Coram Deo

Reunited and It Feels So Good

Yes I know I have been MIA lately.  It seems that my real life has been too busy for me to keep up with my online life.  There are so many things I want to write about, but they require deep thought and some real time spent writing them.  Maybe I should begin word documents and just write a little at a time.  I know most of you won't be interested, but writing helps me to reason things out.  And I want the number one son to read it.

Anyway, we enjoyed a long overdue visit from Kirstyn last week.  She was here for 6 days if you don't count the late night she got here and the early morning she left.  And I don't.

It was very good to see her again.  She is nearly as tall as I am, and has grown into a beautiful young woman.  It was the first time in nine months that all of my children have been under one roof.  It was for far too short a time, but it was wonderful for us all to be together.

Miss Kirstyn

My girls

The 2 of us

Sierra and Ellie Mae (desperately in need of a haircut!)

I'd have taken more pictures but we didn't have the camera too often.

We had a bit of drama at the airport the morning she left. I told them we had to leave by 6am at the latest (for a 7am flight), but it was 6:10 before I could actually get them out the door.  Then Chance let the dogs out, and since they have been getting out of the yard we couldn't just leave them out.  He had to chase them down and get them back to the house before we could leave.  More time lost.  Fortunately the airport is not that far and there weren't many people crazy enough to be on the road at 6:15 on a Sunday morning.

But we still didn't get to the airport until about 6:30.  No line, so we get her boarding pass real quick.  I wanted a pass to get through security with her, but the ticket agent spent so much time arguing that there wasn't time for that, that there wasn't time for that. 

Alas, she had face wash and foundation in her carry on.  It took the security officer f-o-r-e-v-e-r to figure out what to do with it.  In fact, it took until right about the time her plane took off.  Without her.

Yep. She missed the plane.  Her dad was...not pleased. 

We went to a different ticket agent and she was actually very helpful.  She took us through all the possibilities and we were able to get her on a later flight. 

So, it all worked out in the end and Chance and I even got to spend a few extra hours with her.

We are all looking forward to the next visit.  And I pray that one day God will "redeem the time the locusts have eaten."

It matters what we do when our children are young.  Their youth is the time that we knit their hearts to us, build memories, instill values, train them up.  The idea that it is quality time, not quantity is a myth designed to alleviate the guilt of parents who choose self-gratification in the work place over self-sacrifice in the service of their families.  Life is not lived in sound bites. 

I have lived two lives, and I am seeing the fruit of each.  My younger girls love to spend time with me.  They each have very distinct personalities but we share common interests, values, and beliefs.  They are each others best friend, making memories together that will last a lifetime.  I realize they are young, and that rebellion can come even when we've done all we can.  They belong to God, and He must do His work in their lives.  But I also know that I did not enjoy this sort of relationship with my older children when they were nearly 10 years old. 

I am so grateful to God for giving me a new life.  For giving me a godly husband who loves me and loves our children and daily dies to himself for all of us.  For granting us vision, for second chances, for forgiveness and hope.  I praise Him for leading us to homeschooling.  Even with everything else He has given us, I know we would not share the connection that we do with our children without it. 

Wow

6:02 PM, Aug. 18, 2006 .. Posted by Ella

What an amazing post, Mrs. Elliott. It was good to see the pictures of Kirstyn. I was thumbing through a book that I wrote for her the other day, the memories coming back, and remembering how badly I miss her. God is faithful, and, like you, I praise Him often for the new life He's given me, to serve Him, to remember His sacrifices, and to keep His faith until Eternity, which has never looked brighter.
He's a God of kept promises.

Mr. E

6:04 PM, Aug. 18, 2006 .. Posted by Ella

Mr. Elliott, sir--
Per your double request, I have managed to type up a quick post before I'm off to get ready to pack, host a party tomorrow, make food for our big VOM event at church on Sunday, and leave Monday morning for the Hacienda Heights CI. Oh, yeah, and did I mention the fact that I have company in less than two hours?
;)
Anyway, do tell me what you thought!

Untitled Comment

9:24 PM, Aug. 19, 2006 .. Posted by DanielleW

You are definatly not old enough to have a 20 year old son! You had him when you were what? 10? Great pictures and Happy Birthday to Chance!

I'm so glad...

6:04 PM, Aug. 24, 2006 .. Posted by hollyg

I'm so happy that you guys finally got to see Kirstyn. She looks so beautiful; I love the picture with the two of you. I think this will be just one of many to come.

Miss you guys,
~Holly