Saturday, June 18, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Savoring What Has Been and Moving Ahead
2010 was a remarkable year for our family.We experienced so many things to be thankful for.One of the most remarkable events of 2010 was traveling to the Middle East.In case you didn't hear,Shauna,Roberto and Benjamin chipped in and surprised us with plane tickets to Israel for our 25th Wedding Anniversary,in June.Our time was spent walking the streets and countryside of Jerusalem by ourselves.What an amazing experience.As time goes by the memories of it get richer.We could stand on the rooftop of our hotel and watch the sun peek over the Mount of Olives,where Jesus ascended to heaven.It felt like it was the beginning of the earth.We would watch the sun light flood across the Kidron Valley and the Garden of Gethsemane, highlight the golden dome of the Temple Mount and cast first light on the ancient buildings of Jerusalem.It was nothing less than moving.Remember the rooster that Peter heard after he had denied Christ? I heard its cousin on the Mount of Olives.One lone rooster.Was it really there or did I imagine it? I am ready to return at a moments notice. I have gone back many times in my mind and heart. The old cliche, a gift that keeps on giving suits our trip very well.Not many people get to spend their 25th wedding anniversary in the city they have only dreamed about visiting.I know,most people want to go to Italy or Paris but not us.Jerusalem is the place we always said,"if we could go one place in the world,Jerusalem would be it".So we got our dream trip thanks to our thoughtful and generous kids.
Where did the time go anyway.To have made it to 25 years is a pretty big deal.The best part of that is that our relationship is getting better as the years go by.The empty nest syndrome can be a major test of a relationship.Many marriages just fall apart after the kids leave.I can honestly say that ours just continuously improves.We are doing new things together,like playing tennis,riding the bike trails and becoming world travelers.We spent one morning at the horse races.Right after the races we went straight to the movies and watched Secretariat.Dave planned this day for us.He knows I am a horse lover and thoroughbred enthusiast.Before the kids came we purposed to do new things together.and we have taken up where we left off.It helps to see our kids happy and successful with their own lives.It gives us the freedom to enjoy our new life of post parenthood together.
Our daughter and her husband,Roberto celebrated their first wedding anniversary in October and made a move to Texas at the same time.Roberto serves our country in the Navy and has been trained in aviation electronics.Shauna is developing a career in photography while she continues her college education over the internet.They are moving forward in their marriage and careers and pursuing life with much gusto.To check out Shauna's photography web site go to http://shaunanicolesphotoblog.blogspot.com
In December we attended our son,Benjamin's graduation ceremony. He graduated with a BA in music from Southeastern University.What a day that was.He has worked so hard.Benjamin plans to be teaching music in the years to come,among other things. Who knows where his love for music will take him.While he was getting a music degree he also gained experience working all aspects of the restaurant service at Southeastern and worked his way to a managerial position.Ben gets to see a lot of famous people while he orchestrates the special events held at the University.He even runs the Starbucks on Campus at times and can add Barista to the list of his accomplishments.We could not be more proud of our kids.It is a joy and a privilege to be part of their lives.We are inspired by them in many ways.They have already accomplished much in their young lives.When they set their sights on what they want they do the work to get there and do not give up. Spending time with them and seeing their lives unfold is a major source of blessings in our life.
The most unpleasant memory of 2010 was losing a brother to cancer. My brother Gerald Wayne Newell,(Jerry)passed away September 25th. He left behind three daughters; Sheila, Sherri, Diana,ten grandchildren,four brothers and three sisters. His daughter Sherri took him in during his fight. She supported him and drove him back and forth between Missouri and South Dakota for his many doctor appointments and chemo therapy. Thankfully all of Jerry’s daughters and several of our siblings were able to be with him in the last days of his life.We wanted him to stick around for another 20 years or so.He was only 59 years old.We fervently petitioned the Lord to let him stay but in the end God chose to take him home.We anticipate the day when we will see him again.
