I am Blessed

I am so blessed. I really am. I just enjoyed a wonderful visit with my family. I took spring break off from work, readied the house, and thoroughly enjoyed the visit. I had my parents fly in from Las Vegas. They retired out there 5 years ago, and I miss them very much. My dad required hot, dry climate, for his increasing arthritis and general health issues. My mom likes the warm of the desert as well. My brother and his daughter (age 11) moved out there with them about 3 years ago. He was into drugs and alcohol, and was kicked out of 3 apartments within a year. I was going to have my niece stay with me, because he was not really able to take care of her. Since he moved out to my parents, he is clean and sober, and has gone back to school. He graduates in 18 months. All four were able to fly out to our home.
Also able to come out were 2 of my dad's sisters and 1 brother. (My dad was one of 6) One aunt is unable to travel and the other brother was unable to get time from work.. They all live in Virginia, on our family farm. They stayed for 4 days! We had decent weather at that time, and dad got to enjoy being with his siblings for probably the last time in this lifetime. You see, my dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's only a couple of months ago, and the meds are not really doing much good for him. He still has tremors, from the Parkinson's, and his hands and feet are twisted and gnarled from the arthritis. But he really had a good time. We heard all kinds of family stories of them in "The old days..." and since my dad's sister introduced them, and they married a year later, he wanted to do something nice for them. Their 42nd wedding anniversary is next week. Without letting my mom know, (the rest of us were in on it) he arranged for us to all go out to dinner at a local restaurant. Mom thought Michael and I were the instigators. She did not expect it to be Dad. At the announcement, Dad stood up, and told everyone that she was always his true love, always had been and always would be, and there was never anyone else for him. She cried, I think we all did.
We took a couple a days to go to their old town, where we used to live, so they could see old friends. The town certainly has changed! During this time, we believe that my dad may have suffered a small stroke, a TIA if you will. I stayed with him and he seemed to come out of it a bit, but there is some residual effects. We came back to our home, and went to the passion play that night. I had never been to a passion play before, and had seen Mel Gibson's movie only once (It was so very powerful). Our church did a really nice job, everyone in character before, during and after the play, and our pastor gave the invitation and several people came to Jesus as a result of it. Praise GOD for those!
When we got home, My little Boo asked her grandpa, "You know, when Jesus comes, I get to go fly in the sky to be with Him. Are you going too?" And Da (as we call grandpa) said,"Yes I am, and since He is going to fix my old body and give me a new one, I'll be able to keep up with you!" They hugged and Boo told him how much she loves him and Jesus, and Da told her some of the Bible stories he used to tell me when I was her age.
It was so very hard to take them to the airport for them to fly back. Lots of hugs, laughs, and tears. I know that it will be dad's last trip here, because travelling is too hard on him. He felt good about seeing his family and seeing the places that he called home for a while. He had fun watching the kids hunt for Easter eggs, some filled with candy and quarters, others from the Ressurection Eggs. He told the story of Jesus that evening, so the real meaning is not lost on the kids.
I am cleaning up the house now. I have things to put away, things to dust, LOADS of laundry. Lots to do. And I am smiling! Because we had a great visit, and I know that as much as my dad is hurting physically, he and I share another Daddy, a Heavenly Father who is going to make everything better one day. I was blessed to have such great parents, and a fun, loving family. We still enjoy being around each other, and there are so many families who don't or can't. My husband and my dad spent a couple of evenings on the deck, just talking. It was a great time.
I thank the Lord for blessing me with so much! Not just these things this week. But for the real meaning of Easter....The Resurrection and Eternal life that I will have with my Lord and Saviour! AND, I know that I am going to have one heck of a family reunion up there, not only with the family I know about, but all my friends and family in Jesus Christ! Oh blessed is the day!
Come quickly, Lord Jesus!