I love it when something catches you so off-guard that you never saw it coming. Not in a bad way, like being embarrassed when you walk into the door casing instead of through the doorway. But rather like making it through the door when you thought you'd once again run into the wall. A pleasant surprise. A happy ending that turns out to be a brand new beginning, too. In his words, making it to the summit and being able to hike downhill now.

My dad came to visit.

 And I count more graces, because I'm filled with thanksgiving.

 #175-209
~a long weekend trying to make up for lost time
~a living demonstration that love never fails
~a father and a grandfather that flies to you
~a game of scrabble with a wayward letter "R"
~cheating to help your granddaughter
~apple pancakes
~fighting over who sleeps on the couch
~sleepless nights
~facing the pain head-on
~precious time alone together
~things I never knew
~round table discussions
~hundred dollar bills and decisions, decisions
~laughter
~saying everything that needed to be said, fully and finally
~never having to again...unless we just want to
~that somehow this time was different
~dinner times
~wanting more when you thought you didn't
~magic pennies and wanting more of them, too
~songs about rainbows and things coming back in style
~memories I don't want to forget
~not really knowing what to do today after he's gone
~forgiveness
~so engaged in the moments that there aren't enough pictures
~salty tears to baptize and raise a relationship to newness of life
~a husband  with gentle wisdom, who already knew
~flying away home...free
~a mutual pledge to read for each other
~making peace with the past and each other
~late nights and being tired
~a goodbye with hope for the not-so-distant future
~almost speechless at the wonder of it all
~being overwhelmed by the goodness of God's grace

This is the Lord's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. ~Psalm 118:23-24

I share this post in community with Ann Voskamp and friends whose walk with Him is about parenting this week.