Adventures Await!

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here. Explanation: at the end of July we moved a son and daughter to opposite ends of the country to begin new jobs and careers. They are doing well and learning much about their new cultures and the people who live there. We’re happy for them and pray for them daily.

Then in August we said good-bye to our youngest who headed off to college. That leaves us empty nesters. It is a funny feeling to not have to pay attention to the radio to check for fog delays or think of school supplies or back to school nights or homework or a myriad of other school-related activities.

Instead, my husband and I are getting to know each other again. We have time to take care of the lawn when it needs it, go to the library for ourselves and join mid-week Bible Studies. It is quiet around here and a lot less dishes and laundry.

We’ve heard from all three kids regularly and they are seemingly happy. It will probably be several months before they all feel comfortable where they are, especially since none of them knew anyone in their new cities.

But we’re proud of them for venturing out and being excited and courageous enough to want to see a new part of the world. That is better than staying in your hometown all of your life. We chose to come back to our hometown after living in a busy metropolitan area because of the quality of life for our kids. Schools were saner here and there was family.

But now they have no attachments and are able to make their own decisions without considering anyone else. They are free and unencumbered. Who knows how long that will last? They should enjoy it while they can.

Each day I try to send them a verse from the Bible as encouragement. Today’s from www.biblegateway.com is very appropriate:

“I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”- Psalm 121:1-2

I hope they will always look to God for their hope and help. There is none other that is worth relying on.

What do you put your faith in? I hope it is the same Source.

Have you been adventurous lately? If so, let me know. I’d like to hear about it.

Take care,

Dreaming makes life exciting and challenging

Here’s a pic of our family at our son’s Graduation Ball at the US Air Force Academy in May.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”- Ephesians 3:20-21

This verse from the Bible sums up how my husband and I feel about our kids and their lives. First, they are so much more as young people than we could ever imagine. Sure, we’ve had times when we’ve yelled at them for something they’ve done we didn’t agree with and sometimes they yelled back (rarely).

But we have never hit them or made fun of them or called them names or demeaned them in any way. We have always tried to tell them they can do anything they want to do. Sometimes it’s hard as humans to get around restrictions, either physical (money obligations) or mental (I can’t be a writer! No one in my family has ever written anything!).

But we’ve learned the hard way that you have to believe in yourself before you can convince anyone else of your goals. If you want to be a pilot, go for it. Study hard, work hard, and then put a plan in place to get there.

If you want to be a teacher, get good grades and get your resume out there. Volunteer for local events and network.

If you want to major in international business, be prepared to meet all kinds of people and spend a semester or two overseas.

We also emphasized putting God first in every plan. It will all happen in His timing.

Dreaming makes life exciting and challenging. What is your dream in life?