So much to be excited about in July. My niece and Lydia's cousin turned 9 years old in the 1st week of July on the 7th . Lydia turned 21 years on the 15th of July. Both girls had a celebration at the cottage and many people helped them celebrate.
July this year brought some of the warmest and driest of months, we have had on record. One thing Kent paid such careful attention to was making sure his lawn was watered and well taken care of.He also liked a lawn that was green. So, I carefully tried my hardest to make sure it was green! The sprinkler made many trips around the yard. One day, I recieved a Georgetown newsletter and read that water is going up in price! I quietly laughed and said, " oh Kenty boy, I will still water just for you!"
As July neared the end I reflect on a few things that you may or may not find intresting...
*July brought more "lost" Sunsets in the " Canadian Haze" at our cottage.
* Lydia at the end of this week will end her Camp Geneva years as camper, counselor and high school cordinator. She has only skipped one year since a young age!
* I have registered campers and sorted mail at Camp Geneva this summer and Camp Geneva families love sending mail!! On a typical day you send much snail mail and nearly 500 emails a day!
*As Lydia ends camp on this Friday evening around 5 pm, at 7 pm on that same evening she will be moving into her apartment on Hope's Campus. She will get settled in and then start her new role as Neighborhood Cordinator. In this job she will be responsible for taking care of 6 to 8 RA's and helping them best do their job caring for each Hope resident. The trainings start bright and early on Saturday the 9th. She would appreciate prayers as it is quite an intense training process. Hope prepares it's leaders well!
August begins...
As we welcome August, it has brought many emotions and feelings for Lydia and myself. Six months without Kent. I am going to be very honest.
It does not get easier! (at least it doesn't feel that way!)
Nights are lonley, things that Kent always did for me or Lydia become very hard to do!
Everything techy or even just getting gas in my car stops me in my tracks, family get togethers you see the whole family at and then you see a missing piece where Kent should be is difficult, Sitting in his chair in the living room or kitchen is best because sitting in your chair and staring at his empty chair just brings instant tears. As Lydia moves into Hope for the final time and her Dad won't be present to move her in just brings heartache, setting up her computer or even just to grab a quick chick fil a frozen lemonade and bringing it to her on a suprise visit will be missed, Sitting in our season ticket seats of Hope Basketball to cheer on the team he loved to watch with her and his chair empty is another emotional thought! Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we navigate all of these things alone.
As the two of us navigate our first full school years without Kent we ask for love, encouragement and mostly prayer. This is the first time I will share with those in my incoming Christian School community that I am a widow. This will be the first time that Lydia will talk with those in an internship role at her internship and say my dad used to work here but recently lost his battle with Cancer. The first time she will share in her new role with residents at Hope about her life experience lately and see how it may help students and hold onto what her dad would say to encourge them. He often gave her so much advice.
These conversations are tough and we don't mind opening our hearts with those around us, we just pray that our experiences will help others who are walking our circumstances or to encourage those around us. We in our journey pray that we somehow can and will touch others.
So as we enter into the next months could we ask for you to pray that in some way as we will try to figure out what life has so unfairly handed us,and that we may be an example to those who will need us as well!
Thank you for journeying with us. We can not do this without you.
Much Love, Leah and Lydia
