To My Dear Family and Friends

This past trip to the states was short and jam packed with things we had to do. Getting DS ready for college topped our list but also, we wanted to spend time with family and friends, get the kids ready for school/winter and prepare for the baby's arrival. We had 6 weeks to do it which in my book, wasn't near enough time but it got done. One thing I would like to say is thank you to all of my family and friends that we connected with this past time, as well as those we missed. We were truly blessed above all expectations - Keke was able to go to a Young Life camp and spend a week as a teenager having fun, Josh was able to attend a Vineyard conference with his father as well as get ready for college with the help of our church family, and I was able to prepare for this new addition to our family with an abundance of clothes, a new stroller and diaper bag complete with his name! I was floored when my mom's friends had a celebration of life party for me and I received a wonderful new bracelet to commemorate my baby's birth as well as being able to add charms to it. I was surprised to see old friends from our church and such at an impromptu baby shower. We were given a house to stay in Florida while we were there getting Josh ready for college thanks to my friend Tracy (as well as many breakfasts, dinners, laundry etc... the list goes on and on). We had good friends, Janette and Collin move us in a time of need to another house in the middle of a rain storm. My friends Liz and Freddie fed us and fixed my computer so it doesn't overheat anymore. I was able to experience the youth reach out to my son. I had lunch with an longtime friend and prayer warrior. While I know I have missed many people and haven't mentioned it all, don't think I have forgotten what you have done. Thank you for blessing me and my family. I know thank you isn't much but know that I love you and hope to see you all soon.

Hardest Thing I Had to Do

This morning, after the first call to prayer, I lay awake allowing my mind to wander through things. This past week, I had to endure one of the hardest things I had to do. I had to leave my son behind in the states so he could attend college. I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that he won't be here when I wake up in the morning or when I go to sleep at night. He has been a part of this family for 18 years and now he is somewhere I am not. I am very proud of him and I know that he can do this but I also miss him terribly. Coming back to our apartment without him just doesn't feel right. I keep expecting him to show up but he doesn't. When we left him, I told J that I was sad and she replied "don't worry, mom, we will see him again." But when we arrived at the apartment, she asked me where he was.

What am I doing right now? I am unpacking and then I will be getting ready for the baby. I am trying to keep busy so I don't have to think about it....much. Only in the darkest part of the morning, when the prayer wakes me up, do I let my mind wander over the things that I am trying to avoid.

So...DS have you called your mother lately?

We are here

After a long day of traveling, we finally made it to our destination. Two nights before we left, we started to pack and weigh each and every suitcase. We shopped for items that we can't get here and we packed and repacked several times. The trip was relatively uneventful except for the last leg of it. The airline of our longest flight had decided that our part of the plane needed the heat on. All most the entire trip was in extreme heat. I was wearing jeans, support hose for my swelling legs, and had J laying across my lap sleeping which didn't help my situation. I begged the stewardess to do something about it which she did for a couple of minutes and then, the heat was turned back on. It was sweltering and it is still summer! I had hoped that the plane would have been freezing since this was my last hurrah in the air conditioning since we don't have air here. But, it was not meant to be. But overall, the trip went well and we made all of our connections and went through security with little problem. We even avoided traffic on the way back to our apartment during a peak traffic time! That was a blessing.

Now, we are unpacking and trying to get used to the time change. It was definitely different hearing the call to prayer out of our window especially since we haven't heard it in the last 6 weeks. Also, the feel of the apartment has been different as well, since we are missing a part of our family - DS- whom we left in the states to attend college. This will be a year of great change whether we like it (or are ready for it) or not.