Day 12 - November 24

Hugs.

I have a rule. I always get 2 hugs at bedtime. This makes things interesting now that we have been at the base house, but I still go up to say good-night and give my hugs, even though I get hugs at the end of devotions right before bed.

The boys have given me a new rule - 4 hugs at bedtime. Well, that's a good rule. It makes things a bit chaotic, but none the less, I only have 11 days left to get these hugs. Better get them now. I love good-nights. I love how they snuggle into their beds and smile up with trust in their eyes - they know now that they are loved and beyond anything else, they will leave here knowing that they are loved by me.

I will miss all those hugs, I am cherishing each one. I will give as many hugs as I can in the next 11 days. I will store them up for those moments at home when I'm pining for those little arms to hug my waist. I will store them up for those moments when I miss my special children, these children of my heart. I will store them up until the moment I go to Uganda and Kenya and get another hug or two from these precious ones that were mine for 15 months. Those hugs will change. By the time I see them again, the hugs won't be around my waist. I won't hold their little heads in my hand. They'll be bigger, more grown up, but I'll still cherish the hug. And no matter what, they will know that they are loved.