Off to Africa,...

My Son that is.
I just got back yesterday from a trip down to Seattle to drop off my son.  He was working very hard since December to make enough money to fly to Africa with his cousin and my mother for the summer.  He sewed mittens out of recycled wool and lined them with fleece.  I'm pretty proud of how good he has become at sewing.  He does a beautiful job.  (There are even stores in our town who have asked him if he can sew them fast enough to keep them in stock for the winter.  I guess his brother J. will have to take over that project for now.)  He sold his mittens in town and within 3 months he had his money for his air fare plus more.  $2,600

Our church friends also generously donated some money towards building bunk beds for the orphan school where he is going to work with my mom.  Between a pancake breakfast that we held and the donations, we managed to raise another $920.  I watched all this money making thing in total awe and amazement at what the Lord will and can do.  I believe that the Lord really wanted my son to go to Africa and I'm excited that it will be an experience that will change his life for the better, forever.

Saying goodbye to dad!

My son is only 11 years old by the way.  He has a lot of growing up to do but this Africa trip will be a good start to seeing what life should be really about.  He was completely fascinated by flying.  It was his first time since he was a baby.  He loved the feeling of taking off and landing.  He loved loved flying through clouds.  He loved being above the clouds and was fascinated when we came below them and he could see the huge city of Vancouver.  He quickly became adept at following airport signs and knowing how to get where.  He also became quite proficient at following the maps for the sky train that we traveled on through Vancouver.  He also learned about public transit by buses.  The only thing we didn't take was a taxi.  Thank goodness!
He learned about X-ray machines,  beepers, Not to wear anything with metal,  taking of your shoes coat and hat off and on over and over, keeping his pocket knife in his big suit case for under the plane.  He learned about loud speakers telling everyone not to abandon their luggage and to report abandoned luggage.  He learned about sniffer dogs who went through our bus and sniffed all our luggage.  He talked to everyone but learned not to stray from me.  He learned that the world is really not safe so be careful.    All of it, he took in stride!  My little country bumpkin who has never left his mother's side is getting quite an education.

Completely absorbed and fascinated by the whole process!

 Look mom,  a wooden knife!

 hogging the window!

Vancouver airport with a most fascinating piece of native art.

 A good picture of the two of us.

We arrived in Seattle after crossing the boarder via Shuttle bus.  My Sister and her family met us at the airport there and we went out for some Taco Bell and Uncle Steve bought C. a big sun hat for Africa.  The cousins played in a big jungle gym and had a lot of fun.

Playing in the jungle gym.

 Caleb's new hat from Uncle Steve and a pose with his cousin Vanessa.

Later we drove back to the airport where my sister and I rushed to get the kids on the plane.  We made it just in time.  We got to the gate and they were off with a quick hug and a good bye.  That was that.  I had only time to shed one tear.  Then my sister and I took a little time to find where I needed to get back on the shuttle bus and then we visited for a while.  It was good to chat.   I walked her to her vehicle and family and we said good bye again.

We call them Mutt and Jeff!

 If you think that he looks migitized, well he is!  LOL

If you think she looks super tall, well she is!

She is tall and he is small!

My emotions overflow with every good bye I've ever said in my life.  I was surrounded by strangers though and so I kept everything in check.  I arrived back in Vancouver by midnight and sat and slept on a chair in the airport until morning.  I was so tired that it was even harder to keep my tears at bay. Still strangers were everywhere so I occupied my time by eating breakfast, looking at art displays and other monotonous things.

Finally I flew home.  I read a fantastic book on the way called "Hope Rising, Stories from the Ranch of Rescued Dreams"  It was about a lady and her husband who rescued abandoned and abused horses, nursed them back to health and used them in a ministry to reach the hearts of abandoned, abused or hurt children.  The story was incredible!  It was very spiritual and gave God all the glory.  The miracles pointed to God and God alone and I was so inspired by this book to trust in God to work in my life and the lives of my family to reach out to the lives of others.  I was in complete awe at God's love for even dumb farm animals.  He is so big and has sufficient love to cover even the scrappiest of us.  Awww, the love of God!!!  A book you must read.

Home!

So here I am back home.  I didn't go pick up my other kids right away.  I let Art do that on the way home from work.  My husband was very perceptive and even though I was fully together, he realized I needed time alone away from strangers, and people I love.  I just needed to cry and go to sleep.  I took a hot bath, read a little while and went to bed.  I was fine after that.  Thank goodness!

Now, I start in earnest with my son J.  I've promised him that he and I would really work towards making money this year.  He wants to buy himself a tractor.  We have a lot of garden space and we will do our best to do market garden this year and grow next year.  He knows how to sew very beautifully too and I'm sure he will put great effort into sewing and selling his work like C. did.  I can't see him going off to Africa or anywhere in the very near future.  He is a homebody like his dad so buying a tractor and staying home to do the farming appeals to him.  He is only 10 years old and I think this is a big goal for his age but we'll work at it together.

My main goal for Ziggy this summer is to somehow help him to become proficient at reading.  He is eight and I think that goal is big enough for now.  :0)

I am anticipating lots of miracles in our family in the future.  I've seen some already in my husband and children an me individually over the last months.  I am praying for an explosion of miracles like fire works so that we can be of service to our King with hearts that are actually on fire!  That would be a miracle worth having.  I'm excited for the future of this here little family.  I'm in anticipation of what God is going to change us into for him.