Anniversary

Two years ago today we sold our little house in the Blue Ridge Mountains and headed for the Lone Star State. It is a bittersweet anniversary. It was such a hard thing to say goodbye to my own "little house in the big woods". Having moved so much as a child, I had lived in the same town for over a decade, and in the same house for almost seven years. This was a huge thing to step away from, and continues to be to this day.
This past weekend two young people that I love dearly had their graduations and we weren't there to celebrate with them. Heart wrenching really, but unproductive to dwell on. Life has always had markers - times of happiness and times of pain. In each season, God's faithfulness to us has been the prevailing theme. Even during this time of feeling very isolated from those that I hold so dear - wondering if they remember that their places in our hearts are secure even if our seats at the dinner table, the party, the restaurant, the road trips are otherwise occupied for this season.

Interesting that this is Memorial Day as well. We arrived in Texas in the wee hours of the morning on Memorial Day. While it is a military holiday, it is also a marked memorial in our personal lives. I'm reposting this video of some fun times during our first visit home with our friends - just cause I'm missing them today. We really don't know how to say goodbye - so we just won't - ever!

Just Around the Corner

Today is the one year anniversary of the day that we bought our house in small town, Texas. Pretty hard to believe in some ways, and in others it seems as if we've been here forever. Tonight we are having an impromptu gathering of friends to celebrate anniversary with us. It will also help us not be sad that we are missing the BIG Night where all our WV friends will be worshiping together tomorrow night and one of our favorite bands Sunday Obsession will be playing! (Go ahead and click over and give them a listen! I've known these guys since they were pretty small - and I am so proud of the awesome young men they are becoming!)
Speaking of our small town - I wanted to share two interesting things I have noticed about it with you. As you would expect, there are a lot of cattle and ranches here in this part of Texas. I have been noticing an interesting phenomenon lately about the grazing cattle - often times, now becoming more of a rule than an exception, you will see a duck sitting at the feet. I took these pictures yesterday at several different ranches so you could see what I mean:



Okay the last one I just threw in cause I thought she was beautiful.

And another interesting thing to share was this sign from a local cemetery. I have wondered what this could mean that burial is prohibited without permission? Freaky.
Life in a small town is interesting indeed. There are things I really love about it and some things that take some getting used to. This past year has been a year of very high highs and extremely low lows. Bracing myself for year two!

Sad Anniversary

Can I be a little controversial? I know how tragic the loss was on September 11th, 2001. It was a terrible day that none of us will soon forget - of unbelievable proportions. I know we should continue with reverence and love to remember those that are lost. For those who had loved ones that lost their lives on that day, how could they ever forget? What I wonder at is the tributes that seem to be turning into an annual funeral, and how healthy it is for people to have this event as an emotional axis for their lives. Instead of a memorial, it has become a yearly mass scab removal. I wonder how healing will ever take place for these families that make the pilgrimage to Ground Zero every year.
I have never had a loss quite as shocking as the loss of loved ones at the hands of terrorists. I am not sure if there is maybe a piece that I am missing experientially to be able to fully identify with what these who have been left behind need - perhaps an annual opportunity to gather together with others who experienced the same loss and grieve together is a very important part of that healing. I lost my grandparents 16 years ago when I was pregnant with my oldest daughter - both very suddenly and 3 days apart. I miss them. Sometimes it makes me cry and sometimes I want to talk about them and remember their lives, but I know that it would finish me off if we had to relive their funeral every year on the anniversary of their deaths. In my heart I memorialize them. They live on in me and I will never forget, but in order to continue to live, my life could not be engulfed by their deaths.
I am concerned that these families will get stuck where evil touched their lives, and that the lives of those who were lost that day will pale in comparison to how they died.

Me and the Man

Tomorrow is the 19th year anniversary of the day I met my husband, and the 16th year anniversary of the day we got married. Last night he took me out on a date to a really awesome mexican restaurant. We have been having a rough time over the last year and a half since we moved, and at times it seems to be a make it or break it situation. I am so thankful that the Lord has been doing a lot of work between us, and happy to report that I think against all odds we may just make it! Last night was the best date ever. Nothing extraordinary - just great food, uninterrupted conversation, an opportunity to pay attention to each other sitting in a quiet little half circle booth in a nice, quiet atmosphere with somebody else bringing hot food and refilling our drinks.
The girls thought we looked so cute together that they wanted to snap a picture of us before we left. I am so glad they did, because this is by far THE best picture we've ever had taken together. I was going to make a scrapbook page with this picture before its unveiling - but I just couldn't wait to share it with you.
I know that all odds were stacked against us when we met - with him being an island unto himself, and my desire to tuck tail and run everytime things get hard. I am happy to report that I think marriage is worth the trouble. I love this guy - and I think I just might marry him again.
Happy Anniversary Travis! I love you.

