While Allison and Shane took a much deserved cruise to Mexico, David and I had the privilege of keeping Seth, Kallie and Luke. We had SO much fun! Allison was not kidding when she posted on her blog that Luke would have swam to Europe if he had been allowed to! But...David found a way to keep him safe and sound down at the beach while Allison and Shane were away:

He REALLY isn't covered up to his neck in sand -- it's sort of an illusion -- BUT it did contain him and as you can see from the mischieveous grin on his face, he loved every minute of it!

On Monday, Luke headed off to Grammy and Pops Johns' house, and we (Nana, Papa, Seth, Kallie, and Tropical Storm Fay) headed off to Disneyworld. Kallie loved seeing all of the princeses, but she liked seeing "Goofy" the best. For some reason (maybe because of all of the sugar that we let her have in her parents' absence - i.e., cotton candy, sucker - it's wonderful being grandparents) Goofy tickled her tickle bone and she just giggled and giggled out of control -- I still have to smile just thinking about her little giggle!




Kallie and I did "girl" stuff all day (the princeses, Dumbo, It's a Small World, etc.), Seth and David did "boy" stuff all day (Space Mountain, Tom Sawyer's Island, etc.) and then we met up about 6:00 and rode the rides like Buzz Lightyear, the Teacups (David was a sport on that one and Seth gave him no slack in spinning it out of control -- I stayed off of that one!) and the racecars.

I could not help but thank the Lord over and over for allowing us to have such a wonderful time with the children. We are very blessed. When David and I gave Allison back to the Lord some 32 years ago, it was the desire of our hearts that she would come to know Him in a personal relationship, that she would learn to serve and honor Him, and that He would be glorified in all that she said and did her entire life -- and the same for Brian and Travis. It is hard being so far away from them, but it is so good of God to allow us these special times with them. This week, I felt His presence in an awesome and unusual way. When I heard Luke and Hannah belly-laugh when they played with David, when I saw the delight on David's face when he told me about the golf game with the boys, when I saw the excitement in Seth's eyes when he told about catching the "big" fish, and when I see in my mind's eye Allison and I running in the rain - laughing as hard as we could - from Starbucks to the hot stone manicure and pedicure, when I saw the twinkle in Kallie's eye every night when she picked out the nightgown I should wear, I saw a God who loves me and delights in allowing me to see glimpses of His glory here on earth. It is hard to explain, but it was sort of like Him drawing me unto Himself, reassuring me that He understood our missing our family, that He understood the desires of our heart, that He was still in control, and that He is a mighty, awesome and sovereign God.