Busy, Busy, Busy

Busy, Busy, Busy

by | Jul 28, 2009 | Family

Did the gap between blog posts have you wondering if the Philos took a wrong turn on vacation and disappeared? Well, rest assured we arrived in southwestern Washington exactly as planned. During our three day stay, we relished civilization’s fast, reliable internet service, indoor plumbing, normal beds and no Idaho dust gumming up the works.

And we relished our time with two grandnieces, ages 5 and 2, and two grandnephews,1 1/2-year-old twin boys. As you can imagine, the weekend was very, very, very, very busy. I could be a very or two short, but you get the gist.

The weekend was also a shocking revelation of how much my life has changed since 2003, the last year I lived in Kidland, after raising two children and teaching elementary school for twenty-five years. But with my kiddos being young adults, no more volunteering in the church nursery because of my back, and being out of the classroom for six years, I’d kinda forgotten how active and utterly delightful little people are.

This past weekend refreshed my memory on all fronts. I enjoyed more short-armed hugs and read more picture books than I’ve experienced in the past decade. I witnessed the wonder of drinking from the garden hose, and the utter tragedy of being told no by an adult who doesn’t understand how important it is to go outside right now, right now, right now.

Now that we’re back in Iowa, it’s quiet enough to peck out a blog post, an exercise frequently interrupted during the weekend by important activities like exploring a creek, digging potatoes, jingling wind chimes, harassing dogs, and smearing yogurt on the tablecloth. My office is silent, but I still see in their four sweet, young faces, reminders of the children their parents were, hints of their grandparents’ personalities, and the history of our family living in a new, very busy, very young generation.

I could use a short-armed hug right about now.

The Difference a Phone Call Makes

The Difference a Phone Call Makes

by | Dec 1, 2008 | Family

Yesterday’s snowfall changed the look of my gravel road yesterday. But the changes wrought by the snowfall was nothing compared to the changes wrought by a series of phone calls yesterday and today.

The first phone call was from the Father at the monastery saying our monk had flown the coop, but that Allen had called and was returning. This morning’s phone call said he’d gotten back safely. The next call was from Allen himself, saying he wants to leave the monastery and seek counseling for what he’s finally acknowledged is post traumatic stress syndrome (caused by the medical trauma experienced from his birth through age five).

So tomorrow, I’m driving to West Virginia to pick up our young adult son. He’ll stay here a few days, until we put him on a plane for Walla Walla and his Philo relatives. He’ll receive treatment there. Once he’s completed that, he can decide about the monastery and his future.

Blog entries will be sparse until I return, so be patient. And pray for us, please – for safe travel, for good car conversation, for Hiram as he waits for us to return, for Anne’s clear head as she deals with this and finals, for our boy’s healing – along with praise for Allen’s desire to seek healing and live a healthy life. As soon as I can, I’ll update you on the trip.

Thanks, in advance, for your care and encouragement. We are so blessed.