Image VS. Substance

I do believe that July of this year has been one of most bitter-sweet I have ever experienced. My birthday was surely the worst I have ever had--the sadness was more than I can talk about. Not that I want to quit celebrating birthdays--I am grateful to God for each new year He gives --getting older is wonderful to me!!!--except the "no gymnatics" part. I would love to do flips with Emma, but I know that would not be a smart move.

In the middle of all this sadness, I sometimes feel like people all around me are living as if they are "on a drama stage" --not realizing that they are real live people. The contrast of IMAGE versus SUBSTANCE keeps pouring through my mind. We are all so driven by this greedy culture. Our county is so controlled by night time and daytime Soaps on TV, what is done in the movies and what is advertized for us to have to be happy on the TV and in other media--and we seem to think that those "IMAGE" people are real humans--living real lives. It frightens me that many younger people are building NO Character or Substance into their lives. So much is so very shallow. This seems to be "final result" of MY generations' "ME FIRST ATTITUDE" --- "What will I Get out of this?" An indoctrination that we have all lived with for 40+ years in our Western society. It seems to be exponentially ( I don't that is spelled correctly) rolling along and hitting it's peak. I'm not sure all of us--including me--are really concentrating on Loving God and Loving Others--it's really all about ME. True LOVING is so much more about GIVING than most of us can comprehend. What would we do without Jesus' example!!??

Those of you who are reading this, undoubtedly know me, or you wouldn't be bothering to read this. Please be assured that I am praying constantly for YOU that you won't allow the society we live in to squeeze you into its' selfish mold. I hope you will pray that for me too.--Please, God spare us from our own selfishness.

This building project that we are working on is amazing and just keeps on growing. Right now we are looking directly in the garage from the place where our dining room table usually sits. The walls all had to be taken out!! Today the electrician-started in with "YOU NEED this --this and this." He insisted we put in undercounter lighting for the cupboards. That was the limit in my mind. I said "we can feed two kids for a year for the cost of that--NO WAY!" It's so so easy to just keep looking at the grass on the other side of the fence and think that it is so much sweeter!!! A LIE from the PIT! There is usually no grass--let alone healthier grass!

I know YOU won't be fooled.....:-)

On the "sweet side" of the bitter/sweet---We have had a wonderful time with our children , grandchildren and extended family this month.

Many fun times at the pool. Andy and Daniel were working on an independent film for 2 weeks, so Lynn was the chief childcare person. I think there were lots of parties at our house while we were gone on vacation.

Bill and I had about ten days at the cabin and then travelled with my parents to Florida for my nephew Stephen's wedding on my parents 62nd wedding anniversary.

Our nephew Nicolas also got engaged to Rebecca and a wedding is planned for December before my sister Nan and her husband Ken go back to Antigua in January. Stephen married Hilda who is Hispanic and they did some fun interesting traditions at the wedding. Like a lasso at the altar.!!

After the celebrations we took a very relaxing ride out into the Gulf of Mexico from Tarpon Springs. We took mom and dad there for a Greek dinner for their anniversary, but ended up at a very American restaurant!

I am so grateful to our dear Lord that He gives us peace in the midst of chaos--only He can do that!

There were many other tales this month, but I know you are already exhausted!!!

God Gave us three beautiful days to enjoy His blessing of an amazing family!!

We are Partied OUT

For our 40th Anniversary, our wonderful thoughtful grownup children took us to a very big lovely lodge in the woods near Traverse City. 17 of us ate, talked, sang,swam, played and totally enjoyed each other for 3 fun packed days. On Sunday afternoon, they took us to a very secluded restaurant on the east Traverse Bay, where everyone took turns keeping the twins and Maya happy after dinner. We never would have guessed that they would plan anything so elaborate. They refused to let us cook, clean or help in any way--it was incredibly relaxing for us and very sacrificial for all of them in every way. I love you all!!

A Party Day

When Emma was very small I used to take her in the car and tell her we were going to have a "party in the car". Everyone loves parties, don't we. This day has surely been a party day for us. Liam started us out by finishing his soccer season undefeated!! His coach, David, told the team that not very many people ever get to be on a team that was undefeated for the whole season. His coaching really has made difference in the way they played this year. Great-grandpa Andy was able to come today despite the very muggy weather. He loves watching and is coaching them all the time. When he was young, in the 1920's he played soccer on a team in Chicago with a bunch of Swedish immigrants. I asked if he could understand them and he said they all spoke English. I am really surprised that soccer was here in the US that early.

From the soccer game we proceeded to drop off Grandpa Andy, run home, work on sermons, clean the pool and get ready for Sunday. Then off to Shannon's open house--Then to Kelly Corbin's wedding where Maya was the flowergirl. She was pulled down the aisle and it went well. You may recognize the officiant and 3 of our four beautiful daughters!!! Lynn is missing! :-( Maya and her momma had a great time.

We concluded the day with another open house--back for the reception dinner--and one final open house.. Now it's time for bed, cause Sunday is coming!! It is a busy but wonderful day to remind us of our dear Lord's coming back to life from the dead. He is RISEN INDEED!~!!

We are so EXCITED

In just 9 days, Bill and I will have been married for 40 years!! But in just 7 or so days, we will get to see our two sweet grandchildren who live way way to far away. Our very thoughtful children are taking us all to a chalet in the woods near Traverse City for three days starting the 8th. Jaelyn and Addie hopefully will be coming soon and then we will have a few more days with them after our time at the chalet when Bill and I will take the four oldest up to our family cabin in Cedarville MI. We will be packing every minute with as much fun as we can. I am so so lonesome for these sweethearts. I am so very blessed to have so many of the family so close. God is merciful to me--his mercies are new every morning.

I am hoping their dad is going to bring us some videos of their soccer games--and we should hear all about the end of the year activities at school!!! I am so excited!!

Miss Maya the Flowergirl

I think she is saying--"I'm really trying!!"

8:30 pm Friday night

We just had a panic cry from Ryan and Ang to ask if we could please come and pick up Maya at the downtown Holiday Inn. Maya is going to be the flowergirl in her aunt Kelly's wedding tomorrow and the rehearsal was a little too grueling for her, so she asked to come to Bampa and Go Go's house. Bampa is up putting her to bed and her parents will pick her up later. She is wearing a dress made from the wedding gown of her grandma Sue Corbin. We have been coaxing her to walk down the aisle, but I believe she will be pulled down in a lovely wagon by the ringbearer.Ang can let you know how it goes.