Walking Together
Month 3 out of 11. No medical updates. Scores first, right out of the gate. Just like my computer and phone constantly trying to push Olympics medal updates to me before I’ve even had a chance to watch anything. This impatient world drives me crazy. I’m not a big “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” guy, but in this case I’ll allow it.
We’ve toyed with the idea of scratching out the 11 and writing a 6 in its place. Meaning, we would ask for a chimerism check this fall. It’s one of those things that comes up, we kind of mumble “I don’t know” to each other, shrug our shoulders, and then forget to put any further thought into it. Who knows if we will? And if we don’t ever think any longer on it than that, I guess that’s our answer.
That’s a few from how we kicked off July with our celebration of the 4th. I mentioned last time how we were looking forward to July after our June. The big thing was we would be together…and we would be choosing how busy we were rather than our overloaded schedule doing it for us. Well, we chose to have a full 4th and we loved every bit of it. We went to our pool for their festivities rather than doing our traditional neighborhood bike parade. The big kids got to dive for stuff based on age groups. Jennings made out pretty well, as you can see, on the coins. And Caroline came up with all the soda she could carry. I heard the dads dove for beers later in the day, but we had family coming over and I figured they’d rather have decent pulled pork than hear about how many cans I could fit in my suit. The kids had matching dual-purpose USA shirts with both the 4th and the Olympics this summer and we had Lauren’s family over that evening for an all-American meal.
We spent the week after the 4th at Ocean Isle Beach. Different house, different week, but the same chill coastal beach life for a week. We had a great time together as a family and made some new memories while carrying on some of our established traditions there. Some of those included Sunset Slush on the beach every day, burying J-man in sand, and trying (and succeeding) to catch the smallest fish in the surf on our stretch of beach. We tried a new restaurant on the water in Calabash and had the best night out we’ve probably had at the beach. Our table overlooked the water at sunset, with live music and a place for the kids to run around and play right in front of us. Another new one, was the boys’ first ever real putt-putt game - the first time we played all 18 holes and kept score…and actually tried, as opposed to seeing what you might be able to break with a putter or seeing how many different body parts you can use to guide the ball to the hole. We also met up with Lauren’s cousin and her family for ice cream - they happened to be staying a couple beaches up the coast from us that same week.
July was restorative. Like I mentioned earlier, we were together, and our schedule was more flexible than normal. I shared last time that we had chosen which fork in the road we were taking with middle school and our house. It is definitely a relief to have done that, but we are still not able to see very far down the road.
God has done so much work on both of us over the last (almost) 7 years in teaching us to walk with Him and with open hands. It seems He is using the two roads we’re on, and some recent changes with L’s job, to continue that work.
On the house front, we are in somewhat of a holding pattern as we wait for updated pricing before continuing design. 😬😬
Middle school will bring new challenges as well. The one we are certain of, but have not skinned yet, is related to location. The logistics of getting Caroline to and from school are not super straightforward. We have to balance the elementary school kids and after school sports / activities, not only with the different bell schedule, but also with the fact that it is 25 minutes from home. Adding onto that, C is most likely continuing gymnastics but switching gyms to one further from home that practices 3 days / week for 3 hours / day.
The structure of how Lauren is compensated for her work recently changed as well, calling into question for her just how long to continue on the influencing front.
We kind of realized all of these this past month. With so many “unknowns,” the temptation is to grab whatever you can and try to control it. We, I especially, learn and re-learn how to be present in today and to trust God with the unknowns & tomorrows. It is so helpful in these internal struggles to be able to look back and remember. We have walked through extended periods of intensity where the fate of one of our kids was very much unknown. God was with us through that and on the other side of the intensity, we can look back and see that clearly. That gives renewed hope, faith, and encouragement to walk within today.
We are called to walk through the circumstances of today, seeking to do the next right thing and to, as Ecclesiastes says, “eat and drink and be joyful.” Enjoy today.
Here’s a few more from this month as we seek to faithfully walk in the joy of today 👇
Clockwise from top left: Jennings modeling his shark slippers for Camp Care that’s coming up. The theme is “Under the Sea” this year and he remembered seeing the slippers at Target months ago. He asked Lauren for the slippers as soon as he heard the theme. 😂 Next, summertime is for ice cream, twin style. And lunches at the pool…where we also treat goggles as if they are a disposable commodity. You know, similar to YETI water bottles. The last one is my dad getting baptized at their new church. That was a super special day for our family where we got to witness that and hear his testimony where God has been working in his heart for many years leading him to find Jesus.
We are going to soak up these last few weeks of summer and hope you & yours can as well. Thanks for continuing to follow along and lift Jennings up in prayer.
“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matt 6:31-33
#allinforjennings