Okay, so this post has nothing to do with its title, but I needed to get that into the history at some point. So let it be known, On November 20th, 2011, Daniel is taking 5 or more steps at a time, we LOVE Daniel (and feel a little guilty that we have slowed down just a enough to savor and enjoy his babyhood the most)!
Enough with the guilt, my mind has literally been SWIRLLING with thoughts for the past week. Some are not yet discussable, but a few are.....Several years ago, at our Annual Christmas Eve Program, my dad ended the festivities by giving us a loving lecture. One thing he said has made a permanent place in my mind for years...."You girls (he has 6 daughters and no sons (lucky guy:)) have always got to stay on good terms with each other and remain close. Not for the reasons you may be thinking, but for this reason....I HAVE A LOT OF GRAND KIDS AND I WANT THEM TO HAVE SAFE HOUSES WHEREVER THEY GO. Places they know they will be loved and helped and wanted."
So we have, with a lot of effort on everyone's part, stayed close and happy with each other....and many times, my sister's houses have acted as "Safe Houses" for my parents 21 grandchildren. I am usually not included in the experience because I live Nevada! However this weekend, I got a taste.....
Brynne, my niece, and 4 other girls had a speech pathology conference in San Diego this past week. On the way down they stayed with one of the girl's acquaintances. And on the following day my cell phone was assaulted with pleading messages. "Aunt Kathy! Can we come and stay with you on the way home....It was awful.....They were drunk....I was so uncomfortable....I told the girls you would cook the dinner and breakfast...Please can we stay at your house."
Two days later a car full of tired girls showed up and we were elated to have them! It ended up a great experience for US and THEM. This may shock everyone reading this, but as the girl's left, one of them made the following comment, "Thanks so much, your house was so much more peaceful." PEACEFUL is not usually a word that people associate with our active little family.
I was so grateful for the entire experience, it made me miss Papa Joe a little, but even more than that, it made me grateful all over again that he was my dad.
On a side note, I think the Lord lovingly lets you have experiences like Brynne's during that time in your life. I remember being in college, and having a very similar one. Right as you are deciding what you want your home to look like and more importantly, feel like, He lets you see and feel the possibilities.
Life is good! And in the words of Papa Joe, "Have A Day!"
