Letters

Dear Jonathan...
I just finished reading another book, "The Letters of Jonathan Netanyahu." Jonathan or Yonatan (Yoni) was the commander of the Israeli force that freed that hostages at the Entebbe airport in July 1976. He was the only Israeli soldier killed during the operation. He began writing letters to his friends in Israel when he was 17 and his family moved to the States for his father's job. The last letter included in the book was written to his girlfriend a couple days before he flew to Uganda. It was a fascinating book both because of what he wrote about and the way in which he wrote. He is very close with his family and does not hesitate to express to them his love and respect for both his parents and his two younger brothers. There were several passages through out his letters that really spoke to me but only one that I will share today...

"Only rarely do I count the passing days in anticipation of some future event. When you do that, you lose the meaning of the moment - today, right now - and skip over weeks of your life longing for a day to come... which is a mistake, for there is always value to the present."

And this quote in turn reminded me of Matthew 6:33-34 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

You are also a testimony to me of the importance of focusing on today. I don't want to miss out on the blessings of today by being so caught up in what is next. I don't want to take the places and people I see today for granted. I don't know how many tomorrows are out there so I am going to do my best to enjoy today to the fullest.

Thanks for continuing to challenge and encourage me.
Love you!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Jonathan... so this is really going to be a test for your memory. Mom emailed me that David and Drew took a couple of the eighth grade boys to a MBraves game last night. It reminded me of the game YEARS and YEARS ago that we went to with Todd and Lendon . I have such a clear memory of that night. It was the Jackson Mets back then. And the outing was organized by John who was the youth minister back then. We were in elementary school. I remember Todd and Lendon coming to pick us up. I remember meeting at the church parking lot and riding the vans over to the stadium on Lakeland Drive. I remember walking into the stadium. And I have a vague recollection that Bill was riding on someone's shoulders and he fell off or got dropped. I remember having lots of fun and thinking how cool we were because the big kids wanted to hang out with us!

I love seeing how the tradition continues and how David takes the initiative!!

Love you!

4th of July

Dear Jonathan... I have some really clear memories of the 4th of July picnics at Grandpa Slick's. I remember the cart rides Dan and Patrick used to give us. I remember getting George stuck in the creek at least once usually two or three times during the jeep outing. I remember the piles of bbq ribs. I remember the elaborate watermelon carvings. I remember one year when we made a blueberry/strawberry cake decorated like the American flag. I remember lots of corn. I remember playing catch or bocce ball or croquet in the side yard. I remember hiking down the creek and walking across it on a fallen tree branch. I remember the whoopee cushion. I remember homemade ice cream. I remember the heat. And I remember the feeling of family... of love and acceptance... of laughter and fun... of being home.

I can't wait to be home.

I miss you lots. Every day. Some days more than others. But I always miss you.