Glad Tidings of Great Joy - Part 2 - April 2011

    “Oh My Word” came again as we all calmly went through the garage to the car and she again shared the envelope, this time with her dad. “Dad, I think this mail is for you.”

Here it is!

After a second of reading and watching and looking at each of us.... Tim had his “Oh My Word” moment.  He too shared in the excitement that spins from such a revelation!    We weren’t able to linger very long in the drive way.....  Jen had calls to make, life change to orchestrate and Katie was waiting 45 miles away to give Tim and me hair cuts.  So, we hugged, squealed, shed a couple of tears and pulled out of the driveway and headed east.

    Jen began making calls, sending texts and e-mails to let the widening circle know of her great news.  As Tim drove,  I focused on “who I should tell”.  Of course Jen would call her grandparents; just as this mail was a gift to us - it was a gift for them as well.  Their grand baby had been selected for a Fulbright.  So, I moved along in my mentally stored data base of who should know “next”....  who would be ok hearing this great news from me...  and hearing it sooner than if they had to wait until after the grandparents calls were made by Jen. 

    Easy, I knew who I would call first.- Jackie!  In great moments of joy often the people we turn to first are those with whom we have shared the most significant journeys.  Journeys of the type that transcend earthliness, space and time; journeys with whom we have shared the big ups and the low downs. I would call the one who represents strength, determination, and an uncommon depth of understanding.  If Jackie answered, she would be the next  “Oh My Word”.  And she did.  And she was. I haven’t asked Jackie about that moment -  does she remember where she was when I called?  But I know her joy was extreme and profound; and it  will continue to be as we share this amazing journey from predictable living to the loaning of our Jen with Eastern Europe!

    On down my mental list I went, calling the significant people in our family life to say:  “Oh my word!  Jen is a Fulbright!”  And so went that first evening.....  we arrived in Omaha, jumped and shouted with Katie, and then shared one “Oh My Word” moment after another with all the awesome people who love on us and on whom we love.  This wasn’t  just Jen’s moment, this wasn’t just Jen’s win; we were all in this together.  A piece of each of us would go with her.  A piece of each of us would experience this dramatic change.  A piece of each of us would journey with her.  Our lives would be forever changed.  And so it was an evening of : “Glad Tidings of Great Joy”

    Even a day that starts out very routine, can take a turn and lead you to “Glad Tidings of Great Joy”!  Be awake. Be alert.  Be ready.  Live with great anticipation.  Change will find you, even if you hide from it.  Joy can fill even the deepest of cracks.  HOLD ON!  Life is unfolding itself one moment at a time, one joy at a time!

“Oh my word” - Jen is a Fulbright.