Packing, loading and finally pulling away from the house to leave for vacation can be a stress-filled, never-ending project. Even when climbing in the car, people hop out and say, “Oh! Just one more thing!” or “Oops! I forgot something!” or “Wait just a second!”
This morning was no exception as we tried to get away by 9:00 AM with two vehicles packed to the ceiling and two little ones needing constant consideration. Every adult heaves a huge sigh of relief after finally buckling their seat belts and saying, “OK! Let’s go!”
Some families are disciplined enough to set alarms for pre-dawn vacation starts, arriving at their destination in daylight with enough time to enjoy most of that first rental day. Our family has a poor track record in this department, often arriving after midnight as a result of lengthy, complicated starts. We did well today, starting our engines by 9:45.
When we turned into the long, familiar driveway of Afterglow Lake Resort, we were gratified to see it hadn’t changed much. But as we walked into the same house we’d rented for so many years, I got the surprise of a lifetime. Standing in the living room and grinning from ear to ear were Hans and Katy Nyman… all the way from England!
I gasped to see them and couldn’t hold back the tears! How did they pull that off? With three children under two, they secretly flew the eight hours to Chicago, found someone to pick them up at the airport and keep them overnight until it was time to start our week in the Northwoods, found someone willing to loan them a car, and then found their way here. And this they did with three babies who are still operating six time zones away.
I was flabbergasted! As we all gathered around the giant dining table over pizza, the details of their decision came to light. They’d thought of all of us together without them and made the decision to join us just two days before they came. Katy creatively called upon pals and her mom to help her pull it all together in a hurry, and then they came! Thanks to Katy’s resourcefulness when the twins were newborns, they already had American passports by three months of age, allowing them to make this traveling decision with the snap of a finger. And special blessing goes to Mary and Bervin for doing the airport shuttle, providing overnight housing and the borrowed car. I’m still speechless, six hours after the fact!
The only thing running through my mind is, “God is good!”
Underneath all the arranging, packing, traveling and arriving were the arms of a loving Father, firmly holding our wounded family in his tender hands. He allowed Nate to succumb to cancer for a separate set of important reasons, but in the mean time has been faithfully carrying the rest of us through these difficult weeks and months with blessings exactly when needed. He knows what we can bear and holds the limit beneath that maximum. And when a special boost is needed, he orchestrates it to come at just the right time, wrapped with a ribbon of joy.
Now all we have to do is figure out a way to pluck Birgitta from the University of Iowa and move her 500 miles north to join the rest of us. If that works, the impossible will have happened: all 15 of us together at Afterglow Lake, our favorite vacation place.
“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” (Deuteronomy 33:27)
Awesome, Margaret! I remember the night I came home exhausted from taking care of a dying friend to find my son, daughter-in-law and their new five week old daughter in my living room all the way from New York. I was speechless and couldn’t stop babbling at the same time. I hope you all have a wonderful time. God is so good, and He loves you so very much. Enjoy your sweet family.
HOORAY HOORAY HOORAY!!
We’ve been SO excited to hear how it went!!
Have an AMAZING and special times
x
This brought me to tears! What a demonstration of god’s extravagant love! I pray this week to be rich, moment-to-moment, filled with love.
Good Morning – Tears have welled up in my coffee cup as I’ve read your blog this morning. How truly awesome that Katy, Hans and the kids were able to surprise you. What a blessing to have all your grandkids in one place to enjoy together. I will be praying for lots of special memories – and pictures to share with all of us down the road. Enjoy!! God IS definitely GOOD!! Judy
Oh Margaret! I got chills of overwhelming happiness for you! You are blessed with such thoughtful adult children! I am so happy for all of you to be together at this time. It is like an early Christmas/birthdays celebration all wrapped up in one!
Tears of Joy are pouring down my face. “Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness, Morning by Morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is THY faithfulness, Oh LORD unto me.” May God give you a vacation rich in His Blessings.
This made me cry too! I wish I could go pick up Birgitta and drive her up for the weekend! My heart is aching that she isn’t with you.
Forgot to say, have a fantastic time!!!
