Dear Kate,
In a few days, you leave for camp, and just over two weeks later, our family moves to Costa Rica for a year--an adventure that actually grew out of insights you shared from another drive to Colorado this past October (see Kate's Oct. 28, 2oo8 post "Thank you for hearing me...." at http://stoneriverstudio.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html). As you were driving, a friend called on your cell phone and commented on how happy you sounded. Reflecting on the conversation, you talked about hearing your voice in a figurative concert hall...in an atmosphere where you felt "free of past impressions or future expectations."
Last fall was challenging for Heidi. In her search for who she is and what she believes in , she was finding it difficult to live in our house on the campus of a conservative Christian school. Even though she was no longer a student there, she didn't feel like she had much mental breathing space. After your comments, I found my heart longing for Heidi to find a Carnegie Hall in which to hear the voice of her soul.
You have often written about God planting desires in our heart...and then answering them. A few days later, I got the clear message that, "You won't have to move off campus to meet Heidi's needs." "OK God," I replied. "I look forward to hearing what you have in mind." I didn't have to wait long.
Within a week, the outline of a family sabbatical to Monteverde was in place. Prior to this, we'd never seriously talked about living abroad, and none of us had ever been to Costa Rica. But Mike had occasionally mentioned his desire to travel as a family with a community service focus. I looked at several international community service websites and then investigated Christian Science schools abroad as possibilities for Lincoln (I knew we'd need to balance his love of home with Heidi's spirit of adventure), but nothing clicked until I glanced at a Monteverde Conservation League newsletter in my inbox. Several of Lincoln's classmates had traveled to Costa Rica; so the idea wasn't completely foreign to him. A web search quickly led me to two bilingual schools in Monteverde, and I learned that in this community founded by pacifist Quakers in thd 50s, you can get by with minimal Spanish--a good thing since Mike and I are just beginning to learn the language. And Costa Rica has no quarantine on pets. (Yes, the dog and cats are going with us.)
For now, I'll keep the story short and skip most of the details between last October and today. The school where we work has generously granted Michael and me leaves of absence for next year. The kids have been accepted at the Cloud Forest School (http.www.cloudforestschool.org) where we will be one of ten international families at the mostly native Tico school. We've arranged to rent out our house in St. Louis and are busy packing.
While the trip may have started out as an answer to our prayers for Heidi, we now see how in different ways it promises a needed practice room and concert hall for each family member--a place to learn more about who we are as individuals, a family, and as part of a global community. It is an anwered prayer for all of us.
I'll be thinking of you while you are at camp and will miss being a bunkhouse mom there this summer. As you look out at your snow capped peaks, I will gaze out over Costa Rica's tree-canopied mountain tops to the Pacific Ocean and hear the spirit of your voice in the wind.
Happy trails!
With gratitude and love,
Maria
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Papa's Love
Dear Papa,
I used to tease Michael that you kissed me before he did, but that’s really no fault of his. My then Victorian heart was determined not to kiss a boyfriend unless I considered him a serious prospect for marriage. So, your peck on the cheek came long before I allowed my first kiss from Michael (fortunately he's a very patient guy!).
Your welcoming hugs and kisses are just one example of your outreaching love—a love that was willing to be Santa for Rotary events (in spite of the fact that it must have taken 2 or 3 pillows to make your toothpick frame even begin to resemble the roly-poly Kris Kringle), a love that volunteered your pick-up truck to help deliver donations of canned goods to the neighborhood food pantry, a love that also regularly would visit and read to people at a nursing facility.
You and Mom made me feel like a welcome member of the clan even before Michael and I were married. Thank you both for also befriending my parents, for not just including them in family events out of politeness, but genuine care. A special thanks for helping host their 25th wedding anniversary party at your home years ago. It’s hard to believe that Michael and I will be celebrating 23 and a half years of marriage tomorrow, but look at you two. You’re going on number 53! What a great example for us all!
Papa, you also have wonderfully modeled a balanced lifestyle. Time with your family has always been part of your definition of success. All three of your sons are great dads. (I knew Mike would be; it’s one of the reasons I married him.) You also shared with your boys your love of God. Church and prayer have remained an important part of their lives. Like you, they are hard-working men, independent thinkers, desiring to serve and bless, and understanding the importance of home as the center of the affections.
