plenty of family near and far and have worked out good ways to stay in touch!
Even though I have a sister and brother in town wth their work schedules and other activities we do not see them much. See my sister more than my brother. I know if I need them they will be here ASAP. My other brother is in FL and all Jim’s siblings out of state. One son in state and one out of state. Keep in touch via Facebook and/or calls. FaceTime is good, too. Seems everyone is too busy and schedules are tough to coordinate. I am trying to stay in during flu season except for grocery store, church and medical appointments. Prayers for Vernie and Ken. Safe travels for Steve.
Ann,
I remember when Sarah was post-transplant and she had to stay in all the time or else wear a mask. It makes you really appreciate the times you CAN go out, doesn’t it? I’m glad this season is only temporary and you will be back to your busy schedule soon
Our kids and grandkids are only 100 miles away, so it is fairly easy to see them. My father and brother and sister-in-law are all in Denver which is 400 miles away. We get there about two or three times a year and they come this way about the same, so it’s not too bad. To fill the gaps in between, the tech age is so helpful….texts, photos, face time. And yes, my 89 year old dad has a smart phone and is quite good at using it. He even puts little emoji’s in his texts. Love it! 🙂 🙂
LeeAnne,
Your 89 year old dad puts emojis in his texts? LOVE it! 🙂
You’re right. Being in the tech age does help to keep us in touch with people we love.
This post made me cry for many reasons but mostly I guess because I live 1100 miles away from my son and have been feeling really sad about it lately….he is going through tough times and not to be able to physically comfort him is just so awful….so I decided I am going to drive out to KC in the beginning of April to see him and spend some quality time….
Dale,
It sounds like quality time is just what the two of you need–for his sake and your sake both.
That tie between mama and son is so very strong, isn’t it? Hugs to you today.
We are so blessed having a wonderful church family very similar to yours. Keeping Vernie & Ken in my prayers.??
Margie,
Isn’t a supportive church family so wonderful? One of life’s great gifts. So glad you have been blessed with one.