My heart feels like the other commentators’ hearts. Now, I’m praying Brigitta is able to join you. Please be sure to get a group photo, with the Afterglow sign. Skylar may continue this tradition! God Bless Berv and Mary.
Oh, I’m crying and laughing, praising God for such a blessing! And now praying that He will also bring Birgitta too. Not that you need any of us to tell you, but have a fantastic time together!
When I saw the title of your blog today, I thought that this might be the case. Hallelujah!
Cryin’ here!! HOW WONDERFUL! Cover them all with smoochies and pinches from Auntie Carole. I’m thrilled for all of you! I’m also hoping you can manage to get Birgitta there as well. What a wonderful, healing time this will be for all of you!! Way to go Berv and Mary!!
While talking to Terry awhile ago, she asked me if I had read about your ‘surprise’ yet…and I had not, but wondered if perhaps it WAS Hans and family; how WONDERFUL !! I ditto all the above….and Brigitta will show up!
Can’t help but be reminded of the 23rd Psalm; “he leads me beside the still waters and restores my soul….” how perfect a place AFTERGLOW..WOW !! God is AWESOME !!
I gasped with delight reading today’s blog!:) Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!:):):) Your week is off to a wonderful beginning.:) Is Birgitta around the corner?:) I pray so. Love to all, Sue
like the others…I boohooed the whole time after paragraph 3! my old dictionary defines afterglow as “a radiant splendor or glow remaining where a light has disappeared”–I know some of the light fun Nate always brought to this place will be painfully missed, but prayers for wonderful new memories for you all. Love and prayers.
I, too, have a kleenex dabbing my eyes as I read your blog….what a joyful shock to have Hans, Katy and their three little ones appear w/o warning. Oh, God is full of surprises and even gives us what we long for but don’t have the nerve to ask for! Prayed for a safe journey for all and what a blessed answer. May you all have a fabulous week of laughter, fun, food and fellowship as you remember the “good old days” and make new memories. Much love….
What a FANTASTIC surprise!!! That took some major guts and some major last-minute planning … kudos to Hans and Katy for being so brave and so thoughtful. Enjoy your time TOGETHER!! And enjoy those little twins! 🙂
So happy for all of you!! What a great God we have!
WOW, WOW, WOW! What a wonderful week God has planned for you!
Wow! Please give our greetings and hugs to Hans and Katy. Does this mean they won’t be here for Christmas?
I know this is a Nyman family thing but us Yoshimuras would love to join you.
I am crying too and I don’t even know you guys except via the blog site! What an exceptional vacation this is going to be. Our Awesome God knew exactly what your family needed
I am so happy for your family, Margaret. I KNOW you will have a wonderful time with all the kids!
Wow, I fan’t believe it. God is so good. O should know not to read your blog at work, I’m the one crying mot the kids. Enjoy your time.
What a great week time you’ll have up in Northern WI!!! I missed this blogpost yesterday so I’m sooo happy I could read it today!!
What a great week time you’ll have up in Northern WI!!! I missed this blogpost yesterday so I’m sooo happy I could read it today!!
What a great time you’ll have up in Northern WI!!! I missed this blogpost yesterday so I’m sooo happy I could read it today!!
Add my soggy kleenex to the pile. You can have all the gold and treasures in the world…I will take family times any day. And while I would never choose to go through suffering as your family has, I know it can draw a family even closer and make you appreciate each other even more. What a miracle to be together. I can’t wait to hear some of the highlights in the coming blogs! Enjoy!
I wish I could have seen Margaret’s face when she realized that Hans & Katy were there!! Did anyone take any pictures of that? We have a video of one time that our whole family surprised our Mom & Dad for their wedding anniversary and birthdays which were close together. We were in the back room of one of their favorite restrooms, and when the “decoy” brother & his wife came in with them, Mom was thinking “Oh darn, there’s a whole bunch of people in ‘our’ room!” and then she realized it was us. The looks on Mom & Dad’s faces were absolutely precious and we kids will treasure the memory forever. I know this will forever be a highlight in all of your family’s lives too!!