family

I have missed this processing place this week, but how sweet were our visits with Greg and Cathie, and then in Philly with Lisa and the cousins!  

Being with Greg and Cathie was so sweet.  There is something so comforting and good about being with people you have known forever, people who know you well. It had been a long time, but it didn't really matter...life has changed and we're all in very different places than we were. But. Greg and Cathie are Greg and Cathie, and Matt and Stacey, the same.  Watching them teach the girls Settlers, catching up, sharing so many memories, not needing to explain, going to church together. They went through mom with me, and they knew Dad well, they were there before Matt and I were Matt and I...they loved on our girls when they were babies and now, we talked about Haiti joys and hurts still healing. They met some of our Mississippi people. It was just a gift. Them driving out of their way to spend a few days with us was GOOD. Their affirmations of His truth and His hand, HEALING. 

God really does give us one another to be His hands and feet in one another's lives!

We left the same morning they did, after cooking meals, sorting carpools, all the things necessary to set dad and the three older girls up well!  Five flights and a rental car and carseats and all that from the last five days were NOT easy, but Sofie was my right hand girl, and ALL of them did fabulously, even getting back at 1 am this morning and everyone off to church at 8:30. 

Time with Lee and Adam and the girls was priceless. I am so thankful we went!  The kids adore being together, and being with their aunt and uncle and again, being well known and knowing well, is precious. Dad can't speak into these days anymore...we're all just doing our best to legacy well, but being together is the next best thing.

Sitting on the river bank watching all his grandkids play is close to sitting with Dad. Going to the farm and watching happy, sticky kiddos share ice cream was like he was right behind us. Going out to dinner late with just my sister and crying and laughing and catching up as hard as we could was like he was pulled up at the table.

Being together with some of those he loved best, hugging on his precious granddaughters and listening while they told me all the little precious details, and missing dad all together in happy and everyday moments was like having a foot in heaven with him...which we DO. And Lisa says what he would say, and I remind her what he would remind her, and God's given us each other and in each other, bits of Dad and Mom.  

Man, I'm so grateful. 

We also stopped on our way to the airport to sit for an hour with our precious Aunt Lori and Uncle Terry, who recently lost their precious grandson.  We have been praying for them so whole-broken-heartedly, and I couldn't leave the area without holding their hands for a minute and drinking a cup of coffee with Aunt Lori in one of our happiest places--her kitchen--and praying with them and hearing their hearts, as fast and as hard as we could.  Crying together TOGETHER is so much sweeter than crying together apart. 

His body, what a gift, and how He's given us family for better and worse and forever is such a physical reminder of His spiritual body. When He said He'd be with us when we go through deep waters, part of how He delivers is through His children.

I just am storing it all up in my heart. Here's some precious proof.