Hasta Pronto Dear Ones

Home is wherever I am with you

Yesterday was packing day and today my girl and her girl (and daddy) are headed back to their land down under (of the Honduran kind!) and, yes, it takes most of a day to strategically pack all the necessities of a three-week sabbatical including the Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, and ministry supplies received while stateside. Their trip home every year at the holidays is a time I look forward to and no matter how long they stay, it always flies by. What is that old saying time flies when you're having fun? They got that one right.
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Fun is truly an understatement while this little trio is in town because I get to enjoy the things most mothers do regularly with their daughters who live nearby. Like sitting on the sofa with a cup of coffee catching up. Like lunch out with a little shopping adventure. Like watching little P play and going about a normal day, conversing over how she's grown, her latest accomplishments, and ways to tame those beautiful strawberry ringlets. Like cooking dinner together and sitting down to a meal as a family. For this short amount of time every year I get to look forward to what most moms take for granted. But in case you think I'm about to in indulge in a pity party, I definitely am not. I know all too well things have to return to the norm and I am at peace with "the norm." The norm for this nana is having all three of her kids at least 500 miles away. And, even though I would change it in a New-York minute if I could, it is what it is...and it is well with my soul.

One of the highlights of their visit every year at the holidays is that I get to photograph their annual family pictures (see my Photography Page to see more). The picture you see is one of my favorites mostly because the caption is so true. Everywhere this sweet little family goes, they hunker down and make where they are at the moment home. Traveling is a huge part of what they do, and little P has been on an airplane more times in her three years than some adults fly in a lifetime but as long as she is with her mommy and daddy, she is totally happy. Preston has a room of her own just about everywhere she goes, not necessarily because it's really her room but because she "makes it her room." While in Tampa in October, as soon as her portable crib was erected, she promptly gave everyone a tour of "her room." Of course, I might add that it was her cousin Emma's adorable room, completed in shades of aqua with a Paris-related theme, so what's not to embrace? Her room at nana and poppy's house pretty much stands as a memorial when she goes home...a memorial by way of all the toys standing still as opposed to traveling from room to room all over the house and back again. She is learning that clean-up is a daily necessity. But please don't let me find a tiny toy or one of her socks hidden away somewhere after she leaves, because that just might be cause for a nana-mini-meltdown. This visit, she dug into her auntie Abbie's old Polly Pocket toys, which entertained her for long stretches of time. Oh, those adorable tiny parts! When she came into my room with a Polly Pocket necklace on recently, I told her those belonged to Aunt Abbie and she promptly reminded me that Aunt Abbie must share! Aunty Abbie is more than happy to do exactly that.

Wherever our kids go, coming home is something they all seem to enjoy. As you well know, family is my number one priority and my first and foremost inspiration and, without family, nothing else really matters. Family is the glue that holds our society together and, for me personally, there is no greater joy than to have my entire clan gathered around a huge meal (which doesn't happen very often). I am one blessed woman to be able to call three great adults my children, and three of the most adorable kids on the planet my grandchildren. And, even though I tend to be a bit blue when they all go home, I am always planning my next adventure to see one of them and that in and of itself is reason to rejoice.  Safe travels, dear ones, see you soon...

As for me? I see a trip to Houston in my very near future. Put on a pot for us, little girl, mama is coming to town! 

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As there are no parks close to home in Honduras, a trip to the park for Preston is all it takes to make her little day...

In the wee hours of the morning at Hartsfield. Only something this adorable is allowed to travel in her p.j.'s! (although I do see some adults who LOOK like they're traveling in their p.j.'s...what's up with that?)