Parent/Child

 Parents are not supposed to outlive their children.  It is just too hard.  The past week has been especially difficult as we have witnessed dear friends suffer the loss of their son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin.  I weep at odd moments over this...thinking that it could so be me and my husband.  It could be anyone.  

 Today, call your children.  Let them know you love them and want to hear from them, too.  Put aside all the petty squabbles that have your family tied in knots.  As TBO said in the service this week, let it go.  Our lives do not carry a written guarantee of time...tomorrow may not be an option. We have only today to express ourselves to each other.   

 Let those you love hear those words of love and appreciation from you, early and often.  I know that I will be calling more often-sorry guys, it's a mom thing.

Eastertide 2010

We had the ultimate pleasure of spending Easter with our youngest son, his wife and their almost 8 month-old son today.  We also were with DIL's parents, sisters, brother-in-law, aunt, uncle, cousin and his wife and their 2 young sons. It was so much fun.  

The cousin is shipping out to Afghanistan in two weeks, so it was an especially precious time for us to share with them.  I am humbled by the grace this young couple showed today.  This is his third deployment...perhaps since he is a Marine, as my dad was, it is more special to me, but also watching them as they went on with living, touched my heart.  The day to day stuff of family life goes on- making little boys eat vegetables, say please and thank you, look their elders in the eye for instruction- goes on whether you are facing deployment or not. Your job as Mom and Dad remains the same, doing your best to teach your children well, to rear them in the best way you know how.  May the Lord watch over you two during this difficult time of separation.  May He bring you back together in safety and joy at the end of your assignment. May the Lord give your parents peace and a sense of His presence at all times.   Thank you both for your service as I know that both of you serve whether you are out of the country or staying by the stuff.

Random Thoughts of International Travel & Return

International travel can be very exciting, also, stressful.  The whole  wondering if the water is safe to drink is my biggest stressor.  The joy of turning on the bathroom tap and wetting down that toothbrush just about tops all things...unless needing a sip, just a sip of water, but knowing that a sip from that enticing water fountain could cause unspeakable gastrointestinal problems!  

We experienced an earthquake during our travels earlier this month.  A new and somewhat unnerving experience for us both, I would say.  Although 5.8 on the Richter scale may not phase some people, seated in a restaurant on the top floor of a 10 story building in a third world country gave TBO and me a little pause.  Although we did not kiss the ground when we reached it, we witnessed some who did!

Customs and security lines can be frustrating, too.  On one leg of our journey, one of my carry-on bags set off a sensor.  It was emptied out, very apologetically, I must say, by a security person.  

Nothing was found that should not have been there, but the mere sound of the buzzer made me shiver!  Customs, for me, could not have been easier...not so much for TBO.   He had to explain everything in his bags at one entry point.

All in all, we had a great trip, long, but still wonderful.  Home looked pretty wonderful after two and a half weeks!  

 

Travel Preparations Wear Me Out!

We are leaving Saturday morning for a mission trip to Mexico and Cuba.  I have been furiously trying to get enough clothes for 3 weeks into one bag.  Ain't gonna happen.  Clothes in one bag, other essentials in another...I will have to deal with it!  Luckily my luggage will stack and roll freely once I am in country.  Bless you Samsonite for great rolling bags!  

I keep waking up at night thinking of things I should add to my suitcases, Saturday needs to hurry up...I won't be able to put many more things in those marvelous bags.  Every time I go on a trip I think I'm going to streamline my packing...I just haven't got it down yet.  I wish I could be one who could put all they need in a backpack and carry it on...I do love my lotions and creams too much, I fear, since I have way more than a 1 quart baggie will hold!

Anyway, we're making the final (ha!) run to the store for the last minute items today.  Keep us in your prayers as we travel.

Surprise

Well, our newest daughter-in-law pulled off a surprise 30th birthday party for our middle son last Friday night!  Kudos to Karissa!  She had been worried that he might have figured something out, but, from his reaction, I'd say that it was a total success.  KT said he'd never had a surprise party before, so this was especially fun for him.

He and his sweetie are on the way to Mexico, even as I write, to enjoy some sun and beach time and celebrate his "real" birthday on Wednesday.  I hope they have a wonderful, relaxing time and that the weather will cooperate for them.   Happy, happy birthday to you, KT.  May you have many, many more.  I love you!

Happy

Sunshine in the Morning

Ahhh, wonderful sight this morning...the sun in its glory shining in my bathroom window to greet me as I awoke.  Bliss, pure bliss.  Plus, our furnace was still working--it had been cranky yesterday and we still had the power on.

The joy of being able to flip a switch and have lights, or cook, or just your basic coffee!  I now know that I would have been a poor pioneer.  I do not have the stuff it takes to rough it for very long.  I guess if I had been born in that era it would have been different, since I wouldn't have known any different, but, thank you very much, I believe I'll just continue my life in the 21st century.

Thank you to the wonderful electric company provider repair people who worked so hard to restore the power to us and so many others.  You people are amazing.  I know you faced the worst of the storm getting here, and working out in it.  I am grateful for your expertise.  May those of you who traveled from great distances to help us out in Texas have traveling mercies home and those who are based here, also have a sense of the gratitude those of us who benefitted from your work experienced.