Whew!

Well, yesterday was all we expected it to be--full of all the range of emotions! Overall, we felt very, very loved. Glenwood is a special place. The party last night was just wonderful. We walked in (just a tad late, so that no one would feel bad for arriving after us:) to a sea of Hawaiian shirts and colorful decor. It was the loudest room I've ever seen, visually I mean! I had someone else take pictures for me, and I'm already regretting not getting one of our whole family together with various people. I was so overwhelmed I wasn't thinking very clearly.

The teens made us cry with their sweet words, the worship team wrote a few songs as a tribute to Ben, they interviewed children on video, they gave us gifts--a money tree in a beautiful hand-painted ceramic pot with the scripture, "How great the love the Father has lavished on us--that we should be called children of God" and huge personalized plastic buckets for each of the kids, filled with toys and treasures especially for each. As I write, Alex and Katy are wearing their monogrammed "towel wraps". I can't help but laugh as I remember the first time I saw a towel wrap. I think it was a Tod's high school graduation gift. Do you remember, family? I remember us trying to figure out what it was--"a hat? a terradactyl?"

One of the most special parts of the night was probably the elders, each taking a turn to speak words of love and affirmation to us. It was beautiful, and very tearful for everyone. One who has never cried in public couldn't even finish what he had to say. (Again, our videographer didn't get this. We didn't know what to tell her to videotape!)

This morning I have a cry-hangover, but my heart feels very full. We have given this church all we had to give, and God has made it good. We are ready to set our hearts and minds in a new direction, confident that Glenwood loves us and will always be our "home" in many ways, and confident that God is going with us into this next adventure!

He is requiring us to walk by faith. Still no offers on the house, still no word from the missions committee that gives us the freedom to start fundraising. So, we wait on the Lord. We have had some very good and helpful conversations in the last week, and we feel like we are being as open and honest as we can be. God is moving, and I still believe this story is going to be great when it's all over!

Meanwhile, we are delighted to hear about your adventures, Mitch. I can't wait to hear about the fishing trip! By the way, your Portuguese may be better than mine by the time you get home!