35 Hours of Family Bliss

Zach and I hit the road on Thursday afternoon. We were headed to Columbus, Ga to visit Derek at Ft. Benning. He had a 35-hour pass and we had him on our minds. Nashville was our old stomping grounds ten years ago and that just happened to be half way. We pulled in Thursday night and I was not expecting the intensity of the emotions that began to fill me. The familiar sites and signs brought back such a wonderful flood of memories…then the painful tears wanted to come. Those memories involved four people and now we are a family of three. But that’s my bubble. I stay on it all the time. The immense joy…then the pain of my loss…it’s just my life.

We got in to Columbus late Friday afternoon and scouted out the area before getting Derek the next morning. I was so pumped to see him. Zach was excited, but he is a 15-year old boy and doesn’t get all giddy like his mama. By the time I began driving through the base a little before 9am on Saturday, I was shaking. Derek saw me from afar and began running to me. He said he couldn’t miss me with my pink “Army Mom” shirt and all.

It was pure joy for me over the next two days. We laughed, we told stories, goofed off and we ate…we ate a lot! I was thinking how wonderful it was to be with both my boys every single minute of the day. I remember that being such a special part of our mission trip to Mexico in 2007. From the time we boarded the plane, we spent 24 hours a day together for 8 days…that’s exactly how all day Saturday and Sunday was. I wouldn’t trade that time for anything. And as I chatted with Derek, I learned he loves the idea of serving his country as much as ever and has stood firm in his faith against the tide of his unit. He is a solid young man with a very big heart. I could not ask for much more!

I could still feel the bubbling affect of my joy as I sat down to eat dinner with Zach last night after arriving home. I just giggled at every silly comment he made. And then the giggles turned into full blown howls where I couldn't catch my breath and tears streamed down my face. My stomach hurt…but it was a good hurt.

I was thinking today about living more fully in priority and with the same level of joy that I felt for those 35 hours.

Psalm 30:11-12 “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.”