Guest Post: This Day in History

One year ago today, I arrived at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, looking to greet my wife who I hadn’t seen for 43 days.

A year ago, I got to be amazed at how much bigger her pregnant belly had gotten in 6 weeks.

A year ago, we continued the most hectic period in our life to date, looking forward to facing coming transition, finally together.

Those of you who have read this blog for awhile know the story by now.

With Mel in the late stages of her pregnancy, she left Indonesia on April 24 to return to the US, while I stayed through June 5 to finish the school year and my responsibilities in Indonesia.

After she left, I packed up the house, sorting through what would go with me on the plane, what would be shipped home, and what would be sold (most of it). I remember being completely shocked at how quickly my days left “in the office” dwindled, and how much time I didn’t have as I w

as attempting to get things in order for those who would have my responsibilities after I was gone.

I took a day off during the last week of May to drive the dogs to Jakarta and ship them home ahead of time.

I helped the senior class organize their senior trip, chaperoned it over my last week in the country, then spoke at their graduation the day before I left.

Somewhere in there, I tried to say goodbyes, and pretty much failed miserably.

I specifically remember thinking that I couldn’t wait to get on the plane to leave the country, so that I’d be able to finally breathe.

And yet, I think between the two of us, I had it easier – those 6 weeks flew by for me. I don’t think I’ve really ever been able to express how proud I am of her, for doing what had to be done both in the process of leaving Indonesia, and dealing with the final stages of pregnancy on her own.

Or for doing what had to be done after that, because my arrival in the US was by no means the end of a crazy period of transition – it was only the end of going through it while separate.

Because while we were in the same situation, facing the same transition and some of the same questions, at least I had one thing that would be something I knew – a job. Neither one of us knew where we’d end up living, what church we’d end up attending – or if we’d find friends.

But just like my last weeks in Indonesia, at least I’d be busy – and a job provides built-in social interaction with other adults. For Mel, all of that was changing, and it wasn’t easy to leave behind the expectations we had of rebuilding a life in the Twin Cities.

I bring all that up for a couple reasons. One – it all happened a year ago today, and remembering all that happened then is something we’ve been doing quite a lot over the last few weeks. Two – because like so many other times in our life, we can look back at this time and be encouraged with what and how it all happened. It sounds trite, and I almost don’t even like bringing it up. But it’s a f

act of life that there will always be uncertainties, and things to worry about.

Remembering situations like the one we were going through a year ago affirms to me that it makes no sense to worry about anything coming up. God’s promises are true – He has proved them over and over to us, and it would be silly not to continue to rest easy, knowing He already has it all figured out.

Cross-posted at our personal site, TobinandMelinda.com.