Come Further Up

Every once in awhile, an unexpected memory of my kids pricks my heart.

Sometimes it's something really funny, like the time one of the many 2 year old boys fell asleep during play group and did the biggest head bobs I have ever seen, or any of the countless times the kids fell asleep on the toilet, or when my little stinker would climb up on the table after bath time and dance like an old man in his birthday suit.

Other times it's the memories that break your heart; the look of abandonment or the fear in the eyes of new comers.

Today it is memories of their gentle, kind, and nurturing spirits. One of our little boys who has now been reunited with his family has one of the most nurturing hearts I have ever seen (though he is a huge stinker.) He loved to help sweep the front stoop with the house mothers, carry baby dolls on his back, and scootch (is that even a real word?) the younger kids close and pretend to feed them. One of my boys is just the cuddliest, and he loved to trace my face with his brown little fingers. One of my dearest memories, though, is one that I have written about before. On one of my last days, I went out to play group to soak up a little more time with the kids. My cuddly boy jumped up into my arms and squeezed tight. So tight, in fact, that I started leaking tears (; Our oldest girl at the time (now living with her mother in Sweden!!) noticed and said, "You are sad? Pephi, Ausi Grace, pephi." (pephi = sorry) and she rubbed my back with her beautiful brown eyes looking into mine. Hokey toots these kids have such a capacity for love.

It is the memories like these that makes me so incredibly excited to be back. 

In just over 2 weeks, my parents and I will be on our way!! And if you haven't read the family blog (boersemablog.blogspot.com), I will give you a little update of where we are at. 

We have sold our house
We have a house ready for us when we arrive
We have furnishings for our house
We have a car
We have a dog :)
We have funding for the first year and commitments for more than half of the second year!

Praise Jesuuuus!

So, despite maybe the weight of my previous posts (I apologize. I realize I am a little dramatic at times...but they are my feelings nonetheless) I am so happy to say that there has been so much peace, so much excitement for the coming season. 

I just finished reading the Chronicles of Narnia yesterday, and I want to leave you with a few thoughts/quotes from The Last Battle.

As the children reach the land of Aslan, they continually hear him calling, "Come further up, come further in!" And I think our Lord does the same. As we enter into fellowship with him, he beckons us to get closer, get deeper, run harder towards him. That is my hope in this new year and new adventure.

And just as the children faced many trials and had much fear, I too face the future with uncertainty. However, I take peace in this truth: “But courage, child: we are all between the paws of the true Aslan.” 

Friends, our Savior is so kind. He is SO good. And hokey toots I can't wait to come further up and further in.