i just had one of the best weekends of my life so far. we went on our first "real" choir tour with our girls' choir. we went last year, too, but we didn't take a bus and we only went one night. this time we were gone three nights and we did take a bus. so many memories.....intimate little chats with many of the girls....teaching Mary how to play mancala....reading books with Melanie and Amanda.....trying to answer some of Nicky's tough questions about life.....comparing notes with Becky about what we look for in a guy (looks was definitely at the top of her list)....taking in the Creation Museum with Samantha and Carol.....singing and singing and singing.....settling fights and comforting crying girls.....giving backrubs.....snuggling.....listening to lullabies on the bus......meeting more of the family of Christ and watching my girls experience the closeness in the body of Christ.....

i feel so unworthy. so in awe. sometimes as we traveled and i soaked in the wonder of it all i couldn't really believe that what was an outlandish, vague dream only a couple short years ago is now a reality. it's one of those things that "just happened." i'm learning that's how it works when God's at the helm. you move ahead with small steps and a willing heart, and next thing you know God's taken you places you never dreamed possible.

one thing i really thought about this tour was how impossible it was for me to be prayed up while i was in the battle. i was so desperately dependent on God and on our prayer warriors. and i was so blessed when we arrived home at 11:00 sunday night and my 85-year-old grandmother had waited up because she wanted to hear about tour. her prayers...and so many other's people's prayers...win the battle.

warm circles all around this girl's heart!!

dani