June 21

Dear Mom,

Happy One Year Anniversary of living in our apartment!
Thank you for expecting a miracle that we'd have a place to live by June 21st, the day Sami graduated from kindergarten. I remember you kept emphasizing,

"We will have a place to live by June 21st because that's the day Sami will be out of school--that's the day I said we'd have a place. So, God will provide. Tell everyone to pray for us."

Haha. God sure did provide!

"We're going to get a place with two bathrooms." You stressed to me during the days and weeks prior. "Two bathrooms. We cannot share one bathroom--it's too crowded."

The day we moved...It was hot--remember that? Even the morning was albeit too warm (unlike today where the weather is deliciously cool and breezy, it felt like perfect tennis weather I must say). It was especially too hot to be moving furniture! But we were always a family for extremes right? Extreme changes in extreme weather.

Besides living here for a year now, it's been 7 months too. Sometimes I just lean back and take a deep breath--you were so right about 2011 being our year for change. We just didn't realize how much. I am so glad you expected a miracle, I have no idea where we'd be right now if you didn't fight for us on your knees--contending for a place for us to live and reminding us to do the same.

Simply put...thanks. Thank you for caring, for praying, for encouraging.

Your life was not in vain.

Love you. I'll see you on the other side.

From my heart to yours,
Liana