They Made It! (Baggage...um...ly)

4 AM is an hour for which there is no reason. Humans shouldn't be awake at this hour; most sensible day animals are still snuggled away in their day-animal beds; night animals are finishing off their rounds, brushing their little night animal teeth and finding a comfortable spot in which to snooze.

If you are ever up at 4 AM, you will find that it is at this time when the world is at its most silent, most dark. I realize the Bible says that God never sleeps, but it is at this hour it seems like He turns Nature on to "nightlight" and says, "I think I'll just rest my eyes a bit."

I know these things because Friday morning I was up at 4 AM after a whopping 1 hour of sleep, awaken by my husband who had 0 hours sleep and then tried to wake my daughter who, in her excitement for the upcoming adventure had had 2 hours sleep (if you count teethbrushing and praying).

4:05. Must. Leave. Load the car. Grab a Diet Coke. Hurry. Get to the office and change vehicles. Check time. Must Hurry. Get to UPS. Need Caffeine. Will the package be there? Must Hurry. Who plans a trip that leaves before God is awake? Megh's asleep in the back. Here's UPS. Kevin runs in. Runs out empty handed. Needs tracking number. Runs back in. Time is ticking. The team is waiting. Kev runs out...with a box! Unbelievable! Gets to the car and the phone rings... it Miracle Man Norm checking in to see if Kevin was successful! Unbelievable! Hurry! Airport! Caffeine! Another phone call! The team's in line! Must hurry! Need Caffeine! Drop them off at the door! Megh, wake up! Get those bags inside! Must hurry! Need to park! Need Caffeine! Run in! Find my family! They're checking in...last ones of the team with a long line of people behind them. Who travels at this hour? And some look like they've even showered! Hug my family! Hug! Kiss! They must go! I stand there for a moment watching my baby who was waddling and in diapers just the other day (or so it seems) joyfully bounce off with her dad and 12 other people to a Communist country to "crash" with the youth there.

My wistful thoughts are suddenly interrupted by Dave Stone (our pastor at Southeast Christian Church) happily saying, "OK, gang! Time to PAR-TEE!" I make a mental note in my caffeine-craving brain: Find out what morning beverage Dave drinks...it might come in handy if I ever have to do this again.

Still recouping,

~m