friday!

We are off to Roger's parents for the weekend.   Last weekend was my family, this weekend is his, and that should be the end of the travels until Labor Day at least~summer is a great time to connect with family, be outside and enjoy the sun.  It won't be long before we are freezing under blankets again so live it up everyone!  July is just a blink away from done....and we all know what August means.  Have a great weekend....we plan to!

After Precious Maryn was born she spent just over a week with a foster mom until we could get there. The foster mom sang, "You are my sunshine" to her....when we had her in our arms, we began to sing it to her because that's what we do. I have sung that to every child we have, from their earliest moments in my cradle hold, until they begged me to stop. In India, I sang it to as many of the orphan kids as would let me....its just a loving, bonding, beautiful song. Tonight. Tonight....Precious sang it with me. She sang all the key words....sunshine....happy.....grey.....love you.....away.....

It's a rooftop moment for me, a mountain-top breath. Seeing her smile, look into my eyes and sing back that love. Wow. She is sunshine. She is love. She is promise. For all of the moments of frustration and hardship and anxiety and fear and overwhelming exhaustion.....all it takes is a warm ray of sunshine to break through and all of the clouds disappear. Lest you doubt it because of my whining and complaining...you, Precious Maryn are my sunshine. Thanks for the song.

Here's sweet Gabe. We took him to the hospital the week we were in the city. Sarah let us sit in on his surgical consultation. They admitted him this day to do surgery on his spine. He has spina bifida. His legs don't move but the rest of him sure does. He charms the pants off everyone he sees. He is gorgeous, sweet and oh so smart. Please consider sending funds to help pay for surgeries such as these, so that wonderful children can have an improved quality of life. Little Gabe melts my heart. I'd take him home in a heartbeat, dispite his disabilities, if only God would call me to do so. Maybe someone out there should pray and ask God if they should take him home. He would do really, really well in a loving, Christian family. If it's not a possibility, then just please send some money to SCH. Get ahold of me if you don't know how, or go to Sarahscovenanthomes.blogspot.com. She hasn't updated for awhile but there are instructions for donating money. You will be blessed if you bless one of God's little angel babies, I promise. I can almost feel his sweet face against mine, just looking at him. What a great kid!

a higher court

My very wise and beautiful friend Sarah taught me many things while I was in India.  Here is one of them.  Maybe you will be better for learning it, too.  It's called taking "it" to a higher court.  There is a situation in my life that causes my heart to hurt.  I am obedient to God and I am on the right path, but it really hurts.  I'm sure I'm not alone.  I bet others have a thing or two on their list that would fall under this category....the aching heart place.  I was sharing my feelings and thoughts with her and she quietly explained to me that there is a process that is very healing.  It is very thorough and very complete.  

Picture God as a wise and lofty Judge.  He sits behind his huge desk with time and answers and plans.  This thing, that causes me so much strife and ache and discontent, is on the docket.  I go before the Judge and present my case.  I share my arguement, my evidence, my story.  He......Listens.   I leave the case there, on His big desk.  He gets to rule.  I have to accept His ruling because He is the judge.  I don't need to gather any more evidence or arguement or pictures or influence.  It's been presented.  He has it.  He gives his ruling.  Period.  End of arguement.  End of discussion. 

I took this advise and I brought my aching heart problem to the Higher Court.  I presented it.  I had a measure of peace...but just a measure.  It is an obedient measure.  Today I opened the envelope that had the ruling (not the answer, but the ruling).  The paper is blank.  He's not telling me anything.  He's just not.  His ruling is in and it is His, not mine.  I accepted it.  I blindly accepted it.  Whatever He does with my case is fine.  He's not going to give me details.  He gave me an answer and it is this:  You don't need to know.  You need to accept and smile and move forward.  If there were words on that page, I can't read them.  Here's what I know.  He listened.  He heard me.  He thought it through.  He answered.  The higher court is so high.  It is complete and irreversible.  I defer to it.  I accept it.  I am sure I will have even more peace now that the verdict is in. 

praying for...

