Homesick!

Well, we've had a few days to get over the Grandma withdrawal and to get used to being back at home. I love my home, I love my dear friends here, but Oh! how I miss our families. We had a wonderful time being home again. Last Sunday, we gathered most of our families together for the blessing of our baby daughter. (We were only missing my brother Ken and his wife Alison and their kids.) Josh's mom was kind enough to host all of us, and our numerous small children in her home. There is something so tender about a father pouring out his heart to his infant child while surrounded by a fortress of strength. Jillian was blessed by her Father, assisted by both Grandfathers, all but two of her Uncles and several dear and close friends. It is a lovely way to set parents up on a sure foundation as they begin the process of rearing a new little one. It gives you such a sense of continuity. Jilly wore a lovely dress that was made by Josh's grandmother for the blessing of his sister Abby (seen with Jillian below). I have a weakness for things that are traditional and still meaningful, such as the dress and Jillian's middle name. We named her Alice in honor of my paternal grandmother, Alice Ann. I hope she'll be a presence in Jillian's life the way she has been and continues to be in mine.

The rest of the week was a whirlwind of great times. We played outside, the kids had cousin-fest and a couple of massive sleepovers in Grandma Shell's basement, we did some shopping, the boys went hiking, we played games every night, we went to a really cool dinosaur museum, we ate frozen yogurt at Uncle Rich's new shop--Yozone, we went bowling, Josh did numerous fix-it jobs for both sets of parents, and we didn't get nearly enough sleep. I'm just going to post a few of the pictures that I have, trusting that it won't do justice to the trip. We were all set to get up and leave in the very early hours of Sunday morning, but when we woke up, there were four inches of snow on the ground. The little boys had been praying for snow all week, so Grandma Debbie bundled them up and out they went. They played for an hour or so, and we took the morning easy. It turned out to be a much better way to end the trip than just leaving and racing home.

I'm glad we made the move to Arizona. It has been good for our marriage and our little family, but it makes my heart ache a little every time we pack up to leave our loved ones and head home. My little ones still ache for the snow, and in my heart so do I. I love being able to shop with my mom and sister, to watch our nephew Jackson walk around smacking anything that looks like ball with a spatula, to have my little niece Grace decide she likes me and call me her "buddy," and to stay up late playing card games with my brothers and sister until 2 a.m. Well, you can never foresee the future. Maybe events will lead us closer to home sometime. Until then, we'll have to enjoy our trips home as much as we did this one. And now for us, it's back to the rat race....