Time with a friend...

 who always has spoken truth in the good times and in the hard times.  We met when our chair-fillers were little.  She has been a friend for over twenty years now!  I told her last night, "Your home makes me happy...and the signs displayed speak truth."

We can be laughing and then crying in the next breath as we share life.  I spied a few Kari gifts in her decor.  Her collection of milk glass is used for all the things.

Her happiness comes out in pops of color sprinkled throughout her home.

Even in the dark...we can walk by faith!  

Love displayed in all forms...

and touches of her sweet Momma all around each room.  She is praying for my Momma...and my family.

My friend...creative, cozy, compassionate, crazy, cheery, coffee lover, caring, crafty....and now a plant lady too!  "Look at you...everything is thriving and looks so nice."  She nervous laughed..."I'm trying...wait...is it raining out...why is the sidewalk wet...ohhhhh, I left the hose on...hold on, I gotta turn that off...I can't believe I left it running.  My garden will be happy."  And we re-entered our conversation like nothing steered us off course.  "You know...I know you know."

My fun friend willingly shares time and life with me even across the miles...and she pours into our first two chair-fillers and I just love that!  

Counting my blessings this morning as I watch the clock tick toward Mom's appointment time with the oncology team in Orlando!  "God is in control, Kari, and He loves your parents."

Find a friend like this...who knows the God of all creation and calls Him "Father"!

Meanwhile in Michigan

Ted made more progress on the prep for the patio.  

 

Adventures of K and K

Mom taking care of business!  Look at her go with technology!

I almost had to use the packaging tape to confine her to the chair and rest her back.  Our agreement...I would bring baskets to her to sort through and pack.

Visits with friends...

A lunch date with Uncle Jon to Beef-A-Roo....

Cleaning up and cleaning out...

Sharing memories and laughs...

Wednesday's outing...to return the I-Pass. 

From the midwest...to the south...

How to wrap a big mirror and picture...use what you have.  It isn't pretty but it will get the job done...I hope!  A big blessing as Fed Ex did their job well and delivered our special envelope today.  We are grateful for God's finger on that detail!

99 degrees in Loves Park, IL today with a feels like 116 degrees and dew point of 80 degrees...all training for our bodies to get ready for Florida temps!  We are looking ahead to Friday and Saturday.  God is cooling off the temps just in time to load the truck!  Another blessing.  Now it is time to pray our travelers here to Illinois safely over the next two days.

When the waves crash...

 I always pause to watch their power and listen to the rhythm as they break on the shore.  

I scrolled through pictures and saw a memory from a few years ago when Mari and I took a sister trip over to Lake Michigan.  I had taken this picture and it was the perfect one to go with the thoughts that woke me up before five o'clock this morning.  Mom had shared this song a week or two ago with me.  Dad said to me last night, "All is well...all will be well."  I got up and spent time reading the words and listening to some music to still the crashing that is in my heart and mind.

When peace like a river, attendeth my way                                                                                                        When sorrows like sea billows roll

Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say

It is well, it is well, with my soul

It is well
With my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come
Let this blest assurance control
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate
And hath shed His own blood for my soul

It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul!

It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul

Dad's words from chapel in June came tumbling back into my heart.  He started in Philippians 4 with how we think, "My thoughts are reflected in my demeanor.  My thoughts come out in my actions, words, and attitudes.  Did you forget that God was right there with you?  No matter where we are or what we are doing, we are in God's presence."  Ever since that challenge, I have been thinking about how I am dealing with life...my first gut reaction or my first knee jerk response...and it has been convicting!  I say I believe God is in control...but when it comes to the reflecting of Christ in me the hope of glory...when life gets hard or busy or stressful... 

"All will be well because He is with us and He is in me.  In times of distress, you cannot draw away from His presence...but rather draw near to Him.  All must be well."

And that is where we find ourselves...the waves are crashing!   But the Master once again is speaking "Peace!" to my heart.  I know what He has done in the past and I will trust Him for the future.  I know that the waves will not stop crashing!  I know that I can stand and observe the waves' power now, knowing that my God is all powerful, all knowing, everywhere, and unchanging.  He can speak peace in the rhythm and the power of the crashing waves as they break on the shore of my life...and on the lives of my Dad and Mom.  For my whole life, we have repeated the words to this song...but the impact of the words is hitting the shore of my life with greater power...

It Is Well...With My Soul!

Packin' Progress

Rough night of sleep calls for a nap after a visit to the chiropractor and some breakfast!  It was a yummy breakfast bake I put together using some of what Mom had in the fridge.  We are committed to eating what is there.

We ran a few important errands.  There goes the last pieces of the puzzle of this move.  We prayed for this envelope to safely make its way to MV.  We have a tracking number...but we have a God who has been in control of the details of this move and we will seek His help in every detail.

