Life in the Parsonage: Loved

Monday, October 6, 2014

Loved

We moved to Tiny Town nine years ago. During the first year here, I met four different ladies through preschool. We would eventually call ourselves The Fab Five. It's not something we broadcast...unless you count this. Ha.

But they really are fab. I often think about what it is that makes them...and us...work. I think it may be the low maintenance that is required. No drama, no backstabbing. It's simple really, I get to just be me. And they get to just be them. Our kids are friends, and even our husbands have become friends. It's the best.

I love how God orchestrates life.

One of the Fab Five is Steph. I've blogged about their family before. Two of her four kids have A-T. You can read about it here. Bring kleenex. Her son Tate, who was also a good friend to my Noah, passed away in 2011. Their daughter Tessa is 12 years old now, and also has A-T. Tessa and my son Eli, are "special friends" aka they love each other. ;)

I've learned so much about life, by just watching this family. They love big. They laugh, and live because they know pain. And suffering. And loss. It doesn't stop them. It motivates them to just keep going...for Tate, for Tessa, for each of them. They do not live a life filled with moping, or whining...even though they have every right to do both. Instead, they walk the difficult line of accepting what is, and praying and hoping and doing for what could be.

I don't even have words to adequately describe the privilege it is to call them friends. They have changed who we are, and they have shaped how my kids see people. Noah saw Tate. Eli sees Tessa. Not the genetic disease, or the disability, but straight to the heart of who they are. It is beautiful to watch. It's almost impossible for me to talk about Tate and Noah in past-tense. Noah keeps growing, and getting bigger and older, yet he carries that friendship with Tate as a constant companion.

Noah & Tate

All this to say: We went as families, to run a race where the proceeds go to benefit research for a cure/progress in treating A-T. For this group in purple, it's in honor of Tate & Tessa. They are loved like crazy. We (as a family) were finally able to join them this year. And it was so much fun. So many memories, tucked away in my heart. It is a gift to do life with these people.

Click on the pic to see EVERYONE. My blog layout cuts people out. Rude.

Also, it turns out that if you enter a small enough race, you have a *pretty* good chance of being a winner.

That's right. I got 3rd in my age group. Sound impressive...until I tell you that I ran/walked while pushing Lucy in the jogger stroller. There may have only been 3 in my age group. Do I care? NO WAY! 3rd place baby.

This picture pretty much sums up Lucy and her attitude about early morning running. And by running, I mean being pushed in a stroller while covered in a blanket. That did not, however, stop her from complaining that "she was tired" and the "wind in her face bugs her!" She's lucky I didn't dump her out of the jogger. Heh.