Monday, with all three of you home...
Wake up, still a bit tired. Lots of late night laughter coming from down stairs while Dad and I tried to get to sleep the night before. (Don't mind missing sleep because of laughing and talking and the door opening and closing with your friends coming and going!)
Go downstairs to a semi-clean family room and kitchen. A few dishes still out from the gathering of our friends here the night before.
Try to read. One of you pop in and we chat.
Step over Kyle and you, Nick, on the way to my closet, as you two were sprawled out on my bedroom floor, watching soccer.
Walk with Dad and you, Ali, down at the beach. Since we missed celebrating your birthday with you, we share with you what we love about you! Takes the whole hour and a half. :-)
Ryan stops on his way back up to Santa Barbara to say hi to you, Gregory. You take a short break from your studying for boards. Very short break.
Ali, you and I pop in to the Beauchesnes to give Debbie a hug and to say good-bye to Matt before he heads to Bali.
Jamie comes by to see you, Ali. Then the Searles come over. Grandma stops in. She stays to have some crackers and cheese and a glass of wine with us.
Dinner together. Gregory, is it you that goes for Nick's armpits or is it him bugging you as we lift our hands to thank the Lord? Lots of laughter! Possibly some super inappropriate remarks made by you, Ali, without you knowing how inappropriate they were.
Hug you, Greg, as you head back to Loma Linda. (Very typical)
Drive you, Ali, to the airport, for your flight back to New York. (Kind of typical)
Drop you, Nick, off at the Leopolds so you, Nate, Taylor, Brandon could head down to Nicaragua to surf. (Really not typical at all)
Tuesday, with you three gone...
Work.
Walk.
Dinner.
Maybe, a quick game of ping pong. ;-)
Love it when you three are home!
Miss you when you are away! But, don't worry too much about Dad and me. We'll be okay.
oxo~Mom
Friday, June 3, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
For the Record
Sometimes, when I have a moment or two to stop and think or in the middle of the night when I'm having a hard time sleeping, my minds just goes...
I miss Debbie and Charlie. When can we have them for dinner? It's been way too long...Will there be a time, even just a half hour or so, when Debbie Rydman and I can have a phone catch-up chat? She thinks it won't be until 2013. I'm still hopeful for 2011...Grandma and Grandpa should be having dinner with us at least once a month. Why have months gone by without this happening?...Hopefully Kirk and Emma aren't holding their breath for the meal I promised them after the arrival of their twins. And, will the darling outfits that Lori Carr made for the babies still fit them by the time I actually deliver the meal and gifts?...What cards can I send to Kim and Karen for (very) belated birthday wishes? And, by the time it gets to Kim in South Africa, will it be her 52nd birthday?...And, I need to start doing my core exercises...And, brushing my teeth with my cool new toothbrush that Gregory gave me for my birthday will be so good for my teeth and gums, but how do I use it?...And, when's the last time I flipped my mattress?...
Things like that.
Then, when I think about the past 10 days, I realize that life is going by quickly, and I have been busy.
So, since my blog is for you, Gregory, Ali and Nick, and, hopefully, for my future grandchildren to read (maybe) and learn a few things about their Grandma and Grandpa, (grandchildren will hopefully follow after I get a son-in-law and two daughters-in-law, which may require dating...so, not sure when this will happen) I have decided to jot down a few events from the past ten days. Just for the record.
5/19~Grandma took Aunt Lori, Aunt Debbi, adopted Aunt Carol and me to George's in La Jolla for my birthday lunch! The best "Sister's Lunch" ever!
5/20~Stopped by Lori Carr's to pick up the apron she made for Jessi's shower gift. Ended up staying hours. That happens with us sometimes. :-) Dad, you (Nick and Gregory), and I met Brian and Rebecca downtown for dinner and a Padres' game!
5/21~Attended the memorial service for a dear lady, Debra. Sat next to her husband, John, and am praying for the comfort of Jesus in his life as he learns how to do life without his wife.
5/22~Dad's birthday! Nice breakfast together (but without you, Ali). Church. Long lagoon walk with Craig and Deanna. Barbecue with just us. Just in case you didn't know, I am CRAZY about your dad! I love celebrating him!
