Last Letter from France Days 6-12

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Sara

Dear girls,

There are lots of things I could say about our trip.  But I think that the biggest thing it did for me was enlarge my world view a bit.  I’d been to Japan on a trip with Campus Crusade in college and then on a military assignment for 3 weeks to Italy in my early thirties.  This was different.  This was a trip to just look around and see the sights.  You couldn’t spit without hitting something that had been standing for centuries.

And I thought our 1930s house was old.

I just kept thinking about all the people over all the centuries that had walked on the very floors that I was walking on.  Down the very staircases I was going down.  I’ve never wanted to time travel so badly in my life.  Imagine going back and seeing what it was really like to live in the 14th century.  To see the place lit only by candles.  To see the clothes they wore and the food they drank.

And then come right home and take a shower because can you say chloera and the plague and the stink from humans who bathed only at Christmas and on their wedding day?  Ewwww.

After our river cruise was done, we had about a 5 hour drive to the wedding we were attending.  I asked your daddy to tell me the whole story of World War 1 and 2.  I don’t think he’s ever loved me more and it meant so much more after I’d actually seen bridges bombed by the allies.

I hope that you get the chance to travel.  I hope you are adventurous and daring and not afraid of the food or the language or the people of other places.  I’ll just come right out and say that I really hope you’ve inherited the ready for just about anything gene that your daddy and I both have.  That you’ll try almost anything once and that you won’t let being a girl keep you from doing things on your own.

One of the things I’m most proud of myself on this trip besides coping with a shower the size of a gym locker is that one day I took the car and drove all the way to the center of Bordeaux (think really big congested city) with directions on my iphone in one hand and driving a stick shift with the other.  In the pouring rain.  In a city where I didn’t understand any of the street signs.  And I only got honked at twice.

I hope you are fearless, my girls.  It makes life really interesting.

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Posted in Family, Travel | 2 Comments

Letters to Our Daughters from France: Days 3-6

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Sara

Dear girls,

I was expecting a very quiet vacation. Your father did his research well and we got just what we wanted, which was a very European experience on our river cruise.  In short, that meant that the food was top rate and the portions were just enough to fill you up without making you miserable. There wasn’t a midnight buffet in sight. It also meant that most of the talk around us was in a language we did not understand and the English translation wasn’t always perfect.  Mostly it meant that we were the only Americans on board. When I heard that, I thought that it was just as well. We would just keep to ourselves and read our books. I certainly didn’t think we’d find people we absolutely adored.

But that is just what happened. We were seated for dinner with 3 Australians and a couple from Quebec City. Pat and Deanna are so incredible. Pat was a master brewer before he retired and so he had JD from hello. The other couple, Nicole and Lionel live on an island in the St. Lawrence river and can walk more miles in a given morning than anyone I’ve ever known. Lionel was very quiet at first as English is not his first language but as the week went on and he got to know us he was more and more willing to join in the conversation and proved to be very funny guy.

The last member of the English speakers was another Australian named Raymond.  All you need to know about him is that one of the first things he told us was that every morning he gets up and asks himself, “What mischief can I get into today?”  We spent a lot of time asking “Where’s Raymond?”  Usually we found him off talking to a pretty girl.

None of our companions were were younger than 65 and most had a few years on that.  As the week went on, we found that we all had more in common with one another than we thought.  None were unacquainted with grief.  None were living exactly the life they had pictured.  It brought us together in a way we could never have predicted.

On an excursion to the Popes’ Palace in Avignon, Deanna came up to me and handed me a little tightly folded package.  She had given me the “miraculous medal.”  She said that she wore one and that she wanted me to have one as well.

Deanna and I at the Popes' Palace

I put it around my neck on the same chain as the medallion that says “by grace alone” that my sweet sister-in-law gave me when all this started.  I’ve rarely had it off in all these months.  Some might ask why I would wear a Catholic medal when I’m not Catholic.  I wear it not because I believe the saint who abides on it can do anything for me, but rather I wear it to honor the woman who loved me enough to give it to me.  It’s a great conversation starter.  I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve gotten to talk about it in just these two short weeks since she gave it to me.  I also can’t tell you how many tears were shed as we said goodbye at the end of the week.  It was a LOT.

So.  Girls.  I guess what I want to say is that you never know who is going to cross your path.  If you keep your heart open you will often be surprised by love in the oddest of places.

I hope you are surprised just this way many, many times.

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Patrick, Deanna and Raymond at the Arles Amphitheatre (a 1st century Roman arena)

Posted in Faith, Travel | 3 Comments

Back

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Sara

I’m here.  I got so frustrated with trying to blog while in France that I gave it up.  We just couldn’t figure out how to make it work on JD’s new pad.  ( I say it would have worked on an Apple….)

I’m now recovering from my latest treatment cause how awesome to come home from France and immediately put some nice poison in your veins!  Not that I’m bitter!  It appears to still be working.

Okay.  Honestly?  I’m a little bit bitter.

But mostly thankful.

