Long trips and even longer hugs

If you follow Josie's blog then you know what I'm about to tell you.  Her visa is in!  YAY!!!  I was at work on Friday and at about 2pm my cell phone rings.  I pick it up and hear Josie attempting to speak between her laughs and high-pitched screams, "It's in, it's in!  Mele just called and my visa is in."  What we have been waiting on for two months!  Josie explained that Mele said she would send me an e-mail.  So after corresponding with Mele, Josie's travel agent, a few times, plans were set into motion.  Me and Josie would leave Sunday morning (in about seven hours) for Chicago to pick up her visa from the consulate (Josie has to pick it up in person) between 1-2pm on Monday.  I booked a hotel less than a half mile from the consulate where we will spend the night Sunday night and be able to walk to the consulate on Monday. 

Josie will fly out of Des Moines on Wednesday afternoon and fly to Chicago with a two hour layover before continuing from Chicago to Madrid and then another two hour layover before finally landing in Malaga, Spain.  Her host mom is going to pick Josie up when Josie's plane lands on Thursday morning. 

So it's finally all coming together.  This has been in the planning stages for a year, but I don't think anyone is ever "ready".  We've been very intentional in spending time together (last weekend we painted pottery and tonight we made caramel apples together (with chocolate, nuts, mini reece's pieces and mini gummy bears).  Jo has been giving me a lot more hugs and we both seem to hold on a little bit longer and I've been savoring each second!  :)

My heart sinks at the thought of the last goodbye before she boards her plane to leave for 9 months.  But the strange thing about letting Josie do this is that God has given us all a peace about it.  We prayed about this before she applied and God has led us through and given us peace about letting her go.

But, before I let go of my baby girl, we get to go to Chicago.  I'm looking forward to the time alone with Josie.  I was hoping that we'd be able to spend a couple of nights in Chicago but since since she is leaving so soon we need to hurry back.

Just a thought. If you are a parent, be intentional in spending time with your children and grab those long hugs as often as you can, like you aren't going to see them for almost a year.  I am.