5/23~Woke up with anxiety. Felt like I was going to throw up. Dad asked how I was doing. I burst into tears and admitted that I was afraid I was going to get the news that the melanoma had spread. That I knew I should have gone in earlier to have that strange mole checked. He hugged me, and that calmed me down. Long day at work. While at the office, got the call from the doctor's office that the margins are clear! Yay, hopefully no more melanoma! Only a nasty scar on my left shoulder. (For some weird reason, I think scars are kind of cool.) Thank you, Greg, Ali and Nick for your prayers, your encouraging and funny texts and your love!
5/24~Got the news that Lei's brother-in-law had passed away (just a few weeks after losing her sister), so she will need time off work. Heart ache for Lei and her family. Too many losses for one family.
5/25~Worked until 3, then you (Ali) came to pick me up at the office with Julia and Cassi! Got to take a long beach walk with my baby girl and two of my darling nieces! (Wish that Caroline, Jenna and Alizae lived close enough so I could take walks with them, too! I miss them!)
5/26~You (Ali) and I had a nice long walk with Andrea. Shopped at many different places, gathering the ingredients for a vegan, gluten-free lunch for Jessi's shower. Stopped by to say hi to Grandma and Grandpa. Casually told Grandpa about my melanoma. He gave me that VERY concerned look of his, wanted the pathology report, wanted to know my prognosis, then told me some stories of people he has known who have died from melanoma. And, then he wanted to keep talking about it. In detail. You, Ali, asked me why I didn't speak up, why I just sat there. Well, my stomach was going crazy, in knots, fear was beginning to take over, and I was remembering why I didn't tell him earlier and was wishing I hadn't told him at all. Quickly left. Whew...Thought to myself, "God, I trust YOU! No matter what the outcome, I trust YOU!" Sensed His peace return! Later, hung out at Searle's, catching up with Deb, watching Bradley sleep on the couch (mono, maybe?), getting to know darling A.J. better!
5/27~Took Ali up to San Marcos for blood work. Three nurses, one doctor, pokes in her arms, hands and feet, and they finally were able to draw blood! Quick beach walk. Bradley's graduation from SFC! Loved seeing my Bradley and Blake Michel as they graduated! While at the graduation, Dad got asked, in a funny kind of way, to officiate at Jessi and Josh's wedding. Dad's response was, once again, "You do know that I'm a chiropractor?!" (He feels very honored.) BIG celebration party at the Searle's after! Got to hang out with Kerry and Jeff, Cyndy and Denny, Debbie and Charlie (a little). Tried to talk Kerry and Jeff into moving back into Pacific Ranch since they are selling their beautiful Cardiff home. I know, it's just me...but, why would anyone ever move from this neighborhood? Unless, of course, someone is holding you at gunpoint, making you leave. ;-) Loved getting to know Wendy (Bradley's girlfriend's mother) better! So fun that Connie and Rich came by and we could sing to her on her actual 60th birthday!
5/28~Jessi's shower! Great to be celebrating your best friend, Ali, since birth and her upcoming wedding to a great guy! My "Slipper Group" was all here! Plus other friends! Got to see Jamie again! And Kristi! And Michelle! Before everyone left, Dad and I were off to Connie's 60th at the Fish Market. Fabulous party! Our entire couples' Bible study group was there! Many from our women's study! Kimmy just got in from Australia that morning! Got caught up with Le Ann Trees! Sat next to Sweet Mary (as we all call her)! Your dad got to sit next to Kim and got to talk with Louis. Connie is one hot 60 year old! Came home to a house full of kids. (That's what I call people in their 20s.) Loved it!
5/29~Sitting at my computer. Heading off to church soon. Preparing for a little get together this evening. Will Symons just got back from his 5 months of working in Thailand. Brendan heads to Africa, then law school in Washington D.C. Brittany leaves for a missions trip to Spain. Andrew is home from L.A. Ali leaves for New York tomorrow. Nick heads to Nicaragua late tomorrow night for a two week surf trip. So, we thought it would be great to get our families together while all you dear kids (but missing Lindsey and Carl, and Nick will be late because of work), who have grown up together, are home!
