I should probably attempt to write this when I am more rested and in command of all my faculties, but I want to give a quick update about how my 28 hours in Korea have gone. My lack of sleep is definitely showing, because I keep forgetting things everywhere - one of my suitcases in baggage claim, my computer bag in customs, cups of orange juice at the counter.....I could go on! (I quickly recovered all of it, thankfully.) All of the new staff is running on fumes, but fortunately everyone is understanding, encouraging, and supportive. The Korean staff and the administration are all awesome - it was immediately apparent that the group of people I'm working with are of strong character and genuine hearts.
At our first "staff meeting" this afternoon, Dwight (head of academics - essentially the role of headmaster) led us in prayer and then spoke about the mission of the school. He read from Psalms 78:2-4:
"I will utter dark sayings of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His might, and the wonders that he has done."
This is our mission - not only to teach, but to tell the students the glorious works of Christ - in our lives, through our subjects, and in the stories we share. He followed that with our ultimate goal (from verse 7:
"...so that they should set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments."
It was emotional for me - hearing him speak in such a heartfelt way, with tears in his eyes (and some of ours, mine included) about the purpose and hope of the Christian education at GSIS. Learning is important, the IB curriculum and excellence in education is important....but ultimately there is nothing above what we can share with them about Christ. For a teacher coming from the public schools of Oregon, that was incredibly moving and exciting. Dwight was the one who interviewed me way back in February, and I felt then that I would love to work for him - I think that now even more so.
As far as what has happened since we arrived, it has been a whirlwind of being tired but surrounded by great people. Here's a rough outline:
-Arrived around 6:00pm Wednesday night
-Joined others from GSIS - Korean staff and new teachers - after getting through customs; we found each other by all wearing the same purple GSIS t-shirts. Sounded cheesy at home but was SO helpful and nice once we got there.
-After some Jamba Juice and waiting for the rest to arrive, a school bus (like a travel coach) took us back to the school (an hour drive), and then divided us up to take us to our apartment complexes. A group of 3 men from the Korean staff helped each of us get our luggage to our apartments and showed us how to use the key code, air conditioning, and phone. I definitely had more luggage than most, but then found out most people had mailed boxes to themselves beforehand (so I felt better). :)
-Unpacked just enough to get ready for bed, set up my skype account for calling to phones, and called mom (woke her up at 5:45 her time, but I think she was OK with that). :)
-Slept, for about 7 hours, then woke up on and off before giving in and getting up a little before 6.
-School picked us up before 8, and we went straight to the hospital for a physical (we weren't allowed to eat after midnight because of blood work). It was kind of like a cattle drive - we were herded through 7 or 8 stations to get the OK medically for our visas, filled out by an army of doctors, nurses, and technicians. We were not the only group there, though, so some of us got through early on, while others had to wait a couple of hours before they even started. I was one of the lucky ones, and got brought back to the school early - where we explored a little and were fed some much-appreciated snacks.
-The rest of the day, following my first meal in Korea in the school cafeteria (unknown chicken dish, rice, salad, and PB and J) was more normal orientation: tour of the school, setting up our brand-new laptops (MacBook Pro - few more features than mine and with a Korean/English keyboard) and external drives, trip to the apartments with the general affairs staff to explain about trash and recycling (a big deal here) and other features of our new homes, and dinner in the cafeteria. (In case anyone is curious, I avoided the kimchi at both lunch and dinner, but did try a zucchini version - hot was all I tasted!)
-All day long there was plenty of time meet and get to know the other new staff members. I feel so comfortable with many of them already - its a great group!
-At home for the evening - as I will come to know it soon - two hours scrubbing my small kitchen from top to bottom, and soon to bed. A full and tiring but good day, with a trip to Costco and some other places planned for tomorrow.
Good night and sleep tight (even though as I write this everyone who will at some point read it is either in a deep sleep or about to wake up in the morning)!
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Best Bithday Present Ever!
