I have one of those countdown Apps on my phone. The one that gives you the days, hours, minutes, and seconds until the moment you're waiting for. It's currently set for the time my plane is scheduled to depart from Cairo to NYC. Every time I think about that day I get overwhelmed with emotion. I'm nervous about making my connecting flights. I'll be exhausted and short on time, but I'll be one step closer. One step closer to hugging my Mom and Dad. I can't even express the joy that fills me when I think about my sister..oh my. You know all those corny phrases? The ones put on signs, bumper stickers, and pinterest pins about sisters being best friends? They're true.
My sister has been my truest rock in the last 5 months. She shows her emotions in complicated ways..but she has been there for me every step of the way. She listened to my tears and fears. She's the one who told me she didn't want me to leave, but would support me if I did. She's kept that promise. She's the one who said nothing on the phone as I poured my heart out and just needed someone to listen as my heart broke over my decisions. She's the one who told me she needed me home, but that it was my decision and she would support me, but would be mad if I came home for any reason other than myself. I could go on for paragraphs about Sam. If you have a sister, I hope you understand. I hope you know the love and connection that I have been blessed with. I can't wait to see her finish out her senior year of high school. I can't wait to see her. I can't wait to go home.
It doesn't make leaving that much easier though. As I spent this morning getting my little guy ready for school my heart fell to pieces. I was kneeling down helping him put his favorite Spiderman shirt on while he was playing peek-a-boo with my bangs. He sang me a song as I put his socks on and listed all the friends he planned to see. He asked if he could put on his shoes and listed the rest of the tasks we needed to accomplish before he left. "I'm Ready?", he asked, I nodded. He ran to his Mom, informed her he was ready to go, grabbed his backpack, and with half a glance as he walked out the door yelled, "Bye, Danna! See you soon!"
Pretty soon it will be me walking out that door. I'm trying to get ready for that moment. He won't be able to prepare. He's too young to understand the distance..the time. I'm just hoping he's young enough to forget. That after a few days he won't ask where I am. That his heart won't break as mine will. His big sister knows i'm leaving. She wants to come visit me in America. I wish I could see her become the young lady I know she can be. I wish I could watch his vocabulary explode and his world get bigger and bigger. It's a strong force, but the one from home is stronger. I'm certain for many, many reasons that i'm doing what's right. God has been good to me here. He's good all the time. He's made my path clear, and I'm following him as best as I can.
Please pray for a smooth transition and for safe travels.
7 Days 19 hours 50 minutes and 42 seconds. <3
-A
My sister has been my truest rock in the last 5 months. She shows her emotions in complicated ways..but she has been there for me every step of the way. She listened to my tears and fears. She's the one who told me she didn't want me to leave, but would support me if I did. She's kept that promise. She's the one who said nothing on the phone as I poured my heart out and just needed someone to listen as my heart broke over my decisions. She's the one who told me she needed me home, but that it was my decision and she would support me, but would be mad if I came home for any reason other than myself. I could go on for paragraphs about Sam. If you have a sister, I hope you understand. I hope you know the love and connection that I have been blessed with. I can't wait to see her finish out her senior year of high school. I can't wait to see her. I can't wait to go home.
It doesn't make leaving that much easier though. As I spent this morning getting my little guy ready for school my heart fell to pieces. I was kneeling down helping him put his favorite Spiderman shirt on while he was playing peek-a-boo with my bangs. He sang me a song as I put his socks on and listed all the friends he planned to see. He asked if he could put on his shoes and listed the rest of the tasks we needed to accomplish before he left. "I'm Ready?", he asked, I nodded. He ran to his Mom, informed her he was ready to go, grabbed his backpack, and with half a glance as he walked out the door yelled, "Bye, Danna! See you soon!"
Pretty soon it will be me walking out that door. I'm trying to get ready for that moment. He won't be able to prepare. He's too young to understand the distance..the time. I'm just hoping he's young enough to forget. That after a few days he won't ask where I am. That his heart won't break as mine will. His big sister knows i'm leaving. She wants to come visit me in America. I wish I could see her become the young lady I know she can be. I wish I could watch his vocabulary explode and his world get bigger and bigger. It's a strong force, but the one from home is stronger. I'm certain for many, many reasons that i'm doing what's right. God has been good to me here. He's good all the time. He's made my path clear, and I'm following him as best as I can.
Please pray for a smooth transition and for safe travels.
7 Days 19 hours 50 minutes and 42 seconds. <3
-A