So, when I stress about all that I am not doing, things that I really want to do, but haven't yet, I realize, that, yes, life has been busy, full, filled with hard times and times where I just want to yell out, "Thank you, God, for this precious moment!!!" Actually, I say that to Him, in my head, often these days!
And, I am thanking Him for you, Nick, Ali and Greg!
oxo~Mom
I miss Debbie and Charlie. When can we have them for dinner? It's been way too long...Will there be a time, even just a half hour or so, when Debbie Rydman and I can have a phone catch-up chat? She thinks it won't be until 2013. I'm still hopeful for 2011...Grandma and Grandpa should be having dinner with us at least once a month. Why have months gone by without this happening?...Hopefully Kirk and Emma aren't holding their breath for the meal I promised them after the arrival of their twins. And, will the darling outfits that Lori Carr made for the babies still fit them by the time I actually deliver the meal and gifts?...What cards can I send to Kim and Karen for (very) belated birthday wishes? And, by the time it gets to Kim in South Africa, will it be her 52nd birthday?...And, I need to start doing my core exercises...And, brushing my teeth with my cool new toothbrush that Gregory gave me for my birthday will be so good for my teeth and gums, but how do I use it?...And, when's the last time I flipped my mattress?...
Things like that.
Then, when I think about the past 10 days, I realize that life is going by quickly, and I have been busy.
So, since my blog is for you, Gregory, Ali and Nick, and, hopefully, for my future grandchildren to read (maybe) and learn a few things about their Grandma and Grandpa, (grandchildren will hopefully follow after I get a son-in-law and two daughters-in-law, which may require dating...so, not sure when this will happen) I have decided to jot down a few events from the past ten days. Just for the record.
5/19~Grandma took Aunt Lori, Aunt Debbi, adopted Aunt Carol and me to George's in La Jolla for my birthday lunch! The best "Sister's Lunch" ever!
5/20~Stopped by Lori Carr's to pick up the apron she made for Jessi's shower gift. Ended up staying hours. That happens with us sometimes. :-) Dad, you (Nick and Gregory), and I met Brian and Rebecca downtown for dinner and a Padres' game!
5/21~Attended the memorial service for a dear lady, Debra. Sat next to her husband, John, and am praying for the comfort of Jesus in his life as he learns how to do life without his wife.
5/22~Dad's birthday! Nice breakfast together (but without you, Ali). Church. Long lagoon walk with Craig and Deanna. Barbecue with just us. Just in case you didn't know, I am CRAZY about your dad! I love celebrating him!
5/23~Woke up with anxiety. Felt like I was going to throw up. Dad asked how I was doing. I burst into tears and admitted that I was afraid I was going to get the news that the melanoma had spread. That I knew I should have gone in earlier to have that strange mole checked. He hugged me, and that calmed me down. Long day at work. While at the office, got the call from the doctor's office that the margins are clear! Yay, hopefully no more melanoma! Only a nasty scar on my left shoulder. (For some weird reason, I think scars are kind of cool.) Thank you, Greg, Ali and Nick for your prayers, your encouraging and funny texts and your love!
5/24~Got the news that Lei's brother-in-law had passed away (just a few weeks after losing her sister), so she will need time off work. Heart ache for Lei and her family. Too many losses for one family.
5/25~Worked until 3, then you (Ali) came to pick me up at the office with Julia and Cassi! Got to take a long beach walk with my baby girl and two of my darling nieces! (Wish that Caroline, Jenna and Alizae lived close enough so I could take walks with them, too! I miss them!)
