- BACK HOME -

well, we're back home from a quick trip ohio - we went to a new haitian camp at the home of david & becky britt (thanks guys, we'd a fabulous time!!), got to spend a lot of time with deric & mary ellen cox's family as well (great seeing you all again, man was it fun!) & of course the one & only BAR-BAR-AH!! - we're hoping to see you all again very soon - the kids had a blast (we did too) & they talked about all their 'friends' the entire trip home (yes, like 4+ hours worth of hearing about their friends!) - i hear from my mother that a friend of ours was a bit concerned as neither mom or myself either one had blogged - she noticed mom's first & emailed her to find out if everything was alright - she then apparently checked mine & then emailed mom saying something about, "alright, you're worrying me as lori blogs all the time & she hasn't, what's going on??" - thanks lynn for being concerned, but with us being out of town, trying to remember to not forget my children when they go somewhere, trying to sell our home, etc., i'm back home now & eager to blog!! - here's a neat post i ran across tonight & thought i'd share - i may just adopt this new saying & it's very meaningful - enjoy!

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Recently I overheard a mother & daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They'd announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged & the mother said, "I love you & I wish you enough". The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together's been more than enough, your love's all I ever needed & I wish you enough, too, Mom". They kissed & the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see she wanted & needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy, but she welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it'd be forever?". "Yes, I have", I replied. "Forgive me for asking, but why's this a forever good-bye?" "I'm old & she lives so far away. I've challenges ahead & the reality is, the next trip back will be for my funeral", she said. "When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough', may I ask what that means?" She began to smile, "That's a wish that's been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone". She paused a moment & looked up as if trying to remember it in detail & she smiled even more. "When we said , 'I wish you enough', we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them". Then turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.

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I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive & everlasting.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest joys in life appear bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

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She then began to cry & walked away. They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.