Leaving on a jet plane...

Ok, we aren't leaving on a jet plane, but we are leaving with a small SUV, a trailer, a minivan, 2 adults, 3 kids, lots of coloring books, a DVD player, some toy cars, dolls and a little dog too!!

In just a few hours we are heading out on the first leg of our journey to Iowa. Before kids, it took us 18 hours. Last time we made the trip with kids......24 hours! We have scheduled ourselves to allow plenty of time. This will be the first time I have ever driven more than a couple hours. You know how men are about driving on trips! So I am a little nervous about having to drive that far myself. John will have Aiden and the dog. I will have the girls. We are hoping to drive about 10 hours today and stop over night in Kentucky.

Please pray for safety and sanity as we travel!! We have many miles ahead but we know we are not traveling alone!

Faithful

We recently had the chance to have lunch with two people whom I believe fit the definition of the term "faithful". Dr. and Mrs Joe Haas are 2 of the kindest and most welcoming people you will ever meet.

Some of my earliest memories of the Haases are seeing them walk into the gym, at FCA, hand in hand. I have always thought they are such a great example for young couples on having a Christian home. They are faithful to each other.

They were there, at FCA, to watch their grandchildren play sports. They are so faithful to their family.

They were never afraid to stand and cheer for their school or blow that silly horn they brought to every game! They are faithful to their school.

They are in their 80's (sorry Mrs. Haas, hope it's ok to tell your age!) and are some of the most active members of our church as they lead a Sunday School class, reach out to others, and work in the church. Just tonight they were at VBS helping with the children. They are faithful to their church.

For nearly 2 decades they served on the mission feild in France in addition to years serving as a Pastor and Pastor's wife here in the US. They have been faithful to the Lord.

John & I could have sat and talked with them for hours. Such godly wisdom and insight they have! It was such a joy hearing their testimonies and seeing them with our children. The fellowship was sweet and the meal was simply divine!!

The kids had a blast riding around on the little sled. Aiden now calls them Mr and Mrs. Hassy!

We are so thankful for their friendship and know that just as they said, they will pray for us faithfully....because that is just who they are, faithful!

Behind these doors...

Friday was my last day of work in the Intensive Care Unit. I very vividly remember the first time I walked through these doors. It was 2001 and I was entirely too overdressed! My heart raced as I saw the unit that I dreamed of working in. The vents, the tubes, the drips....I knew I wanted to be a critical care nurse.

Friday, as I walked through the doors I was struck with many emotions. Behing these doors I have spent countless hours with co workers caring for the sick, praying with the grieving, and holding the hand of the dying. We have fought with all our strength to save a life and stood humbly by as we watched the Great Physician at work. Behind these doors we have had great discussions at 3 AM while we all naviagate through life trying to be the very best we can be. We have laughed over silly things, cried over the loss of a patient, debated religion and politcs, celebrated weddings and births of coworkers and grieved the loss of family members. We have spent countless holidays together behind these doors....because although it seems strange to some, we in healthcare are indeed family. It was behind these doors that I learned of the loss of my home and it was behind these doors that dear friends hugged me when I cried and provided for our family.....beacuse they too, were our family.

I will miss the moments we all shared together and know that I am a better friend, nurse, mother, wife and Christian because of my time behind these doors.

Savoring every moment

I think one of the goodbyes I dread the most is for these guys.  Cousins are such fun and these cousins have the best of times together.   One blessing is although we are leaving some great cousins behind in NC....now we get to go to Iowa and spend some time with cousins there before we leave for Africa.  We thought it would be fun for the kids to spend one more night together before we leave.

Livi and Milyah are both the "middle child" are both the crazy ones in the family! Definitely two peas in a pod!

These are both the oldest and they seem to gravitate towards each others.

We have already gotten rid of all our furniture so the kids had to eat breakfast on the kitchen floor. They didn't seem to mind!

Aiden and Blaise are both happy to have another boy around!

It took a while for these 3 to get to sleep. There was a lot of giggles....but it was a welcomed sound. I love these girls!

Be still my homeschooling heart!

A couple days ago, the kids and I came home from running some errands and this was waiting on our front porch. My heart immediately began to race in my chest!!! I am terrified of homeschooling. I have so much respect and admiration for home educators. Their passion and dedication to teaching their children simply amazes me. I do feel that we as parents should be the primary teachers for our children, but I have to admit....it terrifies me! Maybe if they were a little older it wouldn't be so daunting....but the thoughts of teaching them how to read and how to multiply nearly overwhelm me. I am praying even now that the Lord will guide me as I take on this huge responsibility! This is just one of many areas that I am learning to lean on the Lord for help.

I am terrified.....the girls, on the other hand are super excited that mommy is going to be their teacher!

On the Road Again

This was ctually taken last Sunday on our way to another church. We have been so proud of the kids as we have traveled countless miles visiting churches and sharing our burden for Togo. The girls have enjoyed singing in the churches and Aiden did well going to all the different nurseries. Sundays weren't always easy, but they were little troopers. I can't even begin to count the hours or miles that we have spent in our little minivan traversing the state! I am so thankful that our kids have loved all the traveling.

This was our view as we traveled home tonight. We have been so blessed with safety of travel. The sky was a great reminder of God's hand in our lives.

We love our Preacher

Sunday morning after church our Preacher and his wife had us over for lunch.  It as always fun to spend time with them.  They are wonderful Christian people, so warm and loving.  The girls had the best time as the Preacher told them jokes.  They thought he was just hilarious!!  He told jokes and they sang him songs.  It was quite the exciting lunch.