And he is off!
We sent Chris off this morning… our morning is your late evening the previous day. He will arrive in Chicago on Sat evening and be greeted by his parents and a brother. He was joined by a faithful friend. After a good sleep, Chris and family members will make their way to Grand Rapids, where he will have treatment. His first appointment on Monday afternoon.
Lord, please comfort Chris and Andy on the flight providing peace, rest, and safety. Please prepare the medical staff so they can help us get started with treatment quickly.
I am glad we did not delay and the Lord has confirmed this many times, though there is so much to grieve about it all. Chris will miss Lucas’s 6th grade graduation and a capstone project for Emalene, but thanks to the tiny computer box we all carry around we can get videos.
Lord, please help the kids when things feel scary, awkward, or uncertain. Help me see their needs and give me the energy to meet those needs. Thank you for the people who are helping me love them and care for them.
Now I shift to getting the house and kids ready. Less than 10 days ago we had only intended to be gone for 9 weeks. Now we trust God’s plan but realize it will be much longer than 9 weeks. I know I don’t have to leave the house perfect, but there is still work to be done when you have lived somewhere for 13 years.
Lord, help my brain remember the important points, ask for help, and get the important things finished.
Yes, it has been 13 years in one house, this is a rare thing for people in our situation. It has been a blessing of stability for our little global travelers. We may look “normal” in the US, but after 13 years of being abroad we often feel far from “normal” in the US. While this return to the US is necessary it will also be a significant growing opportunity for the kids to get to know their passport country and soak in family relationships.
Lord, you were a global nomad when you were a child. You know our fears, challenges, and will meet us in our need.
One child asked if we were ever going to return to Thailand, their home. We shared, “everyone leaves eventually”. They know we are guests in Thailand, no one holds a Thai passport. We communicated that while we would like to return in January we need to follow what the medical professionals advise. We promised we would do whatever we could to allow them to return, be it for many years or a visit. We don’t want them leaving with the burden that they may never come back.
Lord, you hold all our burdens, all of our questions. They are not burdens or problems to you. You are strong and you will be our strength.