Belated Blog-iversary to Me!

Yesterday marked my TWO YEAR blog-iversary! I cannot believe it has been two years since I started blogging. There have been bumps and starts along the way - but blogging has enriched my life so much. Here is a link to my first ever post - which originally appeared on my Homeschoolblogger blog. I originally started blogging to put down some of my feelings about the long distance move our family was about to make - and it grew to so much more. Thanks to all of you who stop by here - whether you comment or not, and share a little bit of my life with me.
Maybe you'd like to leave a quick comment here - even if you never have - just to commemorate the occasion! It'd give me a huge thrill to see those comment numbers rise. Thanks for sharing whatever part of these two years with me!
With love,
Julie

Sad Anniversary

One year ago today my father-in-law passed away. I was wondering about that this morning - if these year markers in heaven are like a birthday. It has been a difficult year for my mother-in-law. She told me yesterday that she was thinking that for a whole year she hadn't been able to talk to him. I feel sad for her. We are headed to meet up with her and my sister-in-law and to put flowers on his grave. In heaven I wonder if he cares about such things as flowers, or if he truly understands the temporary state of all that this earth has to offer. We will do it anyway to honor his memory and to stand beside my mother-in-law, because of love.

Weddings and Anniversaries!

Today is my anniversary! Seventeen years together is a long time. I was thinking about it the other day - next year, my husband and I will have been together for more than half of my life, and the year after that and forevermore, it will always be more than half of my life. I can remember my childhood, but in my heart, there doesn't seem to be a time when he was ever not "with me" in a sense. When we were younger and still dating, we broke up for a time, and I went through a family crisis - and even though it was awkward, I pulled my car up outside the apartment building where he was living and he came out and talked to me for a long time. I needed to talk to him - nobody else would do - because he was my BEST FRIEND.

Our marriage has had some rough spots - at times like coarse grain sandpaper snagging silk. Within the last couple of years, we have been going through some tremendous growing pains, but I have learned that he really is my best friend. He is the person I want to share everything with. I think that is why it can be so hard when there is a marriage disconnect, because the very person causing the hurt is the one you most need to lean on in the hurt. I am so thankful for the work I see God doing between the two of us - it truly is a miracle. I will celebrate that this day!

This afternoon my cousin David gets married to his long-time girlfriend Jen - and we are going to the wedding. What an appropriate anniversary day activity - celebrating the union of another couple. I hope that in seventeen years, they will be able to say that their relationship is everything that God meant it to be.

Happy Anniversary Travis! Happy Anniversary to Me!

Golden Year Tribute

Bill and Myrtice Forsythe

Sainted Parents of Travis Gifford Forsythe!!!

This is quite a major accomplishment to be married in this day and age to the same person for 50 years! But if you knew my mother and father-in-law you would not expect anything else. Bill and Myrtice are both native Texans, and in my perspective two of the most kindhearted people you could ever hope to meet. The first time I met them, Travis took me to their house. Myrtice opened the door, grabbed my arm to pull me in so I could give her a hug, and I promptly stepped on her foot! Seconds later I did the same exact routine with my father-in-law. I am sure they thought me quite refined and delicate!

In June these two special people celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. One of the things I look forward to the very most is being able to celebrate this milestone with them when we get to Texas.

Here is a picture of their 50th anniversary with an inset of their engagement photo.


I am so thankful to have people in my life who have shown me what marriage means - a lifelong commitment. The world around us doesn't have many examples of this. (applause, whistles, cheers!!)

When I was younger, even before I was a member of their family they always treated me like one. I did not grow up in the easy, laid back way that is so natural to them. (I am still hoping it might rub off!) But they always put up with me when they visited. I can't speak for them, but over the years, they've grown into their very own place in my heart, and I love them. The last time they came to see us, I knew this was true, because as they pulled out of our driveway in their RV, I could not hold back the tears.

God bless you Bill and Myrtice on your golden anniversary!