So, here we go again. Last night was a little weird for me as we were sleeping in a house without Aidan and Iona. I remember waking up around 4:30 a.m. and distinctly hearing Aidan calling out ‘Dad’ as he does when he’s freaked out by the darkness and needs to go to the bathroom. Our house just isn’t right without the clamoring of plastic on plastic battles or hearing Iona’s laugh/scream as she runs around the house.

Got a chance to talk to them last night and exchange a ‘Hello Mrs. Hodgepodge’ with Iona. It was encouraging to see them having fun and to hear of how well things are going. And it’s really encouraging to be at the airport and on our way.

Airports always strike me as funny. It’s interesting to see these food places behind security that try and create this air of being a real restaurant with a cool name and cool hangout but with the realization that your time in their establishment is as a transient. You are there for no longer than is necessary and you are on the clock; there’s somewhere to be. I think if I had a secret moonlighting job, I’d love to work at a restaurant inside security at a big airport.

So, It’s a little after 12:15 here (1 a.m. in China) and we will be landing in China in about 22 hours. It should be a great day. Melissa and I always have enjoyed these moments as we’ve done them. We’re so thankful that we are leaving a loving, praying community here and can’t wait to share with you the time we’re going to be experiencing in China. We love you all.