Aunt Linda

Tomorrow is my Aunt Linda's birthday. I miss her...

Aunt Linda loved tulips and roses. She loved collecting tea pots and vases, watching CSI and Matlock, traveling and more traveling, singing in the choir and playing the cello and piano, playing with her grandkids, and going to the beach, reading Nicholas Sparks and studying the Bible, working puzzles and playing cards. She was a cut-throat canasta player. I'll never forget the time she made me cry playing cards. Ok, the TIMES she made me cry... She didn't go easy on me. And I am glad for that. Made me stronger, :) at least I like to think that. But really, each time we got together we would play a game of canasta. And each time I was more determined to beat her. To beat the canasta saint would be... legendary. One glorious day that happened. At the beach 4 and 1/2 years ago.  It was an unexpected win to say the least. She was surprised and didn't see it coming. I however, had been thinking about the play for 10 years. However, victory against the canasta queen was short lived. I never won against her after that. Maybe in Heaven we'll play again. 

Aunt Linda was a very strong person, and someone I admire. Aunt Linda was a teacher for 30+ years to 1st graders and to 5th graders. She loved her students to pieces. She had a gift at being able to see their emotional and academic needs. I was able to observe her teaching while I was in college. Her class had a respect for her that blew me away. It was so obvious that all her students knew that she cared about them. She would show me how she individualized each child's spelling word list and grouped students based on their reading and math needs. She saw the potential in each one of her students. It was clearly evident with how she treated them, planned her lessons, and implemented instruction. I watched her as she took the time to talk to students; sometimes it was a stern talking to, as other times it was a gentle, and almost secretive praise and encouragement. Each child knew she would do anything for them. As a teacher now, I am amazed that she was able accomplish all this. When I first started teaching 4th grade, I would call my aunt regularly, begging for ideas, crying, venting... And she always had a great idea to share to help me be successful and my students be successful, a shoulder (over the phone...) to cry on, and empathy to help me know I wasn't alone or crazy. My favorite though was when I would share a success story. Something in the classroom that went so well. She was always so proud. We definitely had a teacher bond. We got each other in that way. 

One of the things that I admire about my Aunt Linda the most is her faithfulness to God. I am teary eyed as I type this. My aunt had so many wonderful blessings in her life. (I mean, come'on, I was her niece!!) For real, she had a wonderful career, beautiful grandchildren, great friends, saw so much of the world, shared her faith with many people, had so many great experiences. God really blessed her. But she also went through lots of adversity and heartache in her life. Broken relationships, taking care of her ailing mother - while working full time, and a few bouts with cancer. She was a fighter. She took on that cancer and fought hard. She wasn't going to let it take away adventures and joy from her life. If cancer or relationships were brought up, she always spoke of God's goodness, His love, protection, and faithfulness. Always. It was never a "woe is me"attitude. After my break-up with Gabe and her divorce was finalized, we took a trip to the beach together. It is the best memories of my aunt. Laughing, shopping, playing cards, reading books, being scared as she drove crazy backroads! The weekend was refreshing. Honest, real, and fun. Aunt Linda understood all of my feelings and fears. One afternoon, as we walked along the beach, listening to the waves she said this...

...I love the waves. They are a picture of God's faithfulness to me. His blessings never stop. They keep coming, and coming, and coming. His love reaches out to us, seeking us, wanting to touch us. The waves have no end. Just like God. His love and faithfulness have no end...

And knowing all that my aunt went through, this has stuck to me like super glue. She whole heartedly believed that. When God changed the circumstances in her life, she went with it. Joined a different Sunday school group, met new friends,  moved houses, took up knitting, learned to play the cello... and I know none of it was easy. But she did it with grace. And she did it because she trusted God. She knew He had her back. Loved her. And had good things still planned for her. Her life wasn't over. She never lost sight of who was in control of life or where the source of hope came from. She trusted God. In all circumstances. Continued to live with joy. And seeing that type of faith... is still encouraging to me when I go through difficult times.

I would love to spend a few hours laughing together at the silly things students say, or take a walk on the beach with her, or split a crabcake on a rainy day at the beach, sing Chris Tomlin in the car with her, play a hand of canasta, drive the crazy backroads to Pawley's Island, listen to G'andy and Grandmother stories, slip into the back room of our beach house and drink a glass of hidden wine from the closet and giggle at how we feel like silly teenagers being sneaky.... or just simply call her to catch up.

I'm so thankful that God blessed me with my Aunt Linda. There is no one like her. Her life lived with faithfulness to God and strength and joy will never be forgotten.

Same.

It's been a while since I have written to my blogging friends out there. (I have no idea really who you are... you might be the same as my in person friends. Who knows?!) It has been so long, it's kinda hard just to jump back in there. Blogging is like a relationship with a friend, right? And right now, it has been a while since we have chatted. Typically, there would be lots of things to catch up on and discuss in each other's lives... but I feel like my life is just same-o, same-o. Nothing new. Old hat. No changes. Just... normal. I have nothing different and nothing new to chat about. No updates. No big adventures.  Nothing has changed since the last time we have talked. And because of that, it is hard to feel like I have something to add to the conversation. Feel like I have something enlightening to say. A reason for you to stop by and read my blog. Because I don't know what to say. So that is the reason for the lack of blogging.

I was sharing this feeling with my mom a while back (as I was getting ready to hangout and catch up with a friend in person...). I was sharing that I care deeply about my friend. I honestly want to know what is going on in her life. I want to catch up. I want to talk about her heart and what is going on. And I want to tell her what is going on with me... but I have nothing to "catch up" about in my life since the last time we have talked. Nothing new has happened. I do the same thing, with the same people. And because I have nothing to update her on, or share with her makes me feel so insignificant. Awkward. Closed off and impersonal. Which isn't me! It also causes me to feel insecure and compare my life with others. (And what a slippery and dangerous slope that is!) Mom encouraged me, as any good mom would, and reminded me that I have small things going on. I am constantly changing. And as small as they are, they are still new. They are still updates. And if a friend really cares, they will be interested in the small things too. Even if they don't seem big and exciting and different... they are part of who I am. Right now. In the same-o, same-o parts of life.

So, blogging friends, here is my update. Insignificant as it may be. It's my life. It's what I am doing. May you be interested in it or not... here is it...

I've been training for another 1/2 marathon in May. I am only in week 6 of training, but I feel like I have been training forever. It has completely monopolized my time. And it has been a little tricky running because of the cold, rainy/snowy weather. I want to run outside as much as possible. Treadmills have become so boring to me. It's a mental battle on those things more than a physical battle. :) This time around it is harder. I don't have the same motivation that I did before. Any good tricks someone has out there on staying motivated, let me know! I'd be glad to hear them! :)

I did a 5k a month or so ago. It was one of the most fun races I have done, despite it being very cold! :) It was a color run. You start the race wearing white. At various places throughout the race people throw colored cornstarch at you, and you become tie-dyed as you run! It was awesome!

Here is a before picture of our group

And an after picture!

 Notice the color on our faces... and in Nance's mouth! haha!

I'M GOING TO GREECE! But not until July... I get to visit my sister and brother-in-law in their neck of the woods. I'm pretty excited about it! :) How can July still be 4 months away!?

Did you know that grasshoppers have 5 eyes, and their nose is on their leg? Weird. It's the little things I learn teaching 5 and 6 year olds. 

Another fact - I am addicted to sour cream glazed donuts and donut holes. I buy them on Sunday and they are gone in 3 days... shew. I'm glad to get that off my chest.  :)