I was the chauffeur and Mom was able to ride and take care of a call.  And yes...I have two pairs of glasses on my head...I just noticed.  Nice!

I started packing up the kitchen.  Mom wanted to help after resting.  I told her she had to sit and not bend or lift.  "Yes, mam...at least let me wrap stuff up for you."

It worked well.

And this is how I contained her...stacking heavy boxes around her!  Ha ha ha.  We listened to music and chatted as we got all the things distributed into boxes trying to not make them so heavy.

We had a visit by someone buying something off Facebook marketplace and a neighbor getting a couch.  To top off the evening, we had a visit from a special friend who laughed, chatted, and cried with us.  God gives us what we need when we need it!
 

The reason for trippin'

Early morning coffee...sitting and chatting.  Late morning breakfast as we got busy sorting and packing.  Mom is moving south where it is warm!  She has worked so hard and her sciatic is hurting her.  There is not much packing left, but there are things to take care of, so we made our list.  Closing begins on Friday for us and finishes on Monday for the buyer.  We will pack the truck on Saturday, August 26, and begin the trip to Sebring, Florida.

While the guys did the heavy lifting in the garage, I got to play with the little girlies.  I think it was the longest amount of time for me to ever touch/hold a fake snake ever!  We took a tricycle ride down to the corner and noticed EVERY thing as she pedaled.  Oh the reminders of life with littles brought tears to my eyes!  "The days are long but the years are short!"

Taking time to slow down and talk.  There is so much energy in little ones...we forget!

Ted left me in Illinois and he headed back to Michigan on Sunday to finish another week of work and projects before he gets on the train to come back on Friday, August 25.  We prayed him home and monitored his progress.  God gave clear roads and safe travel for a short five and a half hours.

Mom was able to ice and rest most of the day...which was terribly needed!

I did a coffee and donut run.  I was so excited for yummy coffee with cream...and SOOOOO disappointed that the inside DID NOT match the outside.  So for the second time...Rockford DD let me down in a big way!  How hard is it to be diligent in your job and READ the order?  Details matter!

I did an Aldi run for Mom and I got some half and half later.  All is good now.

And Alisa helped Dad when he got home!  My heart is full of how God is taking care of the things that we are concerned about...and it has been a reminder that nothing is too small for Him to overee for us.  How often do we remember to ask for His help and wisdom in our average day to day living?
 

Trippin' together for twenty-five years!

 We took care of some responsibilities and then got on the road by 12:10pm.  Our goal was to leave at 12pm, but we ran into a couple snags that made us have to slow down.  I stood and thought, "All obstacles are brought for reasons.  God has a reason, don't get frustrated."  Ten minutes is not that big of a deal in the bigger picture!  And a lot can happen in 10 minutes!  "We are not bound to time frames today and the whole trip may be filled this."  If we have learned anything...we can have our plan or plans...A, B, C, or Z...but God has plans as well!

God gave us safety in travel again with minimal slow downs.  We talked and listened to music and a podcast and talked.  It was a fun date day for our anniversary!  We have been doing all sorts of things for our anniversary through the years.  I did mention I would need ice cream at some point, so we stopped and got a DQ cake to share with family who was coming for supper.

It was a gorgeous day to be outside!  Uncle Ted was a hit!

Catching up with the family was a fun way to spend a Friday night.

After 25 years...we still love each other!

Ted: Do you love me?

Kari:  Do I what?

Ted:  Do you love me?

 

Kari:  Do I love you?

With our children moving on

And this trouble in the country...

You're upset, you're worn out

Go inside, go lie down!

Ted:  Maybe it's indigestion. But I'm asking you a question...Do you love me?

Kari:  You're a fool

Ted:  "I know...But do you love me?

Kari:  Do I love you?

For twenty-five years I've washed your clothes

Cooked your meals, cleaned your house

Given you children, mowed the lawn

After twenty-five years, why talk about love right now?

Kari: The first time I met you

Was at a church one day

I was scared

Ted:  I was not shy

                                                                        Kari:  I was nervous                                                                           Ted:  So was I

But our fathers and our mothers

Said we'd learn to love each other

And now I'm asking, Kari

Do you love me?

Kari:  I'm your wife

Ted:  "I know..."

But do you love me?

Kari:  Do I love him?

For twenty-five years I've lived with him

Fought him, starved with him

Twenty-five years my bed is his

If that's not love, what is?

Ted:  Then you love me?

Kari:  I suppose I do

Ted:  And I suppose I love you too

Ted and Kari:  It doesn't change a thing!  But even so, after twenty-five years, It's nice to know!

So thankful for the man that God brought into my life at the time He did!  I needed a man like Ted...still do.  When we wait for God to work, He gives us what and who is best.  I could have missed it!

Happy 25th Anniversary to my love!