So this year has been challenging at times and there are a few things I will NOT miss. Since 17 is my favorite number I decided to share with you 17 things I will NOT miss about the World Race.
1. I will NOT miss the time zone differences. For those of you that know me, you know that I cannot schedule meetings in other time zones J, I am even worst if I am traveling in a different time zone (my body and mind just will not acclimate) and it’s been a process figuring out what time it is where ever Niki happens to be living at the moment.
2. This goes along with the time zone differences but I will NOT miss trying to comprehend that my morning is her night and my night is her morning and that I don’t know if I am saying Good Night or Good Morning. (it’s a struggle folks ~ all the time I am in the dark)
3. Another funny thing about the time is the darkness. I often times ask her what time is it there? I will NOT miss this time business at all.
4. I will NOT miss the broken, delayed, static communication. Trying to read her lips and make out what she is saying at times has been exhausting.
5. I will NOT miss trying to figure out when I can communicate. There are times I just wanted to pick up the phone and call but I knew it was interrupting her sleep, ministry or church schedule. (I need to point out that Niki always knew when I was in church and would say I know you are in church Mom but wanted to tell you …..what?)
6. I will NOT miss the guilty feeling I have when I do something that I think Niki would love. It’s a weird thing for me but I have felt the guilt over some of the smallest of things.
7. I will NOT miss going through the holidays without Niki. The holidays were hard and Christmas was a terrible hurdle. Please don’t leave me at Christmas again Niki.
8. I will NOT miss trying to explain to Teagan where Niki is? Teagan would go to her room and say where is Niki? For her 2 -3 year old mind it has been hard to comprehend and she hasn’t been able to remember.
9. I will NOT miss being responsible for Bella. Don’t get me wrong Bella was a sweet reminder to me of Niki and often times I would hold her and think of Niki but geez the fear of something happening to her while she was in our care was overwhelming at times. (not to add the responsibility of taking her to the vet, giving her medicine on a schedule, making sure she is walked, fed and loved and trying to get her taken care of if we went out of town ~ whew)
10. I will NOT miss listening and trying not to listen to the World News. I tried hard not to let my mind get wrapped up in the world events and the countries it was happening in. This was all in fear that it would be Niki’s current country.
11. I will NOT miss hearing about world events in a country that Niki just left and my heart jumping out of my chest when I realize she is not there anymore but then hurting because I know that she may have loved dear souls there.
12. I will NOT miss worrying about Niki on her squad. Yes I guess this is a Mama thing but I wanted her to fit in ~ I worried if everyone was being nice to her ~ I worried if living in the community would drive her crazy.
13. I will NOT miss the guilt that goes along with me having a hot shower and comfortable bed knowing that she did not. It is gut wrenching sometimes if you let your mind go there.
14. I will NOT miss worrying if she has $. Trying to transfer $ from my account to her account and then to the Schwab account and figuring out if it will get there in time is nerve wrecking. The holds they put on the accounts to make a transfer happen has to always be considered. It was so hard to keep up with it all.
15. I will NOT miss worrying about her having enough $ to do an adventure. I know there were times that she did not do one because of $ and that was another instant guilt. I wanted her to take advantage of being in another country and doing some fun things too and it hurts when you know she is not attending with the group because she didn’t have the $.
16. I will NOT miss wondering where Niki is sleeping or staying for the night. The ATL (Ask the LORD) months were definitely months of growth for me and Niki, but as a parent knowing that they were landing in a country with no specific place to stay was not fun.
17. I will NOT miss the travel days. Those days were always scary because not only did they hop from all modes of transportation but they were usually on the cheapest. We usually did not hear from them right away and just not knowing where and if they were safe for a few days was gut wrenching.
Overall there are a lot of positives that I will miss but I wanted to share my list of things that I will Not miss. The countdown is on and guess what? It will be exactly 17 days for me to see Niki. I can’t wait!!
Debbie (Niki’s Mom)
