How we finished 2011

Galatians 6:2
"Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ."

A few weeks ago, a dear friend experienced the sudden death of her father. Right before Christmas, another friend's husband filed for divorce. Then, Chris' mom was sent to the ER on Christmas Eve and admitted to the ICU after becoming very sick. All of these people we love who were hurting were 1000 miles away in California. We have been praying and praying and praying for them. God put an ache in our hearts to be there for them.

So, we approached his company last Tuesday to see if it was possible. Another Realtor on his team made calls to others to cover the days he would need off (which was really difficult because so many of the staff were already gone for the holidays). It was amazing. It turns out that he never used any of his sick time and was allowed to use those for the two days he needed covered. Not only that, but we had no AWANAS or classes for the kids that we'd be missing.

With those details falling into place, we hopped in the van at 4:00 am on Wednesday, with bags packed, snacks in the car and new CD books from the library and made the 1000+ mile drive to So Cal. We prepped the children that we were not going for "vacation," that we were going on a service trip to build up others. We actually warned them that they may not have any fun, but we were going to love others. We all prayed; they seemed to understand.

It was so evident that this trip was really the Lord's direction for our family and worked out all the details to His glory. We were SO THANKFUL for our children who sustained 40+ hours in the car, sleeping on the floor, hospital visits, and being quiet while mom and dad talked to the adults. In the midst of it, God gave us time to "breathe" while the kids played in the pool at Grandma and Grandpa's, at the park with dear friends they hardly see (and them getting along as if they play together every day).


Moments of praise:
*Grandpa Craig said the kids were the best medicine and Grandma Neicy was actually able to go home when we were there
*The kids laughing in the hospital with gloves and masks on pretending to be Grandma's doctor
*Just laying on the bed with the grandparents talking, singing, telling stories and just being together as family
*Abigail dressing up in the Rapunzel costume and singing for Grandma
*Craig hugging Chris (with the best look on his face) while thanking him for being there.
*Being there to simply listen and love my friend who is suffering from the pain her husband had caused by filing for divorce
*Hugging my friend in the front lawn of her dad's house who just passed away...and holding her (not having to let go) as she wept
*Seeing her slowly healing as she parts with her father's things
*Having our kids play with her boys (who are also in the midst of the loss of their grandfather)
*Being able to hear our friends laugh while we played cards on New Years Eve (after a long day of work, continued grieving and very little sleep)
*BEING THERE!


What a gift it is to be there when someone is hurting. Sometimes helping them physically, sometimes talking, sometimes being quiet, sometimes having no clue what to do besides praying for them. Just to be there was a gift (for them and very much for us). Even though we look forward to our annual NYE party with dear friends in Oregon, this year, there is no other place we would have rather been!!!

As an extra little bonus for our family, our friend gave Isaac a huge gift of some electric trains that had belonged to her father. He held them, in their boxes, all the way home and knows they are "from Liam's Grandpa Rick." We were also given great vitamin D with Cali sun...temps in the mid/high 70s. On the way home, we were able to take over an hour to stop in Sacramento, walk around Old Sac, see trains, and visit with more family who met us there.

We ended 2011 with the kids in a hotel beside us watching the Food Network, Drive-ins Diners and Dives, while we all snacked on Honey Chex ready to wake up before the sunshine the next morning for our long drive home. We started 2012 by arriving home, and climbing into our own beds. We'll never forget it.