Kids Growing Up

As my children age, they get busy, and their lives don't revolve around the family as much . . . . they are often off and doing their own thing. My son Joel is away at "Creation East" (http://www.creationfest.com). He left on Wednesday morning. This begins his early summer schedule of being away from home a lot. Creation Festival in June, a week with my parents in July (an hour away), and then to Long Island New York for a week-long summer missions trip. I remember last year that by the time he was away at the missions trip (in West Virginia last year), I was ready for him to be home. I'm so glad that my kids love life and all the activities that they have an opportunity to be involved in. I wouldn't keep them from those opportunities. They need to follow their passions and their dreams and figure out where God wants them to be in life. But when they're gone, I miss them! (And my son doesn't miss us, so he doesn't usually check in!). But I'm reminded that this is just a precursor of the future. That it won't be long until Abby and then Joel are off to college and then on their own. Guess these week-long trips away are good "practice."

And then I think about my sister, whose son died in a tragic accident at the age of 15, and all of the other parents who have children who have died. And I know that they are probably frequently thinking that they are ready for their kids to "come home" from their absence.

Every day is a gift!

Wave Pools!

I absolutely love the ocean! It "calls" me and calms me! I don't get there nearly enough to suit me . . . haven't been to the shore for a few years now, and the last time we went, our time on the beach was very minimal. As much as I love the ocean, I have found that wave pools are alluring as well! In fact, there are so many benefits to wave pools! You get the fun of jumping waves in the deeper water, water lapping over your calves and ankles in the shallow water, and the waves are usually around the same size (no massive, surprise huge waves!) You get the fun of the waves with no sand! (That's one of the best benefits!!!) We visited Dorney Park (Allentown, PA) yesterday, and spent a good part of the afternoon in the wave pool. I loved it! Wish our town would build a wave pool! (That's just a dream! They just put a lot of money into the regular pool!)

Interesting Family Conversation

We had an interesting conversation last night at supper. Abby asked why Anna's not going to JRA Camp this summer. There are many reasons why Anna's not going this year (our summer schedule, the cost, Anna's waffling on whether or not she wanted to go), but for me, the bottom line is that some kids desperately need to go to JRA Camp, because they're having emotional and psychological issues dealing with the pain of arthritis and the realization that their lives are very different from other kids. For them, JRA Camp is a huge relief----to be around other people their age who understand pain and stiffness and lots of medications, etc. It's a huge support system for them. Anna's arthritis is under good control, and even when her uveitis flares, there are no symptoms, so she hasn't (as yet) had any "adjustment" or emotional or psychological issues related to having arthritis. (Thank the Lord!) Then we were talking about how Joel's speech therapist really and desperately wanted him to attend the Stuttering Conference last summer (it didn't work out with his schedule because of the missions trip he was on). While I think the Stuttering Conference would have been interesting, I wasn't devastated that we couldn't go (would have enjoyed a train ride to Philly, though!). Joel seems to take everything in stride, and I think I've learned to, also (at least I hope so!). I was telling the kids that I'm so proud of the way they have accepted the issues that they each have to deal with. Joel said that he thinks that many people who stutter and parents of people who stutter are way too focused on the issue of stuttering (and he thinks a conference on stuttering would just be way too much of a focus!). He would rather focus on LIVING! I personally have never wanted the issues my children face to define our lives and who we are, and I realized tonight that they really don't. At times the issues do need our attention, but it's really just a very small part of who we are as individuals and as a family.

A Mother's Day Picture!

We were visited City Island on Mother's Day (I know it was a month ago, but I thought I'd like to post this picture!). It was a beautiful day, and such a charming sight to see this family of geese swimming down the river! (Joel took this picture.)

Tammy's Editorial!

Tonight we attended a "Step Up to High School" recognition night, where the eighth grade students of our local middle school walked across the stage while the guidance counselor read their name, some of their achievements, and a very brief statement about their hopes and dreams for the future. There were a few hundred students (less than 350), and some students didn't attend (their choice---attendance is optional). Preceding this "roll call," the superintendent briefly spoke, as well as the principal and the class president (all brief!)

It was a long event, with so many students. Several younger siblings were also attending (including Anna, who usually goes to bed at 8:30 p.m., and was up WAY past her bedtime tonight!), and they do have school early in the morning. As the evening progressed, and as some students already walked across the stage, many parents would send messages to their eighth grade student, and scores of parents and students from the beginning of the alphabet were leaving the auditorium.

Our last name is Zeigler. We're at the end of the alphabet. We were committed to staying to the end (our son was the last person called, so he received the loudest applause!---that happened to our daughter Abby two years ago, also!).

My personal feeling is that it's rude to leave (except for a dire emergency!). If a family can't stay for the entire evening, then maybe they should not attend at all. (That's my honest opinion!) Shouldn't those from the first half of the alphabet have enough courtesy to listen to the achievements and dreams of our kids, too?

Sometimes I think we try to cram our schedules way too full. It seems that for many events which I attend (church activities, school activities, etc.), people come late and leave early because they have about four or five places to be on that particular evening. When did society decide that it's okay to pop in on some things and "show our face" just to say we were there? I really think that we need to make some choices and commit ourselves to the important things, and just say, "no" to some other things that might be happening at the same time. Let's focus, instead of trying to spread ourselves so thin! (and being rude and discourteous to others).

Just my honest opinion! . . . . .

Picture from the Parlor

We love spending time with family at "The Parlor." This photo was taken at "Family and Friend Day" in 2006. I love the green fields and the path to the woods.

What a Weekend!

What a weekend! Saturday had our family spread out . . . Scott took Joel into Harrisburg to run a 10K race. The battery on the van died there. I drove over to Harrisburg to help get the van jumped. (Anna and I were in the middle of getting a blood test when Scott called.) Anna and I left to drive to Maryland, because Abby was spending the night at her cousin's sleepover. While in Maryland, one of the front tires on our car went flat! Thankfully, we discovered that problem while the car was parked, and not while driving. We were in a time crunch, since Abby had to be back in Pennsylvania at 4:00 p.m. for her job (at a pizza buffet!). We drove Dad's truck home; dad took care of the tire for us, and drove up to exchange vehicles today. I am so glad that both vehicles don't regularly break down on the same day! Today the van has a new battery, and the two holes in the tire are patched! Life goes on . . . . . . I am so appreciative of a strong, extended family unit---family members who are supportive and ready to be a part of the solution to some of the problems which creep up in life.