5/26~You (Ali) and I had a nice long walk with Andrea. Shopped at many different places, gathering the ingredients for a vegan, gluten-free lunch for Jessi's shower. Stopped by to say hi to Grandma and Grandpa. Casually told Grandpa about my melanoma. He gave me that VERY concerned look of his, wanted the pathology report, wanted to know my prognosis, then told me some stories of people he has known who have died from melanoma. And, then he wanted to keep talking about it. In detail. You, Ali, asked me why I didn't speak up, why I just sat there. Well, my stomach was going crazy, in knots, fear was beginning to take over, and I was remembering why I didn't tell him earlier and was wishing I hadn't told him at all. Quickly left. Whew...Thought to myself, "God, I trust YOU! No matter what the outcome, I trust YOU!" Sensed His peace return! Later, hung out at Searle's, catching up with Deb, watching Bradley sleep on the couch (mono, maybe?), getting to know darling A.J. better!
5/27~Took Ali up to San Marcos for blood work. Three nurses, one doctor, pokes in her arms, hands and feet, and they finally were able to draw blood! Quick beach walk. Bradley's graduation from SFC! Loved seeing my Bradley and Blake Michel as they graduated! While at the graduation, Dad got asked, in a funny kind of way, to officiate at Jessi and Josh's wedding. Dad's response was, once again, "You do know that I'm a chiropractor?!" (He feels very honored.) BIG celebration party at the Searle's after! Got to hang out with Kerry and Jeff, Cyndy and Denny, Debbie and Charlie (a little). Tried to talk Kerry and Jeff into moving back into Pacific Ranch since they are selling their beautiful Cardiff home. I know, it's just me...but, why would anyone ever move from this neighborhood? Unless, of course, someone is holding you at gunpoint, making you leave. ;-) Loved getting to know Wendy (Bradley's girlfriend's mother) better! So fun that Connie and Rich came by and we could sing to her on her actual 60th birthday!
5/28~Jessi's shower! Great to be celebrating your best friend, Ali, since birth and her upcoming wedding to a great guy! My "Slipper Group" was all here! Plus other friends! Got to see Jamie again! And Kristi! And Michelle! Before everyone left, Dad and I were off to Connie's 60th at the Fish Market. Fabulous party! Our entire couples' Bible study group was there! Many from our women's study! Kimmy just got in from Australia that morning! Got caught up with Le Ann Trees! Sat next to Sweet Mary (as we all call her)! Your dad got to sit next to Kim and got to talk with Louis. Connie is one hot 60 year old! Came home to a house full of kids. (That's what I call people in their 20s.) Loved it!
5/29~Sitting at my computer. Heading off to church soon. Preparing for a little get together this evening. Will Symons just got back from his 5 months of working in Thailand. Brendan heads to Africa, then law school in Washington D.C. Brittany leaves for a missions trip to Spain. Andrew is home from L.A. Ali leaves for New York tomorrow. Nick heads to Nicaragua late tomorrow night for a two week surf trip. So, we thought it would be great to get our families together while all you dear kids (but missing Lindsey and Carl, and Nick will be late because of work), who have grown up together, are home!
So, when I stress about all that I am not doing, things that I really want to do, but haven't yet, I realize, that, yes, life has been busy, full, filled with hard times and times where I just want to yell out, "Thank you, God, for this precious moment!!!" Actually, I say that to Him, in my head, often these days!
And, I am thanking Him for you, Nick, Ali and Greg!
oxo~Mom
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Approaching God: Yep! I'm writing a book review!
For someone who has a hard time just writing thank you notes, writing a book review is a little intimidating for me. But, for Lisa Borden and her book Approaching God I am more than willing!
Lisa, a dear Westmont classmate of mine, has a gift of writing that always leaves me wanting more. In Approaching God her poetic and artist way of sharing her intimacy with God is refreshingly straightforward and simple. God is not viewed as a distant Deity. Rather, Lisa focuses on six characteristics that challenge our view of God and draw us into a deeper relationship with Him. And, having known Lisa for over 30 years, her life reflects this very personal relationship with our God!
In her book, we get the privilege of glimpses into the Borden life...Byron getting "axed" as he was working on a orinka (a tool used to kill cobras... really!) ...Broken down truck, in Africa, hundreds of miles from help...A little Borden, probably Jesse, taking a nap in his mother's arms...And, the photos! Fabulous!
