What a Difference a Year Makes

At this point last year, we had just buried our grandson.  Carol and I were both sick as dogs with a bug we picked up in China.  My folks were in town, but none of us had any energy to make a big meal, so we ordered the full spread from a local grocery store.  We were planning to have my son and his wife over for Thanksgiving, but that day they called and said they were sick too, and were going to keep themselves isolated.  I remember taking them some of the meal so at least they didn’t have to cook.  Libi, who was so new to our family, this country and our culture, was utterly miserable.  She threw tantrums almost constantly and we’d be mopping her face of all the tears and nasal discharge that accompanied all that.  It was a nightmare.  To be honest, I was having a hard time having any kind of a thankful spirit.

Yesterday, I sat back as we had 17 loved ones fill our home for Thanksgiving and couldn’t help be captivated by what a difference a year makes.  We still miss Ryan every day, but we’re looking forward to the day Jason and Megan tell us that they are pregnant again.  We’re all pretty healthy this year, which seems miraculous with all the nasty stuff that’s going around.  We had an absolutely amazing home-cooked meal.  My wife is a great cook and so are all the others that contributed.  (Some of the best pecan pie I’ve ever eaten…yum!).

And then there was Libi.  She was dressed in an adorable grey dress that made her look years older than she is.  She was so well behaved, without a single tantrum all day.  Let’s face it, family gatherings aren’t exactly the most fun for young kids.  But both she and Gabby did really well.  Libi was entertaining folks and even becoming a bit obnoxious, like four year olds are known to do.  At one point, with all the adults tired and stuffed and sitting around the family room being lulled off to oblivion by an incredibly boring Packers/Lions game, she was obviously irritated that nobody would play with her.  Someone asked her if she knew how to dance, so she put on a brief but elegant demonstration of her best moves.  When she finished, we all clapped.  To our surprise, she took a big theatrical bow.  Not sure where she learned that, but it was simply precious.  Another one of my many reasons to be thankful to God.

Yes, a year can bring a lot of healing – physically, emotionally and spiritually.  God is good.  He neither forgets nor forsakes us.  I am so thankful for Him.