I Can't Breathe!

As events have unfolded this week following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers, many of my waking hours have swirled around this horrific event. I had heard people describe what happened, but I hadn’t yet brought myself to watch the video footage until this afternoon.

Before I watched the video, I had a picture in my mind of how I thought it happened, I rehearsed scenario after scenario of what I could have done had I been there. Would I have had the courage to carry out any of those ideas? Of course, in the moment, I might not have thought quickly enough. As it turns out, the scenario in my mind was very different than reality. None of my thoughts would have worked anyway. But the scene weighs heavily on my mind and heart.

On my way home from work today, I drove by the courthouse. I wanted to see if any of the students from my school were there. I wanted to reach out to them if they were. After parking in the library parking lot, I walked to the court house. There was a small group of peaceful protesters carrying signs that said “Black Lives Matter” and “I Can’t Breathe”. 

I didn’t recognize anyone. I did, however, speak to a mother who was there with her 1-year-old son. I stood beside her for awhile, then introduced myself and asked her name. “I’m glad to meet you,” I said, “I am just so very sorry it is in this circumstance.” The mother looked at me sadly. We stood together awhile longer before I left. It was a brief encounter, but a powerful one.

I looked at her little boy with his dark skin, curly black hair, and bright smile. That little one had no comprehension of what had happened and what the protests were all about. His mother did, though. What must have been going through her mind?

For that matter, what must be going through the minds of countless other minority mothers across our nation in light of this horrific event and far too many others that have unjustly stolen the lives of their sons and daughters? What of their fathers, their brothers and sisters, their grandparents, their wives and children? The question is so big and so painful. It is hard to wrap my mind around the enormity of the grief, frustration and anger these families must be feeling.

So I come back to the face of that one black mother with her small bright-eyed baby boy. Is she wondering if she will see him grow up? Will he live to graduate from high school? Will she see him one day marry the love of his life and become a father himself? Or will his life be cut cruelly short? Right now, in this night, in the wake of what has just happened, I am certain that dark possibilities must weigh heavily on her mind and heart.

We must seek real and lasting solutions. Yes, we must, as George Floyd’s brother urged, educate ourselves and vote for change. All of us, whether white, black, Asian, Hispanic, or any other minority group can and must do this.

But right now, in this moment, each of us can reach out to people who are hurting. Reach out with kindness and caring. Let them know that they are not forgotten, that their lives do matter. Their lives matter to God...and to us.

We can show them through our love and caring that there is hope. In the midst of the weight of this injustice, hope can give them room to breathe.

You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12:31 

I'm Back...At Last...For a New Year

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It has been two years exactly since I last posted here on my blog. Where has the time gone? Time can slip by way too fast when you are not looking.

What all has happened in the last two years? Not so much new has been going on. I've continued my work as a secretary at my alma mater. I've continued working with Children's Ministry at my church.

What has been different is my daughter. She is now a beautiful twelve year old 6th grader. She plays bass drum in band and her school's indoor drumline. She has also developed an interest in writing. Currently, she is working on what I suppose could be called Harry Potter fan fiction. 

It occurred to me a couple weeks ago that I am already two-thirds of the way through having my daughter at home with me before she is old enough to go off to college. That hardly seems possible. One thing is for certain, parenting her in this stage of her life most definitely presents unique challenges. Prayers are much appreciated. 

As I launch into 2018, there is one big thing that I will be facing. I will he undergoing reconstructive hand surgery on both my hands. Hopefully, one surgery can be done just before spring break and the next in the summer. As rheumatoid arthritis has done more and more damage to my hands, I have come to realize that something needs to be done to regain lost function. Prospects are optimistic. As I look to this major hurdle, I am both excited and, of course, a little bit nervous.Once again, I appreciate your prayers.

Whatever you are facing in 2018, both the known and the not-yet-known, I pray that you will stay close to our Heavenly Father and walk with Him through it all.

May you have a blessed year in 2018!

Looking Back...Looking Forward

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It is late at night on the first day of the new year. As I look back at 2015, I could list many things that have happened over the course of the year.

Last year at this time, I was spending my evenings browsing real estate websites, hoping to find a house within my budget that didn't need expensive renovation. Tonight, I feel very blessed as I sit in the home God has provided in the past year. 

Last year at this time, my father was still working full-time. During this year, he finally retired. Dad and Mom currently are preparing to move into my grandmother's house. I am very glad to know they will finally be in a single-story house with an attached garage - much more convenient and safer in the winter.

The six of us siblings are still scattered around the country. Janet and her family, Beth and I are all in Ohio...different cities, but same state. Doug is in Colorado, providing tech support to cell phone customers. Steve and his family are in Missouri. Rick and his family are in El Salvador. Most of us got together this past summer for a family vacation in Colorado. It was good to spend time with them in such a beautiful part of the country.

I am nearly halfway into my second year in my job as a high school secretary. Once again, I consider myself very blessed to be placed in a position where I can work with teenagers and with a fantastic group of dedicated professionals who I also consider my friends.

Even as I count my blessings from 2015, I also think of friends and family who have had difficult things happen in the past year. Some have lost loved ones. Some have faced health issues, either for themselves or others. For others, challenges are going on even now. My thoughts and prayers go out to them.

