The Journey Continues

I promised a blog today and am finding the tyrannies of the day crowding in already. The first day back to school for kids should be a quiet one for me. But the day marches on. Barry is running around me in a flurry of activity as I sit here to write a bit so forgive me if it's short.

There are a couple of things running around my brain today. Constant prayers for my family is one. My sweet 90 year old mom is one day out from surgery to replace a broken hip. I feel at peace but far away. They are in Nebraska--a world away from Silicon Valley, California! My two sisters are helping her and my dad (92 yrs) as they go through this tough time. One sister is recovering from major back surgery so my other sister is the hero of the day today. Both of them have worked tirelessly to care and advocate for my Mom and Dad who are in an awesome skilled nursing facility with loving caregivers who are keeping track of my Daddy who must be very worried. They've been married since June of 1940. It's 2011, you do the math. In our time this is one of the longest marriages you'll find. They are still deeply in love and devoted to each other. Truly inspiring! So as my mom lies in her bed struggling for all of her bodily systems to come back online and in more pain than I want to think about, I struggle to write.

My kids are always in my thoughts. Two in their 20s still ramble through my thoughts daily as I think of what they're doing at their jobs or as they pursue their hobbies. Son a scuba diver. Daughter a professional pastry chef (@sweetshannies on twitter!) But I am beginning to let go. To breathe into their adulthood and independence. The teens just went back to school today so lots of thoughts going that direction. First day of high school for my baby daughter. That's a big one.

Never to be out of my thoughts is my amazing Barry. My parents marriage is inspirational. My own is lifegiving. He's back after a few days with the kids in Idaho doing cool out in the country stuff with 4WD jeeps and (gasp) guns (target shooting is cool!) and cute puppy dogs. Today we'll do our errands, experience a bit of a sabbath since Sundays are workdays for us as pastors and hosts to a new faith community, and enjoy lunch together before the kids are out of school.

So forgive me if today my thoughts are divided and scattered. Thoughts of health, weight loss, nutrition and exercise are in there but they aren't center stage today. I'll tell you more about our family journey toward better health and the nearly 125 lb weight loss of the Renfros. The story of the Incredible Shrinking Renfros is still ahead. Stay tuned...