Leaving...on a jet plane!

Tomorrow afternoon I will get on a plane by myself (yes you read that right) and make the long journey to Arequipa, Peru. One of my best friends, Megan (and her family) lives there and will be husband-less for a few weeks. So I am headed down for a visit! My excitement almost can't be contained. It's been a long time since I have taken a trip by myself (like almost 7 years). I never imagined I would be able to take a trip like this having a young kiddo...so I will enjoy EVERY minute of it. Of course, for those of you who are thinking..."how can she leave her child?" Believe me, this is not going to be easy. He is so much of my world right now that it's hard to imagine walking away from him and Mark tomorrow afternoon to get on a plane. But something that Mark and I committed to before we had children is that having a child cannot and will not be the only thing that defines us. Right now, the mommy role that I fill takes up the biggest part of my life, and it should. I love it and wouldn't change a thing. It is my biggest ministry right now and I am proud to be blessed by God for that responsibility. Same with being a wife and a nurse. However, those roles should not always limit what I am able to do when opportunities (like this one) come up. Will it be hard to leave, oh yea, there will be many tears. But none the less, something that I believe will be good for all three of us! Sometimes mommies and wives need time away....daddies and little boys too! Granted, not all need to fly to Peru to do that...but you get the idea. A time for me to be a girl that giggles with friends and has time to herself that doesn't involve a 2 year old yelling "mommy!" pulling on my leg, or thinking about what to cook for dinner for several nights in a row, or making sure the laundry is done so Mark has a shirt to wear to work the next day. The break will be welcomed. But I will miss them both terribly! For the first time in over 2 years "mommy" will not be at the forefront of my mind....what will that feel like?

I cannot, repeat, CANNOT believe that I have been given this opportunity. I feel so blessed and grateful beyond measure to several people who are making this possible. Of course Mark is taking on double duty of mommy and daddy while I'm gone, a job I know will not be easy. I love and appreciate him for taking this on! Another big thank you to Papa and Gigi for keeping Aaron most of next week while Mark goes out of town on a business trip! I know you will enjoy your time with my sweet boy, but you will also be WORN OUT! He's a never ending ball of energy. He is so excited to come stay with you all that he probably won't even know I'm gone! I know my mom and dad will be with him every second they can too! There are a few others (you know who you are) that literally made my trip possible. I would not be going with out you. So from the bottom of my heart...THANK YOU!!!! I will enjoy every minute of it and praise God for the opportunity. So...off I go!!! Lots of prayers would be appreciated!