Today was the girl's last day of school, and I just can't praise the Lord enough for the precious friends, teachers and school He's given them...such gifts.
Yesterday Julie and I took some of God's great grace's in our lives out for lunch with some of our precious kids. I am so thankful for these women, Julie included, in my life!
Ben is going to MISS his Tati Gertha. He cries when SHE leaves, rejoices when she comes, and will reach for her away from mom and dad every time. I don't know what he's going to do without his happy person for six weeks (or what I'm going to do without her precious help and friendship! :)
The girls played hard with the boys all afternoon (they're gonna miss Sam and Joel something awful!), we had dinner with the team, and spent the evening with the Heckmans, Folkeringas, and Edlers hanging out...precious rare moments I'm thankful for.
Packing for 6 for 6 weeks is no joke, but I'm thankful for lots of experience that makes it easier. I'm not going to lie, I'm also very thankful to not be 36 weeks pregnant this time!
Our downfall is in our numbers! Even as we each pack for six weeks with 5 outfits and three pairs of shoes, that means we've got 30 outfits and 18 pairs of shoes! Power cords, wet wipes, snacks and books galore, passports, hair bands, plus 50 bags of Haitian coffee and 50 bottles of Haitian vanilla to boot!
Lots of transitions, lots of mountains of feelings and emotions for the kiddos, and for Matt and I too!
While we were at the house getting ready for dinner with the team in the cafeteria, Nora, whom I thought was at Sam and Joel's house, went to the cafeteria on her own, greeted all the ladies in Creole, told Granny that mom said she was eating in the cafeteria for dinner, and had gratine, avocado, Tampico and a salad with Granny and the ladies, by herself, her whole dinner. Our children, even our littlest ones, are loved and love and are at HOME.
And then as we sat in the girls room tonight, reading books and praying like we do every night, instead of stressing about tomorrow (a particular temptation of Lily's) and the coming days, we talked about the many many hours upon hours of sweet time we spent together this year at bedtime, reading Sonlight books and praying.
As the girls all shouted out their favorite books and bedtime memories, as I marveled over Nora, who used to be so shy, I was reminded that we don't have to worry about tomorrow, about our children, about our friends here or there, we don't have to stress about traveling for six weeks, somehow don't have to worry about here nor there nor back again.
We can look back and remember His faithfulness, we can see it painted all OVER the place in our daily lives, we can see it at the girl's school, we can see it on campus, we can touch it in His people, we can see it on our couch, we can dwell in this moment, today, and be thankful for it, God's gift.
So I'm thankful for today, and all the chances to love well, to laugh together, to lift one another up, to point to Him.
Tomorrow, if He gives it to us, we will do the same.
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