drive up to our house to see a sweet to the sweetness sign up!!!
kim L out to say welcome home.. I see sammathas bracelets.. to say.. how come I am seeing these on all the girls here?? as I noticed at the airport.. conley girls had them up to their elbows.. then sweet kim is like I have a pack for truly.. SERIOUSLY right away again.. i remember the thoughtfulness the support that is EVERYWHERE outside my front door.. LITERALLY.... she will give you the shirt of her back.. sammatha is back in a flash to gear you all up..
OH MY WORD.. truly.. the days following..I don't even think princess at disneyland could touch how you were just scooped up and LOVED on like crazy..
all day long collins had our back.. took the boys swimming while I was inside.. rachael played whatEVER you wanted to play all day.. if that meant smearing red lipstick all over.. and actually putting it on for her.. THEN that is what she did..

then what followed next was as I look out my window to check out the yard.. I see my swing set.. something is off.. then it dawns on me.. its not white any more.. I look at my mom .. she proceeds to tell me all that went on..
kristin had come to her.. letting her know. I will be in the back yard.. REFINISHING their swing set.. RIGHT here.. this makes me gasp a bit.. as being the daughter of a susan.. aka woodworker of the century.. RIGHT OFF KNOW what this entails!!!
I immediately ask my mom if she gave kristin the HEADS UP.. of " are you sure you can chew that off" but no such discussion went down..
well kristin thought it would be a day.. or I think even an afternoon project.. but NO SUCH luck.. it turn into a HUGE undertaking..
while kristin called for back up ( never mind all the trips to home depot.. long researching talking to the home depot guys of what finish to use.. as she really did it perfect.. I will NEVER have to sand it down again.. all I have to do now. IS really an afternoon.. of slap another coat of finish on.. ) .. rallying up some friends to come help sand the sucker down.. ( like a babies bum mind you) SHE was the one out there day in and day out for HOURS!!!!!!!!!
my mom did the roof.. she got invited to the party.. then busted out all her skills and gear.. going all out with ear plugs.. eyeglasses.. I sorta wonder at this point.. if the thought crossed sweet kristins mind.. "hey where was the heads up that this was so going to be WHOA to the WEE WHOA of a project:)
also my mom told me how annika 9 year old annika was out there for 5 hours!!!

at first.. I could not help but feel so indebted to her.. I felt very emotion that she would do such a thing.. I just do not know if I have ever had a better gift!!!
she explained that while in japan.. when I was showing her..and even how she saw for her self.. the country thinks as a whole.. they think in terms of US.. not me or I.. but how will this be good for the "whole" or how will this affect the "US"
she knew how much we missed our backyard.. how much time we would spend out there.. how much other kids loved to play in our backyard.. and she took it apon herself to make the culdesac better.. ( as if she already doesn't by just being breezy, easy)
that made it even more special.. that she had literally came to a country to visit me and it three short days.. with her big heart.. quickly caught what was so neat about japan.. and came straight home to implement it.. ( this will FOREVER make it even MORE special.. a piece is right here along with us..)
it been a few months now that we have been home.. I still light up and feel grateful very time I walk passed my window to catch a look..