Highlands, NC

For those of you who don't know, Paul and I decided it would be best if I took a break from the norm and came to Highlands, North Carolina early to be with my family. I will be here until the 14th of Aug. Paul will join me and the kids on the 4th of Aug. While I am gone, Paul will continue to lead the house church. He is also going to bring Harrison to Texas to see his cousin Landon for a couple days and to Arkansas to graduate with his masters in Middle Eastern Studies. I am so proud of him. It is so much fun to learn from him. It is truly a privilege to be his wife.

I knew in coming here it wouldn't take away the pain in my heart but knowing that I can cry with my mom and dad means the world to me. It is also helpful to have a few extra hands around to help with the kids. I am also really looking forward to having so much time with my gram and my sister, her husband and my four beautiful nieces. I also just found out that my dear friend, Nicole, who is like family to us, is going to come up here for the weekend with her husband and son, Luke.

I was a little nervous about taking the two kids on the plane all by myself, especially since at the airport right before we boarded Hadassah had a major blow out that went all the way through her outfit and onto my pants. It was a good thing that I was wearing black pants and that this happened before we got on the plane. Overall, both kids were great. Hadassah slept for about an hour while Noah watched an movie. Then she smiled and babbled while I played toys with Noah. The 2 and half hour drive from atlanta to highlands, Noah slept for half of it and colored the other half and Hadassah slept the whole time and woke up right as we pulled in my gram's driveway. It was great because she meet her 'momo' for the first time with big smiles.

It feels good to be here, this is such a place of comfort for me. The beautiful scenery causes me to see the beauty of God. This is where I lived after my late husband Art passed away. Today is actually the anniversary of when he went to be with the Lord. I cried last night but it was mostly for Wyatt and Leah. I was telling my mom stories about Wyatt and how much I miss him. Then as usual, I prayed for my dear sister Leah. This morning Hadassah decided to wake up at 6:30 and not go back to sleep, I have been laying here crying thinking about Art, his smile, laugh, the passion in his eyes, and his tender touch. It is here, in Higlands that our romance really first began when he came to meet me here only after meeting him in Panera and not even knowing him for a week. It was also here that we got married. It is hard being here for those reasons and yet refreshing all at the same time because it is nice to be around places that I memories with him and with my family who knew and loved him too. To be honest, the only other place I would want to be than here right now is in Chicago at his grave and with his family. Oma, if you are reading this could you please put a sunflower at his grave for me. I know frank probably already came by to put his golf tee.

Today is also my niece, Tiarnan's birthday, so in a sense I am glad that Hadassah got up early and I have had this time to reflect and remember. We are going to go over to my sister's house later today to celebrate. It is the irony of life, one moment we can be weeping the next celebrating. It will be good to celebrate her life though she is such a precious child full of energy and beauty.

Well to all of you back home in Kansas, I miss you already. It is amazing how your heart can be in two places at the same time. I am sending a big hug from North Carolina to all of you. Thanks for being such an important part of my life in these last 5 years.