homecoming

this is normally the time when i would stand up here and say something moving and inspirational about bringing our children home from an amazing week of service and spiritual development.
but, to be honest, i can't say that.
this year was different.
i had nothing to do with bringing our children home from an amazing week of service and spiritual development.
while these fantastic young and not-so-young people were working hard in the hot sun - i was swimming.
while they were getting up at 6am to go to work - i was sleeping in and having brunch.

all week, i have felt conspicuously out of the loop.

only once was my advice sought on a "disciplinary" matter.
i wasn't bombarded by interesting stories and God sightings so much that my dinner hour was actually 3 hours long.
i wasn't listening in on their spiritual growth during the evening devotions.
i wasn't laughing so hard that i couldn't eat or drink for fear it would come out my nose.

until wednesday.

i went to reading, pa to visit the group. there was no way i was going to miss out on this experience entirely.

i was not even a minute out of the car when i was attacked by all of them. we ended up on the grass, in a pile up, laughing.

and then, in all its wonderful glory, it started.

kyla, today my resident...
kyla, guess what, i learned how to...
kyla, last night during devotions...
kyla, yesterday, sam did THE funniest thing...

kyla, this is more fun than i thought. i'm having such a great time. thank you.

it continued like this for the entire 6 hours i was there. i was bombarded by their stories, careful of what i ate, watchful of their spiritual discussions. they didn't need me to be there, because i was already there. the adults were more than ready for the task they had undertaken. i had done my job, and now it was their turn to do theirs. and it was perfectly carried out.

so, my dear dear family, i have seen to it that our children have come home safely.
they have learned amazing things.
they have grown in their faith.
they have become friends, and made new friends.
and, most importantly, they have completed what they set out to do, no matter what was thrown in front of them.


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