This sunday I lift up in prayer the waiting families and matched kids.  I ask the Lord to make the process swift and fluid and quick.  Prevent hangups and bumps in the road, God.  Give these families financial freedom and favor to navigate the adoption process.  Bring them support and help and love and encouragement from friends, their church and random acts of kindness.  Lord, give them patience as they wait and joyful suprises for their journey.  For the kids they wait for, maybe they know them and maybe they don't....but protect these kids, God.  Tell them about their families in dreams while they sleep.  Give them loving caregivers to make the waiting easier.  Join these kids to their parents, God, worldwide.  Make families fuller and richer and happier by bringing families to children who need them.  Amen.

the unexpected

On vacation in Chicago, we took the kids to a children's museum.  Outside there was a garden with some wonderful sculptures.  I had my camera around my neck, of course, and the sun was shining, it was warm and mellow and easy.  I am not a photographer for sure, but God is.  God delights in beauty and wondering and pausing and enjoying.  Sometimes it takes vacation to do just that. 

I can almost place myself in this position, in this posture, in this stone sculpture.  I can imagine what she is thinking about.  If I was musically gifted, I would maybe write a song about what God is thinking....if I were a potter or a sculptor, I would like to make a statue such as this.  If I were a writer I would write something about her....but I'm just a mom.  I just took a kinda cool picture and found a very cool song by a very talented singer....and I pushed "click" a couple of times.

It's the weekend.  Enjoy something.  And while you are at it, enjoy a few someones.  Blessings.

as a Christian....

As a Christian, it feels like December all the time to me.  You know how when December 1st rolls around, you get excited.  Its the month of Christmas.  Celebrations, gifts, family, friends, good tidings of cheer are all coming.  Magic starts.  There's the beautiful, inspiring music, snowfall, concerts, parties, new clothes, great food, gifts. 

God has a way of making me feel like it's December 1st all the time.  Anticipation, blessing, favor, and discipline.  There is the waiting.  I feel like I am being disciplined to wait, to be patient, to savor and to be aware.  I feel like I am supposed to notice the December all around me.  More is coming.  Don't act suprised when it does.  Be patient, be ready He said.  Maybe its not just for me.....ever think of that?  Maybe its for readership out there as well.  Be patient, but be ready.  He has plans.  December is a busy month with lots to squeeze in before we celebrate Christmas. 

If the rest of my life on Earth could be December, and I could look forward with excitement to each new day, each experience, each lesson, each moment it would be wonderful.  If I could expect everything about my life to build up to the celebration of Jesus.....then all of my days would be just the way He wants them to be.  As a Christian, it would be good to feel like every month was December, whether it meant heat or snow or spring rain or fall wind. 

As Christians, we have much to do.  I have much to do.  I'm listening to the book:  Radical by D. Platt.  Its intense.  I'm only through the first 2 chapters so far.  Roger put it on my Iphone before I went to India but because India was radical enough, I waited until now, in quiet, hot, sleepy Iowa to listen to it.  Wow.  Radical.  Yep.  Christians shouldn't be bored.  Don't get lulled into boredom.  Be patient if it is not your season to move, but also be ready.  Be listening, be learning, be praying.  If it IS your season to move, then move.  Don't wait.  Don't miss your big party under the Christmas tree with the Lord. 

Meet mister Adorable number.....something. This little guy is a treasure. He lives at Sarah's Covenant Homes in Ongole, India. He is very adoptable, hint hint. I would love to see some of these kiddos adopted by families here in the US so it would be easier for me to stay their "auntie" or "prayer mama" or whatever you want to call me. Roger says I can't adopt them all....or was that my dad....or was it my mom-in-law.....anyway. The consensus seems to be that since I can't take all of Sarah's kids home, I need your help finding homes for them. If you cannot adopt, please consider sponsoring financially. They could feel like yours but you wouldn't have to go through the paperwork. She will send you updates, photos, info and you will know that you are effecting change and health and education in the lives of these much-loved but overlooked children. Next time I go to India you could tag along and actually meet and hug and sit with the child you sponsored, and prayed for and loved. You, too, could sit in that sunny courtyard and feel speechless and overwhelmed and displaced and aching as you hold hands with a child who lives all the way across the world. That child could feel your love and look into your eyes and not understand all the emotion, but maybe he would. Maybe God would write it on his heart to know that someone cared because God said they should, not because they had to.

If you want more info on this little guy, go to Sarah's Covenant Homes website or facebook page and ask her, or ask me and I'll get whatever I can. I can tell you he is spunky, he is in primary school and he has some sporty new underwear delivered by some Iowa mommies, that have Cars characters on them.

