Refill with Randy – Celebrating major milestones, and taking a summer respite

Good morning! Grab your favorite cup. Fill it up. And let’s start this week right together!

Hey friends, I wanted to mention up front that this will be my last article for the summer. I will be taking July and August off to rest, recoup, and go on some new adventures to write about come fall. In July I will be speaking at Highlander Camp in Kane, PA for a little over a week and then later we will be heading to Kentucky to help our daughter and son-in-law get settled into there new home at Asbury Seminary. I hope that you will have the opportunity to do something beyond the norm this summer as well.

Well, they say you should write about what you know so today I am going to write about milestones. A milestone is defined as an action or event marking a significant change or stage in development and my family has had our fair share this year. I have already shared a few with you like back in February when I hit the milestone of living in Orleans County for 20 years or in April when I officially became a quinquagenarian (aka I turned 50). Last month my daughter Ashlyn graduated from Robert’s Wesleyan University with her Bachelor of Nursing Degree and proceeded to pass her boards a few weeks later. It’s been a busy year so far.

Over the past week I actually experienced two major milestones back-to-back. On June 19th my beautiful wife Sheryl and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary (I have officially been married half of my life!) and just 3 days later I had the privilege of walking my oldest daughter Ashlyn down the aisle of the same church we were married in!

Everyone asked if I was going to hold it together and I did simply because I was filled with so much joy. Not only did Ashlyn choose a young man of great character who we were excited to welcome into our family but seeing her so happy made me happy. Ironically, it seemed as if everyone else was crying as we made our way down the aisle.

Now we are preparing for her to move, as I mentioned above, for our son to move on campus at his college, and for our third child to start her senior year. It hardly seems possible that we moved here with an almost 2 year old and a newborn and now we have we have 2 young adults, 2 teens, and too many changes to keep up with.

As I look ahead I wonder what other milestones will come and go. Empty nest? More marriages? Grandchildren? Celebrating our 50th anniversary? Whatever happens I will thank God for the significance of each of these events since I know all too well that they should never be taken for granted.

How about each of you? What milestones have you hit so far and which ones are coming up around the corner? As you head into summer what are you celebrating and what are you looking forward to? Be sure to make each new chapter in your and your family’s lives count, and I will look forward to reconnecting in the fall.

See you in September!
Pastor Randy LeBaron