If you know our family, you know that we are big believers in rites of passage... Special events in our lives that signal a change, new growth... My friend Denise McKinney might call them "Mile Markers."
Over the years, we've celebrated several with our kids. We started off with Second Grade Trips. Not sure why; it just felt right. When Josh was in second grade, I took him to Santa Cruz. We spent the night at Mission Springs and enjoyed the Mystery Spot and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. When Jake was in second grade, we did the same thing, except Mission Springs had accidentally given away our room, so we had to go find a hotel in the middle of the night. (We got cool Mission Springs t-shirts out of it!)
Next came the Decade Celebrations. I blogged about Jacob's here.
Josh will soon experience his Manhood Weekend. He's fourteen now, a freshman in high school. It's time to grow up, to set his sights on what it means to be a man of God.
But for this weekend, it's all about Emily. She's our first girl, you know, so this is the first time I haven't been directly involved in a rite of passage in our family.
Luanne picked her up from school yesterday around lunchtime. They went to the mall and did girly things like that. Then they drove east into the Ozark foothills to New Life Ranch, where they spent the night. Today they're back in Tulsa, and as I type this, they're at the Performing Arts Center enjoying Little House on the Prairie: The Musical, starring Melissa Gilbert as Ma. We just finished reading the book a few weeks ago, so I know she is loving it.
I love you, Emily! I know you're having a wonderful weekend... but Thumper misses you!
::UPDATE::
Unfortunately, Melissa Gilbert fell last night after the show and is currently in the hospital with an injured back... Luanne and Emily had to settle for the understudy. But the show was a hit nonetheless!
I just got this email from good college friends Cal & Lorie Grucelski:
Hi Everyone, Sorry for the mass email but I need others to join me in prayer. A dear friend of mine, Stephanie, has been in the very long process (going on 2 years) of adopting two children from Uganda, Cynthia, age 5, and Brian, age 8. Stephanie received an email this morning that an orphanage worker has kidnapped 50 children, including Cynthia and Brian. The adoption agency is doing everything it can to find the children but cannot guarantee they will find them all. As is known, in this country there is a history of children being sold into slavery or young boys forced to be soldiers. Please pray for the safe return of these children and for Stephanie. Cynthia and Brian already call her their mom. The more people that pray . . . Lorie Grucelski
::UPDATE::
Re: urgent prayer request
Unfortunately I don't have any updates. The governments have asked the adopters to keep quiet on the web as the investigation is ongoing. They are believing it is a case of kidnapping and extortion.
Please continue to pray for the 50 children and their soon-to-be parents.
THANKS! And I promise to update when I know something concrete!
My mom turns 60 today. She's lived with grace and love, and I'm glad to call her my mom. I love this picture of mom with Emily and me last time we were together, last spring in Houston:
We're excited to see mom and dad - along with my sister and brother and their families - for Thanksgiving this year. We're going to meet them in Evansville, Indiana, for a few days together, dropping down into Kentucky for Thanksgiving day with my dad's side of the family. This will be the first time we've been together with all our kids since 2006, the first time I'm seen Micah's daughters, Ellie and Anne, and the first time we've been with the extended family in Kentucky in twelve years!
We'd love to celebrate with you, Mom, but for now this video will have to do. Love from the Tulsa Nightingales!
