We woke up Monday morning to more snow. We are so ready for Spring!!
So glad to turn the calendar page today! We reached the 1/2 point during this month to Pascal's return. We are so ready to be together as a family again.
When we arrived in Germany over two years ago. It was the middle of the school year and Owen had a terrible time transitioning. I thought for sure it was the connection he had with his teacher or culture shock but after meeting with the guidance counselor, Mr. G. he assured me it was a classic case of separation anxiety. He told me that five minutes. after I left Owen was completely fine and had fun with the other children. It was a very testing time for me because everyday before school we had tears upon tears, tantrums and a daily battle just to get him into the car.
I prayed and prayed asking God what I was suppose to do. I felt in my heart that God did not want me to rescue Owen from this situation. As a military family we are going to have a lifetime of transitions. New schools, new homes new everything. I wanted Owen to learn that yes it is uncomfortable and not fun but we have to trust God to get us through all things new.
I will never forget one day in particular. It was time for school and Owen was crying and having a tantrum. We got to the school parking lot and I had to literally wrestle him out of the car. Once out of the car he would be a "rag doll" and wouldn't stand or walk. I began the dragging process to the school building. The bell rings and we aren't even out of the parking lot. After, about 10 minutes of trying to drag and carry him I see the principal coming towards us. Owen goes into complete panic mode and hides behind some huge bushes. She tells me that two more guidance counselors are on the way to help. Owen is eyeing us from behind the bushes and then darts behind a mountain of snow that had been scraped in the parking lot. This is totally embarrassing and I am thinking this is not happening. But it gets worse.
After few minutes the guidance counselors arrive. The whole time they are on walkie talkies like this is some kind of special operation. When Owen sees them he runs out from the mountain of snow and runs towards a Handicap Parking pole. That's right a Handicap parking pole!! In complete fear he is bear hugging the pole. Mr. G sets a plan into motion. He tells the Principal to go back towards the school in case he runs that way. He tells the other counselor to go out into the street in case the runs that way and he looks at me and says, "In a second I am going to go and peel him off that pole and when I say "GO" I need you to go as fast as you can, get in your car and leave." He says, "go" and he heads towards Owen. I run to my little mini orange rental car and try to leave as quick as I can the whole time watching in my rear view mirror seeing a terrified little boy with such fear and panic in his eyes. I am crying hysterically and hit the curb as I am trying to make this quick exit.
It was absolutely horrible! On the drive home Mr. G calls me and says Owen is completely fine and within 10 min. calmed down and went right to class. Owen and I often walked past that parking pole and he would say, "Mom, do you remember that day?"
We were in Heidelberg last weekend visiting our old base and we drove by that very pole I couldn't help but remember that day. I asked Owen to get out so I could take a picture of him. Little did I know that God would use that picture with me this week. This week I have struggled with fear and anxiety. I decided to print this picture out and keep it in my Bible as a constant reminder to not cling to fear but rather Jesus.
