LIFTOFF!

That word holds so much excitement for us! After knowing we were moving for 15 months and waiting for the big move, we finally left DFW airport and headed east to D.C., had a brief stopover in Senegal and then landed in Johannesburg. Y'all know I wasn't overly thrilled about the nearly 24 hours of travel with three kids. I am happy to report God graciously answered your prayers! I KNOW people prayed us off because there is no way the trip could've been any better. Three kiddos, three airports, ten checked bags, five carry-ons, five personal bags and over 24 hours later...we made it to Camp Eden, our home for at least the next two years, God willing.

The trip really couldn't have gone more smoothly and I am so grateful for God's provision in that. All our luggage made it, the weather was perfect, there were no delays, the Cronins were soooo very awesome for making time to drive us to the airport just three days before their own nearly 30 hours of travel to East London (South Africa), there were no meltdowns on the plane and, BEST of all, none of the kids pooped the entire trip.

Let us all pause and give thanks for that.

...

Amen. 

Seriously. They are all very “regular” and, yet, not one of them made the long walk of Mommy's dread to the lavatory. The odds of all three of them...holding it in...if you don't believe miracles happen anymore... There aren't many instances where I'd be celebrating the kids holding it in but that right there is one of those justifiable moments.

And, believe me, with the stomach bug that hit over half the camp the very next week, I made up for all that irregularity.

Times 27.

And that is that about “regularity.” Onward, Christian soldiers.

Leaving you with some pics of travel day. See all the happy faces? Even despite the irregularity, I might add. Thank you, Lord Jesus.

Preparing to leave DFW.  And preparing to fall asleep on the way to D.C. if not in the middle of an Egg McMuffin bite.

This is Anniston, sitting on top of two carry-ons, in front of another carry-on, on top of a stroller as I hauled her across Dulles.  This is also me testing my theory that, if you wear all your clothing, you can pack more in your carry-on.  Thus, the brown t-shirt over mango long-sleeve shirt with a gray vest and green scarf look.  Hello, Michelin tire twin.  Apologies, America.

The secret to pleasant travel with kids?  Personal video monitors.  Anniston even tuned in to the Chipmunks.

Still smiling after crossing the Atlantic.

The boys check out South Africa for the first time.

First family pic in South Africa!

Proof that, while we may have lost our minds, we didn't lose any of our luggage. 

Where My Mary Poppins At?

We got our visas!!!!

What I meant to say was,

"WE GOT OUR VISAAAAAAAAAAS!!!!"

They only took three times longer to get here than we expected but they are HERE.

Now that we have those, it's pack mania over here. Packing a family of five into ten checked bags and five carry on bags is proving to be quite a task. Summer and winter clothes are going, as are a handful of toys per child, books, board games, my favorite garlic dicing gizmo...these...

I feel like Melatonin ought to come with a little halo above it.

Then there are items to help with my germaphobia.

I know, I know. I realize I'm going to live on a FARM with CATTLE right outside my window so I need to ease up on the germaphobia. But, between here and there, there are these things called airplane lavatories. Also known as The Birthplace of Germs.

Which is why this sight of this in the Walmart aisle almost made me clap my hands and cry tears of joy.

It is seriously so special to me, it deserves its own portrait sitting.

And a halo.

Now, if I can just find lysol in a TSA regulation size 3.4 oz aerosol can so I can prep the seat for the seat covers, I'll really feel complete.

As far as packing goes, I find myself wishing for one of those Mary Poppins carpetbags. Or ten. And the snapping thing to clean house would also be nice. But since I don't have the spiritual gift of snapping things into place, I'll just be stuffing things into every nook and cranny of our suitcases and praying for less than the 50 lb. mark.

Considering, in the last week, two friends in SA have thought it wise to mention some things in their Facebook statuses (THAT I READ), namely, two snakes and the abundance of bugs in Africa, I can tell you some toys that will NOT be making the trip with us...

Those spiders have nearly done me in a few times as Tyler left them out after playing. They are just a little too real looking. As for the black snake, there may or may not have been a time Brian and I stared into a tree for a full five minutes, trying to figure out if it was a real snake. Once Brian worked up the nerve to flick it onto the ground, I still wasn't convinced until I read "Made in China" on its belly.

Thank you, China, for the near heart failure.

So, there's the update. We'll let you know when we fly! For now, it's time to get back to packing and channeling my inner Mary Poppins as I repeatedly chant,

“In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun and ‘snap’, the job’s a game.”

The Eve of Nothing, It Turns Out

Great day today. Sold our minivan to a very sweet family. Got to spend the afternoon with Brian's parents at the Grapevine Mall Aquarium and then his middle brother and family joined us for dinner. Was so precious to see the five cousins playing together. They wrestled and giggled so much in Nana and Paco's hotel bed. We were lucky to not get in trouble with the rowdiness!

Now I'm listening to my mom read to the kids. Bittersweet day and night. I'm so thankful for so much...which makes tomorrow's goodbyes so hard to think about. Brian's parents head back home in the morning and my mom decided to go with my dad on a work related trip and they scheduled their departure for the same day we were supposed to leave. So, it turns out, we're just sending off our loved ones on the day they were planning to send us off. It may be easier this way.

