Seems like just yesterday Alex and I were counting down the days for the Stock family to arrive in the states for their six-month visit, after 3 years overseas, and prior to leaving again for 5 more years. January couldn't come soon enough, and we felt like their inevitable return in July was light years away. We fantasized about all the things we would do, all the places we'd go, the memories we would create, and reveled in the anticipation of basking in all that free time with our beautiful granddaughters and their awesome parents.
Then, right before Christmas, our lives were made so much more complicated, so stressful. Alex's parents' health declined quickly--his mom had a heart attack, then had colon cancer, another heart attack, and months in rehab. His dad, in stage 5 of Parkinson's, deteriorated quickly to the point of having to be placed in hospice. And my mom's health spiraled out of control so quickly she too needed to be placed in a nursing home. We began to despair, and our hopes of spending any quality time with our precious family plummeted. Now the July departure date seemed to loom even closer.
Enter God's grace...and His perfect timing.
He showed us His divine plan, that despite all these emergencies, and a finite amount of time, our lives would be so full of joy and memories that we would scarcely comprehend how we experienced so many things in six short months. Having said our final goodbyes to Brian, Mandy, Lydia, Molly and Isabella just two days ago, knowing we will not see them again for another 18 months, I am overwhelmed with joy and happiness, albeit tinged with sorrow. As I was sorting and organizing my photos from the past six months, creating albums on my computer, I realized how much we did together since January, and we STILL managed to rejoice over the birth of a new granddaughter (in Missouri), be caregivers for three very sick parents, plant gardens, visit friends, volunteer for a shelter, and become members of a new and wonderful church family.
I have no regrets, no bitterness, and I do not focus on what we did not accomplish, or how short the time has been. I am amazed and thankful for the abundant blessings God has so graciously bestowed on us so far this year.
As for the times with the Stocks, here is a photo journal of what we have experienced over the past six months...
made sand angels and snow men
.
visited a magical place and made new friends
became princesses...
met Sophie
went to festivals and parades
played at the park and in the river
.. in our new fort and in the sprinkler
spent time with grandparents
celebrated birthdays
.
walked under a waterfall and picked Easter candy from our treehouse
had S'mores and ice cream
ate watermelon in our underwear, BBQ at church, and pizza out of the box...
danced and danced and danced
went to a pet shop, held baby birds and lizards, and watched a tortoise eat
made memories and laughed and gave glory to God
...and we can hardly wait to see everyone again!
Wow! All that in just six months!
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