Enjoying Life and adjusting to death

I remember that in my first post of the new year, I was writing about all that we are looking forward to this year. Many of those things have come to pass. This past weekend Brooke graduated from High school and had a wonderful celebration. She is loved by so many and it was obvious by the great turn out to her party. Because it was memorial weekend many family members from farther away were able to come, so we celebrated her graduation with a house full of people too!! During the ceremony a speaker was sharing about this class being a movie. She said Brooke and another classmate, would be the "good guys" always standing up for what they believe in. I think that is an awesome way for her classmates to see her. You do not know how people perceive you. Obviously Brooke's classmates see that she is genuine. What an honor. I am sure that they have observed her through her struggles and tough times. They were watching to see how she would respond, when life sucks. She passed that test too!
Because of the her graduation party we realized there is something wrong with the wiring in my moms shop where the party was held. Brooke wanted taco soup, so I put everything in the roasters, My nephews wife, Lisa and my nieces husband Ryan planned on staying at our house so the little ones could nap. Lisa was going to work on getting things ready while most of the rest of us went to the graduation, I went up to show her around, the roasters were cold! So I showed her where the pans and crock pots were, and headed off to graduation, came back to find that my crock pot had almost started a fire! It had melted the cord and the bottom was so hot that the plastic legs were melted and had melted the tablecloth is was on and the wood it was setting on was black! The Lord provided one of those staying back to walk outside the shop to smell it. The crock pot had only been on about 5 minutes He(Mike)smelled something hot and this is what he found. So things changed and they had to make even different arrangements but it all worked out. Lisa and Natasha did an excellent job serving the food, and keeping things running smooth so most of the guests had no idea of the problems! An electrician is coming to look at it tomorrow! I am just frustrated with myself for forgetting the shredded cheese to put on top of the soup, all 10 pounds were still in my fridge when the party was over!! :-(

Brooke is planning on leaving on Sunday evening (after her last piano recital) to begin her summer job at camp Luz. Because of some of what she will be doing she is going early for 2 weeks of training. She is so excited. She had such a good experience last year. I hope this year is even better for her.
Brooke and I went to register for college. She is so excited for that too, -- I am scared! Christian Colleges have messed up so many young people lately with their liberal off the wall theology and values. It seems to me they are becoming to secular and taking there focus off the Bible and on to other books and theory's One of the college staff their even said "we will change your values" --that scares me!!! College did change Calebs values, and not for the better! We parents put our lives. love and values into our children and the Christian colleges can screw them up in such a short time! Sometimes I wonder if a secular college would be a better choice for our young adults, they don't expect them to teach Christianity, so our christian youth don't have as hard of a time dealing with it, But on the other hand most secular colleges think Christianity is not real anyway. tough.. tough.. (Didn't know I was going to go there!)

Caleb is now in Diamond Louisiana with Mennonite disaster service-- until July 30. He was not excited to go since he had a poor experience with this organization last summer. My Prayer is that he will have a good experience this year and not loose his faith because of those that act unchristian who call themselves Christians!! (see previous post) He graduated from Hesston College May 4. We enjoyed having him home for a few weeks, although he did head west for a week to visit a special friend. He is hoping to find a job and live in Fort Wayne Indiana with a college friend in late summer. I hope that works out for him too. He needs some positive things to happen in his life, unfortunately he has had too many negatives the last couple years.

In my New years blog I also wondered who would have their lives forever changed by death... Our neighbor and her mother were killed in a car accident in Pa on there way home from a funeral on April 17. She was in her early 60s and her mom was 90, Her Husband has not been able to go back to their place and live yet, He is staying with their daughter. They were looking at a different house because theirs was in poor condition, now he has lost his desire to pursue that, and doesn't know what he is going to do. Dave said the house would not be livable another winter. On that same day (April 17) there was another car accident just a few miles from here. Charlies (My moms late husband) daughter-in-law was in, she also died a few days later. This is a difficult situation for my family because Charlies kids are not happy with his will and trust that he made before his death, and are suing my mom and our church (mom is to have the rights to his property until her death, then it is to go to the church.) Charlies kids had little to do with him when he was alive, his daughter didn't even want her name in the obituary! Anyway I keep praying for these men as they adjust to their wives living with Jesus.

Just over a week ago our nephew Kyle who lives near Houston was in a motorcycle accident, he had road rash over most of his body, broke a toes and dislocated his shoulder. He is home but his mom went out to help him as he recuperates, He is in a wheelchair and sounds like the road rash is healing but he is very sore

This year is not even half over yet and there are good and bad things that have happened again I wonder what lies ahead for the rest of the year..
Dave is still planning on going to Mexico for a mission trip it will probably be in the fall, We have a niece getting married in Iowa October 18. We are excited for her. Dave and I will once again be great aunt and uncle. (We always new we were great:-))

I know we (Dave and I) will have some major adjustments to once again conquer. Even though the kids have been gone the last 2 summers, no one will be returning home in the fall. They are going to be moving ahead with their lives and needing their parents less and less.:-( Yes that is what we raise out kids to do, But I still love it when Jessica calls and asks me something:-). All of this is easier then burying them! I will adjust in a much shorter time. And I can still talk to them and visit them it will be great! The way life should be!! When Jessica moved out on her own she was so excited that it was hard not to be excited with her. I hope that is the way it is with the other 2 also.
Who would ever think we would pay $4.00 for gasoline? wonder what we will be paying by the end of the year?

We may not understand all His ways, but we can know Him whose ways are unfathomable! (Chuck Swindoll)

May the rest of your 2008 be great!