Lake Michigan - Healing Waters

Yesterday, John and I made another quick trip, to Muskegon to pick up John's mom from a visit with childhood friend Doris.

West Michigan has been "home" for most of our adult lives, including raising our family there. It was hard to pass through so briefly. However, we did squeeze in a few minutes to put our feet in Lake Michigan. (I wore water shoes, which would please Dr. Malviya.)

I remember the song:
I’ve got peace like a river…
Joy like a fountain…
Love like an ocean…

Maybe there should be a verse for Lake Michigan.

Future

"Future" Thoughts

Recently (again), I have been thinking about the concept of "future", of how it is really beyond my control, so what should I think about it?

On the one hand, it seems naive, even arrogant, to assume the future.
On the other hand, it seems depressing to assume no future.
Actually, no one knows exactly what "the future" holds.
But it is life-affirming to remember the love of family and friends, all woven together into a picture larger than I can imagine, all holding me up to a warm healing place close to God.

At this place in my journey, my tests say that I am stable. My emotions may not always be. And yet, I know God's great healing love, often through the kindness of others, gives me strength. I pray that for you as well, if you ever may have those "moments".

May God fill your life with healing love and joy.

[From a note I wrote to a friend.]



More on “Future”:

- "...The worship of the church locates us, precisely between a past we reverently remember,
and a future in which we firmly believe..."

- "...Our future may be beyond our vision,
but it is not completely beyond our control..."
Senator Edward Kennedy quoting his brother Robert, as told by Rev. Hession

Rev. Mark R. Hession (Of Our Lady of Victory, Centerville, Masssachusetts)
at the funeral of Senator Edward Kennedy 8-29-09
Funeral transcript
Funeral details


Jeremiah's encouragement to the exiles:

"For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord,
plans for your welfare and not for harm,
to give you a future with hope."
Jeremiah 29:11

Tiger Baseball

I said I would go with John and his Confirmation Class to a Tiger Baseball Game.
However, it rained that day.
It rained that night.
We went anyway.(I considered staying back, not wanting to sit in soaking rain.)

However, the rain let up for most of the game.
Ah... What fun. I admit I was excited just to see the field!
And besides that, the Tigers won!

Tim Up North

When Cousin Tim was still in town from Texas, John and I drove him up north for a fun quick overnight visit with my parents. There was some rain, but we were still able to walk in the fields and woods both days.
How beautiful!
How musical was the sound of the wind in the trees!
And how peaceful was the gentle breeze on our faces!

P.S.
Fresh air...
Sign of bear...

Oh yes... watch where you walk.

Summer Celebrations

Homecoming Out of the Rain
With joy and appreciation...

Since 2001, the summer after we moved back to southeast Michigan, I have enjoyed (hosting responsibilities for) our class table at Dearborn's Homecoming. Lovely day in the park.

This year, a kind out-of-town classmate -Karen D.S.Trask- invited us to her hotel, in case of rain. So, after waiting in the unrelenting rain all morning and being convinced it may only get more stormy, several us did meet there, enjoying a series of conversations, topics changing as people came and went.







There were also the traditional cake, also lunch, photos, and even a spontaneous book signing by classmate/author Frank Julian for his God's Top Ten List.








Eating with Berrys
With joy and appreciation...

For years... For YEARS, I have been hearing about Doug Berry's pasta. Being enticed by descriptions of heavenly flavors and textures and aroma and beauty! Finally, this week, John and I ate with Doug and Cindy and Patrick.
Homemade pasta!Al dente homemade pasta!
With salmon and vegetables and a delicate dill sauce with cheese.
The pasta was fun to anticipate, and even better to taste.


This food and family hospitality made me float on Happiness clouds!




Shopping With Cousins
With joy and appreciation...

My cousin Tim Ryan comes to Michigan from Texas most years (if not every year). I do not always see him. But this year, he and his parents, Uncle Buel and Aunt Betty, along with cousins Judi and Donna and their mom, Aunt Veora, and I all gathered for a visit with cousin Ralph at the Tanger Outlet Mall. Part of that was a cousin shopping-side-trip, taking in a few sales. After waiting my turn for a fitting room for a simple white top, Judi asked if I wanted her to wait by the fitting room to see how I look. Ha! Wow, I do not spend much time with cousins, and shopping is not normally so much fun. We all did buy something, and enjoyed getting good "deals"! (Thanks to Judi for this photo! Don't we kind of look like sisters?)

Gift of Tears

I planned to spend Saturday at my hometown Homecoming. We planned to host a "table" (mini-reunion), but of course, the rains poured down. Several people did meet, first in the rain, waiting under a borrowed canopy (along with other visitors and workers), then at a visiting classmate's hotel. It was good to see them, and I was thankful that they even considered meeting.


Most people had at least heard from me in the last year though my classmate email newsletters. However, one person that I had not seen was one who visited our area last year as a friend of a classmate, and he also volunteers there. He seemed friendly and out-going in a rather tough-sounding way.

Shortly before our classmate group left the canopy for Plan C (classmate's hotel), he walked up to me, close to my face, and quietly asked how I was. He said that his friend had told him a little about me last year, and if I ever felt like someone was thinking of me, that he was. There were tears in his eyes.

What a dear person. He had only met me once before, a year ago, and he showed such caring. What a tender-hearted compassionate gift!

Time: a gift of perspecive

I just realized that I did not label "2008" in my schedule of dates on the top of the right-hand column of my blog. There are all the months. But no year.

When I first started this blog, I had no concept of "this year" in the context of any other future years. But now, almost a year and a half past surgery, I am writing "2008" next to that first January date. I am still here. I have been both enjoying and contributing to life.

In time, my perspective has lengthened.