Emotional Weeks

The Face of Our Son

Two weeks ago we went to the doctor for Lisa's regular checkup. As usual, he did an ultrasound.  Usually the picture is really grainy and I can't really tell the difference between the images on the screen and scenes from Alien.  But this time was different. The face was really clear. We could see his cheeks. And, as if on cue, he yawned. It was pretty cool.

Leland

We had to come home last week to say goodbye to Lisa's grandfather, Leland Nelson.  The family asked me to sing, so I was sitting on the stage while the preacher spoke words remembering him and his life.  It was a good perspective, really, to have on the affair.  I could look down and see generations of Nelsons sitting together, remembering husband, father, grandfather.  As the words were spoken, I could see the memories they evoked played out on the faces of his family. I was honored to be privileged to such a view.  Grandpa Nelson lived a full life. And, perhaps equally as important, he left behind folks who loved him.  He will really be missed.

The Flight Home

We had a pleasant surprise on the flight home!  We were set to return to Gainseville on a 6:30 AM flight from Denver this past Monday.  We took a 4:30 AM shuttle to the airport, thinking it would be a dreary day of travel. Instead, we found our flight was oversold. We volunteered to give up our seats in exchange for a travel voucher for another flight (which will help for return travels in May) AND WE GOT UPGRADED TO FIRST CLASS!  Jeff had given me a cap from Rod's Fix-A-Flat from Bushnell, NE. I proudly wore it while they served us a meal, drinks and entertained us with in-flight movies.  As Lisa put it, if you have to fly 8 months pregnant, that's not a bad way to do it!

Me, in first class, with Rod's Fix-A-Flat cap.  Keepin' it classy.

Surprise Baby Shower

After our first class affair, we landed in the Gainesville Airport around 6 PM.  Our friend Dan was there to pick us up. Lisa and I are in a small bible study group that meets once a week with Dan, his wife Heidi and several other folks about our age.  The plan was for Dan to take us to the bible study, even though we were REALLY tired from traveling.  We arrived at the place we were to have the study and Dan called Heidi, pretending to be a bit lost.  What he was REALLY doing was telling everyone to get in place for the SURPRISE BABY SHOWER!  When we walked through the door, they all yelled SURPRISE! There was food, streamers, gifts and all the folks from our group were there.  PLUS, Dan had found folks from back home, including our families, and had them send gifts and notes.  He even got the recipe for our favorite dessert (simply called "The Dessert") from my family.  It was such a blessing to feel at home, even though we weren't at "home".  Our group has only been together for a few months, but they are quickly becoming a family here.  We can't say enough how much we appreciated that gesture last week.