Going to Carolina in My Mind....

We return from North Carolina, both comforted and saddened, after visiting the Harrisons: Comforted that they are persevering in doing good. Saddened that the persevering is taking place THERE, rather than here.
Thanks to my mother-in-law's generosity, we had rented a car so they would not have to drag all seven children and pick us up at the airport, like they did last time. Despite inquiries from Marie, I had not even divulged flight information. As Leah and I got off the plane, I remembered that my husband had told me of an hour wait at the baggage claim for his luggage. So when my eye caught a second-hand bookstore -- in an airport (!?) -- I thought, "Why not kill time in here, instead of waiting around a luggage carousel?"
Of course, you know what happened. Leah and I lost ourselves in the bookstore. When we finally emerged and meandered down to the carousel, I heard my name being paged just about at the same moment that I saw all eight smiling faces rushing over to smother us with hugs. Marie had called my husband for the flight information.
I felt like two cents about them waiting, knowing the effort and espionage that had gone into getting them there. Fortunately for me, there was immediate sympathy when I explained about the second-hand bookstore: How wonderful to be understood by a kindred spirit. Just one of the reasons that I love her.
Seven more reasons were following her. What is it about these particular kids that so overwhelms me with affection?
Here are just some of the delightful encounters during our visit:
*On first seeing the 8-year-old twins, they ask us, "Can you tell us apart?" then flatten their upper lips so we can't see the little red dot that would let us know which one is Michelle.
*After losing her crochet hook somewhere in the family couch, 4-year-old Joy stands up, holds out her hands and bellows: "Everyone, stand up and take off the cushions!" I say, "Joy, you will make a good mommy someday." One of the twins says, "Yeah, or a lieutenant in the army."
*I read the twins a passage from the Bible at bedtime. When I got done, they both sit up in bed and clap for God's Word.
*While we're swimming, the older boys wrestle and dunk each other, looking just like the boys on the cover of "Future Men"
*During a rousing round of Scattergories, Robin and Leah actually have to stop the game two times and call Leah's Dad to settle a dispute over word challenges.
*Talking with Michelle and Olivia, it suddenly dawns on one of them that Mr. Rabe and John have the same names. "Mrs. Rabe, did you name your baby John first, and then marry Mr. Rabe because he had the same name? Or was it the other way around?"
*One of the twins: "Sometimes I just get this happy feeling inside of me like nothing else. I think that's because Jesus is in my heart."
I praise you, Lord, for these children who are being trained in righteousness, whose parents know well their mandate to make disciples -- starting right here.