The littles and I made a short-notice trip to Texas this month when we found out my mom had been diagnosed with breast cancer.  We arrived just after her surgery and overwhelmed her with five- and one-year-old energy.  

Mom, you are brave and faithful and obedient and beautiful.  My faith has been strengthened and I have been encouraged watching your attitude of praise and gratitude as you walk through this.  

I did not take pictures consistently and so I got only a few of my mom with the kids, and none of Nana or Mema with the kids!  I didn’t get nearly as many with my sisters or my dad as I would have liked.  Solo parenting on the road is hard, ya’ll!  So these aren’t my best pictures and don’t nearly capture all the people we love, but these next several posts represent a small sample of a sweet, hard visit with our family.  

Nana and Pops, thank you for opening your home to us and for watching the kids for the occasional sister nights and game nights!  Mom, thanks for letting me use your car for so long and all the oils!  Pops, thanks for all the early mornings you let me sleep while Max peppered you with a million questions, and for letting me borrow your car.  Nana, thank you for all the Max bedtimes!  Dad, thanks for the trips to the park with the boys and the treasured Lightbox, and the ridiculously early trip to the airport.  Jessica, thank you for the car seats and pack’n’play – they were such a help – and for all the long drives you made for us, including picking us up from the airport.  Heather, thanks for the games and the cough medicine and generously sharing Jackson’s bed for Hazel naps!  Megan, thank you for just showing up all over Dallas and spending time with Max and Hazel – they absolutely loved it.  Steph and Karen, thank you from the bottom of my heart for showing up and pouring into me during a difficult time.  I’m not even mentioning all the million little acts of kindness we received from all of you and others.  I am blessed beyond measure by all of you.  

And Ben, thanks for flying halfway across the world at then end of a very busy two weeks of travel, just to fly back with us a few days later.  You are selfless and never stop giving, and you make my life sweeter.