It was the woman you gave me, Lord!
So goes the joke that surrounds the events now seven weeks old. And that’s exactly what it is…just a joke. It wasn’t Sarah’s fault. It wasn’t anybody’s fault. Sometimes things happen. And sometimes when those things happen, a bone gets broken.
We were just having fun with our son on the basketball court. In the flash of a moment, legs got tangled and the two of us were going down. Sarah fell gracefully. Me? Not so much.
Ice kept the swelling down long enough to get me to a Sunday afternoon visit to the urgent care. X-rays confirmed that the tip of the radius head bone in my left arm was broken. I’m not sure what goes through your mind when you hear ‘broken arm’, but here’s what goes through mine. Pain and expense and time. But instead of dwelling on the details of what I was thinking at that moment, let’s fast forward to the truth of which I was again graciously reminded.
Healing happens.
Our bodies amazingly not only allow for healing, but actually argue for it. Here is the list of applied remedies and medical assistance for the situation I found myself in: seven weeks and a towel. Well, at least it looked like a towel. Upon concluding that my arm was broken, the helpful nurses and technicians at the local urgent care decided that a towel was the trick. “We’ll just put this on your arm, it will conform to your elbow and forearm, and you’ll be good to go.” Good until the soon-coming appointment with the orthopedic doctor, that is. Here we go, I thought. This was going to be the first of many steps. Surgeries, repeat visits to medical facilities, and more. So they applied the towel thing to my arm and sure enough it hardened a bit and took the shape of my arm and was a temporary cast that I could take on and off until my appointment. But when that came, the surprising commenced.
“No further casting needed.”
“Just keep your arm in the temporary cast as needed throughout the day.”
“Give it a few weeks and it should be fine.”
And then the clincher. “Unless you have some issues or problems, I don’t even think it is necessary to see you again.”
So here we are seven weeks later. I have not spent another penny on any medical needs regarding the arm. I have not had another doctor visit regarding the arm. And the arm is…healing. I’ve been without the towel/cast for a couple of weeks now. What once was extremely painful soon became doable with a wince and then became done as normal (pretty much normal anyway). I can remember not being able to reach to a certain degree with my arm. Now I can. The little I did use it caused soreness. Now not so much. There were many limitations to how I could use the arm. Now…well, there are still some, but progressing nicely, thank you very much.
So here I am. Seven weeks later. Amazed at the healing that can take place when you just allow the body to do its thing. And thankful for the grace that makes it possible.
The author of that grace and these bodies has much more in store for those who place their trust in Him. So if you find yourself in an ‘urgent care’ scenario and are tempted to start adding up the bills, the ongoing pain, and never-ending problems of what lies ahead, try and re-direct your trust. Who knows what seven weeks and a towel might bring?
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Waiting...
The name of the game today was waiting.
It hit me on the way home from work. A stop sign. A simple right turn from there onto a two-lane highway. It can be a bit of a wait there at times. I was pleased when I came up to the intersection and noted that I was #2 in line. The guy ahead of me was taking a left, which can be a bit trickier for obvious reasons, but this wasn't going to be too bad. I just happened to notice the time as I pulled up. Waited a bit. A bit more. Started to marvel at the unique traffic patterns that elongated the typical stay at that spot. And then waited a bit more. Wondered if this was what it was always like at that time (I left work about five minutes or so later than I usually do). Waited a little longer. Couldn't he have gone just then? How about then?! Calm down, no rush. Just a bit more waiting, that's all. He finally had a clearing and went and I did the 'rolling stop' thing and pulled out. Noted the length of my stay there at about three and a half minutes.
Three and a half minutes.
Maybe a shade under four.
Some people (albeit not your normal, everyday type) can run a mile in that much time. An appropriate acceptance speech at an awards ceremony. Maybe an at-bat that goes to a full count. And I was idling and keeping the gas companies happy. But that three and a half minutes felt like an eternity.
