Well...soon our guest room will go back to looking like a guest room and our garage will be a little less crowded as we empty it of the "boy toys" that we have borrowed from our sweet neighbors this summer. I won't find wadded up towels and wet bathing suit trunks lying on the bathroom floor anymore and the sink and the mirror on the right side of the vanity will no longer contain remnants of that sparkly toothpaste that kids like. The back seat in my car can go back to it's original position instead of being slightly reclined and there will be no voice from over my shoulder questioning, "Holly? How many minutes ma-she-na?" (Meaning, how many minutes are we going to be in the car?) I won't have the nightly debate that we go through as he tries to push for a later bed time...nor will I have that sweet boy to hug at the end of the day.

Ahhh...the emotion that comes with the absence of someone...someone sweet and unassuming that travels half way around the world to be with us for six weeks. We have been blessed again with knowing the joy of his presence in our home this summer...and now we reluctantly prepare...for his absence.

The truth is we have had a busy and fun "America 3" and I would gladly trade our guest room, a clean bathroom and all the additional garage space to keep his company and life-loving spirit in our home. Venya is the "Yes" man and I love that. It challenges me to run after life the way he does...to seek to live it to the fullest, to live everyday abundantly and joyfully. So because he is the "yes" man he has learned to surf this summer, stand up on water skis, catch some fish, play more golf, perform magic tricks in front of a group, drive a go-cart and breath through a regulator as if he were actually scuba diving. When you ask him if he wants to do something...anything, 9 times out of 10 the answer is "yes" and it is said with an enthusiasm that erases any doubt you may have had while posing the question.

What's even sweeter than that is the fact that he is the "yes" man when it comes to other things that most kids would not find pleasure in...washing the car with "Daddy," helping Sydney roller skate around Jelly Beans skating rink, taking out the dog and the trash and all those empty pizza boxes (we consumed some pizza!). Not only does he do all these things...he does them JOYFULLY. It amazes me...amazes US when we see the smile on his face for the mundane and ordinary chores that we don't necessarily love doing. I'm learning...those who find joy in these things...probably find joy in all things.

So our dining room table has his rolling duffel bag opened and ready and there are piles of winter clothes and shoes to strategically be squeezed into its very limited space. There are gifts for his family members and souvenirs he has collected during his stay and somehow, we will get it all in there even if we have to sit on the thing to get it to zipper.

But thank goodness LOVE is light and easy to take with you...and requires no special compartment or strategy. It, unlike the duffel bag, has no size limit or weight restriction and definitely no $25 fee and while it is hard to see him go, I'm grateful. Mainly because I am certain that we'll be sending him home with all of our LOVE on Tuesday morning. Praying for two more great days with him and a safe journey home for the entire group.