Hello again, friends.
I've been slack on my efforts to write lately. I've had a busy few months, so I've decided to try to rekindle this journal. I have so many visions for what I'd like to write, but I guess a simple chronicle of my life and thoughts is as valid as anything else I might want to do.
I shall redouble my efforts to keep it up to date.
So much has happened since the last time I wrote here that its difficult to decide what to share. Some things are personal, and I'm still mulling over what is OK to share regarding family life in this forum.
For now, I've decided to make some bullet points accenting the highlights:
-- I got married! On January 15th, I married my bride Alene. We took a short trip to San Francisco for our "Honeymoon". It was right back to the grindstone of life after that.
-- Alene's dad went into the hospital 5 days after we were married, where he spent some 10 weeks recuperating from foot surgery. We spent some significant time helping him through that, and with continued recovery after he returned home. He is doing pretty well, now.
-- Emily is expecting! She will be having a boy any day now. Alene and I (well, really more Alene than me) have been busy getting things for the baby, and helping with supplies that will be needed by the new mom and dad.
-- Elizabeth is finishing up her junior year at UCD. She's been amazingly self-sufficient while at school, and her mom and I are really quite proud of her.
-- Lindsey and her boyfriend travelled in Europe for something like 7 weeks, and enjoyed it immensely. The kept us apprised of their doings via updates on Facebook, whenever they could find time to sit down at a wi-fi hotspot.
-- Cameron took a short trip to Virginia to visit her mom and the family back there. She had a (beyond) great time, and I think a lot of fences were mended. I thank God for that.
-- Alene is busy working 50-60 hours a week. She is approaching peak season for her industry, and it looks like business will keep on trucking much as it has in years past. She put in nearly 800 miles on the road this week, visiting clients. Summer will be just as busy, I'm sure.
Along the way we've helped our parents and children and friends with various things when we could. God has kept us busy, and blessed us with a wonderful community of family and friends, and He's blessed us with some of the resources and time to be able to help now and then.
At this point, Alene and I are pleasantly exhausted. We fall into bed most nights around 8:30 or 9:00pm, both of us having early mornings several days a week. Sleep seldom eludes us, but the alarm clock has become a detested crier, reminding us each day that morning has arrived entirely too early.
We sometimes wonder how much more can we do until we are completely depleted, but I keep saying, "God will give us the strength to continue doing what He wants us to do." I know we both believe this, but it still feels good to lay down on the bed at the end of the day!
Paul said in Philippians 4, "I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need."
This verse has become very real to me of late. I know I can't do all things, and I don't think God is asking me, or anyone, to do all things. But He is asking me to do all the things He wants me to do. I know He'll give me the strength and endurance to do the good things He has in store for me to do.
I sometimes say to Alene, when we get to debating whether we can add such-and-such a thing to our plate, "We'll never regret doing the right thing, no matter how hard it was to do."
So here's to family, friends, and loved ones who fill our lives with joy and purpose. I am glad each of you (you know who you are) are a part of my world. I wouldn't have it any other way, no matter how busy or tired I might get.
Although, on that note, I am taking a 3 week vacation from work in June. Don't anybody try to stop me. It could get ugly if you did.