Homesick

Recognize the sticker?

A tell-tale way to identify our car in this country (beyond the fact that there aren't that many dark blue Opel minivans flying around) is our little "Southern California" AAA sticker.

Not that AAA would ever make it over here for a free tow (though we could have used their services a few times already) ... but David stuck it on there as a tiny reminder of home. A subtle sign that though we do love our lives here, we still have one foot back in America. Homesickness comes in waves .... seeing that sticker reminds me of our old life in California.

This week, we've all been missing David while he's attending a conference in Turkey for 9 days. To give our girls a visual of how many days remain until Daddy's return, I made a paper chain (not very original after our Garland of Gratitude but ... it works!) and they tear off one link a day until all the links are gone!
The girls have been soooo anxious to see him again. Verity said, "It doesn't feel right unless we're ALL together" ...

...which led into a great conversation about Heaven. Yes, Heaven.

We are ALL anticipating a very joyful reunion with David. I can already see the scene this Thursday night. When David comes through the door, I know each girl will scream and jump into his arms awhile David plants tight hugs & kisses on each one .... like in this photo. It's going to be a SWEET reunion.

But it's not like we've been twiddling our thumbs, doing nothing and just sitting around, waiting for dad to return ... we've actually been really busy and having lots of fun.

I have also been giving them extra treats ... but in the end, these are poor substitutes for being WITH their daddy. The 3 girls want nothing more than for David to come back and they are EAGERLY waiting for it.

And so at bedtimes, the conversation comes up often about Daddy's return and I remind the girls how wonderful it's going to be when we're finally with God ... the ULTIMATE reunion. As they're counting down the days until Daddy's return, I am also counting down the days until we're with God in Heaven.

And it's not like God is having us sit around and do nothing, twiddling our numbers and checking out of life ... instead He's given us a full & abundant life to enjoy here on earth (John 10:10) with a promise of great things to come later on as well (John 14:2)! I feel so blessed by the life God has given me ...

I also like to remind them that there are no "good" people in Heaven. I have never been and never will be a truly "good" person. What I am is forgiven. Truly, 100% forgiven. David and I always remind our daughters that we're forgiven, NOT based on any of our good works but because of God's grace.

And having that promise of what's to come (what some people call "eternal perspective") has truly shaped the decisions I make day to day.

I love that our girls ... who can't name too many of our 50 States but can name many of the former Soviet Union republics, who prefer Turkish "pizza" (lahmacun) over traditional, Italian pizza (and eat them smothered in lemon juice and fresh parsley) and who, when asked to sing "Happy Birthday", want to sing it in 4 different languages ... I love that they have the best of both worlds.

I'm grateful that they are gaining such a global perspective from having lived overseas. I'm grateful that they still get to enjoy the "perks" of Stateside living every other year. And I'm grateful that David's absence has given them a personal reminder that there is a greater reunion we're all waiting for! =)