a college visit and aching for Grace......

-
Today I listened to the sound of my own shoes click-clacking down the hall.  My feet hurt from walking all over campus but I could not complain because I had chosen those shoes today intentionally.  I wanted to look nice.  None of the other moms were making noise with their shoes.......we were on a college visit with Claire.

We spent the day touring the campus, listening to a panel of students and faculties, eating in the cafeteria and talking to representatives of the majors and activites Claire was interested in,  Social Work.  Study abroad.  Religion.  Dance team.

Claire is very busy and very independent and responsible.  We don't see her for more than a few minutes a day most days....but today we got to spend the whole day with her.  We asked questions and listened to why this college would be a great choice for our daughter....and we did not find fault in it.  It was such a fun day!  the worst part was my aching feet.

How was I to know that you should wear comfortable, practical shoes on a college visit?  I had never done this before.  Before the next college visit I'm going shopping for more comfy, yet still attractive shoes.  My reward was at lunch in the cafeteria.....one of the cooks complimented me on my outfit....and my bag.  Mom got a win.

During out college visit day, I got a message from Grace.  Grace was our international exchange student last year from Korea...she was letting me know that her dad died today from his long and painful battle with cancer.  My heart aches for sweet Grace today, and for her mother who are now alone in the world.....and I love her so much that I just wish I could magically teleport myself to South Korea right now and give her a big hug and hold her hand and cry with her.  We prayed many prayers for her dad when she was living with us.  I didn't even know he had gotten worse.

The social work professior today called Life i a beautiful mess.  It is true.  Today I have a mix  of joy and sorrow, excitement and loss.  Our days are so full and so busy and exhausting and even on the longest days the time is going so fast.  We are having conversations about high school graduation, college visits, career paths.  These days are so special and so fleeting.......and our time on earth is very short, folks.

We do not have an option to care or not care for the children, to fix the meals, to go to work and to pay the bills....but we do have an option in attitude.  I've been rather stessed and crabby for too long now.  I want that to change......if for nothing else, than in honor of Grace's father today.  I think he would like more time here with his Earthly family but God chose to take him home to his eternal reward as a faithful Christian husband, father and teacher.  I cannot go to his funeral but I can offer my attitude as a memorial to him tonight.

Rest in peace, faithful man of God who loved his family well.  Lord Jesus, when I am feeling frustrated and tense and am not being kind, remind me that my days, too, are numbered here and help me to be a kinder, more gentle and joyful presence here on earth....as it is in Heaven.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Superbowl musings, Niki-style

-
 Last week I walked dogs in unexpectedly warm late winter afternoons.  I realized that when I don't walk regularly it matters.  This week I wanted to walk again but I am such a wimp and if it is cold or windy or rainy or all of those things put together, I don't want to walk outside.  I spend my work days in and out and in and out and cold and warm and cold and warm.....but today I needed to walk.  It was cold and windy and rainy.   I started my walking app that tells me when to walk slow, speed up, slow down, speed up and eventually cool down.  In my home office space in front of a cooking competition.  I looked ridiculous walking in place, dancing and prancing, moving foward and backward and working up a sweat but I got it done.  I sure did.   I got groceries because we were out of milk and I got food for "superbowl Sunday" which is not that different from any other Sunday evening.  My parents come over and we have snacks and drinks and then we eat together and clea
Read more

Family

-
Image
  These are my people.  My big kids gifted me for Mother's Day with a photo shoot organized and paid for.  It has always been hard for me to schedule family photos so this gift is extra special.  We did the photos late summer/early fall.  Our smiles do not reveal how hot or windy it was that day.  Yet and still we managed to get some really great pictures, thanks to our sweet and competent photographer...Cassie Beth.   Here is the thing.  This photo tells so many stories...so so many stories.  Each of the 9 of us could be a story, a novel on our own.  Then if you pair up any of the 9 with another, there are more stories to tell, and in groups of guys or girls still other stories to tell.  Looking at Roger and I....chapters and chapters of stories...and separate us out each of us is also a story.  Our lives are stories. I have told my kids over and over that their lives matter.  They were created by God to do something in this life that will expand His kingdom, give Him Glory and ma
Read more

mid-summer check in on being Aware

-
 I remembered today that I had been doing a monthly reflection since January.  I missed June...and apparently July.  Here we are on the second day of August and I find myself aware of it...aware of how June flew by and July slipped by and now I'm settling into August....aware.  June was a full month of ball games and volleyball competition and vacation.  It was also the last month of my fiscal year of my work as a public health nurse and that means there are lots of reports due and documentation needed to make sure we get funded again.  June was a lot and it was awesome...and hot....and busy.   July slowed down a bit with more nights at home, more lazy pool afternoons and a break from the heat.  We caught fireflies and we cooked more meals at home.  We decided to tackle a huge project long overdue and tore out carpetting in our main living area.  This carpet has been there for over 40 years.  It was gross and disgusting....suffice it to say that I am very, very aware of how unsettl
Read more