About a month ago, my wonderful mom told me what she was getting me for my birthday this year. Since I'm headed to Korea in a couple of weeks, she wanted to have a recording of my voice to listen to while I'm gone. Most people reading this know that I am constantly singing, especially when I forget that others are around! But I have always been completely comfortable singing at the top of my lungs in front of my mom, and she has said many times that she will miss it.
On this past Tuesday morning, we drove together into Portland to find the "Magic Closet," a small recording studio run by an incredibly nice and easygoing guy named Ian. He set me up in the sound stage, turned on his HUGE board that resembled an airplane's cockpit, and was basically ready to go right away. Imagine something similar to the scene from the movie "Once" and you will have a pretty good idea of what it looked like. I had the background instrumental tracks to a bunch of songs, which he input on to his computer. From there, I basically stood in the other room, with a window into where he and mom were, and sang through the first song.
After I was done, I could listen to the whole song out with them or through my headphones in the recording room. Then we went back and recorded whatever parts I wanted to fix over the previous track - so by the end there were several takes of some sections and one take of others, put together like pieces to a long and straight puzzle. After the songs were done being recorded, Ian would clean up each track so it was a complete and finished product.
The process went by really fast - we recorded a total of 9 songs in about 4.5 hours. I was pretty nervous the first two, and then became much more steady and confident. The middle tracks definitely came out the best. The last two I was less practiced on and more tired, so they were also not my favorites. But all in all, I am really happy with all of them and my mom is so happy to have them for while I'm gone!
Seven of the songs are some of my favorite worship songs, by some of my favorite Christian artists. Two are songs by country/pop artists that I have really liked. Here's the playlist in the order we recorded them:
Hope Now by Addison Road
Gratitude by Nichole Nordeman
Crazier by Taylor Swift
Hallelujah by Bethany Dillon
Set the World on Fire by Britt Nicole
Make You Feel My Love by Garth Brooks
Blessings by Laura Story
Listen to Our Hearts by Steven Curtis Chapman
Your Hands by JJ Heller
If you want to hear them, I can get you a copy. My favorite one is Blessings. :)
Thanks Mom for an absolutely wonderful birthday present!!
On this past Tuesday morning, we drove together into Portland to find the "Magic Closet," a small recording studio run by an incredibly nice and easygoing guy named Ian. He set me up in the sound stage, turned on his HUGE board that resembled an airplane's cockpit, and was basically ready to go right away. Imagine something similar to the scene from the movie "Once" and you will have a pretty good idea of what it looked like. I had the background instrumental tracks to a bunch of songs, which he input on to his computer. From there, I basically stood in the other room, with a window into where he and mom were, and sang through the first song.
After I was done, I could listen to the whole song out with them or through my headphones in the recording room. Then we went back and recorded whatever parts I wanted to fix over the previous track - so by the end there were several takes of some sections and one take of others, put together like pieces to a long and straight puzzle. After the songs were done being recorded, Ian would clean up each track so it was a complete and finished product.
The process went by really fast - we recorded a total of 9 songs in about 4.5 hours. I was pretty nervous the first two, and then became much more steady and confident. The middle tracks definitely came out the best. The last two I was less practiced on and more tired, so they were also not my favorites. But all in all, I am really happy with all of them and my mom is so happy to have them for while I'm gone!
Seven of the songs are some of my favorite worship songs, by some of my favorite Christian artists. Two are songs by country/pop artists that I have really liked. Here's the playlist in the order we recorded them:
Hope Now by Addison Road
Gratitude by Nichole Nordeman
Crazier by Taylor Swift
Hallelujah by Bethany Dillon
Set the World on Fire by Britt Nicole
Make You Feel My Love by Garth Brooks
Blessings by Laura Story
Listen to Our Hearts by Steven Curtis Chapman
Your Hands by JJ Heller
If you want to hear them, I can get you a copy. My favorite one is Blessings. :)
Thanks Mom for an absolutely wonderful birthday present!!
