We were home the WHOLE month of December and it was good.
We continued walking five miles a day, praying for snow, and preparing for our family Christmas reunion: the first one in New England since 2015 and the first all being together for Christmas since 2019.
We had very high expectations.
Ministry events in December included Engagement Matters, the Patriots women’s study, and LOTS of counseling, but that left plenty of time for decorating the house inside and out, getting together with friends, wrapping and sending packages, sewing Christmas jammies, making gingerbread houses, and preparing for our long-awaited reunion which was to commence the 22nd of December.
Since my last post on Dec. 27, we’ve only been home eight days.
Maybe that contributes to me forgetting that when I last wrote, my reflections ended with Engagement Matters (EM), which was held Dec. 4–5, and not after Christmas, which the blog post date would indicate.
Whatever the reasons, before I write about our most recent last three weeks—which literally took us to the four corners of our great nation—we must finish December. Strangely, that seems SO long ago already. But what fun to sift back through my December photo library and have many sweet memories surface.
It happened.
The “decades birthday-family reunion” celebration, postponed for a full year, is now in the books, but even more deeply, in our hearts.
It was uncertain until an hour before the six flying from Oakland were to depart due to two lost Covid tests, but mercifully, new tests were done at 6 am, the results of which were registered less than 60 minutes prior to boarding.
The trip was on.
It was a sweltering summer day in Louisiana. My 8-year-old self stood in the kitchen of my paternal grandparents’ home in Shreveport, watching with fascination as Grandma Collins stirred the hot pot of boiling figs, on their way to becoming preserves. With sweat running down her brow, just beneath the thin brown elastic that kept her hair net in place over her thinning curly hair, she turned to me and said, “You know, Virginia, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” With that piece of wisdom pronounced, she simultaneously clicked her cheek and winked her eye at her wide-eyed granddaughter, leaving an unforgettable impression.
My plans to write “Part 2” have been derailed by the maelstrom of craziness driven by the Coronavirus Pandemic. I’m taking a break from all Coronavirus talk to take us back a month ago, when "Life as We Always Knew It” was all we really knew. What a difference a month has made!!
After speaking in Maine for the Valentine’s event, we flew to California for the annual ProAthletes Outreach “Increase” conference, which we fronted by spending two days with my dear mama. As per usual, I “made" her go on a field trip each day because getting out is good for everyone. Off to Coronado we went for Paul to get his every 4–6 week haircut by his favorite barber, and while he was getting shorn, my mom and I rolled through town. This photo was taken by accidental tourists, who just happened to be from Lexington, MA!! Small world moment. The time with my mom is never enough but we’re always so grateful for any time we have with her.
Our very full speaking schedule picked up after having one weekend “home” in February (the 16-18th), and the past month has seen us in North Carolina, Oahu, Pennsylvania, and Boston. Whew! We’re thankful for so many great opportunities and continue to be so grateful for good health and an ever deepening passion to continue encouraging marriages and families.
“Rejoice always!” (I Thessalonians 5:16)
Always? Wow! That’s a lot!!
Some days that’s harder than others.
Like after returning from our ministry tour in the frigid Pacific NW in January, we tried to coax our hot water heater to come off vacation but to no avail. Apparently being on vacation was to be a permanent destination, so three days later, after no hot water (which greatly impacted our plans to begin our baking marathon in anticipation of the HIM marriage conference the following weekend), and $3500 less in our till, the new water heater was installed and we were back in business.
But that was followed by spending 5 hours the next day at the SS Administration (and leaving with the job not finished) and 2 hours at the DMV getting new licenses and registering our cars.
Some days it’s harder to rejoice than others.
"Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.” —Jim Elliot
These wise words from Jim Elliot have taken on an even deeper meaning over these past two months as we’ve transitioned from a 32-year history of living in the Boston area to our new address in Fairfax, VA. Since making the move on August 20, we’ve actually spent less than 4 weeks in Fairfax and those days have been largely dedicated to unpacking and settling in. We don’t yet have a good answer to “how do you like living in Fairfax?” . . . but we are “living to the hilt, believing we’re absolutely in the will of God.
After returning from our friend’s retirement from the US Navy in early June, we happily attended another dear friend’s wedding. I don’t know what’s more thrilling than mentoring an eager young Christ follower whose love for Jesus compels her to truly walk her talk, but that’s been my joy for the past 7 years with Lauren Olson. We’ve walked through thick and thin together as I’ve witnessed her growth in Christlikeness, so it was a privilege to celebrate with her and Dan Elliott as they covenanted before the Lord to have a marriage that honors Him. Everything about their day was beautifully appointed, from the gospel-centered service, to the incredible ambience of the reception held at Wentworth by the Sea. The surprise in the middle was an appearance by “Wally" the Red Sox mascot who entertained the guests by dancing with Lauren to “Sweet Caroline” as well as a number from the Dropkick Murphys. It was a joy-filled, honoring day and we were so happy to be part of the well-wishers.
Roses, Rancho, Rosemary, Retirement . . .
That’s a lot of “R’s”!
It’s been quite a month as we’ve trekked from Massachusetts to California to Mexico to Massachusetts to California to Virginia to Massachusetts.
We’ve been on the move and are catching up with ourselves as we spend a few days in Bedford before we return to California next week.
The beginning of this trip found us in Granite Bay, California, presenting a workshop for Bayside’s Thrive Conference. After having missed three Thrives due to covid restrictions (2020 and 2021) and a scheduling conflict (2022), it was a delight to be back at that very energetic, alive conference where we were feted with great teaching, inspiring worship, and encouraging fellowship. A bonus was getting to spend time with a number of very dear friends and we left after three days with full hearts and tired bodies.
Though usually dashing to and from airports, we had an usually quiet traveling month after Sarasota and before Kauai, so we found ourselves filling the “dash” with counseling (over 25 appointments), making a site visit to next year’s HIM marriage conference venue (since our usual hotel will be closed due to renovations), attending church 3 weeks in a row (!), doing two podcasts, going to 2 movies (“80 for Brady” and “The Jesus Revolution”—loved them both!), visiting friends who are challenged with medical issues, celebrating with others, and attending a funeral. Besides all of these relational interactions, we had some medical appointments and tended to some housekeeping needs.
It was a very good month. There’s no place like home.
