House Hopping

This afternoon my cousin and his wife, Nathan and Nancy, wanted to wrap up their Florida visit with a stop at the Ca 'dZan (The House of John (Ringling)) on their way to the airport. Due to time restraints, we decided to invest our "free dollars" at this house instead.

Both are from the Great Gatsby Era and are places that this Sarasota resident visits when company is in town.

This has gotten me thinking...why do we take for granted the things right in front of us all the time? It's easy, when wondering what to do on a Friday night, to think there's NOTHING in Sarasota! During "season", I'm amazed at the number of people who choose to vacation here! Yet these two "houses" host Shakespeare, plays, jazz concerts in the park, etc... events continuously throughout the year!

I'd like to appreciate the beauty where I live, rather than think about how great it is somewhere else. As my daughter, Emma, says..."we live where you vacation". I think our family should vacation more where we live.

Quality Time

I have wondered for a few months if I'm in a midnight-dawn period of my life. Finishing up one day, but not quite the next. Just kind of waiting for the sun to come up and begin a new day. The process of preparing for "empty nest" over the next 5 years has begun for me as a mother. For my friends and family who know me well, I show my love and most definitely experience love by spending time together. I'm trying to sort it all out. That is one reason why being so far away from extended family has been painful these 14 years of living in Sarasota, although technology has certainly helped close the distance!

My daughter and I have just returned from time in IL and MI. Northwestern University, University of Chicago, and Hope College have all grabbed Katy's attention. As a junior in high school, she is quite focused on the next chapter. I have looked forward to a college trip over spring break with each of my three daughters since they were little, and now the experience has happened for me and my oldest! The process of selection is certainly underway, but by no means complete! Let's just say, all 3 are still viable options. Of course, the U of FL is in the mix, too. It is exciting to anticipate the next 12 months!

The past five days have been filled with great memories and times of nourishment. Having moments with family has been what my tired soul has needed. I almost didn't realize how much until my husband told me last night how refreshed I looked.

It's wonderful to be home with Garland, and to fill up on more quality time--my cousin Nathan and his wife Nancy are visiting, and more family arrives tomorrow!

It feels like sunrise of a brand new day once again.

Athletics

Eventhough MSU men's basketball suffered a disappointing defeat yesterday, congrats to Hope College's women's basketball.

They were crowned NCAA Division III champs in this game this afternoon!

The Dutch-women know how to get it done! :)

...but you've outclassed them all!

My mom is an amazing woman. No, it's not her birthday or any other significant day in her life. I'm just thinking about her and what a huge heart she has. She is the most giving person I've ever known--her capacity to love is unreserved! She reflects her maiden name, Hart, to a tee. She always puts the needs of others before her own.

She is being released from a 5 day hospitalization today, and I know both she and her husband are very happy to have her back in her "world". After a successful operation, the lesson of allowing others to serve her begins. My most vivid memory of Susan while I lived my childhood was of her serving others, most times at her own expense...time, emotions, hospitality, etc. It is even her philosophy of business.

She is a remarkable lady, and I pray she will be able to enjoy her time of recooperation, relaxing, and the healing of not just her body but her mind, emotions, and spirit as well.

Nice to have you home, Mom!


"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all!" Prov. 31:29

Discovering My Youth, Part II

What a wonderful thing to be almost 40 and still be able to discover new things with childlike wonder.

I wonder if the teenagers who sing in Riverview HS's Women's Concert Choir are too busy learning how to become a grown-up that they will forget the little girl inside of them. I wonder if they forget to thank God that they even have the opportunity to grow up.

Betty Mullett, their director, selected a unique song for competition season this year. It is from a collection of poems found written by some of the 15,000 children who passed through Teresienstadt on the journey to Auschwitz. Here is one boy's account, remembered vividly still in February, 2006. He had the opportunity to grow up many never had. Then I think, "who would want to "rediscover" the kind of youth he experienced, and many still share today in places like Chad and the Sudan?" The collection of poems set to music, I Never Saw Another Butterfly, was written in 1971. The Women's Choir sang The Butterfly.

It is spring, and I might see a butterfly today. Thank you, God.

Discovering My Youth

This past week has been one of intense busy-ness. Saturday was an early day for Katy and me. We left Sarasota at 6:30 am for Fort Myers (90 minute drive) to participate in a Musical Performance Assessment (MPA) with Riverview HS's 4 choirs. Katy sang in 3 and I accompanied all 4.

