T Minus 1 Day - ACCCKKK!!

Last night began as a relatively early night. I actually got to bed by 11:30. But then within 1/2 hour I heard an alarm clock going off! Some bigger boy had set his clock and left it turned on. I had just slipped back into a deep sleep and then I heard a little guy wake up and I had to go to him. While putting him back to bed, another one got up for a drink! My boys usually sleep like logs! Finally, I got them all back to sleep and I got back to bed.

Before I knew it, it was 4:23am and the phone was ringing. My big boy was calling me from a town an hour North of us. He was alerting me to being at the pickup spot in an hour. I had Ray set his alarm and then went back to sleep for another 45 minutes. When the alarm went off I headed out, and of course, made a stop at Tim Hortons for my typical Large Decaf Mocha.

30 minutes later, the charter bus pulled in and my heart swelled with pride as I saw my wonderful son emerge from the bus dressed in his uniform. That boy has accomplished so much in his young life! He makes a mama proud!! Any young lady would be blessed to have him for a husband! Loyal, loving, responsible, hardworking, faithful, strong in Christ, kind!

Unfortunately, I forgot my camera, so did not have a picture, but I can show you what he brought me home:

Lots of laundry! That boy is a packrat! When he left he had over 50lb. When he returned, he must have had 150 lb! How??? Junk! And clothes. This picture is after there is a load in the washer!

He has now crept off to bed for the day, while I have begun running all of his laundry. We will be heading off to Church and leaving him to sleep. Hopefully he gets a lot caught up.

I have to thank you all for praying for our children!! Austin's mysterious rash is getting better. I had to use a hydrocortizone cream, but it cleared up pretty fast with that; Briton's toes are still red, oddly enough, but he is not complaining they hurt; Colt went to the doctor (after pressure from me) and the doctor told him that he had never seen a lump the size that the one was in Colt's throat/neck area. I was sure it was an infected gland. I saw it today, and it was nearly normal in size. Colt says he felt way better and I could see he was definitely on the mend, if not already better.

It is like laundry breeds around here! I don't want any dirty laundry when I leave and I keep running loads, but there keeps being more!

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5:15

We went to church this morning and left Colt home sleeping. After church I continued running Colt's laundry and sent the kids outside to play and to the recroom to do playstation. I wanted the house quiet so Colt could sleep as long as possible.

At 3:30 we took the kids down to the lake for a swim again. It was a nice break and then we came home and Colt was still sleeping. I actually hope he sleeps til morning. Wouldn't that be something! But he sure would be rested!

We got home and I began cleaning up the house for last minute stuff. Ray went to town and got Chinese and while he was gone Denise and I chatted by phone. She lives in Tennesse. After dinner, I began packing the last box and the hand luggage. I am so glad that I think I am actually done! Just please pray that we get through without any hassles!

About 8:00 pm the kids came running in saying that a lady was here. It turned out that four of our friends that we get together with on Sunday nights had stopped by. Tonight being Sunday, was our night to gather, but we were too crazy busy with last minute things.

They burst in laughing (not uncommon, as we spend much of our Sunday night just having a blast laughing and enjoying funny moments,) cause they had heard that I had dashed upstairs when I heard someone was coming. I was wearing my non company short and would not be caught wearing them, so I had to change.

They all wanted to see the girls room because we had not showed it to them yet, as we usually meet at the one couple's house who did not get over tonight. They loved it. The girls oohed and aahed over the girls clothes.

Then before they left they prayed for us: for safety, protection for the boys, that God would bless every aspect of our journey, that the girls' hearts would be prepared and that it would be love at first sight for them, that it would be an easy transition for them. They prayed many things and it was wonderful. I feel much better knowing the prayer coverage we have.

At church this morning also, we had many people come up to us and tell us that they would be praying for our journey. It is wonderful to live in a small town where everyone we see, everywhere we go, is so excited for us. They are genuinely thrilled that we are bringing these little girls home.

Colt finally woke up at 8:45! 14 hours after he went to bed. Now he is pumped and ready to stay up for the night. I don't think so!!! By 11:30 I had sent him back to his room: either sleep or read! But be quiet - I need my beauty sleep! :o)

Well, I believe we are ready. Finally. The children's bags are packed and delivered. The suitcases are at the airport. The camcorder is charged, the cameras have memory cards and lots of batteries. The tickets and passports are in my bags. I think I am ready.

Please pray I don't forget anything!

I will be updating as I go. If I can't get a good blogger connection, then my good friend Denise, will be blogging for me!

Oh and by the way, we received another $600 in donations tonight!!! God is GOOD - ALL THE TIME!!!!

You know, my heart so aches for the little African child. Tonight I heard a tragic story from Sandi, regarding what Meg is seeing in Ethiopia. People are begging her to take their precious children, to give them a chance at life. One mum brought her 8 month old baby in. He looked like a 24 week old premie. He was not sick with HIV. He was simply not being fed. She did not have enough sustenance in her body to be able to produce milk for him.

I sit here and know that I will be crying in Ethiopia. My heart breaks to think of these mums.

What I wish - right now as I sit here - and maybe one day God will see it come to fruition - I wish to have a building where I have storerooms of formula and baby food. I would teach these mums how to use the formula and how to feed the babies and then I would send them away with cans of milk powder. I know that is not a solution - just a bandaid.

But I read of a family that went to Africa and did something like that. They couldn't do much for these babies, but at least they could give them food for now. What little it is.

I know that we are going to be changed people when we come home. See you in Africa!!!!!