I then remembered a phrase that I knew would greet me at some point during the evening when I got home. "I can't wait!". Somebody here turns ten tomorrow. Those words popped up last week and I knew they would make another appearance. And I understand why. Birthdays can be hard to wait for. Just before I started typing this out, the idea was even considered to potentially open a gift tonight. (She has the same birthday gift protocol as her father and that thought was quickly put aside...though she still 'can't wait' until tomorrow.)
Let's be honest. Waiting is a skill.
It's also one of the things I marvel at about the Christmas season. The waiting is over.
I try to imagine the typical good Jewish family at the time of Christ's birth. Properly taught and with a heart tuned toward the God that they were commanded to worship and awestruck by all that He communicated to them, they were in full waiting mode. The answer is coming. He will deliver us. He will save us. The messiah, the messiah...
And then another major life experience or two or three and a half goes by and there they were still...well, waiting.
As the shepherds made their way from the hills to the stable to kneel in wonder at the provision heralded by the angels (ANGELS!! In the sky and everything!!), they began to get a sense. The waiting was over. Perhaps that's why they went about 'glorifying and praising God' and sharing the news of what had happened. No more waiting. He's here now! He's here!
Downtrodden soul filled with angst, worry, doubt, fear, condemnation and guilt, know that He has come. He's here now! No more waiting!
It hit me on the way home from work. A stop sign. A simple right turn from there onto a two-lane highway. It can be a bit of a wait there at times. I was pleased when I came up to the intersection and noted that I was #2 in line. The guy ahead of me was taking a left, which can be a bit trickier for obvious reasons, but this wasn't going to be too bad. I just happened to notice the time as I pulled up. Waited a bit. A bit more. Started to marvel at the unique traffic patterns that elongated the typical stay at that spot. And then waited a bit more. Wondered if this was what it was always like at that time (I left work about five minutes or so later than I usually do). Waited a little longer. Couldn't he have gone just then? How about then?! Calm down, no rush. Just a bit more waiting, that's all. He finally had a clearing and went and I did the 'rolling stop' thing and pulled out. Noted the length of my stay there at about three and a half minutes.
Three and a half minutes.
Maybe a shade under four.
Some people (albeit not your normal, everyday type) can run a mile in that much time. An appropriate acceptance speech at an awards ceremony. Maybe an at-bat that goes to a full count. And I was idling and keeping the gas companies happy. But that three and a half minutes felt like an eternity.
I then remembered a phrase that I knew would greet me at some point during the evening when I got home. "I can't wait!". Somebody here turns ten tomorrow. Those words popped up last week and I knew they would make another appearance. And I understand why. Birthdays can be hard to wait for. Just before I started typing this out, the idea was even considered to potentially open a gift tonight. (She has the same birthday gift protocol as her father and that thought was quickly put aside...though she still 'can't wait' until tomorrow.)
Let's be honest. Waiting is a skill.
It's also one of the things I marvel at about the Christmas season. The waiting is over.
I try to imagine the typical good Jewish family at the time of Christ's birth. Properly taught and with a heart tuned toward the God that they were commanded to worship and awestruck by all that He communicated to them, they were in full waiting mode. The answer is coming. He will deliver us. He will save us. The messiah, the messiah...
And then another major life experience or two or three and a half goes by and there they were still...well, waiting.
As the shepherds made their way from the hills to the stable to kneel in wonder at the provision heralded by the angels (ANGELS!! In the sky and everything!!), they began to get a sense. The waiting was over. Perhaps that's why they went about 'glorifying and praising God' and sharing the news of what had happened. No more waiting. He's here now! He's here!
Downtrodden soul filled with angst, worry, doubt, fear, condemnation and guilt, know that He has come. He's here now! No more waiting!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Question Fer 'Ya
I came close to setting the record for the most infrequent blog posts in the history of mankind (or at least the part of mankind pertaining to the posting of web log entries). But here I am and here we go.
