A weekend filled with my adult children brings a smile to my face. Ron and I were blessed to spend the weekend with each of our kids in a different way. We joined Cam at his church as he preached the Word to his congregation, went scuba diving with Tanner and Emmy and finally spent the evening with Tillie learning how to harvest and juice wheat grass. Yes, it tasted like we were eating the stuff left on the bottom of our lawnmower, but it is extremely good for us!
It is times like these that we realize how lucky we are to be included in the lives of our kids. They are each busy pursuing their goals in life and yet they take time out for dear old Mom and Dad. Recently, we watched the videos of our Alaska trip that we took just a decade ago. Times sure change in a decade! We went from a family of 6 to a family of 12 doubling our joy. 2 amazing daughter-in-laws were added and 4 charming grandchildren. The loss of our son, Ryan, changed each of us individually as well as our family. Shortly after this trip which was incredible, Ron and I went through the struggle of a 6 year separation. Life takes twists and turns our hope is that we can endure the blessings and the sorrows together with Christ at the center.
A decade ago, the Barbers took an amazing, 2 month trip to Alaska. Weeks before we started our adventure a wildfire ran through our hometown and destroyed hundreds of homes changing lives forever. At the end of our trip, we lost Ron's Dad to lung cancer. All the footage of the kids canoeing, fishing, skateboarding, and just enjoying each other in our 1975 camper van show a carefree time where just being together and exploring Alaska was perfect. It was! Even my Mom who joined us on the trip journaled her excitement at being so close to grizzly bears and the antics of spending time cooped up in the van with her grandkids.
Only God knows what the next decade holds for any of us or our families. Members we will add through marriage or birth or those we will miss due to death or estrangement is unclear. But God tells us that the future is not ours to know. What we can rest in is that He will walk with us on our life journey as long as we invite Him along. So I am grateful for my time this Labor Day weekend with my fabulous husband and our children who have become adults we love spending time with. Life is good for the Barbers.
In Him,
Joyful
9-6-11
It is times like these that we realize how lucky we are to be included in the lives of our kids. They are each busy pursuing their goals in life and yet they take time out for dear old Mom and Dad. Recently, we watched the videos of our Alaska trip that we took just a decade ago. Times sure change in a decade! We went from a family of 6 to a family of 12 doubling our joy. 2 amazing daughter-in-laws were added and 4 charming grandchildren. The loss of our son, Ryan, changed each of us individually as well as our family. Shortly after this trip which was incredible, Ron and I went through the struggle of a 6 year separation. Life takes twists and turns our hope is that we can endure the blessings and the sorrows together with Christ at the center.
A decade ago, the Barbers took an amazing, 2 month trip to Alaska. Weeks before we started our adventure a wildfire ran through our hometown and destroyed hundreds of homes changing lives forever. At the end of our trip, we lost Ron's Dad to lung cancer. All the footage of the kids canoeing, fishing, skateboarding, and just enjoying each other in our 1975 camper van show a carefree time where just being together and exploring Alaska was perfect. It was! Even my Mom who joined us on the trip journaled her excitement at being so close to grizzly bears and the antics of spending time cooped up in the van with her grandkids.
Only God knows what the next decade holds for any of us or our families. Members we will add through marriage or birth or those we will miss due to death or estrangement is unclear. But God tells us that the future is not ours to know. What we can rest in is that He will walk with us on our life journey as long as we invite Him along. So I am grateful for my time this Labor Day weekend with my fabulous husband and our children who have become adults we love spending time with. Life is good for the Barbers.
In Him,
Joyful
9-6-11
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