Coming Down the Home Stretch

Ok, most of the bags are packed, the Things' suitcases are packed, the notes are typed to everyone taking care of our Things, the dog and cat are arranged for, and the bag weighing is going on in earnest. Tonite we have the awesome privilege of attending a get together put together by our house group at church for us where they are going to have a time of fellowship and prayer for our family before we leave on Thursday. They invited anyone from the church who wants to come and we are blessed beyond measure by their caring for us. They also had a little surprise shower for us last week on our normal house group night, and we were TOTALLY surprised, had no idea at all. It was so sweet, there were lots of tears, but good ones and we felt so supported. They gave a us a beautiful baby book for adopted kiddos (which we had been eyeing already!!), a new set of baby monitors (and not a moment too soon-our 10 year old ones' charming "buzzzzzzzzzz" is less than enjoyable), a BEAUTIFUL little dress and shrug hand knit by one of the fabulous ladies, and some beautiful flowers and a super yummo cake. Then they rounded things out with making us prayer eggs-they each wrote a prayer for our family on a slip of paper and put it in a plastic egg. Then they each picked a random one and read them to us-that is when the tears really got going!! But luckily, the kids of the group helped me not to become a blubbering mess by one of their prayers: "I pray for the mom and dad to not get attacked by any wild animals while they are in Africa." Oh I LOVE kids, seriously-life would be SOOOO boring without them, wouldn't it? I'm so glad we are adding another one to our family!!