Category Archives: Friendship

Goodbyes are Hard

One of the joys of living in a military community is the amazing friendships you have the opportunity of enjoying. The beautiful, unique, special people who come into your path.

A sister friend.

A sister friend.

One of the greatest sadness of living in a military community is how those same people – those ones you’ve come to call dear friends – leave your path.

I still remember the first time some of our close military friends were moved to another state. The children were devastated.

“I’m NEVER going to love someone whose dad is in the Army again!” One of the children declared fervently. “It hurts too much to be their friends.” Silently I agreed.

But our hearts are meant to love. And the Lord has placed us in this city, going to an incredible church, full of military families.

And so we say hello and we welcome new people. And we love and, sometimes, too often, we say goodbye.

Today we went to a going away party for a beautiful family that we have grown to adore. Cynthia and I have spent the past two years meeting regularly as part of the mentor program. We have laughed, prayed, encouraged and shared DEEP struggles. Although Cynthia called me her mentor, she blessed me more than I can express. She lifted me up during some of the dark days of my parenting struggles, and she understood a lifelong battle that I’ve faced in a way that few people do.

Sweet family!

Sweet family!

These children have been part of our Sunday School class. They have served weekly with us in AWANA. They have thrown their energies into memory work, Tim’s drama program, and growing more like Jesus.

And so, when I feel a clenching of my heart, and I know I am saying goodbye to a family that I have grown to love, and a woman who has encouraged me to be a better wife, mother and Jesus follower, I stop and Praise God for the hearts and stories He is weaving into our family’s tapestry.

And I cling to the truth that we are called to stay here and be a secure resting place for those who come along. We keep our hearts open. We love freely and generously. We don’t hold back because loving and saying goodbye hurts. We let roots go deep because we know friendship is more than just living in the same city. We celebrate the pieces of our hearts that will travel to different reaches of the world. And we honor these families who have sacrificed so much to serve our country.

We will miss you, M. Family!!

Project 365 – Day 150
Kathy

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Pool Time & Late Posts

I was sleepy last night (and a wee bit grumpy), so I went to bed without blogging. I had taken a picture, and I knew the topic of my post, but I was feeling rebellious. Yep, that’s me, pretty much a rebel. NOT gonna blog, and you can’t make me. I also went to bed without cleaning up the kitchen or making Tim’s lunch for the morning.

Of course, then I got up at 6 am to make Tim’s lunch before he left.

“It hurts me that you got up to pack my lunch,” Tim said after I told him his bag was downstairs and then proceeded to climb back into bed.
“Well, you have be up,” I mumbled, eyes already closed, hoping to sneak in another hour of sleep.
“Yes,” he said slowly, “it hurts me that I have to be up too.”

LOL!

And today I’m posting twice, because I’m determined and committed to keep going with our 2015 Project 365. So, not sure what that little bit of “rebellion” really did for me. Ha.

Thankfully no one expects me to be brilliant in my blog post (not when I’m writing after midnight). And I have a bunch of great pictures from the day.

Early morning outing

Early morning outing

In the morning Michelle and Kirstin picked me up for the Grand Opening of the new Whole Foods store. So many people! It was definitely quite the event. Poor Kirstin, she thought the store had opened several days before and had no idea we were dragging her into a Whole Foods Throng! The craziest part was how the employees and workers all lined the entrance of the store and screamed and shouted and clapped as the first customers walked in. I think that might have been my only shot at having a “celebrity moment.” Probably should have at least remembered lip gloss.

Later I got in a long walk with a friend. You know those kinds of friends who give you encouragement and are also willing to tell you hard truths? I have several in my life. This was just the challenging, real conversation I needed as I’m walking through a difficult struggle right now. Love the godly women the Lord has placed in my life.

Of course, we can’t just spend all day shopping, walking and doing school. The sunshine cries out for some late afternoon fun. It’s still mild and cool out (it’s not summer yet, it just feels like it with all this sunshine), but the pool was warm.

