| Many times I have been asked how my husband and I manage to stay in touch with our family, due to our travels and our children scattered around the country. That wonderful invention—the cell phone—puts us in touch at a moment’s notice. Emailing is a great tool. And texting keeps me smiling, trying to figure out all the abbreviations. I recently got a text from our son, David, and it was signed “Muah.” I had to ask for interpretation and found that when sounded out, it was a kiss! We can easily stay in touch thanks to technology, but it is just not the same as a hug or a kiss.
When our children were small there was no problem as to where we would spend holidays—and when. First one and then another left the nest and it became increasingly difficult to be to together on holidays. One Christmas while David was in the military and stationed in Alaska, we recorded our entire dinnertime and sent it to him. He enjoyed it but couldn’t understand much of what we said as we were all talking at the same time—as we do when we get together!
Add to the mix birthdays, anniversaries, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day. At times we have combined our Mother’s Day and Father’s Day celebration. We have several birthdays and anniversaries in the same month and when we get together we celebrate all of them at once—it’s like Christmas in April or May!
The family tree continues to branch out and other families become involved in our festivities. We decide if the holiday brunch or dinner will be at our home or whether the children will be with their in-laws. One important thing we have always done is to consider the in-laws. Many holidays are actually celebrated on an off-day. We check work schedules and make plans accordingly. We enjoy it just as much as if it was on the actual day and there are no hard feelings to deal with. We plan get-togethers throughout the year that do not conflict with special days of the four or more families now involved with our immediate family.
Our daughter Leah and her husband, Steven, pastor in Seattle, Washington; my husband and I commute between our two homes (Arkansas and Missouri) because of my work with Ladies Ministries; David lives in our hometown in Arkansas; Charlotte is thirty miles away from David; and Matthew lives in Little Rock, Arkansas. Two of our grandsons, one now married, live about one hundred miles away, near West Memphis. We manage to see Leah and Steve two or three times a year, either in Washington, at conferences, or when they come to Arkansas. Love makes it all possible, and we always find a way.
We have celebrated Christmas on New Year’s Day and birthday dinners on anniversaries. While on our way to conferences or other meetings, we get together for lunch. On special days when we cannot be together, we count the phone calls until all the children have checked in.
Isn’t it wonderful to know that all of us are just a prayer away? | 
