It's just a house, right?

My babies are all snuggled up in their nests of blankets on their bedroom floor. Two more nights in our home. Two more nights of three loud snoring children in one small space. We have suitcases and food left here, but not much else. Meals are getting creative so that I don't have to move as much food. Most of our worldly possessions are in a 10x20 foot storage unit, so tidly stacked by very impressive moving men. So many have offered to house us while we are waiting for the new home to be finished. I have really been touched at the outpouring of love from friends that we know well and some that we don't know well. I hope to be a generous person like that. We're going to stay with some close friends to start off with, and go say howdy to my folks over the weekend forsaking all birthday parties, soccer games, church duties, fairs and festivals.

I have a photo of when we first moved into this house. Van and I are posed and smiling, and in the background is the pretty view of the lake. We're coordinated in white shirts (mine with a belly pooch) and blue jeans. We took photos of my side of the family from that view, too, and everyone looked so care-free. I was a few months along with Cade. Van had just finished med school and was employed, and I had stopped teaching and was ready to be a mama. It was our time to give back to others because so much had been given to us. We were to be in Waco three years for Van to do residency and for us to gear up for the mission field. It was just a couple of weeks later that our world changed so much. I was diagnosed with lymphoma. Cade decided to come early at a precious 4 lbs. 11 oz. The year was a rough one with a premie baby, chemo, radiation, and residency. The Lord led us through it, and the community of believers walked it with us. I was given a clean bill of health, and my oncologist encouraged us to "fill our quiver". Zane was born. He was a fat-cheeked little snuggler at 8 lbs. 3 oz. Van graduated and got a "real job"-ha! I was able to volunteer for a few months with our crisis pregnancy center. We relaxed. When I was a few weeks along with our third child, we visited Uganda to see what the Lord was up to and to ask if we would be involved full-time. Avi was born a delicate 6 lbs. 8 oz. Beautiful little thing. I just stared at her for hours that night. When she was about six months old, I was diagnosed with bad bone marrow, most likely the result of the treatment for the lymphoma. We knew this was going to be a rough one, but we didn't realize how rough. When a match was finally found, I had a bone marrow transplant. Now Avi is three and a half and is well acquainted with Mama going to doctors appointments and taking medicine. We've been in Waco 8 years now. It has been a long, hard road, and I am weary. I know Van is, too. We had assumed we would be the ones to serve. We would be the ones to give. Instead, we have been loved on by so many. We have been given so much. We've stuck together as a family and have struggled together and laughed together in this house, and I'll miss it. I won't miss the carpet. I've disliked this carpet from day one. This carpet holds memories that I need to steam clean before Wednesday.

Now we're on this side of the world for awhile putting down roots. We're building a home on our favorite site with our favorite materials. All our favorite stuff is in storage until we can move it into the completed project. We're even bringing our favorite children. So, I suppose I should be content. My friend tells me that we'll make new memories. I have to confess, though, that I really liked living here.

We will enjoy the new house. The kids can ride their bikes on the street and be within walking distance to friends' houses. They can climb trees and catch tadpoles in the river. Skinned knees and community. That is what we are looking for. Van is looking forward to a sprinkler system, and I'm looking forward to having the space to leave out the sewing machine. We won't be stacked on top of each other like we are here. Our builder said that it should be ready at the end of this month. Grain of salt.

My health is steadily improving. My lungs are the biggest problem, but the pulmonary rehab seems to have helped breathing. Here is the conversation that I heard last week between two tiny elderly women doing rehab. "How's Dorothy?" "Oh, my, she has had it rough. She is down to 89 lbs." "No! She's at least a solid 90!"

My activity level impacts how our family functions, so I am thankful that I can get around better. I hope to be weaned off of steroids completely in a few months. We have to go slowly so my adrenal gland will wake up. That conjures up all kinds of pictures in my mind. I need to go find an anatomy book and figure out what that means. All the anatomy books are packed, so my "cartoon brain" as my friend calls it will have to do.