Time is funny thing

Last year in June, I decided to get a job.

Three years ago in June, I started running a fever. I had no idea that the following twelve months would take me to the precipice of eternity twice.

Five years ago in June, I had just moved to Iowa. I thought my life would never be settled again. (It is wonderful now.)

Ten years ago in June, I talked to my mom on the phone at least twice a day with no thought that she would be gone from this earth in a month.

Fifteen years ago in June, we had one child and began yet another adoption journey that would lead us to adopting five more children in time.

Twenty years ago in June, my Hero was ordained into the pastorate and I became a pastor's wife. That is the subject of a whole book I'm writing.

"Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."

—Proverbs 27:1

"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."

—James 4:14

He makes me smile

I'm working on a bulletin board for church based on the verses, "How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee." Psalm 139:17-18.

I had taken a piece of tan poster board, spread glue on it and then covered it with sand. While it was drying it was lying on the dining room table next to my the blue poster board covered with lacquer that is my water.

My Beau said, "Nana, this is just like a beach! But where are the people?" I told them there were no people on this beach and I left to go run an errand. When I came back, he proudly met me at the door and announced, "I fixed your beach, Nana!"

At first, my heart sank. Then I found this:

Creative little guy, isn't he?

Camping over Father's Day Weekend

We fished. We camped. We cooked. We played.

Then we went to the Quad Cities Air Show. More about that later.

Believe it or not, I miss it

The weather in my hometown:

5-Day Extended Forecast

• Thu

  

  High: 99°

  Low: 76°

• Fri

  

  High: 90°

  Low: 74°

• Sat

  

  High: 102°

  Low: 68°

• Sun

  

  High: 96°

  Low: 73°

• Mon

  

  High: 97°

  Low: 73°

The weather where I live now:

I honestly miss things like "102°"

I guess I'm weird.

What Can I Say?

Summer Memories

south concho river
Originally uploaded by rdbeerd

I didn't take this picture. I want to make a trip "home" to West Texas and take some pictures. I hope I get the chance.

This is the South Concho River in Christoval, TX. Christoval is about 25 miles south of San Angelo. In the summer when I was 15 and 16 and even 17, my friends and I would jump in the car and drive down to Christoval to swim. Swim and sun in the river.

It is one of my fondest memories.

Happy Flowers

My flowers make me smile.

We Didn't Know

Twenty-eight years ago, we didn't know the sorrow we would share.

We didn't know the people who would walk out of our lives never to return.
We didn't know we would grieve ten children, conceived of our love, born out of due season.

We didn't know the friends and family we would say goodbye to at the cemetery.

We didn't know.

Twenty-eight years ago, we didn't know the laughter we would share.

We didn't know about the inside jokes.

We didn't know about the hilarious mishaps.

We didn't know about our children's and grandchildren's antics.

We didn't know.

Twenty-eight years ago, we didn't know the struggles we would share.

We didn't know he would kiss me goodbye 15 times to watch me wheeled off into an operating room leaving him to hope all was okay.

We didn't know we would experience five adoptive homestudies and stand before three different judges to prove we were capable of being parents.

We didn't know he would pastor small churches and that we would always scrape to make ends meet.

We didn't know.

Twenty-eight years ago, we didn't know the joys we would share.

We didn't know about the joy we would experience as we held our first daughter and looked into her bright beautiful eyes.

We didn't know about six children who weren't born under my heart, but in both our hearts. (Adoption is great. Both parents experience labor.)

We didn't know about the grandchildren and how much each of them would find an instantaneous home in our hearts and minds.

We didn't know.

Twenty-eight years ago, we didn't know the love we would share.

We had no idea that with every sorrow, every laugh, every stuggle, and every joy, our love for each other would grow.

We didn't know that after twenty-eight years, we would wake up next to each other and still be overwhelmed with the love we had for each other.

We didn't know we could love another person so much.

We didn't know.

Looking for Help from Ministry Wives

Last September, in this post, I mentioned that I want to work on an encouraging book for pastor's wives. I'm starting to do some research for this book and I need some help. If you the wife of someone who is either in the ministry (doesn't have to be full time) or someone who is training for the ministry and you are willing to help, then please email me at just2terri@gmail.com .

Thanks.

New Joy

New Flower Pictures Posted

I posted some new photos on Nana's Lens. There are pictures of honeysuckles here and wild roses here .

My Lovebug is ONE today!!!

I can't believe it's already been a whole year since she entered our lives.

Happy Birthday, Lovebug!

Beau graduated preschool

He will climb aboard the school bus in a few short months and march off to kindergarten. He and his classmates will go their separate ways. His preschool had a ceremony marking the end of preschool. I took a little time off from work and went to watch. I'll admit I'm a sappy Nana. I cried.

Singing "Skidamarinky dinky dink"

He was a little nervous at first but he got over it.

Looking to the future!

Memorial Day and Mom

My mom is buried in the National Cemetery in Leavenworth, Kansas. I've only been to her grave a few times so while we were in town over Memorial Day weekend, I went to visit her again. 

I certainly wasn't prepared for the flood of emotions, not at visiting my mother's grave but at visiting a National Cemetery over Memorial Day. Amidst the sea of flags and headstones I felt an overwhelming awareness of the sacrifices made for my freedom. 

Mom didn't serve in the military but for 18 years of her marriage, she shared her husband with the whole country.

Thank you, Mom, and thank you to all the men and women who gave of their lives to maintain our freedom.

"God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it."

— Daniel Webster

Lots of pictures to come

I've taken a lot of pictures over the past month or so and I will be posting them in the next few days. Most of them I will post here on Nana's Faith. Some I will post on Nana's Lens so look both places!