Yesterday I left before dinner to spend 24 hours in Nagoya, where I was supposed to teach the first of four Mondays at Christ Bible Seminary.  Because of the big snow storm, the classes were cancelled (I will teach three Mondays for 7 hours instead of 5) and I was able to come back a few hours earlier than expected, to all of our delight.  Last night, Eric said Olivia cried herself to sleep, with Annie trying to comfort her.  It’s nice to come home to a family who misses you!

But tonight Eric was leaving for longer – eight days to visit his family in Hawaii and help his brother move.  Our family all drove him to the airport and said goodbye.  As I started to pull away, suddenly from the back seat was a very loud wailing…Olivia just let it rip.  “I miss DADD–YYYY!!!!”  It didn’t matter what any of us said.  The wailing was unstoppable for 25 very long minutes –until we pulled into one of the happiest places on earth for some ice cream.  Ahh -McDonalds — nothing like a little comfort food for the broken-hearted. I hope while Eric flies through the night that our children sleep well, and that God gives me extra love, patience, and joy for the days, and nights, to come.