home.

Sorry for the inconsistency in the blogging... there's been a lot happening and a lot of unknowns this past week or so.

For those who don't know yet, my grandpa Larry passed away on Thursday after a few weeks in the hospital and less than a week at home in hospice care. He's up in heaven with my Dad and our Heavenly Father, and I am rejoicing so in the knowledge that his body has been healed and he doesn't have any more pain or frustration. Every time one of the Lord's own goes home, it just makes me yearn for heaven all that much more!

It is also a struggle to get through, especially being on this side of the globe... It was so weird getting the information by email early on Friday morning; and then having to get dressed and go teach at school for a whole day. My selfishness still makes me sad, though, and I simply wish that death and loss and grief didn't have to be a part of this life, even in light of the amazing salvation that we have as believers in Christ. Oh, I wish we didn't have to endure this pain while we're here... I miss my grandpa already.

We were able to go out to dinner before I left for Uganda, and did a mini photo shoot in the parking lot outside of Hometown Buffet in Camarillo :) Yep, that's right. I have some hilarious shots of Grandpa and Grandma making silly faces too! I am so so so thankful that this time, the Lord granted me the chance to say good-bye before He took Grandpa home. I just talked to him last week when he was in the hospital, and when I said, "Hi Grandpa, it's Kristi - from Africa!" he replied, "Oh, oh! So this is long-distance, huh?" And then I tried (I think, unsuccessfully) to explain how I was talking to my computer through Skype, etc. and then we kept chatting for a while... it was a really good last conversation to have.

I'll probably blog more later, but I just wanted to ask you all for your prayers and love to comfort Grandma and Aunt Nette, Aunt Nessa, and Uncle Tom especially. It's tough to lose two men that you love so much almost a year apart from one another, but I pray that even in the feeling of loss, there'll be joy that, because of Jesus, our family will be able to share in that overwhelming victory some day.

I'm trying to catch the Sunday flight out of Entebbe and return on Monday to be with everyone for 2-3 weeks. I'll keep you all updated. Thank you for all your prayers!!

(added after Meg's comment)

I had forgotten about these ones :)