23 Days til we leave... and SO much to share!

So today marks 23 days (actually 22 since I am posting this after midnight!) until we leave for Haiti...

The last 5 days have been filled with so much excitement... I can't wait to share it all with you!  I have to say that I am extremely tired this evening but I SO wanted to catch you all up to speed, so I figured I'd keep the words short and sweet... and throw in LOTS of pictures to make up the difference :)

Last week we finished up Cross Training with a very special commissioning service and said our goodbyes to some wonderful new friends... some of which are already on the mission field as I write!

And they also held a service for all of the MKs too!  It is a tradition for the kids to put their handprints on the wall in the MK center...

and Ethan was sure to put his on, in style!

The MKs (minus Haylie... who was at camp!)... and the interns who poured into them!!!

Shortly after the commissioning service we got on the road to start the 12 hour drive home! We were SO excited that we were able to make a stop in Columbus, Ohio to catch up with Matt and Stacey and Lily and Sophie before they head back to Haiti!

And there's no better place to hang out...

... than the McDonald's Playland!

We had a wonderful visit with the Ayars family, and then headed on our way to NJ.  We arrived just before 4am on Saturday morning!  After about 5 hours of sleep we were up and ready to get started packing more stuff up and getting things ready for the Rinnier family to move in!

By Saturday evening, we were in full swing... both families doing the exact opposite things!

As we consolidated and boxed up our things to leave...

They were moving stuff in and getting unpacked to stay!

And then... Sunday morning was SO special!  We had our first of 3 commissioning services here in New Jersey... and  I can't even begin to put into words how wonderful it was to be blessed by our West Park Church family!

 The service was full of special music (and Kelsey Pastirko sang- as per my request!!!) It was beautiful!

My extended family came for a big family picnic on Sunday, and also surprised us by coming to the service (my mom put that together without me knowing it!)...  they came from Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee, Kentucky and from all over NJ!  It was such a huge blessing to have them all here to join us in our special day!

Right after the picnic, we packed up our stuff and headed off to Delanco Camp- for Teen Camp!
We are the missionaries for the week and are leading the morning chapel services!

 We came back home this afternoon to pick up Ethan (he has been sick for the last few days... please pray for both the kids as they are not feeling up to par... I think all of the running has worn them out a bit!)...  we also did some more packing this afternoon and then had dinner with our dear friends for over 10 years- Jason and Katie Wilson!  (At a favorite spot of ours- Sgt. Smokey's!) We love getting together with them and reminiscing about old times and sharing the exciting things going on in our lives!

After a great dinner with the Wilson's, we headed back "home" and spent the rest of the evening with the Burnley, Torpey, and Rinnier families back at the Burnley house (next door!).  I wish I had taken pictures... a house filled with laughter and stories and crazy kids... as always!!!  We sure are going to miss those special nights!


Tomorrow, we are going out to Camp Edge for a day at their Hands and Feet Missions week!  We are SUPER pumped about it!  We have lots of fun stuff planned for the campers all about missions- from teaching them a song in Creole, to eating Haitian food, and so much more...  can't wait to share all about it soon!


As I sit here in bed and type I am overwhelmed with feelings of joy and the realization of just how blessed we truly are...

Blessed that we have the privilege of being sent off by OMS and church friends and loved ones...

Blessed that we can share at camps about God's love and His call upon our lives...

and blessed that we have such amazing friends that support us and love us in so many ways!

God is so good!  We are reminded EACH day of His faithfulness and blessings as we prepare to go...

2 Haiti 4 Him!