Saying Goodbye to My Parents

A couple of weeks ago, I hugged my parents goodbye for the next four years.

My parents have moved across the world. They sold their house, gave us their Honda Accord, divided their belongings between my sister and me, and moved to Papua New Guinea.

When my dad first emailed to say that he and my Mom were sensing God might want them to move overseas to an area that really needed a dentist, I was excited for them, but also a little sad. I grew up for 14 years in Africa, so living across the world isn't anything new. But back then, we were all together. Now, they would be going and my sister and I would not.

When my mom told us that they were going to sell their house, and give everything to my sister and I, if we wanted it, my first thought was, "This feels like a funeral." And, in a way, it was. My mom made a list of everything in their house -- lamps, tables, sheets, her wedding dress -- and, with the help of my sister and I, divided everything up. Holly chose the basement furniture, I got some bedroom furniture. I needed some pictures for a blank wall, Holly wanted their piano. And so we went, item by item, page by page.

I did pretty well during the months leading up to their departure. And I did well the week that they stayed with us before they left.

But that all changed the moment I woke up on the morning my parents were to leave. I had a knot in my stomach. Tears that had been surprisingly absent during the past few months already were threatening to spill. I made it through breakfast, through one last family photo...and then, during our final goodbye, the floodgates broke open.

But God always has a sense of humor. Two weeks earlier, I had asked a couple of neighborhood children if they wanted to come with my kids and I to a story- and song-time at the mall. I asked them first, and then checked my calendar (perhaps not the smartest way to make plans), only to realize that was the very morning my parents would leave. But the neighbor kids were so excited that I didn't have the heart to cancel.

I had not warned these dear kids to expect Niagara Falls that morning. So they were very concerned as I cried and blew my nose about 100 times during our car ride to the mall. "It's okay, Miss Christine," they said over and over. "You'll be alright!" I guess they now know that even adults can give a good boo-hoo.

I miss my parents. For the past 15 years, I have talked to my mom every Sunday. Sometimes I would call and say, "I don't really have anything new to talk about..." and then laugh 90 minutes later as we finally got off the phone. "How can we spend an hour and a half talking about nothing?" we would wonder. (And yes, my daughter is carrying on this fine tradition.)

But I'm also really proud of my parents. They answered God's call regardless of the cost, and are blazing a trail that is affecting not just me, but also my kids.

A few weeks ago, my daughter was playing "airport." I asked her where she was going, and she smiled and said, "Papua New Guinea!" Some day, God very well may call her to Papua New Guinea, or some other country around the world. And I'll rejoice in her obedience just like I rejoice in my parents' obedience...with a few boxes of Kleenex in the process.

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Ready for school...oh wait, he doesn't go to school!

Loving that back pack.

Cleaning and playing ball...the ultimate multi-tasker.

Holly and her look-alike, Strawberry Shortcake.

Holly and her best friend.

Holly's snack of choice this afternoon...corn on the cob, uncooked.

Happy on a Sunday afternoon.

More Sunday happiness...

Yes, Mommy zoomed in just a bit too much and my face looks really big!