Ending at the end

We're back home in Kokomo from the weeklong trip to our homeland, Texas. Perhaps another day I will post some pics from that trip.

Friends and family streamed through my mother-in-law's house to see us off. They knew that we won't be back for a while since we are about to move across the sea to Scotland. This last week in Kokomo will no doubt be filled with similar scenes ...

so humor me, I must philosophize.

Life is full of inevitable endings, but most of the time we rock along in the middle. I admit, the middle suits me. The middle is not filled with great ceremonial speeches to friends where you summerize your true feelings. The middle doesn't make you examine yourself as much to see if you have really changed anything for the better. The middle doesn't expect you to look around and appreciate every moment. The middle doesn't highten your senses as much. It doesn't make you want to reach out as much. It doesn't make you want to listen a little closer. It doesn't prompt you to go out of your way to reach somebody. Endings do this.

No, the middle is much more conservative. It doesn't require as much effort. It's comfortable.

But lately I've been thinking about how Christ handled endings. Endings were precious opportunities that life brought His way (respectfully speaking). He made use of them to communicate love and appreciation to people. He used them to say something meaningful. He made the most of them. He embraced them.

What an inspiration!

Oh Lord, help me not to hold back now. Help me not to hide in the middle when I arrive at an ending. And help me to remember that that middles and endings ultimately take place in a Kingdom that has no end.

Other remembrances

Still catching you up on photos from yesterdays.

These here photos (that's how it's phrased in Texas) were taken of the homeschool graduation in Kokomo, Indiana a couple of weeks ago.

Here John Christenson directs the homeschool orchestra.















The proud Fisher family honors Beth's graduation.















Candace and Miriam have a laugh.















The proud Yorks parents honor Jamey.















Amy proudly honors her brother, Ben, while Beth and Lindsay stand in awe.















Brenna grows sleepy during the long ceremony.

Old business

We're in Texas now. Lots of sun; lots of pool; lots of family and friends. It's been surprisingly mild - not too hot - nice breeze. So what's with the weather report, you ask? The weather is big news in Texas - especially if it ISN'T burning hot in the summertime. Now that's big news. And it isn't - so I share the news.

There is something about not being in your own house that makes everything more restful. Ah, nice time to blog.

So I shall catch up on old business and show you some pics I took a few weeks ago. Memorial day has come and gone - these were taken of the Memorial Day Picnic in Kokomo, Indiana.

Everyone gathered at a local park to share a relaxing day.













Here's Bill.
















Some of the girls anticipate the day's activities.















Here Trevor and Ben are up to no good, I'm sure.
















I told ya' so! They've loaded the water balloon sling-shot










... and here are their helpless victims!
















Greg fiercely guards the vittles.














Johnny and Brian wait to eat.














These men do some catching up.














Jamie helps at the pool.














Meg grabs a photo opp.

















Hannah and Rachel dry off after a swim.

















These ladies grab some shade.













Lynz joins Daniel, and his dad, Jason, to watch the swimmers.





















Here are some hill-billie golf pros







... and their competitors.














Everyone likes to share babies.












Celia is not a baby, she's armed and ready (get it?) Miriam offers her arm.














Time to chow down.













Loveliness.

End of School Pics

General jubilation ensued.

Long time coming

I suppose that the recent overload of emotion that I've experienced in my life has made me want to avoid blogging about it. Be that as it may, I now come a-blogging.

Saying that I was filled to the brim with emotions last night when I attended a homeschool graduation ceremony would be an understatement. I watched "kids" walk across the stage who attended my church, who were my students, or who were my volleyball players. A fellow volleyball coach who is younger than I suffered a debilitating stroke this year after volleyball season, and I watched her shakily walk to the middle of the stage to hug her graduating son. Yeah, I was pretty choked up.

I've not only recently packed to move overseas, I've also grabbed every opportunity to spend a little extra quality time with my Indiana friends. Very fulfilling but painful too. We seem to hug a little longer, and linger to talk.

We are about to have family devotions, but here's at least a snippet of what's whirling around in my brain.

Fridge thingie follow-up

Based on Candace's description of the stuff pictured below in my refrigerator, I took it out yestermorning, warmed it up in the microwave, and dipped my bran muffin in it for breakfast. It was good.