keep-on prayers

"Has Aunt Sharon been there like a really long time?" my dear friend Elisa noted this morning, and as true as it is it doesn't seem like it this morning.  She heads out today after two weeks, and all the Ayars are fighting it.  I'm not sure how long would be long enough, but reality is that you just never don't want someone as helpful and loving and patient and fun and family as Aunt Sharon in your house.

She's done homeschool, she'd done finger paints, she's done Uno and dishes and dishes and dishes and laundry and played every game the girls could invent.  She's listened and loved and shared and gotten up too early, and having her with us these weeks is the closest thing I'll ever have to having my mom visit.  Mom prayed for Aunt Sharon many times, long before we ever knew she existed, that God would somehow bring women into my life to guide and encourage and help, bring women into my life to love and grandparent my future children, and it's pretty amazing to watch an answer to prayer snuggle my children.

Trying to replace the gloom of the day with her leaving with gratefulness that that she was so graciously here, and trying to help the girlies do the same!  

Meanwhile, the rains of November continue every day, our grounds soggy, the potholes bottomless and many houses filling and draining and filling again.  Students are still coming to class, though more are staying on campus these days than commuting. This Saturday is Haiti's Vertier Day and our annual Thanksgiving, so we're also preparing for 39 and two turkeys in our home Saturday!

This chicken from Matt's carpool to school this morning has not volunteered, but Brett has two of his turkeys on the chopping block today.

We're still anxiously awaiting my newest precious niece!  Pray for my little sister, Lisa, if you think of it...for healing for her little family of colds and sinus infections and for a beautiful safe delivery...these are those days you wish very badly you could be in two places at once.  I can't wait to meet sweet niece number 5!  (My father is about to have 7 grandchildren, all girls!)

Thank you for your ongoing prayers and love.  He answers them, he answers them, even prayers we didn't understand, prayers we didn't even want to pray.  It often takes a long time, in our perspectives, but His hand is mighty, His ear is close to our hearts, and His timing and ways are GOOD.  Keep on.