Pool time with friends!

Pool time with friends!

Can David and Daniel manage to subdue Eli?

Can David and Daniel manage to subdue Eli?

"I think we've got him this time!"

“I think we’ve got him this time!”

Nope.  The giant wins!

Nope. The giant wins!

So thankful for simple pleasures like moments at the park or pool or beach.

Girls relax while the boys wrestle.

Girls relax while the boys wrestle.

Until tomorrow’s post.

Project 365 – Day 127
Kathy

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Teacher Appreciation

I FEEL appreciated!!

I FEEL appreciated!!

Today was the last day of our co-op classes. The highly anticipated student government elections went fantastic!! I’ll post pictures tomorrow. David’s campaign was successful and he won the position of Treasurer for next year.

Congratulations, David!!!!

It was an emotional day at co-op as one of my closest friends is facing the transition of her youngest to private high school next year. SOB! We have homeschooled together for many years and I have LOVED sharing this journey with her. This was her last day at co-op. I’m pretty much in denial over what it will be like next year without her there at co-op.

In the meantime some of the students from my class spoiled me with little Teacher Appreciation Gifts! Tim was wiped out from a long day and bad allergies, so I offered to post a picture of my special treats for the Project 365 Blog.

Does that mean he writes tomorrow or I write again? Hmmmm. We’ll see.

Project 365 – Day 107
Kathy

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AWANA Work Continues

This has been a significant year for the AWANA program at our church. We have been working since the Fall to integrate more and more of the administrative aspect of AWANA onto the computer. Tim has developed a unique AWANA website program for us. The children, leaders and volunteers are all registered on the system. We can move kids from team to team online, track their attendance and easily maintain the general records. All of the check-ins are done on the computer, and we have moved away from much of our former paperwork. It’s been an exciting process.

Not everything is done on the computer.

Not everything is done on the computer.

Our incredible AWANA Admin person retired last year, and all summer I think we were either in shock or denial because NO ONE stepped up to do her job. NO ONE contacted her to talk about the work or the details involved in running admin. NO ONE got her files or did any prep work at all.

"Yes, get me an admin person.  Immediately!"

“Get me an admin person. Immediately! Yes, I’ll wait.”

"Who Me?  No, I'm not available."

“Who Me? I can’t do it, I’m only in the 7th grade.”

Cue panic when September hit and the directors all realized NO ONE was in charge or running the administrative details. After many emails back and forth with the Commander and several LONG, PAINFUL evenings with parents trying to register and pay for the program, we finally got things up and running. As Mrs. T&T Director the last few years, I handled all of Tim’s T&T paperwork and behind the scenes work. This year I quickly realized I was the logical choice to serve as the AWANA administrative secretary. Maybe I knew it all along and was just in deep denial over the summer. Ha.

"Show me that again."

“Show me that again.”

"Mom, it's really more fun playing with toys than working on silly AWANA paperwork."

“Mom, it’s really more fun playing with toys than working on silly AWANA paperwork.”

It has been a year full of trial and error as we’ve transitioned things onto our web site, made mistakes, fed parents cookies and treats as they stood in long lines, had fantastic successes, enjoyed the ease of computerized check-ins and quick changes, etc. I have been so blessed over the years as God has brought me creative, talented, patient admin staff (Love you, Jacque and Sally). This year, I have another wonderful partner in crime administration, and she consistently has my back on the busy AWANA evenings, helps me think about what we modify and change, and calms me down when I’m feeling frantic. Thank you, Krystal!!

As the year is rapidly drawing to a close, I definitely have to say the computer program has turned out fantastic! There are, of course, so many more things I’d like it to do. Thankfully I live with the programmer and can beg/request programming time this summer. Thanks, Tim. You’re my favorite computer guy!!

