Mike turned 49 yesterday. It was a far cry from last year's birthday celebration. Last year I made tacos and a cake and Mike's friend Dennis came over. This year his office had a surprise party at lunch for him...getting permission for Sallie, Robert and me to come on the job site....and then we had dinner at Chilis with the Kenneys while later the Heaths and the Lavallees showed up to surprise him during dessert! He had tons of birthday wishes on facebook and several phone messages as well. It was a special day. I tried to bake a cake but my oven broke in the morning...so no cake from me, but the office had 3 delicious cakes for him. :) I think in some ways Mike would say the year flew by and in other ways....well...maybe not so much. It was fun to go to the jobsite though...and meet his coworkers..from all over the world. And just to be on one of the biggest projects in the world. It's not something I've ever done before...so it was really neat. I kept trying to tell Sallie and Robert that this is not an everyday occurence but they rolled their eyes at me...Mom, we see cranes and trucks and big ol buildings every day......:) Jaded, and so young....(OK, so there is a huge building...the second largest project... going up practically in our apt. that they see every day...but still.....)
And then today we went to lunch, as usual, after church. Ryan is joining us these days because youth group has not started yet. I was glad he was there today...We were joined today by the Johnsons...remember Pam? She and her son Justin helped pack up my mom's house. Well, they are back from cruising the Mediterranean..sigh...and then the Kenneys were there with us, the Stewarts..and two of their friends...Robby and Moses. Moses is from Kenya. He works as a Security guard. Robby(spelling?) is from Beirut. But he was born in Nazareth. His parents fled Israel in 1948. He's a Palestinian Christian. Lived thru the massacres in Beirut in the 80's and still hopes one day... Well, you get it. As we heard his story...so many of his family killed, aunts, uncles, cousins...I found myself trying not to cry and at the same time asking myself if this was real? Like I said, I'm glad Ryan got to hear him and I was glad that this summer I read a book called Esters Child by Jean Sasson. I could at least ask some questions that made sense. This book is about the complicated issues...that surround that region beginning with the holocaust. I highly recommend it, if you get the chance. Anyway, we all came away..humbled and even sad. So much we don't understand. So much pain...and suffering. And courage. And hope. It was a good lunch. Mike, Ryan and I smiled while we were driving away... We were appreciating the opportunity to have lunch with guys like Moses and Robby...
God is good...all the time.
Thought you'd like hearing about our lunch. and Mike's birthday. Thanks for your messages and phone calls.
We love you.
And then today we went to lunch, as usual, after church. Ryan is joining us these days because youth group has not started yet. I was glad he was there today...We were joined today by the Johnsons...remember Pam? She and her son Justin helped pack up my mom's house. Well, they are back from cruising the Mediterranean..sigh...and then the Kenneys were there with us, the Stewarts..and two of their friends...Robby and Moses. Moses is from Kenya. He works as a Security guard. Robby(spelling?) is from Beirut. But he was born in Nazareth. His parents fled Israel in 1948. He's a Palestinian Christian. Lived thru the massacres in Beirut in the 80's and still hopes one day... Well, you get it. As we heard his story...so many of his family killed, aunts, uncles, cousins...I found myself trying not to cry and at the same time asking myself if this was real? Like I said, I'm glad Ryan got to hear him and I was glad that this summer I read a book called Esters Child by Jean Sasson. I could at least ask some questions that made sense. This book is about the complicated issues...that surround that region beginning with the holocaust. I highly recommend it, if you get the chance. Anyway, we all came away..humbled and even sad. So much we don't understand. So much pain...and suffering. And courage. And hope. It was a good lunch. Mike, Ryan and I smiled while we were driving away... We were appreciating the opportunity to have lunch with guys like Moses and Robby...
God is good...all the time.
Thought you'd like hearing about our lunch. and Mike's birthday. Thanks for your messages and phone calls.
We love you.
