In light of wanting to attempt to maintain some sort of privacy online, and the difficulty of blogging without using first names in particular, I've been trying for months now to come up with names for each of us. This is no easy task, especially when you want the name to say something about the person (which actually makes it flow more easily for blogging, hence why the effort). I am finally ready (or as ready as I can be) to introduce you to our family. I shall do so briefly now and I will elaborate over the course of the next few weeks as I'm able.
Papa Bear - that's Daddy, my husband, the head of our family.
Mama Bear (aka Shiloh)- that's me
Patience - our 10-year old daughter, the eldest of our four children. The dictionary describes patience as the quality or habit of being patient which in turn can be defined as bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint; manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain, not hasty or impetuous; steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity. Interestingly patience is not only a virtue, it is derived from the Latin root pati which means to suffer.
Andante - our 9-year old son and our true "middle" child. Andante is a musical term which means moderately slow, flowing along. This is certainly the tempo of this child's personality and behavior, described perfectly by this word. I'll probably call him Dante for short (it flows more easily and since he's so easy-going, it fits better). He is deliberate, thoughtful, cheerful, and moves at a slow and steady pace in all he does, much like the tortoise in The Tortoise and the Hare. Incidentally, the name Dante (as in he who wrote The Divine Comedy and The Inferno), comes from the name Durante, which means enduring - also a quality of this particular child.
Constance - our 5-year old daughter. Another virtue of sorts, this name is derived from Latin constans, to stand firm, to be consistent. It is the quality of being constant, which means to be marked by firm steadfast resolution or faithfulness : exhibiting constancy of mind or attachment.
Vivace - our 3-year old son and the youngest. Also a musical term, it's an Italian word that means lively or energetic. He is indeed vivacious - full of life and a delight to us all.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
A Sad Day
My friend died today. It’s been a long time coming but the reality of it is numbing. Last night, knowing it wouldn’t be long, I was thinking about and praying for her and her family. It struck me that I’d never see her smile again. That was a difficult thought.
What I remember most about her was her life, her vivacity, her passion and her clarity. To be with her was to be with someone who knew what was really important. She knew that “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” And she lived it. Diagnosed with breast cancer of a very aggressive variety over 8 years ago, she knew in a way I find difficult to remember in the daily grind, that we’re all dying. Some get an idea of when it’s coming, as in her case, but biblically it seems we need to live with our death in view in some strange way (tho' not morbidly), for it impacts greatly how we live our life now.
My friend lived a life full of hope, even in the face of death, nasty thing that it is. It may be appointed to man once to die, and then the judgement, but those who love the Lord and who have life in Jesus through the cross know that the grave may be necessary and inevitable, but it is not the end. She gave an inspiring Christmas message a couple years ago entitled “All I want for Christmas is Easter.” The baby of Christmas was born to die years later for the sins of men - the cross of Easter was part of the Father's plan - and so was the victory over death and sin and the grave in the resurrection. The story isn't about a baby; it's about God and his love and his power; we can trust in our Father through all life brings. I have a copy of this still and know right where it is; no doubt I’ll listen to it again soon. She knew what she wanted was life that could not be taken away and she pursued it – and a relationship with the one true God who could give it to her - with all her heart.
It is my hope that this sad day will be but a seed in my own life to encourage me to pursue that same God. He is the giver of life, the savior of my soul, the gracious one who forgives the undeserving, the one who loves perfectly as I Corinthians 13 describes, the one who gives hope that does not disappoint, and who enables true and lasting peace that passes all understanding in any and all circumstances, even death. He has done all this for her, and brought it to completion this very day. Her earthly life is over and for me today this is definitely sad. But my sadness is but temporary. I rejoice that her suffering is truly over and she is with her heavenly Father in glory, alive forever. It is a "happily ever after" ending, and that is so good and so encouraging and gives me such hope. In my own life; he has done and is doing the same for me as well, and someday will bring my story to a happily ever after completion as well.
May I run the race so as to win the prize, and may I like my dear friend spur others on to do the same. May we run like the wind and live dangerously alive in Christ, knowing that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus…
P.S. Her obituary, which she penned herself, is worth reading.
What I remember most about her was her life, her vivacity, her passion and her clarity. To be with her was to be with someone who knew what was really important. She knew that “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” And she lived it. Diagnosed with breast cancer of a very aggressive variety over 8 years ago, she knew in a way I find difficult to remember in the daily grind, that we’re all dying. Some get an idea of when it’s coming, as in her case, but biblically it seems we need to live with our death in view in some strange way (tho' not morbidly), for it impacts greatly how we live our life now.
My friend lived a life full of hope, even in the face of death, nasty thing that it is. It may be appointed to man once to die, and then the judgement, but those who love the Lord and who have life in Jesus through the cross know that the grave may be necessary and inevitable, but it is not the end. She gave an inspiring Christmas message a couple years ago entitled “All I want for Christmas is Easter.” The baby of Christmas was born to die years later for the sins of men - the cross of Easter was part of the Father's plan - and so was the victory over death and sin and the grave in the resurrection. The story isn't about a baby; it's about God and his love and his power; we can trust in our Father through all life brings. I have a copy of this still and know right where it is; no doubt I’ll listen to it again soon. She knew what she wanted was life that could not be taken away and she pursued it – and a relationship with the one true God who could give it to her - with all her heart.
It is my hope that this sad day will be but a seed in my own life to encourage me to pursue that same God. He is the giver of life, the savior of my soul, the gracious one who forgives the undeserving, the one who loves perfectly as I Corinthians 13 describes, the one who gives hope that does not disappoint, and who enables true and lasting peace that passes all understanding in any and all circumstances, even death. He has done all this for her, and brought it to completion this very day. Her earthly life is over and for me today this is definitely sad. But my sadness is but temporary. I rejoice that her suffering is truly over and she is with her heavenly Father in glory, alive forever. It is a "happily ever after" ending, and that is so good and so encouraging and gives me such hope. In my own life; he has done and is doing the same for me as well, and someday will bring my story to a happily ever after completion as well.
May I run the race so as to win the prize, and may I like my dear friend spur others on to do the same. May we run like the wind and live dangerously alive in Christ, knowing that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus…
P.S. Her obituary, which she penned herself, is worth reading.
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