Home Alone

September 16-20 (Kids’ version)

The kids had a remarkably smooth weekend without parental supervision. It was hard to leave, though. Just as I was climbing into Lynn’s van, Mackenzie came out with Evangeline, who was sobbing, “Mommeeeee! Mommeeeeee!” I gave her one last kiss and said goodbye. It was comforting to know that Paul and Heather were not far away if a need arose.

Friday must have been uneventful for my gang, because none of them seem able to recall what they did. On Saturday, Kylin, from next door came over and played for 5 hours.

On Saturday evening, the kids went over to the church to clean and set up for Sunday morning. The kids played games while Bronwyn, Ruth, and Paul practiced songs for church. Mackenzie and Keegan watched Dan mud the drywall for a while. They had a good time but their highlight was eating ice cream. Diana bought ice cream with her birthday money from Grandpa to share with her friends. She had $50 to spend. Three 2L tubs and a container of gummy worms later, her money was all spent. Paul smeared ice cream on his forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin, and warned the kids not to get ice cream on their faces. Then, Paul licked out his bowl and said to Evangeline, “Now, Evangeline, don’t lick your bowl like I am.” Bronwyn, Mackenzie, and Diana stayed a little longer to clean up after their ‘party’ and Keegan, bless his heart, took the little guys home and gave them baths.

My troop walked to church on Sunday morning through the snow. Ruth and Mackenzie made pancakes for the Sunday School. Evangeline walked up to Paul and said, “My mommy is gone. My daddy is gone.” It’s like a cry for help, don’t you think? Bronwyn said Ezra and Evangeline have never been so well-behaved during church. With no Mommy around, there was no lap to fight over and they cuddled with Keegan and Mackenzie. Instead of a sermon, Paul and Dan shared how God has been working in their lives. Dan explained how God orchestrated his move to McPherson with Heather and Ruth. Paul shared a story as well.

“Two years ago,” Paul said (or something to the effect), “Someone invited me to their church down south to share our plans for building a church. I didn’t know what to say, but I told them what I could. When I finished, all in attendance seemed very interested and asked what they could do to help. They were instrumental in the building of this church. If it hadn’t been for them…” While Bronwyn was listening, she was thinking, “Wow, that sounds like a great church. ” Then Paul said, “It was the Kures’ church, Kurt was the one who invited me, and Michele and Les were at the meeting.” (Were you there too, Elbert?) Bronwyn was, needless to say, very surprised. Lynn and I were talking this week, as well, and she said that if it hadn’t been for Sarah’s bout with cancer, Paul wouldn’t even have been there. God can certainly work ALL things for the good to those who love Him!

After church, Mackenzie, Josiah, Diana, Naomi, and Ezra went to the neighbours’ house for Rayden’s birthday. They had a great time with all the food, goodie bags, and games. Inge told me later that Ezra spent most of his time chatting with her at the kitchen table. That’s my boy….

When I got home after midnight, everyone was still up except for Ezra and Diana. There were hugs all around and we stayed up even later to talk and catch up. There’s no place like home….even when you’re not at ‘home.’