Left Behind

This is how it feels to be left behind when the big kids board the plane to fly from California (the first family stop on a homeland summer pilgrimage) to Atlanta.

And this is how these kiddos looked two and a half years ago when they moved from the States to Bangkok. 

Just as loving....just as endearing...just as precious....but everyone several inches taller, they were scooped up in our hugs today. 

We prepped pool and pillow presents. We pumped up bicycle tires and every inflatable ball and pool accessory. There are surprise (shhhhhhhhhhhh) roller skates ready to be unpacked for these city, high-rise dwellers. Anticipation mounted en route to the airport. 

Where else but Grandmoni's could you have ice cream for supper? (Well, it seemed like the best possible way to transition to our time zone since the kids flew through dinner.) We'll get those green and yellow vegetables tomorrow.

The grand girls ran through the house re-exploring and remembering. "Are we going to sleep in the room with the bunk beds and dolls all over the shelves?...I always like to smell the coffee and then I know you're up and I can come down and read with you...I love it when we sit on the porch at night." The older girls remembered our goodbyes those many months ago and how my voice may have quavered as I rubbed their little backs and sang our traditional bedtime song.  "Grandmoni, you said we would probably be too big for that when we came back and we promised we would ever be too grown up for a back rub. Will you sing to us tonight ....I want to be last." And even though I can hardly carry a tune their request was music to my ears.  I made it through all four verses, three times, three back-rubs-worth! Heaven, pure Heaven.

Children of the Heavenly Father

Safely in His bosom gather

Nestling bird nor star in heaven

Such a refuge e'er was given

God His own doth tend and nourish

In His holy courts they flourish

From all evil things He spares them

In His mighty arms He bears them

Neither life nor death shall ever

From the Lord His children sever

Unto them His grace He showeth

And their sorrows all He knoweth

Though He giveth or He taketh

God His children ne'er forsaketh

His the loving purpose solely

To preserve them pure and holy