After a wonderful week with our friends, the Schneiders, full of trips to Sea World, Six Flags, the Alamo, the Riverwalk, etc., we had to say goodbye to them last Thursday. They boarded a plane to leave the "land of the available" as Vivian put it to go back to the land of castles, Celtic ruins, French wine. Hmmm. Not sure if that warrants sympathy or not. Nevertheless, we will miss them. Here are all nine of the children the morning Schneiders left.
Just a few hours after they left, I headed to Austin to work at the CHEACT homeschool conference and bookfair, representing Tapestry of Grace. I had a marvelous time. Fortunately for us, the authors of the program were the key speakers at the conference, so not only did we get some great insight from them, our booth was continually packed. I also want to thank Kelly's brother and his wife for lending me a place to sleep not too far away from the conference! What a blessing not to have to drive all the way home, or pay for a hotel!
Needless to say, by the time I returned home last night just before the girls headed to bed, I was quite tired and very short on sleep. After going hard for over a week, and then spending a couple of hard days working, and not being in my own bed, I have been in something of a fog today. But I am so grateful for both the Schneiders' visit and the opportunity at the conference this weekend. But the highlight of the weekend may have been when I got home and all the kids swarmed around me, and Lauryn places a hand on both cheeks and says, "Mama, I so glad you back!"
The downside to the weekend was when my grandfather in Abilene was rushed to the hospital by ambulance on Thursday evening. He'd been having problems with an intestinal blockage all week, and then his heart started acting up. The doctors think he may have had a heart attack. He's being treated for both conditions as well as for difficulty breathing and an infection they found. It was touch and go for a while, but he seems to be doing better today. Granddad is 89 years old, and his health has been deteriorating at a pretty scary rate in the last 4-5 years. He was a carpenter by trade and was always so strong and active that it is hard to see him like this. While it hurts all of us to see him struggle and be in pain, I am so grateful for the assurance that one day, my believing grandfather will be free from all the pain, all the breathing difficulties, and that any goodbye will only be temporary.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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