If all had gone as we planned, we'd be on a plane in less than 12 hours. If visas truly were issued within five business days as the South Africa Home Affairs website would like you to believe, we'd be on a plane in less than 12 hours. Instead, the SA embassy has given me a nice little cold sore and high blood pressure this week. After trying to get through to them for three days last week (phone lines were not working), I finally got someone to give me a working email address and we found out last Friday that I made a mistake in my interpretation of the website from Hades. So, we over nighted the missing info and it got there early Monday morning. But, as of late Tuesday, it was still sitting, unsorted in the mail room of the embassy. The fax I sent Monday afternoon also did not go through...even though I had a confirmation it did. The emails and phone messages I left went unreturned. I was told Tuesday morning that our five visas were being worked on so I got all hopeful and such. And then those hopes were dashed at 1:00 when we were told they did not have the fax or the over night mail in hand. By late afternoon, the embassy dude told me it was impossible to get these to us in time for our Thursday flight. It seems the accounting office goes home at noon. So...

Here we are, on the eve of what we thought would be our flight to SA. Things have turned out differently than we planned but I have so much peace now. We will get there in God's timing. This is no surprise to Him.

4 a.m.

Sometimes...

I am this ball of nerves.

And I catch myself desperately gripping my pillow with cold, stiff fingers, breaths coming in short pants.

And I pray to remember that God will help me with each minute, each breath...that I can do this.

Because He will go with us.

When I was young and the military moved us across state lines and oceans, into new cultures and countries, I always felt safe because I trusted my parents to take care of me.

Now I am the parent.

And, Lord, I pray my kids feel that same security. Please give me the courage and wisdom to protect them and make them feel safe.

Sometimes...

The soon to be single digit countdown overwhelms me.

Is this really happening? Can we get everything done in time? Is life as we know it really about to end?

This ability to jump in the car and drive a short distance to grab lunch with my mom? Going to a doctor for simple things where I can go anytime? Dropping kids off in the carpool lane? Not falling asleep thinking of how to teach the kids to evade black mambas?

Oh, Lord, when I have these moments when my airway constricts and tears flow, give me courage.

Give me vision to see past the hard part of saying goodbye to people and places we love and are comforted by.

Give me faith to see that there will be times when this can and only will be doable minute to minute and even breath to breath.

Sometimes,

I need to remember that child inside me is not too far gone. I still long for comfort, to know I have a parent in control who is taking care of me, taking care of the details.

Lord, in those moments, let me remember that

When I am weak, You are strong,

That You will go with us,

All times.

Amen.

The Update That Finally Was

Many months ago, before we realized we owned The House That Wouldn't Close, we never dreamed we'd still be here about to celebrate Christmas. We thought we'd surely have experienced our first October spring in South Africa, which is not that different from October autumn in Texas. Both have weather that can't make up its mind. (Seriously, this was The Summer That Wouldn't Quit Us, was it not?) We were itching to get going, believing we'd deploy in September, then October, surely November...okay, January, it is.

Alas, The House That Wouldn't Close.

God's timing is not always our own (I've heard that once or twice) and, it turns out, this period of time is exactly what we needed. The extra time has allowed us to serve here, whether through outreach programs at church, prison ministry or in the boys' school. In addition, it's given us a chance to catch our breath. We did not realize until after all the hustle and bustle of getting the house ready, having it on the market and then waiting for it to close, how much we needed this time of rest and rejuvenation before we head out. So, though we couldn't have guessed it six months ago and we couldn't understand it one month ago, God's timing has been good and right and just what we needed.

As always.

And then The House That Wouldn't Close finally did the day before Thanksgiving.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

HA-LE-LU-JAH.

AMEN.

I should probably mention here that we have plane tickets purchased and we leave January 12^th. (YIPPEEEEE!!!) While we are thrilled out of our socks to have reached this point, we may very well come out on the other end of that plane ride with a lot of newly developed perseverance if James 1:2-4 holds true. In fact, y'all can go right ahead and pray over that nearly 24 hours of travel, pretty please. Ick. Did I mention the kids are traveling with us? Melatonin, anyone? Dramamine? Benadryl?

OhdearLordhavemercyonoursoulsandallthesoulsseatedaroundusandgoaheadandblessthecabin crew,too,andpleasedon'tletthekidshavetogotothebathroomonthatflightatallbecausebathroomsand turbulenceandmygermaphobiadon'tgowelltogetheratall,ever.

Amen.

And, so, as we come off a season of thanksgiving a few weeks ago, we are counting our blessings. We are thankful for all those who have listened, prayed with and encouraged us through this entire 13 month process. We are grateful for the life and health of loved ones. We are so blessed by the family who is letting us live in this apartment rent-free so the kids could finish the semester.

