Reunion...

My dear friend Keeba was in town last weekend (unfortunately for her grandfather's funeral)..... So glad she took the time to stop by!

It was so great to see her! Our friendship goes way back..... to middle school band -our clarinet-playing days :) and through high school when we used to take turns carpooling each other to school!

Some flashback pics of me and the Keebster... ♥

8th grade

high school

senior year 

Wow; that first one's a doozie!

And of course the quality isn't fantastic (since I just took pictures of them rather than scanning them in) but it's all served as a nice trip down Memory Lane for me... :)

Aren't lifelong friendships just the best!?

(makes me glad I've been documenting the moments all these years! :)

pavilion hayday.. (1984-ish)

this is my cousin katie and i so many years ago..


and of course, i was pressin the button! <3

false security?

dad's are truly great.. and i believe they're meant to be strong and seemingly invincible in our younger years.. i do believe God designed it that way and intentionally gives us someone to look up to and to get our first view of Him from..

the only problem is not all dads paint a very loving or godly picture.. unfortunately, many display quite the opposite... and even when they are 'good,' we still have a problem... we can just as easily fall into a sense of security based on the great strength they display.




(all this came to mind as people asked, and i considered, kayla's view of dad -and the fact that we guarded her from his need, pain, and surgery).

..would her little world have crumbled as she realized dad's not really as strong/invincible as she thought?

..when and how did i learn it?

...how do wise, godly parents/teachers/adults point their little ones to the strength and character of Christ despite their faulty, sinful nature?

..my first responses are vulnerability and honesty, truth, and close relationship... not to mention a whole lot of prayer and seeking God for ourselves!

daddy's girl..

came across this poem a while back.. wanted to share it here...

a poem for my father

breath

I miss you
and you’re not even gone
Our conversation sticks to my insides
like sap on a tree
and I am forever changed
by it’s slow progression

I find myself gasping for air
much like you
for secrets like these
are a slow death
that never reach the waters surface
and never get the air they need

I would give you my breath
if it would save you
for I have clung to your legs
more than I should have
your fragile little girl
never too far from home

In my memory
I see a figure
whose hands never failed me
whose love never capsized
when the waters submerged my body

and now, in your memory
you will see a figure
whose body will walk beside you
whose love will never leave you
and I will do all that I can
to find the breath that you need

-Posted by Dark Horse, 8/9/08

dad's having the stint surgery tomorrow.. many have been praying.. it's been hard to see him hurt and suffer these last few weeks. he's still working and doing his thing, but with much less energy and fervor than before..

his concern and anger at the threat of death has been agonizing for us all..

..it was great to see the hope in his eyes and hear it in his voice when we first received the news that this doctor would operate.. i look forward to seeing him regain his strength, energy, and fervor for work and life!

more about brothers...

i actually had contact with all three brothers this christmas!!!


rick..(the oldest) in the back row..

don't think i've seen rick since that picture was taken (8/05)... he called christmas day though, and i got to talk to him for a good five minutes...

he sounded great. he's lived alone for the past several years in the upstate. seems to enjoy life working some and shooting his bow as much as he can. :)





gary.. (middle brother)..

gary -who actually goes by 'chelli'- came over christmas day with his wife of three years nancy and two sons dustin (15) and christopher (1 in january). they are precious. all of them. it was so great to see them and spend time with them! nancy has clearly been good for gary.

it is my goal to make it a habit (they only live 45 min. away)!





and then there's michael... (the youngest)..

michael is actually kayla's dad; long story of course...

i actually got to talk to him last sunday night. there's a lot of mixed feelings with mike because when kayla was born he was around all the time... it's hard to see him struggle and even harder not to be able to help, but i was glad he called and hope one day there will be an opportunity to do more than just listen.

tha boys..

not everybody knows i have three older brothers.. this is one of my favorite kid-pics of them.. they're a mess, but i love them...

the only time i ever really lived under the same roof with them was when i was very young (from one to four or so). they got caught up in a variety of bad crowds and habits and never really got out... it's unfortunate.

sometimes i feel guilty for getting to grow up with such stability and consistency and love and security. (i know it doesn't make sense for me to feel guilty for such a thing, but it doesn't make sense for them to not have the guidance and support they needed and me to have it.)