Early this morning my Mother and twelve others from her church left on a mission trip to Mexico. The pendulum has swung in the other direction as I am now worrying about my parents and their welfare and safety. It is another indication of getting older and I must say I wasn't aware of age creeping up on me! She is very excited and in a selfish way I am not. I talk to my Mom at least once a day and I will not have her near for SEVEN whole days, yikes! I'm jealous I could not go with her to share in this first for her and have the memories to look back on. I admire her strength to go on her own without any of her children or her husband. Joe stayed behind and although he won't admit it, he doesn't do as well without her around. Case in point is when she stayed with me after Abram's birth. If you were around you would have noticed how he wasn't the same. Those two never spend time apart and they like it that way too!

I want to put in a special prayer request for the group's safety as they are in another country and the fourteen hour drive they will endure on a fifteen passenger van. That the week will be a learning experience and they will grow in their faith as they show the love of God to strangers. That the people they meet will be blessed and begin to understand how much God wants to know them. That I will not have a nervous breakdown while she is away. That Joe takes care of himself and that my other brothers and sisters stop by at least once a day for no other reason than to talk to him. He is not one to reach out in his own time of need. Finally that my Mom comes back home safe and sound!

Thanks.