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Saturday, July 22, 2006

Pieces of the puzzle

When something crappy happens in your life that you don't understand and don't appreciate, chances are someone will say to you "everything happens for a reason". When they say it, you're usually in the middle of wallowing in self-pity and you don't necessarily want to hear it. But usually, there seems to be a grain of truth to it, and when time finally separates you from the crappy thing, and you can look back with some measure of objectivity, you discover that the crappy thing was somehow redeemed and there was reason or at least some value to it.

Last month I told you that Marcel didn't get into university for this coming year. Then, after we appealed to the University (and prayed about it), they changed their mind and let him in. So clearly it looked like it was meant to be. But then last week he went for his orientation session and discovered that his short daytime schedule and options for evening classes were over and he would now have to commit himself to full days EVERY day. This caused us some stress, because suddenly his time as a stay-at-home Dad with Maddie would be over and we'd have to find (and pay for) full time child care. With just over a month until he returns to school, we really didn't know how we'd manage to work it all out.

In the meantime, my old friend Kari responded to my attempts to track her down. She phoned last week, and I invited her and her kids for an afternoon of swimming, topped off with a barbecue in the back yard. She showed up today with her two little girls, and within moments, Maddie had fallen in love with her new friend (it doesn't take her long to fall in love, but this one was a record).

Turns out Kari is on maternity leave this year, having just given birth to her second child. And guess what - she's offered to care for Maddie in the afternoons for the upcoming year. She thinks it would be great for her daughter to have a friend around. Wow! Feels a little serendipitous. Now we just have to try to get Maddie into the preschool close to Kari's house, and the whole plan might fall into place.

The timing for the reunion with Kari seems almost eery. And in case you're wondering, yes, the years did fall away, and it was just like old times. It wasn't hard to remember why we were such good friends.

I leave you with a picture of true love. Hope they still feel this way when they spend every day together!

9 comments:

Dale said...

Fingers crossed for you and Marcel.

Linda said...

Kristen fell in love frequently as a young child too. It is such a pleasure to see these friendships! I'm sure Maddie will remain a true friend.

Unknown said...

Sweet... God is good!

Anonymous said...

I have been praying that something would work out for Marcel, and wow! This post has serendipity/blessing/miracle/joy written all over it. How wonderful to connect with your friend, and even more wonderful that your daughters will get to create their own connection together.

(I've been away from commenting because of school work, but have been keeping caught up on your posts via Bloglines. I'm happy as a clam that I have time now to comment again!)

Anonymous said...

YAY!!!!!!!!!!

That's like child care for my kids this summer - prayer and a chance conversation, and lo and behold, not only a sitter, but a sitter who is quite happy to take on a brandnew puppy as well.

Jennifer Garrison Brownell said...

this is good news!

re your opening sentence - I was talking to someone today who said that after a hard year everyone keeps telling him "what doesnt kill you makes you stronger" - we agreed that's what people say when THEY want to feel better, not make the sad person feel better. More compassionate maybe to say, "what doesnt kill you, sometimes sucks."
Totally off topic, i know, but my mind is sort of wandering - sorry it had to happen in your comments.
And oh! those sweet little girls!

The Passarelli's said...

What a great picture!

karla said...

I just love when the pieces of the puzzle start to fall together like you have described.

The vibrations of the universe never fail to amaze me.

Anonymous said...

Oh how wonderful.. Yes, somethings are just meant to be. :-)