J: “What’s on your bucket list, Eden?” The question arises from the front seat on our team commute.

E: Staring and inaudible mumbling.

J: “Oh yeah? How about your bucket list, Hannah?” Jay moves on to the four year old.

H: “I don’t have any buckets.”

Hannah used to ask Elise “Where is your person?” when referring to Jay. Then somewhere in the mix Jay actually got a name. I love how Elise just played along and was sad once Jay actually had a name. Hehe.

Eden adores Jay and Elise. She always runs to hug their legs. And because Jay and Elise are so amazing, they also run to tickle and scoop up Eden.

Jay and Elise just fit in our family. They’re the fun Aunt and Uncle. They happily engage the kids in everyday deep pondering questions. Just because we all love to hear their answers. And I love that they come celebrate Disney movies and just enjoy spending time together. They’re just invested in all of us, encouraging us to enjoy life and laugh together.

And while you just never know what the next playful fun may be, it just makes you smile knowing that when Jay and Elise are around you’re bound to have a great time.

Elise has such a wonderful fire for Jesus that is so inspiring. And Jay is her perfect match of sarcasm and fun. They both just bring life and fun along with them, making even the most tedious of tasks enjoyable.

And of course, they have such big hearts.

Jay and Elise, we are better because of you. We love you both so.

Thank you, Jesus, for Jay and Elise.

From day 1 they have just fit. I remember walking around the quad, nervously reading the names far before anyone else had gotten in. And through deductive reasoning of space occupation we discovered that the Wilkins had some kids. When I met them all nerves immediately dissolved.

Our Wilkins fit right into our family right off the bat. The way Rebecca takes motherhood with grace and honesty, yes I immediately found in her a kindred spirit. Oh the kiddos may be exhausting, but she just delights in them so. And her heart for Jesus is just beautiful. I have become a better follower of Jesus through Rebecca’s steadfast example.

Chris’ jokes and playfulness radiate in his kids’ smiles. And I have just loved waking into a room to find Matt and Chris deep in conversation, marveling over Jesus.

And let me tell you what has been just plain beautiful to watch?

These precious friendships.

From singing “We are BFFs!” on the streets of New York City

to skipping two-by-two to breakfasts, lunches and dinners together. These little friends have just delighted in each other. You’d think they’d get sick of each other after spending all day in classes together, but oh how they can’t wait to run out and see our Wilkins in the living room each morning. It’s so beautifully precious how they love each other and care for each other. Everyone is included. Everyone is a playmate.

We have made some wonderful memories with our Wilkins. Wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. And we’re sure hopeful to make memories on the other side of the ocean too since our dear Wilkins are only a country away. =)

I can’t possible put into words how thankful I am for this dear family. And our goodbye hugs will be really, really hard.

But I am so incredibly thankful that we are sending them off into all that God has prepared for them.

There are no words for the imprints they have made on our hearts.

Thank you, Jesus, for our Wilkins.

Her heart.

Her peace.

Her gentleness.

Her smile.

Her offered hand.

How she stoops down to their world.

How she tickles.

How she catches crushed ice cubes in her mouth on the walk home.

How she prays so deeply.

How she radiates His Light.

How deeply she gives of herself for the edification of others.

How naturally and quickly she became Auntie.

How we are going to miss

Our Angela.

A week from today we will be commissioned by our sending agent. It will be the last step of orientation before we all spread out all over the world to share the Gospel.

Next week will be a week of goodbyes, celebrating our time here. There will be an open house at Rachael and Abi’s school, allowing them a chance to rejoice in all their hard work and share the fruit of some of the greatest social studies lessons they have ever received. How their worldview has expanded. How their hearts have grown. It’s quite beautiful to witness.

Then there’s goodbyes to the teachers who have become family. There’s goodbyes to the affinity mates who are family. I can tell you right now that there will be a lot of tears. Happy tears and “I miss you already tears”. Hugs we hope to carry for years.

…and then we will just drive away.

I can’t predict how that will feel. We are such different people than the family who first drove in through the gate. Different and yet the same.

I don’t think I can be prepared for all the emotions that are just beginning to hit about saying goodbye. We are walking into that new season of goodbyes. See, coming here it was a season of “see you in a few months” and now it is a season of “see you in years”. But it is also a bittersweet reality that our family is about to walk into a really intense and hard setting, and we cannot take our dearest confidants with us.

I am so thankful we don’t walk alone, for the Greatest Confidant holds our hand through all these goodbyes. He holds our hands and our hearts. As He reveals this plan He has laid before us. Open us, Jesus. Open us to Your plans.

And then we will get on a plane and fly 17 hours across the incredibly big ocean, stepping off the plane into the great unknown…

But I can tell you one thing: in the midst of all the goodbyes that hurt so deeply there will be one hello. And then another hello. Followed by a team of hellos as we step into the Moz family. No, they won’t replace anyone here on this side of the ocean, our hearts will still ache for our friends and family. We’re told we’ll get used to the ache until it becomes our new normal and we will cherish the times we share with our friends and family all the more.

But I am thankful to know that after this season of goodbyes there will be a season of hellos.

This is the Body of Christ.

In all her beauty.

The sheer freedom.

The utter delight.

We all have felt it.

The weekend!

Here’s a look at a few weekends full of fun while we’ve been here at orientation.

One weekend Goga and Gopa visited.

We enjoyed a yummy meal out together and an afternoon of hanging out and showing them around campus. They even got the girls little stuffed animals to hug ona nd leave for the next kiddos coming through orientation. Such heart. So sweet.

WAHOO!!!

We always love getting to spend time with them.

Another Saturday Grandma and Grandpa came in our direction on their way to vacation.

We enjoyed their hotel pool, lunch together, showed them around campus, and enjoyed a game of Ticket to Ride while the littles slept.

(She looks like she’s getting away with something)

I’m so thankful for family love and support. But the best part is ALWAYS getting to exchange hugs.

We love you both. Thanks for making our weekends so amazing.

She had been trying so hard. She was bound and determined. They may be big and fast, but she is so confident that she is huge. 

Always the last one. Little legs can easily fail you. But she just kept trying. Determination convinced her of Olympic gold. 

That’s when she turned around and saw her. Everyone was going to make it. Gold, silver and bronze. But what is earned for fourth place? 

In the blink of an eye she did a 180. The finish line within fingertips. That’s when she discovered the real race. And that’s when she gave up the gold to go encourage her little sister’s pursuit of bronze. 

She didn’t have to. Long legs and experience almost always win. 

But her beautifully compassionate heart stooped low to go back for the smallest. 

I only caught it in a flash. She wasn’t doing it for anyone but just her sister. Her precious cheers of encouragement. And as they approached the finish line, Rachael hit the brakes and let Eden win her accomplishment. 

There was no prize for fourth place.

… No prize except for a full heart.

– Oh the lessons He teaches me through her big heart.

– Treasuring it all in my heart.