Monday, April 23, 2012
Wrestling with Change
I have never been a big fan of change. The concept of something different and new is not as exciting to me as things that are worn-in and well-loved. Change to me has always been a necessary evil, caused by aging or tough decisions, and resulting in the loss of something precious. I am usually such a big fan of the way things are that I don't want to let go of even one part of it. Even happy changes, like marriages and graduations, bring that twinge of sorrow for time gone by.
In a perfect world, I would take all of my extended family and friends, move them to Jackson, transplant George Fox to Teton Valley, and put the whole thing within 50 miles of the Pacific. One of my favorite songs is by Sara Groves, called 'Every Minute' and it speaks to this: "I wish all the people I love the most could gather in one place, and know each other and love each other well. And I wish we could all go camping and lay beneath the stars, with nothing to do and stories to tell. We'd sit around the campfire, and we'd make each other laugh, remembering when. And you're the first one I'm inviting, always know that you're invited, my friend!" I hope that is what heaven will be like, because I can't think of anything better than gathering around a campfire with my Lord and my friends. But until then, I am always going to be torn and have to learn to let go of something to lay hold of others.
One of the things I am choosing to let go of right now, in spite of my dislike for change, is my time as part of the GFU track community. I have been in Newberg and at Fox for the greater part of 11 years, starting as a freshman in 2001 and now finishing my 7th year as an assistant coach. Being a part of the track team has meant the world to me. It is home. It has shaped me, it has taught me, and yes, it has changed me. I have grown into Christ here. I have learned about God's faithfulness and provision in all circumstances. As an athlete, I developed some of the most meaningful friendships of my life, and was able to use the unique talent God gave me to show His work in an amazing way. As a coach I have been able to laugh, cry, pray, and share life with some amazing people. I have watched God fulfill some incredible dreams. Saying goodbye to this experience will be one of the hardest things I've done.
I am also saying goodbye to my time at St. Paul. I have loved this job from the first day on. I have loved getting to know the girls I have coached, loved working with middle schoolers, and loved the staff. This job has been wonderful, even on the tough days, and I am thankful that God gave it to me for a season.
So what am I saying hello to? For several years now, God has been planting and watering a little seed in my heart. I'm not sure when it started - it might have been eight years ago, on a bus in the Scottish highlands. Or maybe four years ago, when a Romanian missionary talked to me about teaching in Beius. It definitely had a home two years ago, when Ryan and Emily moved to Germany and I started looking into ways to teach in Europe. This international teaching seed has grown into a full-fledged plant - although I'm as yet unsure what it will look like fully grown!
For a long time, I was sure I wanted to teach in Europe - preferably in the Alps, of course! My heart found a home in Switzerland, and has longed to wander back there someday. That someday might still lie in the future - or perhaps God has created some Swiss Alps in heaven (like the mountains at the end of The Last Battle!) But for now, my place is not in a chalet along a mountainside. When I went looking for places to teach, God put one in front of me I would never have thought of - one that excited my spirit and immediately felt like a place that could be home. This place is on the other side of the world, in a city called Suwon, where a small Christian school needs someone to teach social studies and PE.
So this summer, July 24th to be exact, I am flying from Portland to Seoul, South Korea, where the next stage of my life's adventure is going to begin. I am excited and anxious, sad and content, and so overwhelmed by my to-do list that the 7 weeks since I accepted the job have been a bit crazed. The anxiousness comes from the prospect of living in a city for the fist time, the newness of the job, the different culture (and food!), and saying goodbye for a while to my family and all that I have known. The excitement is knowing I'm headed to a new country and to a school that I want to be a part of, the chance to get IB experience, the chance to travel, the chance to make an impact, and getting to start a new adventure.
Above all that I am feeling is the knowledge that this is the place the Lord has brought me to. Through every step of this process I have been able to see God's hand and timing, and it is a huge comfort to me to know that this is where He wants me to be. I know that when the time comes, He will take care of me. He will hold me up when I am full of fear, comfort me when I am homesick, surround me when I am overwhelmed, and guide me when I feel lost. Our God crosses borders, transcends human limits, and is present everywhere we are. This opportunity is a gift from the Father, and I am so grateful to have been given this gift!
