Tough Good-bye

Seeing Jimmy off at the airport yesterday was one of toughest moments thus far. I decided to ride to the airport for a little more time with him and also because we were worried his suitcase was over the weight limit (48.7 lbs- we cut it close!). I'm sure Jimmy would want me to clarify that all of his clothes fit in his little carry on :). His suitcase was filled some of Samuel's toys, books and clothes he's outgrown hoping to make our return trip easier. So Samuel and I went in to the airport and waited while Jimmy checked in. We were SO close to airplanes that were headed to the US. You know that excited feeling you get at an airport because you're going to travel some place? I had it, but it wasn't my turn yet to get on the plane! It was a tearful good-bye, but we are so hoping the next time we see each other we are ALL going to be going home.

I have had so much wonderful support and encouraging words from you guys at home. So many of you praying for us- we are so thankful. The thought has crossed my mind a couple of times "Lord, so many prayers, why aren't we home yet??" Then I'm reminded that prayer is for us- strengthens our faith in God and reminds me that in praying, I'm also surrending my prayers to His will and His timing. So whether I come home in 3 weeks or 3 months, He is in control and the timing will be perfect. After all, we chose for me to come down here. I didn't have to come down in March! I asked Jimmy this week if he regretted me coming down and we both agreed that we don't. We thought through what we we were "getting ourselves into" and even on hard days, it is so worth it. So the word of the day for me is "surrender"- to His timing and what He has in store for us (although that hasn't kept me from telling God how much I want to see the leaves changing before they fall off or how cute Samuel would look in a Halloween costume or how much I'd like to get home and plan a wedding shower for my brother's fiancee or how I'd love to start looking for a part-time job to ease the finances!).

After surviving a Samuel bedtime screamfest (they are rare- I promise!) and a moment of "God, I'm overwhelmed and can't do this!", I again surrendered my anxieties and asked for God's perspective to be my perspective. I went to bed much more at peace than I had been all afternoon.

No big plans for the weekend besides going to the Independence Day parades. They are already celebrating. Yesterday on the way to the airport we passed groups of high school kids running on the side of the highway carrying torches. There were buses going slowly next to them and kids took turns running and carrying the torch. Interesting! All I could think was how this would not happen in the States- no school would want the liability of the kids running with fire, much less along a major highway! I can just envision trying to get approval for that kind of field trip- it would never happen!

Thanks again for the support and prayers! Please keep praying for all of these Guatemalan children. There are so many other families who are still having major challenges getting their babies home and other orphan children who will not be able to be adopted. The future for these orphans is pretty bleak!