Thanks for sticking with me as I continue to play catch-up.  Don’t expect it to stop anytime soon.  I’ve been running approximately 15 minutes late for as long as I can remember, and don’t see that I’ll catch up anytime soon.  Surely that 15 minutes translates to at least 2-3 blog months.  SURELY? 

ABL

I stayed in downtown LA, wore my suit to work, had intellectual conversation, and loved just being the CPA side-of-me.

And I did enjoy my “spare time”.  From the office I was visiting I rode Angels’ Flight (the shortest railroad)

to lunch at Grand Central Market.  Full of a flurry of activity and amazing sight and smells of foods from across the world.

I ordered a Turkey Sandwich.

And sat at a table alone laughing at my own predictability.

For “dinner” I enjoyed afternoon tea at the Biltmore.  I sat for more than an hour, not sharing my treats (or thoughts) with a soul,

Followed by two hours (not nearly enough time) at this famous library.  I browsed the FLOORS of books, prayed that technology wouldn’t ever completely replace books for my children, and then just sat to people watch and write…

and then went to bed early.

At some point during this day-of-fun RRL called to tell me that the “precautionary” strep test I did before I left actually did come back positive after further testing.  AWESOME.  exhaustion explained.

(here is where I insert an apology to those sitting next to me on the airplane.  I didn’t know.  I promise.) 

By this point, all six kids of the house had strep. I made “victim” number 7. RRL escaped with only a stomach bug (but there was nothing “only” about it). And the momma-at-the-core side of me was longing to be home.  Even though I was far away, the feeling of the week at our house was still heavy on my shoulders. 

Somewhere in the midst of all of this I posted on facebook that we had a house full of sick kids and were just having a really rough week.  It was sort of a dramatic facebook vomit, but it turned out to be so encouraging.  So many rallied around my family in the form of prayers and encouragement and HELP.  RRL and the kids had help from family and friends, a sweet friend went to the grocery store for us as soon as I got home, and we’ve had many-a-meal that we did not prepare. 

Once again, in the midst of the chaos, it became CRYSTAL CLEAR…our blessings abound. 

When RRL and I finally had an opportunity to recap those few days, he asked a question that only he could have known to ask, because he knows me so thoroughly.  He asked if walking the streets of LA, getting a taste of what might have been, stirred anything in me.  He knew I would love it.  And he was right.  I did.  But I told him that I didn’t pause long on the notion before I came to a resounding conclusion.  A conclusion that literally brought me to giggles as I walked along S Grand Ave.  While there are days that I could certainly do without, while it MOST DEFINITELY isn’t easy right now…I LOVE MY LIFE.  all parts of it.  just the way it is.  I couldn’t have planned it.  I wouldn’t change it.

I continue to be thankful for the amazing way the Lord creatively knit me.  For the opportunities He has given me to live my dreams.  For the husband that encourages and supports me so completely, who helps me both mom and CPA.  AND for the community that rallies around us during the weeks of “collision”.  Just like the good days are HIS and the bad days are HIS, I’m thankful that all parts of me are HIS.

Thank you for the ways each of you help me just be me.

ABL

The five biggest kids L-O-V-E-D swimming lessons.  Unfortunately, it was right in the middle of our season of sickness, and I am not sure we had a single day in the two weeks that everyone felt like going or had been fever-free long enough to go.  Their wishy-washy attendance made it hard for their sweet teacher, I’m sure.  Like starting over every time she got them in the water.  But she never let on.  Quite the opposite, she did everything in her power to make sure that swim-lessons were not a stressful experience for us. 

And it quite possibly could have been stressful,

but instead she made this an awesome experience for two precious girls

And three excited big boys.

They all gained so much confidence, learned to enjoy the water more and kept working on the things we’ve spent the summer building (manners, respect, working together, taking turns, etc).  Some of those lessons far outweighed whether they could swim across the pool or not in my mind.  So I am very thankful for Mrs J and Miss K for working so hard with all five of them these two weeks.

Oh, and did I mention that there were treats?

What a blessing! 

Thanks Mrs J and Miss K for this fun-summertime-fun!

ABL

I know of two ways to use the word RETREAT. One being the experience of going to a quieter place, a solace, a time of renewal and refocusing. My “mental picture dictionary” for this one pulls up our teenagers on a spiritual high after a weekend of being fed God’s word and bonding with their peers.

The second being a more drastic escape, running for the hills to get away from immediate danger. Here I picture a war Sargent on his horse, holding up his sword and crying with urgency “RETREAT” as he gallops with his remaining infantry out of harms way.

Before last weekend I did not really think about how closely related the two definitions really are. RRL and I screamed “RETREAT” for ourselves and headed for the “hills” to try to escape the pressures of life that seemed to have the advantage. In some ways we were losing the battle. Really, though, all we were seeking was solitude, quiet and some spiritual renewal. I now link “head for the hills” and “I lift my eyes to the hills (Psalm 121)” closely together.

Actually, we didn’t seek-out the “retreat”.  We were led to it and it was given as a very sweet gift.  At what couldn’t have come at a better time for us, RRL and I had the awesome opportunity to be part of a unique experience at a Minister’s Support Network Retreat.  and OH MY was it a “retreat” in every sense of the word.  It is designed as a sabbatical for ministers, even those of us whose ministry doesn’t meet the classic definition.

The very logistics nightmare that it took for us to actually leave 6 children home, was indicator enough of just how much we could use a break.  We stayed up late the night before typing 8 pages of notes, instructions, meals plans and schedules for our little crew.  Laying out clothes.  Cleaning.  Grocery shopping.  In my simple mind I thought “I sure hope this is worth it”.  Oh how I must make God chuckle.  He knew we needed this escape together.

While we “escaped” we were fed, encouraged, and prepared for battle.  We left equipped, full of purpose and hope, and rejuevenated.  We listened while mentors and peers shared pieces of their ministry journeys.  We had the opportunity to tell a piece of ours.  We got to ask questions, study the Word, sing, and LAUGH.  A lot.  We enjoyed early morning runs, more food than we could possibly eat (but we sure tried) and made life-long friends in a matter of four short days.  From these sweet friends we learned that the best way to walk a hard road is TOGETHER.  Transparently.  Crying and laughing along the way.  And in all, pointing each other to a source of energy that does NOT run out.  Along the way, we were gently guided to these conclusions by three host couples who lived it out, right in front of us.  Thanks for sharing your hearts, friends.

The thing about a “retreat” that makes it different from completely going “AWOL” is that we came back.  And not back with our tail between our legs, but back with a new energy to face the very things we needed a break from.  After our short retreat, we didn’t come back to a change in circumstance at all.  In fact, we came back to one of the most difficult weeks we had faced as a party-of-eight.  But the Lord knew that.  He knew EXACTLY what we would face when we returned.  And I believe that is the very reason we went.  I love how He goes before us!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, to our sweet family and friends that made this weekend possible on the homefront.  And thank you to those who gave of their talents to make a weekend of restoration like this possible.  Some of whom we have come to love dearly, some of whom we won’t ever even know by name.  But all who helped us “retreat”. 

Thank you,
ABL