This past weekend we ventured back to the North Shore. We have not been up since before Bel was born, and now that she is old enough to climb and hike on her own we thought it would be a wonderful getaway. We were fortunate to stay and Larry & Lisa's Log Home Retreat for the weekend and loved every minute of it. It was perfect fall weather for the perfect fall weekend!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
A Meaningful Life
Have you ever read the book Tuesday's With Morrie? I love this book and many others written by author Mitch Albom, the book is about a second chance for Mitch and one of his college professors who was dieing of ALS or Lou Gherig's disease. Within the chapters of this book Morrie and Mitch walk through life, the ups, the downs and everything in between. Our family has gone through many of the typical ups and downs of life, and some that are not typical.
I believe that in everyone's life at somepoint you go through all the things that you think will make you happy...items you want, the ideal job to hold, the perfect house, what your wedding will look like, the 2.5 kids that society says is appropriate and a dog. I was no exception to these thoughts once upon a time. I was blessed to find the love of my life while in my teens, actually meeting DH when we were 13, we graduated from college, bought our first house, had great jobs and our dog. We decided far before we were married that we wanted God to be a constant in our relationship, we valued each others hard work. DH and I have had to say goodbye to babies before we met them but have also been blessed with our beautiful 3 year old Bel, there is nothing more meaningful to us than being married and having our daughter. We like many others have questioned our faith at times but with the strength of our family and friends our meaningful life continues to move forward.
In the past week we have been blessed by an addition to our extended family - our dear friends Justin and Erin have welcomed a beautiful little girl Mareena Grace into this world and her arrival has been nothing short of amazing. We are so blessed to have this family in our lives and consider them our family not just friends. Watching her in her parents arms and being able to celebrate with them in their joy has been a true gift. We have enjoyed our own snuggles with the baby and I happen to love kissing her soft chubby cheeks. DH gloats because he beat me to holding her before me each time with have been with them, but it is just an example of how much we love this little person. Our Bel has fallen in love with Mareena, she is so excited to hold her, touch her soft hair, kiss her and talks all about the things she looks forward to teaching her. A celebration of life and the true existence of God does not get any better than this!
Looking to the opposite spectrum of life we are grieving the loss of someone who we truly enjoyed getting to know. DH's cousin Jen died yesterday from complications of Cystic Fibrosis, a disease that takes loved ones too early, Jen was 31, and yet we can't help but be in awe of the life she lived. My husband and I have been together for almost 12 years and I have been so fortunate to marry in to a family that has many aunts, uncles, and cousins. I have enjoyed trips to visit family, look forward to their visits and love that this family has always excepted me as one of their own. Growing up in a very small family that has since gone in different directions seems to give me a different view as to how valuable those you consider family to be. I have enjoyed getting to know all the cousins through family gatherings, emails and Facebook, and Jen was no exception. We would chat online and email about our children and just life in general and when we would be at the same family gathering talking and watching our girls together was always a highlight. I will miss her smile which was ever present, her laugh at the little things and the times when her hands were full of all of her twin girls gear that I was able to help. Jen would be my definition of strength and bravery. I never heard her complain, never saw her in a bad mood, but always taking in life, and showing the grace of God. Jen was so full of courage as she decided that it was time to move beyond the suffering and onto a life of breathing easily and looking down from above on those she cared for. She will be missed, but will continue to live through her children and will be remembered by all who met her.
These two recent family events one on each side of God's creation really make me stand back to look at what is a meaningful life.I believe that in everyone's life at somepoint you go through all the things that you think will make you happy...items you want, the ideal job to hold, the perfect house, what your wedding will look like, the 2.5 kids that society says is appropriate and a dog. I was no exception to these thoughts once upon a time. I was blessed to find the love of my life while in my teens, actually meeting DH when we were 13, we graduated from college, bought our first house, had great jobs and our dog. We decided far before we were married that we wanted God to be a constant in our relationship, we valued each others hard work. DH and I have had to say goodbye to babies before we met them but have also been blessed with our beautiful 3 year old Bel, there is nothing more meaningful to us than being married and having our daughter. We like many others have questioned our faith at times but with the strength of our family and friends our meaningful life continues to move forward.
In the past week we have been blessed by an addition to our extended family - our dear friends Justin and Erin have welcomed a beautiful little girl Mareena Grace into this world and her arrival has been nothing short of amazing. We are so blessed to have this family in our lives and consider them our family not just friends. Watching her in her parents arms and being able to celebrate with them in their joy has been a true gift. We have enjoyed our own snuggles with the baby and I happen to love kissing her soft chubby cheeks. DH gloats because he beat me to holding her before me each time with have been with them, but it is just an example of how much we love this little person. Our Bel has fallen in love with Mareena, she is so excited to hold her, touch her soft hair, kiss her and talks all about the things she looks forward to teaching her. A celebration of life and the true existence of God does not get any better than this!
Looking to the opposite spectrum of life we are grieving the loss of someone who we truly enjoyed getting to know. DH's cousin Jen died yesterday from complications of Cystic Fibrosis, a disease that takes loved ones too early, Jen was 31, and yet we can't help but be in awe of the life she lived. My husband and I have been together for almost 12 years and I have been so fortunate to marry in to a family that has many aunts, uncles, and cousins. I have enjoyed trips to visit family, look forward to their visits and love that this family has always excepted me as one of their own. Growing up in a very small family that has since gone in different directions seems to give me a different view as to how valuable those you consider family to be. I have enjoyed getting to know all the cousins through family gatherings, emails and Facebook, and Jen was no exception. We would chat online and email about our children and just life in general and when we would be at the same family gathering talking and watching our girls together was always a highlight. I will miss her smile which was ever present, her laugh at the little things and the times when her hands were full of all of her twin girls gear that I was able to help. Jen would be my definition of strength and bravery. I never heard her complain, never saw her in a bad mood, but always taking in life, and showing the grace of God. Jen was so full of courage as she decided that it was time to move beyond the suffering and onto a life of breathing easily and looking down from above on those she cared for. She will be missed, but will continue to live through her children and will be remembered by all who met her.
My husband and I clung to each other at the end of our work day yesterday, with the news of Jen's death we are praying for her husband Dan to have strength to get through the difficult times especially when he is faced with raising his girls, thinking of her girls and praying that everyone around them will be able to share with them about Jennifer and what an amazing woman she was. I can stand back and thank God for every day I have with my family, even falling asleep with Bel last night just to be close to her.
To celebrate the birth of Mareena and know how much she is loved by so many. To be fortunate enough to have a relationship with her parents that will allow us to watch her grow and become an amazing person brings joy to our family A child is always a gift and being able to support a child as they grow and to walk with their parents through the process is a wonderful gift of friendship and love.
A meaningful life for us is simply stated as family and friends... there is nothing more important and the rest is just icing on the cake.
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