a very long week...

I spent the majority of this last week housesitting for my parents again while my mom took my dad on a surprise vacation to the oregon coast.
While I loved the chance to housesit for them again, this trip was frought with sorrow, as I spent most of my time there at my dear friend Pamela's house, helping her get it ready to put on the market. It breaks my heart that they have to sell it, it is a beautiful home on a beautiful property with a gorgeous view of the sound and Mount Rainier, and lots of life has been lived in it....but such is the way things have turned out and I tried to put on a brave face for my friend, who was already struggling with the pain and heaviness of her mission.
It was exhausting: the emotional turmoil combined with the physical work of cleaning and such. Coupled with the boys coming down with Jon's cold during it...and I came home with a sore throat that hasn't gone away. Jon and I were worried enough that I could have strep throat again, that I spent money that was needed elsewhere (socks and shoes for Jonny is just one thing....) to go to the doctor and get checked out this afternoon. Seems I probably don't have strep (the test is 95% accurate) and as the day has progressed, I seem to finally be getting some other cold symptoms. My body is tired and my heart is heavy still.
But, regardless of everything, I am so glad God orchestrated so many details so that I was at my parents right when my friend needed somebody to be there with her and help bare her burden of heartache and housework. I am so, so grateful for that. As hard as it was to be there, I didn't want to be anywhere else.
And, there was joy mixed in with the grief. We laughed. We talked. We lived life as together as two people can possibly be. We don't get that oppertunity very often, what with the ferry and all between us.

So, its been a long week but a good one too. God has been at work through it all and that is amazing to get to witness.

And now, I must go and let my body rest and try to get better quickly. I leave you with this photo of the boys and I at the beach, from a few weeks ago when we visited my parents and went downtown with my mom...enjoy and good night.