Today Krystal and I met to work on posters for the different clubs. We have at least six computer-run check in stations for the kids each week. We use a long wall divider as a backdrop for our registration and check in area. At one end are the Sparks (k-2nd grader) and the other end are the T&T’ers (3rd-5th grade). At the beginning of the year I had the names written on large sheets of paper and hung on the divider behind us. After some more brainstorming with Krystal, we came up with a great idea for using colored poster board and individual print outs of the kids’ names. That way we can easily move them around from team to team and kids come and go.

Marco the Cat is so helpful with these projects.

Marco the Cat is so helpful with these projects.

Krystal already has an idea for how we can change the team posters for next year. As I said, she’s wonderful! We are constantly improving and modifying things to make sure they run smoothly and efficiently! Can’t wait. I love serving the kids in this capacity. And I am so grateful to the leadership at our church that encourages innovation, creativity and change (when needed).

Project 365 – Day 96
Kathy

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Young and Old

Sometimes the cleaning falls on older, ahem, more experienced hands. And other times there is room for the younger generation to help.

David, Tarah, and Sarah - my cleaning crew!

David, Tarah, and Sarah – my cleaning crew today!

Poor Tarah, whenever she comes over, invariably we put her to work. I think, just once, she’d like to spend the night when the house is already clean. I can just imagine it:

Sarah: Hi, Tarah! What are you doing?
Tarah: Nothing, just watching tv. My mom’s out shopping.
Sarah: Oh, cool, do you want to come over? We’re hanging out.
Tarah:
Yeah! That sounds great. Oh wait, [stalling for time] I think I left something in your room last week. Did you find it?
Sarah: I did. It’s right by the front door. I found it a couple of days ago.
Tarah: Good. So, you found it…when you were, um, cleaning? You were cleaning your room? Like, it’s all picked up?
Sarah: Yeah, my mom made me clean it yesterday.
Tarah: Nice! I mean, oh, that’s a bummer. Moms are so annoying.
Sarah: I know. We had to clean the living room too.
Tarah: Really? So, like your house is all clean now?
Sarah: Yes.
Tarah: Wait, the whole house?
Sarah: Yes.
Tarah: The WHOLE house? I’m just curious. You know, cause I love to talk about cleaning. Like, is the kitchen clean? Did you do the dishes already?
Sarah: We did them this morning.
Tarah: Boy, your mom is making you work hard. Did you vacuum too? And dust? Just wondering.
Sarah: Wow, you’re really into the details today.
Tarah: Heh heh.
Sarah: We did the whole house. We just have the two bathrooms left to do.
Tarah: That’s great. You guys worked hard. Um, so when will you finish the bathrooms? I’m just asking.
Sarah: We have to work right now.
Tarah: Now, now? Not later, like when I get there? You’re doing it now?
Sarah: Yeah.
Tarah: Okay, I think I can come over.

Sarah to Me: Boy, Tarah really wanted to know how clean our house was before she came over. She doesn’t usually care if it’s clean or messy.
Me: That Tarah, what a kidder!
Sarah: Now that I think about it, I guess we did make her clean last time.
Me: [under my breath] You mean the last five times.

Too pretty a day to take pictures inside.

Too pretty a day to take pictures inside.

Thankfully Tarah is practically part of the family and doesn’t mind being one of the slaves helpers. Or at least, she hides it well and works cheerfully.

Besties for so many years!

Besties for so many years!

We got all sorts of things done today – vacuuming, dusting, loads of dishes (ran the dishwasher twice!), laundry, fresh sheets on at least three beds, all the surfaces tidied and put away, etc.

When Daniel came home he cleaned the upstairs bedroom and washed more dishes and even snuck in a quick haircut before we all went to the Saturday evening Easter service.

Thank you, kids, for working so patiently, cheerfully, and without any grumbling! You all are the best.

Tomorrow we will celebrate with Tim’s parents. So nice to have family in the area. We’ll miss Joshua and Rachel as well as aunts and uncles, cousins, and siblings who are in Michigan and Virginia and Georgia. Our thoughts will be with them. Wish we could be together!

Praises on this Easter Weekend!
Sunday is Coming!

Project 365 – Day 94
Kathy

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