I am home again in Alabama….arriving home around 10 p.m. after leaving the hotel by 9 a.m., the day was long. Leaving the hotel I was glad to see a friend of my friends for just a moment, then headed on to pick up the children from their father at his parents. Their father’s wedding had gone well and beautifully from all accounts and they were ready to load up and come home. We detoured South for another 1.5 hours to see my father and his wife for lunch, then headed on back North to home.
A million emotions were with me all weekend. Emotions from being happy that my children’s father has found someone to share his life with to fighting fears that this new bride will change once again the dynamics of how our children are shared….to really being disappointed that I have a lot less hair than I began the weekend with….to being thrilled at a few moments to shop and find great bargains along the route. There was tension of the unknown as I was with the Bride and Groom Sunday morning at his parent’s home, and more tension as we went to my father’s home for lunch. This has been a time of change on many fronts in my life this last six weeks and today is more of a “just let me rest” kind of day.
For those of you who are still confused as to why I am Shanna some places and Sweetie others…well, truth is I am both. Before my marriage to Les, my given name is and was Shanna…like Anna with an Sh, but since he came into my life and as we became one, he has not only used Sweetie as my name, preferring to use his name for me, but in our new home in Alabama as well as our old home in Stephens, the friends and community only know me by Sweetie. In my business life, there is a Shanna Berry already in this town and in my church, so it made logical sense to simply use Sweetie….and truthfully, I am comfortable with both. Its kinda like your family pet name and the name close friends use….but at times many of my friends have known me as Shanna for so long its hard for them to change.
Today I am saddened as one of the mentors in Step family dynamics, Ron Deal and his wife Nan and two remaining young sons, face the unexpected death of their son Connor, who died at 12 of pneumonia after MSRP set in in less than 5 days after he became ill last week. The vivid shock of that truth is still hitting all of us. Ron has so blessed Les and my life and my heart is full of sadness for their family today.
God is good, and today I am clinging to Him for answers and wisdom on some path choices I am faced with. It may take me quite some time to get to the asking part, for it seems like I have alot of forgiveness to be granted first…as I forgive others….for truly, forgiveness is the only path to peace.
