thankful

Well.  Nothing says "Vacay is OVER" like having to leave for the airport with toddlers at 3:45 am.  

But we're focusing on what we did and DO have, and...it's a lot.

I remember vividly when it was just Dad, Lisa and I...and suddenly we're turning out pictures like THIS, and I realize how faithful He has been to grow our family with so much love.

I don't know how the pool had any water LEFT by the time we went.

How could this photo say "vacation" any more?

This huge iguana scurried over our porch Thursday...so thankful we only have their little chameleon cousins in Haiti.

And I have this fantastic, beautiful sister...whom I am so thankful for, and who has grown through it all with me...and I just can't wait to meet the little girl God is adding to our family through her and Adam!

And this lady God added all on His own :)  Here I am welling up just talking about the picture.  

She can hang in family putt-putt, she makes my dad smile like this, and to have him say, "My life with Cindy is just TERRIFIC" is more than I had ever hoped for for this fantastic man and father.  What more could I want?  So thankful to have had a week to start to get to know Cindy, and to hem her in.  Answer to many a prayer. 

And we had cousin time galore, which the girls just adored.

We ate SUCH good food...the girls each gained 2 pounds, 4 for me and 6 for Matt!  Musta been a good week :)

And the girls got lots of good family time, and they couldn't help but cry several times yesterday to leave them.

love the Lily face here :)

the cousins favorite thing to do :)

and we finally got to start getting to know little Luci, and what a gift she is!

And the internet was 15 times faster.  And Lily keeps telling everyone about how soft the floor is in America (carpeting) :) and I can't believe I didn't cook a thing for almost a whole week.  And there is just NOTHING like being with family, and having three major prayers answered in ONE week...to join Lisa and Adam in their pregnancy, to get to know the woman my dad is about to marry, and to meet our little neice.

But when ladies in leopard print and fur boots climbed on the plane with a camera crew for "Music Video!" as we were climbing off and we were able to joyfully shrug to the befuddled flight attendant,  "Welcome to Haiti!"...when Phil jumped out of the truck at the airport and the girls immediately embraced his legs...when a student ran across the road to see us on the way home...when we came home to wonderful cinnamon rolls from wonderful neighbors...when all agree despite a pristine week of beautiful food and fun and family that Haiti is HOME and that it is good to BE home...

we're just thankful.  

He is risen...there is work to do!