VBS week

Every year our church hosts a vacation bible school.  It has an old-time bible days feel from Nasareth or Jerusalem or somewhere that allows you to wear robes and sandles and bake bread and make crafts of oil and clay and such.  Its great fun and the kids love it.  It requires many volunteers.  I usually avoid this very extroverted activity.  I bless it, but I do avoid it.  The last 2 years I began to help transport kids from the area who attend a Hispanic church that doesn't have a VBS.  They are our guests and it is so cool to partner with them in this and see all these kids together.  Tonight was the first night and we have a few days left.  Its a really good thing.  It's good to have a picture of marketplace back in Jesus' time.  It's good to see adults and children who would never mingle do so in God's House....and much more. 

Tonight I remembered.  Two years ago, we were anxiously waiting for "the call".  We had finished our home study and were waiting for a call from our social worker that a birth mom had picked us and we would soon be going to get our new baby.  I was frustrated, impatient, fighting head games about why we weren't a good enough family to get picked.....and trying to get the 3 kids through VBS.  The social worker called with a request. Right in the middle of the marketplace craziness I took the call.  Could our profile be shown to a mom who had 2 children and was considering placing them for adoption.  They were one and three, a boy and a girl.  We had expected and prepared for a baby girl....but we paused.   Throughout the second hour of VBS my heart raced and I tried to imagine 2 preschool/toddler kids instead of an infant.  It would be twice the cost, but who cares...2 kids!  I was so excited.  Roger was in the "ummm....well....clear the throat....pause" place.  The kids were torn.  "What about our baby girl?"....., from mom:"  Oh, we'll just re-up and get her later"....palpitations from dad, etc.  We said yes.  They could show our book.  The mom never came in.  We were never shown.  God was working it all out for His good plan.  Precious Maryn had just been revealed to her birth mama.  She would go into preterm labor and deliver her 4 weeks later....and we would get the call for real. 

Those 2 kiddos were not meant for us that time.  I don't know what happened there.  I don't think she ever came in or placed them.  We prayed for her.  We really did.  I prayed and prayed and prayed....and just maybe, those prayers gave her strength to keep them.  Just maybe someone came along and helped her, or gave her a job, or moved in next door and became her friend.  Maybe someone offered to take her kids to vacation bible school and love on them awhile.  You just don't know. 

1.  Dear Lord, let the details fall into place tomorrow to transport the dozens of guest children to our vacation bible school.  I don't delegate well and I don't organize well.  Shoot.  I should have just signed up for the nursery.
2.  Dear Lord, be with me as I go to get Claire tomorrow morning, after her weekend away.  I'm so anxious to have her home.
3.  Dear Lord.  Thank you for my cool, comfy home and my wonderful family.  Thank you for friends who could join us in the backyard this evening.  I feel so blessed.
4.  Dear Lord, I prayed for years and years, to be granted the fruit of your spirit in Patience.  I prayed for patience.....and got Precious Maryn.  Just a month away from her second birthday.  Am I more patient yet?  Its often hard to tell.
5.  Dear Lord, you are good.  You are so good.  You have always been good and good goes wherever you go.  Help me to go where you go, God.  I want to be in the good, good stuff you are always doing.  Amen.

foster kids

This sunday I would like to humbly suggest we pray for children in foster care.  They may not technically be orphans, but many have no hope of returning to their families of origin.  Many are eligible for adoption.  Foster care is a really tough thing.  It makes me think of layers and layers of complicated issues, social diseases, pain and brokenness.  It also makes me think of hope.  Children have been removed from painful places and there is hope for a better future, if Christian families will consider opening their homes and hearts to these kiddos. 

Lord, we pray today for the American children in the foster care system.  I ask that you will make a clear path for these kids, to families and homes and parents who can love them and give them hope and healing in your name, Jesus.  This world is full of pain and sin an brokenness but you are the author of healing and I know it is your desire to heal hearts and lives and to redeem every living creature to Yourself, God.  I pray for extra grace and provision for families who are considering becoming licensed in foster care.   I pray that foster kids would be adopted, or that their families would be made whole again so they can return to them.  Again, I pray for birth parents who find themselves in this horrific place, separated from their children.  Touch their live, Lord and move them to a better place.  Amen.

hmmmmmm

I'm in a wondering place today.  I'm wondering about lots of things.  My brain has slowed down into vacation mode and on a lazy, hot saturday afternoon, the word is:  hhhmmmmmmm. 

