SereneLiving

up at 7 to exercise
off to meet a friend for Bible Study at 8 at the local Starbucks
an unexpected opportunity to encourage an acquaintance and pray for him
stop at the post office to mail a package
pick up daughter and take her to extra help session for math [logarithms anyone?]
grab lunch
drive daughter home for more homework
accomplish 8 hours of work for full-time job while juggling life
drive daughter to volleyball game
cheer for team
drive home
fall into bed
sleep
get up and do it all again

ah, this is the life.  I wrote this just over a year ago.  little did I dream how different things would be one year later: new city, empty nest, quieter life!

Got to visit beautiful Seattle again this fall.  Sunny and warm, dare I say hot? at 85 degrees.  SPU is a beautiful campus.  Discovered a nice trail along the canal nearby.  Got to see Lake Washington and visit two old friends.

Dropped my younger daughter off at freshman orientation … the emotions took me by surprise.  Until I realized that this has been a year of too many goodbyes.  As we fell asleep in the hotel the night before orientation started, I began to pray, realizing i would be alone in the hotel the next night.  Pray, pause, wait for response, pray, pause again, realize that she is sound asleep!  Not surprising since we got 5 hours of sleep in Denver the night before and traveled 3000 miles and adjusting to a 3 hour time difference.  Bittersweet moments.

We said goodbye in January (twice – once while at a funeral saying goodbye to a beloved grandpa), then again in June when she went off to sailing camp, and then finally in September.  The adventure of college begins for my youngest – and the adventure of a new stage of life begins for my husband and I.

My friend Liza turned 40 last year and celebrated through the year with 40 experiences which she then blogged about.  I thought this was a really fun idea … and I will be turning 50 this spring, so I am beginning a list of 50 fun things to do this year to celebrate …

Here is the beginning of my list:

• go to an art museum and make a sketch of one piece of art
• go cross country skiing (done – blog photo coming soon)
• go to Virginia Beach
• bike along the Schulkyl River
• see the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C.
• go to the Smithsonian
• climb the Rocky stairs

I’m open to suggestions for more creative experiences to enjoy life.  

Enjoying my second week at Eastern University.  I’m working with a great team of people.  The campus is beautiful with paths, ponds, interesting buildings, and lots of snow. 

My office is on the edge of (almost off) campus in a three story tudor house.  The photo gives a glimpse of the building and lawn which seems to be popular for sledding.  I’m in a tiny little office on the 2nd floor. 

The student center is in a fabulous old stone mansion which was the original house/estate donated to form the college.  There is a nice coffee shop/grill where I have had lunch twice.  I was able to take Deryck & Gennie there and on a campus tour.

I’m excited to be part of a team and look forward to being able to serve the kingdom in this atmosphere of higher education and dedication to justice and faith.  My boss has encouraged me to interact with students and get a flavor for the school in that way.  I’m also supposed to spend time in reading and other professional development in the library and/or coffee shop.  Just my idea of a great way to spend a winter afternoon.  

we have taken the first step in this new journey and it was a big one.  the fog rolled in and the path is completely obscured.  but we walk in faith.

the day after i arrived in PA, my father in law passed away.  we are moving here to be close to our in-laws and to other family, so this was a big shock.  we are confident that this is God’s plan for us and that this is His timing.  He is the giver of life and the only one who knows the number of our days.  Life is in His hands.  So we give Clayton back to  him and rejoice in the knowledge that we will see him again one day on the streets of gold. 

but in the meantime, we struggle with sadness and grief.  the fog threatens to overcome us.  we are distracted and confused.  we are human.  yet we know that our family needs us in this hour and we are thankful to be among loved ones and offering love and support.  Deryck and the girls will arrive on Saturday and we will be together for the funeral and some family time. 

thank you all for your love and prayers.  we are sustained by your prayers and lifted up.

2011 is a year of new beginnings for our family.

A new job for mom, a job hunt for dad, a relocation to a new city, a daughter who will graduate and go off to college, an empty nest for mom & dad, hopefully a new house.

One of the early challenges will be finding a new church where we can feel at home and also plug into ministry using our gifts.  A church of just the right size and one that is Bible based.

I’m excited about being close to a major city and all the arts, culture and recreation available.  Walking and biking along the Schuylkill.  Climbing the Rocky steps on a warm day. Visiting Germantown and its historic homes. Someone suggested The Barnes House.  I hope to go see the cherry blossoms in D.C., something I’ve always wanted to do.  Go to the Smithsonian.  Maybe go to NYC for a day to visit museums.

For those of you we haven’t yet had a chance to connect with personally, you may wish to know more of the story … we have been wanting to be closer to family in order to spend more time with them.  As the end of one stage of life approached [kids at home], we began to explore opportunities.  I found a job rather quickly at Eastern University, just 15 minutes from family.  I’ll be starting in January.  Gen will stay in GA until she graduates mid-May.  Deryck will stay until then or until he finds a job in PA, whichever comes sooner.

We are sad to be leaving AIM.  It’s a great ministry and our time there has been wonderful.  Our boss wrote a nice tribute to us on his blog yesterday.  Our lives have been enriched by our association with the great people at AIM.  Deryck will continue on part time there until he makes the move.

Ringing in the New Year from Rhode Island this year … started off with a sunset drive along the ocean, a nice dinner, a movie marathon, some games, and a midnight drive down to look at the harbor.  Heading for a New Year’s Day Brunch and then perhaps a walk.

Happy New Year!

‘and I, I took the one less traveled
and that has made all the difference’

Our family is beginning a season of transition. It’s exciting and scary all at the same time.  We are following God in this journey called life and faithfully taking the next step… 

… which leads to Philadelphia.

Beginning in January, I will be working at Eastern University.  I’m excited about a new job, a new city, and the chance to be closer to family. 

This new chapter in life will be hard and yet I think that God has good things in store for all of us.

Saying goodbye to AIM and my wonderful friends there makes me feel a bit sad.  It is a great ministry and I will miss it.

But I look forward to what is around the bend in 2011.

Happy New Year to all!