Settling In

We arrived at the airport in Burlington on Tuesday night to a crowd of 20 smiling faces with signs, balloons, flowers, and hugs! It was a wonderful greeting from family, homeschooling friends, and church family! Thank you to those of you who came out on a late night and to those of you who wanted to come, but couldn't make it. What a sweet surprise!



Samuel had to be up at the hospital on Wednesday morning for labs and to check in with the doctor. The morning stretched out as we visited and shared our exciting news with friends at the hospital.

Despite his original intentions, Samuel wasn't up for a road trip on Thursday morning so half of us stayed home and the other half traveled to southern Vermont for Thanksgiving. I was very sorry to miss the time with extended family, but Lydia and I managed to throw together a respectable Thanksgiving dinner and we enjoyed a fun evening of card games and Wii. By the way, among the traveling group was Hannah. She is doing great and healing up well!

It was great to be back fellowshipping with our dear church family on Sunday. So many have been praying. What a testament of God's faithfulness to see Samuel walking into church! I'm only sorry Samuel's smiling face was hidden behind the mask he has to wear for a season while out in public. He only lasted through the first half of the service, but it was wonderful to have him there at all.

This morning I wept for joy and then cheered, screamed, and chased Samuel around the kitchen for a hug when I realized it was Monday and we didn't have to go to the hospital for dialysis! Oh, what a relief! What a joy!

Please continue to pray for us as we settle into a new normal. There is processing, adjusting, restoring, reordering, and cleaning that needs to be done after living in varying degrees of survival mode for 3 1/2 years. Lots of work ahead, but by God's grace we will take it slow and make it through!