Merrick never wants to leave...

During the summer I turned 16, in 1988 I went on a short term mission trip with an organization called Royal Servants. I think it was an 8 week trip and it was a huge defining moment in my life. I think that is the summer that God became really real to me and my faith became my own and not my parents. I went again the summer I turned 19 (1991), this time as a discipler which is like a counsler. I had 3 girls in my tent, Noel, Cydil, and Jessica. I lost touch with Jessica and Noel a long time ago, but I knew what Cydil was up to due to yearly Christmas Cards. When I joined facebook I tried a search and I found Noel. In fact she and her family came to Disneyland for a couple of days last month and I met up with her and got to meet her family and introduce her to my kids. If you look on my facebook profile there is a picture there of us and our kids which are coincidently the same age as mine. Probably a week ago I was contacted on facebook by my discipler from my 1988 trip and since then have gotten back in touch with around 5 other people from that trip. So I have been talking to my kids about my trips and showing them pictures of those trips. I was sitting with Merrick at the computer on Friday looking at a newly found friends facebook page and explaining to him who she was and how I knew her. I made the comment that I would really love if he and Devon were able to go on a trip with Royal Servants when they were older. He got a worried look on his face and asked how long the trips were. When I told him they were about 6 weeks now, which is about a month and 1/2, his eyes welled up with tears and he said he didn't want to leave me and Paul for that long. I assured him that he didn't have to leave, but that when he got older he would probably want to. That thought is unbelievable to him. I enjoy moments like this when both he and Devon want to stay forever because I know that in not too long they are going to be teenagers and they will be dying to leave. So I guess this is kinda a double post. I wanted to write down a little laugh I got from my son and my excitement with finding old friends.

New link list

I have to send a Thank You out to Carrie. I noticed on her blog was a list of her friends blogs and it had when the blog was last updated and the title of their new post. I finally remember to ask Carrie how she did that. She told me how she did it and I came home and did it. Yeah! Now I don't have to click through my whole list, I can see who has a new blog ready to read.