James 3:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Robin Hood
Have you ever watched the BBC's series, Robin Hood? If you haven't, by all means don't; its incredibly addicting and you will want to watch the entire first two seasons all in one weekend. I did say want; that is not what I actually did (but close). What is so captivating about the series is how the relationships between the characters develop amidst constant battle. There is always a hanging to be stopped, a peasant to be fed, a sheriff to thwart and a merry man to be rescued. The characters of Robin, Marian, Will, Much and so on are warm and clever; but the real draw is that they are fighting for something greater than themselves ALL the time. They do not count their own lives dearly but risk everything to protect each other; they take care of everyone around them even when they are hated and treated as dust; their energy is spent doing good, waiting in anticipation for the king's return and keeping the people alive until then. They refuse to take the lives even of their enemies, when that would seem to be the easiest way to end the suffering.
I was about halfway through season two when I became a bit convicted that I was longing to live in a world where I also had the opportunity to fight for something that mattered. I want my life to count; to be found before the Lord at the end of my days as a good and faithful servant who did not waste the time I was given. And therein lies the rub: spending 10 hours in a week watching a television show is almost by definition a "waste." So while I was wrestling with that sin, I was also trying to wrap my head around why there is such a draw towards what at first glance is just an old story that has very little historical truth. This desire to "fight" for something greater than myself is grounded in something - but it is not in injustice in the same way that the story displays it. There is too much of a Christian emphasis on social justice: the post-modern church grasps on to this because it is easier to say "Let me help you find equality, provision, and security" than it is to say "Let me show you what God says about sin and how He can save you from it." The church today does not want to be seen by the world at large as intolerant, so it does a lot of "good" without ever telling the truth about the Word of God. We never get to the gospel of Jesus because we don't want to have to tell anyone that they can never be good enough on their own.
But that is not what Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior, tells us to do with our lives. Mark 16:15-16 says, "He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." It is that simple. And it is that, I believe, that we are supposed to be fighting for. This desire to confront the evils of the world is not there just for the soldiers - it is for all of us who are called by Christ. In Ephesians 6:12, it says "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." For this reason we put on the full armor of God and stand with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. These are our weapons, and our enemy is the devil whose aim is to hide the Truth and keep people from coming to know Jesus as Savior and Lord.
Jesus, how much I want to be found in your army! How much I want to be found ready, counting the cost and holding forth your Truth in spite of all obstacles! How much I want to know your Word and make it known! Forgive me for my wasted time and help me fight for what matters - to fight for You.
Its fitting in a way that this has been on my heart - because this past week on campus has been a bit crazy. The chapel speakers introduced the idea that we should honor "Mother Earth" and be thankful to the animals, fish, and trees for our provision and care. They claimed to be continually in line with scripture and to love God but their words showed their version of God is not the same as the jealous God of the Bible, who will not share his glory with another. This is only one group in a long train of speakers who do not take the Bible seriously or have a Biblical understanding of God. This one, however, has caused a stir across campus of students who know what is being taught is wrong - that it shouldn't even be a part of the conversation - and who are trying to have their concerns addressed. And although the chaplain and others have feigned listening, one gets the feeling that the religion department just does not understand what the problem is (which is of course a huge problem).
In this time when George Fox is going through such turmoil, when people come and claim to be sharing your gospel but give another instead, Lord, protect the hearts and minds of students here! Be at work in this, to make known your truth and glory. Bring wayward leaders back to you, and give voice to those who love your word and love You. Teach these students to know your truth so not one will fall away on account of this. You are in control, Lord Jesus - move in this place so it will not be a place of darkness, but of people who shine your light.
