When Emma and Josh began planning their wedding
Dw and I started some mighty big prayers going!
The biggest:
Who would watch our treasures?
Having a severely medically fragile little one presents
a bit of a challenge to that question.
And having the wedding on another continent
added another component.
We prayed and prayed and prayed some more!
Seriously, the whole thing was making me sweat!
I look back now and say, “Why was
I so concerned? He totally had it all covered!”
We finally decided that I would go early and leave
immediately after…
Dw would come right before and stay beyond
for a couple of weeks to care for one
sweet little man while Emma and Josh honeymooned.
We would overlap the wedding time.
And so it would work out to be just about a week
{with travel time because of it being in Africa}.
Abi said she would come and watch them,
but Emma really wanted her to be in the wedding.
{Abi opted to be their photographer instead,
which tickled Emma and Josh to pieces!}
It was extra fun having another sister there!
Then Sarah said she would happily fly and watch them!
But, of course, she would bring her two little ones
and that sounded really overwhelming to this mama,
since Ruby’s care is round-the-clock!!
But Sarah was determined –
it would be great and they would do wonderfully!
What a blessing – a big sis who loves her little sibs!
Lindsey, Ruby’s caregiver and BFF, said she was willing
to help out in any way she was needed!
We were so thankful!
And then one day,
out of the blue,
Graham and Savannah said
they had worked it all out and they would not only
be willing, but were excited to do it!
Savannah works basically full-time and is in school
full-time. Graham works full-time too.
But they had figured out how to work around all of that.
We were elated.
The kids were thrilled.
Basically all of our kids {and most spouses}
were able to
watch the wedding via Skype!
That was amazingly wonderful
and the connection worked beautifully!
So this is kind of our own Memorial Box story…
because the Lord really took care of all the concerns…
And the kids?
Well, when I arrived home,
they basically said,
“We’re happy you’re here Mom,
but really, if you’d stayed longer,
it would have been okay.
WOW.
I love when my kids feel like that!
Unbeknownst to us,
Graham and Savannah had planned all kinds of crazy fun things to do…
A trip to the zoo…
with Savannah’s friend Jeanine…
The zoo is one of their favorite places!
They took them to the pool!
Savannah took them shopping
and Ruby learned to ride in a cart –
her own self!!
My sweet friend Shelby and her daughter Lyndsey came
to cover some lapses in Graham
and Savannah’s schedules and
took them to the park and out to eat!
So very thankful for them!
And clearly, from the pic,
they had a blast!
Lindsey came and helped with Ruby several days!
Such a blessing!
Then night, after dark, Graham and Savannah threw
our unsuspecting kids in the car and took them to our
vacant home {that we are in the process of selling}
to play hide-n-seek in the dark!!
Talk about a kid’s dream!!
Then after hide-n-seek they took them out for Ice Cream!
Like I was saying,
“What in the heck was I worried about anyway?”
No wonder they wouldn’t have minded if we’d stayed another week.
He really did have it all covered….
Do not be anxious about anything,
but in every situation,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6
We are so grateful for not just Graham and Savannah watching the kids, but loving them and making it a doggone blast!!
Right before I came here I was actually thinking….wow I want to talk to Linny and ask her how hard was it to leave the kids. Just knowing all the details and stuff was going on. Thinking I am so in awe of how they pulled it off. You can imagine I laughed when I saw you had just written about this. What an amazing blessing that so many stepped up to help and so many were willing. I always knew you had amazing kids and that Graham and Savannah are something special, but really what they did and all the fun they planned is priceless. Precious hearts on those two.
Glad it all worked out for everyone. Love it when family and friends help out in life. Fun memories as well!
You have such an amazing family! You inspire me to be a better mother.
What a blessing!!
sometimes timing seems incredible ! I had just been telling my husband about my stress thinking about getting ready to go to a wedding in england, and all the things having to be done before hand … as having three visitors wanting to visit along next week… ( I' ve been sick for over 4 years and get very very tired) and then I read yor article, perfect to put me back on track ! God's timing ! He takes care of all the details ! And your kids must have had a blast !!!!!
I am so glad, Linny. I was praying for them all. But like you say, He had it covered. After all, He has a lot more experience! 😉
Sandy in the UK
Love to hear how family and friends pull together to help when needed. God is so good to organize and ordain our days and times when we serve Him! Blessings!
Ruby looks so tickled with herself to be in that cart! And boy, it sounds like it was a great week to be a kid. 🙂