We got home Tues evening at 9:45pm....AAAHHH...10+ hours on the road was enough!! Our friend and amazing dog sitter, KC, brought Charlie back home right away and pure joy broke loose at the reunion of kids and pet! I think the kids were relieved that Charlie remembered them, the house and that he wanted to come back home! THANK YOU, KC, FOR TAKING SUCH EXCEPTIONAL CARE OF CHARLIE!!
We had a nice Wednesday of sleeping in, unpacking bags, lounging around (in between many loads of laundry), going through piles of mail, kids calling friends and making plans, etc.. We had a great vacation but there really is nothing like being home. Yes, it was very hard being on vacation without Bruce, even more difficult arriving home without him and being here without him...I'm certain that will be the case for a long time to come. I will post pictures from our trip when I learn how to download them from our new camera.
Spencer stayed very busy while we were at camp. We enjoyed seeing him every opportunity we could. He recovered quickly from his tooth extraction and there has been no problems. He really enjoys the team he is working with and he loves what he is doing (filming, editing and making a dvd every week along with other creative editing jobs for the two other camps). He does spend alot of time in the graphics office, aka "the dungeon", working long and late hours and is doing a fabulous job! He is ready for a break, though, and will fly home the last weekend of July for our yearly camp out with close college friends from OSU! We are all excited to have Spencer home again, even if for just 4 days!
We have some busy weeks ahead:
~Pearce is in physical therapy twice a week for some knee problems, is being tutored in math twice a week, is trying to get as much play time with friends as possible and attempting to keep up with things at home. I will home school Pearce for the 1st semester of his 7th grade and decide after that what will be best for him. I am looking forward to spending lots of 1 on 1 time with him...and I think Pearce is looking forward to it also! He is excited for football this fall and can't wait to be with his teammates again doing what he loves....smacking guys down!
~Ike is also in physical therapy twice a week for scoliosis, being tutored in math twice a week and doing other academic work in preparation for his freshman year. He will be going to Corvallis High School in September...he has a good dose of excitement and anxiety about his first public school experience. Football camp and daily doubles will be starting soon. I just want his body to be strong and ready for his football season...from a mother's perspective, one is never adequately ready for this type of abuse!
~Mikaela was ready to come home and prepare for her first year of college at George Fox......but it looks like she might be preparing for something else this next school year. When you ask God to direct your steps and lead you in His will......HE DOES!! Well, that is all I can say....Mikaela will have to share the rest. PLEASE PRAY FOR WISDOM, DISCERNMENT AND PEACE FOR MIKAELA AS SHE HAS A MAJOR DECISION TO MAKE WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO!! I promise, she will post something soon...very soon!
~Most days, I have way too much to do and not enough time to do it all. Again, I think it will be this way for some time. I have to take one day at a time, one step at a time, doing just the next thing....and then juggle everything else that comes my way that I didn't plan on! I am working my way back slowly into teaching cycling classes at Timberhill Athletic Club. I have really missed it and it is very good for me to be exercising again....I just need to be able to talk and ride at the same time...please pray that will happen soon!! :) I have joined a GriefShare Workshop this summer and that has been very good, very hard and very necessary! I try to purposefully take time to slow down, be still and process all that I am dealing with in the midst of our busy schedules and the workshop has been one great way for me to do that. It's not the easiest thing for me to do, but it is the best thing for me to do!
Boy, that was an ear full. I do hope that my postings give a little insight into what we, The A Team, are doing and are helpful for those of you who are still praying for us. It is "tricky" sometimes:
~to know what to say and what not to say......
~to make sense "on paper" when things don't always make sense in my heart and my brain.....
~to take the time to share when there isn't a whole lot of extra time......
~to want this all to go away and know that it won't.......
~to be on the receiving end of so much support, love and prayers and not be able to reciprocate in the same way.....
~to be so blessed and filled with overwhelming gratitude and to know that "thank you" just doesn't adequately express all that I feel.........but I say it anyway,
THANK YOU!
MBA
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
STILL VACATIONING!
This is a very quick update....I promise!
