Monroe Sherwood News: April Travels...Surprise!!!!

April: Thailand and a Surprise Trip to Minnesota!

April was full of ups and down, surprises, gratitude, and jet lag for all. Jon’s Mom and Dad were planning to come and visit us in Doha for 9 days over our spring break, and we couldn’t wait to take them around and show them how life has unfolded for us here. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be as poor Bev, Jon’s Mom, became very sick and hospitalized with pancreatitis and gall stones L Due to her condition, need for immediate surgery, and hospitalization his parents were unable travel L Of course Bev and our boys were devastated at this change in plans and we decided that summer was too long to wait for a reunion…Soooooo, Jon and the boys flew home to surprise Bev & Jerry. After 35 hours of travel from Doha to Paris, to Chicago to Rochester (after a canceled flight to MSP), they made it. I wasn’t able to go with them because I had a work conference in Bangkok that had been set for months. So we were half a world away with everyone in St. Paul and me, in Thailand. It was such an amazing opportunity that I had to jump at the chance to go. While it was a good trip and professionally rewarding, I missed Jon and the boys more than I could have imagined. But it did my heart good to know that they were back home, visiting family and having a ball. The kids loved seeing some of their friends too, especially when they stopped by their old school, JJ Hill and got to see former teachers and friends from the last several years. Aunty Lori had a birthday party for all the kiddos, seeing as we didn’t get to be around for all of the celebrations. Grandma Maribeth and Grandpa Ed got to come down and see the boys too. They stayed at a hotel and swam and played and had perma smiles in every picture they sent my way. They got to experience a snow storm, a thaw, cold, and more hugs and kisses than they can count.

I just about exploded when I saw them at the airport after 11 days of being apart. They all looked so big ... needles to say they were sqeezed and smooched until they couldn't stand it any more :)