Thank You!

Thank you all for your wonderful comments of encouragement! As always, your love and support continue to keep us going. And as has been the way from the beginning of Ellie's cancer, I have drawn indescribable comfort from your tears on our behalf.

Ellie and I left NY for Montana this evening. We had one stop in Minneapolis... which has turned into an all night deal. Our plane was delayed so long that we missed our connecting flight. Ellie was a bit nervous about it all, but we decided to make this a grand adventure. There were a few bumps in the road - long lines, little food, and the directionally challenged adult hauling a tired, sore child (not to mention an insanely large laptop that weighs approximately the same as a mac truck!) around from pillar to post... but it all payed off. We hare lounging in a gorgeous hotel room that almost makes me wish that we were staying more than a night! This whole place is beautifully decorated and family friendly. There is even a set of bunk beds inset into a wall. Ellie has already unpacked her small bag onto the top bunk. We managed to get a pizza before the kitchen closed in the restaurant tonight. So all is well.

There were a couple of unexpected blessings on this trip. We met some very kind people - a sweet young couple with an adorable dog. Ellie loved petting him and talking as we waited for the plane in NY. And there was another wonderful couple who talked with us as we boarded the airplane. If all of you guys are reading this... thank you for your kindness and for making our trip special! And then in the midst of the long lines of angry people who had missed flights, there was a little exchange that I overheard that made me smile. It was already late at night, and we had finally made it onto the shuttle to get to the hotel, and a young couple rushed onto the bus. The dad was holding a sleeping toddler and the mom had a front carrier on with a newborn baby - and they had all of the gear to go along with two small kids. They sat down on the bus and the man looked over at his wife, smiled and said "God is so good to us!" It just made me smile. That was probably the one and only positive comment I had heard in all of the craziness, and I loved it.

John and family were planning to get to Montana on Sunday, but they decided to step it up a day and arrive tomorrow. So now they will probably be there on time to pick us up from the airport. We are sooooo excited! So for tonight, we rest comfortably and look forward to seeing family tomorrow afternoon. It feels like forever since I have held my little Ethan, and once I finally get my arms around John, I don't think I'll let go ever again. This is it! We will finally be - in the words of Ellie when she was a toddler, all "togeddery"!

My next post will be from Montana, and I will be very happy indeed! Love you all.