Blessings on the mountain tops and valleys

Blessings on the mountain tops and in the valleys…

Much has happened since our last blog update in May. Our journey over the course of the past months has been one that has found us rejoicing on the mountain tops and being carried by God’s grace and strength in the valleys.

May 18^th my Dad began a journey with cancer, which by God’s grace, he only had to endure one month. Dad’s illness caught us totally off guard with little to no warning. Dad was always the picture of health, active on the golf course and around the yard, vibrant and full of life. It began with some stomach pain, initially thought to be gallbladder, but tests revealed otherwise. The disease progressed so quickly, that surgery and treatment were not options. The best the doctors could determine was that it was likely stomach cancer. On June 18^th, the day before Father’s Day, Dad walked into heaven healed and whole. While we miss him terribly, we are thankful that he only suffered a short time. As many close friends and family know, I’ve been a Daddy’s girl all my life. How thankful I am that I had such a loving Dad who by his actions, and words, pointed me towards God, my heavenly Father.

In the midst of Dad’s diagnosis and Kate’s recovery from her hip fracture and surgery, I was finishing my teaching placement in 6^th grade, as well as, my graduate courses necessary to complete my teaching certificate. I know without a doubt that it was God’s strength that carried me through those challenging weeks as I finished up my coursework. In June I began the interview process with our school district. At the first interview I learned that they were interviewing 30 candidates for the two teaching positions that I was qualified for. When I was invited back for a second interview, I knew it was absolutely a God gift. The second interview, at which there were ten candidates, was just two days after my Dad died. It was truly God’s grace that carried me through and got me invited back for the third and final interview. There were five of us who interviewed at the last interview for the two positions. Knowing the high caliber of the other candidates going into the interview, my hopes were wavering. When the administration offered me the job, I burst into tears. God had worked still another miracle in my life! I am teaching fifth grade math, science and social studies, as well as, one class of 6^th grade social studies. I feel incredibly blessed… I love my job and have wonderful students.

I can’t believe I am the mother of two seniors. Kate returned to Malone the end of August to begin her senior year. She is still walking with a walker due to weak muscles in her legs, as well as, balance issues. Mid-September respiratory stuff was running rampant everywhere. Maggie and I had it at home and Kate came down with it at school. Kate’s was more intense and her symptoms became more acute, to the point that on a Sunday afternoon I drove to Ohio to get her and take her to the ER to be checked. CT scan showed pneumonia. Given her history, the doctors decided it was best to treat her at Children’s. Because she was dehydrated her blood pressured dropped very low so the ER doctors determined they would be more comfortable transferring her there by helicopter. After four days in the hospital, Kate came home for another week until she was finally strong enough to return to school. We are thankful that she is healthy again and working to catch up from her two week absence and looking for a placement for her Social Work internship.

Maggie danced in her last dance recital in June. She did a beautiful job. With her AP classes and many extra-curricular activities we determined dance would have to be put on the back burner for this school year. Maggie hopes, however, to find a college where she can continue dancing as a minor or extra-curricular activity. Maggie spent a month in Costa Rica this summer. God worked in her and through her as she taught kindergarten, first and second grade students. Her senior year is flying by all too quickly. She is busy and on the go all the time. Maggie was surprised and honored to be voted on Homecoming court. She was teary at the reality that Pappy was no longer here to escort her, as he did Kate, but was thrilled when our family friend, Gary traveled from Kentucky to escort her at the football game. Cross country season recently ended and Maggie is excited to begin practicing her part as Hodel in this year’s musical, “Fiddler on the Roof”. We’ve made several road trips to visit colleges and will visit one more this week as Maggie seeks the best fit for her to study elementary and special education.

We ended the summer with a trip to Annapolis to visit our friends Jim and Sue. A trip to the D.C. Holocaust museum was a highlight of the trip for Kate. We also enjoyed a good visit with my brother Kurt and his family in Mechanicsburg.

We are anticipating a family trip to Costa Rica this summer. Our church will take a team and there will be opportunities for each of us to serve there. I am looking forward to doing some training with the teachers who work at the Christian school there. The year is flying and before we know it 2012 will be here and we will soon be celebrating two graduations. The coming months will be busy, fun and full. Reflecting back and looking forward, we can only stand amazed at God’s hand at work in our lives. We are grateful for grace and the blessing and promise of His faithfulness on the mountain tops and in the valleys both in the past and in the months to come.