It seems like years ago that Joyce and Evangeline appeared in our lives. We were leaving for China to adopt Annabelle, so I stood before our church asking for some of the Chinese college students to help us out upon our return. Several people responded, but Joyce and Evangeline stuck it out with us.
They were at our house every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, helping with translations and transitions. They ate with us, played games and worked on puzzles, sat in on family meetings–they were basically our adopted college daughters. Joyce accompanied Kim and Annabelle on every doctor/dentist/eye doctor appointment, making sure that AB knew what was happening, that she understood and wasn’t scared, that her questions were being asked and answered.
Joyce and her husband Gary were back in town last night, and they were able to hang out with us for several hours. We ate, played some games, and talked about all that they’ve been doing in the last few years. Of course, our family has grown since they left Happy Valley. They met Josie at their wedding, but Isaac and Charlie are new to us since then.
In our discussion last night we did the math and realized that Joyce was really only part of our family for about 6 months. But they were some of the best and most intense 6 months. She stepped in to our family at a time when we absolutely would have been lost without someone like her.
Sometimes the way God provides for us blows me away.
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