Well, Riley and Tara and the kids are officially on foreign soil (as of this morning). We all went to St. Louis on Sunday (Sept 21) after Sunday School to spend one last evening together and then to see them off at the airport on Monday morning (Sept 22). We ate their last American meal at Bandannas (a totally AWESOME BBQ joint) — that’s not counting the continental breakfast the next morning. Riley and I decided that we could share food by mailing it to one another, I asked that we stick to cheeses only because the mold could be scrapped off of them and the food still eaten. It was an emotional day, what really got me was when Kirsten was crying really hard while saying bye to everyone — the parents know what’s happening and have made the decision to go, the kids have to go along for the ride. Simeon asked why Ireland was so far away, and that he didn’t want to go that far…then he wanted to go home. As I stated it was an emotional weekend!
But what’s so awesome is that they are on an adventure that is unparalleled to anything they have done so far. I’m excited about the reports we will hear from Ireland about the awesome things that God will do. We had a promise that God was going to heal Riley of MS because he has stepped out in faith and followed God’s will for their lives…God is awesome.
Six months…I’m making plans now to go in March. I’m counting down the days until I leave to get to see them all again. Riley was my sanity basically. He keeps me grounded and in check. He’s my big brother. Always been there, even when we were both in college and not living in the same city…he was ‘close’. Then I lived with them for about six months and worked with him for seven years (car pooling and all). Now to think of him 1/2 way around the world, on totally different soil, it’s crazy. So I just don’t think. :)
Until later…ERM