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One of the hardest things about this Austria adventure is separation. My family sent letters with me when I left and I couldn't read them for at least a week.
I wasn't sure when I left that the little ones understood what was going to happen. That they wouldn't be able to hear me yell at them for four whole months.
I loved all the letters that I was given and am still being sent, but my darling 9-year-old brother pulled on my heart strings particulary hard.
I can't express the guilt I felt when I read "it is hard to leave you."
Then the following is what I received from him in the mail.
The stress of balancing study and travel has prevented me thus far from answering him with a letter, but I want to take this opportunity to put down what I would say to him. And not just to him, but to everyone who has expressed such beautiful love to me since I left.
Dear Stephen,
Thank you so much for your beautiful letters. I have them pinned up on the wall above my bed so I can look at them often. I miss you a lot and it was hard for me to leave, but I will be back very soon. And guess what? I'll be bring you awesome presents from the places I visit.
If I had one wish, I would wish you and Mommy, Daddy and the boys here with me.
My new friend Kate is really nice. She misses her family a lot too, so we tell stories about how cute our brothers and sisters are. She has a little brother who is Joseph's age.
Elizabeth and I are going to Poland tomorrow and we're going to visit the town where Blessed Pope John Paul II was born. It would be cool to visit Poland with Fr. Greg wouldn't it?
I hope hockey is going well for you. I wish that I could see you play. Let me know if you make any goals, ok?
