well, well

Well, it' been so long I almost forgot my blog's address. Let me explain the silence.

First, I was home in winter wonderland-family time-up the river-soup and chocolate-candlelight servce- BFFS - familiarty-iowa-beautiful land for two weeks for Christmas. What a sweet sweet time I did have.

Then, I got back Sunday night with big plans to be very productive and get all the things crossed off my list. Funny how we try to make plans like that right. Then, so unexpectedly life was turned upside down. I got a call at 9:00 on Monday evening that changed the course of the next two weeks. One of our moms, a mother of 9, that lived just three doors down from me had passed away. Suddenly that to do list and those grand intetions no longer mattered. Sandra Sanders, mother of Deonna, Demetrius, Dion, Courntey, Taylor, Terry, Ashley, Angel (the twins), and Krissie had suffered a grand asthma attack and passed away. It was tragic, it was breath taking and it began a two week process of questions, wonering, tears, laughter, and kids- lots of kids.

I headed out for Grand Rapids at midnight to get Courntey and got back at 4 and picked up Taylor. The 4 younger ones were safely tucked in at Dana's, and soon Court and Taylor were snuggled in my bed too. These were the housing arrangements for the next two weeks and I quickly understood why we live here and what it means to love the orphan. Sandra was sick, but yet this was still a shock and so confusing for her children. Yet, because of her illness and other issues it was so clear to us that the kids were each others support system and when the six of them were together they had a ball. There were good times and bad but overall incredible amounts of loving support around them.

Love looked like giving up my bed and opening up my home, loading the dishwasher one more time, waking up before I would normally wake up to get kids to school, tirelessly trying to be focused and trying to get my job done when my thoughts drifted to these precious children, the smell of the pressing comb on the stove yet one more time, the laughter of two beautiful girls that have let me be a part of their life, laughter through tears as we remembered San and her famous phrase, "you fail to realize...", the meals shared around Dana's dinner table provided by loving hands with incredibly strong children, and teamwork that brought on success.

So, as i sit her tonight and anticipate sleeping in my own bed after really 4 weeks, and the silence sets in I realiz that i am so blessed to live here and again be part of the lives of theses families I call my neighbors. Courtney is back in Grand Rapids and the younger five are safely living with their aunt and uncle in the suburbs and though a long road of transition is ahead the future is bright for these beautiful kids. We will miss them, but know this is what is best for them all and will continue to pray for this new family of 9 and the elder 4 children. Please join me in praying.

(also, thanks for all the love and support from my friends and family as well. i sometimes feel so out of my league in this life but can wake up each morning thanks for the love and support I receive from so many, y'all are the best!)