The Ballmans

Last week, we got a very exciting email.  Our dear friends, Art and Nancy Ballman, were coming through on their way to Chicago and wanted to see us.  Whoo Hoo!

Art and Nancy were members of our church in Washington.  They are serving as teaching missionaries in Uganda and were home for a short visit.  Since they were coming {relatively} our way on the road to visit family in Chicago, they stayed with us for two days.  It was a treat and a blessing.

Nancy did crafts with Ella.

Art told her stories, and in general, they found a very large place in that little girl's heart.

They got some good snuggles from Jack, who doesn't always warm up quickly.  Clearly not a problem here.

It was a lovely visit, with lots of talking, tea and coffee.  We were sad to see them go, though we keep finding things they forgot and left here, so it's like having a piece of them! 

We miss you, Miss Nancy and Poppa Art!

Today I miss Washington

I miss Washington today.  Not because they do not still have snow on the ground, because I am thrilled by the never ending supply of snow.  It is wonderful to get full use out of your winter coat.  And mittens.  And hats.  And snow boots.

And not because it is perpetually green there, because I like white, brown and gray.  They are beautiful.  They are just my colors.  I'd hate for things to be boringly colorful.  Nope.  A nice, neutral palate for me.

And not because I miss my friends so much.  It's not like they are irreplaceable.  I mean, dear friends like them are a dime a dozen.  People who know all your bad points and still love you are just common nowadays.  They're the new trend. 

No, it's because of this.

When we left Washington, we brought a huge container of dishwasher detergent that I thought would never run out.  We also got those massive Starbucks whole bean coffee bags from Costco.  We kept the open package in the clear container with the blue lid.  We stocked up on Trader Joes' chocolate syrup because I could recognize all the ingredients and didn't mind giving it to Ella.

Today these things all ran out.  They were the last of the Washington dry goods.  This makes me sad. 

What is that you say?  It is ridiculous to feel such things over chocolate syrup and dishwasher detergent {'cuz I know you ain't messin' wid da coffee}?  Well, you're right.  It is.  But I don't care.  I'm not having an emotional breakdown.  I'm sad.  And I'm allowed to feel sad.  It's my bloggy and I'll cry if I want to. 

Not that I'm crying.