one.hard.goodbye.

When people ask me how our 2 week vacation in Oregon went, it has been hard for me to provide an answer. We didn't necessarily get off to a great start - illness and injury set us back and slowed us down from day one. But, despite that and a rather jam packed schedule, we were able to have some fun "vacation" moments - swimming, boating, picnics, horse back riding, backyard bonfires and camp outs, back packing in the mountains, walks along the river, double date nights, reuniting with old friends and exploring parks, creeks and the coast. Even more important, we had a ton of time with our family - whether enjoying activities together, just hanging out around the house, or celebrating birthday parties and life following chemotherapy completion.

Yet, all these moments and fun times were mixed with a tender sadness in our souls. First of all, my dear sister Sheila had just learned that her baby within her womb no longer had a heart beat. We had moments of grieving together where tears fell freely, emotions erupted and prayers were said. However, in the midst of all the activity, I know there were moments where she felt alone in her pain. What a horrible loss. What a terrible ache that accompanied her every waking moment.

And, to top it all off, we knew that there was a dreadful goodbye coming at the end of our time. After years of dreaming, planning, preparing, learning and studying, my sister, Sheila, her husband, Paul, and son, Nathan, were about to depart for full time career missions in Indonesia. It is likely that we will not see them again for 4 years, and we all know how much changes in that time!! We are so excited for them to embark upon this amazing journey God has called them to and are behind them 100 percent, but we will miss them terribly nonetheless.

So, it was under these circumstances that we lived life together while in Oregon. We were so grateful to be there and to share in the celebrations and the pain alike... it's one of the things we miss most living so far from family. These 2 photos depict well two of the main emotions we felt as a family, within mere moments of each other:

tears, sadness, prayer

joy, laughter, togetherness

So, an emotional time for sure and a really difficult good bye at the end. Tears, laughter; pain, celebration - all part of being family, right? Oh, how we thank God for creating family!