We stayed an extra night at Mt Hermon so we could spend more time with Spencer and other friends. Just like the beginning of our trip, we had dinner together on Sat night, the kids all hung out together playing frisbee on the meadow while I went to the Marty Goetz concert...another amazing performance! We checked out of our room Sun morning, went to church together, went out to lunch with Spencer, came back and visited with friends and then said our goodbyes to Spencer and friends....it was a hard goodbye! We stayed the night with our friends in San Jose and are just kicking back and resting up for our big drive home on Tuesday. The transition into "real life" is always a tricky one and a day of rest will help tremendously....esp for me as the driver!
We have TONS of stories from our time at Mt Hermon and hopefully over the next week or so, we can share them with everyone...like the one about Pearce wrestling an Oregon Duck alum and pinning him......in a packed dining hall!
Oh, just in case anyone was curious, the DVD turned out great. Bart, Ellen and Lauren all watched it last night and Lauren, a 25 year old business woman, said she wants to go next year and join in the fun!!! Great job, Spencer!!!
Well, keeping it brief. More later!
Love,
MBA
~LOVE ALWAY WINS~
We stayed an extra night at Mt Hermon so we could spend more time with Spencer and other friends. Just like the beginning of our trip, we had dinner together on Sat night, the kids all hung out together playing frisbee on the meadow while I went to the Marty Goetz concert...another amazing performance! We checked out of our room Sun morning, went to church together, went out to lunch with Spencer, came back and visited with friends and then said our goodbyes to Spencer and friends....it was a hard goodbye! We stayed the night with our friends in San Jose and are just kicking back and resting up for our big drive home on Tuesday. The transition into "real life" is always a tricky one and a day of rest will help tremendously....esp for me as the driver!
We have TONS of stories from our time at Mt Hermon and hopefully over the next week or so, we can share them with everyone...like the one about Pearce wrestling an Oregon Duck alum and pinning him......in a packed dining hall!
Oh, just in case anyone was curious, the DVD turned out great. Bart, Ellen and Lauren all watched it last night and Lauren, a 25 year old business woman, said she wants to go next year and join in the fun!!! Great job, Spencer!!!
Well, keeping it brief. More later!
Love,
MBA
~LOVE ALWAY WINS~
Thursday, July 10, 2008
MOUNT HERMON
Greetings from Mount Hermon! I haven't been able to post because of some computer problems, so I am in the Graphics Dept Office using a coworkers computer while Spencer is frantically editing this weeks DVD....shhh, don't tell anyone!
Quick Update:
Got here Sat afternoon, ate dinner with Spencer, attended the concert here on the grounds. The group, Christian Edition, is an amazing men's singing group and I couldn't help but think how much Bruce would have loved hearing them sing! I will post their website soon. I have a funny story about me and the boys meeting Keith, one of the singers, but don't have time right now...Spencer's coworker, Andy, might come back soon!
Sun was the 1st official day of Family Camp. The kid's friends from past years showed up and the fun began for them. The only time I really see my children is very quickly at meal time, at bedtime and when they want money for the fountain...the place to get drinks and snacks!
Luis Pulau and Bill Odelmon (not sure of correct spelling) are the speakers. Bill is sharing on Job and Luis is sharing on Joshua. Job, of course, was one of Bruce's favorite books of the Bible, especially this past year, so it has been extremely difficult but equally encouraging. Luis's message was all about The Promised Land....again, difficult, but so hopeful! More later on that!
We can never really go anywhere for any length of time without an Alexander Adventure....this trip is no exception. On Tues afternoon, Spencer texted me and told me that his gum and wisdom tooth hurt really bad and that he could not open his mouth. So, after numerous phone calls and a referral from the office manager, I took Spencer to Dr Stevens, just 5 minutes away, and within an hour and a half, Spencer was x-rayed, numbed, numbed some more and his tooth was extracted. He moved out of his dorm, into our cozy room, and with lots of ice, ibuprofen, a small dose of vicadin and a little mother's TLC, he rested and recovered for a few days and is back at work. So much for coming to camp and getting a small break from motherhood!! But what a treat for me to have the opportunity to mother my 19 year old....and I think he was kinda glad I was here to take care of him. Now, the real question is, how will this DVD turn out with Spencer on vicadin? I'll keep you posted on that also!
