Bittersweet Father’s Day

An international leaders’ conference coming to Fort Worth in February led to a complete stranger (seven actually) bringing me to tears as he leaves our home here in June. None of us was part of the conference. The chain of events that links those two circumstances could make a movie:

• Jan - 
• Church plant asks congregation if anyone has spare rooms to offer international conference attendees coming to town in Feb. 
• Kruppas offer guest room and adult daughter’s former room.
• Adult son signs lease on his first apartment. Carrie starts dreading the looming empty nest.
• Carrie’s dread grows daily because she’s a big chicken and a compulsive nurturer. 
• Jason barely notices.
• Feb - 
• Carrie looks forward to brief distraction from impending meaninglessness by interesting guests briefly filling the nest. 
• Church sends notice that all attendees are housed and no more rooms are needed.
• Carrie panics inside.
• Unrelated to conference, pastor announces missionary family will be visiting church while they’re back in US on furlough. 
• Carrie channels panic into inventing a need where none is known. 
• Details of ensuing marital discussion are hazy.
• Kruppas ask family they’ve never met if soon-to-be 3 spare rooms might be useful.
• Family accepts! Family of seven. For the month of March. Read that again.
• Mar -
• Kruppas drop kick adult son out of residence a day early to make room for guests. 
• Son sleeps on air mattress in empty apartment.
• Kruppas lay eyes on new roommates, married couple with 5 daughters, for first time as they arrive with luggage.
• Awkward intros abound.
• 9 strangers silently stare at each other huddled on floor at 2am the first night while tornado warnings blast across DFW. So scary. And still awkward.
• Meals are shared, Legos are built, movies are watched, games are played, messes are made, messes are cleaned, devotions are joined, joys are multiplied, burdens are carried.
• Friends are made.
• Apr - 
• Missionaries leave DFW to travel across US connecting with loved ones.
• Kruppas miss missionary family a lot. A whole lot.
• Family returns for a week while packing to go home on the other side of the world.
• Missionary dad needs to stay in US an extra month after girls head home.
• Carrie seizes chance to forestall empty nest yet again.
• May - 
• Roommate teaches Jason perfectly constructed, optimally melted nachos make ideal bedtime snack. With jalapeños. 
• Jason also learns ice cream tastes better rolled in crushed cereal. Always at bedtime.
• Carrie appreciates Jason gaining partner in crime for late night snacks, random bourbon tasting, bloody meat eating, and pricey tech admiring.
• Life is great.
• June - 
• Missionary dad finishes stateside work. 
• He buys airfare to fly home.
• He squeezes 2 years of supplies into 3 crates weighing exactly 49.5 lbs apiece.
• Carrie realizes empty nest is even worse after gaining/losing 7 more family members.
• Jason pretends to be unfazed, but Carrie knows better.
• Father’s Day arrives starting 24 hour countdown to departure.

And that’s how a conference we didn’t attend brought about 6 months of adventure we didn’t expect. That’s how we came to spend this Father’s Day with a very dear friend who’s giddily anticipating the best gift a dad can ever receive - long overdue hugs from his family.

We will miss you. A whole lot. We’ve learned from you, and we’re blessed by you. After you shower all your stockpiled affection on those sweet girls at the airport tomorrow, give them an extra round of hugs from us. We send you with this prayer. I know God will fulfill it in your home.

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.

  I will protect those who trust in my name.

When they call on me, I will answer;

  I will be with them in trouble.

  I will rescue them and honor them.

I will satisfy them with a long life

  and give them my salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16 (NLT)