Home. And So Very, Very Blessed.

We're home. After two looooong days on the road, we stopped by the kennel to pick up the dog (who was very happy to see us!) and finally returned home.

What greeted us was an unexpected and overwhelming blessing! As we pulled up to the house, there was a mysterious package hanging on our garage door -- a welcome home note and a whole container of deviled eggs! (And nicely chilled by the Virginia winter!) Once in the garage, we saw a welcome note posted on the door into the house. How incredibly sweet! And when we reached the kitchen, we were greeted by a banner, balloons, meals in the fridge, homemade cinnamon bread, chocolates, nuts, and a stack of cards filled with beautiful blessings, prayers, encouragement, sympathy, treats, etc. What an amazing, tangible expression of love from our church family at Hope. I can't begin to describe how my heart and spirit has soared! I am so deeply grateful!

The Stamps stopped by shortly after we arrived with a hot pot of chili and we enjoyed dinner together. We shared all the nitty gritty of our trip and simply savored the friendship and love.

The love of our Hope family has been such an anchor through this surprising and sad experience. Every day we were gone we received phone calls, e-mails, and text messages with words of blessing. Real "come alongside and share the experience" stuff that still blows me away. On the morning of the memorial, shortly before the service began, the florist arrived with a beautiful arrangement from dear friends here in Virginia and an amazing bouquet from our the great folks at Hope. The timing was perfect (isn't it always that way with God's blessings?), and I went into that memorial service with the sense that all our loved ones here in Virginia were with us.

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day as I catch up on some work that's been piling up in my absence and get things ready for our annual Church Family Meeting. But tonight has been a time of sweetness and kindness that I'll never forget.