Family and fresh water
Christmas has come and gone, as have five flights, four cities, three train rides, two states, and one seminary. Though I’ve been nearly in tears during each transition, I’ve really enjoyed visiting supporters (there is a human side to fundraising!), going out to lunch with my favorite Messiah College profs, and a too-short reunion with my lovely housemates from last year (with the exception of Anne, who beats me by a few time zones for distance away from the US in Kazakhstan). Time with ones’ dearest people is like a fresh drink of water…sometimes, you don’t know how thirsty you are until you start to drink.
Family Christmas was rather insane, with 12 big and little people in my parents house (which used to be larger, I swear!). Insanity aside, I got to be the “cool, young Aunt” to my nephew and nieces (I even changed a diaper, folks), and get more practice holding a newborn. There’s nothing like a warm leg-hug from a toddler, or a wide-eyed little guy racing down the steps yelling, “Aunt Manda, will you play with me and my trucks?” I will NOT be an absentee aunt forever, and am already scheming for how to get quality, if not quantity, time with these important little people!
For now, however, my sisters may need to read postcards to their little ones. My cup of water, also known as supporters, friends, and family, will need to send some splashes of encouragement across the ocean. I leave for France in less than a week. That weird, transitional feeling is starting to creep in, and goodbyes aren’t getting any easier. But I know that once my feet are on solid ground in Southern France, and I get kissed on the cheek by a dozen people, and I eat a big slice of bleu or brie and fatiguer la salade…it’ll be good. God is good.
Dialog with my 3.5 year old nephew
“hey buddy!”
“hey buddy!” (giggle)
“aunt Manda, will you play with me? you can play with….THIS truck!”
“why this one?”
“because it’s broken!!” notices mom’s rolling eyes
“uh, because it’s blue!”
