I'm Cried Dry

This weekend was quite wonderful! Yesterday LGCC devoted the whole service to honoring and appreciating Jim and our family. We've been there three years, but you would have thought we had been there a lifetime. Each service was a bit different with several of our friends getting up to speak, and pay tribute to Jim. Pastor Craig returned from his sabbatical early to give his own thoughts of gratitude to Jim. I knew it would be an emotional morning, but I had no idea how touched I would be. As I sat there listening to people sing Jim's accolades, I was reminded once again, of the amazing man I am married to! Claire, the seventeen-year-old daughter of our Mexican Train buddies, blessed us with her rendition of "For Good". While she was singing, I looked over to see Jim's tear-filled eyes. You see, this is a special song to us. I don't think Claire really had any idea. But when Jim and I went to see Wicked, during the performance of this song, Jim turned to me and whispered, "That's how I feel about you, you have changed me for the good!" Wow! What more could a wife want to hear? So yesterday as Claire sang to Jim, I sat, humbled knowing that I have made a difference in Jim's life, and he in turn, has made a difference in so many lives at LGCC. There were lots of sweet words, lots of tears, and lots of hugs. At the end of the service, Pastor Craig commissioned us to our new ministry in Bozeman. Not a goodbye, but a sending off. It somehow feels better to not be leaving LGCC, but to be going out knowing they are backing us!

As if that weren't enough for one day, the parents of Grace and David's friends at Bannockburn School, had a Farewell Party for us. It was supposed to be a surprise, but word leaked out, so we were at least prepared. (Well, as much as you can be after crying all morning!) It was a lovely evening, a fabulous potluck meal with lots of good conversation. One mom gave a speech about how glad they all were we had come to Bannockburn, Jim followed with a great big "thank you for everything", and on the way home I realized that all of the wonderfulness of the evening was because of what great kids Grace and David are! I'm so thankful for the blessing of having them in our lives!

We leave this place next week. We have made a difference here. And for that, I am so thankful to the One who makes the biggest difference in all of us! Thank you, Jesus!

FOR GOOD (Stephen Schwartz)
I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason bringing something we must learn And we are led to those who help us most to grow if we let them, and we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true but I know I'm who I am today because I knew you. Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes the sun,
Like a stream that meets a boulder halfway through the wood...
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
Because I knew you, I have been changed for good.

It well may be that we will never meet again in this lifetime so let me say before we part
So much of me is made of what I've learned from you, you'll be with me,
Like a hand print on my heart.
And now whatever way our stories end,
I know you have rewritten mine by being my friend...
Like a ship blown from it's mooring by a wind off the sea,
Like a seed dropped by a sky bird in a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
I do believe I have been changed for the better!
Because I knew you... I have been changed for good.

Notebooks

My desk is presently cluttered with papers, pens, my cell phone, a debit card, a bag of microwave popcorn, 1 liter of bottled water, postcards from Bozeman, a mouse pad with Bailey's beautiful face, a fax machine, the switchboard console, a box of tissue, a phone directory, a computer screen, one speaker, and two notebooks. Notebooks spread open wide, one more organized than the other. The notebooks are my lives, one that is, and one that will be.

To my left, a red notebook with "Procedure Manual" printed on the front. This notebook contains all I do on my job. Section titles: Faxing, Guest Apartments, Human Resources, Lobby Decorating, Phone Lists, PIC Cards, Room Reservations, Sub Instructions, Survey Monkey, Switchboard, Work Study, and Lost & Found. I've created this manual for my replacement. Yes, all of this is saved electronically also, on my computer, but in my world of seven children, I tend to over communicate. Besides, I can hold this notebook, and feel how very heavy it is, and I'm somehow satisfied, that I do things. This will be passed on to Mrs. Danae Castle, the future University Receptionist, and more importantly, my daughter. How perfect that I was leaving my job and she needed one, how perfect that she endured a rigorous interview process, and how perfect that she loves notebooks!

To my right, a funky pink plaid notebook. This notebook contains all I can't forget about the next couple of months. Items include: Business cards from Jim, Troy, and Joel, three men that have helped immeasurably with our move to Bozeman, an Amoritization Calculator, rental truck agreements, hotel reservation confirmations, utility emails, income analysis, 08-09 School calendar, placement recommendations, basketball camp registration, and a Chief Joseph Middle School Program Guide. This will not leave my side for two weeks.

Notebooks. They keep me sane!

JUNE 26th!!!

"When is my birthday?" "When is my birthday?" "When is my birthday?" My dad used to drill my brother and I, in a fun game when we were kids. It worked. I've never forgotten! Today is your birthday, Dad, and even though I can't call you to wish you a Happy Birthday, I did remember. I also remember lots of other wonderful things about you; winks in the rear-view mirror, camping at Mt. Storm, watching for deer, Yahtzee, sharing the choir loft with you, cowboy boots, Flynn's cabin, and Bryers ice cream. Boy, do I miss you! And it feels good to remember you on this June 26th, even if the tears come once again. It's been awhile, but somehow, today it seems perfectly okay to cry. Somehow.

What is this "boring" you speak of?

In response to a friend's blog, where she laid out highlights from her "wonderfully boring summer", this was my reply!

What is this "boring" you speak of? In the last week I've...
...bought three planners, trying to find the perfect one, since Chandler has gone belly up!
...packed 19 boxes, give or take a few.
...colored my hair too dark, so had to make a 7:45am appt with my "colorist".
...gone to a White Sox game and sat and feasted in a sky box.
...attended a wedding reception and danced the Cha Cha Slide for the first time.
...visited with my brother, Gary, who is flying to China next week to adopt a physically challenged two-year-old boy.
...fallen asleep at 8:30 at night, only to wake at 4:00am.
...been loved on by LGCC at a Farewell Party!
...watched 8 episodes of Monk (I somehow identify with this show!)
...reduced all of our Christmas storage to 4 red Rubbermaids.
...celebrated with Jason about his new job as Editor of Community Spirit Magazine in Tulsa!
...gathered 4 more boxes for a second yard sale.
...taken many wall items off our walls (NOW it looks like we're moving, as if the stacks of boxes weren't an obvious enough clue).
...celebrated with Danae about her new job as University Receptionist!
...taken Grace to basketball camp.
...had dinner with neighbors.
...thought about my Dad (tomorrow is his birthday)
...submitted change of address forms.
...been told I look tired.

Yes, this "boring" does sound wonderful! Enjoy! Much love!