Lisa's use of poems, photos, passages from the Bible, personal stories, and the insight God has given her from walking with Him for many years creates a beautiful book! At first, I read it straight through. The second time, I spent time at the end of each chapter, journaling my responses. Third time, I soaked in the poems and the photos. Not sure how I'll approach it the fourth time, but looking forward to it! :-) Approaching God points me to God...And, causes me to say, "Lisa, I want more!"
Lisa, a dear Westmont classmate of mine, has a gift of writing that always leaves me wanting more. In Approaching God her poetic and artist way of sharing her intimacy with God is refreshingly straightforward and simple. God is not viewed as a distant Deity. Rather, Lisa focuses on six characteristics that challenge our view of God and draw us into a deeper relationship with Him. And, having known Lisa for over 30 years, her life reflects this very personal relationship with our God!
In her book, we get the privilege of glimpses into the Borden life...Byron getting "axed" as he was working on a orinka (a tool used to kill cobras... really!) ...Broken down truck, in Africa, hundreds of miles from help...A little Borden, probably Jesse, taking a nap in his mother's arms...And, the photos! Fabulous!
Lisa's use of poems, photos, passages from the Bible, personal stories, and the insight God has given her from walking with Him for many years creates a beautiful book! At first, I read it straight through. The second time, I spent time at the end of each chapter, journaling my responses. Third time, I soaked in the poems and the photos. Not sure how I'll approach it the fourth time, but looking forward to it! :-) Approaching God points me to God...And, causes me to say, "Lisa, I want more!"
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Half-a-Century + One
Happy birthday, Greg!
I know that my blog is generally written to our kids, but this one's for you!
So far, for our kids' birthdays, I have been trying to remember and share with them about the day they were born. Since I wasn't there for that event in your life, though we were only a few hours drive from each other, I thought I'd try with this 51 year old brain to remember about our beginnings.
Easy...18 years old...first day of college at Westmont...all Page residents together downstairs...I saw you...fell in love...you didn't...waited a long five years...we started dating!!! Yep...patience...It paid off!
Strange to think that we have known each other for 33 years! And, we have been married over half of our lives! And, I wouldn't trade you, our years together, our struggles, our joys for anything!
You, Greg Wright, are the most amazing person I have ever known. You are far from perfect, and, I know you will take that as the compliment it is meant to be. :-) I have great respect for you, and I love so many things about you! I have never known anyone who loves their work (maybe it shouldn't even be called that) as much as you do! And, that whole learning thing, where you try to explain frontal cerebral cortex firing to me??? And, the way you love, encourage, build up, challenge our children! And, how you can't talk about Ali without getting choked up. And, how you seem to burst at the seams when you talk about Gregory! And, how you and Nick study Jesus together every Thursday morning, and both of you love it and look forward to it! And, how you rearrange our furniture so you and our boys can sit outside, watch soccer on TV and smoke cigars. And, how you never give me weird looks when I wiggle all around and can't sit still for very long and "squirrel" and steal all the covers and spend too much money on clothes and don't know what's for dinner until 6 o'clock every night and don't initiate sex enough. Stuff like that. You are loyal, stable, reliable, trustworthy, hard working, lots of fun, super sexy, and you have a great butt! You are an amazing husband, friend, boss, walking buddy, life partner!
But, the thing I am most thankful for about you is your love of Jesus Christ! He is so obviously central to your life. You have abandoned yourself to Him, and that effects everything! Our times together in the morning are precious moments! I love how we are quiet as we read, then one of us will say, "Can I just read this to you?" or "Have you ever thought about...?" or "Listen to this cool verse" or "What's for breakfast?" ;-) I love that we share Jesus in our lives together!
So, Greg, happy 51st birthday! How fun that we get to celebrate YOU today! You are the love of my life, and I look forward to as many years as God allows us together...celebrating...just doing life together!
oxo~Me
ps~I LOVE it when you catch up to me every year! It's always a long 3 weeks.
I know that my blog is generally written to our kids, but this one's for you!
So far, for our kids' birthdays, I have been trying to remember and share with them about the day they were born. Since I wasn't there for that event in your life, though we were only a few hours drive from each other, I thought I'd try with this 51 year old brain to remember about our beginnings.
