Teia's Eye

Teia took this and some other ridiculously impressive pictures from Florida. I'll link to them in Facebook or get them up here.

To Narnia And The North

It's a hard thing to reconcile because so much of us was poured into this trip. So much sacrificed, so much offered, so much lost. And so much gained and enjoyed and given to remember. And we're loading up the van today.

In about a month, Teia graduates and then whatever God wills for Teia happens. I guess to a degree, that statement is true for all of us, but God has led Teia to a crossroads unlike any other child of mine.

And then like the fine quartz sand on these beaches, over the next few years, the other children slip out of my grasp to wherever. My heart is heavy.

every morning

went walking down the beach today with Jen. I really wanted one of those cool spirally shells. i just couldn't find one.

somewhere, halfway down the walk, i gave up trying to find the spirally shell. i don't know what they are, what creatures they are, but they didn't frequent that beach, that day.

i stumbled across some really cool things, some fragments of things that at one point were awesome. some things that were striped and calicoed when wet, but turned almost completely white when dry. i found one shell that looked so perfect, i inspected it closely to see if it was fake.

i've been wrestling with telling you this story because i don't want it to ever make it sound like i'm ungrateful to my dear friends Ted and Gina. and the more i think of it, the more it fits in this thought, so here goes.

a week ago, we packed it all. packed the coolers, checked the lists, contact cases, extra power cords. borrowed an inverter from the Maziarkas. everything was set. the kids got in, and Jen got in, and i figured we'd run to Walgreens and get one last prescription for Zoe...then pray, then drive off.

so i turned the key.

click.

turned it again. click.

nothing. no lights, no nothing.

kids thought i was teasing but i told everyone to get out, dispatched jen to walgreens. Ethan started to cry, but I'm finding older sisters have a stock phrase. I've heard Teia say it to Selah, who has barked it at Ethan. And it sounds reminiscent of something Deirdre has said to me. "You're ok. You're fine."

the kids went inside and made whatever was in the fridge. I pulled the almost brand-new battery from our minivan, put it in the 15 psgr van, and we drove away.

sometimes life isn't what you think. it's not even close. but if you don't get wound up in the expectations, you'll find a little bit of beauty - maybe the treasures you were supposed to find. like a crew of kids who just suck it up and get out of the car when it doesn't start. like friends who have held me up in prayer, supported me with love, money, food, favors beyond anything i could ever explain. i drove Ted and Gina's van a couple thousand miles to get here! I'm not sure what they get out of it.

in Lamentations, the author says

" 22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness. "

This life and all of its trials could permanently swallow me up. But God's mercies - the transliterated word is actually akin to "kindnesses" or "goodness" - are new every morning. Sometimes you don't see its beauty until its wet.

Shelling At Dusk With The Bats

Just For Fun

I had so much fun putting the picture together that I thought I'd show you a true vaca pic...just feels right to give it the film grain and distressed palette.

Destin 2009 Episode 7

What we did in the first two hours we were here is the reason we came.

Easter 2009

I asked Kellen to find some Easter Bible verses and he overachieved by finding several and then giving us the reason he chose the verses he chose.

I told the kids that if you know me, you know how much I like to argue from a position of being right. And no one, no one with money or power or motive or means...no one has ever been able to produce Jesus' body. Because Jesus is alive. And if He's alive, we will all - all of us - have to deal with Him. What will you do with your Risen Savior?

Then it was out to the beach for all of us. Zoe even went down to the water's edge with Jen and the rest of everyone, as Aidan would put it, "Played." Sand castles, hole digging, body surfing.

Then we got really lazy. Actually, we still are. back home, some jumped in the pool and the rest have been grazing and just hiding, mostly. Quiet. Nice.

The Digs

Selah takes you on a tour:

Destin Episodes 2-5

Destination Destin

We're loading up St. Ted and Gina's van - with Michael's tom tom and the other Michael's DVD players and Jen's mom and dad's gifts, with a lot of frozen meat for cooking and cheese and let's just see if we can get there and getting out of here. You'll hear lots more from us on the road. I'm 24 posts from 1000 for this blog...and excited as we get closer.

Pictures and video to come.