I’ll fill you in on the rest of our trip soon.  It was heavenly.

xoxoxo

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Letters to our Daughters from France: Days 1-3

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Sara

After 24 hours of planes, trains and automobiles we arrived in Chalon-sur-saone to begin our cruise.  We were a bit smelly and tired. You will both be happy to know that the only thing we saw of Paris was the inside of the train station.  It was not without its charms.  There were the two little boys who were both eating baguettes almost as big as they were and made me seriously wonder how far I could get if I grabbed them and ran.

There were also groups of 8-10 year old children who boarded the train and appeared to be under the care of group off kids no older than 15-16 and I wondered if we are not all just a little too protective of our young. There was great fanfare when they left with lots of kissing on both cheeks. I will be doing that from now on.. And do you mind if we ask you to call us mere and pere from now on? Thanks.

We are enjoying our time on the boat. We are two of only about 5 native English speakers and the only Americans. We are hanging out with three Australians who are great fun. We might be calling you “mate” by the time we get home.

We have seen many beautiful things. Churches and castle and forts and the like. There is art and music everywhere you look.

We will come again. With both of you with us.

Love,

Mere and Pere

Posted in Travel | 4 Comments

Au Revoir

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Sara

We are actually leaving!

It does not seem possible and if JD and I can finish getting ready without killing each other I’m sure we are going to have a wonderful time.  Anybody else find the final hours of preparation for a big trip bring out the absolute worst in them?

We would appreciate your prayers for safe travel and for that we stay healthy while there.

I hope to do some writing from there but I may be too busy licking the butter from my fingers……..

For those of you who are wondering about Baby Solomon.  He continues to amaze us with his little life.  He is still here on this earth and touching people with his story.  Leah and Milton keep sharing stories about how his life is bring glory to God with every minute.  It has been amazing.

Please continue to pray for them.  They feel each one you send up.

As do we.

Posted in Faith, Family | 4 Comments

Milton, Leah and Their Miracle

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Sara

He was a big guy.  Dark hair and intense eyes.  Tall and built like a linebacker.   I don’t think I could have gotten my arms completely around him if I had ever been brave enough to give him a hug.  I’d seen him at church a few times since we’d started attending about a year after moving to Virginia but had never had a chance to talk to him.  As if he’d want to chat with me anyway.  He looked way too intense to suffer any small talk.  I think I was a little intimidated by him.

Then one Sunday, he got up with the praise band and sang.  I almost fell out of my seat.  Not only did he have the voice of an angel, but the joy that radiated from him while he sang was just incredible.

After that, Milton looked completely different to me even though he hadn’t changed a bit.  I was no long intimidated by him but loved any chance I had to chat him up for little bit.  More and more I saw what a huge heart beat in that big chest and what a love for the Lord he had.  It oozed right out of him.

I then met the girl who would become his wife.  Leah was sweet.  Sweet in a way that I’ve always wanted to be but just could never quite pull off.  She had a calm spirit that just permeated any room she was in.  We did a Beth Moore bible study together and I loved her input.

It was so very obvious that they were crazy for one another.  They had the kind of relationship that you couldn’t help but envy, even if your own relationship was good.  You just knew they were meant for one another.

They married and had their first baby.  We moved away but kept up with them mainly through Facebook postings.  They still looked deliriously happy in their pictures and soon added another little soul to their family.  Life looked good.

Then late last year there was a posting from them.  Leah was pregnant with their third child and they had gotten some devastating news.  This precious baby boy had anacephaly.  He did not have a major part of his brain and if by some chance he made it to term, he could not live for any length of time outside the womb.

After much prayer, they decided that Leah would carry the baby as long as the Lord allowed.  And they prayed that if he did make it to delivery that they would have at least a few moments with him to say hello before they had to say goodbye.

Baby Solomon did indeed make it to delivery.  Last Friday they scheduled his delivery and even as they were driving to the hospital Milton and Leah were praising God and sharing their testimony with all of us.

Baby Solomon was indeed born on Friday.  And here is where the miracle comes in.

He’s been alive now for over 71 hours.  He has been able to nurse.  He has opened his eyes and looked at his mama and daddy.  He has met his family.  He has been sung to and prayed over and loved by so many.

He is getting weaker.  The inevitable will happen.  But the glory of this unexpected gift of time will be something that everyone who has been touched by this tiny baby will exclaim forever.

Our God is an awesome God.  His mercies are never ending.  He answers our prayers.  Sometimes beyond our wildest imaginings.

If you don’t believe it, just ask Milton and Leah.

 

 

Posted in Faith, Friends | 7 Comments

Beginning

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Sara

I walked in, took one look at her face and I just knew.

It was her first day.

She had that deer caught in the headlight look in her eyes.  Like she might just cry at any moment.  Like she couldn’t believe what was happening to her.  What her life all of a sudden looked like.  Surely there was a mistake.

She looked just the way I looked 18 months ago.

I sat down in the chair next to her.  They accuse me of trying to win “Queen of the Chemo Room”, but I like to think of myself as more of the welcome wagon.

