Leaving on a jet plane!

3:30 a.m. came early--very early. We left Minden at 4 to get to the airport in Shreveport. We held our breath when our bags were put on the scale. Everything was under 50 pounds! Jonathan is getting good at figuring out how much our bags weigh before we get to the airport. A short flight later in a small plane, and we were enjoying Starbucks at our layover in Dallas. A couple of hours later, we're sill enjoying our layover and I'm contemplating another latte...

My (Bethany's) parents took us to the airport this morning. Moving home has definitely made it harder to say good bye. It's the longest I've been home since I was 18. We were originally disappointed that we couldn't leave in July for training--we were ready to get on the field. But, as always, God knew what he was doing. We enjoyed our time to relax and be babied by my parents. We enjoyed this time at home with family and a sweet dog. Yep, for those of you who know her, Bailey is still kicking!

I'm clinging to this Scriptures this morning:
In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death or life, angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. --Romans 8:37-39

No matter where we go or what we do or if we fail or succeed, we will always be in God's loving arms. Nothing can separate us from His love, being in a new culture and country, our shortcomings, nothing. As we begin the new journey today and turn the page to a new chapter in our lives, this is the promise we cling to. The promise we all have.

God is love, and He loves us. Nothing else really matters. This is the message we hope to share.

At the Shreveport airport at 5 a.m.