Remember when we sang in different languages at the same time, spread out all over the room? All lifting our voices in the chorus of the Revelation song?

Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.

Who was and is and is to come.

With all creation I sing, praise to the King of Kings,

You are my everything and I will adore You.

Remember when all the friends and family flooded the auditorium of the commissioning, packing in that place until you nearly couldn’t breathe because it was so claustrophobic?

Remember when they all cheered as we left because they couldn’t wait to see God’s hand working through us on the field and Abi was holding her ears because it was so loud?

Remember when Jessy came over to our house and just sat in the kitchen like she had nowhere to be. And we just carried on like old friends at a coffee shop, cause she just fits like a cozy blanket on a cold fall day?

Remember when Hannah and Maris were in the back room “accidentally” painting the time-out crib with a bottle of glue while we were all packing?

Remember when the Wilkins kids threw toilet paper rolls all over the living room, like streamers, and Jenna had to stand on the table risking her life to knock a roll off of the hanging light fixture?

Remember when Jenna, Brandi, Rebecca, Matt and I just sat out on the couch slap happy cause it was too late and Angela wasn’t there to tell us to be responsible and go to bed?

Remember when Eden helped wash the dishes?

Remember when the girls entertained themselves with 4 books and some creativity while we cleaned? 

(And yes, [Aunt] Jes, one of those books was Arrietty.)
That was all in the past 24 hours. Is it possible for 24 hours to hold so much?

And then there comes this morning for a last few hugs, goodbyes, cleaning, breakfast and a road trip back to Ohio.

It’s weird driving out the gate and waving to Lyle one more time, but then this peace  falls. A peace of His presence.

His sending.

His going before us and behind us.

We may be leaving without completed visas. And without a departure itinerary yet. But we leave on His promise.

It’s the same promise that brought us in through those gates a mere 9 weeks ago.

His promise is strong. But what trumps His promise in our hearts and minds?

Him.

In He alone is our delight.

Thank You, Lord, for this peace.

Thank You, Lord, for all the “remember when’s”.

– On to the new memories to be made.