T minus seven days and counting

In one week I will be sitting in Florida, regaining portions of my brain and heart which have gone into hiding.

I will be hanging out with a group of women I have never, ever met in real life. There are three, in particular, who have become precious email/phone friends as we all muddle through this gift of darkness we call special needs parenting. On the way home, I'm hoping I'll get to hug Lisa's neck for the first time EVER while I have a layover.

We have no agenda, other than to relax and hang out.

Corey.
Laura.
Kellie.
Beth.
Stephanie.
Rose.
Carrie.
Angela.
aaaaaaand me.

Today, I cry every time I think about it. Okay, so I'm crying about other things too, but this IS such a rarity for me. And by rarity, I mean IT NEVER HAPPENS. Mommy gets respite from everything, in a really beautiful place, staying in a really beautiful house, around all these really beautiful people. OH DEAR GOD, is this really happening?

We have had ongoing therapeutic interactions for almost two weeks running. You expect and know it will happen after major changes/events/tragedies, but still ... I'm spent.

On the flip side I have also had two sets of dear friends come through to see us. Both were from Blackwell, and just happened to come this way within days of each other. SUCH a treat. One amazing retired couple who totally surprised us - hello, Richard & Anita! We have been wondering all winter where they were, as they traveled along. Then there was a knock at the door and - SURPRISE! For all of you at our previous church, they were kind enough to catch us up on everyone. We miss you, we miss you, we miss you, WE MISS YOU! Anita never misses a blog post, and let me know I don't talk nearly enough about Michael. I have told her I only write about him with his permission - so my hands are tied. :)

Another family spent the night on their way to Phoenix (had four adults and ten kids in the house that night - crazy and FUN!). The Givans are one of those families who are rarities. Could talk to Kathy for hours. She's another mom who trudges through special needs parenting, and I can be completely transparent with her - and it doesn't freak her out! They were some of the few people who found out about this crazy move and life change and said, "Eh, yeah. That sounds about right." They just totally "got it." So, it was really wonderful to share it with them in person. Not to mention, her sweet baby boy let me hold him quite a bit, and he was quite delicious.

Um, and in case I haven't mentioned it, I get to fly away from my home next Friday. I do not have to come back for three whole days. If this is a dream, do not pinch me. I cannot guarantee what my fight/flight response might be.



(photo by Gavin Spencer)