The Hourglass.



When Laurie and Stephen and Ron and I have a day or evening together, one of our favorite things to do is to play a game of Rummikub. Of course since the kids have a little more experience playing it, Ron and I usually lose. But it's so much fun - kind of like playing rummy, building runs and sets on the table with the small tiles that you keep on a little rack in front of you. Stephen is really good at this - he changes the tiles all over the place just to pick out one little tile to make up a small run or set of three. And I get all excited about something I think I can do with the changes he has made, only to have the tiles changed by someone else before my turn comes along (or else I forget what changes I was going to make once it's my turn....yup, more than likely, it's that).
And to make sure that we don't go beyond the 2 minute time limit, a little hourglass comes with the game. Twice the sands run through this hour glass to give you time enough (are you kidding me?) to finish your turn; and once Stephen turns the hourglass, I start to panic knowing that my time is almost up.
This summer kind of reminds me of that game - at least the hourglass part of it. We thought when we got here that we would be able to see the kids much more often. Hours - theirs and ours - kind of prevent that. I am not complaining about our jobs at all - it's a wonderful opportunity to enjoy CO without needing to worry about camping expenses. And just to know that we are so close to the kids is a blessing we haven't ever had for such a long period of time.
But the sands seem to be going far too quickly through this hourglass called summer. Maybe it's because we are getting older - could this be? Yes, it could be. Or maybe it's just that old adage about time flying when you are having fun.
Whatever it is, we are looking at Stephen's deployment in the not too distant future. And the sands are running too quickly. But if they are running this quickly for us, we can only imagine how much faster they are running for Laurie and Stephen.
Of course they look at things differently - as the military often do, especially military families where both husband and wife are military. They don't look too far into the future but rather enjoy each day as it comes. They understand that plans are necessary, but all of that is secondary to the time they have together to just enjoy life.
Thankfully, Kasey is blissfully unaware of how fast the days go - they are all made for preschool, and play and the adventures of little boys. He just trusts that mommy and daddy, (and grandma and grandpa) will take care of him.
Ron and I are so thankful that God has given us the good health and the blessing of being able to do this.
No matter how many times the hourglass needs to be turned.
God bless our troops and those who love them.

"You Were On My Heart All Night."



Last night near the very end of my shift at the Campground store, a young woman from TX came in to see if we had any tent sites left. We did, and so I asked her if she wanted it for one night or two. She said, "Well, I guess I should call my husband to find out." So they decided one night and I assigned her the site closest to the parking area. They had driven a lot of miles that day and since our tent sites are walk - ins (the campers park in the small parking lot and then walk their gear in), I figured the less walking they had to do, the better. As I was writing out her permit, she asked me if I knew how far Royal Gorge Bridge is from here and I told her. I gave her the directions and told her that while we have been in Colorado so many times, we hadn't yet had a chance to see the bridge. I told her that we have children stationed here, so this job we have for the summer is a Godsend for us. As I was beginning to explain where their campsite would be, and the "bear aware" speech that we give to everyone, she said, "So tell me more about your children. Is it your sons that are here?" She looked surprised when I said it was our daughter and son in law. (It's hard for people to believe daughters serve too - I think this is ok, but I find it kind of amusing that everyone looks surprised...and I don't bat an eyelash). Anyway, she asked me about Laurie and Stephen and I told her about how we will soon be doing another guardianship of Kasey. I told her how we should be used to it after this length of time, but that when they are separated because of their service, it's my goal to make things easier for them all - THEIR separation is harder on my heart than anything.
She asked me my name and I told her....then she reached out, shook hands, and said "I am Jessica - it's nice to meet you Sue." With that, her husband walked in, and she told him that "Sue and I were just having a great conversation about her children....they are in the Army."
I thanked her for her interest, and to enjoy their stay here at the park.
This morning, being off today and not feeling well - a sinus thing, or allergies - I was sitting at the table catching up on my emails at 9 am. Still in my jammies, and drinking my second cup of coffee, I saw a van pull up with tent gear on top and in the back. I knew it was Jessica. I ran to check to see if I looked as bad as I thought I might look (hair was neatly in place and my face was clean :) and Ron hollered from outside, "Sue, you've got a visitor!"
Indeed it was Jessica. I apologized for my appearance and she said she had just come to say goodbye and that she will keep our family in her prayers. She had gone up to the store to look for me but they told her I was off today and they sent her down to our site.
And then she said, "You were on my heart all night long."
Little does she know what that meant to me - and how we count on those prayers I know will be offered from this young woman who until last night at 7:20 pm was a total stranger.
Thank you, Lord for a stranger named Jessica. now a friend whom I may never meet again.
But I'll remember her as one of the greatest blessings of the summer.