I was about halfway through season two when I became a bit convicted that I was longing to live in a world where I also had the opportunity to fight for something that mattered. I want my life to count; to be found before the Lord at the end of my days as a good and faithful servant who did not waste the time I was given. And therein lies the rub: spending 10 hours in a week watching a television show is almost by definition a "waste." So while I was wrestling with that sin, I was also trying to wrap my head around why there is such a draw towards what at first glance is just an old story that has very little historical truth. This desire to "fight" for something greater than myself is grounded in something - but it is not in injustice in the same way that the story displays it. There is too much of a Christian emphasis on social justice: the post-modern church grasps on to this because it is easier to say "Let me help you find equality, provision, and security" than it is to say "Let me show you what God says about sin and how He can save you from it." The church today does not want to be seen by the world at large as intolerant, so it does a lot of "good" without ever telling the truth about the Word of God. We never get to the gospel of Jesus because we don't want to have to tell anyone that they can never be good enough on their own.
But that is not what Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior, tells us to do with our lives. Mark 16:15-16 says, "He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." It is that simple. And it is that, I believe, that we are supposed to be fighting for. This desire to confront the evils of the world is not there just for the soldiers - it is for all of us who are called by Christ. In Ephesians 6:12, it says "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." For this reason we put on the full armor of God and stand with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. These are our weapons, and our enemy is the devil whose aim is to hide the Truth and keep people from coming to know Jesus as Savior and Lord.
Jesus, how much I want to be found in your army! How much I want to be found ready, counting the cost and holding forth your Truth in spite of all obstacles! How much I want to know your Word and make it known! Forgive me for my wasted time and help me fight for what matters - to fight for You.
Its fitting in a way that this has been on my heart - because this past week on campus has been a bit crazy. The chapel speakers introduced the idea that we should honor "Mother Earth" and be thankful to the animals, fish, and trees for our provision and care. They claimed to be continually in line with scripture and to love God but their words showed their version of God is not the same as the jealous God of the Bible, who will not share his glory with another. This is only one group in a long train of speakers who do not take the Bible seriously or have a Biblical understanding of God. This one, however, has caused a stir across campus of students who know what is being taught is wrong - that it shouldn't even be a part of the conversation - and who are trying to have their concerns addressed. And although the chaplain and others have feigned listening, one gets the feeling that the religion department just does not understand what the problem is (which is of course a huge problem).
In this time when George Fox is going through such turmoil, when people come and claim to be sharing your gospel but give another instead, Lord, protect the hearts and minds of students here! Be at work in this, to make known your truth and glory. Bring wayward leaders back to you, and give voice to those who love your word and love You. Teach these students to know your truth so not one will fall away on account of this. You are in control, Lord Jesus - move in this place so it will not be a place of darkness, but of people who shine your light.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Christmas in Wyoming
Coming home to Jackson is always a highlight for me, whether its in summer or winter. Whether the entry is flying over the mountains from Salt Lake or driving over the pass, I start to feel this intense sense of excitement when I know that a view of the valley is almost upon me. This year, I knew I had Colleen and a car full of my favorite little girls coming to get me, making the homecoming just that much sweeter. I absolutely love spending time with the Wachobs! Colleen and Erik are amazing examples of Christ-followers and so much fun to be with. We had a crazy week scheduled and all of it was a great time.
First up, Christmas with the extended Wachob/Hanks clan at the Teton Science School site in Kelly. We spent a few nights with Becky and Doug's family, eating together in the dining room, decorating the tree and playing games in the main lodge, and sleeping in the motel-style rooms. Every day was just gorgeous - beautiful, bright snow, clear, stunning views across the valley to the Tetons, and if it wasn't sunny it was pleasantly blizzarding (you'd have to be from Wyoming to understand). We spent Christmas Eve snowmobiling and cross country skiing to Granite Hot Springs, followed by a beautiful candlelight service at First Baptist. E, C, and the girls and I spent Christmas morning together before heading back out to TSS to join the larger, crazier group for more skiing and snowshoeing before dinner. We stayed for another day and a half and enjoyed spending time with family and friends.