We could never repay all those who helped us get to this point, including all of those who gave their time, talents and energy to prep our house for the market all the way to those who finished scrubbing shower doors and mopping floors a half hour before we handed the keys over to the new owner. It is ridiculous (in a positive way) the way our friends and church stepped up. Everything from repairing fences and installing floors, to yardwork, to repairing our A/C, to doing our laundry to providing meals to painting to steaming carpets...it is UNBELIEVABLE and so very humbling.

We are also thankful for God's provision through other believers who are able to partner with us financially. I'm not sure I've ever worshipped God in a grocery store before, but, it struck me a few weeks ago, as I stood in the cereal aisle and looked down at my cart, that I couldn't even feed my family if it weren't for the support of friends. The way to a mama's heart is her kids' stomach and I can't tell you what a powerful moment that was to stand there and see such tangible blessings because God works through His body of believers to provide for us. It made me tear up there in that aisle and it makes me tear up sharing this with you. Seriously, thank you for the gift of helping us feed our family.

In short, you guys are really, really good at making people feel loved. And really, really good at being the Church God intended. Really, there is no way to thank all of you who have given and given and given as you could to get us to this point. Body of Christ in action. We are so blessed and so touched and so grateful. And so ready to get to work so, with God's blessing, you can see what your giving produces!

We end this note with hearts so full and wishing you and your family the warmest and merriest Christmas. There is so much to be thankful for. Most of all, believing that

The Son Shines,

Brian, Jen, Noah, Tyler and Anniston Joy

P.S. Please keep your prayers going! Please pray for health for all family members so we can enjoy Christmas with all our loved ones. Please pray for travel safety as we are on the road a lot the next few weeks. Please pray for the kids as they transition to their new home. They have ROCKED it so far! Please pray for our families as we say goodbye. This isn't easy on any of us and, though it's never supposed to be easy to move overseas, please pray for precious time. Please pray for political stability in SA. Please pray for us to wrap up final details (like visas) without a hitch. And, if I didn't make it clear enough earlier, y'all can go right ahead and pray over that nearly 24 hours of travel, pretty please!!

P.P.S. FBC's missionary page is under construction. If you would like to join the adventure with us with either a year end gift or through monthly partnership, you can go to:

www.fbcmckinney.com

Under “Connect”, click on “Missional Life”

Under “Missionaries”, click on “Support missional life”

Enter your username/password or create one if you haven't before

Select TYW08 (our account) from the drop down menu.

Thank you SO much for partnering with us in this way as well!

P.P.P.S. Boy, I should've just kept going with the letter! Last post-script, I promise. :) I am thankful for the reminder last week as I looked at pictures and heard updates on kids in South Africa that two dear friends just spent time with. It was such a great reminder of who we're going to serve over there. There are a bunch of kids we love from afar and can't wait to love in person! Praying you'll get to come meet and fall in love with them as well! You'll be forever changed!

School Socks

Last year, we began the tradition of "School Socks" to celebrate the first day of school. And, yes, I did stick with calling them that since, well, it is school and they are socks. And, the alliteration.

Alliteration always adds an amusing aspect.

Anyway, here is how they went down this year.

I love surprises! The boys closed their eyes with great anticipation.


While the boys' eyes were closed, Anniston saw an opportunity and the kleptomania in her came out.

She tried to make a run for it but was stopped at the door. She wishes she hadn't been so obvious carting the stolen goods away. And that diapers had pockets.


The hands-down favorite item was candy with a laster pointer that made shapes. Tyler's was a dancing lizard and Noah's was a fighter jet. $1, people. $1 for hours of fun AND a lollipop.


And Annie Girl even got to eat some Goldfish after all!


Getting Goldfish gives a girl a great reason to go good.

Changes...They Are A'Comin'!

So maybe you noticed the blog has been out of sorts...since April 1st. I've had lots to share but have kept quiet because, well, SOUTH AFRICA. Which means getting the house on the market (tiling, laying new sod and new carpet, painting, purging, packing, blah...), raising support, spending time with family (a trip to Kanakuk Kamps, my brother came here for a week and we spent a week with Brian's family in Red River), visas, passports and a whole lot of whatnot. I kept thinking things would slow down and I would have time to blog after the garage sale...or when school ended...or once we cleaned the garage...or once we got the house on the market...

You get my drift.

All that to say, I've made myself stay off here because I can get lost in writing and this summer was really not the time to get lost in anything but the website of South Africa's Home Affairs, trying to figure out visa bureaucracy.

Aside from the triple digit heat that won't quit us, nothing has made me feel more like I was in hell than that website.

I jest, of course.

Sort of.

But as we are spreading the word about our move, this blog address gets published and then people come and they see that the latest and greatest news in our life is imaginary bats.

So I thought I'd drop a little post on here to explain some things.

First, I went batty on April 1st but I didn't go dead.

Second, my sweet friend, Kim, won a blog makeover. And then she generously turned that makeover to me. So, before you know it, this blog is going to get herself a new look.

The good news (for me, at least) is that I expect to get back to writing once the house sells...or once we get rid of everything except what will fit in 10 suitcases...or when school starts again...

You get my drift.

Stay tuned!!!