Farewell Isle of Bliss Man

We probably won't hear from Luke until tomorrow, but we did get an e-mail from the Tricketts, who informed us that Luke will next be serving in a little place called Rochdale. I just liked reading that

It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch.

He certainly will be a lot closer to the rest of the mission now. I hope he loves it and feels as much at home there as he has on the Isle of Man.

More news soon...

it's a small world after all

(I promise to post Luke's letter tomorrow)

But today we learned that Luke's great great great great grandmother was born on the Isle of Man.

How cool is that?

Yesterday we learned that Luke's companion's family has acquaintances on the Isle of Man. Luke has met them and I'm sure you'll be hearing more about them.

Last week we learned that the sweet sister who drove them from the ferry to their flat on the day they arrived on the Isle of Man and who invited them to dinner on the day Luke learned about Shane's cancer (because she too has bone cancer) just four days later is also friends with family of friends of ours.

Small world indeed.

Christmas mail & packages

Just an FYI for anyone wanting to send Christmas cards or packages to Luke:

The mission office has requested packages be sent to the mission home address (see second address listed on left sidebar) and that they are mailed well before the Christmas rush, in order to ensure they are delivered in a timely fashion.

If mailed before Thanksgiving, any letters or cards be mailed directly to to Luke's flat (top address in left sidebar). The next transfer is December 10th, so anything sent after Thanksgiving ought to be sent to the mission home office, just in case.

Thanks!

Like Christmas morning once a week

Every Wednesday morning (well, except for the ones when they had P-day a day early and I got my e-mail on Tuesday) I wake up about 4 or 4:30 a.m. and I can't go back to sleep.

I keep waiting for "the letter."

It's just like Christmas morning when it doesn't matter how late I've been up or how busy I've been--I just can't sleep because I'm so anxious for the kids to get up.

Only this waiting by the e-mail inbox happens every week.

In other news, we just found out our home teacher who served in England (but in different mission--the boundaries have changed) actually served in Shrewsbury, too.

Small world!

Now, back to my early morning vigil by the inbox...

We interrupt this regularly scheduled programming...

I just need to say how much I love and appreciate the people who, every time we see them, inquire about Luke and ask us to send him their love. Usually it's the first thing out of their mouths.

This is not something I was very good at as a friend, but I'm going to do better. It means the world to me as a mom to know people didn't forget my child just because he is gone and when they are genuinely thinking about him, praying for him and wishing him well.

Also, I just noticed last night that ever since Luke left I keep watching films with British actors, filmed in Great Britain or whatever. I'm not sure what it's like where Luke is, but the countryside is beautiful there and I love listening to the language (I know it's English, but it's not your mom and dad's English). In any case, I'm enjoying it immensely.