johnny

wow....where do i even start??!  not an easy post to translate from jumbled thoughts in my overwhelmed brain to text on a blank screen.  sooo, i guess i will start at the top.  the very top, with my Maker and God.  He is soooo very good.  and scripture tells us just that in James 1:17..."Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." 

yes, these past nine days have been good.  very good....but let me go back a bit so the context is clear.  Johnny was around nine years old, living in Bolivia when our lives first intersected through a great organization called Compassion....I blogged about Johnny here.  so yes, at the time of reconnecting with Johnny through Facebook back in October, we mentioned that our home was always open for him should he ever decide to visit Canada.  needless to say, i never expected he'd be able to accept this offer so quickly, but he did!!  he arrived in Sarnia last week as planned and shared life with our crew (and routine!) for the past week and a bit.  i was a bit nervous that Johnny would find it all a bit busy, repetitive, or even boring as i spend much of my time during any given day driving here, there and everywhere.  Johnny is now a big city guy living in Europe with a very different day-to-day existence than my own.  that, however, did not scare him away.  he rolled with it all and fit in beautifully.  and to say that i feel completely overwhelmed with gratitude at this amazing opportunity we've had is a huge understatement.  Johnny is officially a forever friend of our family.  and between Johnny and myself the relationship felt a bit like a mix of "aunt-nephew, big sister-little brother, mother-son combination"...strange~ yes, but so very nice and i feel completely blessed to have gotten to know him so much more now. 

today he is making the long journey home to his life in Sweden, and my home feels quiet and empty.  the kids adored him, Jeff teased him like Jeff does so well (Johnny knows he teases people he likes!), and we all will miss him.  looking forward to the day we connect again.  here are a few pictures to forever capture sweet memories made so early in 2016...will be hard to beat, i think...

so, it was cold, but not as cold as he's used to in Sweden, or as warm as in Bolivia! :)

 yes, he cooks!  cooks a bit like chef Marcus Samuelsson even (right Johnny!?) haha....with ease and confidence and a clear sense of how he wanted it to be.  with no written recipe he made his Mom's delicious Bolivian chicken and quinoa soup recipe, and fed nine people like a champ!  such a treat...i worked as his sous chef and was happy to share this experience together.

the kids loved it too, and he'd be welcome in our kitchen anytime.

lunch date with my dad.  so special...two great men right there!!

foosball...lots and lots of foosball.  Johnny could defeat some and not others! :)

 all the boys loved this, big and small...

a wonderful evening out enjoying French cuisine, Jeff and i teased Johnny about how he "schmoozed" the owner and waitresses with his French and Spanish language skills...put us to shame and was a definite hit.  i think it's safe to say we'd be welcomed back at that fine establishment. 

antics with raw eggs and lots of giggles, all recorded on smart phones. a bit blurry, but the smiles capture the moment well...

Adam's turn....good competition.

really good competition :)

late night crokinole...

where were my sunglasses?? :)  nice Sweden hat though!  brisk and bright at Niagara Falls, but sooooo very beautiful too.  God's creation never gets old...Johnny finished his Canadian trip with a brief chance to move beyond Sarnia, and we loved our day trip together with him.

the butterfly conservatory was a huge highlight for me/us....wow, never been and am now determined to bring the kids one day soon.  Layla especially would love this place....so many flying around in such a tropical atmosphere, very tranquil (and warm!) on a cold day...loved it!  

my extended family enjoyed this guy as well.  so much.  hopefully Johnny can meet Jeff's parents one day as well.  then Jeff's personality will make more sense if he gets to know Jeff's dad. 

(right Corry?? :))

so thankful God orchestrated all of this, and praying for you, Johnny, as you settle back into your routine this week.  you are so loved here in Canada by all of us, and we will continue to pray for you and your future, that you will wait on God for His plan and purpose for your life, as it surely will be great!