Little Bits: Got Your Back

It's a sad scene.

Hope covers her Nana in an unprompted giant hug with a, "This is love, so much love... to last you the longest time, Nana!" Maddie makes one more full force PopPop run to squeeze in a lasting "cwaaaazy time."

A lone wagon trickles out to our van. Its contents are tiny momentoes... leaves, flowers, rocks from their grandparents' driveway. Little handmade vases from PopPop to put in their bedroom as soon as we walk through the door. All of our faces scrunch up hard as we hug and say things like, "It won't be too long until Christmas. Not too long, remember?"

Turns out that the waiting to visit was for a reason. This visit happened at just the time God must have intended. There were things, some of them really hard, that we all needed to think through together. But even hard can have its good when you take the hands of those you love and basically say, "You know what? I've got your back. "

::Festival'in at my parents' church, which much satisfied the hunger to trick-or-treat. Our getting treated to Mexican afterwards by my brother and sis-in-law was pretty satisfying too.

Jessie missed her nap and the "happy festival face" memo. The first candy giving trunk and subsequent balloon artist got her yodeling again pretty quick, though.

::That worked out just right so we could spend October 31st cozy and warm while eating Nana's chicken-n-dumplings and yeast rolls. We also found a perfectly good way to use up the last of those orchard apples.

We, too, will always remember that fun fall tradition back in our old Tennessee neighborhood.

::As usual, there were reunions. From cousins and aunties to high school friends and lovable black labs.

::The last one got so happy and rowdy, we took it out to the van. The party van, if you will, even though I had to turn down the hanging-out-of-the-sunroof-in-the-pouring-rain request.

Alysse trying to hang, the paci giving her the strength she needed to press on.

::Fall showed up again. The girls' favorite scenes somewhere between spotting ducks at the lake, baking, painting big round Larry Boy and Polka Dot,and picking a sugary scarecrow or pumpkin at the small town bakery that makes us smile.

::Most of my grandparents died before I got to really know them, so I am always thankful for scenes like this.

Strong Sampson. Alysse just loved this Bible with this Nana.

When I really stop to think about it, though, it is something pretty amazing. My girls get to know and feel I love you. They get to know and feel I've got your back. The fact that it's across the miles simply proves something quite special. Real love is not bound by things such as time or distance. The people who love you most want what is best for you, even if they have to cheer in your corner from a state or two away.

Welcome home sign and little bouquets for each of us. Strong and thoughtful, which is just the kind of Daddy I think God handpicks to be blessed with the gift of all girls. We sure missed you, Joe.

~Katrina