Music In The Park and Other Joys

Twenty-five years ago we finished our first four-year term as missionaries and returned to WA for a year of furlough. It was the only time we took a full year, way too disruptive on so many levels. One of the activities we really appreciated that year was Music In The Park. At that time there were two concerts, one at noon and the other in the evening. Our boys were eleven and seven so we chose to go to the park at noon with our picnic lunch and thoroughly enjoy whatever group happened to be playing. It was free (still is!) a really good thing on a missionary salary and all. We've been back home for four years and this year is the first summer we took the time to enjoy this lovely tradition. Last night was the Tacoma Concert Band. We sat in our lawn chairs on this breezy summer evening, eating strawberries and banana bread, watching people, reveling in the beautiful music.

There are so many good things to say about living here. Number one has to be our three grandchildren. We never imagined that we would have this opportunity. It is amazing! We also live in a forested community that is incredibly tranquil. This morning a doe and fawn bolted across my front yard, jumped the fence, and trotted into our vacationing neighbor's backyard for breakfast. I'm quite sure these animals know who's home and who isn't. I've learned which flowers to plant (daffodils, lilacs, black-eyed Susans) and which to avoid (tulips, bell-flowers, roses). Another joy is teaching. My husband and I work on the same campus, in two different schools. He is high school principal and I teach language arts in the junior high. This season of our career is about preparing the next generation for leadership and it is wonderful, challenging, stressful, and very fulfilling. We are so grateful for the opportunity we have to impact the lives of hundreds of students.

It is also wonderful to know that this mission "gene" lives on in our family. Our son and his family serve as missionaries in France. We have never lived in the same part of the country since he left home for college. Last year, we had the joy of having them with us for four months while they prepared to head overseas. Our little Gracie learned to love us almost as much as we love her. (Yes, this picture is a year old but I still love it!) Our parting was heart-wrenching but we knew that it was right.

We are so blessed and we know it - we are constantly surprised by these blessings, but we recognize them clearly as God's goodness to us. We did nothing to earn this; it is simply a gift. We learned long ago to appreciate the lovely things we receive in life and to endure the hardships - for God is in all of them. However, every now and then it's good to just purposefully pause, remember, and be thankful. Today, I am feeling very thankful.