crazy, happy, hard

Here's what I've been doing: I'm spending the afternoon on our back porch, working on a magazine article. After our brutal winter, the sun and wind and daffodils under the pines are like heaven.

At this moment my life is crazy, happy and hard. So much has happened since Thanksgiving. And I thank HIM, the God of universe for all of it, hard as it is to walk with the hard stuff.

We learned that we get our tongue-in-cheek hope for another baby in 2015. (Four generations of us born in '5' years) And we get TWO, due five days apart in early June! I think they're both boys. We'll see when they come because neither mom is finding out her baby's gender. Love, love that!

Bills' mom Elizabeth, 98, had a nasty fall on Christmas day, another hospital visit on my birthday in early January, and entered Hospice care. We thought we'd lose her within weeks but she rallied and has had ups and downs since then but seems stable. It's an emotional and physical journey for those who love her and particularly Bill and his brother Bob, who visit her every day. Which goes to show, it is God who numbers our days. Not doctors, not hospice. I invite you to pray for Elizabeth's comfort and peace.

I've had a fun little part-time job for about 18 months ... I'm a mother's helper to a family with six children ages 3-17 and their mother Noelle homeschools every one of them. Some think I'm crazy, but my time there is a blessing to me, especially in the midst of Elizabeth's decline. In their home is life and love and NOISE and music (lots of piano) and laughter and I love it. It's a little trip back in time.

In February our oldest son, David, proposed to his girlfriend Chelsea. (last post) And since they live two hours apart and are just crazy about each other, it won't be a long engagement. In July we will trek to Florida for their wedding! The other boys' weddings were local, so this is different in many ways. Lots of texts, phone calls, questions and answers, and really, getting to know Chelsea better at a distance. I couldn't be more blessed by my daughters-in-love!

Our Michigan cabin is back on the market and we are talking more and more about moving south when the time seems right. It's been a decision long in the making and ya know how when you make a decision you just want to get on with it? I battle impatience and resting in God's timing. But faith is trusting God even when we don't see what we want, when we want it.

And that is what I pursue and rest in, day after day.

engaged!

                                                                                photo by Sterling McLean

 

I'm so excited!!

Our oldest son David proposed to his girlfriend Chelsea

one week ago on Boca Grande Beach in Florida.

 I'm happy and thankful for many reasons.

I've always thought David will make a terrific husband:

 tender and compassionate,

has a great sense of humor and doesn't take himself too seriously,

is hard-working,

and (considering he's been a bachelor for 10 years)

he goes with the flow very well.

Best of all, David was incredibly patient in waiting and trusting

God for his future. He could've "settled" but didn't.

(and that was some feat, considering his mother kept pestering him to

"put a line in the water if you want to catch a fish.")

 

So who's the lucky girl?

Chelsea Barrett ... and we think he's a lucky guy, too!

We've only spent two weekends with Chelsea

and we love her already.

Any gal who can effortlessly spend Thanksgiving weekend in a house

with all 13 of us (including 5 kids under 5)

and sleep on a leaky air mattress without complaint has my vote!

Chelsea's an accomplished artist/graphic designer, loves coffee (a requirement),

seems to juggle many things at once, has a quick wit and laughs easily,

is up for adventure, is great with children (also a requirement, ha ha!)

and just has that comfortable I-care-about-others personality.

They both love God and have trusted his hand in their lives.

 

No word yet on a wedding date, but I was right about one thing:

this is going to be a very big year!

Congratulations, you two!

 

 

 

a really belated birthday wish

Good evening friends! I'm beating myself up - again - for not keeping up on important things like wishing my sweet daughter Katie a HAPPY 25th BIRTHDAY on February 20. But hey, I actually celebrated WITH her even though she lives 1,000 miles from me because I flew to Florida and SURPRISED her! It was pretty dang fun, great to be with her and oh, the weather wasn't too shabby either. I decided and booked my flights on Monday February 16 and flew on the 19th .... so it's been kind of a whirlwind.

In trying to travel ever so lightly, I didn't even take my camera and relied on my phone which felt like leaving my toothbrush or some other important item behind. Bah.

So I took this photo a year and a half ago, Katie with my granddaughters Ari and Ashlyn. It's one of my favorites. Katie's a family girl.

