Hodgepodge

Tonight I think hodgepodge is a good word for the way I feel. My dear friend Barb left today. She was with us for 12 days and my mother-in-law was here the week before that. It's been such a blessing to have an extra person here with me. I miss my friend already. And then I look at my countdown and see that my best friend will be with me again in just 35 days! That is so exciting for me. March had better go by quickly!
It's crazy but even with another person in the house it has still been difficult with the kiddos lately. I think in my own head everything seems bigger than it is and so I don't think I handle the little issues the way I might have a year ago. Some moments I feel like the end of a piece of yarn that is all frayed and pulled apart and other times my heart is filled with joy and I feel like it's going to be okay.
In fact, even though my friend left today it was a wonderful day. Mr. Mike from church came and picked up Joshua after school and took him on a mountain top adventure. Joshua couldn't stop talking about all their adventures tonight and I know this will be a day he will remember. I held back the tears when Joshua said, "Mr. Mike loves me." And the best part about it is that throughout their adventure they were talking about God. I can't express how thankful I am for people like Mr. Mike who are willing to invest in my son's heritage.
On top of that two other friends came over this evening with all their bike tools and fixed 6 flat bike tires that we acquired recently. It seems like not a big deal...but it's huge to me! It would have taken me hours to change all those tires, not to mention all the frustration I would have felt trying to get the wheels off, trying to keep the kiddos corralled. It would have been seriously not fun for me. I am surrounded by people who show their love for my family through service.
In short: I'm sad but I'm happy and I'm so very thankful. Thankful that God has protected my husband for all these months, thankful that God has provided me with a church family that has taken such good care of me and the kiddos, and thankful that it's almost over.