Josh

This is our younger son, Josh. Today he turns 21. 

Both of our children are gifts to me, blessings in my life. Sometimes its good to stop and remember why a person is a gift, and since today is Josh's birthday, and since it's a milestone number-wise, today I remember why he is a blessing and what I have learned from him.

• Josh asks questions. He always has. Irritating questions (sometimes, when he was younger). He wants to know things, he wants to understand the plan. Asking questions is good; we should do more of it.
• Josh doesn't let his limitations stop him. He has limited right arm mobility, and yet he plays the trumpet and the piano - and more - and he does it with excellence. We aren't limited by what we consider obstacles.
• Josh has dreams. He has a plan. He knows what he wants to do. He has goals and vision. We should do that.
• Josh knows how to manage his time. Now. He didn't always, but he has learned to do it. Each semester, he has had over 21 hours of classes in college, participated in extracurricular activities, cultivated friends, and had fun in life. I'm amazed at everything he gets done, how well he does it, and how he plans ahead. We should do that.
• Josh is kind. He treats other people with thoughtfulness and kindness. He encourages those he is teaching. We should be kind.
• Josh knows how to see the humor in life. I love it when he has the time to tell us stories about his life. He finds the humor and shares it.

I'm grateful for our sons (both of them). I'm thankful for the adult men they have become, and amazed. On this day, the anniversary of the day 21 years ago, when Josh came into the world, I thank God for him.

Of note: I'm taking a break from posting next week, but will be back the second week of September.

Last First Day of School

Yesterday was the first day of school. It was also the last first day of school for our two boys. (When I told this to my younger son, he said, "What about college, Mom?)

Yes, college has first days of school, too, but yesterday was my younger son's first day of school as a senior in High School, and our family's last first day of school.

That's OK. I'm not sad about it. I love the way the were, years ago, with fresh boxes of crayons and pointed pencils, new notebooks and backpacks, crammed with school supplies from their "list," provided by the teacher. I remember taking time off work to go with them the first days, walking down the school hallway in the excitement of finding their names on the classroom roster beside their new school rooms.

But, I also love the way the are now, one of them preparing to go back to college and the other driving his car to Target to buy his own school supplies (OK, I miss picking out the notebooks with him, but there is something exciting about the idea that he did it on his own). I enjoy the almost adult conversations around the dinner table, as they tell us stories about their days and their dreams.

I love the way they are now, and I loved the way they were then. I wouldn't trade any of it. I'm not sad that time passes because tomorrow brings a new joy and a new excitement.

Yesterday was the last first day of school, and it just serves to remind me that time passes amazingly fast, and each moment can be embraced and treasured for the love and joy it brings

Children's Sabbath prayer

Josh wrote a prayer today for Children's Sabbath:

Dear Lord;

Thank you for everything you have given to us. You have helped us through thick and thin. You have been there in times of need when we don't know what to do or don't know where to go. You have put us on the right path and led us where we need to be.

We know we have not done your will, and we have broken your law. we know we have sinned, and we know that we wil sin again, but Lord we just ask for your forgiveness.

Lord, we thank you for the children -- for what they have given, for what they do for this church and for what they do in this world, but, Lord, there are children in the world who are hungry, thirsty, deprived of sleep and who do not even have access to education, so Lord we ask for you to watch over them. Lead us to help them.

Lord, we are thankful for everything that you have given to us, though sometimes we have taken your gifts for granted. We are thankful for Joe Hill, who has led us in preparing for this service, and who shares his gifts with the youth group.

Lord we ask that you wil help the family of Marilyn Holleron who passed away last week.

Lord, we ask that you help us in our every day lives, and whenever we are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Help us to make the right choice.

Let us never forget to pray as you son taught us to pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread and forgive us our trespesses as we forgive those who tresspass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.