Monday, July 25, 2011

A wedding and a funeral

This evening, I sent a message to my friend. She and I have the kind of friendship where we might go weeks or months without having a conversation, but she is often on my heart and in my prayers. I invited her to do a book study with me this summer and have totally dropped the ball. My message said, "Can you do lunch this week? Crazy busy here with weddings and funerals."
My next message will be an apology for my neglect.
And she will forgive.

What I know is my friend will forgive me and we will meet, catch up, laugh, maybe even cry a bit...because my life has been busy with a wedding and a funeral - since my friend and I were together a little more than 3 weeks ago. The wedding, I knew was coming (although it came quickly!) but the funeral, not the case. I didn't actually attend the funeral since it was in Washington DC area (a good distance from Texas), but I was there in heart and spirit with my son and his fiance' - the one who lost her father. I loved her father even though I didn't know him well. The time I spent with him, I remember his smile as big and genuine and his eyes as soft and understanding. At our first meeting several years ago, he pointed to my son and said, in broken English, "Your son?" I nodded "yes". He said, "My son too." I knew he loved my son and accepted him as his future son-in-law. I will never forget it. This man survived 8 years as a prisoner of war, held captive in his own country, was finally freed, and moved with his family to the United States just over a decade ago. He survived a battle with cancer, until it returned with a vengeance. He was laid to rest on Saturday.

My son and his future wife made it from Texas, to DC, to see him before he passed and remain there today to help his widow mourn and plan the next few weeks.

I know that there are questions and sadness in the minds of those who are left here; especially his young daughters who didn't have him that long. And I pray that the anger passes quickly, and that they forgive - God, physicians, war - for "taking" him from this life.

My thoughts ponder on forgiveness and why, for some, it comes easier than for others. I remember when I would have been hurt and even resentful if a friend asked me to do a book study and then bailed on me for three weeks. And I haven't lost a parent, but if I get angry about a busy (neglectful?) friend, how will I take the loss of someone I love so dearly?

It doesn't seem that there is much I can do to help my son and his fiance's family - except love them, comfort them and pray. But, I can learn from my friend about forgiveness and rest in knowing that God continues to grow me.

Let me not forget how much I am loved and continue to love those who God has given to me, well.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Wordless Wednesday - Vacation

Recently, our family enjoyed a little vacation time at the Florida Gulf coast.
Some long time family friends joined us and we had a fantastic time!
Here are some of our favorite memories!

Just arrived

The view from our room

Fun in the Ladies Room

Oh, NOOOOO!!

Sand Castles

A fun Mother/Daughter moment

Let's go fly a kite

Okay!

Alston having too much fun torturing the girls!

The girls having too much fun being tortured!

Good Grief!
They act like they have known each other all their lives!
Wait! They have! haha

Escape

Victory!

Raring to go!

Some, a little more sure than others!

Bye, bye!

There's our kids!

Waiting parents

All safe and sound

Another day at the beach

Lessons on how to canoe

They got it!

EWWWWW!

Family

Jim and Nancy

Fred and Liz

Rebecca and Ashley

They think they are in charge

While shopping, Nancy found my eyes in a pickle jar!
(my nickname is Lizard - and Nancy ALWAYS calls me by my nickname)

This one is a little hard to explain, but we could make optical illusions in the mirror in the hotel lobby. It entertained us for longer than I care to admit, but it was SO fun and funny!

The hotel staff got used to our shenanigans!

Last supper.
:(
We had such a good time!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Blogging

It has been nearly a month since I posted a blog post. My thoughts about this blog have changed drastically since it began. I just don't have that much to say.
I started blogging because I moved from the east coast to the big state of Texas...and I had friends there who I thought might read my blog to discover what life was like since the move. Then I discovered the power of internet and later found that I didn't really enjoy so many people reading my blog. (this was after I thought it was cool) I have met some people that I would consider friends as a result of blogging and that has been pretty cool. But, blogging just doesn't hold the same pleasure it once did.
hmmm.

Just thinking - aloud - about the direction of Liz's Letters.