We had a fun few days eating out, talking, beach, getting yummy produce at her local stand, visiting friends the Hudsons and Lipmans, and on the spur of the moment going to a Rend Collective (I didn't know, either: it's a band)/ 10th Avenue North / Chris Tomlin concert in Miami. The drive to Miami took two hours on Friday afternoon, what did we expect? Insane. But it was a good concert, very worshipful!

Anyway. I love this photo and I love Katie ... the sweetest-spirited person I know. I can't believe my little girl is a young woman. How did that happen? Happy birthday, Katie! I miss you.

And ... after this winter that we're still enduring, I would hop back to Florida in a moment to soak up some sun with Katie. I heard it's the coldest in 25 years, which is how long we've lived here. We had 7" of snow yesterday. The piles from our shoveling by the driveway are getting very high and everyone's ready for spring. Which, no, doesn't come in March in Ohio!

Alright, letting this be the end. But I have some really BIG and fun news that most of you probably already know but I can't wait to write about it. Stay tuned!

happy birthday, Pat!

 

My big brother Pat's birthday is today.

Happy birthday, brother.

You always looked out for me

and I admired you something fierce.

When we were kids,

 you were smart, caring, and a great example to me.

(Even if you did show me how to hitch hike on

Martha's Vineyard.)

 

Have a special day!

I love you.

 

 

 

 

 

Lily's turning 3!

 

The recent weeks have been a little rough,

but then the Haller birthdays roll around and

I'm reminded how incredibly blessed I am by my family.

Never would I have dreamed to have 7 grandchildren in 5 years!

It's pretty awesome.

 

So today, Lily Jane turns three!

I was inadvertently present at her birth and

what a tiny treasure she was!

 

Now Lily is a fun-loving little girl who loves puzzles and books

and walking to the park to play or being outside. 

Love, love playing and reading with her!

 

 

It's awful living so far apart, but makes our reunions that much sweeter.

Wishing Lily Jane a special, wonder-filled birthday.

Love you, sweet girl.

 



 

Thank you, God, for grandchildren.



happy birthday, Mark!

on his wedding day ~ August 1, 2009

Today is my son Mark's 27th birthday.
We've been with him on his birthday for the last several years (partly because
his daughter Lily's birthday is tomorrow: three years ago Jill was in labor
on Mark's birthday) ... but not this year.
Here's a birthday acrostic:

 

M - man-boy. It's a familiar family story, how from a very early age Mark loved to work. At about 6 years old, he volunteered to help Taylor, a neighbor, erect a stone wall. Taylor sent Mark home for a lunch break but Mark was back at Taylor's door in 15 minutes, ready to work. The boy just wanted to grow up quickly!

 

A - Amiable. He was such a shy little boy. And though still kind of quiet, Mark gets along well with people: his job requires it. I always told our kids, learn to get along well with people and it'll take you far.

 

R - reticent. The guy has little to say. But when he does, you want to listen. 

 

K - Kids! In about 4 months, Mark's wife Jill will have their third baby in just over 3 years. He's a firm and loving dad and (of course) works hard for his family.

 

Have a happy birthday, Mark.

You're an amazing son and we love you!

 

the hard and the holy

Hard stuff has been going on with us but I haven't written about it because, well,

it isn't just my stuff. Not like with my dad.

Bill's mother Elizabeth has been under Hospice care at her assisted living facility

since new year's. She'd been in obvious decline for many months but

the past month, and this week in particular, she has declined dramatically.

 

Elizabeth is being kept as comfortable as possible; her care is excellent.

Many of us are in and out checking on her;

Bill and his brother split the day to be with her: they are so attentive.

But today was very hard. 

Those bright blue eyes tried to stay open and focus. 

She tried to talk but the medication has slowed her speech.

When I held her hand, her grip was firm.

These are the hard but holy moments.

It is hard to see a person dying. God never intended death for us.

But there is stunning holiness in witnessing the end

of an amazing 98-year life.

 

 

 

When it comes time for you to lose a loved one,

I hope you can sense the holiness in the hard moments.

It is there.

 

We covet prayers for Elizabeth's comfort and her homecoming.

 

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:7