One thing I'm wondering is about abundance vs. excess.  I KNOW I live in excess.  I have more than I need of stuff, clothes, space, food, etc.  I want to be a good steward of my resources, so I try to buy things on sale, buy things that are healthy, always measure the "need vs. want" scale....but because I live in America and have a college degree and a supportive family, I have more than less.  Do I feel guilty or just be aware and make sure I share, help, give generously and ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom?  Hmmmm.  Is it excess or abundance that my grocery cart today held:  canteloupe, bananas, apples, strawberries, pineapple, carrots, green beans and a variety of beverages to go in the cooler out by the pool?  Isn't summer grand by the way?

I'm wondering about how my life will look to Jesus, on the day I pass from this world to the next.  Will He notice the ways I sowed seeds into the Kingdom, that I helped give Glory to God?  Will that list be longer or shorter than the one that kept track of all the stuff I did just because I wanted to.  Will we talk about time I wasted on worldly, selfish ambitions?  Will He care what kind of house I live in or what car I drive?  Will he show me His own list of ways I could have done more, helped more, given more, shared more?  Hmmmmmm.

I'm wondering about my kids.  Are they the ones that other families wish would go home earlier, or move farther away?  Or are they the friends that their friends' parents like and want to have around more?  Is Precious the kid that the sitter can't wait to unload every day, or the one she thanks God for, to get to help raise?  Hhmmmmm....(p.s.  no one actually ask Jaci that please.)

I'm wondering if the cardinals that live in my yard were always nearby, or just moved in when we did.  When I whisle to them, they often come near.  (Yes, I actually am that crazy bird lady.  Deal with it.)  I'm wondering if they missed me when I was gone the first half of the summer, and if they are glad I am home.  I missed them and am very glad to be home.

I'm wondering if most of the stuff I think through, worry about, fear, hope, dream, and wonder is legit or is it just wandering thoughts on a lazy day in summer.  Hmmmmmmmm.

I'm hiding

Tonight I came home from harp and bowl, ready for a relaxing wind-down after a Spirit-filled worship evening.  There were rags down on the newly cleaned carpets.  The kids were out of sight.....then the story unravelled.  The towels were down because Precious Maryn had just up-chucked all over the dining room.  She has a fever and is apparently ill.  Huh.  Who knew?  Not me?  She was acting fine earlier!  Oh, and Jeremiah has a fever also.  Great.  Two out of four.  Pretty stinky odds.  Sigh.  So dad hauls out the chemicals and the carpet vac and gets to it and I get the kiddos tucked into bed.....and Precious is in the boys room with me.  She is jumping and singing and laughing and....wait for it....pulling shorts and underwear out of drawers and baskets.  And trying them on.  Sick, huh?  NOT VERY!!!!!!!  I prefer the lethargic, cuddly, snuggly kind of sick.  So!  Whatever is going around this house is not super-serious! 

I hear her in the other room now, singing herself to sleep.  She does this very loudly and with much animation....and insists on being ON someone to do it.  It's dad.  I'm hiding.  I moved across the house to check some email and heard her get going.  I really should go in there and take over.  I am the mom, after all.  Yet.....I'm blogging, she's singing, dad's not sending out a distress signal.  I think I'll just hide out here in the corner awhile.  It could be a long night.

fear

Precious is afraid of very few things.  Tonight, I can't think of one.  Isaac is afraid of bad dreams.  He's been plagued by them often lately.  Claire is afraid of getting hurt.  She does everything she can to avoid pain.  Jeremiah....hmm.  He's kind of afraid of bumble bees.  Roger isn't afraid of them but he really doesn't like frogs or snakes.  We have to check the filters in our pool every day and I would safely say he holds his breath before he reaches in.  Me?  I'm afraid of lots of things.  Some are legitimate, some are stupid.  I am afraid of closed in spaces.  I am afraid of something happening to my children.   I am afraid of looking back on my life and feeling like I wasted days.  I am trying not to live in a fear of man.  I want to be able to say and do what feels right and what lines up with God, no matter what others think.  I guess I am afraid of the opinions of others...nasty fear of man.  I don't exactly need approval, I just don't want to second-guess or live in doubt or wonder....and man (or satan) tends to bring that out in me.  Fear.  It's silly.  It's nonsensible.  It's  palpable sometimes and even has a smell from time to time.  I hope to wage war against it.  Fear.  I don't want it to be a part of my day.  I don't want to give it undo time or energy.  Lord, you are the victor, the conqueror, the finisher of all things.  You get the last word.  You ultimately rule and reign and You are the author of Love, not Fear.  I'm just so, so glad I am on your side, in your family, lined up with you.  You are not a god of fear but of Hope and Joy and Power and Love.  Today I noticed again, how much You love Me.  Today I noticed I was not afraid.

