Well, here we are – on the last weekend before leaving. Our travel history (there has been SO MUCH of it….HA) tends to have been where we think about getting ready for a trip for a few weeks before we leave. But we really do not buckle down until a couple of days before….and primarily a few hours before we actually leave. I think this trip is not much different in how we have handled it, even though it really is that much different!
For weeks we have discussed the need to get luggage for everyone (at least 7 pieces of luggage needed), make sure that everyone has enough clothes for all 5….I mean 6 of us J, enough snacks/food for those in the family that may be picky eaters when we get there, how to move the kids into their appropriate bedrooms to make room for Mary Beth (still no change there), yet maintain our daily lives of work, dinner, dishes, laundry, homework and house maintenance. Most of that time since then has continued to be discussions about the trip, with more emphasis placed on the “domestic” chores. But that is ok, and we will continue to concentrate on the goal…….To get on the plane to receive our daughter and bring her home to be loved. We will let our Father take care of the rest of the stuff.
We did spend this past weekend in some time of prayer and fasting to prepare ourselves for what was to come – spiritually and physically. During the fast I learned (again) my normal dependence on certain things that keep me from serving my family and my Savior on a day-to-day basis. Our main prayers were to make sure that our marriage was well-grounded enough to handle what was to come, as well as to focus on what we needed to do these last days to physically prepare for the trip. Despite Jenn going to bed early Saturday night with a migraine (happens at the beginning of most of our fasts), it was a successful weekend and we are blessed to have been obedient to His call for these two days. Lauren and I spent a lot of time running errands to pick up items needed for the trip and for the return home. I had an awesome time with Lauren doing this, because I knew that once Mary Beth arrived home, she will want to spend time with her prayed-for sister. So I soaked in this time with her on these errands, which turned out to be very successful.
With this last weekend approaching, we know we have to buckle down to get a lot of things done…..and I may need that coffee this weekend that I totally gave up last weekend. (I learned on this fast that I can go without certain foods when we do these “Daniel Fasts”, but it is the coffee that I am addicted to – leaded or unleaded/decaf. It does not matter….I just love coffee! It is a drug…..and I admit to it! Whew….what a relief to get that off my chest! J) But this weekend may require some extra caffeine at hours I am not accustomed to drinking it. Plus…..we decided that we were going to have our floors redone that we planned to do when we bought this house. So we will be moving all the downstairs furniture into the garage on Sunday. Fortunately, we have not accumulated a lot of furniture, so it is only moving 4-5 pieces of furniture from 3 rooms. But this was the best time to do this, as we will not be here in the middle of all the sanding and dust. Great outcome, no matter what we need to do to prepare for it.
We have asked our children to continue praying and seeking wisdom over the bedroom situation as well. Lauren wants to room with Mary Beth in her room, which is not large enough to fit two beds in the way it is now. The best bet is to switch her and Luke, since Luke sleeps in the rec/bedroom combo. But he likes that extra space, plus it is the “party-pad” when friends come over, and he is in the center of it all. So we will be praying and discussing the move this weekend. All parties may not wind up happy. But again, our concentration will again turn to just getting Mary Beth home, and all the details will take care of themselves.
We will continue to pray and remember two key passages – Philippians 4:6-7 and Psalm 139:23-24 – as we walk (scurry) through these last days.
Thanks for your prayers for us. We feel them daily! Please continue to pray for "seeds of favor" to be placed on Mary Beth's heart for her new family.
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