I've been struck lately with the myriad of ways that we as a family can spend time together. There are productive activities, fun times together, required events that we must tend to, and the occasional item that includes all of that and more. A quick list of recent Bower family agendas for time together include the following:
* back hall football
* library nights (most every Monday evening...)
* Christmas decorating
* movie nights (Pollyanna was the last one)
* just plain ol' getting ready for the next day
* reading in front of the fireplace (with a fire in it)
* game nights (I'm telling you...hire, Jace now while you can! The boy has garnered the Park Place / Boardwalk hotel empire to consecutive victories - as in like five in a row!!!)
* discussion of Bible / Advent / recent sermon-related topics
* much, much more
So, we have enjoyed time spent together in various ways. But I'd like to add to the list of ideas that rummages around in the back of my mind and make them available as needed. Here's where you come in. I'd like to know some of the memorable things that you have done together with your family. I would appreciate anything from your past or present or even future. And though we are obviously engaged in the midst of the holiday season, don't feel limited to that genre.
Would love to hear from you. Thanks for making life richer for the Bower household by doing so!
I've been struck lately with the myriad of ways that we as a family can spend time together. There are productive activities, fun times together, required events that we must tend to, and the occasional item that includes all of that and more. A quick list of recent Bower family agendas for time together include the following:
* back hall football
* library nights (most every Monday evening...)
* Christmas decorating
* movie nights (Pollyanna was the last one)
* just plain ol' getting ready for the next day
* reading in front of the fireplace (with a fire in it)
* game nights (I'm telling you...hire, Jace now while you can! The boy has garnered the Park Place / Boardwalk hotel empire to consecutive victories - as in like five in a row!!!)
* discussion of Bible / Advent / recent sermon-related topics
* much, much more
So, we have enjoyed time spent together in various ways. But I'd like to add to the list of ideas that rummages around in the back of my mind and make them available as needed. Here's where you come in. I'd like to know some of the memorable things that you have done together with your family. I would appreciate anything from your past or present or even future. And though we are obviously engaged in the midst of the holiday season, don't feel limited to that genre.
Would love to hear from you. Thanks for making life richer for the Bower household by doing so!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Travel Observations
Random thoughts that came to my mind as we drove to/from Greenville, SC today:
1 - I saw a vehicle with its business name and contact information plastered all over it. Odd thing is that it was called 'Highway 801 Towing'. Isn't that a bit limiting of a business name to have? I'm not sure to which Highway 801 it was referring, but the one near us is not too tremendously well-traveled. If that is the market you're aiming for...hmm, back to the drawing board, I'd say. Oh, and the really odd thing? It wasn't even a tow truck. It was a van. What exactly was THAT supposed to do?
2 - Thankful for a good bit of fog to hide most of the billboards about...well, you know what I mean if you've driven on that part of I-85 in SC.
3 - We've only lived in NC for just over six years and already, we have memories that flooded my mind as we drove through Greenville. Remember when...?
4 - Approximately 87% of the cars that were moving along in a 'dangerously unique' manner had drivers talking on their cell phones. Just saying.
5 - It just feels much hotter in SC. Closer to the equator, I guess.
6 - Lots of unmarked police cars out there. Glad I was law-abiding for the most part today.
7 - The cruise control on my truck fares a bit better on hills than does that same tool on my van. In case you wanted to know.
8 - Those Shriners. Good folk.
9 - Back to vehicles with business contact information. Here's an idea...make it legible! All I could tell is that is was some kind of company that does graphics. Not the best advertising when you can't read the font even stopped behind you at a red light.
10 - What is it about driving? Nearly five hours today doing nothing but steering the van and the first thing I wanted to do when I got home...take a nap.
