Whirlwind Week Comes and Goes, as do many wonderful visitors

The whirlwind week has come and gone, as have our dear visitors. I’m NOT practiced in the art of saying goodbye to family and friends, and it leaves me in a lost, sort of “what-do-we-do-now” state. Normal life feels wierd.

The time with Anna was so short and precious. I say short, but it really seemed longer than it was because we crammed every minute with quality cousin time. I can’t thank God enough for her. It was the kind of time where you think, "why sleep when we could just keep talking"? Why bother with food or laundry or any of those mundane things? But we did eat. At least she did. I admire her substantial appetite. I was too excited to eat much.

They left for a four or five day journey to Washington, their van bulging and sagging with all their belongings for the next several months of furlough. We waved and waved…

Then it was time to get ready for the next big event, Cameron’s graduation celebration, which was at our house since his family is from all over the place. It was good to have something to do so that I didn’t sit around mourning Anna. I had my little cry and the Skillet song that made me think of her, and a long hug from Mattie, and then I felt better. Before we heard the tornado sirens, Mattie and I dashed down the road to pick wildflowers for decorating tables. Flowers are such a delight to the soul! We got them before the rain came and hurried back. There was just enough time to prepare stuff for Saturday, and it really worked out well.

So then Dad, Mom, Connor, and I went to Cameron’s banquet at Letourneau, where we got to see his parents and sister again and meet his grandparents. He’s been our adopted student for his whole time at Letu., so it was a special occasion. We like to say that we’re his Texas family, since we “adopted” him.

So what did he go and do at that banquet but win some fancy bling? We knew he was smart, and figured he’d be getting some of those “fancy words” (as Mom calls them) read after his name when he graduated, but he got Summa Cum Laude!

Well, if anybody deserved a medal like that, it was Cameron. He’s been very focused and faithful, not just academically, but in his walk with God foremost. So we were all sitting there bursting with pride over him while he unassumingly returned to his seat and quietly examined his medal.

Next day was graduation, which was earlier and shorter than usual and held in the Belcher center this time (just when a day of perfect weather came along, they happened to be having it indoors!) How ironic. After the ceremony everyone came to our house and we had sort of a barbeque/picnic and sat visiting in the sun for quite a while. The Murphys are kindred spirits!More wonderful people in our home. We went inside for graduation cake, and then it was time for them to go because Kelly (his sister) had to get to the airport. Ethan gave Cameron a Lego pirate ship (totally his own idea) to commemorate all their Lego times together. We’ve all had some good times. So we had to say more goodbyes…hugs all around and smiles and encouraging words.

Now we have to go back to normal life again, in which there are no parties or visitors or late-night cousin chats. Although Mattie and I did stay up pretty late last night talking…I think the up-till-three-in-the-morning habit is a hard one to break.