Niki and The Big Family!

Yesterday was good! We had a banquet at church and Niki came. We had spoken to her on the phone the night previous and she agreed to come--and asked if she could bring her boyfriend. Heck yeah you can! At this point, if Niki said she preferred to wear her bathing suit to church over her long johns but only if I let her borrow my Hawaiian Girls Rocket Dog shoes, let me tell ya, I'm going to say yes! And all y'all know that's just not right. I don't share my Rocket Dogs. (You didn't think I'd have issues with the swimsuit and long johns did you?)

So...during service (a good one it was), I looked ahead. In the seat in front of me, my 16 year old son, Cody. In front of him, I could see the back of our 10 year old son, Alex's head, standing next to his big sister. And for years and years this has been a familiar sight. But tonight, I take it in and I know in my heart that the dynamics of our family have been changed forever. Even if she comes home. It won't be the same. Maybe that's good, idk. Far too soon, but I know there's a purpose for this. And I have learned the little things do.not.matter. The love I have for each of my children is all there is in the end, and I need them more than I probably should. I put aside the little things now and I see the bigger picture.

So....prayers are working. I think she enjoyed herself--and I'm incredibly grateful for that church. Niki went from one unquestioning and loving arm to the next tonight. Nobody admonished her, nobody questioned her, nobody held her at arms length. No. They (from the little children through all the adults who love her) opened their arms, declared "NIKI!!" and gave her a big bear hug, kisses on her head, and "I love you's". That was it. I don't think I ever loved my church family more than I did tonight.

My friend Jamie emailed me that she hoped Niki left church feeling loved. She did. I don't even need to ask her, I just know. And I pray along with everyone else that she comes back again and again, because she belongs there. It's her family too, and God gave her a good one in Cornerstone.

Okay okay, I'm done with the weepy stuff. I have cat pictures! It's Niki's cat, GiGi. She's learned (Boo taught her) she can jump higher than she thought she could. She's found the 'nook' in the kitchen Boo enjoys napping in. If he's there and I notice him as I turn to leave the room, it never fails to startle me! He's spooky looking, all black Halloween-ish. GiGi....she's just too dang cuddly wuddly buddly to scare anyone.