Crazy week~

This has been a crazy week.
Sunday in NC. Monday to DC.
We hit the apple store (mac fixed free! YEAH), the American Girl store (thank you Mr. Richard), Lego store, (wish we could have looked around in the ll bean store!) TJ Max (forgot something) and dinner at the hotel.  Kids eat free at Holiday Inn cheap still costs a lot.

She really wanted a 'Just like Me' doll.  

I spy while waiting.....

Our visa interview was Tuesday.  We were later than we wanted to be (you know traffic in DC is really bad?), but we were still first in line.  We were there for 2 1/2 hours and turned in countless personal paperwork, but the clerk was nice, professional and had a dry since of humor.  We met a Campus France staff who gave the kids presents and us the for to get a refund for their services. Hopefully we'll get visas in the mail in a week or two!  We met sweet Hailey (from Vietnam) for lunch and then did the American Indian Smithsonian and a little of an art museum. We rested an hour and met Teri for dinner at a Moroccan restaurant.  (Ask me sometime about Teri's story. But not today-) We all Loved meeting her and her boyfriend!  What a treat!

Hailey - great restaurant!

Recognize this painting?

Teri and Lori by the Metro

Wednesday was zoo day.  It was hot and that means animals sleep.  But the beavers and the sea lions and the orangutans were awake and worth the trip.  As we tried to leave, we were told 'an elephant escaped containment'? We didn't get to see anything exciting, but got to run to beat the parking cop! Wed. night we spent with my James cousins in MD.  It was good to catch up, listen to stories, jump on the trampoline, and just be with family.

Alexis and Kristin: cousins!

The sea lions followed your hand and did tricks. Cool!

Thursday was supposed to be drive home day, but we had the opportunity to meet Lucas at my cousin's work.  Lucas is from Cameroon and had much to share.  And we got to see some of the American History Smithsonian.  We got home in time to unload and make it to swim team practice!  The kids swam a lot!  Noah said maybe he is not ready for the 11 and up team.  But I paid and he doesn't get to choose!  The will be in shape for the no-car lifestyle in France!

Strong kid!

Love Him!

Friday we did school and testing.  And then my brother arrived with friends for his Scout camping trip/2 day hike. 11 for dinner.  18 folks overnight.


Sat. we (Chris and I) ferried the scouts to their drop off.  Kerrie Ann and Peter and their 2 showed up Sat. evening.  What a surprise and treat to see old friends!

Kerri Ann and Lori

Flowers in front of Mom's house and David

Sunday. That's today!  Sunday School, church, and Louie's for lunch and Ashley and Graham.  Then took cars to boy scouts.  20 for dinner - scouts nursing blisters and twisted ankle, and dehydration (I hope they drink more at Philmont!).  And people leaving in groups a little at a time.

Ben and 2yr old David 

My brother Mike

Chris says he needs a vacation and no more people for a while.  I said, I understand, and agree, but there may be no choice.

23 days from now we'll be on a plane if Visas come.  I still need to pack and clean my mom's house.
I still need to figure out how to get to the airport in DC with all our luggage.  I still need to say goodbye.

I'm not worried yet, just tired!
When is vacation?

Noah says, "Can we go?  I'm hungry!"
With Eric James

Travel/Worship Day

Tired.

Traveled to Burlington, NC today to speak in a church of an old friend, Powell Sykes.  Westminster Presbyterian Church was a welcoming place, excited about chances and serving the Lord.  I am glad we went.  It was good to hear the Word and worship with the saints there.  It was good to catch up with an old friend.

Commissioning service planned for Sunday June 9th at Redeemer PCA in Lynchburg.  There are so many things going on at the church that it was hard to squeeze us in.  But we so want the church to know that they in this with us, that they are in the prayers behind our going, that when we go, they are still our home church.  It needed to be part of worship, part of glorifying God, part of the body being sent.

Open house for us being planned.  More info to follow.  Friday June 14th at the Hinton's in Forest.

Our paperwork is gathered.  Pray it is enough and correct.

Our family with Powell Sykes

Can you tell how fat the folders are?  Crazy!

Go Date: June 18th

After over two years of prep, we have a go date!  Tickets are printed, visa appointments made, and half the boxes are packed.  It turns out that Campus France was not the right system to go through = delays, but also refunds of some $.
So, I'm excited. I get one last month with my mom, my friends and a goodbye party sometime...  And then we finally will study in France. And ultimately we'll be in Cameroon.

We went to see the home school production of Corrie Ten Boom: A Place to Hide yesterday.  Wow.  How can young girls and boys capture so well the essence of Corrie? So thankful we were here to see it.

No picts today.  I'm going to sort all the papers for the consulate visit on Tuesday.

Mom's neighborhood

Walks for stress relief- and searching for beauty.  Todays finds:

Enjoyed women's group at church this morning and lunch with Mary.

Explained our being stuck in the middle of the French visa process.  

Gave the kids took part 1 of the CAT end of the year test.

I studied French.

Filled out paperwork.

Prayed.

It was a good day.

The beginning.

I've thought about doing my own blog for a long time.  I don't know how good I will be at this, but I wanted a place to share about what am thinking and feeling as we leave for the field.  Right now we are waiting. Waiting for visas- specifically Campus France to approve Chris's application.  Waiting to buy plane tickets.  Waiting to plan goodbyes.  It is frustrating, but (and I know this is cliche) it is a good place to be knowing you have to totally rely on God.
It has been that way for a while.  God has slowly and painfully been removing our self reliance.  Cutting away our false hope in things.  Removing the support and chains of possessions.  We still have a long way to go.  Today a friend was over and we were going through boxes that I had sorted through last year and again painfully threw more stuff away.  But do I really need the workbooks my kids finished last year?  I think they may be a fire hazard...
I'm so glad God hears our prayers and he helps and sends friends to help with this process.  We are not alone.  We are blessed by our loving God and blessed that he disciplines us.

My empty bedroom at our old house.  We cleaned last week after the renters moved out.

The kids at All Fired Up making a Mother's Day present for Grandmom

The boys catching cicadas and watching them molt.