Knowing Favorites.

He sent us away because it would feed our hearts.

When I gently mentioned to Steve that I so wanted to go see Erik play basketball at his Multnomah University in Portland Oregon – and that Erik was genuinely begging to have me bring Jack and Riley too – my gallant husband embarked on a mission.  Now you should know that when Steve accepts a challenge he puts the word Tireless to shame.

“We can’t afford it and we’re talking about Next Weekend!”

Within a few hours I had three tickets to Portland (thank you priceline.com) and my own challenge of extracting the other two from their busy lives for six days.  (This would not be easy for the very-driven Riley.)

But we did it.  We packed, we called coaches, we notified schools, we rearranged calendars and we left.  We celebrated with Erik and his friends day after gloriously-individual day.  We followed God’s leading on our hearts to walk slowly through this time, cherishing each hour, no matter where the adventure lead.

Venture we did: from college games to Pioneer Square to Vancouver WA with fabulous new friends.  A heart-melting worship experience at Erik’s favorite Solid Rock Church. (Phil Wickham live!).  And on the last day we climbed 1.3 miles to the top of Multnomah Falls, giving me a teensy weensy taste of the thrill of seeing the TOP of one of God’s marvels.

But alas it would be time to come home and face the backlog.

But, would I..?

On returning from this crazy-fun adventure, not only did he have the whole place remarkably clean, my incredible husband had built a long pathway of surprises throughout our home.

Love note resting on a giant vase of my favorite Stargazers.  The most brilliant orchid blasting my favorite color purple on the totally tidy porch. Sandwiches already made for the kids’ way-too-early start the next morning.  More and more … everywhere-evidence of his thoughtfulness while we left him alone with the loyal Cody for a whole week.

Steve is fairly well known in the family for dreaming up creative projects.  The last time I went away without him, I came home to vats of homemade applesauce and a tub of paper pulp for homemade paper.

This time, his project was to serve and surprise.  After a long journey and late-night drive home from Chicago, I found no end to the truth of his loving knowledge of my heart all around the house.  Lastly, as I prepared dinner the next night, I see two of my favorite-scrumptious artichokes nestled in the drawer of the fridge.

Being apart is hard.

But when love is this deep, there’s no real separation.  The best gift was his knowing.

For his next project, we brought him a hand-made Thumb Harp from The Real Mother Goose so he has a model to make his own!