Ramblings

So much to say.

So much on my heart.

No time, I feel like, to express it all.

I want to do a post about canning. Why I do it, why I love it.

A post about my Lolee girl turning *gasp* seven months soon.

One with all the pictures of our recent vacation to Missouri.

One about how I am freaking out *all over again* that school is starting on Friday.

One with all the pictures from the last several days, in which

my father

whom I haven't seen in almost four years

and my stepmom and my only sister

have driven over 1,000 miles

from New Jersey

to our little corner of Illinois

to meet Ethan and Lola Claire

and to visit all of us for what seems like the

shortest

four

days

on

the

planet.

All of my emotions....

....watching my father interact with my boys....

....with his only granddaughter....

It's almost too much.

It's wonderful.

And horrifying, all at the same time--to think that they will leave tomorrow

and I don't know when I may see them again.

I'm choosing to focus on the good things

like the fact that Colin l-u-v-s school

and that babies and children are supposed to grow

and flourish

and become independent of their Mommy

and that I got to have a very special, wonderful visit

with people I rarely see

but that I love very much.

It's been a great time. A busy time.

An emotional, exciting, happy time.

I can definitely say that I'm thankful for it.

But I'm afraid I won't be able to say that

I'm not still a bit weepy over it all....

....and that I may be that way

for a few more days to come.