And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
Philippians 1:9-10 ESV
Welcome to Friday
How are you doing? How is your family doing? And of course I must ask, how did your week go? Well, I guess I should ask how have the last two weeks gone for you? I am sorry that I forgot to check on you last week, and missed our appointed time this week. I hope that you are doing well. I hope that you are having a good day and that you had a good week. If you didn't have a great week, I am praying that next week will be better.
We had just a tremendous two weeks. We celebrated birthdays, end of school, graduation and the end of an era. We celebrated well lived lives and the joy of legacy, and we enjoyed time with family. We had Manna Station and worship services that were encouraging and uplifting. We have enjoyed date nights, late nights, ice cream nights, and late mornings. We have cried, laughed, and cried some more.
***** Warning. This is a long recap ******
Gabbi and I finished our amazing birthday celebrations at the end of May and start of June. The events included fun, family time, dinner celebrations, cake, cupcakes, ice cream, trips to the pool, pizza, and candy. And most of that was just for Gabbi. Just kidding. We shared dinner. For my celebration, I finished off the last round of birthday freebies with a free coffee, pastry, and Red Robin burger. I only missed one freebie, a milkshake from Smashburger. But, I really didn't want it this year. I had an amazing birthday and I let it run all the way to the end of the month. You only turn this age once.
Of course Cassarra finished up her era in Dutch Fork schools. If you ask her, the era ended the second week in May when exams were over and senior grades were turned in. But graduation was the real deal to close the story. She walked across the stage to close one chapter and start the next one. It was a great moment for her and all of us. We are so proud of the accomplishments she has made. We all enjoyed her day and Trish and I were so thankful for friends and family who shared in this day with us; in person, electronically, or otherwise. Cassarra split the day between her own celebration and the one of her boyfriend Taylor. The next few days, she spent time making the rounds for other drop ins.
Ava treated us all to the zoo for her birthday. She woke up excited and thrilled to go to the zoo, have her cookie cake and open presents. She was too funny. When she went to bed the night before she was directing her sisters on how she wanted her door decorated. They were not too happy with her demands. When she woke up, very early I might add, she immediately asked to open a present. This was a repeated theme; an activity followed by the request for a present. At the zoo, her only complaint was that Taylor didn't join us. Or as she said to Trish, "I wanted Taylor to come, but you didn't invite him." Keep in mind that Taylor is Cassarra's boyfriend whom Ava and Emma just love to death. All in all she was truly blessed by her sisters who each gave her something special; candy, shirts, dresses, coloring books, bubbles and cash. She had even more blessings from grandparents and aunts. I know she had a blast.
Emma has been her most amazing self. She has enjoyed Ava's big day and many of Ava's gifts. She had a lot of fun at the zoo, even acting as if it was her birthday and her zoo trip. But, then again that is how Ava acted on Emma's birthday. Emma seems to be loving the summer and the all access pass to sisters, late nights, and short order cooks (also known as teenagers who fix their own breakfast). Her and Ava were hilarious on the trip to and from Alabama and they were unbelievably funny playing family at bedtime. Emma played the roles of dad and a couple of sisters. Ava was mom and the remaining sisters. Their banter was funny, and sometimes too accurate and close for comfort. They replayed events and it was weird and enlightening to hear things from their point of view. For example, nah... never mind.
Paige has been on an electronics binge now that school is out. She leaves every iPad dead in her wake. We have got to find something else for her, and fast. She has also been enjoying her older and younger sisters. A note from Ava about how "Paige plays with Emma, but doesn't play with me, " has helped Ava and Paige tremendously. They can now find ways to play for hours. It is mostly food fun, but on occasion they get rowdy. She had her moments over the past two weeks which included wanting to go to school for an ice cream social.
Trish is doing well. She took some amazing photos at graduation, the zoo and all of our many other events. She is busy trying to prepare for the big send off in the fall. She didn't cry at the graduation as far as I can tell. She is a little exhausted now. Especially after so many things in such a short time span.
- She planned a special event for Ava and Cassarra.
- She went all out to make sure they both had great days and fun celebrations.
- She drove all the way back from Alabama
- Helped Cassarra with more preparations for college
She is amazing. I hope this weekend and the following week will provide more chances for rest and recovery.
The girls did well in school with A's and B's for the last quarter. The year looks good for most and has only a few places where we see how taking a break or getting into bad habits can be costly.
We all had a good trip to Alabama and a great celebration of life and legacy for granddaddy McLendon. He was and is awesome and his legacy is amazing. It was so good to hear of his reach, impact, favor, compassionate spirit, faith in God, love and this unmistakable joy for life and people. One after another we heard the stories of changed lives, love and kindness and a beautiful life so well lived. After the service we enjoyed time with family and time laughing about picking peas and shelling them until your fingertips were raw. We joked about all the revivals we went to and all the times we were in church. And as I left, like so many of my siblings, we thought about how we can honor and continue a legacy of faith, actions and compassion.
Our trip home was fun. First we had bathroom break issues. Ten minutes out into the middle of nowhere a little voice says, "I have to use the potty." This was followed up by, " for real this time." It was also followed up by another stop, and then a forgettable stop at a Walmart. At this particular store we had the unfortunate pleasure of being rolled up on by two guys selling cologne out of their Explorer, a guy walking up selling a cookbook of various print outs, and a general sense that something shady was going on in some of the other cars around us. Ava helped finish the fun off with asking for a honey bun. Emma then asked could she have a nunny bun too. When Ava learned that the honey bun was in the trunk she asked Trish to stop, on the Interstate so that we could get the honey bun. Trish explained that you can't just stop in the road, to which Ava replied, "The cars will go around you."
Well, anyway, even in the midst of sorrow it was a great trip. God is awesome; He is comfort and strength!
I know that the past two weeks have been filled with life, its ups and downs. I know that it has also been filled with goodness and grace. I hope you are doing well. I hope that you are well and I pray that God will be with you and bless you.
I pray that God would bring comfort to your places of sorrow and brokenness. I am praying that God would bring His presence and glory to be with you in tears and hurt, and that He would bring His peace to us now, and forever. I am praying that we remember that God is sovereign and almighty, perfect in all His ways, and surpassing in glory and majesty even as we might be pressed and pushed on all sides.May the Everlasting God, who is rich in love, abounding in steadfast love, full and overflowing with compassion, be with us to give us strength, courage, hope and the knowledge that He is for us, with us and cares for us deeply.
Welcome to Friday.
I am thankful for :
- Spending time on the things that matter
- Family
- Trish and the girls
- Safe travel to and from Alabama
- Legacy
- Comfort and peace that surpasses all understanding
- The hope and promises of eternal life
- Basketball friends
- My cousins
- My cousin Solomon who came to Alabama for the funeral
- Extended family who have prayed for us
- Laughter
- Lots of laughter
- Ava telling Gabbi she still needed a honey bun after Gabbi gave her the last snack in the car
- Health
- Prayer
- Joy
- My parents example and their influence
- My brothers and sisters
- Coffee and free birthday treats
- Cassarra's graduation
- Our church family
- Trips to the park
- Grace
Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
