Back in France

For those of you who didn't know...at 1:30 Sunday morning we made the decision for EVERYONE to go back to the states. The way the flights were structured, I had to stay through the next Saturday night or the costs would triple. Since Anthony would have to take the whole week off anyway and the kids would have plenty of time to adjust, everyone decided to go...we left at 8:30 the same morning. What a great way to start a LONG day!

Our time in Oklahoma was a great break and the first time Anthony had been back. We got some shopping and eating in, he met up with an old friend and we spent a day at the zoo with Grandma.

The day in Missouri did not go as well. BEFORE the funeral we had to meet at the bank to have my Grandpa's will read. Unfortunately, he carried his negative feelings into the estate's trust and left several family members out. No one is happy about the fact that he did this but the ones who were included in the trust were subjected to a lot of bad feelings that they were not responsible for. This did not make for a pleasant day. We had the visitation, funeral and burial all in one day so that those who had to travel could be there as easily as possible. The foundation of the hospital his grandfather had started put on a wonderful lunch for us and a very thoughtful cousin opened her home for our dinner before everyone traveled home.

It is very sad to me. I grew up in a large extended family who were very close and spent much time together. Most people my age can't say that they played with their 5th cousins and beyond. The large majority of my grandparent's families stayed in the Joplin area so they were related to many in the town (even distantly to each other). We have lost several family members in my lifetime and with each successive loss we seem to also lose closeness with many of the remaining family members. Sometimes it is due to bad feelings and sometimes just to the nature of not getting together anymore. With my grandpa's passing many will not even return to Joplin anymore and the bad feelings concerning the trust will only compound this. I love my family dearly and it hurts when they don't feel they can talk to you or even sit next to you anymore.

We returned home early Monday morning from our week in Oklahoma and Missouri. Had a very bad flight and everyone was exhausted so mostly slept the rest of the day. Bella did have her follow up ear appointment in the afternoon and the doctor said that the infection was about 75% cleared up. She will have another 3 week course of ear drops and follow up which will hopefully take care of the rest.

I had the most difficult time coming back after this trip. With only four months to go and being so "over" living in France, I was not looking forward to returning to the struggles of daily life here. Fortunately, we will remain busy with a trip to Germany and my parents visiting for two weeks in April seeing London and Normandy, several day trips in May and my cousin coming and a trip to Italy in the month of June. In July we are planning a quick trip to see the Riviera and filling in with anything we missed along the way. Please pray for us during these last months and for the transition back in August. We are still not sure when Anthony will be back to live in the states and are not looking forward to the separation.