Category: reflections

Matthew steals the show


Matthew
Originally uploaded by Jonathan D. Blundell.

We enjoyed an early Thanksgiving dinner with my family today at the retirement center my grandparents and Kara and Tim live. The center provided dinner for all the residents and their families.
It became apparent as soon as the forks and knives settled that Delaina’s son Matthew was going to steal the show. It’s crazy to think that he’s a year old. One of Laurie’s first contact with my family was right after Matthew was born and he was having a minor heart murmur. With her medical experience, Laurie was able to give some advice and comfort to everyone involved. I guess it’s just hard to believe that wasn’t much longer than a year ago. (read my dad’s blog entries at the time)
I’m so thankful for my wonderful amazing life and her amazing smile, comfort, peace and love she brings with her everywhere she goes. God has been good and my love for both Him and Laurie just continues to grow every day.

My granddad and cousin Delaina

My mom, Aunt Beverly and Matthew

We’ll have more Thanksgiving fun this Thursday with Laurie’s family and then with again with my immediate family. I checked the scales last night and I’m down to 228. It may be the first time I’ve been below 230 in 5 or 6 years (if not more) – the real test will be whether I can keep dropping with all the Thanksgiving food that’s on the way.

Wear that red dress

From StoryCorps:

Danielle and Gabrielle Hall came to StoryCorps in San Francisco to remember their mother Martha, who died of breast cancer in 2003 after fighting the disease for 14 years…
“Mom was amazing,” Gabrielle Hall said.
Danielle added, “She was determined and strong and intense and good at everything she did more than anybody else’s mom that I knew.”
“She’s still better than everybody else’s mom we know,” Gabrielle said. The sisters laughed at the thought.
Danielle remembered the time that her mother sent her a poem. It said, “If you’re having a bad day, bake a cake. And if it’s still bad, put on a red dress.”

hall_family465.jpg
While wearing her new red shoes to her chemo treatment, their mother Martha said, “You can’t have a bad day if you’re wearing red shoes.” Sounds like someone who definitely made the most of her situation.
What is it that always cheers you up? What is it that gets you through the rough days and prepares you to face your lion?
Well worth a listen – especially right before Thanksgiving

Why community groups?

I posed a question to my community group last night, “Why are you involved in a/this small group?”

I thought the answers offered some interesting insight into why our group has come together. I’m sure this varies from group to group and person to person, but it seemed that community and intimacy with others seemed to be the predominant answer.

As the leader, I think (maybe selfishly) I hoped they would all say, “to learn more about the Bible.” But for those last night, building community and friendships is what really made them say, “Let’s get involved.” And their answers make sense. While Bible study is a large part of our meeting, the group really comes alive when we share life together. Whether or not that’s in the middle of looking at a passage of Scripture or eating a taco, sharing life experiences with others really seems to put a spark in people’s eyes.

Did I Steal My Daughter

KERA’s Think had a great show yesterday with the author of the Mother Jones Magazine article, “Did I Steal My Daughter?”
I thought it was a very interesting discussion and look at foreign adoptions and some of the thoughts a mother and father might have from both sides of the coin. Laurie and I have talked about possibly adopting a child from Russia or another country someday so who knows… the information could come in more handy than we realize.
From Think:

What do parents who adopt children from abroad really know about the child’s circumstances and background? Our guest this hour, journalist Elizabeth Larsen, plunged headfirst into the world of international adoption when her family adopted a young girl from Guatemala. She writes about the experience in “Did I Steal My Daughter?” which appears in the November/December issue of Mother Jones Magazine.

Listen online

Veterans Day

Today here in America we celebrate Veterans Day. A day we remember those who have fought for our freedom and values. Yet in the midst of this day, honoring our veterans, Thomas offers a slightly perspective and I spose I could just link to his thoughts, but felt the need to share it entirely.

don’t forget
the victims of war
the dead… the injured… the hurt.
the humiliated… the raped… the tortured.
fathers and mothers without sons and daughters…
sons and daughters without fathers and mothers.
war affects the soul… not just the soldier.
there are not victors in war… only victims.
don’t forget
the victims of war
the dead on both sides… the injured on both sides… the hurt on both sides.
the humiliated on both sides… the raped on both sides… the tortured on both sides.
don’t forget
the victims of war.

Don’t forget… today and everyday.