Each of the rest of the days I tried to connect with friends that I only get to see when in Jackson - dinner with Lisa on Monday, lunch with Susannah on Tuesday, a ski and lunch with Cindy, Heather and the kids on Wednesday (including getting the suburban stuck in their driveway and braving the snowstorm to get back over the pass). We went skiing up the Death Canyon trailhead on New Years Eve, then I crashed the Willcox home that night-we watched Shrek 4 together, eating popcorn and apples just like old times. Mom arrived that evening, and we were able to enjoy time together and with Dan, Beth and Abby Cadol on Saturday. Sunday I joined the Ahlums for a game night and had a great time with Corrine, Lisa, and crew. Monday I reluctantly flew home, as teaching was calling me back to reality. You can never get enough time at home!
Before leaving for Jackson I was able to spend a quick night and morning with Amy and Forrest, and here are some pictures from the "Christmas morning" I had with them, as well as some from Mom and I exchanging gifts:
Best surprise: Ryan and Emily sent me this teacup and plate from Germany - I had admired it when I was visiting them but didn't buy it. So thoughtful of them!!
First up, Christmas with the extended Wachob/Hanks clan at the Teton Science School site in Kelly. We spent a few nights with Becky and Doug's family, eating together in the dining room, decorating the tree and playing games in the main lodge, and sleeping in the motel-style rooms. Every day was just gorgeous - beautiful, bright snow, clear, stunning views across the valley to the Tetons, and if it wasn't sunny it was pleasantly blizzarding (you'd have to be from Wyoming to understand). We spent Christmas Eve snowmobiling and cross country skiing to Granite Hot Springs, followed by a beautiful candlelight service at First Baptist. E, C, and the girls and I spent Christmas morning together before heading back out to TSS to join the larger, crazier group for more skiing and snowshoeing before dinner. We stayed for another day and a half and enjoyed spending time with family and friends.
Each of the rest of the days I tried to connect with friends that I only get to see when in Jackson - dinner with Lisa on Monday, lunch with Susannah on Tuesday, a ski and lunch with Cindy, Heather and the kids on Wednesday (including getting the suburban stuck in their driveway and braving the snowstorm to get back over the pass). We went skiing up the Death Canyon trailhead on New Years Eve, then I crashed the Willcox home that night-we watched Shrek 4 together, eating popcorn and apples just like old times. Mom arrived that evening, and we were able to enjoy time together and with Dan, Beth and Abby Cadol on Saturday. Sunday I joined the Ahlums for a game night and had a great time with Corrine, Lisa, and crew. Monday I reluctantly flew home, as teaching was calling me back to reality. You can never get enough time at home!
Before leaving for Jackson I was able to spend a quick night and morning with Amy and Forrest, and here are some pictures from the "Christmas morning" I had with them, as well as some from Mom and I exchanging gifts:
Best surprise: Ryan and Emily sent me this teacup and plate from Germany - I had admired it when I was visiting them but didn't buy it. So thoughtful of them!!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Happy Birthday, Daddy
Today would have been my dad's 60th birthday. Three years ago, after spending my first Thanksgiving without him, I escaped into a coffee shop in Bridgeport with my Bible and journal in tow. It had been two months since we lost him and I had avoided these, what used to be my best comforts and time alone with God. It wasn't that I didn't trust the Lord anymore - it was more that I didn't want to pour out my heart to Him because I was already so empty, I was afraid of what might be left.
Once I started to pray, and the tears started to come, it was like the floodgates were opened. My heart, though still in so much pain, was ready to feel again. I wanted to talk to God, really talk to him, for the first time since Dad died. A small start, but critical to me.
Exactly three years later now, I am awash with familiar emotions: another year passed without him, another afternoon spent putting a wreath on his grave. Another Thanksgiving with one less plate at the table, another birthday without someone to sing to. Watching my mom go through another anniversary and holiday season, I see her strength though I think she sees mostly her weakness. Her tears and grief are an offering, and she is helping others get through their own in an incredible way. She is amazing and my dad would be so proud of her.
