Transitions

I guess life is just a series of transitions, isn't it?

My boys are a testimony to that.. not only getting older, but personalities shift and grow, phases of wants and needs change.. hmmm

I always thought I was a flexible kind of a person. I am beginning to see my self. My real self as a beloved child of Christ in a new light.


I hate goodbyes. I really do.
When my friend Yvonne left to live in Canada with her hubby because of a great Univ. job offer.. I was torn up.


My brother died in March of '08. I guess that's a different kind of goodbye, since theroretically I can still talk to and see Yvonne and Lukas.

My Nana is having problems with her heart and now her lungs. At 89; she's already been preparing for her goodbye. She's talked about how long she would be here since Ryan
and then her sister passing away. Lots of goodbyes for her too..

But how about the goodbye of expectations previously held? Marriage, parenting, friend relationships.. It all comes down to people, too. All things revolve around relationship.
You really can't be an island. Not for long anyways...

So with transitions I have to expect a goodbye. Maybe that can be a good thing. Maybe the too-tightly-held expectations were a binding string meant to be cut loose. I think I tend towards a glass half empty attitude and I am trying to really see not just the goodbyes.. and the changes or transitions that event brings (sometimes really slowly) but I can also focus on the Hello's.

Nothing happening that I can really post about. It's all a bound up sort of jumbled mess right now and while I won't try to white knuckle the goodbyes.. I am praying I can see and appreciate the Hello's when they happen.

These are the puppies that were born June 8th! They are 51/2 weeks old.. Enjoy!

Puppies!

Mandy had puppies on June 8th! Mandy is our black aussie/border collie mix dog.. Peanut our shih-tzu is claiming to be the daddy... odd mix, isn't it?
The puppies are so cute though! There are six and there are three black with white , two brown and white and a black/brown one...
The runty one looks exactly like Mandy! Even down to the white patch on her chest..
The boys want to keep them all! ha!! not likely... can you imagine 8 dogs in one house?
I can't!

oops

Somehow I had been behind on my scripture memory verses... I added one or two so now I am up to where I am supposed to be....

Is anyone going to the LPM event in Pittsburgh , PA this next weekend? Have you been to one before? This would be my first time..

Precious

• I got to teach Jr. Church this last Sunday.. a group of 3yo. to 3rd graders.. I loved that group! I was in heaven with all the little girls wanting to sit with me during the lesson, and the boys won me over with their stories of adventures! The snack comes first, then singing (oh help me!), the lesson (I improvised a little on that.. it worked out really well) and then some fun games in the gym downstairs.. loved it!!
• Small group leaders class was really interesting..
• Jason and the boys went to my cousin's house from Friday until late Sunday.. I had a great time by myself! Wasn't exactly the way I planned it.. but I got the "vacation" I needed!
• Having them come home
• Many stories of fish, salamanders and toads caught while they were away and playing hard with their cousins.
• I had a client schedule an appt. last minute yesterday (and I didn't want to do it because I wanted to have lunch with Jason~ he is working pretty close to home) so I said a prayer (yes I did!) and said," Oh, I would REALLY like to go have lunch with Jason.. what do you think, God? Have this guy cancel if that is okay with you..." Guess who cancelled? Oh yes he did! Don't those little blessings just make you SMILE!???? I am still laughing about it today and telling anyone who will listen about it..
• Tomorrow the boys have a carnival at school.. they are very excited.. I hope it doesn't rain! Otherwise they will do it in the gym and no super bounce or rock climbing wall...
• Tomorrow night is our church's showing of Fireproof.. plus some appetizers and such for the couples to munch on... I am praying that there will be a big turnout and that God's hand will be moving among everyone that evening!
• Making chocolate covered strawberries to bring to the movie night and the picnic our Bible Study group is having on Sunday at Canoe Creek St. Park
• I love being busy and the carnival (I volunteered for clean up.. what was I thinking? I am the only one!!! Hopefully Jason will be home to come help!! hahahahahaha), movie night (same night!), picnic and possibly Jet skiing + dinner with my Jason Saturday after I work a little.... I am SUPER excited!!!!!!!!! Fun stuff!!!

Hope you had a great weekend... things are crazy busy with everything going on.. Doesn't it seem like May just FLEW? The kids will be out of school very soon... They are very excited about that too!!

Pleasant riches

• Teaching the kids 4-6th grade this morning.. my two older boys were in the class too.. I like the poster we did on gossiping.... the acronym THINK is used to remind us of how to speak to others... our words should be True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary and Kind... the kids searched through some magazines and glued a collage of faces around the border and the THINK down the middle, center.. It looked great~! very colorful!
• We bought a (new to us) boat.. hoping to try it out on the lake as soon as my very talented hubby fixes some light thingy on the trailer...
• Watched the movie Seven Pounds last night... whew.... I adore Will Smith!! The story line was really complex.. (I only understood it because my nephew told me the whole story a few weeks ago... hahaha) knowing the ending didn't take away from the suspense though...
• Really booked at work this Saturday.. I think that is a good thing!! ;)
• Having a really good pb&b sandwich with a tall glass of ice cold milk... mmmm!!!!
• Jason's beautiful blue/gray eyes..
• Hearing him sing in church... :)