I really miss my mom.

Mom and Daddy are currently in Africa serving as missionaries for the next 18 months (See my link for Barlows In The DRC). They have been gone 3 weeks so far. We are so excited for their willingness to serve and love hearing about their adventures. but email and video cam just don't cut it for some of the separation pangs I've got.

I used to talk to my mom twice a week. The phone calls were spontaneous and most of the time were for no reason other than to see what was going on.

I'm in the middle of packing for our move. During my last move my mom would show up with boxes and help me pack for an hour or two. Sometimes she would just show up and help where ever I needed it most. Now that I am doing it with no help I appreciate her so much more.

I used to call her after DD's doctor appts. to talk with her about the diagnosis. Mom has an RN degree and was great at translating doctorese into something easier for me to understand. She also was great and helping me come up with questions I would never have thought of for the next visit.

Mom was a good source of information when it came to raising teenagers. She survived seven of them (three of them at one time!) and many times had to convince me that I could survive just one.

My daughter keeps looking for her GamaPapa (Grandma and Grandpa) when we go to their house. She doesn't understand that they will be gone for awhile, let alone that there is a place called Africa. I'm having a hard time trying to explain and re-explain that to her.

Then there are the times when a girl just needs her mom. For no reason.

I know that these feelings are normal and its part of the sacrifice of having your parents go on a mission . There truly is no other place I would rather them to be. I guess I just need to get tough with myself. Its part of growing up.

Maybe someday I will grow up.