goodbyes and a good movie

So this morning I went to the Academy parking lot in LBK to send off about 12 friends who were heading to the Sangre de Cristo mountains of New Mexico to start their summer together as the 2009 permanent staff at Camp Blue Haven. I'm not gonna lie.... it was tough to do. I'll miss doing the best job I'll probably ever have, but I am pumped for the group that will make it happen this summer. So needless to say.... I needed a good way to end my day, and figured a Disney movie might do the trick.

And, as I'd hoped, Disney didn't disappoint! I won't spoil anything though, because you really just have to go see it. 

Ed Asner (who played the voice of the main character, "Carl Fredricksen") had this to say about the film:

"It's a very gratifying film for me to put under my belt because of the philosophy inherent in it: 

Do no harm. 

Do good when you can. 

Live life. 

Don't live in the past. 

Find the future, and 

react to the love that's given you."

Now come on..... with a philosophy like that, you know you're going to walk away feeling good and maybe even a little inspired! Such a great story, and definitely a new favorite of mine. Go see it!

Back in Lubbock

Well, I'm back in Lubbock today and back to school as of tomorrow! I spent a great couple of weeks at home, but it is nice to be back at my 2nd home as well. It's kind of crazy how much the gears can shift between two places. Grand Prairie has come to be my place of leisure and laziness, and now I'm back to Lubbock where I have actual responsibilities and things to keep up with. There's a time for both.

I'll be back in Grand Prairie in 2 weeks for John's graduation weekend (wow), and then soon after that I'll head to Austin for my internship at St. David's Rehabilitation Hospital. It's crazy that John is 18 now and graduating. I'll have to post more about what he's up to later on, but for now I'll leave you with one of his recent videos he created for a media tech project at school. 

blessed assurance

Well, we got the call tonight... and after 2 and 1/2 years of fighting cancer, my Aunt Kay, Dad's 2nd oldest sister, has gone to heaven. 

These things are never easy (tears have come and gone.... and will come and go again), but what a blessing it is to know she is in Heaven right now-- face to face with God. Blessed assurance, indeed. 

It seriously blows my mind to think of what Aunt Kay is experiencing and participating in at this very moment. Think of the reunions that must be going on! The introductions!! Pillars of faith that she has studied and taken encouragement from are communing and worshipping with my aunt! Of course I've thought of heaven before... but I don't know... it just blows my mind. We truly can't grasp eternity... or the true splendor of our God. 

My Aunt Kay was such a woman of faith and someone I truly cherished in my life. Her and Uncle David have been like surrogate parents to me since I've moved to Lubbock for school, and we're all really going to miss her. Even though it was so hard to hear the news from the doctors at the beginning of this month saying she had "days to weeks" left to live, it was a sweet time for her to be with loved ones and family (including grandbabies!). We were able to spend time with her and say our goodbyes in the ways that we could. I know my uncle and cousins and their families are so very thankful for the meals, flowers, visits, cards, and prayers.

my cousin Heather, me, & Aunt Kay 

at an "impromptu" baby shower at church

I really don't know who even reads this anymore... but maybe this post was more for myself. A renewed look at this thought of eternity and that blessed assurance we can have through Christ as our savior. I mess up all the time.... but I thank God that His grace covers me. One of the things my Aunt Kay left me with in one of our last conversations was this: "Just remember it's all about God. This world is just practice for the real thing."