Today we are attempting to adjust to our new “norm” for the summer without having Shelbie here. It was a “blah” kind of day for us. We went to story time at the library like we do every Tuesday, Shyloh and Bodey joined us. Afterwards we came home and pretty much spent the afternoon sitting at the dining table drinking sweet tea and chatting.
I feel so very blessed to have been able to have spent the weekend with Shelbie. We had lots of time to just sit together and talk. I loved having her on the other side of the bed from me. I slept with one arm stretched across the pillow with my hand on her head both nights she was with me. The last night I was there without her was very tough. The room felt so empty even though I had Shiro snuggled with me.
Papa, Nana, and I dropped Shelbie off at the directors house Sunday evening. It was great to meet the director and one of the other interns, Courtney. Courtney will be heading up the stateside part of the interns this year. She told us great stories of her time in Zambia last year.
We’ve been able to skype with Shelbie daily. Tonight we said good bye and we are not sure when we will get to see her beautiful face once she arrives in Zambia. The interns are supposed to get to go to an “internet cafe” once a week to be able to email and skype their families. Those will become our golden days!
With all the busyness of preparing and packing for this trip done the emotional side of this has finally hit…hard. Leaving Texas without Shelbie was the hardest thing this mama’s heart has had to do. Hearing her voice sobbing on the phone the night we left her was awful. Just because we may be in God’s will doesn’t mean there can not be deep pain involved. We are very naive if we think that’s the case. I am reminding myself that if God leads us then His grace will cover us. I’m clinging to that thought today. We all, including Shelbie, need extra grace over these next few days.
Tomorrow morning Shelbie will officially leave all she knows here in the United States and she too will start a new norm for the summer. She will see poverty like she’s never seen before. She will meet little ones who have never experienced the great life she has. Duane and I realize that she will come back forever changed by this trip. She will never again take for granted what we take for granted daily.
We are so excited for her but yet our hearts at home ache. The countdown to having her home has officially started.
We love you bunches Shelbie! May the LORD watch between you and us when we are absent one from another, may His arms hold you close when our arms can’t! We pray you feel Him close to you every moment of every day! May one hand guide you while the other covers you! XOXOXO 
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