As we launch into 2016, none of us know what we will face. Joy or sorrow, success or failure, gain or loss. One thing we can hold onto no matter what we face. 

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. 

Philippians 4:13 

Let's hold on to that promise...and set out into the adventure that is 2016. 

How About A Tour of Our New Home?

Well, we've been in our new home for over a month. Not everything is unpacked yet, but the majority is in place. I know some people have been asking about how the house looks inside. How about a tour?

Welcome in to our living room...complete with a Christmas tree.

We are very blessed to have found a piano that we could afford.

And here is the kitchen. A nice place for family time.

I love the roomy pantry.

In the bathroom.

My bedroom.

This dresser is older than I am. I am told my mother
assembled it while she was pregnant with me.

Rachel and a friend playing in her room.

In the guest room / office. The rocking chair came from Bali.

People who visited us in Bali might remember
this beautiful mahogany wardrobe,
now in its new home halfway around the world.

The hallway is big enough for a small bookcase.

Here is the laundry room at the end of the hall.

Yes, there is are some things to unpack.
Eight boxes are still full of books awaiting a bookcase
that will go in the living room.

I hope you enjoyed the tour. Come see us sometime.

Forward to the Future!

Today is a landmark day...in more ways than one. As I drove to work this morning, I heard on the radio station that today is "Back to the Future Day", commemorating Marty McFly's journey forward in time to the year 2015 in the second movie of the trilogy.

Sure, that is a fun bit of movie trivia, but Wednesday, October 21, 2015 is far more significant for Rachel and me. In fact, the exact time on the DeLorean's flux capacitor was 4:29 PM. What was I doing today at 4:29 PM? I was signing papers to close on our new home!

It has been quite a journey, and so many people have worked so very hard to make it happen. Each one of you is more special than you will ever know.

After the closing, I went to our new home.. Mom got this picture of me letting myself in with the key for the first time.

We carried in a few cans of paint. Some people from my church will go over tomorrow to paint a few of the rooms a color other than white. On Saturday, a few others will help move some of the bigger pieces of furniture. Boxes of books and things like that will take awhile to move over, but it will eventually get done. And finally, we will be in our own home.

We may not be going "Back to the Future", but we are stepping forward into a new stage of the future that our Heavenly Father has in store for us. He is truly so good.

House Dedication Today

Today dawned bright and sunny, although a little chilly. By 11:00, things had warmed up enough to be comfortable as long as you were in the sun.

Friends and family gathered for the dedication of the new home built for Rachel and me by the University of Findlay chapter of Habitat for Humanity. It was an exciting day. The pep band and a couple majorettes from the University even came to be a part of the celebration.

University of Findlay leaders share a few words.

Various leaders shared with those who attended a bit of the history of this build and gave their well-wishes to Rachel and me. 

I had an opportunity to share my thanks with everyone as well. I had written out my planned remarks, even though I knew I wouldn't use the words exactly. I'll share here the planned text of my speech, so those of you who couldn't be with us at the dedication today can share in at least a part of this special day.

 

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As we stand here today in front of this beautiful new home, we are looking at the fulfillment of a dream. Rachel and I have had this dream since late January, but the University of Findlay chapter of Habitat for Humanity have cherished their vision for over seven years. Many people have been involved in making it a reality. They have spent countless hours in planning. They have raised the finances and given of their time, sweat and enthusiasm to build this dream.

Companies, too, have made major contributions. Many thanks to State Farm for their generous grant, and to Whirlpool for the appliances. Such generosity means a great deal.

Also a than­­k you to the various contractors who gave time to do things like excavation, wiring, plumbing, hanging dry wall, laying flooring, running trusses, and heating system, laying the sidewalk and driveway.­­­­

I have so very much enjoyed getting to know the people who have had a part in building this home for us. I wish I could thank each and every one by name, but the list would be far too long.

I do want to give a big thank you to the Habitat for Humanity board for their vision to provide a hand-up to families in need. Your vision is truly life-changing.

I will always remember our meetings with the family selection committee who chose Rachel and me to be the partner family for this build. I truly believe God guided us together to begin this journey that leads, quite literally…home.

 I’d like to give a special thank you to Steve Gibbs and all the crew leaders – Dan, Marv, Tom, Randy, Mark, Denny, Steve, Gary, Bob, Doug, Ryan, Adrian, Mike, Jack, Paul, Rick, Jeff, Cory, Rich, Glenn, and Levi. They worked very hard making sure our home is strong, solid, and safe. They guided a couple hundred volunteers in this effort. They have also patiently answered my numerous questions about what things are, how they are put together, and… and… and… the list goes on. I am told that I have been the most inquisitive homeowner Steve has worked with. Well, let’s just say that my questions reflect how little I knew to begin with. Anyway, they answered each question with grace and patience, and it is much appreciated.

Many thanks to Suzie Dyer, our family advocate throughout this whole journey. She and the family advocacy committee do such wonderful work helping partner families as their home is built. Unfortunately, Suzie isn’t able to be here today, but we have had many good conversations over these last months, and she has given me a lot of guidance and advice. Not only that, she has become a friend. I look forward to continuing this friendship now that the house is complete.

