Visits from Home

Mom comes this week and I can't begin to describe how excited I am to see her.  I have had lots of fun hanging out with friends from home as well as new friends here, but there is nothing like your mother coming after you haven't seen her in a while. 
It's funny, but I'm actually getting teary eyed just thinking about it.  It just goes to show how close my family is.  Many people go for ages without seeing family.  I couldn't do that.  Daddy didn't raise us that way! 

You know, Daddy came to visit today actually.  It's been a while since I've "seen" him.  I talk to him all the time and I feel his presence a lot, but I took a little nap when I flew in from Paris, and I got to both see and talk to him, and give him hugs and kisses! 

Just before I fell asleep, I asked the Lord to let me have a visit, and thankfully, this was one prayer that was quickly answered.  In my dream, I had flown back to Charleston.  Edgar was there and Mom too, but they both left and I sat down with Dad in his chair.  I was a little thing in his lap, although I was the same age as I am now.  He was rocking me in the chair, and I was chatting with him about my life here.  At first, he was asking me questions about how I was doing.  He was telling me to live it up over here.  This has been a stress on me for a few days now as I still don't have things sorted with my visa, which means I have no income even though I keep spending.  Dad's comments helped reassure me that God has it under control and I'm going to figure it all out.

Anyway, after catching up, I was sitting there with my head on Daddy's shoulder and I began asking him more serious questions.  At first, it was like he was still living and he knew he was not going to be around much longer.  He was telling me things like, "You know, it's coming."  As we chatted though, it was more obvious that he had already gone.  I asked if he was scared through it and he just shook his head, no at first, then a small yes, and finally no again.  I asked if he was in too much pain, and he said no.  I gave him kisses on his forehead and hugged him.  Mom came in and took a picture of us and in the picture, it was just me, but Dad's shadow was cast around me. 

I hope that that's the case forever you know, that even though I may be standing "alone, my Daddy's always with me.  I believe it will be.  I miss him so much, but I think of him constantly and I appreciate what I'm seeing and doing more because of him.