In NINE Weeks!!!!

  This morning, after having Emilie with us for 3 fun months, we took her to the airport in Chitose. We left at 2:10 a.m. because her flight left at 8:20!!!

 Of course, saying goodbye isn't always easy, and there were some teary eyes, but it wasn't too bad because we know we'll be seeing her in a couple months, Lord willing.
  Thankfully there were no hiccups today. She got off safely, and as far as we know she should be landing in Dallas pretty soon.

 We were driving towards Costco after leaving the airport, and we all realized that in exactly...gulp... NINE weeks, we will be driving back down to Chitose with all our luggage, spending the night in the airport hotel, and then flying out in the morning!!!! It seems so strange! So hard to believe! It seems especially strange to Rachel, Kristen and I. Rachel hasn't been to America since 2011, and Kristen and I haven't been there since 2008. So it feels unreal, and hard to believe that we are actually going on furlough, and will be leaving in 9 weeks! We've prayed about going on furlough for the last 3 years or so, but it is actually coming, and will be here soon!
  Today on the way home Daddy and Mama worked more on the schedule for furlough and made good headway, so that was a blessing. Please keep praying for us as we get ready, and for the people here we will be leaving behind.
  It has been a blessing to me to see how other missionary families are pitching in and helping so that we can leave. The Minks family will be coming up 1/2 hr. each week for services, then it will change to the Wilhites when they come back. The Mather family will be coming down 3 hours each week to teach our English classes and keep that contact going, the Marks family will be taking care of our plants, and the Mansells 2 hours north of us, will be keeping Cocoa for us. It is really special and we appreciate it so much! Please keep these families in your prayers as well.

~Katie~