365

One year ago today we packed up our car, said good-bye to friends and family, merged onto I-75 N and drove forever until we hit Michigan. We have lived in Michigan for one whole year.

I can hardly believe it.

I’ve been thinking about this inauspicious anniversary for a few days now, not really knowing what to make of it. I still desperately miss my friends. I miss the ease of walking into church, knowing I’ll see familiar faces. I miss being in Target and running into Rachel, or seeing Jill and her kids at Chick-fil-A. I miss standing at the back fence chatting with Linda. I miss the mornings Rebecca and I spent at Burger King with Kim and James. I miss talking about gardening with Tracey, who, although my yard was a mess, never made me feel my brown thumb was obvious.

I basically miss knowing people and more importantly, being known.

A good, and one of my best, friends called me today to check on me. She knew the date was looming. She could not have picked a better time to call and I thanked God that in His providence she picked up that phone. We talked for 45 minutes. I was huddled in my bedroom closet with the phone pressed tightly to my ear, trying to avoid the bedtime activity swirling around me. We have company staying with us and I’ve been trying to hide my tears around them but with Kathy I could just let them go.

My sister-in-law mentioned to me today that she was amazed at all the good friends I had in Atlanta. She was right; I had the most amazing, interesting group of buds. And I miss them all so much.

But in the missing is the knowledge that I did get to experience what so few really do: good friendship. I am still in touch with some amazing friends who are literally just a phone call away. How awesome is it that I have at least six people I could call in the middle of the night? How many people can say that?

The fact that they are all 800 miles away is a bit of a bummer. Okay, actually it sucks. But they are there! And I thank God He allowed me to see what real friendship looks like.

I have several acquaintances here in my new home. And I have made one actual friend; I am very thankful for her! I know more friends are out there… I just have to keep looking for them.

So it is definitely a day of mixed emotions. I am thankful God brought us here because Sean loves his work. I am grateful the kids are enjoying their school work. I am thankful I don’t have to fight Atlanta traffic any more! And while I am sad God chose to move us 800 miles away from everyone I’ve ever known, loved and held dear I am grateful He has shown me His faithfulness is for real.

As the writer of Lamentations wrote in chapter three:

32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.
33 For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men
55 I called on your name, O LORD, the depths of the pit.
56 You heard my plea: "Do not close your ears to my cry for relief."
57 You came near when I called you, and you said, "Do not fear."
58 O Lord, you took up my case; you redeemed my life.

Whether in Atlanta or Lansing, my God is here, ready to show his compassion and redeem my life. Who could ask for a better friend?

That's My Girl!

Since September, the choir Amy's in at church has been preparing for a concert. Each Sunday Sean and Amy would head to the Sunshine Choir room and practice for 90 minutes. It was Sean, the choir director, some helpful moms and 80 first, second and third graders. Yep, eighty.

Saturday was the big day. They wore tie-dyed shirts, specially made by their choir director. She's a senior at MSU and she's been great with the kids. She has a bit to learn about crowd control, but her heart was in the right place. And the kids loved "the red-haired lady." Why they couldn't remember her name I'll never know...

Anyway, the performace went so well. Sean played the piano masterfully. And Amy, who had the only solo, did a great job! I was such a proud wife and mom.

I recorded her portion with my little digital camera so it's not the best picture. (Plus, it's a little hard to hold the camera still when I'm crying...) But the audio is good. And you can look on the right side to see Amy on the big screen for some of the time. You can't see Sean but you can hear him! Click on the title above to link to the video.

My Underwear is Green

I've never worn green on St. Patrick’s Day. It’s just not that big a deal to me. And I guess a bit of my personality hates the thought of doing something because everyone else is doing it. Whenever my mom would take me shopping she would inevitably say, “Oh, everyone’s wearing this!” That was the best way to guarantee I wouldn’t want it, whatever it was.

Anyway, I put on a pink shirt today and Amy was determined to pinch me. I let her get it out of her system. I think I’ll wear green next year just to avoid that. She has strong fingers.

For the past 13 years one reason I don't feel the need to wear green is because I married an Irishman. I figure that’s an automatic bye.

And each year on March 17 I take great joy in reading a magnet my mother-in-law gave me a few years ago. It says, “There is reason to believe that some people can marry an Irish person and still go on to lead a normal and productive life.” She and I are both trying!

Happy Wedding to You

Well, this was a first. I bought an axe as a wedding present.

Rebecca's Sunday school teachers are getting married. They are absolutely adorable and have made Rebecca’s transition to church up here much easier. So when I heard about their engagement I asked for their registries and was excited to give them a lovely gift.

Autumn told me, “We’ve registered for a lot of camping stuff.” She wasn’t kidding. Nearly three pages of their Target registry was in Aisle F6: Camping. There were stoves and lighters and camping picnic supplies, and the axe. I just couldn’t resist.

So Michael and I picked out the axe and picnic table supplies, headed to the check-out lane and made sure they took the axe off the gift registry. I definitely want to be the only one giving them an axe.

I can just hear it now: “Honey, I need to chop some firewood. Can you please toss me the axe that cute kid from Sunday school gave us?”

Oh my word

The Web is a useful tool. Just yesterday I looked up a few addresses, a Bible verse and Zeus for Michael's history paper.

Then today I find this little gem.

It made me laugh out loud, and then I immediately felt embarrassed for the poor bloke in the video.

There's some debate as to whether or not the guy staged the event, but even if he did the reaction on the anchorwoman's face is priceless.

Just wanted to share.

(Click on the title above to see the video.)

Involuntary Evangelism

You know your child is getting old when his Christmas list includes things you don’t understand. So it was with Michael’s list this Christmas: PlayStation games that I can’t start, much less play, games for a DS, some little gaming device that I can’t start, either, and an MP3 player.

Well, at least I understood the MP3 player. I wanted an MP3 player! But this was the year of the funnel for me (I got three); no electronic devices for me or Sean this year.

We did give Michael one, a mobiBlu, the smallest MP3 player out there. He was so excited! He absolutely loved it. He immediately took over my laptop, uploading his CDs and downloading a few new ones. Then he plugged all the plugs in the right places and downloaded everything to the one-inch cube with earphones. He wore it everywhere and listened to it all the time.

Until last Thursday.

Last Thursday he took it to youth group at church. He and his friends compared notes on music choices and the like. But when he went to play basketball he put the teeny-tiny cube in a coat pocket and left his coat on the gym floor. I’m sure I don’t even have to write the next sentence: when he finished playing ball he retrieved his coat only to find the MP3 player gone.

When Sean and the girls went to pick him up they found him searching frantically for the little cube. The youth director helped, his friends helped, his sisters helped. But no little blue cube was found.

He was afraid we were going to be angry at him but I reminded him I’d left my purse on the church pew the Sunday before when I ran out to grab Rebecca’s coat. It could have happened just as easily to me. Church just isn’t the place you think, “I better keep my personal belongings on me at all times!”

The good news is Michael had lots of great music on the player – Newsboys, Michael W. Smith, Switchfoot, 4Him, plus some really funny, clean comedy – so whoever is listening to it is getting the Good News pumped in his ears.

The night the mobiBlu went missing, Sean, Michael and I prayed the thief would figure out a bit about Jesus by listening to the music. Of course I also prayed he wouldn’t be able to sleep because his conscience was bothering him so much and that maybe he’d have horrible stomach problems and spend the entire night in the bathroom.

It’s been a week and it’s still missing.

The debate now is do we buy him another MP3 player? Do we split the cost? Do I buy the iPod I’ve been wanting and share it with him? :-)

I’ll keep you posted.