Secrets Revealed, Loneliness Healed

On Friday, I let you know I had a secret.

My husband had kept a secret from me,

and he's usually not good about doing that.

If he buys a really good present,

he can't wait until the holiday to give it to me.

He giggles and dances around like a little boy

who is expecting to get a present.

Except, he loves to give.

Wednesday, around noon, I had just finished homeschooling.

I was multi-tasking on the computer and the phone.

I heard a knock on the door and

Beka raced to open it.

I am over protective.

A strange man had been in my driveway about 30 minutes earlier,

and I didn't want Beka to answer the door alone.

I chased her down the hallway, trying to get her to be quiet,

telling her we didn't even have to answer the door.

Since we weren't expecting anybody,

it was too soon for neighbor kids to play,

I explained  it had to be a salesman.

The knocking persisted.

I finally answered the door, with phone still in hand.

There stood my oldest daughter, Jana, her husband, Aaron,

and their two little monkeys, Brookelyn and Brayden,

who had flown in from California.

I kinda' said, "HI," all casual, 

but secretly trying to remember if I had forgotten their visit.

When I finally figured out it was a SURPRISE

I started screaming and crying.

They had video footage to prove it.

Thursday night, we took Jana and her husband out for coffee,

but it ended up being a trip to the airport to pick up Daniel,

the second born who lives in North Dakota.

My "Six of One, Half Dozen of the Other" were all together,

for the first time in several years.

Other than being puked on,

the worst thing about parenting is when they move out.

Well, I guess moving back in after moving out is more challenging,

but that's another blog.

I just miss my crazy kids.

I really, really, really miss my kids.

This is just our children,

we left out the son-in-law, (photographer)

and the sleeping grandkids.

With work and nap schedules,

it was challenging to find a time to take group pics.

The motto in our family is

"You Wake 'Em, You Take 'Em,"

so nobody wanted to wake up the Crazy Babies,

even for pictures.

A can of Pirouette Cookies became a comedy routine.

As you could see on Friday,

my house isn't clean when all the kids are home,

and it isn't quiet.

But it is the most beautiful mess and noise for a mom.

We had our own Thanksgiving Dinner on Friday,

cooked by my children.

I got to set the table.

That's my favorite part of a meal.

As we gathered around together,

laughing, sharing and thanking the Lord

for His goodness to His children,

our hearts were so full of love and gratitude.

We've already made one trip to the airport,

to return Dan to his regular life.

Jana and her family will leave today.

I will start a new week missing my kids.

Really, really missing my kids.

But I will choose to rejoice, because,

my children are all serving the Lord where He has called them.

My prayers can follow them,

guide them,

encourage them,

uphold them.

3 John 1:4
I have no greater joy

 than to hear

that my children

 walk in truth.

That's the only balm for a Mommie's achy heart and empty arms.

*****