Hi Friends,

You know on July 4th how the fireworks end in a grand finale? It’s just berserk, totally out of control? Bordering on being too much? That’s how I feel about my life recently. It has been one outrageously fun thing after another. I told Will I feel like maybe it’s my grand finale.

I am a huge and consistent proponent of the short vacation. We have made some incredible memories going somewhere for just one or two nights. But this month we took a thirteen night road trip! We spent the majority of our time in various spots in Alabama. It was Family Weekend in Tuscaloosa and our oldest son joined us too. Then we explored Alabama’s beaches and killed time until our middle son, a Georgia grad, was back in Auburn. He got back from a quick trip abroad the night before the Georgia @ Auburn game. We stayed with some of our favorite friends from Northern Virginia in Auburn, saw a bunch of old friends from Tennessee, and went for a beautiful hike at a local state park. I also snapped the picture above from a rooftop bar in Auburn.

I have spent quite a bit of time in Alabama for sports — lots of swim meets at beautiful natatoriums in Birmingham, Huntsville and Auburn. I’ve been there for baseball and basketball games too. Still, until this trip, I didn’t realize how much I love the state. It is a hidden gem of beautiful places and welcoming people.

I’ve been thinking about why this trip was so fantastic and I think there are some obvious reasons: we got to see all our boys and they are all doing great! But some less obvious reasons are that we watched almost zero television, except for a couple of football games. We didn’t keep up with the news much at all. Every day we spent the bulk of the day outside. Some days we ate only one meal but made it a good one. We got our steps in, and then some. Every day we laughed and laughed along the way. We have not taken that long of a vacation together since we went to Europe in 2000. Years ago I used to do two weeks plus in Michigan with the boys, but Will has never been able to stay the whole time. I feel like it was the most restorative vacation of my life.

Next week I get to see more old friends, look at wedding rehearsal venues and go dress shopping with my girl. Like I said, it’s a lot like that last 30 seconds of fireworks: totally out of control!

Truly, I have no reason to believe I’m in my last days. I am not the thinnest person but I am extremely strong and active. We eat pretty healthy too. But I am not promised another breath and neither are you. I think it’s beneficial to acknowledge that. Maybe your current season is full of hard things, and the days feel long and discouraging. Or maybe you are somewhere in between. But wherever we are, the truth is we need to know what happens when we die, because none of us is getting out of here alive.

I remember overhearing a conversation decades ago at a Chick-Fil-A play area. One woman was telling another woman how she’s a good person, how if there is a heaven she’ll surely be welcomed in. I honestly felt sick about it. How could anyone think they deserve heaven? I am all for life on earth being ruled on the merits. But when I die, I know my most righteous of deeds, which are few, are like filthy rags compared to a Holy and Perfect God. I have zero chance of being with Him for eternity on merit. No, my only hope is Jesus and His robe of righteousness.

For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:3-4

Praying that my friends will not be ignorant of God’s righteousness, and that they would believe in Christ, whether it’s the grand finale or not.

Love to YOU,

Kristie