1 - I saw a vehicle with its business name and contact information plastered all over it. Odd thing is that it was called 'Highway 801 Towing'. Isn't that a bit limiting of a business name to have? I'm not sure to which Highway 801 it was referring, but the one near us is not too tremendously well-traveled. If that is the market you're aiming for...hmm, back to the drawing board, I'd say. Oh, and the really odd thing? It wasn't even a tow truck. It was a van. What exactly was THAT supposed to do?
2 - Thankful for a good bit of fog to hide most of the billboards about...well, you know what I mean if you've driven on that part of I-85 in SC.
3 - We've only lived in NC for just over six years and already, we have memories that flooded my mind as we drove through Greenville. Remember when...?
4 - Approximately 87% of the cars that were moving along in a 'dangerously unique' manner had drivers talking on their cell phones. Just saying.
5 - It just feels much hotter in SC. Closer to the equator, I guess.
6 - Lots of unmarked police cars out there. Glad I was law-abiding for the most part today.
7 - The cruise control on my truck fares a bit better on hills than does that same tool on my van. In case you wanted to know.
8 - Those Shriners. Good folk.
9 - Back to vehicles with business contact information. Here's an idea...make it legible! All I could tell is that is was some kind of company that does graphics. Not the best advertising when you can't read the font even stopped behind you at a red light.
10 - What is it about driving? Nearly five hours today doing nothing but steering the van and the first thing I wanted to do when I got home...take a nap.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Why We Don't Watch TV
We don't watch television. When I say "we", I am referring to the collection of Bowers that reside at our little abode in Mooresville, NC. And when I say "don't watch television", it is not a set up and an attention-getting way of really saying that 'we experience it!' or 'we let it watch us' or something cutesie like that. No, it means just that. We don't watch it.
There are many reason for this, I suppose. First, our TV set is broken. Second, that whole digital changeover thing caught us. And, then, well, we never really missed it. Here's how I would describe the journey we've been on.
I realized a few months ago that we hadn't watched much TV for a while. Maybe it was the beautiful weather that the spring months around here supply. Maybe it was the busy season we were in. Maybe it was the new and different activities we were experiencing (watching your one-year old doing new 'firsts' all the time...what could be more entertaining?!). Whatever it was, we just were not engaged in flipping on the tube. Then early June arrived.
We were in the process of reviving the 'we're moving soon' routine again. Get boxes. Load up boxes. Move boxes around to make room for more...boxes. One evening, Jace and I were downstairs while Sarah and the girls were upstairs getting cleaned up and ready for the night with William already enjoying his sleep. With a little bit of slight exhaustion and a fair amount of laziness, I decided to watch some NBA Finals with my son. You know...bonding. But before we could get to grunting and high-five-ing, we found out that all we had when we turned the TV on was fuzz. I figured it was a station thing and began wondering how they could allow such a mistake to happen. When all the other channels showed the same thing, I thought maybe a wire was loose or something. But we finally came upon a station that was airing a special program. It was explaining the digital change that had recently been made to all the television programming in our little neck of the woods known as (what...USA?, North America, the world? I have no clue how far-reaching this this is).
Months ago, I had remembered some announcement about the soon-coming change (whatever happened to February 2009?). I was told that if you had purchased your TV set in the last couple of years (which we had), it would most likely be fine for use after the change. So I didn't think much of it. In the back of my mind, I knew February had come and gone and I thought we were safe. Guess not.
No big deal, though. Get a converter box and we're back in business. With the soon-coming move nearly upon us, I decided to wait until we got settled in to our new home and then deal with it. Now on to reason #1 above.
Have you ever had one of those surreal moments that just kind of lingers with you? Something is going on and you see it happen in slow-motion and there's nothing you can do? Well, that was me a few days after we moved in. We have decided to make our garage into a family/homeschool/'other' room. And that includes keeping the TV there. Long story short, I REALLY thought I was moving both the TV and the base upon which it sets forward a tad in order to finalize the wiring and set up in the back. A slight shove forward confirmed that this was NOT the case. TV went forward, base did not. Gravity took over from there. In the longest split-second in my life that afforded me the opportunity to grasp at every conceivable wire protruding from various electronic devices, the TV met the floor. I was expecting a crash, a shatter and a hurried command to all within the household to 'not walk near that' with bare feet for a while until all was cleaned up.
