It’s a hot week. Mom & dad left Europe, and we are waiting for Brian to arrive in Romania for a teen conference.
Nearly three decades ago Brian and his team changed my life. And he has been the gift that kept on giving: Through poetry. Stories. Vulnerability.
I’m still waiting to settle my memories with mom & dad here, and process and relish. Meanwhile we make the best of our days. Slowing down, catching up with work & helping the girls to feel productive with the vacation. Jackie is nearly done with a good book and she is doing math homework. Stretches, clarinet, and maybe a few psalms to memorize. Ivy is actually so diligent she puts us all to shame. Catching up with the reading, memorizing psalm 1 today, on her own and with her self developed strategy, looking up words in the dictionary and biking every day. She is living her best life. Jackie is taking it all in, figuring out the matters of the heart. I sense the eve of heartbreak and this in itself is a big lesson.
I’m starting to miss having friends around, people to brainstorm with, plan, dream up new ideas. I don’t look forward to school starting. I’m a bit nervous about it actually. Waiting to hear about ivy’s transfer. And I worry that the girls rely on me to keep them motivated and on track with everything, to cheer them along.
I don’t want to be a nuisance. The introvert in me retreats, to spend some time reflecting & reassessing. I think I need some encouragers in my life as well. Chatting with Sarah Padbury yesterday was brilliant. And my weekly chats with Halie are a gift.
I’m having the best season in memory with Conrad. I see him thrive and step up and being a present and good dad, a rock tough around the ages at times but sturdy and reliable.