Sunday Afternoon

Too many good options. First on the calendar for today: a homeschool get-together where I'd get to see a precious friend that I almost never see ... and my god-daughter and her sibs. Second on the calendar for today: the husband of an online acquaintance was being installed in a nearby congregation. Could I fit them both in? Would I regret it tomorrow if I tried to cram too many events into one day?

Both slots were usurped.

Paul called last night at 9:30. From Atlanta. He'd arrived in in the States from Haiti, but foul weather screwed up the flights back to Minnesota. The airline figured they'd fly him and Kristen (the other person from MN who went on this trip) to Minnesota by way of Milwaukee. Oh, but they'd have to be in Wisconsin overnight. Milwaukee? Really? That's the plan the airline came up with? Woo hoo! "Mom, do you think you could pick us up at the airport at midnight?" Yes, as a matter of fact, I think I can pull that off! Woo hoo!

Quick nap. Drive to the south side in the middle of the night. Pick up two "kids." (Yes, I know they're grown-ups. I'm old. It's my prerogative to call them kids for another 40 years.) Four more hours of sleep. An hour of trying to drag myself out of bed. Church. Then home for lunch with the crew.

And how many were in the crew? EVERYBODY. Philip usually comes over for Sunday dinner. Rachel & Matt happened to be in town this weekend, and they consented to join us for lunch. So Katie's family came over too. Gary and I were trying to remember, and we think this might be the first time the whole family has been together in one place since Zoe was born. And Kristen was a joy to have with us too.

After some naps and visiting this afternoon, we deposited Kristen and Paul at the doors of the airport, assuming that the black ice on side-streets is nothing that impacts the airport runways.

I can't believe it! All the kids in the same church at the same service this morning! All the kids at the same dinner table at lunch today!

That's good stuff.