Well, there was no shatter. Even the case of the TV just looked slightly off. But off enough, it was. Subsequent attempts at using the TV have proven that it is most likely ready for the grave. (I will be hanging on to it and checking every now and then, you know, just in case...).
But I am pleased to announce that in the midst of all this 'can-you-believe-it' activity, we have not missed TV viewing in the least. Granted, we never watched much anyway. And we had no regular programs that were must-see for us. But I can honestly say that we don't miss it. Kinda' wish something like this would have happened earlier, in fact. We had always known that we didn't watch much, and had always desired to even watch less than the little that we did, but we just never did much about it.
Let's see, I usually try to watch the MLB All-Star game, but survived just fine. We would watch PBS occasionally for various offerings they supplied, but our brain cells haven't fried and we have more than filled the time with other options. And then there was...well, like I said, we never watched much anyway. Admittedly, you may want to check back when football season is in full swing as I tried to watch a little bit of a game here or there (again, a lot less with the Vikings not being on to tempt me). But by this time, we've got so many other options, that your accountability check-in to see how I'm doing come mid-October may be greeted with a puzzled response of "what do you mean 'am I missing it?'...missing what?".
Now, if you will excuse me, we've got some family corn-shucking to do for dinner before we ride our bikes to the tennis courts and get some exercise together.
There are many reason for this, I suppose. First, our TV set is broken. Second, that whole digital changeover thing caught us. And, then, well, we never really missed it. Here's how I would describe the journey we've been on.
I realized a few months ago that we hadn't watched much TV for a while. Maybe it was the beautiful weather that the spring months around here supply. Maybe it was the busy season we were in. Maybe it was the new and different activities we were experiencing (watching your one-year old doing new 'firsts' all the time...what could be more entertaining?!). Whatever it was, we just were not engaged in flipping on the tube. Then early June arrived.
We were in the process of reviving the 'we're moving soon' routine again. Get boxes. Load up boxes. Move boxes around to make room for more...boxes. One evening, Jace and I were downstairs while Sarah and the girls were upstairs getting cleaned up and ready for the night with William already enjoying his sleep. With a little bit of slight exhaustion and a fair amount of laziness, I decided to watch some NBA Finals with my son. You know...bonding. But before we could get to grunting and high-five-ing, we found out that all we had when we turned the TV on was fuzz. I figured it was a station thing and began wondering how they could allow such a mistake to happen. When all the other channels showed the same thing, I thought maybe a wire was loose or something. But we finally came upon a station that was airing a special program. It was explaining the digital change that had recently been made to all the television programming in our little neck of the woods known as (what...USA?, North America, the world? I have no clue how far-reaching this this is).
Months ago, I had remembered some announcement about the soon-coming change (whatever happened to February 2009?). I was told that if you had purchased your TV set in the last couple of years (which we had), it would most likely be fine for use after the change. So I didn't think much of it. In the back of my mind, I knew February had come and gone and I thought we were safe. Guess not.
No big deal, though. Get a converter box and we're back in business. With the soon-coming move nearly upon us, I decided to wait until we got settled in to our new home and then deal with it. Now on to reason #1 above.
Have you ever had one of those surreal moments that just kind of lingers with you? Something is going on and you see it happen in slow-motion and there's nothing you can do? Well, that was me a few days after we moved in. We have decided to make our garage into a family/homeschool/'other' room. And that includes keeping the TV there. Long story short, I REALLY thought I was moving both the TV and the base upon which it sets forward a tad in order to finalize the wiring and set up in the back. A slight shove forward confirmed that this was NOT the case. TV went forward, base did not. Gravity took over from there. In the longest split-second in my life that afforded me the opportunity to grasp at every conceivable wire protruding from various electronic devices, the TV met the floor. I was expecting a crash, a shatter and a hurried command to all within the household to 'not walk near that' with bare feet for a while until all was cleaned up.
