Tag: memories

Nearly 500 days ago, I first published this post and with the 2016-2017 school year off to a start and the school busses rolling again, I wanted to repost it. While we don’t want to “live in the past”, as Al Stewart sings boldly in his famous 1978 hit, Time Passages. The following green text is from my original post in early May, 2015. I hope this post will rekindle some special memories in your heart today.

This time last year, we were smack-dab in the middle of our two children’s weddings and our son’s commencement from Wheaton College. My, what a difference one year can make.

Now, it is May 2015, and here in our community and beyond, I know many, many families who are celebrating weddings and graduations themselves. More and more dear friends are becoming grandparents, welcoming little ones into their world. I wish you all well as you witness the union of your children, watch your young adult walking across that stage after accomplishing their goals or meet your grandbaby for the very first time.

This time forty years ago, our family lived at 655 Webster Drive and the six kids had a separate phone number for our friends to call in on, ’cause Daddy was an Ob-Gyn in a solo-practice, and needed to have a clear line at all times. Our phone looked just like this and sat upon an old heater in our basement. The number was 636-9339. Yep, there was no area code needed. When we were out for the evening, my parents let the phone ring off the wall because they knew there was a friend of ours on the other line wondering where we might be.

This time thirty-four years ago, I was putting up that huge hamburger bulletin board: “It’s Summer! Hold the Homework!” for my fifth grade students. I was also counting the days for my Summer Break. Back then, the 3 best things about teaching were: June, July and August. I was serving time on bus duty, loving on my students who were mostly from the projects. I loved teaching and the difference I had the chance to make in the life of individual children.

This time twenty-seven years ago, I was halfway through my pregnancy with our first child. A child we had longed for, prayed for, after more than 3 years of infertility. Our daughter, Leah Suzanne weighed in at 7 lbs. 4 oz, measuring 19 1/2 inches and has been a bright light in our days since then.

This time nine years ago, our first born graduated from Kennesaw Mountain High School, while our son finished up his ninth grade year at Mount Paran.

And in all these years, along with our friends and our family, I have been a part of lots of joyous celebrations and tragedies that are too many to count. Thankfully, I have found it to be true that friends divide sorrow and multiply joy. Dozens of people whom I have loved have passed on, several of them passing at a much younger age than one might expect.  My parents have both taken their leave.  Still, I am here, living out my days, one by one.

You are doing the same in your world…living, loving, laughing, caring and sharing LIFE.

As I consider again, where I was this time last year, I am feeling peaceful,

though a bit nostalgic and reminiscent, as well.

What memories do you want to take a few minutes to reflect on?

Memories from 40, 34, 27, or 9 years ago?

Day by day, our life is a gift.