Counting Down

We are down to 17 days before we return to the USA for the summer!  We are all SUPER-DUPER excited!  The kids are constantly talking about their upcoming summer....vacationing, crafting, swimming, camping, playing with cousins, getting spoiled by grandparents, even discussing in great detail their lemonade and craft stand they want to put up.  Memories that were created two years ago on their last visit are surfacing as they recount their visits with churches, Sunday school classes, names of families we ate with (and even remembering their pets' names too), and just really random memories--all in shockingly great detail!

They are trying so hard to work out the geography of the US, but keep getting tripped up on the distinction between the Americas - the USA - states etc.  Yesterday Luca wanted to draw the "Canada flag".  When I showed him the American flag he agreed to that one.  When he was done he was walking around the house, waving his flag while humming the Italian national anthem.  Clearly he is a third culture child with MK stamped all over him!

Their carry-ons are not packed yet but they wrote out their check lists 5 months ago, so they should be all set when I give them the green light to pack.  Thankfully, they will be busy with school up until the day before we leave.  Each time we travel it gets easier for them (and us), so hopefully this Mamma won't be carrying everyone's backpacks through the airport this time around.       

The list is long in things we have to do.  The nights are starting to become more restless as there is this constant check-list running through my thoughts even as I sleep.  

• Pack luggage
• Inventory kid clothes so I have a specific list of their needs for the next 2 years
• Eat strategically through our food supply
• Line up someone to collect our mail and care for our yard
• Create instruction sheet for the "Mac-sitter"
• Order prayer cards
• End of the year parties and recital
• Host one more home group meeting
• Create children's activity sheet for our final service on Sunday
• Transition one colleague out of the country and another to our team in Caselle
• Deep clean the house and put all decorations away so I can...
• ...Drape the furniture in plastic

...and that is just a small glimpse of things on MY list, not Jonathan's.  We are doing our best by God's grace to just take one day.  I have my pen and paper handy as I keep my running check list which helps keep my sanity.  You can imagine the feeling of relief when we get to the airport having gotten past the preparing-for-3-months-away phase.  Prayers are appreciated!