Dave’s job took some interesting turns in 2010.He was taken from his line haul driving route from Tampa to Orlando.He was then given a new job working in downtown Tampa, driving the same 18 wheeler, most days. Not only is this much harder but it pays considerably less. Dave loved his line haul job.There have been continuous changes at this company. This month he is being moved again and we don't know what he will be doing or even what his hours will be.We are confident that God is in control of things and is the one who provides our every need and more.Looking around us we see that things in our country and even the world are getting harder to depend on.Changes are happening right and left.It has always been true that change is one of the only things we can depend on.Should I say it,the other two are death and taxes.Why is it that even though these things are inevitable we still agonize over them? Maybe it's just because we dislike them so much. Whatever God has planned for us in 2011 I chose to sing Hallelujah. That is not only my hearts cry but a beautiful song by Bethany Dillon, simply called, Hallelujah.I find it playing in my head a lot these days.(It can be found on You Tube if you're not familiar with it.)When we feel we can't depend on anything or anyone,His love and strength are unwavering.He is bigger than anything we find ourselves up against.
Our prayer for all who read this is simply,may you know God’s best for you in 2011.May your confidence be found not in yourselves but in the Lord.
Hallelujah"
Who can hold the stars
And my weary heart?
Who can see everything?
I've fallen so hard
Sometimes I feel so far
But not beyond your reach
I could climb a mountain
Swim the ocean
Or do anything
But it's when you hold me
That I start unfolding
And all I can say is
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Whatever's in front of me
Help me to sing hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Whatever's in front of me
I'll choose to sing hallelujah
The same sun that
Rises over castles
And welcomes the day
Spills over buildings
Into the streets
Where orphans play
And only you can see the good
In broken things
You took my heart of stone
And you made it home
And set this prisoner free
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Whatever's in front of me
Help me to sing hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Whatever's in front of me
I'll choose to sing hallelujah
Where did the time go anyway.To have made it to 25 years is a pretty big deal.The best part of that is that our relationship is getting better as the years go by.The empty nest syndrome can be a major test of a relationship.Many marriages just fall apart after the kids leave.I can honestly say that ours just continuously improves.We are doing new things together,like playing tennis,riding the bike trails and becoming world travelers.We spent one morning at the horse races.Right after the races we went straight to the movies and watched Secretariat.Dave planned this day for us.He knows I am a horse lover and thoroughbred enthusiast.Before the kids came we purposed to do new things together.and we have taken up where we left off.It helps to see our kids happy and successful with their own lives.It gives us the freedom to enjoy our new life of post parenthood together.
Our daughter and her husband,Roberto celebrated their first wedding anniversary in October and made a move to Texas at the same time.Roberto serves our country in the Navy and has been trained in aviation electronics.Shauna is developing a career in photography while she continues her college education over the internet.They are moving forward in their marriage and careers and pursuing life with much gusto.To check out Shauna's photography web site go to http://shaunanicolesphotoblog.blogspot.com
In December we attended our son,Benjamin's graduation ceremony. He graduated with a BA in music from Southeastern University.What a day that was.He has worked so hard.Benjamin plans to be teaching music in the years to come,among other things. Who knows where his love for music will take him.While he was getting a music degree he also gained experience working all aspects of the restaurant service at Southeastern and worked his way to a managerial position.Ben gets to see a lot of famous people while he orchestrates the special events held at the University.He even runs the Starbucks on Campus at times and can add Barista to the list of his accomplishments.We could not be more proud of our kids.It is a joy and a privilege to be part of their lives.We are inspired by them in many ways.They have already accomplished much in their young lives.When they set their sights on what they want they do the work to get there and do not give up. Spending time with them and seeing their lives unfold is a major source of blessings in our life.
The most unpleasant memory of 2010 was losing a brother to cancer. My brother Gerald Wayne Newell,(Jerry)passed away September 25th. He left behind three daughters; Sheila, Sherri, Diana,ten grandchildren,four brothers and three sisters. His daughter Sherri took him in during his fight. She supported him and drove him back and forth between Missouri and South Dakota for his many doctor appointments and chemo therapy. Thankfully all of Jerry’s daughters and several of our siblings were able to be with him in the last days of his life.We wanted him to stick around for another 20 years or so.He was only 59 years old.We fervently petitioned the Lord to let him stay but in the end God chose to take him home.We anticipate the day when we will see him again.
