Alex's Graduation

Well I am back from my trip and I had a wonderful time. I am blessed with a large family and I went to visit my sister Becky (my oldest half sister). The point of the trip was to watch my nephew Alex graduate high school!! So I flew up on Friday where Becky picked me up from the airport and we went to meet her mother (not mine) and her sister (not mine). It was so nice to finally meet them after all theses years I had never meet either one. They were both just so warm and welcoming it was a great time. On a really special note after trying for a very long time Becky's sister and her husband had twins they are 10 weeks old and just came home form the hospital 2 weeks ago ( they were born at 29 weeks). So I was able to see them they, are not 5 lbs yet and are the prettiest little babies I have ever seen!! The girl is named Alyssa and the boy is named Justin. So then we went to her church she is the church office manager and she needed to finish up some things, so I got to meet her pastor and other staff all very nice like a big family. Then came time to meet the boys!! My sister fosters teenage boys so she has a 18 year old biological son who is Alex and is a good christian Young man and very dear to my heart. He stays with me most summers and it is such a time I look forward to. She has a adopted son Dylon who is also 18 and fits into the family as if he has always been a part, he makes me feel welcome and that he enjoys being around me. Then she fosters Hose who is 16 and the helper of the house he was just a joy to be around. He is willing to help with all that he can. Terance is a 15 year old boy that is very quiet when I was there, but was very nice and pleasant to be around. Then lastly there is Dakota who is 16 and a little more challenging but still very nice and well mannered. I had a great time watching the family dynamics and see how much she enjoys doing Gods work. What a calling? Almost like going to Africa a calling that only a few hear or at least only a few listen and obey. But through her obedience to God I believe she has peace and a joy few find.

So after all the introductions we went to get dinner not a small task when feeding 5 teenage boys. After they were feed Becky and I had some alone time which was very nice. Saturday morning Becky spoke a Women's brunch at a church in the next town. I went with her and had a great time. She spoke about doing God's work and listening for His call and actually doing what he has called you to do. This was a powerful influence in my life to stop and listen for God, not only my sister but also reading the book red letters by Tom Davis which is also a call to some action whatever God is calling you to do.

So after this we drove straight to the graduation where we meet up with Alex's dad and his wife, Becky's mom and brother in law and the "boys". Alex's graduating class was 35 kids so it was very personal and really a wonderful ceremony. Each graduate had a teacher write a letter to them and it was read aloud as they walked the stage. Alex went to a small christian school so it was like a big family graduation. After graduation we all went to dinner including Becky's sister who had not left the twins until that day! So it was a very special time for us to celebrate Alex and let him know how much he meant to all of us.

Later that night Becky and I went out alone so that we could spend some time together and just talk it was well needed time for both of us I think.

Sunday I went to the her church for service and had a wonderful time. I really enjoy hearing other Pastors and her pastor is a great speaker and a Godly man. Then just Alex and I went to lunch this was very special to me that an 18 year old man that did not feel well woke up and went with just me to lunch. We also have a lot of fun together even if he would rather be with my husband (who is like an 18 year old).

So I really must say that God gave me rest and renewal in this weekend. I felt God all around at my sisters and I needed that as here in my home it feels pretty vacant. I am going through such struggles with work and adjustments to my life that this trip brought me out of my world and back into God's world.