coming back

I can't believe it has been since August that I've written here. A lot has happened, a lot learned. I'm not good at talking about things; I guess that's why I turned to this medium so I wonder what it means that I haven't even written for a long time. Am I pent up? Not engaged? Tired? Frightened by what's inside? Hmmm.
My youngest child started her last semester in college in January. As traumatic and exciting as it was for her, it was bittersweet for me. Coming to that point in life - the threshold of no more children in college - will be a jolt. I don't feel old enough for that to be reality.
Yet it is thrilling to watch my youngest finding her way in life, working through difficult issues, managing work, classes, people, growing up - and doing it quite well.
For me, this stage of life - watching children become adults - is about learning a new way of relating to them, talking with them. I was going to say - talking TO them but that is how parents often relate to children - talking TO them. Maybe that should change, too. Anyway, I'm making my mistakes along the way but she is forgiving and we go on.

moving out

Lydia is not a little girl anymore.
Lydia is moving out.
She is beginning to pack for the big move next week to a house she will share with 6 others near school.
I wonder what she will take with her - will she take pictures of her friends and family? Will she take all those pillows that "box" her in as she sleeps? Will she take her trophies from shooting? And which books will she pack - surely not just school books but some Shakespeare and Williams and other literature she loves!
Will she take any of those really hot shoes in all the colors of the rainbow?
What says "home" to her? Not this home. Her home. How will she make her "home"?
Lydia is grown up and moving out. I've been watching. I saw it happen. I like what I've been seeing.
And I'll keep watching and enjoying what I see!

Sherry came for a visit - i heart faces - week 13 - adult

Sherry and I met in August 1973. That qualifies as a long time ago. We shared a room for three of our four years at Bethel (MN). We were both slender, had no gray hair, no boyfriends. She was a good student, I was mediocre. We are now not as slender, have lots of gray and live with our boyfriends - though we call them husbands!! We are both teachers.
We both live far from our parents and siblings. Sherry and John are in China - far from anywhere!! ; we are in LA. - both of us far from the mid-west from whence we came.
Many other things for us are now different. But many of those differences are things that are now better.
Many things for us are the same. We still laugh at ourselves and each other. We still love to talk about important things. We encourage each other. More than ever, we seek God. Over the years, though changes came, friendship remained constant.
It takes work to maintain a friendship across miles and years. Sometimes we are better at it than others. But when we are together, it is so good. Being in each other's presence is where our best communication comes.... (Do you see implications here for relationship with God?)
It was a wonderful afternoon with a dear friend. I hope there are more ahead.
Thanks for 35 years of precious friendship, Sherry. I love you.
See more friends and faces - make a new friend - at i heart faces.