Easy...18 years old...first day of college at Westmont...all Page residents together downstairs...I saw you...fell in love...you didn't...waited a long five years...we started dating!!! Yep...patience...It paid off!
Strange to think that we have known each other for 33 years! And, we have been married over half of our lives! And, I wouldn't trade you, our years together, our struggles, our joys for anything!
You, Greg Wright, are the most amazing person I have ever known. You are far from perfect, and, I know you will take that as the compliment it is meant to be. :-) I have great respect for you, and I love so many things about you! I have never known anyone who loves their work (maybe it shouldn't even be called that) as much as you do! And, that whole learning thing, where you try to explain frontal cerebral cortex firing to me??? And, the way you love, encourage, build up, challenge our children! And, how you can't talk about Ali without getting choked up. And, how you seem to burst at the seams when you talk about Gregory! And, how you and Nick study Jesus together every Thursday morning, and both of you love it and look forward to it! And, how you rearrange our furniture so you and our boys can sit outside, watch soccer on TV and smoke cigars. And, how you never give me weird looks when I wiggle all around and can't sit still for very long and "squirrel" and steal all the covers and spend too much money on clothes and don't know what's for dinner until 6 o'clock every night and don't initiate sex enough. Stuff like that. You are loyal, stable, reliable, trustworthy, hard working, lots of fun, super sexy, and you have a great butt! You are an amazing husband, friend, boss, walking buddy, life partner!
But, the thing I am most thankful for about you is your love of Jesus Christ! He is so obviously central to your life. You have abandoned yourself to Him, and that effects everything! Our times together in the morning are precious moments! I love how we are quiet as we read, then one of us will say, "Can I just read this to you?" or "Have you ever thought about...?" or "Listen to this cool verse" or "What's for breakfast?" ;-) I love that we share Jesus in our lives together!
So, Greg, happy 51st birthday! How fun that we get to celebrate YOU today! You are the love of my life, and I look forward to as many years as God allows us together...celebrating...just doing life together!
oxo~Me
ps~I LOVE it when you catch up to me every year! It's always a long 3 weeks.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Happy 80th Birthday, Daddy!
Today, my Dad is 80!!! We had a birthday party for him last night. It is the first birthday of his that I can remember really celebrating. Every other year, he would always tell us he did not want a party. This year, being his 80th, we decided to not believe him.
So, at five last night, we all gathered at the Searles for appetizers. Deb's fresh salsa, my guacamole and chips, Lori's veggie platter, Italian sodas and my margaritas. Ali, Jonny, Steven, Alyssa and Jon could not be with us. We missed them! Claude and Carol Chan joined us! What a treat!
Awhile later, we headed down to our house for a sit down dinner. Deb made her amazing chicken enchiladas, cabbage salad and Mexican rice. Lor made delicious black beans. We sat around our two tables, enjoying being together, celebrating my Dad!
After dinner, we share our hearts, honoring my Dad. One by one, we told Dad/Grandpa what he has meant to us over the years, what we have learned from him, how we love him. Even his little great grandaughter, Emma Rose, had a card for him! My dad LOVES copying articles, sections of books, any info he thinks might be useful to us, and, he highlights, adds notes then passes these copies out to us. So...we all copied, highlighted, underlined, added notes, stapled together our favorite devotionals to give to him, along with our cards. He listened, absorbed, maybe teared up a bit, then added commentary after each person shared. I think he liked it!
We topped off the evening with a tasty apple strudel made by Lori and Cassi. We sang Happy Birthday. We told Dad that he needed to make a wish before blowing out the candles. This being his first birthday party, he needed a little guidance. He said, "I want my whole family to always trust in Jesus." We told him that his wish should not be said out loud. He didn't seem to care. :-)
What a great celebration of my Daddy! Happy 80th birthday, Dad! I love you!
OXO-Alisa
ps-Photos to follow when we get our computer working better.
So, at five last night, we all gathered at the Searles for appetizers. Deb's fresh salsa, my guacamole and chips, Lori's veggie platter, Italian sodas and my margaritas. Ali, Jonny, Steven, Alyssa and Jon could not be with us. We missed them! Claude and Carol Chan joined us! What a treat!
