Home...



At 0445 Eastern Time Tuesday morning, we backed out of our driveway and began the 600 mile journey to Mississippi. We woke the kiddos moments before leaving, had them potty, and brought them to the van with the high hope that they would fall back into a restful slumber until the sun made an appearance - how wrong we were! They never closed their eyes again until they laid their heads down in the camper that night, a mere 19hours after they woke! This set the tone for the remainder of the trip - late nights and early mornings! Suffice it to say that Mommy and Daddy are still playing catch up!

The reason for our pre-dawn departure was because Daddy was taking the kiddos to see the Mississippi Braves play the Jacksonville Suns at Trustmark Stadium while I attended the Baccalaureate Mass with my parents and siblings. While at the stadium waiting for the game to begin, Robert and Hannah were asked to be the Honorary Bat Boy and the Play Ball Girl! This meant that they were able to go on the field and do 'special things' prior to the games beginning! However, shortly after it began, Wesley decided to get sick, throwing up everywhere resulting in a rapid departure from the game - luckily he was fine!



Wednesday came and was a HUGE day. That morning, we took family pictures (not an easy feat when you are organizing the different schedules of 20 people - great job, Aunt LaLa!), followed by a celebratory lunch/dinner, a short rest period , and finally Mollie's Graduation - even Aunt Maura's pig and Aunt MooMoo's Maura bear attended! It was a crazy day, yet one full of SO many memories and good times!


Thursday came and we just had family time scheduled. We started out by visiting the cemetery and then heading over to get Mississippi Brave's hats for the kiddos. Once we were done with that, we headed to Grammie/Grampy's house to get some lunch and get ready to go swimming at Uncle Will's Daddy's house. We spent almost 4 hours swimming and having a great time! Grammie helped Hannah build her swimming confidence. Lil' Robert learned how to dive to the bottom - 9 feet deep! Wesley learned that when he jumps into the deep end without floaties, that he WILL sink to the bottom, and Mommy will jump in fully clothed - shoes, glasses, everything - to save him... and then we will both be inconsolable for the remainder of the pool time! Once we arrived back to the house, we learned that Grampy was in an accident on his way home from work - he was doing 77 on the interstate when a deer ran in front of him. He had no option but to hit it, which resulted in a good bit of damage to his car, but he was fine - All Praise Be to God! Once he arrived home and we saw that he was safe, Mommy and Daddy went on a date to Keifer's and Target while Grammie and Grampy watched our kiddos! It was another incredible, exhausting, memory filled day!

Friday, I woke up and took Grampy to the body shop so that he could begin the process of getting his car repaired. Once I returned to the house, we all got ready and went to the MS Children's Museum where we met with Mommy's good friend Mrs. Hailey and her kiddos, Hank and Gus. We had a great time spending the late morning/early afternoon with them! Once we went back to Grammie/Grampy's house, my other good friend, Ms. Jordan came by where I learned that she was engaged! We had a great talk and loved catching up on life. Once she left, Aunt RaRa and Uncle Bret came by and we enjoyed drinks and a fabulous dinner! Once dinner was done, Grammie took Hannah and Grampy took the boys out on an ice cream date while daddy and I worked on packing the van...

Robert's Farm just outside of Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Saturday morning, Grampy made us a big breakfast and we enjoyed spending our last bit of time together before leaving. Around 10am central time, we loaded into the van and began the 598mile, 12 hour drive home with a little something extra in the van with us...

This trip was hard. It was very emotionally draining - I did good keeping my brave smiley face on while around others, but in the privacy of the shower, I would lose it. Coming home is hard. Coming home is very hard. But, coming home is full of memories. It helps to strengthen relationships that have struggled. It helps me emotionally. Although hard, it is good to go home ....

Friendship

I have been thinking a lot lately about friends, but today, as I was snuggling with Little Robert, I began to really ponder what makes a friend. Sure, there are lots of people that I call friends, but out of those people, who would really be there in a time of need? Who could I call in the middle of the night if I needed to?

In my head, I sort of made 2 columns - one that I could count on and one that, while still a friend, they did not meet the 'criteria' of the prior column. It truly surprised me that the second column far outweighed the first. Do not get me wrong, they are still friends, just a little different than the first small column.

And then when I looked at the first column again, I realized that there were friends on it whom I have not spoken to in quite a while - maybe even since high school. But I would still feel just as comfortable now as I did years ago, and when we talk, it is like nothing ever happened, that time has stood still. There were also friends in that column who live hundreds of miles away, but I know that they would be here in an instant if I needed. Or friends, that I have called on in times of need, yet I have never met them personally - a spouse of a friend or such.

That does not mean that the second column is any less valuable. They are the people that I know will be there, but I might have to think twice before calling. Or be a little more guarded with. Maybe I do not truly know them yet or the distance between us has become too great. Or maybe their life is just so busy with their own families, that I do not want to be a burden. Regardless though, this column is just as important and has its own unique qualities.  

When I asked myself, could I make it without having friend column one or two, the answer is no. Each of them play such an important role in life. . . And each person on each column plays a different role. I know who to call if I need to vent about my husband or my kiddos. I know who I can call on a moments notice and ask a favor. I know who I can call and say we need a girls night. Every single friend is just as important as the next. . .

Lord, I ask You to bless my friend who is reading this right now.

Where there is pain,
may they find peace and mercy.

Where there is self-doubt,
may they gain a renewed confidence.

Where there is weariness or exhaustion,
give them understanding, patience, and strength.

Where there is fear,
reveal your love, and offer to them your courage.

Give them greater vision, bless their finances,
and raise up leaders and friends to support and encourage them.

May their spirit always be joyous and
their days rich and full with love and happiness,

And may they always know that they have a friend