oh, say can you see

18 with me?!


Days, that is.


Although, 18 could also refer to the number of days we will be gone in China, too.  Wild!


Today I sent out some emails.  They were to a few friends and church family who have offered to help love on Luke and Anna while the rest of us are gone.  


If there is one thing that is hard, hard, hard for me, it is being separated for this trip.  And the hope that the time is special for Luke and Anna waiting here for our return.


My amazing parents are staying with the kids for the entire time. Might I add that they have been keeping their calendars open since AUGUST in order to be available?!  August.  And for my active, engaged, busy parents, this is a big deal.  Thank you, Mom and Dad.


So back to my emails.  I send them.  And (this is not an exaggeration) within two minutes I already have our inbox filling steadily with, "I'd love to have Luke for" and "Anna is so welcome to come on...".  


Wow.


What gracious, generous, kind, thoughtful and very dear friends we have.  We are blessed.  And their lovingkindness toward our family is a part of God's provision for just that, our family!  It isn't just having Anna over to play, it is also giving me peace of mind that she is having special playtime with friends to keep her busy and occupied while we are gone.  It isn't just entertaining Luke for a day, it is balm to his sweet heart that he belongs and God is taking care even when he can't go to school camp because we won't be there with him.  That one has been hard.  And now it is so much more than all I could have asked for or imagined.


Luke will miss school camp, and that's a hard thing for him.  And instead of it being about something he can't do, now it is about what he gets to do, and who he gets to do it with!  Three incredible guys from our church family are each taking him out for a day of fun: the Science Museum, the Zoo, and an extra special lunch date.  Luke will have a ball!  Thank you, Charlie, Steve and Mark!  YOU, each one of you, is an answer to a prayer.  


Each of those guys are carving out time from work, from life and their schedules to spend time with Luke.  Heros, each one of them.  If the greatest of these is love, then that is what we are experiencing.  The greatest of...


So 18 is a good day.  It is good now and it will be good as we count them in China, too.


Gratefully,
Sara