Melissa's blog

From Melissa Kreisa...

Hi All,

Just home from church camp and DESPERATE to get an update on how things are going. So thankful to read your blog notes Wendy and Tricia – wonderful! You’ve inspired me to write too… Wendy, this is my first time as well…

OK, I’ve been a total spazz all weekend. It is kind of like that surreal feeling after you give birth – where everything looks new in the world. .. like you are looking at it all through a different lens. Also, kind of the birthing mood swings -- wanted to cry one minute and scream for joy the next! It was pretty much this way all weekend. Hosted Steve H and Nancy for dinner on Friday night and my husband kept poking me saying, “please let someone else talk or ask someone else question”. I hogged the entire conversation -- a big Nadine ramble-fest.

Thing was, it was only a couple of hours after the airport arrival and I was trying to process it all. My three kids and I (along with Debbie and Jim) met the family on Friday at the airport. Debbie, Jim, Nadine and Idris (translator and caregiver to Nadine), and a driver for Catholic Charities were waiting there when we arrived. Reza (Director at CC) was waiting for the family at the gate. Nadine was very sweet and calm. My kids were running circles around her (and people coming off of the plane, sigh). She was smiling and giggling as I was sharing with her how crazy and ill-behaved my kids were being. Then Idris came over and said the family was coming. We all turned the corner of the waiting area. Nadine flew into her mother’s arms screaming and crying. It was an incredible moment. We sort of all stood there speechless while they embraced. Reza gently broke things up and started guiding everyone to baggage claim. My kids and I waved and went to walk the other way towards the parking lot. My oldest Julia (9) stopped us and looked at me and said, “Mommy, I have a feeling in my heart that I have never felt before . . . can I do a cartwheel?”

As I write this, the lump in my throat is welling up again so I’ll stop. Ending this note with a giant prayer of gratitude on my heart to God and to you all who are surrounding this family with so much love and care.

Blessings!

Melissa