Well, it had to happen eventually -- one of my kids leaving home. I had tried to prepare myself mentally for this, but the emotions that come to see your child actually go out on their own are incredibly hard to cope with. At least for me. How do you know they're ready? How do you know you've done all you can do to prepare them, and will they be ok?
Lilly's time to leave on her mission finally came. Preparing to go was a feat in and of itself - maybe that was good because I was so busy helping her, I didn't have a lot of time to mourn. Since she is going to a third world country that is 90 degrees with 90% humidity a lot of the year, there is a bug problem. So we spent a good deal of her last day at home spraying all her clothes with a toxic pesticide that dries odorless. Believe me, it was not odorless going on! I was dressed in gloves and a balaclava to protect my hands and lungs from poisoning. A few whiffs of it almost did me in.
We set up a clothesline, and loaded it, the woodshed, and the ATV's with all of the clothes she will be wearing over the next 18 months. We'll just say we were glad to be done when that was over!
Then it was time for packing, with a little break in the evening for one last time ice skating. Everyone went, but not everyone skated -- Alex and I used the excuse that we don't own any skates.
The chair makes things even more fun!
I got some pictures to document the evening - and everyone else had a super time playing freeze tag on the ice.
After an olympic effort at packing, we went to bed in the wee hours of the morning. I told Lilly customs would have a time if they actually opened her suitcases. She had bottles of all kinds of things: apple cider vinegar, olive oil, coconut oil, essential oils, and to the untrained eye, many of them probably looked like liquor bottles! Little did Lilly know we slipped a bag full of Halloween candy with a goodbye card from the family in one of her suitcases. Lilly got a total of 4 hours of sleep, but got up bright and early to take a last look at everything and say goodbye to her dogs, with last-minute instructions to Leah and Ethan who will take over their care.
And we were off to Fargo!
It was nothing short of a miracle that her suitcases came in under weight. Olivia insisted on helping Lilly with this one.
Ethan was feeling as sad as I was to see his big sis go.
We had to get in a few last pictures...
Of course Eli had to try to add in a little humor to this situation.
A few last hugs - so hard for us all.
Even as hard as this was for me, I am so proud of all she stands for and her reasons for going to serve the Lord. What an amazing example she is to me.
Everyone got a turn.
These kids really will miss this girl - she has been so amazing with them. She's the party in their lives.
I was a little late on the draw on this picture, but these two are best buddies.
As are these two.
And Alex has such a good example to follow in a short time.
One last look for the next 18 months.
And all at once that was it - she was gone. We spied on her through the security doors, and then went out to try to watch her plane take off.
There goes my beautiful, brave, determined first-born, off to work miracles in the lives of the people of Honduras. From my arms to the Lord's hands. We love you so much Lilly!
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