the middle name-sake

Obi's middle name is Alan, after the grandpa he doesn't get to meet on this earth.  We visited Dad's grave on Labor Day and took some pictures.

This year was the 10 year mark.  A decade. Almost half my life.  Ughhh-- it's weird to think of it in those terms.  Last year I taught 10 year old kids who were so complex in their thoughts and lives... and all of what they know has occurred in the same time frame that my dad has been gone. 

It's hard.  Dad's first grandchild was born this year, and he has another daughter getting married this year....  Each milestone brings back that sting of death.  But then there's the joy when I look at life through the lens of hope.  And I rejoice in this hope of the glory of God. And hope does not disappoint because God has poured out his love to us through the Holy Spirit.  (Love me some Romans 5 and excited for our church to go through that book this fall!)

It's fun to imagine what he'd be like as a grandpa and how he would just love to take an "Obi-nap" in the recliner.  I'm sure he'd be introduced to his first BB gun even before my little brother was.

Adapting to change was the theme of my teenage years.  And we all love change, right? This concept of "change" is something I've thought about a lot lately in reflecting on how much my life has changed with the arrival of a little crazy-haired boy. I've reflected, and sometimes mourned, my former way of life before Obi.  I've come to the conclusion that we would be robbing ourselves of God's blessings by not accepting "change."  God gives us the grace and the tools to adapt to change as it occurs in our life.
I'm so thankful for my family and just last weekend I was able to spend time with ALL my siblings in one place.  That doesn't happen a lot anymore since we've all had different changes in our lives.  But I love the moments when (even though a lot has changed) it seems like nothing has changed at all.  :)