milestones everywhere

Over the past few weeks, I've experienced or witnessed lots of significant events. I've also missed some. Here are some of each:

• Margy and I had our sixth anniversary; special treat was visiting the Lake Home and Cabin Show. What does that say about us? But I can explain: we're in need of answering the question, "What shall we build on our newly purchased lot in Mankato?"
  
• we drove to Orlando and visited Disney World, Sea World with Adam, Holly, Isabelle, and Elise; had a great time.
• Adam has been accepted for a Fulbright to Norway. Oh, the challenge of a young father of two who will be leaving his family in July for nine months to do research in another country. He and Holly sound like they know what they're up against, and I pray they'll be willing to ask for help as they get into territory they hadn't anticipated. That's hard for independent self-starters. So all of us grandparents of Isabelle and Elise have the chance to step up and love them extra now.
  
• my boss resigned, and will be moving to the United Arab Emirates, leaving us in the IT division with the challenge of carrying on without our strong leader. My hopes for maintenance of the victories Mark has achieved aren't held by all: there are some who want to go backwards, and others who are cynical or negative about the possibility for anyone other than Mark to keep the division going forward, or for whomever gets the interim appointment to even survive that role. Too much drama: Lord, please guide our community through this transition.
  
• my adoptive parents, Ken and Harriet Eaton, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Sunday. What they've taught me about adoption! These folks brought me into the family nearly 10 years ago when my late wife, Gail, brought me home for Christmas. Then when she died less than two years later--not even two years into our marriage--they didn't cut me loose, but held me fast and loved me even as I remarried, and then adopted Margy into the family. How could I not praise them for the gift they've been to me, and others who are dear to me?
  
• I didn't make it to Telly Masse's wedding last weekend because we were at Ken and Harriet's anniversary celebration. Sorry I missed it... he's a special young man. But I can't be in two places at once. After four years as a student worker showing some of the old hands how to do digital video editing and all that goes along with it in a little video production department, Telly has graduated and gotten the job he trained for at Daktronics. He started with the group as a freshman from Chad whose family needed to move to Côte d'Ivoire because of political instability. His talents were obvious from the beginning, and his sweet disposition and delightful personality made him a favorite with all the clients. The special events group of Alumni Relations who had been the recipient of Telly's devotion to his work over the years gave his family a special VIP section at commencement when he graduated. I heard the wedding was wonderful. May their marriage be strong!
  

And summer hasn't even started! There are more big events coming in the near future. High school graduations and open houses, weddings, home sales, home purchases, new building projects, births of new grandchildren!

The milestones are flying by.