It's 5:23 a.m. and everyone else appears to be asleep under our roof. My inlaws will be catching a plane back home to the U.S. later morning. After dropping our kids at their schools, we'll head for the airport to drop them off.
We had an early Thanksgiving family supper last night. Our NJ friends John & Sandra J., who were already coming to Paris for a visit, graciously brought everything on our wish list, including pumpkin pie mix, stove top stuffing, and a can of cranberry sauce (as well as Hungry Hippos for the kids). It's funny how the Hungry Hippos game has been a stress releaser for all of us. The kids, who love to be in the kitchen, helped my wife make 2 pumpkin pies. We substitued precooked chickens from a local butcher shop for turkey.
It was good to have a lower key day together after the busy Saturday and geographic separating today of our family. It's been very rare in our 11 years of marriage when both sets of our parents have been together. It's worked out well and been good for all of us to have this intergenerational time.
After the kids went to bed, I showed the grandparents the photos from the hospital of Jessica. Her tiny body looks so beautiful and she looks peaceful in the photos. But I miss being able to pick her up, rock her, and walk her around the apartment this morning. I wish that she and my mom could have been part of our Thanksgiving yesterday. They will always have their places in our hearts. When someone asks us how many kids we have, we'll have to answer 4, including Jessie in heaven.
It will be interesting to see where our relationships with our friends who attended Jessie's memorial celebration go from here. As someone reminded us, we still need to take one day at a time during this season.
2 commentaires:
Dear Al,
As I said to Nicole, I am glad to see pictures on your blog. It shows that life goes on because Al can still be himself. Our family was pleased to see your gentle picture of Jessica, too. We hoped, and expected, that you took pictures of your time with her little earthly home (even if she didn't occupy it here aside from the very important womb where our Heavenly Father formed her). Because you are a photographer we agree that it is important for you to have a souvenir of her brief passage here on earth. Thank you for sharing your families sadness and joys!
In Him
Hey Al,
How great that you could celebrate Thanksgiving with your parents. You all look happy in the pictures. As your friend commented, it's good to know that life can go on, as sad as you'll feel sometimes. Thanks for inviting us into this part of your family's story. We are still praying for you. Love to you guys! - Faith
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