So Glad We Had This Time

With the mystery of the missing wallet solved, we all went out into our yard this evening to take some last photos of Caleb, Haley and family before they really do leave for home in Albania tomorrow.

There were a lot of smiles and sighs of relief (from all the adults!) that this evening is ending so happily!

While Claire shot photos on her camera, I captured these on my phone and asked Claire to edit them so they look even better!

And then she took this one on her camera, of me with the kids. A sweet last photo to capture these months we've lived life together.

These are not edited...but they're so sweet and capture the feel of being outside on a beautiful spring evening, reveling in the miracle that God had just done by revealing Caleb's wallet!

It felt so celebratory taking these photos, remembering ALL that God had done in these five months that they've lived with us...through the birth of Jenna, and through the coronavirus pandemic.

A crazy song came into my mind as we were out here. I thought to myself, "I'm so glad we've had this time together...", and that's when the lyrics of a song from long ago came to me!

I'm so glad we had this time together

Just to have a laugh, or sing a song.

Seems we just got started

and before you know it

Comes the time we have

to say, 'So long.'

Do you know where that's from? The Carol Burnett show that ran in the US from 1967-1978! She would sing that song at the end of every show, and then tug on her ear as a secret message to her own grandmother, letting her know that she loved her and was well!

It's a funny song to have come into my mind - not sure how I even remembered it! But it's sweet melody and lyrics sing in my heart as I say to these dear ones, "I"m so glad we had this time together"!

The house will feel empty and quiet at some point tomorrow after they're gone. But our memories are forever in our hearts for this special time we've shared.

When Judah hasn't wanted to leave our house, I've said to him numerous times, "If you don't leave, you can never come back. And you want to come back, right?!" He always nods his head, and then I say, "I'll see you later because you'll be back!"

So though Caleb, Haley, Charlie and Jenna will leave in the morning, they'll be back! And we all have that to look forward to.