I know things haven’t been easy for you the past six years. After a very active life, which even included running marathons for a while, I can’t image what it must be like to depend upon a wheel chair to get around and to be limited in your speech. While I know there are days when both you and Mom get frustrated, on the whole you two have expressed so much courage, joy and faith. I’ve heard so many people compliment your good spirits. Just as you were a strong support to Mom when she faced a difficult physical challenge years ago, she has so selflessly stood by your side--both of you faithfully fulfilling your promise to love “in sickness and in health.” Your individual and joint expressions of grace are awesome.
If my own mom and dad were here today, I know they would join me in thanking you for cherishing (truly grand parenting) our family. Your heart clearly pours out love. I continue to celebrate your standing up in church recently and testifying to God’s presence in your life. Even if only a few of the words were distinguishable, everyone heard your heart. You ARE an amazing man.
Happy Father’s Day Papa!
With gratitude and love,
Your daughter-in-law Maria
I used to tease Michael that you kissed me before he did, but that’s really no fault of his. My then Victorian heart was determined not to kiss a boyfriend unless I considered him a serious prospect for marriage. So, your peck on the cheek came long before I allowed my first kiss from Michael (fortunately he's a very patient guy!).
Your welcoming hugs and kisses are just one example of your outreaching love—a love that was willing to be Santa for Rotary events (in spite of the fact that it must have taken 2 or 3 pillows to make your toothpick frame even begin to resemble the roly-poly Kris Kringle), a love that volunteered your pick-up truck to help deliver donations of canned goods to the neighborhood food pantry, a love that also regularly would visit and read to people at a nursing facility.
You and Mom made me feel like a welcome member of the clan even before Michael and I were married. Thank you both for also befriending my parents, for not just including them in family events out of politeness, but genuine care. A special thanks for helping host their 25th wedding anniversary party at your home years ago. It’s hard to believe that Michael and I will be celebrating 23 and a half years of marriage tomorrow, but look at you two. You’re going on number 53! What a great example for us all!
Papa, you also have wonderfully modeled a balanced lifestyle. Time with your family has always been part of your definition of success. All three of your sons are great dads. (I knew Mike would be; it’s one of the reasons I married him.) You also shared with your boys your love of God. Church and prayer have remained an important part of their lives. Like you, they are hard-working men, independent thinkers, desiring to serve and bless, and understanding the importance of home as the center of the affections.
I know things haven’t been easy for you the past six years. After a very active life, which even included running marathons for a while, I can’t image what it must be like to depend upon a wheel chair to get around and to be limited in your speech. While I know there are days when both you and Mom get frustrated, on the whole you two have expressed so much courage, joy and faith. I’ve heard so many people compliment your good spirits. Just as you were a strong support to Mom when she faced a difficult physical challenge years ago, she has so selflessly stood by your side--both of you faithfully fulfilling your promise to love “in sickness and in health.” Your individual and joint expressions of grace are awesome.
If my own mom and dad were here today, I know they would join me in thanking you for cherishing (truly grand parenting) our family. Your heart clearly pours out love. I continue to celebrate your standing up in church recently and testifying to God’s presence in your life. Even if only a few of the words were distinguishable, everyone heard your heart. You ARE an amazing man.
Happy Father’s Day Papa!
With gratitude and love,
Your daughter-in-law Maria
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Families
Happy Mother’s Day Dear Friend,
I’ve been thinking a lot about families this week. Thursday morning Heidi emailed me at work. Friday was Twins’ Day at school, and she couldn’t find anyone to be her twin. My first inclination was to curse the whole idea of Twins’ Day. Didn’t the administration realize that some kids would feel left out? On the heels of this question, came the answer “God setteth the solitary in families.” (Ps. 68:5) Whoa! God makes sure everyone is included. The Bible verse became my expectant prayer. And guess what? Late Thursday night a friend invited Heidi to be a triplet!
Mary Baker Eddy uses the phrase “where heart meets heart reciprocally blessed” (Miscellaneous Writings 207:2). This has become my definition of family. It occurred to me this weekend that sometimes an integral part of a family isn’t a person at all, but a place, project, idea or activity that unites hearts in a common purpose or that calls upon us to be our best, to bring forth courage, love, creativity, intelligence. Every thing or idea, whether animate or inanimate, has it’s origin in God and expresses God’s Father-Mothering, God's care for us.
