"How beautiful heaven must be..."

I'm getting ready to go home to Katy. I've been at home in Keller. Mike is in Katy. I've been in Keller. I've also been in Pflugerville. And I've been in Bedford. I've had three grandchildren born in the past 4-1/2 months. Ben is about to turn 3 - tomorrow! Kennedy will turn 3 shortly afterward. So my heart is in turmoil - joy at all the experiences, thrilled to be a part of such a loving family, wanting to be everywhere at once and all things to all people. But I can't. I can only be one place at a time. I miss Mike terribly. I also know that soon I'll miss being around the children and grandchildren daily. Hence, heart ache of the loveliest kind.

It's funny actually - when we lived in England, my battle cry was "let's move somewhere where I can be Wife, Mother and Grandmother all at once!" Well, I'm closer now - only 2-1/2 hours to one family, 4-1/2 hours to the other two families. My mother has actually moved down to Katy from Lubbock. Mike's folks are in Bedford around the corner from Chris, Jenjer and Mirai. No longer is it an hour's drive to Gatwick, 2 hours of checking in and waiting, 10 hours to fly, etc. But it still seems far away when you aren't with the ones you love. There are times when we are all together - July 4th week was one. Another is coming up the last weekend in September when almost everyone (we'll miss you, Jason!) will be in the "Big House" (see earlier post - tee hee) in Katy. There's Christmas and possibly even Thanksgiving (plans anyone??). And in January, of course, DISNEY WORLD! :) Events that fill my heart with joy. I find myself wanting it all.

But it got me to thinking about that old hymn and especially the 2nd verse:

In heaven no drooping nor pining,
No wishing for elsewhere to be;
God's light is forever there shining,
How beautiful heaven must be

Refrain:
How beautiful heaven must be,
Sweet home of the happy and free;
Fair heaven of rest for the weary,
How beautiful heaven must be.

So Happy Birthday, Benjamin. And on Saturday, Happy Birthday to not only Christopher, but his brother Benjamin, who DOES know "how BEAUTIFUL heaven must be"!