The Anderson Family.. it's offical!!! Kylie is legally their daughter and coming home in just few days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WHOO HOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cristina and Josue... young love, so cute!
Well we are all packed and ready to head off to the big Guat! I can't believe it is finally here, we have spent all year planning, preparing, and praying for this trip and now that the day is here I feel almost taken by surprise! Silly huh? Today was bittersweet. I was sure to get most of our packing and prep stuff done yesterday so that I could spend a lot of time with my sweet baby boy. Last night was hard as I did the bedtime routine with him, I couldn't help thinking how long it would be before I could do that again. Ok, I know, only 11 days but that is a looong time to be away from your baby! I prayed over him and felt some peace about it but then this morning I was almost in tears by breakfast time, go figure! He was just being so adorable and extra lovey. I decided to make him a big ol thick piece of french toast WITH SYRUP! That is big time around here, I think he has only had syrup one other time in his life. I had a nice little chat and explained how what we have been praying about has come, Mommy & Daddy will be going to Guatemala to help Jesus take care of the little children there. I told him we would only be gone for a little while and we would be back really soon but oh how we would miss him b/c we just love him so much. I told him we would pray for him every day and hold him in our hearts and that he would have so much fun with Grandmother and Grandaddy. He clapped and grinned, I have no idea if he "got it", prob not but it made me feel better.
He likes to help me cook so after he was done stirring I picked him up to show him the pan on the stove and how to check to see if our side was done. Just at that moment the song "I don't want to go" by Avalon came on (my ipod was playing while we cooked) and we had just the sweetest praise time together, just the two of us. God knew just what I needed to be able to leave my baby boy and He gave it to me just in time. I cranked up the song, Sammy clapped and yelled "yay!" and I belted out every word, I almost got lost in it. Sammy just held me tight and had one hand in the air and one around my neck and he just let me stand there and hold him close while I swayed and sang to our Jesus. It was a truly sweet precious moment and the words of that song echoed in my heart (I included the words, see below). Such a great reminder of why I am going to Gutatemala. Once that song was over we rocked it out to Chris Tomblin and after "God of this city" Sammy looked at me and said "Mommy" then he kissed me on my cheek and gave me bear hug. It was just wonderful. Our french toast got a little dark from all that but was still yummy and he ate 4 pieces of slice too! Thankfully he seemed to be getting his appetite back today. For those who don't know Sammy came down with stomach virus this week which made it all the more hard to leave him. They are so miserable when don't feel good, you know. I just wanted to be here for him. He had perked up a great deal today and seemed almost back to normal (THANK YOU JESUS!)
I think everyone knows by now from emails but Kylie's adoption is just about complete! Their case is out of PGN & RENAP and she is legally Dave & Andrea's daughter. She could be flying home with them in about 10 days maybe less!!! I am just so thrilled b/c Andrea called from Guat to tell me she asked to have Kylie's dedication on Sunday while we are there so our team can be part of it. This just means the world to me! We have prayed for them for so very long so to be there for this moment in her life, it just gave me chills when she told me. Just can't wait!
I included a pic at the top of Cristina and her boyfriend Josue, yup they are still together !!! Going on 2 years now! Andrea took this the other day and sent to me, here is one of her and Andrea too and one of Andrea and Kylie.
Mom & Richard picked up Sammy tonight, it was heart wrenching to say goodbye and I thought I was going to throw up. I of course lost it at the end and had to run inside as they were putting him in his car seat b/c I didn't want him to see me upset. He was just laughing and as excited as could be to go with "Minoma" and Grandaddy to stay at their house. Sam and I just held each other for a while after they left, again bitter sweet. Glad to go serve our Lord but oh so hard to leave our boy. We miss him terribly already and we haven't even left Gainesville, lol!
Please pray for us as we travel tomorrow and pray for all of the children and teens we will be sharing with. Pray that God will open their hearts to what we have to say and that lives will be changed forever, including our own. Please pray for those in the village we will meet, pray that they too will be open to us and that we will not have any technical probs when showing the Jesus film. Pray that many will make decisions for Christ and that those we have invited from the local church will be there to meet with and follow up with them. Lastly, pray that we will be helpful and minister in some way to the staff and missionaries there at Casa. Pray for good health and attitudes for those on the team and especially for our families we leave behind, several of us are leaving our babies. eeks!
I Don't Want to Go by Avalon
You changed my world
When You came to me
You drove a passion
In my soul down deep
Lord, to follow You in everything
I don't want to go somewhere
If I know that You're not there
'Cause I know that me without You is a lie
And I don't want to walk that road
Be a million miles from home
'Cause my heart needs to be where You are
So I don't want to go
So come whatever
I'll stick with You
I'll walk, You'll lead me
Call me crazy or a fool
For forever I promise you that...
repeat chorus
Without Your touch
Without Your love
Filling me like an ocean
For Your grace is enough
Enough for me
To never want to go somewhere
If I know that You're not there