prayer guide continued

I'm adding to the prayer guide.  Take or leave it as you will.   Its the second sunday of the month.  It doesn't feel like Sunday, actually.  It feels like redemption, or freedom, or salvation....because I survived 11 total hours in the car with my dearly beloved family.  We've been together for 10 days on vacation.  The trip home took a very long time, but we made it.  Its late, after midnight, so technically not even Sunday any more.  Whatever.  Here's the prayer guide explanation for this week.

The unaborted ones.  In keeping with my prayer guide suggestion, last week was the Victoria generation.  This week is the Precious Maryns of the world.  These are the children who are unaborted.  Please pray for them.  Their lives start very intentionally, but very dangerously, in women who may not be prepared or happy or able to carry and keep these little babes.  Circumstances happen.  Prayers are prayed, and prayed and prayed....families wait....women are moved by God's power and grace.....and little babies are born.  These babies cannot live with their "tummy mommies" and there are families waiting to receive a call and hear these words, "congratulations!  You have a baby!"  These are the kids who would have been aborted but are saved by the miracle of prayer, the gift of adoption, and the favor of the Lord.  He likely whispers in each mama's ear these words:  "This child is precious in my sight and I have great plan for her"....pray for these mamas.  They hear this whisper.  It likely freaks them out but they obey and do not abort.  They carry children they will never know, and courageously sign papers they don't read, to faithfully trust that their babies will go to loving, Christian families.  Yep.  Pray for the babies, and their bio parents.  Pray for the adoptive parents who say "yes" and reach out their arms to take in a newborn baby they have never felt or smelled or heard, and yet know is their very own.  Pray praises to God, for this amazing thing that He does over and over and over.  And pray for the waiting families....who just haven't met them yet.

Ms. Meredith, I lost your e-mail in cyber world.  Please e-mail me again so I can respond.  Bless you....can't wait for the one of the Victoria Generation that just hasn't met you yet! 

What I learned on vacation....

I'm learning that when I don't have access to my own computer, I blog less.  I'm also learning that it's more important to yield to my toddler who can watch Backyardigans to fall asleep at night than to blog.  I'm learning that just by being a blogger, I write dozens of blogs in my head that never make it to "publish post"....and that's ok.  Sometimes they are just between God and me....and then they are prayer.

I've learned that my boys fight alot, but its also how they play.  It's the dance they do.  I need to just let them dance once in awhile and not scold them every 5 minutes or I'll go nuts.  I've learned that Claire is growing up.  She wants to be with her friends and look nice and she cares what people think, even us.  I've learned that Precious Maryn is still considered precious to the general public every time we are out socially.  I've learned that my husband is a saint.  He is patient and gentle and kind always.  He is a blessing to travel with.  I didn't actually just learn that, but vacation has reminded me of it.

I will learn that its good to get away and its also good to go home.  My friend has a theory that people who are depressed don't have a healthy sense of "home".  I love home.  I know what home is.  I am not depressed.  I will learn that vacation costs alot but it also pays out big time.  I will learn that the memories and the souveniers and the photos and the stories are treasures that I cannot measure in dollars and cents.  I will learn more about each member of my family, and about myself, just because we went on the crazy thing called vacation.

Victoria

Sarahscovenanthomes.blogspot.com

the Victoria Generation

I can't remember if I blogged about it here or on the Katelyn's Fund blog.  Nevertheless, I'm doing it again.  This first Sunday of the month, I've decided to pray for something I have named the Victoria Generation.  I have a prayer guide to the left of the blog and have been settled into one prayer, that our church would raise up orphan ministry.  I haven't changed that because, so far, we haven't done anything about it.  Today I decided to add to the prayer guide.  My goal is to list a prayer topic each Sunday, and for now, it will involve adoption.  That could change, as the Spirit moves and the wind blows. 

