While I Was Away...

Well. After laughing harder than I have in a very long time, balancing out the brownies and caramel pie with an equal amount of hummus, and sleeping just long enough to get me through the seven-hour drive home, I made it back. Let me tell you what my dear husband went through so that I could be with my friends for a few days.

Wednesday alone was the stuff parental breakdowns are made of. I got Christian to school, but after that, Mike was on his own. He took Michaela to piano, picked Christian up from school, took them all home, only to be back at church by 4pm for play rehearsal. Then he drove Eliana back over to a family friend's house so she didn't have to sit with him through a meeting. The big kids had Bible study after play rehearsal, and then went to the house of some friends near the church until after Mike's meeting was over. He picked them up, picked Eliana up, and got everyone to bed before midnight. Ha!

Thursday got crazier. "How is that possible?" you may ask. Throw in an unruly kidney stone, and get the makings of a TV drama. Some sweet family friends, Rex and Elaine, helped Mike by taking the kids and getting him to the ER. While Mike was being checked out, Elaine kept the kids overnight, and ended up getting them to school, to work, and just to her office (respectively speaking) (Michaela has a babysitting job on Friday mornings). He was at the hospital until at least 4:30am. Rex stayed with him.

For Friday I had made arrangements for the big kids to spend the night, since Mike had a meeting in Arlington today (Saturday) all day. Saturday morning he dropped Eliana off at her friend's house and went to his meeting. During the lunch break, he and a colleague went to lunch at a restaurant, where his truck window was smashed and someone stole his computer bag.

Seriously.

He deserves a vacation after this week. I'll have to see what I can arrange...

No matter how long we get to be together, it always seems too short. I'm so grateful for the time to be with these ladies, though. How do you summarize such a time, or even begin to record all of the memories. I find myself wanting to remember every conversation, every joke...but what sticks is the knowing.

Knowing another, being known by another, and being loved anyway are the beautiful fibers of our friendships. I am so grateful for each one.

Dear Mike,
Right this minute I don't know if you are all right or if something is very wrong. I am far away while you had to go to the ER. Ami began reading me your text but stopped short at the point in which you said you were... I jokingly said,"He's not in the ER, is he?"

I was so worried. I thought maybe I should have gotten in the car and headed home right then. You said to wait and see what the doctor said. I could hear in your voice how much pain you were in.

I hope you were able to get help, that the stone is taken care of, that you are taken care of. I love you.

-Edited to add: Mike is okay. 

Today was a special day! My parents celebrated their 42nd anniversary! I also drove 7 hours to visit some friends from seminary!

We are staying in a lake house, which is wonderful. I did have to take some Benadryl because of dog hair, and that combined with a late night after an early morning and a day of driving has left me feeling like I am falling over. Except I'm already lying down.

Since I was in the car by myself for so long today, I had a lot of time to think and pray, and listen to music. I need to make time for that consistently. Duh. I'm still processing thoughts (Hey, when you're out of practice, and there are so many, it takes a while!), which I hope to share very soon.

Iwillnotforget Iwillnotforget Iwillnotforget

Tonight I am grateful for my parents and their marriage, for the best of friends, who remain so regardless of distance, and Benadryl, without which I would be a disaster.

Too bad the Benadryl doesn't help with my other disasters. Hmph.

And She's Off!

I'm supposed to be getting ready for a trip tomorrow.

I'm going away all by myself! 

Several girls from our seminary days are meeting in Tennessee. I'm looking forward to good food, good conversations, good desserts, and a lot of very good laughter! 

Today I tried to get a great deal done. The laundry is in good better shape. I've cooked some meat for Mike and the kids to eat while I'm gone. I have yet to finish cleaning up in the kitchen, and I'd like to iron a few shirts for Mike so he doesn't have to worry about that while I'm gone. I also promised Eliana I would make brownies for them to have while I'm away.

She'll miss her sweet mom; the brownies will be a sweet reminder of me.

BAHAHA!

I have also been thinking a lot about the things I've mentioned recently: making changes, taking my faith seriously (Did I actually mention that? I've been thinking about it...I may not have written about it.). I hope that once I get home I will be able to work on some of my habits. It would be foolish to try to change everything at once, so I am going to try to have realistic expectations. 

Realistic expectations don't come naturally to me, so I am prepared to face some challenges. I hope to do so cheerfully, though. 

To top off this random post, here is a picture of the kiddos a couple of days ago. Spring has finally arrived here in Dallas (it is April, yes?!); at least until Thursday, when it gets down to 40 degrees again! 

And now I'm off to finish a few things before I go to bed. I'm driving tomorrow, so I need a decent night's sleep.