Good Bye's and Hello's!

I am always a big fan of getting "the picture" right before we are separated for a while. This is the LONGEST while to date, and while I am not loving it- we are doing OK. Time flies so quickly, and Savannah feels it is her duty to take over for Dad in the snuggling department and she does it quite well!

Aren't we adorable!! :) 19 years very soon!!!

Yeah, I know. The three oldest are taller than me.
I am not sure how I feel about that!

Dan and Levi have safely landed in Zambia and are off to some great reunions with friends that have been made over the years.

One story Dan told me was of a man names Anderson who was his interpreter from his first trip in early '05.

Anderson did not know Dan and Levi were coming, and he saw Levi first and thought how he reminded him of Dan- not knowing he was his son. Dan came up behind him and gave him quite the surprise!

Another reunion was with Kapolo, a young man in the Bible Institute. We met him in '06 and he made us a picture comprised of seeds all smaller than mustard seeds. He cooks them for different times- the longer they cook the darker they get. He then draws a picture on a piece of wood and after many hours of painstakingly gluing them on one at a time, this is what they look like.

Double click the picture for a close up. The detail is incredible!

It has a prominent place in our living room... right next to the animal carvings, and the rebar-wood-and- fur spear. (Another story for another post!) It is beautiful and a great reminder of those we have met and fallen in love with. It is incredible how the bonds of Christ knit people together.

I am always so thrilled at the provision and blessings of God on our family. I am sure everyone has testimony of the goodness of God, but sometimes it is so overwhelming one can scarcely take it all in. And all because HE LOVES US!!!! Great is the Lord and Greatly to be PRAISED! This verse in Matthew has been one that I have loved, and though what we have "forsaken" seems small in comparison to many, God IS FAITHFUL and has blessed us abundantly!

Matthew 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

ps I am glad there will be 5 people to recount to me all the events of this trip- seeing I am NOT ON IT!!! (do you sense some repressed emotion there?!) Maybe it will feel like I almost went after they all tell me their stories.

:)