Betsi
 

You doing OK?

Nope:o

Thank you for checking on me Gayle. I really am ok, if that means that I'm still breathing:rolleyes: We said our good-byes today. They have to be at DFW at 6:30 in the morning, so are staying in a nearby hotel to take the shuttle. It will take them 25 hours to get there:eek: The good-byes weren't too terrible, I just kept telling the little boys how much fun they would have living over there. Of course we were cracking jokes the whole time... that's just how we handle things:p But the truth is, I feel like my heart and stomach has been slashed to bits.

I'll be alright, I'm a tough old broad;)

Oh my goodness! I must have missed something. Betsi..did your son and dil leave today? I will say a prayer for you and Mike. I can't even imagine how you must feel. Hugs to you.........I know you must be so sad.

Yes Paula, they will be missionaries in the Philippines. My son, dil, and all three of my grandchildren.

I know you are just miserable. I've been thinking of you all day. Will they have any kind of Internet access over there? I hope so! My mom has a friend whose daughter and sil are missionaries in Africa. All 3 of her grandchildren have been born in the bush over there. :eek: they come home though about once a year.

They have internet service most of the time. The electricity isn't real dependable. It will just be a huge adjustment for us all.

Two weeks is a long time for me to go without seeing them, so it's really hard. There's just something about those little bony arms and legs tangled up with you at night:)

Oh Betsi, I bet that today was hard for you. You poor girl. I'm so glad that you got to spend some time with them before they left....I bet you treasured every second of it too.

The internet won't be the same as having them there with you but at least they can see Grandma and still know who she is!! Hugs, Betsi :hug:

Betsi. I know how hard this is for you, as i told you before my brother has lived there for close to 10 yrs now, we do keep in contact by internet but it is not the same. He lives in Davao, can't remember where you said your kids would be.
If you want to talk I am here on a daily basis. Hopefully the time will pass quickly and they will be back home with you. Hugs and Prayers are being sent to you.

Betsi, my heart is with you. There is no way to say how it must feel. I am sending you hugs, and will be praying for you, Mike and the kids.

Thanks everybody. I love you all!

Holy cow how did I miss this??? Betsi I'm so sorry I wasn't on yesterday. I know you have to be hurting, but being able to stay in contact will help some. Wish I was there to give you a hug.

Thanks Janet. I could use a group hug just about now:)

This is part of the reason I'm getting a labradoodle from Tink. I needed a plan to keep busy since I won't have any kids around. I am going to train a therapy dog. Ever since my brother had a stroke 3 years ago and I watched the rehab center using therapy dogs, I knew that was what I would do someday. I will be a part of this group www.therapet.org It's about an hour from where I live, but that's fine. Tink is picking a puppy for me, and Mike and I are driving to Wisconsin to pick it up. We needed something to look forward to, and this is doing the trick.

I'm excited to get a dog. Even if for some reason it can't become a therapy dog, I'll have a great pet. Mike's great dane is getting old...

:ghug:

What a wonderful goal, Betsi! I knew you were going to train the pup as a therapy dog - but didn't know why.

You are so right, animals are wonderful morale boosters - it is just incredible to see what they can accomplish with people who are sick, lonely, tired or just needing a boost!

You are so wonderful to engage in such an important endeavor Betsi. Just like your kids who are also doing wonderful things to help others, so are you! How synchronous. It's like it was meant to be! :)

Well said! I am so sorry for all you're going through now Betsi, but you'll get through it and everyone will be stronger for it in the end. Have you used Skype? I know their internet connection might not be really reliable, but for times that it is it would be a great way to talk to each other "face to face"!

Betsi, I didn't know that that was why you were getting a new dog!! That's awesome!!! I've read about therapy dogs but have never been around anyone who trained them. That's so cool!!

We have a therapy dog that wanders around the middle school. Her name is Bliss and she's a Golden retriever and very beautiful. All the kids love on her but she is used in counseling the kids. The principal takes her home with her at night and during the summer. They say that the kids are more likely to talk and communicate when she is with them. I think that it's pretty cool!!!

Here's a group hug from me too!! :ghug:

Thanks everybody! My kids are safely in Lapu Lapu, Philippines as of about 10:00 am today. The kids did well on the trip. The time difference is 13 hours ahead of us.

Happy to read they all made it safely. Lindsey's right...if you have skype then you could talk face to face....how cool is that? Wow...what a time difference...it's already tomorrow there...that sounds so weird. I know they will be helping alot of people and so will you. What a great thing you're doing.

It's actually tomorrow night there. They crossed the international date line. I do have Skype, and practiced it yesterday with my dil in Seattle. It was a lot of fun :)

My puppy was born last Thursday. They weren't due until tomorrow, but they came early, and she had 14:eek: Only 10 made it, but that's still a lot to choose from, lol! All are chocolate or cafe au lait.

So glad to hear that your kids had a safe trip Betsi!! Keep us updated on how they are doing. Had they visited there before moving? Wow......it must be so different than the U.S.

Congrats on the birth of your new baby:p Can't wait to see pix of he/she!! Are you getting a boy or a girl? It is such a wonderful thing you are doing Betsi!:)

I'm glad that the kids all made it safe and sound to their new destination. You'll find that chatting with your kids and grandkids over the internet will help with some......not all....of the homesickness for you.

I saw where Tink now has your puppy!!! How exciting for you!!! It will be exciting to just go and get it......and of course......stopping by here!!! I can't wait!!! I've been telling everyone!!!!

Thanks everybody!

Diana, I might have the puppy with me when I come to see you since it was born early:eek: I will definitely need to get a motel room that takes pets, lol!! I haven't worked out my schedule yet, but I'll be at your house on the 21st:D