Chasing Fireflies

When did I grow up? When did adulthood become my stage of life and not just something I was looking forward to? We want so quickly to grow up and enter the world on what we think is our terms...and now, ironically, there are so many days when I miss being a naïve five year old chasing fireflies at dusk.

Count it all joy: I breathed a sigh of relief when Friday afternoon rolled around and I knew I had a three day weekend ahead of me. I had dinner with two of my favorite girlfriends at one of our favorite pizza spots. It has been far too long since I just sat back and laughed with the girls...or any adults for that matter. I then eagerly came home to my darling husband and sweet little girl. I am so grateful for a husband who loves being an involved dad. While I'm sure he was ready to have me home after keeping G all evening, he never once complained.

Saturday rolled around and a full day came with it. It began with my hubby insisting on venturing out to some yard sales, which is honestly one of our favorite past times. We've always been suckers for antique stores, thrift shops, flea markets, etc. We rarely buy anything. It's just fun to rummage through other people's "treasures". We eventually made our way to the grocery store. I thought I'd go against my usual one stop grocery shopping rule and went to two stores instead. Needless to say, despite the "deals" I still spent over what I normally spend purchasing most of the same items. I also had trouble finding what I typically like to buy. I'll not be breaking that rule again...upon finishing our shopping, we came home, unpacked the groceries, relaxed a bit with the baby and settled in for the night.

Sunday came and I rolled out of bed much later than intended. We opted to fellowship at home and then made our way across the mountain to cook out with two of our dearest friends and their little boy. I was amazed at how much he had changed in just a month. Our love for this family only grows and we are so grateful for their friendship. We came home, got G ready for bed and then hit the sheets a little early ourselves.

While our weekend has been filled with wonderful things, a dark cloud made its way into our lives today. We got a text this morning saying that our close friend's mother had gone into cardiac arrest last night and was now at the hospital...and the prognosis did not look good. We immediately started getting ready, and once G was fed, we made our way to the hospital. It was the same hospital, that only a few months ago, had joined with us in welcoming our baby girl into the world. As we rode the elevator to the MICU, we were anxious about what awaited us. We desperately longed to bring comfort to our friends and their families. Upon arriving, we were met by another friend and was taken back to the room where the family had gathered. It was there that we learned she was on life support and a decision had to made about her future care. While G brought smiles to weary, tear stained faces, our hearts broke at the sight and sound of our friend making calls to loved ones about the condition of his mom.

We stayed for a while and once the decision about his mother's future care was made, we departed with a few last hugs and words of farewell. As we walked out of the hospital, I could not help but think of how odd it all seemed...to walk out knowing that in just a short while tubes would be removed and machines would be turned off, while at the same time, just a wing or so over, new little lives were entering the world. Little fingers and toes were being counted and families were being made whole...all the while this family would be facing a void that no one could have expected. We ask, on the families behalf that prayers be lifted. May our friends and their families receive and accept the comfort and peace that only God can give.

I miss the days of chasing fireflies...

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
  he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

The righteous person faces many troubles,
  but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.

 

Psalm 34:18-19