With the whole family
My son had moved to Nevada little over 4 years now. He had called me recently, telling me that he would be moving to Ohio in May and wanted me to visit. Because my son was in the military he had to move every 4 years. I wanted to visit him during this year’s Thanksgiving before he had transferred anyway, so I chose a week before their moving date to see him, since I was not going to see him for a long time. Since my wife’s breast cancer check up date was on the 3rd of June, I decided that it would be best to see the test results, and then visit my son.
Despite being a long, 10 hour plus ride, my wife liked it when we say we were visiting our son. 23 years had passed since he left the house at age 17. So our couple’s ages were in the 40s when our son left, but now we are almost in the 70s. How fast time fly! My wife wanted to see my son, not solely from the strong love to the children most Korean mothers show, but also because he had become a doctor after entering military academy along with the hardships, and whether he has a child or not, was sent off to Iraq and Afghanistan many times. Since his wife was a doctor in the military also and having returned from active duty 3 years ago, how hard was it for my son to rise their children if one of them was sent off?
We knew of the obvious situation, but my wife recently had a stroke, and she was always felt heavy hearted for not being able to care for my sons’ family when they were in hard time. She had difficulties flying, so after moving we had to drive to my son’s place in Nevada twice a year. But now that my son’s moving to a driving distance of 4~5 days in Ohio, how my wife felt, about not being able to see him for while?
A thankful thing was, since my daughter had heard of the story of transfer, she suggested the whole family gather for the time since her daughter’s school was on vacation. It was not a simple coincident that our whole family is going to meet. About 4 years ago, my son’s family had come to San Jose. At that time, they didn’t have twins, so only my son and his wife, and a granddaughter and grandson were there, and my daughter didn’t have a child at that time unlike now, Carys who is 20months old. It was when our family was 3 members shorter.
My daughter’s family wanted to go by car also, but start around 8:30PM in the evening when her children were asleep and to arrive the next day. My wife and I drove separately and had some business taken care of at Los Angeles and spend a day, then arrive in Nevada. My daughter drove on into the night at this point. So my wife and I prayed for the safety of our children. We knew this was going to be tough and hard drive, but who knows when we could get another chance to meet again as a whole family? Also it would be good for all the grandchildren to gather and be able to play together at young age.
My daughter and I both arrived safely even thought she had driven all night long. We were thinking that since our son’s place is large, our whole family would be able to stay there for the day, but since they had to pack up for the move, our daughter’s family and our couple had to go rent a vacation house next to a lake 20 minutes from my son’s house and spent a week there. The grandchildren played in the swimming pool, and visited museums and fairs to get to know themselves better. Seeing them gather and play together along with the noise they make was like music.
The time when we arrived was my wife’s 70th birthday. Because they were packing up, my son made an appointment at a great restaurant to spend some quality time. So my wife’s 70th birthday was held with my entire family. My wife was very happy, and not only that, since my youngest granddaughter Carys was here, we took a lot of pictures together. We called a professional photographer and took photos in front of the Sheraton Hotel. I was able to see that the modern cameras can take so many pictures all at once, and with different poses and etc., our family spent a good 2 hours of fun.
When we first moved, we brought our daughter and son. Now they both have matured and daughter has a husband, as my son has a wife. During this time, they had grown to 7 grandchildren, how great was the Lord’s blessing. Now days, I am in such a great thankfulness to the Lord for this growth. My son’s family arrived safely at their destination about 5 days later. I knew it was hard for the twins who are only 2 and half years old. I give thanks that God would be able to lead my son’s family in his gentle hand.
(July 3rd, 2013)
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Happy Birthday (4) 
With the whole family