After saying "goodbye" to all our family just over a year ago we've been counting the days until our first official "family visit". As excited as we've been to see Sarah's parents arrive, Grace has far surpassed us when it came to talking up the event. Literally every day since late May Grace has has asked us "How many more days till Bree gets here?" (Bree is Sarah's youngest sister and just a year older than Grace -- needless to say, Grace adores her.)
Today was the big day. Just after noon time today we packed up the kids and headed to the airport to pick up Mom, Dad, and Bree. The Hanlons were all giddy and full of hugs and the Tuxbury's were like deer in headlights (after almost 30 hours of traveling) but it was awesome. They had no connection problems and all their luggage made it safe and sound. They brought 7 suitcases and stuffed their clothes into one of them - saving the rest of the space for goodies for us and to pass out among Malawian village folks. Grace walked into the room as "Nana" and "Papa" were unpacking, saw 2 big purple boxes from BJ's and couldn't contain herself from yelling "Mac and Cheese"! Bree even hand delivered a small package of 3 chocolate chip cookies. If you look closely to the picture above you'll see that it's a bag full of cookie dust - but the sentiment was beautiful.
It's a real thrill to have them here with us for the next 3 weeks. We can't wait to show them all around and we'll even be recruiting them for some library (Dad) and clinic (Mom) work. We'll visit 2 different villages for some time of ministry and we'll be taking them to see Lake Malawi later in the visit as well. Mostly, we look forward to time with family. I don't think we fully knew how much we missed it.
And last but not least.................. we're getting a dog! Living off campus is great but a dog makes it even better. Security is a big issue here and dogs are the number one choice to keep intruders from intruding (and this holds true no matter how friendly the dog might be). Our good friends (Bob and Amy Stauffacher) have a Great Dane who just had puppies and we'll be taking one of them home in the next week or two to be fawned over by Grace and tortured by Beth - and we know he'll quickly become part of the family.
After saying "goodbye" to all our family just over a year ago we've been counting the days until our first official "family visit". As excited as we've been to see Sarah's parents arrive, Grace has far surpassed us when it came to talking up the event. Literally every day since late May Grace has has asked us "How many more days till Bree gets here?" (Bree is Sarah's youngest sister and just a year older than Grace -- needless to say, Grace adores her.)
It's a real thrill to have them here with us for the next 3 weeks. We can't wait to show them all around and we'll even be recruiting them for some library (Dad) and clinic (Mom) work. We'll visit 2 different villages for some time of ministry and we'll be taking them to see Lake Malawi later in the visit as well. Mostly, we look forward to time with family. I don't think we fully knew how much we missed it. 
And last but not least.................. we're getting a dog! Living off campus is great but a dog makes it even better. Security is a big issue here and dogs are the number one choice to keep intruders from intruding (and this holds true no matter how friendly the dog might be). Our good friends (Bob and Amy Stauffacher) have a Great Dane who just had puppies and we'll be taking one of them home in the next week or two to be fawned over by Grace and tortured by Beth - and we know he'll quickly become part of the family.
Aw! WE miss you tons. I've been wondering if your family had come! SO happy for y'all to have had family come and love you and bring you stuff.
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