In exactly two months from today we leave for the USA, fours years to the day from when we arrived in PNG with our five toddlers and 10-year-old big boy. Last night my friend Sarah reminded me how glad I was to be done with that trans-Pacific flight, and wanting never to do it again with quints. She had wisely pointed out that they would be five-years-old the next time we went on a massive flight with them, and how much they would love the TV and video games in the seat backs; how very different it would be! Well, here we are. Time has FLOWN by in some ways, crawled in others. The days crawl, but the years fly, my mom used to say. And God's faithfulness and goodness permeate it all.
Last night I had my first "going back to the USA for a year" stress dream. It was a very vivid dream and mostly fun and happy, but had all these elements of "How do I do this? Can my kids handle this?"
A list of examples:
- The kids were acting out. Will drew all over my lab coat and even cut it in some places! (Why I had my lab coat with me in the U.S. of course makes no sense, although it's currently at our house to be ironed. I actually was surprised to see it looking so clean and whole today when I walked by it! I had already made my plan to write our buyer for a new one, and the dream was so realistic I had to do a double-take! Funny.)
- We were staying with strangers, and I was really worried about invading their space and inconveniencing them. They were amazing, though - super kind, generous and helpful. So you can see that I've had good experiences as a missionary kid, and look forward to my own kids having those experiences.
- I couldn't find all the things I needed because it was a new place/house.
- I was struggling to get the kids to school on time.
- I was unhappy and stressed about waking them up early and putting them in a freezing cold car for the drive to school. (In Waxhaw, N.C., where we'll be living, school starts at 7:30!)
- I was somewhat terrified about my kids figuring out what to do at "real" school and in the cafeteria! "Marcie won't know what she can choose to eat!" was one thought. (Marcie is far-and-away our most picky eater.)
But the good stuff in my dream, which I know will be true in reality as well:
- The kids had new clothes! (What we wear here, with all our dirt roads, rain and dust, is almost never fit for the First World.) What's more, there was zero stress associated with acquiring the new clothes. They were just there in the dream, which is a reflection of how faithful and generous God has been in providing! [Thanks in particular to Aunt Mickey and Marmi!]
- The people we stayed with were so kind, helpful and welcoming.
- The kids were having a blast! Not excited to get up early and go to school in the cold dark, but otherwise happy about life in the U.S.A.
- The FOOD - that I did not make - was abundant and delicious!!
- I was really excited about being back in the First World. I was saying to myself, "I can't believe we're really here now!" And then Seth came charging into our room and woke me up. :)
We have a paper chain hanging in our entryway window. Each kid chose a color, and each day it's someone's turn to rip off the link of the day. Every yellow one marks a week. David just tore off the yellow link marking eight weeks. Wow!
Last night I had my first "going back to the USA for a year" stress dream. It was a very vivid dream and mostly fun and happy, but had all these elements of "How do I do this? Can my kids handle this?"
A list of examples:
- The kids were acting out. Will drew all over my lab coat and even cut it in some places! (Why I had my lab coat with me in the U.S. of course makes no sense, although it's currently at our house to be ironed. I actually was surprised to see it looking so clean and whole today when I walked by it! I had already made my plan to write our buyer for a new one, and the dream was so realistic I had to do a double-take! Funny.)
- We were staying with strangers, and I was really worried about invading their space and inconveniencing them. They were amazing, though - super kind, generous and helpful. So you can see that I've had good experiences as a missionary kid, and look forward to my own kids having those experiences.
- I couldn't find all the things I needed because it was a new place/house.
- I was struggling to get the kids to school on time.
- I was unhappy and stressed about waking them up early and putting them in a freezing cold car for the drive to school. (In Waxhaw, N.C., where we'll be living, school starts at 7:30!)
But the good stuff in my dream, which I know will be true in reality as well:
- The kids had new clothes! (What we wear here, with all our dirt roads, rain and dust, is almost never fit for the First World.) What's more, there was zero stress associated with acquiring the new clothes. They were just there in the dream, which is a reflection of how faithful and generous God has been in providing! [Thanks in particular to Aunt Mickey and Marmi!]
- The people we stayed with were so kind, helpful and welcoming.
- The kids were having a blast! Not excited to get up early and go to school in the cold dark, but otherwise happy about life in the U.S.A.
- The FOOD - that I did not make - was abundant and delicious!!
- I was really excited about being back in the First World. I was saying to myself, "I can't believe we're really here now!" And then Seth came charging into our room and woke me up. :)
We have a paper chain hanging in our entryway window. Each kid chose a color, and each day it's someone's turn to rip off the link of the day. Every yellow one marks a week. David just tore off the yellow link marking eight weeks. Wow!
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