Well, there was no shatter. Even the case of the TV just looked slightly off. But off enough, it was. Subsequent attempts at using the TV have proven that it is most likely ready for the grave. (I will be hanging on to it and checking every now and then, you know, just in case...).
But I am pleased to announce that in the midst of all this 'can-you-believe-it' activity, we have not missed TV viewing in the least. Granted, we never watched much anyway. And we had no regular programs that were must-see for us. But I can honestly say that we don't miss it. Kinda' wish something like this would have happened earlier, in fact. We had always known that we didn't watch much, and had always desired to even watch less than the little that we did, but we just never did much about it.
Let's see, I usually try to watch the MLB All-Star game, but survived just fine. We would watch PBS occasionally for various offerings they supplied, but our brain cells haven't fried and we have more than filled the time with other options. And then there was...well, like I said, we never watched much anyway. Admittedly, you may want to check back when football season is in full swing as I tried to watch a little bit of a game here or there (again, a lot less with the Vikings not being on to tempt me). But by this time, we've got so many other options, that your accountability check-in to see how I'm doing come mid-October may be greeted with a puzzled response of "what do you mean 'am I missing it?'...missing what?".
Now, if you will excuse me, we've got some family corn-shucking to do for dinner before we ride our bikes to the tennis courts and get some exercise together.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Pleasant Interruption
Working, I was.
Just sitting there at my desk today going over the training agenda that I was planning and formulating. And then I would practice on that which I was going to train. And then again. And again.
Before I knew it, a couple of hours had passed. It felt good to get some breathing room in the training formulating portion of my to-do list and agenda for the day. And I appreciated it because it is the type of work that I can do with some soft music playing in the background. Volume down. Lots of instrumental.
Then a song came along that made me stop what I was doing for a bit. It was a version of the song "At Calvary". As the sounds of the refrain came across my ears, I couldn't help but sing the words in my mind.
Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty;
At Calvary.
I was instantly overwhelmed with the truth of what happened at the place called Calvary so many years ago. It still has a great impact on everything about me. I, sluggard soul that I am, was a recipient of God's abundant and amazing grace. He initiated a transaction with me that is far beyond anything that the most creative mind could ever think up, the most loving heart could ever extend, and the strongest will could ever accomplish.
I even verbally had to just stop and say to myself, "My sins are forgiven. I have been set free!"
Great mercy!
Free grace!
Multiplied pardon!
Liberated soul!
If you were to have been in my office throughout the rest of the day, you may have very well heard me whistling this very tune. And my heart and soul were indeed energized by this most pleasant interruption to the day.
I quickly returned to the tasks at hand. But with a zeal and confidence in things eternal. I invite you to likewise be in awe as I close with verse four:
Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span
At Calvary!
Just sitting there at my desk today going over the training agenda that I was planning and formulating. And then I would practice on that which I was going to train. And then again. And again.
Before I knew it, a couple of hours had passed. It felt good to get some breathing room in the training formulating portion of my to-do list and agenda for the day. And I appreciated it because it is the type of work that I can do with some soft music playing in the background. Volume down. Lots of instrumental.
Then a song came along that made me stop what I was doing for a bit. It was a version of the song "At Calvary". As the sounds of the refrain came across my ears, I couldn't help but sing the words in my mind.
Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty;
At Calvary.
I was instantly overwhelmed with the truth of what happened at the place called Calvary so many years ago. It still has a great impact on everything about me. I, sluggard soul that I am, was a recipient of God's abundant and amazing grace. He initiated a transaction with me that is far beyond anything that the most creative mind could ever think up, the most loving heart could ever extend, and the strongest will could ever accomplish.
