Do you get tired of hearing about how special each Sunday is? I'm sorry if you do, but heavens.
When we driving around the US and are up at 6 and getting out the door with all the blonds in braids and breakfast in the car and I'm nervous about speaking...I wish I had a different life.
On our way home 8 hours later, I'm so so tired and thankful for the beautiful ways God meets us.
THIS is a special church. Our first time ever at White Clay Creek Presbyterian with only Rick and Marlene to recognize, we didn't know what to expect. But we sure didn't expect such a warm, caring, prayerful and passionate community. Their love for each other was so incredibly apparent, and their welcome of us as complete strangers was ministry to us.
Additionally, the worship time of song and prayer was so Spirit-filled. Their worship leaders were uber-talented, and Hillsong...ah. Such a gift. Marlene even whisked the girls to her house for the second service, which I must admit, made everything so much easier and happier for the girls! THANK YOU Marlene! And thank you and Rick so much for sharing your dear church family with us! (HOW did I not get a picture with your family!!)
Marcelle brought George and Sam and adorable little handmade aprons for the girls for her second Sunday with the Ayars in a row...so special!
Rob has been to Haiti twice now to help with electricity and generator issues and drove an hour to be with us this morning with his wife! Their daughter is coming on a team in a few weeks, and it was just such a blessing that even though we didn't get to his church, he came to where we were....so humbling.
If I talk about these guys too much I get emotional...but Uncle Don and his family are one of God's great graces in our lives. When we need him in Haiti, he comes. And brings Crystal Light and peanut butter and treats from Aunt Bren. And when we preach, no matter WHERE, they are there. And When Matt's parents move to Florida, they take us in. When we bring butterflies and growing bean pods (Lily school) and tons of little girl clothes and add four more people in line for the shower...they work around us like family. Brenda spoils all four of us, Don works his butt off to help us, Sami babysits and paints nails, and their sweet grandson loves having kids around and sweetly told Matt today, "Well, that was a little long. But I didn't want to go to kids church because I wanted to hear YOU preach, and I'm so glad I did." They bless us immensely.
And don't have to.
God's grace, the Hulmes are to us.
They even spoiled us with an awesome long-awaited Phillies game Friday night!
SO FUN.
Saturday we drove a few hours and met my cousins and their kiddos...which totaled a lot of blond littles on the playground :)
Aunt Cathy got each girl a Frozen Barbie, who have then been with us, EVERYWHERE, the last days. Thank you, Aunt Cathy, and for bringing everyone together!
Our time with sweet Evie has been so good, too. All four of us are so blessed to have had extra time with her and Lisa and Adam this summer since they moved to Philly, and can't believe how much this chubby little bird is growing and changing already.
Tomorrow morning (Monday) we leave the East coast with so many cherished memories and grateful hearts, heading through PA to see more family and then on to Columbus, Ohio, until we head for Kansas on Thursday to share and community with NorthRidge Church!
Transparency Requests: (Since we're working on it, you know!)
-Safe and peaceful travels these next days
-Rest and Energy...the summer isn't over yet, but we are t.i.r.e.d., and that's not easy for me to admit
-Our EBS team as the Heckman's are in Florida then Jersey for rest and support-maintenance and the Weavers leave next week for a wedding and doctor's visits...please be praying for these families and for our EBS team holding the ropes in everyone's absence
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