Upon returning home around 3pm, my sweet husband had planned a date for the two of us. We christened our new kyak off of Longboat Key in Sarasota Bay! We were out in the water from about 4-6:30pm, and relaxed in the natural environment that we don't take the time to enjoy nearly enough. I moved to Sarasota 14 years ago from Wisconsin, and it took until Saturday for some "firsts".

First time to find a sand dollar on my own.
First time to travel through a mangrove canal.
First time to watch a porpoise (for about 10 minutes!) only feet away.

Garland said he loved watching my enthusiasm as I leaned far over the boat to discover the bottom of the bay. I was acting like a kid again. We brought home my "spoils" (yes, I raped and pillaged the bay-2 beautiful shells and 12 sand dollars which are now "bleaching" white!).

I loved being out with him in the quiet at sunset and the freedom to just be me. No pretense.

What a relaxing way to end our busy day and week!

Train of Thought

As long as I can remember, my brain will link together people, places, etc. that normally would have no connection at all. And then, appearing to be out of the blue, I make some random comment aloud and the people around me have "no clue where that came from!" I then have to explain how the train got from point A to B.

I had one of those this morning as I connected my sweet friend, Linda with my most-missed G'ma Barbara. I'll link the two for you.

1. I was praying for my artist friend, Linda Kasun, this morning.
2. She is leaving today with the choir from our church to go on a 2 week missions trip to France.
3. They are helping one of our missionaries, Hugh Wessel, by giving concerts and leading two Sunday worship services in struggling churches.
4. Hugh lived under the ministry of Francis Schaeffer before going to seminary and returning to France.
5. Schaeffer's "How Then Shall We Live" book/video series is among the most thought-provoking I've experienced.
6. We found an article from Christianity Today interviewing Francis about that project from the 1970's in a book that used to be my G'ma Barbara's.
7. She loved Schaeffer's ministry - she frequently gave my mother his books. (on a side note, as a young girl I always thought Francis Schaeffer was a woman)
8. Like Francis, G'ma was a thinker. I wish she was still here. I'd love to spend time talking with her again.

That is how when I began praying for my friend Linda, I ended up thanking God for my G'ma Barbara.

They would've liked each other.

Broken Glass

My husband, Garland, has a glass splinter in the palm of his hand.

He got it on a job site last Saturday when he had to break an interior window in order to remove it. For two days we have attempted to get the last little bit out, to no avail. Part of what makes it so difficult is not really being able to see it. It is a very small piece, and his body's defense against this foreign object is making it even more difficult to remove. The natural protection process is actually impeding the glass' removal. But we know it's there-it's obvious on the outside.

This has gotten me thinking about the broken glass inside of me. You know, the things that are in me that really don't belong there. Things like resentment, bitterness, pride, wounding...all invisible, but painfully evident to those on the outside that I come in contact with. Like Garland's defense system, I too want to protect myself and thereby make the removal of these things even more difficult.

I think there are several things God needs to take His tweezers to and remove from inside me. Eventhough the process is painful, it will be worth it in the end.

The Morning Market

Monday through Friday my husband and I get up at 5:00 am....we take the time to read scripture and pray together, go for our 2 mile walk, and then our family is off and running on yet another workday. I wouldn't trade the time from 5 - 6:30 for sleep ever. It is the pace-setter for the next 15 or so hours ahead of us. To quote Martha, "it's a good thing".

Saturday morning, however, is our best personal time.

We typically get up around 7 and have more time to read. In the last 2 months we have read Donald Miller's Searching For God Knows What and we have just begun his latest To Own A Dragon. We have time to dialogue, linger over Zabar's coffee, laugh, cry,...just be.

During "season", most Saturdays is a later-start workday for Garland, and the girls are sleeping in. This is the opportunity I have to take time for myself. My most enjoyable activity is going down to the Farmer's Market.

There is the regular cast of characters: The Flower Guy who tells me I have a great smile, The Marionette Man playing jazz music, The Migrants busily restocking vegetables, The Organic Farmer's Wife once again explaining to me how to take care of my herb plants, and then best of all, there is the Olive Oil Italian Lady named Ana. She has a smile that fuels the hot Florida sun. She is who brings me to Italy each Saturday morning, buying me time until my husband has his turn for the real thing. This is the hour I soak in. I come home refreshed with our family's produce and flowers for the upcoming week.

And I don't feel guilty at all...

What is your favorite way to pamper yourself?