Awhile later, we headed down to our house for a sit down dinner. Deb made her amazing chicken enchiladas, cabbage salad and Mexican rice. Lor made delicious black beans. We sat around our two tables, enjoying being together, celebrating my Dad!
After dinner, we share our hearts, honoring my Dad. One by one, we told Dad/Grandpa what he has meant to us over the years, what we have learned from him, how we love him. Even his little great grandaughter, Emma Rose, had a card for him! My dad LOVES copying articles, sections of books, any info he thinks might be useful to us, and, he highlights, adds notes then passes these copies out to us. So...we all copied, highlighted, underlined, added notes, stapled together our favorite devotionals to give to him, along with our cards. He listened, absorbed, maybe teared up a bit, then added commentary after each person shared. I think he liked it!
We topped off the evening with a tasty apple strudel made by Lori and Cassi. We sang Happy Birthday. We told Dad that he needed to make a wish before blowing out the candles. This being his first birthday party, he needed a little guidance. He said, "I want my whole family to always trust in Jesus." We told him that his wish should not be said out loud. He didn't seem to care. :-)
What a great celebration of my Daddy! Happy 80th birthday, Dad! I love you!
OXO-Alisa
ps-Photos to follow when we get our computer working better.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Ali is 23!
Happy 23rd birthday, my dear Ali-Pooh!!!
Since your 16th birthday, how many of your birthdays have been spent at home? Or, how many have NOT been spent at home?
17th in Masterton, New Zealand
18th in France AND Germany on the same day!
19th up in Santa Barbara, at Westmont
22nd in Germany at Bodenseehof!
Now, your 23rd in New York City! Actually, North Carolina!
Am I forgetting some?? Anyway...whether you are home, away from home with us, or away from home without us, we celebrate YOU!!! My dear, precious baby girl...
So, with you, we thought it was great to have one child that we had planned...If you call Dad praying, spur of the moment, one morning, before ***, "Lord, please give us a health, sweet baby," planned. :-) And, just for the record, we have loved GOD'S plan regarding all three of you! I mean REALLY LOVED His plan! Way better than any plan we could have come up with!
Back to you...Again, I am trying to recall the details of the day of your birth...Hmmm...Well, you came earlier than expected. The doctor thought you would arrive in May. But, you have never really done things that are expected of you! And, I love that about you! After the trauma of a natural birth with Gregory, I told Dad, "It's drugs, or Gregory is an only child!" So, epidural kind of in place (it slipped and went into a muscle in my back and didn't go in to my spine...fun times!...Is this too many details?), you arrived!
We didn't know if we were having a boy or girl. After a very bald baby boy, what a surprise to see this little girl with a head full of black hair! Can't remember what name we had picked out if you were a boy, but we thought we would call you Alex, short for Alexandra, if you were a girl. But, after meeting you out in the world, you just looked like an Ali! So, I sent out birth announcements introducing you, or at least that was my intention. I forgot to put the announcement in many of the envelopes. Aunt Pudge called Grandma to say she knew from receiving the envelope that we probably did have a baby. She just had no idea of any of the details. Yep...
We brought you home, excited for your big brother to meet you! He sat in his little rocking chair, and we set you on his lap. He looked at you for a moment, (just enough time for a photo) then handed you back. The whole idea of a new little Wright took Gregory a little getting use to. Okay, a lot getting use to.
Ali, what a gift you have been in my life! I think of you as a toddler, usually smiling, cute little chubby cheeks. Your days of kindergarten...me dropping you off, you crying, me with a happy face until I got to my car, so I, too, could shed a few tears. Your tenderness with Maggie as we raised her that one year. The very difficult times with your health. The relief of home schooling. The fun of cheering for you during your basketball and volleyball games. The unique way you finished high school...Escondido Charter, Mira Costa, Neighborhood in Phoenix, Potter's Clay, traveling around Europe! The wonderful times of moving you in to Page Dorm at Westmont, saying goodbye to you as you headed to Bodenseehof, and then to New York. And, through it all, or because of it all, we have been drawn closer to Jesus, clinging to Him, learning more about Him and His great love for us, seeing Him as our very Life!