Well, I'm sure Andy will be arriving soon, so I need to end this quickly. Basically, in a nut shell, it has been very sad to be here without Bruce, it has been a joy to see my children having so much fun with their old and new friends, I have been deeply moved by the teachings and the music, I have experienced incredible fellowship with other single parents, I have been graciously received and enveloped by my returning friends and their families and I have been reminded once again that God is good, He is in control, He can be trusted and that He is good....ALWAYS!! It has been a full time here all ready...and we still have another full day on Friday before ending on Saturday morning!
Quick Update:
Got here Sat afternoon, ate dinner with Spencer, attended the concert here on the grounds. The group, Christian Edition, is an amazing men's singing group and I couldn't help but think how much Bruce would have loved hearing them sing! I will post their website soon. I have a funny story about me and the boys meeting Keith, one of the singers, but don't have time right now...Spencer's coworker, Andy, might come back soon!
Sun was the 1st official day of Family Camp. The kid's friends from past years showed up and the fun began for them. The only time I really see my children is very quickly at meal time, at bedtime and when they want money for the fountain...the place to get drinks and snacks!
Luis Pulau and Bill Odelmon (not sure of correct spelling) are the speakers. Bill is sharing on Job and Luis is sharing on Joshua. Job, of course, was one of Bruce's favorite books of the Bible, especially this past year, so it has been extremely difficult but equally encouraging. Luis's message was all about The Promised Land....again, difficult, but so hopeful! More later on that!
We can never really go anywhere for any length of time without an Alexander Adventure....this trip is no exception. On Tues afternoon, Spencer texted me and told me that his gum and wisdom tooth hurt really bad and that he could not open his mouth. So, after numerous phone calls and a referral from the office manager, I took Spencer to Dr Stevens, just 5 minutes away, and within an hour and a half, Spencer was x-rayed, numbed, numbed some more and his tooth was extracted. He moved out of his dorm, into our cozy room, and with lots of ice, ibuprofen, a small dose of vicadin and a little mother's TLC, he rested and recovered for a few days and is back at work. So much for coming to camp and getting a small break from motherhood!! But what a treat for me to have the opportunity to mother my 19 year old....and I think he was kinda glad I was here to take care of him. Now, the real question is, how will this DVD turn out with Spencer on vicadin? I'll keep you posted on that also!
Well, I'm sure Andy will be arriving soon, so I need to end this quickly. Basically, in a nut shell, it has been very sad to be here without Bruce, it has been a joy to see my children having so much fun with their old and new friends, I have been deeply moved by the teachings and the music, I have experienced incredible fellowship with other single parents, I have been graciously received and enveloped by my returning friends and their families and I have been reminded once again that God is good, He is in control, He can be trusted and that He is good....ALWAYS!! It has been a full time here all ready...and we still have another full day on Friday before ending on Saturday morning!
I will do my best to sneak in to the office again and post once more before we have to leave....or before they kick us out!
Love,
MBA
DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD AND HE WILL GIVE YOU THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART!
Love,
MBA
DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD AND HE WILL GIVE YOU THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
OUR TRIP TO CALIFORNIA
As many of you know, Spencer has been working on the media crew at Mount Hermon in CA since June. This is the Christian Family Camp that our dear friends, Mike and Michelle Ower, introduced us to four years ago. We have made it our family summer vacation for the last 3 years and this will be our 4th year! We drove down to San Jose yesterday (loooong drive) and spent the night with our friends, Bart and Ellen Irick. We are heading out this afternoon to go see Spencer (Sat is his only day off), check in, have a relaxing dinner and concert tonight at Mt Hermon and then officially start our Family Camp time together on Sunday afternoon. We are able to attend this year because of the generous gift from Mt Hermon donors and we are very excited...the kids especially!! Of course, it will be very different and very difficult for us to be there without Bruce, but we are looking forward to seeing and experiencing what new things God has in store for us this year!! I'm looking forward to lots of R&R, being together with all my kiddos and doing whatever it takes to refresh and recharge. The kids are thrilled to see Spencer, reconnect with friends and just play, play, play! Check out the website www.mounthermon.org to see where we will be and what we will be doing. I will try to update the blog while we are there so please check back.
Love,
MBA for THE A TEAM!
Love,
MBA for THE A TEAM!
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