They will find them tomorrow some time after school as my plane is hours into the air already. They’ll read my words as they munch on sweet treats I’ve counted out and put into little baggies for them. And, wherever I am as I am flying somewhere overhead, I’ll be imagining them holding their cards before they run off to do homework and build Lego creations.

Just in case two of the four cards get lost between now and forever…I’m preserving the messages here.

Dear Drew – Most of your friends’ mommies go to work while they are in school. They come home and make dinner, play with them, help them with homework, and all that good mommy stuff. But, your mommy is a little different, huh? Your mommy goes to China sometimes. I know it isn’t easy to have me travel far away and that my travels change the morning routine and bedtime schedule which can make everything hard. Know that I am going because we are a family who is willing to do hard stuff when God calls us to do it. For the next couple weeks, I’ll be praying for you as you do the hard stuff at home without mommy. And, you pray for me as I do the hard stuff encouraging nannies and taking care of babies who don’t have mommies whose days are hard everyday. I’ll be home soon with lots of stories and kisses to give you.

Dear Lydia – I need to tell you something in case you forget. I am excited to go again to China where we first met you. I am excited to see the ladies who took care of you and brought you to us to be your family. It means a lot to me and it means a lot to them when I can show them your picture and tell them how happy you are and how much we love you. Please remember that even though going to China is very exciting, YOU are more exciting. I will miss you so much and will think of you every day and every night while I’m gone. Daddy and the big kids will take good care of you until I am back. And, when I do come home, you better be ready for lots and lots of snuggles.

Don’t make fun of me.

I have gone a little list crazy.

But, I so love lists. They give me the illusion that I’m totally prepared. I’m not stressed at all that my suitcase is upstairs completely empty still. Doesn’t bother me at all. Because I have a list. 

I’ve even made a list for them which I promptly hung on the kitchen wall.

But, I’m thinking based on what is hanging below it now that he is loving me for my lists.

If he had only used my colorful lantern graphic that I am clearly in love with…and made the masking tape into an o-shape instead of having it all messy there on the top…well, I can’t have all the lists done my way. I’m thankful that the list exists because he’ll need it since they already discovered our secret weapon.

#ChocomallowHealsAllWounds