It has been about 2 weeks since I blogged.
I have been putting it off with the expectation of posting pictures from Imanuel's 8th birthday party.
But, a technology monster seems to have eaten my card reader for my camera.
So, here we are 2 weeks later & I am still without the card reader & no post!
Today I am changing that.
I might not have pictures just yet, but I will go to bed tonight knowing that I have written a post!
It obviously doesn't take much to please me....
actually, anything pink & chocolate usually works nicely! *smile*
Okay, on to more important things... (as if anything could be more important than pink & chocolate!)
Our life has been a bit nuts the last week. Chris left Monday with 2 of our team members to attend a huge convention for the Venezuelan Assemblies of God.
We opted not to go with him since it was a minimum of an 8 hour trip & the boys would be bored to death! Fussy boys are no fun for Mom!
He left on Monday & from what I hear, had a successful time there.
He always enjoys meeting new people & reacquainting himself with old friends.
This time, however, was harder for him.
Since Chris's memory was affected in the accident almost 2 years ago, memories are harder to retrieve if they are still there at all. I think he missed having his wife around who pretty much never forgets anything! *smile*
He also can not go at the same speed he once could, so he has to pace himself now which is hard when left to his own devices.
Again, that's where his wife comes in handy.
Other than that... I think he had a great trip!
My boys on the other hand, dealt with Dad's trip very differently.
This was his first long trip here in Venezuela since we returned in June.
The boys were having constant memories of 2 years ago.
They wondered if he would arrive safely?
Would he have a great trip & then have another accident on the way home?
Should they pack their suitcases so they would be better prepared than they were the last time?
This question got me the most!
When Chris was hurt, everything happened so quickly.
I left, the next day our dear missionary friends came & got them, they spent the night & POOF!
They left our house & never returned again.
They packed a small rolling bag each with a few toys, clothes, & their favorite stuffed animals & off they went.
They assumed they would come back home... but they didn't!
They stayed in the home of another family for 2 weeks.
They were then flown back to the states with only the few things they had taken.
(With our friend... but no Mom & Dad)
When they arrived in NC, my mom went to buy them clothes & things like that.
That experience in & of itself would be hard for anyone to deal with...much less a child.
But it wasn't even that simple!
These 3 little boys were left with all of the worries & concerns for their Daddy.
Would he live? How bad was he hurt? Would he ever be the same again?
We all ended back up in North Carolina & spent well over a year in therapy, doctor appointments, & surgeries. Nothing like we had put on our 5 year plan! They found out that YES, he would live... YES, he was hurt badly, & YES, he would never be the same as before.
And after all of that, we returned to Venezuela.
We transitioned yet again... several times actually since being back & are finally in a place of feeling somewhat settled... minus furniture that is! (ha ha)
I will have living room furniture one day! For now we are living it up on hammocks & bean bags.
(a boy's dream!)
So, after all of these things... you might understand how it gripped my heart when the boys asked if they should pack... just in case!
It reminded me of how we hold onto fear.
No matter how much we think we have put bad things behind us, they still have a way of creeping back in at a moments notice.
I spent time explaining to my boys that God doesn't give us the spirit of fear!
We prayed & asked God for protection over their Daddy believing that He would do it.
So far, the boys have been calmer.... but I would be lying if I said that they weren't very anxious to see him walk through the door in a few hours.
Little pieces of baggage from all of the craziness we have been through the past 2 years keeps falling out of the sky. So we pick them up, address them, & give them back to God.
May you all be blessed in the days ahead... & should you be faced with any falling luggage of your own, may you have the strength to pick it up & give it back to God.
And BEWARE:
Falling luggage can often be quite heavy! Don't be afraid to ask others to help you. It is often the kind & insightful words or compassion of others that God places in our lives that allows us to have the strength to give "it" back to him & move forward into a life without fear & worry.
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