a surprise weekend!

I am still recovering from this weekend!

On Friday afternoon, I finished up my homework and I was going to start making supper.  We were just planning to do a pizza/movie night with our kids.  So Nathan calls me outside, "Hey Rache!  Kaine wants to show you some of our new football plays!"  So I went outside for a few minutes to watch them play football.

I was only out there for like 5 minutes before I decided to go back inside to make supper.  I walk in my door, and I almost had a heart attack!  

My friends--from very far away--were sitting on my couch!  I. was. SHOCKED.  I could not believe they drove all the way from Indiana to visit, and then what I could not make sense of in my head...Emily is here too!  But how did Emily get here?  And with my Indiana friends???  My mind was trying to figure it all out, and I just stood there saying dorky things like "Are you guys serious??"  Haha!  They got it all on video but I won't be posting it on here :)

Anyway.  Jane started planning this surprise visit with Nathan back when we were in Bluffton for Christmas break.  Jane, you are very sneaky!  I never ever ever ever suspected.  And then, my Indiana friends contacted Emily to join in!  Remember this post, where I talked about how we are going to partner in the tribe with David and Emily?  Well, my friends from back home are so very sweet and they wanted Em to join us, so that they could get to know her.  So they flew her to MO all the way from CA!  How sweet and intentional is that??  I feel so blessed.  So here we all are (minus two very beautiful babies who aren't pictured) :)

This was right after the surprise.  I was probably still shaking! 

It was so incredibly special to have Em join us.  It was like my two worlds collided, and it was so much fun.  

At one point this weekend, Jess made the comment that it felt like they had known Emily their whole life.  So awesome.  Praise Jesus.

Layla was thrilled to be reunited with sweet Brenna!  Brenna almost made up for the fact that her two friends Adalynn and Sunny didn't come along...almost :)

Trying out her babydoll Boba carrier from Christmas.  It works on human babies, too!

And sweet little Louise (David and Em's baby) was such a trooper!  Her schedule was so messed up, but she did great.  It was so good to see this little sweetie again! 

The weekend was fast, but so fun.  It was filled with lots and lots of talking, laughing, and catching up.  And late night virtual tours of my hometown and Em's hometown...thank you Google Earth :)

I feel like one major theme of this blog has been how thankful to the Lord I am for my friends.  He has blessed our whole family so much with some amazing friendships.  We are so thankful.

Jane, Jess, Amy and Emily...thank you ladies so much for an amazing and encouraging weekend!  I feel so loved.  And I love you all :)