Stages of Life...

On this sixth day of May, the National Day of Prayer, I ponder on the different stages of life...

We awake at 6:45 AM to get ready to travel to Fayetteville for my brother-in-law's wedding. We're traveling on Highway 59 when Kyleigh starts crying and says "I'm gonna be sick!" Michael had cleaned the truck out before we left, and there were no bags, containers, etc. that I could give her. Before we got pulled over, she puked. They were dressed in new matching dresses, I had packed NOTHING for them, and all we found in the truck was 2 microfiber rags that we put over the carseat for her to sit on. We pulled off at Alma's Wal-Mart for me to run in and grab a dress. I was feeling pretty good about how fast I had made it in and out, and then I walked out the door to where Michael was supposed to be waiting on me, and he was not there. I looked around and found him parked. Why? She had puked again, this time soaking her panties! We did not have time for me to run back in Wal-Mart seeing as how we were in charge of videotaping the wedding, so we called Uncle Bill, and he was in Fayetteville already and went on a quick shopping trip for us. :) We called Steven as we got off the interstate (knowing we would be late by now), and luckily a lady from the church had gone home to get her videocamera. I felt so terrible! We arrived about 12 minutes late and after one more round of puking. :) We did get to see Cindy and Steven exchange vows, and we enjoyed lunch with the family. I am very thankful for this stage of life...marriage.

Photographs with family were being taken after the wedding when Billie decided to be curious and check out the church. She walked to the back, and before I could catch her, she stuck two fingers in the bowl of holy water, said "What's this?" and then proceeded to dump it all over the table and herself. Oh my gosh! I hope I'm right when I imagine God having a sense of humor in this kind of situation. That's not to say, though, that she didn't know she was in trouble! In spite of its challenges, I am very thankful for this stage of life...raising children.

I was unable to make it back to be with one of my very best friends as she had to lay her father to rest this afternoon. I'm not one who deals with death very well; I guess because I'm so extremely close with my family that when I lose someone, I tend to think about us not having them here with us and not the fact that they are in a better place with their God and Saviour and no more pain and suffering. That comes much later for me. I know she's hurting, but I also am truly inspired by her maturity and faith at this difficult time. Even though this earthly stage of life is over, I am thankful for the eternal life that Christians are promised.

After the return trip to our home, one more puking incident, a bath and a new carseat for Kyleigh, we hit the road again (this time with car sickness medicine in her belly) headed for Jessieville for Erik's high school graduation... another stage in life that's cause for celebration. He's headed to college to study business and begin the next stage in his life!

On the way to the graduation, I received a call from my mom, but there was hardly any signal. All I heard was, "...just called me and ...died." I was a nervous wreck for what seemed like eternity before I got a signal and could get the message she had left me. My friend who had buried her dad today was home for about an hour when her mom then passed away. It's times like these when I question stages of life that God has us go through: I just don't understand the timing. I know I shouldn't question; I just felt helpless and so concerned for them. In pondering over the various stages of life, I am so thankful for the times we are afforded with those we love, especially our parents.