From my heart: June 2008

Bubba and Grandma.

Twins at LGYC Wedneday.

Thursday turn around...

Normal day at work, still reflecting on the great day I had before up at camp watching Katie in action as camp nurse, all the kids having such a fun time. I had an especially great time cuddling with 18 month old Rylan when we went down to the beachfront. He hates to get messy and sitting on the sand did not appeal to him, so we cuddled. And later Kylie, Rylan and I sat on towels and watched the rest of the kids in the water...I remember thinking, "This is living in the moment, very precious."

So on Thursday I was in anticipation of meeting with my old small group girls, now all grown up, for dinner. Halfway down Rte. 53 my cell phone rings answering the mounting anxiety I had after getting some emergency notifications in my inbox. I actually thought something had happened to one of my in-laws. No, it was Katie saying Rylan had a temperature of 105.5 and the walk-in emergency care facility was talking helicoptering Rylan to Milwaukee Children's Memorial Hospital. Could I get up to camp right away to care for the other three little ones. Off at the next exit, turning around and making calls as I drove, picking up some clothes and driving the hour ride to camp in less than.

That hour and the hours that followed until almost 1:30 AM were filled with prayer, worry and Satan's murmuring that yesterday might be the last time I ever held that little guy. Did that cardinal that flew right in from of me earlier signal me that through it all God would be with me, even through tragedy? I will write more later about how great camp was and post pictures, but right now I am grateful for the news that came in that late night call that said Rylan was improving, the temperature was dropping and he was not going to be hospitalized. Can I just say, "Thank you, God. You rule!"

The Merry Go Round

Last week had me going off to Lansing NC for three days for business, which meant I would not be able to say last minute goodbys to the next Boncimino clan to move to Asia. Yep, the second son Chris, his beautiful wife, Christa and their boys are off to live in Singapore for several months, business trip for them, too. What's with our family and Asia? We are grateful this is not for as long as the Malaysian clan is committed to stay in southeast Asia, but bittersweet, still.

For Father's Day we celebrated at church with the twins, had a great brunch with Pete's family and then headed late in the afternoon to bring the babies up tp our camp, Lake Geneva Youth Camp, to join Katie, camp nurse for the week and their siblings. Denver was busy being cool 2nd year camper so we never got a picture of him but Maya and Isaiah were taking to staff kid life pretty quickly. They loved showing us around! Seeing all the grandkids playing on the same merry go round that all my kids had played on, some as long as 30 years ago, was mind boggling and gratifying. More second generation serving at a place we love, where spiritual formation takes place in a safe, solid atmosphere. Seeing Katie working hard caring for the campers made me smile. Many years ago I always gave my friend Diane the business when she was camp nurse saying she had it so easy. Okay, Di, I take it back. It is hard work, especially with your own kids to care for too.

Camp last week was also a place where my hunk of Godly nephew served at Royal Family Camp, a specially designed camp for kids in the foster care system. Pete went up to serve there too by entertaining for a lunch time. And as God would appoint, he met up with old boyfriends of both our girls, Laurie and Kristin. We love these young men and I am especially proud of all these men mentioned here.

So our merry go round goes on and on...each day an adventure!

Kylie and Rylan take to LGYC stage.

Lake Geneva Youth Camp merry go round...

Pada and Grandma Barb show the twins off at Dad Fest

Father's Day with the Kovac clan

Singapore Bonci's leaving Chi Town

Me waving goodby to the Singapore Clan

And this is why I am crazy about this family...

Remembering Aunt Munch

Watching our balloons sail...

Pink balloon launched...

Chris imitates the design plan for the plate he made when he was 6.

How cool to have a church you can fish at!

Fishing derby fans...

How I know God is...

Sometimes at Grief Support we wrestle with the reality of God. I know He is real but I must be sensitive to the hurting parents in the group as they question where was God when their child died. Why didn't He show up then? It is always tough but almost always we come to the conclusion that God does show Himself, even in the midst of tragedy. And He continues to show up on the long journey of healing.

Saturday Laurie would have been 24 years old. I can only imagine the vibrant young woman, maybe married with kids, she might have been. It was not 5 seconds after waking that I remembered it was June 7th, her birthday. Laurie and I both loved to remind people weeks earlier that our birthday was coming. It was an ongoing joke. No joking Saturday but I was happy to be going to Willow Creek Church to volunteer at the fishing derby hosted by Willow for kids and adults with physical and mental disablilities. Pete was busy stilt walking and I was part of the farewell team. At check-in I stood, literally on the same spot where Laurie's casket had been three years earlier in Room 100. There are a few hundred volunteers at this event; the first person I really got in conversation with, someone I had never met, it turns out knew Laurie from Starbucks and was one of her regulars. This lady, Gayle, said she was inspired by the way Laurie always had a smile and remembered not only her order but what was going on her life. Gayle told me she was not able to go back to that Starbucks for three months after La's death. She loved Laurie. God put Gayle on my team on purpose.

A few hours later I am standing with Tyler, a mentally challenged young man. We joked back and forth and I finally asked how old he was. 24 was his answer. Same as Laurie. Laurie would have connected with Tyler. During the same hours as the fishing derby, the funeral of a 19 year old sweet girl who had grown up at Willow and had died earlier in the week was going on. I have felt the anguish of this family knowing what lies ahead. I thought of them many times in those hours. When I finally went back to my car, I peered into a leftover goodie bag given to me to share with my grandkids. The first item was a box of dominoes and as God would do, a small picture of a cardinal is shown on the box signifying the manufacturer. A cardinal, God's little reminder to me, He will always be there with me. As I drove down the long driveway, I had hot tears streaming down my face, sadness at losing Laurie, joy at knowing God will never let go, determination that I will share with this family just saying goodby to their daughter a sense of hope. A starbucks coffee and pink balloons launched, calls, emails and text messages reminded my how fortunate I was to have Laurie and how fortunate I am to have caring family and friends.

This a line from the obituary of the young woman just passed: "The agony of losing her in no way diminishes the privilege of loving her." I am reminded again of that privilege we had to treasure Laurie and her life.