Evendays

We’ve made friends with H. She’s about our age. She was a “boat-person” and escaped communist Vietnam with all of her brothers and sisters. I think they are 8 or 9 all together, and they all live in the USA except for H.

We were doing a Let’s Start Talking lesson one afternoon in October when she told me part of her story, the story of the end of the Vietnam war. Her father was high up in the military and was in the USA when Saigon fell. The family begged him not to come back, but he said life was not worth living without his family.

The authorities met him as he disembarked the plane. They put him directly in prison. Two years later, the mom got a call from the prison telling her to come for a visit. Her husband was dying. They had a few hours together before he quit breathing.

I often think about that man. I think about what he said and about what he did. I think about H.’s tears after all these years. They fall for a father who died a long time ago, for the wounds are still fresh.

I can remember coming home from school at 2 pm at the age of 17 and finding my mom laying on the couch crying. She was 5 months pregnant and had had a doctor’s appointment that morning. I thought the worst, but then she started laughing, which was very weird.

She explained that the doctor had been concerned after listening through the stethoscope and wanted to do x-rays, which were quickly done. Mom heard quite a bit of commotion in the adjoining room when the doctor finally came in with the film and said something like: Mrs. Smith, there are three heads and three spines. You are going to have triplets.

Mom cried some more there on that couch. I remember thinking what all this would mean to our family. Sister was 15, a high-school sophomore. I was heading off to University the following year. Mom and Dad were in their late 30’s…

And they were starting a second family.

My parents’ trust that children (especially triplets) are a blessing from God, and the expectant joy that entered our home that day changed our lives forever. And early on a Wednesday morning, December 1, 1976, our family nearly doubled in size. And tripled our joy.

Happy birthday B, B, and B.

Friday was a big day. Son 1 turned 20.

We remember the birth day like it was yesterday. Wife in labor all night, she woke me up after two hours of contractions. She wanted me to sleep. Timing of contractions, a bath and some relaxing. A thrilling ride to the hospital at 6 am on a Monday morning. I ran the red lights even though there was no need. You only get the chance once in a while. Wife doing Lamaze breathing and, finally, at 9:06 Son 1 came out with a cry. And he cried for 2 hours straight. A big baby. Long, long thick hair. Unhappy to be out of his 9 month lodging. Wife very happy to have him out. We were, and are, thrilled to have him in our lives.

When I tell the story (every birthday), the kids remind me that I almost missed the actual birth. The car was supposed to be moved at 9:00 and I didn’t want a ticket, so I told Wife I would be right back. She convinced me to stay. Insisted really. I guess she knew something was up. So, I was there when he was born.

And we didn’t get a ticket. Boy, was I relieved.

Sunday morning after our worship time, Wife and I jumped in the van and made the five-hour trip to Marseille where Son 1 was waiting for us. Saturday night was their closing banquet for his year-long spiritual internship, and Sunday morning there was a special time set aside before worship to honor them. The church and staff said their good-byes to Son 1 and the three other young ladies who had followed the internship. It was an excellent year for all.

It’s good to have Son 1 back with us and I know the “return home” can be difficult. After a year of “semi-freedom” he (and we) gets to live in a family again, with all the benefits and, um, restrictions.

What do you think? As a parent, how can we make this “happy” transition work the best possible? I’d like to know what you think, even if you haven’t had this experience yet… (As far as I know, some of you still live at home!)

Thanks in advance for your help…