At the youth group I help out with last night, our pastor asked the kids what they were thankful for. He asked them to be completely serious, and they were - as far as middle school students get, anyway. They were thankful for family, friends, for passing tests, for band practice and sports teams. Typical and honest, and blessings all. But I couldn't get it out of my head that there are sometimes things you are so thankful for, they overwhelm you - and one such blessing happened this past weekend.
On Friday night, a friend of my cousin's (and mine) lost her dad. It happened suddenly, unexpectedly, abruptly - just the way my dad left us three years ago. Without warning he was gone, and they are left without their hero, confidant, and guide. When Paige got the call from her dear friend, we knew only that he was without a heartbeat or breath, and she wanted us to pray. I felt for my strong, godly cousin in that moment - because she was so far away, with nothing to hold to but the hope and love of Jesus for this family, and she held onto Him with all her might. We prayed, we cried, we prayed again, and harder; eventually my family went to bed, and still we sat in silence in the family room, hoping that God would use this opportunity for a miracle. We waited for news - I feel asleep in the armchair, but Paige kept the light on as a true watchman - and near 2:00am we heard that he had passed. We cried some more, and prayed, and then slept. I was reminded of David - how he begged and pleaded with God for the life of his son. And when he was taken home, David got up, and washed, and ate. This father was at home now, and our prayers were now for the living and hurting left behind.
Perhaps this doesn't seem like something to be thankful for at all. But if you've lost someone dear to you, you know - those last memories of time spent together are absolutely precious. How much more poignant that their last days as a family came at Thanksgiving - days already looked forward to and cherished completely. Our friend told Paige that they had had amazing time together as a family - a true gift from the Lord. This we can be thankful for - this is a huge blessing from the God who loves us more than we can know.
The Thanksgiving after my dad passed began with a birth - the birth of my beautiful, precious niece Sadie Pearl. God gave us joy in a time of heartache, peace in a time of pain, beauty in a time of ashes. I am forever thankful that we had something beyond our sorrow to focus on - Sadie was more than the gift of a life, she was a promise that light would breakthrough the darkness we all felt.
I don't understand the why of hurt - of why this family is without their father, or why my daddy isn't here to celebrate his birthday. But I do understand the gift of healing - I know that Jesus Christ, the Savior, is present with us in our pain, turning it into something beautiful and good in our lives when we trust in His love for us. I know that Almighty God, the Father, is holding out his arms to embrace us when we cry. And I know the Spirit intercedes for us and never leaves us alone, even when we feel like we are. Such is the mercy, love, and beauty of my Lord - beyond all we could ask or imagine.
Happy Birthday, Daddy. I know you probably already have, but could you go find Dean Walton and give him a great big hug from everyone down here? His family and friends miss him more than words can say. I love you & miss you too.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Dinner at Coach Forbes'
Yesterday (Tuesday November 2) the JV volleyball team I coach came over to our house for a dinner and awards night. They had a blast! They were excited from the moment they got there and saw the house and the view until the moment they scared their parents with the speaker feature on the front doors. It was an awesome night, with tons of laughter and good memories made.
One of the things we did together was work on making a "Good Luck" video for their big sisters on the varsity team who are headed into state playoffs. They were supposed to say some encouraging words and wish them luck - but we ended up adding a lot of humorous twists. For example: giving encouragement from my bathtub, on a Swiss ball, at the piano, and in a prom dress (or actually, ALL of my sisters' and my old prom dresses). Here are a few of the best for your viewing pleasure. :)
One of the things we did together was work on making a "Good Luck" video for their big sisters on the varsity team who are headed into state playoffs. They were supposed to say some encouraging words and wish them luck - but we ended up adding a lot of humorous twists. For example: giving encouragement from my bathtub, on a Swiss ball, at the piano, and in a prom dress (or actually, ALL of my sisters' and my old prom dresses). Here are a few of the best for your viewing pleasure. :)
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