pack it up, pack it in!

Oh man.  If you only have a few days in a few places with a few people, you gotta PACK it in.  Add in a birthday, and oh man.  We always get sick our first week in America, and it's no wonder.  Between a day on planes and later nights and way less humid air, we are all sniffing, coughing, chapped lips and congested.  However, we have earned our symptoms with lots of fun time hiking at Old Man's Cave, eating lots of ice cream, popscicles, berries and watermelon, seeing Aladdin, riding bikes, going to the Columbus Zoo, missing naps and celebrating a very sniffy Sofia.  I have so cherished doing some of the things with the girls that I LOVED doing growing up.

We've been extra blessed with lots of good time with Grandpa and Ms. Cindy, who have graciously hosted, helped and played...and listened! There is a lot of talking with these four, and listening :)  Tonight we have some time with good friends, and tomorrow morning head to the East coast.

We're going to see my grandmother, Lord willing, Thursday on the way, and then we've got some doctor's appointments in Philly on Friday, the girls are finally gonna get to meet sweet Mayah, and then Matt speaks Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday morning at Sharptown UMC on the Holy Spirit...if you are in the NJ/PA/DE area, get over there!

At home, Lily kills them for me. At the "petting zoo", Lily names them.  

I don't know how she's 8, but I do know that it is a gift every day to be this girl's mama. She wants to be a space veterinarian, a cowgirl (but NOT with cows!), run a daycare and be a mama of 14, she still wants to marry Daddy. 

She can play for hours with absolutely nothing but her imagination. She's a loyal and selfless friend, lives every day in the moment, can entertain little ones for hours, has a caring and compassionate heart, lives life to the full, is afraid of nothing, and is passionate to boot.

we've been getting pictures with Pepe since I was a kid!

This girl LOVES flamingos!

I was thrilled by how much the girls loved hiking at Old Man's Cave...MEMORIES.



We are so thankful for these precious days, even sick, thankful for good phone calls with friends at home daily, grateful for friends and family who love us well, and also so burdened by how broken people are here in our own country. Life following Jesus is just a mission field, isn't it, wherever He has you. Praying on and grateful for so many chances daily to be the Gospel.  Pray for our little family tomorrow with lots of travel and four kids who are NOT used to long car trips nor car seats...oh Ben...he is not a fan!  thank you!