Ali, what a joy it has been for me to see you grow into a beautiful, creative, intelligent young woman! Do you remember, during those tough years, I would tell you that you were going to love being an adult?! It amazes me to watch you pursue your passions! I know that you will always be learning, and, enjoying the whole process! I love how you love people, again, with passion, intensity, pointing them to Jesus!
So, my precious Ali on your 23rd birthday...I pray that today you are celebrating YOU, thanking God, praising Jesus, and enjoying your time with Anne, Michael, Caroline, Gregory, Grandma and Grandpa. And, yes, I am a little jealous that they get you today! ;-)
And, here in Encinitas, I am celebrating YOU, thanking God for YOU, praising Jesus for YOU, and happy that if you are not with us, who love you dearly, you are with others who love you dearly!
Happy birthday, my Ali!
oxo-Mom
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
My Journal
For years, I was not a journaler. I just wasn't. I didn't want to journal...I didn't feel the need to journal...No interest in journaling.
These past few years, every now and then, I felt the urge to pick up my old journal and jot a few things down. Before that, I think the last entry was from 1994. Yep, I did let a few days go by without journaling.
Even now, there is no formula. Sometimes I write a few of the verses I just read that really hit me. Sometimes my entry is a prayer to God. Sometimes I rewrite a Psalm, personalizing it to reflect my heart's cry to God. Sometimes I copy a few quotes from one of the books I am reading. Sometimes I will spend a few days looking up verses on a particular subject...the names of Jesus, my identity as a child of God, prayer, the cross, Jesus' blood, being IN Christ, the Holy Spirit, trials. No set pattern.
This morning, as I was reading Andrew Murray's "Abiding in Christ", my journal entry was:
~"Christian, pray for grace to see in every trouble, small or great, the Father pointing You to Jesus, and saying, 'Abide in Him.'" ~Andrew Murray "Abiding in Christ"
"Through suffering the Father leads us to enter more deeply into the love of Christ."
So, why would my prayers for me, Greg, my children always be for safety, prosperity, comfort if this is true? NOT that I would EVER pray for suffering, but, I want my main request of God to be, "Whatever draws us deeper into You, trusting You, clinging to You, recognizing our dependence on You...that's my desire."~
So, Nick, Ali and Greg, journaling, dialoguing with God in your thoughts, or just being still and listening to Him speak to you, my prayer for you is that day by day, moment by moment, in trials and in triumphs, you abide in Jesus!
oxo-Mom
These past few years, every now and then, I felt the urge to pick up my old journal and jot a few things down. Before that, I think the last entry was from 1994. Yep, I did let a few days go by without journaling.
Even now, there is no formula. Sometimes I write a few of the verses I just read that really hit me. Sometimes my entry is a prayer to God. Sometimes I rewrite a Psalm, personalizing it to reflect my heart's cry to God. Sometimes I copy a few quotes from one of the books I am reading. Sometimes I will spend a few days looking up verses on a particular subject...the names of Jesus, my identity as a child of God, prayer, the cross, Jesus' blood, being IN Christ, the Holy Spirit, trials. No set pattern.
This morning, as I was reading Andrew Murray's "Abiding in Christ", my journal entry was:
~"Christian, pray for grace to see in every trouble, small or great, the Father pointing You to Jesus, and saying, 'Abide in Him.'" ~Andrew Murray "Abiding in Christ"
"Through suffering the Father leads us to enter more deeply into the love of Christ."
So, why would my prayers for me, Greg, my children always be for safety, prosperity, comfort if this is true? NOT that I would EVER pray for suffering, but, I want my main request of God to be, "Whatever draws us deeper into You, trusting You, clinging to You, recognizing our dependence on You...that's my desire."~
So, Nick, Ali and Greg, journaling, dialoguing with God in your thoughts, or just being still and listening to Him speak to you, my prayer for you is that day by day, moment by moment, in trials and in triumphs, you abide in Jesus!
oxo-Mom
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