Danger!

In the last few weeks, both kids have been in situations that were extremely dangerous.  The stress was intense.  Parenting from a distance is tricky - I want to help if it's possible to help, but they need to experience and learn their own lessons. Plus, they were thousands of miles away.  Difficult to offer anything except advice from such a distance! So mostly, my job seems to be waiting and watching, and consulting when I can or when they ask.  Not an easy position for me - I'd rather DO SOMETHING! 

I've learned a lot about prayer.  I have favorites that run through my head for hours at a stretch.  When Anna was in Bolivia and dealing with problems, I actually woke up in the middle of the night, and found myself in the middle of  "Breathe on me, breath of God..."  Had it been looping through my brain in my sleep?  It's funny, though - the prayers are equally for the health and safety of the kids and for peace in my soul.  Seems like for me to thrive, they have to be OK and I have to be calm. Breathe. Breathe.