The Kidnapping

I have such wonderful kids!.  Today they managed to surprise me totally!  Erika and Lindsay showed up in Wichita as we were coming back from a wedding reception in Clearwater.  They took me to Tips and Toes where we all got our first-ever pedicures! (Well, Tom didn't-he went home!) 

Now I have clean feet- just in time...before I start collecting that Africa dust between my toes. 

We giggled so much and had a wonderful time.   

Thanks Ando and Melissa,  I heard you were in on it too.  

A gift from a friend

A fitting reminder in these busy, crazy, emotional days.
 Thanks, Joan for the incredible gift.  

Thanks for being my friends

All of us

Jodi, Fern and Eileen

Aunt Gladys, Jennine, Katie

Evie, Nancy and Millie

Someone told me today that the reason it's hard to leave somewhere is because you have friends.  If you didn't have friends it wouldn't be hard to leave!  So true. The Women's Ministry Kick-off was this afternoon at church and memories came flooding back. Returning back to Whitewater 6 years ago after a 25 year absence was a huge adjustment.  I needed two things:  a refreshing of my walk with the Lord and friendships.  With time, the Lord has met both of those needs, largely through the Bible studies at our church. 
I have seen in women depth of character that I didn't know about.  I have seen pain that I had no clue existed.  I have heard about answers to prayer and  been encouraged by stories of what God is teaching them.  Women who I've known all my life,  I realized I really didn't know them very well at all.  Hearing their stories has enriched my life. These Bible studies have been some of the richest times in my life. I wish I had pictures from each of the studies over the past 5 years.  This year's Galatians study is the only one I had my camera at.

Saying goodbye

I thought I'd wait with the tears until it was time to go to the airport, but it seems like they are coming at random times now and I still have 3 1/2 weeks to go.  There is so much to treasure these days:  time with our kids, walking outside in the early morning (it's actually cool out there and the sunrises are breathtaking, driving on good roads, seeing/talking to family members and friends anytime I want.  We have been blessed with so much.







Lindsay, Erika and I went to see "The Help" today.  Such a good show and a good excuse to cry!  I even bought us a Dr. Pepper to share--with the instructions that is was waaayyyy to expensive and I was doing it for a special treat, but they shouldn't think that they should do it next time they went to the movies!  (Have to keep giving good advice, you know).