Victoria is a sweet friend I made in India.  She lives at Sarah's Covenant Homes.  I had the honor of helping get her file ready for adoption and am praying that God will lead her to the right family to grow old with.  Victoria is around 7 years old.  She has some disabilities but far more abilities and gifts.  She represents something to me that I find remarkable.  She is part of a generation of children who have been orphaned, for one of many reasons.  She is not an infant.  She has challenges to face in life, related to her limited vision and her delays.  She was rescued by my friend Sarah, from a hopeless place and taken to a place of love and joy and hope....and she shines.  She represents a generation of children who were once without hope, but now have hope and a future, in Jesus.  This hope shines like the sun all over her countenance.  This hope makes her smile so bright, and makes strangers smile down on her because she is NOT an orphan.  She is loved. 

I am praying today for the Victoria Generation, Lord.  I am praying that you would spread seeds of desire among Christian families, to seek out and connect children to families.  I pray that the Victoria Generation would grow up to be a powerful army of Christian leaders, who love you and who KNOW you and who hear your voice and do your will without question or hesitation.  I pray that this generation would be the front line of defense in Your name, Lord.  Let this Victoria Generation have power and purpose and joy and love....let all their plans succeed in your name, Jesus.  I pray for those who sow seeds into the Victoria Generation.  I pray for spiritual blessing and favor on their lives, their homes, their plans and their souls.  Thank you, God, for what you are already doing in this generation.  Thank you for the transforming power of your love.  Amen.

Roger took the boys to Wrigley Field yesterday to watch the Cubs play the White Socks.  They had a good time but were not appropriately in awe of their opportunity.  I was.....of course, I was back in the burbs with the girls.  We had fun, though.  We went to the mall, had lunch, and brought Claire back to the rehearsal hotel.  Precious and I relaxed in our room.  Well, I relaxed.  She's thinking its more fun to play with mom, having her undivided attention, then to nap.  She doesn't even need toys.  She takes off all her clothes and diaper and then practices putting other clothes back on.  Now THAT'S entertainment!

Today Claire has dance rehearsal,. then back here for lunch, then her interview and a dance combo performance she will learn on the spot, practice briefly, and demonstrate.  She's nervous but she will do fine.  That should all be done by mid-afternoon.  There are lots of fun places to eat around here and a really great shopping mall very close.  We'll find something fun to do for the evening as a family.

There are many Indian guests at this hotel.  It makes me think of India and even miss it.  The man I chatted with on the elevator this morning was from Mumbaii. I can drink masala chai tea at this hotel.  I drank that a few times in India as well.  It's very kind of God to bring some of India along on vacation.  I wasn't sure how I was going to handle the "re-entry" from India, directly to Dance America Nationals in Chicago.....its a big stretch from the villages, thatch huts, carrying water on the head lifestyle.  There are no orphans in our hotel....but there are children.  There are children everywhere who need a smile, a hug, a reassuring word.  There are children right here in this room who maybe felt like orphans for a couple of weeks while there mama travelled.  I can make a difference every day, on this side of the world as well.  It's imperative that I remember that, and live that every single day. 

I don't think we'll venture out to find "church" this morning.  I have some sermons on my i-pod so I'll just listen to something there while I walk on the treadmill, then swim with my kids, then play some good Christian music in the room for awhile.  It's all worship in Jesus name. 

A prayer.....

vacation

Does vacation start the day you leave or when you arrive?  We are leaving for Chicago in a couple of hours.  I'm not ready, but until I've peacefully sipped down this first cup of amazingly soothing and delicious coffee, nothing will move.  Roger just left to go get Isaac from camp.  Thank you, Lord!  We all miss him so much!  I can't wait to grab him and hug him and sweeze him and kiss him!....We will travel about 9 hours (or more if we stop alot) to get to Chicago.  Our destination is a hotel where we will live with our entire family of 6 for 10 days.  Does vacation start when we get there?  OR when we get home?????  I'm sure it will be great.  Claire will dance and dance and dance in her first-ever nationals dance competition.  We will support her and squeeze in some sight-seeing and relaxing.  We are making memories, we are building up life experiences for our family.  We are strengthening the bonds of our family unit.  We are living life abundantly.

Lord God, keep us safe as we travel.  Give us joy and patience and love and generosity with each other and with everyone we meet.  Help us to learn to represent you well, Jesus.  Let others see us and know that we are Christian and may it look desirable and pleasant to all who do. Bring us home safely again, at the end of this trip, Lord.  You are the Head of this family.  Go with us today, to the adventures and experiences that lie ahead.  Provide divine appointments where we can show your love and receive your gifts, Father.  We love you, we trust you.  Amen.