Thursday, April 16, 2009

Life Goes On

What a week! We had a surprise visit on Saturday night from my brother-in-law and his son, both named Mark. They live in North Carolina and decided to make a quick trip to us for Easter. It was such a pleasure to see them both. My nephew has been living with his mom in Illinois most of his life and only came to live with his dad last November. I haven't seen him since he was about 8 years old, and now at 18, he has grown into a nice young man.


Easter was wonderful! It's such fun to watch a bunch of teenagers going nuts looking for the hidden eggs with money in them (forget the candy)!! Guess it doesn't matter how old you get!!

It's always busy when out-of-town relatives are visiting, and we were all thrown a real curveball when my mother-in-law wound up having a heart attack and subsequent hospitalization. We've now been busy visiting her in ICU and waiting for test results. Fortunately she is at the hospital I worked at for many years and am still well-remembered, so I know all of the "back doors" to tap on.

Rachel's last track meet is today and while she did not make "county" as we had hoped, she's looking forward to this last meet. She's got a real positive outlook in that she has no regrets for not making it. She said as a freshman, it's not her time, and was happy for all the juniors and seniors that did make it. She told me not to worry about it, that she would be there when she was ready to be there.
So, things happen and life goes on and we try to keep up with it. It's times like this that I so miss the normalcy of my life, you know, watching Dancing and Idol, tossing clothes from the washer to the dryer, figuring out what I'm going to make for dinner, squeezing in time for the fun things I enjoy doing - like creating, blogging and reading. It is all those "mundane" things that really do give our lives value, purpose, peace and happiness.

7 comments:

Glenda said...

Life is a curve ball. Sometimes you hit it and sometimes you don't.

Well wishes for MIL.

Rachel, is a wonderful girl, she knows herself and that's more wonderful than winning.

Ciao

said...

I would love to see teenagers vying for money-filled Easter eggs! What a cool idea.

Wishing your MIL godspeed in her recovery.

And how mature and self-aware Rachel is! I'm so impressed. Must've got that from her mom.

Jo, a retired teacher said...

It sounds like a lovely life--family and friends you care about stopping by, an ill mother-in-law receiving the care she needs, and a sensible daughter realizing that there are good things to come. It is pretty unusual for a teenage to be able to look very far into the future. You are a lucky woman.

KeKe said...

"...It is all those "mundane" things that really do give our lives value, purpose, peace and happiness."....

They surely do...

Sherri said...

Joyce, you have been busy! Sorry about your mother-in-law, but glad you had a good visit with the other relatives! I think Rachel has a very good outlook on life, it just wasn't her time! What a lovely daughter you have! Have a good weekend and I hope it calms down for you soon!

Kay said...

What a mature, wonderful kid Rachel is. She will go far in life. You have truly provided her with a loving and stable foundation from which to blossom.

I'm sending wishes for a quick recovery for your mother in law. This is a scary time.

Mo..."Mo's Cottage" said...

I am with you hiding money in the Easter eggs....sound like you had a wonderful time with your family on Easter....
Hugs,
Mo :-)