Once a month I volunteer at a food pantry meeting with clients to assess their needs. This work at Circle of Concern has become an expression of family. It meets my need to love unselfishly, to open my heart to a larger community. I never volunteer without first praying, knowing that God is caring and providing for everyone who walks through the door. Last Sunday I invited a client to use an extra ticket and attend a performance of “High School Musical” with me. Apparently she had just received some unsettling news. She needed a friend that day. Before the show and during intermission, she asked me about prayer, life and death, Jesus (she is Jewish). We had a wonderful discussion and parted with hugs and smiles—feeling like family.
Email is definitely part of my family experience (No surprise there!)--a space where my heart gives and receives solace, a family-like table to exchange ideas, to lend encouragement when needed, to unobtrusively let each other know, “I’m there for you.” When Mom passed away, one of the things I really missed was having someone to share all life’s little details with. We talked frequently on the phone; she always knew what I was up to. But God even found a family for this desire of my heart giving me a friend who truly enjoys my frequent chit chatty emails, someone who, like Mom, I can tell when I’m headed off to the grocery store or busy folding mounds of laundry. (Heidi wrote an endearing Mother’s Day poem about the time, effort and care I put into laundry, and Lincoln painted me a beautiful trivet--great gifts!)
This weekend I’m cherishing the fact that not a single person, right idea or desire is solitary--on its own struggling to stay alive, find its way, or bear fruit. Because God is everywhere, family is everywhere--a tangible supporting presence for every idea.
Thanks for being a special part of my family! I love you,
Maria
I’ve been thinking a lot about families this week. Thursday morning Heidi emailed me at work. Friday was Twins’ Day at school, and she couldn’t find anyone to be her twin. My first inclination was to curse the whole idea of Twins’ Day. Didn’t the administration realize that some kids would feel left out? On the heels of this question, came the answer “God setteth the solitary in families.” (Ps. 68:5) Whoa! God makes sure everyone is included. The Bible verse became my expectant prayer. And guess what? Late Thursday night a friend invited Heidi to be a triplet!
Mary Baker Eddy uses the phrase “where heart meets heart reciprocally blessed” (Miscellaneous Writings 207:2). This has become my definition of family. It occurred to me this weekend that sometimes an integral part of a family isn’t a person at all, but a place, project, idea or activity that unites hearts in a common purpose or that calls upon us to be our best, to bring forth courage, love, creativity, intelligence. Every thing or idea, whether animate or inanimate, has it’s origin in God and expresses God’s Father-Mothering, God's care for us.
Once a month I volunteer at a food pantry meeting with clients to assess their needs. This work at Circle of Concern has become an expression of family. It meets my need to love unselfishly, to open my heart to a larger community. I never volunteer without first praying, knowing that God is caring and providing for everyone who walks through the door. Last Sunday I invited a client to use an extra ticket and attend a performance of “High School Musical” with me. Apparently she had just received some unsettling news. She needed a friend that day. Before the show and during intermission, she asked me about prayer, life and death, Jesus (she is Jewish). We had a wonderful discussion and parted with hugs and smiles—feeling like family.
Email is definitely part of my family experience (No surprise there!)--a space where my heart gives and receives solace, a family-like table to exchange ideas, to lend encouragement when needed, to unobtrusively let each other know, “I’m there for you.” When Mom passed away, one of the things I really missed was having someone to share all life’s little details with. We talked frequently on the phone; she always knew what I was up to. But God even found a family for this desire of my heart giving me a friend who truly enjoys my frequent chit chatty emails, someone who, like Mom, I can tell when I’m headed off to the grocery store or busy folding mounds of laundry. (Heidi wrote an endearing Mother’s Day poem about the time, effort and care I put into laundry, and Lincoln painted me a beautiful trivet--great gifts!)
This weekend I’m cherishing the fact that not a single person, right idea or desire is solitary--on its own struggling to stay alive, find its way, or bear fruit. Because God is everywhere, family is everywhere--a tangible supporting presence for every idea.
Thanks for being a special part of my family! I love you,
Maria
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