The grandkids are back home again.

I dropped them off at the airport at 9:30 yesterday morning and they arrived there around midnight, our time. It was really hard to say goodbye, and Zoe and I could hardly be pulled apart. I actually drove us home myself, which is amazing considering the emotional state that I was in. As soon as we got out of the jeep at our house, hubby started to pick up their yard toys and put them away, and I pleaded, "Please don't erase every sign that they were ever here the minute we get back !" I've calmed down now, but I miss them so ! This place is awfully quiet, although we did have a wonderful visit from hubby's sister and nephew and niece-in-law. I talked to Zoe on the phone this morning and she was all excited that Daddy had taken them to no less than 3 parks today, and they only got home from the airport at noon ! Kelley says they just couldn't stop hugging Daddy !

Zoe's excited because, on the day before her mommy came to get her, she taught herself to ride a bicycle without training wheels. Within a 24 hour period, she went from "I am such a loser, I can't do this", to "Wow, I'm going so fast, I should be in a race !" Here's a short clip of when she first began teaching herself........the longer video wouldn't load. I got lots of video, but no still pictures, which is a shame, because I hope to put together a scrapbook of their summer fun. I'd love for them to be able to look at it together over the years and remember that first summer away at Nana and PawPaw's. By the way, T.J. renamed us.........Nan and Pops ! Isn't that cute?

And I just discovered the coolest gift that God gave me................before the kids came, when I went places around town, I felt like such a stranger, a fish out of water, sortof. Now I discovered that when I go grocery shopping or whatever, if it's somewhere that they went with me (and most of the places I go to, I've taken them, too), I suddenly picture what they were doing with me and I feel so much more at home and less alone. I hope that makes sense, because it's such a comforting thing to me............they've permeated my new life here, just like they had my old life. That's what was missing, and my sweet LORD knew that. Praise GOD for such gifts as these !