The good people at the Habitat office and Restore have been a great help. Ron, Wendy, Shelly, Lisa, Jeff, Chris and others have shared our excitement and have provided answers to many more questions. I appreciate each of them.

Most especially, there is another highly dedicated group of people I would like to thank – the University of Findlay chapter of Habitat for Humanity – both original members as well as those who have led the committee since it first began. This whole endeavor started out as your dream, and for seven long years, you worked diligently until the dream became reality. Some of you graduated and moved on from the University before everything finally came together. Thank you Ingrid, Stacey, Crystal, Coyne, Rachel, Emily, Leah, Brian, Brandi, Sabrina and Mackenzie, for your diligence and perseverance.

University of Findlay students
with Rachel and me on our front porch.

Finally, a HUGE thank you to the University of Findlay students, faculty members, coaches and teams, as well as the church family from Findlay First United Brethren Church in Christ, my home church, who labored diligently to give Rachel and me a home. We have had a good time together. We have raised walls together. You have listened to my stories over dinner, and I’ve heard some of your stories. You have listened to Rachel…and listened to Rachel…and been photographed by Rachel… what more can I say except that she has grown to love many of you and, I think, many of you have grown to love her. I wish we could have met each and every one of you, but that was simply not possible. Your labor of love is much appreciated.

I do want to extend an invitation to all of you who have helped build our house to stop by for a visit. Just please not all at once, though. And…you don’t even have to wear a duct tape name tag.

May God bless all of you who have been involved in this dream in any way, even more than you have been a blessing to us. After all, it was God Himself, working through so many, Who ultimately has given us what we see here today. I trust you will all share in His blessing.

This is one of the sentiments written on the wall studs in our house.
We may never see this and other well-wishes again,
but we know they are there. We are so blessed.

Now, as we look to soon moving in to our house, my hope and prayer is that it will be a place of refuge, filled with peace and joy, and will be a blessing to everyone who comes through the door. Thank you so much for our home!

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 Next time....I'll share picture of the inside....

Class Reunion #35...Stories of Our Lives

This past weekend I attended my 35th class reunion.  The last one I made it to was the 10th reunion. I came back to Findlay from Northern Virginia for the 15th reunion. Unfortunately, I came on the wrong weekend and couldn't make the trip two weekends in a row.  So it had been 25 years since I had seen my former classmates. 25 years....A quarter of a century.... (Ew! That somehow makes it seem even longer.)

I know a lot of people have various reasons for not wanting to attend events like these, and that's OK. I was really looking forward to this one, though, and I was not disappointed. We started off with a tailgate party before the high school football game. As I pulled into the street beside the park where the tailgate party was being held, I immediately recognized one of my classmates. She had hardly changed at all. Most of the time, though, I had to take a peek at the nametag to make a connection.

When the game was about to start, we gathered at the football stadium where a section of bleachers had been roped off. Our team, the Findlay Trojans, had already scored a touchdown by the time I got there. Usually, I watch the game pretty closely. This time, though, I spent most of the game talking and listening to the classmates sitting around me. The Trojans scored another touchdown, but I missed it. We scored three more touchdowns, and I missed every one of them. In fact, the only one I actually saw happen was in the final seconds of the game, but there was a flag on the play and the score was rolled back. Even so, it was a pretty spectacular run. In the end, our team won 35-0. Perhaps appropriate considering which reunion it was for us.

This giant metal sculpture has been in the courtyard
of the high school for longer than I can remember.
Over the years, some have tried to have it torn down,
but others have insisted that it stay.
I have no idea what it is supposed to be,
but I'm kind of glad it has survived.

 

 Saturday morning, some of us gathered at the high school, which has expanded a great deal over since we graduated. Since I work at the high school now, I almost didn't go to that event, but I'm glad I did. I learned a number of interesting things that I didn't know before.

One of the highlights of the weekend was the dinner on Saturday night. I had a chance to catch up with what has been happening in the lives of my former classmates, even as they caught up with me. Those of you who know me now might be surprised to know that in school, I was one of the quieter students. In social situations, I would be more likely to sit back and watch everyone else rather than taking the initiative to talk to others. Add to that the fact that most high schoolers tend to have their own little group of close friends, and rarely think to include others. Well, Saturday night was not at all like that. I found that we all were able to cross those artificial high school boundaries, and anyone could talk to anyone.

 The long and the short of it is that we have all grown up. Our lives have gone different directions. Some have accomplished much and are enjoying that success. Some have had heart-breaking struggles. Some have come through those struggles victorious. Others are still in the middle of them.

Everyone has a story to tell. Stories of joy and sadness. Stories of love and heartbreak. Stories of family, work, and ministry.  Everyone's story is important because everyone's story represents a life that is of great value. These stories fascinate me. These stories touch my heart. These stories are now a part of me.

This collage was designed by classmate Renny Arredondo.
If you look closely, you will see it is made up
of the senior pictures of our class.

 

 

I am so glad to have reconnected with the class of 1980 for our 35th reunion. I am looking forward to #40 to hear the continuing stories of our lives.