The weekend was going to be great! Temperatures were rising and sunshine was on the menu! Our son and daughter in law would be coming from Portland with our granddaughter in tow! This meant our entire family would get to spend this lovely weekend together making fresh memories among the Fall colors!! I was so excited.

Everyone arrived and after sharing a sweet meal and laughter together I began to feel it—-it started in my throat and within hours I was experiencing chills; It got worse from there. There went my best laid plans! I spent the remainder of the weekend in bed making certain I didn’t pass my “bug” onto my precious grandchildren.

For 2 days I listened to giggles and playfulness, books being read and songs being sung while I lay sequestered away!! This was not how I planned this weekend to go!! My heart broke every time I heard tiny voices say “ is Mimi sick?” where is Mimi?” I kind of had a pity party.

I had extra time to think while I lay there listening to tiny voices downstairs and I thanked the Lord for the precious gifts in my life. My heart swelled as I was reminded again of what truly matters ~ the people God has given me to love.

While I will always refer to the past weekend as the “One that Got Away” I am deeply grateful for the reminder of the gift of family.