Family time

Our timing for being home was perfect and it is hard to believe that it is almost to a close. 2 months flies by in a blink and there are still so many friends that I did not get to see. On the positive side, we have spent a lot of time with our families, and that has been very refreshing. Late night games and movies, watching the kids dance with their cousins, watching football, bowling, laser tag, eating big holiday meals, and just talking about life. My parents came up for 9 days and I even got to be a part of a small family reunion at my aunt and uncles house. Sometimes, it is like we really haven't been gone for a long time in the way it is so easy to catch up. Bryan's extended family got together for a fun day of bowling and catching up as well, and it was good. We are both very lucky to have such great family whom we enjoy being with.
We were also reminded in these past weeks how quickly all of it can be stripped away. Bryan's dad made it through cancer treatments and was having some ulcer problems when we arrived home on furlough, and then he had a heart attack which caught us all unawares. Thankfully, he got the help and care he needed at the hospital and had a stint put in. Unfortunately, that was not enough, so he had open heart surgery a week later. Wow, we are so fortunate for modern medicine. I do not think he would still be with us if we were living in Lesotho. I feel that I will always compare medical things between the US and Lesotho because I always fear for my Basotho friends when they need specific medical attention, since it may not be available. Or the one doctor who knows how to do the procedure is on a holiday. Our time here was a blessing and dad is recovering well. I am thankful for good medical care and also for good dental care (I had some cavities filled, had a root canal and had 3 wisdom teeth removed, yes I am ready to be done with all that!!!)
We have missed out on several scheduled visits with friends because after all our time here in the states, NOW it has decided to snow :) I have to admit that it is beautiful. I glanced outside tonight and it was just sparkling in the lights. God has made a beautiful creation with snow. Yesterday Mercy even said that it looked like a snow globe out the window. It is exciting for her to see this much snow! All that to say, we are sorry we missed seeing lots of you while we were home, but we are thankful that we were here during a time our family needed to be together. We will (hopefully) be leaving next week Wednesday as long as the weather cooperates, and then the real adventure of a lifetime begins once we get back to Lesotho for our final 2 year commitment.