Then we moved to Belgium. We flew in yesterday morning and had a wonderful day of kicking jet lag and watching the kids reunite and play with their long-lost "cousin-friends." Then we had a birthday party for Ty, where the team came over with ties on...get it, for Ty?! We had delicious food and drink and laughter and conversation. It was really good! Then we got ready for bed and tried a quick skype with parents. Of course, it worked for Ty but not my parents. So a few texts back and forth and my mom and I decided we would chat today when she was on her way to work instead. Then we went to bed.
What a wonderful first day! We woke up this morning (quite late thanks to jet lag!) and there was a message from my sister. "Please be praying, a lightning strike started a fire on the hill behind mom and dad's and the fire is headed toward their house." Facebook only added more concern as I saw pictures mom had posted from their back yard. But it was 2:30am and I figured it looked as though it was turning and not going toward them, so perhaps they were sleeping after all and I didn't want to wake them if they were miraculously actually asleep. It was a very long 5 hours until I heard back from my dad via text. The fire turned and followed the hills instead of coming across the prairie. They were fine and their house was fine.
It was an immediate reminder how far we have moved though. Hard things will happen-to them, to us, to others. We won't be there always. We won't even be able to get there always, even after the fact. You hear these things and know them in your head and even a bit in your heart. It isn't until you step into that moment and the emotion hits though, that you feel it-for real.
We have moved to Belgium. We live across the ocean. This is much more than just another visit. Friends, we trust our Father God that this is right where we are supposed to be, even in the hard moments. I'm sure we will have many more. This adventure has begun!