.wonderful weekend.

This weekend was so wonderful (well the last 36 hours... same thing really). When I got out of work yesterday morning, I was going to nap before Christina came; I had discussed going there this weekend, to school, but it's always so tough for me. There are so many people there that I know, that I'm friends with. And I always end up running into people, whether it's in the store, or word of mouth, and I feel obligated to make time for them as well. Really, I just wanted to go see my brother & Alysha, some people from Tea Time, and Christina. But every time I do, I'm so torn because people demand my time, and I feel bad, like I'm hurting peoples' feelings by spending time with someone else. So she decided to come here instead, which was awesome. So after work I just took a shower and waited around for her arrival.

I was staring out the window around the time she said she'd be here (we were texting when she got close). I was waiting for her jeep to pull in. Instead, this white car comes whipping in that looks like another friend of mine (and Christina's roommates). I was like, "Aww that looks like Stacy's car." And what do you know? It pulls in next to mine. Hmmmm... so I bent down to get a better look. Christina was in the passenger seat.... and Stacy was in the driver's seat. STACY CAME TOO!?!?! They called me but I hung up on them as I bolted down the stairs to let them in. Awwwww my girls. :-) It was such a wonderful surprise. So I spent the day with them instead of sleeping. A couple of times I got kind of tired, but we were on the move mostly all day until after dinner. We went to lunch, I showed Stacy the hospital where I work, we went to Walmart (somehow when I'm with either one of them, we always end up there at least once; sometimes more).

Earlier in the day before they arrived, I had emailed Joe and asked him if they had any free time this weekend that I could go see them. I've told Christina so many stories about him, and I knew she wanted to meet him as well, so I figured it'd be the perfect opportunity. He called immediately and told me YES! and emailed me directions. So we drove up to see him after our Walmart expedition.

His wife greeted us at the door (back up, can I just say how nervous/excited I was to see them? My stomach was turning because I was so anxious). I hugged her forever and said how wonderful it was to see her. Joe was nowhere in sight- she said he'd be out shortly. So after we got settled on the couch, I heard a door open and Joe slowly walked down the hall. I could not stop beaming, I'm sure I lit up the whole freaking room as I stood and walked towards him. He was beaming back, with his arms wide open. He kissed me on the lips as I came in to give him a hug. (sometimes when old people try to kiss me, it makes me feel awkward, fyi. Like when great aunts & stuff hold you out away from them until you get the clue that they want your lips. ugh.). We hugged for a long time too. And he was standing!!!!!!!!!! The last time I saw him he was far too weak to stand for that long. He'd walk from his bed to the hall and back, and that whipped him. But here he was, still obviously weak, but so much stronger than the last time. (His wife said they went to Walmart and he walked around next to her, without the cart, for quite some time, so he was probably weaker than any other given day, from the exercise.) He sat down and told stories galore. He has the best stories and sense of humor. The girls were laughing hysterically. It blessed my heart so much. They're such a wonderful family. And it was just so wonderful to see them, and hear them again.

After a couple of hours, my tiredness started to hit me pretty hard. His wife grabbed her camera and said we must take pictures before we left. So they wanted one of the three of us girls first. Then she wanted one of me and Joe. As I stood up to walk towards him, he plastered his lips on my cheek and held them there for the picture. I think I was blushing, but I sure was smiling. Then we took a normal one hugging, and another one with his wife. Oh goodness. I cannot wait to see them (they're supposed to email them to me). They hugged & kissed me again before I left. I could have stayed there forever, but I didn't want the girls to get bored or hate their time with me.

The girls and I went to the Outback for dinner last night. I was pretty tiiiiiired by then. I almost fell asleep in our little booth. They were both tired too. So thankfully when we got home, they wanted to go to sleep. Yes, at 8:30. haha. We are pathetic, but it made us all very happy. I slept good and hard until about 6:30 this morning. I was WIDE awake, having 10 hours of sleep in my body. But the girls were still knocked out cold. I got on the computer for a little bit, but then I took some benadryl to go back to sleep. We all woke up again around 11:30.

I loved this weekend. It was so wonderful having something to look forward to, to get me through work Friday night (which was a wonderful, peaceful night, thank God). I wish I had more of those look-forward-to moments in my life. That's kind of depressing. But it's true. I don't think I'm supposed to be here. I really don't. (And if you'd pray about that, I'd greatly appreciate it. I wish God would just put a map in my mailbox with an X marked where I am supposed to be.) I can't call this home. So where do I? Please show me, Father.