Dave’s job took some interesting turns in 2010.He was taken from his line haul driving route from Tampa to Orlando.He was then given a new job working in downtown Tampa, driving the same 18 wheeler, most days. Not only is this much harder but it pays considerably less. Dave loved his line haul job.There have been continuous changes at this company. This month he is being moved again and we don't know what he will be doing or even what his hours will be.We are confident that God is in control of things and is the one who provides our every need and more.Looking around us we see that things in our country and even the world are getting harder to depend on.Changes are happening right and left.It has always been true that change is one of the only things we can depend on.Should I say it,the other two are death and taxes.Why is it that even though these things are inevitable we still agonize over them? Maybe it's just because we dislike them so much. Whatever God has planned for us in 2011 I chose to sing Hallelujah. That is not only my hearts cry but a beautiful song by Bethany Dillon, simply called, Hallelujah.I find it playing in my head a lot these days.(It can be found on You Tube if you're not familiar with it.)When we feel we can't depend on anything or anyone,His love and strength are unwavering.He is bigger than anything we find ourselves up against.
Our prayer for all who read this is simply,may you know God’s best for you in 2011.May your confidence be found not in yourselves but in the Lord.
Hallelujah"
Who can hold the stars
And my weary heart?
Who can see everything?
I've fallen so hard
Sometimes I feel so far
But not beyond your reach
I could climb a mountain
Swim the ocean
Or do anything
But it's when you hold me
That I start unfolding
And all I can say is
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Whatever's in front of me
Help me to sing hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Whatever's in front of me
I'll choose to sing hallelujah
The same sun that
Rises over castles
And welcomes the day
Spills over buildings
Into the streets
Where orphans play
And only you can see the good
In broken things
You took my heart of stone
And you made it home
And set this prisoner free
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Whatever's in front of me
Help me to sing hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Whatever's in front of me
I'll choose to sing hallelujah
Friday, April 30, 2010
I'm back to tell you that there is life after the nest empties.
Well as I left off a few months ago our daughter Shauna moved to the Panhandle to be near her new husband Roberto.Since then we have seen each other three times. We have been visiting back and forth.I certainly wouldn't recommend that drive to anyone.But it is worth it to be near each other.
They got a chihuahua and they named him,Puppy although he is really somewhere between two and three years old.We call him our grand puppy and love him as such. I never realized just how interesting chihuahua's are. He is akin to an eccentric old man and makes us all laugh.He even seems to have a sense of humor himself.
They got a chihuahua and they named him,Puppy although he is really somewhere between two and three years old.We call him our grand puppy and love him as such. I never realized just how interesting chihuahua's are. He is akin to an eccentric old man and makes us all laugh.He even seems to have a sense of humor himself.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The kids are gone.Our son has been away at school for almost five years now. He has been coming home for vacations and parts of the summers.He has a big pile of his loose feathers piled high in his old closet. Our daughter got married about five months ago and actually moved out about two weeks ago.She left behind a big pile of her own feathers for me to sort through. What will become of this collection of things that they want but have no room for?
So are you wondering how I managed when they flew the coop? Well thanks to my long relationship with the Lord I did good.It has been a healing process.I reminded myself during their growing up years (mine and theirs) that the main reason they had been put in our lives was to prepare them for the world.Could I have done better?Most certainly.Could I have done worse? Absolutely. All things considered, it is what it is. Is it too late to be a good example and make a difference in their lives? No way! This is where faith and grace really come in to play. I have faith that God has them in the palm of His hand and I will continue to pray for them daily;somedays,every few hours. I will be praying as much or more than ever. ;-}. More to come...
So are you wondering how I managed when they flew the coop? Well thanks to my long relationship with the Lord I did good.It has been a healing process.I reminded myself during their growing up years (mine and theirs) that the main reason they had been put in our lives was to prepare them for the world.Could I have done better?Most certainly.Could I have done worse? Absolutely. All things considered, it is what it is. Is it too late to be a good example and make a difference in their lives? No way! This is where faith and grace really come in to play. I have faith that God has them in the palm of His hand and I will continue to pray for them daily;somedays,every few hours. I will be praying as much or more than ever. ;-}. More to come...
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