From Wendy's Heart...

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

My family spent last week at the Outer Banks. We had so much fun. We spent most of the day at the beach riding boogey boards, skim boards, jumping waves, and Mama read two books and got a great tan. I loved watching my family enjoy the sun and sand and waves. My son loved picking up seashells and looking for jellyfish, which there were plenty of. My daughter enjoyed sitting in the ocean with her grandmother and me, and of course listening to her ipod touch and texting when she was allowed. I loved just spending time watching my children and enjoying them. And several times, I took these mental snapshots because there were moments I wanted to remember always.

I loved having my family close by all week. There were no schedules to be kept or meetings to attend. No appointments or teenagers begging to go out with friends. There were only the 6 of us (grandparents as well) and we spent the time together, laughing and creating new memories.

I have said it numerous times, but I feel so blessed. As I reflect over this past week, I stop and wonder if God often times looks down and smiles when he sees us doing something that we love and enjoy, much like I did this week as I watched my children. I know they grow up so fast. My mom reminded me of that this week as she reflected on me as a small child. Where does the time go??? I want to always remember these wonderful times with my family. I hope and pray that over this summer or fall when you get a chance to get away that you will take not only photographs of all that you do, but that you will stop and take those mental snapshots too, those ones that you will always remember.

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From Rachel's Heart...

Monday, August 16, 2010

Last night in church, we studied my favorite verses in Philippians: Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14).

These verses have really been the ones that I have recited over and over this last year as I have left my career at Johns Hopkins and moved to start a new calling in women’s ministry. And recently, I have been thinking a lot about Hopkins. You see, it’s August and it is the time of year when the excitement really starts to build about a new school year. Freshman are moving into their dorms right now, the bookstore is full with new books ready to be purchased, and there is just a buzz in the air on college campuses as a new year begins. And, I simply love this time of year. I love as August turns into September and the leaves start to change and the school year really begins. I love walking into a classroom of 400 students knowing that I have their undivided attention for the next couple of hours as I teach them about how to cope with stress or how to be more optimistic or how to reach their career and life goals.

For a few days, I have found myself a little sad as I think of the school year starting and not walking into the classroom. But, at the same time, I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am where I am supposed to be, living the life that I am supposed to be, chasing a calling that I should be. I feel so blessed to have this new chapter of life that is full of life and love and new found purpose. But, that doesn’t keep me from feeling a twinge of sadness as I am reminded of a time of year that I always found so special and exciting. So, I truly appreciated the reminder last night that I need to forget what is behind (even though it was very good) and press on towards what is ahead. I am learning that there are stages of life and stages of God’s plan for us and we should not spend too much time looking backwards.

If there is something in your past (good or bad) that keeps you from forging ahead, then heed Paul’s words today. And, in the words of an old Cherokee saying, “Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today!”

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

This summer has been really busy and Wendy and I have not blogged as much as we had been before summertime hit (we promise to blog more again!). My family has spent a lot of time moving and getting settled. We are currently doing renovations to our new house, so it will be a little bit more time before we are completely settled.

I actually have learned quite a bit about myself in this transition. And, the biggest thing that I have learned is that I really like stability. In fact, I have been quite out of sorts this summer because of the instability in our living arrangements and routine. My husband and Wendy both keep reminding me that moving an entire household, renovating a house, and getting set up in a new community is not easy. And, they keep assuring me that we will regain the sense of routine and stability that we used to have in our life, but that it will take a little more time to get everything in order. And for now, they keep telling me to “hang in there” or “hold on.”

Do you ever have periods of life that are like this? Periods where you know that it is just going to take time to get all of the pieces of your situation in order? Times when all you can really do is “hold on?”

If you are in a period of transition or change right now, then I am going to pass on the same advice that I have been given: Hang on! In the middle of my days, when I am feeling as if my life will never be routine again, I step outside of the chaos, soak in the sunshine and ask God to help me “hang on.” Sometimes, we cannot speed up change in our life and all we can do is slowly walk towards the goal. And, we just need to ask God to give us the patience and the strength to walk down that path that can seem so slow.

So today, I urge you to hang on friends, hang on!!