I even verbally had to just stop and say to myself, "My sins are forgiven. I have been set free!"
Great mercy!
Free grace!
Multiplied pardon!
Liberated soul!
If you were to have been in my office throughout the rest of the day, you may have very well heard me whistling this very tune. And my heart and soul were indeed energized by this most pleasant interruption to the day.
I quickly returned to the tasks at hand. But with a zeal and confidence in things eternal. I invite you to likewise be in awe as I close with verse four:
Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span
At Calvary!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Inspiring Calculations
An insightful and yet somewhat troubling discussion was had around the lunch table this fine day. Sarah was enjoying herself at a bridal shower (congrats to Michelle and Justin!) and the four kids and I were munching away at various goodies. (Yes, my children understand my propensity to answer 'yeah, sure' when asked about including different food items outside the norm...popcorn, canned fruit, etc).
Then the question came. We were anticipating the celebration that we were to attend that very afternoon. Five youth from our church were graduating from high school and for the first time in quite a while (and a first for the kids), we were going to be there to experience it. As we discussed the responsible step that these young ladies and man were taking, the children quickly gathered that they too would someday have the same privilege, Lord willing. And then somebody who had math on their mind asked the obvious "how long until I get to...?"
Luckily, I believe it was Celia and so we started there. Twelve years. Sounds safe. William? Let's say seventeen. But as we moved the other direction, reality started settling in a bit. Nine years for Priscilla and seven years for Jace, perhaps? That is starting to get a bit closer. But schooling at Pilgrim's Ford Academy is like a well-oiled machine, right? Well, I guess the next seven years plus will show us whether that is true or not. But the discussion didn't stop there.
On the way home, math was still on somebody's mind, for the calculations turned to marriage and starting families. We have created the habit of solving simple math problems with 'real life' examples. Like, when Priscilla is eighteen (and supposedly graduating from high school), how old will you (Celia) be? And yes, there are answers for these questions. And yes, they know them. And yes, they can come up with more. So they quickly figured out how many nieces and nephews will be there for little William's graduation!
But it is the numbers attached to me that brought some unique motivation. When William graduates from high school, I will be 57 years old! I have been thinking the last week or so about getting back into a more consistent pattern of exercising. That short discussion in the van alone served as inspiration aplenty for just that purpose. And then there will be weddings and grandchildren after that!!!
See you in the exercise room bright, early and often...
Then the question came. We were anticipating the celebration that we were to attend that very afternoon. Five youth from our church were graduating from high school and for the first time in quite a while (and a first for the kids), we were going to be there to experience it. As we discussed the responsible step that these young ladies and man were taking, the children quickly gathered that they too would someday have the same privilege, Lord willing. And then somebody who had math on their mind asked the obvious "how long until I get to...?"
Luckily, I believe it was Celia and so we started there. Twelve years. Sounds safe. William? Let's say seventeen. But as we moved the other direction, reality started settling in a bit. Nine years for Priscilla and seven years for Jace, perhaps? That is starting to get a bit closer. But schooling at Pilgrim's Ford Academy is like a well-oiled machine, right? Well, I guess the next seven years plus will show us whether that is true or not. But the discussion didn't stop there.
On the way home, math was still on somebody's mind, for the calculations turned to marriage and starting families. We have created the habit of solving simple math problems with 'real life' examples. Like, when Priscilla is eighteen (and supposedly graduating from high school), how old will you (Celia) be? And yes, there are answers for these questions. And yes, they know them. And yes, they can come up with more. So they quickly figured out how many nieces and nephews will be there for little William's graduation!
But it is the numbers attached to me that brought some unique motivation. When William graduates from high school, I will be 57 years old! I have been thinking the last week or so about getting back into a more consistent pattern of exercising. That short discussion in the van alone served as inspiration aplenty for just that purpose. And then there will be weddings and grandchildren after that!!!
See you in the exercise room bright, early and often...
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