Thursday, April 19, 2012

No Distance of Place

Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children. ~Alex Haley

My daughter lives almost 300 miles from her Grandpa. So, needless to say, she doesn’t get to see him enough. Usually, just a few times a year. And, at a year and a half old, that doesn’t amount to all that much time. I hate that for her, because I grew up within a mile of both sets of Grandparents, and loved it. So far, though, it hasn’t dampened that bond much. Even though she doesn’t see him as often as we’d like, she still remembers him even when he isn’t around.

Our last visit was for Easter, and she’s talked about him most days since. Her songs from the backseat have consisted mostly of repeating “Papa “over and over again. Randomly throughout the day, she says his name and turn to point at his picture.

I guess it’s true, “No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other’s worth.” –Robert Southey

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

The Story of Us- Chapter 2

In the next few weeks I talked to advisors, filled out applications, visited campus, talked to the financial aid manager, looked at housing, and made arrangements. The way everything just fell into place was amazing. In merely a month or two, I went from feeling lost and discouraged and unhappy with my educational options, to accepted and enrolled at a university I had never even considered. Not only that, but I had a place to live and a job ready and waiting. That summer, I decided that if I was going to be moving a few hours from home, I needed something more reliable to drive. In another story of God’s complete provision, I found a better car and sold my old pickup for the exact same amount. I was ready to embark on my new journey, and there was no doubt in my mind that I was following God’s plan for my life. It was the first time that I truly felt that way, but it wouldn’t be the last.

Early in the fall, my Mom and my Sister-in-law helped me load up all my stuff and move to my new home. Little did I know how accurately the word “home” would describe it. I had a great first semester. I hadn’t made many friends yet, but my classes were great and I quickly felt a school spirit growing that I had never felt at any school or any college I had ever been a part of before.

I had been involved in an organization called Baptist Collegiate Ministries or BCM (formerly known as Baptist Student Union or BSU) at the college from which I’d transferred. At the beginning of my second semester, I remembered the fun and friends I’d enjoyed at the BCM, so I began searching out a similar group. What I found was the OU BSU. I was welcomed in the doors with open arms, quickly included in activities, and started making friendships that would help shape the rest of my college experience. At the end of the semester, I applied to be on a Ministry Team for the following school year and put my name on a board for people looking for roommates. By the time I left for the summer, I had two roommates lined up to live in an apartment off campus, and was set to be on a ministry team led by a couple named the Gorees.

Friday, April 6, 2012

Five For Friday

I’ve never done a blog link up before, but one of my new favorite blogs (http://www.thesmallthingsblog.com/) has been doing a High Five for Friday post the past few weeks and linking up with her sister. Since I kind of have a thing about lists lately, and I thought it could maybe, possibly be fun to think of some highlights from my week, I decided to join in the fun.

1. Getting out summer clothes and actually being able to fit into them for the first time since Dinah was born. It didn’t take me long to get back to pre-pregnancy weight, but it took awhile before I could get back into my clothes. So, I had no clothes. But, now I do. Yay!

2. Working on some last minute details for my sister’s (okay, technically Dean’s sister) baby shower this weekend.

3. A day to myself, which I used to give myself a pedicure instead of the cleaning that needed done. I love having my toenails painted, and it never happens anymore.

4. Mini-mini gardening with my hubby, outside in the warm, fresh air. I say min-mini, because we have a total of 3 plants. Go big or go home, that’s our motto.

5. Watching Dinah jump. It makes me chuckle every time. She starts by squatting way down, and ends by flapping her arms…her feet never leave the ground.

* My pics are all at the bottom and out of order because I'm doing my blogging through an app these days. Not ideal, but it works. And I threw in a random pic of Dinah because, well, I'm a mother and that's what I do.