"My Shell!"

Michelle left today for West Africa! She will be there for close to two years and we are really going to miss her. She has been in Virginia for training for the past two months, but was able to come home to Ft. Worth for two weeks before she flew out today. Earlier this week we met her in College Station and spent the night there with her, just hanging out, hearing more about what she will be doing, laughing, eating, and playing with Kendall. We had a great time and were so thankful she took two days out of her busy two weeks to spend time with us.
We rented a little house in College Station for the night that the Pickerings had rented for us before when we went there for Michael and Noelle's wedding. We needed somewhere we could stay that we could put Kendall down for her nap and for bed at night and still be able to stay up and talk. This little house was just perfect. It was out in the country, and it even had chickens! Kendall was asking on the way there if we were going to "Shell's" house, so we told her that, yes, we were, and that Shell had chickens. She was very impressed.

There was even a little pond on the property. In this picture, Michelle and I are sitting on a bench and Randy and Kendall were throwing rocks in the water, trying to splash us.

The little house...The Star of the Woods. We loved it!

Even though we haven't lived in the same town for two years now, we've still been able to talk on the phone and see each other a bunch. I'm not sure I've realized yet exactly how long the two years is that she will be gone! We are so proud of her though and can't wait to hear all the ways God uses her in West Africa. She's so hardcore!! :) You can keep up with her adventures on her blog - it's linked to our's.

Kendall did so great both days, and slept all night. She is such a sweet girl. We played a bunch, ate a bunch, and had lots of time to visit. We're thankful for a good, easy girl that lets us do all that with no problems!!

Shell, we love you so much and hope your travel is going well. Thanks for spending Monday and Tuesday with us - it was so special to us!! Have fun meeting your team and the people God has sent you to. They are so blessed to have you!!