Of Sickness and Schedules

photo credit: a.drian via photopin cc

This week has been an interesting one for our family. As with most people, we had in mind what we wanted to do and where we wanted to go over the holidays. It all changed on Saturday when we took our 15 month old son to the doctor.

He had not been feeling well and wasn’t getting any better. We decided it was time to consult our pediatrician. We were glad we did as he was diagnosed with Type A flu.

Then Saturday night came.

First my wife go sick. Then it hit one of the boys. Then it hit me. Then, the next day it hit the fourth (or actually) fifth person.

We missed church on Sunday and felt terrible all that day. Within 24 hours, we were on the upswing, although still dealing with some lingering effects.

Because we weren’t 100%, we delayed our departure for our New Year’s plans by one day, but we were ready to go.

We got up extra early New Year’s eve morning to begin our trek to see our friends in Illinois to celebrate the coming of a new year. Within minutes – literally minutes – of waking up our 15 month old and throwing him in the packed car to start the drive, we got a text suggesting we might want to wait.

It appeared the same flu that attacked our home (and many others we knew) landed in Illinois. One of our friends got sick. Then one of the kids in the house. At last report, it had spread to perhaps one other.

Our trip to Illinois was suddenly aborted.

While the discomfort we experienced is really nothing compared to what others have to deal with, it did remind me of a few verses in the book of James:

“Look here, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. we will do business there and make a profit.’ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? You life is like the morning fog – it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, ‘If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.’ Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil” (James 4:13-16)

While our plans were changed, we are still grateful for a good year. God is in control of all things and we need reminded from time to time that we are not.

It made us grateful again for good health and access to doctors.  It was a subtle reminder that when we aren’t present, the world does go on without us.

And They Are Off…

The past few weeks have been kind of a whirlwind around our house. Josiah finished up the school year at CCU and we got him moved out of the dorm. About a week later we had Sydney’s Graduation Open House on a Monday and then she officially graduated from high school on that Friday. By June 1st, both kids were gone.

Josiah is spending the summer near Chicago, IL, serving as an intern at Journey Christian Church in Elmhurst. He will be involved with the worship ministry, take part in staff meetings and get a taste of life in a church plant. The church doesn’t have their own building yet, so he gets to experience the weekly setup and tear down for the worship service.

Sydney started her freshmen year at the University of Louisville this week. She moved in June 1, had orientation on the 2nd and started her first class on the 3rd. Much of the team is on campus during the summer taking classes and working out. Her first day on campus she joined one of the coaches and a current player to pick up a recruit at the airport. She is excited about being on campus, starting basketball workouts and settling into college life.

I love the picture of Joe and Syd at the top of the page. Hard to believe that time has moved so quickly and they are not only out of the house, they are out of the state. I’m excited about what God will continue to do in them and through them.