We started talking.  I let her lead the conversation.  There is so much information flying at you in those first few days and weeks.  I didn’t want to be just another person telling her what to do. How she should feel.  The decisions she should make.

So I just answered the questions she asked.  She has a different cancer than I do.  One that will bring its own challenges.  Her journey will be her own.  I did tell her that.  And as she warmed up and we found our way into conversation I felt free to share some of things I’ve learned along the way.

I told her not to look at the statistics.  They do not help and they do not predict your future.  If we had believed what we read at first we’d have thrown our hands up before we even started.  I told her that her kids would be okay.  That she should answer their questions as they asked them.  She has four.  I can’t even imagine that.

My chemo quickly ran in and it was time to leave.  Before I left, I took her hand and I said that I hoped that she would find, as we have, that there are many blessings along this journey.  And that I would be praying for her, because that had made all the difference.

I’d like to ask you to pray for her as well.  I won’t share their names because I didn’t ask them if I could.  But the good Lord knows and that is all that matters.

Thanks.

Posted in Cancer, Faith | 6 Comments

Thoughts On God

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Sara

Today on my way to the oncologist’s office (nothing to report…just a regular check-up), I was listening to Terri Gross’ program Fresh Air.  Today she was talking with the author of a new book that explores the personal relationship that many Evangelical Christians say that they have with God.  To do this she attended two different Vineyard churches over the period of a year.  She didn’t just attend services on Sunday morning.  She also got involved in a small group (house church, prayer circle) during this time.

Much of what she had to say was very interesting and I agreed with a lot of it.  However, there was one thing that just kind of set me on edge a bit.

The Vineyard had lots of suggestions for how you might develop and deepen your personal relationship with God.  Some of them were things like pour an extra cup of coffee in the morning, pretend God is sitting on the park bench with you with His arm around you, and perhaps my least favorite, pretend to “cuddle” with God.   She was told that you should consider God your “best friend” or your “buddy”.

I have no problem with thinking of God as my heavenly Father.  In fact, I even like that the term “Abba” that Jesus used for God actually means “Daddy”.  But I am not my father’s best friend or buddy.  I am not my Daddy’s peer, although I am my Daddy’s girl.

I think the root of my problem with this is that I feel it removes the reverence we should have for God.  I think we should all have a little bit of healthy fear of Him.  Much as I do my earthly father.  I do not fear my best friends or buddies.

Perhaps I am over reacting.  But I’m really interested in your thoughts. In the interest of full disclosure, I’ve attended Vineyard churches in the past and never heard any of these particular suggestions although there was a big emphasis on a personal relationship with God.  It’s really okay with me if you feel differently than I do.  At the end of the day, I want everyone to have a relationship with the Father and however you get there is really okay with me.

Except for maybe the “cuddle” suggestion.  That one I may need some time to accept.

Posted in Faith | 7 Comments

Easter 2012

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Sara

We rolled back into town late Saturday night.  As I was rushing around the grocery store trying to pick up enough to get us through the next couple of days before they closed for the holiday, I realized I had made a grave tactical error.  I had not prepared enough in advance for the visit from the Easter Bunny.  Thankfully, the girls don’t believe in him anymore, but I’ve always liked to do a little something for them.  They usually get a pair of flip flops and a new book along with some candy and the preferred solid chocolate rabbit that will last until well after Memorial Day with those two.

The baskets were pitiful.  I couldn’t even find Katie’s so she just had some flip flops stuck in a basket I found in the kitchen.  There was no grass in the bottom and the pickings were mighty slim.  They were gracious about it…..even though Elena’s flip flops didn’t fit.

Church was beautiful.  The choir sang along with a brass quintet and it was just beautiful.  My friend Kate came along and we always cry when we are together so we shed a few tears during the passing of the peace and hugged each other tight.

Resurrection Sunday.

It couldn’t have been better.

Posted in Faith, Family, Friends, Holidays | 1 Comment

Spring Break

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Sara

I’ll have to admit that I’d been pining a bit for some sun and the sound of the waves hitting the beach for a while.  I offered the girls a choice.  We could go to the beach or we could go to DC.

They didn’t even hesitate in choosing DC.

I’m so happy they won out.

This has been a week of reuniting with old friends and catching up.  Seeing and exclaiming about how much the children have grown.

It was like none of us had ever been apart.  The kids all still get along famously and the moms never run out of things to talk about.

Today we spent the day at my favorite place in Virginia which is Mount Vernon.  I have a serious crush on George Washington and it was a glorious day to be there.  The new lambs were just days old and cute as anything.  The girls were with some of their best friends and I got to spend the day with a woman who I love to pieces even though she tried really hard at first to hide behind her book at the pool and resist me.

There is never enough time to see everyone we’d like to see.  But we gave it a pretty good shot this time.

I wish I could pick everyone up and move them all back to Dayton with us.

Beach?

We didn’t miss it a bit.  There’s no where we would have rather been that right here with all our people.

Best spring break ever.

Posted in Friends | 6 Comments