I have been in a valley – well actually a deep, dry, craggy canyon – this week. My elderly parents arrived on Friday after a very long flight delay and we have been working since then to settle them into their new living situation.

Doctor appointments, home health nursing visits, new caregivers and care managers, and movers (nasty ones at that) filled my days. I have been absent from home – not something I am used to – leaving the cleaning, homework monitoring, dog walking and daily therapy of our youngest to our two older ones (kudos to them for rising to the occasion). Dear friends have stepped in with carpooling and meals. At night I crash into bed and am asleep before I can even kiss my husband hello after his long day at work. My life has changed and I am overwhelmed and scared.

A few weeks ago I blogged about how I thought moving my parents near me would be hard but could be good. This week has been difficult and I have been looking each day for the good to keep me going. That in itself has been hard, but when I sit down to my computer and breathe deeply I can see the good already.

Dad is very happy and says he should have done this a long time ago – this is good.

Mom is now in even better hands and is getting the medical attention she has needed for a long time – this is good.

My girls are stepping up to the plate in ways I didn’t think they could or I was afraid to ask – this is good.

My sister has patiently listened to me moan and groan almost every day about some new crisis – this is good.

I read with yearning each day the new Christ Compels devotionals in my email inbox and find solace and comfort in the words of my dear friend Shirley. These, my Christian music station and my daily bible study work have reminded me that He is with me in this valley - this is good.

I have been blessed with the aid of a special friend as my parents’ care manager and have been awed by her knowledge, patience and ability to support me the caregiver – this is good.

I have a husband who I can lean on each and every day, who willingly does the work of two, going off to his day job and sitting at his computer at night handling my parents’ finances and mail – this is good.

I am able now to see my mother and father almost every day and kiss them on the forehead and give them a pat on the hand when they need it – this is good.

Clearly, amidst all the chaos I just need to keep reminding myself that if I stop and pause, my mind can leave its deep canyon and step into a flowering garden of good.