His rest

A few days ago our friends down the road went to a little deserted island.

That sounded a little crazy.

We are in the middle of too much to go swimming. Things are too bad to leave home. There is too much to do to step away.

But on Thursday it became obvious that Lily, especially, NEEDED something fun and normal.  She's been missing going to school and playing with her friends so much, and people in her life leaving has been unsettling. Doing the same thing everyday and being unable to get out hasn't even phased Sofia, madame of the moment, but Lily...she has an anxious heart and it's all been weighing on her. 

So Shelley gave me her contact with a little boat and this morning we gathered food and water and Rick and Nikki and our neighbors and we WENT.

It was a very different kind of trust. Trusting him with letting go...trusting Him with stepping away. Trusting Him with being gone. Trusting Him with our family, and being what our family needs, too.

And it was SO good...exactly what we ALL realized we needed.

We drove a few miles to the pier, left the truck with a group of young guys fixing nets whom Matt joked with about babysitting some of the seven kids, hopped on a little boat with our new friend Wislet and enjoyed the majesty of God's creation of Haiti and allowing the kids to be kids and allowing ourselves to not think about all the problems for a little while.

Because on the water...there were none.

It is gorgeous, mountains painting the backdrops of every horizon. 

I love these people. 

 I am so, so incredibly thankful for Matt's leadership of our family and the peace and trust and joy that has just been exuding his life and constant interactions with people in this dark time.  There is a lot on Matt right now, and he's so obviously passing it right off to the Lord and loving people WELL (and passing out by 8 pm!)  Nikki has been a steady friend...always calm and loving and consistent for the girls, and allowing for Lily and Sofie to literally be some of the ONLY few children in Haiti who have NOT missed the last two weeks of school.  With them being unable to GO to school, she's been faithfully homeschooling every day, every day, and that stability has been so good for all of us. 

We are so thankful for these people, too...our neighbors, Bill, Julie and their three boys, are also such trusting and steady people, full of His joy...filling hard days with children for our children to play with, with friendship and help (together, we are making the food difficulties work!)

Even Ben seemed so glad to be in a different setting for a few hours (why does he look so BIG here!?)

At the little island, passing fisherman came ashore with lobsters and fish, which well-rounded out our lunch of fruit snacks and almonds :)

Nora is the most independent 3 year old the world has seen, I'm sure.  She played in the ocean every single minute today and was blissfully happy.

"peace"

Lily collected every sea creature known to man and built them houses and named them all...this barnacle slug was "squishy" and she wore him most of the day.  This child.

Ben loves the beach as much as his sisters, and it's so fun watching all his personality growing!  Being present in body AND mind has been a challenge these last few days and I am so thankful for this focused day!

We are hearing all kinds of different "news" for these coming days...but have a guarantee that they're in His hands.  Praise the Lord, for His rest and peace today, for the family He's given me, and for the future in His hands.