Comments for life on purpose

Comment on Day 8: Grand Teton National Park by payday loans

payday loans — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:42:16 +0000

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Comment on On the Important Stuff, Before They Leave by jennifer

jennifer — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 19:37:00 +0000

I know, Laurie. So many things I intended to do! I’m still working on doing laundry and some cooking skills. I am most hopeful about the character development. Most of the rest can be learned later.

Comment on On the Important Stuff, Before They Leave by jennifer

jennifer — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 19:35:26 +0000

I love your style, Becky. It is easy, as our children (appropriately) push away from us, to remove ourselves from parenting in those last years. It seems to me that they are as critical as the first ones are. I am hopeful, as I try to remain engaged that these years will be part of the foundation for launching as responsible and caring adults.

Comment on On the Important Stuff, Before They Leave by Becky Dorf

Becky Dorf — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 19:32:54 +0000

It is good to be thoughtful about this time. I found having my oldest leave to be very difficult for me but very easy for him…and that was my goal in raising him. This year is much better for me as I see what a man of character he is and how he is thriving as his own pilot. I, like you, wanted to make those last years count and continue to feel that way with my girls. I tell my children often how much I love them, why they make me proud and what makes them so special. Mostly I make sure I don’t worry about the small things and I make sure I am present when they are (which is not really often enough!!)

Comment on On the Important Stuff, Before They Leave by Laurie

Laurie — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 01:18:33 +0000

That you’ll be radical about grace and relentless about truth and resolute about holiness and vows and the real hills worth dying on.

Amen. Wonderful post Jennifer. Our launch is fast-approaching. I look forward to seeing you soon and sharing with you a small moment in our journey as I bring H. your way. I think about these big things all the time. And the superficial things I had hoped for too. He still needs to learn how to bake a loaf of bread…

Comment on On the Important Stuff, Before They Leave by jennifer

jennifer — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:58:42 +0000

Life is so much about letting go, isn’t it, Nancy Ann? And you are so right: no preparation truly prepares you for a death. Thanks for reading! I love your thoughts.

Comment on On the Important Stuff, Before They Leave by Nancy Ann

Nancy Ann — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 23:47:01 +0000

Another beautiful piece, Jennifer — I too am a ‘rehearser’ — maybe it runs in the family — I have and still do rehearse all the things you mentioned — some have already come true — for good and for bad, and some the rehearsal made it easier, and some it didn’t help at all — there is no amount of rehearsing that makes you ready to take the stage for the death of a loved one, and yet I still rehearse — thinking maybe I’ll get it right this time. As far as sending your first one off to college — let me ‘discourage’ you by telling you it doesn’t get easier the second or third time either — you’ll have to continue to rehearse. The only thing that takes the wondering away is knowing that we have raised them as parents under the influence of the Scriptures and under the authority of God. (and with the help and guidance of our own Godly parents) There are some places we can’t go — like operating rooms during surgery or dorm rooms during parties, we can only leave them in the Lord’s hands and pray, as you so beautifully put it, that the Holy Spirit will fill in the gaps. I’m in the process of ‘rehearsing’ how I’m going to handle Heather going off to Ireland with the UNH Chorus and then on to Scotland on her own to see the birth places of her grandparents — the going alone part is what I am rehearsing — and praying about. Jen, continue your posts, they are both reflective for me and encouraging. Love you, Cousin!

Comment on On the Important Stuff, Before They Leave by jennifer

jennifer — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 22:41:12 +0000

Thanks, Shelly. I feel like, when I say that out loud, I sound anxiety-ridden and a bit obsessive. I know what that feels like, and that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m truly rehearsing the possibilities. For me, it dramatically reduces anxiety to picture to might-be’s.

It’s interesting to think about this as possibly connected to your brother’s death. I had never thought about this, but for me, it may be connected to the death of my best friend from high school. She was in a car accident a year after we graduated from college. I think, in some ways, my pondering are attempting to avoid the shock that was

Comment on On the Important Stuff, Before They Leave by shellywildman

shellywildman — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 14:00:07 +0000

What a wonderful post, Jennifer. You read my blog, so you know that I try to fill in those gaps regularly. I wanted to comment on how you play things out ahead of time in your mind. I do that too. Like, every day. I imagine my husband getting in a car wreck and not coming home to me. I imagine my parents getting sick and me having to fly to AZ regularly to care for them. I think this has to do with my losing a brother very suddenly when I was young–I need to mentally prepare myself for the worst because I wasn’t prepared then. Does that make sense? I don’t know, but I really resonated with what you wrote. Thanks!

Comment on On Being a “Ramp Agent” Parent by shellywildman

shellywildman — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 20:33:24 +0000

Aw, thanks, Jennifer. I’ve always been grateful for the moms who are a few years ahead of me, too. Scary now, though!