Trip to Chino

Tommy's Grandpa and Grandma Van Hofwegen are both in a nursing home in Chino, CA.  Last week, we received word that Grandpa wasn't doing well, so we made a mid-week trip with Gary and Irene so we could see him and meet with the aunts and uncles.  Chad and Jill met us there as well.  The visit went much better than expected. It was our understanding that Grandpa wasn't really responding to people and wasn't taking in the nutrients that was being given to him through his feed tube.  However, after we got there and the staff got him sitting up in his chair, he seemed to react to voices and even opened his eyes and looked around a few times. 

It was a hard trip.  Even with the "improvements" compared to what we anticipated, it was so hard to see the frailty (both physically and mentally) of family.  But what a blessing to be a part of the family of God!  What a blessing to know that even in their frailty, in our sadness, and in our fallenness, God is sovereign.  He knows our concerns and He knows our pain.  It was such a blessing to hear Gary, Irene, Aunt Sandy, and Aunt Clary remind Grandpa of that.  It was such a blessing to be able to sing hymns together and know that Great is HIS Faithfulness.

Despite the circumstances for going, it was great to see family.  Tessa had the opportunity to meet her Great Grandpa and Grandma for the first time, as well as some great aunts and a great uncles, and some second and third cousins!  She did really well on the whole trip and talked (quite loudly I might add) most of her waking hours while we tried to visit. 

 Meeting Great Grandma VH

Stealing the binkie of 3rd cousin Eli

Playing with 3rd cousin Mya